Chapter 13
Just as Vaughn was helping Sydney out of the car, her cell phone rang. Startled by the ring, she jumped a little before answering the phone. "Hello?"
"Sydney, it's me," Jack's voice was heard. "Marshall was playing back your conversation with Sark and was able to pick up some very faint sounds in the background. Well, he was able to amplify the sound and we actually know where he's headed. Here, take a listen," he said played back the recording for Sydney.
"Flight 740, flying from Sacramento International to Manila International, is now boarding all passengers."
"The Philippines?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm not sure why he's going there either, but a team has already been assembled and they're going to be flying out there and we hope that they'll get there before Sark gets there."
"That's wonderful, dad. Hold on one second and let me tell Vaughn."
"So, what's up?" asked Vaughn when he saw that she was covering the cell phone with one hand.
"It appears that Sark is flying out to the Philippines, so a team has been assembled to intercept him and they're flying out now."
After hearing this, Vaughn said, "Tell your dad to wait a little while longer before sending this team off. I'm going with them too. I promise you, I'll get Chris back."
Before she could respond, he kissed her, lingering like that for more than what was necessary. "Be safe."
He had one foot out the door before Sydney quickly said, "Vaughn."
"Yeah?" he asked looking back at her.
"Be careful too… I love you."
He had a smile a mile wide. He replied back to her, "I love you too."
Flight 740
"I want my mommy!" yelled Chris.
"Everything alright here, sir?" asked one of the flight attendants.
In a normal American accent, Sark answered, "Yeah, little Chris here just misses his mom. I guess he just doesn't like traveling with Uncle Julian."
Squatting down and getting to Chris' eye level, the flight attendant asked Chris, "Is this true? Are you sure you're fine?"
Chris felt Sark's cold stare going through his body and answered softly, "Yes ma'am."
The flight attendant left them alone and Sark turned his attention to Chris. "If you do something else like that, who knows what might happen to your mommy or her boyfriend or even worse… you."
"I'm not afraid of you! Michael and mommy are going to kick your butt once they get their hands on you."
"We'll see," Sark said. He looked at his watch and saw that it was time to call Sydney. He dialed in the numbers and waited for her to pick up.
Disneyland security office
Vaughn had arrived back at Disneyland in record time, probably breaking every single speed limit along the way. "Eric!" he yelled out.
"Hey Mike, you got here just in time. The team's already in the van, waiting to head out to the airport."
"That's great and all, but do you think you can stall them for another couple of minutes. I need to go talk to Jack."
"Well, you're not going to find him here."
"Why not?" he asked, very confused.
"If you're worried about Sydney being by herself at the hotel, Jack's got that covered. He and a surveillance team are outside your hotel room. I'm about to head over there myself right now."
"Ok, thanks," Vaughn said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm trusting you to keep her safe while I'm away. Don't let her do anything stupid, like go after Sark by herself. If it does come down to her going after Sark, then I want you to go with her."
"You can trust me. C'mon, has your good ole' buddy Eric ever let you down?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Good luck and stay safe."
The hotel
Sydney had been lying down on the bed, channel surfing while waiting for Sark's call. She had finally decided to watch a show on spies when her cell phone rang.
"Sark?"
"Well hello to you too."
"Just tell me where you want me to meet you. I'm getting really sick of this cat and mouse game."
"But Sydney," he said in a mocking voice, "The fun's just begun."
"Sark!" she screamed.
"Ooh… feisty. Just the way I like it."
Sydney just groaned in disgust. "Sark, why does it have to be only me that comes and gets Chris anyways?"
"Sydney, Sydney, Sydney… You mean to tell me that you still haven't figured it out. You and I are meant to be together."
"You'll never be half the man that Vaughn is. Even if you were the last man on earth, I still wouldn't go to you. Now let me talk to Chris."
"After you just shot me down like that? I don't think so. Ask nicely."
She groaned once again in frustration. "Sark… please let me talk to Chris."
"Hmm… since you asked so politely, here."
"Chris?"
"Mommy! I miss you."
"I miss you too sweetheart. Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm fine mommy. When are you going to come get me?"
"Soon honey, very soon. I love you."
"I love you too mommy."
Sark yanked the phone away from Chris and said to Sydney, "Ok, that's enough of that. Meet me in Moscow tomorrow. Noon, their time. I'll be waiting." He hung up the phone and grinned evilly to himself.
As soon as Weiss had arrived in the van outside of Sydney's hotel, Jack had sent him to go check on her. He had his hand up to the door, ready to knock, when Sydney pulled the door open.
"Syd, hi. How are you doing?"
"Um… come in," she ushered him into the room very quickly.
"Going somewhere?" Weiss raised his eyebrows at her. "If you're thinking about leaving here to go get Sark by yourself, I guess you should know that your dad is sitting outside in a van. But, I'll be willing to help you get out of here if you let me come with you."
"I bet you that Vaughn probably had this all planned out before he left, right?"
Weiss tried real hard to avoid eye contact with her by looking down at his feet. "Maybe…"
"Weiss," she said sternly.
He looked up and answered her, "Yeah, he asked me to watch out after you. But, don't blame him; the guy just wants to look out for your safety."
Sydney pretended to look angry at him, but she couldn't hold her smile in. "So, are we going to get this show on the road, or what?"
"Yeah. But," he added, "you're going to tell your dad where we're going once we're halfway through our flight. By the way, where are we going?"
"Moscow." Hopefully Vaughn will have already caught Sark in the Philippines, so I won't see him in Moscow.
Los Angeles International Airport
Sydney had just purchased their tickets and now, she and Weiss were browsing through some airport shops, looking for clothing.
"Hey Syd, what do you think of this?" he asked, holding up a ridiculously looking parka.
"Weiss," she replied laughing, "that is the most ridiculous coat I have ever seen. It looks like a bear exploded on it and all the fur remained stuck. Besides, we need clothes that will help us move stealthily. Not clothes that will make us look like stupid tourists."
He just shrugged his shoulders at her and moved on, looking for something that will keep him warm. Once again, he was holding up another impractical outfit. "Syd, is this better?" he asked jokingly.
Sydney didn't say anything, but just narrowed her eyes at him.
Weiss was holding up a tight black bodysuit. "What? You're the one always wearing these things on your old missions. It looked like it helped you move 'stealthily'"
"I'd like to see you fit into one of those," she snickered.
After ten more minutes of browsing through some clothes, they had made their purchases just as the intercom was calling all the passengers for their flight to board.
"C'mon Syd. Let's go get that son of yours."
Le sigh... I love Weiss too. Haha. He cracks me up a lot. And just as a shamelss plug... Greg Grunberg will be House in some upcoming episode. Wee! Ok, when I start speaking like a crazy person, I know it means time to go to bed. So, hope you guys like the three-chapter update! I promise I'll try and get more done soon!