A/N: Hey, everyone! A new day, a new chapter. Same disclaimers apply. I'm going to try my best to keep up with the show's ever-changing timeline and character ages, but don't yell if I mess it up on occasion. The writers made me do it.

And please excuse the words "HIS OTHER AUNT" in the corners of the last 4 chapters. That was the original title of this fic, but I changed my mind.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Chapter 5: Resurrection

Previously...

"Irina, why are you here?"

"I was looking for you and Jack."

"Why?"

"Because I know that Sydney is alive. I know where she is."

Present-time...

"Sydney's alive?"

"Yes."

"Where is she? Is she okay? Who did this to her? Why?"

"Vaughn. Slow down. I know that she is alive. I have a contact that knows where she is. And first, he has to get here."

"Who's the contact?"

I should've known that she was up to something when she averted her eyes to the floor. Something was wrong here. The contact was obviously someone that I didn't know or didn't' like. Or wouldn't trust.

Or didn't think would be alive.

"Steven Haladki."

"Bull. Jack killed Haladki a year ago."

"Not everything is as it seems, Agent Vaughn. People die and resurrect every day. Including Haladki. And obviously Sydney."

My head was spinning. Jack had supposedly shot Haladki through the head. I saw the footage that the security camera had. Even if he hadn't shot him, the broken bones, the blood, and the Windex to the eyes couldn't have done him any good.

Obviously, I was thinking out loud again.

"Haladki was shot, but not fatally. It's amazing what modern medicine can do. And as for the rest of it? His hands are scarred. He is blind from the Windex. But he is an agent nonetheless, and is still a reliable contact of mine. Which is why I believed him when he told me that he knew where Sydney is."

"Then what the hell are we sitting in the White House for? We have a plane to catch."

"Again, Michael, too fast. Haladki is coming here."

Great. Two known terrorists within 50 feet of the Oval Office.

Might as well call up Bin Laden and get a keg.

An hour later...

You know after someone dies and you wish that they could come back to life? Like your dad? Or your girlfriend?

I now know why God has never granted such a wish. Because of Steven Haladki.

He walked off of that plane and straight towards Irina. He still looked as smarmy and weasel-like as ever, and obviously didn't see me, because there were no wise cracks about emotional attachment uttered.

Not so lucky. He did see me.

"So you're looking for Bristow, huh? Doesn't surprise me. It makes sense. You always did know how to handle her."

I handled him very well too. Although socking your "ally" in the gut probably isn't the best move. It's not like he didn't deserve it.

And it's not like Irina didn't help. Haladki didn't give himself a black eye.

But I digress.

After we beat the crap out of him for that remark, another glitch in his plans popped up.

"What do you mean, you don't know where she is?!"

"Irina, calm down. I have a contact who has connections within the Covenant."

Okay. Wait, the Covenant? Why does that matter?

"Vaughn, the Covenant is who kidnapped Sydney. And is about to send in a blonde to take your mind off of her. If anyone by the name of Lauren Reed approaches you, stay back. Or play along and drill her for all the information she's worth."

"Lauren Reed? Ugh. She used to work for me. Tried to take over my organization. Shot me in the process. Kind of let her go after that one."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if we want to get this contact, we have to extract him first. And Vaughn?"

"Yeah?"

"I think you're in for a little bit of a shock."

REVIEW RESPONSES

To all who reviewed: Thanks! And please continue!

AGENT FLAMINGO – My very first review! Thank you so much! I love both Alias and West Wing too, as well as JAG. So glad you enjoyed it!

MOUNTAINEER143 – Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed. I'm continuing now, and I hope it's just as unexpected.

I LOVE VAUGHN N SYD – Thanks! Hope you continue to enjoy.