A/N: Sorry it was so long, I told you that I finished some chapters but yet again I did not have this on my computer. Sorry. Please forgive me?

Chapter 7

When Sydney awakes she not anywhere where she knew, the sunrise is different, the sheets of her bed, the music being played. Everything is unsettling to her stomach when she believed that at any second she could be dead. Everything is just a haze, she was not aware as she wanted to believe.

"Go to sleep," a voice whispers. A soft warm hand reached out and gently touches her face bringing a comforting feeling to her eyes.

"Who killed me?" Sydney inquires.

"No one." The hand is so soft; she moved her body towards the figure. Her head on the stranger's lap and resting comfortingly as the numbness fades in. Fingers went through her hair as she silently mummers pains from her body.

"Why are you protecting me?"

"I love you."

"Then don't let them hurt me…they will find out…I thought I was doing good…I…I don't want to die." She cried out, whispers and the warm protectiveness that she was given by this stranger soothed her.

"I promise, darling, no one will hurt you." Soon Sydney fell back into a deep peaceful slumber and thought the she would never fully return to it.

***

But yet again in a day's time she woke in a hospital, this would be her fifth long-term visit in which it would be a CIA hospital. Her father was there when she woke up; he too had been though medical evaluation and had only a few scrapes and bruises. But his daughter, she had been drugged and kidnapped and needed and wanted to know of her assurance that she was well.

He had been a child once in this game, he learned quickly though. But he didn't not believe anyone could be an expert in the CIA, only a level of appreciation. But seeing his daughter in the game and play as well as she had in the past couple of weeks. Well, not much to say but he was proud and deep down in his heart he would always be proud of her.

He had lied about the debrief, that his daughter did no such thing as double cross him, but the implied night with Sark had left questions to his mind.

"What happened?" Her voice called from his thoughts; groggily she sat up and opened her eyes.

"Sydney…Right after you left the room with Sark, CIA came and saved us. When we looked for you were missing and Sark ran with Rambaldi's piece. When we returned we were notified that you were sent to Angel of Mercy, you're safe the CIA won't put you back into custody. I have to chaperone you during the time though,"

He didn't have to explain. She could lie and he knew she could lie, it just killed him that she knew the skill so well to heart. He couldn't hide it, but she could. She was the greatest mistress of them all and he knew Sydney was taught by the same enigmas that taught his wife.

"I was almost made by Sark, and right before he realized what was going on he was shot. When I turned around I was shot also. I wake up here, you think someone knows?" She interrupts him.

"How would that be possible though?" He thinks about Berlin, and how she was sent to a hospital without his signature. And now, he had to figure everything out before something extreme happened.

"Everything possible, especially in this game." Sydney told him.

"I already explain to you want Sloane believes, and your injuries will prove the lie." He went off the topic. "They CIA can't put you back in custody as much as they want to, that would arise suspicion. They assigned you a handler."

"Who?" She asked quizzically.

"Agent Vaughn." Her eyes lit up and smiled. Someone she could trust and count on, and now she was her handler. That was only if she…no she couldn't think that, she still had tasks.

"What about Sark?"

"The CIA is on the hunt, if you see him it's important you contact us as soon as possible. Stay as low key as possible."

The unnoticed pen beeped and he returns it to his pocket and sat up straight.

"After you were kidnapped by K- Directorate we told Will and Francie that you're a group of rebels kidnapped you for the codes to the United Nations Federal Bank. They visited a few times, I'll go out to get them." He played along, he turns to leave but before Sydney called him again.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you, I know it's been so hard for you lately, and I want to thank you for trying to save me in Berlin." She says. He nodded as he exits the room and Will and Francie came in barring pillows and blankets, flowers and candy. Francie was crying as much as she could without messing up her make-up and Will his smiling wildly at the truth that she was okay.

"Oh God Sydney, you looking better after being kidnapped. The bank is doing as much as they can to give the information to the police, and oh it's so good to have you home again Sydney!" Will hugged her friend.

"You scared us to death." Francie stated.

"I'm so glad to be back in civilization at last!" Sydney smiled.

"Was it that bad? Did they hurt you?"

"I don't remember anything, they must have drugged me." She stated.

"I don't get it, they drugged you, and how could they get the code?" Will asked.

"Oh Will, stop it! She back and that all that cares. And I'm giving the back my share of anger, I made sure they weren't going to send you away anymore." Francie said.

"Don't worry, I'm quitting the bank."

"What? When did you all of the sudden decided to quit the bank?" Will asked stunned, Francie swatted him with her arm, surprised.

"What are you talking about? This is great! We've been nagging her over and over!" Francie smiled and sat down on the bed and held Sydney's hand. "I am so happy that you are back." Francie gave Sydney a lasting hug and didn't let go of her hand.

"Don't worry about getting a job, I'm sure that the restaurant would need some employees." Sydney gasped and smiled at Francie's enthusiastic face.

"No! You got the restaurant!"

There was some talk about Francie's plan on managing a restaurant for a brief moment in time before Sydney left. Francie had been questionable and Sydney had been supportive but now, it was great idea for Francie since she was left with no future plans. And Sydney now had a fall back. No more SD-6 or CIA, not even K- Directorate. She will be finished and have a wonderful life out of intelligence. She was done.

"Yes, it was suppose to be a surprise, throw in a few hints. Well, things didn't work out the way I wanted to so…well I put the effort and well am I the manager of the newest night club in Los Angeles."

"I am so happy for you, Francie that's great."

"I know and that's not even-"

"May I interrupt?" All eyes followed the voice from doorway. And all eyes came onto her boss, Mr. Sloane. She smiled briefly and asked Francie and Will just to give them a second alone. They walked out half agreeing and he entered the room with a vase of yellow daises.

"I want to give you appreciation for all you done for the agency. The whole group at SD-6 was very concern, and we didn't stop searching for you. Your one of our greatest assets and it would be a shame to loose you. We'll make sure who ever did this to you is put to justice."

Sydney smiled, not out of happiness but the surrealism of this situation. She had nothing against Sloane personally, but she knew he was a bad guy. But now, after all she handled in the last month, it was one big joke. She didn't care. She stopped caring.

"Thanks for the flowers, they are beautiful." He handed her the flowers and she gave them back, he put them aside and came back to her bedside.

"The whole agency is praying for your recovery." He said. She looked at him and nodded, then smiled looking out the window.

"I missed winter didn't I?" The spring had set in and the beautiful birds were back chirping.

"They was a little storm a few days ago, power lines were out and the city was on alert."

"I had forgotten how the sun looked, five weeks in a dark cell, and to see the sun. It's just amazing." She rubbed her forehead and settled back down on her pillow. "You want to know what happened," Sydney thought.

"Yes, I think it would be best. Jack gave us some details, but it would be best if you told us yourselves."

"Before I do, I was thinking here. Wondering why I do this. I told myself I do it for my country, a sense dignity and pride. When you and I both know it not that," He looks up, wondering, searching if the truth is hidden in her statement. "It was a sense of family and belonging. I do remember a time when I wanted to be a spy, to have an adventurous life. But now I have experienced it, seen the entire world though aliases. I think I am finally done. I want to leave the SD-6."

He didn't know how to respond, but he knew the time had come that she had left.

"I understand, after an ordeal like this. But you know you are always welcome to come back to SD-6." He knew she would pass. "Dixon will come back tomorrow, since he in a mission in Peru, and take your statement." He touched her hand and gave it a light squeeze and smiled. He walked out and left Will and Francie to come back in, with another doctor.

"Hello, Miss Bristow. I'm your doctor advisory. Which means I'm not a doctor but soon will be." The joke, which wasn't funny, made Sydney laugh. He tried, he really did. "I'm Dr. Walters."

"What up doc?"

"You'll be well enough to leave the hospital in two days. You recover quite well, and the rest was probably needed. I want to advise you that we were almost afraid of blood over transfusion, since on your record it states that you are A+ which you're not."

"No, that's impossible." Sydney vastly decided.

"You're B+ Miss Bristow."

"No, my father A- and my mother was O+ that would be impossible…wouldn't it?" Sydney began to cry when she thought about it. Her palms ached, her arms shook, and her stomach became knotted. She didn't want to think and she didn't want to know. But it was implied, it was right there in front of her face. Francie's mouth hanged opened and Will was still thinking it over with great concentration.

"Syd…wouldn't that mean-" Francie began.

"My father…isn't my biological father."

A/N: Dah, Dah, Dan! You hate me don't you? Reviews are still nice to have.