CIA JOINT TASK FORCE HQ- L.A.
The looks began as his first foot landed in the door of headquarters. Most attempted to be surreptitious, failing miserably while others stared blatantly with no hint of shame. Looking in the mirror that morning, Jack had noticed the differences in his appearance for the first time since his return from Greece the night before.
The tan he sported was difficult to miss as was the fact that most of his suits were two or three sizes too big in the waist. He had smiled thinking Irina would make a very motivating personal trainer; although her methods of exercise would have to remain exclusive to him. But both those changes could be explained away as souvenirs of any vacation, it was the spark in his eyes that could not.
The perpetual haunted look that occupied his dark orbs was not as arduous to regain as he had imagined. With the CIA building looming ahead, his mind began calculating strategies for apprehending Sloane while ensuring Irina and Sydney's safety in the process. Working in a tight time constraint made for a greater challenge but that was what he lived for.
"Dad!" He heard as he entered the busy Ops Centre.
Sydney leapt from where she had been sitting, talking to Weiss and Vaughn when she saw him walk through the door. He was anxious to see his daughter, having not been separated from her for such a long period of time in more than two years.
"Sydney." His lips tested a small smile. With three long strides his daughter was in his arms, hugging him tight. His arms had felt empty for twenty-four hours, without Irina to hold but his daughter was able to ease the ache somewhat.
"Dad, why didn't you tell me you were coming home, I could have picked you up at the airport."
"It wasn't a problem Sydney; I had a car pick me up. And I don't think hugging the new boss in the middle of the office is a good idea. They may think you're getting preferential treatment." His tone was stern and impassive but the light had returned to his eyes letting Sydney know he was kidding.
Sydney pulled away. "A joke Dad? Tell me the truth; did the CIA make two weeks of sensitivity training a stipulation before giving you the new position?" Her eyes, the mirror of her mother's, contained a mirth not seen since she had been a young girl.
"Are you implying I'm in need of sensitivity training Agent Bristow?" His brow furrowed at her but the light remained.
Sydney fought the urge to smile. "No sir, Director Bristow. I would never imply such a thing." Jack nodded as Sydney leaned in further. "I would just say it." She whispered.
"Insubordination is not tolerated Agent. I would appreciate it if you remembered who the boss is." Jack had to stifle the rising chuckle his comment had elicited at a memory of Irina.
"Are you going to tell me where you went Dad?" She asked with a tilt of the head.
"Does it matter?"
"I suppose not, although if you told me, I may be able to stop the speculation around the office. I don't think there was a single person in the building who believed you would actually go on a vacation." Sydney dropped her voice as they moved toward her desk.
"If I didn't go on a vacation, where did they think I went for two weeks?" His hands were heavy at his sides.
"There were quite a few theories. Some people thought you may be going after Sloane." Jack could Sydney steel herself. "Or Derevko."
He could hear Irina's heart breaking a thousand miles away. Derevko. That certainly gave him insight into where his daughter stood on the issue of her mother.
"Sydney, I assure you I went after neither. I may be loath to admit it but I was in need of this short sabbatical. I am taking on plenty of new responsibilities in addition to many of my old ones. The main objective of this task force has been to take Sloane out of the equation and I want to see that accomplished. Two weeks away has given me time to reflect on the year and get a handle on where we should be focusing our efforts. And as it's so important to you, I went to Singapore." He gave her a quick nod of his head and turned to visit his new office.
He hadn't lied when he told her he didn't go after Arvin Sloane of Irina Derevko while he was away. She didn't ask him if he had gone after Irina Bristow though.
"Was that Jack Bristow? Like the 'kill you if you look at me the wrong way hard ass' Jack Bristow?" Weiss approached Sydney's desk with Vaughn close behind. "Did someone attack him with a tanning bed and a glue-on smile?"
"He said he went to Singapore." Sydney shrugged.
"Why would he go there?" Vaughn's forehead creased.
"I have no idea. But he looks better than when he left, which is saying a lot." Sydney glanced at Vaughn who nodded in agreement.
"I don't know Sydney. It's just a tan and a few lost pounds, I'm pretty sure he's still a moment away from chewing someone up and spitting them out. But it's obvious he missed you." Vaughn turned a half smile on Sydney.
"Who knew a vacation would have such a great affect on him. The CIA should have ordered one a long time ago." Sydney smiled at the empty hall her father had walked down.
"That's what you think." Weiss shook his head. "This happier Jack is making me more nervous than before he went away. I don't know about you two but I think the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. It's almost like he's trying to draw us into his web of ease and happiness and then when we let our guard down and do or say something stupid he's going to snap and kill us all."
"Weiss." Vaughn rolled his eyes.
"What?"
"Have you been watching Murder She Wrote again?" Vaughn contained his laughter.
"Jessica Fletcher would have been a great CIA agent." He defended. "I watch it when I visit my grandmother okay."
Sydney was smiling as she addressed both the men. "I wouldn't worry. My father doesn't just explode. He's too controlled for that and I have no doubt the novelty of being away from the office for two weeks will wear off in an hour, tops."
JACK BRISTOW'S OFFICE – CIA HEADQUARTERS
The CIA had furnished and decorated his office for him. The room was spacious and comfortable though it lacked windows. His safety and the security of the Agency would be at risk in an office with windows, or at least it was what the CIA believed.
The room was a green taupe with dark wood paneling on the lower half. Two pieces of art adorn the walls, prints obviously, an area with a sofa, large stuffed chairs and a heavy wooden coffee table. The desk was similar to the table; all the pieces were thick, and slightly aged to give it an antiqued look.
It was obvious someone in the CIA had been paying attention to his tastes. Most of the offices were decorated with a contemporary flare but he preferred a traditional setting. A place to work where he didn't feel as though he would break his furniture just by sitting on it, one more thing that had annoyed and frustrated him about visiting Sloane at SD-6.
Seeing Sydney had been a gift and a curse. While time with Irina was nothing short of wonderful, it did not mean he missed his daughter any less. But he hadn't anticipated the pain he experienced every time Sydney did or said something that reminded him of her mother. The mother who was alone and missing them both as much as he missed her.
The line on his phone beeped, indicating his secretary was paging him.
"Yes." He answered after pressing the line button.
"Director Bristow. Assistant Director Kendall is here to see you."
Jack groped for his new secretary's name. "Thank you Caroline. You can send him in."
"Those missions you complete before you left must have been of the utmost importance." Kendall said, looking around the room.
"The office will suffice." Jack said simply.
"Now I see what all the conversation is in the office. I'll admit I didn't believe you were actually on vacation." He took on the other side of Jack's desk, making direct eye contact. "And after that little stunt you pulled with your cell phone I thought for sure we would be on mission to rescue the CIA's newest sub-director."
"I got rid of my phone because I am aware of your tendency to run things by me and while I appreciate the implied confidence in my abilities, I did not want to be tempted to return before my two weeks were up. Being as you noticed I tossed my phone, it would seem I was right in my prediction." Jack folded his hands and leaned back in his chair.
"What can I say? You've got me there Jack." Kendall relaxed into the chair. "I've scheduled a briefing in two hours to go over the past two weeks and bring you up to speed." It was spoken more as a question, waiting for the approval of a superior.
"That will be fine." Jack answered, inclining his head to let the other man know he appreciated the grace with which he was handling the transition. "I've got a conference call to make to Langley in ten minutes; we'll be able to plot the course of the next few weeks after I'm briefed by each department."
"Then I'll leave you to it." Kendall stood and made for the door before turning to speak once more. "Wherever you went and whatever you did seemed to do you a world of good Jack." Both men had come to a mutual respect and understanding a while ago but neither meddled in the other's personal affairs. It was an acknowledgement of compliance of an employee on Kendall's part and did not go unnoticed by Jack.
"Yes it did. You should try it." Jack snickered silently as Kendall walked out his door. He would have to share the exchange with Irina next time he spoke to her.
BRIEFING ROOM- CIA HEADQUARTERS
Kendall, Weiss, Vaughn, Sydney, Dixon and Marshall sat around the table waiting as each one shared their portion of the brief. The latter of the group staring open mouthed at Jack. He was growing tired of the gaping looks he received, they all lived in Southern California, and a tan was not unheard of nor was a little weight loss.
"It would appear Sloane has been busy the past few days." Jack clicked a button on his computer consol bringing a picture to the screen behind him. "Two days ago he attacked a lab in Sri Lanka that had once been instrumental in The Man's organization. Not much was left of the structure." The picture showed the rubble and ruins left in Sloane's wake.
"Are we to assume Derevko was not killed in the attack on her home in Russia?" Kendall inquired. "This was an obvious act of aggression but it would serve no purpose if Derevko is already dead."
"She could be in hiding. The Man had no face for a long time; we know she is adept at keeping a low profile. Sloane could be attempting to draw her out, hoping she will retaliate." Dixon added.
"Why don't we just let them go after each other, eventually they'll destroy the other's operations." Vaughn implored with his hands out in front of him.
"And how many people would you like to see them kill before they've destroyed each other Mister Vaughn?" Jack wondered if he had overestimated Vaughn's intelligence. The younger man was appropriately shushed.
"She will retaliate soon. She won't ignore such a blatant offensive strike against her organization." Sydney had spent months analyzing her mother's actions and possible motivations, believing she now had an insight into what made her tick.
"Excuse me. Sorry um...but…um…well, when Sloane um…emptied over one hundred clips of artillery into her house she didn't do anything…this move wasn't nearly as personal…I…um…it just seemed weird to me." Marshall shrunk back in his seat.
"Marshall is correct. The personal nature of the pervious attack against her would have been more than enough to draw her out. Sloane may be testing her; seeing how far he can push without her pushing back. If she is in a position where she can't push back, Sloane has free reign and we cannot allow that." Jack looked stiff once again sitting in the chair at the head of the briefing table.
"How does Langley want us to proceed?" Dixon asked.
"They've given me carte blanch over the operation." A few eyebrows were raised. "With Sloane's penchants for killing those in his way our directive is simple. Find Sloane and kill him. His knowledge of international crime is inconsequential and Rambaldi is no longer an issue we're concerned with." Jack caught Kendall's brow furrow in frustration momentarily.
"Assuming Derevko's alive, taking Sloane out may be just what she's waiting for. We would get rid of the biggest threat to her and she could assert her power." Sydney's mouth was set, causing her lips to purse in anger.
"We'll address that when the time comes." Jack waved her off.
"But why kill Sloane? If we are able to apprehend him, he may give us a lead on Derevko." Vaughn added.
"You have your orders." Jack's tone held no more room for argument. "We need to know why Sloane chose the lab. It had to of had a significance to Irina. I want a full report in 72 hours." Jack shut off the screen to indicate the ending of the briefing.
"Sydney, a moment?" Jack called as the rest of the group filed out of the room.
"Yeah Dad?" She stepped up to him.
"Are you busy tonight?" His voice held more confidence than he felt.
"Only with my TV. Vaughn has hockey tonight." She smiled. "Why, what's up?"
"I was just wondering if you would be interested in having dinner with me." He set his shoulders, feeling them strain against the fabric of his suit. The swimming Irina had 'forced' him to take part in had broadened them further.
"I'd love to." He watched as her smile grew wider. "How about you come over to my place and we'll order in?"
Jack tried to keep the grimace off his face, remembering that she was now living with Vaughn and he would have to endure 'their' home. Not something any father wanted to thank about in relation to his little girl.
"Alright then. I'll see you about seven." Before he could halt it, a full smile lit his lips.
Sydney hesitated before walking out the door, unsure whether to break the spell between them.
"Dad, why do you call Mom Irina?" Jack looked sharply at her. "I mean everyone else calls her Derevko but not you."
Jack weighed the question carefully, trying to form an answer that would satisfy. "I've called her Irina ever since she came back. In some way I suppose I felt it took away her power. She always called me Jack, being too formal would have given her an advantage. A name holds a lot of power Sydney but we were on even ground there." A soft blink and a bow of her head was all he received in return. "Sydney?" She lifted her head to meet his eyes. "Why do you call her Mom?" His eyebrows rose letting her know the question did not warrant an answer, merely contemplation.
Jack watched her shift under his gaze, looking too much like her mother to allow for his sadness to stay at bay. He could see thoughts racing behind her brown eyes; he could not have known she worried over whether her question had caused him to rethink their dinner plans.
Finally, gathering the courage she looked at him with wide eyes, seeking assurances he wasn't sure he could give.
"Seven?"
"Seven."
Three months?
Three months.
Definitely too much like her mother.
BOGOTA, COLUMBIA
Standing at the large windows in his personal office, Sloane looked out over the lush gardens of his property. In his right hand was an antique picture frame with a picture of Emily smiling up at him. He would have moments, sometimes in the morning when he woke alone, sometimes sitting at his desk, the location didn't seem to matter, she was never far from his mind.
She had been a casually of the poor world order. Her death had only strengthened his determination to discover all of Rambaldi's secrets and use them to make the world a better place. A place where he decided what was acceptable and not. In her name he would-
"Mr. Sloane." A hesitant knock on his door drew his attention from the window.
"Mr. Larkin. Please come in." As the man walked into the room, Sloane moved to his desk, depositing Emily's picture on the edge. "What have you found?"
"Jack Bristow returned to L.A last night and resumed working yesterday." Larkin was not innocent enough to believe Sloane was any less dangerous because he would look at a picture of his dead wife at times.
"Have you discovered his location during the two weeks yet?" Sitting back and slouching into his chair, Sloane gave the appearance of an insolent teenager.
"We have not Sir." Larkin shook his head. "No excuse, but a simple observation." He inclined his head and waited for Sloane's approval to continue. "Jack Bristow is not an easy made to survey. I feel that should he decide to, he could disappear and never been seen again."
"Quite true Mr. Larkin. But you're forgetting that Jack Bristow would never leave his daughter in such a manner." Sloane narrowed his eyes and smiled inhumanly.
"The surveillance photos we have of him lead us to believe he did travel to a vacation spot." Larkin didn't mention he speculated his wife had been his company. He had known Irina long enough to know she stopped at nothing until she got what she wanted.
Sloane glanced at the pictures with cursory interest. "I've been telling Jack he should take a vacation and relax for years now. I knew it would be beneficial. It would seem I was right." Larkin realized he was hard-pressed to find a time when Sloane believed he was wrong.
"He had dinner with Sydney Bristow yesterday evening." Larkin added as he clasped his empty hands behind his back.
Sloane only seemed to glower at that piece of information. "Keep me apprised of any further developments. And what of the lovely Irina? Has she yet immerged from the hole she has taken cover in?"
"No Sir. She has disappeared." Larkin raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, well her parenting abilities seem to drown in the water with her former identity. And yet she does seem to want to protect Sydney." Sloane contemplated the enigma that was Irina Derevko.
"Mr. Sloane?" Larkin looked behind him to find another one of Sloane's employees enter the room.
"What is it?" Larkin had gained all the trust Sloane was capable of giving, which didn't mean much. However, he was not likely to be dismissed for the conversation with the different operative.
"Sir, I have run the analysis on the manuscripts and artifacts we were left with after Derevko's departure and Sir, they're all fakes." The man looked nervous and had probably lost a bet to be the barer of the news.
"You're obviously mistaken." Sloane smiled to cover his grimace.
"No Sir. We have checked and rechecked the results."
"It would appear Irina was a busy woman while working with me." His tone betrayed nothing but his hands were clenched into tight fists, fast turning white. "I want you to step up the destruction of her holdings Mr. Larkin, she can't ignore them much longer and I want her found. I want her brought to me when she's found; no torture will ever be as sweet."
He dismissed both men and sat unmoving in his chair. Irina thought she was going to reap the rewards of Rambaldi's works, she was quite mistaken. He closed his eyes against the lost of control that was fast approaching his consciousness. He could not afford to appear unhinged or defeated nor would he give Irina the satisfaction of rendering him as such. She would pay.
TBC