Chapter Five

Marshall and Spike came back to the apartment just before dawn. They shoved a woman into a dark room then secured her to a wall. "You won't get away with this!" Maggie Walsh hissed, as she tried to get free of the chains. "I have connections in high places you bastards!"

"I have connections who fear not one single connection you could ever dream of having." Marshall snapped back, as the two men left the room.

"Any luck Red?" Spike queried happily. He felt that he was closer to having his chip removed and a small part of him felt good to have someone trust him with such a big job as he'd just done. With the Scoobies, there were always threats and demands behind his given tasks but this was different. Granted, Irina threatened him in her own way, a way that frightened him more than even Buffy's threats did but she gave him the job nonetheless.

"I got the reports but didn't go through them. The documents are classified material and I felt he should do it." Willow pointed to Marshall as she spoke. "No call from Irina yet, did the two of you get anything besides Ms. Walsh?"

"There is a way into the compound from the science room at the university and we got a couple more disks. A few hours rest then we get these decoded, Ira may need whatever info we can get her." Marshall said, as he pulled off his boots and jacket. "That was great, I'm always left behind at the CIA to do the computer work. Ira let's me get my hands dirty from time to time."

As the two men dozed off, Willow tried in vain to relax. She couldn't stop the thoughts of what was or was not happening with her and Irina. Willow knew that Irina's secrets could change their relationship but her emotions were going headlong into the idea of being with the beautiful woman. For the first time in her life, Willow felt special but feared it was a false feeling. Irina had awakened feelings inside the redhead that she never knew existed but again, she feared the feelings would be squashed with the unraveling of upcoming events.

-- - - - - - -

Irina knelt outside Sydney's window in the late afternoon. Luckily, there was a good hiding spot beneath the window, which was concealed with a low-lying thick brush. She was watching Sydney get ready to leave and knew now was her time to act. She had learned from the gang that Jack had ongoing contact with Maggie Walsh about an expansion of the Christmas project. This was Jack's pet project and the one Irina stole information about for the KGB. The information given her, confirmed the fact that Jack at least knew about the plans of making super soldiers out of demons and humans. Irina was furious to learn that Jack would possibly subject Sydney to such a program and knew it was time to act. Irina had decided at that moment, she was no longer going to wait for answers. She lifted the tranquilizer gun and directed it towards the crack in the slightly open window. As Irina pulled the trigger, she thought of the little girl she had regretfully left behind. This was her only child and she'd cross any line to save her. The consequences or loss she had to endure would not be a factor in her actions.

Just before Sydney was hit with the tranquilizer, her body shivered slightly. She had the distinct impression of familiarity near her. It was as though she could sense a strong presence, one that would hold her, love her, and maybe, just maybe, get her out of the life she was living. It was the feeling that her mother was near; one that she hoped would come true every day since her mother had died. She knew that it was not the case and lifted her gaze towards the window. As her eyes searched for something unseen, she was hit and then everything went black.

As Sydney slumped against the window, Irina noticed that two unmarked vehicles were patrolling the area fervently. Irina knew the agents wouldn't see her unless they got out of their cars and came round the side of the house. Her camera detector had not caught any surveillance equipment near this sector of the house either which indicated that it was all clear to wait a bit in this location. She knew that time was of the utmost importance however, because Sydney was due at the airport shortly. When she did not show up, the agents would inform Jack immediately and the hunt would be on.

Irina timed the two cars, which came up the road from opposite directions. She calculated that she had only seventy-three seconds to get Sydney out the window, into her get away car and out of sight. She quietly phoned her driver and told him to stay around the corner until she gave the go ahead and then pushed up the window to get her daughter out.

As she lifted Sydney from the window, she told the driver to move fast. She stayed low to the ground in case the prying eyes of a neighbor was looking out their window. She eased Sydney around the house as the driver pulled up. She kept her low to the ground and quickly got into the car. She then shouted at the driver to get out and go the other way. He obeyed swiftly as Irina drove slowly down the street then sped quickly off, as she turned the corner.

- - - - - - - -

Willow sat staring at a blank computer screen deep in thought when the phone rang. "Hello?" She said unhappy to have her thoughts taken away from Irina. She thought of the nights they shared, the new areas in her life that she was embarking upon and the fear that Irina would not be there to share her new experiences with her for much longer. She also thought of how there was a crisis at hand and she should be concentrating on that rather than Irina.

"Willow," said the urgent toned voice of Irina. "Have the boys got any further information?"

"I don't know," Willow commented in a struggle to keep her voice from sounding excited to hear the woman speak. "Marshall went somewhere and instructed Spike to go check on the science lab."

"Very well then," Irina said in an irritated tone. "Listen, I don't want Sydney there with Mrs. Walsh. See if you can get hold of someone who might be able to assist me in another place to keep her within the next few minutes."

"I'll go unlock my house. My parents aren't there, it's the big house down the street from where we got tea." Willow said and hung up.

- - - - - - -

As Marshall entered Irina's apartment followed closely by Spike, his cell rang. "Hello?" He said quietly.

"This is Jack," the man responded briskly. "Something has happened to Sydney. She never made the flight to Sunnydale. I need you to get back here ASAP!"

Marshall could hear the fear and anguish In Jack's voice. For a moment, he felt bad for his CIA boss. He then remembered what he had found in the documents, that Jack knew of this program and the fear of how much Jack knew compelled him not to falter. "Sir, with all due respect, I have had a death in my family and wish to attend the funeral. Maybe it's something totally innocent like she decided to drive or get a bus." Marshall tried to think of something that would dissuade his boss but knew his attempt would most likely be futile.

"Marshall, you get on that computer and see if you can find something then and do it now! Maggie Walsh has gone missing too and frankly, I'm afraid the two incidents are connected." Jack's voice was harsh and urgent with no sign of wavering, as he barked orders to the computer genius.

"Do you think Maggie and/or Sydney are hurt?" Marshall tried again with hopes of getting a reading of Jack's hidden thoughts.

"I can not discuss this over the phone Marshall. You meet me in Sunnydale tomorrow afternoon!" Jack retorted and hung up.

Marshall clipped his phone shut and looked at Spike. "Jack is coming to Sunnydale. We've got to move fast."

"Let's go interrogate the prisoner then." Spike said and vamped out.

"I think she knows that you can't hurt her Spike." Marshall said dryly. "I think I better call Ira and see what she wants us to do." Marshall continued with a look of trepidation on his face.

"Take some initiative mate!" Spike barked and headed to Maggie's holding area.

Marshall picked up his phone and was greeted by a quiet voice from his boss. "Listen, he is coming here, tomorrow and wants me to meet him. He knows of both missing people."

"Sit tight until you hear from me," Irina said and hung up the phone. She glanced back at Sydney who was still sleeping peacefully in the back seat. How she wished things could have gone down differently with her and her daughter. She wished she never had to fake her death, to lie but most of all, to leave Sydney. "God I hope that you can forgive me." Irina said softly in a pained tone of voice. This was a tone of voice that was rarely used, as Irina was trained to not display emotions.

- - - - -

Willow rushed to her house and unlocked it. As she looked around, she wondered what awaited her in many aspects. Her best friend Buffy was under the control of some big military organization that she knew little about. Her current lover was harboring secrets and bringing her daughter into Willow's home. Then there was Adam; she shivered at the thought of the monstrous creation that seemed unstoppable.

The front door opening withdrew Willow from her thoughts. She looked up to see Irina carrying a young woman in her arms. The woman appeared to be stirring a bit and she looked a lot like Irina from Willow's vantage point. As the young woman's eyes opened and she looked into the eyes of Irina, Willow felt an electrical charge fill the room. It was like nothing she could recall before, the mixed energies of love, confusion, fear, and slight anger were all bundled into one. "Mom?" The girl said in a soft trembling voice., For the first time, Willow saw Irina's eyes soften as she looked at her daughter who lie in her arms.

"I'm here Sydney," Irina said softly with a hint of fear in her eyes. She feared that her daughter would reject her and run to Jack thus endangering both their lives. Most of all, she feared her daughter would have nothing for her but hatred. That would be the one punishment that Irina knew she could not withstand. She knew she had made mistakes and was wrong for leaving Sydney but knew also that she'd rather die then know that her daughter hated her.