Chapter Twenty Nine
"How is it that you had Agent Vaughn checked out from prison?" he asked, seeing Irina's face fall as she had been expecting a breakthrough.
She sighed, exasperated and keeping an eye on Sydney and Vaughn as the pair exchanged quiet glances. "I wasn't in prison when Vaughn was assigned was I? I've been watching, on and off depending on the circumstances, you and Sydney since I had such privileges." By privileges they all guessed she was referring to the time she spent out of prison. "I saw Vaughn getting cozy with the relationship and I had my sources pull everything they had." She turned to the usually confident man, "You have a very clean history Michael." He smiled timidly.
Jack shook his head and turned to leave, having realized yet another of their conversations had turned on him. "Jack, I want you to tell me, to tell us all that you're going to lay off." He turned again and glared at her, "Please, it would mean a lot to me." That was, they all knew, Irina's way of driving a bargain, she was offering herself in indefinite debt to Jack in exchange for a simple promise he'd probably forget, quite often, to keep.
Raising his eyebrows he nodded curtly, "Fine." He remained tight lipped as the four fell into an uncomfortable silence, a young man, looking like a pool cleaner passing through from one elevator to another, staring at them quite openly.
"So," Sydney said, clasping her hands together and trying to relieve the tension, "What's on the agenda for today?"
Irina smiled secretively, dipping her head in a way that was becoming deadly for Jack, "I was thinking breakfast on the way to the beach. I called down to grab us a nice car for the day and -"
"You did what?" Jack asked, cutting across her with a shout.
"I called down to the front desk."
"When?"
"Early this morning. You were asleep and I didn't wan to wake you."
Jack stared at her, stunned, for a moment before she elaborated, "You needed the rest and I figured for you not to feel me getting up you must have been tired. It was only one call down to the desk to get a car. Deal with it Jack."
He stared at her another moment before turning to Vaughn and Sydney with a drab voice, "Go back up to the room and grab whatever you need. We'll meet out the front in ten minutes."
Vaughn nodded but Sydney asked quickly, "Can I have a moment with mom?"
Jack glared at her but eventually realized what he could gain from it and nodded, watching Sydney and her mother wander together over to the other side of the yard before turning to Vaughn with a smug grin. Vaughn stared at him, trying not to whimper as the older man walked over to him and put an arm around his shoulder, turning their backs to the women.
"Agent Vaughn."
"Jack," Vaughn answered, having trouble keeping his voice steady.
"What ever you are trying to make out of your life with my daughter, I can tell you right now it will not work as you will never be haft the person she is. I have no trouble in telling you that I believe that you are simply not worth the affections of my daughter and I hope that you will respect that. I understand that you think you have a chance with my daughter, that with everything the two of you have been through, you have some inane sort of love. But let me tell you, whatever it is you do or you think you do have with Sydney will not last if you are dead.
"She has lost a fiancé and her mother before and I'm sorry for that but I don't think that the loss of another person would kill her and if I think it is necessary that you be removed I will not hesitate to do so. Do we have an understanding?" Jack continued to walk with him, little steps as he tried to remain hidden from the view of the women who could be heard speaking in hushed voices across the yard. Lowering his voice he still refused to look at Vaughn but repeated the question, "Do we have an understanding?"
From across the green as green grass, Sydney and Irina watched the interesting conversation take place, neither could hear a word but both knew the gist of the conversation and the fact that Jack seemed to be doing all the talking only enforced their beliefs. Turning for an instant Irina asked, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
Sydney looked at her, slightly lost, "Oh, nothing. Dad been giving this speech to every boyfriend I've ever had, I just hope that he'll cut Vaughn some slack cause he already knows him.
Irina snorted, "No chance at that. If I were Vaughn, I'd have started running a few minutes ago."
"That bad huh?"
"Yep."
They both looked back up to try to catch what Vaughn as saying.
"Jack," Vaughn was a little taken back at how harsh the man was being. Sure they had their difference but he had not expected a death threat. "Irina just pointed out you were endorsing this a few days ago."
"With Irina around, listening to me is a waste of time," he told him bluntly.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"You think I would..." Vaughn asked, struggling to keep his voice in tact.
"Mr Vaughn. I am simply telling you what I believe."
"And this involves a death threat?" Vaughn's voice was definitely rising to loud and Jack found Irina raising a knowing eyebrow at him as he snuck a glace to see both women watching him intently.
"Calm down Agent Vaughn."
Irina had to grin as she watched what happened next, the only one standing still as Sydney ran forward to restrain the attacker.
Jack was slightly shocked, though definitely not rattled when Vaughn shrugged his arm away from his shoulder and spat, quite maliciously, "Jack, I know that all you want is the best for your daughter but this is too far."
"I mean it Agent Vaughn, I am not joking." And that was perhaps what made Vaughn move. He knew there was a slim chance of him being able to even get one punch in so he did what he knew would work. He'd always been good at hockey, especially ice hockey and even more in particular with tackles so when he pushed him backwards the force was double what was expected and therefore the distance that Jack believed he had between him and the pool was halved and a second later he was surfacing, clothes drenched and hair messed to find Sydney quickly advancing, Irina's face still indifferent though he could see an expression easing its way through and Vaughn, a man Jack had originally though to have a lot less courage, crouching by the pool.
He hadn't really meant for him to end up in the pool but the sight quickly dispelled the worst of the rage. "Jack," he began his words slow and controlled, "Jack. You know I'm a good guy so at the moment you're problem with me is that you don't want to see Sydney get hurt. I agree, therefore we have something in common. Now I am prepared to be lenient under the circumstances and not repeat what you just said to me to Sydney or your wife but I swear to God, all I want to do is make Sydney happy. I want to do what ever she wants me to do and that's what I plan on doing for the rest of my life. So if you are going to make my life hell for wanting to treat your daughter a goddess, which I believe she really is, I am going to have to accept that because there is nothing that would make me leave her short of death."
Jack couldn't help but stare, turning his head only slightly to see Irina's reaction which was now a grin that would have very well been wider should her jaw have allowed it. About to say something, he was cut off by Sydney who finally arrived, grabbing Vaughn's arm firmly and yanking it to bring his eyes around to hers, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Hmmm?" he asked turning to her, "Oh, I think we've come to an understanding."
Sydney let her eyes slide to her father who was, astoundingly not smoking out of the ears, had she not known better she would have said he was more shocked. "An understanding?" she asked, fishing for some elaboration.
"Yes," Jack answered, "I believe we have. It would appear," he said, trying to appear his normal stern self but failing as he was fully clothed in a swimming pool, "That I have...misjudged."
Vaughn shook his arm as Sydney let go of him, trying to get the blood running again. "We'll see you out the front, in ten minutes." Vaughn looked to Irina who shrugged indifferently and stepped back to let him walk away, silently stunned by his show and little speech of which she was committing to memory as everything continued to unfold.
Jack just nodded dumbly from the pool.
Walking away from the eventful little area, Sydney waited until they were in the elevator, definitely alone before asking him, "What just happened?"
"I promised him not to tell." Vaughn explained carefully.
"Right but if I was to make a statement and you just happened to cough once and I though you meant yes that wouldn't be telling?" She grinned and he coughed and she quickly continued, "Was it basically a 'Stay away form my daughter or I'll kill you' deal?" Cough. "He threatened to kill you?" Cough. "So how did you end up throwing him into the pool?" Vaughn just looked at her, showing her that no amount of coughing was going to answer that. "You managed to convince him you were worthy?" Cough. "Good." Cough.
They stared at each other, grinning from ear to ear as they scrambled out of the elevator and towards there room. Arriving, they continued to talk. "Do you think that they're having an affair?" Sydney asked quickly, quietly.
Vaughn raised both eyebrows, shocked at how the statement didn't actually seem too abnormal. "I don't know, and it wouldn't be an affair. They're still married.
She nodded, biting her lip. "But they're sleeping in the same bed."
"How did you figure that one out?"
"How is it that you had Agent Vaughn checked out from prison?" he asked, seeing Irina's face fall as she had been expecting a breakthrough.
She sighed, exasperated and keeping an eye on Sydney and Vaughn as the pair exchanged quiet glances. "I wasn't in prison when Vaughn was assigned was I? I've been watching, on and off depending on the circumstances, you and Sydney since I had such privileges." By privileges they all guessed she was referring to the time she spent out of prison. "I saw Vaughn getting cozy with the relationship and I had my sources pull everything they had." She turned to the usually confident man, "You have a very clean history Michael." He smiled timidly.
Jack shook his head and turned to leave, having realized yet another of their conversations had turned on him. "Jack, I want you to tell me, to tell us all that you're going to lay off." He turned again and glared at her, "Please, it would mean a lot to me." That was, they all knew, Irina's way of driving a bargain, she was offering herself in indefinite debt to Jack in exchange for a simple promise he'd probably forget, quite often, to keep.
Raising his eyebrows he nodded curtly, "Fine." He remained tight lipped as the four fell into an uncomfortable silence, a young man, looking like a pool cleaner passing through from one elevator to another, staring at them quite openly.
"So," Sydney said, clasping her hands together and trying to relieve the tension, "What's on the agenda for today?"
Irina smiled secretively, dipping her head in a way that was becoming deadly for Jack, "I was thinking breakfast on the way to the beach. I called down to grab us a nice car for the day and -"
"You did what?" Jack asked, cutting across her with a shout.
"I called down to the front desk."
"When?"
"Early this morning. You were asleep and I didn't wan to wake you."
Jack stared at her, stunned, for a moment before she elaborated, "You needed the rest and I figured for you not to feel me getting up you must have been tired. It was only one call down to the desk to get a car. Deal with it Jack."
He stared at her another moment before turning to Vaughn and Sydney with a drab voice, "Go back up to the room and grab whatever you need. We'll meet out the front in ten minutes."
Vaughn nodded but Sydney asked quickly, "Can I have a moment with mom?"
Jack glared at her but eventually realized what he could gain from it and nodded, watching Sydney and her mother wander together over to the other side of the yard before turning to Vaughn with a smug grin. Vaughn stared at him, trying not to whimper as the older man walked over to him and put an arm around his shoulder, turning their backs to the women.
"Agent Vaughn."
"Jack," Vaughn answered, having trouble keeping his voice steady.
"What ever you are trying to make out of your life with my daughter, I can tell you right now it will not work as you will never be haft the person she is. I have no trouble in telling you that I believe that you are simply not worth the affections of my daughter and I hope that you will respect that. I understand that you think you have a chance with my daughter, that with everything the two of you have been through, you have some inane sort of love. But let me tell you, whatever it is you do or you think you do have with Sydney will not last if you are dead.
"She has lost a fiancé and her mother before and I'm sorry for that but I don't think that the loss of another person would kill her and if I think it is necessary that you be removed I will not hesitate to do so. Do we have an understanding?" Jack continued to walk with him, little steps as he tried to remain hidden from the view of the women who could be heard speaking in hushed voices across the yard. Lowering his voice he still refused to look at Vaughn but repeated the question, "Do we have an understanding?"
From across the green as green grass, Sydney and Irina watched the interesting conversation take place, neither could hear a word but both knew the gist of the conversation and the fact that Jack seemed to be doing all the talking only enforced their beliefs. Turning for an instant Irina asked, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
Sydney looked at her, slightly lost, "Oh, nothing. Dad been giving this speech to every boyfriend I've ever had, I just hope that he'll cut Vaughn some slack cause he already knows him.
Irina snorted, "No chance at that. If I were Vaughn, I'd have started running a few minutes ago."
"That bad huh?"
"Yep."
They both looked back up to try to catch what Vaughn as saying.
"Jack," Vaughn was a little taken back at how harsh the man was being. Sure they had their difference but he had not expected a death threat. "Irina just pointed out you were endorsing this a few days ago."
"With Irina around, listening to me is a waste of time," he told him bluntly.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"You think I would..." Vaughn asked, struggling to keep his voice in tact.
"Mr Vaughn. I am simply telling you what I believe."
"And this involves a death threat?" Vaughn's voice was definitely rising to loud and Jack found Irina raising a knowing eyebrow at him as he snuck a glace to see both women watching him intently.
"Calm down Agent Vaughn."
Irina had to grin as she watched what happened next, the only one standing still as Sydney ran forward to restrain the attacker.
Jack was slightly shocked, though definitely not rattled when Vaughn shrugged his arm away from his shoulder and spat, quite maliciously, "Jack, I know that all you want is the best for your daughter but this is too far."
"I mean it Agent Vaughn, I am not joking." And that was perhaps what made Vaughn move. He knew there was a slim chance of him being able to even get one punch in so he did what he knew would work. He'd always been good at hockey, especially ice hockey and even more in particular with tackles so when he pushed him backwards the force was double what was expected and therefore the distance that Jack believed he had between him and the pool was halved and a second later he was surfacing, clothes drenched and hair messed to find Sydney quickly advancing, Irina's face still indifferent though he could see an expression easing its way through and Vaughn, a man Jack had originally though to have a lot less courage, crouching by the pool.
He hadn't really meant for him to end up in the pool but the sight quickly dispelled the worst of the rage. "Jack," he began his words slow and controlled, "Jack. You know I'm a good guy so at the moment you're problem with me is that you don't want to see Sydney get hurt. I agree, therefore we have something in common. Now I am prepared to be lenient under the circumstances and not repeat what you just said to me to Sydney or your wife but I swear to God, all I want to do is make Sydney happy. I want to do what ever she wants me to do and that's what I plan on doing for the rest of my life. So if you are going to make my life hell for wanting to treat your daughter a goddess, which I believe she really is, I am going to have to accept that because there is nothing that would make me leave her short of death."
Jack couldn't help but stare, turning his head only slightly to see Irina's reaction which was now a grin that would have very well been wider should her jaw have allowed it. About to say something, he was cut off by Sydney who finally arrived, grabbing Vaughn's arm firmly and yanking it to bring his eyes around to hers, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Hmmm?" he asked turning to her, "Oh, I think we've come to an understanding."
Sydney let her eyes slide to her father who was, astoundingly not smoking out of the ears, had she not known better she would have said he was more shocked. "An understanding?" she asked, fishing for some elaboration.
"Yes," Jack answered, "I believe we have. It would appear," he said, trying to appear his normal stern self but failing as he was fully clothed in a swimming pool, "That I have...misjudged."
Vaughn shook his arm as Sydney let go of him, trying to get the blood running again. "We'll see you out the front, in ten minutes." Vaughn looked to Irina who shrugged indifferently and stepped back to let him walk away, silently stunned by his show and little speech of which she was committing to memory as everything continued to unfold.
Jack just nodded dumbly from the pool.
Walking away from the eventful little area, Sydney waited until they were in the elevator, definitely alone before asking him, "What just happened?"
"I promised him not to tell." Vaughn explained carefully.
"Right but if I was to make a statement and you just happened to cough once and I though you meant yes that wouldn't be telling?" She grinned and he coughed and she quickly continued, "Was it basically a 'Stay away form my daughter or I'll kill you' deal?" Cough. "He threatened to kill you?" Cough. "So how did you end up throwing him into the pool?" Vaughn just looked at her, showing her that no amount of coughing was going to answer that. "You managed to convince him you were worthy?" Cough. "Good." Cough.
They stared at each other, grinning from ear to ear as they scrambled out of the elevator and towards there room. Arriving, they continued to talk. "Do you think that they're having an affair?" Sydney asked quickly, quietly.
Vaughn raised both eyebrows, shocked at how the statement didn't actually seem too abnormal. "I don't know, and it wouldn't be an affair. They're still married.
She nodded, biting her lip. "But they're sleeping in the same bed."
"How did you figure that one out?"