She stirred in her sleep, a thin layer of sweat covered her body, she clawed at the wall and thrashed on the tile floor.
She sees her face, her surprised and then serene look. She was understanding and calm. It frustrated her. It still frustrates her. She falls back and closes her eyes. It's so natural, why does it feel so natural?
Why was she so serene and calm? Why wasn't she disappointed?
She knew this was the real her all along.
Sydney woke up slowly letting her eyes adjust to the harsh light of the bathroom. She couldn't ignore this anymore. The phone rang and he made the decision for her. A familiar voice filled her head.
"Joey's Pizza."
-
A cold breeze whipped through the air. He pulled his jacket tighter around his body. Leaning against the cold steel he sunk to the ground putting his head in his hands. He heard a car but he didn't know if he could see her. He looked up slowly meeting her eyes. She looked like an effigy of her old self. She was a hollow shell, a disgrace to the Sydney Bristow he once knew.
She seemed to run towards him trying to catch him before he ran away. She tripped and landed on the hard concrete. She didn't even seem to notice. She stood quickly and stared at him. She regained her balance clumsily and stood beside him.
He looked at her, he stared. He tried to see something that he missed. Something that could have told him the truth. Something that revealed her betrayal.
"Sydney." He stated simply nodding his head.
"Vaughn…" She replied.
He didn't know where to begin. He didn't know what to say first. "Where is she?"
"She's with my dad."
"Did you just drop her off there? You should have brought her."
She shook her head in shame. "Sydney? Have you been drinking?" He asked his voice full of a strong disgust.
"I need to explain."
He didn't want her explanations. There was nothing that could justify years of lying and deceit. He couldn't be here, stand here with her.
He didn't trust himself. He could forgive so easily, he could forget everything pretend he never knew.
He didn't trust himself. He remembered every detail, all the gruesome details. He knew everything she had done. The cold steel felt heavy in his hand. He imagined how he would feel; he tried to gauge his reaction.
"I don't want to hear your voice, just listen. I want my daughter. I want her tomorrow morning. I'll be at the office, I'll be with Kendall. When you come in you're going to confess, you're going to tell them everything. I want to hear it from you." He let go of the gun and took his hands out of his pockets.
She shook her head.
"Vaughn, you have to let me explain. It's still me I never changed"
"I don't want your explanations.I just spent the last year of my life finding out whom you are, this new Sydney Bristow you've fabricated. You aren't Sydney. I loved Sydney. I don't love you."
"Vaughn, it's me. It's always been me." She said quietly tears welling in her eyes.
He looked away unable to see her empty brown eyes again. "That's all I want."
He slipped away walking slowly down the alley. She sat down where he had left rocking back and forth. She pulled her knees up to her chest. She didn't cry, she knew that he was right. She needed to confess her sins.
-
Sydney hadn't been into the CIA for the past 3 months. She had continued her work until her baby was born. That was when she fell apart. It was when she should have been the strongest.
She tried to stride into the office with the strength and confidence she once had. She didn't know if she would ever have that again. In fact, she knew she would never have it again.
She came in late. She didn't figure it would matter what time she showed up. She didn't even know if he would be there when she got there. She didn't know if she would see him again.
And she hated herself because this was her last day as a free woman and she had no one to say goodbye to.
-
Jack clutched the infant to his chest. He felt odd as the tiny girl squirmed in his arms.
"Shhh…" He whispered quietly as she cried.
His co workers stared as he walked through the office. He pushed the glass door opened and there he was.
Michael Vaughn stood wide eyed and Jack stared at him the exact same way. Jack finally understood the hurried message that he found on his machine this morning from Sydney.
He let go of her easily and slid her into her father's arms. She fussed for a minute looking confused at the odd surroundings. She calmed down quickly as if she knew that she was finally him. She fell asleep quickly in his arms.
"Take good care of her." Jack stated stroking the baby's cheek gently. He didn't even ask where Vaughn had been, what had happened because he didn't care. He just wanted the best for his grand daughter.
-
Sydney had walked around the block more times than she could count. She didn't know what to do. This would change everything. Everyone would be in danger. Her father, her daughter, Vaughn, everyone might die and if they did she would have only herself to blame.
-
Vaughn had obviously told them she was coming. They had a room ready when she came through the glass doors. They ushered in her discreetly hoping that nobody noticed. She stared at the mirror knowing they were behind it. Everyone she cared about stood behind the mirror. They were judging her, guessing what she was about to say.
"Please state your name for the record." The man said as she tried to get comfortable under the invisible scrutinizing eye.
"Sydney Bristow."
The man sat back and waved his hand indicating whenever she was ready.
She took a few deep breaths.
"For the past four years I have been working for a known terrorist organization."
The man just stared, his expression didn't change. He waved his hand again signalling her to continue.
"I've been working for the Covenant."