NOTE:

HA! Bet none of you were expecting all of that!

Heard a cool quote today, thought it was excellent:


"Do you know how lucky you are? You're a writer. You get to live life twice. Who else can do that?" -Joey to Dawson, Dawson's Creek


I love living life a second time through my writing...it's an awesome experience.

Enjoy this chapter...more will be revealed. Heh. Yes, there is more...



When she woke up, Sark was gone, and she was now in a well-lit room, untied. She sighed to herself, standing up to stretch, amazed at the pain she felt all over her body. She checked for injuries, and accessed that there were none. The memory of the story Sark had told her about her disappearance came back to her, and though she didn't want to admit it, it made sense. She had noticed that she wasn't in the greatest shape anymore, and she also had nearly invisible stretch marks. Sark had told her the truth. She began to weep; for her missing years, her insane relationship with Sark, her strained one with Vaughn, her confusing feelings for Eric; but most of all, for her daughter. Anna, he had said. The name sounded like a name she would have chosen herself. Maybe I did, she thought, but why can't I remember?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an opening door, and she moved her hands to her face quickly to wipe away her tears. She didn't move to turn around, for fear of having to face Sark again. She wasn't sure if she could.

"Agent Bristow...you're being a little rude don't you think?"

Sydney's eyes widened as she recognized a voice that certainly did not belong to Sark. She turned around quickly, gasping at the new development.

"You," she whispered. She was face to face with the woman from the bathroom.


*****


"Vaughn, we have ten minutes until takeoff man, what are you doing?" Eric cried.

"I just need to make a phone call, I'll be right there," he replied, walking into a nearby lounge in the airport. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed the familiar number. It rang once. Twice. Three times. He sighed when a recorded message began.

"Hey, you've reached Meg Vaughn's cell. I'm sorry I'm not available to take your call. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible! Have a great day!" the message ended, and his wife's cheery voice echoed in his head.

BEEP

"Hey Meg, this is Michael. Honey, I know you're angry with me. I know I'm confusing you because I'm confusing myself. I've been so lost Meg. Sydney's reappearance shook up my whole life. But when she disappeared, you were there for me. You loved me, you were honest, you were true. For that, I will always be thankful...I will always be true to you Meg, regardless of anything Sydney says or does. You are my wife. I love you. I've got to go. I have a field mission. I know you hate when I work in the field, but this is my last one. I promise you that. When I get back, I'm going to do everything in my power to get you back. Je t'aime." he said quickly, hanging up, amazed at how easily that had all come out. I really do love her, he thought, and I'll do anything to get her back. Right now he had to find Sydney.

*****

"Surprised Miss Bristow?"

"To say the least," Sydney couldn't believe her eyes. She had only encountered her once, but Sydney was sure of the identity of the woman in front of her.

Meg Vaughn.

"I wish I could communicate to you the look of shock in your face. It's truly amazing."

"I'm not amused. Meg doesn't have an accent, yours is clearly Russian. Who are you?" Meg laughed. Bristow was a bright one.

"My name is Melina Sloane," at this, Sydney visibly stiffened.

"Oh God, are you Arvin's..."

"Before you go any further, I'm not Sloane's daughter. He's a lot of things, but he's not an adulterer. He loved Emily."

"Then who are you? Besides a liar? How could you do this to Vaughn?"

"Don't you have a child with Sark?" Sydney visibly backed down, which brought a smile to Melina's face, "So, who is worse Sydney, you or me?"

"I won't decide until you tell me the truth," Sydney said quietly, establishing eye contact at last. Melina hesitated. Yes, she was going to tell the truth, but she wasn't sure if Sydney could handle it. I'm not even sure if I can handle it, she thought. She took a deep breath, and turned away from Sydney, figuring it would be easier if she didn't have to look at her.

"My mother was a KGB agent, assigned to an American CIA agent. She was to uncover information the government needed, and return to Russia as quickly as possible. However, she feel in love with him, and they had a child together."

Sydney listened intently, though tears were forming in her eyes.

"When the KGB discovered her feelings for him, they forced her to leave, or they would assassinate her family. She did as she was told. But when she left, she carried a secret, that no one knew, not her husband, not the KGB, no one..." Sydney's eyes widened.

"She was pregnant Sydney, with me. Our mother was pregnant," At this, Melina turned around to face her.

"My name is Melina Bristow," she stated, looking at Sydney with a tear in her eye. "And I am your sister."

*****

The team was assembled outside the building very quickly, mostly because of Eric and Michael's determination. Michael was leading the team, primarily because of his familiarity with the facility. Dixon was in L.A. watching via satellite, and his voice was heard over the com.

"Boy Scout, you are clear for entry. I repeat, clear for entry."

"Over. We're going in," Upon Michael's command, the team snuck into the mansion. While many of the members did not know where to start, Michael immediately found the door that lead to a basement, and to the lab where he knew Sydney was. When he got to the door he hesitated for a moment.

"What are you doing man? Is this it?" Eric asked.

"Yes, but..."

"But nothing, we've got to get to her!" Eric shouted, earning looks from the team. He continued to stare at Vaughn, rolled his eyes and began to push past him.

"Eric, wait!"

"What?"

"I just have a feeling we're not going to like what we find," Vaughn stated, green eyes full of emotion. Eric threw his hands up in exasperation. He had to get away for a moment. He stepped aside to wear Will was, and pulled his aside.

"He is driving me insane Will! I just want to get to her, can't he see that?" he yelled.

"Yo, yo Weiss, you need to chill. You're starting to remind me of..." Will trailed off, hiding a smirk.

"Of what? Who?" he looked at him, throwing his arms up, "WHAT?"

"You look exactly like Vaughn did whenever Sydney was in danger. The look in your eyes is the same look that I used to have in mine."

"Whatever Will, you have no idea what I'm feeling."

"Don't patronize me Weiss. I was in love with the woman for years. Shut up and admit that you love her already will you? I mean God, I'm not the only one who knows!"

"I am not in love with...what do you mean people know? Who? Who said anything?"

Pointing at him, Will threw his head back in laughter.

"You are so in love with her," Will laughed again, and before Eric could protest, Vaughn shouted,

"We're going in!" and with that they burst through the basement door.

Whether or not whatever they would find was bad, they were about to find out.

*****

"Like mother, like daughter," Sydney laughed stoically, which angered Melina.

"Look, mom doesn't even know I'm alive. She probably doesn't care either; she's too busy being obsessed with you...perfect Sydney Bristow."

"What do you mean she doesn't..."

"When the KGB found out she was pregnant, she was forced to go into hiding. Alexander Khasinau was right by her side - he was in love with her. However, when she gave birth to me, someone took me and told her that I had died."

Sydney gasped at this. Though her mother- their mother- had failed to tell her the complete truth about her life in Russia, she had really thought that Melina had died.

"I observed her for years, and after the KGB recruited me, I became obsessed with bringing her down. Just from watching her, I knew that her heart wasn't in espionage-her heart was with you, with Jack...dad," Melina was weeping as she spoke, "I've never met him. He wouldn't know I exist Sydney. Mom didn't even doubt what those people told her. But when you disappeared, they banded together, and they sought you out. They never believed you were dead," At this, she wiped her eyes, cleared her throat and turned away to compose herself. She turned back, eyes flashing, holding a gun to Sydney's head.

"They won't need to doubt what people tell them this time sister dear. They'll know for sure that you are dead."

Sydney gasped and closed her eyes, preparing herself for impending death. The sounds that followed confused her; an opening door, voices, both American and Russian, shouting...and finally darkness, so overwhelming and frightening and comforting all at once.