Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters nor do I profit when I write these stories. They're owned by ABC, Touchstone Television and JJ Abrams. Thank You…
CHAPTER TWO
The following weeks made Sydney feel like a science geek who was always going to the biggest museum everyday. She wants to know more about the girl who managed to evade every question she throws to her about her family and had perfect scores on all tests they gave her, written and physical. She also told Paris to call her by her first name. Sydney.
There were days wherein they went to the safe house only to observe the girl. They listened as she sang nursery ryhmes in other languages and rapped (and swore) with Eminem. When watching the television, she watches Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel. She was doing almost everything a normal person would do except cook. Never in their observing days did she cook in the kitchen.
Jack, sometimes, would go alone to the safe house to observe and ask the questions he didn't ask when Sydney was around. He found out that Paris sometimes wakes up at odd hours in the morning and chews on ice cubes. He found out that she'd rather watch Art Attack than MTV, Gosford Park than South Park and listen to Josh Groban than to Korn. 'Whoever they are…' he thought. He also found out that she loves to read books. Any kind of books.
In the office, Marshall told them that the things in Paris' bag were clean and that it can be returned to its owner. It wasn't necessary for Sydney to personally deliver it to her but she volunteered anyway. However, Jack asked the responsibility of giving back to Paris the necklace.
The following day, Sydney and Jack went back to the safe house. They were not required to report to the office so they have the whole day with the girl. When they arrived there, Agent Marlowe told them that Paris was in the covered court, playing basketball. Jack told her that he'd be in the surveillance room; Sydney then proceeded to the court.
When Sydney arrived there, she found Paris playing basketball. Every shot she took went in. It was amazing.
Paris noticed her and stopped playing. She went towards Sydney.
"Hey. Care to play?" Paris asked. She was wearing a white t-shirt with blue shorts and a pair of Nike's.
"Uhm… Sure." She replied. Sydney was astounded with Paris' resemblance to a younger Irina Derevko. The bruises and bandages on Paris' face were gone. Instead, Sydney saw her mother's cheekbones, her nose, her lips, her jaws. It was like looking at a clone.
She gave no attention (not yet) to the similarities of facial attributes Paris and Irina have. Instead, she made a mental note that she was dressed like she was going jogging and that she can play basketball.
Sydney took the ball and started dribbling. They had a thirty-minute game and she lost to Paris, 10-33. Paris was very good.
While Sydney and Paris were playing basketball, Jack was asking questions to the agents about the girl who, now Jack realized, one of his innermost fears.
Irina Derevko's daughter.
Paris smiled at Sydney as if she can read what Sydney was thinking. She went to the table and sat on the chair. Sydney did the same.
"Where did you learn to play like that?" Sydney asked.
"Back at home. I used to play with the guys in the gym. They valued my skills very much." Paris said. Sydney doesn't know whether to believe her or not.
"Really… Uh... after all these weeks, I forgot to ask you how old you are." Sydney said. She was discreetly starting to ask questions again. Paris pursed her mouth and raised an eyebrow. She then gave Sydney a small smile.
"If this is the year and month I think it is, then, I'm going to turn 23 this June." Paris replied. Sydney was a bit surprised with Paris' answer. She looked younger than twenty-two years old.
"What's with your face?" Paris asked, amused with Sydney's facial expression.
"Nothing, you just look younger than twenty two years old." Sydney replied. Then, it struck her. Paris is seven years younger than she is. 'Can it be possible that Paris mother is also my mother and her father, my father?' Sydney asked herself.
Paris, noticing Sydney's lost look, replied, "You know, you're not really the first person to tell me that I look young for my age, so stop looking at me like I'm a lab rat or something."
"Sorry." Sydney said. Paris really looked like Irina and knowing her father, he might act indifferent to Paris when he gives back the necklace.
There were a few minutes of silence. It was like they were resting and relaxing their minds.
"You know, you look a lot like my mom." Paris said. It was true. Agent Sydney Bristow looked a lot like her mother and she doesn't know why she felt comfortable with her. It was like she met a sister.
"Really? I do?" Sydney asked. She looked at Paris and smiled.
"Yes. You look a lot like her. You could pass of as her daughter, as my sister. What do you want to ask me anyway? I've thought about what Agent Marlowe told me earlier and I guess it'll not hurt if I tell you something…" Paris said. She was now certain that they were not the enemy.
"It's okay with you?" Sydney asked. Things are opening up. And it was only 10 in the morning.
"Yes. It's okay. If I can't remember or if I don't know what you're asking, then I can't tell you anything" Paris replied.
"Okay… so, where did you study? Or are you supposed to be still studying?" Sydney asked.
"I've already graduated from Cambridge University. I've finished my Master's work in Ancient History and I was working in the British Museum as the assistant curator before I woke up in a metal box in Germany." Paris answered.
"Really? I can't really imagine…" Sydney replied.
"Really, I've already graduated. I was told that I have an IQ of 190, which explains why I was the youngest person to graduate in the batch." Paris said.
"190? You're IQ's 190? What was your rank when you graduated?" Sydney asked her again.
"Uhmm… Magna cum Laude. My mother didn't show up when I graduated, I felt hurt with that incident." Paris said, shaking her head. It brought back some memories she'd rather forget.
"Did your mother approve when you got the job at the British Museum?" Sydney asked. Paris was too young to have that kind of job; it takes her to places that sometimes are dangerous for a twenty-year old girl.
"Yes, she did. She told me that it was like being a teacher. She was a teacher before she became self-employed…" Paris replied, putting a stress on the word self-employed.
"Self-employed? She runs her own company?" Sydney asked again.
"You can say that." she replied. There was something in Paris' voice that told Sydney that she wasn't telling everything. There was a pause again. Both of them had memories they can't remember and some they want to forget.
"Do you want to tell us your last name?" Sydney asked. Paris looked at her and gave her an uncertain smile.
"If I do tell you my last name, don't get excited… in a weird kind of way, okay?" she asked Sydney. She knew that the conversation is being taped and that they were, being watched.
"Of course." Sydney replied. 'Now, what did she mean with that?' she asked herself as she was watching Paris take a deep breath.
"It's… Derevko"