Redemption
Chapter 32
The JTF was deserted when they got there. Night employees went about their business as usual, realizing something was up at seeing the various agents clad in black occupying the briefing room. They were curious but knew better than to ask. Only a few caught a brief glimpse of Kat as she was rushed into Jack's office and the blinds drawn. That certainly didn't stop the rumors from circulating. Within an hour the night guys in analysis had heard the rumors that Kathryn Sullivan might be alive and they were only confirmed by medical services a half-hour later.
Sydney, Vaughn, Marshall and Weiss paced the briefing room explaining their actions to Lindsey, Kendall and Dixon who'd promptly arrived following the phone call that told him Kat had returned to the US. They of course conviently left out any mention of Irina as had been agreed upon and presented their fabricated Intel detailing where the girl had been held, and how they'd come to know the truth. Sydney also provided only a brief mention of Petrov Khasinau and his probable involvement in her sisters kidnapping and the death of Viktor Melnikov.
Jack stood outside the door to his office. Kathryn had been inside by herself for well over an hour now. She'd immediately requested paper, colored pencils, her doll Sophie, a bottle of grape juice and the small box containing her drawings that had been recovered from her apartment in New York. The blinds drawn she'd asked that no one disturb her until she was ready. He'd managed to get her to see medical services before locking herself away in his office.
"Dad?" Sydney approached him quietly. "How is she?"
"Still in there. She refuses to come out until she's ready. I'm beginning to question whether or not she actually knows what it is."
"She wouldn't lie, not about this." Sydney sighed, "when I first saw her, I swear to God I thought she was dead," she rubbed her eyes wearily. "She was so still, even now I barely recognize her, they really did a number on her."
"They did, but she'll be fine," he nodded in agreement. "What's going on?"
"Kendall's furious that we didn't go to him, though he actually admitted that they wouldn't have allowed an extraction based on our Intel. By the time the Intel was confirmed, Katy probably would have been dead, or at least that's what he thinks."
"Khasinau wouldn't have allowed her to be killed," Jack shook his head. "She's far too valuable to him but he won't come after her again, not just yet."
"You're sure?"
Jack nodded. "The fact that he's even after something that he doesn't know what it is, that no one knows exactly what it is intrigues me. Alexander Khasinau must have told him something to get him this far." Jack watched as Sydney paced the floor. "I talked to Devlin, convinced him to allow your sister to stay here but he had one condition."
"Which is?"
"She has to stay with me. At least until we get more information about the Contessa, and what she knows about it."
"She's not going to go along with that," Sydney shook her head. "You're not exactly her favorite person right now."
"She'll go along with it," Jack interrupted.
"How are you so sure?"
"Because she won't want to be separated from you," Jack was stone faced. "She'll stay with me and follow their rules because she wants answers just as much as they do and co-operating is the only way she'll get them-"
They were interrupted as Kat opened the door; "I'm ready now."
Everyone was bundle of nerves as Sydney slowly helped Kat walk in to the briefing room. She'd refused any sort of pain killers fearing she'd be unable to think clearly but currently all she wanted was a good dose of morphine and a comfortable bed. It would be hours before she would be able to receive either of those.
Lindsey sat on the edge of his seat and Kat bit back a smile at the thought of him falling off it as soon as she told them what she knew.
"They took me because they wanted to know about The Contessa, of course you already knew that," she began. "Papa-Petrov Khasinau, he has no idea what it is but I think he knows that I remember, that I know. He started getting desperate, he wanted it so bad and maybe he thinks that it's something bigger than what it really is."
"Before they took you, that's what you wanted to tell us-" Sydney realized remembering that her sister had been desperate to tell them something, just before Jack had told her that he was her father.
She nodded and held out the doll, "It was an accident really." They all leaned forwards in their seats watching as she set the doll in the middle of the conference table and slowly poured grape juice over the dolls dress. "Look closely."
"It's a code," Marshall said excitedly as the juice pigmented the white fabric of the dolls dress revealing a short code. "That is so cool."
"It only lasts for a few minutes, then its like it was never there,' she shrugged.
"What does it say?" Kendall asked.
"The Contessa, not much just a bit of its history. It's from the Romanov's, it belonged to them to their legacy, it still does I suppose." She showed them a drawing she'd made when she was five. It was of her mother. "I used to say my mother was prettier than a princess and she should wear a crown," she said not even bothering to hide the bitterness in her voice. She pointed at the crown adorned with jewels she'd drawn on her mother's head. "That's what this is all about," she sighed and opened the sketchpad where she'd drawn a larger more accurate version of the tiara. "It's what The Covenant, Khasinau, what everyone's after and they don't even know what it is. A stupid diamond."
"It's purple," Weiss observed passing the sketchbook to Vaughn.
"Okay, so it's a very rare, very expensive diamond," she shrugged.
"You're sure this is it?" Jack asked passing the sketchbook back to her.
Kathryn glanced down at the book tracing her finger around the edges of the drawing, "am I sure that this is the very object that is ruining my life?" She met his eyes, "absolutely." She swallowed hard, gazing at the drawing of the tiara; the room thick with silence as they waited for her to continue. "I can only tell you what it is, that's all I know, that's all I remember. I don't know where it is now, or if it even still exists. Thirteen years ago, I saw it in the vault in Alexander Khasinau's office. We left Russia the next day."
"Is that all?" Lindsey asked.
She nodded.
"Alright," Kendall stood gathering the drawings. "I'll get these to analysis. Go home now."
The room quickly emptied out leaving Kat and Jack. Neither said a word, finally he stood and came around to help Kat stand. "Come on, you need to go to medical services."
"No, please," she shook her head. "I'm fine really, I'm tired, I'm really tired. Please, I just want to go home."
"Alright."
~ ~ ~
Sydney had been right. Kat wasn't at all pleased with the prospect of going with Jack but he'd been correct as well. She hadn't resisted. Under normal circumstances she might have, but these were anything but normal circumstances.
Jack set the milk carton back in the fridge and closed the door with his foot. Kat had slept the short drive home. She was exhausted but as sure as she needed rest, she needed food. He'd given her his room and he would take the pullout couch in his office. He knocked on the door, it was slightly ajar and he pushed it open. "Kat, I brought you a sand-" he stopped cold. The sight before him was not one he expected and his breath caught in his throat. She stood at the edge of the bed beginning to take off her sweatshirt. Her tank top caught and Jack caught sight of her lower back. She froze and slowly turned around tugging her shirt down. Jack set the glass and plate on the laundry hamper at the end of the bed. "Eat this, I'll be back in a few minutes."
He closed the door behind him and immediately went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a scotch. He drank it quickly and then poured another, he would need it.
Jack returned to his bedroom several minutes later. He set the first aid kit on the bed and sat down on the end of it. He took the half-eaten sandwich away from her and set it on the floor.
"Take your shirt off and lie down," Jack requested opening the first aid kit. He pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and several packets of gauze. "Kat," he touched her shoulder when she didn't move. "Take off your shirt, and lie down on the bed," he repeated gently.
Jack's hands formed tight fists as she did as he asked and revealed the bloody welts and cuts that covered most of her lower back. They were deep and bound to leave permanent scars. "This is going to sting, I'm sorry it's all I have."
She nodded and let out a loud hiss as the substance made initial contact with her skin. She dug her fingernails into the pillow and cried silently. He couldn't hear her but her shoulders trembled as he tended to the whippings.
"What did he use?" Jack gritted his teeth pressing an alcohol drenched gauze pad against a particularly deep welt.
"A belt," she whispered after hesitation.
"When?"
"Just before you came."
He finished cleaning and bandaging her cuts in silence. He took the shirt he'd brought and spread it over her shoulders. "I'm done."
She slowly sat up and he helped her slide her arms in the sleeves. Finally she turned to face him buttoning the last few buttons.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Kat shrugged, "I don't know."
"Where else are you hurt?" She looked at him, unsureness in her eyes. "Kat, tell me where you are hurt."
"My shoulder," she said hesitantly and then held her breath as Jack checked it. He used a tensor bandage and secured a cold pack on her shoulder. "I think you pulled something. He took her arm examining it closely. "How did you get this burn?" he asked brushing his finger over it.
She jerked her arm away in pain. "I don't know," she shook her head.
"You don't know?" he asked pulling her arm towards him again and applied an antiseptic and a bandage, he then did the same to her wrists.
"I-I.I don't remember."
"Where else?"
"My side, my ribs and my chest-it hurts to breathe." She was quiet as Jack put a stethoscope to her chest and listed to her respiration's. "You're good at this," she observed watching him as he lifted her shirt and gently felt along her sides. "Are you a doctor?"
"No, not exactly," he shook his head. "I was a medical student, before I joined the CIA." He began putting the items back in into the first aid kit. "I want you to have an x-ray tomorrow, now go to sleep." She nodded and climbed under the covers. Jack pulled up the blanket, "Kat, I need to ask you something."
"Sure."
"Did they.. Melnikov, did he...I need to know if he. hurt you."
"You're asking if he raped me?"
"Yes," Jack nodded.
"No," she shook her head and looked away unable to meet his eyes.
"Good," he stood and turned the light off. "Get some sleep." He closed the door behind him and proceeded into the kitchen where he poured himself another drink and then sat down on the sofa where he remained until morning. ~ ~ ~ "Kat, wake up," Jack shook her shoulder.
She sat up startled and disoriented as she looked around trying to figure out where she was one look at Jack and she knew. "You need to get up now, we have to be at the JTF in 90 minutes, they've made progress on The Contessa. Sydney brought you some clothes, I left them in the bathroom."
Kat groaned and fell back against the pillows as he left the room. She glanced at the clock, 10 AM. After nine days in captivity, they wouldn't even allow her to sleep till noon. Slowly got out of bed and grabbed the cane Jack had left by her bed. Every step she took was agony but the cane was better than crutches. She stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Several of the bruises around her face were beginning to fade, others only starting to show. She grinned seeing the make up kit Sydney had brought. It wouldn't get rid of them, but it would help a little.
The JTF was deserted when they got there. Night employees went about their business as usual, realizing something was up at seeing the various agents clad in black occupying the briefing room. They were curious but knew better than to ask. Only a few caught a brief glimpse of Kat as she was rushed into Jack's office and the blinds drawn. That certainly didn't stop the rumors from circulating. Within an hour the night guys in analysis had heard the rumors that Kathryn Sullivan might be alive and they were only confirmed by medical services a half-hour later.
Sydney, Vaughn, Marshall and Weiss paced the briefing room explaining their actions to Lindsey, Kendall and Dixon who'd promptly arrived following the phone call that told him Kat had returned to the US. They of course conviently left out any mention of Irina as had been agreed upon and presented their fabricated Intel detailing where the girl had been held, and how they'd come to know the truth. Sydney also provided only a brief mention of Petrov Khasinau and his probable involvement in her sisters kidnapping and the death of Viktor Melnikov.
Jack stood outside the door to his office. Kathryn had been inside by herself for well over an hour now. She'd immediately requested paper, colored pencils, her doll Sophie, a bottle of grape juice and the small box containing her drawings that had been recovered from her apartment in New York. The blinds drawn she'd asked that no one disturb her until she was ready. He'd managed to get her to see medical services before locking herself away in his office.
"Dad?" Sydney approached him quietly. "How is she?"
"Still in there. She refuses to come out until she's ready. I'm beginning to question whether or not she actually knows what it is."
"She wouldn't lie, not about this." Sydney sighed, "when I first saw her, I swear to God I thought she was dead," she rubbed her eyes wearily. "She was so still, even now I barely recognize her, they really did a number on her."
"They did, but she'll be fine," he nodded in agreement. "What's going on?"
"Kendall's furious that we didn't go to him, though he actually admitted that they wouldn't have allowed an extraction based on our Intel. By the time the Intel was confirmed, Katy probably would have been dead, or at least that's what he thinks."
"Khasinau wouldn't have allowed her to be killed," Jack shook his head. "She's far too valuable to him but he won't come after her again, not just yet."
"You're sure?"
Jack nodded. "The fact that he's even after something that he doesn't know what it is, that no one knows exactly what it is intrigues me. Alexander Khasinau must have told him something to get him this far." Jack watched as Sydney paced the floor. "I talked to Devlin, convinced him to allow your sister to stay here but he had one condition."
"Which is?"
"She has to stay with me. At least until we get more information about the Contessa, and what she knows about it."
"She's not going to go along with that," Sydney shook her head. "You're not exactly her favorite person right now."
"She'll go along with it," Jack interrupted.
"How are you so sure?"
"Because she won't want to be separated from you," Jack was stone faced. "She'll stay with me and follow their rules because she wants answers just as much as they do and co-operating is the only way she'll get them-"
They were interrupted as Kat opened the door; "I'm ready now."
Everyone was bundle of nerves as Sydney slowly helped Kat walk in to the briefing room. She'd refused any sort of pain killers fearing she'd be unable to think clearly but currently all she wanted was a good dose of morphine and a comfortable bed. It would be hours before she would be able to receive either of those.
Lindsey sat on the edge of his seat and Kat bit back a smile at the thought of him falling off it as soon as she told them what she knew.
"They took me because they wanted to know about The Contessa, of course you already knew that," she began. "Papa-Petrov Khasinau, he has no idea what it is but I think he knows that I remember, that I know. He started getting desperate, he wanted it so bad and maybe he thinks that it's something bigger than what it really is."
"Before they took you, that's what you wanted to tell us-" Sydney realized remembering that her sister had been desperate to tell them something, just before Jack had told her that he was her father.
She nodded and held out the doll, "It was an accident really." They all leaned forwards in their seats watching as she set the doll in the middle of the conference table and slowly poured grape juice over the dolls dress. "Look closely."
"It's a code," Marshall said excitedly as the juice pigmented the white fabric of the dolls dress revealing a short code. "That is so cool."
"It only lasts for a few minutes, then its like it was never there,' she shrugged.
"What does it say?" Kendall asked.
"The Contessa, not much just a bit of its history. It's from the Romanov's, it belonged to them to their legacy, it still does I suppose." She showed them a drawing she'd made when she was five. It was of her mother. "I used to say my mother was prettier than a princess and she should wear a crown," she said not even bothering to hide the bitterness in her voice. She pointed at the crown adorned with jewels she'd drawn on her mother's head. "That's what this is all about," she sighed and opened the sketchpad where she'd drawn a larger more accurate version of the tiara. "It's what The Covenant, Khasinau, what everyone's after and they don't even know what it is. A stupid diamond."
"It's purple," Weiss observed passing the sketchbook to Vaughn.
"Okay, so it's a very rare, very expensive diamond," she shrugged.
"You're sure this is it?" Jack asked passing the sketchbook back to her.
Kathryn glanced down at the book tracing her finger around the edges of the drawing, "am I sure that this is the very object that is ruining my life?" She met his eyes, "absolutely." She swallowed hard, gazing at the drawing of the tiara; the room thick with silence as they waited for her to continue. "I can only tell you what it is, that's all I know, that's all I remember. I don't know where it is now, or if it even still exists. Thirteen years ago, I saw it in the vault in Alexander Khasinau's office. We left Russia the next day."
"Is that all?" Lindsey asked.
She nodded.
"Alright," Kendall stood gathering the drawings. "I'll get these to analysis. Go home now."
The room quickly emptied out leaving Kat and Jack. Neither said a word, finally he stood and came around to help Kat stand. "Come on, you need to go to medical services."
"No, please," she shook her head. "I'm fine really, I'm tired, I'm really tired. Please, I just want to go home."
"Alright."
~ ~ ~
Sydney had been right. Kat wasn't at all pleased with the prospect of going with Jack but he'd been correct as well. She hadn't resisted. Under normal circumstances she might have, but these were anything but normal circumstances.
Jack set the milk carton back in the fridge and closed the door with his foot. Kat had slept the short drive home. She was exhausted but as sure as she needed rest, she needed food. He'd given her his room and he would take the pullout couch in his office. He knocked on the door, it was slightly ajar and he pushed it open. "Kat, I brought you a sand-" he stopped cold. The sight before him was not one he expected and his breath caught in his throat. She stood at the edge of the bed beginning to take off her sweatshirt. Her tank top caught and Jack caught sight of her lower back. She froze and slowly turned around tugging her shirt down. Jack set the glass and plate on the laundry hamper at the end of the bed. "Eat this, I'll be back in a few minutes."
He closed the door behind him and immediately went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a scotch. He drank it quickly and then poured another, he would need it.
Jack returned to his bedroom several minutes later. He set the first aid kit on the bed and sat down on the end of it. He took the half-eaten sandwich away from her and set it on the floor.
"Take your shirt off and lie down," Jack requested opening the first aid kit. He pulled out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and several packets of gauze. "Kat," he touched her shoulder when she didn't move. "Take off your shirt, and lie down on the bed," he repeated gently.
Jack's hands formed tight fists as she did as he asked and revealed the bloody welts and cuts that covered most of her lower back. They were deep and bound to leave permanent scars. "This is going to sting, I'm sorry it's all I have."
She nodded and let out a loud hiss as the substance made initial contact with her skin. She dug her fingernails into the pillow and cried silently. He couldn't hear her but her shoulders trembled as he tended to the whippings.
"What did he use?" Jack gritted his teeth pressing an alcohol drenched gauze pad against a particularly deep welt.
"A belt," she whispered after hesitation.
"When?"
"Just before you came."
He finished cleaning and bandaging her cuts in silence. He took the shirt he'd brought and spread it over her shoulders. "I'm done."
She slowly sat up and he helped her slide her arms in the sleeves. Finally she turned to face him buttoning the last few buttons.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Kat shrugged, "I don't know."
"Where else are you hurt?" She looked at him, unsureness in her eyes. "Kat, tell me where you are hurt."
"My shoulder," she said hesitantly and then held her breath as Jack checked it. He used a tensor bandage and secured a cold pack on her shoulder. "I think you pulled something. He took her arm examining it closely. "How did you get this burn?" he asked brushing his finger over it.
She jerked her arm away in pain. "I don't know," she shook her head.
"You don't know?" he asked pulling her arm towards him again and applied an antiseptic and a bandage, he then did the same to her wrists.
"I-I.I don't remember."
"Where else?"
"My side, my ribs and my chest-it hurts to breathe." She was quiet as Jack put a stethoscope to her chest and listed to her respiration's. "You're good at this," she observed watching him as he lifted her shirt and gently felt along her sides. "Are you a doctor?"
"No, not exactly," he shook his head. "I was a medical student, before I joined the CIA." He began putting the items back in into the first aid kit. "I want you to have an x-ray tomorrow, now go to sleep." She nodded and climbed under the covers. Jack pulled up the blanket, "Kat, I need to ask you something."
"Sure."
"Did they.. Melnikov, did he...I need to know if he. hurt you."
"You're asking if he raped me?"
"Yes," Jack nodded.
"No," she shook her head and looked away unable to meet his eyes.
"Good," he stood and turned the light off. "Get some sleep." He closed the door behind him and proceeded into the kitchen where he poured himself another drink and then sat down on the sofa where he remained until morning. ~ ~ ~ "Kat, wake up," Jack shook her shoulder.
She sat up startled and disoriented as she looked around trying to figure out where she was one look at Jack and she knew. "You need to get up now, we have to be at the JTF in 90 minutes, they've made progress on The Contessa. Sydney brought you some clothes, I left them in the bathroom."
Kat groaned and fell back against the pillows as he left the room. She glanced at the clock, 10 AM. After nine days in captivity, they wouldn't even allow her to sleep till noon. Slowly got out of bed and grabbed the cane Jack had left by her bed. Every step she took was agony but the cane was better than crutches. She stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Several of the bruises around her face were beginning to fade, others only starting to show. She grinned seeing the make up kit Sydney had brought. It wouldn't get rid of them, but it would help a little.