The whole room sat in a stunned silence. Jack was the first to speak. When he did it was in the calm, take-charge voice that so defined him.

"Irina, we need to know as much as we can about this disease. Can you prepare a brief?"

"Of course. Are you going after the antidote?"

"I'm going back to the states to check with some contacts. I think I might know someone who could possibly create an antidote. I'll need a sample of Sydney's blood and enough information as you can give me."

"In the meantime, we'll go track down leads on the location of the lab," Alexei said. "Sergei and I can handle this. "

"I'll go to," Sark put in.

"I think that's a good idea," Irina said. "We've got two plans. If one fails hopefully the other one will follow through. I'll go talk to some of my informants. There'll be a brief ready for you in the morning."

"Then that's when we'll leave," Sergei said. "She's got about a week left. We're going to have to hurry." Irina got up and headed to her office.

"I'm going upstairs to Sydney," Sark said. Everyone nodded in understanding and he headed for the stairs. He found Sydney sitting on the bed, staring at the wall. He sat down in the chair next to her bed, not quite knowing what to say.

"Where's Ana?" she asked. "I don't want her to see me like this."

"After you and Sergei left, Irina and Alexei decided it would be best if Ana wasn't around for a while. Alexei called his friend Peter. He has her." They sat in silence for a while. "Did Sergei explain about everything?"

"Yes. He said it's called the Lacienda Strain. He said without the antidote I'm going to die." There was no fear in her voice, but the tears in her eyes gave her away. Sark looked her in the eye and pulled her into his arms.

"Love, I'm not going to let you die."

"Please don't do anything dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt."

"Do you expect me to just sit here watching you get more and more sick?"

"If I had my choice that's exactly what you'd do."

"Well, darling, I'm not giving you a choice. I'll be careful I promise."

"Who's going with you?"

"Sergei and Alexei."

"Dad's staying here?"

"He's off to check with some contacts in the States. He thinks maybe he knows someone who could make an antidote." Sark pulled Sydney onto his lap.

"You promise you'll be careful?"

"Of course I will." Sark kissed Sydney softly. "I love you."

"I love you to." Sydney nestled her head below Sark's chin. Within minutes, both were asleep.

"McKennas Cole was the one holding them hostage. We should go for him first."

"I don't know I think it might be beneficial to talk to the doctor." Alexei and Sergei were still sitting in the living room discussing the game plan.

"Well, either way, we're headed for Denmark," Alexei said.

"Cole's stayed in the country? You've got to be kidding me."

"I know. That's what I thought. Mom seems almost sure though."

"Syd's life is on the line. She better be more than almost sure."

"Still, it's a good place to start, Sergei. By the way, have you gotten back the results on that background check yet?"

"Yeah. He's had a pretty rough past, but we knew that, he worked for Mom. Forty-eight outstanding warrants in thirty-two countries. Looks like he's been straightening up lately, though. Pardoned of all crimes against the U.S. after he did some freelance work with Sydney for the CIA. He hasn't been affiliated with anyone for six months. Looks like he's clear."

"I sent the tape of our little conversation in the car to a friend of mine."

"You taped it?"

"Yep."

"Smooth move bro. Very nice. What'd your friend say?"

"Looks like he's legit. He wasn't lying about anything."

"I'm starting to like this guy more and more."

"Julian! Julian wake up!" Alexei whispered. Sark woke with a start, immediately on his guard. "We're going to leave in two hours. You've got to be briefed. Starts in five minutes," Alexei said before walking back out of the room. Sark carefully disentangled himself from Sydney. He pulled back the covers and gently tucked her in, then kissed her on the temple and went downstairs. He headed for the study and saw Jack, Irina, Sergei, and Alexei all seated around a table. He took his familiar seat next to Irina. Irina pushed a folder in front of me.

"Here's everything you'll need to know about the Lacienda Strain. I'd suggest you review it on your flight," she said.

"We're going to Copenhagen," Alexei said. "It seems McKennas Cole hasn't moved very far from his prior location."

"Here's the plan," said Sergei. "We go to Copenhagen, we find Cole, we kick his ass, he tells us where the lab is, we go there, get the antidote, and we save Sydney's life. Any questions?"

"Do I look that much like an idiot? Its pretty self-explanatory."

"Just checking. You never know. For this one I say screw aliases. If they're looking for us, they'll figure out any alias we throw at them anyway."

"I see your point," answered Alexei. "Sergei and I will travel under our own names. Julian, I'm afraid yours just calls to much attention."

"Understood."

"You're now Ivan Donets." He pushed a passport over to him and handed two other passports to Irina. "We won't need these anymore. We're leaving in an hour. I'm going up to say goodbye to Sydney." Alexei got up and headed up the stairs, turning into Sydney's room. She was awake, sitting up in bed. "Hey Syd," he said. "How do you feel?"

"Bloody awful," she said. "Alexei..." she started.

"Sydney there's no way in hell you're talking us out of this. We're going. End of discussion."

"Just be careful," she said. She kissed Alexei on the cheek. "and go easy on Sergei. He only makes jokes to lighten the mood. I find it most comforting." Alexei laughed.

"Your wish is my command, little sister."

"In that case..."

"Kidding, kidding. I love you Syd."

"I love you to big bro. Don't come back to me in a body-bag. Got it?"

"Got it. You want to come downstairs and say goodbye to everyone?"

"Yeah." Alexei scooped up his little sister in his arms and started downstairs. "You know I can walk. I just don't feel so good."

"Can and will are two different things. I say you're not walking. You need to save your strength." He went into the living room, sat her down on the couch, and then walked into the study. "Guys I brought Syd down here. She's in the living room. Time to say your goodbyes." Everyone jumped up and walked into the living room, sitting down in seats around Sydney. Sergei sat next to Sydney first.

"Be careful Serg. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I know Syd. You don't have to worry."

"Yes I do. I'm your sister. Of course I have to worry."

"I'm sorry Syd, I know you hate needles..." Sydney groaned. "...but I've got to have some blood samples. Five to be exact. We're not taking any chances with this." Sydney held out her arm and Sergei set to work.

"Five?"

"Five. Two for Jack, three for us. We don't want to have to come back halfway through to get more blood." Sergei kissed Sydney on the forehead. "I love you, Sis. Bye."

"I love you to Serg." Sergei motioned for Jack to take his place next to Sydney, which he did.

"Hi sweetheart."

"Hi Daddy. Be careful okay. And say hi to everyone for me."

"Of course. You just be a brave girl and hang on for me. Okay?"

"Okay. I love you Daddy."

"I love you to," he answered, kissing her on the temple. Alexei walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Julian why don't you take her back upstairs. We have about 15 minutes before we need to leave." Sark walked over and picked Sydney up. He took her back to her bedroom and sat her on the bed, taking a seat next to her.

"Sydney, don't cry," he said when he looked into her eyes and saw the tears. He gently kissed away each tear as it fell down her cheek. "I promise I'll come back to you. I promise."

"How can you promise me that? You have no control over that."

"I love you Sydney. I don't think we're destined to be torn apart." He looked into her eyes. "Sydney I usually don't do risky things without a lot of forethought, but this is going to be an exception. Sydney, I know we haven't known each other for all that long, but when all this is over, and I'm back and you're well again, will you marry me?" Sydney stared at him in disbelief, then she broke into a smile.

"Yes, but on one condition. No more of this. No more spying. No more terrorizing. None of it." Sark smiled.

"That's exactly what I had in mind, love." He pulled a necklace out from under his shirt and lifted it over his head. He unclasped it and unstrung a ring from its chain. "This was my mother's." he said, as he slipped the ring onto her finger. "She showed it to me about a week before she died. She told me that someday I was going to meet the most beautiful woman in the world and that I would love her with all of my heart. She said that when that time came I was to ask her for this ring. I never had a chance to do that, but my father gave it to me after she died. I've worn it around my neck ever since."