Sydney watched as her father read over the note. As usual, his impassive features revealed nothing. The only indication of any reaction was the tightening of his hand over the paper. She sighed, trying to hold her curiosity in check. He would never tell her what her mother wrote, of that she was sure. She thought about stealing it off of him later, but decided against it. If the note was personal, as she had already surmised, reading it would be a betrayal of sorts.
"Hey, Syd, is your Dad okay?" Marshall watched as Jack carefully folded the note and placed it back in his pocket. "He's wearing his 'don't bother me, Marshall' look."
Sydney smiled up at him. "Yeah, he's fine. He just has to work some things out."
"I'm glad you are his daughter and not me. Not his daughter … his son. I can't be his daughter because I'm a guy. Not that I'm saying you're his son..."
"It's okay, Marshall. I understand. My father isn't the easiest person in the world to talk to. Would it help you to be less intimidated if I told you he used to sing "I'm a little teapot" to me when I was little?"
"Jack Bristow? The Jack Bristow?" He looked at her dumbfounded. "You're teasing me, right? Because I can't see..." He shook his head. "No, that is just too surreal."
"My favorite was "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo". I think he sang it to me every night for a whole year. I was in a major Cinderella stage back then."
"I have to agree with Marshall on that one, Syd." Vaughn sat next to her, placing a stack of papers he retrieved from his briefcase between them. "I just can't see Jack Bristow singing children's songs."
"Well he did." Sydney laughed. "He has a great singing voice."
"If you say so, Syd." Vaughn snorted, not bothering to keep his disbelief from her. He pointed to the first page of the papers in front of them. "That's the layout of the villa. The place is pretty old and probably has a ton of secret tunnels. If we can take Sloane by surprise, we should be able to get to him before he can make an escape."
"Marshall has sonar gear that should help us locate the secret passageway. The Station Chief in Milan has advised Kendall that the Italian authorities will help with the raid." Jack stated. Sydney jumped when she realized her father was now standing behind her. She looked up at him, wondering how long he'd been standing there.
"He has? He must be pretty good."
"Well, Sloane did blow up one of their banks a couple weeks ago. The Italians weren't too happy about that." Vaughn pulled another sheet from the pile. "Here is a news article on the explosion. Several people were injured. Ten fatalities. They still don't know what he took."
"Dad, do you know the Station Chief?"
"Yes."
"What do you know about him? Can we rely on him?" She shot her father an exasperated look, daring him to give her another short reply.
"He was one of my teachers when I was at the Academy. Interrogations 101." Vaughn offered, when Jack didn't reply. "I was one of his guinea pigs," he added, wincing at the memory.
"Yes ... well ... Sydney, I need to go over something with you privately." Jack interrupted Vaughn.
"Sure, Dad." She gave him a puzzled look.
Jack looked over his shoulder and called back to Marshall and Vaughn. "By the way, I also know all the words to 'Supercalifragilisticexpealidocous", if the need should arise."
Sydney blushed. "You heard?"
"Yes."
She shook her head and grinned up at him. "I think you've traumatized them for life, now."
"I'm happy to see I haven't lost my touch."
"What is it, Dad?" They reached the rear of the plane, well out of anyone's earshot.
"Did you send that e-mail? The one to your mother?"
"Of course I did. I thought I told you that already."
"No, I'm sure you didn't."
"What was that all about, Dad? Are you planning on meeting up with Mom?"
Jack shifted uncomfortably. "No. I ... it was a warning to stay away."
Sydney looked at her father, aghast. "What if she warns Sloane? Dad, what were you thinking..."
"Sydney this is none of your business ..."
"Of course it's my business. Dad, Sloane has your sister. Mom..."
"Your mother is the one who gave us the information on where to find them." Jack interrupted her sharply. "Sydney, this is just as hard for me as it is for you. Trusting your mother ..." He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Perhaps I am a fool, but I have to do this."
"You still love her, don't you?" Sydney asked him softly, her hand reaching for his.
"We're still married, Sydney. She's still my wife."
Sydney's heart stilled. She looked at her father, unable to hide her shock.
"It's true." He shook his head ruefully. "I checked."
"Does Mom know?"
"She's the one who brought it up in the first place."
"She did?" Sydney gave her father a worried look. "Dad, I hope you are right about trusting her." Unconsciously, she flipped a strand of hair behind her ear. There was a flicker in her father's eyes. She frowned up at him, her eyes sending a silent question.
"You remind me of your mother when you do that."
"Do what?" Sydney asked, even more puzzled.
"Your hair. You two are very much alike."
"I'm not sure I want to be like her, Dad."
Jack swallowed. "Sydney ..."
"It's okay, Dad. I need to work that one out for myself." She squeezed his hand. "You're worried that you did the wrong thing, aren't you?"
"Jack, Sydney. We're getting ready to descend. The pilot wants us all strapped in." Vaughn called to them from the front.
She looked at her father, ignoring the interruption. "You're not going to answer me, are you?"
"Sydney, right now I'm just as confused about your mother as you are. Once, I thought I knew her as well as I knew myself. Then I found out I really knew nothing about her at all." He swallowed. "I only hope that my trust in her hasn't been misplaced ... for all our sakes."
