Complications.
Would he ever be free of them?
CIA director Ben Devlin didn't think so, but that was why he was in the position that he was; for his ability to handle more then one harrowing potentially world-altering situation without losing his cool, only the job description hadn't covered one thing.
Jack Bristow
With a resigned sigh Devlin once again picked up the report he had been gazing at for the last hour. On the surface in seemed as worthy of all the excitement it caused, but unlike his subordinates Devlin had the disadvantage of knowing the cost for an operation of the magnitude the report proposed. Sloane was dying of an unknown virus contracted during the attack on SD6. Subsequently Jack had logically requested that they began preparations for him to take over from Sloane indefinitely, Ben had no doubt that he could do it and the value was obvious, but was it worth the risk?
It would take a mammoth amount of resources to deepen Jack Bristow's cover alone. With the eyes of the Alliance doubtlessly scrutinizing his every move to the umpteenth degree his cover would need to be infallible. If this was to fail they would lose a decade of work in an instant, not to mention the repercussions to the other operations, the cost would be incalculable.
A cordial knock at the door drew his attention.
"Come in" he called not bothering to disguise his exhaustion.
Jack Bristow walked in calmly, his features were a cool mask of professionalism, and Ben envied him.
"Jack," he gestured to chair, "sit down"
Jack Bristow sat accordingly politely waiting for his supposed superior to speak.
"This looks really promising Jack," Devlin began, "If this pans out it could be huge."
"When will I begin initial ground work?" Jack Bristow asked, in one of his rare moments of assumption.
Devlin drew a deep breath "You won't, at least not yet."
That penetrated the mask, Jack blinked momentarily taken a back. "What?"
Ben held up forestalling hand "We are already expending massive resources in the various aspects to Rambaldi, the committee won't approve this without justification"
"If we take down SD-6 we have the potential to infect the entire Alliance network not to mention their fringe companies. Terrorism would be dealt a crippling blow worldwide. And I don't need to be telling you this Ben" His voice was tight with carefully control anger.
"Just as I don't need to tell you the cost if this goes wrong." Ben replied, inwardly devotedly cursing his dissection to quit smoking. "While none of them are as influential as Rambaldi there are other projects the agency needs to look into."
Jack didn't need to be told this; he was literally a perfect agent.
But what had it cost him?
"Be realistic Jack, we are gaining valuable intel for your locum position." The director said.
"It is not enough"
Now came the hard part.
Steeling himself for the confrontation he began "Dr. Barnett has raised concern about your ability to perform such an operation and I agree with her."
"Have I failed any evaluations?" His senior agent replied, in a deseptivally calm voice.
"That's not the point." They both knew he hadn't. Even the meticulous Barnett had been unable to find fault. "You've had to deal with a tremendous amount in the last week, more then anyone in the agency over this." "It's because what I suffered that I do this." Ben could count on one finger how many times he had heard so much emotion in his voice but it, like everything else was quickly brought under control. "I will go on leave when this over, it's in its climaxing stages Ben."
Devlin clenched his callous fists and barely reframed from telling Jack he wasn't a machine. Some days he doubted his own belief in those words but then he remembered what Jack had been through it was little wonder how he was the person he was.
"Sydney needs you." he said quietly.
The reaction was immediate though barely perceivable to the untrained eye. "Leave Sydney out of this."
"The truth about her mother has really traumatized her, understandably." Devlin stated needlessly, "The added complication of Michael Vaughn's father is compounding the situation." Devlin ignored the hostility knowing Jack needed to hear this, from somebody he would have no choice but to listen to.
"They're both competent agents, they'll work through it, if only for the sake of their respective missions." Jack countered confidently.
Devlin repressed a sigh. He had been keep informed of the feelings between Agent Vaughn and Sydney, mainly because of an agent he didn't like particularly. Despite the inherent difficulty and objections that would doubtlessly be raised Devlin fostered a private hope that the two agents could find happiness at some point in the future, they both deserved it.
He had now intention of informing Jack of his beliefs, instead he said, "The agent/handler bond is crucial"
It was almost comical the way Jack Bristow bristled at the word "bond" and all its connotations the vaguely amusing image of an overprotective father disapproving of a date flittered across Devlin's mind before he shoved it aside.
"It's been taken care of." Jack informed him tonelessly
Devlin felt a pang of sympathy for Michael Vaughn he couldn't imagine that being an enviable conversation.
"I'm taking a day to consider your application, you will know within 24 hours" Devlin dismissed.
Jack stood up and said trifle stiffly, "Yes sir"
Ben Devlin looked at his wristwatch as the door closed.
1AM
It was hard to belief his wife hadn't divorced him. Cursing softly he picked up the phone to make the all too familiar apologies.
It was going to be a long day.
Would he ever be free of them?
CIA director Ben Devlin didn't think so, but that was why he was in the position that he was; for his ability to handle more then one harrowing potentially world-altering situation without losing his cool, only the job description hadn't covered one thing.
Jack Bristow
With a resigned sigh Devlin once again picked up the report he had been gazing at for the last hour. On the surface in seemed as worthy of all the excitement it caused, but unlike his subordinates Devlin had the disadvantage of knowing the cost for an operation of the magnitude the report proposed. Sloane was dying of an unknown virus contracted during the attack on SD6. Subsequently Jack had logically requested that they began preparations for him to take over from Sloane indefinitely, Ben had no doubt that he could do it and the value was obvious, but was it worth the risk?
It would take a mammoth amount of resources to deepen Jack Bristow's cover alone. With the eyes of the Alliance doubtlessly scrutinizing his every move to the umpteenth degree his cover would need to be infallible. If this was to fail they would lose a decade of work in an instant, not to mention the repercussions to the other operations, the cost would be incalculable.
A cordial knock at the door drew his attention.
"Come in" he called not bothering to disguise his exhaustion.
Jack Bristow walked in calmly, his features were a cool mask of professionalism, and Ben envied him.
"Jack," he gestured to chair, "sit down"
Jack Bristow sat accordingly politely waiting for his supposed superior to speak.
"This looks really promising Jack," Devlin began, "If this pans out it could be huge."
"When will I begin initial ground work?" Jack Bristow asked, in one of his rare moments of assumption.
Devlin drew a deep breath "You won't, at least not yet."
That penetrated the mask, Jack blinked momentarily taken a back. "What?"
Ben held up forestalling hand "We are already expending massive resources in the various aspects to Rambaldi, the committee won't approve this without justification"
"If we take down SD-6 we have the potential to infect the entire Alliance network not to mention their fringe companies. Terrorism would be dealt a crippling blow worldwide. And I don't need to be telling you this Ben" His voice was tight with carefully control anger.
"Just as I don't need to tell you the cost if this goes wrong." Ben replied, inwardly devotedly cursing his dissection to quit smoking. "While none of them are as influential as Rambaldi there are other projects the agency needs to look into."
Jack didn't need to be told this; he was literally a perfect agent.
But what had it cost him?
"Be realistic Jack, we are gaining valuable intel for your locum position." The director said.
"It is not enough"
Now came the hard part.
Steeling himself for the confrontation he began "Dr. Barnett has raised concern about your ability to perform such an operation and I agree with her."
"Have I failed any evaluations?" His senior agent replied, in a deseptivally calm voice.
"That's not the point." They both knew he hadn't. Even the meticulous Barnett had been unable to find fault. "You've had to deal with a tremendous amount in the last week, more then anyone in the agency over this." "It's because what I suffered that I do this." Ben could count on one finger how many times he had heard so much emotion in his voice but it, like everything else was quickly brought under control. "I will go on leave when this over, it's in its climaxing stages Ben."
Devlin clenched his callous fists and barely reframed from telling Jack he wasn't a machine. Some days he doubted his own belief in those words but then he remembered what Jack had been through it was little wonder how he was the person he was.
"Sydney needs you." he said quietly.
The reaction was immediate though barely perceivable to the untrained eye. "Leave Sydney out of this."
"The truth about her mother has really traumatized her, understandably." Devlin stated needlessly, "The added complication of Michael Vaughn's father is compounding the situation." Devlin ignored the hostility knowing Jack needed to hear this, from somebody he would have no choice but to listen to.
"They're both competent agents, they'll work through it, if only for the sake of their respective missions." Jack countered confidently.
Devlin repressed a sigh. He had been keep informed of the feelings between Agent Vaughn and Sydney, mainly because of an agent he didn't like particularly. Despite the inherent difficulty and objections that would doubtlessly be raised Devlin fostered a private hope that the two agents could find happiness at some point in the future, they both deserved it.
He had now intention of informing Jack of his beliefs, instead he said, "The agent/handler bond is crucial"
It was almost comical the way Jack Bristow bristled at the word "bond" and all its connotations the vaguely amusing image of an overprotective father disapproving of a date flittered across Devlin's mind before he shoved it aside.
"It's been taken care of." Jack informed him tonelessly
Devlin felt a pang of sympathy for Michael Vaughn he couldn't imagine that being an enviable conversation.
"I'm taking a day to consider your application, you will know within 24 hours" Devlin dismissed.
Jack stood up and said trifle stiffly, "Yes sir"
Ben Devlin looked at his wristwatch as the door closed.
1AM
It was hard to belief his wife hadn't divorced him. Cursing softly he picked up the phone to make the all too familiar apologies.
It was going to be a long day.
