Thank you all for your feedback.
kiefer4ever: Thank you for taking the time to review all those chapters. Glad to hear that you have been enjoying the fic.
Before going on with the chapter, I just want to clarify a few things. Ana knowing the things she does is not about being smart or intelligent. They are just things that are inside her mind. I guess you could say that, in a way, I was making a reference to the way that Nadia was 'programmed' to know the whereabouts of the Sphere of Life. Ana knows these things simply because she does- just remember, if you are to believe Rambaldi's prophecy, Ana is his second coming. Of course there are going to be some unexplicable things about her. After she is an integral part of the Rambaldi mystery...
Chapter Seventeen:
Power to Change
"Sir!" A breathless agent appeared at Kendall's door. "We've got a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"The child. She is gone."
"What?" Kendall exploded.
"She's gone."
"How can a child just disappear from a secure facility?"
"I don't know sir," the agent stammered. "She was there ten minutes ago…and now she is not. And there is no sign of unauthorized access."
"I want everybody searching the facility now. Go!" Kendall demanded as he picked up the phone. "This is Kendall. I need a chopper in L.A. immediately. "I want Sydney and Michael Vaughn in the air and on their way here in no longer than thirty minutes."
Sydney and Vaughn were not told anything until they arrived at the CIA safe house and were greeted by a waiting Kendall.
He got straight to the point. "Ana is missing."
"She's what?" Sydney thundered.
"She disappeared from Project Black Hole. We have teams searching the facility and the area surrounding it as we speak." Kendall said. "We wanted you and Vaughn here just in case there was any way you could help with the search. Whether anything Ana said yesterday could give you a clue as to where she has gone."
"How about letting us go out there and help?" Vaughn asked vehemently. He was as angry as Sydney.
"No. You are to stay here."
"Who took her?" Sydney demanded.
Kendall hesitated, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
"Who took her?" Sydney repeated.
"We don't think anybody took her." Kendall replied.
"What?" Vaughn asked.
"Nobody took her." Kendall said. "We believe that Ana left the facility on her own."
Sydney and Vaughn stared at each other in disbelief. On her own? How could a little girl get herself out of one of the most secure facilities in the United States?
They had been at the safe house for about two hours when there came a knock on the door. Sydney and Vaughn stood up as the agent waiting with them opened the door. Unable to hear a thing, Sydney almost fell over when the agent reappeared with a surprise in tow.
"Ana?" she gasped.
"Hello." The little girl gave a bright smile and a wave as she almost skipped to the nearest armchair and sat down. As Sydney approached her, Vaughn looked at the agent questioningly.
He shrugged. "She was at the door by herself."
"Ana." Sydney crouched before her. "What are you doing here?"
"You're here. I wanted to be with you."
Vaughn went over and knelt beside Sydney. "How did you get here?" he asked, gently.
"I walked."
Sydney tried furiously to calculate how far the safe house was from Project Black Hole. "But Ana," she started, "how did you know to come here?"
Ana just shrugged, as she gazed around the living room. "I'm hungry."
"I bet you are." Sydney stood and offered her hand to Ana. "How about we get you something to eat?" Before walking to the kitchen, Sydney turned to Vaughn. "Call Kendall," she whispered.
"You sure that you don't want to wait a while?" he asked.
Sydney shook her head. "If we hide this, then he'll think we were involved in her disappearance. As much as I hate to, we need to be completely honest on this one."
"Where is she?" Kendall said loudly as he barged through the front door.
"In the kitchen with Syd." Vaughn replied, and as Kendall started to head in that direction he reached out and grabbed his arm to stop him. "Don't. Just give them some time together. Please." Vaughn asked, as Sydney and Ana's laughter could be clearly heard.
"Ana need to be taken back to Project Black Hole immediately." Kendall said through gritted teeth, as he wrenched his arm from Vaughn's grip.
"What? So you can just let her walk out again?" Vaughn shot back.
"Kendall paused. "Fine," he relented. "I'll give them some time. Now, tell me exactly what happened."
"I told you what happened over the phone."
Kendall looked sceptical. "You expect me to believe that Ana just showed up here on her own accord?"
Vaughn shrugged. "You believe that she is the daughter of a man who lived over five hundred years ago. Why should her showing up at the door be a stretch?"
Kendall allowed himself a small smile. "Good point," he chuckled. "What did she say?"
"She said that she came here because Sydney was here. She wanted to be with Sydney." Vaughn replied.
"She said that?"
"Yes." Vaughn nodded. "And if Syd and Ana are going to be continued to be separated, I have a feeling that things like this are just going to continue to reoccur."
"Ana needs protection that you and Sydney cannot provide alone."
"Like the protection you and Project Black Hole gave her?" The sarcasm was clearly evident in Vaughn's tone of voice.
"Forgive me if I did not believe that a little girl could escape our facility. But now we know she can and we can provide whatever security is needed."
"You mean lock her up?"
"This conversation is over." Kendall pushed past Vaughn and walked towards the kitchen. Vaughn stood helplessly as Sydney and Ana's laughed ceased abruptly.
"What are you doing?" Sydney voice was alarmed. Seconds later Kendall appeared with Ana in his arms, Sydney close behind. "Please, don't do this," she pleaded, almost desperately.
Kendall stopped and turned around, placing Ana down. "Sydney, I have my reasons for doing this. I am not a monster, I just want to protect Ana as much as you. She is such a special girl and needs to be kept safe from those who want to harm her."
"And I can keep her safe." Sydney said. There was no longer any anger or forcefulness in her voice. Instead she sounded tired and vulnerable, as if on the verge of tears.
"Can you really, Sydney?" Kendall asked as he picked Ana up again. "You will be allowed visitation rights. You will be able to get to know your daughter. But now we have to go."
He walked out the door and Sydney didn't even bother to follow. Her expression crumpled and Vaughn was by her side and had her wrapped in his arms before the tears even began to fall.
Not long after Kendall left with Ana, Jack showed up at the safe house. After Vaughn brought him up to date, he went off to a separate part of the house. Sydney needed some time alone with her father.
"Visitation rights," she sniffed, wiping her eyes. "Visitation rights for my own daughter. It's like some screwed up divorce custody battle."
"Sydney, we'll do everything we can to get her back." Jack said as he sat beside her on the couch.
Sydney shook her head. "I don't think that this is a battle we can win. Even if we did manage to extract Ana, Vaughn and I would be spending the rest of our lives hiding from the DSR. A life on the run isn't real. I couldn't do that to him, or her or…" Sydney trailed off, placing her hands on her abdomen.
"I know that." Jack replied. "But after Vaughn told me what went on, I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"Kendall is worried about you ability to protect Ana, and let's face it. His fears are reasonable. You are too much of an open target if you were to return to Australia."
"What are you saying dad?"
"What if you and Vaughn were to make a compromise of some sorts? If the two of you returned to L.A., to live there permanently, there would be a lot more protection for you, and for Ana. I'm not saying that you would be living under a protective detail, but help would nearby if anything, god forbid, should go wrong."
"Dad." Sydney's expression was aghast. "Why should I have to make compromises in order to raise my daughter? This whole situation sucks!"
"But could you at least consider it?"
"Dad, I understand that you are trying to help…"
'Actually, my intentions are purely selfish, Sydney."
Sydney's brow creased. "Excuse me?"
"I have missed you so much these past years and would love nothing more than to have you back home. Now more so than ever. I want to be there for the big moments of your life. I've already, through my own stupidity, missed so much." He paused. "Now, I understand that Ana is your daughter and you want to do this on your own terms, but honey, that it impossible in this situation."
Sydney could feel her eyes welling up again. "Dad, I don't know if Vaughn and I can come back. There are just so many bad memories attached to L.A."
"What about the happy ones," Jack demanded. "You can't tell me that they're all bad. What about Weiss, Dixon, Marshall and the rest of your friends that you left behind? The people who know all your secrets? The people that you don't have to hide yourself from? What about the chance of being like a normal family with your husband and daughter?"
"Dad…"
"Sydney, the bad times are going to stay with you, wherever you are in the world, but they will be a whole lot easier to deal with when surrounded by the people who love you."
"You make it sound so easy."
"It is." Jack whispered. "Please, come home sweetheart."
"Dad, this isn't just something I can decide on the spot." Sydney said, wiping her eyes. "I'm not even going to consider this without talking to Vaughn."
Jack nodded. "I understand." He stood up. "I'll leave the two of you alone, shall I?"
Kendall eyed Jack suspiciously. "Sydney and Vaughn are willing to move back to L.A?"
Jack nodded. "Yes, where the CIA will be able to keep an eye on Ana."
"I'm not sure about this."
"You can't keep her locked up forever."
"All I want to do is protect her—"
"And she will be protected. By Sydney, by Vaughn, by the CIA."
"Jack, you know who Ana is, what she represents."
"Exactly!" Jack's tone was sharp. "And since that you know also, then it should be obvious to you that Sydney and Ana need to be together."
"Ana needs to be kept safe."
"And you know damn well that Sydney can do that. There isn't another person on this planet more capable than Sydney for that job. You know her, as an agent and as a person. Combine that with the fact that she is Ana's mother- do you really think that she would let anything happen to that child? Do you think Vaughn would? Do you think I would?" Jack's said. "Project Black Hole can offer her protection and protection only. The other option gives Ana protection as well as a home, stability, love, a feeling of security and will give her the chance to thrive and flourish so that she can achieve whatever it is she is supposed to."
Kendall leaned back into his chair. "DSR will want to be able to monitor Ana's progress. Don't think that you can just shut us out."
Jack nodded. "Sydney and Vaughn figured you would want that and they are willing to come to an agreement with you."
Kendall rubbed his chin absentmindedly. "This all does sound realistic, but there are still tests that we need to conduct. There is no way any of this could happen for at least two weeks…that is if I agree to it." Kendall added quickly.
"Again, they figured that would be the case." Jack replied. "But since they need to return to Australia to sort out their affairs, it is not a major concern of theirs."
"Fine." Kendall stood up. "There are some people that I need to discuss this with. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
About a month later Sydney gazed around the half-finished living room that was scattered with boxes and packing material. The job would have been complete- if Vaughn hadn't been acting so stubborn and refusing to let her move any of the boxes.
He walked in at that point, another box in his hands. Catching a glance at the uncertain expression on Sydney's face, he placed it down and stood beside her.
"You ok?"
She shrugged. "Have we done the right thing?" she sighed.
Silently Vaughn took her hand and led Sydney down the dim hallway. The clock on the wall read 9.47pm. Reaching the door at the end, Vaughn quietly pushed it open, revealing Ana's sleeping form, tucked safely under the fairy print doona she had so gleefully picked out the day before.
"Do you really need to ask if we have done the right thing?" Vaughn whispered. Sydney looked up at him, her expression serene, and placed a kiss on his cheek and the two of them proceeded to head back to the living room.
"You know," Sydney started, "this is probably one of the most unusual situation we've been in. Being thrown into parenthood, Ana in general, being under the constant eye of the CIA and Ana's 'uncles' Dan and Jerry," she said, referring to the agents from Project Black Hole who had been assigned to make regular visits.
"But?" Vaughn pressed.
"But it's the most normal I've ever felt," she laughed. "Granted it will probably all change when William arrives."
Vaughn's head cocked to the side. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"You said when William arrives."
"Oh." Sydney blushed, as her hand went to her abdomen. "Well, I was just thinking that if the baby turns out to be a boy- and let's face it, after everything we've witnessed, there's a pretty good chance that Ana is spot on. Anyway, if it is a boy, I thought that, maybe, we could name him after your father."
For a split second a hint of sorrow crossed Vaughn's face, as it did every time his father was mentioned. But it left almost as soon as it appeared and with a smile, he wrapped his arms around Sydney.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you?"
"Yes," she brought her lips up to his, pausing just before they touched. "But tell me again."
SIX MONTHS LATER
"Alright, I've got a pair." Weiss laid the cards out on the table in front of him and looked at his opponent. "What about you?"
Ana shrugged. "I don't know." She placed the cards down. Weiss looked at them, dumbfounded.
"A straight. The kid's got a straight. Six years old and she beats me every time." He looked over at Jack who was seated nearby. "Did you help her?"
Jack just shook his head, trying to stop his foot from tapping impatiently.
"Grandpa didn't help me!" Ana exclaimed, indignantly. "Mummy told me what to do."
"Oh really. And what did your mum tell you?" Weiss asked, leaning forward.
"She said that when you wiggle, you have good cards. And…" Ana trailed off, thinking. "Oh yeah. That when you bet a lot, you're bluffing. Bluffing means lying and you shouldn't lie, Uncle Eric. Do you know why?"
"Uh, no. Why?" Weiss glanced up at Jack who was hiding a smile behind his hand.
"Because your nose will grow." Ana picked up the cards and gave them to Weiss. "Can we play Texas Hold 'Em?"
Weiss turned to Jack. "Do you think it's such a good idea that Sydney teaches her daughter to play poker? Perhaps you should have a chat with her about parenting skills."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "Me? Parenting skills?"
"Oh right." Weiss grinned. "Good point."
He was about to start shuffling, but stopped when somebody walked into the room. With a gasp, Ana jumped up and ran across to the door.
"Daddy!"
"Hey princess." Vaughn leant down and scooped her up into his arms in one fluid movement.
"Guess what?" Ana asked brightly.
"What?"
"I beat Uncle Eric at poker."
"Good job." Vaughn held up his hand for a high five. "Now you guess what."
"What?"
Vaughn leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. "I think you know what."
"I have a brother!" Ana exclaimed.
"Yup." Vaughn gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Can I see him?"
"Not just yet- he and mummy are sleeping. But soon, I promise." Vaughn placed her back on the ground and then turned to Jack and Weiss who were waiting expectantly. "Everything went fine. No problems. Syd is doing great and we have a perfectly healthy baby boy." He couldn't wipe the grin off his face.
"So what's little Eric's middle name?" Weiss asked.
Vaughn laughed. "Syd was serious when she told you that we would not be naming our child after you."
"Yes, after all we do want this child to get the best possible start to their life." Jack added.
"Oh hey!" Weiss laughed. "Would you look at that? Jack Bristow made a funny!"
Thankfully, Jack just gave him a small smile in response, as he turned back to Vaughn. "His name?"
"William." Vaughn replied. "William Jonathan Vaughn."
When Sydney opened her eyes the first thing she saw was Vaughn sitting a chair beside her bed, their tiny son in his arms.
"Hey," she said softly.
Vaughn looked up, his face breaking into a smile. "Hey yourself. How are you feeling?"
"I'm ok. Is he asleep?"
"Yeah," Vaughn looked sheepish. "I should have just let him be, but I had to hold him, you know. Make sure that that he's real."
Sydney let out a small laugh. "I understand." She paused. "Where's Ana?"
"She went home with Weiss. Said that she's going to give Uncle Eric some poker lessons."
"Did she clean him out?"
"Not quite, but she did score three piggy back rides and a chocolate bar." Vaughn grinned. "Combine that with a new baby brother and she's pretty much feeling like the richest six year old on the planet."
Sydney's expression suddenly sobered.
Vaughn knew exactly what she was thinking. "Syd…"
"As much as we want to disbelieve it, we need to accept that Ana and William are not an average brother and sister."
"Sydney, try not to think about that stuff."
"I think we have to."
"We do?"
"Whether we choose to completely believe all this Rambaldi stuff is one thing. Yes, there is a lot of evidence to support what his followers believe; yet I don't know if I am willing to open myself up to it. But if there is the slightest chance, and let's face it, there is, that what Rambaldi wrote about Ana and William is true, then we need to do everything in our power to stop that from happening. Do you remember what my father told us?"
Vaughn shook his head.
"That with knowledge comes the power to change. Nothing is ever totally set in stone. The future is decided by our actions and influences. It is up to us to prove Rambaldi wrong, to raise two peaceful being who could never contemplate hurting another, especially their own flesh and blood."
Vaughn smiled, almost in agreement, as he got up and positioned himself on the edge of Sydney's bed. Carefully, as not to disturb William, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I just hope that we can succeed." Sydney whispered, as she put out a hand and gently stroked William's cheek.
"Of course we can," Vaughn replied, looking her directly in the eyes.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because," Vaughn's gaze fell upon his sleeping son, "we have two pretty big incentives to keep us motivated."
Sydney tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I know we do…but do you think that it's enough?"
Gently, Vaughn handed her William. "Sydney, what else is there worth fighting for?"
There, holding her son, with the knowledge that her daughter was safe at home, and her husband by her side, Sydney knew. She and Vaughn would succeed.
They had to.
THE END
A/N: I would just like to express an enormous gratitude to those who have shown support to me in regards to this fic, both to those who read it and to those wonderful people who took the time to review and let me know what they thought. I worked hard on this one, and am so thankful that people have seemed to enjoy it.
I am hoping to continue this story with a sequel, however I am having trouble developing a sustainable plot at the moment. Hopefully, inspiration will hit soon and you will all be hearing from me again shortly.