Here's the first part of our next adventure in co-existing universes. Sounds deep, but really isn't . I started this story not at the end of A Dark Turn, but a little back when Jack and Irina were in their hotel room. Well, it's my story and I can do whatever I want. (What an incurable romantic I am.)kAnyway, I hope you enjoy it.
And I haven't checked into any forum for the last two adventures which have just about killed me, but I didn't want to be swayed away from my storylines.
Feedback please.
As always, these wonderful characters belong to JJ Abrams and his crew.
GOTCHA!
Opus 2
Part 1
Panama
Jack opened the door, letting Irina go in first. He tossed the key on the dresser. Irina was in the bathroom. Jack surveyed the room. He took out a small box from his duffle bag. It was something he had gotten from Marshall before he left. It was an electronic spotter. If the room had been bugged, the box would beep and show where it was located. And, Marshall continued, if desired could disable it. All he had to do was push a button. Jack noted the beeps and the places. Sloane was making sure he heard whatever went on in the room, including plans and deceits. Well, Jack thought, he won’t be disappointed.
He turned as Irina came out, looking refreshed. It had been a long flight from Los Angeles. He looked at her for a moment, then he went into the bathroom himself.
When he came out, he asked, “Do you want some dinner?”
“I would love some. Eating with you would be a pleasure.” She smiled. “I’ve not had the opportunity to have a meal with someone.” She was, of course, alluding to her stay in the cellblock.
“Then let’s go.” He pushed her out of the room, locking the door.
A few minutes later, they entered a restaurant in the hotel. Jack did not want to stray far from the room. He ordered wine and their choices. He had remembered quite well, Irina’s likes and dislikes.
She had smiled at him fondly. “That was nice, Jack. You’re the perfect husband!”
The wine came and they waited for the sommelier to pour it. When he left, Irina raised her glass. “To Sydney! And may she get her fondest wish.”
Jack smiled, “To our daughter, who doesn’t need us anymore.” He sighed, putting down his glass.
“Will everything go as planned?”
“It should. But let’s not talk about that now.” He reached for her hand; then turned it over. “You have extraordinary hands, Irina.”
She stared at him. What was he saying? She looked at him oddly. “What brought this on, my hands?”
Now he was gently rubbing her hand with his. She flushed. She looked at him then down where now he was stroking her fingers individually. This was not Jack. What in the world was he up to?
An hour later, they were back in the room. Jack was going over the plans they had made. “There should be no problems.”
She looked at him, “Jack..”
“You want me to take out the tracking device.” He had anticipated that.
She nodded. “If Sloane finds I’ve been tagged…”
“It will hurt, I don’t have the right equipment. I only have a knife and small pliers from my kit.”
“Go ahead.” Irina blanched as he removed the tracker. That did hurt.
“You O.K.?” He put a small bandage over the wound.
They locked eyes for a moment.
“We should get to bed,” she said.
“Yeah. We should.”
Irene leaned forward a bit. Jack moved in and kissed her passionately. Irina’s hand guided Jack’s head forward and they fell onto the bed. Jack turned her onto her back. He took her hands in his, and gazed into her face. “It’s been a long time.”
She looked him with a hunger she had not herself felt for many years. He was after all her Jack. She pulled a hand away and reached up touching his face. He leaned down and kissed her again. Then he moved down to her throat, gently kissing it. She moaned. There was nothing so important but this moment, not even Rambaldi.
“Jack, take off my clothes.” She pleaded.
“In time, my dear, when I’m ready.”
“Be careful, Irina,” Jack said as they drove up to the meeting point. “You are in great danger if you can’t pull this off. Have you everything?”
She nodded. “Thank you, for last night.”
He touched her face. “Just take care of yourself. I won’t be too far behind.
You’d better get out.” Jack opened the door.
She turned after landing on the ground and looked at him with just a touch of a smile. He returned it.
That was the last time he saw her for forty-eight hours.
He missed her already.
Los Angeles
Sydney and Vaughn came out of their meeting with Yaeger to find the center in visual disarray. People were running back and forth. Employees were not all at their desks. A lot of talking was going on until she entered the room. Then there was quiet. People looked at her, staring.
Sydney looked around. “What?”
Rick looked at her apologetically. Then Dixon came up to them. “Sorry, Syd.”
“About what; what’s happened?” Then her heart gave a leap and she was afraid to hear.
Vaughn put his hands on her shoulders to give her support. “Go ahead, tell us.”
“Your mother and father are missing.”
“Missing?”
Kendall came up, his whole body shaking, his face angry and accusing. “Agent Bristow!”
“Oh, oh,” thought Vaughn, “this is not going to be pleasant.”
Sydney looked at him, “My parents are missing?”
“When a top agent and his ex-wife, a known killer, disappear during an operation…”
“They’re still married,” said Sydney.
“What??” Kendall roared.
Sydney nodded, “Dad never had her declared dead and neither divorced the other. I thought the CIA knew.”
Vaughn stepped in quickly, as he saw Kendall was about to explode. “Look, can we go to a conference room.”
Kendall saw that everyone around them was taking in the conversation. “Yes!”
He turned around and ordered the staff to continue searching for the Bristows.
Vaughn helped Sydney into a chair and sat next to her. “Tell us calmly, sir, what has happened?”
Kendall explained about the manuscript, Sloane, and Jack’s plan. Then he told them about what went wrong.
“So, Derevko was to meet with Sloane ostensibly to sell the manuscript?” Vaughn said.
“Yes. But our KH11 satellite that was tracking them was hacked into and the feedback disrupted. We couldn’t see a thing. I called in Delta force, but that went wrong too!” He explained.
“My God, that’s the oldest trick in the world,” said Vaughn.
“Well sometimes in the heat of the chase,” Kendall sighed. “But the two men who were your mother’s guards were gunned down inside the limo. We don’t know what happened to her. We don’t even know if Sloane was in the car.”
Sydney shivered, “Where was Dad?”
“In the van. He disappeared after telling us about the switch.”
Vaughn looked at Syd, who now was showing signs of coming apart. After all, it was her parents. He put his hand on one of hers, “So what is the problem? You must be trying to find them.”
“The manuscript is missing. Your mother,” he said accusingly, “took it with her to the meeting and that was not a part of the plan.”
Sydney looked at him, “I haven’t talked with her for awhile and I saw her to say goodbye and good luck. I’m sure you have it all on tape. You know I haven’t done anything to make you angry with me.”
“You’re a Bristow!” He retorted.
“Just a minute,” Vaughn interrupted. “We don’t know all that happened and you can’t accuse Sydney – or her parents unless you do.”
“I can do just about anything,” snorted Kendall, but then relented a little. “I know that you’ve been investigated,” he looked at Vaughn, “for some irregularities in recent activities. What was that about?” He shifted his anger to the young man.
“Check with Yaeger. I’ve been cleared.”
“Of what? I don’t have time for interoffice memos.”
Vaughn told him. “And the bottom line, nothing. Irina Derevko turned herself into the CIA, evidently to do as she said she wanted to do. Help us bring the Alliance and SD-6 to an end.”
Jamaica
Jack sat at the bar drinking a club soda. He pulled a box out of his pocket. The light on the LED screen blinked. He pushed a button, then turned it off, a grin on his face. He took out his cell and punched in a number. He waited for an answer.
Los Angeles
“Hello,” it was Francie. “No, she’s not a home right now. Can I take a message?” She listened for a moment, “All right, I’ll tell her.”
The connection was broken. Francie punched in another number. She paused while the phone rang at the other end.
“Hey, it’s me,” she said, “some guy just called and said the CD you ordered came in. I thought you might want to pick it up on your way home.”
Jamaica
Jack was frowning thoughtfully when his cell rang. “Hello!” He smiled. “Glad you called. Are you safe?”
He listened. “I know, but I think you should be aware. Remember the bugs Vaughn found at your house? Well, when I called you a few minutes ago, your best friend didn’t recognize my voice, that’s why I told her about the CD.”
Jack realized there was silence at the other end, “Sydney, be careful. No, don’t worry about me and don’t worry about your mother, she can take care of herself. You’d better find out what happened – especially since the KH11 satellite feed was disrupted so conveniently.”
“No, I’m not coming back, I’m going to find your mother.”