Jack Bristow sat quietly during a debrief as Marshall Flinkman was rambling about some new gadget he had created. He jumped, only slightly, when his cell phone vibrated in his left pocket. He looked at the outside screen, and with a signal to Dixon, he left the room. He flipped open the phone rapidly, careful to speak in a low voice.
"Sydney, where are you?" he demanded.
"Dad," Sydney answered, "You have no idea how glad I am to hear your voice." Jack smiled, at least as much as his ever-stoic face could allow.
"Sydney, what has Sark done to you?" Jack demanded. He heard a familiar British-sounding snicker in the background.
"It's more like what I've done to him dad..." Sydney trailed off.
"What are you talking about?" Jack demanded.
"Dad, I'm in England," she answered.
"What are you doing there?"
"Dad, no offense, but shut up," she said. He did, and with his silence, she continued. "Lazarey isn't dead dad. I helped him fabricate his death," she finished.
"Why?"
"He's going after mom. He discovered that she knows that the Covenant is responsible for my abduction...he's going to..."
"Ireland. He's going to Ireland," Jack interrupted.
"Yeah? How did you know?"
"I know where your mother is," he answered. Sydney gasped.
"Then dad, you have to help me, please. I can't let him kill her," she pleaded.
"Alright, alright. Where are you? I'll meet you," he said, and picking up a pen, he wrote down the address she gave to him.
"Dad, be careful okay? I'll see you soon," Sydney said.
"Okay honey..."
"And dad?"
"What sweetheart?"
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he said, a genuine smile crossing his face, and he closed his phone, breaking the connection. He turned around to return to the debrief, nearly colliding with Michael Vaughn.
"Vaughn, what are you doing?"
"Who was on the phone Jack?" Vaughn asked, his face remaining stoic.
"Judging by the look on your face Mr. Vaughn, I believe you know who I was talking to," Jack answered smugly.
"Yes I do. And you're not going without me Jack," Vaughn stated, as if there wasn't an option.
"Excuse me?" Jack asked.
"You heard me. Sydney needs help, I'm there," Vaughn answered, "I'll meet you here in two hours," he finished.
"I don't..."
"I assume you'll make the arrangements," Vaughn spoke.
"You assume correctly Mr. Vaughn," Jack complied. Vaughn nodded, and left the office in a hurry. Jack couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the man retreat.
He really had grown a pair.
*****
"Well, this is awkward," Alexander said, and he grunted after Sydney elbowed him in the stomach.
"Ouch," he said, "Was that absolutely necessary?" he demanded, rubbing his mid-section.
"Yes. Was your comment necessary?" she asked.
"No," he mumbled.
They were in Adrianna's kitchen, listening as Adrianna spoke to Jack and Vaughn in the next room, filling them in on all that had transpired.
"I was just stating the obvious Syd. We both know that things have been awkward between you and Vaughn since you returned from your two-year hiatus," Alexander said.
"I know. I don't know what possessed my father to bring him here," she sighed.
"Me neither, however, I am glad," he said.
"Why? I thought you didn't like Vaughn," she said, looking at him questioningly. He placed his hands on her waist, turning her to face him.
"I never said that," he said, "we could use his expertise. I can admit he possesses a certain amount of intelligence. He will be useful in saving your mother," he said.
"Wow, you're admitting that Vaughn is an okay guy?" she asked.
"Um...yes," he spoke, raising an eyebrow, "Why?"
"Nothing," she shook her head, "I'm just surprised. You're very different from who I originally thought you were..." she trailed off. She wrapped her arms around his neck, surprising him.
"Is that a bad thing Miss Bristow?" he whispered. Their faces were mere inches apart.
"No. It's a good thing Mr. Lazarey. A very good thing," she said, moving to kiss him.
A throat cleared. Alexander sighed, and Sydney looked over his shoulder, noticing Vaughn in the doorway of the kitchen, his eyes clouded.
"We're ready," he spoke, and then turned around in retreat. Sydney looked at Alexander, her eyes apologizing for the interruption.
"Did I say I like him?" he asked, and Sydney nodded in response. He sighed.
"I change my mind."
Outside of the kitchen, the sound of Sydney's laughter echoed in Michael Vaughn's head.
*
****
Due to some bizarre twist of fate, for the duration of the plane ride to Ireland, Vaughn and Sydney were seated with one another toward the front of the plane, while Alexander, Jack and Adrianna were seated near the rear. Alexander was squirming in his seat, constantly shifting to view Sydney from a better angle.
"Sark...Mr. Lazarey, you're making me nervous. Stop squirming like a child," Jack said. Alexander only snorted.
"He's in love with your kid," Adrianna interjected, seated on the other side of Jack.
"Adrianna!" Alexander yelled, "Shut up!" Adrianna only smiled coyly. Jack looked at her skeptically, and then shifted his glance to Alexander.
"Is this true?"
"What?" Alexander asked.
"Don't insult me Lazarey. I could say a lot about you, but I know you're not stupid. Now how do you feel about my daughter?"
"That is none of your business," Alexander answered, glaring at Jack.
"Oh, I believe it is," Jack answered.
"Boys, boys," Adrianna interjected, her hands coming between their faces. "I didn't bring this up to start a fight. I was merely clearing the air," she said, smirking.
"Yeah, thanks for your help," Alexander snapped. Adrianna rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat, engrossing herself in her magazine. Alexander turned his attention to Jack.
"Jack, I care for Sydney. I want to help her," Alexander spoke honestly.
"Why?" Jack asked.
"Look, I'm not who you think I am."
"I've realized that," Jack responded.
"What does that mean?"
"My daughter trusts you now. She didn't trust you before. My daughter is a smart woman, Mr. Lazarey, although, you're aware of that," Jack said.
"Yes I am," Alexander said.
"I trust my daughter's judgements. I don't trust you yet. But if my daughter trusts you, I can give you the benefit of the doubt," Jack said. Alexander visibly relaxed.
"Thank you..." he began.
"Don't thank me, Lazarey. If you give me any reason to doubt you, or if you hurt my daughter, I will kill you," Jack stated, and Alexander heard Adrianna snicker.
This was no laughing matter. Alexander had no doubt that Jack Bristow was completely serious.
*****
"So, what's up?" Sydney asked Vaughn in an attempt to start a conversation.
"Nothing," he said, glancing at her. She hesitated.
"Nothing happened while I was gone?" she asked.
"Sydney, do you want to stop your ridiculous attempts at conversation so I can ask you a question?" he spat. She looked at him nervously.
"Um, sure," she said. He hesitated, dragging his hand through his mussed up hair.
"What is going on between you and Sark?"
"Alexander," she corrected.
"Whatever," he said, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," she lied.
"I didn't walk in on nothing," he whispered.
"What do you care Vaughn, you're married," she said, and winced when he appeared to be wounded by her statement.
"Look Sydney, just because I'm married doesn't mean I don't care about you. Why do you want to mess around with Sark?"
"Alexander," she hissed, "And who says I want to mess around with him?"
"Well what do you want to do with him?" he asked.
"That's none of your business," she answered. They remained silent for a few moments until Vaughn spoke, his voice considerably softened.
"I care about you Syd. Our situation is insane. I just don't want you to get hurt. I don't trust him," he spoke.
"I know Vaughn. I know you care about me. But it's not your job to protect me anymore. I trust him. And I will continue to trust him, unless he gives me a reason not to, understood?" she said. He sighed.
"Understood," he said. He leaned back in his seat, hesitant to ask her his last question.
"Syd?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever wish things were different?" he asked quietly.
"I do, but I don't...it sounds strange, but do you know what I mean?" she asked, looking at him.
"I know what you mean," he said, and with that, their conversation was over.