Redemption

Chapter Fifty Nine

It had been eight hours. Eight hours, nine minutes and twenty nine seconds since she'd been left alone in the cell. No visitors, no meals, no communication, no explanation at all. She wasn't even allowed to call Jack or Sydney and her initial requests to speak to Dixon or whoever was charge were either denied or simply ignored.

Eight hours, eleven minutes and thirteen seconds. Counting the minutes, even seconds since she'd been brought to the cell at the JTF made time even more endless, but it was also strangely comforting. Even though her world had stopped, the world outside continued to move.

Kat stood staring out the small window in the glass cell. Her hair, still red, hung long and loose having been pulled from the braids when she was taken into custody and searched. She wore the standard issued prison garb. Navy blue pants and a sleeveless black top. Her arms were crossed over her chest and the sunlight elicited a faint glow of light around her.

She hadn't noticed his presence and as he stood watching her, it was eerily similar to the first time he'd met her mother. It had been in the very same cell and in much the same manner that he'd first met his father's killer. He cleared his throat and she turned to the glass divider.

"Vaughn!"

"Hey KitKat."

She walked towards him seeing the pained look on his face, her fingertips pressed against the glass. "What's wrong?"

He was honest. "I was just thinking of the first time I met your mother. It was here, in this cell."

Her eyes grew dark and her palm flattened against the glass. "I'm not my mother Vaughn. No matter what they say, I'm not my mother."

"I know."

"What's going on? No one will tell me anything."

Vaughn took a deep breath before beginning the explanation. "For the last few weeks operations have been compromised. Two of yours –with JJ and Weiss, one of Sydney's and mine and one of Will's. Four hours before your op in Morocco with Weiss, two of our undercover agents, Roberts and Mitchelson, who were working in Columbia in a Covenant front base operation were killed."

"I don't understand."

"They were murdered and their bodies left for us to find. For the last week Director Branden of the NSC has been searching for a mole. After what happened in Morocco with Sark he focused his investigation on you-"

"Well he's not going to find anything," she interrupted.

"Kat, he already did."

"That's absurd," she shook her head angrily. "I haven't done anything."

"They traced a communication back to your user account which was sent to Columbia naming Roberts and Mitchelson as CIA." Vaughn watched her face gradually get paler and paler with each word he spoke and her eyes filled with tears.

"Branden thinks I had them killed?" she whispered.

Vaughn nodded. "They think you're working for The Covenant."

"What? No! I'd never do that! Vaughn-you know me. What they're saying, I didn't do it. I'm not a traitor, I'm not!"

Vaughn remained silent and cast his head down to look at the floor.

"Mike?" she whispered shaking her head. "You believe them? You think I did this?"

Vaughn didn't move but discreetly pressed a button on his watch. "Kat we only have 60 seconds, it's a scrambler I got it from Marshall. Of course I believe you. Branden's on a witchhunt. He's revoked everyone's clearance to see you; the only reason I got through is because I haven't seen him yet. We're doing everything we can to figure this out. Jack and Syd are calling everyone they know and Dixon's protesting the arrest. Even Barnet is protesting-something about confinement damaging your emotional response. Branden's got evidence, I don't know what, but it's convincing and the senate advisory counsel is questioning your recruitment in the first place. Kat, I need to know is there anything you can think of that we need to know. This is serious, are you keeping anything from us?"

She answered without hesitation. "No."

"Are you sure?" he looked her directly in the eyes searching for any discrepancy.

"Yes." Kat pressed her fingers against the glass and spoke, her voice unwavering. "Vaughn, I did not betray my country."

His watch beeped signalling the end of the 60 seconds. It couldn't have come soon enough as the sounds of polished leather shoes against the cement floor grew louder as they approached the cell. Kat turned her back to him and wiped the tears from her eyes. She swallowed hard and took several deep breaths before turning back looking as calm and cool as ever.

"Miss. Bristow." Director Branden was a tall thin man with short grey hair who looked like he'd never set foot in the sun.

"Director Branden, I presume," she cocked her head to the side slightly and looked him directly in the eyes. "I hear I have you to thank for these wonderful new surroundings."

Branden was silent.

Vaughn watched the exchange masking his surprise. He'd never been a witness to Kat's personality changes. She'd become a different person right before his eyes. Her eyes were cold, her voice low and her defiance changed into some unimaginable. The gentleness about her was gone, transformed into something unexplainable. He stole a glance at Branden who appeared to be unaffected by Kat's demeanour, but one look at the faces of Kendall and Lindsey confirmed they were just as surprised as he was.

"Only the best for suspected traitors."

"I'd have expected nothing less." Her eyes travelled to Lindsey and Kendall. "I want a lawyer.

Branden shrugged, "I'm afraid that's not possible."

"It's my legal right."

"Not after 9/11 it's not," Branden folded his arms across his chest and stepped closer to the glass divider. "You see Miss. Bristow and I stress the Miss., you are being held under suspicion of treason against The United States Government. As a supposed Agent of this government, you have no rights."

"We'll see about that."

"Yes we shall." Branden turned in Vaughn's direction. "Agent Vaughn, you'll find that your security clearance to see the prisoner has since been revoked. It would do you good to return to work."

Vaughn nodded and stepped back turning to the long hallway that had brought him to the cell.

"Vaughn," she called his name and he looked back to find her standing directly in front of him on the far side of the cell her arms hanging limply at her sides. "Tell Sydney that I'm alright and ask my father to feed Oliver."

"I will."

"Oh, remind Eric to get doubles of those pictures. He'll know which ones I mean."

"Sure."

"Thanks Vaughn."

Kat turned and walked back to the metal cot with its bare thin mattress. She lay down lacing her fingers together behind her head and staring up at the ceiling. Very slowly she counted to ten listening to the impatient sounds coming from Director's Branden, Lindsey & Kendall. When she reached ten she sat up abruptly knowing anyone of them was close to yelling at her. "Do you think I could get a book?" she asked planting her feet on the floor and leaning forwards, her elbows resting on her thighs. "The hours get kinda long in here."

"Bristow," Kendall warned.

Kat stood her hands on her hips and slowly walked towards the glass partition. "I'm sorry gentlemen, weren't we finished?"

Branden turned to one of the guards. "Get her out of there. It's time we had a little chat."

She stood still as the two guards entered and securely cuffed her hands behind her back. They began leading her down the hallway to what she assumed was the interrogation room. Branden stepped directly in her path and she stopped short.

"I haven't got time for your childish games Miss. Bristow." His head angled towards her in what she deemed could only be an act of intimidation. Not that it worked. Living in foster care at six years old, she'd met a man far more intimidating than Director Branden could ever be; Daddy Caldwell. He'd only been the first of many that followed. "When we get to that room down the hall, you will talk."

Kat stood still watching as Branden disappeared down one hallway. Lindsey walked in front of her as well, his eyes meeting hers momentarily. "Miss Bristow," he said before going down the opposite hall presumably back to The Rotunda.

She now stood flanked by two guards as Kendall moved in front of her. He crossed his arms over his chest and she looked up, her eyes meeting his in... a challenge?

"Agent Bristow." He spoke softly in the low calm voice he usually reserved for business meetings with the higher ups. "This is not a game. You need to start telling the truth or it could end badly. Badly for the agency and badly for you."

She turned her head slightly and licked her lips before speaking. "What they said, I didn't do it-"

"I'm waiting," came an impatient shout from the end of the hallway where Branden stood.

Kendall stepped aside and allowed the trio to pass. She looked back at him. "You know I didn't do it." He didn't respond and the guards nudged her forward. As she walked towards the interrogation room she looked back at Kendall once more who watched as she was led away and Kat realized something very important. He'd called her Agent Bristow. He did believe her, but his hands were tied.

He sipped the red wine slowly allowing the cool liquid to trickle down his throat. It burned slightly, his throat was raw perhaps he was getting sick. It was an odd feeling. Sark was not a man who got sick or caught the common cold easily. He couldn't even remember the last time he had been sick.

He was at his home in Italy, a small estate on the Tuscan countryside. It wasn't very large, nor rather small, but it fit his needs. He sat in his office staring at the book on his desk. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. He couldn't bring himself to open it. It too had been in the box from his childhood that he'd retrieved from Ireland. He hated that damn box, but for some reason had never thrown the contents away.

As soon as he'd returned from Morocco, Sark established contact with the one person who could give him answers. He questioned Irina about her daughter, about Katia, the name he knew her by. Unfortunately her answers didn't give him much to go on. She was concerned about her daughter, there was no denying that, but the only clue she offered him was St. Petersburg. Katarina had lived there as a child; perhaps he would find answers there. In truth, he wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for.

Hamlet still lay unopened on his desk. The old, faded, cloth bound book was such a contrast to the new, dark, cherry stained wood of the desk. He closed his eyes and drained the wineglass. They didn't stay closed for long. In his mind, all he could see was the girl. All he could see was Katia, the mark on her face and the tears in her eyes, begging for him to give her the answers.

The glass lay abandoned near the edge of his desk as he reached for the book and after several moments he opened it. It was just a book. It was Hamlet and the girl had been right, it was his favourite. The first page was stuck to the cover he noticed quickly and gently slid his finger in between separating them. There seemed to be nothing really out of the ordinary at first glance but he turned on the small desk light to examine further. His name was written in childish ink on the inside of the cover. He must have done it, but he didn't remember doing so. The page was still sticky and he couldn't help but wonder what had caused it. Jam, glue, sugar, candy... He wasn't sure why, but he decided it must have been a lollypop; a bright red cherry lollypop. Next to his name were markings, a code he didn't recognize. They looked like ancient writings of some sort but they were drawn in crayon. Four images possibly representing four letters.

Sark closed the book with a loud slam and poured himself another glass of wine. His left hand immediately sought his cell phone from his jacket pocket and he dialled the familiar number. "This is Antonio Matrusca," he began and switched to a Spanish accent. "I want to know everything about Katarina Bristow."

They'd decided on the warehouse. It seemed the most convienant place where they all could meet without suspicion.

"Syd," Vaughn called her name as he entered the warehouse and was immediately wrapped in her embrace.

"Did you talk to her?" Sydney asked drawing him toward the table that had been set up with several computers.

"Yeah, I got in for a minute," Vaughn nodded and sat down beside Weiss at the table. Also surrounding it was Will, Jack & Carrie. "She seemed okay," he said. "I told her what was going on, what happened to Mitchelson and Roberts. She flat out denied any involvement. She said she didn't know anything and she had not leaked any information, but..." his voice trailed off unable to finish the sentence.

"But what?" Sydney prodded him to continue.

"When I was talking to her, she looked me straight in the eye. I should have been able to know if she was telling the truth, but I wasn't sure-"

"What was she doing with her hands?" Jack interrupted.

"What?"

"Her hands. Were they folded, fisted, crossed over her chest, at her sides what?"

Vaughn thought for a moment before answering. "They were pressed up against the glass.

"Was she doing anything with them?"

"Dad?" Sydney began but Jack held up a hand stopping her midword.

"Think Agent Vaughn," Jack pressed him. "Was she doing anything with her hands?"

"Yes," he nodded confidently. "She was tapping her finger, her left index finger."

"She was lying," Weiss realized standing up.

"What, how do you know?" Sydney asked.

"Agent Weiss is correct," Jack interrupted and rested his hand on hers. "Your sister was lying. She taps a pattern with her left index finger when she lies. It's a habit I'd been hoping to break her of."

"Why would she lie, this is her life. It doesn't make sense."

"She's protecting someone."

"But who? Why?"

"I don't know Sydney." Jack shook his head. "Without knowing exactly what she's hiding, I can't answer that."

"There's something else." Vaughn was hesitant as he spoke again. He studied the others who sat around the table and the infant who slept in her carrier near Carrie's feet.

"Vaughn what is it?" Sydney asked growing even more concerned with every passing moment.

"At first she was fine, we were talking and she was scared, she kept telling me she hadn't done anything wrong. Then she changed." Vaughn paused momentarily and looked around at the others faces, each worried with concern for Kat. "Branden, Kendall and Lindsey came in and she was a completely different person. I'd never seen this before, an alias, it wasn't her. She was cold, almost cruel. Distant. Cocky, smart mouthed. Her eyes, they were so dark, almost black and vacant. The way she stood, held her head, moved-it wasn't her. She was like..."

"Like what?" Sydney asked.

"She was like your mother." His words resounded the others to silence. "I don't understand what she was doing-"

"Surviving." Weiss' quiet voice broke through the confused onlookers. It was impossible to explain her actions so he didn't even bother and the sound of an oncoming car caught their attention. Marshall entered the warehouse a few moments later.

"Great place here," Marshall spoke with nervousness ease as he walked up to the table. "A little on the dark and mysterious side but hey that's good, great actually." He took a seat beside Carrie and lifted Kate from her carrier. "So are we going to bust her out of there, kick a little NSC booty... uh sorry Carrie," he added when she glared at him; she was NSC after all.

"Marshall-" she interrupted.

"You know I love you, NSC and all..." he stammered.

"Marshall. You said you found something on the communication that was sent to The Covenant?"

"Yeah, the time didn't coincide." Marshall balanced his daughter on his lap and she happily bounced up and down on her chubby legs. "You like that don't you," he cooed and made funny faces at her. "Yes you do, you like your old dad don't you."

"Marshall, what didn't coincide?" Weiss asked impatiently.

Marshall continued to play with Kate oblivious to everyone else's stares and finally Weiss couldn't take it any more. "Marshall!" he shouted. "What did you find?"

Marshall's eyes bugged out slightly in surprise and Carrie quietly took Kate from him.

"I'm sorry..." he mumbled.

"Marshall," Sydney reached across the table and squeezed his hand gently. "It's alright, just tell us what you found."

"It was the time on the communication, she supposedly sent to The Covenant," Marshall explained. It was the time on it, she couldn't have sent it."

"Why not?" Will asked. "She was in The Rotunda when it was sent, security section logged her in."

"She was," Marshall agreed. "But at the exact time it was sent, she was with Carrie & Kate."

"She was?" Carrie asked surprised.

"How can you be so sure?" Vaughn asked.

"I always take lunch between 12:30 and 1:30, you know I like to keep the same schedule, keeps the pipes oiled so to speak. Carrie brought Kate by for lunch but I was busy and she took Kat instead." Carrie nodded in agreement recollecting the event.

"We're going to need a little more proof than that," Jack interrupted.

"She's on tape," Marshall said with a smile. "She was still in the rotunda, but in my office videotaping Kate's first crawl at exactly the same time the message was supposedly sent."

"Well then she's off the hook," Will breathed a sigh of relief.

"Not exactly," Jack shook his head. "They likely have more evidence. The video could have been altered, it won't be enough, but it's a start-"

Jack was interrupted by a loud creaking sound as the door to the warehouse was opened. All the agents with the exception of Marshall and Carrie pulled their guns and trained them on the door. The intruder immediately held up his hands in surrender style, "It's just me."

"JJ?" Sydney called out surprised and put away her gun. "What are you doing here?"

He walked closer to the group before speaking. "I followed Marshall," he explained glancing around the darkened interior. "You were all gone and I figured you must be up to something. I guess I was right."

"JJ, you shouldn't be here-"Sydney began.

"No, I need to be here," he protested. "I have information for you. It's about Kat."