Starting Over Again Backwards
Chapter 6: Playing Pretend
"I don't know how to even respond to that," Sydney replied stunned.
"It is a lot to ask I realize," Jack said quietly.
"Why?"
"Sydney if I bring Jade back with us, people will naturally begin to ask questions once they learn that Jade is my child. Eventually those questions will lead to answers and I am afraid those answers will lead to your mother. If the CIA learns that I have been in a relationship with her, they will assume that I shared intelligence with her. I could wind up back in prison and they could take Jade away. And I don't know if you could get her back."
Sydney nodded, "I understand. But Dad, be realistic no one is going to believe I had a daughter and never mentioned her. How can I explain that?"
"Danny."
Sydney's heart seized, even after four years his death was still painful.
Jack gauged her reaction before continuing, "The people who knew you and Danny as a couple are no longer a part of your life. You could simply say that you sent the child to live with Danny's parents because of your occupation. But now that you are no longer a part of SD-6, you have decided to bring her back.
"Dixon would never buy it."
"Then tell him the truth. You can trust him."
Sydney considered this for a moment, "And what about Jade? The psychological implications are obvious. She's 5 years-old, do you really think that she will be able to understand what's going on, much less keep up the charade?"
"Jade is very good at playing pretend."
"Dad…."
"Sydney, Jade will be fine and I will be there every step of the way to help you."
"What about Mom?"
"I'll speak with her."
"Ok."
"So you'll do it?"
"Yes, I'll do it."
"Good, I'll take care of everything."
A plane
Somewhere over Greenland
Early the next morning
Jade was sleeping peacefully in a seat directly behind Sydney and Jack. They had left Marseilles sometime before 6am. In front of a sleeping Jade, Jack handed an envelope to Sydney.
"What's this?" She asked taking it.
"All of the necessary information that proves that you have a daughter."
Sydney opened the envelope and pulled out a birth certificate, passport, pictures, a social security card, and two small white envelopes. The birth certificate and the passport read:
Full Name: Bristow-Hecht, Drew Christina
Date of Birth: 17 Dec 00
Sex: Female
Place of Birth Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Parents: Bristow, Sydney Anne, Hecht Daniel Andrew
The pictures showed Sydney and Danny with a young infant, Sydney holding a swaddled baby in a hospital bed, Sydney holding an older infant at Danny's funeral.
"Dad," Sydney whispered. "How did you do this?"
"I photo-shopped you and Danny in place of Irina and I. That is, if that is the appropriate term nowadays."
"You never cease to amaze me."
"And neither do you," he said his tone softening for a moment. "You should have no trouble making people believe that you have a child."
"Wait, what's this?" Sydney asked indicating the two white envelopes. She opened the smaller one first. It contained a small lock of hair.
"Your mother insisted on saving a piece of Jade's baby hair and putting it in a baby book. She did the same for you, and I believe I still have that book around."
"You kept my baby book?"
"Of course I did Sydney, it has all of your firsts in it. Why would I not keep ir?"
"You just don't seem like—"
"The sentimental type?" Jack finished.
"Yes."
"I'm full of surprises."
"Yes I noticed that. But that still doesn't explain why you gave this to me."
"It's the little things that keep an illusion real and besides I thought maybe you could do something with it. Your mother never got around to making that book."
Sydney opened a slightly larger envelope and pulled out a check. She read it and it took all her strength not to gasp, "Dad, I can't accept this! Why are you giving me this?"
"Yes you can Sydney. Consider it a payment for living expenses."
"I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."
"I know that Sydney, but Jade is going to be living with you now and things tend to be expensive. I gave half of this amount to your mother every month. She didn't need it because she had made quite a bit of money on her own. But I still gave it to her because I wanted to help with Jade, even if I couldn't be there everyday."
"I don't know what to say," she whispered.
"You don't have to say anything."
"Thank you."
"No Sydney, thank you. Without you, I don't know when I would be able to see your sister again."
"Does Drew know who she is?"
"Yes and she's perfectly fine with it. She actually thought that you were going to stay with her and that I was going back to LA. But I explained that she'll be able to see me much more now."
"What if she slips up and calls you daddy in public?"
"She won't. The key to Drew is believing. If you truly believe that you are her mother, then she will believe it too."
"I hope you're right."
Los Angeles
Sydney's Apartment
Later that night
Sydney wiped the stray hair from Drew's face before kissing her goodnight on the forehead and quietly leaving the room. She went into the living room and sat down intending to unwind and mull over the events of the day. But she hadn't even sat down for a second before there was a knock on the door. Sydney got up reluctantly to answer it. But when she opened it, she had to fight to keep the surprise from showing on her face.
"Vaughn."
"I was on my way home from work and I wanted to stop by and ask how your trip went."
"It was fine."
"Mommy," came a voice from behind Sydney.
Sydney turned to see Drew standing behind her, "Drew, sweetheart what are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"You couldn't sleep, even after that long plane ride?" Sydney asked picking the little girl and Drew shook her head before resting her head on Sydney's shoulder and catching a glance of Vaughn in the doorway. "Mommy, who's that?"
"Oh," Sydney said turning all the way back to Vaughn. "Drew, I'd like you to meet my friend Michael. We work together. Michael, I'd like you to meet my daughter Drew."
"Hi," Drew said softly with a small smile.
"It's nice to meet you Drew," Vaughn responded, trying to keep his shock from showing.
"I'll be back in a minute, make yourself at home," Sydney said before disappearing back into Drew's room. She came back a few minutes later.
"I'm sorry, Drew's not used to sleeping here yet---" Sydney started, by Vaughn cut her off.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a daughter?"
An undisclosed location
A woman sat in front of a bank of television monitors. She smiled to herself as she watched the conversation between Sydney and Vaughn continue. Everything was right on schedule. Jack, Sydney, and Jade had moved on to a better chapter in their lives. The woman rose and exited the room, walking down the hall with a portable monitor. She stopped in front of a small jail cell and held the monitor up.
"They've moved on, just like I said. I wouldn't lie to you. I have no reason to." She paused before continuing. "Now will you tell me what I need to know or will we have to resort to more extensive methods?"