Author's note: This chapter is posted in celebration of more than 300 reviews at Surmising Alliances!!!! (Oh, and the required 10 here.) Spoiler warnings for the very first episode are in effect.

Addendum: Truth Be Told

She heads for her car. Careful to maintain his distance, he shadows her. Who could she possibly be meeting at this time of night?

Vaughn, Michael C. He thinks suddenly. Duly assigned CIA handler to SD-6 Double Agent Sydney A. Bristow. Could she be meeting him?

Hardly. She was doubtlessly meeting Tippin or Francie. Why would her handler cross the line? His orders dictated to him the danger of each and every meeting. A meeting so obviously personal in nature should not even be approached as a possibility, and Vaughn was supposedly a professional.

He sighs, lost in thought as he tails his daughter. Upon learning that Sydney had willingly chosen the hell he called his life, he had immediately sought to make it as easy as possible for her. First on the agenda had been working with Devlin, while she was writing her debrief, to find a handler worthy of her, someone that could reign her in but would also give all her suggestions the weight they deserved.

We have someone that would be perfect for Agent Bristow's handler, Jack.

Who?

His name is Michael Vaughn. Analyst, but has some field training. Currently ranked as an Operations Officer. His record is flawless and he's considered to be one of the brightest rising stars in the agency, both literally and metaphorically. Brilliant in strategy, proficient in weaponry and combat, tremendous wealth of knowledge in everything from international relations to economics to history, fluent in several different languages…

I'll take a copy of his file with me when I leave. How many years does he have in the agency? Twenty? Thirty? I'd prefer thirty. And how old is he? 40? 50? Someone seasoned, I'm assuming.

Seven years, recruited in '94. He's 33, but-

No. Absolutely not.

I mean it, Jack. He's young, yes, but no one is better suited.

I don't care. My daughter needs the best, not a child just as inexperienced as she is.

She's getting the best, Jack. Would you like to meet him?

Why would I want to meet a dead man? That's what he'll be, what both of them will be. Sydney needs someone seasoned, someone as qualified as she is. This is ridiculous.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Jack, you'll thank me for this someday.

No. I won't.

- to be continued -

I knew you guys could do it! The next part is the last, so any reviews are appreciated. ;)

Review Responses

MJ9: Nah, that would be too easy. ;)

Ilovemypenguin: Hello again! I adore Jack/Vaughn. I think when it comes to that dynamic, Vaughn is Jack and Jack is whoever the authority person is, and part of the reason why he resents Vaughn is because he can't be the maverick, he has to be the mature, by-the-books person.

K4e: It's coming! LOL

Nattie700: :salutes: I live to serve, ma'am.

Kylie: Yes ma'am.

Cassie: I'm glad! hehe

Britt4: :jaw drops: Wow! Thank you!

Linda! :sigh: This is my attempt at angst and you're LAUGHING? ;)

Em Mindelan: That's not very nice! :grumbles: But it's an *update*, so I guess I can forgive that. Possibly. I'll get back to you.

Sarabeth1: I think I posted like 5 minutes after you reviewed, Ms. 10th person. Hope that was fast enough. ;)