Again, thanks for all the wonderful reviews, you guys rock so much- especially the people who keep coming back and reviewing each chapter. I know this one is really short too, but that damn 'real life' thing keeps interfering. If this story isn't wrapped up by the time finals are over (12 days, whoo!) then I promise a big long chapter as a Christmas present!

Knowing Jack would never sit around idly in the witness protection program, I went to the safehouse Devlin had sent him to. He was leaving when I arrived. "Jack…" I began before he cut me off. "Agent Vaughn. Do not presume to stop me. I will not hide out in some CIA safehouse, waiting for news on my daughter, all the while knowing that I will not hear any. I know you care about her as well, so I am asking you to please, stay out of my way." I glanced around outside, just to be sure we were still safe, and then pushed Jack back in and shut the door. "Look, Jack, I'm not here to stop you, believe it or not. I'm here to offer my assistance. You can go wherever you need to go, do whatever you need to do, and I won't breathe a word of it to Kendall or Devlin. But I need you to keep in touch. If we work together, we have a better chance of finding her." Jack nodded slightly. "Fine. But I contact you. I don't want to run the risk of you having the means to contact me. Not that I don't trust you, it's just safer for all involved. I'll be in touch at least once a week." Wanting to keep the meeting short for the safety of us both, I turned to leave. Jack stopped me with a very quiet, unexpected "Thank you."

I suddenly become aware of the woman speaking to me. "Are you ok?" It doesn't sound like the first time she's asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." She nods dubiously, and takes another sip of her own drink. I wonder when she ordered that. "I lost someone close to me a few years ago too…" she keeps talking, but I tune her out for the most part. I listen enough to reply when I need to, but my thoughts drift back- to Sydney's other parent.

I was shocked when I realized that Syd's disappearance was hitting Irina as hard as it hit Jack. For a while, she wouldn't speak to anyone. No back-and-forth bickering with Jack, no smart remarks to Kendall. Then one day, he threatened to rescind her immunity, saying it hinged one her cooperation. She still wouldn't talk to him. Later that day, I went in to see her for the third time since Sydney's disappearance. As soon as I walked in, her eyes met mine. "I didn't know," she said softly. I was surprised; those were the first words she had uttered in almost a month. I was also confused. "What do you mean?" She looked up at me again, and it was obvious she hadn't been sleeping much better than Jack or myself. "I didn't know this was going to happen. I didn't know Sydney would go missing." I wondered if Kendall had accused her of setting Syd up. "I know you didn't. No one says you did. But what I need is for you to keep working with us. I may need your help to find Sydney, and if Kendall ships you off again…" knowing she would understand, I allowed myself to trail off. After a moment, she nodded. "Fine. But I speak only to you."

That had been unexpected. It was strange, how life worked. This woman kills my father, and I end up being the only person she'll talk to. But, knowing full well that her help could be invaluable, I agreed. She continued to provide me with names, which I passed on to Kendall. I don't know what he did with the info, or what agents he sent out there. To me, it was all just a formality, something I had to do in order to continue using CIA resources- including Irina- to find Syd. Nothing ever panned out. The man who had been in possession of the disk- one Matthew Jericho- had turned up dead.

And then, Irina Derevko had escaped.

Now, how awesome was 'Passage Part 2?' I knew My Hero (Irina) would come through! And did anyone else hope those were hockey tickets Vaughn was pulling out at the end? I so thought they were… ah well, it was cute anyway… again, thanks for reading! I'll love you forever if you review!