DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, except for the original ones, so don't sue. Sem break is here and I'm determined to finish everything by November. Thank you and have a nice day.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Irina is sitting in front of her laptop, in a desk that she installed in her humongous bedroom. Jacob, who caught the cold virus after his visit to his father, is fast asleep in the middle of her equally humongous bed. As she thought of this, Irina automatically looked towards her son's way.

'A little cold would be good for the baby. It will build up his immune system.' She thought and looked at the cellular phones scattered around her table. She's expecting a call in a few minutes and after that call, she will plan her next move.

One of the phones started to vibrate noisily. Irina took it from the table and went out to the terrace.

"Hello?" She greeted as the soft wind blew in her face.

"Her condition is stable."

Irina breathed out a sigh of relief. Byron informed her of this latest situation involving her children.

"She's out of danger?" Irina asked looking up to the stars. 'It's such a peaceful night. I wonder how they're…?'

"Yes. And she's going to be safe with us." The voice on the other line responded.

"Thank you for that assurance. Does Jack…?" She trailed off, hoping that the person in the other line understood what she just implied.

"Yes. He seems quite upset about it."

Irina was silent for a while. She is unconsciously tapping her right index finger to her left arm. 'Who wouldn't be upset? The man just learned that in a matter of six months, he has four children and not just one!'

"Sloane will be delivered in a few weeks. I assume that everything will be taken cared of when give part of my deal?"

"Of course, Ms. Derevko, you have my word."

Irina sighed. "Well then, if anything happens…. Please take care of my children."

-x-x-x-

(Flashback)

She walked towards the ticket counter, intending to buy a ticket to wherever and get out of Argentina as soon as possible.

"Excuse me, but what flights do you have that will leave here soon?" Nadia asked in Spanish.

The woman behind the counter looked at her, a bit interested with her beautiful customer. There are several scratches on her face and her black hair is a bit messy. It's as if she recently got into a fight.

"Where do you want to go, ma'am? There are available seats for a flight to Jamaica, Mexico, Manila and LA."

"Uh…" Nadia started. Her sisters are in LA, with their father. Her mother is… somewhere. She might be in London, but for all she knows, she might be in Zurich or in Bern or in Panama City. And she can't risk asking for her help. Even if her mother said its okay, she can't risk her brother and mother's life. Not when she just found them.

"What time will the plane for LA leaves?"

The woman checked her computer. "It's going to leave in half an hour."

Nadia weighed the possibilities. Every step she takes seemed built to weaken her. She doesn't know what Enrique Perez injected in to her but its making her insides shake. And her real father doesn't know that she is his daughter. Will he help her?

"I'll take it." Nadia finally decided and flashed the woman a smile. After a few minutes, she paid for her ticket and will now wait for a few minutes to get on her plane.

"Have a safe trip." The woman said and proceeded to serve her next customer

Nadia started to walk towards the gate. She can feel the people staring at her facial wounds.

'Dang, I should have put cover-up make up." She thought and walked towards the washroom to check on her face.

She began to felt eh throbbing ache that is starting to rip her stomach apart. Nadia bit her lower lip from shouting an expletive. She decided to forgo going to the bathroom and instead sat down on one of the chairs.

Nadia looked at her watch. There are a few minutes to spare before the plane takes off. Something unexpected might happen.

'Ugh! Stop being such a pessimist. Just think about what you'll do when you ask help from Jack Bristow. Will he believe you if you tell him that you're not Sloane's daughter?' She thought.

'But wait, is it even logical for me to ask help from a person who doesn't know that I'm his daughter?' what if he doesn't help?'

Nadia looked at the crowd.

'Well, at least you met you family.'

The sound of beeping machines entered her ears and brought her to consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and was greeted by a white, sterile-looking ceiling.

'Where am I?' she asked herself as she tried to sit up. She felt something tug the inside of her hand and it hurts.

"Ow…" she muttered and looked around. She's surrounded by a machine, a respirator and an IV. She then saw Sydney sleeping in one corner and Ana in another.

'Well, I guess I'm not in heaven…yet.' She thought and leaned back on the headboard. The last thing she remembers is walking around the streets. 'How long have I been here?'

As she asked herself that question, the door to the room opened.

It was Jack. And he's carrying a vase of flowers. He didn't notice that Nadia is awake.

She watched him move. He is so different from the man she first thought to be her father. Jack Bristow tries hard not to be noticed, but he has a magnitude of a presence. Whereas Arvin Sloane exudes in confidence that draw people and rendering them susceptible to his control, Jack Bristow's presence both terrifies and excites people. Nadia wonders how people will react when her mother, whose aura is as great as his, and he, would walk into a room together. Will there be sparks of electricity around their perimeter?

Jack looked around, as if he's uncertain on where to place the vase. His back is slightly turned against her, but Nadia can see half of his face.

She observed him. She can see that he's trying hard not to move noisily as not to wake them up. She then remembered the time Sloane talked about Jack.

"I only have high praises for his abilities. But he goes through rather extreme and irrational measures when it comes to protecting his own flesh and blood."

'Hmm… I wonder how he acts with Ana and Jacob.' Nadia thought as her eyes followed Jack's every move.

After a few minutes, Jack finally placed the vase of flowers on one of the desk near Ana. He was careful to set it away from Ana's hands lest it will come crashing down to the floor. Ana, like her mother, is a rowdy sleeper. They both toss and turn as if they aren't contented with their position.

He turned towards the bed to check on Nadia when he discovered that she's already awake.

"Uh…" Jack started. 'Did she see me come in with the flowers? Oh, no. Say something, quick!' he said to himself as his mind raced to say something sensible.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Jack asked as he approached the edge of the bed.

She shrugged a bit. "I'm better, thank you for asking." Nadia answered. "How long have I…?"

"You've been here for five days." Jack answered.

"Oh…"

Jack and Nadia stared at each other. Jack has his poker face mask on and Nadia can't read any emotions from him. But she can sense that he is very uneasy.

Jack can feel his stomach fluttering. 'Should I tell her that I'm her real father? But what if… Sloane? What if she loves Sloane so much that she'd get heartbroken if he tells her that Sloane isn't her dad? God, Irina had it easy with Ana.' Jack thought as he remembered Ana's first reaction to him.

Nadia is looking at him, with the same thoughts running in her head.

'Should I tell him that I'm really his daughter? But what if his hate for Sloane and mom's affair is so big that he wouldn't accept this revelation? What if he'd say that he would rather shrivel up and die on the spot than accept that I'm his child?' Nadia thought asking herself a very difficult question to answer.

"So…" Jack started, clearing his throat.

Nadia looked at him, waiting for him to speak.

"Have you met your mother?"

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Uh… yes. She said she has something to tell you."

"She did?" Jack asked.

"Yes. Did she tell you?" Nadia asked.

Jack loosened up a bit. "Uh, no." He answered. "Is it about… your father?"

Nadia nodded her head. Her response made Jack sigh in relief. But he's not yet finished. She said that Irina's going to call him because of paternity issues. But does Nadia know who her father is?

"So you know about your relation… to me?"

Nadia felt his uneasiness disappearing. "Yes. I saw the documents." She answered.

"You knew before Ana did?" Jack asked, going closer.

She was a bit taken aback with the question. "Ana knew?"

"She told me that she mailed it to her address in London so that your Aunt Katya can give it to your mother." Jack answered.

"So, she told you right away?" Nadia asked.

Jack smiled a bit. "Not really. She had to be prodded." He then took one of the aluminum chairs and sat down. "Since you've met Irina, I assume that you've met your brother." He said. Pride beams through whenever he speaks about his son.

A smile spread across her beautiful face. "Yes, I met Jacob. He's such an adorable precocious baby. He's such a blessing."

Jack flashed her one of his rare smiles. And then, his face turned thoughtful.

"And how did you find your mother?"

A look of reflection passed her face. "She wasn't what I expected. She's very… surprising."

Jack nodded his head to her response. He knows what she is talking about. Irina is indeed very surprising.

They were silent for a while. Nadia scrutinized Jack's face. They have the same nose. And she can now see Jacob's face when he gets as old as their father.

Jack looked at his watch. "Uh… what do you want to eat for breakfast?" he asked. Nadia smiled and thought for a while.

"Chocolate sundae."

Jack raised a brow. It wasn't Nadia who asked for the sundae, but Ana. He looked behind him and found that his youngest daughter is asleep. Fast asleep, in fact.

"Oh, she talks in her sleep too?" She remarked and laughed a bit.

"May I have turkey sandwich?" Another voice asked. It was Sydney.

Nadia looked at her sister. "Hello, good morning."

"Good morning to you too. How are you feeling?" Sydney asked, smiling.

"I'm fine thank you." Nadia answered and grinned back.

Jack stood up from the chair. "Sydney wants turkey sandwich, Ana wants chocolate sundae, which I will not get. What about you, Nadia?"

"Anything would be fine." She answered, shrugging slightly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She answered and smiled at him.

Jack smiled at them. "Okay, I'll just go get some breakfast. If Ana was really serious about chocolate sundae as her breakfast, please tell her that it is not the ideal meal to start the day."

-x-x-x-

His glass is almost out of Scotch and the sun is almost disappearing in the horizon. The panoramic view that his terrace is giving him is shunned because Arvin Sloane is so absorbed in his thoughts that he is completely oblivious to everything around him.

'Everything is ruined. Unless I find a way to get her back, my mission in life will fail. I will not know what Rambaldi's end game is.' He thought, unconsciously playing with is ring. He didn't notice a tall, beautiful woman standing by the French doors, watching him.

"May I join you and fill your glass with Scotch, or should I leave you in your solitude?" she asked as she walked towards him, her flowery skirt swirling around her ankles. Sloane noticed that she is holding an envelope.

"Please, join me." He said and motioned her to sit down.

A small smile tugged her lips as she settled in her seat. She then set the envelope by her side and looked at him directly in the eyes.

"I heard dear Nadia is in CIA custody." She said, a faint accent drifting with her words.

Sloane clasped his hands together. Clearly, the topic is irritating him. "What's in the envelope?"

The woman smiled and opened it. She pulled out several papers. "Something you gave me so that I'll give you Gabrielle Rinaldi."

Sloane raised a brow. The woman then gave him the documents.

He read the papers. It is the complete analysis of the Rambaldi text that Nadia supplied him. He smiled and returned to her the papers.

"I'm assuming that you want to know if this… detail is true." Sloane asked.

"Of course. I see that this is the chance to eliminate her. It gives me an excuse."

Sloane seemed amuse with her answer.

"Oh, but I want to eliminate the other one."

The woman laughed. "Come to think of it, the bastard should die. He is the root of all this mess. He was the one who planted the seeds."

"Yes, but it is she who allowed him to do it."

Her face turned thoughtful. They are right on both counts but killing both people will lead nowhere.

"We'll just see how everything works out. And then we pick."