Irina stood in front of the glass, gazing at the form of her husband, immobile on his bunk. She knew from experience in that same cell that he would have heard her approach, known who it was, for at least 45 seconds. She kept control of her simmering temper with difficulty.

"Jack. Come here and speak to me," she said through clenched teeth.

There was no response.

Of all the stubborn..."If you are not at this window in 30 seconds, guards will enter your cell and handcuff you to the chair. That seemed to get your attention last time."

Jack sat up rapidly, and Irina recoiled at the blaze of cold anger in his eyes. "You. wouldn't. dare." he hissed.

"Do you want to find out?" said Irina, recovering and returning his glare. "Five minutes. And then I'll leave."

"Five minutes," Jack bit out, and stiffly stalked up to the glass. "Well? Meter's running."

"OK, genius. What was *your* exit plan?"

Jack opened his mouth and then closed it again. He hadn't given it much thought, actually.

"Maybe I swoop in with my own teams? Two facilities simultaneously, remember, because I thought you were at Sloane's Ops base. Both sites heavily fortified. You of absolutely no use because you were still weak as a kitten. Sydney needing immediate medical attention."

"And let's say for argument's sake," Irina went on sarcastically, "that because of my unusual talents I pull it off. Then what? Sydney recovers and now has not just one, but two parents she is sworn to apprehend. Touching family reunion, wouldn't you say?"

"And then," she continued inexorably, "once we've evaded Sydney's well-intentioned but misguided efforts to arrest us, we're on the run. Is that what you had in mind? Because take it from me," she said acerbically, "a life on the run isn't all it's cracked up to be. Always looking over your shoulder. Bad food. Bad accommodations. Never being able to trust anyone. Is that what you want for the rest of your life? I don't."

"You're right," shot back Jack with a withering look. "This is *much* better. You walk away free while I rot in this cell."

"You won't be there forever!" said Irina, exasperated.

"No, I won't," agreed Jack. "There are any number of federal penitentiaries available. Of course, it still makes the family reunions a little awkward," he added snidely.

"Will you just shut up and listen!"

"You've got one minute left," said Jack, folding his arms across his chest.

"Jack, the CIA's been your life. Sydney's not the only one that needs closure. You might not get a retirement watch, but at least you'll get to tell your story. Your way."

"Yeah," replied Jack acidly. "I'm sure that will be very entertaining."

"Don't be such a baby. They're actually quite civilized here."

Jack pointedly looked at his wrist, where a watch would have been. "Time's up."

"For heaven's sake, Jack, you've got a deal."

"Oh?" he drawled mockingly. "It makes me all warm inside to know that you were negotiating on my behalf. What, pray tell, what did *I* agree to?"

"Full cooperation with their investigation of Sloane. Interrogation and debriefing to be conducted here over a 3 month time period.

"What else?" he asked tensely.

"Release after 3 months into house arrest. Full immunity after 1 year of good behavior."

Jack swallowed. "Full immunity?" he choked out, stunned. It was more, much more, than he had dared hope for. "How did you - ,"

"I am," said Irina modestly, "a bit of an expert at immunity agreements. These things are all a matter of timing. Last week Kendall would have given his first-born son - perish the thought - to nail Sloane. This week - well let's just say that, with you in custody, retribution might have played a greater role in his calculations."

Irina looked at Jack, who was still speechless. "You're disappointed about the retirement watch, aren't you?" she said, eyes twinkling.

Jack expelled his breath in relief. "Yeah, really upset."

"Perhaps," said Irina studying her nails, "there's something you'd like to say?"

Jack looked sheepish. "It's easy to get a little paranoid in here," Jack admitted contritely. "I'm sorry. And grateful"

"Apology accepted," she said. "Save the gratitude...for later."

A comfortable silence fell between the two, broken eventually by Irina.

"Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Have you given any more thought to what you'd like to do when this is all over?

Not really, thought Jack to himself. He hadn't expected to get this far. He looked up to find with alarm that Irina was regarding him much as a hawk might regard a particularly tasty mouse.

"The last time I visited you, and I asked you if you would come with me after this is all over, you said 'I'd like to'."

Jack watched her cautiously. "Yes."

"You knew you were going to be shot, didn't you? You had seen it in Il Dire."

Jack winced. Uh-oh.

"Jack?" prompted Irina warningly.

"Yes." Jack held his breath.

"You thought you would die."

Jack softly released his breath. "Yes."

"But you didn't tell me."

Jack looked away. "No. It was the only event that led to Sydney's regaining consciousness, the only way to save her. I was afraid you would try to stop me."

Too bloody right, thought Irina. The idiot. "Be thankful that this glass wall is separating us, Bristow," she said through gritted teeth. "Or I'd kick your ass again."

Jack smiled at her fierceness. "I'm *very* thankful. The shape I'm in, it wouldn't be much of a contest."

"Is there anything else you're not telling me?"

"No," he said, looking at her steadily. "Or at least," he amended quickly, "nothing about us."

Irina raised an eyebrow, but only received a bland expression in return.

"Then I'm going to ask again, Jack. When this is all over...will you come with me?"

Jack silently studied her. To not be alone again. Slowly he lifted his hand and put it on the glass. "Yes."

Irina lifted her hand and covered his. They stood there, gazes locked, for a long moment.

"Until next time, then," said Irina, as she turned and walked away.