Authors Notes: Sorry that it took so long to update, with being over-
involved in school activities (basketball, volleyball and band) and
homework, I haven't had time to type this. I'd just like to thank everyone
who has reviewed so far, and if you'd like to submit an idea, I'd be more
than happy to try and use it.
I'd just like to mention that there is one little spoiler for "Getaway" (Vaughn and Syd's date) in here, so if you don't want to read anything with spoilers, don't read. ( Enjoy!
Chapter Three
"I could carry you if you want," offered Sark as he unlocked the door to the safe house.
"I'm fine," she smiled as she made her way through the doorway.
"Somehow, I don't believe you," he said, touching her cheek as she sat down on the couch.
"Sark, I'm fine," she smiled again as he leaned in to kiss her. Suddenly, Vaughn's face flashed through her mind. "Do you want to go out for pizza?" his question echoed over and over in her mind.
She pulled away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's nothing," she said quickly. He sensed something was wrong, something that had to do with her pretty-boy handler. He mentally cursed himself for thinking badly of someone that she obviously cared a lot about.
"You're sure?" he asked, genuinely concerned for her.
"Yeah," she nodded.
"All right," he nodded in response. "You're welcomed to whichever bedroom you like. There are three upstairs. The first one, to your right is off limits though. It's mine. There are two more down the hall."
"Alright. Thank you," she said quietly, leaning on the railing and pulling herself up the stairs.
She sank down onto the bed in the room that she had chosen. It was a pale blue, overlooking the quiet street. She could see the forest in the distance, and the sun that was beginning to set behind it. Vaughn, she thought. How could she have been so stupid? Kissing Sark.when you were all set to go out with Vaughn, her mind finished.
She picked up her cell phone and opted to call Vaughn, let him know that she was all right.
"Vaughn," he answered. She took a deep breath and began.
"It's me," she said.
"Syd!" he sounded happy to hear from her. "Kendall got so worried when you hung up on him.where are you anyway?"
"I'm at a safe house in Russia.it's Sark's."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. My ankle just hurts a bit from driving, but I'm fine."
"That's good to hear. When are you coming back?"
She bit her lip. "I don't know," she answered truthfully.
"So you won't be back tomorrow night?" he asked, sounding dejected.
"No, I'm so sorry."
"How about we make it up?" he asked. She could tell that he was smiling on the other line.
"When?"
"The day you get back. We'll go out for pizza, you and me."
"Remember our last date?"
"It wasn't a date, Syd."
"Yes it was, Vaughn. We had wine."
"And a hotel room key," he added, "until Ariana Kane ruined our fun."
"I'm just glad it's over with."
"Me too," he agreed. "I have to get moving. Kendall called a meeting, oh joy. An hour of Kendall.droning on and on."
"Think Sloane instead, I have to take double."
"All in the fun of being a double agent," he laughed.
"I'll see you when I get back."
"Yes, you will," he said quietly. "Be careful."
"I will. Bye," she hung up. She fell back onto the bed, feeling somewhat better.
"Sydney?" Sark asked, poking his head in the halfway open doorway.
"Yes?" she sat up.
"Is it all right if I come in?"
"Yes," she said again.
"Listen, Sydney, about earlier."
"Sark, it happened. I don't regret it though, and I'm not going to," she said simply.
"Sydney, I don't know if we can do this."
"I don't know either," she heard herself saying, "but I'm willing to take the chance."
***
Sark sat outside on the balcony just outside his bedroom, looking out at the stars. He hoped that Sydney would come and join him. It was always more fun with another person. As they always say, two's company.
He groaned. He was quoting his m other. His mother.
He had been nine when it happened. Nine, young enough to not understand, and yet old enough to remember the day vividly.
It had been a warm day in June. Sark and his twin sister, Angela were playing by the lake. The one thing that Sydney didn't know about this safe house, was that this had been the house that he had lived in since he was five.
Sark had been the youngest of three children, the youngest and only boy of three children. His older sister, Catharine, had loved to fish. She was thirteen. She had been out on the dock, fishing as her younger siblings played.
They had lived in Russia for as long as anyone could remember. Sark had been five when they moved in.
They knew something was wrong when their mother had started shutting the blinds. Next, their father had come out of the house, telling them to pack a small bag and that they were going on a trip.
They had crammed into the old car as their father drove, finally pulling over into an alley.
He smiled as he thought of what had come next. He had been born in Britain, taught tot speak English and Russian fluently, and also taught, better than any nine-year-old, how to run.
He had asked where they were going countless times. Finally, he had made his parents laugh by asking if they were back in England and could he see his friend again.
Shortly after, two black cars pulled up. His father had gotten out of the car and tried to make a run for it. He was shot with, he later found out, a tranquilizer dart.
They shoved them into two different cars, his mother, Angela and Catharine into one, he and his father into another. Arvin Sloane faced him, a scared, lonely boy whose life was about to be ruined.
He had been led into a small white room and tied to a chair. He was gagged just like his sisters and could only wait in fear as to what would happen next.
He heard his father's voice in the next room and his mother's cry for help and her plea for mercy. Then there was silence after a single gunshot was fired.
They then moved on to Angela and Catharine, one by one, asking his father questions, his father questions, his father remaining silent.
Then, as Sark watched, they shot his sisters, right in front of him. He refused to cry in front of Sloane, the monster that tore his family apart.
Two days later, his father broke into the room and freed him. Sark had taken off running, like his father had told him to and didn't stop, not even when he heard the final shot being fired.
He had run and run, finally stopping when he was positive that no one was chasing him. It was then that he decided that he would kill Arvin Sloane.
When he was eighteen, he joined Irina Derevko and the KGB. He also worked as a free agent, discovering what he could about Arvin Sloane and how to eventually destroy him.
Gradually, he had drifted away from the KGB and worked on his own. He had been more than relieved when it was destroyed. He was still loyal to Irina, even though she was biding her time, rotting in that CIA cell.
If Sydney ever found out that he was still ninety percent loyal to Irina.she'd kill him first and then Irina.
She knocked on the glass door leading to the balcony. He waved her outside and she sat down next to him.
"Am I interrupting anything?" she asked as he moved over to make room for her.
"No, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Sark, I know you. You are the only person on the face of the planet that can't sit somewhere and think about nothing."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm sure," she said as she scooted closer to him.
***
Three days later, Sydney walked into CIA headquarters, crutches-free. Her ankle was almost completely better and she was floating on Cloud Nine.
"Syd!" Vaughn's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
She forced a smile at the man she loved- or thought she loved.
"Hey," she responded.
"Great to see you without the crutches," Vaughn enveloped her in a hug.
"It's great to be off them," she smiled.
"Pizza tonight?" he asked quietly with a smile.
Sydney paused, hesitant. She had kissed Sark- Sark of all people. Did that mean that she was in a serious relationship with him?
You know the answer to that," she said mentally.
"Sure," she heard herself saying, "let's do it!"
***
Sydney walked alongside Vaughn as they entered the restaurant. She quickly scanned the place and saw no security cameras or people they knew.
"Two please," said Vaughn. They were led to a table and sat down. "What kind of pizza do you like?" he asked.
"I'll eat anything."
"Ready to order?" the waitress appeared out of nowhere and asked.
"Yeah," said Sydney. "A large half pepperoni, half cheese pizza, a coke and."
"Another coke," said Vaughn. She smiled at him as the waitress left.
They made small conversation until the only person in the world who would wear sunglasses in a dim restaurant stopped in front of their table.
"Miss Bristow," he choked out, trying not to call her "Sydney." "Mr. Vaughn," he added, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head.
"Mr. Sark," said Vaughn coldly. "To what do we owe this delightful visit?"
"Agent- Miss Bristow? May I have a word with you?"
She nodded and excused herself. They went to stand outside.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I should ask you the very same question," he replied.
"Sark.I."
"No need to explain," he said simply. He took her face in his hands one last time and kissed her, and then turned and walked away.
She stood, frozen in place as he disappeared from view. She managed to shrug it off and give Vaughn a smile.
"What was that about?" asked Vaughn.
"Nothing. Sark had new news on Sloane."
"And?"
"He got the disk that I was supposed to steal," she said quickly.
"Syd!"
"I'm sorry, with Sark all over me, it was impossible to get it, at least the disk that he thought that was the one he was retrieving for SD-6." she said with a sneaky smile playing on her lips as she pulled the disk from her purse.
They were just finishing their pizza when her cell phone ran. Vaughn's did the same.
"Agent Bristow?" it was Kendall. "Agent Vaughn?" he asked. Sydney stood up and went outside with her phone.
"Three-way calling?" she asked, amused.
"Agent Bristow, you and Agent Vaughn need to report back to headquarters immediately."
"Why?" asked Vaughn.
"You leave as soon as we give you your alias. Agent Bristow's parents are in Malaysia."
"What the hell are my parents doing in Malaysia?"
"On a mission, of course."
"You sent my parents on a mission to Malaysia by themselves?" she shrieked, but Kendall had already hung up.
"Syd?" Vaughn asked.
"Yeah?"
"I'll get the check and the car. Let's go."
She jumped into the car and they flew towards CIA headquarters in record time.
She bolted through the doors and found Kendall, Vaughn close behind her.
"Agent Bristow, please sit," he said, motioning to the chair.
She ignored him and said, "Okay, first of all, why are my parents alone in Malaysia? They'll kill each other, if they aren't found."
"Your father requested Ms. Derevko's presence. Unfortunately, we received a call from your father. He and Irina were found and Irina was removed from where he is being held. The even worse news is that Mr. Sark has gone after them. If you leave now, you will arrive about two hours behind Sark."
"That's fine," Sydney said, looking at Vaughn. "Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah," they headed for the car.
***
Kelang, Malaysia
"This is nuts," Sydney commented as Vaughn drove. They were headed for the hotel as a brother and sister who were visiting their parents.
"It is," agreed Vaughn, turning the corner and stopping in front of a two- story building.
"This is it?" she asked.
"It's a shop, but yes, it's the address that Kendall gave me."
"Let's go in, snoop around a bit."
Sydney pretended to be interested in a rack of sweaters while the salesclerk moved to help Vaughn, leaving Sydney's path clear. She bolted through the door and hard the satisfying click of the lock behind her.
"I'm in," she whispered to Vaughn through her transmitter.
"Good, good," she heard Vaughn say, switching his usual tone of voice to an unmistakably American accent. "You do have my size," he continued and she could tell that he was still with the salesclerk.
She however, knew that he had heard her and continued down the hall, stopping every so often to check and make sure that no one was following her. She opened the final door to her right at the end of the hallway and pulled out her gun, not knowing what she might find on the other side.
The room was stark white and empty as she flung open the door, her gun in front of her. She moved around the corner and saw another doorway. She cautiously opened the door and held her gun in front of her again. She saw her parents, bound and gagged back to back in the center of the room. Her mother faced her, her eyes widening as she saw Sydney. She shook her head frantically as Sydney moved toward them.
She stopped, looking at her mother, confused. Irina's head jerked to the security camera in the corner.
"Vaughn," Sydney backed against the door, which was now locked and whispered. "I need to you to disable the security system, do you hear me? Disable the security system."
She heard footsteps pounding on the other side of the wall and the door in the other room open. She quickly looked at her options.
I could make a run for it, she thought, I could, but if all the doors lock behind you, then it's pointless. I could stay here and hold the door until Vaughn disables the system or I could surrender. Neither of these options looked good.
"Sydney!" Vaughn whispered urgently through the microphone. "I can't get the cameras disabled. Did you find your parents?"
"Yes," she replied. "There's a team behind me, what should I do?"
"I'm coming after you," he said, and snuck down the stairs. "What room is it?"
"Vaughn, don't!"
"Sydney, I'm doing this. What room is it?"
She sighed and gave in. "The last one on your right." She pushed back against the door as someone tried to open it. She heard the door in the other room fly open and heard gunshots being fired. They suddenly came to a halt as Sydney was thrown forward by the force of several people ramming the door at once.
She hit the floor and slid a few feet, but quickly got up as guns were pointed at her. She saw a figure, fallen and lying in a pool of blood.
Vaughn.
I'd just like to mention that there is one little spoiler for "Getaway" (Vaughn and Syd's date) in here, so if you don't want to read anything with spoilers, don't read. ( Enjoy!
Chapter Three
"I could carry you if you want," offered Sark as he unlocked the door to the safe house.
"I'm fine," she smiled as she made her way through the doorway.
"Somehow, I don't believe you," he said, touching her cheek as she sat down on the couch.
"Sark, I'm fine," she smiled again as he leaned in to kiss her. Suddenly, Vaughn's face flashed through her mind. "Do you want to go out for pizza?" his question echoed over and over in her mind.
She pulled away, refusing to meet his eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's nothing," she said quickly. He sensed something was wrong, something that had to do with her pretty-boy handler. He mentally cursed himself for thinking badly of someone that she obviously cared a lot about.
"You're sure?" he asked, genuinely concerned for her.
"Yeah," she nodded.
"All right," he nodded in response. "You're welcomed to whichever bedroom you like. There are three upstairs. The first one, to your right is off limits though. It's mine. There are two more down the hall."
"Alright. Thank you," she said quietly, leaning on the railing and pulling herself up the stairs.
She sank down onto the bed in the room that she had chosen. It was a pale blue, overlooking the quiet street. She could see the forest in the distance, and the sun that was beginning to set behind it. Vaughn, she thought. How could she have been so stupid? Kissing Sark.when you were all set to go out with Vaughn, her mind finished.
She picked up her cell phone and opted to call Vaughn, let him know that she was all right.
"Vaughn," he answered. She took a deep breath and began.
"It's me," she said.
"Syd!" he sounded happy to hear from her. "Kendall got so worried when you hung up on him.where are you anyway?"
"I'm at a safe house in Russia.it's Sark's."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. My ankle just hurts a bit from driving, but I'm fine."
"That's good to hear. When are you coming back?"
She bit her lip. "I don't know," she answered truthfully.
"So you won't be back tomorrow night?" he asked, sounding dejected.
"No, I'm so sorry."
"How about we make it up?" he asked. She could tell that he was smiling on the other line.
"When?"
"The day you get back. We'll go out for pizza, you and me."
"Remember our last date?"
"It wasn't a date, Syd."
"Yes it was, Vaughn. We had wine."
"And a hotel room key," he added, "until Ariana Kane ruined our fun."
"I'm just glad it's over with."
"Me too," he agreed. "I have to get moving. Kendall called a meeting, oh joy. An hour of Kendall.droning on and on."
"Think Sloane instead, I have to take double."
"All in the fun of being a double agent," he laughed.
"I'll see you when I get back."
"Yes, you will," he said quietly. "Be careful."
"I will. Bye," she hung up. She fell back onto the bed, feeling somewhat better.
"Sydney?" Sark asked, poking his head in the halfway open doorway.
"Yes?" she sat up.
"Is it all right if I come in?"
"Yes," she said again.
"Listen, Sydney, about earlier."
"Sark, it happened. I don't regret it though, and I'm not going to," she said simply.
"Sydney, I don't know if we can do this."
"I don't know either," she heard herself saying, "but I'm willing to take the chance."
***
Sark sat outside on the balcony just outside his bedroom, looking out at the stars. He hoped that Sydney would come and join him. It was always more fun with another person. As they always say, two's company.
He groaned. He was quoting his m other. His mother.
He had been nine when it happened. Nine, young enough to not understand, and yet old enough to remember the day vividly.
It had been a warm day in June. Sark and his twin sister, Angela were playing by the lake. The one thing that Sydney didn't know about this safe house, was that this had been the house that he had lived in since he was five.
Sark had been the youngest of three children, the youngest and only boy of three children. His older sister, Catharine, had loved to fish. She was thirteen. She had been out on the dock, fishing as her younger siblings played.
They had lived in Russia for as long as anyone could remember. Sark had been five when they moved in.
They knew something was wrong when their mother had started shutting the blinds. Next, their father had come out of the house, telling them to pack a small bag and that they were going on a trip.
They had crammed into the old car as their father drove, finally pulling over into an alley.
He smiled as he thought of what had come next. He had been born in Britain, taught tot speak English and Russian fluently, and also taught, better than any nine-year-old, how to run.
He had asked where they were going countless times. Finally, he had made his parents laugh by asking if they were back in England and could he see his friend again.
Shortly after, two black cars pulled up. His father had gotten out of the car and tried to make a run for it. He was shot with, he later found out, a tranquilizer dart.
They shoved them into two different cars, his mother, Angela and Catharine into one, he and his father into another. Arvin Sloane faced him, a scared, lonely boy whose life was about to be ruined.
He had been led into a small white room and tied to a chair. He was gagged just like his sisters and could only wait in fear as to what would happen next.
He heard his father's voice in the next room and his mother's cry for help and her plea for mercy. Then there was silence after a single gunshot was fired.
They then moved on to Angela and Catharine, one by one, asking his father questions, his father questions, his father remaining silent.
Then, as Sark watched, they shot his sisters, right in front of him. He refused to cry in front of Sloane, the monster that tore his family apart.
Two days later, his father broke into the room and freed him. Sark had taken off running, like his father had told him to and didn't stop, not even when he heard the final shot being fired.
He had run and run, finally stopping when he was positive that no one was chasing him. It was then that he decided that he would kill Arvin Sloane.
When he was eighteen, he joined Irina Derevko and the KGB. He also worked as a free agent, discovering what he could about Arvin Sloane and how to eventually destroy him.
Gradually, he had drifted away from the KGB and worked on his own. He had been more than relieved when it was destroyed. He was still loyal to Irina, even though she was biding her time, rotting in that CIA cell.
If Sydney ever found out that he was still ninety percent loyal to Irina.she'd kill him first and then Irina.
She knocked on the glass door leading to the balcony. He waved her outside and she sat down next to him.
"Am I interrupting anything?" she asked as he moved over to make room for her.
"No, I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Sark, I know you. You are the only person on the face of the planet that can't sit somewhere and think about nothing."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I'm sure," she said as she scooted closer to him.
***
Three days later, Sydney walked into CIA headquarters, crutches-free. Her ankle was almost completely better and she was floating on Cloud Nine.
"Syd!" Vaughn's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
She forced a smile at the man she loved- or thought she loved.
"Hey," she responded.
"Great to see you without the crutches," Vaughn enveloped her in a hug.
"It's great to be off them," she smiled.
"Pizza tonight?" he asked quietly with a smile.
Sydney paused, hesitant. She had kissed Sark- Sark of all people. Did that mean that she was in a serious relationship with him?
You know the answer to that," she said mentally.
"Sure," she heard herself saying, "let's do it!"
***
Sydney walked alongside Vaughn as they entered the restaurant. She quickly scanned the place and saw no security cameras or people they knew.
"Two please," said Vaughn. They were led to a table and sat down. "What kind of pizza do you like?" he asked.
"I'll eat anything."
"Ready to order?" the waitress appeared out of nowhere and asked.
"Yeah," said Sydney. "A large half pepperoni, half cheese pizza, a coke and."
"Another coke," said Vaughn. She smiled at him as the waitress left.
They made small conversation until the only person in the world who would wear sunglasses in a dim restaurant stopped in front of their table.
"Miss Bristow," he choked out, trying not to call her "Sydney." "Mr. Vaughn," he added, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head.
"Mr. Sark," said Vaughn coldly. "To what do we owe this delightful visit?"
"Agent- Miss Bristow? May I have a word with you?"
She nodded and excused herself. They went to stand outside.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I should ask you the very same question," he replied.
"Sark.I."
"No need to explain," he said simply. He took her face in his hands one last time and kissed her, and then turned and walked away.
She stood, frozen in place as he disappeared from view. She managed to shrug it off and give Vaughn a smile.
"What was that about?" asked Vaughn.
"Nothing. Sark had new news on Sloane."
"And?"
"He got the disk that I was supposed to steal," she said quickly.
"Syd!"
"I'm sorry, with Sark all over me, it was impossible to get it, at least the disk that he thought that was the one he was retrieving for SD-6." she said with a sneaky smile playing on her lips as she pulled the disk from her purse.
They were just finishing their pizza when her cell phone ran. Vaughn's did the same.
"Agent Bristow?" it was Kendall. "Agent Vaughn?" he asked. Sydney stood up and went outside with her phone.
"Three-way calling?" she asked, amused.
"Agent Bristow, you and Agent Vaughn need to report back to headquarters immediately."
"Why?" asked Vaughn.
"You leave as soon as we give you your alias. Agent Bristow's parents are in Malaysia."
"What the hell are my parents doing in Malaysia?"
"On a mission, of course."
"You sent my parents on a mission to Malaysia by themselves?" she shrieked, but Kendall had already hung up.
"Syd?" Vaughn asked.
"Yeah?"
"I'll get the check and the car. Let's go."
She jumped into the car and they flew towards CIA headquarters in record time.
She bolted through the doors and found Kendall, Vaughn close behind her.
"Agent Bristow, please sit," he said, motioning to the chair.
She ignored him and said, "Okay, first of all, why are my parents alone in Malaysia? They'll kill each other, if they aren't found."
"Your father requested Ms. Derevko's presence. Unfortunately, we received a call from your father. He and Irina were found and Irina was removed from where he is being held. The even worse news is that Mr. Sark has gone after them. If you leave now, you will arrive about two hours behind Sark."
"That's fine," Sydney said, looking at Vaughn. "Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah," they headed for the car.
***
Kelang, Malaysia
"This is nuts," Sydney commented as Vaughn drove. They were headed for the hotel as a brother and sister who were visiting their parents.
"It is," agreed Vaughn, turning the corner and stopping in front of a two- story building.
"This is it?" she asked.
"It's a shop, but yes, it's the address that Kendall gave me."
"Let's go in, snoop around a bit."
Sydney pretended to be interested in a rack of sweaters while the salesclerk moved to help Vaughn, leaving Sydney's path clear. She bolted through the door and hard the satisfying click of the lock behind her.
"I'm in," she whispered to Vaughn through her transmitter.
"Good, good," she heard Vaughn say, switching his usual tone of voice to an unmistakably American accent. "You do have my size," he continued and she could tell that he was still with the salesclerk.
She however, knew that he had heard her and continued down the hall, stopping every so often to check and make sure that no one was following her. She opened the final door to her right at the end of the hallway and pulled out her gun, not knowing what she might find on the other side.
The room was stark white and empty as she flung open the door, her gun in front of her. She moved around the corner and saw another doorway. She cautiously opened the door and held her gun in front of her again. She saw her parents, bound and gagged back to back in the center of the room. Her mother faced her, her eyes widening as she saw Sydney. She shook her head frantically as Sydney moved toward them.
She stopped, looking at her mother, confused. Irina's head jerked to the security camera in the corner.
"Vaughn," Sydney backed against the door, which was now locked and whispered. "I need to you to disable the security system, do you hear me? Disable the security system."
She heard footsteps pounding on the other side of the wall and the door in the other room open. She quickly looked at her options.
I could make a run for it, she thought, I could, but if all the doors lock behind you, then it's pointless. I could stay here and hold the door until Vaughn disables the system or I could surrender. Neither of these options looked good.
"Sydney!" Vaughn whispered urgently through the microphone. "I can't get the cameras disabled. Did you find your parents?"
"Yes," she replied. "There's a team behind me, what should I do?"
"I'm coming after you," he said, and snuck down the stairs. "What room is it?"
"Vaughn, don't!"
"Sydney, I'm doing this. What room is it?"
She sighed and gave in. "The last one on your right." She pushed back against the door as someone tried to open it. She heard the door in the other room fly open and heard gunshots being fired. They suddenly came to a halt as Sydney was thrown forward by the force of several people ramming the door at once.
She hit the floor and slid a few feet, but quickly got up as guns were pointed at her. She saw a figure, fallen and lying in a pool of blood.
Vaughn.