Part 6 - Frustration
It was the second day on the yacht. They had spent the previous day in peace. Irina had stayed in her room the whole day, recovering from her hangover and regaining her control. Jack had been reading the files Irina had given to him from her source in Spain and the afternoon, Sydney had been seen.Yuki had explored the whole ship.
Omar had patiently shown the girl how to drive a ship and explained the different instruments to her. She had also made the acquaintance of Dimitrjii, the tech guy, who was taking care of the machines. The old man had showed the girl how to repair a machine and how it worked.
The only man who didn't seem to like her was Jamis, the galley worker. He hardly talked at all and Yuki didn't like him. She had decided to keep an eye on him... just in case.
They would berth at one of the small islands in the pacific today to buy some supplies and fill up their water reserves.
It was already noon and Irina was lying on deck, reading a book and enjoying the warmth of the sun. Yuki was playing ball around her - actually she was more occupied with preventing the ball from flying into the ocean . Jack hadn't shown up the whole day.
Irina was quite glad about that, because his presence made her feel unsure... and the more time they spend together, the more unsure she felt, especially after she had been drunk - although she should be prepared to face him now.
She hated to show any weakness, especially to Jack.
"DUDE!"
Irina looked up when she heard Yuki's curse and followed her eyes. The yellow ball was lying in the waves, growing smaller and smaller as the yacht kept its speed up.
"Don't even think of it!" Irina noted dryly and looked at her book again. "We won't stop because of a ball and if you jump to get it, it will be a long way to swim for you!"
Yuki grinned at her, knowing that Irina would immediately stop the boat if she would really jump into the water, but a ball was just not worth the effort.
"I think there's another one downstairs!" Yuki replied and hopped downstairs. Irina followed her with her eyes. This girl was amazing. Although she had been through so much, she was still naive and happy like an innocent child. She sighed and closed her eyes. This girl deserved a second chance. Maybe she would have changed her life as well if given the possibility...
"Have you ever truly regretted it?"
Irina started at the sudden interruption of her thoughts and looked at Jack.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Having missed seeing Sydney grow up."
He sat down next to her and she nodded.
"Yes..." she replied, her eyes focused to some point on the horizon. "But leaving was the only way to keep her safe... at least that was what I thought. Of course I didn't expect her own father to use her for some project to train spies!"
Jack shot her a cold look. "I don't think you're in the position to judge my decisions! At least I've been there for her, while her mother abandoned her."
"Yeah... at least physically you've been there!" she snapped, eyes focusing at her book again.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
She sighed. How had this happened again? She hadn't meant to start a fight with him...
"Nothing... I'm sorry."
Jack wanted to reply something, but in that moment Yuki hopped out of the door again. She had found another ball and shot it against the rail.
Irina watched her a moment, then she got up.
"Excuse me!"
Without shooting them one more look, she went up into the living room. Yuki and Jack followed her with their eyes, then Yuki turned to Jack.
"I know what you think about her!" the girl said dryly and threw her ball to him. Jack caught it and blinked, amused.
"Do you?"
He had come to like the girl. She was cheeky, but in a refreshing way and if she told you something you could just be sure that it was the truth. He didn't know why, but he trusted her, and although he didn't even know anything about her he liked her.
"Yes..." She caught the ball as Jack threw it back to her. "You love her, but you're too proud to admit it, maybe too afraid to get hurt as well... understandable. And now, after you've seen her and after what Conzales told you, you're incredibly jealous and again too proud to admit it to yourself, because you think she'll use it against you!"
Jack had almost choked. "What?" he asked totally stunned. The girl had described his feelings as accurately as it was possible. "How do you...?"
"How do I know?" she smiled mysteriously. "I'm fourteen, and I'm not stupid."
"No, obviously you're not! Have you told Irina what... you just told me?"
She laughed and he caught the ball again. "No, I'm not your matchmaker! I just wanted to make sure I'm right."
Jack shot her a look and sighed. "You were right about everything except for one little detail!"
"What would that be?" Yuki sat down next to him curiously and took the ball as he handed it to her.
"I don't love her! I did love her once... but too much has happened."
"I know you don't trust her." Yuki smiled at him. "But I can tell you, none of your recent accusations towards her are true. She may have made a lot of mistakes in the past... but she has a good heart, and does definitely not deserve to be treated like that. Maybe you've been hurt by her... but have you ever thought of the possibility, that she was hurt too? You can't expect her to trust you and be honest with you if you don't return that trust. Sometimes it's hard to do the first step, but maybe she deserves a second chance!"
"She had dozens of second chances!" Jack growled and Yuki looked at him, her eyes piercing his.
"No! She has not had a second chance, because you always treated her with prejudices and assumed that she would betray you again."
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with a fourteen year old! You don't know anything about our past at all... you don't know her!" Jack murmured and Yuki smiled again.
"Yes, of course, maybe you are right. I don't know anything!" she replied in a way that made him feel stupid.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Yuki didn't react to his question. "You see a woman who betrayed you, abandoned you and your daughter and is a murderer, a terrorist and a traitor. I see a woman who protected me from harm and did everything to get me a second chance to start over again. If she was what you believe her to be Jack, ask yourself, would she have even looked at me once? But you're right. I'm just a child... how can I know about how the world works?"
Leaving him in stunned silence, Yuki jumped up again and continued her one-person ball game.
~+~+~+~
Irina slammed the door to the living room shut and leaned against the cool wood. She hadn't meant to start a fight with Jack, actually she had planned to be really nice to him and not allow him to break her control again.
But he couldn't let go of the past and that outraged her. Yes, she had made mistakes, but so had he...
Why the hell did she feel so aggressive lately? All her self-control seemed to flow away like a waterfall - not even her meditation brought her the inner peace she was so in need of, at least not long-term. She denied the possibility of being frustrated, because that was just not the case. She was happy, when she was alone. She didn't depend on anyone... especially not Jack.
Okay, maybe she wanted him, but that was all. The natural reaction of a woman's body to a man. Not to any man, to Jack, her subconsciousness corrected her and Irina slammed her fist to the billiard table.
Her life had been perfectly under control... until two years ago when her damned search for Rambaldi had caused them to meet again.
"Am I disturbing you?" Jack entered the living room and shot the woman at the billiard table a concerned look.
"Yes!" she growled. "But I doubt you care!"
He chuckled and shut the door behind him, then walked to the billiard table. He looked at her for a long time until her eyes pierced his in fury.
"Have you come to annoy me?" she snapped.
"No, but obviously that's inevitable. You're pretty easily annoyed lately!"
"Wise words from the inventor of annoyance!" Her voice was level and she closed her eyes. "So, what do you want?"
"What about a game of pool?" he suddenly asked, rolling the billiard balls around with his hand. Her eyes sparkled with interest.
"To what purpose?"
"Truth..."
She shook her head in confusion. "What?"
"Every time one of us sinks a ball he can ask the other one a question which has to be answered truthfully. And if you don't want to answer that question, you have to do something I want you to."
"Why are you just saying that about me?"
"Because I have nothing to hide and will answer your questions."
"That's ridiculous!" Irina turned and wanted to leave as Jack laughed.
"You're afraid!"
"What?" she yelled and turned around abruptly. "I assure you I am certainly not afraid."
"Prove it!" He handed the cue to her. "I thought you love games... let's have this one."
"We shouldn't waste our time with..."
"I can't believe it. The great Irina Derevko is afraid of a game!"
"Give me that damned cue!" she growled and he handed it to her laughing. "But we should install some rules for the questions!"
"Why?"
"Why?" she repeated and he nodded.
"Yes, why? Are you afraid I could ask questions you don't want to answer?"
Why did she get the feeling that he controlled this game - a feeling that she didn't like at all? Okay, Mr Bristow, you wanted to play without rules, you'll get your game.
She shot him a cold look and focused her mind to the table then. She did her first break - nothing. She cursed silently and handed the cue to him then. Her curses got louder when he sank a ball at the side of the table.
"Why are you being so frustrated?" he asked without looking up and thought, which position was best to shoot next.
"No special reason!" she replied and his eyes met hers.
"Did I mention that a lie has the same consequences as the refusal to answer the question? You get one more chance!"
His eyes fell to the red eight again and he measured his chances to hit the hole in the left corner.
"I'm still waiting! You have to reply fast, otherwise I have to assume that you came up with a lie!"
"I'm frustrated, because you're such a damned bastard!" she growled in a hint of fury and he grinned.
"Answer accepted!"
He shot and the ball sank into the hole. "Let's give you any easy one... who is Katya?"
"I already answered to that question!" she replied dryly and he nodded.
"Yes, but not to my satisfaction."
"I can't tell you more than what I told you... and that was the truth!"
"So you refuse to answer?" His eyes sparkled she gasped for air in rebellion.
"No..."
"Yes, you do! Tell me at least, where do you know her from?"
She pressed her lips together. "I can't! And Jack, this question is just not fair!"
"Why? We're allies now. No secrets!"
"Fine then say what I have to do, because you won't get the answer to that one!" She held his eyes with hers. She couldn't tell him that Katya was her sister, because he was CIA. She didn't want her sister to be involved with her international crimes... at least not officially.
"Fine, then..." He went closer to her. "...you have to take the consequences."
His mouth was just an inch away from hers and she felt tension starting to build up inside her. He noticed with a certain satisfaction that his closeness had its effects on her although they didn't touch at all.
She didn't turn her eyes away from his and for a moment it seemed as if he would kiss her. Every inch of her body was prepared, no, awaited his touch... but then he simply said "Get me a drink!" and turned back to the table.
That set her totally off and it took her a moment to regain her control.
"What?" She didn't even bother to hide the confusion from her voice and he smiled.
"Wine would be fine!"
Although that hadn't been the answer she had aimed to achieve with her question, she turned and filled two glass with wine.
She handed one to him in exchange for the cue.
"It's your turn... I missed the last ball." He replied and took a sip of wine without loosing her eyes.
'Two can play this game' she thought grimly and quickly examined the table for which ball offered her best chances. About thirty seconds later she had sunk two balls at once.
"Make that two questions!" she replied. "Or three? One bonus for two balls at once?"
"As you want!" he replied coolly and the fact that obviously he was totally under control made her angry.
"Okay... do you plan to play me out in any way by working with me? Is that why you agreed to my offer so quickly?"
"No!" was his short reply before he took another sip of wine. "I allied with you to find Sydney. If I wanted to play you out I would have done so in Athens some time ago... I had my chance there... as you should remember."
The vivid memory of their encounter in Athens crossed her mind and she lowered her eyes.
"Answer accepted!"
Why did she have the feeling that he was trying to manipulate her... and even worse that he succeeded in doing so?
"So, why have you saved my live back then? You could have easily gotten rid of me. Either by letting that guy stab me or the CIA catch me. Why did you warn me if you hate me?"
"Because I don't hate you!" he simply stated. "I never said I hated you..."
"You don't hate me?" she asked in total surprise, rising her eyes from the table to him and he chuckled.
"No. That would make it three questions."
"Hey, the last one wasn't supposed to be one of the questions!"
"You can't just ask questions that step out of the line!" he replied and she decided that any discussion was not only futile, but also ridiculous.
He watched her as she bent over the table to reach a ball in the corner. She was so damned beautiful and his body reacted almost immediately. When she shot the ball against the cushion and missed the hole, he was almost relieved to be able to focus his mind to other things.
It was easy to finish the shot she had failed to complete, because the ball was lying in a perfect place.
She took a mouthful of wine to drown her frustration and leaned against the table, looking at him in await of his next question.
"Do you love me?"
She almost choked on her wine.
"What kind of stupid question is that?"
"It's a question... an equivalent to your hate question! So what's your answer?" he replied dryly and she held his gaze.
"No!" she replied with a steady voice, her face a mask again. He chuckled and grabbed her wrist, then he pulled her close.
"What are you doing?" she asked stunned and got nervous as she felt the edge of the billiard table in her back.
"I have been thinking the entire time about..." he started and she shrieked in a mixture of fright and anger when he tipped some of his wine over her neck and shoulder.
"...what this wine would taste like on your skin." He finished his sentence and before she could react he started to lick the wine of the hot skin of her neck.
"That's against the rules..." she protested weakly and turned her head a little to give him better access.
"Not exactly." he replied and teased her earlobe with his tongue. "You lied and are paying your debt now."
"I didn't..." she started, but he interrupted her.
"And I have to warn you the game is still going on and if you lie while paying your debts, you'll have to pay even more."
His lips went over her shoulder, savoring every drop of wine off her skin while he pushed her back to the table and opened the knot of the blouse, which she had loosely tied over her body, to reveal the naked skin of her belly. Then he emptied his glass over her.
She moaned at the tickling sensation of the cold wine on her hot skin. His lips brushed over her belly and finally closed over her navel.
"God, you're so delicious..." he whispered hoarsely.
"Jack..." She wanted to sit up and feel more of him against her body but he held her softly down.
"Don't move, I'm not finished here yet."
He took his time in continuing to lick and caress her body until he had enjoyed every single drop of wine and she was writhing in desire under his mouth. He pulled her softly up until their faces were just inches apart.
His hands slipped her blouse down her arms and finally tossed it aside to the table. Then he pressed her hips against his erection. They moaned in unison at the heat of the other's body, both gasping for air with their lips as close as they could be without touching.
"I need you so badly!" she whispered hoarsely, her hands working on his shirt. She whimpered frustrated when it took her too long to open his buttons. He helped her and smiled warmly.
"Let us put an end to your frustration..."
She growled challenging. "Seems pretty obvious, that I'm not the only frustrated one onboard..."
"Touché..."
Before he could say any more, she merged her lips with his in a fierce and desperate kiss, her hands finally touching the bare shin of his shoulders and chest. He slipped the straps of her bra slowly over her shoulder, every touch of his setting her skin on fire. A soft moan escaped her lips when he broke the kiss too fast, only to follow the path of his hands with his lips.
Suddenly a knock at the door brought them back to reality. They broke apart within a second, Irina glided off the table and collected her blouse hastily. They had expected Yuki to enter, but it was Omar.
"Irina, we're going to..."
He shot them a stunned look and started to grin.
"What are you doing, folks?"
"We were... um... playing pool!" Jack answered totally controlled with a look at the table, covering Irina's body until she had pulled on her blouse.
"I see..." Omar nodded and the grin widened. "However, I just wanted to notify you that we're going to reach Panoubla in fifteen minutes."
"Yes, thank you!" Irina replied dryly, fully clothed again but still looking a little tousled. "Anything else?"
"No..." Omar turned. "By the way... who was about to win?"
"What...?" Irina asked, looking up from her blouse.
"In your little game!"
"Get out!" she growled and Omar left the room laughing before anything could hit him.
When the door had shut behind him, Irina turned to Jack and shot him one of her darkest looks.
"Next time you plan to play, please take the time to lock the door... unless you had planned to increase my frustration and embarrass me. You might think of me as a whore, but I'm not."
He tried to force back his anger and grabbed his shirt. She acted as if he was the only one to blame.
"I'll remember yes... but just so you know, I had not planned this. Actually I just came to negotiate an armistice... obviously an inappropriate effort!"
If looks could kill, he would have been shot by the deadly expression in her eyes now.
"So, that was why... you tried to..."
"No!" he interrupted her. "I don't use sex for my own interests."
The way he pronounced the word 'I' made clear that he thought that she was exactly doing that.
"The chance for an armistice has just moved into unattainable distance, thanks to your unsurpassed ability to destroy all negotiations with fifteen words or less!" she announced furiously and turned around.
"Irina... wait! Don't you dare leave..." he warned and she slammed the door emphatically in his face. Her hands clenched to a fist she went down the stairs to the main deck.
"Irina... have a look at this!"
Yuki ran to her, but Irina lifted her hand to stop her.
"Don't talk to me right now."
She moved in direction of the bridge to talk to Omar.
"Um, Irina..."
"Yuki, I just told you..."
"But... your hair..." Yuki looked at her with amusement sparkling in her eyes.
Irina looked at her reflection in one of the windows and cursed silently. She tried to rearrange her hair with her hands and looked at Yuki with a threatening expression in her eyes.
"Don't you dare tell anyone..."
The girl laughed and watched her walking away. When Irina was gone, she shook her head seriously. Obviously they had quarreled again...
Would they ever be able to overcome their past and difficulties? Yuki looked at the open sea and really hoped so. Only very little time was left...
~+~+~+~
"Ah, Irina!"
Irina ignored the grin in Omar's face and looked out of the window at the ocean.
"What you've just seen... I expect you to not talk about it ever again, understood?"
"I would never..."
"Not even to Katya!" Irina faced him now. "I don't want my... affairs to be a point of discussion in the next family meeting, understood?"
Omar laughed and nodded. "Fine, but that will cost you. Let's say a kiss?" he grinned at her and his eyes sparkled in amusement.
"Another proposition: I won't have to kill you for what you've witnessed if you promise to keep silent." She offered coolly and he laughed.
"You're exactly what Katya described you to be."
"I miss her... how is she?" Irina suddenly changed topic and focused her attention to the land that could be seen in the distance.
"Pretty good. She's trying to live a normal live again. Although she misses working with you..."
Irina pulled a face. "Last time we were almost killed! How can she miss working with me?"
"You two have more in common than you think!" Omar shot her an amused look, then he got serious. "What about you? You didn't tell me that you'd bring your lover with you."
"He's not my lover..." Irina replied. "He's my... husband."
Omar turned to her, his face reflecting a mixture of confusion and amazement.
"That is Jack Bristow?"
"I see, Katya informed you well about my past!" Irina commented dryly and Omar shrugged his shoulders.
"She mentioned him, yes. And she also mentioned that it would be better if you two never met again."
"Yes, my wise elder sister." Irina sighed and leaned against the window. "She has always been right about such things."
"I don't think so..." Omar mentioned, eyes focused on the water. "Maybe she had been right often, but this time she might be wrong."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you two seem to be really meant for each other!"
"Another one of those questions I regret to having asked!" Irina murmured and Omar laughed.
"I know you don't believe in fate, but in my belief, everything is predestined. You were asked to marry him thirty-two years ago... maybe it was arranged by the KGB, but the fact that your ways cross over and over again..."
"Stop it, please! I don't believe in fate or predestination. Our alliance is just to find our daughter. And I'm not having this conversation again, are we clear?"
Omar shrugged his shoulders and stopped the yacht about a mile before the landing stage.
"Okay, let's get ready to land. We'll have to take the small boat from here. I don't want to risk to scuttle this ship, because Katya would break my neck if I did."
Irina laughed and left the room to get ready.
~+~+~+~
The island was small, but obviously well prepared for tourists. As soon as they had entered the small landing stage, they were surrounded by people who wanted to offer them food or pearls or all available other kinds of necklaces, bracelets or earrings.
The village was very modern, and looked as if the main influences were westerns, even the houses looked more like the ones in an American city than on a pacific island.
Yuki couldn't get enough of the colorful stands with all the beautiful things they had to offer and she was always about fifty meters ahead of them. Omar and his kitchen help Jamis took care of the food and Jack and Irina were just observing the whole scenario without really participating.
Irina looked at some necklaces, lost in her thoughts and not really paying attention to the beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry.
A young woman started to shower her with compliments and offer her dozens of pearls, earrings and bracelets, but Irina refused courteously.
"Irina..." Jack caught up with her as she continued walking along the stands.
"What do you want?" she replied coldly and he held her to keep her from walking and forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I wanted to... I'm sorry."
She looked at him interested. "For what?"
"For... what I've said earlier." He finally managed to say, his eyes showing that he really meant it.
"Okay..." she nodded and wanted to walk on, but he held her.
"That's it?"
"That's what?" she answered confused.
"Just 'okay'?"
"How do you expect me to react? Your apology has been noted."
He groaned in frustration. "Why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" she asked, louder now and her eyes reflected her confusion. "I'm not doing anything! I'm just accepting your apology."
"You have a strange way of accepting apologies!" he snapped and now she lowered her face to his, her eyes sparkling aggressively.
"And you have a strange way to make apologies. I accepted this one, but you can't seriously expect me to be happy with it when you show me in every single reaction that you think of me as exactly what you've told me to be. You don't need to apologize only because you think you've hurt me and have a guilty conscience now. You did not hurt me, so don't bother to apologize."
He grasped for air and stared at her in disbelief. "Stubborn b*tch!" he growled.
"See what I mean?"
"Why do you always have to fight with me?"
"I don't... you're the one who starts, so I'm returning the question!"
"And why the hell do you always have to distort the facts?" His anger had changed into amusement. No doubt, she was playing.
"I am not distorting anything."
"Ah... lovers like to tease each other!" Omar looked from Irina to Jack, ignoring Irina's killing looks. "Come on, let's walk on. I want to be back onboard before it gets dark!"
They watched Omar walking away, then looked at each other, both serious.
"You know, maybe he's right..." Jack noticed and looked at her challenging. If she wanted to play, it was fine by him.
"That we're lovers?" she challenged him back, her eyes sparkling.
"No..." He lowered to her ear so that only she could hear his next words. "But I love to tease you... not only when talking."
He heard her catching her breath slightly as her thoughts turned into another direction, as he had intended them to. Suddenly it felt as if she was too close to him. He noted her making a move to bring distance between them and caught her hands in his to hold her in place.
"Hey, love-birds!" Omar, who was already fifteen meters ahead, turned around and looked at them, slightly annoyed. "We have to go! Do you need that in writing in order to follow me?"
"If I kill him, could that be considered as self-defense or murder?" Irina asked and shot Omar her darkest look. Jack chuckled at her words.
"I think it's murder, but in the face of the extenuating circumstances the judge might be convinced of you only being partially guilty."
"Extenuating circumstances?" she asked interested and he grinned.
"Frustration due to a lack of sexual satiation."
She pushed him away, her anger resurfacing immediately. "I am not a sex addict, Bristow! I'm pretty much in control of my actions and if I kill someone then in full possession of my mind. You should remember that..."
"Threatening me again?" he teased her and she turned around.
"Go to hell!"
He followed her grinning and wondered if they would ever be able to not end up fighting. Most likely not, because he loved to challenge her temptations and obviously she could be tempted very easily by him.
~~~~~
TBC
It was the second day on the yacht. They had spent the previous day in peace. Irina had stayed in her room the whole day, recovering from her hangover and regaining her control. Jack had been reading the files Irina had given to him from her source in Spain and the afternoon, Sydney had been seen.Yuki had explored the whole ship.
Omar had patiently shown the girl how to drive a ship and explained the different instruments to her. She had also made the acquaintance of Dimitrjii, the tech guy, who was taking care of the machines. The old man had showed the girl how to repair a machine and how it worked.
The only man who didn't seem to like her was Jamis, the galley worker. He hardly talked at all and Yuki didn't like him. She had decided to keep an eye on him... just in case.
They would berth at one of the small islands in the pacific today to buy some supplies and fill up their water reserves.
It was already noon and Irina was lying on deck, reading a book and enjoying the warmth of the sun. Yuki was playing ball around her - actually she was more occupied with preventing the ball from flying into the ocean . Jack hadn't shown up the whole day.
Irina was quite glad about that, because his presence made her feel unsure... and the more time they spend together, the more unsure she felt, especially after she had been drunk - although she should be prepared to face him now.
She hated to show any weakness, especially to Jack.
"DUDE!"
Irina looked up when she heard Yuki's curse and followed her eyes. The yellow ball was lying in the waves, growing smaller and smaller as the yacht kept its speed up.
"Don't even think of it!" Irina noted dryly and looked at her book again. "We won't stop because of a ball and if you jump to get it, it will be a long way to swim for you!"
Yuki grinned at her, knowing that Irina would immediately stop the boat if she would really jump into the water, but a ball was just not worth the effort.
"I think there's another one downstairs!" Yuki replied and hopped downstairs. Irina followed her with her eyes. This girl was amazing. Although she had been through so much, she was still naive and happy like an innocent child. She sighed and closed her eyes. This girl deserved a second chance. Maybe she would have changed her life as well if given the possibility...
"Have you ever truly regretted it?"
Irina started at the sudden interruption of her thoughts and looked at Jack.
"What?" she asked confused.
"Having missed seeing Sydney grow up."
He sat down next to her and she nodded.
"Yes..." she replied, her eyes focused to some point on the horizon. "But leaving was the only way to keep her safe... at least that was what I thought. Of course I didn't expect her own father to use her for some project to train spies!"
Jack shot her a cold look. "I don't think you're in the position to judge my decisions! At least I've been there for her, while her mother abandoned her."
"Yeah... at least physically you've been there!" she snapped, eyes focusing at her book again.
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
She sighed. How had this happened again? She hadn't meant to start a fight with him...
"Nothing... I'm sorry."
Jack wanted to reply something, but in that moment Yuki hopped out of the door again. She had found another ball and shot it against the rail.
Irina watched her a moment, then she got up.
"Excuse me!"
Without shooting them one more look, she went up into the living room. Yuki and Jack followed her with their eyes, then Yuki turned to Jack.
"I know what you think about her!" the girl said dryly and threw her ball to him. Jack caught it and blinked, amused.
"Do you?"
He had come to like the girl. She was cheeky, but in a refreshing way and if she told you something you could just be sure that it was the truth. He didn't know why, but he trusted her, and although he didn't even know anything about her he liked her.
"Yes..." She caught the ball as Jack threw it back to her. "You love her, but you're too proud to admit it, maybe too afraid to get hurt as well... understandable. And now, after you've seen her and after what Conzales told you, you're incredibly jealous and again too proud to admit it to yourself, because you think she'll use it against you!"
Jack had almost choked. "What?" he asked totally stunned. The girl had described his feelings as accurately as it was possible. "How do you...?"
"How do I know?" she smiled mysteriously. "I'm fourteen, and I'm not stupid."
"No, obviously you're not! Have you told Irina what... you just told me?"
She laughed and he caught the ball again. "No, I'm not your matchmaker! I just wanted to make sure I'm right."
Jack shot her a look and sighed. "You were right about everything except for one little detail!"
"What would that be?" Yuki sat down next to him curiously and took the ball as he handed it to her.
"I don't love her! I did love her once... but too much has happened."
"I know you don't trust her." Yuki smiled at him. "But I can tell you, none of your recent accusations towards her are true. She may have made a lot of mistakes in the past... but she has a good heart, and does definitely not deserve to be treated like that. Maybe you've been hurt by her... but have you ever thought of the possibility, that she was hurt too? You can't expect her to trust you and be honest with you if you don't return that trust. Sometimes it's hard to do the first step, but maybe she deserves a second chance!"
"She had dozens of second chances!" Jack growled and Yuki looked at him, her eyes piercing his.
"No! She has not had a second chance, because you always treated her with prejudices and assumed that she would betray you again."
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with a fourteen year old! You don't know anything about our past at all... you don't know her!" Jack murmured and Yuki smiled again.
"Yes, of course, maybe you are right. I don't know anything!" she replied in a way that made him feel stupid.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Yuki didn't react to his question. "You see a woman who betrayed you, abandoned you and your daughter and is a murderer, a terrorist and a traitor. I see a woman who protected me from harm and did everything to get me a second chance to start over again. If she was what you believe her to be Jack, ask yourself, would she have even looked at me once? But you're right. I'm just a child... how can I know about how the world works?"
Leaving him in stunned silence, Yuki jumped up again and continued her one-person ball game.
~+~+~+~
Irina slammed the door to the living room shut and leaned against the cool wood. She hadn't meant to start a fight with Jack, actually she had planned to be really nice to him and not allow him to break her control again.
But he couldn't let go of the past and that outraged her. Yes, she had made mistakes, but so had he...
Why the hell did she feel so aggressive lately? All her self-control seemed to flow away like a waterfall - not even her meditation brought her the inner peace she was so in need of, at least not long-term. She denied the possibility of being frustrated, because that was just not the case. She was happy, when she was alone. She didn't depend on anyone... especially not Jack.
Okay, maybe she wanted him, but that was all. The natural reaction of a woman's body to a man. Not to any man, to Jack, her subconsciousness corrected her and Irina slammed her fist to the billiard table.
Her life had been perfectly under control... until two years ago when her damned search for Rambaldi had caused them to meet again.
"Am I disturbing you?" Jack entered the living room and shot the woman at the billiard table a concerned look.
"Yes!" she growled. "But I doubt you care!"
He chuckled and shut the door behind him, then walked to the billiard table. He looked at her for a long time until her eyes pierced his in fury.
"Have you come to annoy me?" she snapped.
"No, but obviously that's inevitable. You're pretty easily annoyed lately!"
"Wise words from the inventor of annoyance!" Her voice was level and she closed her eyes. "So, what do you want?"
"What about a game of pool?" he suddenly asked, rolling the billiard balls around with his hand. Her eyes sparkled with interest.
"To what purpose?"
"Truth..."
She shook her head in confusion. "What?"
"Every time one of us sinks a ball he can ask the other one a question which has to be answered truthfully. And if you don't want to answer that question, you have to do something I want you to."
"Why are you just saying that about me?"
"Because I have nothing to hide and will answer your questions."
"That's ridiculous!" Irina turned and wanted to leave as Jack laughed.
"You're afraid!"
"What?" she yelled and turned around abruptly. "I assure you I am certainly not afraid."
"Prove it!" He handed the cue to her. "I thought you love games... let's have this one."
"We shouldn't waste our time with..."
"I can't believe it. The great Irina Derevko is afraid of a game!"
"Give me that damned cue!" she growled and he handed it to her laughing. "But we should install some rules for the questions!"
"Why?"
"Why?" she repeated and he nodded.
"Yes, why? Are you afraid I could ask questions you don't want to answer?"
Why did she get the feeling that he controlled this game - a feeling that she didn't like at all? Okay, Mr Bristow, you wanted to play without rules, you'll get your game.
She shot him a cold look and focused her mind to the table then. She did her first break - nothing. She cursed silently and handed the cue to him then. Her curses got louder when he sank a ball at the side of the table.
"Why are you being so frustrated?" he asked without looking up and thought, which position was best to shoot next.
"No special reason!" she replied and his eyes met hers.
"Did I mention that a lie has the same consequences as the refusal to answer the question? You get one more chance!"
His eyes fell to the red eight again and he measured his chances to hit the hole in the left corner.
"I'm still waiting! You have to reply fast, otherwise I have to assume that you came up with a lie!"
"I'm frustrated, because you're such a damned bastard!" she growled in a hint of fury and he grinned.
"Answer accepted!"
He shot and the ball sank into the hole. "Let's give you any easy one... who is Katya?"
"I already answered to that question!" she replied dryly and he nodded.
"Yes, but not to my satisfaction."
"I can't tell you more than what I told you... and that was the truth!"
"So you refuse to answer?" His eyes sparkled she gasped for air in rebellion.
"No..."
"Yes, you do! Tell me at least, where do you know her from?"
She pressed her lips together. "I can't! And Jack, this question is just not fair!"
"Why? We're allies now. No secrets!"
"Fine then say what I have to do, because you won't get the answer to that one!" She held his eyes with hers. She couldn't tell him that Katya was her sister, because he was CIA. She didn't want her sister to be involved with her international crimes... at least not officially.
"Fine, then..." He went closer to her. "...you have to take the consequences."
His mouth was just an inch away from hers and she felt tension starting to build up inside her. He noticed with a certain satisfaction that his closeness had its effects on her although they didn't touch at all.
She didn't turn her eyes away from his and for a moment it seemed as if he would kiss her. Every inch of her body was prepared, no, awaited his touch... but then he simply said "Get me a drink!" and turned back to the table.
That set her totally off and it took her a moment to regain her control.
"What?" She didn't even bother to hide the confusion from her voice and he smiled.
"Wine would be fine!"
Although that hadn't been the answer she had aimed to achieve with her question, she turned and filled two glass with wine.
She handed one to him in exchange for the cue.
"It's your turn... I missed the last ball." He replied and took a sip of wine without loosing her eyes.
'Two can play this game' she thought grimly and quickly examined the table for which ball offered her best chances. About thirty seconds later she had sunk two balls at once.
"Make that two questions!" she replied. "Or three? One bonus for two balls at once?"
"As you want!" he replied coolly and the fact that obviously he was totally under control made her angry.
"Okay... do you plan to play me out in any way by working with me? Is that why you agreed to my offer so quickly?"
"No!" was his short reply before he took another sip of wine. "I allied with you to find Sydney. If I wanted to play you out I would have done so in Athens some time ago... I had my chance there... as you should remember."
The vivid memory of their encounter in Athens crossed her mind and she lowered her eyes.
"Answer accepted!"
Why did she have the feeling that he was trying to manipulate her... and even worse that he succeeded in doing so?
"So, why have you saved my live back then? You could have easily gotten rid of me. Either by letting that guy stab me or the CIA catch me. Why did you warn me if you hate me?"
"Because I don't hate you!" he simply stated. "I never said I hated you..."
"You don't hate me?" she asked in total surprise, rising her eyes from the table to him and he chuckled.
"No. That would make it three questions."
"Hey, the last one wasn't supposed to be one of the questions!"
"You can't just ask questions that step out of the line!" he replied and she decided that any discussion was not only futile, but also ridiculous.
He watched her as she bent over the table to reach a ball in the corner. She was so damned beautiful and his body reacted almost immediately. When she shot the ball against the cushion and missed the hole, he was almost relieved to be able to focus his mind to other things.
It was easy to finish the shot she had failed to complete, because the ball was lying in a perfect place.
She took a mouthful of wine to drown her frustration and leaned against the table, looking at him in await of his next question.
"Do you love me?"
She almost choked on her wine.
"What kind of stupid question is that?"
"It's a question... an equivalent to your hate question! So what's your answer?" he replied dryly and she held his gaze.
"No!" she replied with a steady voice, her face a mask again. He chuckled and grabbed her wrist, then he pulled her close.
"What are you doing?" she asked stunned and got nervous as she felt the edge of the billiard table in her back.
"I have been thinking the entire time about..." he started and she shrieked in a mixture of fright and anger when he tipped some of his wine over her neck and shoulder.
"...what this wine would taste like on your skin." He finished his sentence and before she could react he started to lick the wine of the hot skin of her neck.
"That's against the rules..." she protested weakly and turned her head a little to give him better access.
"Not exactly." he replied and teased her earlobe with his tongue. "You lied and are paying your debt now."
"I didn't..." she started, but he interrupted her.
"And I have to warn you the game is still going on and if you lie while paying your debts, you'll have to pay even more."
His lips went over her shoulder, savoring every drop of wine off her skin while he pushed her back to the table and opened the knot of the blouse, which she had loosely tied over her body, to reveal the naked skin of her belly. Then he emptied his glass over her.
She moaned at the tickling sensation of the cold wine on her hot skin. His lips brushed over her belly and finally closed over her navel.
"God, you're so delicious..." he whispered hoarsely.
"Jack..." She wanted to sit up and feel more of him against her body but he held her softly down.
"Don't move, I'm not finished here yet."
He took his time in continuing to lick and caress her body until he had enjoyed every single drop of wine and she was writhing in desire under his mouth. He pulled her softly up until their faces were just inches apart.
His hands slipped her blouse down her arms and finally tossed it aside to the table. Then he pressed her hips against his erection. They moaned in unison at the heat of the other's body, both gasping for air with their lips as close as they could be without touching.
"I need you so badly!" she whispered hoarsely, her hands working on his shirt. She whimpered frustrated when it took her too long to open his buttons. He helped her and smiled warmly.
"Let us put an end to your frustration..."
She growled challenging. "Seems pretty obvious, that I'm not the only frustrated one onboard..."
"Touché..."
Before he could say any more, she merged her lips with his in a fierce and desperate kiss, her hands finally touching the bare shin of his shoulders and chest. He slipped the straps of her bra slowly over her shoulder, every touch of his setting her skin on fire. A soft moan escaped her lips when he broke the kiss too fast, only to follow the path of his hands with his lips.
Suddenly a knock at the door brought them back to reality. They broke apart within a second, Irina glided off the table and collected her blouse hastily. They had expected Yuki to enter, but it was Omar.
"Irina, we're going to..."
He shot them a stunned look and started to grin.
"What are you doing, folks?"
"We were... um... playing pool!" Jack answered totally controlled with a look at the table, covering Irina's body until she had pulled on her blouse.
"I see..." Omar nodded and the grin widened. "However, I just wanted to notify you that we're going to reach Panoubla in fifteen minutes."
"Yes, thank you!" Irina replied dryly, fully clothed again but still looking a little tousled. "Anything else?"
"No..." Omar turned. "By the way... who was about to win?"
"What...?" Irina asked, looking up from her blouse.
"In your little game!"
"Get out!" she growled and Omar left the room laughing before anything could hit him.
When the door had shut behind him, Irina turned to Jack and shot him one of her darkest looks.
"Next time you plan to play, please take the time to lock the door... unless you had planned to increase my frustration and embarrass me. You might think of me as a whore, but I'm not."
He tried to force back his anger and grabbed his shirt. She acted as if he was the only one to blame.
"I'll remember yes... but just so you know, I had not planned this. Actually I just came to negotiate an armistice... obviously an inappropriate effort!"
If looks could kill, he would have been shot by the deadly expression in her eyes now.
"So, that was why... you tried to..."
"No!" he interrupted her. "I don't use sex for my own interests."
The way he pronounced the word 'I' made clear that he thought that she was exactly doing that.
"The chance for an armistice has just moved into unattainable distance, thanks to your unsurpassed ability to destroy all negotiations with fifteen words or less!" she announced furiously and turned around.
"Irina... wait! Don't you dare leave..." he warned and she slammed the door emphatically in his face. Her hands clenched to a fist she went down the stairs to the main deck.
"Irina... have a look at this!"
Yuki ran to her, but Irina lifted her hand to stop her.
"Don't talk to me right now."
She moved in direction of the bridge to talk to Omar.
"Um, Irina..."
"Yuki, I just told you..."
"But... your hair..." Yuki looked at her with amusement sparkling in her eyes.
Irina looked at her reflection in one of the windows and cursed silently. She tried to rearrange her hair with her hands and looked at Yuki with a threatening expression in her eyes.
"Don't you dare tell anyone..."
The girl laughed and watched her walking away. When Irina was gone, she shook her head seriously. Obviously they had quarreled again...
Would they ever be able to overcome their past and difficulties? Yuki looked at the open sea and really hoped so. Only very little time was left...
~+~+~+~
"Ah, Irina!"
Irina ignored the grin in Omar's face and looked out of the window at the ocean.
"What you've just seen... I expect you to not talk about it ever again, understood?"
"I would never..."
"Not even to Katya!" Irina faced him now. "I don't want my... affairs to be a point of discussion in the next family meeting, understood?"
Omar laughed and nodded. "Fine, but that will cost you. Let's say a kiss?" he grinned at her and his eyes sparkled in amusement.
"Another proposition: I won't have to kill you for what you've witnessed if you promise to keep silent." She offered coolly and he laughed.
"You're exactly what Katya described you to be."
"I miss her... how is she?" Irina suddenly changed topic and focused her attention to the land that could be seen in the distance.
"Pretty good. She's trying to live a normal live again. Although she misses working with you..."
Irina pulled a face. "Last time we were almost killed! How can she miss working with me?"
"You two have more in common than you think!" Omar shot her an amused look, then he got serious. "What about you? You didn't tell me that you'd bring your lover with you."
"He's not my lover..." Irina replied. "He's my... husband."
Omar turned to her, his face reflecting a mixture of confusion and amazement.
"That is Jack Bristow?"
"I see, Katya informed you well about my past!" Irina commented dryly and Omar shrugged his shoulders.
"She mentioned him, yes. And she also mentioned that it would be better if you two never met again."
"Yes, my wise elder sister." Irina sighed and leaned against the window. "She has always been right about such things."
"I don't think so..." Omar mentioned, eyes focused on the water. "Maybe she had been right often, but this time she might be wrong."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you two seem to be really meant for each other!"
"Another one of those questions I regret to having asked!" Irina murmured and Omar laughed.
"I know you don't believe in fate, but in my belief, everything is predestined. You were asked to marry him thirty-two years ago... maybe it was arranged by the KGB, but the fact that your ways cross over and over again..."
"Stop it, please! I don't believe in fate or predestination. Our alliance is just to find our daughter. And I'm not having this conversation again, are we clear?"
Omar shrugged his shoulders and stopped the yacht about a mile before the landing stage.
"Okay, let's get ready to land. We'll have to take the small boat from here. I don't want to risk to scuttle this ship, because Katya would break my neck if I did."
Irina laughed and left the room to get ready.
~+~+~+~
The island was small, but obviously well prepared for tourists. As soon as they had entered the small landing stage, they were surrounded by people who wanted to offer them food or pearls or all available other kinds of necklaces, bracelets or earrings.
The village was very modern, and looked as if the main influences were westerns, even the houses looked more like the ones in an American city than on a pacific island.
Yuki couldn't get enough of the colorful stands with all the beautiful things they had to offer and she was always about fifty meters ahead of them. Omar and his kitchen help Jamis took care of the food and Jack and Irina were just observing the whole scenario without really participating.
Irina looked at some necklaces, lost in her thoughts and not really paying attention to the beautiful handmade pieces of jewelry.
A young woman started to shower her with compliments and offer her dozens of pearls, earrings and bracelets, but Irina refused courteously.
"Irina..." Jack caught up with her as she continued walking along the stands.
"What do you want?" she replied coldly and he held her to keep her from walking and forcing her to look into his eyes.
"I wanted to... I'm sorry."
She looked at him interested. "For what?"
"For... what I've said earlier." He finally managed to say, his eyes showing that he really meant it.
"Okay..." she nodded and wanted to walk on, but he held her.
"That's it?"
"That's what?" she answered confused.
"Just 'okay'?"
"How do you expect me to react? Your apology has been noted."
He groaned in frustration. "Why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" she asked, louder now and her eyes reflected her confusion. "I'm not doing anything! I'm just accepting your apology."
"You have a strange way of accepting apologies!" he snapped and now she lowered her face to his, her eyes sparkling aggressively.
"And you have a strange way to make apologies. I accepted this one, but you can't seriously expect me to be happy with it when you show me in every single reaction that you think of me as exactly what you've told me to be. You don't need to apologize only because you think you've hurt me and have a guilty conscience now. You did not hurt me, so don't bother to apologize."
He grasped for air and stared at her in disbelief. "Stubborn b*tch!" he growled.
"See what I mean?"
"Why do you always have to fight with me?"
"I don't... you're the one who starts, so I'm returning the question!"
"And why the hell do you always have to distort the facts?" His anger had changed into amusement. No doubt, she was playing.
"I am not distorting anything."
"Ah... lovers like to tease each other!" Omar looked from Irina to Jack, ignoring Irina's killing looks. "Come on, let's walk on. I want to be back onboard before it gets dark!"
They watched Omar walking away, then looked at each other, both serious.
"You know, maybe he's right..." Jack noticed and looked at her challenging. If she wanted to play, it was fine by him.
"That we're lovers?" she challenged him back, her eyes sparkling.
"No..." He lowered to her ear so that only she could hear his next words. "But I love to tease you... not only when talking."
He heard her catching her breath slightly as her thoughts turned into another direction, as he had intended them to. Suddenly it felt as if she was too close to him. He noted her making a move to bring distance between them and caught her hands in his to hold her in place.
"Hey, love-birds!" Omar, who was already fifteen meters ahead, turned around and looked at them, slightly annoyed. "We have to go! Do you need that in writing in order to follow me?"
"If I kill him, could that be considered as self-defense or murder?" Irina asked and shot Omar her darkest look. Jack chuckled at her words.
"I think it's murder, but in the face of the extenuating circumstances the judge might be convinced of you only being partially guilty."
"Extenuating circumstances?" she asked interested and he grinned.
"Frustration due to a lack of sexual satiation."
She pushed him away, her anger resurfacing immediately. "I am not a sex addict, Bristow! I'm pretty much in control of my actions and if I kill someone then in full possession of my mind. You should remember that..."
"Threatening me again?" he teased her and she turned around.
"Go to hell!"
He followed her grinning and wondered if they would ever be able to not end up fighting. Most likely not, because he loved to challenge her temptations and obviously she could be tempted very easily by him.
~~~~~
TBC