"So," Will said to Weiss after Francie arrived and left with drinks, and Jack and Dixon had disappeared somewhere to plot. "Who are you to Syd and Vaughn, exactly?"
Weiss downed the water in one gulp. "Michael is my partner. And a very good friend. Because Sydney is kinda his partner too, I work with both of them."
Will nodded, digesting that information. "Can I ask you an honest question?"
"Does that mean you'll want an honest answer?" Weiss quipped. "Sure, go for it."
"Do you think we'll see them again?"
Weiss gave Will his full attention.
"And don't give me the company line, either. I know from personal experience just how ruthless those two are, and I was a nobody to them! Syd and Vaughn have done so much to destroy both of them… Do you really think they'd just let you guys take them back?"
Weiss smiled. It was not a friendly smile, but rather the mentality that took over when the CIA sent him on off-the-books missions.
"These guys dared to lay a hand on my best friend. Trust me, I won't leave them around to disagree."
Will straightened. "They hurt Sydney. You can have the first shot, but I want the second."
Silence in the warehouse.
Caplan worked tirelessly, determined to end his enforced servitude to these people as soon as possible. Michael, meanwhile, sagged in the chair he was bound to, fast asleep. Every so often the agent would murmur Sydney's name as he dreamed, something the older man found soothing.
He was finished. Caplan looked down wearily, knowing there would be no allowances for mistakes. Still telling himself he had no idea what he had just built, he signaled the guard.
"Mr. Sloane, Ricardo is reporting that Caplan is finished."
Arvin Sloane nodded distractedly from where he stood next to Sydney in the hidden room, watching as she slept.
"I would appreciate it, Mr. Sark, if you would run the tests yourself."
"Vaughn…" Sydney murmured sleepily, a gentle smile crossing her lips.
"I'll get right on it," Sark said shortly, suddenly aware of how small the room was.
"What does Diane have to say about all this?"
Dixon sighed. "I lied to her, Jack. I know she loves me, but she doesn't trust me."
Jack nodded. "But she's letting you go after Sydney. That's a good sign."
Dixon said nothing.
--
"Good evening, gentlemen," Sark greeted. "I understand congratulations are in order, Mr. Caplan?"
"It's done," Neil said wearily, holding up his notes. "The calculations have been verified. All you have to do is follow them to put this thing together."
"Excellent," Sark murmured, taking them and scanning the papers carefully. "Very well done, Mr. Caplan."
"It's my understanding, Sark," Vaughn spoke up, knowing Caplan was too frightened to do so, "that you have a promise to keep with Mr. Caplan here."
"Indeed," Sark replied absently, too awed by the notes in front of him to do what he usually would and mock his hated captive's naïveté.
"So I can go home?" Neil tried to hide his hope. He was a far cry from inexperienced, but…
"I have to go test this," Sark muttered, clearly not even having heard the question.
"Wait!"
But he was gone. Blinking away tears, Caplan looked at his younger companion, who was clearly years older than him in this respect.
"They lied. They're never going to release me, no matter what I do."
His eyes gentle, Michael nodded slowly.
"How'd you get Kendall to agree to this?"
Jack held open the cell door, waiting for her to walk through it.
"We might have an ally," he replied simply, not giving away anything else. Cameras. Irina nodded in understanding. Kendall. Jack nodded back.
Verbal communication between them was handy, yes, but hardly required.
"The Rambaldi device is complete. I ran the test. I think you'll be pleased with the results."
Wordlessly, Sark held out photos.
"When we agreed to combine our resources, sir, you promised you'd show me incredible things. But a suitcase neutron bomb designed in the sixteenth century -- is that even a theoretical possibility?"
Sloane smiled. "It worked, didn't it?"
"Yes," Sark agreed, still awed. "Quite gruesomely, but effectively. I must admit, I almost used our two guests and their guard as the test subjects. Caplan's function is fulfilled after all, and Vaughn and Ricardo are destined for execution anyway."
Sloane looked at him sharply. "Mr. Vaughn is still useful to us, and a man with Mr. Caplan's abilities should not be lightly discounted either. I'm relieved you found another way to test the weapon."
Sark nodded. "Am I to believe, then, that Mr. Caplan's stay with us is not over?"
"Why would you think otherwise?" Sloane's puzzlement was genuine.
"No reason," Sark answered quickly. "Would you like me to go brief Ms. Bristow?"
"Not quite yet," Sloane sighed. "The plans for infiltrating the building where Irina is held are shaky at best."
Sark bristled. "Sir, I can assure you that I scoped out her mission using all of my abilities."
"While I have no doubt of that, Mr. Sark, there were still some holes," he replied. "It's no fault of yours, but your unfamiliarity with the exact layout of the facility is a handicap we can't afford. Perhaps…" He then raised his head. His eyes widened. "Of course!"
"Mr. Sloane?"
He turned and gave his younger partner a look of triumph. "I told you Mr. Vaughn would be much more than a useful bargaining chip, Mr. Sark."
- to be continued -
I am so sorry, but I have major work and school deadlines. :( I'll respond to the reviews for the last chapter in the next one, okay?
But pssst… it's still 2 or 10! ;)