Starting Over Again Backwards

Chapter 5: Notes and Sisters

"Jade, this is your sister Sydney," Jack said paying no attention to Sydney's reaction.

"Hi," Jade said with a shy smile.

"Hi Jade," Sydney replied shooting a look at her father.

"Daddy," said Jade looking back at Jack. "Are you going to stay?"

"Yes, but I don't know how long."

Jade's face fell visibly, "Oh."

Sydney noticed her sister's reaction and felt a stab of pain. She was so young and yet she had already known such disappointment. How could her father keep this secret? How could her parents do this to this little girl? She hadn't seen Jack for nearly a year, but yet it was clear to Sydney that Jade was used to not seeing her father for long stretches of time.

"Dad, can I speak with you for a minute?" Sydney asked.

"Yes," Jack said putting Jade down. "Of course. Jade, sweetheart I need to talk to Sydney for a minute ok?"

"Ok Daddy," said Jade going off to play

"Dad, why didn't you tell me?" Sydney asked quietly.

"It wasn't safe."

"It wasn't safe? Then tell me what safe was? Sneaking off to France to see Mom and my sister for 5 years?"

"I didn't bring you here to interrogate my choices Sydney."

"No you didn't. But don't you think I deserve an explanation?"

"You wouldn't have believed me Sydney. I barely believed it myself at first. I took some time off at Sloane's request. I went to Europe. For some reason I was drawn to Prague, I don't know why. I had been there for several days and decided to go to a bar near my hotel. I was sitting there having a drink when your mother walked in."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. I thought perhaps that I had consumed more alcohol than I had realized and that perhaps I was merely dreaming. That thought stayed with me until long after I had returned and then two months later I received a phone call from your mother."

"Mom just called you?"

"Yes Sydney."

"And she told you that she was pregnant?"

"Yes."

Sydney turned and looked at her sister again before turning back to her father.

"You're right, I wouldn't have believed it. This is crazy." Sydney paused. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"I'm still trying to adjust to all of these new things in my life. But I'm glad that I have a chance to know my sister."

"Mr. Bristow?" said Chantal from the doorway.

"Yes?" Jack replied turning to her.

"Mrs. Bristow asked me to give this to you," she said handing Jack a note.

"Thank you Chantal."

"You're welcome."

Chantal left the room and Jack turned back to Sydney.

"Why don't you get to know your sister? I'll be back in a minute."

"Ok."

Jack left the room and went into the master bedroom across the hall. When the door was shut, he opened the letter from Irina.

Dear Jack,

I had to go away on business. I know that we agreed that there would be no more secrets between us. But the business that I have to pursue is not without risk. I wanted to call you as soon as I heard of your release from my contacts, but I don't want to put you at any more risk. I don't know when I will be back Jack, and what I am about to ask of you is quite a lot I know. But I would like for you to take Jade back to Los Angeles with you. I know that this will not be without some risk to you. However, I know that Jade will be much better off with you than stuck in this house alone. I will contact you when it is safe.

I love you Jack. Never doubt that.

Love,

Irina

Jack read the note twice before he allowed himself to think. Risk was an understatement. The principle reason that kept Jade here stemmed from the fact that if Jack ever took her back to Los Angeles and someone found out the truth, he would land in jail. The implication that Jack could have shared intelligence with Irina was obvious. She was after all an international terrorist. But at the same time, she was his wife. For five years, Jack managed to live two lives, one as an operative for the CIA and father to Sydney and the other, husband to Irina Derevko and father to Jade. Now those two lives had to merge. But the question was how?

He sat there for several minutes thinking and then it hit him. But it wouldn't work, there was more potential risk than the game theorist in him liked. And there was Jade to think about. Could his five year-old go along with it? Would Sydney even consider it? But then what other option did he have? He had to ask. Jack opened the door and walked back across the hall.

Sydney had slipped easily into the role of older sister. However, to an outsider, the interaction between the two could be that of a mother and daughter. Jade was sitting quite comfortably in Sydney's lap reading a book. Sydney was reading a Russian translation of Through the Looking Glass from what Jack had translated off the top of his head. Jade was giggling and Sydney looked genuinely happy for the first time since her return. The bond between the two of them formed more quickly than Jack had originally anticipated. Maybe it would work after all.

"Sydney can I speak with you for moment?" Jack asked coming into the room.

"But Daddy we were just getting to the good part," Jade said not liking the interruption Jack had provided.

"I know sweetie and I'm sorry but Daddy has to talk to Sydney just for a second ok?"

"I'll be right back," Sydney said setting her down and getting up following her father out of the room. As soon as Sydney closed the door to Jade's room, she looked at her father worried. "That note was from mom wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Is everything ok?"

"Everything is fine. Your mother had to go away on business, that's all."

"Judging from your expression, there's more."

"Yes. Your mother doesn't know when she will return and so she would like Jade to come with me."

"If you're worried about taking care of her, I'll help in any way that I can."

"I'm not worried about caring for her, but thank you."

"Then what is it?"

"When you said you would help with Jade, did you mean it?"

"Of course Dad. I would do anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes, of course, you should never doubt that."

"Sydney if Jade does come back to Los Angeles with us, there is something you must do for me."

"Name it."

"I need you to pretend that you're Jade's mother."

Did anyone see that coming?  I'm sorry if the chapters seem short, but I'm trying to do one thing at a time. Read and review please! Oh and submit your PM requests!

Nathalia004