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Chapter Fourteen:
The Ones Who Love Her

Vaughn had realized at that point that there was only one person he could go to for help. One person, who, like him, would have Sydney's best interests in mind.

Vaughn stopped in front of the guard and flashed his ID.

"I'm here to see the prisoner."

If Irina was surprised to see Vaughn she didn't show it. She just approached the glass, examining his demeanour. He appeared visibly upset.

"I need your help," he said.

"It's Sydney, isn't it?" Irina asked. There would have to be a dire reason for Vaughn to come to her and ask for help. Why, the last time that had happened, it had been his life in danger.

Vaughn nodded in conformation. "She went after Sloane. The CIA sent in a tactical team after her and they were killed." He paused, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Kendall isn't sending in another team."

Irina looked at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, Mr Vaughn, what exactly do you expect me to do?"

"Sydney would never be in this predicament if it weren't for you!" Vaughn shot back harshly. "Now I think it's time you tried to rectify the situation."

"Excuse me?" Irina asked slowly, her eyes narrowing.

"I know it was you who helped Sydney find Sloane. If you hadn't have given her-"

"I did what I thought was best for my daughter." Irina hissed, her face an inch from the glass. "Don't you dare stand there and lecture me. Do you think that you're the only one who loves her?"

"I never said I was." Vaughn said. "But I wasn't the one who sent her into a death trap."

"She would never have gone alone if the CIA had allowed her to participate in the search for Jack, instead of trying to chain her to a desk."

Vaughn didn't reply. Irina was right, and as much as he hated to affiliate himself with this woman, he knew that they were on the same side…well, for this particular problem.

Irina registered the change in Vaughn's expression and allowed hers to soften too. "You said you needed my help?"

Vaughn nodded. "I don't know how you can, but at this point, there is no one else to turn to."

Irina pointed to a metal chair situated in the hall by Vaughn. "Sit. We can talk. Hopefully, together, we can come up with something."

TWO YEARS EARLIER

"I have to go," Sydney said through the glass, her face distraught. "Dad and I have been compromised."

A flutter of concern crossed Irina's face. "Where is your father now?"

Sydney swallowed hard, trying to stop herself from crying or throwing up or both. "Sloane has him."

Irina closed her eyes briefly as understanding dawned. "Where will you be going?"

"I don't know yet. I won't know until I'm on the plane. But I'll be leaving within the hour."

Irina looked faintly surprised. "Then why are you here? Surely you have good byes to say?"

"I just needed to see you once more. Let you know what is happening."

"You should be with your friends. Agent Vaughn. I don't deserve this precious time."

"I wanted to say good bye to you." Sydney said. "I don't know when…if I'll be back."

Irina placed her palm up against the glass. "We will see each other again, Sydney."

Sydney nodded, her face distressed. "I have…I have to go now."

"I'll be seeing you Sydney." Irina said and Sydney managed a watery smile before walking off.

Irina felt a deep ache as she watched her daughter walk away. How long would she have to wait before laying eyes on Sydney once again?

Thalia stared at Sydney, disbelievingly. "Why should I believe you?"

"Do you think I would be able to create a story like that?" Sydney asked. She could understand Thalia's doubt. If Rambaldi had not played such an important role in her work with the CIA and SD-6, she knew she would have struggled to believe what she had just said. Hell, she still refused to believe that she was, in fact, The Chosen One.

"So you're telling me that man…" Thalia trailed off, blanching. "My father believes that the two of us will enable him to learn the true meaning of the work by a prophet born in the 1400's?"

"To put it simply, yes."

Thalia shook her head slowly, and Sydney thought that she could see tears forming in her eyes.

"Look, I know it's a lot to take in, but Ram-"

"I don't give a damn about Rambaldi." Thalia said softly. "That whole thing is just ridiculous to me."

"So then why are you so upset?" Sydney realized that she was sounding pushy. "I mean, if you don't mind me asking."

"That's ok." Thalia replied, running a hand through her dark hair. "I was raised in an orphanage. Basically I've been alone my entire life. I have always wondered about my parents. What they looked liked, what they sounded like…were they good people?" She paused. "I just found out that I am the offspring of Irina Derevko and Arvin Sloane. Criminals...murderers...terrorists.Wouldn't you be upset?"

"I understand what you are feeling." Thalia looked up at Sydney. "I spent 20 years believing that my mother was a woman named Laura who died in a car accident. The truth devastated me."

Thalia stared at her for a few seconds. "So I guess we can call this our first bonding session, hey?"

Sydney allowed herself a small laugh. "Well, we do have a few years to catch up on," she replied. "Thalia-"

"No," Thalia was shaking her head.

"No, what?"

"Thalia isn't my name."

"Your name isn't Thalia?" Sydney repeated, and 'Thalia' nodded in response. "Well, then what is?"

"Nadia."

Vaughn rubbed his tired eyes. He felt as if he and Irina had been talking for hours.

"This is hopeless. I don't think there is anything we can do to convince Kendall to sanction a new team." He stood and made to leave. "I appreciate your help."

"Wait," Irina sad, earnestly. "Something just occurred to me."

"What?"

"The Prophecy."

"What about the Prophecy?"

"The woman depicted, it is possible that she is one of two woman. Sydney…"

"And you." Vaughn said slowly as he lowered himself back onto the chair. "So what are you thinking?"

"If I were allowed to make contact with Sloane and convince that I am the Chosen One, then maybe we would have a chance of extracting Sydney."

"But what about Jack? And your other daughter?" Vaughn pressed.

Irina's face was etched in concentrarion as she brought a finger up to her pursed lips.

"What if I were allowed to go to the facility?" she mused out loud.

"There is no way Kendall would sanction that. Kashmir was a big enough risk and that was when Jack and Sydney were there to keep an eye on you."

"Just hear me out." Irina insisted. "Surely my appearance at Sloane's facility would cause enough of a distraction to allow a CIA team to infiltrate the building."

"And if not?"

"Well, I would still attempt to convince Sloane that I am the woman in the Prophecy, coerce him into releasing Sydney. At least then she would have a chance of escape."

Vaughn couldn't help but feel a burst of hope. Irina's idea made sense and he would do everything in his power to convince Kendall to go along with it.

"Just say you'll think about it. We'll have the element of surprise this time as we have no need to hack into their security feed again. The presence of Irina Derevko would surely be enough of a distraction for us to infiltrate." Vaughn pasued to allow himself a breath. "And, this isn't just about Sydney and Jack, sir, this is our chance to capture Sloane and Sark. Please, consider this."

"Ok," Kendall nodded. "I'll sanction it."

"What?" Vaughn blurted out before he could stop himself. He would have never thought Kendall would agree to this straightaway. He even had about three more big convincing speeches planned. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Kendall replied, testily. "But we have to go about this carefully."

"You want Derevko fitted with a tracking device?"

"Yes, it'll have to be a passive transmitter. We can take the risk of Sloane detecting an actual device." Kendall said. "Get onto Op-Tech and I'll have a tactical team ready within the hour. I want you ready to leave then."

"You're allowing me to take part in the operation?" Vaughn asked, surprised.

"Yes," Kendall replied. "I want you at Derevko's cell in half an hour. You, Weiss and Dixon will be escorting her to the plane.

"Thank you." Vaughn said, sincerely.

"Do me a favour Agent Vaughn."

"What?"

"Get home safely, and bring Jack and Sydney back too."

"I'll do my best."