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 5

"Sydney, you can stay in the middle room while Jack and I are in the first room. Kerry's room is right down the hall." Irina pointed down the hallway toward the closed door with various pictures painted on it along with several quotes and song lyrics.

They had made their way up the stairs shortly after deciding that they would be staying there until they left. Irina explained where everything was in case anything was needed; the bathroom was next to Irina and Jack's room and a small closet in the hallway held the clean towels. Everything else was pretty easy to find.

"Will she stop that soon? And won't she be a little ticked that we're going to be staying here?" Sydney silently prayed that the noise emanating from the teenager's room would cease before she tried to go to sleep. She did have to admit that Kerry was pretty good, but it was still noise nonetheless.

"She usually stops about 10 or 10:30, but that could have changed since the last time I was here. And you seem to forget that I own this house, it doesn't matter what she wants, we are staying here."

Sydney thanked the higher powers since it was about 9:55 already. Although with her luck, her watch was off and it was only 8:55. Just to make sure she went into her assigned room and checked the small alarm clock. Her watch was correct.

"Do you mind if I take a quick shower?"

"Sydney, you don't have to ask."

Sydney just looked at her mother. She had said the same thing to Vaughn not that long ago when he was at her apartment. Shaking her head clear, she made her way toward the bathroom, grabbing a towel from the closet on her way.

"I'll go get the bags from the car so you have something to change into, when you're finished."

"Thanks, dad." And then he was off, leaving Irina to herself, for the second time that night.

With nothing else to do, she decided that maybe it would be best to try to talk to Kerry. Determined as always, she walked toward the decorative door, and knocked rather hard, in order to be heard.

The sound from behind was silenced, and light footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door.

"What's u..Oh it's just you," she seemed slightly disappointed because of who had knocked. She opened the door enough to be able to stand fully in the doorway. She didn't know what to expect, an argument? An attempt at an apology? When it came to Irina, no one knew what to expect.

"You've gotten quite good, since the last time I heard you play," Irina was trying to break the ice, and Kerry knew it.

"That's what practice will do, make you better." The answer was quick and shorter than what Irina had hoped for. She hoped it would spawn a longer conversation that would jump from subject to subject as they often did when they spoke. Irina had to get straight to the point.

Irina nodded and smiled sadly, "Can we talk?"

Kerry moved aside to allow Irina into her private abode. It mimicked the door only on a larger scale. There was the television and a stereo system that Irina had bought for her only a year ago. But there was a new addition, a drawing table. The starting point for what ended up on her walls. It was practically chaos, with the variety of colors, reds, oranges and yellows. They looked like they were on fire.

"You've been busy. I like it." She couldn't help but smile when she saw the small picture frame next to Kerry's bed that contained a picture of them together from when she was younger. Kerry was sitting on a swing and Irina was standing behind ready to give her a push. Irina remembered when times were happier; she only regretted the fact that Kerry didn't grow up knowing Jack and Sydney. That was her fault and she couldn't change the past. She would go back and change everything if she only had the chance..

Kerry nodded and removed her guitar from the bed and placed it on its stand, making room for them to sit down.

Irina sat and patted the space next to her. Kerry sat down hesitantly, debating whether she should sit on the bed or pull up a chair.

"Like I said, I know you're upset."

"Understatement."

Continuing as if she wasn't interrupted, "I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I had things that needed to be done, and I didn't know when it would be appropriate to tell you the truth. I was going to tell you, eventually, I didn't want you to find out by eavesdropping either, but I know where the curiosity comes from." They smiled together knowing exactly whom that came from.

"I know you meant well and all, but you could have told me sooner. I would have liked to know what my parents were like. You also could have told me that you were an enemy of the US! I was doing all you're dirty work on the Internet! Do you know what could have happened to me?"

Irina sighed, at least she seemed to be getting somewhere.

"Nothing would have happened to you, I made sure of that. You were always protected."

Kerry snorted and sarcastically said, "Yeah, always."

Concern filled Irina's eyes, something wasn't being said and she wanted to know what.

"Kerry what happened?"

She shook her head, "It was nothing, and it's in the past. There are no worries. A few unannounced visitors, that was all."

Silently swearing to find it out later, Kerry could be the most stubborn person at times. More so that Irina ever could be. Due to that fact, Irina decided to change the subject.

A smile lit up her face when she knew what to talk about.

"So how are things with Sean?"

Kerry's cheeks suddenly got rosier at the mention of the boy and a smile appeared on her face that mirrored Irina's.

"Things are good and that's as personal as this part of the conversation will get."

Pouting but not about to push any further, Irina continued, "So were you two rehearsing for something earlier?"

Kerry nodded, "Yeah, that show Friday night. There are a bunch of bands from all around coming and we're playing. We don't have any of our own songs, but we're working on them. And I know you'll want to come, but if you come to any function this week, I am not to know that you are there. You guys are spies, act stealthy."

Irina was confused, "Why don't you want us to be seen?"

Kerry shrugged, "It's just everyone thinks that you're dead. It's kind of cool, in a sick and twisted sort of way. No that's not it, well they do think you're dead, but it's added pressure and anxiety whenever you're around. I'm used to you not being there."

Irina sat there silently taking everything in. Kerry was doing fine without her there, and she made everything worse by coming back.

"No you didn't," Kerry said as if she could read minds, "It's not worse, it's just odd. I have to get used to it again, and then you'll leave. It was hell every other time and it will be just as bad this time, because I know you won't be coming back."

Tears began to fall from her eyes and Irina took her into her arms. She ran her hand through her red-streaked hair as a way of comforting her, because she had no words to help sooth her pain.

****

Sydney was dressed in a pair of pajama pants and a tank top when someone knocked on her door.

"Just a minute," she frantically tried to wipe away the tears that had began falling while she was in the shower."

Fixed as best she could she walked to the door and opened it to find Jack on the other side.

"I see you're already settled in, I didn't know if you saw your bag or not."

Sydney nodded and smiled, "It was kind of hard to miss, since you put it on the bed."

Jack noticed her red, puffy eyes and reminisces of tears that had fallen creating small wet lines flowing down her cheeks.

"Sydney, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, I must have gotten something in my eye. That's all," she attempted to lie, not wanting to go into the details of what caused her to cry.

"Syd, I may not be the World's Greatest Father, I know that. But I do know you well enough, to know when something is bothering you."

"It's nothing really, you shouldn't worry about it. You should go and get some sleep." She tried to push him out the door, but he wouldn't move in the slightest.

"It's about your mother, isn't it?" He knew he hit the spot when she stopped her attempts at moving him. Her hands left his shoulders and fell to her sides.

"It's just frustrating to think that she cares more about Kerry, her niece, than she ever did for either of us. Are we that bad, that she rather take care of her sister's child?"

Jack sighed, not knowing how to answer the unanswerable questions.

"Honey, you have to realize that when it comes to Irina Derevko, everything is backwards. Nothing is as it may appear to be. Although, it does strike me as odd, that she would spend so much time on one person other than herself that isn't part of a mission that she had to accomplish."

"It hurts."

The only thing Jack could do to comfort Sydney was to bring her into his embrace, there was nothing else. No explanations that could make any sort of sense, no way of pointing fingers. There was only him. That was all that Sydney needed at that time.

****

"You can take the bed, I'll sleep on the floor." Jack took a pillow from the bed and placed it at the bottom of it.

Irina chuckled, "You don't have to sleep on the floor, Jack. The bed is big enough for two and nothing will happen. Trust me."

Jack just glared, but bent and picked up the pillow, placing it back where it came from. He pulled the comforter and sheets back and laid down on the edge of the bed, afraid that he will come in contact with someone that he doesn't want to.

Irina sighed and also got into bed, making sure to take up her allotted share. She looked at Jack's back. Even though she knew he wouldn't talk she decided to ask anyway.

"Do you think Kerry is hiding something?"

He turned onto his back, "Irina, I don't know the girl well enough to say. The only thing I can think of that she may be hiding, is her computer system. For such an able hacker, she doesn't seem to have one."

"It's in the basement," she said dismissively, "but she seems a little strange."

It was Jack's turn to sigh, "Could it be because she's changed in the few months that you've been with us? Chances are she's grown up a lot. She was forced to due to the facet that she was alone. From what I understand, she has been a very independent young woman for a while now."

Irina seemed to contemplate the idea

"No. It's something else."

"Then we'll figure it out later, we don't have to rush things, Kendall gave Sydney and I permission to stay as long as we need. Go to sleep. Otherwise, you will be talking to yourself," He turned back onto is side and away from Irina.

Irina turned off the bedside lamp and tried to calm her mind enough that she could fall asleep.

When the next day came to life, the two former lovers were spooned together, like nothing in the past had ever happened.

**** This is the longest chapter I have ever written. I realize that the whole part where Irina said what Sydney said to Vaughn in the episode 'A Dark Turn' and in all reality Irina shouldn't be with them right now. However, this is my world, therefore not everything that happens on the show is taken into consideration.