Two hours later, Alexander Lazarey was leading his four companions through one of many beautifully decorated hallways that were in Irina Derevko's home in Ireland. It had been easy for him to get inside; the guards had all recognized him, as well as Sydney and Jack. Adrianna and Sydney, being woman, were in awe of the beauty of the home; they constantly stopped walking in order to gaze at a painting or one of Irina's exquisite vases.
Alexander, Vaughn and Jack, in contrast, walked in swift step, shoulders square. Alexander smiled at the familiarity of the home. It had been two years and some odd months since he had stepped foot into this place. It was comforting that nothing substantial had changed. He stopped when he noticed Sydney staring at a black and white photo. He motioned to Vaughn and Jack, who ceased walking as well.
The photo adorning the wall in front of Sydney was a small photo of Jack and Sydney Bristow. Sydney was approximately five years old, wearing a cat costume for Halloween. Jack held her on top of his shoulders, and his normally stern face formed a bright smile. Alexander turned his attention to Sydney, whose eyes threatened to spill tears. He reached for her hand, and when she turned to him, he grinned at her. Her eyes lit up quickly and she returned the smile. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it tenderly. He used his other hand to point to a frame on a stand beneath the photo on the wall. In the frame was a color photo of Sydney when she was five, all smiles. Alexander held onto her hand as he spoke.
"She has many photos of you. They're scattered all over this house. She had people observing you for years after she left. She has pictures of you running in the park, graduating from high school, studying on the grass at college..." he trailed off. Sydney gasped, not out of horror from being watched all these years. She was truly touched that her mother had found a way to be a part of her life, even when Sydney had no idea she was alive.
"This is my favorite," Alexander continued, pointing to the photo again. Sydney looked at him questioningly. "You were so beautiful even then. You were happy. I've never seen you smile like that. When I first came to work for your mother, I was barely sixteen. I used to fabricate meetings with you in my mind," he said, smiling lopsidedly.
"I would run into you in the park, or in a restaurant you liked, and we would hit it off. I'd make you laugh, I'd make you smile, just like in that picture. I'd make you forget everything that was wrong in your life," he said, looking up at her. Tears were falling slowly down her cheeks, but she smiled through them. She opened her mouth to speak, but she was too astounded at his admission to say anything of great importance.
"Thank you," she managed finally, squeezing his hand, and their hands remaining together, they continued walking to their destination, the rest of the group following them.
*****
Irina Derevko sat in a chair behind her desk, her body turned toward a window overlooking the countryside. She loved it here, surrounded by the luscious greens of this part of Ireland. She sighed as she turned around to the desk, lifting a frame off her desk.
Sydney.
Her precious baby girl.
Her fingers grazed over the photo, as she pretended to be stroking her daughters face. The picture was of Sydney during her first year at college. The man she had hired to observe of her daughter had somehow found the means to take a photo in close range. Since he had developed the photo and given it to Irina, she had cherished it.
When Jack had notified her, only a few months ago, that Sydney was indeed alive, Irina had breathed the sigh that she had been holding for two years. She had never doubted that her baby girl was alive, but her patience had faltered on several occasions. She was so pleased to learn that Sydney was safe.
Now, her daughter was risking her safety for her mother. Irina smiled at that term. She was Sydney's mother again. She didn't have the right to be, but Sydney had embraced her again. And then, Irina had to leave her girl again. That had been the hardest thing she had ever done, ever more difficult than the first time around. If only Sydney knew the truth...
Jack had risked his own life several days ago, when he had called her directly to inform her of the threat against her life. She remembered smiling that smile that only Jack Bristow's voice could invoke. She had thanked him, fighting the urge to tell him all that he needed to know. He would discover the truth in due time, just as Sydney would...
Irina smiled when her guards notified her that Alexander had arrived, with Sydney, Jack and two others in tow. Irina suspected that one of the others was Michael Vaughn, despite his marriage to another woman. She knew what many others were afraid to acknowledge; despite Vaughn's devotion to his wife and his vows, he would always love her daughter. How could he not?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. She placed the frame back on her desk, her finger hesitant to leave her daughter's beautiful face. She glanced at the door.
"It's open," she yelled.
She stood up at the sight of Alexander. She had not seem him in two years.
She smiled when she noted whose hand he was holding onto.
Sydney. Jack, Vaughn and a woman that Irina did not recognize followed Alex and Sydney into the room, and the woman closed the office door behind her.
"Alexander," she said, first acknowledging the man who had assisted her for over a decade. She stepped over him, and ignoring their usual code of formality, she pulled him into a hug.
"Irina," he said, surprised at her informality, but nonetheless returning her hug.
"It's so good to see you again," Irina said, pulling away to look at him.
"You too," he said, smirking. They both turned around to look at Sydney. Irina opened her mouth to speak, but Sydney cut her off by embracing her tightly. Irina was not the only surprised party in the room.
"Mom," Sydney said. Irina only smiled, stroking her daughter's hair.
"Sydney, I'm so glad you're alright," she said, pulling back to look into her daughter's eyes.
"I'm glad you're alright too, mom. I've missed you," Sydney said. Irina looked at her daughter, realizing from the honesty reflected in her daughter's eyes, that all had been forgiving. Irina struggled not to cry.
"I love you Sydney," she said.
"I love you too mom," Sydney said, smiling.
Irina tore herself hesitantly from her daughter, and smiled as Alexander pulled Sydney to him, draping his arm around her shoulders. Irina turned to where Vaughn and Jack were standing. She nodded in Agent Vaughn's direction.
"Agent Vaughn," she said, stepping in front of him, extending her right hand to him, which, surprisingly, he shook.
"Irina," he said, nodding as well. She smiled at the formality; he was too predictable. She turned her attention to Jack, not sure what to expect from him.
"Jack," she said, moving to stand in front of him. She watched as he nodded, stone-faced as ever. His eyes revealed how his truly felt, and as he stepped forward to embrace her, his actions did as well.
"Irina," he said, stroking her hair, "I'm glad you're alright."
"Jack, thank you for coming. You didn't have to," she said, pulling away from him, a hand remaining on his waist.
"Yes, I did," he said, and the rest of the group fought the urge to leave them alone. Suddenly, the spell was broken when Irina spoke again, turning to her remaining guest.
"I'm sorry, I've been so rude. I don't think we've met..."she said, her voice trailing off. Immediately Alexander moved to Adrianna's side.
"That's because you haven't Irina," he began, he said glancing at the woman by his side, "This is my sister, Adrianna. Adrianna meet Irina Derevko."
Adrianna smiled as she shook Irina's hand, and Irina did the same. She looked at the siblings before her. Alexander's light hair contrasted with the dark-haired woman before her, but she marveled at how identical their blue eyes were.
"Ah, Adrianna. It's so nice to finally make your acquaintance."
"Yes, it is," Adrianna said, releasing Irina's hand. Irina turned around to face all of them, clapping her hands together.
"So, what's the next step friends?" she asked.
"We need to protect you from Lazarey mom," Sydney spoke.
"Oh, I can handle Lazarey," Irina said, folding her arms over her chest.
"I beg to differ, Irina. Lazarey is dangerous. My sister and I dealt with him for years. We know how he operates," Alexander interrupted, his face growing serious. Sydney looked at him, her face growing worried, and he caught her gaze, winking at her.
"I can appreciate that Alexander. But I'm not going to live my life in fear," Irina spoke. Alexander opened his mouth to speak, but Jack silenced him with the wave of his hand.
"Irina, I can appreciate what you're saying, but whether you like it or not, we're staying here with you until we're positive you're safe. And if he comes, we'll be here," Jack said, putting his hand on her arm. Irina glanced at her guests, as they nodded in agreement with Jack's statement. She sighed, throwing her arms up in defeat. There was no point in arguing about the situation.
"Fine," she said, "But I don't want someone guarding me 24-7. We're going to behave like normal people," she laughed as everyone looked at her skeptically.
"Alright, so we'll never be normal. But let's at least enjoy ourselves alright?" she said, and smiled as the others nodded.
"Follow me, I'll show you all to your rooms," she said. As she led them down another hallway, she let no one see the look of fear that had settled itself in her brown eyes.