I force myself to put these thoughts aside as I realize the time to meet with Francie is drawing near. It's 1:30 now, and since we're scheduled to meet at 2, I need to get going. My thoughts stay in the past as I work my way through the present traffic. I realize I'll have to explain everything to Francie anyway, from SD-6 through what happened with Syd.
As anticipated, the traffic is insane, and it takes me forever to get to her restaurant. When I finally do arrive, it's already 2:05. I walk in and she smiles at me from the kitchen. She hurries out to greet me.
"Hi Michael."
"Hi, sorry I'm late, traffic was killer." She waves her hand absently.
"Don't worry, it couldn't have been more than five minutes anyway," she says with a polite smile. "Now let's go into the back. We can talk there." I grab her arm and stop her. She turns to face me, a curious and almost alarmed look on her face.
"We need complete privacy. Some of these things I'm going to tell you… they're not supposed to be told." Francie stares at me for a very long moment, a near smile on her face, obviously trying to decide if I'm serious. I can tell when she finally realizes I am, as the hint of a smile fades totally, and is replaced with a dead seriousness in her eyes.
"Ok. We can go to my office. It's small, but no one will interrupt." I nod.
"That works." She leads me through the kitchen, stopping briefly to talk to someone.
"We'll be in my office. Only interrupt in the case of emergency, and by that I mean life threatening. Otherwise, you're in charge, and I'm trusting you to handle everything." The man nods at her, and we continue on to her office. True to her word, the room is small and sparsely furnished, obviously not seeing a whole lot of use. But it has two chairs, and that's all we'll need to get this story out. She sits behind a small desk and looks at me expectantly.
"Ok. Before I start, I think I should warn you: you're about to find out things about Sydney that I'm sure you never imagined could be true, if you ever imagined them at all. Whatever thoughts may form, I am begging you to wait until the end of the story to form your final opinion of her. What I'm going to tell you is bound to change your perceptions of her, hopefully for the better. Just keep an open mind." Looking nervous, Francie nods slowly.
"Ok… whatever it is, I'm sure it can't be that bad." I stare at her seriously.
"Yes, it can be. It can be that bad, and a million times worse." She gapes at me for a moment.
"Um… all right. Go ahead and tell me this story." I take a deep breath and ponder where to begin. Finally I decide not to sugarcoat anything, and just begin by telling her the truth.
"Syd never really worked for a bank. She-" Francie quickly jumps in.
"That's crazy. She was always gone on trips, and she always had these meetings, and… where else could she have worked?"
"The CIA." I allow that to sink in.
"What? You are crazy, I don't want to hear anymore of your made up tales about a woman you obviously didn't even know. Just leave, now." I reach into my pocket and pull out my wallet, showing her my ID.
"I'm a CIA officer. Throughout her tenure with the CIA, I was her handler. Don't tell me I'm crazy, or that I don't know Sydney Bristow. I know her better than anyone else ever could." I hadn't intended to get angry, though I knew coming in that Francie most likely wouldn't believe any of it initially.
"Before the CIA, Sydney worked for SD-6. She was-"
"Wait… that spy group that Will made up?"
"He didn't make it up. It was real." I quickly give her the backstory on what Will went through, and she is left staring at her desk.
"I can't believe it… all this time, I've thought it was true, that he really was a junkie… I feel so horrible." I don't speak, though my heart is screaming out that by the end of the day, things will only feel worse. I proceed to tell her about SD-6 and Sydney's involvement there, until I get to Danny and Francie cuts me off again.
"Wait… it wasn't a random break in? Danny was murdered?"
"Yes. He was killed because Sydney told the man she was going to marry what she truly did, and Sloane found out." Francie looks like she's going to be sick, and I feel a pang of sympathy. I move on to Sydney's entry into the CIA, and my initial relationship with her.
"She lied all those years… I think I should feel angry at her, but all I can feel is proud. She must have had such a hard time, not telling myself or Will. She had to keep everything to herself in order to keep us safe. I'll never cease to be amazed by her," she says softly. I have to smile.
"Syd always has inspired awe, hasn't she?" Francie nods quickly, and I can see tears forming in her eyes.
"What happened after she became CIA?" I explain the fight against SD-6, and the struggle to keep herself and her father a secret. Francie grows more entranced by the moment. I eventually get to Will, and how he found out.
"So wait… he's known too?"
"Yeah. But he couldn't tell you, for the same reasons that Sydney couldn't. Believe me, both of them wanted to, but it could have resulted in all three of your deaths." Francie looks shocked, but nods mutely for me to continue. I soon get to the topic of her mother.
"She didn't die? She was KGB?" she looks like she's starting to lose it, and I wonder if it's all too much to take in at one time. She's finding out that everything she believed about her closest friend, was all a lie. I remind myself that Sydney felt the same pain, only a hundred times worse, and that's enough cause for me to move on with the story. When I come to the subject of Sydney's disappearance, Francie grows more overtly emotional, and even I find myself having difficulty continuing. But I tell it to her as best I can, from Jack running from the CIA, to Irina breaking out and helping in the search. I tell her about all of the phone calls, and about Kendall's various decisions hampering the search. Eventually, I get to the flight to Lithuania, and the hope that we might finally have found Sydney. Recalling all of the emotions running through me at that point, I have to stop and take a calming breath. Francie gives me space, but I know she is as invested in this as I am. Finally, she can take the wait no longer and presses for me to continue.
With a brief warning that the story might get more confusing and more painful from this point on, I continue with the tale…

miss.pebbles: Finals? Eeek… good luck! As for S/S vs. S/V… I go either way, I can never decide, but I won't go Sarkney with this fic, because… I think certain people would hurt me if I did. Hee.

Certain Stalker: Glad you love it anyway. And yes, I'm well aware that waiting and patience isn't your most accomplished skill… :D

Secret Agent Girl: I get this feeling that people want a happy ending… but at least you're not threatening me for one… hehe. And yes, I do so love those phone calls!

snowangel: Happy that you like where this is going, I think I do too…

carrie: Happy to clear things up for you. Hope I don't lose you again!

mary_d: Made your day, huh? Well that just makes mine! Thanks for the consistent reviews!

BronwynMaye: Addicted, you say? Hmm… more proof that I'm bad for people's health! Hehe… yup, I surely do remember the ch. you mentioned… I liked that one!

Chat: Oh my Colin… (hehehe)… you're as crazy as the rest of them, if that was ever in doubt. And, wait… you like Vaughn more than Sark??? Since when??? ;)

Jade: Hehe… Kendall turning red… that would be hilarious! Something to ponder… lol.

rin: chat is your hero? Uh oh… I'm in trouble now. LOL.