Rising
Chapter Three
Confusion
Sydney tossed her keys and cell phone on the front table, shutting the door quietly, hoping to avoid her friends. Will heard her, though, and hurried into the hall.
"Hey! Welcome home!"
"Hi, Will." Pangs of guilt shot through her body the moment she saw him, but quickly pushed the emotions to the side.
"You seem upset."
Sydney tried to shake him off. He wouldn't understand anything that was on her mind. Which should she mention first? The fact that she kissed the man who Will despises most in the world, or perhaps that her handler's father is really alive, but not so wonderful?
Will wrapped an arm around Sydney's shoulder.
"You know you can tell me, don't you?"
"I've got to figure things out for myself before I tell you or anyone for that matter."
Francie came rushing in next.
"Did you have a good trip, Syd?"
"It was all right."
"Did Dixon go with you?"
"No, my new partner did."
Will tilted his head, not knowing who her new partner was. Sure, he knew Sark worked with her, but didn't know that they were partners.
"Who is your new partner?"
"Mr. Sark."
Will blanched at the man's name.
"That sounds so professional, " Francie continued, totally oblivious.
"He probably intended it that way."
"Old and wrinkly?"
"Not really."
Will shot Sydney an odd glance, that she couldn't really read.
"I'm exhausted. I need to rest before I go into the office."
*Dee dee dee dee*
Will watched Sydney stare at the phone like it was an explosive. She didn't seem to be making any move towards it, so he picked it up for her.
"Hello?"
"Is Sydney there? This is her cellular phone, is it not?"
"It is. I just picked it up for her. Mr. Sark?" Will's voice held an intense horror. Sydney grabbed the phone like a flash of lightening.
"Sark?"
"I called your mobile phone, so Mr. Tippin wouldn't be aware I contacted you."
"I left it on the table."
"Sorry, then."
"Mr. Sark is apologizing? I have to get out my record books."
"Sydney, I need you to listen."
The smile on Sydney's face vanished.
"I did some more research on my flight back. William Vaughn..."
Sydney cut in, "No. Stop."
"Sydney."
"We are not discussing this."
"I know this is hard on you, but compartmentalize. You've always been able to."
Sydney turned away from her friends, but they didn't leave. Francie didn't realize the importance of the conversation and Will still wanted to be there to help Sydney if she needed anything. Francie was listening closely, trying to dissect her best friend's emotions during the phone call, but she was totally blank. There wasn't dislike, there wasn't like, love, hate, nothing. Just a blank facade. Francie looked over at Will, who seemed to be worried about something she didn't understand. "Will?" She whispered, quietly. Will put a finger to her lips and took her hand in his. Francie settled on the contact and went back to eavesdropping.
"I cannot compartmentalize this, Sark."
"Sydney, I know that it's hard on you to find this out. But you've got to deal with it. Despite what happened between us, we still have to take Geiger down. You have to listen."
"You know nothing about this. You've done nothing but hurt me since I've known you. Why would you be any different now? Because we kissed? I doubt it. It wasn't even real."
Will stared at Sydney in shock. Francie, on the otherhand, was smiling. Will pulled her away from Sydney and into the living room, not wanting to hear anymore of the conversation. Even if it was pretend, it was hard to picture Sydney kissing that monster.
"If that's what you think, Sydney, you're an idiot."
The line sounded like it had disconnected.
"Sark? Sark? What do you mean? SARK!"
She flipped off her phone. "Damn."
Francie called out, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just had a little fight with my partner. I have to go find him."
Will asked, "Do you need any help? I can come."
"No, I've-I just-I gotta go."
Sydney grabbed her keys and left as fast as she could.
Sark leaned against his steering wheel. He knew Sydney didn't want to know about William Vaughn, but they had to work this out. She lashed out at him. It was a reasonable comment, mostly true. But still it stabbed his heart like a knife. He knew that kiss wasn't real to her. Nothing with him could ever be real to her. It was just a bloody nightmare for her. He had hurt Sydney a lot. He'd kidnapped her best friend, captured her, beat her, tortured her, forced her into comprimising her very own morals to save her life and her friend's. But through all that, he still loved her. He didn't understand what it was like, being in love. Still, this was it. He knew it was. She would never accept that. And he had to deal with that fact. The emotions he felt with Sydney confused him. He hated it. He was never confused. He always thought everything our rationally, making calculated steps towards a bigger picture. You'd think that the kiss, the kiss instigated by Sydney, would mean something. At the moment, she had been weak. That was exactly what she was telling herself right now. He knew it. He knew Sydney better than he knew himself. But he didn't really know himself, did he? He'd lost himself somewhere in between his teenage years and become a cold-blooded murderer. He stared out through the windshield at the scenery before him. The observatory made him feel calm, more at peace. He never felt like that. The last time was the previous night with Sydney, and before that, years. He punched the steering wheel, causing the horn to blare, disturbing the quiet, including making a flock of birds fly out from the trees. He sighed. Even the observatory wasn't helping. A light tap on the window broke him from his thoughts. Sydney's innocent face reflected trhough. He unlocked the door and slid over.
"How'd you know I was here?" Sark questioned.
"I went to your apartment, but you weren't there. The observatory is my favorite place to sort out my thoughts. I came and you were here."
"Ah."
They sat in silence for several moments, neither knowing where to begin.
"I'm sorry for what I said."
"It's not a big deal. Besides, it was true."
"Then what did you mean before you hung up?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Sark."
"It's Andrew."
"Andrew?"
"Yeah. I don't want to hurt you anymore, Sydney."
Sydney tilted her head, watching Sark steadily. This was a rare moment of tenderness from him.
"Andrew, it's part of our relationship. Without our fights, it wouldn't be us."
Sark shrugged, glancing at his watch.
"I have a meeting with Geiger. I really shouldn't be late."
"Yeah. We don't want to make him suspicious."
Sark gave her a small smile.
"I'll see you at work."
Sydney opened the door and slid out. She watched him back up, and amazingly, both of their hearts felt heavier than before their conversation. But all the same, they had a company to destroy and a man to bring down. They had to focus.
Chapter Three
Confusion
Sydney tossed her keys and cell phone on the front table, shutting the door quietly, hoping to avoid her friends. Will heard her, though, and hurried into the hall.
"Hey! Welcome home!"
"Hi, Will." Pangs of guilt shot through her body the moment she saw him, but quickly pushed the emotions to the side.
"You seem upset."
Sydney tried to shake him off. He wouldn't understand anything that was on her mind. Which should she mention first? The fact that she kissed the man who Will despises most in the world, or perhaps that her handler's father is really alive, but not so wonderful?
Will wrapped an arm around Sydney's shoulder.
"You know you can tell me, don't you?"
"I've got to figure things out for myself before I tell you or anyone for that matter."
Francie came rushing in next.
"Did you have a good trip, Syd?"
"It was all right."
"Did Dixon go with you?"
"No, my new partner did."
Will tilted his head, not knowing who her new partner was. Sure, he knew Sark worked with her, but didn't know that they were partners.
"Who is your new partner?"
"Mr. Sark."
Will blanched at the man's name.
"That sounds so professional, " Francie continued, totally oblivious.
"He probably intended it that way."
"Old and wrinkly?"
"Not really."
Will shot Sydney an odd glance, that she couldn't really read.
"I'm exhausted. I need to rest before I go into the office."
*Dee dee dee dee*
Will watched Sydney stare at the phone like it was an explosive. She didn't seem to be making any move towards it, so he picked it up for her.
"Hello?"
"Is Sydney there? This is her cellular phone, is it not?"
"It is. I just picked it up for her. Mr. Sark?" Will's voice held an intense horror. Sydney grabbed the phone like a flash of lightening.
"Sark?"
"I called your mobile phone, so Mr. Tippin wouldn't be aware I contacted you."
"I left it on the table."
"Sorry, then."
"Mr. Sark is apologizing? I have to get out my record books."
"Sydney, I need you to listen."
The smile on Sydney's face vanished.
"I did some more research on my flight back. William Vaughn..."
Sydney cut in, "No. Stop."
"Sydney."
"We are not discussing this."
"I know this is hard on you, but compartmentalize. You've always been able to."
Sydney turned away from her friends, but they didn't leave. Francie didn't realize the importance of the conversation and Will still wanted to be there to help Sydney if she needed anything. Francie was listening closely, trying to dissect her best friend's emotions during the phone call, but she was totally blank. There wasn't dislike, there wasn't like, love, hate, nothing. Just a blank facade. Francie looked over at Will, who seemed to be worried about something she didn't understand. "Will?" She whispered, quietly. Will put a finger to her lips and took her hand in his. Francie settled on the contact and went back to eavesdropping.
"I cannot compartmentalize this, Sark."
"Sydney, I know that it's hard on you to find this out. But you've got to deal with it. Despite what happened between us, we still have to take Geiger down. You have to listen."
"You know nothing about this. You've done nothing but hurt me since I've known you. Why would you be any different now? Because we kissed? I doubt it. It wasn't even real."
Will stared at Sydney in shock. Francie, on the otherhand, was smiling. Will pulled her away from Sydney and into the living room, not wanting to hear anymore of the conversation. Even if it was pretend, it was hard to picture Sydney kissing that monster.
"If that's what you think, Sydney, you're an idiot."
The line sounded like it had disconnected.
"Sark? Sark? What do you mean? SARK!"
She flipped off her phone. "Damn."
Francie called out, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just had a little fight with my partner. I have to go find him."
Will asked, "Do you need any help? I can come."
"No, I've-I just-I gotta go."
Sydney grabbed her keys and left as fast as she could.
Sark leaned against his steering wheel. He knew Sydney didn't want to know about William Vaughn, but they had to work this out. She lashed out at him. It was a reasonable comment, mostly true. But still it stabbed his heart like a knife. He knew that kiss wasn't real to her. Nothing with him could ever be real to her. It was just a bloody nightmare for her. He had hurt Sydney a lot. He'd kidnapped her best friend, captured her, beat her, tortured her, forced her into comprimising her very own morals to save her life and her friend's. But through all that, he still loved her. He didn't understand what it was like, being in love. Still, this was it. He knew it was. She would never accept that. And he had to deal with that fact. The emotions he felt with Sydney confused him. He hated it. He was never confused. He always thought everything our rationally, making calculated steps towards a bigger picture. You'd think that the kiss, the kiss instigated by Sydney, would mean something. At the moment, she had been weak. That was exactly what she was telling herself right now. He knew it. He knew Sydney better than he knew himself. But he didn't really know himself, did he? He'd lost himself somewhere in between his teenage years and become a cold-blooded murderer. He stared out through the windshield at the scenery before him. The observatory made him feel calm, more at peace. He never felt like that. The last time was the previous night with Sydney, and before that, years. He punched the steering wheel, causing the horn to blare, disturbing the quiet, including making a flock of birds fly out from the trees. He sighed. Even the observatory wasn't helping. A light tap on the window broke him from his thoughts. Sydney's innocent face reflected trhough. He unlocked the door and slid over.
"How'd you know I was here?" Sark questioned.
"I went to your apartment, but you weren't there. The observatory is my favorite place to sort out my thoughts. I came and you were here."
"Ah."
They sat in silence for several moments, neither knowing where to begin.
"I'm sorry for what I said."
"It's not a big deal. Besides, it was true."
"Then what did you mean before you hung up?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Sark."
"It's Andrew."
"Andrew?"
"Yeah. I don't want to hurt you anymore, Sydney."
Sydney tilted her head, watching Sark steadily. This was a rare moment of tenderness from him.
"Andrew, it's part of our relationship. Without our fights, it wouldn't be us."
Sark shrugged, glancing at his watch.
"I have a meeting with Geiger. I really shouldn't be late."
"Yeah. We don't want to make him suspicious."
Sark gave her a small smile.
"I'll see you at work."
Sydney opened the door and slid out. She watched him back up, and amazingly, both of their hearts felt heavier than before their conversation. But all the same, they had a company to destroy and a man to bring down. They had to focus.