"Jack," Irina said softly. "This is something we need to discuss. And Ryan
is right, he cannot go back. If Sloane knows that he is our son, than he
will no longer trust him." Irina put this as gently as she could. She
looked at Jack. A sense of guilt-ridden urgency played in her eyes. He knew
what she was thinking. He knew her thoughts better than he knew is own.
"Yes." He said, searching for an alternate course of action in his mind. "But Sydney."
"She will find a way to understand." Irina said softly. She gave Jack a small, half smile. She as fully aware of where Jack's loyalties were. Sydney was his daughter, but Ryan was her son. Though they were the parents of both of these estranged children, neither could rival the bond that each parent had separately. At least Irina had known that Sydney was her child. Irina doubted if Jack had yet fully accepted his role as Ryan's father.
It wasn't easy for Jack to accept this. It had never been easy for Jack to accept any of it. He'd known for almost eight years now that Ryan Sark was in fact his son. Irina had of course known much longer. Twenty five years ago when she had been ordered to leave her assignment as Laura Bristow, she had taken something with her. She hadn't even know, herself until almost five months into the pregnancy. Not wanting to alert her superiors, she hidden in Ireland for almost a year. Then she left him.
That night in Panama seven years before, Irina had explained it all to Jack. She had let down her guard and had told him everything. From her joining the KGB up to the day she had left him, she told him everything. They had laughed together, cried together, they shared stories, and made love. As incredibly screwed up as their relationship was, that night had brought some amount of normalcy to it. For the first time in twenty years Irina felt safe with Jack; she felt as if she was actually being herself. And for the first time ever in her life she was completely honest with another person. No games, no hidden motives, Irina told Jack about her love for him, and about his son.
Jack found it hard to believe at first. But that night had meant more to him than anything he could remember. Though she had been his complete and utter downfall, she was also the love of his life; and the one person, apart from Sydney, that he would give his life for. On that night they had created a connection, that neither had ever known before. It was based on nothing but honesty and love. It had taken a lot for Jack to put his game theory aside, and to just love her, but he did. So he believed, and he came to realize that he had two children in this world.
No the son he never knew, was before him; asking for his help, and asking for an explanation. Jack knew that only Irina could give Sark what he wanted, but he was Sark's father.
"I hope you're right." Jack conceded, before turning to walk toward the house.
Irina quickly followed Jack, and reached for his hand as they made their way. Their son drove slowly behind them. Irina's thoughts were in the car with him. She was so unsure of how he was feeling, or thinking. He'd been lied to most of his life. Was it possible for him to forgive her? Of all the things she was guilty for, Ryan was one of the biggest. She'd left him in Ireland, the last reminder of her life with Jack. She'd wanted desperately to keep him, to hold on to something of her newly exited life. But she had no choice. The question was, would her son understand?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jack and Irina stood waiting, as Sark pulled the car to a stop and made his way to where they stood at the door. As he approached both took in deep breathes.
"Well are we going to stand here or shall we go in?" Sark said, seeming as if to blow off the enormity of the situation.
"Ryan." Irina started, sternly. "I know that I am in no situation to tell you what to do. However," She paused unsure how to continue. She was unable to, when Sark cut her off.
"I don't intend to upset Sydney, if that is what you're getting at." He paused, his demeanor changed dramatically. "If you'll forgive my being blunt. Half of the reason I am here is because I found out, just yesterday, who my parents really are." He paused again, all comedy drained from his face. "I didn't come here for answers, or explanations, or any of it. I came here because you are here." He said looking between Jack and Irina. "I came here because I needed a place to go." He looked away, as if he were embarrassed by what he was about to say. "I came.. Because for the first time in my life I have a family to go to."
"Yes." He said, searching for an alternate course of action in his mind. "But Sydney."
"She will find a way to understand." Irina said softly. She gave Jack a small, half smile. She as fully aware of where Jack's loyalties were. Sydney was his daughter, but Ryan was her son. Though they were the parents of both of these estranged children, neither could rival the bond that each parent had separately. At least Irina had known that Sydney was her child. Irina doubted if Jack had yet fully accepted his role as Ryan's father.
It wasn't easy for Jack to accept this. It had never been easy for Jack to accept any of it. He'd known for almost eight years now that Ryan Sark was in fact his son. Irina had of course known much longer. Twenty five years ago when she had been ordered to leave her assignment as Laura Bristow, she had taken something with her. She hadn't even know, herself until almost five months into the pregnancy. Not wanting to alert her superiors, she hidden in Ireland for almost a year. Then she left him.
That night in Panama seven years before, Irina had explained it all to Jack. She had let down her guard and had told him everything. From her joining the KGB up to the day she had left him, she told him everything. They had laughed together, cried together, they shared stories, and made love. As incredibly screwed up as their relationship was, that night had brought some amount of normalcy to it. For the first time in twenty years Irina felt safe with Jack; she felt as if she was actually being herself. And for the first time ever in her life she was completely honest with another person. No games, no hidden motives, Irina told Jack about her love for him, and about his son.
Jack found it hard to believe at first. But that night had meant more to him than anything he could remember. Though she had been his complete and utter downfall, she was also the love of his life; and the one person, apart from Sydney, that he would give his life for. On that night they had created a connection, that neither had ever known before. It was based on nothing but honesty and love. It had taken a lot for Jack to put his game theory aside, and to just love her, but he did. So he believed, and he came to realize that he had two children in this world.
No the son he never knew, was before him; asking for his help, and asking for an explanation. Jack knew that only Irina could give Sark what he wanted, but he was Sark's father.
"I hope you're right." Jack conceded, before turning to walk toward the house.
Irina quickly followed Jack, and reached for his hand as they made their way. Their son drove slowly behind them. Irina's thoughts were in the car with him. She was so unsure of how he was feeling, or thinking. He'd been lied to most of his life. Was it possible for him to forgive her? Of all the things she was guilty for, Ryan was one of the biggest. She'd left him in Ireland, the last reminder of her life with Jack. She'd wanted desperately to keep him, to hold on to something of her newly exited life. But she had no choice. The question was, would her son understand?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jack and Irina stood waiting, as Sark pulled the car to a stop and made his way to where they stood at the door. As he approached both took in deep breathes.
"Well are we going to stand here or shall we go in?" Sark said, seeming as if to blow off the enormity of the situation.
"Ryan." Irina started, sternly. "I know that I am in no situation to tell you what to do. However," She paused unsure how to continue. She was unable to, when Sark cut her off.
"I don't intend to upset Sydney, if that is what you're getting at." He paused, his demeanor changed dramatically. "If you'll forgive my being blunt. Half of the reason I am here is because I found out, just yesterday, who my parents really are." He paused again, all comedy drained from his face. "I didn't come here for answers, or explanations, or any of it. I came here because you are here." He said looking between Jack and Irina. "I came here because I needed a place to go." He looked away, as if he were embarrassed by what he was about to say. "I came.. Because for the first time in my life I have a family to go to."