"I've lived with secrets all my life . . . and I'm done." - Sydney Bristow

Part 3: Lost and Found

Sydney sat next to her dad in his car overlooking a construction site. Silence reigned inside even as the sounds of construction were muffled by the closed windows.

She guessed old habits died hard, considering their location. She clutched a cup of coffee they'd picked up along the way, although she hadn't so much as taken a sip so far.

She studied the view outside the car window as her father explained how he had spotted her in a surveillance photo the CIA had collected in tracking the days leading up to the intel they'd received. She'd been in a blond wig and glasses, but he'd know his daughter anywhere.

He didn't know the why or understand the how, but he knew the who, which was enough for him to wipe the surveillance and come and track her down after the dust had settled on the situation.

Not seeing a way around it, Sydney laid the whole fantastical story out for him, starting with her recruitment to SD-6, Danny's death, becoming a double agent, the original takedown of the Network and Sloane slipping away, her temporary death via the Covenant, her resurrection, her temporary death again, her capture and then her escape from Sloane. When she got to the part about Sloane blowing up her home with everyone she loved inside however, her voice broke and she had to take a minute. Before her father could offer comfort though, she continued with the culmination of the story, ending with her mother using Rambaldi's invention to send her back in time.

At the mention of Irina, she watched pain overtake her father's features even as it gave way to resignation. He'd had many years to adjust to the knowledge that Irina was alive and well, so the news didn't come as much of a shock as it had for her.

Throughout her story, she had watched the various expressions her father cycled through, saw his expression flicker through anger (at Sloane having recruited her in that other timeline), sadness (at Danny's death), to surprise (at her mother being the one to help her come back), to pride (at her obtaining the info to take the Network, and therefore Sloane, down).

But what was surprising is she never once saw his expression flicker to disbelief. She guessed when you started with the knowledge that she was the source of the intel, then sprinkled Rambaldi on top, maybe it was easier to believe than to question?

He studied her intently when she finished though and out of all the things for him to ask, she never expected the first question to be, "Are you ok?"

In the face of his concern her expression collapsed a little, despite her best efforts. She studied the view in front of her for a moment before she looked up again, her expression having once again settled.

"It's been a long few weeks, Dad" she told him honestly.

"Oh honey" he said as he moved closer and then hovered, clearly unsure of his reception. "Dad" she hiccupped as she collapsed into him, the grief from all she'd lost in that other future and all she'd sacrificed in this one, briefly overwhelming her.

"It's ok, honey." He pulled her close, smoothing her hair like he used to when she was a child. "I'm so proud of you honey. You're not alone. I've got you. It's ok" he repeated as she breathed shakily.

She closed her eyes at his words and exhaled.

"I've got you. It's ok."

oOo

~*This woman here depicted…*~