Chapter 8: Fire

A/n: I'm back! Thanks for waiting patiently. As a present to you I'm updating early! (Gasp, I know, it's crazy.) Where'd we leave off again? Oh, right...

Disclaimer: So we all know that JJ is the real owner of all this stuff. We just mess up his big idea with crazy ones of our own.

Sydney stared in horror at the paper that fluttered down to her feet. It couldn't be... could it? No. It was absolutely preposterous. Right...?

Her aching fingers trembled forward to look at the paper again. She must have read it incorrectly. The paper felt coarse to her fingertips, as if razors were slowly slicing through them. She allowed her eyes to trail over the letters again, yet she was not mistaken. Crumpling the paper in her fist, she threw it at the window and screamed.

In her eyes it was a burning fire, encumbering everything in its path whether she cared or not. Smoke billowed from it stained everything. It left her palm burnt and charred; her fingers dripped with poison from the edges that were laced in it. The fire grew and reflected in her eyes, slowly heating up and taking over, ready to erupt any moment. Soon it was all around her, and she squeezed her eyes shut to avoid the pain. She opened them again, one at a time, in hopes that the fire would be gone. But alas, the note still lay crumpled on the ground.

She looked everywhere around her to avoid the note, but the Rambaldi sign remained etched in her mind. The waves inhaled and hurled themselves back onto the shore, speeding up each time, but they couldn't pull her mind away. The sun shone brightly down on her, beaming into another fire, but it couldn't pull her away. Any object in the room couldn't take her attention, except for the note which captivated her. She turned to face the kitchen, but soon saw the note sitting on the ground so vividly that she soon found herself turned back to face it.

Her feet shook profusely as she back away from it slowly, terrified it would mutate into her worst nightmare. She feared the fire would return, and in a holocaust, end in her life. Her foot collided with a ruffle in the rug, and she tripped back into a chair at the table as a small yelp escaped her throat. In heavy pants she attempted to suppress her fear and nervousness, but nothing worked. The Rambaldi sign entranced her too much, and the pregnant silence that followed became deafening.

Ring... Ring...

The phone's echoing beeps startled Sydney and her heart raced. Even though the phone was within an arm's reach away, she stood up. She held the phone in her unpoisoned fingers, staring at it with uncertainty, before holding it to her ear. After a moment of waiting, her grip was tight on the plastic for feeling so reluctant, and she answered. she asked as if sand clogged her mouth.

Hey, Syd, it's me. She sighed in relief to hear Vaughn's voice and she slid back down into the chair, slumping over on the table. Her grip on the phone loosened. I'm just driving home from the police station. I had to tell the officer that I worked for the CIA in order to get the papers for a search warrant, but I finally got it. They won't be able to issue a formal one until late tonight, but he said he'd spread the word to keep an eye out for Jason... He felt the growing silence. Sydney? Are you there?

He finally heard her breathing. That – that paper... she whispered from a daze. Those symbols... it all makes sense.

Vaughn couldn't understand her mindless statements.

I... I know where Jason is, she replied again in her daze.

Sydney, I don't understand, I –

Sark has him.

Vaughn almost dropped his phone, causing him to swerve sharply over the dividing yellow lines in the road. He eased back onto his side and tried to reply. I... Are you sure?

She slid her eyelids shut and shook her head. How could he not believe her? There was a paper crumpled up on the floor in the living room, and the Rambaldi sign was written on it.

She listened to his heavy breathing before he replied with, We can't jump to conclusions.

I think it's safe to say this is the only conclusion we can jump to. He grew increasingly worried at Sydney's mental state even though her voice had returned to normal. Vaughn, I know he's with Sark. I just have this feeling. Oh God... Sark.

I'm on my way home right now, he said, trying to calm her. He knew she probably wasn't listening. But he also knew she was probably right. There was no other reason for the Rambaldi sign to ever be seen again, let alone in front of Sydney, unless for this very purpose. Hearing Sydney take larger gasps of air by the second, he tapped his foot against the accelerator. I'll contact the CIA. You tell Weiss what's up when he gets back, but don't tell the others too much. We don't want to scare them. All right?



She couldn't even tell him good-bye as she hung up the phone. His calm and collected voice had soothed her in a most miniscule fashion, but she was positive it was only a front for her sake. She wished she would be able to hold up that kind of front with the others, but she would be tempting the impossible; not when Sark had her son.

The glass door slid open behind her, and Sydney turned around to find Mandy and Chloe giggling their way inside. Mandy brushed some hair out of her face as her eyes wandered to her mother, when she quickly wiped the smile from her face. Mom? Are you okay?

Is it Jay? Chloe asked meekly.

Sydney found it harder than ever to hide her emotions. They expanded from her core to her skin, and pushed through until the pressure exploded into tears. Mandy rushed over to her mother to comfort her. Why was her mother so distraught? What had happened? Chloe followed suit and both kids comforted Sydney, or at least tried.

Meanwhile, Sydney's mind wouldn't escape all the possible horrors that could be happening to her son. She was reminded suddenly of the day SD-6 was brought down, and a handcuffed Sloane was marched out. That day remained vivid in Sydney's mind; she could even smell the gunfire in the air.

You watch out, Sydney. Because you don't know what's coming.

Sydney had always thought it was Jack's leukemia, but now, it made her ponder... Perhaps there was more to his Master Plan than they first perceived. It must involve Jason, she thought. Oh, what she would give to find out the Master Plan. She quickly traced back the many years in her head, back to the day when she was last on True Love Island, and she discovered a tiny baby resting in a cardboard box. She could never forget how he fit perfectly in her arms, his gentle tuft of hair, his bright green eyes... She could never forget that feeling she had once they finalized his adoption, nor could she forget all of his first teeth, steps, and words.

How could she have let this happen to him? How could she have allowed Julian Sark to take her child?



Sydney's eyes fluttered up, though her head stationed. Francie and Weiss had returned, empty-handed as Sydney now expected, and hurried over to attend Sydney in her distraught position. What happened, honey? Francie asked, not hiding the worry in her voice.

Sydney's bewilderment grew as she wavered her gaze from the surrounding crowd, and finally settled on Weiss. Her quivering hand slowly rose to point at a crumpled paper on the floor; a raging fire now smoldering to a crisp. she whispered.

Mandy asked in confusion. What's a sark?

No, it's who's Sark, Weiss corrected, grabbing the paper from the ground and curiously unfolding it open. His eyes widened fearfully at the sight of the Rambaldi sign, and he released the paper on the table. He stared at his hand in horror as he too felt the flames engulf him. Have you contacted Vaughn? The CIA?

Dad, what are you talking about?

Vaughn. CIA... was all Sydney could utter, yet Weiss nodded in an understanding.



Julian Sark. He's a very bad person from our past, and he may have kidnapped Jason. Weiss briefed the others, conveying as minimal information as possible. Francie gasped in horror as she pulled Chloe and Mandy closer to her.

Suddenly the crash of the screen door was heard and Vaughn charged through the kitchen. He rushed over to Sydney and buried his face into her graying hair. I got here as fast as I could, he sighed, moving so the bridge of his nose rested along the side of his wife's face.

He closed his eyes against her for a moment, forgetting about the others in the room. If he kept his eyes closed nothing could happen, or so it felt. As soon as his eyelids found the light of the sun again he found a broken Sydney. She looked hopeless as silent tears streamed down her face. He felt just as she did, but he had to remain strong for Sydney. If he couldn't hold them together, what else would?

Gripping her hand tightly within his, he lifted her spiritless body from the chair and led her out to the sliding door. He cast Weiss a look in hope of support.

He closed the sliding door behind him and saw Weiss trying to calm the three very confused civilians. How Vaughn wished he could comfort Mandy too, seeing how she took many glances to the window to look at their parents. But Vaughn wasn't ready to talk to his daughter... Not yet. He felt the seclusion with Sydney was necessary at this point.

Sydney stood inches away from Vaughn and stared aimlessly at the ground. Vaughn brought his hand to her shoulder, and she swung her gaze into his worried, green eyes. There are two CIA cars on their way to pick us up, he told her in a hoarse whisper. One will take Weiss, you, and I to the JTF Center and the other will take Francie and the girls to your father's house. Jack is going to try to lightly brief them on the situation.

He took a heavy breath as he allowed the information to sink in. Her arms were crossed tightly over her stomach and her lips were colorlessly pursed. He doubted she had heard a thing he said. While he stared deeply into her eyes, her returning gaze was lost. She wasn't even looking at him, but straight through him, and suddenly the fear took over his body. His lungs felt crushed by smoke and he felt his family being consumed by flames. He moved closer to Sydney – a motion to protect her – and simply held her. However, he felt nothing in return.

Sydney pulled away as if he had no effect on her and leaned against the porch railing. Do you remember after I had the miscarriage that I felt an emptiness? And after we found Jason that emptiness was gone? Vaughn nodded and furrowed his brow, she had not spoken of her miscarriage or the emptiness in nearly fifteen years. But as she turned to face him with watery eyes, he felt everything from that difficult time returning, flooding back like a hurricane. I feel that emptiness again. Her face contorted as she let out a small cry and collapsed. Vaughn caught her before she fell too far and held her in his arms as she cried for her son.

Please let the cars get here soon, he prayed. And please let us find our son.

A/n: Sad, I know. But you know what are happy? REVIEWS. And today, the nineteenth, is my half birthday! So leave me a lil review present, please. Birthday cake is definitely provided ;)
Whitelighter Enchantress