Sydney stared in shock at all the familiar faces she saw sitting at their own individual tables in the grand room. Quickly she yanked Sark away from where anyone could spot them and shoved him into a small nook to which she was sure no one was paying attention.

"What was that all about?" he asked. "We only stepped two feet into this place and you're already freaking out." He was willing to believe her without question if Sydney thought they needed to hide, but he did want a little explanation.

"Did you not notice any of the people sitting in that room?" Sark shrugged his shoulders. "Are you a spy or what? Jesus!"

"Breathe, Sydney," Sark whispered noticing that she was coming close to hyperventilating. "Now who exactly is in there?"

"A shitload of people who shouldn't see us together," she whispered back. Sark just gave her a confused look. "It's not that I'm embarrassed to be coming here with you. I mean, we were both invited."

"Thanks. Good to know you think so highly of me, Agent Bristow."

"Don't play the role of the wounded British guy who gets offended easily," she scolded. "I know it's an act. So cut it out." Sark smiled at her. "It's just that there are a lot of people in there that won't understand why you and I are so chummy with one another. We're going to get nothing out of this whole gathering because you and I are going to spend it defending ourselves to everyone present."

"Who's in there that has you so riled up?" he asked again hoping this time she would give him a clear answer.

"For starters, I saw Anna Espinosa in there. You may have heard of her. About three years ago, she was the best agent the K-Directorate had. Then she dropped off of the face of the earth. I assumed that she had been killed on a mission. Anna was my 'nemesis' before a certain cocky bastard came on the scene."

Sark winked at her. "You know you loved having me around. You were practically begging for someone who can challenge you to appear."

"And then there's the small problem of Vaughn's wife, Lauren, being here."

"Where?" Sark asked sticking his head out from their hiding place. "I haven't gotten a look yet at the woman who's turned your life upside down."

"Get back in here. She's sitting with her father over at the far table." Sydney allowed Sark to subtly peak his head out again. "I think that's her father she's with. Funny. Vaughn said she was visiting her sister's tonight."

"Of course she lied to him. The invitation did say tell no one on pain of death. She's definitely not as pretty as you are, Sydney."

Sydney rolled her eyes. "And then there's my mother and father."

"They're here? Together?" Sark began looking around wildly. "Has hell frozen over and no one's told me about it? Because there's a couple girls back in primary school that owe me some dates."

She smacked his arm. "Stop joking around. This is serious. Why would my mother and father be here together? They hate each other."

"Shouldn't we be focusing on the fact that your father doesn't know I'm alive?"

Sydney gave him a dirty glance. That was the least of their problems.

Sark smiled at her innocently. "Way I heard it they had a sort of reconciliation when you went missing. Joined together to find out what really happened to you. Situations like that tend to bring people together. It's not so unbelievable."

"If you've heard the way he talks about her, then you'd think it was pretty fucking unbelievable," Sydney hissed. "But if we get past the weirdness of them being together, we still have to deal with the issue that my father will see you with me. That won't make him happy. And my mother won't be happy that you quit her employment just to cozy up to her other daughter, the one you haven't been engaged to before."

"Are you asking for a ring, Sydney? Because that might be moving a little too fast for me. We've only just begun this relationship."

"Can't you ever be serious?" She usually liked Sark's constant sarcasm and humor, but at this moment it was starting to get on her nerves.

"What can I say, you bring out the most inappropriate behavior in me."

Sydney sighed again and grasped his arm. "Well, there's no way around it. We just have to walk in there like we don't care who else is in there."

"A great decision," Sark said with a smirk.

"Just don't try to talk to my father. I don't fancy cleaning blood stains off of this dress."

Sark led her straight down the middle aisle to a vacant table that had name cards bearing their names. Sydney was quite curious when Sark had found the time to figure out that this was the table they were designated to sit at. "Maybe I shouldn't underestimate him. He may have been gone for two years just like me, but he's still as sharp as I am," she thought to herself.

"Sydney," Sark said breaking into her thoughts. "Your father is on his way over."

"This should be good." Sydney turned and watched her father stalk over to their table. "Hi, Dad."

"What are you doing here with this bastard?" her father hissed. "Who might I add is supposed to have been dead for over two years now.

"I could ask you the same question, minus the dead part of course," she said nodding to where her mother was still sitting attentively watching and listening to this conversation. "Who I spend my time with is none of your business, Dad, if you can't even tell me that you have a relationship with Mom again."

"It's complicated, Sydney."

"Well, this is complicated, too." Sydney gestured back and forth from her to Sark. "I guess that means I don't have to explain it either."

"If you knows what's good for you, you'll come over to my table and sit with your mother and I."

"Honestly, Dad, I feel more safe right here. Unlike you, he always tells me the truth even when it hurts. I've needed someone to talk to over the past few months, and he was there for me. He understands. You weren't there. You were off, presumably, with my mother doing god knows what for god knows whom. What's happened to you?"

"Sydney, you'll have to trust me. Your mother and I are working to make your life a happier one. I can't explain anymore. But I want you to know that everything we're doing is for you."

Sydney sighed. "Fine. If you want to join the club of people who are holding the truth from me, then that's okay with me. Just don't rub it in my face that you know something I can never know. All the lying that's been going on is starting to make me uneasy twenty four hours a day."

"You name what you need me to do to make you feel more comfortable, sweet heart, and I'll do it."

"Leave," she responded.

"Excuse me."

"I'll feel much better if you and Mom weren't here. If you stay, I have a feeling I'll end up being worried about you or having to risk my life to save yours. I can't take that added pressure right now. I need to know that you won't make this whole thing harder for me. Something important is going to happen tonight if I can stay on top of my game. So, please, just take Mom and leave."

Jack nodded. "We'll leave, but I want you to call me on my cell phone if you get into any jams. You may be worried about having to save us, but don't forget I'm also worried that with me leaving, you'll have no one to watch your back.

"I have Sark." She stared defiantly at her father, daring him to challenge her.

"I can see that. Remember, I'm just a phone call away if you need me."

"Thank you, Dad."

Jack nodded one more time and walked back to his table. Sydney watched him fight with her mother for a few minutes, and then the couple left their table and walked out the doors Sydney and Sark had entered through.

"That's two less people to worry about," Sark said. "Good work."

"Thank you." Sydney scanned around the room. "Now I just have to figure out why Lauren Vaughn is here."