Chapter 15

Nadia stood clad only in her bra and panties as a female guard carefully examined every stitch and lining of her clothing. Finally satisfied she wasn't attempting to smuggle forbidden items into her father, she pushed the pile of items back across the table.

"OK, you can get dressed now."

She watched as Nadia quickly put her clothes back on then, when Nadia was ready, she pressed a button and the barred gate behind her slid open. A male guard appeared.

"Officer Estevez will take you to Inmate Sloane. Don't think that because he's in the Infirmary there will be any relaxation in the visiting regulations. The officer will remain with you for the duration of the visit to ensure they are followed."

Nadia nodded her understanding and followed the other guard deeper into the prison. As they walked down the bare, institutional green painted corridors, stopping frequently to pass through more locked gates, she tried to prepare herself for what she might find when she finally reached her father.

Her mind went back to her conversation with her sister, just before she had set off alone for Rikers Island.

Last night's mission had gone without a hitch. They had bugged Schirovsky's telephone, downloaded the contents of his computer and gone through the filing cabinets, photographing anything interesting. The CIA, Vaughn, Eric and Sydney were going through the stuff for leads, while Marshall sat in L.A. monitoring Schirovsky's calls.

Sydney had been trying to avoid talking with her about Jack's attack on her father. Every time she had tried to raise the subject, her sister had used some excuse or another to put off the conversation. First it had been the operation, then it had been the need to analyse the intel obtained. Finally, as she had been preparing to leave, she had called Sydney on it and they had had their first ever real row.

Knowing, some of the history between Sydney and Arvin Sloane, and the complex and contradictory feelings she had for her own father, she had tried to be as tactful as she could when introducing the subject but, unfortunately, the facts didn't allow for much finesse.

Why do you think your father beat up mine? she'd asked.

Sydney had shrugged. "I'm sure he had a reason."

"Yes but what?"

"I don't know. Look, its goanna take ages to go through all the stuff from Schirovsky's office and with you taking time off to visit your father, its goanna take even longer. I've gotta get back to work, OK?"

The implication that she was not pulling her weight by going to see her father had hit hard and she'd struggled to hold on to her temper. "If it were the other way round, you'd be doing exactly the same!"

"Yeah, well they're not, are they? So we'll never know! Nadia, face the facts! Sloane is a low-life; a lying, cheating sociopath. My Dad has a hundred and one reasons for wanting a bit of payback. Sloane has been asking for it for years."

"I know you have no cause to love my father but he's trying to change, he has changed and Jack has always seemed, well, less antagonistic towards him than almost everyone else in APO. Why should be suddenly attack him now?"

Sydney had given up the attempt to hold on to her temper then. "My Dad said he had his reasons and they'll be good ones. You don't know your father like I do. He's capable of anything. It wouldn't surprise me if Dad found out that Sloane had actually tortured and killed James Selzer. It's just the kind of thing he'd do!"

"Yeah, right, and your Dad is Albert Schweitzer!" She'd come back angrily, "So much for we're in this together! When I come back I'm moving to another hotel. If you need to speak to me, you can do it through my Dad's lawyer!"

"Fine!" Sydney had responded before stomping off.

I didn't handle that very well, she thought as she and her guard escort came to a halt before a heavy metal door. When I get back, I'll apologise to Sydney. She is still my sister, after all.

Then she glanced through the glass partition into the Infirmary and saw her father's battered and bruised face. Suddenly, she wasn't at all sure she wanted to apologise.

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Sydney flicked through the printouts from Schirovsky's computer but she wasn't really seeing what was on the paper. Her mind kept returning to her conversation with Nadia. She knew she had been wrong in trying to avoid the issue and in breaking, at least in spirit, her promise not to interfere in her sister's developing relationship with her Sloane. Analysing her feelings, she realised that she had been more than a little jealous that Nadia could see her father, while she could not see hers. She was also worried about her father and what this apparent violent break up with Sloane actually meant. She remembered her father's dedication and professionalism during the days they had both worked to bring down SD6 but also the rapport he appeared to have with Sloane, both then and now.

During the period they had both been double agents she had explained that away as a necessary deception but now she knew it had been real. They were partners and friends for a long time. How would I feel if Dixon went rogue? I'd feel personally betrayed certainly but could I treat him just as an enemy? She knew she wouldn't be able to; there were too many good times, too many occasions when some action of his had saved her life to do that. That's the way Dad looks at Sloane. Unlike me, he doesn't just see the man who betrayed his country, who slept with his wife, who killed his daughter's fiancé. He also sees a man he's been to hell and back with a hundred times or more! Given all that, what could Sloane have done that was so awful that Dad had to beat up on him?

Despite what she'd said to Nadia, she didn't think it had anything to do with James Selzer. Much as she'd like to believe the best about her father, she'd read too many mission reports, attended too many debriefs to believe he abided by Supreme Court decisions on the treatment of suspects. Even if he'd discovered that Sloane had been solely responsible for Selzer's torture and death, it wouldn't have caused him to react that way. The only thing I can think of that would make him do that is if he found out Sloane was deliberately trying to harm me, or perhaps Nadia!

If that was the case Nadia shouldn't be alone and, even if it wasn't and it was only her distrust of Sloane talking, Nadia was still her sister. She had just decided to apologise to her and make up when Weiss' shout of triumph crashed through her thoughts.

"I got something, I got something!" He was on his feet, moving his body in a little dance. He turned to Vaughn and offered a high five. Vaughn took the paper from him, glanced at its contents, nodded with satisfaction and gave him the five.

"What is it?" Sydney asked.

Vaughn grinned and handed the paper to her. One word shot out of the page, "Novgorod 21".

Sydney put the pieces together. The facility Nadia was held prisoner in as a child and fed Rambaldi fluid! And Rambaldi means Sloane! Dad must have found out somehow, I hope he beat him to a bloody pulp!

Aloud she said, "It's Sloane. He's the one behind whoever's following us. All that crap about giving up Rambaldi for the love of his daughter was just a cover and the CIA bought it!

Inwardly she was wondering, how do I break this to Nadia, especially after how we broke up earlier?

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Sloane was lying in a semi prone position as jangling keys indicated the Infirmary door was being unlocked. He looked over and felt a thrill of pleasure as he saw his beautiful daughter enter the ward. He noticed the look of anger and worry on her face and felt guilty that he was putting her through so much anguish but also happiness that she so clearly cared enough about him to feel those emotions.

As she drew up a seat next to the bed, he wished he could put her mind at rest but the guard with her had taken a position that clearly stated he would be there for the duration. Sloane realised he couldn't even play down the seriousness of his injuries. The N.Y. Department of Corrections didn't believe in coddling criminals, a group that in their view included the untried, and operated on the basis that they would lie, cheat, do anything to obtain privileges and relaxations in the conditions of their incarceration. It had taken his best histrionic endeavours and ability to manipulate others to persuade a sceptical doctor and Infirmary Guard Lieutenant that he was still too weak to return to general population. If he gave even the slightest indication that he wasn't as bad as he'd made out, he'd be back in his cell as soon as the visit was over; or perhaps joining Jack in the Hole for malingering. He hoped that, one day; Nadia would understand and forgive him for putting her through this.

He tried to smile through his swollen lips, "Hello, sweetheart." he greeted her, making his voice low and unsteady.

"Dad..." Nadia stopped, clearly not knowing what to say next.

He brought his hand out from under the sheets and moved it slowly until it touched hers. "I'm fine." he said, in the tone of voice that indicated the exact opposite.

She squeezed his hand, then stopped fearful that she was hurting him further. "When I heard, I couldn't believe it." Her voice took on an edge of anger, "How could Jack do this to you? I thought he was your friend?"

It was the obvious question and one he'd been preparing for ever since he'd been told she was visiting him. The answer had to be believable to Nadia. He had devised one that not only met that condition but also provided an opportunity to help get Jack out of the Hole.

"I started reminiscing about your mother. I didn't realise the emotional pressure prison was placing on Jack. He took exception and hit out." Sloane manufactured a dry laugh, "Again and again."

He could see Nadia beginning to relax. A man beating up another for having an affair with his wife was something she could understand and accept, even if the one on the receiving end of the beating was her own father. He noticed that the guard was also listening carefully. The man would report this to his superiors and they would demand to know why talk of his daughter's mother would upset Jack. After they had brought a suitable amount of pressure to bear, Sloane would grudgingly give up the facts of his affair with "Laura Bristow". Somewhat embarrassing for Jack, but an old story; one even Captain O'Brien was likely to accept as a reasonable explanation for the assault. It would also help towards recovering his reputation with the rest of the prison population which was bound to have suffered as a result of the beating.

"Let's not talk about that anymore, sweetheart. How are you? What about Sydney? Tell me what have you been doing since you were last here."

Nadia took a deep breath and he listened quietly as she told him about her argument with Sydney, their TV and radio interviews, their shopping trips, the movies they had seen and the nightclubs they had visited. He felt more content than he had in a long time. Her talk of the normal and the mundane brought back happy memories of the good days with Emily. Then with a start he realised it was only a few days before Christmas and he would be spending them here in prison instead of with his daughter and his mood became darker.

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Jack shuffled into the secure interview room, the one set aside for lawyers to interview clients considered too violent or dangerous to be allowed open visits. Sitting across from him, separated by a thick Plexiglas screen imbedded with fine wire, was Thirly Wilson. He waited until the guard had released his handcuffs from the belly chain and carefully backed out of the booth, slamming the door behind him, then sat down on the fixed stool and picked up the phone. As he put it to his ear, he remembered how uncomfortable it was holding a phone while both hands were cuffed.

"Thirly." He acknowledged the other man.

"Hello Jack." his attorney replied. "The D.A has heard about your bust up with Sloane. He thinks you might be willing to consider a deal now and wants to meet with you."

"I think not." Jack's refusal was adamant.

Wilson nodded, "I thought that would be the case but I was under a professional duty to bring the offer to you. I'll tell Ms. Southerlyn you're not interested."

Jack noted the name and wondered how the plan to destabilise her was working. Perhaps a meeting would be useful after all. It would give him the opportunity to study her reactions and perhaps subtly increase the pressure.

Wilson was beginning to hang up and Jack rapped the glass screen with his phone. Wilson returned the phone to his ear.

"I've changed my mind." Jack said, "It won't do any harm to hear what they've got to say. Set it up."

Wilson gave him a questioning look but nodded his agreement.

"Thirly," Jack paused, "You know they've stopped my visiting privileges. Do you know …how is Sydney coping?"

Wilson smiled, "She's fine, worried about you obviously but two of her work colleagues have come from L.A. to be with her and her sister over the holidays. I know their presence has been a big relief to her. Even given their profession, it can't have been much fun for her and Nadia knowing you're being followed everywhere."

Jack tensed and Thirly realised too late that Sydney had not shared that information with her father.

"Have they reported this? What's being done about it?" Jack rapped out his questions machinegun like.

"They told the CIA. According to Director Healy they have a lead, a guy called Anatoly Schirovsky. Apparently he's the guy who hired the tails. It's being dealt with."

Jack felt the cold rush of fear run down his backbone as he heard the name.

"Thirly, get in touch with Sloane's lawyer immediately. Tell him what you've just told me and impress upon him that Arvin must be informed urgently. He must also let Arvin know I'll be joining him shortly and we need to bring forward the timetable. Understand?"

"No, not really. It's probably better I don't"

Jack gave him a glare as he stood up and banged on the door to alert the guard he was ready to leave.

When the C.O. arrived Jack allowed himself to be taken back to his cell in the SHU. Once the door slammed shut behind him, he sat on the concrete ledge and waited. It would take a few hours for Arvin to receive the message and make the necessary preparations. The best time to make his move was just before the evening meal was served. He would be certain to be discovered in time then. As he sat, he fingered the orange coverall all SHU inmates were issued. It was supposed to be tear resistant but it was possible if you were sufficiently motivated. The only problem was making it look like a serious attempt at suicide, requiring treatment in the Infirmary, without actually killing himself in the process.

T.B.C.

Glossary
C.O. – Correctional Officer. Prison Guard.
SHU – (Special Housing Unit.) Prison within a prison.
The Hole – Slang term for Special Housing Unit.