The negotiations had been long and detailed. By mutual agreement, they were conducted out of Jack's hearing. Jack was to be escorted back to US soil. Sloane was to cease any and all attempts on his life. Unless, of course, Jack pursued him, in which case all bets were off. The first artifact would be delivered when Jack called in from the US. The second would be delivered in 3 months, following a second phone call from Jack. It was a compromise both parties could live with.

The third party in the transaction sat in the coach section of the LA flight, brooding. His forbidding manner had already routed 2 flight attendants who had attempted cheery chatter with the handsome gentleman in 12C. Three rows in front, and two rows behind, sat his two beefy minders, intent on making sure that he went directly back to LA and made his first phone call. Sloane did not want any delays.

Jack's thoughts were bleak as he reviewed the outcome of the mission. The price Irina had paid for his life seemed unreasonably high. He had been appalled when he had realized the choice she had made. Sloane, with a consolidated power base and full access to the Rambaldi legacy. The CIA now with nothing - no leads, no double agents, none of Irina's intel - with which to combat Sloane. Irina would be on her own.

Jack's departure from Irina had been brief. She had visited him in the windowless room where they held him shortly before he had left. There had been neither recriminations nor apologies. Their life did not always provide them easy choices; each had made the only choice he could. Irina had explained the arrangement to Jack; Jack had merely nodded. She had bought him 3 months. He wouldn't waste it. Observed by Sloane's men, there had been no embrace, no endearments. Their eyes had conveyed everything that needed to be said. I love you. Be careful.

By this time, thought Jack, Irina and Sloane would be long gone. Untraceable. Cautiously trading information, testing each other, making plans. Jack smiled grimly to himself. Sloane might soon learn that you had to be careful what you asked for - having Irina as a partner would be like holding onto the tail of a tiger. He chuckled to himself, his face lightening for the first time since the previous night. The analogy explained so much of his life.

He lay back in the seat cushions and closed his eyes. She had saved his life, again. To do so she had left him, again. The parallels with her disappearance 20 years ago were undeniable. But this time, there was a difference.

This time, he knew she was out there. And knew that she loved him.

This time, he would go find her