Title: True Lies
Author: Puts hand up. Yes me! Aeria, Doona, donna__rose@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Please Read and Review
Summary: Jack and Irina have a chat, then they go on a mission with Syd and Vaughn and then, well just read the story. Like duh!
A/N: Sha bang, that's all four in one day, for two days in a row, now no one can say I'm slack! Read and review as many of them as possible please people, reviews are, honestly all that keeps me going. Nothing else works, especially since my family are about as encouraging as a wooden door with nails in it.
Disclaimer: Duh, not mine, Wish they were. If I win tatslotto, ten times, I'll buy them and throw Jack and Irina into a room with a big bed and lots of alcohol and toasters and throw Syd and Vaughn into another room with a lot of hockey tickets and pizza, and a bed.
Chapter Twelve
She smiled weakly, now that the time had come, there were no questions that she really wanted answers to and even the few that she did want to know, she only wanted answers if they were the ones she wanted to hear. Looking up she bit her lip and thought hard, scrambling to find a question that would actually be worth asking and one that wouldn't upset Jack. Pausing before asking, rephrasing and rephrasing, trying to put her thoughts into words, she ultimately decided to ask, "Why do you keep Sydney at such a distance?"
It was simple and open ended, Jack could have conceived it as being malicious, but didn't instead looking back out the window and staring down at Sydney where she continued to have fun, lucky enough not knowing about the serious conversation going on up stairs. Deciding to return the favor of being honest and as open as they could afford, Jack answered, "I don't know. It's not as though we just grew apart. It just happened. After you left, I didn't want to know her, I left her all alone and even now we can't have a normal relationship."
Irina waited an extra second before questioning further, "But it's getting better now?"
Jack smiled a little and asked her back, "Is that your second question?"
She grinned in spite of the pain that was welling up inside her. "Sub question."
Subduing a second smile, Jack replied, "I think so, I'm not sure she realizes it, but we're growing closer. I'm slowly getting to know her, to know who she has become." He stopped and looked at the back of Irina's head, her hair was hanging in wavy curls, each moving in a different direction and cascading down to hang around her neck and arm, hating that there was no way of seeing her face, no way of knowing what she was thinking. As she hadn't said anything more, he added as an afterthought, "We work well together."
She nodded, her hair glinting in the sun that was pouring in the window as the sun set, "You do. You're unstoppable." Her voice was sad and Jack almost felt sorry for whatever it was that had her feeling so bad. "Next question?"
Relaxing, Jack leaned against the back of the sofa, careful not to touch her, but leaning in so that he could continue to watch Vaughn and Sydney flirting beneath. "Yes, next question," his voice startled her, he saw all of her muscles contract for a brief second as she realized how close he must have been, feeling his breath against the back of her neck. She smiled, he was finally calming down while she was becoming more and more tense.
She thought for a moment, her mind continually bringing the same question up, but she was unsure of asking it. When Jack's voice started again, smooth and almost friendly, "Well? A question?" she decided to ask it any way.
"Okay," she paused, her voice was different, the accent she was used to throwing into every word gone as she thought seriously about asking him. Flexing her shoulders, she asked, "Under what extraordinary circumstances could you ever trust me?"
She held her smile in self reassurance. Her eyes no longer focused half on the pool, but glazed over as she was busy begging her body to turn around and see what he was doing. After minutes silence that felt like a life time to both of them, Irina inched her way around, letting her eyes lock with Jack's. Seconds later, she realized that he was going to be able to see her fear at the same time.
His eyes were filled with deliberation and deep thought, but also hesitation to tell her something. His eyes turned to show a look of amazement as they registered the fear in Irina's and he could only watch as she quickly turned away, only finding his voice when her back was turned again.
"I don't know," he saw her curl up a little more, her back bending as she wrapped her arms to her stomach, he wasn't sure he wanted to know why. "When you first came back I thought never. Not ever, I mean, not in a billion years. But..." he trailed off, looking for a way in which to explain. Trying again he began, "I mean, the people you killed are far fewer than most other criminal masterminds and I've looked over the case files; the last death was in eighty eight, before the end of the War, so maybe you were just doing your job."
On the other side of the couch, Irina's eyes creased into thought, she'd asked him 'under what circumstances' and yet he was almost trying to find a way to make what she'd done okay. She continued to listen; intrigued at his line of thought as it was so close to her own.
"I mean, you have definitely done things wrong that you would have done because you chose to, but I just don't see you as another Cuvee or a Stalin or anything like that." He stopped and was desperate just to touch her but knew he couldn't. He waited for hours though in reality it was only minutes for her to say something, anything to show that she was happy or mad or upset. There was just silence, nothing, she wasn't even moving.
Irina was trying to get her head around what he had just said, he seemed to be finished but the words, the words of hope and of honesty were like a drug and she wanted more. Devising a way quickly to get him to speak again, she realized that he hadn't actually answered her question and so, with an edge of humour, asked, "You still haven't answered my question. And I hardly think that that's fair."
He smiled behind her, taking this as a positive sign, not, he told himself, that he wanted her to like him. He almost laughed at himself then, but stopped the bubble from escaping just in time. Thinking back he realized that he had indeed missed the entire question. He smiled again, "I'm not sure; to trust you...I'd have to understand you. I'd have to know you, properly, and I'd have to like you." The conversation was becoming almost enjoyable and they paused again, taking time to look down at the pool where Vaughn was busy helping Sydney out. Typically, a few moments later, Sydney had pulled Vaughn back in and he was threatening to just leave her there.
Irina grinned and asked again, "None of those things have been achieved at all?"
Jack shook his head, moving around to stand beside where Irina's head still rested on her hands on the arm of the couch. "Another sub question?" She nodded and he thought for a while before answering. "No not really. I definitely don't understand you and the rest, well no."
Irina grabbed at the chance as soon as it reared its head and she asked. "You don't like me?" He hadn't said that he didn't and this told her that he didn't want to give her his answer. Whether it was because he wasn't sure of himself or for another reason, she wasn't sure. Grinning she waited for a reply.
Jack stood, stark still for a few moments before querying further. "How many sub questions do you get?"
Irina's face fell as he avoided the question and she answered, trying her best to get him to tell her what he truly felt, "This I'm asking because I think you want to tell me."
He looked at her, trying to work out what she was feeling. He saw that she was watching the pool again and let his eyes travel, somewhat lazily, down the length of her body. Taking in the way she dipped in and out of the sofa, as though she was lying in a shallow pool. Realizing she was waiting for a response but still unaware of his surveillance, he answered, "I don't think that's a fair question, but I'll answer it." He paused, "I admire what you're capable of, think you're intelligent in your own right, believe you to be looking for the best for our daughter and, I must admit, I do seem to want to like you."
Irina let her eyes slide to where he was standing, his face steely once more, the corner of his mouth turned up, the only clue that there might be something other than superficial hatred to Jack Bristow. Staring out of the corner of her eye, she grinned at him, looking to make sure he wasn't watching her as well as if he caught her grinning there was a chance he would only become angry at being caught out.
In a rush, he suddenly captured her eyes and his look was quizzical and teasing, as though he'd been abducted and replaced with someone with feelings and the old Jack Bristow taken away for ever. A little taken back by his sudden change Irina felt her mouth open a little in shock, a small squeak escaping her lips that had Jack's mouth twitching into an even bigger smile.
Grinning he leaned over further, Irina catching a strong and drugging whiff of him as his moved closer to look out the window. Sitting up Irina moved over to give him enough room to sit down. Awkwardly he did so, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees as he continued to look out the window. Irina just remained; legs up and to her right so that she was leaning in towards him.
Staring out, both faces fell until they both held looks of severe concentration. Looking at him, Irina asked yet another question, her voice almost begging him to agree, "What do you say we just act like good parents for the week? No fighting, just let Sydney be happy?"
Jack smiled at her and nodded without hesitating a moment. "Sounds good. But can I trust you not to try to run?" It was his first question regarding trust, the first time he's used it in a friendly way with her and when she nodded soundly, he smiled and turned to look back down at the sparkling blue pool that was shining blue in the early dusk.
Jack looked at her, taking in the increasingly large grin and told her, his voice whispered and sensitive, "You know what?" She looked up at him, her eyes asking him to say something nice while her heart beat quickened as she waited for what she expected wouldn't be so nice. "I think that you've proven that you won't run. I...trust you not to run."
While it wasn't full trust, Irina was feeling great to just have gained that small amount from such a closed man and so she didn't push the issue, instead turning looking at the City of Melbourne, admiring the Yarra river and the scattering of lights across the docklands and city skyline.
Read and Review, please oh please oh please!
Author: Puts hand up. Yes me! Aeria, Doona, donna__rose@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Please Read and Review
Summary: Jack and Irina have a chat, then they go on a mission with Syd and Vaughn and then, well just read the story. Like duh!
A/N: Sha bang, that's all four in one day, for two days in a row, now no one can say I'm slack! Read and review as many of them as possible please people, reviews are, honestly all that keeps me going. Nothing else works, especially since my family are about as encouraging as a wooden door with nails in it.
Disclaimer: Duh, not mine, Wish they were. If I win tatslotto, ten times, I'll buy them and throw Jack and Irina into a room with a big bed and lots of alcohol and toasters and throw Syd and Vaughn into another room with a lot of hockey tickets and pizza, and a bed.
Chapter Twelve
She smiled weakly, now that the time had come, there were no questions that she really wanted answers to and even the few that she did want to know, she only wanted answers if they were the ones she wanted to hear. Looking up she bit her lip and thought hard, scrambling to find a question that would actually be worth asking and one that wouldn't upset Jack. Pausing before asking, rephrasing and rephrasing, trying to put her thoughts into words, she ultimately decided to ask, "Why do you keep Sydney at such a distance?"
It was simple and open ended, Jack could have conceived it as being malicious, but didn't instead looking back out the window and staring down at Sydney where she continued to have fun, lucky enough not knowing about the serious conversation going on up stairs. Deciding to return the favor of being honest and as open as they could afford, Jack answered, "I don't know. It's not as though we just grew apart. It just happened. After you left, I didn't want to know her, I left her all alone and even now we can't have a normal relationship."
Irina waited an extra second before questioning further, "But it's getting better now?"
Jack smiled a little and asked her back, "Is that your second question?"
She grinned in spite of the pain that was welling up inside her. "Sub question."
Subduing a second smile, Jack replied, "I think so, I'm not sure she realizes it, but we're growing closer. I'm slowly getting to know her, to know who she has become." He stopped and looked at the back of Irina's head, her hair was hanging in wavy curls, each moving in a different direction and cascading down to hang around her neck and arm, hating that there was no way of seeing her face, no way of knowing what she was thinking. As she hadn't said anything more, he added as an afterthought, "We work well together."
She nodded, her hair glinting in the sun that was pouring in the window as the sun set, "You do. You're unstoppable." Her voice was sad and Jack almost felt sorry for whatever it was that had her feeling so bad. "Next question?"
Relaxing, Jack leaned against the back of the sofa, careful not to touch her, but leaning in so that he could continue to watch Vaughn and Sydney flirting beneath. "Yes, next question," his voice startled her, he saw all of her muscles contract for a brief second as she realized how close he must have been, feeling his breath against the back of her neck. She smiled, he was finally calming down while she was becoming more and more tense.
She thought for a moment, her mind continually bringing the same question up, but she was unsure of asking it. When Jack's voice started again, smooth and almost friendly, "Well? A question?" she decided to ask it any way.
"Okay," she paused, her voice was different, the accent she was used to throwing into every word gone as she thought seriously about asking him. Flexing her shoulders, she asked, "Under what extraordinary circumstances could you ever trust me?"
She held her smile in self reassurance. Her eyes no longer focused half on the pool, but glazed over as she was busy begging her body to turn around and see what he was doing. After minutes silence that felt like a life time to both of them, Irina inched her way around, letting her eyes lock with Jack's. Seconds later, she realized that he was going to be able to see her fear at the same time.
His eyes were filled with deliberation and deep thought, but also hesitation to tell her something. His eyes turned to show a look of amazement as they registered the fear in Irina's and he could only watch as she quickly turned away, only finding his voice when her back was turned again.
"I don't know," he saw her curl up a little more, her back bending as she wrapped her arms to her stomach, he wasn't sure he wanted to know why. "When you first came back I thought never. Not ever, I mean, not in a billion years. But..." he trailed off, looking for a way in which to explain. Trying again he began, "I mean, the people you killed are far fewer than most other criminal masterminds and I've looked over the case files; the last death was in eighty eight, before the end of the War, so maybe you were just doing your job."
On the other side of the couch, Irina's eyes creased into thought, she'd asked him 'under what circumstances' and yet he was almost trying to find a way to make what she'd done okay. She continued to listen; intrigued at his line of thought as it was so close to her own.
"I mean, you have definitely done things wrong that you would have done because you chose to, but I just don't see you as another Cuvee or a Stalin or anything like that." He stopped and was desperate just to touch her but knew he couldn't. He waited for hours though in reality it was only minutes for her to say something, anything to show that she was happy or mad or upset. There was just silence, nothing, she wasn't even moving.
Irina was trying to get her head around what he had just said, he seemed to be finished but the words, the words of hope and of honesty were like a drug and she wanted more. Devising a way quickly to get him to speak again, she realized that he hadn't actually answered her question and so, with an edge of humour, asked, "You still haven't answered my question. And I hardly think that that's fair."
He smiled behind her, taking this as a positive sign, not, he told himself, that he wanted her to like him. He almost laughed at himself then, but stopped the bubble from escaping just in time. Thinking back he realized that he had indeed missed the entire question. He smiled again, "I'm not sure; to trust you...I'd have to understand you. I'd have to know you, properly, and I'd have to like you." The conversation was becoming almost enjoyable and they paused again, taking time to look down at the pool where Vaughn was busy helping Sydney out. Typically, a few moments later, Sydney had pulled Vaughn back in and he was threatening to just leave her there.
Irina grinned and asked again, "None of those things have been achieved at all?"
Jack shook his head, moving around to stand beside where Irina's head still rested on her hands on the arm of the couch. "Another sub question?" She nodded and he thought for a while before answering. "No not really. I definitely don't understand you and the rest, well no."
Irina grabbed at the chance as soon as it reared its head and she asked. "You don't like me?" He hadn't said that he didn't and this told her that he didn't want to give her his answer. Whether it was because he wasn't sure of himself or for another reason, she wasn't sure. Grinning she waited for a reply.
Jack stood, stark still for a few moments before querying further. "How many sub questions do you get?"
Irina's face fell as he avoided the question and she answered, trying her best to get him to tell her what he truly felt, "This I'm asking because I think you want to tell me."
He looked at her, trying to work out what she was feeling. He saw that she was watching the pool again and let his eyes travel, somewhat lazily, down the length of her body. Taking in the way she dipped in and out of the sofa, as though she was lying in a shallow pool. Realizing she was waiting for a response but still unaware of his surveillance, he answered, "I don't think that's a fair question, but I'll answer it." He paused, "I admire what you're capable of, think you're intelligent in your own right, believe you to be looking for the best for our daughter and, I must admit, I do seem to want to like you."
Irina let her eyes slide to where he was standing, his face steely once more, the corner of his mouth turned up, the only clue that there might be something other than superficial hatred to Jack Bristow. Staring out of the corner of her eye, she grinned at him, looking to make sure he wasn't watching her as well as if he caught her grinning there was a chance he would only become angry at being caught out.
In a rush, he suddenly captured her eyes and his look was quizzical and teasing, as though he'd been abducted and replaced with someone with feelings and the old Jack Bristow taken away for ever. A little taken back by his sudden change Irina felt her mouth open a little in shock, a small squeak escaping her lips that had Jack's mouth twitching into an even bigger smile.
Grinning he leaned over further, Irina catching a strong and drugging whiff of him as his moved closer to look out the window. Sitting up Irina moved over to give him enough room to sit down. Awkwardly he did so, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees as he continued to look out the window. Irina just remained; legs up and to her right so that she was leaning in towards him.
Staring out, both faces fell until they both held looks of severe concentration. Looking at him, Irina asked yet another question, her voice almost begging him to agree, "What do you say we just act like good parents for the week? No fighting, just let Sydney be happy?"
Jack smiled at her and nodded without hesitating a moment. "Sounds good. But can I trust you not to try to run?" It was his first question regarding trust, the first time he's used it in a friendly way with her and when she nodded soundly, he smiled and turned to look back down at the sparkling blue pool that was shining blue in the early dusk.
Jack looked at her, taking in the increasingly large grin and told her, his voice whispered and sensitive, "You know what?" She looked up at him, her eyes asking him to say something nice while her heart beat quickened as she waited for what she expected wouldn't be so nice. "I think that you've proven that you won't run. I...trust you not to run."
While it wasn't full trust, Irina was feeling great to just have gained that small amount from such a closed man and so she didn't push the issue, instead turning looking at the City of Melbourne, admiring the Yarra river and the scattering of lights across the docklands and city skyline.
Read and Review, please oh please oh please!