Magnificent Lies
Fire and Ice

Irina just looked at him. This was so un-Jack, she couldn't even explain it. The real Jack would have just flown back to Los Angeles and pretend nothing had ever happened. The real Jack would have assumed she had just been playing with him on this trip, setting him up for her 'ultimate plan.' The real Jack would not have spontaneously taken time off his work to settle the relationship he had with a hostage of the CIA. She hadn't seen him like this for thirty years. This was the Jack she had married all those years ago.

Thinking about this, she realized that the Jack that she had gotten married to so long ago was gone now. She had seen no trace of him, until now. It was as if Jack had been so ashamed of himself for everything she'd done to him, he had become another person to protect himself.

"Irina?" Jack asked, peering into her face. She had been staring at the same spot on the floor for a few minutes now. At any other time he would have a smug smile on his face for being able to confuse her in this way, but the fact was that he was just as confused as she was. Therefore, the expression that wreathed his features was one of vexation. His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm?" Her eyes refocused on his face, then widened in surprise. He looked genuinely concerned for her. Which of course only confused her further. "Oh, I'm fine. Just thinking."

Jack nodded. Always a dangerous thing, when Irina started thinking. Her mind was capable of anything. That was one of the reasons he had married her. Married Laura. Whatever. They weren't that different, he thought to himself. Physically, there were very few differences. Irina's face was more angular, harder to read. Laura's features were softer, though they both had the aura of intelligence, evident in her dark eyes. They were both playful, though in vastly different ways. Laura had been more outwardly, physically playful, while Irina appeared to enjoy mind games, especially ones that only she knew the rules of.

Comparing them in his mind, he subconsciously came to the conclusion that Irina was more attractive, both in body and in mind. Upon realizing what he was thinking, he immediately rationalized with himself. What was he doing comparing them? Besides the fact that they were the same person, it was crazy that he should value the woman who had destroyed his life above the one who had brought into existence the woman who had rebuilt it; Sydney. He shoved his thoughts to the back of his mind, deciding to ignore them for now.

He cleared his throat, then spoke.

"Mr. Volkov, there will be someone by the name of Agent Weiss waiting for you in the Los Angeles airport. He'll get you to the CIA safely and get you settled. Irina and I are going to see you off, and then we will follow in a few days.

The other man nodded, then followed them as they headed towards gate eleven. After waiting for the plane to arrive, Jack let Irina say her goodbyes, and soon Volkov was in the air.

Within the hour, Jack had rented a car from the airport and they were in front of their new hotel.

Even Irina was awed by the immense building. To be sure, she had seen bigger, but this one was definitely the most beautiful she had ever seen. It was made entirely of ice. The outside was a frosted, pure white structure, very rough and rugged. The windows were the only thing not made of ice.

Inside it was the total opposite. The walls were smooth and clear, a few of the walls and fixtures had been colored.

Jack quickly approached the front desk, stepping in line behind a few other groups. Irina slowly followed, taking in her surroundings. Most of the bystanders were rich looking couples, ranging in age from twenty-some to the late sixties. There were no children to be seen.

Finally it was their turn to check in. Jack stepped forward with Irina close behind. The receptionist immediately smiled at Jack.

"Welcome back to Reykjavik, Mr. Bristow." She said familiarly.

"Thank you." He paused. "May I introduce my wife, Mrs. Bristow?" Irina raised her eyebrows at this, but plastered on a fake smile, resisting the urge to grind a heel into Jack's toes for trying to play with her this way. The woman smiled back and proceeded to give them their hotel keycards.

"Have a nice stay, sir."

The bell boy, clad in a pale blue-gray suit that enabled him to easily fall back into obscurity when he was not needed, loaded their few cases onto the silver trolley and showed them to their room.

After a long drive across the French countryside, Sydney and Vaughn were in the final few minutes of their trip. For the past half hour, they had been driving up a mountain, along a very windy road.

Finally they made it to the top, and they both looked down in wonder. A valley lay in front of them, speckled with little cabins puffing smoke from their chimneys and colored flags marking the ski routes.

"How often do you come here?" Sydney asked as they continued towards the large main building.

"I used to come every year; before I joined the CIA."

"Oh, yes. God forbid you take a few days off." She teased.

"Hey, I've taken days off before." Vaughn said defensively.

"Vaughn, as long as I've known you, you've never taken a day off from work. In fact, you work overtime. When was the last time you took a vacation?"

"I used to take a week off every November, to go someplace warm, usually Fiji. Lets see… The first time I skipped it was about two years ago."

"Right after you were assigned to be my handler." Sydney observed, glancing away from the sights outside to look at Vaughn. "Why'd you miss it?" She asked, even though she probably knew the answer.

"I think my reasoning was that if I didn't go, then I'd be available to help you if you needed me."

"So, in other words, your concern for my safety stopped you from spending a week on a beautiful, warm island surrounded by gorgeous girls in bikinis?"

"Why would I want to spend a week on a beautiful, warm island, surrounded by gorgeous girls in bikinis when I could be spending time with my beautiful, smart, sexy co-worker?"

"Who, Kendall?" Sydney deadpanned. Vaughn chuckled, but the mention of the CIA had allowed all the worries in the back of his mind to resurface in full force. He glanced over at Sydney as he put the car into park. Her smile was faded, and she was biting her lip. Apparently she was having similar thoughts.

"Hey." He said, reaching over to touch her face. "We'll figure all this out. I promise."

"Really?" She asked, thoughts of SD-6, the CIA, Sloane, Danny, and Noah all swarming in her mind.

"Have I ever lied to you?" He said with a smile. "Lets just enjoy our time off and we'll find a way to deal with this."

"You always know just what to say." Sydney replied, the smile back on her face. She leaned in to kiss him, meaning it to be quick and chaste. Apparently that plan didn't work out, because at least seven minutes passed and they were still in the car. Finally Vaughn broke away.

"Syd, as much as I hate to stop, we need to check in before six or they'll give our room to someone else. At this rate, we won't be getting out of the car for a long time." Sydney just smiled over her shoulder as she stepped out of the car.

Hey everyone… Sorry for the lateness… spent the last week out of town for X-mas. Thanks for all the great reviews, especially katejones2005 for hers! Right after a dentist appointment (ewww reminds me of Creepy-Chinese-Guy/Suit-and-Glasses/Dr. Lee whatever he's called…) anyway, that was exactly what I needed! J You guys are so great. And you know what? The perfect belated holiday present to me would be a review, so everyone who reads this should write one in the belated holiday spirit!!! Thanks!