Little Child Lost
Chapter Twenty-One
Bruising
Sydney didn't know whether to feel relieved or distressed at the appearance of Sark in her doorway. After the way they'd left things, she didn't think she'd see him any time soon. And if she did, she figured it would be on a mission, not in her house. He didn't speak to her. He didn't even move. He simply stood there, watching her. He looked tired, which was slightly hard to believe. He looked worried, too. He was trying to hide it, but Sydney could still see it. He finally moved, stepping towards Sydney slowly.
"What are you doing here?"
He tilted his head, his eyes sparkling in a way she recognized. He was ready to goad her.
"Not rushing to the phone to call the CIA, Sydney?"
"I have my hands full." She said it softly as she shifted Rogan on her hip.
Sydney didn't want to admit that she thought it was physically impossible for her to turn him in. She'd become so attached to Sark. He'd taken care of her when she was weak and vulnerable, and though at times she thought he was betraying her, she knew deep inside he wasn't. She'd always known. Not that she would tell him that. She had trouble trusting him, maybe because he had betrayed her before or maybe it was because Vaughn had betrayed her so deeply. Vaughn had given up on her and now she knew she was better off without him. But at the time, she'd put her whole heart into his love, their love, and then she'd discovered he would give up on it so easily. Sark, however, if he ever did love her, probably wouldn't give up on her. In fact, he never had given up on her. She'd been cruel, needy, clingy, annoying, whiny, rebellious-a whole plethora of character traits-and he'd been there with her each time. Before she'd disappeared, the one sure thing she had known was that Sark was an enemy and he could never be trusted. Now, that seemed to be the sure thing she knew wasn't true. He was there at her house even though she'd said she would have him executed. He'd come after her and she realized at that moment she loved Sark. Everything he'd done for her, for her son meant so much to her. Everything Julian had been through almost justified all the evil he'd done. But he would never turn good. And she wasn't sure if she could deal with loving someone who was against the US government. They were enemies. And she could never tell him how she felt. It just wouldn't work.
"Sloane's coming, Sydney."
She bit down on her lip. She had to get Rogan to safety. He would be vulnerable if Sloane attacked them at the house. She needed to leave the house. Right then.
"How do you know that, Sark?"
"I got some intel from an incredibly accurate source."
"Sloane?"
Sark narrowed his eyes. He'd risked his life to come here, and she was still accusing him of working for The Covenant. Again. It was almost unbelievable. Of course, Sydney couldn't think he just wanted to help her. That simply wasn't possible. She was so naïve, so frustrating.
"Indeed. If this is the way you want to play it, Sydney, go ahead. I was coming to help you. I've learned my lesson now."
Sark turned away and started walking to the door. He wouldn't put up with this treatment. He'd just been setting himself up to get hurt again. Sydney would never care about him. He would just have to move on. Perhaps find one of those girls who always clamored to him when he entered a room.
"I thought you didn't care if Rogan and I were killed."
Her voice pierced his soul. Yes, apparently he still had one. Sark whirled and jerked Sydney to him, his grip on her arm bruising. He kissed her roughly, no longer caring if he was hurting her or not.
"You think I don't care, Sydney? Are you honestly that blind?"
Sydney started to stammer, surprised at his slightly violent reaction to her words. She stared up at him, finding herself staring into the crystal depths. She could see his pain, and it was a fresh pain, not the usual dulled hurt. She knew instinctively that she had been the one to cause it and there was no way to stop the guilt from flooding over her.
"I-I…"
"Your mother knew I cared about you. And she's seen me with you a total of what, four times?"
"I-I…"
"Maybe you see it and you just don't care. Maybe you can't care about someone like me. You and I are complete opposites, and heaven knows I'm not as noble as wonderful Agent Vaughn. I'm on the other side, Sydney, and you don't like that. I'm afraid that won't change. I am who I am. I won't become something I'm not just to impress you."
"I never asked you to change, Julian."
"No, I don't expect you would. "
Sydney sighed before finally pulling away from his grip. She watched him, shocked at how much he had just revealed to her. He almost sounded like he loved her.
"I'm sorry." Sydney said it softly, so much so he could hardly hear her. She almost sounded like she was pleading for his forgiveness.
"Yes, I suppose you are."
He started to walk away from her. He didn't need the stress she was bringing into his life. He had plenty of other things to deal with. He didn't need her around.
"I do care about you, Julian. I have for a while now."
That made him stop. He didn't want to face her, though. He was afraid that there would be a hint of hope on his face and that would show her how much he really felt for her.
"That's why I accused you of working for The Covenant, I think. I could see how much I was starting to need you, to love you-" Sydney paused. She hadn't intended to say any of this. She was revealing too much. Sark could use it against her. Still, the rationale left her and she continued, "So I pushed you away from me. I know you're dangerous, Sark. Loving you would prove to be even more dangerous. But I never expected you to change for me. I never thought you would. I don't even think I want you to change."
Sark turned back to her. He didn't know what he was supposed to do. Declare his love to her? Wasn't that a bit cheesy? And possibly even more dangerous for him?
"Sydney-"
"When is Sloane going to get here?"
She didn't expect him to return her feelings. She didn't expect him to tell her even if he did. Right now, none of it mattered anyway. Sloane would probably be arriving any minute.
"Soon. I think I'll hide back in your bedroom. There's a clear view of you from there. I'll keep Rogan in the bedroom with me. I'll watch while you confront Sloane. Ask him about The Prophecy, The Passenger. When he's done telling you, or when he attacks you, I'll kill him. It's a simple plan."
"But it will work, won't it?"
Sark hadn't known how scared Sydney was. She was terrified that Sloane would take her son. He knew that he wouldn't let that happen. Not now. Still, he wouldn't fill her head with foolish promises or quiet reassurances, no matter what he resolved.
"Give me Rogan now and we'll go on back to get prepared for this."
Sydney sighed, not sure if she wanted to hand Sark her son. If he did work for The Covenant, he could run with Rogan now and Sydney wouldn't be able to stop him. Then again, he had saved Rogan from Sloane, so why would he return Rogan to the clutches of The Covenant? Sydney would have to trust someone, so she decided that Sark was that person. She couldn't be distrustful of him anymore, at least not about Rogan. She kissed Rogan's forehead and handed him carefully to Sark. He held the baby a little awkwardly, but he paid no attention to that. He walked back to the bedroom, giving Sydney one last look.
"Don't worry, Sydney. We'll finish this."
"I hope so."
Sydney flipped on the television, trying her best to act casual. She had to pretend like she didn't know Sloane was coming after her. She had to pretend like nothing was wrong. She had to pretend like her entire emotional being wasn't raging inside of her like a tornado. Sydney closed her eyes to take a few calming breaths, but she found that all she did was listen for every little sound in the house. Soon, she heard footsteps and she knew instinctively they weren't Sark's. She twisted around on the couch to see Sloane standing behind her, a gun trained on her head.
"Hello, Sydney."
He was a little too calm for her liking. She stood, feeling strangely comforted by the fact that a wanted terrorist was in her bedroom, watching over her diligently. Sark was one of the best agents she had ever encountered and no matter what side he was on; that would never change.
Sydney didn't try to disguise her hate for him in her voice. "Sloane. What are you doing here?"
"Like you don't know. I've come to get what belongs to me."
"Rogan doesn't belong to you."
"I warned you two and a half years ago to stop coming after me. You remember, don't you? You were graduating that day."
Sydney narrowed her eyes. She hated it when he brought up their past. It was as if he thought that would soften her attitude toward him.
"I remember. Too bad you didn't listen to your own advice. If you had left me alone, we wouldn't be in this position, Sloane. You're the one who kidnapped me and brainwashed me and used me."
"I brainwashed you so I wouldn't have to do this. I didn't want to kill you, Sydney. I was hoping I could avoid that. I know The Prophecy says that I will, to save The Passenger, but I was hoping I could avoid that."
"Save Rogan? I sincerely doubt you'd be saving him." Sydney put her hands on her hips; ready to attack Sloane when she thought the moment would be right. She had to be cautious, after all, he did have a loaded gun pointed out her and he was fully ready to use it.
"Why do you have to do this, Sydney? Don't fight me. Just let me take him."
"What is The Passenger supposed to do, Sloane?"
"Bring Enlightenment to the world."
"What kind of enlightenment? Scientific? Spiritual?"
"It's too much for you to understand, Sydney, but Rogan is destined for great things."
Sydney wanted to throw up. Or shoot Sloane in the head. Listening to him gush about her son's future was more than she could take. He sounded sick. He was sick. Obsessed. Not that it made her feel sorry for him. She knew that he was so far gone, no one could save him. She didn't really want anyone to save him.
"I can take care of Rogan, help him come into his own greatness. You just have to let me take him and agree to stay away from him."
"I could never promise you that, Sloane, and I'll never let you take him."
"And so arises our problem. Again. I guess I will have to kill you."
Sloane's gun cocked and a shot was fired. Sydney threw herself to the ground just as Sloane was pierced in the heart by Sark's bullet. Sydney rushed forward to check for his pulse. Sloane was still alive, but barely. The heartbeat was faint.
"This-this wasn't supposed to-to-happen."
"You mean Rambaldi didn't prophecy your death? I guess you died for no reason then. Apparently everything he wrote was untrue."
"No. Ramb-rambaldi is always-true. You'll see. Rogan will-" Sloane's eyes rolled back in his head and his heart stopped.
Sydney scooted away from the body, glancing up at Sark. "So much for Rambaldi's immortality."
Sark knelt down on the ground next to her. Sydney collapsed against him, the tension and fear and worry draining from her body. Her face showed the strain of everything that had happened to her. She seemed almost dazed. Sark encircled her in his arms as she started to cry.
"What if this hadn't worked, Julian? What if Sloane had gotten Rogan?"
Sark licked his lips as he contemplated her questions.
"I don't think it matters anymore. Sloane is gone now."
Sydney nodded against his chest. "Yes. But The Covenant isn't."
Sark let that sink in. Rogan would still be in danger. They all would be. But weren't they always? Sark tightened his grip on Sydney before burying his head into her strawberry scented brown hair. They'd deal with The Covenant later. All the other problems would wait. Sark just wanted to hold Sydney and amazingly, Sydney just wanted to be held by Sark.
AN: There's still one more chapter, I think. So it's not over yet. Sydney and Sark still have to figure out what to do. And the CIA still has to find out that Sloane's dead.