Title: A Hacker and Hershey Kisses

Author: Me, mestupgirl

Disclaimer: I own nothing; all characters etc belong to JJ Abrams and Comp. Except for Kerry and Sean, they're figments of my imagination : P

Summary: Takes place in the future, slight spoilers but nothing earth shattering. Basically, Jack and Syd get Irina out of her cell to track a troublesome hacker by the name of Kerry. Secrets and truths are found along the way. Somewhat in the future of my own little world.

A/N: This is my first Alias fic.be gentle.

*** Chapter 4

"So you guys work with her, or something?" Kerry seemed more interested in unwrapping the foil on the candy than what the answer to the question was.

Jack's attention was pulled from the woman in the other room to the young replica of her that was standing in the kitchen with him. The resemblance was uncanny, so close that she really could be Irina's own child simply by appearance. He even found himself questioning whether or not she really was Irina's. It's not like he ever met any member of Irina's family, didn't even know if she had a sister at all.

"Not really with her, but somewhat of the same line of work," Jack replied, with lack of a better explanation.

Kerry nodded and began to make an aluminum ball with the rapidly growing number of foils from each Kiss that she devoured.

"So, you two are on the good guys team?" There was no joking tone in her voice, no playfulness in her eyes. She was serious.

"Don't try to come up with an explanation. I know the things that she has been doing aren't legal by any means. So that would make you the good guys, if you're 'somewhat in the same line of work,'" she tried to imitate Jack's wording and voice as well as she could.

Sydney laughed at the bad impression and Jack even had a small smirk on his face.

"Yes, we are on opposite sides, and as much as I wish I really knew what was going on, the line is getting blurry. She has helped us on various occasions, this being one of them."

"She's been with you guys these past months all along?"

Sydney nodded and began to explain, "She turned herself in a few months ago. She's been in CIA custody the whole time."

Kerry threw her small ball and it landed in the garbage can near the counter and placed the significantly smaller bag into the cupboard.

"I have to go and do something else right now. If she really is in CIA custody, you two better go and watch her, make sure she doesn't try to run."

Irina had been alone in the living room for several minutes, so quiet that she could have left and no one would have really known. But she didn't, she was still sitting there when Kerry walked past her on the way to the stairs.

"Kerry, wait." She has almost made it to the stairs but Irina stopped her. She turned and faced Irina, not looking at her.

"I know that you're upset with me," Kerry snorted but Irina continued, "But you have to get over it. Everything I did was for the best..was for you. It was what your mother wanted. Listen to me, you have to come back with us tonight. If not, I don't know what they may do to you."

Irina stood and began slowly walking toward Kerry.

"I'm not going with you! I already told Sydney that nothing is happening over there, it's here. I don't know what it is, but it's not my problem right now. This week was hectic enough before you guys showed up. I have to be at school tomorrow night to decorate the hallway for Spirit Week and I have a really big game the next day. Plus the band is playing on Friday night and there's a club trip coming up. I don't have time. Anyway, I have to go finish some work for tomorrow."

She turned and ran up the steps, a door was heard as it slammed shut. The loud distorted music of a guitar could be heard through the floor.

"She's not cooperating very much, now is she?" Jack came in from the kitchen and sat down on the couch.

Irina turned from where Kerry had been and looked at Jack, she shrugged.

"I never really had a tight hold on her."

"Is there anything she doesn't do," he asked while pointing to the ceiling. Calm melodies often turned into sounds of anger and kept interchanging.

"Not that I can remember, she was always quite the overachiever." Irina sat back down on the couch, but careful not to get too close to Jack.

"Kendall didn't give us much time to take care of this. Problems were anticipated, but he only gave us until the end of the week."

Irina nodded, remembering the debriefing session.

"Where is Sydney?" Hushed words could be heard coming from the kitchen, although the specifics could not be heard.

"She's checking in, I guess."

'Vaughn,' Irina thought with a smile on her face.

Soon the whispers ended and Sydney came rushing into the living room.

"That was Vaughn," both Jack and Irina had looks that said they already knew, "He said that headquarters received intel that Sloane is on his way to this area."

"That must be the big thing that Kerry was talking about, but what is he coming here for?" Irina was confused for the first time in a while.

Sydney shook her head, "Vaughn said that there were reports of a possible trade for a Rambaldi artifact, but everything is still unclear."

"There is no one here who has anything that belonged to Rambaldi, the closest one was in New York about a year ago."

"They must be on the move then, because Sloane is on his way, he'll be here in a day or two."

"I'll contact Kendall in the morning, but we have to get to the hotel soon." Jack seemed uneasy with the thought of coming face to face with Sloane anytime soon.

"I don't want to leave Kerry alone, Jack. I know she's able to handle herself, but I don't want to take the chance."

"She's right dad. I wouldn't put it past Sloane to have found something about her and be looking for her. She may have even tapped into SD-6's database when they were still operating, who knows?"

"There are enough rooms here for all of us." Irina began to make her way up the stairs.

"You are not going to be out of my sight." Irina seemed shocked that he was willing to forgo a room and share one with her. 'This should be interesting,' she thought to herself.

**** A/N: Thanks to the snow and early dismissal, I was able to update finally. Yay! Please tell me what you think. : )