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Sydney didn't know what to say to Mr. Derevko. The last thing she had expected was that he was expecting them, and mentioning his sister. Sydney looked up at the man. He was her uncle, and he looked as normal as the man that lives next door to anyone. In her family, people weren't normal. After a long and awkward pause, Vaughn gently nudged Sydney to get her to talk. "You were expecting us?" Sydney finally stuttered.
"Come in." Vicktor invited them into his nice and normal house. No sign of any trators. There was nothing with any thing that resembled their Russian heritage. It looked like a normal house. Sydney felt unsettled, in such a normal setting, with a family whose normalcy rivaled her own family's. But then again, this was her family. He ushered them into the living room, where he motioned for them to sit down on the couch. Vicktor went on, "Well of course. As soon as Sam told us that Sark was looking for her, I knew that it was only a matter of time before Irina found out, and sent some one to retrieve Sam for the therapy."
Vaughn decided it was best to play along. "You understand why we are going to have to take her of course."
"I do. But poor Abby, she just can't give Sam to you two like that. Not in a time where she needs her mother and friends so much. We've come to love Sam as if she was our own."
"Who is it Jeff?" Karen called from the other room.
"Why don't we move to my office?" Vicktor suggested, standing up. "Karen, come to my office and see who it is."
"Jeff, why won't you just tell me who it is?" Karen asked, stepping into the office. Upon seeing Sydney and Vaughn, she knew why. "Oh, that's why." Abigail turned to Sydney. "Your mother talked so highly of you. I am so glad that you decided to join her team."
"She gave me the best offer." Sydney said, putting on her best fake smile, and shook Abigail's hand.
"Syd, excuse yourself and go talk to Sam, but don't tell her anything. Just earn her trust until we can figure out how to work this angle." Weiss hissed in Sydney's ear.
"No, stay. We may work the angle better with Sydney in there." Dixon argued.
"The only way that we'll get Sam to willingly come is if we can earn her trust first. Go Sydney." Weiss ordered.
"But." Dixon began. But a new voice entered the conversation.
"I'm pulling rank. Sydney, do as Agent Weiss says. If you understand, sneeze."
Sydney sneezed. "Bless you child." Abigail said.
"If you don't mind, may I talk to Samantha alone for a while?" Sydney gently asked.
"Of course. It gives us a chance to talk to," Vicktor left a blank, for Vaughn to fill in.
"Michael Sergio." Vaughn supplied.
Abigail nodded, and then turned back to Sydney. "Second door on the left, up the stairs."
"Thank you." Sydney left the room, passing family portraits. "Dad, when did you get operational control?" Sydney hissed the second she was out of earshot from the office.
"The second that I heard that Vicktor Derevko knew who you were."
"Sydney, we need to you be a friend to Samantha. Remember that she has been through a pretty traumatizing event." Dixon reminded.
"With the surveillance that we've stolen from the cops, she has barely left her room for anything more than to go to the bathroom for about two weeks. Be prepared for a stench." Weiss advised.
"You guys really need to shut up, or I am going to get a headache." Sydney said. She found Samantha's door with ease. It was the one covered with photos of her and her friends. Sydney gently tapped on the door. "Samantha?" She whispered.
Sydney pushed the door open, and found Samantha lying on her bed, in the fetal position. She didn't seem to recognize Sydney's presence. "Samantha?" Sydney tried again, taking two steps closer to Samantha. Samantha didn't even stir. Sydney went right up to Samantha, and shook her, calling her name. But Samantha was cool to the touch.
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