A/N: Yep, new chapter. I hope it kinda explains about Will. And erm, I probaly did contradict myself somepoint, sorry about that. Oh yeah, and Irina's screen name might be different because I can't remember if that was it.. And I've lost my Season 3 disk set. I hope you like it. R/R, please!
"Will's dead," she said as she slid into the booth, facing a man who's face was partially covered in shadows.
"I figured as much," was the seemingly uninterested reply.
"Why'd you do it?" Sydney asked him, bitterly, heart broken as she had, ultimately, been the cause of death for her two best friends.
Paul sighed, leaning forward so she could see all of his face, "At first it was to get you back," he said truthfully. "You were to dangerous, Julia, to not be with us. And we thought that if we could use one of the people you cared about to get you back, and then we would, eventually, come back. But you never noticed; our efforts to make him known went unnoticed by you. After a few months we were going to let him go, but then we noticed a few changes in him. He became colder, and we decided to run tests on him." Paul sighed, running his hands through his hair, he seemed tired. "As it turns out, he was part of Project Christmas; one that was kept hidden, it was the same project, only administered in different ways, the one you were given and the one he did were the same thing, only his had to be triggered."
Sydney shook her head, "But he wasn't on any of the lists that we found, there was no mention of him ever having gone through that."
Paul nodded, "There were only ten kids who went through that version. And all of them except two survived. So they never mentioned it, there were no records of it; they never wanted it to be discovered, so there were only a few people who knew about it." Paul sat back in the booth, his face going dark, Sydney didn't seem to notice, "These two children would have a normal life up until a series of events occurred. There was always a chance that they never would, and the skills would remain dormant in them forever. It would have been easier for these events to occur if more of them had survived, but since they didn't, most efforts were dropped. We don't know exactly what the triggers are, but we were able to track down the last remaining administer of that version. And he gave us the two names of the people who survived, and sure enough, Mr. Tippin was on the list."
Sydney was speechless, her friend had been programmed the same as her, and it was so ironic that he had been researching something, and it had happened to him.
"Mr. Tippin would never have turned out as good as you or the other child, as he had started so late. But he was getting to be amazing. Certainly one of our best." Paul paused, as if he was thinking about it, "I'm assuming that you didn't inform the CIA of his involvement. As he wouldn't be dead right now," Paul watched as Sydney nodded slowly. "We should have known you would have gotten that disk." Paul smirked, thinking about how she was the best agent he had ever seen, save maybe her mother, but she was quickly catching up to her.
"We are done here," Sydney said bitterly, not wanting to talk to him anymore.
"You know, you can come back to the Covenant anytime you'd like Julia, it's where you belong, not with the CIA."
"No thank you, I'm done with the Covenant, I'm done with you."
"Ah, yes, but remember our talk, you have to kill him."
"I'm working on it," she said stiffly, standing she began to walk from the table. Stopping, she turned on her heel and looked at Paul with a tilted head, "You said there were two surviving children. Who was the other one?"
Paul shook his head, "Julian Sark." He said simply, before standing himself and walking away, leaving Sydney staring after him.
She suddenly wished he hadn't come alone, she wanted someone there, but she knew she couldn't have had anyone accompany her.
Making her way out of the bar she found herself on the busy streets of Paris. "Such a beautiful place," she mumbled to herself as she began her short walk back to her hotel.
It had been five days since she had killed Will, and it still hadn't gotten any easier. After she had left Sark at the lot that was her old house, she had basically disappeared. Well, she had called her father, and Simon, to tell them both that she needed time away, and she would be back eventually. But other than that she hadn't talk to anyone. In a couple of days she would go back, but she needed to face her demons in solitude. Which was exactly what she had been doing. In fact, that meeting with Paul had been the first time she left her hotel room since she had arrived, and that was only because she was the one who had wanted to see him.
Simon had wanted to come down and get her, to bring her to one of her numerous homes. But she had declined, she had also made him swear that he would not talk to Sark and tell him where she was. She had made her father make the same promise, only not to tell the people she worked with where she was. Make them think she was somewhere else. So far she had not had any interruptions. Simon had called once to tell her that Sark was looking for her, and was incredibly angry that she had left. And had a suspicious feeling that Simon knew where she was.
But it would all be over in a few days, and then she could go back to living lies.
Sark was now in London. He had left LA and returned to London as soon as he left Sydney. Figuring she would go back to her apartment, and forget everything. But it was not so. Sydney didn't go back to her apartment, no, she got on a plane and left the country. No one seemed to know where she was, or at least they wouldn't tell him. He had the feeling that Simon knew where she was, but as he didn't completely trust Sark as of yet, he told him nothing.
Of course this made him angry, he thought that she was stronger than that. Even though he approved of what she did, as he had done it himself previous times, he was angry that she didn't tell him; they were supposed to be partners.
He had tried to find her, pulling security from everywhere he thought she could be seen. But he soon came to realize, something the CIA had yet to notice, that if she wanted to stay hidden, she would do so.
So Sark retreated back to London, he wouldn't leave the library, not even to sleep, he instructed Mark to leave his food by the door, he would get it. He would only leave to shower, and change his clothing, but only when everyone else was asleep in the early morning hours.
He wasn't pining, rather he was working, working on ways to bring down the Covenant, he had done all the things Sydney said he should do first, so now it was his turn to make up things do to.
Sark was currently taking a break from working, and was looking around the countless books that covered the three walls. Picking out a book he opened it to find it was 'The Great Gatsby' one of his childhood favorites. Settling down into a chair he began to read.
After about an hour, Sark had begun to drift off to sleep, and was awakened by the vibrating of his cell phone. "Sark." He said gruffly into the phone.
"It's me." Was the simple reply to his rudeness.
"Ah, Agent Bristow, I was wondering when you were going to contact your partner." He said coldly, still angry with her.
"I deserve that," she said, agreeing, which was new to him. "But I needed to deal with some things. And I didn't want anyone with me. I'm almost done here, and I'll be coming home either tomorrow or the next day."
"Ah, well I'm glad you felt that you could trust me enough to tell me you were coming home. Honestly Sydney, you're supposed to trust me, it would have been enough even to call me, and tell me you were going away-"
"You know we can't trust anyone in our line of work Sark," she said coldly, in a voice that scared him a little. "I didn't call you because I couldn't. If I had called yon, you would have tried to come get me. And don't argue with me, because you would have. I know you don't believe me, but this was all for the better. We need to talk when I get back." She said sadly before hanging up on him, before he could say anything.
Sark sighed and shut his phone, tossing it onto a stack of papers on his desk. Rubbing his neck he shook his head. He needed sleep, but that could come later. He couldn't think of what Sydney would have to talk to him about, but he guessed he would have to wait and find out.
Looking down at the book he shook his head tiredly, knowing he wouldn't be able to read anymore without falling asleep. Setting the book down on the table, no need to mark his page as he has read the book so many times before, he stood and looked around. He really like this place, it reminded him of his old house, when he lived with his mother.
Walking out of the room, he looked around before hurrying to his room. Locking the door behind him he slipped off his shoes and shrugged off his jacket. Not bothering to pick it up off the floor, he sat on the bed. Slowly he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it onto the small pile that was forming on his floor. He was to tired to care, He slid off his pants and kicked them over to the pile, laying down clad in only a pair of black silk boxers he pulled the covers over his head and promptly fell asleep.
Two days later, Sydney strolled into the Rotunda as if she hadn't been gone at all. She looked much better then she had the last time anyone had seen her. Granted the last time they had she was being accused of murdering someone. But there was something different about her, maybe it was that she wore her long dark hair down and curled. Or maybe it was the fact that she looked like she had just relaxed for a week and did nothing that stressed her out. Perhaps it was both.
Looking around the large room she first noticed her father talking to an aid. When he noticed her there he quickly left the aid and walked straight towards her. "Are you okay?" He asked her quietly, his face concerned.
"Yes," she said just as quiet, "I'm sorry, I just needed to clear my head."
Jack nodded, understanding, or trying to. "Well, everyone here has been worried." Jack sighed, he didn't want to bring this up, but he couldn't think of a better time, "Sydney, Lauren Reed is pushing for your arrest." He said bluntly.
Sydney just stared at her father, "She can't do that right? I mean, they can't just arrest me because I had a vendetta against Allison, can they?" She asked, a little scared that they would arrest her, it would ruin many things.
"She seems to say that you have threatened her." Jack shook his head; they needed to watch out for Lauren, she seemed to have it in for her.
Sydney looked down, embarrassed. "I, um, sort of did," she paused, "threaten her, I mean. But only because she threatened me first!" God, how old was she, five?
Jack stared at his daughter, "Damnit, Sydney, you can't let Lauren get to you. She's just angry because Vaughn would choose you over-" Jack felt his voice die off as she stared in shock at what he just said. "Oh my, Sydney, I'm sorry." He couldn't believe he had just said that, even though it was true.
Sydney blinked back the tears that she knew were needed in this situation. "It's okay," she said quietly. "I, um, need o get to work." She said, not looking her father in the eye, and turned and quickly went into her office, shutting the door behind her.
Jack stared at the closed door for a moment before turning and walking towards Dixon's office. Knocking on the door, he stepped into the office. "Sydney's back," he told Dixon, who was sitting at his desk.
"Jack, come in," he motioned for him to do just that, and so he did. "How is she?" He asked, seriously concerned for his former partner.
"She's fine, she just needed some time to herself, to think things out." Even though, honestly, neither Jack nor Dixon understood what would make her disappear like that. Jack had had to tell Dixon the truth, and they together made a cover for her, but they didn't want to press the matter, make her feel more uncomfortable than she already did.
"Jack, I hate to do this, but we need her to stay here," Dixon said seriously, if she left like that the first time, on a day like that, then who knows what people could get into their heads.
"I know, I'll talk to her, but I think she just needs time." Jack started to walk back to the door, ready to leave as Dixon nodded.
"Jack," he called out, causing Jack to turn and look at him, "keep her safe." He said, as she was family to him. He needed her around.
Sark hadn't heard from Sydney in two days, not since she had called him. He didn't want to call her, because he didn't want her to think he was weak. Because, apparently, it would be weak for him to call her. I don't know, but okay.
After sleeping for most of the day he had gotten that call, he still kept to himself, but left the library. And now spend more time in places where other people could access without being yelled at.
He hadn't told anyone about what had gone on about after they left Will's body. Hell, he hadn't told anyone about her killing Will. It would mess things up.
But he remembered it clearly.
She just stood there, if she knew he was standing behind her, she made no notice. She stood there staring at the empty lot where she had her demise. He said nothing as she walked around, going through the events of that night. In her mind she could still see the house as it was, she could hear Francie laughing at something Will said in the kitchen.It was all so real to her, and yet, not at the same time. Tears glistened in her eyes as she saw herself shoot Allison, after finding out that she killed Francie, and at the same time, she saw herself and Francie watching chick flicks and eating ice cream.
It all seemed to be too much for her, but she never showed it. Not in any physical way, Sark watched in wonder as he watched this incredibly strong woman try and unsuccessfully hold back her tears. She had been trying, and she couldn't get away from it. This was her past, and she couldn't run forever.
After an hour of them standing there, Sydney finally looked right at him. Without saying anything she walked up to him, and stood there for a minute, just looking at him as he looked down at her. Then, she walked away. And Sark knew that he couldn't follow her this time, she needed to be by herself; no matter how unsafe it was.
So he let her, and then she disappeared, untouchable for a week.
He had let his thoughts consume him, so when Simon entered the room he didn't notice until Simon had tapped him on the shoulder. To which he returned buy jumping. "What?" He barked, not wanting to own up to the fact that Simon had scared him.
If Simon knew he had startled Sark he paid no attention to it. Instead he sat down on the couch across from him. "Julia went back to the CIA today," he told Sark solemnly, as if he didn't like it, which he didn't, but he played it off as him being depressed about it.
"You knew where she was, didn't you?" Sark asked him, it wasn't a random question, if you think about it.
Simon didn't answer for a minute, "Yes, I knew where she was, she called me the night she left."
"Where'd she go?"
"Paris."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"She told me she'd kill me if I did. Because' you'd go after her if you knew where she was." Everything Simon said was true, had he known, he would have gone and found her. "It wouldn't have been good, so I kept it from you."
"So you're loyal to Sydney, who is my equal, yet you don't trust me with issues that concern the two of us?" Sark asked, tilting his head, angry that Simon hadn't told his what was going on.
Simon shrugged, "I promised Julia I wouldn't. I know promises don't mean much of anything in the world we live in. But they do to me," he paused, "and to her." Simon looked at Sark for a moment and shook his head, "She just needed time alone, to work things out." He told him quietly, before exiting the room.
Sark stood up and went to the window seat and sat down. His head was resting against the windowpane and he gazed outside. He hadn't been outside, as it had been rainy most of the time he was there, or he was working.
He told himself that he would get out soon, maybe take a walk somewhere. He planned on going to see his old home. It wasn't far from here, the one he lived with his mother in, before she died and he was shipped to boarding school.
Shaking his head he refused to think of his mother, or the father he never knew, he would save those thoughts for later. But for now he focused his thoughts on his job. He needed to contact some people, but that meant he needed to find said people.
Sark sat there for a few more minutes before he shook his head again and stood. He needed to get some work done today. Then later he would think about calling Sydney.
Sydney had been looking around for evidence on what Paul had said to be true, all day. She had hardly talked to anyone, and wouldn't leave her office. She knew in her mind that she would never find anything; it was all just a waste. She would never find anything that said Will Tippin was in Project Christmas, neither was Julian Lazaray.
Paul had been right, there was no record of anything other then the Project Christmas she went through. She couldn't think of anyone that would know. Someone trust worthier than Paul, even though she knew Paul wouldn't lie to her. She still didn't want to believe him. And she didn't want to talk to Sark before she found out from a different source.
You could ask Irina, the thought suddenly popped into her head. She couldn't remember the last time she had spoken with her mother, but she would defiantly know. And she knew a way to contact with her mother, a code they had set up a few years ago.
Logging into her account she quickly went to one of those, online media places, one where you could post messages for people to respond to. Both her and her mother watched this site, as they had set up a protocol using it if they ever needed to speak with each other. Quickly writing out that she was a graphic arts major and needed some image caps on a certain episode of the show the site was for.
Now all she had to do was wait, the answer would be in an email, and she hoped that Irina would catch on soon. Replying so they could talk.
She didn't have to wait long, because an email popped up onto her screen, opening it she found that it was the correct response to the one she had posted.
Sighing with relief she clicked the 'chat with user' button that came with the email.
Handel4me: Sydney, it's been a while.
Jt15: I know, but I needed to talk to you.
Handel4me: What is it?
Jt15: There was another version of Project Christmas, one only two out of ten kids survived.
Handel4me: Yes, I know of it, a contact of mine ran it.
Jt15: Who were the two children that survived?
Handel4me: Will Tippin and Julian Lazaray.
"Damnit," Sydney muttered, so it was true.
Jt15: Does Sark know?
Handel4me: No, it had never come up. Why do you ask?
Jt15: Because it's about to come up.
Jt15 has logged off.
So it was true, Sark was the last remaining kid who had gone through this program. And he didn't even know about it. Sydney knew she should tell him, but she knew he wouldn't like it, and that he would get angrier with her. Another thing she didn't want, but maybe it was for the best.
Taking out her cell phone she dialed the number but toyed with pressing the little green button. After a few moments she pressed it and tentatively held it to her ear.
"Sark" he answered on the second ring.
"Sark, it's me."
"Oh, hullo." She noticed his voice change, maybe he wasn't glad to hear from him?
Forgetting the sound of his voice for now she pressed on, "I need you to do something for me."
"Oh really? And what's that?"
"I need you to get someone to fake a meeting. Saying they want to talk to me, and me alone, to get the CIA to let me go. Because I can't just disappear anywhere, anymore, not for a while at least." She paused, to breathe, and then continued, "I need to talk you, something we can't talk about over the phone." She finished, shakily, she was upset and she needed to talk to him.
Apparently Sark noticed the upset tone of her voice and quickly agreed, "I'll go do it now." He paused, and before hanging up he asked her softly, "Are you alright, Sydney?"
She didn't answer for a minute, "I just need to talk to you." She told him, hanging up the phone. She sat there, holding the phone against her lips, trying to figure out why she was so upset.
Leaning back into her chair she sighed and held back the tears in her eyes. She was still upset that her own father had programmed her when she was younger. Maybe that was it, maybe that was the problem, it wasn't that Sark was in it as well, it was that it hit to close to home.
Just then, Eric came into her office, "Syd," he said, outwardly breathless. "We just received a phone call, from one of Simon's men. Wants to meet, with you. Come one," he motioned for her to come before he turned and quickly went into the conference room. Sydney stood and followed him out of the room, stuffing her cell phone in her pocket as she walked.
Finding everyone standing around with worried looks upon their faces, even Lauren, which surprised Sydney. This had happened before, and it wasn't that big of a deal.
"Sydney," Jack addressed her from his spot, "we have just received a call, from one of Simon's men. Simon would like to set up a meeting with you."
"So?" She didn't get why it was a big deal, she would go, meet with them, and that would be all.
"Sark will be there," Vaughn said from the other side of the room. "And they both are only going to speak with you. We don't know why though, the man wouldn't say."
Sydney stared at all them "So I'll go talk to them. I can hold my own, and if they wanted me dead, they probably wouldn't call to set up a meeting, they would just do it."
"She's right," Jack agreed, "They wouldn't have set up a meeting just to kill her. I think we should let her go." He looked at Dixon who looked to be deep in thought.
"Fine, she'll go."
"But-" Vaughn started, but was silenced by a look from Eric. Apparently he didn't want Sydney to go to this meeting, by herself at least.
"When is the meeting?" Sydney asked Dixon quietly, everyone looked to her.
"Tonight, at ten, in a club in Rome." Dixon told her, nodding slowly. "You're going to leave in a few hours. You'll go alone, and since we don't think they will try anything, you won't need anything."
Sydney nodded, and smiled at them all, "Don't look so upset, it'll all be fine." She said before she then turned around and walked back to her office. "It'll all be fine." She muttered again, as if to insure herself that it would be.
Sydney entered the nightclub, she had been there before, she and Simon used to use it as a meeting place before she came back. They were going to be in the back room, a private room they could talk in. Heading back towards the room she gazed at all of the people on the dance floor, all whom were completely oblivious to the fact that there was a wanted terrorist in the back room.
A guard stood in the middle of a curtain that closed off the room to the public eye. Upon seeing her approach he nodded to her and stepped aside, holding open the curtain for her. "Miss me?" She asked as she stepped into the room.
Simon and Sark both looked up from the laptop that was in front of them, and stood when they saw her. "You know it," Simon answered, Sark just looked at her with a face she couldn't read.
She smiled, and walked over, sitting down on the other side of Simon, motioning for them to sit down as well. "Sark said it sounded important." Simon urged, wanting to know what had gotten her so upset, or so he had heard.
"Right," she looked at Sark, "I found out why the Covenant kept Will for a long time." She said, wanting to start out with that.
"Why?" Sark asked, he didn't think this was what had gotten her so upset.
"It was Project Christmas," Simon's face looked blank, but Sark's got darker, as if he was angered at the sound of it. "He was in it."
Now Sark just looked confused. "But, we had the list of people, he was never on that list."
"I know, but it turns out there was another part of it. Another version, only given to ten kids. He was one of the two out of ten kids who lived through it. It can only be triggered through a series of events, and no one knew what the events are."
Sark nodded, Will must have had something happen to him, and they realized that he was one of the kids. "You said there were two kids that survived, who was the other one?" Sark asked, looking at Sydney who wouldn't meet his eyes.
"You," she said softly.
Sark's eyes widened in shock. "Me? But how? I lived with my mother; she wouldn't have put me through that." He didn't believe that he would have gone through it.
"It wasn't your mother, it was your father. I talked to Irina, she said that you moved to England after you're seventh birthday." Sark nodded, this was all true. "It was before then, that's why she took you away. She was angry at your father for doing it, and was trying to keep you away from the life."
She still wouldn't meet his eyes, even though he was staring at her like he had never before seen her in his life. "Ho-how do you know?" He managed to choke out.
"The leader of the Covenant," she wrung her fingers, "and my mother." Like she had said before.
Simon still had no idea what Project Christmas was, so he stood, "I think I'm going to get a drink," he said, noticing how upset this was making both of them. And he didn't think that he wanted to be here. He walked out of the room, leaving Sark staring at Sydney.
He could now see why she had been upset. He had never liked the idea of Project Christmas, even though he had a cold heart he didn't think it was right to brainwash children, deciding their futures for them. He knew Sydney was one of these children, and at least she had been told. And he knew that she felt the same. She had felt bad because he didn't know about it, at least she had been told. "Well, great to know that my father cared a little," he said bitterly, causing Sydney to finally look at him.
She had grown up with an absent father. But he had grown up without one, even when they were in Russia with his father, he never saw him more then a handful of times.
They didn't say anything for a while, just looked at each other. After a while, Sydney sniffed and looked at her watch, "I should go," she said and stood. Sark stood with her, he didn't want her to go, but he knew that she had to.
Looking up at him she knew this was going to be a night without bickering, but she didn't mind it so much. Sark looked back down at her; he could tell she was thinking the same thing he was. Bu they couldn't go there, they were partners and it would mess things up, and they couldn't afford that right now.
Simon decided to walk in right then, he had been outside whoring himself out to the random girls at the bar. When she saw him come in, Sydney looked away from Sark's gave. "I was leaving," she mumbled, and Sark nodded.
Stepping away from him she walked around the table and over to the curtain, stopping right after Simon she turned, "I want to bring down the Covenant, soon." She said, and walked out, leaving both men staring at a red curtain.
Tears were gathering in her eyes as Sydney made her way out of the club, twisting her way around the people, she rushed out, not wanting to be followed by anyone. Once she made it outside she stopped to breathe before she would go one. These next few months were going to be interesting.
