AN: Music for the chapter (on repeat): Thin Red Line by Hans Zimmer from The Thin Red Line Soundtrack, Idyll's End by Hans Zimmer from The Last Samurai
THREE
o
The CIA Team had been waiting an hour for news on Sydney when the doctor finally opened the door to the waiting room of the hospital that was deemed, 'CIA friendly.'
"She's fine." The man smiled softly, speaking in English with a heavy Russian accent looking over the four, very concerned men. "I've given her something to counteract the drug she was injected with and she has the use of her limbs back now, as well as her speech. Her X-rays showed quite a few old breaks and some very recent ones in her ribs that are healing, but not from the incident tonight."
'The fight with Allison,' they all realized but said nothing letting the man continue.
"She's okay and I will release her in a couple of hours but right now… she is a very troubled young lady. I feel she would be best off with her loved ones tonight." He tried to give a re-assuring smiling before adding, "I need a few more minutes with her and then you can come in."
"Thank you, doctor." Jack replied, shaking the man's hand before the doctor turned to leave.
"It's taken some time, but I've got it." Marshall arrived rushing in with laptop in hand. "Clear as a bell now, or crystal, I guess because bell would be something you hear and crystal is something you see…" His smile quickly fading, "Though… I don't think you're going to like what you see. I was actually able to pull together a few minutes from the main camera on the roof prior to the activation of your night-scopes… so you'll see more then you did originally through your goggles." He reluctantly hit the Play button and the men gathered around to watch the video stream taken of the night's events.
*Thin Red Line*
In the first moments, everyone and everything on the video had looked exactly as they thought. From their angle on the other building, Irina, now 'clear as a crystal' as Marshall put it, was still standing in front of the table but was not leaning over it as she seemed to be when they first happened upon the scene. Heated conversation seemed to be taking place with Cuvee's arm was reaching inside his jacket pocket retrieving a knife. The action caused just enough movement for them to see that his other arm that was extended towards Irina actually contained a gun pointed directly at her head.
Jack's heart sank in his chest. Somehow, he had a feeling his conscience was going to be haunting him. Everyone watching the video became horrified when Cuvee raised the knife over Sydney's lifeless arm, preparing to stab her hand into the table and completely stunned as Irina leaned in, swiped away Sydney's arm, getting stabbed herself, then grabbed the gun and now leveled it at Sydney... Something about this didn't make any sense.
"Why would she save Sydney from Cuvee just to point a gun at her?" Weiss asked, eyes never leaving the screen. "It doesn't make any sense." He said only to be 'shushed' by Jack who was watching the rest of the events unfold.
Irina and Cuvee seemed to be conversing, her gun on Sydney, his gun on her…
"I'm gonna' be sick." Weiss added again as they watched Irina pull her hand and knife, from the wooden table, effectively pushing, or in this case pulling, the knife deeper into and through her hand. Blood was easily seen now streaming down her hand and arm.
'So it is her blood.' Jack sighed thinking back to the pool of blood on the table. 'She hadn't been holding a knife, she'd been stabbed through with one.'
Then, in one fantastic move Irina lunged, crossing the arm with the knife through her hand over the one holding the gun plunging it into Cuvee's neck, firing her gun at the same time into Sloane, not Sydney, and then two more shots rang out with both Cuvee and Derevko falling to the floor followed by Lazarey.
"She was aiming at Sloane the whole time," Jack said barely above a whisper.
"Or she missed Sydney and hit Sloane on her way down." Dixon added, still believing that the only person Irina Derevko cared about was, Irina Derevko.
They watched as they slid into the building on the zip-line and could now clearly see Derevko had been shot by Cuvee in the chest, the front of her black shirt was soaking wet, bright red blood contrasting on her skin where the bullet had entered just above her right breast, her shirt matted to her body by the blood draining from her wound. In almost slow motion, they watched as she ripped the knife from her hand and looked their way with blood already seeping from her mouth and staining her lips from her chest wound; Irina picked up her gun, running for the door and shooting all the way in their direction but towards the ceiling they could now see from the angle her arm was pointed in. And then, Jack watched in horror as he shot and the bullet pierced her abdomen, knocking her into the hallway… and out of the view of the camera. Sydney's scream of "No," was just as deafening on the video as it had been in the moment.
The doctor had come out to tell them they could see Sydney just after and the first thing she said when they entered the room was, "Mom was there to save me, Dad," and Jack's heart sank all over again, "and then you shot her!" Sydney sobbed, not being able to control her emotions any longer and angry that she was powerless the entire time to help her mother.
"Sydney, I know that now… but Sweetheart," Jack grabbed her hand, "We didn't know that at the time. What happened?"
Sydney proceeded to tell them what happened from her point of view and when she was finished everyone sat in silence, taking in what had just been said.
"There's just one thing," Jack asked after thinking a minute, "You haven't said anything about how this Lazarey guy who was involved."
"Lazarey?" Sydney couldn't place the name. "Oh my God, I almost forgot," Sydney rambled, fully awake now.
"I remember now but when Mom first arrived, I was still coming into consciousness and I actually thought she was working with them. But Lazarey, Mom called him 'Pytor,' and he called her 'cousin'... well they got into it with her about betraying him by giving 'Julian' up to the CIA… Julian as in Sark!" Seeing their looks of astonishment, she continued, "I know, it was surreal trying to piece it all together but when I did I couldn't believe it. Julian Sark is or was, Pytor Lazarey's son, and Mom is their cousin, though, I'm not sure how exactly. He seemed absolutely thrilled when Cuvee talked about killing Mom because he said, he'd 'finally get what was rightfully his when she was dead. All of it!' He stressed that part. I don't know who this guy is but it makes me sick to think that in some strange way I am related to Sark." Sydney looked around the room to the open mouthed men in the room, not sure how to gauge their reactions. After a minute of silence Sydney couldn't take it anymore… "What is going on with you guys?"
"Were sorry, Sydney, its just that… Lazarey…and Sark too, I guess, are descendents of the Romanov family." Vaughn spoke softly in bewilderment.
Now it was Sydney's turn to be stunned into silence.
"Lazarey seemingly controlled the Romanov money, giving it away as a philanthropist… and recently, as you now know, bankrolling this new organization dealing with Rambaldi, The Covenant."
"Dad, we have to find Mom and make sure she's still alive." Sydney could feel the emotions rising in her again and tried to do her best not to show them. "Sloane will stop at nothing to realize the word of Rambaldi and that somehow, involves Mom. He won't stop until he finds her. We have to get to her before he does."
"Sydney, despite your mother's efforts in helping us find you, and in saving your life tonight… she is still a wanted terrorist on the CIA list." Jack stated firmly, yet with a hint of sadness.
"She gave up Sark and helped us find you in Mexico; gave us Sloane's location of the Rambaldi artifacts… doesn't that count for something?" Sydney was growing frustrated. She wasn't exactly ready to forgive or forget all her mother's actions but she certainly wasn't ready to forget about what she'd done to help them either.
"Sydney, your mother saved your life tonight and for that," Vaughn breathed quickly, "I am grateful… but Sydney, she is also the same woman who slaughtered twelve U.S. CIA Officers including my father and I can't be so quick to forgive her as you. Irina Derevko has 30 years of lies, deceit, and murder."
"You don't have to remind me of her past, Vaughn, I remember it quite well, Thank you, I lived it too remember!" Sydney spat back removing her hand from his.
"Then why are you defending her, Sydney? She's a monster 'you' wanted dead just a couple of weeks ago, remember that?" Vaughn was getting upset and stood, prepared to leave the room.
"I know, Vaughn and you deserve justice for your father's death, and I did say that… I did wish she was dead… but I don't know…" Sydney sighed as a tear rolled down her cheek, "I realized tonight there are so many things about my mother's life I don't know… and I want the chance to find out before I condemn her for all her actions. Do I still want to find her and bring her to justice for all the things she's done to hurt everyone? Of course I do. I just don't think we 'know' all there is to know about her."
"Speaking of not knowing all there is to know about her…" Marshall cleared his voice, "We now know your mother is the one in the Prophecy Rambaldi talked about, and that she is the cousin of Lazarey, whom is a member of Imperial Romanov family… and about the connection between Rambaldi and the Romanov's and I'm just thinking… and it is just me again isn't it," sweat beginning to form on his brow again, "I'm just saying… Has anyone else considered your mother may be the connection? As the cousin of Lazarey? That she may be a Romanov as well?" He smiled nervously. "I was just thinking."
"I highly doubt it," Jack scoffed, "Nothing about the woman or her history would suggest that she is, the KGB file we obtained on her would have mentioned it." Wanting to believe the words coming out of his mouth sounded as certain as he'd like them to be. "I'm sure they're related on the other side of the family… if they're even related at all."
"Well Sark will certainly have some explaining to do." Dixon added as they left the hospital, bound for the US.
Irina could see Cuvee's face, feel his breath on her ear... his hands roaming her body, "You are always the most beautiful…" He kissed her cheek and bit the curve of her chin and she wriggled beneath him, "When you put up a fight."
"No!" Irina screamed into the darkness.
*Idyll's End*
"You're safe," a calm voice entered the fog in her mind.
Irina could feel someone touching her arm and yet she didn't feel threatened anymore. Her body too sore to put up a fight even if she was in danger.
"You got yourself into one hell of a mess this time, sister."
Irina recognized the voice immediately and opened her eyes. "Katya…" She slurred out, her mouth too dry to speak.
"Here, drink this." Katya tilted Irina's head so she could take a sip of water.
"Thank you," Irina smiled as best she could, covering her sister's hand holding the glass with her own. "For everything."
The beautiful brunette, who looked very similar to Irina, simply nodded. "I knew you had to be desperate to call me." Katya placed the glass on the nightstand next to the bed and sat on the edge of the bed next to Irina. "I thought you were dead when Dmitri pulled up and opened the car door." She looked seriously into Irina's eyes before a small nervous laugh escaped, "You're going to give that poor old man a heart attack, Rina."
Irina had to smile, pain suddenly cursing through her face. Her hand immediately going to touch the swollen, tender, area where the gun had been pressed against her.
"You have one hell of a bruise there. I've been icing it every few hours the last few days." Katya brought her finger up to lightly touch the area of Irina's temple with her fingers.
"Days?" Irina asked startled.
"Yes, you've been out for almost a week now. You lost a lot of blood," Katya smiled her eyes going to the bandage on the crease of her own elbow. "Good thing we have the same blood type," she smiled. "I'll go get Alexei… tell him you're awake now; you have a lot to talk about." She was about to leave when Irina grabbed her hand to stay.
"Thank you, Katya," Irina said looking directly into sister's eyes, wanting her to see she really meant it. "You saved my life."
"You'd have done the same for me." Katya answered quietly looking away.
"Yes, but you didn't have to… you could have easily just let me bleed to death and I wouldn't have blamed you." Irina said in all seriousness.
"No… I couldn't have. No matter what kind of relationship you and I have or don't have… I know you'll be there for me in desperate times and have been… Rina, no matter what," Katya paused, "No matter what you've done... I want you to know that I will always be here when you need it the most. You have always taken care of everyone else, been the strong one… but you don't have to be all the time."
"Like now," Irina smiled the best she could and startled to hear her sister speaking of such things. "I'm letting my little sister take care of me."
"Letting me!" Katya laughed as she stood walking towards the door. "Always in control aren't you Irina?" She shook her head at her sister's need to feel in control of everything in her life, knowing why. "Anything else you can let me do for you, Your Highness?" Katya smirked as Irina closed her eyes and chuckled, painfully. "I'll get the doctor, and then you and I can catch up on the last few years of our life… though I bet you know everything about me already with your 'spies' that keep tabs on me when you think I'm not looking." Katya smiled leaving Irina alone with her thoughts and the first chance to really examine the 'damage.'
She was in incredible pain and was definitely going to be requesting more drugs when the doctor arrived. Her left hand was wrapped completely with a white gauze bandage from her fingers to her elbow, and immobilized with a splint so she couldn't bend it. There were at least five pins sticking out from every which direction, all holding together the bones she'd heard 'crunch' when the knife went in, and as she ripped it back out. "This isn't going to be good." Irina sighed. She couldn't see, but she felt with her fingers that her entire chest had been wrapped as well and she could also feel that her bandages were still absorbing blood from her chest wound and upon further inspection, realized there was actually a tiny tube exiting her chest with what felt like a valve, likely a chest tube she realized, though wondered about the damage that had been inflicted to necessitate such a device. She continued her 'feeling' expedition of the damage and realized her abdomen had also been wrapped. 'Jack' she sighed internally, remembering his smoking gun pointed in her direction. Her thoughts were interrupted from any further pondering with her new visitor to her room.
"Glad to see you're awake, My Dear," A white haired man with piercing blue eyes smiled entering the room. "This time… was a close call." He smiled coming to take a seat next to Irina on the bed.
"Alexei," Irina smiled and extended her good hand. "It's been so long. You look well." She squeezed the older man's hand.
"In better shape then you, though you are still beautiful as always." Alexei smiled reaching into his black bag for a stethoscope.
"What is this for?" Irina asked, pointing to the tube she could feel in her chest.
"It is to keep your lung inflated, though it has repaired itself quite well as you rested and I think we should be able to take the tube out in the next couple of days." Irina nodded in understanding and he went on, "We were able to remove the bullet from your chest, though you were extremely lucky, Child. It punctured your lung and nicked an artery… I am surprised you are still here with us today."
"You should know better, Alexei," Irina smiled, "I am too stubborn to die."
He laughed out loud in response to her admittance of being stubborn. "Your hand is in pretty bad shape I'm afraid. The knife tore several ligaments, muscle tissue, blood vessels and nerves. The bones needed to be reset with pins and I'm afraid you might lose some functions permanently." At her disheartened look, he patted her arm, "Time will tell, ok?"
Irina smiled as Katya entered the room carrying a tray of some soup and juice, setting it down on the table on the far end of the room Irina knew so well.
"It's a miracle we put up with her." Katya joked sitting on the opposite side of the massive bed.
"Speaking of miracles," Alexei covered Irina's stomach with the palm of his hand lightly with a radiant smile, "This is the most miraculous of all." Seeing Irina's look of confusion, he continued. "The bullet just grazed you. You'll have a nice sized scar when I take the stitches out but it will only continue to grow as the months go on." He chuckled.
Irina narrowed her eyebrows looking between Katya and the old man, she wasn't certain was sane anymore. "What are you talking about?" Irina asked finally.
"As your baby grows… your skin will stretch causing the scar to grow as well." Alexei said in all seriousness and then laughed as Irina's face drained of color and her eyes refused to blink.
"Excuse me," Irina rambled, "but I could have sworn you just said, 'baby.' It must be the drugs you gave me because we all know that, that... that's just not possible."
"Irina," the old man laughed, "you mean you didn't know?"
"Know what?" Irina demanded, though she knew exactly what he was talking about… a lot of things suddenly made sense and she could have slapped herself for not realizing it sooner.
"You're having a baby, Irina… in about five months or so I'd say, though we'll have to take you into the clinic to see for sure."
Irina continued to sit in silence, unable to think of anything to say, or what to do.
"When you've had more time to heal of course. But for now, I don't want you to leave this bed for more then one minute until you've given your chest wound time to heal… and the extra rest should help keep this little one," Alexei patted her stomach once again, "happy."
"Is the baby, ok?" Irina finding her words and immediately concerned, images of all the insane things she did with her body the past few months flashing through her mind. 'Being shot three times, once in the arm by Sydney… then of course her present bullet wounds, being electrocuted with shock paddles in response the other little 'gift' Jack had given her in Panama, almost being strangled to death by Neil Caplan and who could forget jumping off the roof of that building in Mexico City...'
"This one is just as stubborn as their mother. Won't give up without a fight. Right now, the baby is just fine. It's you that I am concerned for." Alexei smiled reassuring Irina. "Now, I don't suppose you're going to tell me who did this to you?" He raised his eyebrow as he listened to her lungs and heart. At Irina's silence he continued, "I didn't think so, you never do… Ok, now I want you to rest, My Dear. I'm sorry I can't give you anything for pain but we can't take the chance with the baby."
"No, I understand." Irina placed her protectively over her abdomen, her motherly instincts already in place. "I can handle the pain."
"Ok then, you get some rest and I will come check on you in the morning." Alexei smiled at the women as he packed up his bag. Leaning over kissing Irina's forehead like a little girl he smiled, "You look more like your mother everyday."
Irina felt her tears welling in her eyes but quickly thought of something else.
"Ekaterina," Alexei called out, turning from his spot near the door. "Get some sleep tonight, please. She's just fine and I don't want to have to take care of both you girls."
Katya nodded her compliance as Irina tried to conceal her surprise at hearing her sister hadn't been sleeping since her arrival.
"We'll always be 'girls' to him, no matter how old we get." Irina smiled nervously as the old man left them alone, leaving just the two of them alone.
"So," Katya turned her attention back to Irina, "you want to tell me who did this to you?"
It wasn't a question, Irina knew. "What 'this,' are you referring to?" She asked stalling.
"Rina-" Katya began but Irina cut her off.
"This…" She began pointing to the still healing scar on her arm, "is payback from Sydney… I shot her and she shot me after I escaped CIA custody." Irina paused while Katya stare at her with surprised eyes but said nothing and let her finish. "And these," she pointed to her face, lifted her broken arm and pointed to her chest, "are from Gerard Cuvee."
'Well that explains the nightmares,' Katya thought to herself, noticing that her sister had finished her 'explanations' but left out a key issue. "And what about this?" She moved her eyes to Irina's stomach. "Who is did this?"
"Are you referring to the person who shot me or the father of the baby?" Irina paused only momentarily, "because they are one in the same… Jack."
Katya couldn't hide the surprise, "It seems as though we have a lot to talk about, Rina, you've been very busy. Good thing you won't be going anywhere for a while."
-Los Angeles, CA, USA
The weekend had been anything but restful for Sydney. She was able to see Will, who was staying his parents recovering. They talked about everything and mourned the death of Francie, remembering all the great times they had together… and how much they were going to miss her. Will had said, he was going to take some time off and decide what direction his life was going to go from here. Sydney wondered the same with the new information about her mother and where that would lead...
Sydney and Jack both arrived for work Monday morning equally exhausted.
"How are you feeling?" Jack asked with concern as he saw Sydney approaching, feeling she should have taken time off before returning to work so soon after her abduction.
"Fine." Sydney replied shortly, still upset with her father for shooting her mother, though she knew she shouldn't really be. After all, only a few short months ago… she was the one who took aim at her mother. Realizing she didn't want to start the workday like this she quickly apologized. "I'm sorry Dad, I don't mean to be short with you. I am fine, a little tired, but fine." She reached for his hand giving it a squeeze. "Thank you for being concerned."
"Sydney, don't you think you should take some time off?" Jack asked still not happy with her answer.
"No… I am fine and I want to track down Sloane and Cuvee… and Mom, too."
"I understand," Jack smiled softly just as Kendall approached.
"Well, it wasn't a complete disaster, Jack," Kendall extended his hand to Sydney. "Welcome back, Agent Bristow."
Sydney returned the handshake and swallowed the sarcastic comment she had on the tip of her tongue at Kendall's lack of tack when it came to socializing.
"I read the debrief. Quite informative with all the new revelations about Derevko being The Chosen One in The Prophecy, Lazarey and Sark being father and son… and of course your mother and Sloane escaping once again… not unscathed this time though, or so I hear." He smiled slightly at that news.
Jack irritated as well with the man, jumped in as he saw Sydney about ready to explode. "Yes, the mission turned out to be quite informative in my opinion. We learned quite a bit and it gave us many new leads to pursue."
"With Derevko being the target of whatever Sloane and Cuvee are planning, they will no doubt recover from their wounds and go after her. We can use this to our advantage. Either they lead us to Derevko or she leads us to them, either way… with them working against each other, it should make our job a little easier in bringing them all down." Kendall smiled and disgusted Sydney and Jack. "So, which of you are going to go give Sark the news about 'Dear old Dad' and find out what he knows about this?"
"I will," Sydney immediately volunteered.
"We'll both go." Jack decided for the both of them, not wanting Sydney to do this alone.
"Fine. Get to it!" Kendall ordered.
Walking up to the glass they saw Sark meditating, just like Irina had always done in their custody. 'Something he learned from her, no doubt.' Sydney sarcastically thought.
Sark heard the clang of the gates and turned to see his visitors. "Sydney," he smiled his wicked grin, "So nice to see your back and well." His British accent suddenly becoming annoying to Sydney he continued, "I was beginning to worry for you."
"Why?" Sydney sneered, "I was with your father the whole time. Pytor Lazarey."
If Sark was surprised he didn't show it. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He looked directly into her eyes.
"No idea what? That Pytor Lazarey is your father or that he kidnapped me as bait?"
"Yes, Pytor Lazarey is my father. But I haven't spoken with him in years; we aren't close. Why would my father kidnap you for bait?" Sark asked confused.
"To capture my mother." Sydney inched toward the glass and Jack watched silently.
"What would he want with Irina?" Sark asked skeptically.
"We don't know; we were hoping you could tell us why he would want to kidnap his own cousin?"
This did surprise Sark and he said nothing.
"Your continued cooperation is necessary for your plea agreement, need I remind you." Jack finally spoke.
"I can't presume to know why my father does anything." Sark hissed in Jack's direction. "Tell me, did the plan work? Did they capture Irina?"
"No, it didn't work and your father is dead now." Sydney said coldly and then added softly, "I'm sorry for your loss."
Sark said nothing for a moment then asked, "Who killed him?"
"Cuvee attempted to shoot Irina and the bullet hit your father instead." Jack replied.
"Cuvee." Sark repeated and sniffed into the air disgusted.
"Cuvee, Sloane, and Irina all escaped… Do you have any idea where they might be or what their' next plan action might be? We have to presume that Sloane is going to go after Irina and you know more about her operation, her hideouts, then we do."
"What did they want with your mother?" Sark turned his attention to Sydney.
"Inside the Di Regno Heart was an encoded name…'Irina.' Sloane believes my mother is The Chosen One in The Prophecy."
Sark raised one eyebrow in surprise before returning to the completely emotionless tone that is, Sark. "I don't know."
"You don't know what?" Sydney asked getting flustered with his vague answers; he really had been trained by her mother.
"I don't know where Irina would hide-out if Sloane is after her. She always kept that absolutely to herself but I do know there are many. As far as what they might be planning to do next, now that they know Irina is The Chosen One in The Prophecy…" he paused, "Sloane was working on decoding two pages of the manuscript that dealt specifically with 'The Chosen One."
"What did they say?" Sydney asked eagerly.
"I don't know," Sark said dryly. "I was arrested before they were finished."
"Who was working on decoding them?" Jack asked.
"Cuvee." Sark hissed.
"Do you know where he was keeping them?" Sydney asked impatiently.
"In his office, in St. Petersburg, fourteenth floor of the Telecom International Building. It's an old KGB office that supposedly... no longer exists." Sark gave her a sly smile.
"How do I know you're not lying about this?" Sydney asked skeptically.
"Trust me cousin." Sark smiled.
"You tried to kill me on more then one occasion! Trust you?" Sydney practically screamed at him.
"And you threw an ax at me." Sark smiled again and Sydney wanted to slap him; he thought he was being so cute.
"Let's go." Jack grabbed Sydney's arm motioning her away from the glass.
"It was a pleasure working with you, Sydney… You are just like your mother." Sark said just as the first gate began rising, knowing exactly how to goad her.
Irritated, Sydney didn't give Sark the satisfaction of turning around and kept walking.
"Sydney!" Marshall called almost franticly with the excitement of a little boy as she and Jack entered the Ops Floor again. "Sydney!" he ran up to her.
"What is it, Marshall?" Sydney asked concerned seeing his distress.
"Do you have your mother's earrings with you? I mean your earrings. I mean the one's she gave you… you know the ones that send the Morris Code messages?" He asked with excitement and fluster in his voice.
Sydney was unsure where he was going with this. Vaughn, Dixon, and Weiss all tuning in as well as Jack. "Yes," Sydney replied almost embarrassed she kept them with her at all times, waiting for another message from her mother, whom she still didn't know was alive or dead. "Why?" She was afraid to ask as she retrieved them from her pocket and handed them to Marshall.
"I was just looking on the Internet… you know, just searching for information on the Romanov family after what happened this last week…" Marshall paused seeing Jack and Sydney's eyebrows narrow, "Anyway… on the website, they have a link…" He said motioning for them to follow him to his computer where he began feverishly typing.
"On what website?" Weiss asked.
"Oh," Marshall quit typing and turned to face them, "They have tons of websites about the Romanov family on the web, you know because of the horrendous way they were all murdered and the speculation for years that the Grand Duchess Anastasia survived the attack… Did anyone see the animated movie about it?" Marshall asked looking around the group. "It was good, I mean as good as a cartoon can get with talking bats and such but Meg Ryan was great. It was just her voice but-"
"Marshall!" Jack boomed, getting the man back on track.
"Oh yeah… sorry, anyway," He began typing feverishly again, "I was just looking around on the website and found this link and that's when I saw it!"
"Saw what?" Sydney asked and wondering what this had to do with her mother's earrings.
"Here… On this page about the Romanov family Royal Jewels… Look! Your earrings." He smiled holding up the two delicate earrings next to his own earlobes, grinning as everyone stared at the earrings on the screen and the earrings he had dangling next to his ears.
"Oh my God…" Sydney breathed, "It's impossible."
"No look," Marshall said holding the earrings to the screen now. "They're the same."
"They can't be, my mother said that she got these earrings from my grandmother the day she graduated from the Academy."
Jack whipped his head in Sydney's direction, never hearing the full story of the earrings before.
"Syd," Weiss said bending over looking intently between the earrings on the screen and the ones in Marshall's hand. "They are exactly the same."
"Well maybe they are," Dixon chimed in, "Derevko could have stolen them. She is the 'The Man' after all, mafia leader of Russia, remember? It fits her profile. She could have stolen them and told Sydney they were a gift from her mother."
"I wouldn't put it past her." Jack sighed.
"Well it doesn't mention anything on the website about them being stolen or missing." Marshall scrolled through the webpage, "and this is the official Russian website so I would think… well they should at least, like they do in England with missing jewels… if they were missing it would say. It doesn't say anything."
"What does it say about the earrings?" Vaughn asked.
"It just gives a description."
"These can't be the same earrings guys!" Sydney laughed, "Maybe they were made to look like them but these transmit Morris Code remember?! I don't think that real Royal jewels would do that."
"She's right." Jack stated flatly as Kendall joined the group, Marshall quickly closing the website and giving Sydney her earrings back.
"So what did you get out of Sark?" Kendall asked hands on hips as always.
"He told us Cuvee has been decoding two pages of the manuscript for Sloane and that he was keeping them in his office in St. Petersburg." Jack informed the group.
"Well, Agent Bristow," Kendall said turning to Sydney, "I hope you haven't re-adjusted to the time difference because you're headed back to Mother Russia to get those pages." He smiled. "You leave in an hour."
"She just got back." Vaughn stated the obvious in his worry.
"Yes, she did Agent Vaughn but we can't afford to let Sloane and Derevko get too far ahead of us."