Chapter Five: Unanswered Questions

"What's the CIA?"

"Well, Jack, it's a United States government agency, and an enemy of the Organization."

Jack sat up in bed with a start. Where the hell had that memory come from? And what the hell was the Organization, if it was an enemy of a United States government agency? Had his parents been working for the Mafia, or what?

He rolled over and looked at the clock, groaning when he saw the time. Six-fucking-fifteen a.m. He slept better back at school. He punched his pillow, knowing that getting back to sleep was completely hopeless, and padded down to the kitchen.

To his surprise, his parents were already up, sipping coffee in their bathrobes.

"What are you guys doing up?"

"Mrs. Corr is having Christmas Eve brunch at the restaurant," his father explained.

"Wow," Jack said appreciatively. "You guys are getting a lot of business, huh? The party last night, this today."

"We're doing okay for this time of year," Michael agreed. "Want some coffee?"

"No, thanks," Jack said, sliding into the chair across from his father.

"You're up early, sweetie," his mother noted, leaning over to ruffle his hair.

"Couldn't sleep," he said off-handedly. Was it possible that his sweet mother had been involved with something shady? And his father, who seemed like such a good guy-- could he have been some sort of underworld crime lord?

"I'll probably be gone before Emily gets up," Michael told Sydney then, sounding apologetic.

"Oh, honey, you know she'll sleep till noon," Sydney said, concern knitting her brow. "Let me come help out."

"I just hate to leave her alone," Michael said, then turned to Jack as if seeing him for the first time. "Jack, will you be around this morning? Can you make sure your sister doesn't leave the house?"

"I guess," Jack said warily. "Why? What's going on?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "You want to explain it to him, Syd?" he questioned. "I think I'll go jump in the shower."

"Sure thing, honey."

Michael kissed his wife before heading out of the room. Jack turned to his mother, a question in his eyes.

"Emily tried to sneak out of the house last night," Sydney said lightly, moving to empty the last of her coffee into the sink. "Not as big of a deal as your father's making it."

"Did he ground her?" Jack asked with interest. Emily had hardly ever gotten in trouble when they were younger.

"He did," Sydney confirmed, going about the business of rinsing out the coffee pot and throwing out the used grounds and filter. "He and I talked about it. We decided her punishment should last for a week, and when it's over, she can see Keith again."

"What?" Jack exclaimed. "Mom! He's seventeen!"

"Yes, I know," Sydney said dryly. "I think Emily can take care of herself, Jack."

"I guess," Jack said warily. "But still."

Sydney sighed, leaning against the counter. "I see you picked up the overprotective gene from your father," she observed, running a hand back through her hair. "You know, he always worried about me so much, even when--" She broke off suddenly, and a conversation Jack had had with her many years ago came rushing back to him:

"What's the CIA?"

"It's a United States government agency, sweetie."

"Did you and Dad used to work for them?"

"Yes, honey."

"Why don't you anymore?"

"We work for your grandma now, sweetie."

"When you worked for the CIA?" Jack blurted out suddenly. "Or when you worked for the Organization?"

Sydney froze, her eyes wide, but Jack thought it was to her credit that she managed to answer the question. "Both, actually."

"Why don't we see our grandmother anymore?" It wasn't the best question Jack could have asked, but he had so many, he supposed it was as good of a place to start as any.

"To be honest, Jack," Sydney said, joining him at the table. "I have no idea where your grandmother even is."

"Why not?" Jack demanded. "We saw her almost every day when we were kids."

Sydney bit her lower lip, staring up at the ceiling as if it would provide her with the answers she needed. "To tell you the truth, Jack," she said. "Your grandmother was-- is, I suppose-- a liar, and a manipulator, and it was a huge mistake for me to allow you to be around her as long as I did."

Jack raised his eyebrows. Whatever answer he'd been expecting, it hadn't been that. "So why did you work for her?"

"It was a mistake," Sydney said flatly, rising from her seat. "It was a bad situation, and we got out of it, and that's all that matters, all right, Jack?"

She left the room before he had a chance to answer. Had he been given the opportunity, his response would have been a loud, resounding no. How could it not have mattered when it had affected everything that had happened in all of their lives since?