JACK BRISTOW'S HOME – L.A.
Jack was sitting with his attention turned to his computer when the phone on his desk rang. Kneading his closed eyes he glanced at the time in the corner of his computer screen before reaching for the phone. For someone to call him at one in the morning it would have to be important.
"Jack Bristow." His gruff voice answered.
"Jack, it's Vaughn. Is Sydney there with you?" He could hear the stilted panic in the younger man's tone.
"No. I haven't seen or spoken to her since I left the apartment just after nine." His grip on the phone tightened. "Why. What happened?"
"I don't really know. I called to let her know I'd be home at ten and she said she was going to run out to the store and grab some things for the morning. She wasn't back when I got in, she didn't take her car and she's not answering her cell phone. No one at the office has seen her come in, Will's not home and the guy running the store down the street says she never came in." Vaughn massaged his forehead.
"Have you canvassed the area yet? Asked if anyone saw her?" Jack focused on the picture of Sydney resting on his desk.
"No. I thought I should call you first before I blew this out of proportion." Although he would never admit it, he was impressed with the information Vaughn had been able to glean in the time he likely began to get worried.
"Sydney doesn't just disappear without telling anyone. She would have left an indicator that she was fine if she has disappeared of her own will. Start asking questions with your neighbors, I'll search her computer at the office and meet you there no later than two hours. Call my cell if you hear from her." Jack hung up before Vaughn was able to respond.
Something told him Sydney had not left of her volition, whether it was years of experience or fatherly intuition he wasn't sure but his baby girl was in trouble and needed his help. He felt the urge to call Irina but the contact number he had was for emergency purposes only. She had called him twice since he had been back in L.A., while neither conversation lasted more than five minutes; they were enough to keep him going when the loneliness seemed ready to overpower him. He was holding out calling for another reason; he wasn't sure he could tell her he had lost their daughter. Jack had a difficult time forgetting a similar situation almost twenty five years before.
FLASHBACK
Christmas shopping a few days before the actual day was horrific enough but doing so with a three year old was stupidity at its worst. The only thing Jack had to be thankful for was the lack of snow apparel Sydney needed ever since their move to California.
"Daddy, I'm hungry." His little girl dragged her feet and exaggerated the swinging of her arms as they walked.
"I know you are Sweetie. I just need to pick up Mommy's last gift before we go." Jack glanced to his left where she stood.
"Do we have too?" Her head fell back at what looked to be an uncomfortable angle as she looked at him.
"You want Mommy to have a special Christmas like you right?" Jack said gently, knowing his daughter hated to think her mother was upset or sad. She was her mother's ultimate protector.
"Of course Daddy." She rolled her eyes. "But I don't want to walk anymore." She whined.
"Sydney, you didn't want to sit in a stroller and I have my hands full with packages for Mommy. I can't carry you. I'm sorry Sweetie." Jack gave her an apologetic face before turning his attention back to the store's jewelry counter he was at.
Noticing his focus was no longer on her, Sydney wandered toward the escalator. She had gone up and down it a few times with her Mom and today with her Dad. It was fun and she wanted to go again. She didn't have to walk when she was on it, the steps moved for her.
When Jack looked down to tell Sydney it was time to go home, he found her missing from his side. Raising his eyes to sweep his surroundings he still wasn't able to locate her.
"Did you see where my daughter went?" He tried to keep his voice even and calm while inside he felt as though he was being burned alive.
"No Sir. I didn't even notice you had a daughter." The clerk told him with a flirtatious smile. Jack pictured himself strangling the woman at brushing aside his concern in favour of her own romantic delusions.
"Sydney?" He called as he spun away from the counter.
"I'm sure she'll come back, she probably wanted to look at something." The woman attempted to reassure him.
"She's only three." That earned him a startled look.
"I'll call security." She began picking up the phone.
"Don't bother. I'll find her." His irritation had risen exponentially as he began combing the store. How a trained CIA agent had not noticed a three year old slip away was only adding to his guilt.
Five of the longest minutes he had ever lived and a near panic attack later he caught sight of his daughter riding the escalator up and down. It seemed she only stepped off long enough to hop on the machine on the other side and take the trek down.
"Sydney." Jack sighed loudly in relief as she jumped over the intimidating line where the stairs disappeared.
"Can we go home now Daddy?" She asked with a renewed energy.
"Sydney, come here." He ordered gently. Not caring about his packages, he lifted her into his arms and held her close. "Why did you leave without telling Daddy where you were going?" He pulled her away from him enough so they could look at each other.
"I wasn't going till I saw the s'later." She shrugged. "Daddy, your heart is beating so fast, like mine when I'm playing." Her brow drew together. "Were you playing without me Daddy?"
"Sydney, I was so worried when I didn't know where you were. You can't run off without telling Mommy or Daddy. Something could happen; you could get hurt or taken from us and then we would be so sad. Don't ever run off again Sweetie." His stern words were tempered somewhat with the endearment.
"I'm sorry I made you worry Daddy. I just wanted a ride. I don't want you and Mommy to be sad." Her eyes filled with tears and her little breath came out in short bursts, preparing for the full onslaught of a sob.
"Don't cry Sweetie. You're okay so I'm not sad and neither is Mommy." Jack held her closer and walked them out of the mall to the car. "It's my job to protect you Princess, that's what Daddy's do. But when I lose you, I can't protect you." He placed her on the ground long enough to open the car doors and stuff the packages inside before buckling her into her toddler sized car seat.
"I'll tell Mommy so she doesn't ever get sad again." She solemnly told her father.
Jack grimaced at the thought of her telling Laura what had happened at the mall. "Why don't we just make this our secret Princess. That way Mommy won't have to worry." Jack hoped Sydney had developed a better censor in recent months.
"Okay Daddy."
Her silence about the side trip she took at the mall was maintained until dinner when Laura mentioned the stairs in the house, prompting Sydney to tell her all about the moving stairs she rode and how Daddy was so upset and sad when he came to get her.
Jack watched Laura's reaction go from intrigued to pale to irritated. He was tempted to cover his face with his hands to avoid the glare she was sending his way. Once dinner was over and Sydney had retreated to her room to play, he was caught in the kitchen with his angry wife.
"I'm sorry Laura I-"
"You lost her." She began removing items from the table. "You lost our daughter at the mall. Do you know what could have happened to her?" Irina ground out evenly. She was not going to raise her voice and alert their daughter.
"Every possible scenario entered my mind in the minutes I didn't know where she was." He confirmed, feeling horrible at his ineptitude. "I don't know what to say. I can't begin to-"
"When were you going to tell me Jack? Or were you? What if you hadn't found her so quickly, would you have called me? Or waited until you got home and I noticed you were without our daughter?" Her hands squeezed the bowl she was holding, taunting the muscles underneath with a deep ache.
"I told you I'm sorry Laura. I don't know what happened, one second she was right beside me and the next she wasn't. I feel horrible right now; I don't deserve to be a father." He shook his head and dropped his gaze to the floor.
Her glare softened as she moved toward him. "That's not true Jack. You're a wonderful father. Children Sydney's age can get away from you in a second; even the best parents can have their kids wander off."
"Have you ever lost her?" Jack returned his eyes to hers.
"No." Laura smiled indulgently. "But I keep a bag of cheerios with me at all times in case she gets hungry or bored to keep her from going in search of something more interesting." They regarded each other in silence. "I'm not angry because she walked off and you didn't know where she was, I'm angry because you didn't tell me when you got home. We're parents together Jack, we have to tell one another everything, especially about Sydney. You won't go on a mission with only half the information nor can I parent Sydney with such."
"I'm sorry. From now on everything that happens to Sydney, good or bad will be reported directly from me to you." The breath Jack exhaled deflated his tense shoulders.
"Good. Now finish tidying the kitchen while I go give our adventurer her bath." He received a languid kiss before his wife sauntered out of the kitchen calling their daughter's name.
END FLASHBACK
"Sorry Irina, but it won't do you any good to know about this." He spoke to the phone still in its cradle.
CIA JOINT TASK FORCE – L.A.
Weiss approached him as soon as he stepped foot in the building. He thrust a piece of paper in his hand, matching him stride for stride as they moved into the main ops center.
"Vaughn is on his way in." He paused for a breath. "We picked this up on Echelon twenty minutes ago. We just finished decoding it; Sloane has her." Weiss said simply, keeping his decorum.
"We've verified this?" Jack looked at the younger agent.
Nodding his head Weiss frowned. "But it's not aimed at the CIA. He's trying to lure Derevko out of hiding and he's dangling Sydney like bate to do it." Following Jack toward his office, he continued. "It hasn't even been four hours since he took her and already he's making the announcement. It didn't allow him much time to get away; he may not be far."
"With anyone else I would agree with you Agent Weiss; however, just knowing that it is Arvin Sloane we're dealing with changes the rules of the game." They stopped at his door, Weiss not having an invitation to enter.
"Sloane won't hurt her though right. He doesn't seem to want to kill her." The competent agent suddenly wanted some reassurance of his own.
"It seems that way." Jack gave a quick nod. "But things are often not what they seem. Sloane is a loose canon; Sydney must be found as soon as possible. I'll schedule a briefing in a few hours; and please Mr. Weiss, keep Vaughn busy and away from me."
UNKNOWN LOCATION
Awakening to the feel of being chained to the floor and wall by her feet and hands was not her preferred method of returning to consciousness but she was aware of how much it worse it could get. Sydney kept her eyes closed for a while, hoping to heighten her other senses to everything around her.
There was a slight putrid smell to the dark room and a feeling of dampness, slightly salty. Drowning out the sound of her breathing she could faintly hear the water coming from all sides. A boat, maybe a yacht as the sound of the water was muted by a larger vehicle. The door to the room opened with a rusty squeal and an overhead light came on.
"You." She bit out as her lips puckered.
"I must admit I was expecting a slightly warmer welcome from you. After all we were close at one time." Sloane closed the door behind him, leaving plenty of room between himself and his prisoner.
"What ever information you think you'll get from me you're dreaming. I'd rather starve to death than help you." Her eyes narrowed in defiance.
"Well that can be arranged but really Sydney, you do have a tendency to jump to conclusions. I haven't brought you here for information and you're already helping me." His easy smile sent a quiet shiver down her spine.
"This has something to do with Rambaldi." She surmised.
"To some extent yes, but really Sydney your part in this is very minimal. I don't want to have to hurt you and if your mother does what I predict she will, you'll be out of here before you know it." He presented it to her as though he were telling her they didn't have any more chocolate donuts but the plain ones were good too.
"My mother?" She breathed in confusion.
"She has been overly stubborn lately. She refused to reveal herself after all my efforts but surely she'll emerge from whatever lovely niche she has carved for herself and save her only daughter. After all, a mother's love defies logic does it not."
"You've made one error; Irina Derevko doesn't love anyone or anything and surely not me." She made an unconscious move straining against her bonds, lighting a smile on Sloane's face.
"I think you'd be surprised."
"No, I think you would." Sydney utter under her breath, rolling her eyes.
"I didn't quite hear that." He prompted.
"And what if she doesn't come?" She spoke louder.
Sloane's eyes darkened. "I suggest you pray she does." He said nothing more before turning and exiting the room, bolting the door behind him.
CIA BUILDING – L.A. (JACK BRISTOW'S OFFICE)
Three hours had passed since learning that Sydney had been taken by Sloane; however very little information had been gathered in that time that would help them locate her. Jack had sequestered himself in his office, setting up meetings with contacts well into the early hours of the morning.
His phone line beeped from his secretary's desk just outside his closed door. She had returned to the office once word had reached her that Sydney had been taken. She got along well with Jack despite others believing him to be a bear of an agent and felt a motherly connection to Sydney.
"Yes Caroline." Jack pressed on the intercom.
"There is a phone call for you on line three." She told him in a smooth voice.
"Thank you. Put them through please." Jack picked up the phone and waited for the call to be transferred.
"Jack Bristow." He answered sharply.
"How long have you known?" He heard in his ear.
"I'm at my office; you shouldn't be calling me here." The pulse at his temple began to throb.
"How long have you known?" The even tone didn't hide the bubbling anger.
"A few hours."
"You should have called me right away."
"Irina-"
"Don't." She cut him off. "I don't want to hear it. We'll discuss you're failure to inform me later, right now we need to help Sydney."
"How did you find out?" Jack leaned forward on his desk.
"I have contacts that keep me informed through certain channels and I have access to Echelon." She would normally garner some degree of pleasure, telling him the CIA weren't the only ones with access to the network but at that moment teasing and tormenting were the furthest things from her mind.
"I really shouldn't be surprised." He kept watching his computer, waiting for one of his contacts to respond.
"He wants me Jack." She softened.
"Well that isn't going to happen so we'll have to find another way to get Sydney back." Jack stated firmly.
"I can contact Sloane, set up a meet." She began thinking out loud
"Absolutely not. Under no circumstances are you going to meet with-"
"I can give you the location and the CIA can ambush him. He won't be expecting you as I have no affiliation with the CIA and you'll be able to get Sydney out." She overrode his protests.
"He's going to be prepared for an ambush of some kind Irina." The stillness of the line cackled.
"It's the best I can come up with. I'll have to work." She sighed. "Use the emergency line to call me in four days; I'll have the meet set up by then."
"Okay. How are you doing?" He asked as an afterthought, knowing he wouldn't get a chance to ask when they spoke in four days.
"Good. Helen and I have tea a few times a week but they left for New York last week. The baby is growing and using my bladder as a trampoline."
Jack smiled a sad smile. "When will Helen and Peter be back?" He didn't like Irina not having someone close by to go to for help.
"Soon, a week and a half." Shifting gears suddenly, her next comment threw him off guard. "You've got a new secretary with your position."
"Yes." Jack affirmed her observation.
"You didn't mention her before." Irina paused. "She sounds….young."
"Not worth mentioning I suppose and she is younger than me but in her forties." Jack began to understand where the conversation was going and shook his head. "Why?"
"I'm just trying to picture her." Irina paused. "What does she look like?"
"I don't know; I haven't really looked at her. She's shorter than me and had blonde hair. That's about all I can remember." She grinned on her end, knowing in their profession it was necessary to take into account details. He would have been able to tell her whether her eyelashes were full or thinning but she appreciated the gesture.
"Four days." She reminded him. "The line becomes dead after the one use so we'll have no emergency contact, but I'll get in touch with you when it's safe."
"We'll find her Irina." Jack stated resolutely.
"Of course we will; of that I have no doubt." She returned with equal authority. "I love you."
"I love you too." They both hung up without saying goodbye, not caring for all that it implied.
FOUR DAYS LATER SYDNEY'S CAPTURE – LOCATION UNKNOWN
She heard the clanking of the metal door in enough time to prepare herself for the blinding light of the hallway. Her eyes squeezed shut in an attempt to block out the harsh stimulant while her other senses doubled their efforts to compensate.
"They tell me you're not eating Sydney. Really, this show of defiance, while noble, is not constructive." Sloane clicked on a small light in the corner of the room in order to see his prisoner.
"Well maybe if you unchained me, I'd regain my appetite." Her snide comment was wrapped hauntingly in her glare.
"I would not want for your mother to think that I'd mistreated you during your stay. I have taken wonderful care of you, wouldn't you say Sydney."
"Yes, the accommodations have been lavish." Had she not been tied to the wall and draped in chains he may have been inclined to believe her.
"I hope you know that I would never do anything to hurt you if I could help it Sydney. I think of you as my own daughter." She watched as he made himself comfortable on a turned crate near the door. "I often wonder when your eyes darken and narrow or when your lips curl a certain way if those aren't traits you inherited from me."
Sydney's brow furrowed in confusion, floundering for vestige of understanding. She assumed she must be reading too much into his words
"I was never sure but almost nine months before you were born, Irina and I, well, things got out of hand one night." She felt the bile rising in her throat as Sloane's smile grew wider. "We had too much to drink and missed our spouses. I don't remember much of the evening and am thankful for that, except where you're concern. You may be the only good thing that came from my moment of weakness."
Flashes of Sloane and her mother assaulted her conscious mind, in a horrid nightmare of images. The recent sight of her mother, pregnant and shopping in Greece drifted into focus making Sloane's claim very real.
"You're lying." Sydney spit with more conviction than she felt.
"Your mother will be meeting us in 72 hours to negotiate your release. Maybe we'll both learn the truth of your paternity once she arrives." He left the room before Sydney was able to question him further.
Unable to quell the devastation she felt at the idea of Sloane fathering her, Sydney leaned over and emptied the meager contents of her stomach onto the floor to her right.
TBC