A/N: Thanks so much to the two of you who have been reviewing my story.
Seriously, I love you guys!!! And thanks for sticking with it (....now to get
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"Well, anything?"
Sydney looked pointedly at Kendall as she approached the small group in the center of the office. "Nothing. He won't say a thing."
Anna stomped her foot on the ground lightly, her hand automatically reaching to her opposite shoulder. The wound still hurt.
Jack shook his head in agreement. "Same with me."
Kendall rubbed his face anxiously, looking exasperated. "Damnit....it's been two weeks and Sark's said nothing. Did you both inform him that this deal....that it's conditional based on his cooperation?"
"I did...no response!" Sydney replied.
Kendall began to walk away but spun around quickly. "We need that information. Someone better get in there and damn well make him talk." He strode off angrily with Jack following.
Weiss attempted to lighten the mood. "So who's turn is it now? Vaughn's dog?" No one laughed, everyone tense and immovable. "Ok...tough crowd."
Vaughn clapped Weiss on the shoulder and the two went back to their desks, their shoulders slightly hunched. Anna turned towards Sydney, trying to brighten up. "He'll have to talk at some point. It's just a matter of when. Don't worry, ok?" She hugged her friend and pulled away, but as she did, Sydney pulled on her arm.
Sydney's brown eyes met Anna's surprised ones. "Anna—there's something you should know; something I didn't tell Kendall. I wanted you to know first."
"What?"
Sydney looked around concernedly, nodding over to a secluded corner of the office. "Sark did speak to me," she stated simply.
"He did? Syd—that's great!" Anna replied excitedly. Her expression suddenly turned confused. "Wait, but why not tell Kendall......we've been waiting for weeks?"
Sydney ran her hands distractedly threw her dark brown mane and tried to explain herself. "He said.......listen, Anna, Sark said he'll talk." She paused and closed her eyes for a moment, holding up her hand to stop Anna. "But wait....he'll talk.....but only to you. Anna, he'll only deal with you. It's you or no one."
********
Anna walked through the dark hallways, taking her time and wondering for the fifty-seventh time why she was actually going through with this. When Kendall had given her this special assignment, she'd almost refused. But though there were so many reasons not to, there were just as many for it. Oh that's right, it's what I do..... save the world, she thought bitterly. And this meant giving up her time to spend with this jerky British bastard.
She was hoping to get information on Sloane. That was her goal. But Anna highly doubted that Sark would be so easily forthcoming. Most of all, she wondered what his endgame was. And why had he asked for her?
Anna stood outside the glass window of Sark's cell, her fingers grazing the bandage just beneath her collar bone. Before she had a chance to readjust her features into a hardened expression, Sark stood before, casually and cockily all in one. "Well, well, well...it seems anytime I want you, you're there."
She pursed her lips into an emotionless expression. "Listen, I don't deal with criminals that shot me. I won't be your liason into the CIA. Get someone else."
He tilted his head, his blue eyes piercing through the glass and through her. "You're not still upset about that incident, are you?" he questioned, motioning to her injury.
"And your concern is overwhelming," Anna deadpanned.
Sark's laugh rang off the walls loudly. "I had to do it....but to think....you got me with one blow. I knew you'd be good."
She leaned her arm against the glass. "I'm good at a lot of things, but negotiating with sons of bitches like you is something I prefer not to do."
"Well, darling, I'm afraid you might have to make a little adjustment," he said, raising his eyebrows and smirking. "Because either I talk to you or I talk to no one. Now if you think you can resist the attraction, perhaps we could get down to business, Anna?"
Anna's mouth opened and she felt ready to explode. "Are you---can you possibly be serious?" Breathe, just breathe. Don't let him get to you. "Fine. It's Agent Parker by the way, Mr. Sark! And I don't want to hear anything but information come out of that chatty, jerk mouth of yours."
"Your people skills are above average. The men around her must be falling like flies, Agent Parker," Sark commented snidely.
She smiled grimly, flipping through her notepad absently. "Well, I can see your track record is excellent too. Do you always shoot your date the first time, or is it more of a second-date type of thing?" she asked innocently.
"Whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Attraction, dating....soon you'll have us married and living the American dream."
She stared him down, her lips upturned in a fake pleasant smile. "Oh, into necrophilia are we? Because that's the only type of woman that would have an interest in you. A dead one.
"And on that subject," she continued, "is there anyone that the CIA should notify—that you're in custody—I don't know....girlfriends...or shall I prostitutes?"
"Ha. Ha. Ha. It's hard to see why you're alone," he replied, his expression betraying his words.
"Shut up." She read over the questions she was supposed to get answers for. "Let's make this quick—and don't even," she said, stopping Sark before he could make a comment. "Give me the information."
********************
Anna closed her notebook shut, mentally remembering some of the details of the information Sark has provided. "So...you know where this place is, then?"
"Anna—I told you—"
"Agent Parker," she interrupted him.
He grinned toothily at her, his blue eyes flashing. "Right, right. But like I said.....I'm the only one who can get in there. I could tell you everything you'd need to know but I don't think you'd make in there, regardless," he answered her question directly.
"I'm pretty capable. Tell me what I need to know."
Sark moved closer to the glass; closer to her. "I don't doubt....your capabilities. You know I admire you as a agent—"
Anna sighed, rolling her eyes. "Cut the crap."
"You need me for this mission. Otherwise you won't make it. Take it or leave it," he stated simply, turning his back from her and pacing across his cell.
Anna was conflicted. She definitely did not want to go on a mission with him, as he could not be trusted. On the other hand, would she be risking her life if she went alone? "I have to report this to Kendall—he'll make the final decision." She turned to leave.
"What no thank you?" Sark asked, his eyes gleaming.
"Thanks are given those that deserve it. Nasty bastards like yourself do not."
Sark laughed out loud, shaking his head. "Lovely interacting with you as always. Can't wait 'til our next meeting."
"Don't hold your breath. Actually on second thought, go right ahead." She went to leave again but paused. Don't turn back, don't turn back. She spun around, her deep brown eyes searching his face, interestedly and questioningly at the same moment. "I never told you that I was alone. I mean before, when you said I was alone.....I never mentioned that."
Sark met her stare, not joking this time. "You didn't have to. It's obvious to anyone that watches you for just a minute and sees through the superficial stuff."
"That was an act," she said a little defensively, referring to their first meeting when she had pretended to be Isabella.
His expression still serious, he bluntly answered her, "Was it?"
Anna looked at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze as she walked away; Sark watched her retreating figure long after she had gone.
*************
"Hey, Weiss?" Anna called out as she chopped onions hurriedly. Everyone was having supper at their house tonight and Weiss and Anna were in charge of vegetables.
"I have no idea what the hell that even means—" he muttered, looking up from the recipe, his eyes looking slightly confused. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"If you can decipher this damn recipe for me, you can ask me just about anything!" He handed her the recipe card, its sharp edges nearly cutting her with the strength at which he practically threw it at her. Anna started to giggle, her eyes sparkling.
Weiss looked at her, his eyebrows lifted. "What? What? Do I have spinach in my teeth?" He covered his mouth self-consciously.
She handed the recipe back to him, her eyes bright with tears of laughter. "Dude.....try and read the English side, not the Hungarian side."
Weiss grabbed it, not believing her. "Huh. You're right....seriously, isn't it a wonder that I'm so friggin' smart? So what was it you wanted to ask me?"
Anna blushed a little and jumped up to sit on the counter. "Ok, this is kind of a stupid question but.....Do you think.....well—If you had to describe me in one word, what would you say?"
Weiss stared thoughtfully off into space, rubbing his hands together. "Other than beautiful, or amazing or brilliant?"
Anan smiled slightly, nudging his side with her elbow, and looked more closely at him. "No....seriously....when you first saw me what did you think or when you see me now, what word would describe me best?"
Weiss threw his hands in the hair. "Anna—I don't know what this is all about—"
"Come on, just answer it, it's not hard!"
"Ok, ok....umm, I guess probably 'happy' would be the word, or 'extroverted' if we're gonna go all psychological and professional sounding.....you're outgoing....content.....there are a million words to describe you!"
Anna tried to smile again but instead felt deflated and lost. Fake, even. "Oh yeah....uh, thanks! Right. Listen, I'll be right back." She tore from the kitchen, running into the bathroom and stared at her reflection critically in the mirror.
He was right. Sark was right. Anna was alone; alone in every sense of the word. And the only person who had noticed, who had seen her true self beneath the act she put on, was the last person she ever wanted to know. The man who had shot her. Her enemy.
******
"No way. No way" Anna repeated, anger entering her voice. "There is no way in hell that I'm working with him."
"Parker, do I need to remind you that this is not a choice. You're doing this." Kendall asserted, looking at her knowingly.
Anna glared at him, her mouth set in a rigid line. "No. I never agreed to this. I said I'd talk to him—get the information. But there is no way in hell that I'm working with him."
"Parker, you agreed to this before and if you don't do this, I swear to you that I'll—"
Sydney's voice interrupted. "Hey! Hey! Need I remind everyone why we're doing this? To take down the enemy. To take down Sloane."
Anna shook her head, exasperated. "I just don't need to trust Sark to do it!"
Sydney's expression softened, understanding her friend's concerns. "Anna—we have to be willing to go to extremes to beat Sloane. And no one said anything about trusting Sark. Don't trust him, just use him for everything he has."
"Sark is a necessary evil," Jack added.
With Sydney, Jack and Kendall looking expectantly at her, Anna rubbed her exhausted face. "If I do this, I want control to make the calls."
Kendall's eyes widened, his mouth practically foaming. "Absolutely not."
"Listen, Sark will only deal with Anna. Anyone else, he won't help us and we'll be losing an asset, here. And if you lose this...it's going to be on your head," Sydney said quietly, glancing at Kendall as she spoke.
"Fine, do it. You're in control. Don't screw this up, Parker." Kendall walked from the debrief room, throwing his folder into the garbage furiously.
Anna stretched out in her chair, her face looking satisfied and unsatisfied at the same time. "Great, I get operational control. But I have to work with that bastard Sark.........damnit."
************
"I hope that hurt."
Sark smirked, rubbing his right shoulder where Marshall had inserted a tracker. "It's nothing."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I really could care less about you," Anna commented, tossing him some gear to change into as she turned around to let him change.
"You know you may have to start trusting me if this is going to work out!"
Anna revolved around, her eyes widening as she saw Sark's bare, toned chest. He pulled on his shirt as she self-consciously averted her eyes. "Trusting you is not an option."
Sark cocked his head, looking down at "So there is absolutely no way that you could trust me?"
"Not a chance."
"This is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship," he added, doing up the buttons to his light blue shirt.
Anna looked directly into his eyes. "Bite me."
"Maybe we could save that for after the mission?" said Sark. He put his hand on her shoulder, rubbing it softly.
She shrugged off his arm. "Seriously, don't touch me."
"On, off, on, off...."
Sark and Anna left his cell, still bickering back and forth. Both had no idea what to expect from this mission but they each hide small smiles as they walked out of the CIA and into the warm sunlight.
"Well, anything?"
Sydney looked pointedly at Kendall as she approached the small group in the center of the office. "Nothing. He won't say a thing."
Anna stomped her foot on the ground lightly, her hand automatically reaching to her opposite shoulder. The wound still hurt.
Jack shook his head in agreement. "Same with me."
Kendall rubbed his face anxiously, looking exasperated. "Damnit....it's been two weeks and Sark's said nothing. Did you both inform him that this deal....that it's conditional based on his cooperation?"
"I did...no response!" Sydney replied.
Kendall began to walk away but spun around quickly. "We need that information. Someone better get in there and damn well make him talk." He strode off angrily with Jack following.
Weiss attempted to lighten the mood. "So who's turn is it now? Vaughn's dog?" No one laughed, everyone tense and immovable. "Ok...tough crowd."
Vaughn clapped Weiss on the shoulder and the two went back to their desks, their shoulders slightly hunched. Anna turned towards Sydney, trying to brighten up. "He'll have to talk at some point. It's just a matter of when. Don't worry, ok?" She hugged her friend and pulled away, but as she did, Sydney pulled on her arm.
Sydney's brown eyes met Anna's surprised ones. "Anna—there's something you should know; something I didn't tell Kendall. I wanted you to know first."
"What?"
Sydney looked around concernedly, nodding over to a secluded corner of the office. "Sark did speak to me," she stated simply.
"He did? Syd—that's great!" Anna replied excitedly. Her expression suddenly turned confused. "Wait, but why not tell Kendall......we've been waiting for weeks?"
Sydney ran her hands distractedly threw her dark brown mane and tried to explain herself. "He said.......listen, Anna, Sark said he'll talk." She paused and closed her eyes for a moment, holding up her hand to stop Anna. "But wait....he'll talk.....but only to you. Anna, he'll only deal with you. It's you or no one."
********
Anna walked through the dark hallways, taking her time and wondering for the fifty-seventh time why she was actually going through with this. When Kendall had given her this special assignment, she'd almost refused. But though there were so many reasons not to, there were just as many for it. Oh that's right, it's what I do..... save the world, she thought bitterly. And this meant giving up her time to spend with this jerky British bastard.
She was hoping to get information on Sloane. That was her goal. But Anna highly doubted that Sark would be so easily forthcoming. Most of all, she wondered what his endgame was. And why had he asked for her?
Anna stood outside the glass window of Sark's cell, her fingers grazing the bandage just beneath her collar bone. Before she had a chance to readjust her features into a hardened expression, Sark stood before, casually and cockily all in one. "Well, well, well...it seems anytime I want you, you're there."
She pursed her lips into an emotionless expression. "Listen, I don't deal with criminals that shot me. I won't be your liason into the CIA. Get someone else."
He tilted his head, his blue eyes piercing through the glass and through her. "You're not still upset about that incident, are you?" he questioned, motioning to her injury.
"And your concern is overwhelming," Anna deadpanned.
Sark's laugh rang off the walls loudly. "I had to do it....but to think....you got me with one blow. I knew you'd be good."
She leaned her arm against the glass. "I'm good at a lot of things, but negotiating with sons of bitches like you is something I prefer not to do."
"Well, darling, I'm afraid you might have to make a little adjustment," he said, raising his eyebrows and smirking. "Because either I talk to you or I talk to no one. Now if you think you can resist the attraction, perhaps we could get down to business, Anna?"
Anna's mouth opened and she felt ready to explode. "Are you---can you possibly be serious?" Breathe, just breathe. Don't let him get to you. "Fine. It's Agent Parker by the way, Mr. Sark! And I don't want to hear anything but information come out of that chatty, jerk mouth of yours."
"Your people skills are above average. The men around her must be falling like flies, Agent Parker," Sark commented snidely.
She smiled grimly, flipping through her notepad absently. "Well, I can see your track record is excellent too. Do you always shoot your date the first time, or is it more of a second-date type of thing?" she asked innocently.
"Whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Attraction, dating....soon you'll have us married and living the American dream."
She stared him down, her lips upturned in a fake pleasant smile. "Oh, into necrophilia are we? Because that's the only type of woman that would have an interest in you. A dead one.
"And on that subject," she continued, "is there anyone that the CIA should notify—that you're in custody—I don't know....girlfriends...or shall I prostitutes?"
"Ha. Ha. Ha. It's hard to see why you're alone," he replied, his expression betraying his words.
"Shut up." She read over the questions she was supposed to get answers for. "Let's make this quick—and don't even," she said, stopping Sark before he could make a comment. "Give me the information."
********************
Anna closed her notebook shut, mentally remembering some of the details of the information Sark has provided. "So...you know where this place is, then?"
"Anna—I told you—"
"Agent Parker," she interrupted him.
He grinned toothily at her, his blue eyes flashing. "Right, right. But like I said.....I'm the only one who can get in there. I could tell you everything you'd need to know but I don't think you'd make in there, regardless," he answered her question directly.
"I'm pretty capable. Tell me what I need to know."
Sark moved closer to the glass; closer to her. "I don't doubt....your capabilities. You know I admire you as a agent—"
Anna sighed, rolling her eyes. "Cut the crap."
"You need me for this mission. Otherwise you won't make it. Take it or leave it," he stated simply, turning his back from her and pacing across his cell.
Anna was conflicted. She definitely did not want to go on a mission with him, as he could not be trusted. On the other hand, would she be risking her life if she went alone? "I have to report this to Kendall—he'll make the final decision." She turned to leave.
"What no thank you?" Sark asked, his eyes gleaming.
"Thanks are given those that deserve it. Nasty bastards like yourself do not."
Sark laughed out loud, shaking his head. "Lovely interacting with you as always. Can't wait 'til our next meeting."
"Don't hold your breath. Actually on second thought, go right ahead." She went to leave again but paused. Don't turn back, don't turn back. She spun around, her deep brown eyes searching his face, interestedly and questioningly at the same moment. "I never told you that I was alone. I mean before, when you said I was alone.....I never mentioned that."
Sark met her stare, not joking this time. "You didn't have to. It's obvious to anyone that watches you for just a minute and sees through the superficial stuff."
"That was an act," she said a little defensively, referring to their first meeting when she had pretended to be Isabella.
His expression still serious, he bluntly answered her, "Was it?"
Anna looked at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze as she walked away; Sark watched her retreating figure long after she had gone.
*************
"Hey, Weiss?" Anna called out as she chopped onions hurriedly. Everyone was having supper at their house tonight and Weiss and Anna were in charge of vegetables.
"I have no idea what the hell that even means—" he muttered, looking up from the recipe, his eyes looking slightly confused. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"If you can decipher this damn recipe for me, you can ask me just about anything!" He handed her the recipe card, its sharp edges nearly cutting her with the strength at which he practically threw it at her. Anna started to giggle, her eyes sparkling.
Weiss looked at her, his eyebrows lifted. "What? What? Do I have spinach in my teeth?" He covered his mouth self-consciously.
She handed the recipe back to him, her eyes bright with tears of laughter. "Dude.....try and read the English side, not the Hungarian side."
Weiss grabbed it, not believing her. "Huh. You're right....seriously, isn't it a wonder that I'm so friggin' smart? So what was it you wanted to ask me?"
Anna blushed a little and jumped up to sit on the counter. "Ok, this is kind of a stupid question but.....Do you think.....well—If you had to describe me in one word, what would you say?"
Weiss stared thoughtfully off into space, rubbing his hands together. "Other than beautiful, or amazing or brilliant?"
Anan smiled slightly, nudging his side with her elbow, and looked more closely at him. "No....seriously....when you first saw me what did you think or when you see me now, what word would describe me best?"
Weiss threw his hands in the hair. "Anna—I don't know what this is all about—"
"Come on, just answer it, it's not hard!"
"Ok, ok....umm, I guess probably 'happy' would be the word, or 'extroverted' if we're gonna go all psychological and professional sounding.....you're outgoing....content.....there are a million words to describe you!"
Anna tried to smile again but instead felt deflated and lost. Fake, even. "Oh yeah....uh, thanks! Right. Listen, I'll be right back." She tore from the kitchen, running into the bathroom and stared at her reflection critically in the mirror.
He was right. Sark was right. Anna was alone; alone in every sense of the word. And the only person who had noticed, who had seen her true self beneath the act she put on, was the last person she ever wanted to know. The man who had shot her. Her enemy.
******
"No way. No way" Anna repeated, anger entering her voice. "There is no way in hell that I'm working with him."
"Parker, do I need to remind you that this is not a choice. You're doing this." Kendall asserted, looking at her knowingly.
Anna glared at him, her mouth set in a rigid line. "No. I never agreed to this. I said I'd talk to him—get the information. But there is no way in hell that I'm working with him."
"Parker, you agreed to this before and if you don't do this, I swear to you that I'll—"
Sydney's voice interrupted. "Hey! Hey! Need I remind everyone why we're doing this? To take down the enemy. To take down Sloane."
Anna shook her head, exasperated. "I just don't need to trust Sark to do it!"
Sydney's expression softened, understanding her friend's concerns. "Anna—we have to be willing to go to extremes to beat Sloane. And no one said anything about trusting Sark. Don't trust him, just use him for everything he has."
"Sark is a necessary evil," Jack added.
With Sydney, Jack and Kendall looking expectantly at her, Anna rubbed her exhausted face. "If I do this, I want control to make the calls."
Kendall's eyes widened, his mouth practically foaming. "Absolutely not."
"Listen, Sark will only deal with Anna. Anyone else, he won't help us and we'll be losing an asset, here. And if you lose this...it's going to be on your head," Sydney said quietly, glancing at Kendall as she spoke.
"Fine, do it. You're in control. Don't screw this up, Parker." Kendall walked from the debrief room, throwing his folder into the garbage furiously.
Anna stretched out in her chair, her face looking satisfied and unsatisfied at the same time. "Great, I get operational control. But I have to work with that bastard Sark.........damnit."
************
"I hope that hurt."
Sark smirked, rubbing his right shoulder where Marshall had inserted a tracker. "It's nothing."
"Don't get the wrong idea. I really could care less about you," Anna commented, tossing him some gear to change into as she turned around to let him change.
"You know you may have to start trusting me if this is going to work out!"
Anna revolved around, her eyes widening as she saw Sark's bare, toned chest. He pulled on his shirt as she self-consciously averted her eyes. "Trusting you is not an option."
Sark cocked his head, looking down at "So there is absolutely no way that you could trust me?"
"Not a chance."
"This is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship," he added, doing up the buttons to his light blue shirt.
Anna looked directly into his eyes. "Bite me."
"Maybe we could save that for after the mission?" said Sark. He put his hand on her shoulder, rubbing it softly.
She shrugged off his arm. "Seriously, don't touch me."
"On, off, on, off...."
Sark and Anna left his cell, still bickering back and forth. Both had no idea what to expect from this mission but they each hide small smiles as they walked out of the CIA and into the warm sunlight.