Thanks especially to my betas Gabs, Brittany, and Serenity. This would have *way* more confusing without them. Extra thanks to my dove for the *paragraph*.
--Part the Fifth--
Before Abram Chered could move towards the door, Sark spoke again. "Please, do not strain yourself. Ms. Bristow will not be accepting your gracious offer."
"You will find no succor with me, Mr. Sark. You and Espinosa deserve each other. If not, I would kill you myself. Kessar had my respect."
"You are simply surrounded by persons of amiability and goodwill. Even so, you need not trouble yourself with returning."
Sydney turned her head sharply. Sark met her eyes, threat implicit.
Sark looked at Sydney but spoke to Chered.
"She would much rather keep me in good company." Sydney detected the gravity in his voice. "And in any case, your letter of ransom would best be directed elsewhere-"
Chered raised his eyebrows in question and turned to Sydney.
She sighed in resignation and answered stonily. "Yes. This cell, and the company, have suddenly grown more attractive. Thank you, though."
Sark smirked, "I knew you could not be impervious to my-"
"Manipulation?"
Chered spoke before Sark could, "I'll take my leave then. This visit has been intriguing, to say the least. Should you reconsider, Ms. Bristow, tell the guards."
He rapped on the cell door, and was let out.
Sydney followed his passage with a longing look before confronting Sark. He look entirely too pleased for her tastes.
When the door locked, Sydney spoke. "You're a bastard."
Sark grinned, "Just doing my part to fulfill all your expectations of my character."
Lacking an adequate vocal response to such insouciance, Sydney glared.
"Now onto this plan of yours?"
The exasperation showed on her face, "Why are you pushing this so hard? I thought you were the man of a thousand getaways. Shouldn't you have some sort of super expensive concierge service panting for your summons; you know, people to ask, 'Would you like white wine or red with your rescue?' Or shouldn't you be slithering somewhere with Ana so you can steal the keys to whatever top of the line sportscar is inexplicably hidden in an out of the way garage?'
"Leave me alone."
Sark was quiet. When she looked at him, she noticed his expression was somewhat pained.
"Ana is going to kill me. There will be no miracles or last-minute smooth talking. I need your help."
Sydney knew better, she did. Intellectually, she knew that the desperation was show; Sark had perfect control over his features and only betrayed emotion to his benefit.
And yet her empathy was undeniable. Hell, she was scared of Ana and she hadn't even screwed her…
Which was a good point. Sydney felt caught. On one hand, Sark had gotten them into the situation and he wasn't her responsibility. On the other hand, she didn't want to leave anyone in a situation of certain death and torture. Not even Sark…
Of course, then there was that other hand -the third and therefore strictly imaginary, where she couldn't even help herself. Consideration of Sark was moot at this point. She had to worry about herself.
"Sydney, I need your help. If I have to use my leverage, I will consider it well spent."
Oh, yeah, Sydney thought. I'll help him escape, right into a comfortable cell at the CIA Marriot. "Gonna be awful hard to make that threat when you're in custody."
"It's going to be 'awful hard' to take me into custody now that I have been warned of your intentions." He paused. "I think any collaboration of ours would be handicapped by anything less than complete trust. If we are to escape, I want a guarantee that you will not attempt to take me into custody."
She scoffed, "You're not going to get it."
"Sydney, please."
"Bristow."
"Agent Bristow, please believe that I want to get out of here as much as you do. And I am willing to admit I need your help."
She weakened. It was true, well, as far as it went. "What if I can get Chered to take you, too?"
"No. Laura has told me about Chered; they were not friends. I don't think he meant to ransom you to SD-6 but to her, and when he found he could not contact Laura, I think he would have killed you."
Laura? Sydney tried not to show confusion on her face. Who was Laura and why was Sark blithering on about her? A credible source? Gossip maven of the SpyWorld? Well, she wasn't friends with- Oh! Laura, as in her mother. As in, Irina formerly known as Laura Bristow. Sark wasn't saying Irina because Ana might not have made the connection. While it might be widely known in this part of the world that Irina Derevko had a daughter with a CIA agent, it might not be widely known that Sydney was that daughter. She couldn't exactly picture her mother at social functions playing the proud parent by cooing, "Yes, that woman who stole your priceless relic and took out twenty of your guards? That's *my* kid. Isn't she great; she has my cheekbones."
Sydney doubted Ana knew. Ana was the kind of woman who would make a comment and make it *hurt*. So it was better to be circumspect and not blab about dear old mother while in Ana's jail cell. Sydney supposed that was true by sane person logic, anyway. Sark had pointed out earlier that the room might be bugged and she had forgotten *again*.
He drove her crazy. It was amazing the effect Sark's proximity had on her attention…
Rather than explore that thought, Sydney nodded; she had already considered the possibility of a double cross. Her mother didn't seem like the type to make friends easily. She moved on from Chered and offered, "We've been gone for almost forty-eight hours. The CIA and SD-6 are probably both looking for me. They may have even seen Ana take us."
"I doubt it. She may be crazy, but she is also very good at her job."
"Does anyone know where you are?"
Sark shook his head, "Sloane probably thinks I've betrayed him by now."
Sydney pursed her lips, trying to suppress her response of 'And he'd be right.'
There was another rap at the door.
Sark quipped, "We are certainly popular tonight, aren't we?"
Sydney ignored him and concentrated on their visitor, the guard who had fed her earlier. He was carrying another tray, with a meal for two this time. He set it down in a place where he could watch them both, "Food first, then the restroom, and then you may sleep."
While Sydney was being spoonfed, Sark spoke to the guard. "How much would pay for your inattention?"
He didn't answer, so Sark persisted. "I know that you're not loyal to Ana. Cash, jewels, I can reward you handsomely."
The guard spoke coldly, "I am not loyal to Espinosa; I am loyal to K-Directorate. You cannot buy me."
Crash and burn, Sydney thought. It had gained them nothing. But it hadn't been a loss either; Ana probably expected them to try to escape.
Then he looked speculatively at Sydney, leering up and down. "You cannot buy me with money."
Sydney went very still, but she did not physically withdraw from the guard despite her repulsion.
Sark's face did not change, "It appears that I am forced to respect the integrity of your loyalty."
The guard shrugged, "It was worth a try."
***
TBC
I decided not to be cheap and be all, "What will Sark do? Will he give Sydney to the sleazy guard? Will he do it and say that he knew
she could give said sleazy guard's ass?" I was tempted though. I really was.
--Part the Fifth--
Before Abram Chered could move towards the door, Sark spoke again. "Please, do not strain yourself. Ms. Bristow will not be accepting your gracious offer."
"You will find no succor with me, Mr. Sark. You and Espinosa deserve each other. If not, I would kill you myself. Kessar had my respect."
"You are simply surrounded by persons of amiability and goodwill. Even so, you need not trouble yourself with returning."
Sydney turned her head sharply. Sark met her eyes, threat implicit.
Sark looked at Sydney but spoke to Chered.
"She would much rather keep me in good company." Sydney detected the gravity in his voice. "And in any case, your letter of ransom would best be directed elsewhere-"
Chered raised his eyebrows in question and turned to Sydney.
She sighed in resignation and answered stonily. "Yes. This cell, and the company, have suddenly grown more attractive. Thank you, though."
Sark smirked, "I knew you could not be impervious to my-"
"Manipulation?"
Chered spoke before Sark could, "I'll take my leave then. This visit has been intriguing, to say the least. Should you reconsider, Ms. Bristow, tell the guards."
He rapped on the cell door, and was let out.
Sydney followed his passage with a longing look before confronting Sark. He look entirely too pleased for her tastes.
When the door locked, Sydney spoke. "You're a bastard."
Sark grinned, "Just doing my part to fulfill all your expectations of my character."
Lacking an adequate vocal response to such insouciance, Sydney glared.
"Now onto this plan of yours?"
The exasperation showed on her face, "Why are you pushing this so hard? I thought you were the man of a thousand getaways. Shouldn't you have some sort of super expensive concierge service panting for your summons; you know, people to ask, 'Would you like white wine or red with your rescue?' Or shouldn't you be slithering somewhere with Ana so you can steal the keys to whatever top of the line sportscar is inexplicably hidden in an out of the way garage?'
"Leave me alone."
Sark was quiet. When she looked at him, she noticed his expression was somewhat pained.
"Ana is going to kill me. There will be no miracles or last-minute smooth talking. I need your help."
Sydney knew better, she did. Intellectually, she knew that the desperation was show; Sark had perfect control over his features and only betrayed emotion to his benefit.
And yet her empathy was undeniable. Hell, she was scared of Ana and she hadn't even screwed her…
Which was a good point. Sydney felt caught. On one hand, Sark had gotten them into the situation and he wasn't her responsibility. On the other hand, she didn't want to leave anyone in a situation of certain death and torture. Not even Sark…
Of course, then there was that other hand -the third and therefore strictly imaginary, where she couldn't even help herself. Consideration of Sark was moot at this point. She had to worry about herself.
"Sydney, I need your help. If I have to use my leverage, I will consider it well spent."
Oh, yeah, Sydney thought. I'll help him escape, right into a comfortable cell at the CIA Marriot. "Gonna be awful hard to make that threat when you're in custody."
"It's going to be 'awful hard' to take me into custody now that I have been warned of your intentions." He paused. "I think any collaboration of ours would be handicapped by anything less than complete trust. If we are to escape, I want a guarantee that you will not attempt to take me into custody."
She scoffed, "You're not going to get it."
"Sydney, please."
"Bristow."
"Agent Bristow, please believe that I want to get out of here as much as you do. And I am willing to admit I need your help."
She weakened. It was true, well, as far as it went. "What if I can get Chered to take you, too?"
"No. Laura has told me about Chered; they were not friends. I don't think he meant to ransom you to SD-6 but to her, and when he found he could not contact Laura, I think he would have killed you."
Laura? Sydney tried not to show confusion on her face. Who was Laura and why was Sark blithering on about her? A credible source? Gossip maven of the SpyWorld? Well, she wasn't friends with- Oh! Laura, as in her mother. As in, Irina formerly known as Laura Bristow. Sark wasn't saying Irina because Ana might not have made the connection. While it might be widely known in this part of the world that Irina Derevko had a daughter with a CIA agent, it might not be widely known that Sydney was that daughter. She couldn't exactly picture her mother at social functions playing the proud parent by cooing, "Yes, that woman who stole your priceless relic and took out twenty of your guards? That's *my* kid. Isn't she great; she has my cheekbones."
Sydney doubted Ana knew. Ana was the kind of woman who would make a comment and make it *hurt*. So it was better to be circumspect and not blab about dear old mother while in Ana's jail cell. Sydney supposed that was true by sane person logic, anyway. Sark had pointed out earlier that the room might be bugged and she had forgotten *again*.
He drove her crazy. It was amazing the effect Sark's proximity had on her attention…
Rather than explore that thought, Sydney nodded; she had already considered the possibility of a double cross. Her mother didn't seem like the type to make friends easily. She moved on from Chered and offered, "We've been gone for almost forty-eight hours. The CIA and SD-6 are probably both looking for me. They may have even seen Ana take us."
"I doubt it. She may be crazy, but she is also very good at her job."
"Does anyone know where you are?"
Sark shook his head, "Sloane probably thinks I've betrayed him by now."
Sydney pursed her lips, trying to suppress her response of 'And he'd be right.'
There was another rap at the door.
Sark quipped, "We are certainly popular tonight, aren't we?"
Sydney ignored him and concentrated on their visitor, the guard who had fed her earlier. He was carrying another tray, with a meal for two this time. He set it down in a place where he could watch them both, "Food first, then the restroom, and then you may sleep."
While Sydney was being spoonfed, Sark spoke to the guard. "How much would pay for your inattention?"
He didn't answer, so Sark persisted. "I know that you're not loyal to Ana. Cash, jewels, I can reward you handsomely."
The guard spoke coldly, "I am not loyal to Espinosa; I am loyal to K-Directorate. You cannot buy me."
Crash and burn, Sydney thought. It had gained them nothing. But it hadn't been a loss either; Ana probably expected them to try to escape.
Then he looked speculatively at Sydney, leering up and down. "You cannot buy me with money."
Sydney went very still, but she did not physically withdraw from the guard despite her repulsion.
Sark's face did not change, "It appears that I am forced to respect the integrity of your loyalty."
The guard shrugged, "It was worth a try."
***
TBC
I decided not to be cheap and be all, "What will Sark do? Will he give Sydney to the sleazy guard? Will he do it and say that he knew
she could give said sleazy guard's ass?" I was tempted though. I really was.