CHAPTER 17
2 MONTHS LATER
Lauren settles beside Sark on the couch as he watches the news while Sophia plays on the living room floor.
Sark smiles, "Get a good nap?"
Lauren nods "I was exhausted." She looks at her stomach with a faint smile, "I can't believe I'm six months today."
Sark rubs her middle smiling when he feels the baby move, "Still find that amazing."
"Yes it is." Lauren agrees
"Are you OK?" Sark asks concerned
Lauren shrugs "Just feel tired."
"Are you sure?"
Lauren nods "Dinner"
"Is ordered. Thai?"
Lauren nods "Sounds good to me." She shifts
"Are you OK?" Sark asks
"Backache." She turns her back to him sighing in pleasure as he massages her lower back. "Mmm that feels good."
"Mama, when is Daddy going to visit?"
Lauren glances at Sark when she feels him pause briefly then looks at Sophia who is looking at her, "He's supposed to be here next weekend."
"OK" Sophia returns to her coloring.
"Julian"
"Don't" Sark says quickly as he continues massaging her back. "I accepted that issue along time ago."
Lauren rests her head on the couch cushion unable to say anything to him. Lauren smiles as the little girl climbs onto the couch snuggling against her her head resting on her middle. "Tired?"
Sophia nods giggling as she feels the baby move, "That's funny."
Sark chuckles "What do you want Soph? A little brother or sister?"
"I dunno. I just want someone to play with."
"It will be a while Sophia before the baby will want to play." Lauren warns as she sits back as Sophia climbs onto her lap snuggling between her and Sark. She watches as Sark strokes the little girl's hair, 'He loves her so much. I know it hurts him that she doesn't call him Daddy... maybe one day.'
LATE THAT NIGHT
"I wonder what it is" Sark muses as he rests his hand on Lauren's stomach.
"Boy?"
"Another girl." Sark smiles
Lauren laughs, "You want another little girl to spoil don't you?"
Sark shrugs, "I'm fine either way."
"Do you ever wonder" Lauren bites her lip
"Lauren don't" Sark strokes her cheek
"I can't help it." Lauren whispers, "If I hadn't"
"Lauren" Sark kisses her temple "we can't change it"
"I wish I hadn't done it."
"I know"
"Do you?" Lauren asks softly as she looks at him, "You've never said."
"There wasn't any choice. We couldn't have disappeared... and it wasn't fair to you to have to go through the worry and fear factor again."
"Julian"
"Sometimes I wish we could have said 'screw what everyone else thinks' but we couldn't there was too much at risk." Sark kisses her head
NEXT MORNING
Lauren leans against the kitchen counter taking a deep breath.
"Darling" Sark calls tossing his keys on the hall table, "I thought you had an early meeting." He makes his way to the kitchen where he finds Lauren leaning against the counter. "What's wrong?"
"Just dizzy." Lauren answers. "I called in and told them I wasn't feeling well."
"Why don't you go lie down." Sark suggests
Lauren kisses his cheek then walks out of the kitchen.
LATE MORNING
Lauren winces her hand going to her middle, "Come on baby. That" she bites her lip "really hurts." She slowly sits up, "Fine then I'm up if your going to be that way."
Sark looks up as Lauren enters the living room, "How was your nap darling?" He asks setting aside his laptop.
"Baby is being stubborn" Lauren settles beside him "doesn't want me to sleep anymore."
"Sorry love." Sark reaches out rubbing her middle. "So are we going to find out what this one is or shall we wait?"
"I don't know. There are good points in finding out... pick clothes out and such." Lauren sighs just as the phone rings.
Sark reaches over picking up the phone, "Hello? Yes she is just a moment." He hands the phone to Lauren.
"Hello? Oh hi Mrs. Hansen. Is everything OK with Sophia? She isn't? That's not possible. Yes because her father isn't due into town until next weekend. Uh yes... I will give him a call and see what is going on. Thank you." She hands the phone to Sark.
"What is it?"
"She said that Vaughn came and picked Sophia up." Lauren looks at Sark puzzled. "Why would he show up and not tell us?"
"I'm sure its nothing. Perhaps he called last night"
"I checked my phone when we came home. No one called." Lauren stands walking to the kitchen where she left her phone. "No new messages. And I checked the voice messages as well." She says panic appearing in her voice. She looks at Sark wide eyed "You don't think he..."
"Calm down." He says resting his hands on Lauren's shoulders. "Call him first."
"Maybe he just picked her up for a few hours." Lauren says
"Maybe" Sark kisses her head.
Lauren finds Michael's number in her phone only to get his voice mail, "Michael the school just called and said you took Sophia out. Where are you?" She hangs up. "You don't think someone else took her from school?"
"Sophia knows better than to go with anyone she doesn't know." Sark says calmly "But" he walks over to his laptop and opens the browser.
Lauren runs her fingers through her hair then joins Sark on the couch as he works.
Sark pulls up the camera feed going back, "It was Vaughn."
Lauren bites her lip tears threatening to fall, "I have a bad feeling Julian."
"I'm sure its nothing. But I will check outgoing flights just to be sure."
Lauren nods
COUPLE HOURS LATER
"He took her." Lauren rocks back and forth tears falling.
"Lauren" Sark strokes her hair "it'll be OK."
"I want her back."
"I will find her. I promise"
"He knows how to hide, Sark. He'll just keep moving."
"And I will keep looking. I'm going to find them. I promise." He says "I called Jack"
"And?"
"He had Marshall run a check... Vaughn closed all of his accounts. And all known stashes of his have been raided. He said he'd have a lookout for them."
"How could he just take Sophia like this?" Lauren whispers
"I guess the truth hit him a lot harder than he thought."
"Didn't give him the right to take Sophia"
"No it didn't" Sark kisses her head, "And I promise I will get her back." He holds her as she cries
HOUR LATER
"No sign of them?" George demands
Sark shakes his head, "I believe it is possible he figured a way out. I tracked the car through cameras but he must have changed cars."
"I can't believe he did this to Lauren." George shakes his head looking towards the living room where his wife is with Lauren who is lying down her head on her Mom's lap.
"At least it isn't someone else." Sark muses. "As much as he hates me I doubt he'd hurt Sophia."
"How the hell did anyone figure this out? And how did telling him benefit anyone?"
"I have no idea." Sark rubs his forehead. "But when I find Vaughn..."
"Sark, think of it from his side... he's believed Sophia was his daughter"
"It's not like I was planning to usurp that." Sark argues
"You are pretty much living here. You see her every day."
"Yet legally he's her father." Sark points out
George stares at the young man, "You dislike that fact"
"Over time yes. At first, I believed it was a good idea but after his treatment of Lauren and Sophia... I have realized what a selfish bastard he really is."
"What are you going to do?"
"It's not like we can call the police. They will say this is a custody matter. And if we bring up the fact I am biologically her father..."
"Others will go searching for them just for that purpose."
Sark nods "The CIA is looking for him as well. Apparently he took some information with him."
"Where are you going to look?"
"I put out a notice to the few of Irina's sources still living... they know to keep an eye out for them."
"Lauren isn't taking this well" George remarks, "perhaps a doctor would be a good idea."
"I believe she's still in shock. Besides she refuses to leave the house. If things change I will drag her to the hospital."
"Good."
MIDNIGHT
"Just do it!" Sark orders angrily. "I don't care how but do it." He hangs up turning he finds Lauren leaning against the wall, "Lauren?"
"I don't"
Sark goes to her side as she passes out, "Lauren?"
DAWN: HOSPITAL
Lauren opens her eyes to find Sark watching her, "Julian"
Sark smiles "Hey sweetheart. How are you feeling?"
"Tired." She rests her hand on her middle and smiles faintly feeling the baby kick.
"The doctor said he's fine."
"He?"
Sark nods watching as Lauren smiles, "The doctor had to check on him after you had some contractions." At her expression he adds, "They stopped on their own."
"Sophia?" At his expression she swallows heavily, "He knows how to hide and avoid us."
"I'll find them." Sark promises wiping at the tears that have fallen, "I promise." As Lauren starts to cry he kisses her head, "I'll find her."
LATE MORNING
"How is she?" George asks Sark as the two stand in the hall outside of Lauren's hospital room.
"A wreck."
"Do you think you will be able to find them?" George questions
"I have too." Sark looks towards the room where Lauren is lying in the bed. "For Lauren"
George watches as Sark stares at Lauren, 'He'll find Sophia.'
NEXT MORNING: HOUSE
"I know he hates both of us but how could he do this to Sophia?" Lauren asks softly as she lies in bed.
Sark looks at his hand resting on her middle, "Perhaps he was scared that with this baby we'd want to tell Sophia the truth"
"But we both agreed that she wouldn't know until she was old enough to understand. She could have been 21 before knowing the truth."
"I know"
"What if someone else finds them before we do?" Lauren demands. "What if the person who found out about Sophia finds them?"
"I'm sure that person wouldn't try anything... they could have a long time ago."
Lauren closes her eyes "I want her back"
"So do I."
Hearing the tears and sadness in his voice Lauren tugs on his hand.
Sark lies down beside her pulling Lauren into his arms, "I'll find her."
"I'm just scared"
"I know."
"I want my baby back" Lauren starts to cry.
SAME TIME: SOMEWHERE
"Daddy can I call Mama?" Sophia asks hopefully.
"Not now Soph."
"OK."
Vaughn glances at Sophia as he drives, 'I'm doing this for Sophia. If she stays with Sark she'll only be hurt. She's still my daughter... just shares his blood. Blood doesn't make a father. I raised her. I loved her. He was off living his life and I was taking care of her, paying for her. I'm not going to let him hurt her like I know he will. She is my daughter. Lauren has proven her love for him over Sophia's safety. I won't let that happen.'
LATE NIGHT: LONDON
Sark opens the bedroom door and frowns when he finds the bed empty. He steps into the doorway of Sophia's room to find Lauren standing at the window holding Sophia's favorite blanket. "Darling"
"She doesn't have her blanket or her bear."
Stepping up behind her Sark pulls Lauren back against his chest kissing her head, "You are supposed to be in bed. The doctor said to stay off your feet."
"I know. I just wanted to get her blanket." Lauren looks at the blanket and smiles sadly. "I remember the day you sent this. It was the first thing I introduced her too... and it never left her sight after that."
"She'll have it back."
"I knew he was upset... how could he be so cruel?" Lauren turns burying her face in his neck sobs escaping.
Sark strokes her hair, "At least we know she's safe."
"She's not with us." Lauren manages to get out between sobs.
MIDNIGHT
Sark looks at Lauren who is finally asleep and stands stretching he quietly walks out of the bedroom. He closes the bedroom door and leans against the door taking a deep breath, 'I'm not going to cry. Lauren doesn't need me to be a wreck. I have to find her. I need to find her. I need to hold her... I need my little girl back.' He takes a deep shaky breath heading downstairs to return to his search. Entering the kitchen he notices the leftovers and begins to put the leftovers away. Reaching to open the refrigerator he stops when he sees a picture of he and Sophia taken one day while he was putting a Band-Aid on Sophia's knee after the little girl fell in the driveway.
/"What happened?" Lauren asks as she hurries to the kitchen after hearing her daughter cry.
"She just fell in the driveway." Sark answers setting Sophia on the counter inspecting the scrape on her knee, "It's not bad. Just have to get it cleaned up."
"It hurts" Sophia manages to get out between tears
"I know." Sark wipes at her tears then walks over to the sink reaching under he removes the emergency kit.
"Owie Mama" Sophia whimpers
"So I see" Lauren kisses her head, "Julian will patch you up."
Sark sets the kit beside Sophia and opens it. "We'll get this cleaned up and... how about we have some ice cream?"
"Really?" Sophia sniffles
"If Mama says its all right." Sark looks at Lauren and grins
"You know I can't say no when you two give me the hopeful look."
"Please Mama?"
"Oh all right." Lauren agrees "Some" she stresses looking at Sark "ice cream. Still have dinner ahead of us."
"Ice cream for dinner."
"No, no ice cream for dinner, baby girl." Sark laughs "But first lets get that cleaned up." He gently cleans and bandages the scrape as he hears a snap he looks up to see Lauren with a camera smiling. He looks back at Sophia just as he puts the Band-Aid on. "There."
"Thank you" Sophia sniffles
"You are very welcome" Sark kisses her head./
'I'm going to get my baby girl back.' He returns the picture to the refrigerator and begins to clean up the kitchen. He rests his hands on the counter taking a deep breath trying to control his sudden anger... and despair. He slides to the floor his back resting against the cabinets as tears begin to fall.
Lauren watches from the doorway of the kitchen as Sark sits on the floor not acknowledging her presence or not knowing of it. She rests her head on his shoulder.
"This is my fault." Sark whispers not opening his eyes.
"What is?"
"I should have stayed away. I shouldn't have come back."
Lauren stares at him shocked, "Don't say that"
"If I had stayed away he might never have found out. She'd be with you where she belongs." He rests his head against the cupboard.
"Don't say that." She strokes his cheek, "Julian look at me"
Sark opens his eyes meeting her eyes
"We love each other. Something tells me no matter what we would have ended up together."
"I messed up your life. I messed up Sophia's."
"What about his?" Lauren grabs his hand pressing it to her middle just as the baby moves. "He wouldn't be here."
Sark looks at her middle
At his silence Lauren pulls away and slowly stands staring at Sark, "You regret him." She accuses
Sark starts in surprise at her accusation, "I don't regret him." He stands "I regret that I'm destroying your life and Sophia's! If I hadn't returned this wouldn't have happened."
"We don't know that! We don't know if he wouldn't have found out somehow." Lauren says sadly. She steps into Sark's arms burrowing close. "I should have left him when we found out about Sophia." She whispers
"I don't think I was ready for that. I wanted it but I don't think I was ready." Sark admits as he strokes her hair.
"You were ready." Lauren whispers
"I was 24 and incredibly selfish."
"I keep forgetting you're younger than me." Lauren sniffles
"Hey, only four years." He kisses her head, "I don't regret him Lauren. I don't regret Sophia. I just regret that my presence in your lives causes so much trouble." He sighs. "Perhaps if I left he would bring her back."
Lauren pushes him away, "You promised you wouldn't leave again." She says hurt
"If it brought Sophia back I would." Sark runs his fingers through his hair.
"It wouldn't matter. He's angry at me as much as you." Lauren blinks back tears
"Come on lets get you back to bed." He guides her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. "You know the doctor said you need to stay in bed."
"I know. I just woke up and you weren't there." She sighs heavily. "Mum thinks calling the police would be the best idea."
"We both know it wouldn't be. He knows how to avoid them. Plus it puts Sophia in the spotlight and neither of them need that." As they enter the bedroom they crawl into bed, "We'll find them."
"It's so quiet without her."
"I know."
"The night she was born... and I had her in my arms I didn't want to let her go. I know this is cruel but I didn't even want him to touch her." Lauren strokes his hand as it rests on her middle. "I wanted you there... not him."
"Next time" He kisses her head, "Nothing will keep me from being there."
Lauren yawns, "I know he'll take care of her... that's the only thing I'm sure of."
"Go to sleep."
"Don't leave"
"I won't."
DAWN
Feeling Lauren's body shake Sark opens his eyes to find Lauren crying in her sleep. Sark hugs her close "Shh" he strokes her hair
Lauren stirs turning she buries her face in his chest and sobs, "I want her back."
"I know. I do as well."
"He took my baby."
COUPLE DAYS LATER: PARK
"What do you want Jack?" Sark asks calmly as he sits beside the older man.
"No one not even Marshall can track his movements now. Vaughn figured out how to avoid everyone... even Marshall. Have you asked Irina?"
Sark nods "She's looking as well."
"We'll continue looking but as of now... finding her is next to impossible. Not even Sydney knows all of his aliases. She's tried all of the ones she knows about."
"He has help from someone Jack. I'm going to find them."
"How is Reed?"
"A wreck. The doctor put her on bed rest." Sark answers as he stands "I will find Michael Vaughn... and I am not promising there won't be bloodshed especially if I find out someone helped him."
"You do realize you would risk your pardon by that threat?" Jack regards Sark.
Sark stares at the older man, "As you would do anything for Sydney, I would for Sophia." Sark sees the understanding flash in Jack's eyes. "And you know how I am when I want something." Sark walks away from Jack.
HOUR LATER: HOUSE
"She's just sitting there staring at the wall." Olivia informs Sark.
"Not like she can do much."
"Anything from Michael at all?" Olivia asks
Sark shakes his head, "His Mother doesn't even know where he could be." Sark tosses his jacket over the back of the recliner running his hands over his face. "I won't let this go... I can't."
"You really love my daughter and granddaughter."
"If it wasn't for Lauren and Sophia... I would probably be dead or in prison." He starts up the stairs heading to the bedroom where he finds Lauren sitting on the bed staring at the wall like her Mother said. He notices the photo albums all around her. He sits on the edge of the bed reaching out he cups her cheek, "Darling."
Lauren looks at him then looks at the pictures, "What happened?"
"Marshall lost them. Apparently Vaughn has learned how to avoid everyone."
Lauren swallows heavily. "We won't find her" she whispers
"I'll find her." Sark wipes at the tears that have fallen. "I promise. It might take a while but I'm going to find her." He says firmly. "Let me deal with this... you take care of him." He rests his hand on her middle. "He needs you Lauren."
Lauren nods "I just want her back."
"I know." He presses his lips to her hair, "I do too. They are the only blood I have."
Lauren lies down her head resting on his lap, "I miss her."
"I know" he strokes her hair "I miss her too."
TBC…
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