Name the Stakes

Ah, to all my wonderful readers - both new and old, my Name the Stakes muse appears to have been left behind when I moved back home from school... between real life felgercarb and all that stuff in between, I just haven't had the time/energy/patience/creativity/you name it - to hammer out another chapter for this ...

The good news is that my mind is still running with some ideas for the next chapter, so maybe when my fiance goes back to work and I am around the house with not too much else to do, I can get something up...

Thanks everybody for your patience. I will be sure to make my next update (when I get one) a big one ^_^
 
See...?? Now, it's my turn to stalk you shamelessly. Hopefully, your muse will come aback to you soon. ;) Because, selfishly, I want an update!!!

And, just so you know, I take my stalking very, very seriously.

:beret:
 
Phew..... just read your story - you're good! (y) (y) So, please PM me when you update (don't take too long, OK?!) :P

PS: Still an avid SV fan, but starting to looove Sarkney now :love:
 
ooh i love your fic. i just spent three hours reading it but it was WELL worth it. could you please pm me when you update? thanks
 
A/N: Ah yes - believe it or not - it's actually an update, not just a promise of one. I know I said it would be a long one but I have had this on my computer for about a week and if I don't post it now, it's not going to get posted. The happy news is that I am leaving it at a point where I know exactly what I am going to do next so yay. I hope you enjoy this update - be forewarned, it is a plot advancing one which may explain why I was in no rush to write it :thinking: Ah well, if you do enjoy it, thank Dita for lighting the essential fire under my ass that got me into revisiting this story like I kept promising ;)

So without further ado - a brief recaplet since it has been awhile :lol:

“Why does that not surprise me?” He paused realizing there was no sense fighting Bristow determination. “There is a small task you could accompany me on when you are feeling up to it, but for now you just need to rest.” He stood back up from the bed. “Are you hungry?”

A sly smile came to her face as looked him up and down. “How did you know?”

He shook his head chuckling softly. “It’s a gift Sydney,” he said quoting a phrase she had spoken to him earlier in their time together. “Now, I am going to go the kitchen to try and find something for us to eat.”

As he walked over to the door and opened it, he cast one look back her realizing she had been watching him leave. “Hurry back.” He smirked lightly before pulling the door shut behind him. Pausing outside of her room in the hallway, Sark felt his smile grow as he thought of how he had finally been able to tell her how he felt. It hadn’t killed him after all.


Please forgive me for my distance
The pain is evident in my existence
Please forgive for my distance
The shame is manifest in my resistance
To your love, to your love, to your love ~ Fiona Apple


Two weeks later ~

He stepped out the car, slight breeze blowing across his face as the brilliant blue of the Mediterranean reflected off his sunglasses.

It had been a long flight, one that he should not have even bothered taking because nothing came from his trip to Wisconsin, Los Angeles or Prague.

Wisconsin was to look for information on Will Tippen, if there was anything suspicious in his apartment or any clue as to where he might have gone. Instead, he found an empty apartment and a storage facility where all Will's belongings were being held. His car had been repossessed. It was if Will just got up one morning and decided to leave it all behind. Damn him, Sark cursed.

Flying to Los Angeles for Michael Vaughn's sake was not something he was entirely pleased with, but after what he encountered in regards to Will, he felt it was best to be thorough. It was another trip destined for failure.

Vaughn's autopsy report showed he died from trauma inflicted upon the carotid body, resulting in decreased oxygen content in his blood. The missus Vaughn died of a gunshot wound to her anterior chest with perforations in her sternum and aorta. She was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere up north whereas he was buried in the family plot near his father. If Sark had the means, he would have exhumed Vaughn's body but a nearly sawed off head as depicted in autopsy photos was convincing enough for him.

Finally, the trip to Prague was to meet up with Colin, his handler who kept leaving him messages about important information regarding the two men he had just flown across the world to find absolutely nothing on. Once again, Colin couldn't be found then he phoned Sark to inform him he couldn't meet. He did however make arrangements for them to meet in Pamplona two days from now. Sark's patience was wearing thread thin at this point. He really found himself wondering why he cared at all.

Yet, he knew those names did not appear in those files for no reason. The familiarity and proximity in their relation to Sydney made it even more unsettling especially considering what his and Sydney’s recent tasks had involved. Stealing a file full of names from a French winemaker with a wandering eye for Sydney, working with a former lover still carrying a flame for him and her possessive boyfriend that led to the shoot-out of all shoot-outs in a club that nearly cost Sydney her life, he lightly grimaced as he thought back to that night momentarily, there were his reasons to be concerned.

He put his hand on the roof of the Audi and looked up to the pergola where he noticed Sydney was sitting quietly, a book in her lap. Initially, he had promised her that she could accompany him on these trips but had thought better of it. He hadn't told her about Will or Vaughn's name being mentioned in that file. Just then, she looked up seeing him and an indignant look spread across her face before she hastily flipped her book shut and stood up walking back into the house. Great to be back, he mused before walking into the villa.

His first instinct was to go to Sydney's room and apologize, but he decided against it. Two weeks ago, before he left her here to recover from her gunshot wound at the hands of Allison, he had confessed his love to her in an ardent display of his newfound belief to not keep anything hidden. At times, he wondered if that was still the smartest move, letting Sydney know what kind of effect she had on him. He took a deep breath as he thought back to that day, seeing her in such pain and the way he responded.

It was times like that, he felt like he was losing himself. The man that he had made himself become in order to do this task, the hardened killer with no remorse and no regard, yet now he was feeling this way towards Sydney. He cared about her friend, worried how he was going to tell her that Will was missing. No, he wouldn't go to her right now. Instead, he went to the cellar looking for some wine.

Success, a bottle of Château Le Pin Pomerol 1999 was stashed in the back, no doubt either misplaced or being hidden for someone special and now it was Sark's to enjoy. He pulled himself a glass from out of the cabinet and took a seat at the tiled counter in the large kitchen. The bottle to the side of him and the stem of the glass resting between his fingertips, he marveled over the course of the last few months not even hearing Sydney approaching the kitchen in search of him. It appeared her patience was also waning.

"Have a nice trip?"

The sound of her voice filling the kitchen unexpectedly caused him to quickly take a deep breath.

"Actually, yes. It was lovely. Had an aisle seat the entire time."

She moved into his line of sight, crossing her arms across her chest before leaning back against the counter. "Oh, that is nice."

He looked up surprised. "Yes, I thought so."

She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment, waiting before she spoke. "So, do you plan on telling me where you have been for the past two weeks or am I just supposed to gather that myself?"

Lightly, he shook his head and reached for his wineglass. Lifting it up, he lightly swirled it before bringing it to his lips. "I have something to tell you Sydney." He paused to take a small sip, savoring the taste before telling her the secret he had been keeping from her. "That file, that you took from Gilbert's office mentioned Michael Vaughn and Will Tippen's name."

He noticed her clenched jaw loosen as though her mouth was going to gape in surprise at his announcement but she restrained herself. Sydney moved back from leaning over the counter to stand up. "What did it say?"

"I'm not sure, but that's not all. Will is missing from Witness Protection."

"What? For how long? Do you know where he is?"

"He has been notably missing for around five months. Neither I nor Colin have been able to locate him..."

"We have to go look for him."

He put the glass aside as he stood up and moved over by her. "I've just come back from Wisconsin. There's no sign of him."

She remained quiet as he moved in front of her, trying to catch her gaze as she nervously fidgeted in worry over her friend. He moved his hands to her hips, lowering his head to meet her eyes. "Don't worry Sydney, we are going to find him. We are going to meet with Colin on Tuesday in Pamplona. He says he has information."

Sydney raised her eyes to his, trying to remain calm and fight the anxious feeling growing inside her. "Don’t you dare think about leaving me behind again. We are going. Not you, we."

Sark smiled softly. "That's what I said." His eyes trailed over her face down to the small lump on her right shoulder. Gently, he moved his fingers to caress it. "How's this feeling?"

Sighing, she replied, "It's fine. The doctor was surprised by how fast it healed."

"Yes, I imagine he was."

She shifted uncomfortably. "I wish I didn't have this damn scar from it."

His eyes traveled back to hers. "You should never be ashamed of your scars Sydney, you've earned them."

She rolled her eyes and moved out of Sark’s grasp. "I am worried about Will. Has anyone heard from him or seen him at all recently?” She paused, thinking. “And why would Vaughn be mentioned in there?”

He moved away from her then, reaching for his wineglass before he spoke. "No, there were no leads on Will to be found. As for Vaughn, I'm not sure."

________________________________________


Later that evening ~

There was no denying it; she was still annoyed with Sark.

As she paced back and forth in her room, the long terrycloth robe skimming across the floor, she sighed heavily. All this time, he had been keeping something from her, her oldest friend was most likely in great danger and he didn't say anything about it.

In the shower earlier, she thought of leaving the villa and going to look for Will by herself but realized she couldn't. Sark's handler seemed to have definitive information on Will, it would be foolish of her to leave when Sark seemed to have already done everything that she would have.

Resigned, she moved over to the doors leading out to the balcony. The soft breeze blowing in off the Mediterranean carried the scent of salt to her senses as she leaned her head against the frame peering out in the horizon. It was dark now, but the moon's lucid glow seemed to cast light on the water and brighten the stars.

Will.

Where was he now? She pursed her lips together and closed her eyes at the next thought. Was he even alive?

A soft knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts. She sighed as she turned to lean her other side against the doorframe and face the doorway. "Come in."

A blonde head peeked into the room, his eyes traveling around trying to see where her voice was coming from in the darkened room. As his eyes came to her figure illuminated by the sea and moon at her back, he cleared his throat. "I thought you might be asleep."

"I can't sleep. No more use in trying."

He nodded as he stepped into the room. "I understand."

They stared at each other a moment, trying to determine who would speak next. "Sydney, I want you to know that I wanted to tell you about Will."

She lightly snorted looking away. "And yet, you didn't."

He moved towards her, stopping in front of the bed. "I wanted to find answers for you first. I wanted more than I had to begin with," he paused, "but my search turned up nothing."

For a moment, she thought about how frustrating it must have been for him to have gone all that way and not found anything. She knew Sark well enough to know he did not enjoy having his time wasted and loathed more than anything being unsuccessful in the field, let alone admitting it.

"You don't understand, he is the only friend that I have left and he could be in danger. He could be dead Sark. You should have told me the minute you saw it."

"Like how you should have informed me that you worked with Allison before? That you carried on like us meeting with her was going to be like pulling teeth for you, but come to find out - you were partnered with her in the past."

"It's not the same thing."

Moving over towards her, he held her gaze. "It is but it isn't Sydney. I’m not the only one keeping things to myself."

She looked away, turning from him back to face the balcony. A gull called in the distance before Sydney spoke softly, breaking the silence that filled the room.

"Working with Allison in Tokyo, looking like she did .... knowing she murdered Francie. I had to be her partner. It was the Covenant’s way of testing me, to see if I would remember, react to seeing her, to be required to work with her but I passed. And when she was confirmed dead after Warsaw, I was relieved that I would never ever have to see her again.” She paused before she spoke. “The things I do ... have done, have hurt so many people that I love. Now, Will. Again."

As she trailed off, he moved behind her gently wrapping his arms around her. "We'll find him, I promise you."

He held onto her a moment before she turned to face him, his arms still around her waist. As she searched his face, the anger towards him diminished. She believed him, everything Sark said about wanting to tell her about seeing Will’s name but going ahead without her so she would have answers right away. She wasn’t necessarily happy about it, but she understood his reasons for doing so.

She let her face tilt towards him, her forehead resting on his nose before he reached his hand up to her chin lifting it towards him. Softly, he pressed his lips to hers. Warm and soft, they molded together in a tender kiss before she thread her hand through the back of his head pulling him closer to her. Instantly, his hand went to her neck, cupping her head as they continued to softly caress their lips against one another.

There was no sense of urgency despite their actions, they merely held onto one another as if they were all each other had left. Sark's tongue moved to Sydney's lips, parting them and flicking across her teeth. She felt a tingle of excitement flicker in her stomach as she moved him back towards her bed, now matching Sark's tongue play with her own.

His hands moved to the belt of her robe, pulling it open before reaching inside to work his fingers up her back and pull her closer into him. Finally, Sark felt the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed. With his hands still at her back and lips still to her neck, he turned to guide her down onto the soft bed.

Despite the increasing fervor to their touch and playfulness to their kiss, they did not rush to undress one another as they had in the past. As they lay there, growing more entwined within the sheets and each other, she thought of Sark’s words to her before he left weeks ago. He had tried to deny it, tried to push her away but in the end, he admitted it. He loved her and would do anything for her.

It was time she did the same.

She lightly ran her hand over his chest while her lips moved down his earlobe to the delicate patch of skin below his ear. Bringing her hand to the soft cotton material of his t-shirt, she started to pull it up, running a hand over the flat plains of his stomach. He reached over to move the hair from the side of her face, pushing it out of the way and leaned towards her to bring his lips to her neck. The scent of her strawberry shampoo struck his senses and it felt oddly comforting.

She drew back, looking him in the eyes while he searched her face unsure of why she pulled away. Slowly, she moved her hand up to his still caressing the side of her cheek.

“Thank you, Sark,” she whispered. He smiled softly, beginning to bring his lips to hers before she held her up her finger stopping him. “For everything.”

He leaned back in and this time she did not stop him. As he broke apart from her lips to continue the assault on her neck, she lightly breathed against his ear the words he had spoken to her not so long ago.

“I love you, Julian.”

She felt him pause against her neck before moving back up to meet her gaze. A smile on his face, he leaned forward once again bringing his lips to hers but not before replying, “Feels good, doesn’t it?”

A small laugh escaped her lips allowing him to use his tongue and coax hers to meet his. They kissed like that for a moment, relishing in each other and the new level of intimacy between them before she moved her lips across his cheeks to nibble at his earlobe.

“What’s that? Loving you or saying it out loud?” she asked, breathing lightly against the soft flesh of his ear.

He wrapped his arms back around her waist, pulling her towards him as he lay back on the bed.

“Both actually.”

Sydney smiled coyly, running her hand over his cheek, feeling the slight stubble drag across her fingertips. “It does.”

As they slowly began to undress one another, she caught herself thinking of her old life, the one that she had wanted for so long. Instead, she had found happiness in the most unexpected places. In less than four months, she was back living as a double agent, working for a man she hated but she had found love with someone she thought was her greatest enemy.

They clung to each other in their lovemaking, savoring every second that they were together in this union. It were as if they knew something was coming, in the darkness something was materializing and it was going to tear their worlds apart.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes ~ MacBeth

Am going to post PM List as soon as I attempt to send them out ^_^
Next Update
 
Here is the PM list I have - I think I got everyone added, I will go back and double check to make sure. Let me know if you want on or off :D

kidblink83
fivetoesonefoot
Galicdreamer
AliasFanSweden
ILuvSark
Joyie
zestyz
sarkfan
tori13
YoungStarsOwner
amy lynn
agentjbristow47
Dita
RavenClaw
Rinnibearcg
aliasfreek
CindyZ
red_lily
vintagequeen
jacs29
Elijahfan
freelancer360
SpyGirl47
SweetJo
cheeza
Alias_Fan0202
emajors
uasydvaughngurl
Alias101Freak
Rogue
gemmy525
catfishally
 
Firstly, WOO HOO!!!! :D :D :D Secondly, thank you Dita for doing what had to be done! It's appreciated!

Now for the fun quotes and random comments that I've come to miss doing so much... ;)

Damn him, Sark cursed.

Ahhh... a Sarkney staple. Sark's annoyance with Will Tippin...

If Sark had the means, he would have exhumed Vaughn's body but a nearly sawed off head as depicted in autopsy photos was convincing enough for him.

I can sense your deep hatred for Vaughn a little bit there. ^_^ I mean, sawed off head? Hehehe...

His eyes traveled back to hers. "You should never be ashamed of your scars Sydney, you've earned them."

She rolled her eyes and moved out of Sark’s grasp.

I would have rolled my eyes too. That sounded like such a line.

Now, Will. Again.

I think there needs to be a few more agains in there. Poor Sydney has messed up his life so many times that I think I've lost count.

“Both actually.”

Such a Sark thing to say, that cocky bastard. I love him so much!

It were as if they knew something was coming, in the darkness something was materializing and it was going to tear their worlds apart.

Ominous and oh so exciting! Hopefully, we won't have to wait that long.

And can I just say that a plot advancing chapter is better than nothing, and a plot advancing chapter with a little Sarkney action in it is better than just a plot advancing chapter!!! Yay! ^_^
 
Awww, Suzi. :smiley: You know how I take my stalking very seriously...

And wow, you updated! :shock: I can't... Speechless, right here, that's me. But I'm very glad you did update. I almost had to let my beret smilie hired thug loose. :beret: Close call.

And was there ever any doubt? Niiiccceee update. The semi-smut was sweet. And she said she loved him back! Let's say it all together now: 'Awwwwwwww.' ;) They are so damn good together. Aren't they???

Wisconsin was to look for information on Will Tippen, if there was anything suspicious in his apartment or any clue as to where he might have gone. Instead, he found an empty apartment and a storage facility where all Will's belongings were being held. His car had been repossessed. It was if Will just got up one morning and decided to leave it all behind. Damn him, Sark cursed.

:thinking: That's never a good thing--the vanishing without a trace. My poor, wittle Will. Or... :Ponder:

He put his hand on the roof of the Audi and looked up to the pergola where he noticed Sydney was sitting quietly, a book in her lap. Initially, he had promised her that she could accompany him on these trips but had thought better of it. He hadn't told her about Will or Vaughn's name being mentioned in that file.

Is he keeping secrets from Sydney? <_< Sark... For shame! Oh, and I actually had an Audi once. :hmm: Cost a fortune and half to maintain. Very much a Sark kind of car.

It was times like that, he felt like he was losing himself. The man that he had made himself become in order to do this task, the hardened killer with no remorse and no regard, yet now he was feeling this way towards Sydney.

Ah, the inner conflict. Reconciling all the horrible things he has done with his newfound love for Sydney. I love this...it makes his whole falling in love with her all the more believable. (y) (y)

She shifted uncomfortably. "I wish I didn't have this damn scar from it."

His eyes traveled back to hers. "You should never be ashamed of your scars Sydney, you've earned them."

I :love: this exchange. It's so...sweet, for lack of a better word. The fact that he loves her, scars and all, is just lovely. Awww. Another :love:

He held onto her a moment before she turned to face him, his arms still around her waist. As she searched his face, the anger towards him diminished. She believed him, everything Sark said about wanting to tell her about seeing Will’s name but going ahead without her so she would have answers right away. She wasn’t necessarily happy about it, but she understood his reasons for doing so.

She let her face tilt towards him, her forehead resting on his nose before he reached his hand up to her chin lifting it towards him. Softly, he pressed his lips to hers.

They are damn adorable together. Just so freakin' good. :blush:

“I love you, Julian.”

She loves him! And she used his first name. :love: Too sweet.

They clung to each other in their lovemaking, savoring every second that they were together in this union. It were as if they knew something was coming, in the darkness something was materializing and it was going to tear their worlds apart.

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes ~ MacBeth

Uh oh. Trouble is approaching, I see. :thinking: Am all suspenseful that their happiness may not last. SUZI! You can't end it like that. Need. More. Soon.

Fab update and thanks for the PM. And just so you don't get too complacent...

:beret:
 
It was if Will just got up one morning and decided to leave it all behind. Damn him, Sark cursed.

Will's missing!! :thinking: *chants he'll be fine over and over*

She shifted uncomfortably. "I wish I didn't have this damn scar from it."

His eyes traveled back to hers. "You should never be ashamed of your scars Sydney, you've earned them."

Love that line.

She let her face tilt towards him, her forehead resting on his nose before he reached his hand up to her chin lifting it towards him. Softly, he pressed his lips to hers.

Awwwwwwwww........

“I love you, Julian.”

She told him and she called him Julian..YAY..

They clung to each other in their lovemaking, savoring every second that they were together in this union. It were as if they knew something was coming, in the darkness something was materializing and it was going to tear their worlds apart.

"Tear their worlds apart" now I'm scared :thinking:


I'm so glad you updated, this story rocks (y) :D
Can't wait for more, thanks for the PM.

~Rach~
 
hey... i had to reread a lot of this story to get back into the swing of things..and i found that i am still utterly in love with it. great update - can't wait to find out where will's hiding. thanks for the pm.
 
Yay! An update! I've been missing this story! Thanks, Dita for incessant stalking :smiley: :P

This was great - I'm glad he told her about Will and Vaughn's names in the file. This honesty thing will be good for them ;)

There was no sense of urgency despite their actions, they merely held onto one another as if they were all each other had left
That was great - sweet without being sickening :smiley: And just the right tone for this time between them. Great job with that! (y)

I'm very interested to see what happens when they meet with Colin!

Great job, and thanks for the PM :smiley: :flowers:
 
oooh...that was a good cliffhanger. and a great chapter! sorry it's taken me so long to reaply. i was in wash. dc, the past week and couldn't read all the wonderful PMs i got. i was so happy u updated that i scooted over here quick and read yours first. (and it's the only one i will read tonight.) thx for sticking with this awesome story and im so glad you are out of your writers-bloc or whatever was holding you back from posting. thx so much for the PM and please update soon!! :smiley:
 
Just to let you all know - I'm typing up the next chapter and it should be up in a couple days.

Here is a rough spoiler for anyone who might be interested:

<!--spoilerbs--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>SPOILER </td></tr><tr><td id='SPOILER'><!--spoilerbe-->A look of concentration is on Will’s face as he moves quickly over to the body lying on the floor. Will reaches into his coat pocket and his hands find a small diskette. Will pockets this and moves over to the suitcase neatly propped up on the dresser. There is the standard issue weapon, pressed khaki’s, and assorted toiletries, but Will wants something else. Evidence.<!--spoileres--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--spoileree-->
 
Seriously, I nearly hyperventilated when I saw you posted here...and then no PM. But a spoiler...all good then.

:beret:

For now.

:lol: Anyway, that's an interesting spoiler. WILLAGE! :woot: Can't wait to see where this goes. Hope you had a great 22nd birthday and all... :D
 
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