DAY 6 - VILLA, SYROS
Eight in the morning in Greece saw the sun high in the sky, lighting the land with insurmountable power. Jack shifted comfortably in bed, running his fingertips teasingly up and down Irina's back. Before his eyes opened to the daylight Jack began cataloguing things he had to do and more importantly things he'd like to do during his waking hours.
Cracking his eyes open, gave him a view of long brown hair, slightly wavy from their late night swim. His hands continued tracing patterns on Irina's back while savoring the moment of peaceful contentment.
"Is this my cue to wake up?" Irina mumbled into Jack's chest, feeling his hands running over her.
"We don't have to get out of bed at all today."
"Tell that to your son." Irina's lips moved against his bare skin, her eyes remaining closed. "I have about five minutes before I have to make a bathroom trip and find something to eat."
"After our activities last night, I could do with something to eat." Jack exhaled against her hair, rousing her enough to lift her head off his chest and greet him with her eyes.
"Good morning." She smiled, leaning in to kiss him thoroughly.
"Good morning." Jack smiled back, drawing his hand through her hair. "So if we're not going to spend our day in bed, what ever are we going to do?"
Irina smiled and nipped at his chin. "After last night, I don't think I could do much more than lounge around the house."
"As long as you're lounging in as little as possible, I have no complaints." They shared a few more tender kisses before Irina rolled out of bed to make her bathroom trip.
"Like clockwork." She announced as she padded across the marble floor, with Jack's gaze heavy on her nude form.
"I really should call Sydney. She has a tendency to worry needlessly over me." Jack leaned over the bed and captured a pair of boxers and a t-shirt, not prepared to speak to their daughter in the buff.
"The sentiment is most certainly returned. She has a fierce protector in you." Irina called from the bathroom.
"Yes, well the 'fierce protector' is having a difficult time getting used to calling her at Vaughn's."
"Our daughter moves in with Agent Vaughn and you don't tell me until now?" Irina walked from the bathroom in a pair of Jack's boxers and a tank top, pleased the underwear fit around her waist.
"It must have slipped my mind." Jack rolled his eyes, not prepared when Irina pounced on him, knocking him down on the bed.
"Slipped your mind? Now Jack, this boy seems to make our daughter happy so we won't contemplate any torture or disfigurement unless he does something that puts that happiness in jeopardy." Irina kneeled over his body.
"I suppose Sydney could do worse." His hands grasped her thighs.
"Unfortunately there isn't much hope for our daughter." Irina looked crestfallen. "I've already claimed the best man as mine, everyone else is second rate in comparison." A wicked gleam sparkled in her eyes. "I need something to eat. The phone line is secure. I'd tell you to give her my love, but I have a feeling that might arouse suspicion." Getting off the bed, Irina smiled broadly on her way back to the ensuite to pull her hair up.
"You're in an awfully good mood today." Jack sat up and reached for the phone.
"Multiple orgasms do that to me." She smiled into the mirror at her own relaxed expression. "Make your phone call Action. I'll get something ready for breakfast."
As the phone rang through Jack felt Irina place a soft kiss to the back of his neck and rub his back quickly before retreating from the room.
"Hello?" Sydney spoke with an obvious smile.
"Sydney, it's me."
"Dad? I was starting to get worried. I know you said you wouldn't call for a few days but after everything we've been through, I couldn't help but worry." Her concern was exactly as expected, causing Jack to smile gently.
"I'm fine Sweetheart. Quite surprisingly I'm enjoying myself." He paused. "Is everything okay at work?"
"Yeah, although we've had an eventful few days." She hedged slightly, unsure of how to broach the topic racing through her mind. "The Secretary General of the United Nations' wife and children were kidnapped; the CIA received an anonymous call that seemed to mysteriously go through all the right channels leading Dixon and me to recover them."
"Was the mission successful?" Jack was already trying to decipher the importance of the mission.
"We found them and returned them to Switzerland. They hadn't been hurt; the group had taken them only for leverage. But that's not- Dad, Kofi Annen and his wife knew Mom and they hinted that she was the one who orchestrated their safe return."
Jack turned the information over in his mind, wondering at the validity of Irina's attempt at hiding only to make such a bold move. His blood pressure began to rise with the first stabs of betrayal. More secrets.
"Did they tell you how they knew your mother?" He was careful to keep his voice controlled.
"No, they said it wasn't their place to say." Sydney huffed into the phone. "I'm sick of these crumbs I get about Mom and her life over the last twenty years. I'm not going to spend my life trying to piece this twisted puzzle together, only to have the picture keep changing." Jack said nothing in response. "I'm sorry Dad; I should have waited until you got back bother you with this. I'm just frustrated." Her sigh recaptured her father's attention.
"I'd forget about it if I were you Sydney. Irina Derevko does things only to further her own interests." Jack's resolute tone told Sydney to drop the conversation.
"I'm really glad you called Dad." She paused, wondering if she should continue. "I've missed you." She held her breath, waiting for his reply.
"I've missed you too. I'll call you again to let you know when I'll be back. Take care of yourself and be careful." Jack's grip on the phone tightened, anticipating the next conversation he would have that morning.
"I will. Bye Dad." Sydney smiled against the receiver.
"Good-bye Sydney."
Sitting on the edge of the bed for a few minutes longer, Jack collected his thoughts, preparing himself for whatever battle lay ahead. Irina had a knack for keeping things from him; he would give her that.
Hearing Jack descend the stairs, Irina smiled to herself. She moved to meet him in the living room but caught the look on his face.
"What is it? Did something happen to Sydney?" The worry on her face made Jack waver slightly, caving momentarily to quell her fears.
"No. But maybe you can explain to me why the truth is so difficult for you." Jack's stony mask of the first few days returned.
"Would you care to enlighten me further? I have been honest with you." Irina's forehead creased in confusion.
"Sydney relayed an interesting mission she was on this week. It seems she met an acquaintance or two of yours." Realization final touched her expression. "One step forward and ten steps back, wouldn't you say Irina. Any reason for this particular lie or is it merely a difficult habit to break." Nothing in his voice gave anyway his state of anger; he was cold.
"I didn't lie about anything."
"It's a lie by omission Irina! Why can't you trust me with the truth? I don't want pieces of your honesty, I want its entirety." Jack yelled, his own head pounded with the effort.
"I understand there are things you can't tell me about your work Jack, it's the same for mine. I've made promises and commitments to people, that their dealings with me would remain anonymous, I will not break those confidences." Her conviction shocked Jack into deflating marginally.
"And what about your promises and commitments to me? Do they resonate on any scale of importance? I'm not going to be party to your half-truths; you can either tell me what is going on or remain silent, watching me walk out that door." His arm waved in the direction to the front hallway.
"Slinging ultimatums won't do either of us any good. Don't be so bloody juvenile Jack. Not everything is about you and me. Some things are bigger than us."
"NO, some things were bigger than us, now they are us. Everything hinges on you Sydney and me Irina. For many reasons I don't even understand, and now-" his eyes drifted to her stomach. "Now we're bringing someone else into this world, someone else who will be open to hurt, betrayal, pain and the possibility of being sucked into this life."
"You don't think I'm aware of that Jack? That I not terrified of what lay ahead for our son? That I don't wish I was a different woman and could promise him a life free from the atrocities of this one? I spend every minute wondering if I'm going to hurt our son like I did our daughter. If I'll be forced to leave him and trade his happiness to protect his life. I can have good intentions of not reliving past mistakes but that means nothing in our world. Not when Arvin Sloane, the CIA or any other terrorist organization can take that opportunity from my child and me. You may want me to be honest but you're still CIA; I can't ask even more of you than I already have, I wouldn't."
The sheer emotion she poured into her tirade stunned Jack silent. It was too easy to fall back into a pattern of not trusting her; he had done so for twenty years. Three nights before she had been willing to give up, aware she was fooling herself into believe they could start over. However, he had never been one to roll over and admit defeat adnd now was not the time to take up rolling.
"What happens here stays here Irina. The minute I stepped onto this island, I ceased being a CIA agent and became your husband." She looked up sharply at his soft words.
Sighing heavily, Irina dropped onto the sofa and waited for Jack to follow her example. She was thankful when he sat in the chair adjacent to her as oppose to beside her, the distraction would not have been welcome.
"When Gorbachev instituted perestoika it was the beginning of the end for the Soviet Union. Factions of government and KGB were already planning contingencies, I was still very much invested in finding myself through Rambaldi's works." The roll of her eyes wasn't significant as the sarcasm flooded her words. "By the time I had found fault with Rambaldi's writings, the territories were being divided up in Russia; organized crime was taking its stand and I wanted revenge." Jack sat back in the chair as Irina shook with fury.
"Yuri Sarikova was a high ranking member of the Communist party and received one of the biggest territories. He was also the man who ordered my unrestricted interrogation in Kashmir. He and my father had fought together in World War II; they were friends. He sentenced his friend's daughter to that hell. I wanted him dead." Her knuckles had turned white from her effort to keep them clenched in fists. "He thought I was dead until I showed up on his doorstep and shot him pointblank. What I had yet to understand was that I now had the rights to his territory." Jack nodded along. "I didn't particularly want it nor did I want to give it away; so it sat there, until someone tried to take it. I fought back and won, gaining more territory and more power. My organization had gain most of the shipping rights in Russia and I controlled most of the ports, the scope of my power seemed to appear out of thin air. I had set out to get retribution and ended up one of the most powerful people in Russia."
Jack looked skeptical at her, urging her to continue. "I still wasn't….all there….after Kashmir. I acted more on impulse and defensive measures than anything else. I wasn't a game theorist, nor did I have the analytical skill at the time to even attempt such; Kashmir had dulled my intelligent thought, I was left to rely on instinct." Folding and unfolding her hands in her lap, Irina carried on.
"In 1991 I was in Sweden and met Nane and Kofi Annen. They were visiting her family and we struck up a dialogue. It turned out Kofi was heading up an investigation and documentation of the growth of organized crime following the collapse of the Soviet Union for the UN. I took a risk and told him who I was and how I came to hold such power, he in turn offered me a job."
Jack had not been expecting her to say that, consequently sitting up straighter in his seat. "He offered you a job? What could he have possible hired you to do?"
"He wanted me to work organized crime from the inside, expand my operation, flush out others and hand over information regarding rivals and budding organizations. We began working together, often communicating through Nane as no one in the United Nations was aware of the partnership nor was anyone I worked with. It took a while but eventually we began seeing results. Opium rights were manipulated, owners were catalogued and monitored. He took a great risk using me but things appeared to be running smoothly and then a few years ago everything changed."
"When he was appointed Secretary General of the Security Council we finally had the power to exact real change. Since the middle of the nineties Nane, Kofi and myself have been working on a reform for the UN, restructuring that will extend its power and allow for votes to occur where change can be exacted. With five countries holding veto power it was impossible to see significant transition, the reformed UN wouldn't be as flawed. The problem was, getting everyone in the current Security Council to agree to the reforms. In most cases it will not be in the advantage of some of the more independently powerful countries." Jack nodded again, working to assimilate all she was telling him. "I've spent that last ten years cultivating relationships and collecting favours from members of the United Nations so that we might be successful in the reformations. Sloane endangers the progress we've made; almost two years ago I set into motion a plan that would see to his end." Dropping her eyes from the intensity of Jack's stare, Irina watched a shadow place across the living room rug.
"When you turned yourself into the CIA…." Jack trailed off.
"Let's face it Jack, the United Nations in its current state is a joke. Changes need to be made before someone like Sloane takes it upon himself. I'll admit that my actions aren't completely altruistic. I've been plagued by guilt every since I had to leave you and Sydney, I think I wanted to do this to make up for all I had done to hurt you both; to make Sydney proud of her mother. The United Nations would not have been able to agree on a course of action to rescue Nane and the children; I knew Sydney would get them out safely."
"Doesn't it put your safety in jeopardy when you make contact with others?" Jack sat forward a bit.
"The nature of my partnership with Secretary Annen doesn't allow me to cut off all communication. However, despite a few people being able to contact me, you are the only person who is aware of my current location or condition."
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Jack furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Which of the five veto powers do you think is going to oppose the new structure of the UN the most Jack? Twenty years ago I wasn't willing to make you choose between your patriotism and your wife; I don't what to force that choice on you now either."
"And what if I told you that both times I would have chosen my wife." They shared a meaningful look before Jack moved to sit beside her on the sofa. "The American government my not be too pleased with the reformed UN but I don't believe they'll stand in its way. Especially if you charm them into agreeing." Jack's hand landed on her back. "I'm assuming that was why you spent time gaining influence in NATO and the UN."
"I needed my organization to influence the votes of the permanent members of the Council." Silence stole minutes as both of them tried to carefully form their next thoughts. "You were right Jack, one step forward and ten steps back. I can't live like that. I understand it may be difficult but I need you to trust that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you or Sydney. If you want to know something, just ask me. I can't promise I'll be able to give you the answers you want but I can try." Irina's hand rubbed Jack's bare knee lightly, needing the connect of touch.
"I'm sorry I yelled. You're right, I should have just asked. Some may think I'm foolish but I've already have begun to trust you Irina. It's why I got so angry when Sydney told me about her mission." Jack kissed her forehead, relaxing in the wake of her explanation.
"You still haven't filed those annulment papers." Irina grinned at him.
"There are too many advantages to being married to you; I burned those papers." Jack kissed her soundly. "Is breakfast still safe to eat or should I avoid food for the day?"
Irina smiled. "It think you're safe but you never know, I heard your wife can be vicious."
"Nah, she's not so bad. She's only vicious when her husband jumps to conclusions and makes an ass of himself." Jack kissed her again, pulling them both off the couch.
"I like my husband's ass." She grabbed his and squeezed.
"The feeling is mutual." They shared another kiss and a laugh then made their way to the kitchen.
DAY 13 - VILLA, SYROS
For a week Jack and Irina had been getting along. Jack had shared what he could of Sydney's formative years and listened as Irina would explain where she had been during a particular event. In seven days Jack felt he had learn more about his wife than in the ten years he had known her before. He had been loath to admit it but he was had still loved her when he arrived on the island almost two weeks before. In the time he had spent with her, he had found himself falling in love again and again. He felt lighter and happier than he had in years thanks to his wife.
The phone ringing was an anomaly for the house but on that particular morning it was heard. Irina was outside doing what Jack could only guess was yoga or something similar and was almost startled by the noise.
"Action, are you expecting a call?" Jack called through the open French doors. Irina had allowed him to look over the plans for the restructured UN a few days before, and he was still working his way through them.
"No Honey. You can answer it." Irina yelled back.
"Hello?" Jack picked up the cordless phone in the living room.
"Mr. Bristow, its Peter Maridakos. I'm calling with the RFLP results. Is your wife close by?"
"No, she's outside at the moment." Jack wondered at the anxiousness he heard in the doctor's voice.
"That's probably a good thing. I have some disturbing news for you…."
"That's probably a good thing. I have some disturbing news for you."
Jack couldn't speak over the lump quickly forming in his throat. "I'm sorry Mr. Bristow, but the RFLP showed no differences in compatibility; it would seem that stem cell treatment is out of the question."
Jack released a sigh of relief at the doctor's words. It was disheartening to realize that all the time he and Irina had spent together, learning about one another over two weeks, dissolved so quickly into fear of mistrust. Acknowledging the disappear in the doctor's tone at not being able to provide him with a cure, Jack hurried to reassure him.
"Actually Dr. Maridakos, I received the comprehensive results of my tests earlier this week, it would appear my first test was a false positive. My doctors in the States believe I'll be just fine. I apologize; I should have called you to let you know."
Dr. Maridakos breathed a sigh of relief then chuckled. "I'm glad to hear that. I hate making the phone calls that spell bad news."
"Thank you for getting back to me with the results so quickly; surely you're busy." Jack relaxed against the side of the sofa. His gaze wandered outside to Irina who was balancing on one foot, seemingly stretching at an awkward position.
Dr. Maridakos' warm laughter filtered over the line. "Things have actually been slow of late, but you won't hear me complaining. Any excuse I have to spend more time at home, I'll take."
"Now that I can understand." Jack chuckled along with the doctor, keeping his focus on Irina.
"Actually, this wasn't just a professional call. My wife, Helen and I were wondering if you and your wife would be interested in coming over for dinner tonight. I know its short notice but Helen loves to entertain and when she heard that you two were relatively new to the island she wouldn't stop pestering my until I asked."
Jack wasn't sure if it was the time away from the CIA, the island or Irina but he was inclined to take him up on the invitation. "That sounds great; just let me check with my wife." Jack hit the mute button on the phone and walked the short distance to the open doors.
"Action, are you up for a night out?" Jack caught her attention as she rearranged herself on the mat.
"What did you have in mind?" Irina smiled softly, her sunglasses obscuring his view of her eyes.
"Dr. Maridakos from the hospital lab is on the phone and has invited us to his house for dinner. It would seem his wife would like to make our acquaintance."
"What do you make of the doctor?" Despite her hidden eyes, Jack knew suspicion was brewing in them.
"Nothing nefarious as far as I can tell. He seems genuine."
"Alright then, let's go."
Jack pressed the mute button once again. "Dr. Maridakos?"
"Peter." The man replied.
"Then I insist you call me Jack." His eyes followed Irina folding herself up on the mat and breathing evenly. "What time would you like us there?"
"How's seven?"
"Great. Directions?" Jack questioned.
"Same route you took to the hospital but instead of the last left you made, make a right our house is the forth one on the right hand side." Peter's smile was evident over the phone as Jack hung up.
"Making friends?" Irina taunted from her mat.
"Everywhere I go. I'm very likeable." Jack placed the phone on one of the stone benches and moved to stand behind Irina.
"How safe do you think this is? Meeting people." She placed her sunglasses on top of her head, effectively pulling the strands away from the sides of her face.
"I have to leave in two days and go back to L.A. I want to know that there is someone close by that you can call on if you need help." Jack sat down behind her and massaged her shoulders.
"I don't want to put them in danger Jack." She leaned into him.
"You don't have to; it would however put my mind at ease." His lips danced across her neck to her collarbone and back again.
"Do you know how long it's been since I went to a dinner party? What am I supposed to talk about with these people?" Irina imitated a mock conversation they could encounter at dinner. "What do I do for a living? Well, I do happen run one of the largest crime syndicates in the world. Why thank you; it is quite the accomplishment." She rolled her eyes.
"So we avoid talking about what you do. Helen Maridakos gave birth to their youngest child three years ago at forty-nine. I'm sure there is a dinner party's worth of information she would love to impart to you about motherhood later in life."
Irina sighed, her shoulders relaxing under Jack's ministrations. "That would be nice." His hands ran under her shirt, playing over the soft skin of her back. "I've been a little self-conscious about being pregnant at fifty."
She felt Jack smile against her hair. "Irina Derevko, self-conscious?"
"Irina Derevko can't afford to be self-conscious. But Irina Bristow feels as though everyone's eyes are on her." They both smiled at that.
"That's because everyone's eyes are on you. They can't get over how stunningly beautiful you are. And trust me, not a single one of them would guess your age." Irina turned slightly to place her lips on his. "You're out here every day; can't you take one day off from your yoga?"
"It's healthy for me and the baby. And you know that thing I do with my leg around your neck?" Irina's voice became huskier as Jack's eyes pooled with desire.
"Yes."
"You can thank yoga for that."
"Alright then, I'll leave you to it." Jack jumped up from the mat but her hand stopped him.
"I'm done anyway. What time do we have to be at dinner?"
"Seven." Jack helped her up. "What do you suppose we do until then?"
"How about a relaxing swim." Jack rolled his eyes.
"You're not going to make me race again are you?" He shook his head.
"Now Jack, it's just a little friendly competition between a husband and wife."
"There is nothing friendly about it Action. You're liable to drown me."
"Not a chance." Irina told him seriously. "You're too wonderful in bed for me to get rid of you now."
LATER
"Action, did you get the wine and the flowers?" Irina called from her makeup table.
"They're by the door. Are you about ready to go?" Jack asked as he climbed the stairs to their room. Smiling as he realized that through the course of two weeks everything had become 'theirs'.
"Mmmhmm. I just need you to do me up." The conversation was reminiscent of their days together twenty years before save for the small matter of the torrent of lies lying between them then.
Irina gave herself the once over in the mirror and decided it was good enough. Her dress was primarily brown with red and beige patterned across it. The dress was simple and trendy, perfect for a casual dinner.
"You look absolutely beautiful." Jack kissed the roundness of her shoulder after zipping her up.
"I look like I'm hiding a grapefruit under my dress. But you're looking quite handsome." They spent a moment looking at their reflection in the mirror, showing them the image of a happy couple for the first time in two decades. "We're becoming one of those couples." Irina laughed. "We match." She indicated Jack's red golf shirt and khaki pants.
"I consider it a better fate than you not believing I coordinated my outfit well enough and making me change." Jack held her purse as she slipped her shoes on.
"Let's not keep our hosts waiting." Irina gave Jack a quick kiss on their way out the door.
TBC