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Chapter Five:
Her Mother's Secret

Silently Kendall moved to the other side of the room, where a TV and a video were set up. After placing a cassette in the player, he turned to Sydney. "This footage was packed up by a neighbour's security camera," he explained, pressing play.

Sydney watched, her eyes trained to the screen. The picture did not show all that much, it was mostly focused on the neighbours driveway. But at the top left hand side of the screen there was an end half of an unmarked van. As the video continued, it showed two men, one of them carrying an unconscious child climb into the back of it. There was no mistaking that the child was Ana.

"Who are they?" Vaughn asked.

"We don't know." Jack admitted.

"We're running a copy of the tape through our facial recognition as we speak." Dixon added.

"But, it is our belief," Kendall said, his tone serious. "That they are member of the Covenant."

A couple of hours later Sydney and Vaughn still hadn't moved from the room. It had been confirmed that they men seen carrying Ana into the van were affiliated with the Covenant, but that was the only lead that the CIA had. It would seem that the Covenant was just as elusive and dangerous as it was six years ago.

At one point Weiss brought in a cup of coffee for each of them. Grateful for the distraction, Sydney and Vaughn revelled in his presence. His light-hearted banter had the ability to take their minds off everything that was happening…sort of.

"Ok."

Sydney jumped slightly as Kendall barged through the door. "I just spoke with the team leader in Australia.

"Have they found any trace of her?" Sydney asked, as Vaughn held her hand comfortingly.

"Unfortunately, no. But what we do know do that Ana was scheduled to be picked up by the Department of Human Services that same afternoon…"

"Wait, DHS? Why?" Vaughn inquired.

"She was to be moved to a new foster home. Apparently she was causing some troubles for the family she was with." Kendall explained. "However the Covenant got to her before DHS or the CIA could, taking Ana and killing her foster family."

"They killed them?"

"Yes, all murdered by a close range shot. This was all very carefully executed. There is not a single trace of them inside the house. Luckily for us, they did not see the camera next door."

"But we still have no leads?" Sydney pressed.

"No," Kendall replied. "But we are working on it."

"Ok, ok, I get it." Sydney said impatiently. "But there's one thing I don't understand."

"What?"

"Why did the Covenant need to kidnap Ana in the first place? I would have thought that they'd have her locked up for these past years. They were successful in conceiving a child from Rambaldi's DNA, why would they just let her go?"

"They didn't." Kendal replied simply.

"Then what is Ana doing living in Australia, under foster care?" Vaughn asked.

"Department of Human Services informed us that Ana was brought to them when she was…" Kendall stopped as the door opened and Jack walked in. "That Ana was brought to them at the age of six months. The Covenant would have never willingly let Ana go. The only plausible explanation the CIA came up with was that Ana was first taken away from the Covenant."

"But who?" Sydney asked, her gaze falling upon her father. His expression. There was something…odd about it.

"No idea." Kendall answered. "But we'll let you know if we find out anything."

Turning on his heel, Kendall exited and Sydney wasted no time.

"Dad, who took Ana from the Covenant?"

"Sydney, what makes you think—"

"Dad, stop. I saw your face. You know. Hide whatever you want from the CIA, but do not lie to me. This situation is screwed up enough as it is. I don't need you to complicate things." Sydney said. "Now please, who was it who tried to help Ana?"

Jack looked directly at her. "It was your mother."

"Mum?" Sydney could feel Vaughn tense up beside her.

"Yes."

"But how do you…" Sydney trailed off with understanding. "You're still in contact with her, aren't you?"

Jack nodded. "When Irina found out that the Covenant had been successful in their task. She made it her mission to rescue Ana from their clutches. She took Ana to Australia for the same reasons you and Vaughn moved there. It seemed to be a Rambaldi free continent."

"Did you know this when Vaughn and I moved?' Sydney asked.

"No. And your mother did not know that you were residing there until she had already placed Ana in care."

"Her name? Was that the Covenant—"

"It was Irina. An obvious choice, one that you would pick up on if Ana found you."

Sydney's ear cocked slightly. "If Ana found me? What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing." Jack replied very quickly and Sydney knew he was lying. She also knew that there was no point in challenging him. There was no way she would get anything out of him.

"Ok then, dad. Why am I only hearing this now?" she demanded. "If you have known all along that this child existed, why didn't you tell?"

"Your mother asked me not to."

"Jack." The apartment was darkened and the voice quiet, but Jack knew exactly who it was.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, switching on a lamp.

"I found her Jack." Irina said serenely, making no attempt to stand up from the couch.

"Found who?"

"Our grand-daughter." Irina relied.

Jack stared at her. "The Covenant was successful? But how did you even know about it?"

"I have my ways." Irina said, vaguely. "But you should know that she is safe. I have her hidden."

"Where?"

"Australia."

Jack stared. "Australia?"

"Irina, Sydney moved to Australia. With Vaughn."

A slow smile formed on her lips. "Really? Well, then I guess I made the correct choice."

"I can contact Sydney now. Let her know about the child."

"No!" Irina exclaimed, vehemently. "Sydney cannot be told. They need to find each other."

"What?"

"The Chosen One and her child were always supposed to be separated in the beginning. We cannot interfere in them reuniting. Promise me Jack. I know you do not want to lie to your daughter, but we cannot tell her this. Sydney and her child will reunite when the time is right and only then."

"But—"

"Promise me, Jack." Irina's tone was urgent. "Promise me right now that you will not breath a word of this conversation to Sydney until the time is right."

Jack stared at her for a few seconds. "Ok, I promise."

"What do you mean mum asked you not to?" Sydney asked, confused. "Why would she want to hide something like this from me?"

"At first I did not fully comprehend," Jack replied. "But about a year ago, the CIA made a discovery and everything started to make sense."

"What discovery?" Vaughn queried.

Jack hesitated, taking in his daughter's desperate expression. It tore him apart. "I can't tell you?"

"Why?" Sydney demanded.

"Because it's classified."

"And since when did you give a damn about the rules?"

"Sydney, the truth is I don't want to be the one who has to tell you."

Sydney glanced at Vaughn. She could tell that Jack's tone was scaring him as much as it was her.

"Dad, please…"

"Sydney, you will be told when the time is right. Both you and Vaughn will be informed about everything that involves the two of you. Unfortunately for you, that time is not now."

"This is ridiculous!" Sydney fumed later that night as she paced Weiss's living room, with Vaughn watching helplessly from the couch. "How can they not keep us informed? It's not as if we're a risk to security- we do understand the meaning of classified!"

"Syd, you heard your father. We are going to be informed. We just have to be patient."

"I have been patient!" Sydney burst out. "I've had enough. This is my daughter we're talking about!"

"You know," Vaughn started carefully, "that's the first time you've referred to Ana as your daughter."

"Well, she is, isn't she?" Sydney said bluntly. Her expression softened as she placed herself beside Vaughn on the couch. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't talk to you like that."

Vaughn simply kissed her softly, showing that all was forgiven.

"Vaughn."

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to suggest something and I want you to consider it, before shutting it down."

Vaughn knew exactly what Sydney wanted to do and the truth was it had crossed his mind as well. "Yes," he said.

Sydney blinked. "Do you even know what you're agreeing to?"

"Well, I'm assuming that you want us to try and contact your mother for help."

"And you're really ok by that?"

Vaughn shrugged. "I'm not thrilled, but at the moment Irina Derevko is the only option we have at getting some answers."

"Keep her confined." Sark instructed. "We cannot risk losing her again."

"Sir, may I ask what you have planned for her?"

"The purpose of Rambaldi's child is still unknown to us. But we have her now and that is enough for me."