Chapter 5: Home Sweet Home

"Sydney are you ok?" He looks like he wants to give her a hug but doesn't knowing how.

"Dad!" She walks into his arms as he awkwardly pats her on the back.

"We've got to get out of here."

"How did you find us?"

"I got a call from Sark, he told me where you were. He also said that he sent a message to the CIA and SD-6 about your capture and subsequent release. It's suppose to be a sign of good faith for future dealings. He mentioned something about how our organizations can work together to achieve our goals. What is he talking about? Never mind, you can tell me on the ride back." He ushers them out into a waiting helicopter.

12 hours later.

Sydney walks into her house looking like she's about to collapse. Will, his face still showing massive bruising rushes over and hugs her. He then half drags and half carries her to the couch.

"Hey, Jack told me that he'd found you but that was 8 hours ago! You look like hell."

"You don't look much better." Sydney retorted. "I had to check in with SD- 6 and the CIA."

"Couldn't they have let you take a shower or something before interrogating you?" Will said fussing over her.

"I've got to take a shower." She tried to get up but her arms and legs were like lead.

"You stay right here and I'll run you a bath." He rushed out of the room.

Sydney closed her eyes and tried to relax. It had been grueling and long day and she was glad to be home. Right after getting of the plane she'd been escorted to SD- 6 and interrogated. She was used to the interrogation but she couldn't help feeling betrayed by Dixon. He'd actually turned her in. She understood why he had to do it but it still hurt. Her father had told her about how he'd explained everything to Sloan.

"Why didn't you tell me about the missions you send Sydney on." Sloan asked Jack.

"I didn't know where your loyalties laid."

"Jack, now that I've been accepted into the Alliance as a partner there shouldn't be any question of loyalty."

"I sent her on that last mission before I knew that. I gave her the name Freelancer and gave her a sat phone to take with her on missions after she found out I worked here. It was my way of telling her that I'll be there for her."

"The other partners are pleased with The Man's offer for an active treaty with the Alliance." Sloan said satisfied with Jack's answer. He knew that the Khansinau's organization would never have offered to work with Sydney if she'd been hiding something.

"I don't trust them."

"Neither do I, but Sydney will be able to infiltrate their organization and destroy it from the inside."

"Pick someone else. Sydney will never agree to work with them."

"They had a condition and that was that they'd only work with Sydney. She will follow orders, Jack." He said the last sentence as a warning to Jack. He knew that Sydney would need some convincing and he had just given Jack an order to make her toe the line.

"You know that they are up to something. Do realize the danger we're putting her in?"

"She's a good agent and she's too honest to become a double agent. That's why they want her."

"Hey Sydney, your bath is ready." He said picked her up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Sydney asked surprised. "You don't have to do this."

"Please, let me do this for you, it's the least I can do. You saved my life, twice."

"Oh Will, you don't owe me anything. You're my friend.I" Her eyes started to mist. They reached the bathroom and he set her down on a chair that he'd placed there. He quickly took off her shoes and sock.

"Now, get into that bath and I'll check in on you in a minute."

"I don't think I can take a bath in a minute."

"I don't want you to fall asleep. I've written too many obituaries about people drowning in baths." He leaves the room.

Sydney quickly strips and gets into the bath. It felt heavenly. Will had used Francie's favorite and very expensive aromatherapy bath oil. She made a note to pick up some more the next time she was in France. The hot water and the scent relaxed her tense muscles and she drifted back to meeting at Langley.

"This is Director Keller and this is Director Henderson." Devlin said gesturing to the man on his right first and then his left. "That is Agent Vaughn, Agent Jack Bristow, and Sydney Bristow."

"Would you like a few minutes to wash up and change?" he asked concerned just noticing her appearance.

"I came straight here from SD-6, as straight as it's possible without exposing my cover anyways. I'm being sent on a mission tomorrow. I'll like to get this finished as soon as possible." Sydney wasn't sure why she felt the need to excuse her appearance but looking around the table she realized that even Vaughn was immaculately groomed.

"Our intel, has informed us that Sydney was turned into SD-6 by her partner Dixon. Is that going to pose a problem?"

"That's been taken care of. I spoke to Sloan while Sydney went through interrogation."

"Why was the fact that SD-6 received the same offer as we did, left out of the report?" Devlin said looking through a stack of paper? Asked Devlin looking at Jack.

"Because I wanted it to be clear that Sydney's objective as a CIA agent is to bring down SD-6 not work as a triple agent. I also wanted to make sure that knowledge was as limited as possible. We still haven't found the mole."

"Why wouldn't it be clear?" said Director Keller leaning forward not seeing the look that passed between Devlin and Jack.

"I don't trust the new organization. I know that they are up to something. If this new alliance with the organization is broken I want to make sure that Sydney isn't held accountable."

"We need to get an name for this organization, this report reads like a puzzle. I don't know which organization is what." Said Director Henderson.

"NNO" Sydney and Vaughn said at the same time giving each other a smile.

"NNO?"

"No name organization." Said Vaughn.

"Ms. Bristow, is there anything that we should know about the organi.NNO?" ask Director Keller.

"Before I was captured, I was able to destroy a device. The device was similar to the one I was forced to acquire for SD-6 before I joined the CIA."

"Why did you destroy it instead of bringing it to us? Asked ask Director Henderson.

"The device I gave to SD-6 was small enough to carry. The new device was approximately 30 feet tall."

"What does it do?"

"We don't know yet."

"I'm sure that now Sydney will be working for NNO, that we will soon find out."

"While you were captured, did you learn anything about NNO other then it's being headed by your mother? What do they want? What are their objectives?" Devlin asked.

"Everything I found I put into the report."

"You mentioned a Mr. Sark. Does he have a first name?"

"He just goes by Sark or Mr. Sark."

"You said that you think that he has private motives in bringing down SD- 6."

"I believe that he holds K-directorate, FTL, and SD-6 responsible for something that has happened to him in the past."

"How did you reach this conclusion did he tell you?"

"Hey Sydney, you decent?" Will's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Yeah, all covered in bubbles." She replied.

Will came in with a small boom box and some cds. "I thought we could have some music." He plugged in the box and pressed the music button. 'Angel' by Sarah MacLachlan started to play.

Sydney smiled. "I love that song. It's a little sad though."

"Do you want me to change it?" He said reaching for the stop button.

"No, I like it, it reminds me of someone."

"Danny?" He sits on the side of the tub.

"No, a friend. A good friend."

"Sydney, I know that you spent all day talking but if you need to talk to someone, you know I'm here for you right?"

"Thanks! I'll remember that. So how are you holding up?"

"You probably haven't heard but I'm a drug addict."

"What?!!"

"I'm not really one, but your dad made some deal with Sloan. It ended up with me being caught drugged in a drug bust and then holding a press conference telling everyone that my story wasn't real and that I'm a drug addict and stuff like that."

"Oh Will. I'm so sorry." She grabs his hand and squeezes it in sympathy.

"I don't mind too much, my career is over but I get to live and keep my life the way it was. Oh yeah, I have to do 200 hours of community service."

"It must be tough."

"Hey, it's not as tough as yours."

"I'm used to it though. And I have friends like you so it make is worth it."

The phone rings.

"I'll get it." He comes back with it and hands it to her. "I told him that you were in the bath but he said that you'd take the call."

Sydney holds up the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Are you enjoying your bath, Ms. Bristow?" The sardonic, slightly accented voice caused her to sit up quickly forgetting her situation and Will's presence. Will is turned to stone at sight of her breasts barely covered in foam. He is unable to look away as the suds slowly slip lower and lower.

"How did you get this number?" Sydney didn't know what she bothered asking since it was obvious that Sark would most likely give her a cryptic answer.

"You weren't answering your cell phone. I didn't know that you and Mr. Tippen had that kind of arrangement." His lightning quick change of subject threw her.

"Will and I do NOT have THAT kind of arrangement! Will happens to be a good friend who is being good enough to stay with me. Why am I justifying this to you? It's none of your business." Sydney groaned inwardly, Sark done it to her again, made her forget all her training.

"Is he still in the room?"

"Why do you care if he's in the room? Wait a second, why are you calling me?" She leans back into the tub still not noticing Will's immobilization.

"I just wanted toast our new partnership. If you will be kind enough to ask your friend to answer the door.." Just as he finished the sentence the doorbell rang.

"Um, I'll get that." Will said leaving the room.

"Oh, I don't have anything to toast you with, I guess your call was wasted." She said sarcastically,"

"Ye of little faith. Hasn't anyone told you that patience is a virtue?"

"Sark, enough of the mind games, what do you want?"

"I've already told you, enjoy the wine and I'll see you first thing in the morning."

"First thing in the morning?" She could hear the phone disconnect in her ear before she could finish her sentence. She stared at the phone wondering if the satisfaction of chucking it against the wall would be worth getting a new phone. She was saved from making a decision by Will's entrance into the bathroom.

"Hey some person left this on the doorstep." He held up a half a bottle of wine and a wineglass. What kind of person sends someone a half a bottle of wine of.Chartruse!" Will excitement at the bottle of wine is evident. "Jesus, do you know how much this wine costs? No wonder they only sent you a half a bottle!"

Sydney didn't want to explain to Will about Sark so she played the only card she knew would work. "Hey, I'm a little tired and I have to get up early in the morning. Why don't you enjoy the wine for me, OK?"

"Are you sure? Thanks! I've always wanted to taste one of these." He moved to leave the room and then stopped as something registered in his brain. "The guy that called, it was that scary N'Sync guy that kidnapped me right?"

Sydney smiled at the description. "Yeah, his name is Sark."

"Do you want me to hang up the next time he calls?"

"No, he'll just find some other way to get a hold of me."

"Goodnight Sydney."

"Goodnight Will."

When Sydney went to bed that night fell asleep to the sound of Stark's voice in her head saying "Goodnight Ms. Bristow, I'll see you in the morning!"