"Hello?" he asked.

"Julian?" a female voice inquired. Julian's eyes darted around, checking for any outside listeners.

"Irina?" he asked, "You shouldn't be calling me. It's dangerous," he whispered frantically.

"It's an emergency Julian," she said, exhaustion evident in her voice.

"What? Oh God! Did something happen to Sydney?" he asked, his voice unconsciously raising.

"Julian, just come home soon," Irina answered.

"What are you talking about? Is she alright?" he asked, panicked.

"She needs you. That is all I can say. Just come home soon," Irina said, ending the call.


*****


As Irina slammed down the phone, she sighed loudly, placing a hand over her face. When she turned around, she was facing a furious daughter.

"Mom?" she asked, "Why did you do that?" she demanded, tears falling down her face.

"He needs to be here for you..." Irina trailed off.

"Why? He can't do anything! He can't make this go away!" Sydney yelled. Irina stepped in front of her daughter, embracing her tightly.

"Sydney," she said softly, stroking her daughter's hair, "He might be able to shed some light on the situation..." Irina said, pulling back to push a hair out of her daughter's face.

"How mom? He can only remember a grand total of two weeks more than I can. He doesn't know anything," Sydney said, stepping back from her mother. Irina looked down to the floor, sighing loudly.

"He may know some things now Sydney. Julian has several contacts in the Covenant, whose loyalties are as...flexible as his own," Irina said, her eyes returning to Sydney's.

"So you think he may be able to find out who the father of this baby is?" Sydney asked quietly.

"I have my own suspicions. You will know the truth soon," Irina said, stepping forward to retrieve her daughter's hand, squeezing it tightly.

"It'll be alright, sweetheart. I promise. We'll take care of you and your baby," Irina said, looking toward her daughter's stomach. Sydney followed her gaze, and rubbed her stomach lovingly.

"It's hard to believe there's something growing inside of me," she said, smiling, and then frowning again, "I just don't think I'm the right person to be bringing a baby into this world."

Irina frowned, and lifted her daughter's chin, forcing Sydney to look at her.

"Sydney, you'll be a wonderful mother," she said.

"Everything I touches..." Sydney began.

"Don't say it Sydney. Don't curse yourself sweetheart. You're thinking and doing for two now," Irina said, her eyes determined. Sydney nodded, looking down at her abdomen again.

"For two..." she said, trailing off, smiling softly.


*****


Julian slammed the door to Irina Derevko's house far louder than he had planned. He glanced around the place, moving around in a state of panic. It had nearly three days since Irina's cryptic phone call, and he just now gotten home. It had taken prying, bribing, and much threatening to escape the Covenant and return to Sydney...

Sydney.

Where the devil was she?

He had searched the entire upstairs, the gardens outside, the offices...

He stopped when he heard the familiar sound of her laughter.

Laughter?

Hadn't Irina said that something was wrong? He shook his head, and walked toward the beautiful sound. He found that it was coming from Irina's small library on the first floor, and as he stepped to the door, and pushed it open tentatively, he began steeling himself to whatever he would find...

His eyes widened at the sight of Irina Derevko and her daughter, Sydney Bristow, sitting next to one another, a book in their selective hands, reading and laughing and smiling. Neither of them noticed his presence at first, so Julian took the moment to admire them.

They were quite a pair, these two. They looked so alike, with glossy brown hair, and large brown eyes...similar mouths, faces, features. He hadn't seen Irina truly smile in years. He found himself comforted that they had found a connection with one another. He smiled softly, and it only widened when Sydney looked in his direction, a surprised smile appearing on her face.

"Julian!" she yelled, tossing her book on the couch, and sprinting to him. She threw her arms around him, and kissed his cheek softly.

"Wow," he said, glancing at Irina, who was smiling as well, "Remind me to come home more often!" Sydney pulled away slightly, smacking him lightly on the arm. He grimaced.

"Careful love," he said, and when she looked at his arm, her eyes widened in horror.

"Julian," she said, her voice rising, "What happened?"

His arm was bandaged, blood still seeping through the bandage.

"I was shot on my last mission. No big deal. It just hasn't been healing correctly, is all," he said, his eyes connecting with Sydney's. Her features softened, and she smiled.

"Let me look at it," she said, reaching toward his arm.

"Just a flesh wound," he said, smirking. She sighed.

"I'll be the judge of that," she said, unwrapping the bandage. She gasped at the sight of it. The bullet had obviously only grazed his skin, but it had gone deep.

"It's infected Julian," she said, her eyes displaying concern, "you need to see a doctor."

"Do I have to mum?" he asked, his eyes dancing. Irina laughed, standing up slowly.

"Welcome home Julian," she said, "And yes, you have to see a doctor. It doesn't look good," she finished, leaving the room. Julian glanced over Sydney. She looked fine.

So why had Irina called him three days ago?

"You alright?" he asked. She glanced away from his wound, into his eyes. He could've sworn her mask of strength faltered, but immediately it was back again.

"I'm fine," she lied, "you're not. Come on, we're going to the hospital."

"Do I have to?" he whined.

"Yes, you do," she said, smiling at him. She took her hand off his wound after re-bandaging it and cupped the side of his face in her hand. Before he could react, she kissed him softly on the lips, sending shivers down his spine. When she pulled away, he smirked at her, his blue eyes dancing.

"What was that for?" he asked, surprised. She smiled at him.

"I missed you," she said stepping away from him, grasping his hand, "now come on we're leaving," she said, dragging him out the door.

"Not so hard Bristow, I'm an injured man," he said, rubbing his arm as they went.


*****


Sydney had been at his side as a doctor poked and prodded at him, finally telling him what Sydney had expected. His arm was infected, nothing time and a little antibiotics couldn't heal. When he was all bandaged up again, prescription in hand, they stood up to exit the hospital. Sydney turned when someone called her name.

"Miss Bristow!" Sydney's eyes widened, and she shook her head at her doctor, who in turn eyed her questioningly.

"Dr. Michaels, hello again!" she said, her eyes panicking. Julian looked at her questioningly. The doctor glanced at the man beside her, then back at Sydney.

"Is he the..." Michaels began.

"This is my friend Julian Lazarey," she interrupted, and when she glared at the doctor again, he nodded in understanding.

She hadn't told him.

"Ah," he said, taking the man's hand to shake it firmly, "Nice to meet you Mr. Lazarey."

Julian nodded, smiling a bit, and looked questioningly at Sydney.

Awkward silence followed. Dr. Michaels sighed, putting a hand on Sydney's arm.

"Miss Bristow, it was nice to see you again. Take care of yourself..." he said.

"I will," she said quickly, smiling at him. Julian nodded at the doctor, who did the same, and led Sydney into the parking lot. He watched her as she rummaged around her purse for the car keys, her face suddenly looking ragged.

"What was that all about?" Julian asked. She looked up at him, smiling oddly.

"Nothing," she lied.

"How did he know you?" he asked, stepping into the passenger side after she unlocked it. He waited until she sat on the driver's side to repeat the question. She sighed loudly, glancing over at him.

"It was nothing Julian. Drop it," she said, starting the car. He looked out the window, giving her what she wanted, but couldn't help but wonder why the most honest, innocent woman he had ever met, was lying to his face.


*****

The man picked up the phone, glancing over a patient's records carefully.

"Dr. Michaels," he said, into the receiver.

"Dr. Michaels? It's Irina Derevko," a female voice said over the line.

"Miss Derevko. Pleasure to hear from you again. How can I help you?" he asked, sitting the records down on his desk.

"My daughter was just in your hospital," Irina said.

"Yes, with a young man..." he began.

"Did you handle his case?" Irina asked.

"No, I did not. I imagine that someone in emergency did Miss Derevko," he said, confused.

"Is there any way you could find out?" she asked.

"Well..." he began.

"I'm going to be straight with you Dr. Michaels. I believe that the man you saw today may be the father of my daughter's child. I want a paternity test done," she said. The doctor sighed loudly.

"I cannot do that without Sydney's consent..." he began.

"Who's in charge here doctor? Me or you?" she asked, interrupting him. He sighed.

"Always a pleasure Irina. I'll have the results soon," he said, rubbing his forehead.

"Thank you," she said, ending the call.