DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, except for the original ones, so please don't sue. I'll kill you if you do… just kidding.

A/N- This chapter has two parts. I'm sorry for the one day late thing… part two will be uploaded later…

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Gun. Sloane. Bullet. Irina.

"Dammit, Jack. Don't do this!"

His eyes fluttered open and saw Irina's face streaked with tears. Her eyes are filled with fear and concern. Pain ripped his chest when he felt Irina probe it.

"What are you doing?" He grimaced as the sting went through his body.

"Stopping the blood, you idiot. Why did you do it?" Irina asked, a bit harsher than she intended. Jack jumped smack in front of her, taking the bullet that Sloane intended for her.

"Where's Sloane?" He asked.

"Lying on the floor. Dead as you are." Irina replied. Ana was supposed to help her but she ordered her daughter to get for medical assistance. "Hush now. Don't talk anymore."

Jack heard running footsteps come their way. But his vision was already blurred and he couldn't see them. Their voices also seem to be in the distance and he can't hear them very well.

'Is this how you die? You get released from the worldly pastimes of talking, hearing and seeing?' he thought as he tried to relax. It always helps him when he's injured and bleeding like there's no tomorrow.

His eyes closed. He's tired and he wants to go to sleep.

Irina felt panic bubble in her throat. She reached for Jack's wrist to check his pulse. It's slowing down.

"Jack? Jack!"

-x-x-x-

Sydney sat beside Nadia and Ana in the ICU. Waiting for the doctors to tell them that their father will be okay. She's also waiting for them to tell her that Vaughn is okay.

Vaughn was stabbed by Lauren, and together with Jack and Sloane, is fighting for his life.

Tears began to fill her eyes. 'Vaughn, I can't lose Vaughn. Not again.' She thought as she looked at her sisters. Ana is using Nadia's lap as a pillow, asleep, exhausted from running around and crying. Nadia seems lost in her thoughts. Will is okay, but the doctors said that he'll be kept overnight for observation. Her mother, Sark, Dante, Francis, Byron and Katya are in a debriefing with Dixon. The others, Weiss, Spicah and Barone are resting. Their Aunt Yelena is being held by the CIA, but she seems to have snapped out of her mind. Probably acting to evade prosecution. Lauren, on the other hand fell to her death after being kicked by Sydney and falling fifteen floors down to the ground.

The Covenant is gone. They are destroyed. Together with Rambaldi.

The door to the waiting room opened. It is her mother.

"How is he?" She asked in a soft voice after noticing that Ana is asleep.

Sydney and Nadia both shook their heads. "We don't know yet." Nadia answered as she stroked Ana's head. During the entire trip back home, she kept on blaming herself, mumbling about choices.

"How are you?" Irina asked Sydney and sat beside her. Her mother looked tired but she seems determined not to give up on their current situation.

Sydney shrugged. "I'm okay. I think." She replied. She gave Irina a smile and let her sit in her seat.

A few minutes later, a doctor came to the waiting room. "Ms. Bristow?"

The three women who were awake looked at him. Hope is in their faces.

"We've stabilized Agent Bristow's condition."

The news made Irina sigh in relief. She will never forgive herself if ever Jack dies because of her. Irina took a deep breath and managed to muster a smile for the doctor.

Sydney took a step forward. "Uh, doctor? What about Agent Vaughn?"

The doctor looked at his clipboard. "Agent Vaughn is still on the table, ma'am."

She felt like the world fell on top of her shoulders. "Oh, uh… thank you." Sydney maintained her composure until the doctor left.

'Vaughn… please fight.'

Sydney felt an arm around her shoulder, comforting her. Her mother.

"He'll pull through, sweetie."

Daughter looked at her mother, her eyes brimming with tears. Her mother has been through this. She knows what this agonizing wait feels like.

Sydney nodded her head, while at the same time pressing her lips together. Tears fell out of her eyes and her mother brushed them away.

"Syd, he'll pull through. He'll do that just for you." Nadia said. Sydney smiled at her sister and then to her mother.

"Thank you."

-x-x-x-

"Dammit, Jack. Don't do this!"

The beeping machines that seem to surround him woke him up. His eyesight is a bit fuzzy and he doesn't know where he is.

He groaned when he tried to move. Stifling pain explodes in his chest when he tries to mobilize his arm.

"Stop moving. Your wound might open up."

The voice warmed him. Irina.

"Where…?" he hoarsely asked and looked around. His vision is slowly returning to normal and he wants to see her. He found her sitting by his side, wearing a green turtleneck. Her hair is up in a loose bum and she looks so tired.

"Hospital. The Naval Hospital." Irina answered, smoothing his blanket. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?' she asked. Her body is weeping with exhaustion but she fought it. The man in front of her needs her.

Jack looked at her. "I could use some water."

Irina stood up from her uncomfortable chair and took the pitcher of water and glass from the side table.

"Where are Nadia, Sydney, Ana and Jacob?" Jack asked as his eyes followed her every move.

Irina poured the water in the glass. "Jacob is being watched over by and Ana and Nadia at home while Sydney is watching over Vaughn. He hasn't woken up yet."

Jack didn't say anything as Irina gently placed the cup over his lips. He can feel the tension she's giving off. And he can see her anger.

"Why are you angry?" Jack asked after drinking from the cup. Irina didn't say anything but returned the pitcher of water on the side table.

"Irina…" he exasperatedly said. He doesn't want to be given the silent treatment at this moment. They need to talk. And they need to talk right now.

"Why did you do it?" Irina answered. "Why did you take the bullet for me?"

"Because I love you?"

"Because Jacob needs a mother."

Tears filled Irina's eyes. "Oh and he doesn't need a father, is that what you're saying?!"

"No." Jack replied, a bit surprised with her tears. "What did you want me to do? Let you get killed?"

"Yes." Irina snapped. "Yes. You should have let me take that goddamn bullet!"

Jack incredulously looked at her. "You were crazy if you thought I would let that happen."

"You scared me… us half to death with that stunt, Jack. I love you and I didn't want you to get hurt. I didn't want any of you to get hurt."

He gaped at her. 'Did she just say I love you?'

Tears fell out of Irina's eyes. 'I shouldn't have said that.'

They stared at each other. They don't know what to say. Their 'talk' has been put on hold.

The door to the room opened and two nurses went in.

"Mr. Bristow, you're awake." One of them cheerfully said as they smiled at them, totally oblivious to the fact that they have irritated expressions on their faces.

Irina quickly wiped away the tears from her eyes and smiled at them.

"Oh, Ms. Derevko, Agent Dixon wants to talk to you. He's outside."

She nodded her head and glanced at Jack, who is staring at her. She bit her lip and went out of the room without saying goodbye.

(A week later)

Jack walked out of his hospital room, feeling refreshed, revitalized and free. Free from the horror known to man as hospital food.

"Hi dad." Jack smiled when he saw Ana pushing Jacob's stroller walking towards him, smiling. Sark is behind her.

"Hey." Jack greeted back and smiled at her. "Hey there, buddy." He said to Jacob and lifted his son from his stroller. Nurses turned towards their direction when they saw his son.

"Da-da." Jacob said and buried his face in his father's neck. He smiled at Jacob's reaction and kissed his son's forehead.

He then looked around. "Where's your mother? I haven't seen her since the day before."

Ana pursed her mouth a bit and then looked at Sark . Sark shrugged. His daughter looked back at him, her gray eyes filled with uneasiness. "Uh… she went home."

"Really? And in what country did she go home to?" Jack asked.

Ana shifted uncomfortably. "Uh… she told me not to tell you."

Jack gaped at her. "Why?"

"You have to get it from Dixon ."

"And why do I have to ask Dixon for your mother's location?" Jack asked exasperatedly.

"Protocol."

"But you know where she is?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

Ana fidgeted a bit. It's a bit hard keeping things from Jack Bristow.

Jack sighed and then kissed Jacob on the forehead again. "Your mother is very stubborn." He whispered and then turned to Ana. "So, shall we go?"

His daughter smiled and then looked at Sark . He's going to drive. "Okay."

They left. Ana, as always, is chatting the day away with him and the young man. Jack oftentimes found himself giving Sark an evil glare but he doesn't seem to mind. He seems used to it.

"I'll go and get the car." Sark said when they reached the hospital lobby. When he was out of sight, Ana turned to Jack, her face, sober.

"Dad, mom was really hurt with what you did."

"What did I do?!"

Ana sighed. "I know you want to see her again and when you do get to see her again, just tell her that you love her too."

Jack stared awkwardly at her. "She told you that?"

"Uh… no?" Ana replied. Why would her mother tell her something like that? "Dad, mom hates being led around in circles and being left hanging in the air. She told you that she loves you. Don't tell me you'll leave her dangling like some sort of… fish."

A black sports car stopped in front of them. Ana's face switched from serious to bright.

"Let's go home, dad."