Chapter 8

A/N: i must apologize for such a late update. this was finished a while ago - but like every good story - an even better beta was behind it.

i won't be updating as frequently - cause of school (stoopid school!) but thanks for your continued support!

love, hugs and kisses -

dark angel


~.~

"No!" Kendall shouted, his face turning red. "There is absolutely no way you can see her until she talks, Jack."

Jack Bristow and Michael Vaughn stood side by side, facing Director Kendall. Kendall had been enthused about the capture of Sydney Bristow, and wanting to profit from all her knowledge that she had gathered about secret organizations, her boss, and Rambaldi.

"Sir, you saw the tapes of her, you heard our discussion. She won't talk unless Jack is there. Or until she sees him." Vaughn added. "She's a strong person, and she's not going to back down. We don't want to make her talk using force."

"And what do you propose that we tell her? " Kendall retorted. "Jack's cover was that he's an airplane parts salesman, not the damn CIA!"

"We'll tell her the truth. Don't you think that she's been lied to enough?" Jack threw back at him. "I've been lied to, she's been lied to. We need to figure out some things, the sooner the better!"

Kendall glared at Jack angrily, his face tense.

"I will go see her, with or without your authorization," Jack threatened, sticking his face in Kendall's. Snarling at him, Kendall gave a quick nod.

"I swear, Jack, if you and Vaughn don't get any information out of her, I will make sure something is done about it."

Smiling triumphantly, Vaughn led the way to where the prisoner was being held.

~*~

Sydney laid her head on the table, on her arms. She closed her eyes, thinking about the one question that stuck in her mind. Will you marry me? Shuddering, she shivered at the thought. The love she once felt for him was gone, replaced by the sorrow that she felt when they had lost their baby. To have accepted the proposal would've been a mistake, thought Sydney. Sighing heavily, she regrouped her thoughts.

The door creaked open, a squeaking from the hinges.

"Sydney."

Sydney bolted upright in her chair, staring at the figure standing at the door.

"Dad?" she whispered. "Is it really you?" Standing up, she began to walk to him. Jack opened his arms as he welcomed his daughter with a hug. Stroking her hair, he gently comforted her as she cried into his shirt, her shoulders shaking from the overwhelming emotions. Suddenly she broke away from the embrace, fire in her eyes.

"Why are you here dad? How did you know I was alive? I missed you dad. Why are they keeping me here? Who's Vaughn? Why am I being held by the CIA? And why are you with the CIA?" Questions began to pour out of her mouth, waiting for an answer.

"Have a seat sweetheart," Jack said, leading her to a seat and taking the seat beside her. "Where should I begin…."
~.~

Sydney sat frozen in her chair, looking at the man sitting across from her.

Her father.

Over the past hour, Sydney watched her father choke out words filled with sorrow and pain, as he explained to his daughter what he did, ashamed that he lied. Sydney smiled, shaking her head slowly.

"Dad, I was six. You don't have to be sorry."

Jack Bristow looked up into her choclate brown eyes, smiling as he recognized the same deep eyes of his 6 year old daughter. Sitting quietly, he leaned back, an uncomfortable silence filling the air.

Sydney anxiously twisted her hair between her fingers, momentarily looking up around the room. Her eyes locked with her fathers, and she nodded her head in understanding.

"Where? Who?" Jack choked out. "Who took you away from me. Why are you still even alive? Who do you work for?"

Sydney knew the question the moment his mouth opened.

"Mom." Sydney spoke softly, her voice above a whisper. "I've been with mom all this time. She arranged it."


Reaching out across the table, she took his hands into hers, and squeezed it lightly.

"Don't worry Dad, I'm not leaving any time soon. I promise."

~.~

Vaughn watched through the window as Jack painfully told her the truth, about the CIA. The room was filled with emotions, ranging from happiness, joy, grief and anger. Sydney's hand grasped her father's tightly, the tears bottle up in her, streaming down her face.

He watched her cry, wanting to wipe them away, and reassure her that everything was alright.

Irina Derevko.

Vaughn hastily scribbled her name on to his notepad, and picked up the phone.

"Hey Eric? (pause) Can you do me a favor? Start looking up information about Irina Derevko. (Pause). Just do it man. Thanks Weiss."

~.~

Irina sat in her chair, shocked at the news. Sydney had been captured by CIA agents, the ones that had discovered her name.

It was only a matter of time before they traced everything back to her.

Sark paced anxiously in front her, afraid for the first time in his life.

"So, what's the plan? How do we extract her from them?"

"There is no plan. We can't do anything right now. The ball is in their court, and they'll be coming for us. We need to prepare for that."

"What?" Sark yelled, stopping mid-step. "How can we not do anything about her? You're going to let your daughter sit in a CIA prison for the rest of her life?" I can't let the love of my life slip away!

"Have a seat," Irina commanded.

Sark willingly sat down, looking up at her. "I lied to her about Cuba. She asked me if I was there on business for you. I also asked her to marry me, Irina. She never got the chance to answer."

Irina's heart sank at his words, staring at him blankly.

"There's nothing we can do. She's in her father's hands now."

~.~

Jack, Vaughn and Weiss sat pouring over Sydney's statements, beginning from her faked death to the moment she was captured. Every question that Jack had about her whereabouts were answered, every sentence a painful reminder of the moments lost with his daughter: stolen by his wife.

Sydney couldn't believe that she was disclosing all this information, but couldn't stop herself from doing so. She had nothing to live for with her mother, and redemption came to her through giving the CIA what they wanted.

In the end, Sydney became like her father - a CIA agent. She moved in with him, being released into the public. But one thing was certain, Sydney Bristow was dead. She had died in a car accident years ago, and despite the fact that she was alive, she would be non-existent in all the government records, except for the CIA.

Sydney agreed to these terms which gave her a chance at freedom, a life that she never had the chance to have.

~.~

Vaughn watched Sydney from across the table, twirling her hair around her finger. She caught him staring, and tucked her hair behind her ears, giving him a shy smile. Vaughn smile in return, making Sydney weak in the knees. His smile is so incredible, so sexy yet genuine.

Vaughn was her handler, watching as she went on missions, collecting Rambaldi artifacts for the CIA, the same ones that her mother wanted.

Thinking about her mother, Sydney frowned. The amount of anger that she felt for her couldn't be explained. Her mother had lied to her, it was a simple fact.

"Are you alright?" Vaughn asked, as other CIA agents streamed into the meeting room. His eyes met hers, the warm green eyes full of concern. "You look upset."

"I'm okay, Vaughn." Sydney replied, faking a smile. Vaughn shook his head, smiling.

"You can't fake your smile, I can tell when you're doing it. When you smile, the whole room lights up." Sydney smiled at his comment, her heart less heavy.

"If you ever need to talk, let me know. I'm here for you, Syd. Anytime, anywhere. Just give me a call okay?"

"Okay."

~.~

"Hey Syd!" Eric Weiss greeted her eagerly, watching as she nearly choked on her hot cup of coffee.

"Morning Eric," Sydney said, setting down her coffee and wiping the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

"I've got a joke for you, Syd," Weiss continued, grabbing a cup off the counter. "So, a man walks into a bar with a sandwich on his shoulder. The bartender turns, looks at him and says, ''Sorry sir, we don't serve food here!!''

Weiss cracked up with laughter, while Vaughn strolled into the room.
"Oh no Eric. You're still telling that sandwich joke?" Vaughn gave Sydney a sympathetic look. "Don't listen to any of his jokes, they're all bad."

"Hey," Sydney said, giving him a tiny smile as she handed him an empty cup.

"Thanks," Vaughn said, taking the cup from her. His fingers brushed lightly over hers when he grasped the cup, sending tiny electrical shocks through her body. Sydney ducked her head down as she made her way to her desk, leaving Eric and Vaughn

"Whoa, what just happened there?" Weiss said, bringing Vaughn out of his daze. "There were some funky connections between you two, i saw the sparks flying! Were there sparks flying?"

Vaughn shot Weiss a dirty look.

"Aww geeze," Weiss mumbled, shaking his head.

~.~

so - help me along, review a little? that'll make me smile.