ILOVEALIAS4EVER & agent belle: Thank you for your feedback.

ILOVEALIAS4EVER: Yes, I have seen season 5. I got sick and tired of waiting for it come to TV in Australia, so a friend gave me a copy of her episodes that she had downloaded off the net.

Disclaimer: The title of this chapter comes from the song 'Out of Order' by Duncan Sheik.

Nothing's Quite The Same Now, As It Ever Was Before

Back in her room, Summer closed the door and leant against it, her heart still hammering wildly. That had been way too close. If she hadn't have spotted Sydney's perfume when she turned around to face Vaughn, she would have had nothing."

The logical side of her was saying that the incident was a non-issue. Her father had no reason to think that she would be up to anything. He was only curious as to what she had been doing.

However, her logical side wasn't coming through all that strong- it was the panicky side that was taking over.

And Summer was hoping furiously that whatever recordings were recovered proved Lauren wrong, because she was not entirely sure how much longer she could last living this double life.

SOME MONTHS LATER

"We have been railroaded again," Jack said to the enclosed conference room. "And it has to stop. We need to find out who is leaking information."

"Jack, everybody in this office has been thoroughly looked at and they are clear," Dixon replied. "We have leaked info to specific suspects but none of that has been passed on."

Sydney shifted in her seat, catching Vaughn's eye. The past few months were feeling exactly as it was almost 20 years ago. Starting with a few discrepancies and rising towards a full-blown mole hunt. The only think was that after extensive internal investigation, everyone within the JTF had been cleared of suspicion. It was beginning to appear that the members of the Allégeance were actually capable of reading the CIA's mind.

"I want restrictions on mission intel to be stepped up again," Jack was saying. "Any information related to anything in regards to the Allégeance is only to be directed to the people in this room."

A silent, inward groan went through Sydney, Vaughn, Dixon, Weiss, Nadia and Marshall. If they were the only ones allowed to deal with the Allégeance then their workload was about to quadruple.

"I understand that means a lot of extra work," Jack continued, seeing through each and every one of the their expressions. "But if we are going to plug this leak and put an end to this organization once and for all, then we have no choice."

"Miss Vaughn, I'm sorry but am I taking up your time?"

Summer blinked, her mind snapping to attention. Wil, her Art History professor, was staring directly at her, looking less than impressed, while the rest of the class either shifted awkwardly or looked on eagerly. Summer Vaughn off task was a very rare thing indeed.

"I'm sorry. What was that?"

"I asked you a question," Wil replied, "and now we are waiting for an answer."

"I, uh…could you repeat it please?"

Wil sighed, obviously unimpressed with his normally brilliant student. "What is so unique about Michelangelo's Pieta?"

"It's the only sculpture that he ever signed," Summer replied, inwardly grateful that she could now be left off the hook. She had been zoning out a lot lately, and it was becoming apparent to all her lecturer's and professor's.

But how was she to explain why she was distracted? That the past few months had been awful as she was being made aware that the people who raised her, her loving, caring and doting parents, were capable of doing very bad things.

Summer could no longer deny what Lauren had been telling her. Every iota of information that she collected, every conversation recorded, had been related to some mort of criminal activity- and it could all be connected to her father, Sydney and the people that they worked with.

Summer had reached the sad conclusion that to do her job and make the world a safer place, she was going to have to effectively bring her parents down.

"Hey Sum!"

Summer looked up to see Mitch running across the university courtyard.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" she asked when he reached her side.

"Right here," he grinned.

"Oh, pull the other one," Summer scoffed, giving him a shove with her elbow.

Mitch pulled on of his arms around her shoulder's, while scuffing her hair with his other hand. "You love it."

"Get off," Summer laughed, ducking out of his arms.

"Here," Mitch reached out, flattening her hair. "All fixed."

"Thank you."

"So, you free for lunch? There's a group meeting at The Den."

"I can't," Summer replied. "I'm actually heading into work."

Mitch pulled a face. "You are always at work we never get to do anything anymore."

"We do plenty." Summer protested, somewhat weakly.

"You could at least try and sound convincing," Mitch smirked.

"Oh shut up…believe it or not, I spend a lot of time at work because I actually like my job."

"Yeah, because selling insurance is just enthralling and exciting work."

'You've got no idea, Mitch…except enthralling and exciting wouldn't be my choice of words. Nerve wrecking and scary maybe.'

But Summer could never voice that. Instead she gave Mitch an indignant slap. "Mitch!"

"Sorry," he said. "Can I at least schedule in some Summer time during the week?"

Summer smiled. "Now how can I refuse that request?"

"Hello Summer," Lauren stood up from behind the desk as Summer entered the room.

Summer approached, wrapping her arms around Lauren in a quick hug. "Hello mum."

"How was Art History?"

Summer shrugged. "I wasn't really paying attention."

Lauren placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know that you are finding this difficult but the work you are doing in brilliant. You've seen the results, how far we have infiltrated their organization. Very little is getting past us now and it is all thanks to your hard work."

Summer tried hard to smile. If she was doing the right thing, then why was it making her feel so awful inside?

"Look, I know that this isn't the best time, but there is something else that we need you to do."

Summer did her best not to let her face fall. "What now?"

Lauren held out a photo frame. "This. There is a recording device inside."

"How many more devices do you want placed in our home?"

"Not your house- your father's desk at work."

"But…how am I supposed to manage that? I can't go anywhere near his workplace."

"Correct me if I am wrong, but tomorrow is Michael's birthday. All you need to do is choose an effective photograph, drop a few subtle hints and I can guarantee you that it will be placed there."

Summer felt sick. Regardless of what Michael did for a living, he was still her father. The man who loved her, who used to tuck her in at night, who took her to hockey games…What Lauren was asking for was more than reconnaissance, it was emotional manipulation. How was she going to pull this one off?

"Dad!" Summer chased Vaughn out the front door, the following morning, catching him as he reached his car. "Wait a second."

Vaughn turned, looking surprised. "Summer? What are you doing up so early?"

"Did you really think that I would let you go to work without wishing you a Happy Birthday?"

"Well," Vaughn tapped his chin exaggeratedly. "Considering that you are like a bear with a sore head if we even try to wake you a minute before 7.00 am, I would say yes."

"Well fine," Summer pouted. "I'll just take this present back inside."

"Hang on. Take a back step there, Summer- my most dearest, darling daughter in the world who makes the sun shine for me every day," Vaughn said with a grin. "Did I hear present?"

Summer laughed, handing over the wrapped package. "The proper one is coming tonight, but I found this in a shop and thought…"

Vaughn pulled off the wrapping paper, revealing the frame. In it Summer had placed a photo of her, Sydney and Liam. It had been taken almost six months ago, on Liam's birthday. A backyard barbeque had turned into a giant water fight, and in the photo the three of them were soaking wet and in hysterics.

"Oh, Sum…this is better than any 'proper' present."

"I thought that maybe you could put it on your desk at work. It might brighten your workday if need be."

"I love it." Vaughn pulled Summer in close and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "And it will be going on my desk as soon as I get to work."

Summer forced herself to smile as he stomach rolled threateningly. "Happy Birthday, dad."