Chapter Sixteen: Irina's Daughter

Sydney stayed at the office late the night her mother left on her trip, needing some time alone to decide how she was going to deal with things. One thing was for sure, though-- she couldn't continue to see Sark romantically. It was bound to hurt their partnership, but then again, maybe not. Of course Sark had been ecstatic to take Michael's place at the Organization; taking his place in the bedroom had just been an added perk. Or at least, Sydney was hoping that was the way he saw things.

With that in mind, she was quite surprised to enter her apartment that evening to find Sark on the couch with her daughter, reading to her from a children's book.

"Who the hell let you in?" Sydney demanded, then cursed herself for not doing a better job of keeping her emotions in check.

Sark merely raised an eyebrow at her protest. "You're in a fine mood this evening, aren't you, darling? Emily let me in, didn't you, sweetheart?"

"Yep." Sydney's stomach lurched as Emily smiled up at him. Oh, God. Perhaps Michael would be able to forgive her for inviting Sark into her bed, but for letting him be such a part of her life, part of their children's lives... "Sark's been reading to me, Mommy."

"That's-- that's wonderful, sweetheart," she managed. "Where's your brother?"

"I'm here." Jack appeared in the entryway of the room, arms folded in front of him. His insolent expression changed when he saw the look on her face. "Is something wrong, Mom?"

Sydney's heart nearly broke at his concern. He was so like his father-- even when he was mad at her, he couldn't stand to see her upset. "I've had a rough day, sweetie," she said, feeling the lump rising in her throat. She walked over to the boy, smoothing his dark hair back from his forehead. "Actually," she whispered, planting a kiss on his forehead. "It's been a rough year, hasn't it?"

His beautiful green eyes filled with tears as he looked up at her. "Yeah, Mom." She held him close to her as, to her surprise, he began to sob. He'd hardly broken down at all since his father's...death. Disappearance. What ever you wanted to call it. Or had she just somehow failed to notice? "I miss Dad, Mom. So much."

"Oh, sweetie," she said, rubbing his back as he cried. "I miss him, too."

His sobs finally quieted and he pulled away from her, glancing over at Sark as if embarrassed he'd broken down in front of him.

"Jack, sweetheart," she said, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm sorry I haven't been there for you this last year as much as I should have. But I promise that's going to change." There might be a lot of changes around here, she thought cryptically. Your father coming back from the dead, for one. "I love you, Jack," she said instead. "No matter what, okay?"

"Okay," he said, offering her a sad smile. His father's smile. "I love you, too, Mom."

"I know you do," she said, returning his smile. "Now, sweetheart. Have you eaten yet?"

"Mrs. Patterson left some sort of pasta simmering on the stove," Sark spoke up. "I was just about to--"

"Why don't you go wash up, Jack, and I'll go get everything ready?" Sydney interrupted.

"Okay," Jack said, smiling the first real smile she'd seen from him in the last year.

"Emily, angel, why don't you go with him?" Sydney said, directing a smile at her little girl.

"Okay, Mommy," she said, springing up from the couch without a second glance at Sark.

Sydney finally turned her attention to him, once the children were out of the room. "I think you should go, Sark."

"Sydney, what's the matter?" he asked, the concern in his eyes a bit disconcerting. "You don't--" he lowered his voice. "You don't think I had anything to do with Michael's--"

"No, Sark," she interrupted, a cool smile playing about her lips. "You're simply an opportunist. Not a murderer." Or at least, not Michael's murderer. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have dinner with my children."

He grabbed her arm suddenly, and she let out a little whimper of pain. "You don't want to fuck me anymore, that's fine," he hissed. "But don't even think you're going to push me out of my spot at the Organization again."

She broke free of his grasp. "I'd suggest you not touch me again, and I really hope you weren't threatening me," she said, eyes burning into his. "I wouldn't dream of taking your power away just because I no longer want you as a lover. But don't you dare cross me, or I might just change my mind."

"My God," he said, staring at her with something very close to contempt. "You really are Irina's daughter, aren't you?"

Sydney merely smiled. "You bet your ass I am. Now get out."