Epilogue - Part 1

Sydney waited anxiously in the Visitor Waiting Room at San Quentin prison. It had been a week, and today was the first day her father was allowed visitors. When her name was finally called, she moved into the visiting room and sat down at the table, separated from the prisoner side by a glass partition.

She looked up as her father was escorted in, and scrutinized him carefully. He looked, she thought in surprise, more rested and relaxed than she had seen him in some time. He sat down at the table and they both picked up the phones.

"Dad? How are you?"

"Fine, sweetheart. I see that Vaughn released you."

"He was afraid...that you wouldn't have the opportunity. Dad, you shouldn't have taken the risk."

This was not a debate Jack wanted to participate in. "Any news?" he prompted, to switch the subject.

"Oh! Yes, I meant to tell you right away. You'll never believe it. Mom captured Sloane and turned him over to the CIA."

"Really?" her father drawled.

Impervious, Sydney continued. "Yes, and she found evidence that Sloane had set you up. Devlin's arranged for you to be released tomorrow."

Jack smiled broadly at that news. The food really was pretty bad.

"Dad?" asked Sydney worriedly, suddenly noticing something she had missed earlier. "There are some bruises on your neck. Were you attacked?"

**

Jack straightened his tie, glanced around his office, and sighed. All of his possessions were sitting in FBI evidence boxes. It would take some work to unpack and rearrange everything the way he had had it. The only thing on his desk was a single-spaced letter from Kendall. He was resigning. For personal reasons. Good decision, thought Jack. He looked up as he heard a knock on the door.

"Director Bristow? Uh, I guess you're Director again, right?" Marshall peered in through the door. "Welcome back, sir. I knew you'd never work for Sloane. Well, that is, except for the 15 years you worked for him at SD-6. Oh, I guess I kinda did too-"

"Yes, Marshall?"

"Um, I was wondering if you have the PDA I lent you. April Fools' Day is in a couple of days, and I'd like...,"

Jack gestured to the boxes. "When I find it, I'll give it back."

"Thank you, sir, and if you don't mind-,"

"Good bye, Marshall."

**

"Director Bristow? Do you have a moment?" Jack looked up and sighed. It was Vaughn. There was something to be said for the peace and quiet of solitary.

"Yes, Agent Vaughn?"

Vaughn came in and closed the door behind him. "Sir, there are a couple of things I don't quite understand."

"Curiosity killed the cat, Vaughn."

"Yes sir," said Vaughn nervously. "But would you mind telling me why you drove back to Joint. Ops after I warned you they were going to arrest you?"

"Yes."

"Sir?"

"Yes, I would mind. Anything else?"

Vaughn shifted uncomfortably, but plunged ahead. "It seems a little unusual that, in the middle of an FBI investigation, you would have been sequestered in solitary confinement where the interrogators had no access to you. I was just wondering....if you were somewhere else last week?"

Jack glared at Vaughn. "What other vacation spot do you think they sent me to last week, *Agent* Vaughn? The secure facility in Hawaii?"

Vaughn licked his lips. "I was thinking, sir, perhaps you were with Irina Derevko."

"You've been reading too much fiction, Vaughn. Get out of my office." Jack smiled to himself as Vaughn backed out hastily. He was coming along nicely.

**

Jack's phone rang.

"Bristow."

"Jack. Glad to see you're back at work. The FBI will be issuing you a formal apology next week."

"That's not really necessary, Ben."

"Let me enjoy this, Jack. I'll be able to milk it for a while. But the real reason I called was that, as a result of Derevko's cooperation in Sloane's apprehension, it looks like we'll be able to cut the plea-bargain deal you recommended."

"Good news, sir."

"And seeing as you are the only person who knows how to contact her, I thought you'd want to hammer out the final details with Derevko in person." Jack could sense Devlin's smile over the phone.

"Negotiations are likely to be delicate, sir. It could take several days."

"I thought as much," said Devlin dryly. "Take all the time you need to, er, consummate the deal."