Same Disclaimers Apply. A/N: I am BEGGING for reviews. I have been
formulating this story for a while and could not hold off on writing it any
longer. But I will be updating my other stories next so an update my take
a day or two. Oh and the song is called 'The Stone' and belongs to Dave
Matthews Band, one of the best bands around. HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!!
CIA TASK FORCE HEADQUATERS - L.A.
Sydney entered the building looking worse for wear. Bruises adorned her face and tiny cuts peppered her cheek and hair line. She signaled to Vaughn that they should make their way to the briefing room as no one else from the team was in the central office.
Kendall stopped talking upon the opening of the door. Everyone seated around the table turned to look at the pair who walked in.
"I take you are feeling better Agent Bristow." Kendall tried to find an even balance between concerned and authoritative.
"I am." Sydney responded. "I assume you have updated everyone on last night's events." She sat down with Vaughn quietly beside her.
"I have and we were just following it up with further information on Allison Doran." Kendall placed his hands on the back of his chair while standing.
"Does that not seem like a waste of resources and time?" Vaughn questioned. "The woman is dead, her life history is not important at this point. Should we not be focusing our efforts on finding Sloane and Derevko?"
"Sloane has built his Rambaldi machine and is likely to content for the time being. As for Irina Derevko, she has disappeared completely from our intelligence chain. Her operation is active but she has yet to claim her victory." Kendall sat back down heavily.
"What if she is not looking to claim a victory? What if she reengaged her syndicate to keep herself safe from Sloane." Jack piped up; he seemed disturbed by their conversation.
"That's going out on quite a limb Jack." Kendall said.
"Is it? Irina betrayed Sloane by giving his location to Sydney. She may have done more to sabotage his operations, making her a target." Jack studied the table before returning his gaze to Kendall.
The room was quiet as each team member absorbed Jack's words. Sloane was a loose canon without Irina to channel his attention to Rambaldi and he was capable to taking more drastic measures without a partner to consult. The game suddenly became even more dangerous.
"Okay, let's stay on top of any movement by Sloane or Derevko. If they are truly no longer working together neither of their Rambaldi collections is complete and there will likely be moves by both to obtain the missing pieces. That's all." Kendall remained seated as everyone quickly vacated the room. "Jack." He called in an effort to speak to him alone.
Jack stopped in his tracks and addressed Kendall impassively. "Was there something else?"
"What's going on Jack? You're distant and barely focused. You participated today, only to present the idea that Irina may not be the vicious woman you've been touting her as." He furrowed his brow in confusion and worry. Jack had not taken any time off after being held captive and Kendall was beginning to wonder if it had impaired his judgment.
"Irina left me a gift at home yesterday evening." Jack eyed Kendall wearily.
"A threat?" Kendall held his breath while Jack responded.
"No, an apology." Jack sounded less then thrilled with the thought. Kendall was too shocked to comment. "Actually it was a song that was meant as an apology and explanation."
"Effective?" Kendall crossed his arms over his chest with the question.
"If the purpose was to get me to second guess myself and Irina then I suppose the answer is, very." Jack took two steps away from the other man in thought.
"I may not always agree with your methods Jack, but more often then not you are able to read Irina's motivations. What do her recent actions tell you?" Kendall walked to the other side of the table but kept his eyes trained on Jack.
"That's what is disturbing me, this move doesn't make sense. She should be spending her time coming up with ways to outmaneuver Sloane." Jack paused. "Communicating with me in any way will not help to keep her hidden yet it seems she has made every effort to disappear." He sighed. "Her behavior has become erratic and I can't figure out what is fueling it."
"Jack, why don't you take the weekend off; Sydney and Agent Vaughn are doing much the same. On Monday you can bring the song in to be analyzed by tech. There may be more to it than music." Kendall couldn't imagine being put in Jack's position and didn't care to.
"I believe I'll take you up on that." Jack bowed his head marginally, in thanks, before departing from the briefing room.
On his way out of the building Jack was spotted by Sydney; she strode toward him rapidly. "Vaughn and I are heading to Santa Barbra this weekend. Here is the number if you have to reach us." She slipped a piece of paper in her father's hand. "Are you going to be okay?" Her worry was palpable.
Jack gave her a tight smile. "Have a good weekend and try not to worry about anything else." Without giving herself time for second guessing, Sydney pulled her father into a hug.
"Bye Dad." She said with a smile.
Jack watched as she got into Vaughn's car and drove away, before getting into his own vehicle. Instantly he noticed the note tacked to his dashboard. With hesitation he pulled the note free and read the carefully formed words.
Jack,
There is so much in my life to be sorry for Jack. I could never account for the hurt I caused you or our daughter but I would give anything to try. Our night in Panama keeps me going; you gave me a gift that night Jack. One more precious then you could ever fathom. The morning was marred by our separation yet the night was filled with thoughts of you, of how to stay in your arms, of how to keep you with me. I cherished our departure from reality but one must realize it never stays gone too long.
I.
Jack's hand twitched, prepared to crumple the paper until his good sense told him it may be of value to their investigation. He laid it gentle on the seat next to him and turned his key in the ignition, peeling out of the parking garage.
It wasn't until Jack hit the first set of lights outside the Task force that the CD play finally clicked on. It startled him; however, he did nothing to shut it off. Irina had piqued his curiosity ensuring Jack would see where her game was taking them. The words filtered through the car speakers in an ominous genre of music.
I've this creeping
Suspicion that things here are not as they seem
Reassure me
Why do I feel as if I'm in too deep
Now I've been praying
For some way to show them
I'm not what they see
Yes, I have done wrong
But what I did I thought needed be done
I swear
Unholy day
If I leave now I might get away
Oh, but this weighs on me
As heavy as stone and as blue as I go
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
From that fool's mistake
And now forever pay
No, run
I will run and I'll be ok
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
I go a long way
To bury the past for I don't want to pay
Oh, how I wish this
To turn back the clock and do over again
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
I need so
To stay in your arms, see you smile, hold you close
God, how it weighs on me
As heavy as stone and a bone chilling cold
I was just wondering if you'd come along
Just tell me you will
The song played out instrumentally with the time it took Jack to reach his home. He turned off the engine and leaned back against the head rest, eyes closed. Getting out of the car took more effort than he would have liked. He bypassed the living room in favor of ridding him of his suit.
Jack removed his tie and jacket, draping them on the end of his bed. He was surprised to find another note and package sitting on his night table. Whoever was planting the gifts was becoming bolder, unnerving Jack.
Panama, 15 weeks ago.
I.
Was all that the note read this time. Jack opened the non-descript envelope that was leaning against the lamp post. Pulling the single object from the inside caused his stomach to drop and his breath to catch. The grainy, black and white photo was unmistakable yet Jack found him searching the corners for confirmation.
In the bottom left-hand corner a date of three days prior glared back at him, accompanied by the words 'baby Bristow at 15 weeks'...
Please Review (-:
CIA TASK FORCE HEADQUATERS - L.A.
Sydney entered the building looking worse for wear. Bruises adorned her face and tiny cuts peppered her cheek and hair line. She signaled to Vaughn that they should make their way to the briefing room as no one else from the team was in the central office.
Kendall stopped talking upon the opening of the door. Everyone seated around the table turned to look at the pair who walked in.
"I take you are feeling better Agent Bristow." Kendall tried to find an even balance between concerned and authoritative.
"I am." Sydney responded. "I assume you have updated everyone on last night's events." She sat down with Vaughn quietly beside her.
"I have and we were just following it up with further information on Allison Doran." Kendall placed his hands on the back of his chair while standing.
"Does that not seem like a waste of resources and time?" Vaughn questioned. "The woman is dead, her life history is not important at this point. Should we not be focusing our efforts on finding Sloane and Derevko?"
"Sloane has built his Rambaldi machine and is likely to content for the time being. As for Irina Derevko, she has disappeared completely from our intelligence chain. Her operation is active but she has yet to claim her victory." Kendall sat back down heavily.
"What if she is not looking to claim a victory? What if she reengaged her syndicate to keep herself safe from Sloane." Jack piped up; he seemed disturbed by their conversation.
"That's going out on quite a limb Jack." Kendall said.
"Is it? Irina betrayed Sloane by giving his location to Sydney. She may have done more to sabotage his operations, making her a target." Jack studied the table before returning his gaze to Kendall.
The room was quiet as each team member absorbed Jack's words. Sloane was a loose canon without Irina to channel his attention to Rambaldi and he was capable to taking more drastic measures without a partner to consult. The game suddenly became even more dangerous.
"Okay, let's stay on top of any movement by Sloane or Derevko. If they are truly no longer working together neither of their Rambaldi collections is complete and there will likely be moves by both to obtain the missing pieces. That's all." Kendall remained seated as everyone quickly vacated the room. "Jack." He called in an effort to speak to him alone.
Jack stopped in his tracks and addressed Kendall impassively. "Was there something else?"
"What's going on Jack? You're distant and barely focused. You participated today, only to present the idea that Irina may not be the vicious woman you've been touting her as." He furrowed his brow in confusion and worry. Jack had not taken any time off after being held captive and Kendall was beginning to wonder if it had impaired his judgment.
"Irina left me a gift at home yesterday evening." Jack eyed Kendall wearily.
"A threat?" Kendall held his breath while Jack responded.
"No, an apology." Jack sounded less then thrilled with the thought. Kendall was too shocked to comment. "Actually it was a song that was meant as an apology and explanation."
"Effective?" Kendall crossed his arms over his chest with the question.
"If the purpose was to get me to second guess myself and Irina then I suppose the answer is, very." Jack took two steps away from the other man in thought.
"I may not always agree with your methods Jack, but more often then not you are able to read Irina's motivations. What do her recent actions tell you?" Kendall walked to the other side of the table but kept his eyes trained on Jack.
"That's what is disturbing me, this move doesn't make sense. She should be spending her time coming up with ways to outmaneuver Sloane." Jack paused. "Communicating with me in any way will not help to keep her hidden yet it seems she has made every effort to disappear." He sighed. "Her behavior has become erratic and I can't figure out what is fueling it."
"Jack, why don't you take the weekend off; Sydney and Agent Vaughn are doing much the same. On Monday you can bring the song in to be analyzed by tech. There may be more to it than music." Kendall couldn't imagine being put in Jack's position and didn't care to.
"I believe I'll take you up on that." Jack bowed his head marginally, in thanks, before departing from the briefing room.
On his way out of the building Jack was spotted by Sydney; she strode toward him rapidly. "Vaughn and I are heading to Santa Barbra this weekend. Here is the number if you have to reach us." She slipped a piece of paper in her father's hand. "Are you going to be okay?" Her worry was palpable.
Jack gave her a tight smile. "Have a good weekend and try not to worry about anything else." Without giving herself time for second guessing, Sydney pulled her father into a hug.
"Bye Dad." She said with a smile.
Jack watched as she got into Vaughn's car and drove away, before getting into his own vehicle. Instantly he noticed the note tacked to his dashboard. With hesitation he pulled the note free and read the carefully formed words.
Jack,
There is so much in my life to be sorry for Jack. I could never account for the hurt I caused you or our daughter but I would give anything to try. Our night in Panama keeps me going; you gave me a gift that night Jack. One more precious then you could ever fathom. The morning was marred by our separation yet the night was filled with thoughts of you, of how to stay in your arms, of how to keep you with me. I cherished our departure from reality but one must realize it never stays gone too long.
I.
Jack's hand twitched, prepared to crumple the paper until his good sense told him it may be of value to their investigation. He laid it gentle on the seat next to him and turned his key in the ignition, peeling out of the parking garage.
It wasn't until Jack hit the first set of lights outside the Task force that the CD play finally clicked on. It startled him; however, he did nothing to shut it off. Irina had piqued his curiosity ensuring Jack would see where her game was taking them. The words filtered through the car speakers in an ominous genre of music.
I've this creeping
Suspicion that things here are not as they seem
Reassure me
Why do I feel as if I'm in too deep
Now I've been praying
For some way to show them
I'm not what they see
Yes, I have done wrong
But what I did I thought needed be done
I swear
Unholy day
If I leave now I might get away
Oh, but this weighs on me
As heavy as stone and as blue as I go
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
From that fool's mistake
And now forever pay
No, run
I will run and I'll be ok
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
I go a long way
To bury the past for I don't want to pay
Oh, how I wish this
To turn back the clock and do over again
I was just wondering if you'd come along
To hold up my head when my head won't hold on
I'll do the same if the same's what you want
But if not I'll go
I will go alone
I need so
To stay in your arms, see you smile, hold you close
God, how it weighs on me
As heavy as stone and a bone chilling cold
I was just wondering if you'd come along
Just tell me you will
The song played out instrumentally with the time it took Jack to reach his home. He turned off the engine and leaned back against the head rest, eyes closed. Getting out of the car took more effort than he would have liked. He bypassed the living room in favor of ridding him of his suit.
Jack removed his tie and jacket, draping them on the end of his bed. He was surprised to find another note and package sitting on his night table. Whoever was planting the gifts was becoming bolder, unnerving Jack.
Panama, 15 weeks ago.
I.
Was all that the note read this time. Jack opened the non-descript envelope that was leaning against the lamp post. Pulling the single object from the inside caused his stomach to drop and his breath to catch. The grainy, black and white photo was unmistakable yet Jack found him searching the corners for confirmation.
In the bottom left-hand corner a date of three days prior glared back at him, accompanied by the words 'baby Bristow at 15 weeks'...
Please Review (-: