JuliaSark05
Cadet
I know 7 pages is a lot but this isn't the 7 page chapter!
Chapter 43
“Dad?” She couldn’t believe her Dad was sitting in Julian’s cell with Julian and they weren’t killing each other.
Jack simply looked up and smiled at her. “Hi honey.” Sydney entered the cell cautiously, wondering if she was crossing over into another dimension.
“What are you doing here?” Both men looked at her like it was obvious but she stared back at them waiting for a response. Jack smiled and let out a soft chuckle.
“First, you know I work here.” He teased her. “Second, I thought it would be best to brainstorm with Sark since he knows how the Covenant works and what their next move will most likely be.”
“You two,” she pointed back and forth between Jack and Julian, “are working together? You’re not trying to kill each other?” Jack nodded and Julian gave Sydney a reassuring look to let her know he was okay.
A sense of calm came over Sydney. Her dad was getting along with Julian. Not only were they getting along but it was by choice. She smiled inwardly and let a small smile show on her lips as she sat down at the paper covered table.
“Have you formulated a plan?” She questioned them, still smiling.
“We’ve thought up a few options but none of them seem to be the best one.” Her father replied giving her his stern worried which meant that he didn’t feel any of the options were safe enough for her.
“Perhaps I have something that can help.” She placed the pad with her notes from Lauren down in front of her Dad. “I had a nice little visit Lauren and she graciously offered me her help with detailing the security systems at the laboratory.”
Both Jack and Julian gave her shocked expressions before Jack shook his head at her.
“I think you’ve been hanging around this one too long if you’re smiling about how you interrogated Lauren for this information.” Sydney smiled innocently while Julian chortled inaudibly. “At any rate, the information should help us. I’ll go run upstairs and verify this with the intel Marshall. It should also help him make his gadgets for your mission.”
Jack gave a brief nod of goodbye to Julian as he got up and made his way out of the cell. Once Sydney and Julian thought Jack was out of sight they began exchanging their hellos.
“I’m surprised to see you here Sydney. I thought for sure you’d be brainstorming with Agents Weiss and Vaughn.” Sark studied her face while trying to avert looking Sydney directly in the eye. She smiled knowingly at him.
“Well I’m not. I came here. I had to talk to Dixon and Lauren first but then I came here because I wanted to talk with you but if you’d prefer I leave, I can.” She paused, realizing for the first time that maybe when he said they needed a break from each other he also meant that he didn’t want to see her at work. “If you don’t want to see me at all I understand,” She started out strong but as she continued her voice faded to just barely above a whisper. “But I thought that even though we weren’t together anymore we could still work together.”
Sark gently cupped her face in his hands, slowly raising her face to eye so that he could look her in the eye. “I’m glad you came here.” He smiled as he brushed away the tear that had escaped her eye.
“Really?” She whispered, a small smile starting to appear on her lips and eyes.
He nodded. “Really.” He let his thumb massage her cheek and dimple for a moment before letting his hand drop back to his side.
Jack who had been watching the exchange between the two smiled as well. He knew in that moment that he had made the right decision about Julian. Deciding it was best to leave the two alone for a little while he left to find Marshall.
“So,” Sydney laughed a little as she brushed away the few remaining tears that had managed to fall. “Where do we start?”
A smirk briefly passed over Sark’s face as he thought of a clever retort but restrained because he didn’t want to go there with Sydney right now. He didn’t want to let himself give in and let himself believe that just because she had come to see him meant that she wanted to be with him.
“I guess we start at square one with what we know for sure. The Covenant took your eggs and stored them at the facility in Tuscany. Chances at least some the eggs are still there. Now based on the satellite footage we know that the place is heavily guarded and it won’t be easy to get in or out of. Also, we can assume that whatever security measures were in place have been stepped up a notch. I had Jack bring me down all the files we have on the facility in hopes of finding out who designed their security system but so far that has been a dead end.
However, we did notice that there is a bank located next to the facility. The bank seems to have underground vaults that connect to the Covenant facility. We believe that this is the best way into the facility. The only problem is Jack thinks that the bank might also be run by the Covenant and therefore they will be on the lookout for you or anyone else trying to break in. On the contrary, I think we can use it to our advantage.” At this Sydney gave him a skeptical look and he smiled.
“If the Covenant owns the Bank I was not privy to that information, however, on the off chance that they do I think it will help us. We’ll send you in posing as wealthy woman about to be married who wants to keep certain assets a secret from her soon to be husband. You’ll have an appointment to open a safety deposit box in their highest security level vault three floors underground. Once you’re downstairs, we’ll shut down the power to the security cameras and send a team in to rob the bank. Security will be diverted to the bank robbery and you’ll be free to break into the laboratory. With any luck the Covenant will even be foolish enough to send security from the laboratory over to the bank. Even if the bank isn’t Covenant run it will still provide you the necessary distraction to access the laboratory.”
“What if the vault doesn’t connect to the lab? How am I supposed to get in? Even if they are connected, won’t the robbery alert the Covenant that someone might be trying to break into the lab as well?” Julian nodded thoughtfully.
“I’m fairly sure they’re connected but we have to be worried about the Covenant predicting our move. They know we’re looking for the eggs and will already be taking as many precautions as possible.” He trailed off trying to find another way to break into the facility. Sydney replayed his plan over in her head. Something he had said had triggered a nagging thought in the back of her head.
“Julian,” He looked up at her. “Did you know what the Covenant did to me? Did you know that they took my eggs?”
He sighed deeply, looking away from her. “Sydney.” He started guardedly.
“You didn’t you! You knew all along!” She accused, the bitterness, anger, and hurt clearly evident by her tone and the look on her face.
“Sydney it’s complicated.”
“No, no it’s not complicated at all. Either you knew or you didn’t. It is as simple as that Julian!” She jumped out of her chair. She couldn’t believe that he could know all along and not tell her.
“Yes I knew, but I thought it would be best not to tell you.” She shrieked away from him as he made to get up and move closer to her.
“You knew all this time and you never once told me! How could you? How could you not tell me?” Tears poured from her swollen brown eyes. His heart broke at the hurt he was causing her now but there was little he could do to fix it.
“Sydney please you have to listen to me. I honestly thought it was better to wait to tell you.”
“No. No Julian why do I have to listen to you. How could it have ever been better to make me wait to find out what the Covenant did to me? You’re talking about my life, my eggs . How could you not tell me?”
She was so lost. All she wanted to hear was some explanation that would satisfy the hole he had just put in her heart but she knew nothing could ever excuse what he did. He had kept it from her all along. All this time she could have been working to retrieve her eggs and he had ruined it. Now she was stuck trying to break into a highly secured facility where her chances of retrieving the eggs were slim to none.
Julian tried to reach for her arms to pull her close but she pulled away from him as though she was repulsed by the very sight of him. He hung his head sadly as he slowly tried to explain himself.
“Yes I knew they had taken your eggs but I didn’t know where they were storing them or what exactly their endgame was. Without having any other information to offer you I was afraid if I told you it would only makes things worse for you. I know you and I knew that it would drive you crazy not knowing where you eggs were. I had hoped that by retrieving the disc and bringing the Covenant down we would learn were the eggs were and what their endgame was in time to find the eggs and put a stop to everything. I never intended to hurt you; I only wanted to keep you from getting even more stressed out. I certainly never planned on everything happening the way it did. Sydney you have to believe me when I tell you that I really thought I was protecting you.” Slowly he raised his to look up at her and when he did all he wanted to do was hold her but she wouldn’t even let him touch her.
“I just can’t believe that I trusted you. I betrayed my country and my friends for you. I didn’t keep any secrets from you and you kept the biggest secret of all. How am I supposed to believe anything now? How can I believe that you didn’t keep other secrets from me? They took my eggs Julian, do you understand? My eggs. And you knew and didn’t tell me and now I might not get them back before the Covenant makes a Rambaldi baby. I don’t know if I can forgive you for this.” She turned to leave but ran smack into her father’s chest. Jack had a very puzzled look on his face because when he left the two of them had been okay and now his daughter was running out, soaked in tears.
“Sydney? What’s wrong?” Jack asked her sweetly as he held her at arms length.
“Ask Sark.” She mumbled before gently pushing him aside and storming out of the cell area.
Jack glared menacingly at Sark as visions of what he could have possibly done to upset his daughter went through his head.
Julian put his hands up defeat. “Jack I swear I never meant to hurt her.”
“Then what happened Sark? Because from where I stand it looks like you did a damn good job of hurting her and I’d like to know what the hell it was you did.” Julian sighed nervously. Jack was certainly not someone whose bad side he ever really wanted to be on.
“I knew all along that the Covenant took Sydney’s eggs. I didn’t know where they were keeping them though and I didn’t want to tell Sydney until I knew we could get them back. You and I both know that if I had told her it would have only made it harder for her and she would have stressed herself out even more. Knowing and not being able to do anything about it would have killed her. I was planning on telling the CIA when we found out about the Rambaldi DNA but then the CIA discovered it without my help. I swear Jack I was only trying to protect her.”
Jack studied Julian closely as he spoke. He knew Julian was telling the truth but still he understood now why Sydney was so upset.
“Why didn’t you come to the CIA sooner with the information, or at least have told me?” Jack questioned him.
“I didn’t trust the CIA very much and no offense Jack but you’re not exactly the easiest person to come to. For all I knew you would have killed me before I could even tell you I was one of the good guys.
Jack nodded in understanding. “I came to give you the information Lauren gave us. As far as we can tell it’s accurate and it’s the only valuable intel we have on the security of the facility.” He handed Julian the information. “You look over it and try to devise a plan. I’m going to go try to talk to Sydney and help her calm down.”
Sark nodded his sadness and worry evident on his face. Jack could tell by the lack of Julian’s usual cool exterior that he truly loved Sydney and was honestly hurting. He gave Julian a sympathetic look before turning towards the door.
Just as he was about to leave he heard Sark cough quietly.
“Thank you Jack…for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” Was all Jack said before making his way to find Sydney, leaving Julian to sink back down at the table and pour over Lauren’s intel.
Chapter 43
“Dad?” She couldn’t believe her Dad was sitting in Julian’s cell with Julian and they weren’t killing each other.
Jack simply looked up and smiled at her. “Hi honey.” Sydney entered the cell cautiously, wondering if she was crossing over into another dimension.
“What are you doing here?” Both men looked at her like it was obvious but she stared back at them waiting for a response. Jack smiled and let out a soft chuckle.
“First, you know I work here.” He teased her. “Second, I thought it would be best to brainstorm with Sark since he knows how the Covenant works and what their next move will most likely be.”
“You two,” she pointed back and forth between Jack and Julian, “are working together? You’re not trying to kill each other?” Jack nodded and Julian gave Sydney a reassuring look to let her know he was okay.
A sense of calm came over Sydney. Her dad was getting along with Julian. Not only were they getting along but it was by choice. She smiled inwardly and let a small smile show on her lips as she sat down at the paper covered table.
“Have you formulated a plan?” She questioned them, still smiling.
“We’ve thought up a few options but none of them seem to be the best one.” Her father replied giving her his stern worried which meant that he didn’t feel any of the options were safe enough for her.
“Perhaps I have something that can help.” She placed the pad with her notes from Lauren down in front of her Dad. “I had a nice little visit Lauren and she graciously offered me her help with detailing the security systems at the laboratory.”
Both Jack and Julian gave her shocked expressions before Jack shook his head at her.
“I think you’ve been hanging around this one too long if you’re smiling about how you interrogated Lauren for this information.” Sydney smiled innocently while Julian chortled inaudibly. “At any rate, the information should help us. I’ll go run upstairs and verify this with the intel Marshall. It should also help him make his gadgets for your mission.”
Jack gave a brief nod of goodbye to Julian as he got up and made his way out of the cell. Once Sydney and Julian thought Jack was out of sight they began exchanging their hellos.
“I’m surprised to see you here Sydney. I thought for sure you’d be brainstorming with Agents Weiss and Vaughn.” Sark studied her face while trying to avert looking Sydney directly in the eye. She smiled knowingly at him.
“Well I’m not. I came here. I had to talk to Dixon and Lauren first but then I came here because I wanted to talk with you but if you’d prefer I leave, I can.” She paused, realizing for the first time that maybe when he said they needed a break from each other he also meant that he didn’t want to see her at work. “If you don’t want to see me at all I understand,” She started out strong but as she continued her voice faded to just barely above a whisper. “But I thought that even though we weren’t together anymore we could still work together.”
Sark gently cupped her face in his hands, slowly raising her face to eye so that he could look her in the eye. “I’m glad you came here.” He smiled as he brushed away the tear that had escaped her eye.
“Really?” She whispered, a small smile starting to appear on her lips and eyes.
He nodded. “Really.” He let his thumb massage her cheek and dimple for a moment before letting his hand drop back to his side.
Jack who had been watching the exchange between the two smiled as well. He knew in that moment that he had made the right decision about Julian. Deciding it was best to leave the two alone for a little while he left to find Marshall.
“So,” Sydney laughed a little as she brushed away the few remaining tears that had managed to fall. “Where do we start?”
A smirk briefly passed over Sark’s face as he thought of a clever retort but restrained because he didn’t want to go there with Sydney right now. He didn’t want to let himself give in and let himself believe that just because she had come to see him meant that she wanted to be with him.
“I guess we start at square one with what we know for sure. The Covenant took your eggs and stored them at the facility in Tuscany. Chances at least some the eggs are still there. Now based on the satellite footage we know that the place is heavily guarded and it won’t be easy to get in or out of. Also, we can assume that whatever security measures were in place have been stepped up a notch. I had Jack bring me down all the files we have on the facility in hopes of finding out who designed their security system but so far that has been a dead end.
However, we did notice that there is a bank located next to the facility. The bank seems to have underground vaults that connect to the Covenant facility. We believe that this is the best way into the facility. The only problem is Jack thinks that the bank might also be run by the Covenant and therefore they will be on the lookout for you or anyone else trying to break in. On the contrary, I think we can use it to our advantage.” At this Sydney gave him a skeptical look and he smiled.
“If the Covenant owns the Bank I was not privy to that information, however, on the off chance that they do I think it will help us. We’ll send you in posing as wealthy woman about to be married who wants to keep certain assets a secret from her soon to be husband. You’ll have an appointment to open a safety deposit box in their highest security level vault three floors underground. Once you’re downstairs, we’ll shut down the power to the security cameras and send a team in to rob the bank. Security will be diverted to the bank robbery and you’ll be free to break into the laboratory. With any luck the Covenant will even be foolish enough to send security from the laboratory over to the bank. Even if the bank isn’t Covenant run it will still provide you the necessary distraction to access the laboratory.”
“What if the vault doesn’t connect to the lab? How am I supposed to get in? Even if they are connected, won’t the robbery alert the Covenant that someone might be trying to break into the lab as well?” Julian nodded thoughtfully.
“I’m fairly sure they’re connected but we have to be worried about the Covenant predicting our move. They know we’re looking for the eggs and will already be taking as many precautions as possible.” He trailed off trying to find another way to break into the facility. Sydney replayed his plan over in her head. Something he had said had triggered a nagging thought in the back of her head.
“Julian,” He looked up at her. “Did you know what the Covenant did to me? Did you know that they took my eggs?”
He sighed deeply, looking away from her. “Sydney.” He started guardedly.
“You didn’t you! You knew all along!” She accused, the bitterness, anger, and hurt clearly evident by her tone and the look on her face.
“Sydney it’s complicated.”
“No, no it’s not complicated at all. Either you knew or you didn’t. It is as simple as that Julian!” She jumped out of her chair. She couldn’t believe that he could know all along and not tell her.
“Yes I knew, but I thought it would be best not to tell you.” She shrieked away from him as he made to get up and move closer to her.
“You knew all this time and you never once told me! How could you? How could you not tell me?” Tears poured from her swollen brown eyes. His heart broke at the hurt he was causing her now but there was little he could do to fix it.
“Sydney please you have to listen to me. I honestly thought it was better to wait to tell you.”
“No. No Julian why do I have to listen to you. How could it have ever been better to make me wait to find out what the Covenant did to me? You’re talking about my life, my eggs . How could you not tell me?”
She was so lost. All she wanted to hear was some explanation that would satisfy the hole he had just put in her heart but she knew nothing could ever excuse what he did. He had kept it from her all along. All this time she could have been working to retrieve her eggs and he had ruined it. Now she was stuck trying to break into a highly secured facility where her chances of retrieving the eggs were slim to none.
Julian tried to reach for her arms to pull her close but she pulled away from him as though she was repulsed by the very sight of him. He hung his head sadly as he slowly tried to explain himself.
“Yes I knew they had taken your eggs but I didn’t know where they were storing them or what exactly their endgame was. Without having any other information to offer you I was afraid if I told you it would only makes things worse for you. I know you and I knew that it would drive you crazy not knowing where you eggs were. I had hoped that by retrieving the disc and bringing the Covenant down we would learn were the eggs were and what their endgame was in time to find the eggs and put a stop to everything. I never intended to hurt you; I only wanted to keep you from getting even more stressed out. I certainly never planned on everything happening the way it did. Sydney you have to believe me when I tell you that I really thought I was protecting you.” Slowly he raised his to look up at her and when he did all he wanted to do was hold her but she wouldn’t even let him touch her.
“I just can’t believe that I trusted you. I betrayed my country and my friends for you. I didn’t keep any secrets from you and you kept the biggest secret of all. How am I supposed to believe anything now? How can I believe that you didn’t keep other secrets from me? They took my eggs Julian, do you understand? My eggs. And you knew and didn’t tell me and now I might not get them back before the Covenant makes a Rambaldi baby. I don’t know if I can forgive you for this.” She turned to leave but ran smack into her father’s chest. Jack had a very puzzled look on his face because when he left the two of them had been okay and now his daughter was running out, soaked in tears.
“Sydney? What’s wrong?” Jack asked her sweetly as he held her at arms length.
“Ask Sark.” She mumbled before gently pushing him aside and storming out of the cell area.
Jack glared menacingly at Sark as visions of what he could have possibly done to upset his daughter went through his head.
Julian put his hands up defeat. “Jack I swear I never meant to hurt her.”
“Then what happened Sark? Because from where I stand it looks like you did a damn good job of hurting her and I’d like to know what the hell it was you did.” Julian sighed nervously. Jack was certainly not someone whose bad side he ever really wanted to be on.
“I knew all along that the Covenant took Sydney’s eggs. I didn’t know where they were keeping them though and I didn’t want to tell Sydney until I knew we could get them back. You and I both know that if I had told her it would have only made it harder for her and she would have stressed herself out even more. Knowing and not being able to do anything about it would have killed her. I was planning on telling the CIA when we found out about the Rambaldi DNA but then the CIA discovered it without my help. I swear Jack I was only trying to protect her.”
Jack studied Julian closely as he spoke. He knew Julian was telling the truth but still he understood now why Sydney was so upset.
“Why didn’t you come to the CIA sooner with the information, or at least have told me?” Jack questioned him.
“I didn’t trust the CIA very much and no offense Jack but you’re not exactly the easiest person to come to. For all I knew you would have killed me before I could even tell you I was one of the good guys.
Jack nodded in understanding. “I came to give you the information Lauren gave us. As far as we can tell it’s accurate and it’s the only valuable intel we have on the security of the facility.” He handed Julian the information. “You look over it and try to devise a plan. I’m going to go try to talk to Sydney and help her calm down.”
Sark nodded his sadness and worry evident on his face. Jack could tell by the lack of Julian’s usual cool exterior that he truly loved Sydney and was honestly hurting. He gave Julian a sympathetic look before turning towards the door.
Just as he was about to leave he heard Sark cough quietly.
“Thank you Jack…for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” Was all Jack said before making his way to find Sydney, leaving Julian to sink back down at the table and pour over Lauren’s intel.
Another Katwina chapter? 
I won't let her! There will be no Vaughn, Sydney. Do you hear me? I SAID: DO YOU HEAR ME?!?! :angry: