As always, thanks for all the feedback, this chapter was a bit harder to get through than the other ones… I hope it came out ok!

As I approached my mother's cell, I heard her get up and walk to the glass. When I came into view a moment later, she was already standing there, looking concerned.

"Sydney? Are you all right? You left here not an hour ago."

"Kendall ordered me to see Barnett, and she recommended that I be taken off active duty. Kendall agreed. She also recommended revoking my clearance to see you, but- obviously- he's letting me keep that for now."

"Why did they do that?" I quickly explained, and saw anger growing in her usually calm eyes.

"I just wanted to let you know. I get the feeling that Kendall will be looking for any reason to revoke that clearance. So whatever's going on, it needs to happen fast," I added the last part in a whisper, knowing there were ears everywhere. She nodded.

"Just make that call as soon as you can. He'll act on it right away." I knew who she was referring to when she said 'he.'

"Ok. I'll do it once we're out of here." She gave me a look, one that I knew was meant to give me strength. It didn't quite work.

Not wanting to keep Weiss waiting any longer, I took leave of my mother and headed out. On my way to the parking lot, I noticed Kendall staring at me. I pointedly ignored him, giving Marshall one last sympathetic look, before continuing on my way.

Once outside, I found Weiss sitting in his car, idly changing the station on his radio. He looked up as I opened the door. He continued to watch me as I got in, shut the door, and put on my seatbelt. After a moment, I realized he hadn't started the car. I looked up to find him still looking at me.

"Weiss?"

"Syd, what's going on?" I suddenly felt nervous. I trusted Weiss, but I couldn't tell him what we were planning.

"What do you mean?" He gave me a look.

"I mean, did something happen in there? You look pretty shaken." I let out a sigh of relief, which Weiss didn't catch.

"Kendall just frustrates me. I'm sure he's just waiting for any excuse to revoke my clearance to my mother."

"Syd, don't you think that if he really wanted to revoke your clearance, he would have done so when Barnett suggested it?" Finally, Weiss started the car and pulled out.

"I think he was just trying not to look like as much of an ass as he usually is." Weiss laughed.

"Well… I can't quite disagree…" As he flipped through various radio stations, I decided it was as good a time as any to make the call. I pulled out my cell and dialed the number my mother had whispered to me. Weiss again looked at me curiously, but I ignored him. He reached over and turned the radio down, to which I smiled gratefully. I listened as the phone rang. Finally, a female voice answered.

"PK Industries, may I ask who's calling?" I frowned; that was a less than typical response. It made me wonder how deep my mother's plans ran.

"Amy Farrell," I replied.

"And what is your business?" I thought back to my mother's words of earlier.

"I have an interest in your company."

"Thank you, we'll be in touch." With that, the line went dead. I looked at my phone in surprise. That had been rather abrupt. Weiss looked over at me.

"Amy Farrell and an interest in some company? Sydney, you know you can trust me right?" I nodded.

"Yes, Weiss, I know. You're about the last person I can trust right now," I said softly, clutching my phone tightly.

"So why won't you tell me what you're doing? I can help you Syd, why won't you let me?"

"Because I can't yet Weiss! Just give me a few days and I'll tell you everything, ok? Just 3 days, I promise." As we came to a stop at a red light, Weiss looked at me.

"Ok Syd. I trust you. But whatever you're doing, please, just be careful." I nodded to him as the light turned green. We drove in companionable silence for a few moments, until the incessant ringing of my cell phone broke the relative stillness. I picked it up somewhat reluctantly, afraid it might be Kendall.

"Hello?" Weiss glanced at me as he came into the final stretch of the drive to my house.

"Sydney?"

"Yes… who's this?"

"Do not, under any circumstances, enter your home."

"What? Why not? Who the hell is this?" My frazzled nerves couldn't take any more mind games, and I knew it.

"This is Sark, your call was just reported to me. Sloane has heard that his asset was killed. He ordered your house bombed."

"Sa-" I cut off his name, realizing that Weiss would not take too well to that.

"Look, you better not be playing games with me. I'm not in the mood for it right now."

"Miss Bristow, you took the time to call and followed through the steps as Irina described. Obviously, you trust her. Would she have you get in touch with someone who intended to blow your house up, or play silly games with you?" He sounded annoyed.

"I wouldn't call this silly."

"You're right, it's not. But whatever you do, stay away, it's supposed to happen any minute." I looked up as Weiss began to pull onto my street.

"Weiss, stop!" He hit the brakes and stared at me like a madwoman.

"There are still agents in that house! What am I supposed to do?"

"There is nothing you can do. You can't risk your life to go in there and get them."

"Like hell I can't." I shut off my phone and looked at Weiss, who seemed concerned.

"Go! Hurry!" He quickly stepped on the gas and we were soon in sight of my house.

"Come on, come on," I whispered. He glanced at me nervously. He searched and quickly found a spot across the street to park. I tore off my seatbelt and threw the door open. Weiss hopped out on his side and looked at me.

"Syd, what the hell is going on?" I turned back to tell him to wait for me there, and was rocked by a loud explosion. In horror, I turned to look at my house.

There was nothing left. I gasped for breath and took a few steps across the street. Weiss quickly caught me.

"Oh my god Syd…" I ran a hand through my hair and continued approaching.

"What the hell did he use?" I asked aloud.

"Weiss… there were seven men in there…" I gasped again, and a sob broke through my defenses as I realized something else. It hadn't been enough for him to steal the lives of my best friends; he had now stolen all my physical memories of them as well.

"He's taken everything I have. Those men had nothing to do with this! Oh my… Weiss… I don't know what to do. I have nothing left."

"Syd, I'm so sorry… it's going…" he pulled me into a hug, and I knew he was going to say it would be okay. I pulled away.

"I have nothing, Weiss, nothing! Don't you get it? It's not going to be ok! There is no way it can be ok!" I turned and took a few more steps towards the ruins of my life. Weiss grabbed my elbow, but stopped as we heard his cell phone ringing in the car.

"Syd, promise me you won't go any closer. Promise me damn it, or I'll drag you back to that car with me!" I nodded blankly and he sprinted to the car. I only half listened to his end of the conversation, until one phrase caught my attention.

"No… no, you can't tell me that!" I turned towards him, and waited for him to finish. I saw him close his eyes and put his head in his free hand.

"OK. No, you did the right thing. Thank you." He hung up and didn't face me for a moment. When he did, I could see something frightening in his eyes.

"Weiss, what happened?" He looked at me, seemingly in a daze.

"Weiss, you have to tell me! What happened? What the hell else has Sloane done to ruin my life?" He covered his face with both hands for a moment.

"He got Dixon's house too." I knew there had to be more to it, so I waited, holding back my tears.

"Syd… Diane was home." That was the last shot I could take. I screamed, and fell to my knees in tears. Weiss knelt next to me, wrapping his arms around me, and I could feel his sobs mingling with mine.