"Jack, look, it's Uncle Dixon!" a shrill voice was heard by Sydney inside the house. Wiping her hands on a towel, she made her way to the beach to great her old friend.

"Dixon, it's been what, over a year? What happened now?" she greeted with a smile.

"Sydney, it has been far too long," he replied with a kiss to her cheek. "I swear your kids grow like weeds. Jack wasn't even walking the last time I was here!"

"What about yours? They have to be close to graduating by now," Vaughn chimed in walking up behind his wife.

"Please, don't remind me. Just thinking about it makes me feel old. It won't be too long before you feel the same. Just wait."

"Isabel, why don't you and Jack go finish that sandcastle you were working on? It looks like it's the best one yet," Sydney suggested while Michael showed Dixon into the house. Once the children were settled, she joined the men to learn the real reason behind the visit. "So, what is it this time? Missing nuclear launch codes? Rogue assassin? Sark again?" she teased with a smile.

"Actually, the second one almost fits in a roundabout kind of way. The DPD needs your expertise to train a new recruit for a specialized mission."

"The DPD? Why do they need me, the DPD only takes the top rated agents."

"Generally that would be true, but this particular agent was pulled in for something else. Don't get me wrong, she has the natural talent and skills, she's just a bit green."

"That sounds ominous. If she wasn't pulled for her skills, why was she?" This time it was Vaughn asking the question.

"The DCS is hunting a rogue agent by the name of Ben Mercer. It seems that prior to joining the Agency, Annie Walker and Ben Mercer dated for a time. Arthur Campbell has decided to use her, unknowingly, as bait and Joan is worried. I have Walker's file here. She's a good agent – quick on her feet, a good shot, speaks six languages fluently, great at planning on the fly – but she doesn't have much experience and the DCS pulled her from the Farm early. She just needs a little bit of guidance and someone to show her the ropes."

"If I were to agree to this, not that I'm saying I will, how long would it be and what would it entail?"

Dixon fought back his smile, he almost had her. "It will hopefully not take longer than two months, if that. As for what it entails, you will mostly be there for support, a second opinion, some one on one training. She's a quick study and I think you'll like her."

"You sound like you think I'm going to agree to this. Before I make any decisions, Vaughn and I need to talk about logistics."

"That's fine, you two talk this over. I think I'll go out and help those kids of yours with that sandcastle," he replied as he made his way back towards the beach.

Turning to her husband, Sydney bit her bottom lip. "So, what do you think?"

"I think you want to say yes. I think as much as you love our life here, you miss the action and adrenaline. I think you identify with this Annie Walker and want to help her, protect her from the manipulation of her superiors. And I think the situation reminds you of Sloane and Noah. How did I do?" he asked with a charming smile.

"Pretty good actually. I do identify with this girl and I want to help her. I can feel the betrayal of that rat Slone. And, this Ben guy does kind of remind me of Noah I guess. But I don't miss our old life as much as you seem to think that I do. I get plenty of adrenaline watching those two balls of energy you call your children. Did I tell you Jack almost managed to throw yet another toy on the only lit burner today? Or how about Isabel flooding the bathroom last week?"

"It's a good opportunity for you. It sounds like it will be mostly teaching, not a lot of field work. Besides, as beautiful as our island is, it would be nice to see the States again. Weiss is still in DC, we could spend some time with him."

"So, I'm saying yes and we are all taking an extended vacation to DC?"

"Glad to hear that. If you think you can pack up in the next three hours, you all can fly back on the jet with me. I'll drop you in DC on my way home."

"You knew all along that I would say yes didn't you?" she asked with a smile.

"Know? No I didn't, but I had a good feeling about this one."

*8*8*8*

"Walker," Annie sleepily answered the phone on the third ring.

"Annie, I need you at a meeting in the conference room at six this morning."

"Sure, Joan. Is something wrong?"

"I'll explain at six."

Before Annie could even think of a reply, the line was dead. Looking at her alarm clock, she fought the urge to call Auggie to see if he knew anything because, curious or not, no good friend calls to wake you up at four in the morning. Double checking that her alarm was set for five, she rolled over and went back to sleep.