D: J.J. and co.
An: Here you guys go, up a little later than I wanted, but it got crazy around here. Please don't forget to review, I love it when I go to my mailbox and get the emails of when you guys review!! Makes my whole week! And to nattie700, you crack me up with the jokes!! They totally made my night after a VERY hellish day at work!! Thanks a bunch!! On with the chapter, enjoy!
{#}
"And now were these two men, as 'twere, in Heaven.
...Being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and
with hearing of their melodious notes."
-John Bunyan, (The Pilgram's Progress)
Sydney was released two days later to Jack. Sydney never spoke any words and only nodded or shook her head to answer questions when she felt like it. Before anyone could lead her anywhere, she went straight to her mothers room. Once she was there, she looked up to her mother's face and all Irina saw was a lost sad little girl.
"Mama." Sydney choked out before she completely lost it, crying for the first time her whole heart out. Sobbing so hard Irina had to keep a hold of her to keep her form falling off the bed. Jack and Sytory both sat on the couch for what seemed like hours until Sydney fell asleep with exhaustion in her mother's arms.
"Jack?" Irina mumbled out as she stroked Sydney's back.
"Yes Irina?" he answered back softly.
"Find the b*s*a*d who broke my baby's heart." She stated evenly not stopping her movements.
"Yes Irina." He replied back strongly. Sydney finally went home after sleeping for close to 10 hours in her mother's arms. Sytory, Will, and Jack stayed with her at her home on and off for the first couple of days. By the end of the week, Sydney had to pick herself up to attend her Guardian Angel's funeral. He and the other lost agent received full honors from bagpipes to doves and everything in between.
For the first time Sydney met Vaughn's mother. She talked with the kind women for hours, each of them consoling the other. Sydney had nightmares and stayed home in a mute like state for a couple of weeks after until she started coming out of her shell. One of the people that was always there for her when she went back to work was Weiss. He became her new partner associate/handler. They formed a very good friendship together. He even got Sydney to continue to put together the 'Open Mic Night' with Will and Sytory's help. They decided to make it a memorial for Francie and Vaughn. Sydney's cousins continued singing, pulling Sydney back into it.
It kept her busy. Busy enough for her not to notice her mother continuing an investigation into the whole incident in South America. Something about it just seemed to irk her and with Jack's help, she continued to look into everything.
"It just seems...too familiar Jack. Please, I don't know ho, but just humor me. I have to do this. I NEED to do this." Irina explained to Jack when he began to question her about it. So he obliged, even getting clearance from Kendall, whose comment was: 'We could use all the help we can get to figuring this out.'
As O.M.N. continued to get closer, with all the acts rehearsing and booked, one day Sydney was with the band practicing, Eric with her, and she took a break. While she was gone to get some water, Eric started messing around with the mics. He sat on her stool and started singing accapella, the guitar guy and drummer slowly catching on and played with his beat. Sydney stepped in and stared as Eric sang a song of a story about a young couple.
When I was young I knew everything
And she a punk who rarely ever took advice
Now I'm guilt stricken,
Sobbing with my head on the floor
Stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
My best friend took a week's
Vacation to forget her
His girl took a weeks worth of
Valium and slept
Now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his
Head on the floor
Thinks about her now and how he never really
Wept he says
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our
Heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to
Slip, we'd say
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
We were merely freshmen.
"Wow Eric. That's awesome. Where'd you hear that before?" Sydney commented when he finished.
"Oh,...I wrote it. Let's just say it's all from my past." He said softly, looking down.
"This song...it's about you, isn't it?" Sydney asked. He nodded. She climbed on the stool next to him.
"I'll tell you about it. When we go visit Mike today." He said. She nodded back. It was a thing she did a couple times a week, on her own or he made her go.
To talk to him.
"I still feel weird about going there. To talk to him..it's like...I feel like I'm in the totally wrong place to be talking to him...like he's..somewhere else." She mentioned, revealing what she'd been feeling for so long.
"He's in Heaven now." Weiss said. Syd's brow furrowed.
"No...that's not what I mean..not what it feels like...I don't know." She said shrugging it off. Later that afternoon, Eric drove her to the cemetery. She clutched to his arm with both hands as he led the way.
"Remember me mentioning that I was happy Mike was here, at this particular cemetery?" Eric commented as they walked. She nodded tears in her eyes as she drew closer.
"For me, there is more than just Mike here to visit." He said softly, then stood off a small distance to let Sydney have her own space. She carried the single red rose and placed it across the top of Vaughn's head stone:
Michael Christian Vaughn.
Beloved son, friend, and Guardian Angel.
Killed in the line of duty
Sydney silently cried as she sat wiping away dirt from his head stone. After a few moments she kissed her fingers and touched the 'Guardian Angel' carving then stood up with Eric's help.
"See ya' later, buddy." Eric said as he led Sydney away. This time to a different area of the cemetery.
"Eric?" Sydney questioned when he stopped in front of a small headstone that had an adult female angel holding a baby angel resting on top of it. She read the names and gasped when she read the one name that stuck out. It read:
Gabrielle Lyndsey Pullman
And
Erica Lynn Weiss
"My gosh...the girl was only 18 years old..and the other...she was only 2 weeks old when she died! Who are these girls?" Sydney asked.
"Gabby was my girlfriend back in my first year of college. We'd been going out since our junior year in high school. We attended the same college so we could stay together." Eric started explaining, a sad smile on his face.
"I was so young. So stupid...one thing led to another and she got pregnant. I freaked out...she was probably 7-7 ½ months along when I finally couldn't handle it. I mean, I was only going to be 19 years old! I was barely out of high school! She kept talking about marriage and stuff and I freaked out. I left. 8 days later I was told she committed suicide. I rushed home to find my girlfriend of 3 years dead and my..my daughter in intensive care..very premature and clinging to life...the pills and stuff Gabby took...they affected the baby. She fought as long as she could. I never left her side. Only for Gabby's funeral, but then I went back as soon as possible. My daughter died in my arms 2 days after Father's Day...she was 17 days old." Eric said softly, a lone tear falling. Sydney sat shocked, never knowing this side of Eric's life.
"I'm so sorry Eric." She whispered. He just smiled sadly at her.
"It's okay. I've made my peace with it all. I was just so young. They're up there with the Big Man, watching over us all now. ..With Mike." Eric said, watching as Sydney just stared ahead. After staying for a short time, they got up and left.
"You should sing that song at the O.M.N. It's beautiful." Sydney suggested. Eric nodded slowly, then more surely.
"Sure...yeah, for Mike...and for my girls." He answered.
"And Francie." Sydney murmured.
"And Francie." Eric repeated.
As the O.M.N. creeped closer, just 2 weeks away, so did Irina's search on what she had a hunch on. And with her continued work with the CIA and JTF she received more access and freedom. She was determined to see this hunch out of hers; a mission of her own.
"Everyone entrusted with a mission
is an angel...
All forces that reside in the body
are angels."
-Moses Maimonides
Two nights before the big O.M.N., Sydney got a surprise visit from someone she'd never thought she'd see again.
"Jim? What're you back here for? How you doing?" Sydney said as she sat at her desk doing some work.
"Okay. I've visited all the places Emma and me were going to visit once we married. I'm much better. I miss her terribly, but it's getting easier. Besides, I heard about what happened..thought you'd need someone whose been in your shoes. I'm so sorry about Vaughn. I know you two were pretty close when I was here." Jim said softly, squeezing her shoulder. Sydney teared up and nodded.
"Yeah...thank you. I keep waiting for when it's supposed to get easier.but-" she said hoarsely shrugging.
"It just doesn't FEEL like he's left. I can't get over that feeling of seeing him walk into HQ or at the warehouse..or at home." Sydney said softly. They sat there in silence for a moment before Sydney took a breath and wiped at her tears.
"So..you staying with your sister, I hear?" Sydney said after a moment.
"Yeah..her and her new husband. She's doing great. 6 months pregnant too! I love poking fun at her. Can't wait to be an uncle." Jim said smiling. Sydney smiled at that.
"She's been wonderful, like a mother already. She's an awesome writer and we wrote stuff... to help me with it all. It's good therapy I guess. You should hear her sometime. She's beautiful." Jim explained. Sydney's ears perked up.
"She sings!? Does EVERYBODY sing around here?! It's like...contagious or something! Let me hear her..I bet she'd be great at out Open Mic Night coming up on Friday night. It's a HUGE benefit in memory of my best friend Francie and for Vaughn too. EVERYbody's singing; Eric Weiss, my cousins, me, and a couple of other bands Francie had chosen like, forever ago...the REAL Francie." Sydney explained.
"Sure. Let's do lunch, I'll introduce you to Anna." Jim said.
So at lunch at Francie's restaurant, so they could have access to a piano, Sydney met the slightly bulging sister of Jim, Anna.
"So...this O.M.N. it's not HERE anymore?" Anna asked as she sat at the piano.
"Nope. It got too big so we had to move it to a small auditorium. There's a wonderful half circle stage with a short walkway that leads into the audience. Lights, soundstage, the works." Sydney explained.
"Wow..sounds great. So, want to hear me and Jimmy's song? Have some tissue handy..hormonal woman here." Anna said jokingly.
"Oh, definitely. I'm sure I'll be a wreck too." Sydney stated as she thought of Vaughn. As Anna began playing a beautiful song, it brought Sydney not only to tears, but she was actually crying out right. When Anna finished, she had tears down her cheeks.
"That was so beautiful." Sydney whispered after calming down some. Jim rubbed Anna's back, wiping his own tears away.
"Told you so." he whispered, smiling at his little sister.
"You're playing that at the concert. Come tomorrow for rehearsals and fitting you into a slot. No buts. You have to play that." Sydney stated, nodding her head.
"Sure." Anna agreed.
And then there was one more. That night Sydney put in the calls as her and Will worked like crazy to finish putting the big night together.
The next day was full of rehearsals and putting the final touches, getting wardrobes together, etc. Sytory and Sydney never left each others side as they got everything in order.
"I can't believe I'll be the host. This is so exciting!" Sytory exclaimed for her 'job' at O.M.N.
Meanwhile, over at the JTF, Irina argued passionately to Kendall about an important mission.
"You HAVE to let me go! Put trackers, C-4, ANYthing on me to make you feel comfortable...but I HAVE to be the one to go! I'll take as many field agents as you want! Please sir, I KNOW that this is crucial! I've had this hunch..since the incident in South America...and every lead has come up accurate...please, I need to do this! There's something there, I know there is!" Irina said as she stood over Director Kendall's desk. Kendall looked at all the leads and file work in front of him, then up to Irina seeing the determination in her eyes. He'd grown to respect the woman and she'd proven, many times over, that she wasn't up to any hidden agendas. Only to keep her family close and safe. He finally exhaled and nodded.
"Alright Irina. You'll get to go follow these leads. But.. You're bringing teams with you. At least 10 agents. With a tracker of course. I'm pretty sure you'd never try anything..but I do want to keep my job. You leave in 2 hours." He said.
"Thank you sir. You won't regret this. Oh..and don't tell Sydney. She doesn't know anything about this." Irina asked. Kendall nodded, understanding.
"Jack..you have to stay here...for Sydney and her big night. You're allowed to be there so you be there. For the both of up. I promise I'll try my hardest to be back in time." Irina explained as her team left.
"Alright..I hate for you to go..without me there. Please be safe." Jack stated softly. Irina smiled then stepped up and kissed him sweetly on the cheek, turning and leaving. You couldn't wipe the grin off Jack's face for the rest of the night.
As he stopped by the auditorium on his way home to check in on his daughters, Sytory kept elbowing Sydney.
"Look at dad! He's..glowing! Why is he like that?" Sytory whispered. Sydney eyeballed her father and grinned.
"He's got a smudge on his right cheek." Sydney pointed out. The two sisters turned to each other and said in unison.
"Mom!" all giggled. When they went to say goodnight they purposefully kissed him on his left cheek.
"Didn't want to wipe off the OTHER goodnight kiss on your other cheek!" Sydney said winking as her and Sytory grabbed hands giggling hysterically as they walked to their car. Jack only harrumphed a little, but went off to his own car grinning.
{#}
An: So, there's the next chapter!! Hope you liked it! And hope all the quotes and song lyrics came out right. The song Eric sings is called 'The Freshman' by the Verve Pipe. The song Jim's sister sings will be up in the next chapter. You'll recognize it. I know all these characters are singing artists songs like the songs are their own, but that's how I like it. With it sounding like the characters are the ones who sing the songs, not the actual artist. Is this making sense to anyone? I hope so!! Give me a holler if it doesn't, or just a review, even if it's just: ?? or something! Thanx!
An: Here you guys go, up a little later than I wanted, but it got crazy around here. Please don't forget to review, I love it when I go to my mailbox and get the emails of when you guys review!! Makes my whole week! And to nattie700, you crack me up with the jokes!! They totally made my night after a VERY hellish day at work!! Thanks a bunch!! On with the chapter, enjoy!
{#}
"And now were these two men, as 'twere, in Heaven.
...Being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and
with hearing of their melodious notes."
-John Bunyan, (The Pilgram's Progress)
Sydney was released two days later to Jack. Sydney never spoke any words and only nodded or shook her head to answer questions when she felt like it. Before anyone could lead her anywhere, she went straight to her mothers room. Once she was there, she looked up to her mother's face and all Irina saw was a lost sad little girl.
"Mama." Sydney choked out before she completely lost it, crying for the first time her whole heart out. Sobbing so hard Irina had to keep a hold of her to keep her form falling off the bed. Jack and Sytory both sat on the couch for what seemed like hours until Sydney fell asleep with exhaustion in her mother's arms.
"Jack?" Irina mumbled out as she stroked Sydney's back.
"Yes Irina?" he answered back softly.
"Find the b*s*a*d who broke my baby's heart." She stated evenly not stopping her movements.
"Yes Irina." He replied back strongly. Sydney finally went home after sleeping for close to 10 hours in her mother's arms. Sytory, Will, and Jack stayed with her at her home on and off for the first couple of days. By the end of the week, Sydney had to pick herself up to attend her Guardian Angel's funeral. He and the other lost agent received full honors from bagpipes to doves and everything in between.
For the first time Sydney met Vaughn's mother. She talked with the kind women for hours, each of them consoling the other. Sydney had nightmares and stayed home in a mute like state for a couple of weeks after until she started coming out of her shell. One of the people that was always there for her when she went back to work was Weiss. He became her new partner associate/handler. They formed a very good friendship together. He even got Sydney to continue to put together the 'Open Mic Night' with Will and Sytory's help. They decided to make it a memorial for Francie and Vaughn. Sydney's cousins continued singing, pulling Sydney back into it.
It kept her busy. Busy enough for her not to notice her mother continuing an investigation into the whole incident in South America. Something about it just seemed to irk her and with Jack's help, she continued to look into everything.
"It just seems...too familiar Jack. Please, I don't know ho, but just humor me. I have to do this. I NEED to do this." Irina explained to Jack when he began to question her about it. So he obliged, even getting clearance from Kendall, whose comment was: 'We could use all the help we can get to figuring this out.'
As O.M.N. continued to get closer, with all the acts rehearsing and booked, one day Sydney was with the band practicing, Eric with her, and she took a break. While she was gone to get some water, Eric started messing around with the mics. He sat on her stool and started singing accapella, the guitar guy and drummer slowly catching on and played with his beat. Sydney stepped in and stared as Eric sang a song of a story about a young couple.
When I was young I knew everything
And she a punk who rarely ever took advice
Now I'm guilt stricken,
Sobbing with my head on the floor
Stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
My best friend took a week's
Vacation to forget her
His girl took a weeks worth of
Valium and slept
Now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his
Head on the floor
Thinks about her now and how he never really
Wept he says
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our
Heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to
Slip, we'd say
I can't be held responsible
Cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
She fell in love in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen
We were merely freshmen.
"Wow Eric. That's awesome. Where'd you hear that before?" Sydney commented when he finished.
"Oh,...I wrote it. Let's just say it's all from my past." He said softly, looking down.
"This song...it's about you, isn't it?" Sydney asked. He nodded. She climbed on the stool next to him.
"I'll tell you about it. When we go visit Mike today." He said. She nodded back. It was a thing she did a couple times a week, on her own or he made her go.
To talk to him.
"I still feel weird about going there. To talk to him..it's like...I feel like I'm in the totally wrong place to be talking to him...like he's..somewhere else." She mentioned, revealing what she'd been feeling for so long.
"He's in Heaven now." Weiss said. Syd's brow furrowed.
"No...that's not what I mean..not what it feels like...I don't know." She said shrugging it off. Later that afternoon, Eric drove her to the cemetery. She clutched to his arm with both hands as he led the way.
"Remember me mentioning that I was happy Mike was here, at this particular cemetery?" Eric commented as they walked. She nodded tears in her eyes as she drew closer.
"For me, there is more than just Mike here to visit." He said softly, then stood off a small distance to let Sydney have her own space. She carried the single red rose and placed it across the top of Vaughn's head stone:
Michael Christian Vaughn.
Beloved son, friend, and Guardian Angel.
Killed in the line of duty
Sydney silently cried as she sat wiping away dirt from his head stone. After a few moments she kissed her fingers and touched the 'Guardian Angel' carving then stood up with Eric's help.
"See ya' later, buddy." Eric said as he led Sydney away. This time to a different area of the cemetery.
"Eric?" Sydney questioned when he stopped in front of a small headstone that had an adult female angel holding a baby angel resting on top of it. She read the names and gasped when she read the one name that stuck out. It read:
Gabrielle Lyndsey Pullman
And
Erica Lynn Weiss
"My gosh...the girl was only 18 years old..and the other...she was only 2 weeks old when she died! Who are these girls?" Sydney asked.
"Gabby was my girlfriend back in my first year of college. We'd been going out since our junior year in high school. We attended the same college so we could stay together." Eric started explaining, a sad smile on his face.
"I was so young. So stupid...one thing led to another and she got pregnant. I freaked out...she was probably 7-7 ½ months along when I finally couldn't handle it. I mean, I was only going to be 19 years old! I was barely out of high school! She kept talking about marriage and stuff and I freaked out. I left. 8 days later I was told she committed suicide. I rushed home to find my girlfriend of 3 years dead and my..my daughter in intensive care..very premature and clinging to life...the pills and stuff Gabby took...they affected the baby. She fought as long as she could. I never left her side. Only for Gabby's funeral, but then I went back as soon as possible. My daughter died in my arms 2 days after Father's Day...she was 17 days old." Eric said softly, a lone tear falling. Sydney sat shocked, never knowing this side of Eric's life.
"I'm so sorry Eric." She whispered. He just smiled sadly at her.
"It's okay. I've made my peace with it all. I was just so young. They're up there with the Big Man, watching over us all now. ..With Mike." Eric said, watching as Sydney just stared ahead. After staying for a short time, they got up and left.
"You should sing that song at the O.M.N. It's beautiful." Sydney suggested. Eric nodded slowly, then more surely.
"Sure...yeah, for Mike...and for my girls." He answered.
"And Francie." Sydney murmured.
"And Francie." Eric repeated.
As the O.M.N. creeped closer, just 2 weeks away, so did Irina's search on what she had a hunch on. And with her continued work with the CIA and JTF she received more access and freedom. She was determined to see this hunch out of hers; a mission of her own.
"Everyone entrusted with a mission
is an angel...
All forces that reside in the body
are angels."
-Moses Maimonides
Two nights before the big O.M.N., Sydney got a surprise visit from someone she'd never thought she'd see again.
"Jim? What're you back here for? How you doing?" Sydney said as she sat at her desk doing some work.
"Okay. I've visited all the places Emma and me were going to visit once we married. I'm much better. I miss her terribly, but it's getting easier. Besides, I heard about what happened..thought you'd need someone whose been in your shoes. I'm so sorry about Vaughn. I know you two were pretty close when I was here." Jim said softly, squeezing her shoulder. Sydney teared up and nodded.
"Yeah...thank you. I keep waiting for when it's supposed to get easier.but-" she said hoarsely shrugging.
"It just doesn't FEEL like he's left. I can't get over that feeling of seeing him walk into HQ or at the warehouse..or at home." Sydney said softly. They sat there in silence for a moment before Sydney took a breath and wiped at her tears.
"So..you staying with your sister, I hear?" Sydney said after a moment.
"Yeah..her and her new husband. She's doing great. 6 months pregnant too! I love poking fun at her. Can't wait to be an uncle." Jim said smiling. Sydney smiled at that.
"She's been wonderful, like a mother already. She's an awesome writer and we wrote stuff... to help me with it all. It's good therapy I guess. You should hear her sometime. She's beautiful." Jim explained. Sydney's ears perked up.
"She sings!? Does EVERYBODY sing around here?! It's like...contagious or something! Let me hear her..I bet she'd be great at out Open Mic Night coming up on Friday night. It's a HUGE benefit in memory of my best friend Francie and for Vaughn too. EVERYbody's singing; Eric Weiss, my cousins, me, and a couple of other bands Francie had chosen like, forever ago...the REAL Francie." Sydney explained.
"Sure. Let's do lunch, I'll introduce you to Anna." Jim said.
So at lunch at Francie's restaurant, so they could have access to a piano, Sydney met the slightly bulging sister of Jim, Anna.
"So...this O.M.N. it's not HERE anymore?" Anna asked as she sat at the piano.
"Nope. It got too big so we had to move it to a small auditorium. There's a wonderful half circle stage with a short walkway that leads into the audience. Lights, soundstage, the works." Sydney explained.
"Wow..sounds great. So, want to hear me and Jimmy's song? Have some tissue handy..hormonal woman here." Anna said jokingly.
"Oh, definitely. I'm sure I'll be a wreck too." Sydney stated as she thought of Vaughn. As Anna began playing a beautiful song, it brought Sydney not only to tears, but she was actually crying out right. When Anna finished, she had tears down her cheeks.
"That was so beautiful." Sydney whispered after calming down some. Jim rubbed Anna's back, wiping his own tears away.
"Told you so." he whispered, smiling at his little sister.
"You're playing that at the concert. Come tomorrow for rehearsals and fitting you into a slot. No buts. You have to play that." Sydney stated, nodding her head.
"Sure." Anna agreed.
And then there was one more. That night Sydney put in the calls as her and Will worked like crazy to finish putting the big night together.
The next day was full of rehearsals and putting the final touches, getting wardrobes together, etc. Sytory and Sydney never left each others side as they got everything in order.
"I can't believe I'll be the host. This is so exciting!" Sytory exclaimed for her 'job' at O.M.N.
Meanwhile, over at the JTF, Irina argued passionately to Kendall about an important mission.
"You HAVE to let me go! Put trackers, C-4, ANYthing on me to make you feel comfortable...but I HAVE to be the one to go! I'll take as many field agents as you want! Please sir, I KNOW that this is crucial! I've had this hunch..since the incident in South America...and every lead has come up accurate...please, I need to do this! There's something there, I know there is!" Irina said as she stood over Director Kendall's desk. Kendall looked at all the leads and file work in front of him, then up to Irina seeing the determination in her eyes. He'd grown to respect the woman and she'd proven, many times over, that she wasn't up to any hidden agendas. Only to keep her family close and safe. He finally exhaled and nodded.
"Alright Irina. You'll get to go follow these leads. But.. You're bringing teams with you. At least 10 agents. With a tracker of course. I'm pretty sure you'd never try anything..but I do want to keep my job. You leave in 2 hours." He said.
"Thank you sir. You won't regret this. Oh..and don't tell Sydney. She doesn't know anything about this." Irina asked. Kendall nodded, understanding.
"Jack..you have to stay here...for Sydney and her big night. You're allowed to be there so you be there. For the both of up. I promise I'll try my hardest to be back in time." Irina explained as her team left.
"Alright..I hate for you to go..without me there. Please be safe." Jack stated softly. Irina smiled then stepped up and kissed him sweetly on the cheek, turning and leaving. You couldn't wipe the grin off Jack's face for the rest of the night.
As he stopped by the auditorium on his way home to check in on his daughters, Sytory kept elbowing Sydney.
"Look at dad! He's..glowing! Why is he like that?" Sytory whispered. Sydney eyeballed her father and grinned.
"He's got a smudge on his right cheek." Sydney pointed out. The two sisters turned to each other and said in unison.
"Mom!" all giggled. When they went to say goodnight they purposefully kissed him on his left cheek.
"Didn't want to wipe off the OTHER goodnight kiss on your other cheek!" Sydney said winking as her and Sytory grabbed hands giggling hysterically as they walked to their car. Jack only harrumphed a little, but went off to his own car grinning.
{#}
An: So, there's the next chapter!! Hope you liked it! And hope all the quotes and song lyrics came out right. The song Eric sings is called 'The Freshman' by the Verve Pipe. The song Jim's sister sings will be up in the next chapter. You'll recognize it. I know all these characters are singing artists songs like the songs are their own, but that's how I like it. With it sounding like the characters are the ones who sing the songs, not the actual artist. Is this making sense to anyone? I hope so!! Give me a holler if it doesn't, or just a review, even if it's just: ?? or something! Thanx!
