Jack watched their workout from the observation deck. He was there for information only. He wanted to pick out the details of her attitude, the nuances. He knew she was a great fighter, but what had changed? Something had... he just had to find out what. He watched them until the end of their workout. Sydney moved to the women's shower area and so Jack followed Dixon to the men's locker room.
He saw Dixon sitting on a bench rubbing his shin. "Not as young as we once were?" Dixon looked up at Jack.
"I'd like to see you keep up with that daughter of yours..."
"How is she doing, Dixon?"
"Sydney? She's great... She kept fit and her movements are quick and sure. She's a great athlete..." Dixon let the sentence drop. His eyes shifted away from Jack's gaze.
"...But, what Dixon? Tell me and be brutally honest. I am on her side, but you have to tell me everything."
"Jack... Sydney's athletic abilities are as good as or better than I've ever seen... but... there is something... devious about her. I would never have thought of describing her as being devious, but when we are out there, together, she gets this look in her eye and I know the take down will be swift and... well... accomplished."
"Thanks for the information Dixon."
"Jack... I like Sydney... We've worked together for a long time... I don't want to see her hurt... I would never officially say anything about this."
"Dixon, she's not under official investigation. She has been cleared for duty, but Kendall is still unconvinced. I think he is waiting for Vaughn to return. To see what happens with their interaction. She hasn't had another... flashback, since he's been gone. Kendall thinks when he returns, she will... I don't know... self-destruct."
"Jack, Sydney is strong... not just physically. She can deal with Vaughn."
"Has she mentioned him at all?"
"Not directly, but I think she stops herself before she brings him up. She changes topics of conversation quite readily. When is he due back?"
"He was supposed to be back tomorrow... but he called in. His mother died this weekend. It will be another week."
"That's awful... You haven't told Sydney?"
"No, but I will... I have one more stop first. Thanks Dixon."
"See you Jack."
Jack left the locker room and then the gym. His next stop... Dr. Barnett.
"Come in Agent Bristow... I haven't seen you in a while."
"Thank you for seeing me doctor. I have something I would like to discuss."
"That seems out of character for you Agent Bristow. You would normally give up your right arm before coming to talk to me about a problem."
"Well, this is a fact finding mission. I have questions about Sydney."
"Agent Bristow, I've given my report to the directors. I'm sure it is a matter of record that you have access to read. Other than that, I'm not inclined to share another agent's sessions with you or anyone."
"Dr. Barnett, I have read your report. You gave her a clean bill of health, even though she lost two years of her memory."
"Agent Bristow, your daughter has a highly trained mind. I'm sure you know this. She has been trained to keep secrets a secret, even under the most extreme torture. She has proven herself in this area a number of times, if the reports I have read on her are accurate."
"They are, but you placed her under hypnosis..."
"Yes, three separate occasions. She was definitely under, but her mind resisted sharing any information that she had not already told us. Only the one episode in the exam room showed that she had any of this knowledge stored at all."
"How can she do that?"
"Agent Bristow, as I said previously, your daughter's mind is powerful. She has been trained to keep secrets by both SD-6 and CIA..."
"But hypnosis? No one can train their mind to withstand hypnosis. Can they?"
"Sydney had to be somewhere, even if her conscious mind does not acknowledge it. That time has to be stored in her unconscious mind. She has either trained herself or another influence has trained her."
"Another influence? You mean someone else?"
"Not necessarily... Agent Bristow, I have a theory, but no proof. I can't ruin an agent's career without proof. That's why I wrote the report I did."
"Ruin her career? What's your theory? You have to tell me now."
"Agent Bristow... I can't..."
"Dr. Barnett, you've come this far... you can't stop now. If Sydney is a danger to herself or anyone else here... you have to tell me."
"She's not a danger... unless... well let me start from the beginning. I have a theory. Remember, it is only a theory. I have been reading some of the reports lately on the Rambaldi project. I know Sydney is intimately involved in this prophesy..."
"That has been disproved; no one believes it's her, since she climbed..."
"Nonetheless, she is involved, whether through her mother or another relative. I have read some of the passages concerning the device. Most of the reports have labeled it 'a destructive device.' Most agents believe this means physically destructive or that it will blow something up. What if it doesn't mean that? What if the destructive device just damages something? Something precious to us? What if when the device is used it damages or divides our minds?"
"You think, whoever is behind her abduction, erased the part of her brain that would have remembered the last two years."
"The brain doesn't work like that; you can't just erase data, like on a computer. The knowledge is there, residing next to Sydney's conscious mind."
"How do we get to it?"
"We have to find the switch." Jack looked at her with a 'you lost me now' look. "The switch, like a light switch, if we knew what it was we could control her personality, her mind."
"She could become like someone else?"
"Not like, actually another personality with all the memories they programmed her to have. This alternate may be tuned into Sydney's memories whereas Sydney would not remember anything that happened when she was the alternate. Well, that's my theory anyway."
Jack sat in stunned silence trying to absorb some of the information he had just received. "There is a lot of thought that went into this theory. Why is it only a theory?"
"Well, I haven't been able to research it enough, with my other patients and frankly there's a lot of paperwork out there on the Rambaldi device. I really need an analyst to help."
"I may be able to loan you an analyst... to work on your Rambaldi theory. But I have some more questions."
"OK, what are they?"
"What is the switch?"
"It could be anything. A sound, a sight, a smell or a touch... We have no idea, other than it's something she doesn't run into every day."
"Because, if it was something common, we would have observed the switch already?"
"Correct. I'm hoping the Rambaldi documents will identify the switch."
"If we find the switch can we disable it?"
"That is still unknown. It is possible to cure multiple personalities, but those minds are controlled by the whole person. Sydney's alternate may not be controlled by her."
"...controlled by the owner of the device?"
"Perhaps, or maybe taking orders from the owner of the device. There is no data to fall back on, I just don't know."
"So, we have to find the switch and disable it before..." The two looked at each other.
"Agent Bristow, if the controller switches her before we disable it, we may lose her for good."
They sat in silence for a while before Jack gave Dr. Barnett his thanks and left the room.
Jack entered his daughter's room. She had been reading, but looked up when he entered. Sydney smiled and rose to greet him. "Dad, nice to see you." Sydney looked at him in the eye. "But, you have bad news."
"Sydney, I pride myself on keeping a blank countenance."
"I could always read what's in your eyes dad. You have bad news."
"Yes, I do."
"Vaughn's not coming back... is he?"
"He is returning to CIA, but not this week. Sydney... his mother died yesterday."
Sydney stepped back and sat in the chair. "No... Was it sudden? Was she sick? Vaughn must feel awful..."
"Syd... She had been ill for about a month. The doctor said she had a virus that would not go away. It affected her heart and she had a heart attack. There wasn't much the doctors could do when she arrived at the hospital. She died about 1:30 p.m. yesterday."
"Dad, he must feel devastated. They were so close... since his father... When's the funeral?"
"Sydney... I know what's going through your mind. Kendall will never allow you to attend. Don't even think..."
"Dad. How could he not allow me? I am closer to him than anyone here. He needs to know that whatever else is going on, he has our love and support. I need to be there for him."
"I will talk to Kendall. You will at least have to be escorted."
"Of course, you or Dixon or Will can escort me. As long as I can be there, for Vaughn."
"I will arrange it Sydney."
"Thanks Dad." She stood and approached her father. They hugged and he held her. When they parted, he reached in his pocket and gave her his phone.
"Vaughn's number is programmed. Call him."
"Thanks dad." Jack Bristow left the room to allow his daughter to call her condolences.
Sydney found the number in the cell phone's contact list. She selected the send button and the call went through.
Meelon answered the cell phone. "Hello?"
"Hello, this is Sydney Bristow. I would like to speak to Michael Vaughn."
"Um... Michael is busy at the moment. What is this concerning?"
"I am a friend of his and wish to offer my condolences on the death of his mother. Is it possible to speak to him? I won't keep him long."
"Let me get him." Meelon entered the bedroom. "Michael, are you asleep?"
"No, what do you need?"
"There's a call for you, on your cell."
"Thanks." Meelon sat on the bed next to Vaughn. She held his hand as he spoke. "Vaughn"
"This is Sydney. I heard about your mother. I am so sorry."
"Thanks Syd."
"I just want you to know that if there's anything you need, you call... call my dad. We will make sure it happens. Whatever you need."
"Always trying to take control, aren't you?" Vaughn laughed into the phone.
"Vaughn, I mean it. Anything and we... someone will be there for you on Friday. Even if Kendall doesn't let me go... I will be there for you. OK?"
"Sydney... Thanks."
Sydney heard the depression in his voice. "I'll make sure Jack gets all the information."
"Thanks Vaughn... please remember... if there is anything you need. Just call."
"I will Syd."
"I love you Vaughn." There was silence at the other end; Sydney stumbled to pick up the conversation. "I will always love you, no matter what. Bye Vaughn."
"Thanks Sydney. Good bye."
They both disconnected. Sydney sat on her bed. 'OK Syd. You really blew that. He obviously doesn't want to hear how you are pining away for him while you're locked up in this government facility. You are an idiot.'
Meelon sat on the bed watching her husband's response to the caller, Sydney Bristow. 'He certainly looks uncomfortable. Who is she? She said she was a friend, a co-worker? Another agent? Why would he be so uncomfortable talking to her? Maybe she's the one?'
Vaughn clicks off the phone. "Who was that darling?"
"A friend, from CIA. My director must have told the group about my mother."
"I'll take a message next time. I should not have disturbed you."
"It's OK Meelon. It's good to hear from friends."
"I worry about you Michael."
"You shouldn't worry so much, you are right here to take care of me." Vaughn takes Meelon into an embrace and drags her down onto the bed, her back to his chest. They lay together, Vaughn absently stroking her arm. "I love you Meelon."
Meelon frowns... "I love you..." Had she really heard those words from the 'Sydney Bristow' on the cell phone? 'I love you Vaughn, I will always love you... no matter what.' Who was she? 'Well, I can't disturb him now. Michael needs his rest... We have a hard week ahead.'
A/N: So, I know that this was a boring chapter, but some of the items are needed to advance the storyline. Thanks for all the reviews. For those of you worried about Vaughn's love for Sydney, all will be revealed within this week. (If I can get it in before I leave for vacation on July 4th.)
Thanks again, Maxie.