"I'm going to take a shower now."

When Sark reentered the room ten minutes later, it was to find Sydney sprawled out on the single bed in the room, still fully dressed and on top of the covers, but already well into sleeps embrace. With a sigh, he draped himself across the couch as comfortably as he could possibly get and slowly slipped into a night of uneasy sleep and haunting dreams.

Chapter 4

My love for you still grows
This I do for you
Before I try to fight the truth my final time

Evanescence, Understanding

When Sark awoke the next morning, the first thing he noticed was that Sydney was no longer asleep on the bed. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock to see that it was just after 6:00. He frowned, then yawned, wondering where she was and how long she'd been up. He stood up from the couch and checked the bathroom; finding it empty, he continued towards the balcony. After a brief battle, the sliding door creaked open, quickly but loudly. Sark stepped out to find Sydney giving him a bemused look.

"Now Sydney, how on earth did you manage to open that without waking me?"

"Super spy skills," she whispered dramatically, offering him a wink.

"Well, I'm glad the CIA taught you something useful," he muttered sarcastically. Sydney laughed dryly.

"Yeah… that's a talent that'll take me far in life."

"How long have you been up?" Sark questioned, leaning against the handrail and looking at her curiously.

"Not very," she replied. "I may have woken you up coming out here, actually."

"I see. Ready to go soon?"

"Sure, ready whenever you are, I guess," she spoke hesitantly, which Sark noticed.

"Sydney? What is it?"

"Well… you said last night that we're not in a hurry or anything, right?"

"Yes… I'd prefer to get out of America as soon as we can, but I'm reasonably comfortable now that we're away from LA. Why? Would you like to stay longer?"

"No, not here. But I'd love to stop somewhere else an hour or two along and just relax today, maybe go out and do something tonight." Sark raised an eyebrow uncertainly.

"Sydney, you are, for all intents and purpose, dead to the world. I'm just not sure that we should take the risk of being seen so soon after this all happened."

"But you just said yourself, you're not too worried."

"I didn't say that; believe me, I'm still plenty worried. Stopping and spending the day at a decent hotel, I would be fine with. Going out 'on the town' later tonight? I truly don't think it's such a good idea." Sydney sighed, and Sark hurried to finish what he was saying. "Listen, if all goes according to plan, we'll be out of here and somewhere in Europe-"

"In Liechtenstein," Sydney interjected.

"Right… in Liechtenstein. Ok, we'll be in Liechtenstein in 48 hours; once we're there, we can go out and do something different every night if you wish. But as long as we're still in America, we do need to keep a relatively low profile. It may be slim, but there's still every chance one of us could be spotted by someone, and I'm not willing to risk that, not after I just got you back."

"Ok," she said reluctantly. "Can't say I like it, but I do understand it. Can I at least talk you into an oh so romantic dinner at the hotel diner?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It's a date," Sydney grinned.

"It certainly is. Now, shall we get out of here?"

"Absolutely." Sark led her into the room, where he gathered his few belongings and straightened up quickly. "Did you wish to shower before we left?" Sydney shook her head. "Breakfast?"

"Nah, let's just hit the road… the sooner we're out of here, the sooner we get to stop and enjoy the day somewhere else." Sark offered a light smile before opening the door and motioning for her to go out. A few moments later, they were approaching the front desk, and Sark hesitated slightly as he recalled Sydney's words from the previous night. He heard her snickering behind him, and shot a glance over his shoulder. She gave him an innocent smile in return.

"I still think you're more his type…" she whispered.

"That isn't funny, Miss Bristow," Sark mumbled as he stepped forward again. Scott, the same man as last night, was there once again, and he offered a friendly smile as he saw Sark.

"Checking out?"

"Yes," Sark replied in a clipped tone. Scott nodded and turned to his computer. A minute later, he faced Sark and smiled again. "Thanks for choosing the Boulder Dam Hotel." He then turned his smile to someone next to Sark, who turned to see Sydney nodding to Scott. As they walked out, he caught sight of another woman stepping up to the desk. She gave him an odd look, and he quickly turned away and hurried after Sydney, who was already standing by the car waiting.

"Something catch your eye?" she questioned teasingly. Sark gave her a flustered look before popping the trunk and setting his bag inside. When he closed it a moment later, he noticed that Sydney was now in the car, watching him through the back window. He shook his head and climbed in, giving her a sideways glance as he started the car.

"So… we're off," he stated simply.

"To see the wizard?" Sydney questioned. He gave her another look as they pulled out of the parking lot.

"Sorry, I'm afraid I don't know any wizards."

"Oh. Well, a good hotel will be an acceptable replacement, I suppose."

"Most generous of you." Sydney didn't reply, just laughed to herself, and settled back for another long drive.

"Are we there yet?" she questioned twenty minutes later. Sark gave her a quick, semi-worried look.

"We've never been on a road trip like this together… please, don't tell me you make that a regular habit." Sydney grinned mischievously, but would neither confirm nor deny his fear.

"Hey, Adam?" she said quietly ten minutes after.

"Hmmm?"

"Are we there yet?"

"Sydney!" Sark groaned. A short time later, she again gave him a sly look before clearing her throat.

"Adam?" This time he ignored her, and she frowned as she realized he wasn't going to cooperate. "Adam? Hey, Adam?" she pressed. He continued focusing on the road in front of them, not even giving her a sideways glance.

"I promise I'm not going to ask if we're there yet," she swore, and he finally turned to her briefly.

"Very well. What is it?"

"Are we-" he gave her a warning look, and she winked in return before continuing with, "going to stop soon?"

"Sydney!"

"What? I didn't ask the other question, and that was all I promised."

"That's cheating," Sark declared.

"What? No it isn't."

"Yes it is. Sydney, I know cheating, and that was most certainly cheating."

"Was not," she mumbled, causing him to smirk.

"To answer your cheater question, yes, we should be stopping in the next twenty minutes."

"That's great. I'm looking forward to a quiet, relaxing day. If anyone disrupts it, you'll just have to kill them," she stated matter-of-factly.

"I'll have to kill them?" Sark repeated dubiously.

"Of course. You don't expect me to do it, do you? Besides, you're better at it than I am." Sark gazed at her uncertainly.

"I'm not sure if I should feel offended, worried, or backhandedly complimented."

"Take it as a compliment," Sydney suggested.

"Quite possibly the strangest I've ever received, in that case," Sark noted. Sydney offered up another devious smile, and Sark rolled his eyes in return.

"Stopping there?" Sydney questioned as she caught sight of a small, relatively isolated hotel just up the road.

"Yes."

"Adam, how do you know all these hotels and motels?" she asked curiously.

"I had, shall we say, an exit strategy in mind after you… died. After I went to your… grave, I was going to follow a very similar route to the one we've taken thus far."

"That's… borderline creepy," Sydney stated.

"I suppose… but then, so is your refusal to tell me what happened, how you ended up in this car next to me instead of in that grave," he replied as he pulled into the hotel parking lot. Sydney gave him a semi-annoyed look, but he didn't flinch.

"You promised you would trust me," she said simply.

"And I do, Sydney, more than I've ever trusted anyone. But the farther away from it we get, the more you seem disinclined to even think about what happened, much less tell me anything about it."

"And how do you know what I think about, hmmm? Can you read minds now too?" It was Sark's turn to level an annoyed look towards her.

"Sydney-" she quickly cut him off.

"Don't. Adam, you promised you would trust me, and I in turn promised I would tell you everything in time. If you can't trust that I'll do that when I feel comfortable doing so, why on earth should I trust you enough to tell you any of it?" Sark, who had already parked the car and shut off the engine, leaned back and shut his eyes in frustration.

"I'm sorry," he offered quietly. "I do trust you Sydney, but I don't feel that you truly trust me. I just don't see how withholding something like this from me can in anyway prove anything good."

"I know it doesn't make sense… believe me Adam, I understand how completely ridiculous it seems. But there's a reason for it all, and- I'm sure you don't want to hear this- but if you just trust me, it'll all be explained in due time."

"You're right, I don't want to hear that," he sighed. "However, if that's all I can get from you, I'll leave the matter alone until some other time."

"Thank you," Sydney said sincerely. Sark nodded, then opened his door and walked around to open Sydney's. She offered a smiled as she got out and stretched. "So what's the plan? Relax here today and get an early start tomorrow?"

"Not as early as we did today… we can sleep in until nine if you'd like to."

"That might be kinda nice," Sydney laughed. Sark popped the trunk and grabbed his bag, then motioned for Sydney to take the lead. She walked into the lobby through the open door and headed for the front desk. Sark snickered to himself as he caught sight of the clerk. Sydney faltered slightly, and looked back at him curiously.

"What is it?"

"Well, seeing as it's a woman this time, I was just thinking, perhaps [I]you'll[/I] be more her type," he whispered playfully. Sydney's jaw dropped, and she glanced at the desk nervously. "Look, she's already glancing over here," Sark added.

"You're crazy," Sydney stated plainly.

"Perhaps… but what if I'm right?" she arched an eyebrow and shook her head.

"Fine… you go talk to her."

"Chicken, Miss Bristow?"

"No… you have the money."

"I could very easily hand it to you."

"And you have an ID with an alias on it. I don't."

"You're cheating again," Sark mumbled as he went past her and up to the counter.

"Is everything ok?" the woman asked uncertainly.

"Just fine, ma'am," Sark replied, putting on his best general American accent. "I need a room for two for the night."

"Yes sir, I'll see what we have open. On some kind of road trip, I take it?" she asked conversationally.

"Yes ma'am, we're heading out east to visit her family before our wedding." She looked at him curiously before handing over a key.

"Room 12, just down the hall to your left."

"Thank you kindly," Sark said with a smile.

"We also have a pool and spa just outside those doors there, and complimentary continental breakfast at 8:30 if you're interested." Sark gave her a nod.

"All right… uh, that's cool." He turned and found Sydney already heading down the hall towards their room.

"Cool?" she repeated as he caught up to her. "I don't think I've ever heard you use that word, ever."

"I don't think I've ever heard myself use it," he muttered. A moment later, he had opened the door and was investigating the room, while Sydney was at the window eyeing the pool.

"Lets go for a swim," she suggested excitedly.

"Fine… may I finish inspecting the room first?" Sydney sighed dramatically.

"If you must…"

"Yes, I certainly must." Ten minutes later, he was satisfied, and he walked up behind Sydney to take in the pool area. "I'm ready to go if you are." She grinned at him and gave an enthusiastic nod.

"Well then, let's get going!"

"Sydney, wait…" Sark said thoughtfully. She paused at the door and glanced back at him.

"Yes?"

"You didn't bring any bags with you," he noted.

"No, I sure didn't."

"Meaning you don't have any kind of swimsuit."

"Correct again." Sark frowned in confusion.

"Then just what are you…" he paused and his brow lifted in understanding. "Don't tell me you're intending to go out their in your undergarments." She grinned impishly.

"After how long I was in the CIA, I'm hardly shy about that."

"But… what about other guests, what if they see you?" Sydney rolled her eyes and laughed at him.

"Adam, please… first of all, did you look around when we were parking, or checking in? This place is deserted… the only other person here is that lady at the front desk, and if she looks at me funny, you can kill her for me- defend my honor or something. And second, in case you missed it, I've gotten somewhat used to strangers seeing me in… that manner of undress." Sark frowned again. "Besides which, did you happen to bring any swimwear with you?"

"Well, no, but I've also no intention of parading around like that."

"I'm hardly parading, I just want to go for a nice relaxing swim, and then lay out in the sun for a while. Is that so much to ask?"

"Of course not," he sighed. "It's just that…"

"It's just that you're paranoid," she interjected.

"Well… yes, essentially." Sydney laughed.

"I didn't expect you to admit it."

"I might as well, it's certainly true. Now, are we going swimming or what?" Sydney smiled.

"Thought you'd never ask… what are you wearing?"

"I have a pair of shorts… that'll do," he said with a shrug. Sydney looked at him curiously.

"You know, I somehow never figured you as a shorts kinda guy."

"I'm generally not, and I don't even remember the last time I wore these, but it's always good to be ready for such occasion as this."

"When you put it that way, it sounds so… serious."

"Of course… swimming is always a very serious undertaking." Sydney rolled her eyes.

"Right… sure." Sark smirked as he began rifling through his bag in search of his shorts.

"I'll meet you out there," Sydney called as she left. Sark waved towards her, but didn't look up from his hunt. Five minutes later, he had changed and was walking out to the pool, where he could already see her swimming lazy circles.

"Enjoying yourself?" he questioned as he walked past.

"Very much so. Black shorts? Adam, you really need some color in your wardrobe." He looked at her suspiciously.

"No, I really don't, and please don't get any ideas." She smiled innocently as she swam away. Shaking his head, Sark set his towel down and stepped into the pool.

"Not going to take your sunglasses off?" Sydney questioned.

"No, why? Are you going to suggest I need more sun?"

"Well… actually, yes, I am," she replied, sticking her tongue out at him.

"That was mature. And I might add, you're looking rather pale yourself." She stuck her tongue out again, and Sark cocked his head.

"Really Sydney, is that the best you can do?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" He shook his head again.

"Not at all." He eased the rest of the way into the water and began slow laps across the pool. When he was finished, he wiped his eyes and noticed Sydney was now stretched out on one of the chairs, eyes closed and a content look on her face. He pulled himself out of the pool and sat in the chair next to her. Turning her head, she cracked one eye open and gave him a light smile.

"This is good," she said softly.

"What, the chair?" he queried, and her smile grew wider.

"No, I mean this… us… right now. It's good, don't you think?" he smiled and leaned back, looking up at the cloudy sky above them.

"Yes, I do. It's very nearly perfect," he agreed. She nodded and closed her eyes again, leaning back and seemingly falling asleep. A short time later, she sat up, then stood and stretched. Sark looked at her questioningly.

"I'm just going to run back to the room for a few… I'll be right back."

"I'll be waiting." Sark went back to watching the clouds traverse the sky, and allowed his eyes to slide shut, feeling more relaxed than he could ever recall being. A few moments later, he heard soft footsteps coming back out, and he smiled slightly as he waited for Sydney to speak. His smile dissolved into a frown as he realized that he was hearing the sound of shoes, not bare feet. He sat up quickly and alertly, eyes going straight for the hotel door. His face twisted into a look of confusion as he saw who was really there.

"I don't understand… what are you doing here? How did you find us?" he demanded as he stood up cautiously.

"Adam, we need to talk," she said gently.

"I'm not arguing with that, I quite agree, as a matter of fact. I have plenty of questions that I'm sure you can answer. However, that doesn't answer mine."

"I'm here because we need to talk. As for how I found you, it wasn't terribly difficult, not for someone who knows you as well as I do." He nodded slightly.

"Fine." He slowly sat down and looked up at her expectantly, still not removing his sunglasses. "I'm all ears, Irina- what is it you wanted to talk about?" His gaze drifted to the window of the room he and Sydney shared, and he instantly spotted her standing there, looking somewhere between shocked and terrified. His frown deepened and he turned back to Irina. "No, wait, let me guess… it has something to do with Sydney."

"Yes, it does, and I'd prefer if we discussed this somewhere a little more private."

"I have a room. Will that do?"

"It's the best we'll get here, so yes, that's fine. What number is it?"

"Room 12, left side of the hallway."

"I need to get some things from my car. I'll meet you in there." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, and Sark noticed the uneasy look the desk clerk gave her as Irina went past. With a frustrated sigh, he stood up and went inside, not acknowledging the woman's curious look as he headed down the hallway.

"Sydney, Irina's going to be in here any moment," he called as he opened the door to their room. He frowned, not catching sight of her anywhere, and began wondering if his theories on Irina helping to fake her death were, in fact, way off base. Another idea occurred to him, and his breath caught in his throat as he realized how possible it was. He dressed quickly and sat down to think.

"What if that accident wasn't an accident? What if Irina was somehow responsible for Sydney almost dying?" He rubbed his forehead, sighing in aggravation. "But that doesn't make sense… why would she do that? But why else would Sydney have such a reaction?" Hearing footsteps approaching his door, Sark quickly grabbed a gun from his bag and held it up. Irina stopped short as she opened the door and saw him.

"Sark…" she said warningly.

"No, don't try anything. You have a lot of explaining to do, Irina, and not a lot of time to start. Shut the door and start talking." When Irina didn't move, Sark clenched his teeth and focused the gun on her forehead. "Now," he said in a deadly quiet tone.

"Sark… Adam, put the gun down, and listen to me."

"No! Now the last thing I wish to do is alert the clerk by firing a round, but if you don't start explaining yourself right now, I won't hesitate." As if to prove his point, he took a step closer and aimed the gun at her knee.

"That's not necessary. Adam, have I ever given you reason to doubt me before? Ever?" He hesitated, but slowly shook his head.

"No. But this is different."

"Yes, it is different. In this scenario, you should trust me even more."

"How do I know you didn't have anything to do with the accident?" he demanded. At this, Irina's face went blank, but her eyes filled with rage, and she slowly shut the door behind her.

"Because Sydney's my daughter, Adam, and I love her more than you will ever begin to fathom. If you ever imply anything like that again, I will kill you, have no doubt about that." Sark slowly lowered his gun, and looked down momentarily.

"But you do know what happened?"

"Of course I do. I was there." Sark tossed his gun into his bag and looked up at her again. She nodded to him, then motioned to the bed. "Sit down… we have a lot to talk about."

---------------------------

Next update will be the final chapter, and I'm hoping it'll be up soon… sorry this one took so long, something happened in my personal life in June and fics became quite unimportant on my list of priorities. To make up for the wait, this update is about three times as long as my normal length. ;-)

Thanks for those who stick with me!