FAMILY MATTERS

Eyghon

Soon Irina would reply to her request for a 'book recommendation' and give her instructions on how to proceed next.

Soon she would have to deal with Vaughn like the adult she was.

Soon her little sister would be herself again.

Chapter 13: Pregnancy test

The next day, Saturday, Sydney came home from her morning run to find her daily newspaper waiting on the doormat. Unwrapping it inside her apartment, she noticed the corner of the 'travel section' turned down. The page featured an article about the dangers of taking a trip to Asian countries because of the bird flu. Putting the rest of the newspaper aside, she concentrated on the page, trying to figure out what she was supposed to see.

Email was faster than sending hidden messages but it was less safe. No matter how tight the encryption of her account was if the CIA ever found out about it, they could dig up messages years old. She could be arrested on 'terrorist charges'. Thanks to the Patriot Act, 'terrorist charges' could mean a lot of things and had no limitation in time. Sydney could be arrested simply for sharing mails with her mother, a known terrorist, even if they were merely discussing the advantages of Smirnoff vodka over the Armadale one in mixing cocktails.

Sydney finally figured out what the coded message was. 'Take the week-end away with Nadia'. Her mother wanted her to take Nadia to her home in Honolulu.

She immediately started packing her suitcase and then went to the guest bedroom, still occupied by Weiss. He had more or less moved in on a permanent basis a few weeks ago, so that someone would be in the apartment 24/7 for Nadia. Taking her sister from one apartment to another during Sydney's repeated absences for work, shopping, or the few trips she took was not an option. Her apartment had been child proofed and Weiss's was not. Plus, the young woman tended to panic easily when in unfamiliar surroundings.

Sydney feared Nadia might get hurt. She did not mind the company Weiss offered. Throughout university and until her disappearance she always lived with a roommate. Then, there had been the constant presence of Weiss and then Vaughn had moved in. Sydney couldn't bear the idea of being alone. Weiss was happy with the arrangements as well. The fridge was always full; he didn't have to clean up. Sydney took care of his laundry and he was closer to Nadia. Sometimes he liked to spend the night in his own space and give Sydney some air, but he spent most nights at her apartment.

"Weiss, wake up!"

"What? What's going on?"

"I just wanted to let you know Nadia and I are leaving now. We're going away for the weekend."

"What? When did you decide that?" He asked, surprised at her sudden decision.

"I've been thinking about it for a while actually, you know, get away from the city, just the two of us."

"Oh. Okay, that's nice, great idea I think." He didn't ask any more questions. Sydney suspected he knew she was up to something, had for a while. Asking him to divert the agents a few weeks ago and her mysterious vacation away from Nadia were dead giveaways something was up. He knew she wouldn't leave her sister for so long if it weren't important. Neither talked about it, they didn't want to confront each other so just…pretended everything was normal.

Next, she woke Nadia and packed a bag for her as well. Within the hour, they were on their way to the airport.

She called Director Chase last, from the car. Her men certainly already reported that their target was on her way to the airport anyway. "Director Chase? Sydney Bristow. I'm calling to inform you that Nadia and I are taking the weekend away from LA. I think it will do Nadia some good to have a change of scenery. Me too."

Chase was not happy about it but Sydney heard whom she assumed to be Dixon say it was a good idea. The woman sighed in the phone but didn't argue further. Hanging up, Sydney smiled wryly, realising Dixon and Chase were together on a Saturday morning. Sleeping with the big boss definitively had its advantages for Sydney.

Eight different airlines offered flights from LAX to HNL but Irina had booked two first class tickets on the 10h30 American Airlines flight. Used to flying, Sydney had packed a bag and a suitcase just small enough to fit as a carry-on, allowing her to avoid a long wait at the baggage claim. Nadia was calm during passage through security but started to get restless in the waiting room. She looked around her with wide eyes. The huge, multi gates room gave passenger a view of the gigantic Boeings and Air Buses taking off and landing on the runaways.

Sydney didn't particularly enjoy flying commercial but it beat the CIA cargo flights, and to top that, she was booked in first class for once. The CIA would have asked questions if she was seen departing in a private jet.

Finally, the call came in over the loudspeaker for passengers to board and people started making their way to the door leading to the ramp of the waiting plane. Sydney held on tight to Nadia's hand, praying her sister wouldn't panic and run the other way.

Both sisters settled in their seats and Sydney buckled their seatbelts. The plane took off some fifteen minutes later. Nadia slept most of the flight and opened her eyes only when she felt the jerk of the wheels touching the ground six hours later.

Walking out of the ramp from the plane with Nadia in toe, Sydney was surprised to see a familiar figure walking toward them.

"Hello, Sydney, Nadia. It's so good to see you!"

"Katya?" Sydney asked, stunned, and not a little worried. She stopped dead in her tracks, looking around with narrowed eyes, wary of anything suspicious. The other passengers made their way to the baggage claim area.

"Darling," she said, ignoring Sydney and stopping in front of Nadia. She carefully took her head between her hands and smiled at her. "Do you remember me?"

Nadia gave her a broad, drowsy smile and Katya smiled sadly before turning to Sydney, opening her arms wide. "What, no hug?" she teased, trying to forget Nadia's lack of answer. She took Sydney's bags from her. "Come on, Irina is waiting for you girls." She put the bags in the trunk and climbed in the driver seat, ignoring her nieces still standing in the same spot.

Eventually, Sydney took Nadia by the arm and they both got into the backseat. Katya waited for them to buckle up before speeding away. Sydney didn't even bother asking why they weren't even stopped for ID control or car check at the exit gates.

Shortly after, they arrived at Irina's house. Sydney was relieved not to be confined to a tiny space with her aunt anymore. She greeted her mother warmly, giving her a long hug, knowing it might be one of the last.

Apparently, Katya had arrived two days earlier to visit her sister. Irina claimed Katya was secretly thrilled to get to see Sydney and Nadia as well.

Nadia kept looking around her as they walked to the living room, taking in the fantastic décor. She wasn't used to such huge spaces and the pool outside grabbed her attention, to Sydney's displeasure.

"Nadia, do you remember Irina?" Asked Sydney, pointing to her mother. Nadia didn't seem to hear her and was getting restless, just standing there. "This is Amelia," she explained next, pointing to the doctor who had just came in. "She's going to help you get better." Nadia seemed completely disinterested but the doctor smiled kindly at the two sisters.

"I just need to take a blood sample from her to make sure it's okay to test the…vaccine on her."

"Okay," started Sydney, licking her lips nervously. "Well, good luck to you because she hates needles."

Amélia hesitated a few seconds. "I guess a single drop of blood would do just fine. I'll just go get my case downstairs."

A minute later, she was back, and handed Sydney a little box. "It's used to take blood samples from diabetic patients. She'll only feel a little prick. If you can just hold it over her index finger and press on it…there you go, perfect," she concluded, taking the box back from Sydney who had done the procedure herself, before her sister could protest.

The doctor went back downstairs to analyse the blood she had just collected. The solution she was given had been exposed to Cobalt-60, a radioactive material. It could not be administered on just anybody because it attacked the body. A weak immune system could cause the patient not to be able to fight back the radiation and therefore cause serious damage.

She redid the test three times, and each time, the same astonishing results came back. She wondered how the two women would take the news, but couldn't hide what she had found out.

All four women were sitting in the living room when she came back upstairs. From what she had gathered, all were related to each other, respectively daughters and sisters.

"I have good news and bad news…"

"Start with the good news," interrupted the woman she had come to know as Sydney, though she had introduced herself as Nina at their first meeting.

"Well, your…sister?" Sydney nodded, confirming Varnina's guess. "Your sister has a very strong immune system, she can take the vaccine without fear of after effects or side effects. That is, beside the expected nausea and possible headaches."

"Good, that's great," Sydney said, taking Nadia's hand in her own, smiling.

"What about the bad news?" Asked Irina, whom Amélia had come to understand better since their rocky meetings in her office.

"Well, Nadia is pregnant."

"Excuse me?" Asked Sydney, stunned.

"Nadia is expecting a baby, she's pregnant, which means we can't administer the vaccine. It would be harmful to the embryo and cause a miscarriage."

"What the hell are you talking about? She's been a vegetable for the past two and a half months! She can't be pregnant!" Argued Sydney, raising her tone.

"Well, she is. I redid the tests three times and I'm positive about the results."

There was a heavy silence for a few minutes, even Nadia had ceased to hum, feeling something important was happening.

"Nadia's been under my surveillance 24/7, there's no way she could have gotten pregnant! And it couldn't have been from before Sovogda, because she took hundreds of tests, and it would have showed up on the results.

"She didn't get pregnant by immaculate conception," scowled Katya.

"I know that!" Snapped Sydney, raking her brain for an explanation, viewing in her head every time she had been in contact with Nadia, trying to see if something had changed suddenly in her behaviour. She came up with nothing.

Irina got to her feet. "Maybe your friend Eric got a little closer than he should have."

Her bluntness momentarily threw Sydney off. "What? No…No! God! No way! It's Weiss, Mom! He knows Nadia's not herself, he would never do that to her!"

"He's a man," cut in Katya, also standing up.

Nadia was watching them from her curled position on the sofa, wondering what the hell was going on. The doctor too was watching the exchange, with growing discomfort.

"Sydney, how well do you know this man?" Asked Irina.

"He's my best friend! He was Vaughn's best friend, still is. We've known each other for years. He was there when I first walked in, he was there for me when I came back. Hell, you shot him in Barcelona! He spent weeks in the hospital with a bullet wound in his neck, and still jokes about it…"

"Were you intimate?" Asked Irina, quirking an eyebrow.

"What! No! What the hell is wrong with you? Where do you get off asking questions like that! Weiss is like a brother to me! We got drunk dozens of times together, and he never, ever tried to make a move on me, no matter how wasted we were. He's a sweet, caring man. He's in love with Nadia!"

"You are not even willing to consider…"

"No!"

"Sydney, think about it, Agent Weiss was alone with Nadia countless times, days at a time. He has seen her naked, bathed her, dressed her…he did everything you did in your absence," argued Irina, appealing to Sydney's logical side.

"He's a good guy!" Insisted Sydney, gesturing with her hands.

"Sydney? Can you at least get him to come here so we can talk to him?" Irina stepped closer to her daughter, moving her hand up and down Sydney's shoulder.

Sydney jerked back. "No! He didn't do anything! You're insane if you're thinking that!"

"Then I'll have someone pick him up and bring him here, but I can't guarantee he won't get hurt," snapped Irina, her cell phone already in hand.

"No! Stop! I'll call him! God I can't believe you," she seethed, glaring at her mother.

"Sweetheart, you may trust him, but I don't. Nadia is your sister, but she's also my daughter. You must understand why I want to hear Mr. Weiss say it to me…so I can be sure, for my peace of mind…"

"Yeah…okay, okay, I'll call him, tell him to meet me at the airport," she agreed, defeated, and suddenly filled with dread. With doubts.

The next morning at six, Sydney was awakened by her ringing cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Syd? Hi it's me, I'm at the airport."

"Weiss? What airport? Honolulu?"

"Yeah, you said it was about Nadia, so I took the first flight I could find."

"Oh…I'll send someone to get you, okay?"

"Okay, see you soon."

Sydney got up to find her mother already up and making breakfast. Irina sent two of her men to drive Weiss from the airport.

Weiss walked hesitantly inside the house, feeling incredibly uneasy. Some strange guys dressed in costumes had come to pick him up from the airport. They hadn't said a word to him and just pointed him to the house. He glanced behind him every now and then to make sure no one was sneaking up to kill him. Finally, he found the kitchen, where he could hear voices.

There she was, Nadia, wolfing down blueberry pancakes. He smiled. She was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Next to her was Sydney, he gave her a tired, but sincere smile. "Hey girls!" He greeted the two sisters. He frowned as Sydney merely glanced at him. Something was wrong.

Sydney froze.

Weiss looked to the other side of the table as he entered the kitchen. Irina and Katya Derevko both stared back at him.

He opened his mouth a few times and finally managed to croak out a few words, his nervousness obvious as he took a few steps back. He couldn't help but scratch the scar on his neck. "Wow Syd, why didn't you tell me it was a family reunion? I would have brought a bulletproof vest and my bazooka and…okay what's going on here? Is Nadia okay?" He looked at the girl, but couldn't see anything wrong with her.

Sydney rubbed her face wearily, knowing it was her place to tell, ask Weiss.

"Syd? Answer me!" He asked again, frantic.

"Nadia's fine, Weiss," she whispered, getting up from the stool. "Come here." She led him to the living room, out of earshot. She was uncomfortable enough without having to face her mother and aunt. "Weiss, I need to ask you something, and I need you to answer me truthfully."

"Syd, what are you talking about? You're starting to creep me out!"

"Did you have sex with Nadia?"

TBC