DISCLAIMER: How's your month going? Season Four's coming!!!!!! 'Can't wait! Though this story should have ended before Christmas may you still enjoy it. Haha! But still, I can't own ALIAS!!!

CHAPTER TEN

The rifle pointed on steadily. The figure holding it is also expert in hiding. The rifle peeked closer, its handler not even careful to think she can be seen. She waited, as the arrival of the subject's appointment happened. Soon, she was ready to fire; she touched the transmitter and radioed in.

"Both packages arrived, standing by for your orders."

"Carry on."

She leaned closer and magnified to have a clearer view. The person who just arrived was facing the subject, and so all she could see is his back. This person is still a Covenant, even if he is a double agent, she thought. Her orders were not really restricted. Go on. One move and you too will be dead. Finally, he moved away and Clio inhaled to take the subject down as he is still in her clear view. Suddenly, the double agent glanced back at her and-

It was like she was being pointed with a gun as the same. She couldn't believe who it was. With a sudden stab of anxiety, she tried to keep her fingers on the grasp and her eyes watching in the scope but she couldn't stand it. She pulled away then leaned on the wall for a while.

'It'll all depend on the situation, if he will fall out of his orders.' She remembered asking her superior if the contact of the Covenant inside theFSB should also be eliminated. "When that happens, then eliminate him.'

There was not a second to spare and so she took again the rifle to her hand and aimed with precision. She swallowed hard, as she tried to distinguish her feeling if she would cry, scream or just shoot. She tried to get back on her orders but she couldn't help it.

I should have known, she thought with anguish. Her heart melted as she can see his face on the scope. She took hold on the aim; she never noticed that a single tear shed from her eyes. She's both furious and broken; she let go of the painful sigh then-

"Hello?" She held back her cry as she answered the call with her transceiver. "Ilinova."

"Clio its Iana," then the voice sobbed. "I heard in the news… Ada has been killed."

The woman in the other line burst into tears and Clio couldn't help but end the call. She dropped her head and tried to concentrate. 'How could all these happen?' was all she can ask. She was about to let him have his chance to explain, but her judgements were clouded. He did not just keep his identity as a Covenant to her; he even killed one of her friends to keep his cover. She gasped a few times, trying to hold back. She aimed again and

"Drop your gun." Clio didn't move as she heard the order. "I said drop the-"

She turned quickly, enough to steal the gun from the person behind.

"You? You're Covenant too??" she asked pointing the gun but it trembled slightly. She loaded it. "I said are you Covenant?!!"

"Your husband is," the woman answered triggering the psychological torture in Clio. "And yes, I am."

"Kneel down! Put your hands behind your head!! How could you be another! I thought of you as a parent! I said kneel down!!"

Men's voices became louder as they raced up the stairs toward them. Clio was distracted and the woman finally had the chance to draw another gun. Clio quickly noticed and she shot the woman in the shoulder. Then she ran down the other stair.

"Station One, I am compromised!" Clio's voice boomed in the headphones as the radio silence finally ended. The shouts of men stopping her can be heard from the background. Then gunshots came next. "I call for immediate extraction!"

"Hold on to your position, we are now heading there."

"I can't! A-!!!!" her sentence was cut; another exchange of gunshots. Her breathing is so loud indicating her tension. "AAAAaaaah! Hiyaaa! I'm heading to the extraction point!"

"Clio! Clio!" Her line was cut and the transmission buzzed.

'Come on Clio! One more turn!' she told her self as she pushed for her limbs to run faster. Another bullet almost hit her. There! The last corridor she needed to turn at is finally in sight. She became nearer, then nearer. She bumped on the corner as she took a sharp turn but she avoided the last shot they fired. Exhaustedly running towards the exit, the men had come to run up with her. She fired aimlessly as she turned and when she headed back to the exit, another group was heading to her.

Her knees suddenly buckled and she felt she would stumble as her legs suddenly straightened. His face appeared among the men in the group. She could see him push the others to get to the front; she wanted to run, but her legs won't bend. He did saw her too and as soon as he could, he drew his gun and pointed at her direction.

"Get DOWN!!!" his voice stirred the long hall and Clio shoved quickly at her side as Alex shot the men behind her. And so the men with Alex were stun to see him kill their companions and as soon as before they could shoot him too, Clio immediately shot them in return.

Exchange of looks came between them and Alex didn't know what to do. Clio's stare was of no gratitude but of burning hatred.

"Clio! Wait!" She immediately turned and ran away to the exit.

"Take my hand!" the soldier shouted at Clio as the chopper tried to keep its balance while shooting on the Covenant and at the same time, keeping its altitude for Clio to climb up. "Move! Move!"

She tried to catch up with her breath as she frustratingly radioed her report.

"Are you alright?" one soldier asked her. She stared blankly and looked back down at the site where she can see Alex looking up at them.

48 hours earlier. Clio walked quickly towards Pavel's office. Her head still ached from last night. Alex tried to keep her fever down that she got from the rain, or from crying. She wondered where Alex was since he didn't even try to wake her up to say goodbye for work. She tried to reach the door and hopefully, held the knob just in time before she could collapse in pain. She entered, and Pavel was already expecting her.

"Good morning," Clio greeted immediately taking the seat.

"I heard you had a fever last night," Pavel looked up saying. Clio was surprised that he knew even such a detail. "Alex dropped by before going to his assignment today. He said he didn't wake you up. And so that you would be late."

Clio just nodded.

"I'm giving you too an assignment."

"Alright," she replied bemused, still trying to wave off the headache.

"I'm ordered to inform you about a double agent of the FSB inside the Covenant. He is to meet today with his co-commander, our former Major Tsakinov. The president has given direct orders for all the possible ways to eliminate him."

"My God," she exclaimed as the folder was passed onto her. "He is a Covenant. I've been having suspicions he was."

"Tsakinov has been a traitor since he was officially recruited, along with Lhuzikov of course. He recruited him."

"A traitor recruiting a traitor. How many more talented and skilled agents would turn out being traitors?" she commented, questioning. Pavel couldn't help but stare at her, thinking.

"Lhuzikov is dead, the president also ordered to have you informed. He died five days ago." Clio looked at Pavel, her look didn't give any expression as he expected.

"And this contact? How sure are we he is not a traitor? That he needs not to be eliminated?"

"It'll all depend on the situation," he answered looking away. Clio wondered why the information about the agent was not elaborated, "-if he will fall out of his orders. When that happens, then eliminate him."

Clio nodded again.

"I'm sending you to Israel. Meet up with your former contacts there, they're already informed. I'll radio back to you your full mission layout. You have half an hour."

Pavel stood up, leading her to the door.

"Who is the agent?" Clio asked before leaving. "The agent we have in the Covenant?"

"He's under the code name The Defender."

He's under the… The Defender… How could-… she thought as she marched down the hall; she just deciphered that Alex' name meant 'defender of men'. Still dragging her rifle behind, employees started to glance at her in surprise. She then knew, that the whole mission was made to inform her not about The Covenant but of the truth that her husband has been working inside the Covenant. That he had been playing her for his own secret espionage, she implied to herself. But either for vanity or not, it was still unreasonable.

She tried to fight back the reality that she wanted him dead. And she still wanted to hear his explanation. But her other half is suing in anger. So many things swarmed in her head the moment she could see Pavel's office. She even wondered if that was the reason why the annulment was included in the agreement. But why not tell it to me straight? She stood at the front of the door. Her face still has smudges of dust and sweat. 'I'll make this clear all at once.'

She dropped her rifle on his table, clearly stating her anxiety. Pavel was not surprised. He looked at her; with a sense of authority in his gaze.

"I wasn't able to kill Tsakinov."

"I know what happened, I know how you feel. You cannot blame this agency for-"

"No, you don't know what I feel. You knew that my handler was killed. And it was his friend, a Covenant. You knew Irina was nearly executed because of the fraudulent charges against her, all because of a mole Covenant. And my real parents were killed in protecting Irina from a Covenant. Now tell me, why was I not informed that my husband is a double agent in the Covenant?"

"It was part of his cover."

"And this is part of my life!" she shouted as she heard the lame reason. "I have followed orders without questions, blindly risking my life for this country. And with just a simple reason that you know I could've understood, you need to destroy the trust I have in my husband?"

"It was the only choice!"

"No you can't say it was the only choice! With this office extending its powers, how come you cannot deal with it to a single agent??!"

"Your husband's the one who requested for the information to be held!" he shouted back. Clio shut for a while. "He wasn't responsible to inform you ever since before your marriage. And until now, he doesn't seem to understand the extent of his responsibilities. So I suggest, that you turn your lecture to your husband and not to your superior. You're the one who needs to make the decision."

Clio silenced and all she could consider of is her anger. She clutched her hand and she can feel her nails digging on her palm.

"Why me? Why does it seem it always end to me?"

"Because you're the one who married him." Pavel couldn't tell himself if he said the right thing.

"I'm definitely not blunt to my husband. And I'm definitely not so stubborn marrying another spy. Why can't you just protect such relationship in this agency?"

And she stormed out almost crashing the door behind.

"Alex, he said you have detention for the whole noon."

He calmly entered; Pavel didn't even notice him enter through the door when he saw him. It clicked as Alex locked it. He closed all the window blinds. The room went dim and all Pavel could do is watch him as he take a seat. Alex sat quietly, eyeing him. His dark brown eyes did not reflect the light of his desk lamp. Pavel took off his glasses and tried to rub his eyes in stress, the same way Alex does rubbing his eyes.

"I heard that my wife came by. How was your conversation concerning my betrayal to her?"

"Kid, this situation should not be argued."

"Of course it should be." His tone, still calm, has come to disturb Pavel. Alex finally blinked and smiled. "This is absurd. You still think that I'm a child that needs patronage, don't you? You knew that I was about to meet Tsakinov for my withdrawal in The Covenant so you sent Clio there to set me up."

"What re you talking about?"

"You have no control of my life now, Pavel. I can handle it, even before you came to recruit me. Its not like before, that you can tell me everything what to do."

"Are you accusing me for all your troubles now?"

"Yes I am."

"You're not even good enough to use your own skills yourself. Don't be ridiculous you don't need your handler."

"Like I've said, you have no control of my life anymore."

"If all your point is that I let you do what you want, I'm telling you, you're not going to leave your cover in The Covenant."

"You're insane. Stop using me for your duties you can't fulfill."

"Don't make me force you to this in custody, Alex. You still are a kid to me."

Alex' fist hit the table's surface as his other hand grabbed Pavel by the collar. He was hovered over the table as Alex locked his arms around his neck. Pavel gave out a chocking sound, his hands trying to pry his hold.

"You said before I can be quite deadly. That's why I should always have my patience," he whispered to his reddened ear. His hold became tighter. "Now tell me, while you still can, that I calm down so I won't be able to kill you."

Pavel choked more. His veins prodding out of his neck and head. He struggled, but Alex is too strong. He tried to hit him with his remaining strength but he just couldn't reach him. His struggling lessened, his movements slacked. The body finally rested and Alex recklessly released its head, hitting the table. He dragged the body on the floor and stared at it.

"Why are they taking so long?" the secretary asked the employee that greeted Alex earlier. They both glanced at Pavel's closed office.

"I dunno."

Alex' eyes suddenly flickered back, the lamp that had fallen is now reflecting in his yes. Its light is hitting Pavel's lifeless body. He quickly kneeled down and pulled out a syringe out of his suitcase. He injected the serum on his chest to his heart, pulled out a minute electric shock emitter. He placed the emitter on his chest and quickly turned and left through the door.

His eyes shot open and his veins pumped back the blood. He felt his chest as his first free breath choked him. He coughed continuously; curling on the floor in weakness. Looking around still with fear, he found Alex gone already.

"Clio." He hurriedly called looking around the hall for her. The atmosphere of the house was so eerie. "Clio? Clio?!"

He entered the living room, the study room, the foyer, and the porch. He found no sign of her. He finally reached the kitchen and found an opened bottle of Chateau Margaux spilling over the table. He stood the bottle up, and quickly resumed walking.

He felt himself nearly dying at his conscience; he can now predict what she would look like once he opened the door. There is no other room she could be, he has searched every room, even the pool- that he feared he would find her floating there. The light beneath the door is dim; he tried to think that she is already sleeping. But when he opened the door

The smell of her fresh bath from the shower instantly entered his sensitive nostrils. For all the scents, hers is the only one that can never trigger his asthma- he loved it. He stepped inside and closed the door behind. The lamp on the side table was the source of the light. He roamed his eyes on the bed and finally spotted- she was lying, nearly falling, at the edge of the bed, her other hand holding on to a glass wine.

She stirred. Sitting up, she held the glass to her lips and emptied the wine straight. Alex could only see her back, his mind fearing what she could be doing. She stood up, placing the glass near the lamp. She turned, and pulled her robe closer. Alex stared at her, as her almost dry hair fell beautifully on her face, adding the dimness of the light on her face.

You're so beautiful, he thought of saying, but it was obvious that she had been crying all day and he's not so ignorant to do so. She approached, and all he can do is bravely do the same, holding his breath.

"I have so many questions in my head."

"I know."

"How long have you been a Covenant?"

"Since I was a child. My parents are, and they raised me to be one."

Clio blankly raised her chin; she stared at him ceasing him inside her mind.

"How could you hide it? …The same way we normally do our covers?" There was no reply. Clio's heart pounded faster as her emotions are starting to get to her. She crossed her arms at her front. "I feel you used me. We have lies Alex, it's necessary in our profession. But you lied without exception."

"…"

"And it makes me so mad at you." He heard her breathe deeply as her body started to shake. "How… How could you kill your wife's friend?"

He didn't answer back or tried to explain. He silently scolded himself.

"…I-. I performed regression therapy on you the other night. That's why you thought it was only a dream."

"You're not who I married. You're someone else," she told him straightly but he can see her trying to blink away the stinging in her eyes. Her shoulders rose as she took a very deep breath. He couldn't do anything but stare the same. But so very ironic, she smiled warmly. "…I love y—"

He could not hear any more of her words and he grabbed her to his hold. His kiss reached to her heart, she could feel his plea for forgiveness and his guilt, sinking down in him. Her eyes suddenly streamed with tears. She cherished for a while the moment he still hold her. Then she pulled away; her breath winded.

"No," she poured out. She dropped her head to hide her streaming eyes. "…What must I do for you to stop?"

He stepped closer. The kiss came back as declaration of love and grief. Her hands reached across his back. The lamp stumbled on the table and fell on the floor, and the lights turned off.

"Tell me where."

"I don't know yet. I'm not sure."

"Come on now. Don't lie to me sweetheart."

"I'm sorry…"

"There's no need to cry. I'm here to help. You just, don't need to leave. I've always told you not to be as stubborn as I am."

"…"

"Don't run away. …Come on-"

"I'm sorry I have to hung up."

The line beeped. She turned her phone off already as Irina tried to call her back. This is not right. History's not supposed to repeat itself. On whatever way it could. Oh… Oh Lord, please help.

The door shut close while the light still streamed inside the room. Then the clouds started to form; the sun's glare on the Earth was starting to fade out. The room went darker, colder. Finally its silence broke out when the rain started to pour again. The first drops clapped on the terrace loudly. It stirred the room, awaking the expectations that await him.

The room is deserted. Her clothes neither were untouched, nor are her other things. He walked toward the bathroom and monitored her vanity fair; he raised her perfume to his nose- it smelled just like she's standing there. All that were missing was a pair of clothes, her phone and her Visa. She left her necklace on the side table. He pushed one of the diamonds and the tracker turned off.

He stared back to the window, trying to think what could have been done.

A/N: I like Jack and Irina too much. I'd like to see them in flesh! Bloody flesh! Harhar! I hope you enjoy it. What do you think about Alex and Clio? They're coming tonight to join me with my birthday dinner. I'm having thoughts of endingthis soon though it's too early. Please respond to this! Yoh derekvobristow-spawn and bloodypudding!