CIA JOINT TASK FORCE – L.A.
The team had been assembled in the briefing room to go over the information they had gathered on Sloane's movements in the month since Jack had returned. Sloane was throwing everything he had at Irina's organization and had been for almost the entire month.
"Two days ago a blast destroyed one of the largest ports in Russia, belonging to Derevko." Jack had mulled over Sydney's questions about how he addressed Irina and decided it would be less suspicious if he referred to her as Derevko in most instances. Although every once in a while he felt a need to utter her name, reassuring himself that the two weeks they spent together were not a dream.
"I think we have to face the reality that Irina Derevko is no longer alive." Dixon spoke carefully, knowing the woman was a sensitive subject for almost everyone in the room. When no one responded to his comment he continued. "Derevko is not known to sit ideally by while someone blasts holes in her operation."
"But if Sloane was successful in killing her, wouldn't it make more sense to seize her assets rather than destroy them; they would only strengthen his own network."
"Agent Weiss is correct." Jack nodded at the younger man. "Sloane is primarily motivated by greed; he doesn't believe Irina is dead and he is attempting to draw her out." His tan had faded over the month he had been back in L.A.; however, his body had become even more powerful. Running and lifting weights quickly becoming a preferred refuge from his worry and need of Irina. He had even taken to sparring with Dixon on occasion after work, thankful the other man asked few questions and was nothing if not discreet.
"What is she waiting for then?" Vaughn vocalized everyone's frustrations.
"No one has seen her for over four months. Not even operatives within her organization have heard from her." Kendall supplied.
"With Sloane out for blood and not discriminating against the source, we must anticipate his next move. The lost of lives at Arvin Sloane's hand is at a premium; we cannot allow for his actions to go unchecked." Jack spoke sternly.
"How do we know what he'll go after next?" Sydney asked.
"After the ports in Russia, one of the largest assets Irina maintains is a research facility in Tbilisi, Georgia.
"What is the facility researching?" Weiss was intrigued.
"A multitude of things and a possible Rambaldi artifact." Jack stated simply. "The facility is part of the Academy of Science Building at the Tbilisi State University. Irina is merely a large contributor to the program and in return they work on what ever project she wishes." Folding his hands, Jack continued.
"If Sloane follows his pattern of late, he is likely to raise the entire University." Passing folders to everyone around the large square table Jack gave them their orders. "Sydney, Dixon and Vaughn you'll infiltrate and locate the artifact if it is there. Sloane is apparently looking for a crown. Within the crown are crystals that are an energy source of some kind. Dixon, it is possible Sloane will already have rigged the building to explode; we need your expertise with the explosives. We can't have a repeat of the Russian docks or the Japanese bank, if there are explosives they need to be neutralized."
If Irina had been telling him the truth about the Rambaldi pieces, which he hoped she was, they wouldn't find anything in the facility. However, when the information was brought to the CIA's attention he was unable to find a plausible explanation for discounting its validity. Instead he was forced to send them on a goose chase that was far from safe.
"You leave tonight." Jack's words effectively ended the briefing.
CIA PLANE EN ROUTE - STOP OVER ATHENS
"You and your Dad have been spending a lot of time together recently." Dixon sat down beside Sydney on the plane while Vaughn was in the cockpit with the pilots.
"We've had dinner once or twice a week ever since he got home." She smiled at the thought.
"That's good." He nodded his head.
"Yeah. It's not just that we've been spending more time together but that it's quality time. I mean we even talked about my teenage years when I would sneak out of the house." She raised her eyebrows and blushed a little in embarrassment at her brash behavior.
"And how did Jack fair when you told him you were taking off all those years ago?" Dixon smiled indulgently.
"He was the one who brought it up. He knew all along that I was sneaking out but he let me go. He said he knew I was smart enough to take care of myself and he didn't want me to think he was trying to ruin my life any more than he already had." Her smile turned to a frown then back again. "But he said he waited up every night until he was sure I was safe, back in my bed and asleep."
"Through everything Sydney, SD-6 the CIA the ordeal with your mother." Dixon spoke slowly, weary of the landmine he was stepping into. "I have never doubted how much your father loves you. He may be one of the greatest agents I've ever had the pleasure to work with, aside from you of course." He gave her a little smirk. "But the respect I have for your father is steeped in his devotion to you. He may not be a perfect father but in many ways I've hoped to emulate him with my own children." He paused. "And learn from his mistakes."
"I think my mother leaving was the best thing for my father. Whether she knew it or not, I think she gave him some sense of closure. To be able to see her again and know she was exactly the woman he believed her to be for twenty years. She made me appreciate my father so much more." Sydney shrugged.
"But you still miss her sometimes." Dixon probed.
"I miss the illusion that was Laura Bristow." She answered too quickly. "Sometimes though," She hesitated. "sometimes I miss Irina. Laura could never have been able to understand the life I lead. The lying and the death that surrounds me. But Irina could." Her voice grew softer.
"Hey, we're just about to descent into Athens." Vaughn walked back into the cabin. "We've got ten hours before our commercial flight is leaving. We can go into the city and grab something to eat. Maybe do some shopping." He looked at Sydney.
"Sounds great. Dixon?" She turned to her partner.
"I'm up for dinner but I'll pass on the shopping." His smile reassured her.
"Why doesn't Vaughn keep you company while I shop then?" She glanced between the two men. Relief washed into Vaughn's eyes, having an out of shopping. "You can thank me later that I'm not making you come with me." She smiled at him.
Dixon looked at his watch and calculated all the time differences. "It will be ten by the time we land and past eleven by the time we're in city. We can do lunch when we get there and meet back up at about six to get back to the airport in time to make our eight o'clock flight."
"I see you've got operational control." Sydney teased.
"He does have seniority Syd." Vaughn nudged her shoulder.
"Seniority is just a polite way of saying I'm old." He grumbled.
"Vaughn's very polite." Sydney smiled at Dixon and got a mock glare in return.
ATHENS – Grand Bertane
Irina walked through the ornate hotel lobby with light skirt, tank-top, sunglasses and purse. She looked every bit the part of rich traveler on her way out for a day of shopping. Shopping was actually her reason for making the trip to the mainland, although more out of necessity than anything else.
Getting closer to her seventh month every day, her stomach seemed to get larger each morning. She was fast running out of cloths to wear as even her wardrobe of draw-sting articles were being stretched to their limits. She was only going to be staying on the mainland for forty-eight hours and deduced the risk was minimal as Sloane seemed preoccupied with dismantling her organization.
Walking through the revolving doors, she was assaulted with the late afternoon, August heat. The door man to her right stood under the overhang in a full bellman's outfit, likely sweating in sheets. Her car was waiting for her as she stepped out of the hotel and the bellman rushed to open the door for her. The driver was given directions to take her to the shopping district about ten minutes from the downtown area as she sat back and enjoyed the air conditioned ride.
She had always been fond of the heat after spending her early life living through the harsh Russian winters. But as she grew in size her tolerance for the sticky weather grew thin. The last time she had been so pregnant was in the winter time when she could cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and Jack and nap part of the day away. This time there were no blankets and certainly no Jack.
ATHENS – SHOPPING DISTRICT
Sydney glanced at her watch after three hours of shopping. She had picked up some things for herself, Vaughn, Will and her father. At dinner on his first day back the latter of the men had presented her with a gift from his own trip. A leather bound book for her collection. She had been pleased that he had thought of her while he was away and even bought her something. In a matter of moments her father had taken her back twenty years when she would anticipate a new trinket or toy from somewhere around the world.
It was already five and she was fifteen minutes from their meeting spot. Deciding she had time to enter one more store, she began searching for a name she wanted to peruse. Her gaze flitted over the store names passing almost every designer label and a few specialty shops carrying children and maternity clothing.
The back of the woman walking into one of the designer stores caught Sydney's eye. The gait was familiar and the back was one she had stared at for long hours through glass or television screen. Keeping a safe distance, she followed her to the store but stayed outside.
Watching through the store window she saw the woman she was sure was her mother, greeted by one of the sales girls, the two speaking. Reaching into her pocket, Sydney contemplated calling Vaughn and Dixon but something compelled her not to. There was still a part of her that wanted to believe her mother was not completely evil and had only made bad choices.
In a split second that illusion was shattered. The saleswoman pointed to something on the racks to her mothers left and she turned sideways to look at it. Her profile confirmed her identify as well as robbing Sydney of her breath.
"Oh God." Sydney whispered in utter disbelief. Suddenly she realized how exposed she was looking through the glass and urged her heavy limbs to move away.
Inside the store Irina felt eyes on her as only trained paranoia could sense. When she turned to the window she saw nothing, just the passers by that were moving to and from work or stores. Believing her pregnancy had once again increased her paranoia she turned back to the sales clerk to finish her shopping.
Down the street, leaning against a lamp post, Sydney closed her eyes against the image of her mother's pregnant form in the store window. Every attempt at telling herself she was mistaken was met with the same bitter laugh of her own warring thoughts. Without thinking she got in a cab and headed to the meeting spot she, Dixon and Vaughn had agreed on. She had no clue what she was going to tell them and worse yet she was at a lost of how to tell her father.
Cutting through all of her bewilderment and confusion, one thought was abundantly clear….her mother was a manipulative, whoring bitch…..
CIA JOINT TASK FORCE – L.A.
Sydney feigned sleep on the plane back to L.A. and avoided conversation during their brief layover in New York by immersing herself in a book. Dixon didn't attempt conversation, choosing to catch up on sleep and call his kids, while Vaughn pondered over what had caused Sydney to withdraw.
"Syd?" Vaughn followed her out of the briefing room after the quick meeting. Jack had been surprisingly forgiving after they came up short on the Rambaldi artifact. He had commended them on a job well done and reiterated the number of lives they saved by locating the charges Sloane had set and disabled them. But Sydney was not satisfied; failure was not an option she cared to consider.
"Hmm." She glanced up at him as they walked briskly to her desk in the middle of the ops center.
"What's up?" She looked up in time to catch his brow furrow.
"What do you mean?" Her mouth set and frown lines appeared between her eyes.
"You've been miles away since we got on the plane in Greece. Did something happen?" She continued to stare at him, wondering how much to tell him, she made a split second decision, sighing.
"Nothing happened Vaughn. I spend so much time compartmentalizes my emotions and events that sometimes I just need a little while to reflect. You know, to go over everything that's occurred and filter some of it out so it doesn't implode on me. I'm just having a few of those days." Her shrug was not completely reassuring to him but he let it go knowing she would come to him if it got to be too much.
"K, but remember that just because I'm no longer your handler doesn't mean you can't talk to me about whatever's bothering you." He gave her a crooked grin and planted a quick kiss on her cheek after surveying their surroundings to check for Jack or any other interested eyes.
"I know and thank you." She smiled back, hoping it didn't look like a grimace. "I just have to grab something from my desk then we can go home." Her voice was weary from what he assumed was the trip.
"I'll meet you in the parking garage." He squeezed one of her hands reassuringly and headed for the exit.
Sydney sank into her desk chair with barely contained shudders. She could not banish the image of her mother, pregnant and oblivious to her presence, from her villainous mind.
It appeared that Irina Derevko was doing what she did best; find some loving, trusting man and screwing him over until there was nothing left of him. The fact that she was once again bringing a new life into her torrent of lies caused her stomach to revolt in an angry stampede of bile and airplane nuts.
"Sydney?" Her head snapped up at her father's booming voice.
"What is it Dad?" Her heart broke as she looked at the man before her. He had changed so much from their last encounter with her mother; he was spending more time trying to be a father to her. And as selfish as it sounded she was terrified that her mother was orchestrating something to sabotage that relationship one more time.
"I know tomorrow is one of Vaughn's hockey nights and was interested to know if you'd like to have dinner together." Her father's halted words and tense shoulders made her smile. After a month of such dinners she still felt he was anxious every time he confirmed their plans.
"That's sounds good Dad. Do you want to go out or stay in?" With half a mind on the conversation she picked up the things she needed from her desk and stuffed them into the file she was taking home.
"Why don't I come over with some take out after work?" He paused as Sydney straightened. "Don't worry about canceling if you'd rather spend some time alone but having the time to talk just the two of us is always nice."
Sydney smiled gratefully at her father. Bless him for knowing exactly what she needed. He wasn't going to push her to tell him what was wrong, he wasn't even going to ask and put her on the spot. He was asking his daughter to dinner, where they could talk in private or merely sit and watch each other think. She didn't even want to imagine what his reaction to her news would be.
"I'll see you tomorrow Dad. And I'll be home by six-thirty so dinner better not take much longer to arrive or I'll be forced to take drastic measures." His smiles, although small did not look as painful as they did before his trip.
"I'll ensure I'm prompt then." One of his eyebrows rose before he nodded his head briskly and began walking away.
"I'll just call Caroline and tell her to beep you when you should be leaving." Jack appeared playfully annoyed at her tactics.
"I knew I was in danger the moment I introduced you two. She's my secretary Sydney; you have Vaughn to do your bidding." Smirking at his wide-eyed daughter, Jack left the inner room.
BOGOTA, COLUMBIA
Darius Larkin had time to try the number once more before he risked being discovered. He knew not to worry too much over Irina's lack of response but it didn't eliminate such a reaction completely. He needed to warn her about what was about to happen, about what Sloane was planning next.
With a huff of frustration he gave up trying to reach her and returned to his pseudo employer. Sloane's ire had risen to insurmountable heights since he found that Irina had replaced his Rambaldi pieces with fakes and taken the authentic ones. Larkin had gotten a kick out of the information until he realized the full extend Sloane was willing to go to exact his revenge.
SLOANE'S OFFICE
"That woman is a menace. I've ever nearly destroyed everything she has spent twenty years building and she does nothing. She has all of the Rambaldi pieces I acquired and I'm assuming the other's she scavenged on her own." The words formed a snarl and altered his face to that of a man possessed.
"She won't be able to ignore the attacks if we continue them." Larkin watched the thoughts swirl behind Sloane's eyes.
"I'm tired of this game. I want you to move onto the next phase of our operation." Finally the jumpy man sat behind his desk.
"Do you believe the result will be any different with this method of attack on Ms. Derevko?" Larkin sounded skeptical.
"I feel quite confident of the outcome of this operation. As despicable as she is, she prides herself on acting and reacting in protection of her daughter. She's deluded herself and anyone who will listen into believing she cares for her child, surely she'll come to Sydney's rescue, if only to maintain the illusion she continues to fall victim to." The maniacal gleam in Sloane's black eyes was enough to straighten Larkin's spine, seeing for the first time what the man was capable of when provoked.
VAUGHN & SYDNEY'S RESIDENCE
The doorbell rang at precisely ten to seven and Sydney rushed from the bedroom to answer it. The day at the office had been long after the sleepless night she had endure, agonizing over the conversation she would have with her father at dinner. She had changed into a pair of yoga pants and fitted t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt, in hopes of deceiving herself into believing dinner would be no big affair.
"Hi Dad." She didn't have to force a smile when she saw her father. He had removed his jacket and tie, no doubt feeling the heat of the Los Angeles summer, and carried take out containers from an Italian restaurant they both frequented together and separately.
"Hi Sweetheart." He entered the air-conditioned apartment in relief. The smog of L.A. made for horrendous humidity that tightened around your lungs with a ceaseless strength. "I'd say we should eat this before it gets cold but I' say there's little chance of that happening." His stance and ever broadening shoulders relaxed as soon as he left the CIA building. Ever since his return a month before he had been comfortable and almost jovial with her when they were out of the office but retained his mask of indifference around the others at the Agency.
"We can eat anyway. I'm starving." She took the packages from him and walked into the kitchen, placing them on the small kitchen table.
"What was that? Oh, nice to see you too Sydney. Oh, well you're welcome for picking up the food it wasn't a problem." Jack called after her.
Sydney smiled to herself, getting used to this new side to her father. "Well if it was no problem then why are you getting snippy?" She placed the food on the two plates, looking up at him with amusement. "And I saw you at the office today, so stop acting like it's been a month."
Jack faltered at that, thinking of who he hadn't seen in a month. "I passed you in the ops center this morning and received a quick hello." He continued to tease her, enjoying her likeness to Irina as she countered his barbs.
"I'm sorry about this morning. I have this very demanding boss and he works me to the bone. He's such a taskmaster that he would likely write me up for talking to my father on the job." The mirth remained as they both sat down to their meal.
"Really. Maybe I should have a talk with this boss of yours." He leaned forward and raised both his eyebrows at his daughter.
"Okay, thank you for getting dinner. Now can we please eat?" She ignored any retort, focusing on her food instead.
Sydney glanced at her father through her lower lashes every so often until she couldn't stand to be silent any longer.
"What happen on your vacation Dad?" Her dark eyes scrutinized him.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." A forkful of food stopped halfway to his mouth.
"Marshall thinks a computer chip was inserted into your brain to alter your personality, Weiss thinks you're a pod person, Vaughn wavers between the two some days and none of them have even seen you with me which is beyond different and Dixon," She paused, shaking her head. "Dixon thinks you…" Her head rose and tilted to the side, imitating her mother perfectly. "Did you meet someone new?" Her voice dropped to whisper as though someone else may hear them.
Trying to subdue the laughter that bubbled up inside him, Jack took a deep breath around his grin. "You can tell Weiss, Marshall and Vaughn not to worry and I assure you, I didn't meet anyone new." Not technically a lie. "It has been longer than it should have since I went on a vacation. I needed the time to think and organize recent events."
Sydney nodded along with his words, having told Vaughn the same thing the day before. She supposed most people in their business needed the time to reflect every so often and for her father it had been too long since he had taken that time.
"I did a lot of thinking about my position in the CIA, old and new. You and everything you've been through as well as your mother." Her eyes sharpened at the word 'mother' and her lips pursed. "I came to a few realizations and understandings that have made my life the tiniest bit easier to live." He wouldn't mention all the things he had learned that had added worry and stress to his days and nights as they were both in anticipation of positive additions.
Watching her father at ease with her and listening to him talk about resolution with his memories urged Sydney to make a decision both altruistic and selfish. She would not tell her father about what she had seen in Greece. She would not break his spirit once again. She would not give him a reason to close himself off. She would not lose the father she was just getting to acquaint herself with. He didn't have to know and as long as he didn't it couldn't hurt him. She, her mother, couldn't hurt him.
Jack saw the play of emotions pass over his daughter's face and wondered at her thoughts. He decided to broach the subject of her mother in hopes of planting a seed of renewed belief in her mind.
"Sydney, about your mother…." His breath gave her the opportunity to jump in.
"She is a lying bitch. She spends her life manipulating people and devours them whole in the process. All she has ever been is a glorified whore, willing to do anything to get ahead. I was stupid to ever think I could trust her." Jack stilled; his brain trying to move beyond its sudden shock. "That woman is not my mother; that thing isn't even human."
He was flabbergasted at her vehemence. "I no longer want to think of her outside the realm of bringing her into custody and issuing the death penalty." She concluded.
Jack groped for something to say, some way to calm the waters somewhat. "No matter what the past has dictated, Irina is still your mother and she does love. Of that even I can't deny."
Sydney eyed him sympathetically, believing he was being diplomatic for her sake. "You shouldn't have to defend her, nor do I want you to. Don't worry Dad; I'm through hoping for her love. I'm not naive to her methods any longer."
Not sure what else to say to quell the anger he found in Sydney's eyes, he left the topic alone. The resolution she spoke with made him ache for his family. If he spent too much time trying to change her opinion, Sydney would become suspicious and Irina needed that less than she needed a love filled Sydney leading Sloane to her.
After leaving the apartment Jack drove around for a while, not wanting to be confronted with an empty house. The truth about Irina had been on the tip of his tongue the entire night and he cursed his better judgment for holding it in. No daughter should think of her mother the way Sydney did, especially when it wasn't warranted. His vow to capture Sloane and sort his family out was solidified once more as the sky darkened and the L.A. streets brightened.
Vaughn had called Sydney to let her know he was going out for a beer with his hockey guys and would be home before ten. In the background she could hear the ribbing he was receiving for making the call. She told him it was fine and that she was going to run out the store and get some milk and eggs for breakfast in the morning.
With the store just down the street she decided to forego the car and make the quick jaunt on foot. Half a block from the apartment she felt as though she was being watched. A few more steps and she could feel someone closing in on her. A moment later her leg shot out, catching her assailant off guard.
"Bad move Buddy, you pick the wrong-" her words were cut off as the sound of a tranquilizer dart caught her ear. The shot pierced her back and sent her hurling to the ground. Three men descended on her as the one got up off the ground and tossed her into the back of a van before speeding off.
TBC