Believe

Chapter Three

Entry

            Sark sat in stunned silence, trying desperately to mask his shock as he processed what Cole had said.  What exactly was Irina trying to pull?  Inviting him to join the Council was very possibly why she was playing coy in Quebec and he'd been an idiot for not knowing what was happening.  Of course Irina was behind the Bomani hit.  She was always behind the hits.  She was bloody ubiquitous. 

"What makes you believe I would want a position on the Council?"

McKennas smiled obnoxiously as he spun casually in his desk chair.  He was so self-assured and Sark was feeling less than so, which was not acceptable to him.  He was the one who always held the upper hand, and right now Cole had the advantage. 

"Rambaldi called it, actually.  You know he's never wrong."

"Except for when he predicted Sydney's untimely demise.  She's very much alive…"

"Last time you checked."

Something dangerous flashed in Sark's crystal blue irises, sudden panic filling him at leaving Sydney wide open for a hit.  Cole laughed unexpectedly, causing Sark to reach for his gun. 

"I'm just messin' wit ya, man.  Sydney's alive right now.  But you should have seen your face."

Sark relaxed a bit, but he kept his facial features cold and warning.

"I'm not here for my jollies, Cole."

"You came to find out if I killed Bomani.  And you did.  But here you remain because you know you want a piece of the action."

"What exactly did Rambaldi's prophecy say?"

Sark was typically exceptional at keeping his curiosity in check.  Still, he had never been able to fully give up on Rambaldi and his work.  He'd poured too much of his valuable time and energy into Rambaldi to believe he'd been wrong about everything.  Cole smiled psychotically. 

"You know better than to ask me that, Sark.  I can't divulge that information."

"If I become a part of the Council.  I would be given access to every Rambaldi secret."

"In due time.  Of course, Irina wants you to be a part of the Three, but that doesn't mean she trusts you."

"I don't trust either of you.  Why would she trust me?"

"So you are seeing things our way.  I'm glad.  Irina was worried it would be hard to convince you to join.  She feared your attachment to her daughter would be a hindrance.  Ah, the power of Rambaldi."

"I never said I would join, Mr. Cole, so don't jump ahead of me."
"You'll join."
"The eternal optimist?"

"More like the intelligent charmer, though I'm sure you thought that was your talent."

"It is my talent, Mr. Cole."

The two fell into a deep silence.  Cole leaned forward, his hands clasped into a teepee.

"I'm not surprised you have a thing for Sydney.  I had a thing for Pigtails way back when I worked at SD-6.  She had that whole school girl look working for her."

Sark's posture went rigid, but he resisted the urge to punch the crass man. 

"I'll join, if I'm given full access to the Rambaldi documents."

"That will be the first thing you're given, Sark.  I think it'll be great bein' partners, don't you?"

"It will be delightful."

"I just need you to sign this document."
"What is it?"

"Something of a swearing in."

"What language is this in?"

"An archaic language Rambaldi enjoyed using.  It's just saying you'll honor the code of Rambaldi, blah blah blah."

Sark took the pen offered to him and signed it quickly, trying not to think about Sydney.  He couldn't.  If he did, his conscience that had mysteriously shown up when he'd grown closer to Sydney might mess the whole thing up.  Sark returned the pen to Cole who offered him a huge grin.

"Welcome to the Council, bro.  Irina will go wild when she hears that you joined.  We'll call you when we're going to convene."

Sark stood, straightening his designer suit.  "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Cole."
"Yes, well, hopefully you'll be less formal when we meet next.  It's kind of annoying."

Sark bit his lip.  Annoying?  Like Cole was one to talk about that.  Sark stepped out of the office, never fully turning his back.  He didn't trust Cole.  He never would.

            Sydney walked up to the preschool building.  She had been adamant about not leaving without telling Rogan good-bye.  She wanted to make sure he would be okay with her leaving, since she'd never been away from him for an extended length of time since she and Sark had taken him back.  She wanted to tell him good-bye and to be extra careful while she was away.  Her dad would be there to protect Rogan, but that still wasn't enough to ease her mind.  She had the feeling it was a mother thing.  She opened the door and saw the look the teacher gave her.  Little did the teacher know that Sydney had a reason to be an overprotective parent.  Rogan saw her immediately and ran to Sydney with his arms open.

"Mommy!"

"Hey, baby.  Are you having a good day?"

"Mhm.  I have a friend.  Her name is Dah-Dahlia."

Sydney smiled as Rogan stumbled over his friend's name, who seemed to be looking in their direction as he spoke.

"That's wonderful, Rogan.  Listen, I have to leave town for a little bit.  I have to go on a trip."
"Do I get to come?"

"No, baby, this is a special trip just for me.  You'll stay here and keep coming to school."

"Can I stay with Eric?"

"Why do you want to stay with Eric?"

"He's fun…He plays with me."

"Eric is coming on this trip with me.  You're staying with Grandpa."

Rogan's face fell a bit.  Sydney knew Rogan liked Jack, but she had to admit Eric was a lot more fun than her father.  Jack was still a little stiff, even if he was completely different with Rogan than what he'd been when she was a little girl. 

"Mommy, if it's a special trip just for you, why does Eric get to go with you?"

Sydney smiled and ruffled his hair.

"You're my bright boy, aren't you?  Well, it's because it's a special adult trip.  It'll be boring since it's for grown ups only."

"But I have to stay with Grandpa."

"You'll have fun, Rogue, I promise.  I just wanted to tell you good bye and to be a good boy."
"I'm always a good boy."  He offered her a childish smirk that made Sydney want to laugh and kiss him at the same time.

"Yes, well, it makes me feel better to tell you to be good.  You'll be okay without me?"
"Yep."

"I love you, Rogan."

"I love you Mommy."  He kissed her cheek and then turned and ran to who Sydney assumed was Dahlia.  Sydney sighed and waved to Ms. Ambrose before she left.

            Weiss and Vaughn were already on the plane when Sydney arrived at the tarmac.  Her phone vibrated as she boarded the plane, so she answered it.

"Bristow."

"Understanding is everything."

The line was disconnected before Sydney had a chance to react.  It had sounded like Sark, but she couldn't be sure.  What did that mean anyway?  Understanding was everything.  She certainly didn't understand the random quote.  She sat down next to Weiss slightly perplexed, which didn't go unnoticed by the other two.  Weiss leaned forward.

"Worried about leaving the Rogue-Man behind?"

Sydney shrugged before letting her shoulders slump.  She was leaving Rogan to ensure his safety and his future.  She knew Rogan would be all right with her father, plus Rogan was making new friends his own age.  That's what she wanted. 

"Not exactly.  My dad can protect him if The Covenant comes after him."

"If The Covenant is even still around.  The CIA is just making assumptions.  We could be wrong.  We are often enough."  Weiss comforted.

Sydney laughed lightly at his joke.  Weiss could always cheer her up just by something dumb he'd say.  Weiss smiled at her and Sydney relaxed a bit.

"It's the phone call I just got.  All they said was 'understanding is everything' and then they hung up on me.  What does that mean?"

"They like vowels?"

"What?"  Vaughn and Sydney asked in unison.  Weiss grinned boyishly, "UIE.  All vowels.  Never mind.  You guys are a tough crowd tonight."

Sydney rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, her displeasure and worry showing clearly.  She sighed loudly.

"My cell phone number isn't exactly broadcast around the world.  I know there are ways to get them, but I have all kinds of filters and blocks up to protect my phone and it's records."

"So it's not just what they said on the phone, it's that they had your number." Vaughn clarified.

"Yeah."

"Because it could be someone you know."

"It could be."
"Like Sark?"
"No.  Sark wouldn't just leave cryptic tidbits for me and hang up."

As soon as she said it, she realized how unrealistic that sentence had been.  Sark was exactly the type of person that would leave cryptic tidbits for her to mull over for days.  He had her phone number, as well.  She met Vaughn's eyes, but quickly disconnected their gaze.

"It wasn't Sark."
"You're positive?" Vaughn asked again.

"Yes."

But she wasn't and all three of them were well aware of that fact.  Weiss patted Sydney's arm before handing her a file as if he we were trying to smoothly change the subject for Sydney's benefit.

"This will explain our mission."

Sydney glanced down at the file wondering if she would be able to focus on it.  If Sark was leaving her enigmatic pieces to a puzzle, something was definitely up.  And she'd have to start putting those pieces together for whatever message he was trying to send her if he were trying to warn her of something.  Or if he were just trying to confuse her to keep her off track.  She trusted Sark, but she could never be truly sure of his intentions.  Especially if Rambaldi were concerned, which was very possible since The Covenant seemed to still be around.  She wanted to believe Sark would protect her, but she couldn't always believe in that.  She couldn't always believe in him.  Sydney sighed again as she opened the folder.  Well, on the upside, it could be a completely different person.  Someone who didn't even know Sark.  Someone could have hacked into her records and gotten her cell phone number and was sending her a message.  She would have to keep an open mind.  And a vigilant watch.  Because she would never be sure.