A/N: As always thanks to PRL and Chim. And thanks everyone for reading. This part is LONG. Really long and there's a lot of time passage.
Part 4: In the shadow of lies...
2 Months Earlier
Jack Bristow parked the car and looked at the small crowd that was gathered in front of the mall entrance to the clothing store. He hadn't known what to think when Weiss had called him and told him he needed to get down here immediately. He probably wouldn't have come as quickly as he had, if Weiss hadn't added, "It's about Sydney."
He pushed through the crowd of people gathered in the parking lot. His attention was immediately drawn to two EMTs in the back of an ambulance. A man in a mall security uniform was being tended to in the back. They were wrapping his face in such a way that it was apparent he had a broken nose. Jack turned away in time to see Weiss pushing his way through the crowd in the direction of the ambulance.
"Jack!" Weiss exclaimed. He followed the elder Bristow's eyes to the man with the broken nose. "He's going to be fine. I told him all his bills are going to be taken care of."
The security guard looked over. "You her father?" he questioned.
Jack nodded carefully.
"I'm sorry. I hope you're able to get your daughter some help."
Jack turned his questioning gaze back to Weiss, who led him through the crowd and into the clothing store. "I'm so glad you got down here so fast," Weiss said. "I already sent the baby home with Will and Francie. I thought that was best. She won't let anyone near her."
"Where is she?" Jack demanded.
Weiss stopped just a few feet from where several other security guards were standing in front of a dressing room. "Sydney's in there. She's been in there an hour. She won't come out. And she doesn't want anyone to come in."
Jack looked around the store. He noted that there were no other customers and assumed they'd all been shut out. There were several concerned looking shop girls standing by the checkout counter. What had happened involving Sydney to cause such a commotion?
"I need you to tell me exactly what happened," the senior agent ordered.
Weiss sighed and nodded to one of the young women wearing a name tag, standing by the checkout counter. "She says she saw everything. That Sydney was in here, shopping, looking at clothes and jewelry and stuff. And then she says, she suddenly got really strange. She started...getting really agitated and upset. Talking very loudly, shouting."
Jack swallowed. "Shouting what?"
"The girl couldn't make it out. But she got worried so she called security."
"The man we saw outside," Jack stated.
"Yep, him. He says he tried he to calm her down and when he couldn't, he tried to escort her out. Sydney apparently beat him up and then ran out of the store. But she ran into a car driving by outside."
Jack frowned. "She was hit by a car? Was she injured?"
Weiss sighed. "We don't know. It was after that that she came back in and holed up in the dressing room. Another security guard tried to go in there and get her to come out. Sydney attacked him too. He's going to have a black eye tomorrow. Anyway, she left both her purse and the kid out here, so they had contact information. They decided to contact us rather than try to deal with her. I've been trying to explain the situation as 'she suffered a trauma'. They're trying to be understanding, but they really would like to be able to resume their normal store business."
Jack moved towards the dressing room without another word.
Weiss followed. "I've already tried to get her to come out. She won't even talk to me." He sighed. "She looked at me like, like she didn't even recognize me."
Jack heaved a heavy sigh. A part of him had been expecting something like this occur. Perhaps not in a clothing store. He'd been hoping it would have been in a more controlled environment like the house. Will had called him only a couple months before, upset over an incident at Sydney's apartment while he'd been there with Francie. So, Jack watched for signs. There were always hints that Sydney wasn't normal, or at least the normal she had been before, but this, this obviously meant the problem was bigger than anticipated.
The father made his way past the guards with a hard stare and a stiff hand holding up his badge. He stopped in the doorway and then walked inside slowly. He would have thought the dressing room was empty. Hangers and price tags scattered the floor. The doors to the rooms were mostly swung open. He moved in slowly, and quietly.
"Sydney." He didn't say it loudly. Not a shout. Just the normal way he said her name when he wanted her complete attention.
There was no answer. But his instincts told him she was in the rear of the room. He walked over there with slow steps. He could hear her shifting and breathing hard. But he didn't want to open the door without warning. "Sydney," he said again, making it very clear that he was just a few feet away.
"Daddy!" She sounded five years old. She sounded small and scared. She sounded like she'd just awakened from a nightmare.
He pulled open the door. She was huddled in a corner, shivering, but she looked up at him the second he entered. She wore a pale, blue, cotton shirt, and khaki pants. She looked quite disturbed. He moved closer and knelt beside her. "Sydney? Are you all right?"
Pain filled her eyes. "I-I don't know," she stammered.
He noticed a fresh scrape across her forearm. "Will you allow me to examine you?"
She nodded, staring ahead blankly. She was still a quivering mass, but pliable. He got her to move her legs away from her chest and uncross her arms. Her hands remained fists, and her knuckles were bruised, likely from the fight she'd put up earlier.
There was a tear on the lower left side of her shirt that revealed a deep, horizontal gash. From the car, Jack assumed. "You need medical care. Can you stand?" he questioned. Her response was to grip onto his forearms and they rose together.
It was then she seemed to finally look at him. "Dad? What happened?"
He frowned. He'd been hoping to be able to ask her that exact question. "We're going to a doctor so your side can be checked out."
Her hand slowly lowered and touched her wound as if she'd never noticed it before. She hissed in pain and nodded. Jack removed his coat and placed it over her. Weiss urged the security guards to give them some space as they emerged. The guards moved, but kept wary stares on Jack and his daughter.
Sydney glanced around the clothing store uncomfortably. "Eric? What are you doing here?
Weiss frowned at her. "You don't--"
Jack silenced Weiss with his eyes. "We're going to the hospital," Jack informed him.
Weiss nodded. He cast another questioning glance in Sydney's direction then headed out the door. Sydney halted one step beyond the door and stared at the crowd standing in the parking lot, just beyond the fire lane. "Dad?" she asked, slightly panicked. She gripped onto his arm.
Jack looked at the curious crowd and turned to Weiss. "Can you pull my car around?" He held out his keys.
Weiss nodded.
Jack and Sydney remained on the curb for an uncomfortable five minutes. Weiss parked just in front of them and handed the keys over to Jack. "I'll take care of things here and meet you there."
Jack nodded. He opened the passenger side door for his daughter and closed it once she was inside. He took his place in the driver's seat and headed out of the parking lot. Sydeny was silent on the drive. She held her hands in two small fists close to chest and kept her eyes downcast. He'd expected her to pepper him with questions. But he realized that she had taken up brooding quietly ever since she'd come back. She didn't ask too many questions. Perhaps because she didn't want inquiries made back at her.
When he parked the car at the hospital, she didn't make a move to get out until he opened her door for her. She followed him inside. Jack was thankful they were serviced almost immediately because of her open wound.
Sydney remained bewildered all through being stitched up and the administration of pain and anti-infection medication. Jack left her so he could speak with the hospital staff in private when Weiss arrived. Weiss attempted to explain to her what had occurred. She was silent when he finished, laying on the bed with her eyes open, staring blankly into nowhere.
"So, you wanna tell me what you remember?" Weiss prompted.
Sydney sat up and looked at him. "Nothing like that," she responded. "It's really just...a blur. Faces, people...things."
"People at the store?" Weiss questioned.
Sydney looked down. "No," she admitted. "I mean, I remember going to the store. But for awhile, I swear I was someplace else."
"Some place like?"
Sydney opened her mouth and shut it quickly. She turned sideways and hopped off the bed. "I need...I need to get going. Go get my baby from Will and Francie's and go home."
"Syd...you just had some kind of panic attack or something," Weiss protested. "We need to figure out what's going on. Figure out why it happened."
She frowned at him. "No. I'm okay now. A little tired. I just need some sleep."
The door opened and Jack entered. "Sydney, what are you doing out of bed?" he questioned.
"I'm going home," she informed her father.
"I spoke with the doctor. They'd like it if you'd stay overnight. They'd like you to speak to one of their therapists about what happened."
Sydney stared at her father like he was insane. "I'm not staying here when there's nothing the matter with me."
"Sydney," Jack began in his no nonsense tone.
"No! I think my life's been disrupted enough for one day." She cast defensive looks in both her father's and Weiss's directions.
Weiss frowned, concerned. "If we don't find out why this happened, it could happen again."
Sydney shook her head. "What makes you think I don't know why this happened?"
"Then by all means, enlighten us," Jack ordered.
Sydney almost looked like she might accept the challenge. Then, she swallowed. "I've really got to get to Will's before it gets to be late."
She turned and headed out the door. Weiss and Jack exchanged displeased looks, then Weiss followed her. He caught up to her just as she exited the hospital. "Sydney, please."
Sydney dug into her purse, searching for her keys, but upon locating them she realized her car wasn't even at the hospital.
"It's back at your house," Weiss explained. "I had it driven there. I'll give you a ride to Will's and then home, if you want."
Sydney nodded slowly and let him lead the way to his car.
They climbed inside, fastened their seatbelts and got on the road. He wasn't used to being so uncomfortable around her. She did seem exhausted so he decided he better continue the conversation now while he still had a chance of winning. "Just promise me you'll go see a doctor tomorrow."
"I have things to do tomorrow," she responded.
"Things more important than dealing with that you lost your marbles at the mall? Did you already join an alien abduction support group and not tell me?"
She shot him a look and he tried to smile jokingly.
She softened. "Grocery shopping. Kids like to eat you know. And then he needs a haircut. And since today didn't work out, I still need to go clothing shopping for him. If nothing else, he needs new shoes."
Weiss debated quietly. "I can take him for the day," he offered.
She shook her head. "You don't have to do that. He's my responsibility. And I probably upset him today." She looked down guiltily.
"He was a little scared, but Will calmed him in no time." Weiss debated, and swallowed. "But I'm thinking of him too. What if this happens again and your home alone with him? Or your driving a car? Or in some public place not as safe as a mall?"
She looked out the window and shuddered.
Weiss remained silent, letting his words sink in.
She sighed. "If I talk to someone about this seriously, once, then you'll leave me alone about this?"
He nodded. "Yes. If you go tomorrow."
She forced a smile. "Who knows if I can even find anyone available tomorrow?"
"If you can't, I can," he vowed.
She frowned out the window again. "Okay," she agreed.
"Okay," he repeated and grinned. "So, this means I get to take the kid shopping all day tomorrow?"
She cocked her head and smiled amusedly. "That'll be quite the adventure for the two of you."
He hadn't know what she was talking about until he picked him up the next day. Apparently, someone hadn't informed the twenty month old that he was going shopping all day. Weiss was used to the kid being clingy to his mother, rather than the store adventurer. And he also developed a sincere hate for shoes the second his own were off.
Weiss was thankful that he was sleeping peacefully when Sydney picked him up late that afternoon.
"So, how it'd it go with Dr. Burke?" Weiss questioned.
Sydney looked up at him. "I'm now a walking pharmacy," she said, with mild contempt. She dug prescription pill bottles from her purse. "Anti-anxiety and something to help me sleep."
Weiss frowned, concerned. "She thought you were that bad?"
"I simply told her it would be my only session. I guess she thought this was the only way to help." Sydney closed her purse and looked at the child asleep in his car seat. "How'd it go with you two?"
Weiss frowned, then smiled. "I thought you called him Little Bear as a term of endearment..." He winked at her.
Sydney grinned.
Five Weeks Earlier
Sydney jiggled her key out of the lock and pushed opened the door to her darkened apartment. She entered, and Sark followed closely behind her, the baby bundled up in a blanket and jacket in his arms.
"Is he asleep?" Sydney asked.
"Not quite," Sark replied.
Sydney closed the door back and locked it.
Sark sat down in one of the chairs, set the blanket aside and began unsnapping the boy's coat. The child looked around with big eyes, then he giggled.
Sydney smiled at child. "I know. It's been three days and two nights since you've been home."
The eighteen month old peeked around his familiar surroundings and giggled again. He coughed twice afterwards.
Sydney's smile lessened. She walked over, took the child's jacket, and ran her hand across his forehead.
"He's fine, Sydney," Sark told her. "The doctors at the hospital said he might still have a few symptoms for awhile."
"I know," Sydney answered. She took the coat and hung it up in the closet. "Time to get him ready for bed. His--"
The phone ringing interrupted her. She plopped her coat and prescription bag in a chair. "His pajamas are in the dresser in his room. Top drawer." Sark scooped up the boy and headed for the child's bedroom as she grabbed the cordless. "Hello?"
"Hey, Syd, it's me. I heard you got released today, so I thought I'd check in."
"Hey, Eric. We just got in the door."
"Then, you haven't seen it yet." There was a grin in his voice.
Sydney glanced around her apartment. "Seen what?"
"You'll see. There's a surprise."
Sydney peeked into the kitchen and dining room, then headed down the hall to her bedroom, with the phone still pressed to her ear. "You know the key you have to my apartment is for emergencies. Not so you can leave me surprises."
"Who said the surprise was for you?" Weiss responded.
Sydney halted and looked through a crack in the baby's room. Something immediately caught her eye. "You bought him a twin sized bed..." she realized.
"The crib is dismantled in your hall closet."
"A regular bed!" she exclaimed, grinning, heading towards the closet. She peeked into the closet to confirm the location of the crib, then closed it back. "Eric, you didn't have to."
"Yeah, well, when you mentioned it yesterday morning. About wanting to get him one when he was out of the hospital. I just thought it was something I could help with." Less seriously, he continued, "Now, if you don't like it, I'm going to be crushed."
"Of course I like it," Sydney replied. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. So, I'll probably break into your house tomorrow and make dinner."
"Eric!"
"You've had a busy week. I'll bet you have zero idea what you're having for dinner tomorrow."
Sydney took a moment to realize she didn't. "All right, all right. See you tomorrow. Good night." She clicked off the phone and headed back to the baby's room.
Sark had just finished pulling a pajama shirt over the child's head.
Sydney smiled. "That was Weiss, wondering what I thought of the new bed," she stated, gesturing with the phone.
Sark let the boy's hand go and the child scrambled across the bed. He rolled over once then stood up on it and giggled. "He seems to like it," Sark answered.
Sydney smiled a little. "So--" She frowned slightly as the phone rang again. She checked the call display. "My father," she stated. "Maybe try a story?" she nodded towards the bookshelf. She stepped back out of the baby's room and answered the phone. "Hi, Dad."
"I called the hospital. They told me you'd left. I assume he's better."
"Yeah, we got home a few minutes ago. And yes, much. How did you know we were at the hospital?"
"Weiss called me. And I talked to Will. How are you doing?" he questioned, carefully.
Sydney swallowed. "I'm...good. Are you on your way back?"
"Should be landing within the hour. When I talked to Weiss, he seemed concerned about you. As did Will. Are you sure you're all right? Did something happen?"
Sydney sunk into a living room chair. "Being at the hospital just made me uncomfortable. That's all. But I'm home now. I survived it, and I'm fine. I'm sorry if they worried you."
There was a pause and Sydney worried that her father didn't exactly believe her. "Why didn't you call me to tell me he was ill?" he questioned.
"I knew you were busy," Sydney answered, uncomfortably. "I thought I'd let you know when you got back. Or maybe I just knew you'd find out anyway. But don't think I haven't missed you."
"Do you want me to come by when I land tonight?"
Sydney glanced towards the baby's room. "Um, actually, it's been a long day. I think I'm just going to try and get to bed early."
"You're certain?"
"Why don't you just...come by tomorrow? For dinner. Eric's planning on cooking."
There was a debating silence. "Tomorrow," he stated, almost as if disappointed.
Sydney grimaced slightly. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. I just know you must be tired too. We'll talk tomorrow."
"All right. Get some rest," he ordered.
"I will," Sydney promised. "Good night." She set aside, and let out a small sigh. She headed back to the baby's room. "Is he asleep y--" she stopped her soft question, as soon as she looked in the room.
Sark lay in the new bed, lying on his back with his eyes closed. The baby was completely out lying on his belly on Sark's chest. The child was so relaxed he wasn't even sucking his thumb as usual.
A grin crept across Sydney's face. She moved into the room slowly, and turned out the table lamp. Then, she quietly moved out of the room leaving father and son undisturbed.
17 Hours Earlier
He could see her through the glass, sitting beside the crib with her eyes wide open staring at the ceiling. He stepped inside the room. He could hear a rubbery noise coming from the crib. He stepped closer to note the oxygen mask over the boy's face and an IV going into his arm. He reached a hand towards the crib.
Sydney startled and looked up with wide eyes. She swallowed and looked at the sleeping child. She glanced around the darkened ward, concerned someone might see him. "What're you doing here?"
Sark looked at her, indignantly. "My son is ill. Not that you felt it necessary to inform me."
Sydney stared at him a moment. "I didn't think--"
He tilted his head, looking slightly annoyed. "That'd I'd be interested? That I'd care?"
Sydney folded her hands in her lap. "I didn't think you'd be able to get here."
He centered his eyes back on the crib. "How is he?"
Sydney shook her head. "He's been getting better since we got here. He's breathing better. I thought...I'd get to take him home today, but the doctors say he's not ready." She got up from the chair stiffly. "How did you know we were here?"
"I have people keep an eye out for anything suspicious. You spending the night in a hospital is suspicious."
Sydney frowned and crossed her arms. "Keeping an eye out?"
"Sydney, they aren't spying on you. They don't watch you every minute of the day."
"Just sometimes." She sighed. "I've had a feeling before, that there could be someone...watching. But I thought...I thought it was my imagination. Or someone...one of them...who was just waiting for an opportunity to get a hold of me again." She shuddered.
"I'm sorry if they've frightened you," Sark responded, with a concerned eye. "How are you doing?"
Sydney brushed a stray hair out of her face and responded with a guarded shrug.
"Have you been sleeping here?" Sark inquired, glancing around for something more comfortable than the chair near the crib.
She was awkwardly silent a moment before she managed to say, "I haven't really been sleeping at all."
Sark fingered his son's small hand. "Eating?" he questioned, gently. He gave her a momentary glance.
Sydney turned away from the crib. "I've been so focused on him, I haven't had time to think about anything else." Sydney sat back down in the chair and shuffled through the duffel beside her. "The nurses keep bringing me water." She said it as though she had no idea why.
Sark turned towards her. "Your constant attention to him is commendable. But there's nothing wrong with a cafeteria break." His tone was light, but his eyes regarded her seriously.
She frowned. "I haven't been hungry anyway. This place...this situation doesn't exactly make one have an appetite. Since when are you so concerned about my eating habits anyway?"
"Since you've given me reason to be."
Sydney stood up again. "I thought you came here to worry about him. Not me."
Sark's voice lowered to a stern whisper. "I am concerned for him. Having him in the hospital draws attention."
"I didn't put his name on the room," Sydney defended.
"And if you collapse from hunger and exhaustion that causes unnecessary attention as well. Or are you trying make yourself as memorable as possible to the hospital staff?"
Sydney stiffened and turned back around to look at the crib. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm doing the best that I can."
Sark took a seat in the chair. "I think I'd like some time alone with my son." He saw her eyes widen in surprise. "You're with him all day, every day. You can give me some time."
Sydney frowned slightly. "How much time?"
"How much time does it take for you to have dinner and a good nap?" He looked at her, unable to help a small crooked smile.
Sydney stared at him a moment. He could see her trying to come up with a protest. But finally, she sighed, then nodded. She walked back over to the crib and kissed the child's forehead. Then, she looked at him. "You will call me if you need or he..."
Sark leaned forward. "He'll be fine," he assured her.
Sydney nodded again, taking her purse. She only made it a few steps away before she turned back to them. She looked Sark in the eye. "You won't leave?" Her tone of voice resembled a plea.
Sark's head tilted, his eyes fixing on hers. "I'll see you when you get back."
Sydney seemed satisfied. She exited the ward.
20 Hours Earlier
Sydney was sitting in a chair beside a crib, holding the baby and rubbing his back. An IV ran into one of his arms. The child's thumb was in his mouth but his eyes were still open.
Weiss stepped closer quietly, a duffel bag in his hand. "How's he doing?"
Sydney didn't take her eyes off the child. "He's not comfortable here." She sighed, and laid him down in the crib. The boy's face immediately scrunched up. He pulled himself back into a sitting position and began to cry through the bars. He let out a congested cough between wails.
"Perhaps this will help," Weiss held up the bag. "I have one baby blanket." He held up the blue blanket printed with children's ABC blocks. "I have one growling bear." He held up the stuffed animal. "Clothes, a few favorite snacks." He winked. "Everything you need to feel home away from home."
"Thanks, Eric," she said unenthusiastically. Sydney lifted the baby again. He immediately burrowed himself into her arms, whimpering and coughing more quietly.
"Tough being little and sick," Weiss sighed, running a hand over the child's head. Weiss set the bag aside. "You look exhausted, Syd."
"He's so restless." She loosened her arms around the boy, and he sat up in her lap.
"Let me take him for a minute," Weiss offered, reaching for the child.
Sydney shook her head."No, it's okay."
He stared down at her. "Come on, Syd. When's the last time you had a break? Gotten something to eat?"
Sydney shrugged. "I don't know. But it doesn't matter, I'm fine." She reached for the bag and handed the child his bear, which he hugged tightly.
Weiss sighed. "You do know you're not the only person in the universe capable of taking care of him properly, right?"
"Not that I'm even doing that great a job." She hugged him closer and began rocking him again. "He looks at me like he's wondering why I brought him here. Why I'm not taking him home so he can really sleep."
"This may help," came a quiet voice. A nurse approached with a capped syringe.
Sydney glanced up at the nurse with wary eyes. "Why? What is it?"
The nurse smiled. "Just something to help bring his fever down. But a side effect is drowsiness." She reached towards the IV.
"Stop," Sydney ordered. "You don't have anything for his fever that won't make sleepy?"
The nurse stepped back puzzled. "He needs to get some rest and doesn't seem to be doing that." Weiss noticed the nurse's side glance at him, as if asking for some help.
"Syd, he needs to sleep and so do you," Weiss answered.
"Not that way he doesn't," Sydney responded, standing up.
"Miss, it's just a light dose--"
"NO!" She moved herself in front of the IV, blocking the nurse from it. Her shout startled the boy. He dropped his bear and he began to cry.
The nurse recapped her syringe and backed away. "All right." She frowned slightly at Sydney as she exited the ward.
Sydney rubbed the boy's back soothingly until he quieted again. Weiss picked up the bear and stared at her. "You wanna tell me what that was about?"
She silently swayed in place.
Weiss set the bear in the bed. "Syd?"
"Drugging him to sleep is what they did," she responded, quietly. "If he was too loud, or too active...or they just couldn't be bothered. Maybe just when they wanted to upset me. And I never knew how long it was supposed to last or if...if it was going to wear off."
Weiss blinked, apologetically. "I'm so sorry, Syd."
He wasn't sure she heard him. She just hugged the child closer, a blank look in her eyes. "Drugging him to sleep is what they did," she repeated.
9 Hours Earlier
"Are you sure this is the right floor, Fran?" Will glanced around.
"This is the floor number that receptionist gave us," Francie replied. "Wait, up there."
Directly ahead, they saw Sydney standing beside a baby bed, involved in what appeared to be a heated conversation with a nurse and a doctor.
"You brought him here for treatment, let us treat him," the doctor was arguing.
"There are oral antibiotics," Sydney responded.
"He's having trouble swallowing. An IV really will cause him the least discomfort."
Francie gave Will a troubled look. "Hey," she greeted softly, as they approached.
Sydney turned, looking relieved to see them. "Hey," she answered, stiffly.
"What's going on?" Will questioned, looking at the doctors.
"They want to give him an antibiotic IV," Sydney said accusatorily.
"It would help him?" Will asked.
Sydney turned back towards the baby lying in the bed and didn't answer.
"As we've been trying to explain, it's what we need to do to start treatment. We need to hit this hard and fast before it gets any worse," the doctor said, pointedly.
"Give us a chance to talk to her?" Will asked the doctor, quietly.
The doctor nodded and went over to check on another patient.
"Syd?" Francie said, concerned. "Are you all right?"
Sydney silently stroked the child's hair. "He's been frozen stiff since we got here. All this is going to do is scare him even more!" She stepped back from the bed.
Francie blinked. "I'm going to talk to the doctor and find out if there are any alternatives." She walked across the room.
Will looked down at the boy, laying in the bed with his eyes open wide. He was trying to suck his thumb but he kept coughing. Several small coughs, and then a harder one which made his eyes water and caused him to whimper in pain.
Will swallowed. "Look at him, Syd. He's miserable."
Sydney shot Will a glare. "And having complete strangers stick him with a needle is going to make him feel so much better?"
Will watched her carefully. Despite the angry expression on her face, there was a fearful look in her eyes. He spoke softly. "They're doctors, Sydney. They just want to help."
Sydney stiffened. "You didn't see the way he reacted, Will." Her jaw tightened and she forced out the words with her chin quivering. "To the throat swab. To the exam. To the x-ray. They've done nothing but terrorize him since we came here."
"Hey...hey...calm down," Will soothed. He reached out to hold one of her hands but she stepped back. He let his hand drop. "It's been a long day for both of you. What do you think is really best for him here? A quick pin prick and some antibiotics or no treatment at all?"
Sydney looked down and hugged herself. "He's wondering I brought him here. Why I let all this happen. What kind of mother lets her child get pneumonia..."
He moved between her and crib. "Syd, look at me. You didn't let anything happen. You do a great job. Kids just get sick."
Sydney stared at him, expressionless.
Francie came back over with the doctor. "The IV really does seem like the best idea, Syd. But I know it's up to you."
Sydney looked up slowly. She hugged herself tighter. "Do it," she choked out. She turned and moved away from the crib. She started walking away as if to the leave the ward. Will followed. He stopped just around the corner to find her sitting against the wall.
"Syd?"
She pressed her knees against her chest. "Have you heard from my father?"
Will sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "He's in Belgium, still following a lead on Sloane. It looks like he's not going to be back for a few days."
There was a squeak and then a distinct cry from the next room.
Sydney balled her hands into fists. "What about Eric?" she whispered.
Will knelt down beside her as the wail got louder. "He said he'd try to drop by later."
She didn't respond.
"Syd?" Will placed a hand on her shoulder.
She startled, grabbing his hand forcefully. "Don't!"
Will winced. "Ow. Hey!"
Sydney blinked and released his hand. "I'm sorry." She stood up and wiped two small tears. "I'm going to go check on him."
Will followed her back to the bed cautiously.
Francie was in a rocking chair beside the bed with the baby in her arms.
Sydney halted a foot away, staring at the IV going into his arm.
Francie smiled. "He did great, Sydney. He didn't try to pull it out. And he's calmed down."
The boy lifted his head and immediately demanded Sydney's attention with a whimper, raising his arms. Sydney lifted him up and hugged him protectively.
Francie raised her eyebrows in Will's direction. He was flexing his sore hand. He shook his head.
"Can we get you anything?" Francie questioned, rising out of the rocking chair.
Sydney shook her head and sunk back into the chair. "No." She paused. "Thank you."
Will debated. "You sure? You aren't hungry or anything?"
Sydney closed her eyes. "I'm just going to try and get him to sleep."
"We'll check on you tomorrow," Francie said, seriously.
Sydney didn't answer.
Francie and Will started out of the ward. As soon as they rounded the corner, Francie grabbed Will's hand and looked it over. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," Will responded, glancing at his hand. "She didn't mean to. Though I'm not sure we should be leaving her alone." They stepped onto the elevator.
France sighed. "She doesn't want us there, Will. She's stressed enough trying to focus on him. Besides, Eric will check on her later."
Will lowered his voice. "But it's obvious that being here reminds her of what happened to her. What if she has...a reaction? Like...she did before? These nurses and doctors aren't going to understand."
Francie stared at him. They exited the elevator and headed through the lobby for an exit. "I think she would have told us if she wanted us to stay. She just wants to take care of her baby. We'll stop in early tomorrow totally prepared to stay...if it seems like she wants us to."
Will nodded as he held the door open for her. "So, shall we go home and get some dinner?" He placed an arm around her waist.
Francie nodded, managing a smile.
Two Months Earlier
A hand clapped over Sydney's mouth tightly. Her eyes popped open immediately, and her hands flew to the arm holding onto her. She knew she shouldn't have taken a sleeping pill. It had just been three months and she had foolishly started to relax. She was pulled from the bed and flung halfway across the room. She brought herself to a stop, though floundered gracelessly just to remain upright.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you, or that I wouldn't come looking?"
She turned to stare at Sark defiantly. He was dressed in black from head to toe, leather gloves on his hands, and three-quarter length leather coat covering him. But his blue eyes were charged with fury. Sydney bristled. "Neither. I couldn't get to you. I had to go somewhere."
Sark shook his head at her. "You didn't make our contact."
Sydney ran her hand up and down her opposite arm. She felt chilled. "I tried, but somehow, they found me before I got there. They tried to kill me. I ran. This was where I ran to."
Sark shook his head. "What makes you think this is safe? They could find you here. You're taking a risk you have no right to take. He's not staying here."
Sydney narrowed her eyes at him. "Glad you're so concerned for his well-being. But, you don't even know what he's been through."
Sark pulled back the curtain on the window and surveyed the street. "I know what I need to know."
Sydney shook her head, relaxing slightly. "And how are you going to take care of him?" She sat back down on the bed.
"I'm already coordinating forces to stop The Syndicate. It's only a matter of time before either I or my associates locate them again."
Sydney nodded and crossed her arms. "And while you're out there stopping the Syndicate, who's going to be raising him?"
Sark look unimpressed. "He can't stay here, Sydney."
"Why not? You don't think I can protect him?"
"You know it's not that," Sark stated. "I know you're more than capable."
Sydney softened. "Then...what?"
"What have you told your family? Your friends? The CIA?"
Sydney shrugged. "Bits and pieces. Enough to answer at least half of their questions. Nothing about you being his father." She looked down. "I know you just want to help take care of him, maybe you're trying to make up for lost time, or maybe you just feel guilty because of what happened...but taking him to who knows where to be taken care of by people he doesn't even know--" Sydney heaved a heavy sigh. "That's not the way." She shuddered.
Sark moved to stand just in front of her. "Are you all right?"
"He's just...all I have to hang onto right now." She blinked back tears. "I know you love him too, I just--When I'm taking care of him, it's the only time I can forget everything that happened. It's crazy, I know it should be the other way around. But it's not."
Sark hesitated a moment, then sat down on the bed beside her. "What do you propose?"
"Go, find the Syndicate. But nothing changes until you stop them or there's some real danger in us staying here. If you want to visit him, I'll make it work."
Sark stared at her in silence a moment. "All right."
Sydney looked up at him, searching his eyes. "All right?"
"I agree to your proposal."
Sydney's eyes watered again, but she managed a small smile. "Okay."
"I'd like to see him before I go."
Sydney nodded. She grabbed Sark by the hand and pulled him along, leading the way into the hallway and then the first door on the right. The room was decorated in blue and blue teddy bears.
A blue child's crib was in the middle of the room. They slowed and took soft steps up to it so not to disturb his sleep. The boy curled up on his stomach, underneath a soft blue and white blanket. He sucked on a red pacifier. They watched him in silence a moment.
"He's grown," Sark commented.
Sydney smiled slightly. "And his hair's gotten whiter, if that's actually possible." She moved the blanket to cover the child's toes better.
"How's he doing?"
Sydney frowned momentarily, then returned to a neutral expression. "He has nightmares pretty often. I mean, it's normal considering...but he's so scared when he wakes up. It takes me awhile to get him calmed down." She sighed.
Sark glanced around the baby room, at the teddy bear wallpaper border running across the middle of the walls. "Talking much?"
"He understands a lot. But he has to be feeling comfortable to say anything. He really only talks around me and my dad." Sydney looked thoughtful. "He really gets along great with my dad."
Sark nodded and turned to leave the room. Sydney lingered a moment longer then followed, closing the baby room door all but a crack as the two of them stood in the hallway.
"I'll try to visit monthly. I'll bring updates on my progress. I'll send the information, the day and time we are to meet on reminders of medical appointment cards. Then, call this number, and leave the place we are to meet." Sark handed her a piece of paper. "If you need anything...between visits, you can use the same number. Whatever message you leave, it will get to me."
Sydney took the paper and nodded. "Okay."
Sark stared into her face searchingly. "You're sure, this is what you want?"
Sydney looked him in the eye. "I'm sure."
Sark nodded, then turned to leave.
Sydney let him get two steps away from her before she called to him. "Wait."
Sark halted.
She walked back into the bedroom, ruffled through a drawer in her dresser and returned with a small packet. "I thought you might want these. They're pictures of him that I took when we went to the park last week."
Sark took the packet from her. "Thank you." He paused. "See you in a month."
Sydney smiled slightly.
One Week Earlier
"Now or never," Will told Francie. They stood outside the apartment they had helped Sydney move into the previous week.
"I'm not sure about this, Will. She could have told us we could come over dinner, just to polite. I get the feeling that maybe she'd prefer to be alone." Francie sighed.
"She hasn't been very social since...since she got back," Will admitted. "But I think she'd tell us if she truly didn't want any company."
Francie nodded. "If she starts to seem uncomfortable, we leave," she told him. "I don't want to upset her."
Will nodded and knocked on the door.
Instantly, it opened, as if Sydney had been standing there waiting for them to knock. She grinned. "I was wondering how long you two were going to stand out there." She winked at them and opened the door wider so they could step inside.
She almost held the normal Sydney glow. Her hair was styled into curly ringlets. She wore a long sleeved shirt and a long black skirt decorated in silver leaves and red flowers..
Will was surprised to see Sydney dressed up. It seemed like the first time he had seen her out of casual clothes. He guessed she'd been staying away from form-fitting clothing, trying to hide how thin she was. He still noted how well the outfit covered her arms, back and legs.
Francie embraced her friend. "You look beautiful. How do you feel?"
"Hungry," Sydney responded, playfully, wriggling out of the hug. "Dinner's almost ready. I'm just fixing the salad." She closed the door and locked three locks securely, then reset the alarm.
Francie glanced around the apartment. "Where's--"
"Rawr!" The sixteen-month-old peeked out, gripping onto a stuffed black bear, that continued to roar. He giggled.
"I'm still going to get you for giving him that," Sydney told Will. "Come here, Little Bear!" She scooped him up and he giggled louder. He squeezed the bear again and it roared menacingly. "Between you and Eric and my father, he has enough noise making toys to last a lifetime."
"The batteries will die eventually," Francie responded. They all headed into the dining room.
"How about, I slice the tomatoes for this salad and we call it even?" Will asked.
Sydney settled the boy into a high chair. Francie took a seat at the table with him and began conversing with Mr. Bear. Sydney followed Will into the kitchen.
Will lifted the lid on a large pot on the stove.
"Hey, no peeking." She swatted a pot holder in his direction. "The tomatoes are on the counter. Knives in the drawer underneath."
Will immediately pulled over the cutting board, and grabbed three tomatoes. "So, how is your dad?"
Sydney didn't look at him and just grabbed a ladle. "He calls every day."
Will pulled open a drawer, in search of a knife. "I thought he was going to lose it when you told him you were moving to your own place this soon."
"I thought he was going to barricade the door," Sydney laughed. "He insisted on being the one to find the locksmith and picking who installed the security systems. He wanted me to agree to a security detail." Sydney smiled thoughtfully as she began putting soup into bowls. "He's just been really sweet."
Will pulled out a large butcher knife and began slicing tomatoes. "About his little girl," Will joked. Francie looked up through the gap in between the cupboards and the counter where she could see into the kitchen. "What are you doing? Cutting tomatoes like that should be a crime."
"Hey, I've never claimed to be a chef." He gave her a pointed look. "It's my own personal style."
"It's like mutilation!" Francie protested, getting up from the table and heading into the kitchen. "Seriously, someone has to stop you. Right, Syd?"
Sydney glanced over.
"It's not brain surgery, it's a tomato," Will answered.
"Then, don't treat it like brain surgery," Francie responded. "See, this is why I don't let you cook at home. Give me that knife."
Will turned on her, holding the knife out of reach and waving it above his head.
Sydney inhaled sharply. Francie looked over just in time to see a bowl of soup clatter to the floor, spilling its steaming contents. Sydney let out a small squeak of pain.
"Syd, you all right?" Will questioned. He put down the knife and approached her.
"Oh, Syd your hand!" Francie exclaimed.
Sydney stared blankly at the two of them, then at her scalded hand.
Will turned and wet a towel quickly in cold water. "Here, let me see." He grabbed her arm to steady her hand and wrap the towel around it.
But instantly, she came to life again and pulled away. "Don't!"
Will froze.
"Sydney, you're burned," Francie said, worriedly.
Sydney took the towel from Will and wrapped her own hand, as she walked out of the kitchen. Francie and Will exchanged worried glances. Will nodded to her. He stayed in the kitchen and Francie went sat down beside Sydney at the table. "Are you okay?"
Sydney's eyes were watering. She was breathing so hard she was almost hyperventilating.
"Please, just let me see your hand," Francie said, softly.
"It's not...my hand," Sydney whispered.
"Then, what is it?" Francie glanced up at Will who had dared to move into the doorway.
"The...knife..." Sydney stared at the baby who had even stopped playing to watch her.
Francie rested a hand on Sydney's back carefully. "Will's done with the tomatoes. He put it away." Will added the tomatoes to the salad and brought out the bowl.
Sydney moved her unburned hand towards the high chair, and just held the little boy's hand.
"Sydney, you can tell us," Will said.
"No, I can't," she answered, seriously.
Francie moved her hand away, looking hurt.
Sydney blinked and looked at Francie. She sighed and softened. "I wish I could, but right now, I can't."
"All right," Will said. "Are you hungry? Or...do you want us to leave?"
"No, please don't leave," Sydney pleaded. "I invited you for dinner. Let's have dinner."
"One condition," Will responded.
Sydney looked at him.
"I get to serve the soup," he answered, with a grin.
Sydney nodded. She stayed right beside the baby the rest of the evening, though.
"Do you think she's okay?" Will asked Francie, when the night was over.
Francie sighed. "No," she admitted. "But it doesn't make any sense. She loves that baby, but..."
"But, it's like he upsets her and comforts her all at the same time," Will concluded.
Francie nodded in agreement. "I don't know if you can even answer, but the questions the CIA asked her...what she said about the years she's been gone."
"It's fragmented, Francie. I wasn't even supposed to get a look at her answers, but she wouldn't tell me and I had to know. There's details about some things, but it's like she managed to leave out everything that might be important. I don't know...if she would just talk about it maybe she wouldn't be so haunted by it."
"You tried?" Francie asked.
"Yeah, but she started to cry and I couldn't...I couldn't ask anymore. I think we're just going to have to give her some time."
Francie didn't seem to like that answer. She sighed and fastened her seat-belt.
Will looked at her. "What?"
Francie frowned seriously. "I just have this feeling that time is the one thing we don't have."
_____
Reviews welcome and appreciated.
Review Replies:
Jennzabell: You have a lot of great questions. Syd's friends and family are also quite concerned about how traumatized she seems to be and are treating her with great care, as you can see in this part. I can promise you this fic has nothing to do with amnesia. Its timeline is AU, not Post-Telling, thus the most recent episode hasn't affected anything about my fic. Thanks for your review. :)
jenesis4: The story will continue backwards from where it began for a period of about two years and I'm hoping to put some flashbacks in later parts to cover a couple more important events that took place prior to that time. As for going forwards, your perspective on the end will be changed by knowing where the story begins. Thanks for the review!
landi104: Thanks for the review. I've gotten a couple of requests to do that. I've considered it and I may even do it, but not for awhile after it's done because I wrote the story backwards for a reason and plotted out the effect that reason has. Going forwards, I'm afraid the story it will lose something.
sarsy: I love your review! So detailed. Thanks so much for reading. Again, my response to the forwards question is the end will give you more info on the beginning.
Mockingbird4: Thanks for your review and for reading. :)
Thanks again everyone!
