"Mr. Tippin - Will - I need you to do something for me," Elsa said, scanning the papers intently.
"What?"
"Get Agent Bristow on the phone. I know what your friend was doing."
Vaughn sighed, collapsing fully on the bed and closing his eyes. When was the last time I laid on a bed? "Look, Weiss…"
"I'm waiting."
He sat up, spearing his best friend with a glare. "You want the truth? I love Sydney. I love her so much I set it up, more than once, that she would go free and I'd die in her place. There isn't a thing in the world I wouldn't do for her. Nothing."
Eric remained silent, somehow knowing this little explosion had been building for quite some time.
"I could picture myself marrying her, do you understand? I could picture myself spending the rest of my life with her. And granted, that means I'd be somewhat related to Jack Bristow, but I really do think we have a mutual respect building. Or tolerance, at the very least. But that would also mean…"
"That you'd be 'somewhat related' to Irina Derevko," Eric finished.
Vaughn nodded, all of his features going slack. It was as though the revelation had drained him of all his energy and he was nothing more than a shell.
"After she turned herself in, I couldn't sleep at night," Vaughn confessed. "I knew beyond a doubt, she had an ulterior motive, and I felt like by standing by and doing nothing, I was helping the monster that killed my father in whatever she was planning. I couldn't live with myself, Eric!"
"So you investigated her," Eric realized. "That's why you talked to so many KGB operatives."
Vaughn nodded. "I couldn't wait for the agency's red tape to clear, so I contacted everyone I could, anyone who knew her, who ran in the same circles. I…I retraced sat phone records that were logged while the Bristows were in India, Kashmir…"
His shoulders were shaking, but he forced himself to keep going. The floodgates had broken open, and he would never be able to continue again if he stopped.
"I tracked recorded conversations between Irina and her former lieutenants to see if she signaled them when Kendall gave her access to Echelon… I… I had freelance agents retrace every step of every hour she's taken outside Operations since her surrender. I surveilled prison guards assigned to her cell block, the kitchen staff who prepares her meals..."
Weiss pursed his lips. "Pretty thorough, Mike."
Vaughn hardly afforded him a glance at the compliment. "I mean… I did all this on my own. I paid for this myself." He shook his head. "And I found nothing, Weiss. I'd keep going, certain I'd find something, but the more I looked, the cleaner she was. But I couldn't stop looking, because that would mean I gave in!"
"I'm pretty sure Agent Bristow wants to think she's turned," Weiss cut in gently. "That she's now a good guy."
Vaughn snorted, eyes flashing. "She's a killer, Eric! A traitor! A woman like that doesn't all of a sudden decide to be a good person!"
"Okay, okay, take it easy," Eric soothed. "You don't need to convince me she's bad news." He winced, knowing this would really set his best friend off. "But, uh, you should know… when you guys were taken, Jack and Irina deduced that she had something to do with your conduct. Jack convinced Kendall to let her out to, uh, help look into your activity."
Vaughn's jaw dropped. "Irina Derevko was checking up on my loyalty?"
"Well, she didn't really get started yet," Weiss stammered. "But uh, yeah, that was her intent."
Vaughn's eyes were huge and he sat rigid on the bed, the very idea of Irina working to clear him apparently enough to render him catatonic.
"All right," Weiss said with false cheer into the sudden silence. "Listen, we need to be on a plane in like ten minutes. I'll call Kendall and try to clear things up enough for you to go home for a bit and rest up - Lord knows you need to, after uh, everything - but you're technically still a wanted fugitive, so you can be arrested and brought in at any time. Just tell the debriefers what you told me and you'll be fine, okay? Mike? Michael?"
He nodded distractedly.
"Great," Weiss muttered. Swiftly, he tossed everything lying around into the bag and then grabbed Mike by the arm and pulled him up. Almost immediately, Vaughn winced. Horrified, Weiss immediately released him, having accidentally put pressure on bruises left behind by restraints.
"After you," he said dryly after a moment, pointing to the door. "You are in my custody, after all."
Vaughn chuckled, finally snapping out of wherever he headed to, much to Eric's relief.
"You're never gonna let this be forgotten," he groaned resignedly. "Are you?"
"'Fraid not, Balls of Steel. Now move."
"Yes, sir."
Her daughter was so beautiful.
Irina simply watched, almost breathless with awe at the woman pacing absently around in the cell. Heartbreakingly fragile at times, with big brown eyes that radiated innocence, Sydney Bristow was truly a miracle. Her miracle.
And she had almost lost her. She sighed, deep in thought.
She was a woman at a crossroads. Her plan had always been simple. She had ordered Sark to deliver a note to Arvin, and then she would…
She would…
But then Arvin had kidnapped her daughter. Irina's eyes narrowed. The only reason why she had not already killed the man for that was because her daughter, aside from a few easily bandaged cuts left behind by restraints, had returned unharmed from her time in his custody.
Physically, anyway.
"Mom?"
She looked up again. Sydney stood at the window once more, a frown marring her features as she sensed her mother's mood change. "Is everything all right?"
"Fine," Irina answered automatically. She hesitated, hardly the correct person to be saying this, but… "Sydney, if you want to… if you want to talk about what you experienced…"
"You'd listen?"
"Of course," Irina answered, surprised at the otherwise implication.
"Not what I meant," Sydney said quickly. They fell silent silent for a moment, the awkwardness between them clearly tangible.
"I was so scared," Sydney whispered at last, breaking the silence. "Not for me. For Vaughn. Every word out of their mouths was a reminder that he was expendable and I was not. I was so terrified they would hurt him if I tried to escape, so I really didn't try, no matter how much I hated myself for cooperating. And then he - "
Her voice broke, remembering the meeting they had at the Spanish warehouse.
"He arranged his own death," Irina filled in bluntly. Agent Vaughn had somehow managed to avoid his chosen fate, and the former Russian spy thus deemed it safe to leave sugarcoating behind.
"Not only that," Sydney murmured, voice rising with each word. "He… he told me he loved me, right before I left. I thought I would never see him again, but I didn't answer him. The man I love more than anything on this earth was willing to give his life for me, and I couldn't even say three little words to him!"
"But he's on his way home," Irina soothed, savoring the chance to play anchor to Sydney.
She nodded, blinking back tears that were a curious mixture of relief and shame. "I know," she said, voice lowered again.
Irina took a deep breath. Every word she had spoke to her daughter, though Sydney didn't know it was dangerous. Especially what she was about to confess.
"Sydney…" her voice faltered. She looked up, expectant.
"Mom?"
"When you see him, tell him," Irina said at last. "Because if you don't treasure the time you have with the people you love, you'll spend your life regretting it."
"Mrs. Caplan, I appreciate your theory, but-"
"My theory? Look, Agent Bristow. I know the only reason why I'm not in a cell right now is because the CIA needs to clear something up. But I am not a traitor to the United States! Agent Vaughn is still missing, and that's because of me and my family. The least I can do is clear his name so you'll look for him! Get your head in the game and stop seeing me as someone I'm not!"
Silence. Will stared at her openmouthed while Jack reared back, unable to recall the last time someone had stood up to him in such a manner. Except for those related to him, of course. Or those that wanted to be related to him.
"I will consider what you have to say," he replied at last. "Uh… thanks for your help, Mrs. Caplan."
"You're welcome."
Sydney stared at her mother, eyes wide. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask Irina Derevko questions that had burning on the edge of her tongue since their first reunion… and then the bars went up and the mood was broken. Irina swallowed hard, unreadable mask shifting into place as Jack rejoined them.
It was better this way.
"Elsa Caplan examined the contents of Vaughn's safe," Jack said brusquely, poker face matching Irina's. "Apparently, Irina, Vaughn was investigating you the past few months."
Sydney and Irina stared at him. Jack caught his breath. They looked so similar…
"Kendall asked me to escort you to Vaughn's apartment to study the documents further," he continued.
"Go," Sydney said quickly. "I don't want him to have to deal with that when he arrives. I'll just wait here."
The tiny humorous remark was enough to break the tension, and the Bristow family exchanged smiles of renewed hope. Irina felt a pang of guilt go through her, but she suppressed it quickly.
"Shall we?" Jack asked.
"Of course," Irina answered.
They left together. Sydney glowed at the sight, so thrilled that she failed to notice her mother's refusal to look her in the eyes as they parted.
Review Responses
wonder monkey: I hope you like what happens! lol
Nattie700: I got the first one, but thanks for the new one! LOL. Hmm. Alias-Media.com has the bloopers from the ABC special, check it out! And yes, the commentary is hilarious. They're so mean to each other! LOL
Kay10197: Duude, this chapter was so long! I'm kinda proud. (Well okay, almost 5 pages, but that's ridiculously huge for me! LOL)
C-n-C: :blushes: Awww, now you're just trying to get brownie points for the future. What was that? No, I'm not bawling at your sweet review. Nuh-uh. It's allergy season!
MvsGirl: Dun dun dun indeed. ;) Hugs and kisses back, yo!
Jennycraig10: Well welcome back!! Where'd you go on your trip?
Ilovemypenguin: Ooo! What was he on TV for? No, you're the best!
La Teaseree: When a key turned in the lock, Will bounded instantly to his feet.
Raina: Thanks! :)
Anonymousthinker: LMAO, you and me both.
valley-girl2: Psssssh. Who needs school when you've got Alias? ;) Priority. Check!
UKHoneyB: Poor guy!
AgentBlue: Hello to my absolute fav SD-1 delurker! Wazzup?
Kira: Darn straight! Muhahahaha. ;)