It All Starts

santosaidan

~3 Musketters~
My story is a little different. I started writing a small background and it got bigger than I thought. So I wrote it all out and thought that if anyone was interested I would continue from here. As you know I don’t own any of these characters (only Samantha and I don’t even own her last name). You know everyone belongs to JJ and the crew at Alias.

It all starts.

Jack and Laura (Irina Derevko) Bristow had two daughters. Sydney the oldest and Samantha, four years Sydney’s junior. Sydney and Jack had a troubled parent/child relationship after Laura’s death. However Samantha and Jack’s relationship was different. She being only two when Laura died did not have the memories that haunted Sydney’s dreams and waking hours. Samantha also did not accept Jack’s cold shoulders. She became the more outspoken Bristow daughter, demanding Jack’s time and attention, while Sydney became the more dutiful one – trying to win Jack to her by complying with his outline of how they should interact.

Sydney has always mothered her sister. She would tell Samantha stories of their mother, and tried to foster a love of literature in her because of what she believed was their mother’s passion – the written word. And while Sydney did envy the relationship between Samantha and Jack she never held it against Samantha, she did hold it against Jack. She knew that Samantha was livelier, but no one wanted Jack’s love more than Sydney. She understood that Samantha never would remember a time when all four loved each other, their perfect mother reading to them, their father pushing them on the swings, Sydney learning how to help her mother out with baby Sam, and because she couldn’t remember it she could not grieve it like Sydney.

In school Sydney and Sam excelled at their studies, but choose different tracks for extracurricular activities. Sydney had been into sports like track and cross country, so Sam choose choral groups, and theater productions. Both grew into attractive young women with long wavy brown hair, soft complexions, and physically fit. Sydney’s stare was warm, introspective, and the color of chocolate. Samantha’s twinkled with a hint of mischievousness, was very readable, and the color of the deep sea. Both planned on going to UCLA. Sydney because it was her first choice, Samantha’s (though she would never admit it) was because it was where Sydney went (Sydney knew this – though she would never admit it).

Both sisters loved, and clung to each other to the depths of their souls. No one understood them like they knew each other. Sam understood Syd’s feelings toward their Dad and often times felt guilty about their relationship. When she would mention to Jack that he needed to spend more time with Sydney he would simply tell her that he and Sydney did not do communication, and when she told Syd she should open up to Jack more Sydney would say she would take that thought under advisement (meaning – that ship has sailed, you know it, I know it, and Dad certainly knows it). Nether sisters ever kept secrets from one another. Not even when Sydney accidentally forgot to feed Sam’s fish for a week when she was in summer camp, or when Sam ruined Syd’s favorite dress while sneaking out of the house to go on an unsanctioned date. In both cases Syd helped Sam buy a new fish – and Sam gave Syd her new pair of shoes as a peace offering.

No, the Bristow sisters never kept secrets from one another until the fateful day Sydney Bristow decided to accept the offer into SD-6. That was when the real secrets started to be formed, and the dance began. Sydney had hoped that one day after she was an officer that the CIA would let her at the very least tell her family that she worked for them. Sam would then of course understand that her missions were top secret because of the government and would not be angry with her for her deceptions. Her sister was a junior in high school, she a sophomore in college when she became field rated, and still the deceptions continued. Sydney hated lying. She was lying to her roommate, her friends in school, her sister, and her father.
 
Sydney hated lying. She was lying to her roommate, her friends in school, her sister, and her father.

What Sydney did not know was that Jack Bristow knew all about her dealings with SD-6. He knew he had been a fool to believe Arvin Sloane would leave his children alone, leave them to their own dreams and out of the life of spies. He had prayed every day since Arvin had pulled away from the CIA for the Alliance that he would leave his children alone. Sloane knew that he had trained them in Project Christmas – not as guinea pigs – but for their own protection in case Irina came for them, and he was not there. The day that he found out Sydney was already in Sloane’s web he knew it was to late for her. She would never believe him that Sloane was a bad guy. Arvin had played all his cards well and had a royal flush. He knew Jack had pushed her away, that she needed a father figure, and that she would fight for the good fight. He had said that right things, told her he had faith in her, that she would be protecting her country – her family, and Sydney had fallen in. When he confronted Sloane it was all over Arvin’s face that this had always been his plan. He had said it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass. Jack knew he had to act fast. If he did not than he would soon find out that Arvin had swooped in and woven a web around Samantha too. He could not have that. Having Sydney there was dangerous and heart attack inducing enough. At least he knew from the reports on her that she was capable of handling herself. That was a comfort, but he had to protect Samantha, he knew that it was the right thing to do. That was the day Jack Bristow told Samantha things she would have to keep from Sydney, it was the day her secrets began.

Samantha maintained her high school career – grades, plays, music, but she also started her own training with weapons, martial arts, technology, languages and everything else that Jack thought she would need. By the time she was a freshman in college she was being trained by the actually CIA. They knew of her early training, and so did she. Jack had disclosed to her about her mother’s faked death, Project Christmas, his double agent status, Sloane, the Alliance of 12, and Sydney. Jack made her understand that if the Alliance thought Sydney knew that SD-6 was not part of the CIA, if she suspected anything she would be considered a liability – no matter how good of an agent she was, and that could not happen. As far as Sydney knew Samantha had decided against UCLA, and was enrolled in a small arts college nearby home (Syd never knew that it was a cover – that the space was used by the CIA to teach language, body language classes, weapons training, and etcetera). Samantha never corrected her.
 
Samantha never corrected her.

It was around this time that Sydney and Samantha both fell in love. Heads over heals. Sydney fell in love with a fellow UCLA student named Danny. He was pre-med and was good to her. He loved her, respected her, and genuinely wanted her to be happy. Her sister liked him and told her that she thought that he was a good man, a man worthy of changing one’s life for. Sam started seeing a fellow agent (actually she was still in training. and he was a bit older, and her dad did not seem to be please, but she always got her way with him) he was kind, funny, respectful, and he seemed to get her. At least better than anyone else she ever knew (that was besides Sydney). Sam desperately wanted to introduce him to Syd, but that could not happen. It would jeopardize all of them, even Danny, and Sam and he knew it, so she kept yet another secret from Sydney. Some days she could swear that she could feel the secrets, the deceptions forming a wall between her and Sydney, but then there were days, blissfully perfect days when it would feel like there was nothing between them. But the older the Bristow sisters got the further those days got.

Danny called Sam up on a beautiful California morning one day and told her that he was in love with her sister. She wondered why he had woken her up to make a proclamation that anyone in the vicinity of Danny and Sydney could see with untrained eyes. But as the silence feel between his declaration of love, and the time she should have spoken something she realized it – he wanted to marry Syd. She quickly inhaled while a multitude of emotions swirled in front of her eyes. She started to cry and she did not know if it was from happiness (for her sister), sadness (for herself and her sister), or the absurdity of what could happen to all their perfectly crafted, very balanced lives, all it took was one misstep and things could come crashing down like a house of cards. He asked for her help and so she went with him. The whole time smiling on the outside, thankful for years in the theatre, on the inside screaming at her father for being away on a mission. She prayed he would be home before Danny took anything a step farther, but he wasn’t – he received all of Sam’s messages at one in the afternoon.

At noon on the same day as they were walking across the Quad, Danny proposed to Sydney and she said yes. She thought she could handle it. She thought she would figure something out that Arvin, Dixon, and countless other agents were all married and still worked for the CIA – if they could do it then she could too. It would be just one more secret. She already had so many.

At noon on the same day Samantha and her other half were eating lunch. He was eating she was picking. He had told her that it was no use and that Danny was going to propose. That she needed to start getting used to it, and although he would not say it to her he was worried about the situation as well, but what could they do about it. One false move and the Alliance could be alerted.

Sydney realized looking at her ring that she could not do it any longer. She certainly could not start a new life; bring babies into this world when she was lying about so many things to Danny. No, she knew she had to tell him the truth. She just prayed that he would take it well. That he would love her enough to understand her secrets and why she had kept them.
 
She just prayed that he would take it well. That he would love her enough to understand her secrets and why she had kept them.

At first she thought that he would, she thought that he might, and then all hell broke loose. He flipped at the new information, she had to leave on a mission, and he had not absorbed everything she had tried to impress upon him – the dangers, the need for secrecy, and covertness. It had only taken a few minutes to start the dangerous dance that would change the Bristow sister’s world and little did Sydney know while she was on that mission but her world was falling down around her in her absence.

Jack got the information from Arvin Sloane himself that it was going down. He had to act grateful in his presence that he was letting him know so that he could prepare for Sydney’s loss and both of his daughter’s pain. As he walked out the door he was already thinking of plans that could get Sydney and Danny out of this life, into another, and to safety. He took out his cell phone and dialed Samantha, he told her that supper was on him and that he was going to bring home burgers. It was a phrase that would not alert anyone, anyone but Samantha. That phrase meant she needed to get home right away, and that something had happened to Sydney. She quickly said she couldn’t wait – which meant she could leave right away, and she hung up. She begged off of her date that was just starting. She cited family issues. In public it sounded mundane and simple, but he knew what had happened just days before. He knew the dangerous dance that had been started and prayed that Sydney had not done what he thought she had. He told her he would be home all night and to call when she could. Samantha Bristow was already out of the reach of his voice.

Jack thought it would be simple. Danny knew Sam, he trusted her. If she told him that she knew he was upset and that Syd asked her to take him out he should go with her. Jack knew he was drunk so if it came to it Sam could steer him to the car. They would drive him the airport. Samantha as one of her aliases would take Danny and his new alias out of the country to safety in Australia to one of Jack’s contacts. Jack would intercept Sydney – inform her of what had happened and give her a new passport and identities for her and Danny to become. He would make sure they had money and would be able to find them when it was safe and the Alliance was gone. It was a good plan – it should have worked. Except Jack accepted Arvin Sloane’s words again. He had believed that the hit was set for 8pm and thought they had plenty of time. When they, father and daughter were close enough to the house to slow down to park they both realized (Jack a little faster than Samantha) that they were too late. Whether Sloane had done it on purpose or the assassin simply saw an opportunity and seized it neither knew. They simply knew that had to keep driving. Both Samantha and Jack (who was not known for his spirituality) said a silent pray of safe passage for Danny. This too became another secret for the Bristows to keep.
 
Samantha and Jack (who was not known for his spirituality) said a silent pray of safe passage for Danny. This too became another secret for the Bristows to keep.

Sydney did not handle Danny’s death well. Neither did Samantha. Every time she saw Sydney, every time she heard her voice all she could feel was that she let Sydney down. The one time she could have – should have done something for Sydney she had failed. She assumed the fault. Every time anyone talked about justice, she knew there would never be any because none of their friends would ever know it was hit, just she and Sydney, and it was a secret that they shared that they could not speak of – at least in this way she was protecting Sydney. She saw less and less of the man she loved because whenever Samantha looked into his soft, loving eyes she only saw pain, and felt sick at the thought that she had failed Sydney, yet still had someone to love and someone who loved her. The Bristow sisters started to become shells of their former selves but their wall of secrets kept them from reaching out to each other in their greatest time of need.

Sitting on a bench on campus after Dixon had visited her and tried to get her to come back to work for everyone’s sake, Sydney realized looking at her beautiful ring that she could not do it any longer, she could not work for the man who had ordered her Danny killed. She thought that if she laid it all on the table that maybe Sloane would let her go. She was wrong, and she realized it when she got back to the garage. Her father spelled it out to her. She was confused, on an adrenaline buzz from fighting, and still depressed from Danny. She did what she had learned to do – she walked away from her father and made a plan of her own. She wasn’t sure what was going on but right now she had to do something. She put her plan into action. Sydney did not tell her father, her friends, and not her sister. She would make Arvin Sloane believe in her again and then she would cut his world out from underneath him – it seemed like the common courtesy for what he had done to hers. When she came back she had accomplished what she wanted and as she left his office this time she was not as naive as the last time. She had a plan, a time table, and she knew where she was headed – to the real CIA, she didn’t care what she looked like.

At the same time Sydney Bristow was walking into the building Samantha Bristow felt like jumping out of the building. With tears in her eyes she walked out of her office and headed for the ladies room. She knew she had to do it. As much as he made her feel alive, she felt she should feel dead. Sydney was dying on the inside and had taken off for God knows where because of her grief, grief she should have spared her. No, it wasn’t fare to anyone especially them to keep at this. She knew she had to let him go. She needed to do penance. Syd had lost her great love and so Sam in her inability to circumvent that loss must share an equal loss.

Sydney had told them they had a walk in. She refused to go anywhere. This was on her timetable now. She was done with all the rest. She had no time for it, wanted to get on with her life. Sydney didn’t want to have to lie to anyone anymore, she felt like she was stuck on repeat. She could not really grieve Danny, because she couldn’t really share with anyone the pain, and who would understand – her life was so messed up anyway. Sydney followed the older woman into the box like room and sat in the uncomfortable chair. Soon, soon she hoped with the real CIA’s help it would all be over.
 
Sydney followed the older woman into the box like room and sat in the uncomfortable chair. Soon, soon she hoped with the real CIA’s help it would all be over.

Samantha Bristow walked down the hallway into his office and closed the door. He smiled when he looked up from his file to see her. He would never tire of seeing her. He knew things had been strained lately – because of her sister loss because of Danny’s murder. He didn’t know why but he felt she was pulling away from him – something he would not let happen. He had been hesitant to date her because she was younger and impetuous, but she had gotten under his skin and he thought a date or two and she would think he was stogy and to French, and he would realize that just a few years was simply to much, then they would part ways amicably and remain office buddies. He had been so wrong. Samantha Bristow was endearing to him. He had fallen in love with her and now could not imagine a life without her. He had been set to ask her to marry him when Danny had beaten him to the punch. He knew he would now have to wait so that she and her sister could have different stories and unique times – so no one was riding on anyone else’s coat tails. Then all hell broke loose. He knew it would take a lot more time now before he could propose to her, but he always had the ring close by. The ring made the dream more real. It was something he could hold onto. He wished Sam already had it so she could hold onto it. At times she seemed lost in a storm, but the ring remained in its box. A secret he could not wait to share.

Samantha sat down in a chair and breathed in deeply. He could see that this was not good. He braced himself. She exhaled and prayed, soon, soon she hoped with God’s help for strength she would be forgiven, she would let him go – she would send the best man she knew and loved out into the world for some more worthy person to love and be loved. With the thought that someone more worthy was out there for him she launched into her simple explanation. She couldn’t do this, she was dying, Sydney lost Danny, she should have stopped it, but she didn’t. She loved him, but she needed to set him free. There was someone out there that was better for him. Some day he would forgive her. She would always love him. Just as he was about to speak his phone rang. He picked it up staring at her, tears wetting his eyes. He asked his friend if it could wait. When he heard that it couldn’t he turned to grab the small box in his drawer. He looked away for just a second, but that was all it took. When he looked back he saw that his door was closing and Samantha Bristow was gone. Quietly he said he would be down in a minute and he hung up the phone. He placed the box back in the drawer, a secret that he had held onto to long.
 
When he looked back he saw that his door was closing and Samantha Bristow was gone. Quietly he said he would be down in a minute and he hung up the phone. He placed the box back in the drawer, a secret that he had held onto to long.

As she walked out of the building and down the street she knew it was for the best. She had done it. She had let him go and now the healing could start, she hoped. She walked a few more blocks to the park where she knew he was waiting. He saw her before she saw him. Jack Bristow stood up as she closed in on him and held his arms out. Judging by her face she had done what she had told him she must. Jack had not tried to stop her; he never thought Michael Vaughn was good enough for his daughter, for that fact for either of them. When Samantha reached her father she simply said she had done what was necessary, then she feel into his arms. Jack helped her sit next to him and held her while she cried. Anyone walking by would have thought Jack was uncaring, and that this young, obviously distraught woman was bothering him, but Jack (who was not known for his spirituality) said a silent pray and asked God to help his daughters find peace.

At the same time Samantha Bristow reached her father in the park Sydney Bristow was meeting two real CIA agents; Agents Vaughn and Weiss. They asked her many questions inside the white box the older lady had walked her into, and she answered every single one. She had a real attitude and she thought it strange that Agent Vaughn seemed to have trouble just saying her name. She wondered if she was acting that rude. It was against Sydney’s nature to be rude, but she had lost all her patience at least for this one day. Suddenly Agent Vaughn handed her a pad and told her to write down everything she knew about SD-6, and with that she laid all her carefully guarded and crafted secrets onto pages and pages or white lined paper. All her secrets feel around her.

And that was what led up to Sydney meeting Vaughn, falling in love, and then disappearing for two years.

So if anyone likes it and wants to see where it will go - let me know, and I will post again.
 
I'm glad that you all liked it :D . I'm PM you all when I put up the next chapter. I just want to make sure that I get all the points I want into it so it flows right.

Thanks for the feed back :talk: I really appreciate it!

Me
:syd4:
 
I want to thank the people who have read my story and those who have taken the time to post. I hope you like the next section. Stick with it. I promise it will be worth it.

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As she got out of the tub Samantha Bristow could hear her phone ringing. She thought that it could be one of two people – either her sister Sydney Bristow, or Eric Weiss. She and Eric had gone out earlier to celebrate their six month anniversary. Eric called her every night to wish her sweet dreams since about one month into their dating. At first they started dating because Syd thought that they should. No one had ever told Sydney Bristow about Samantha Bristow and Michael Vaughn’s relationship. Sam had told her that things just hadn’t worked out and that she was moving on with out him – Vaughn never corrected her.

At first it had been really awkward seeing Michael, not to mention working with him, and seeing him with Syd. She had seen their relationship coming before either of them did. She resigned her self to the unavoidable, and by now was actually moving on. It had taken about a year after she broke up with Vaughn to even think about dating and even then she never took the initiative. Syd had begged her to let her set her up on a date with Weiss, and while Sam had thought it was doomed to fail she had to admit she was happy with Eric – once they realized that they did have feeling for each other and simply were not dating to make Syd feel better and to make Vaughn not feel guilty. Weiss knew all about her relationship with Vaughn and she had even disclosed to him the real reason she had broken things off with him. He made her laugh, feel pretty again, and he worried while she was away on missions. She made him feel wanted, important, she got all his jokes, and she worried about him while he was away on missions.

Over dinner this evening Eric had tested the waters of their relationship and asked her to think about perhaps them moving in together. Sam was a little shocked, but flattered. She and Vaughn had never moved in together. She stopped to wonder why. Probably the age thing – Vaughn was always worried about the difference in their age. It was what he believed was the demise of their relationship and neither she, or Eric ever corrected him. It had taken her a long time to get over Michael Vaughn but she was there now. She could hang with him and Syd now and not feel much but the occasional pang in her heart, and usually when she felt those she could just push them into a box now. As she walked over to the phone she decided she would tell Eric tonight that she had made up her mind, she would like to get a place together. Samantha Bristow picked up the phone with a smile on her face.

“Hello?”

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“Has anyone told Sam?” Vaughn yelled to no one in particular.

Dixon came over and put his hand on Vaughn shoulder, “I called Jack personally Michael. He is on his way down. I’m sure he will tell her. Why don’t you let Eric take you home? I don’t think you should stay here, it’s no good for you Mike.”

Vaughn slide down onto the grass. He was home. He had been living at Sydney’s. Only going home to get new clothes and check his answering machine. What was he supposed to do at his apartment? He needed to make sure that Sam knew what was going on. He had promised Sydney that if anything ever happened to her that he would take care of her sister – he never bothered to tell her that he would always worry and care about her for reasons that she never knew existed. Thinking of the Bristow sisters made his breath fall short from pain. How could this have happened? How could Sydney be ………

“Michael?”

Michael Vaughn looked up to see Jack Bristow standing next to him. Vaughn thought it strange that Jack Bristow had used his first name. He didn’t think he had ever heard him call him that before – not in all the years he had known him – not while he was dating either of his daughters. Jack looked completely out of character to Vaughn. His suit was rumpled, and he was not wearing his jacket. Vaughn could tell that he was fighting back emotions.

“Yes, Jack?” He asked in inquiry.

“I need you to do me a favor. I can’t be here overlooking this,” at this point Jack’s voice dropped off and he looked behind him at the still smoldering house that his daughter had shared with her best friends, the first place she had felt at home – the home she had shared with Danny, the place he also had died.

“Anything Jack, just tell me what you need.” At the sound of Vaughn’s voice Jack was brought back to the present. He looked back down at Vaughn in the grass. He knew that everyone would think that he should ask Eric, but he knew better, he knew the way it had to happen.

“I need you to go over to my daughter’s apartment and let her know what has happened here tonight.” Jack said simply.

Vaughn was taken aback. Although this had been his first thought, he had been relieved when Dixon told him that he believed that Jack would handle this unenviable task.

“Jack. I don’t know about that. I mean not that I won’t do it, but don’t you think that your daughter should hear about, about,” He couldn’t make himself say death. It was to final. “About Syd from you?”

“You are correct Agent Vaughn she probably should, but I can best serve both my daughters here. We both know that I am not the best with emotion. I know that at one point you cared deeply for my youngest daughter. I also know that she loved you greatly – more than I believe even you knew. Joined with that, I know you cared deeply for my oldest daughter and that she loved you as well. If you feel that you are not up to the task of helping Samantha I will send someone else over there, but I cannot spare Agent Weiss, of Dixon.” Jack stopped as he watched Vaughn process his request and understand that Jack wanted him to tell Samantha.

“Jack if you think it is that important that I tell Samantha, then I will, but what should I tell her is the reason that you aren’t telling her yourself?” Vaughn asked his brow furrowed, his eyes still glistening – whether it was from the smoke, the pain of Sydney’s death, or both he couldn’t tell.

“Just tell her that I am here and that I am doing everything I can to figure how this could have happened. I assure that you remember her phone number and how to get to her apartment?” Jack asked while giving his hand to Vaughn to stand up.

“Of course I do.” Vaughn said a little too indignantly.

“I thought you would. Call her first. I do not believe that she will be expecting you. Just tell her that you have news and you want to tell her tonight – in person. Of course she will be suspicious Mr. Vaughn.” Jack said in answer to Vaughn’s look of concern. “But she will tell you that it is okay to come over. She still trusts you and because she knows nothing of Sydney she will only suspect things young women do.” At this Jack took back his hand that Vaughn was still holding and walked away towards Dixon and the remains of the house.

Vaughn thought that he should at least take the time to tell Eric that he was going to Sam’s to tell her what was going on. But then he realized that everyone but Samantha knew that Sydney was dead. At this realization Vaughn started walking toward his car, smelling of ash, looking like a shell of himself Michael Vaughn pulled himself into his car not caring about what he might do to the seats. He grabbed his cell phone off of the passenger’s seat where he had flung it after getting Dixon’s call. Looking straight out of the windshield he dialed the number he still knew by heart. He was actually praying that she was asleep and would not hear the phone. He knew that would not happen though. She was a trained CIA officer. A phone would always wake her, and even if it didn’t he would have to go over there and wake her up. He hit the send key and waited for her to answer.

“Hello?” She said perkily into the phone.

How am I going to do this Vaughn asked himself?

“Hey Sam – look I know that it’s kind of on the late side but I need to talk to you. Do you mind if I stop by?” He hoped that he sounded casual.

“Michael?” She asked not really sure why Michael Vaughn would be calling her. He had not done that since she had left him that day in his office. Even though they did double dates, and she hung out at Syd’s while he was there they never allowed themselves to become chummy. She believed that it was a safety buffer they had built. They had never told Sydney the truth about their relationship. Something that Vaughn probably would have told Syd, but Sam knew that Syd would never have allowed herself to date him if she had known. Sam had wanted them to be happy. So why would he be calling me she asked herself again. Then she thought about that far away beautiful California morning Danny had called her up and told her that he was in love with her sister. Vaughn must want to marry Syd she thought.

“Of course you can come over. Just grab Syd’s extra keys. They’re under the sink. I’m the one with the pink ring around it.” She said not sure how she felt about them getting engaged. ‘Oh well’ she thought. ‘Just something else I have to get used to.’

“Ya, about that, Sam I’m not at Syd’s right now. I’m in my car. Do you mind letting me in?”

“Um, no – just don’t knock to hard. Mr. Nevers hates that.” She said with a small laugh.

“He still lives there. I thought he was always saying that he was moving – that he couldn’t take living near so many young people?” Vaughn asked trying to keep the conversation light as he drove.

“Ya he’s still here and he still says he is going to move. I don’t let it get my hopes up anymore.”

“I’m like five minutes away. I’ll be right there.”

“Okay – see you in a few.”

She hung up the phone and picked it up again and dialed Syd’s number. She figured she would find out what she and Mike had done that day, just to be prepared. The number dialed once and then a mechanical voice told her that the number was experiencing temporary difficulty and to try latter. She thought it odd that at this time of night they were working on the phone lines. Maybe there was an accident she thought, but before she could think anymore of it she heard soft knocking on her door. She went to answer Michael’s knocking before Mr. Nevers heard him.

He knew that once she opened the door she would get upset. There was no hiding that something had happened. He was trying to think of how to attempt this when the door opened up.

Immediately she knew something was wrong. Michael was covered in soot and his pants were slightly wet. He smelled of fire and his face looked hollow. She stepped back into her apartment trying to put distance between her and Michael Vaughn. She didn’t want to know what he had come to tell her. It could only be one of three things, something had happened to her sister, her father, or Eric. Either one of those conclusions made her feel weak. She leaned on the sofa for support.

“Sam.” Vaughn said softly. “I have to tell you something, and you aren’t going to want to hear it anymore than I want to say it, but I need you to hear me. I don’t know if I can say this more than once. Your father sent me. He told me to tell you that he was there and that he is doing everything he can to figure how this could have happened.” Vaughn said all this more calmly then he was feeling as he walked toward her after he shut the door.

“Well that’s good. If Dad is on top of the situation then there isn’t one. He always takes care of everything. Thanks of stopping by Michael. I really appreciate the information but I really need to get to bed. I have to be in really early in the morning. I’ll make sure Dad knows that you stopped by.” She babbled all this trying not to leave any space in the air for Vaughn to say what he had come to. Whatever it was she didn’t want to know. She had been happy and safe in her little apartment not just fifteen minutes ago. She started to walk toward the door. That was when Vaughn took hold of her hand. He grabbed it tight and pulled her close to him. He hugged her close and walked her over to the sofa. With a tiny tug on her hand he sat her next to him. Michael could see the tears brimming over her eyelids – ready to fall. He had never wanted to inflict pain on her. Not even when she had broken his heart.

“Sam, its Sydney. We aren’t even really sure all that happened yet, but there was a fire, and….” He hadn’t even said the words in his head yet. He didn’t know if he could say them out loud. He looked away from her – looking for strength from somewhere. That was when he saw them. The small apartment was littered with picture frames filled with the history of the Bristow sisters - Babies, walking, biking, school pictures, beach times, proms, college, Will, Francie, Him, Eric, Jack, even Marshall, and Dixon and his kids. Every single picture had one of them in it, usually both. Across from him was a picture of Sydney sticking her tongue out at her sister. She was laughing, she looked so alive, she was there – it was like he could feel her watching him.

“Sam I don’t know how else to say this except to just say it. Sydney died tonight in the fire. Of course they are going to run tests on the body but Will was there and what he told the officers on the way to the hospital,”

“Will is okay?” Sam asked with her tears spilling over. Vaughn couldn’t tell if it was from the fact that Will was okay or that Sydney was dead, probably a combination. “What about Francie?” She asked.

It was then that Vaughn told her all of the pieces that they had been able to figure out in the short time, and when he was done he felt sick to his stomach. He looked over at Sam and she was just staring, at what he couldn’t tell. She was white and her lip was quivering. Just when he was about to ask the insane question ‘How are you doing?’ she let out a scream and drifted from the coach to the floor. As she landed on the rug she just kept saying ‘no’ over and over again. Michael allowed himself to land next to her and he placed himself beside her to support her body. She was crying freely now.

“Sydney can’t be dead Michael. She just can’t be. She would never break a promise to me and she just promised me today that we would spend Saturday at the pier and the beach – just the two of us. No, Sydney wouldn’t leave me. There has to be a reason. No, no, no, no.” She leaned into him and felt his arm go around her. Her face was wet with tears – hers and his. “She can’t be gone Michael. I can still feel her. I feel like she’s still here, like she is still watching me - Like she is still ready to go to the beach on her day off.”

“I know, but I saw everything. She’s gone Sam.” Vaughn pulled her face up to look at his, to look into his eyes. “Sydney’s dead.”

“NO! No I’m not. I’m not dead. Why are you doing this Sark? Where are we? How did you do this? Why?” Sydney Bristow demanded. She was watching the small black and white images of her sister and Vaughn in her sister’s apartment. They were saying that she was dead. She felt dead, and might even look dead, but she wasn’t - couldn’t be unless she was doomed to spend eternity with Julian Sark. She didn’t even remember Sark being anywhere near her in her last moments of lucidity before waking up in the van strapped to a chair.

“Sydney, Sydney – really why do I do any of the things I do? For my own purposes. You don’t need to no how or why, but where. Now that is something I can tell you. We are right in your sister’s apartment parking lot - right next to Agent Vaughn’s car, and no one is the wiser. Everyone and I mean everyone believes that you are dead. It will only take a few simple tests of the body they have found to confirm that you are dead. We’ll stay in town just long enough for you to be declared dead and see your friends and family burry you, but you Sydney Bristow have many things ahead of you.”

“I’ll kill you first before I let you take me away.” Sydney spat at him.

“Good. I was hoping some of your old spirit would come back. You would be such a bore otherwise. No get used to it Sydney – you’re dead.” And with that Julian turned up the sound on the monitor and angled it more towards her. He headed up to the front of the van and left Sydney with the images of her sister and the man she loved huddled on the floor crying. Listening to her sister’s soft moans of pain Sydney closed her eyes and tried to block the sounds out.
 
I hope everyone likes the update. I just really wanted to set the story up right. Let me know what you think. I really appreciate input. Thanks!

Portugal.

“I am still not convinced that this is the best way.” He said looking at the monitor. “When she is angry she will fight until she wins. She has been fighting for years against me. You really believe that this is the best way to bring her to us?” He asked.

“Of course I do. Do you think that I would arrange all that I have simply on some unfounded hunch? I thought you thought better of me than that. No, this is the best way to get Sydney to work with us. She would never so it of her own conviction. It will throw off everyone else, until we want to reveal to them that she has turned. It will take close to a year to break her down, but then she will do anything we want. No, trust me Arvin. I have the doctors getting ready. Julian will bring her to us in three days. I want her to see that the people in her life believe that she is dead and that no one will be looking for her. It will help our cause.” She said. She sat in the blue chair across from Arvin Sloane’s desk. She was very sure of what she needed to do to get the end result in her favor.

Sloane looked at her and nodded. Irina Derevko was very good at strategizing, and they needed Sydney. It said so in the text. “If you believe this is the best way possible than please continue.”

“That is exactly what I am going to do Arvin. Sydney is very tied to the people in her life. You said so yourself. That is why watching the people she loves letting go of her is the best first step and will continue while she is in her room. The coupled with the information that others have kept from her will start the process. No torture that will leave marks.” She had plans for her Sydney, Samantha as well. Both of them would serve their own purposes, and Jack. Jack, he was weak because of them. When she had told him that she had Sydney and that if he did not cooperate that after Sydney had served her purpose she would let Sloane, keep her for himself. That was all it took. He knew he had to play nice. So far, he had done what was needed. She knew that it was with much contempt and hate toward her, but he had done it.

“I’m going to make some last minute checks. I need to make sure they have Samantha and Michaels Vaughn’s packages, and that the footage is up and running to the television in Sydney’s room. Then I will call
Jack and tell him what the next step is for him.” With that, Irina got out of the blue chair and clicked her heels out of Sloane’s office leaving him to think of everything they needed to reach their endgame.
********************************************************************
California

Jack was on his way to the beach. It was where Vaughn had suggested they have the service. The beach had double meaning. Vaughn and Syd were going to take time off and go to the beach, and Sam and she had planned to go to the beach this very day. It was remarkable, Jack thought that he had known everything about his daughters but he did not know Sydney had loved the beach that much. When she was a toddler, she hated the beach. He always thought that it was the sand; he was not particularly fond of the stuff either. Samantha had always loved the beach though. He wondered if Sydney had just accepted her sister’s love and incorporated it into her. That was Sydney, always trying to make those she loved happy.

When he reached the spot, they were almost all there. His daughter had planned most of this on her own with a little help from Michael Vaughn. He was standing next to her and Eric Weiss now. Weiss was a good man – steady and dependable. He hated what Irina was going to do to them all. He only knew a small part and that was enough to scare him for the future. He walked over to his youngest daughter who was holding the urn containing some poor bastard and not her beloved sister. Samantha would find that out soon enough.

“Dad.” Samantha gave the urn to Michael and went to her father. She hugged him tightly he felt her shiver and wondered if it was from the wind or from what they were about to do. “Everyone is here. Marshall felt sick though so he went to use the bathroom down the street. He’ll be right back and then we can start.” She stepped back from him and he could see that it was not from the wind. She had told Jack that he wouldn’t have to speak that she would do that for him. She was trying to fill Sydney’s role now. If he could, he would tell them all the Sydney was alive but that was not an option.

“Hey I’m back guys. Sorry about that. Um, did you know they sell cotton candy down there – watermelon? I didn’t know they had watermelon cotton candy.” They all turned and looked at him. “Sorry I tend to babble when I’m upset, sorry.”

Samantha went over and put her hands on his shoulders. “It’s okay Marshall. Were all upset and this is something that has us all mixed up. It’s okay.” And with that, she placed a small kiss on his check and handed him some tissues.

“Well since everyone is here I guess we should start.” She said as she looked at everyone’s faces. “I thought we would let the Father say his prayers and then anyone who wanted to say something could, and then…Well we’ll get to that soon enough.”

********************************************************************

“Do you know that your sister is remarkably beautiful? You both are really. Unfortunately, I have my orders and I cannot take you both. What you want to speak?” Sark asked looking at Sydney who was now bound at the mouth as well. “Then perhaps you should not have tried to bite me while I was being nice and feeding you. What? Oh, you want me to turn up the sound so you can hear what everyone is saying about you. That’s fine.” With that, Sark turned up the sound. Sydney didn’t need to look at the monitor she could see out the back of the van. When she heard Marshall try to eulogize her and break down, tears fell from her own eyes. She did not know who was behind this but she was going to kill them for hurting all the people she loved. Then she stopped. Marshall was done and Vaughn was speaking now.

********************************************************************

“Eric and I have had the misfortune of knowing Sydney Bristow the shortest time of any of you. However, just knowing her the short time I did she changed my life. Syd fought for the good fight even when it was not popular. She loved life, and loved the people in hers. Dixon and his kids were a constant sunny spot for her and she trusted Marcus Dixon with her life always. Marshall, you always made her laugh, and you took good care of her. She laughed at all of Eric’s horrible jokes. she loved her father and she loved her sister, and I like to think she loved me too. I don’t know what else to say except that we were robbed
of seeing what Sydney’s life would have turned out like.” With that, Michael Vaughn stepped away back into the circle, and Samantha Bristow hugged him and stepped forward.

“I have known Sydney Bristow all my life. For as long as I have had conscious memory, she has been like a mother and a best friend. She loved you all so much more than I think, you could even know, and yes, Michael she did love you. Sydney lived a huge and unordinary life. It was bright and hot like the sun, and sometimes it was dark and cold like the deep ocean. The only thought that brings me comfort is that this was all in God’s plan for her. She did so much for others, and herself, and saw so much of this world at such a young age because she was destined to leave it at such a young age.

I would like to take a minute now to say a few things about Francie Calfo. Most of you never knew her, or you only met her a handful of times, but I know Syd would want me to remember her and what better place than here? Francie was Syd’s best friend. It was different than me. She and Francie choose each other. They were college roommates and Francie always tried to pull the wild side out of Syd. She never gave up on Syd even when she started having all of these crazy bank assignments all over the world – and that is because Francie was amazing. She could cook like no one else, and her hugs could make everything better on a bad day. I know that Sydney would have wanted her remembered…

I wanted to leave you with a few small thoughts from Sydney. Things she had always made me promise not to tell anyone, but I think I can do it now – she will forgive me if it helps you any, I’m sure.

Dixon, she loved you like an older brother. You made her feel safe and she knew she could trust you. The fact that you forgave her after, well you know what, it made her so happy. She told me that when she
started working with you she felt privileged because you were one of the best the elite. She found out though that she was privileged not because of your work ethic or status, but because of your heart.” Sam
walked over to Dixon hugged him and handed him a picture of he and Sydney taken one night when they all had gone out to dinner. Dixon smiled and placed the picture in his pocket.

“Marshall, what can I tell you besides the fact that Syd said you never gave yourself enough credit. Syd always said she felt safe of missions because Dixon was there, but also because her main guy was taking care of her – that was you Marshall. You always took care of her and she loved you for that. Do not ever forget that. Here.” She handed Marshall a picture of he and Syd at the CIA office in his office. She had her arms around him and was kissing his cheek. Marshall smiled at the picture and flipped it around so everyone could see, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Eric you know my sister valued your friendship, and thought you were funny, but she never told you that she thought you were cute. She was very right when she told me that you were a good guy, and there is no higher compliment than I can give you than to say that she would have sold me to you in order for you to take care of me. She really loved you Eric. Here.” Eric looked at the picture of he and Syd, Michael and Sam at the ice rink. They all looked silly but he remembered that day. It was the day he and Syd had beaten Sam and Mike at hockey. He smiled at the memory.

“Michael, I just want to say that Syd loved you. Not in a he’s a nice person I could spend my life with him ho hum love. It was a big love with all the colors of a 64-count box of crayons. She wanted to be with you. I am breaking with the picture theme for you. If you want to picture I have plenty, but I thought this would mean more.” She handed him a piece of notebook paper folded three times. He opened it up and took a moment to figure out what it was. Then he understood. It was Sydney’s handwriting and it was a series of different variations of her name. Each one included his last name. “When a girl has it bad for someone that is what they do Mike. And let me tell you I was always privy to Syd’s silly girly side. She only did this once before and that was with Danny. She didn’t really do that silly stuff that often. She was really more serious. She loved you.” And with that, she turned to the last person she had something for, her father.

“Sydney loved you to Dad, no matter what she found out or how much you fought she always came back around because she loved you heart and soul. I know how you are so I won’t drag on – but just know that she never would have wanted to be anyone else’s daughter.” She handed Jack a picture he knew well. It was the day she was born. He was holding Sydney in her tiny pink blanket in a rocking chair. He had asked the nurse to take his picture. Jack felt like he might explode. Samantha hugged him and whispered, “No one will think less of you if you cry Dad.” But Jack Bristow did not have tears because Sydney was dead they were because he hadn’t been able to protect her from the woman who brought her into this world. He nodded and kissed his youngest daughter on the head. Then he stepped forward.

“I don’t think I could do more justice to Sydney than the rest of you. I just wanted to say I second my daughter on Francie. She was a good girl, I mean woman, and I just wanted to say incase she can hear me – I have always loved you Sydney. It might not have felt the way you wanted it to feel but I have always loved you. Okay Father.” Jack stepped back into the circle and took his daughter’s hand.

********************************************************************

Sydney could not believe what she was hearing and what she was seeing. They really all thought that she was dead. How would anyone help her if no one was looking for her?

“It’s touching really that your sister remembered your friend, especially since she won't be gettin a service like this. That was a nice touch didn’t you think so?” Sark asked smiling at Sydney.

She wanted to throw acid on his face and burn that smile off, but instead she focused out the window. How could this be happening? She watched out the window as each one of them held onto the urn somehow as Sam and Jack opened it up. The ashes of whoever was inside were sucked up into the breeze coming up off the ocean and quickly disappeared. She watched the people she loved all hugging and walking towards their cars. She noticed Vaughn stop. He wasn’t getting into his car, what was wrong? Then he dropped out of site and for a second she felt she wasn’t breathing. She was screaming through her bindings his name. Then she saw Samantha pull away from Jack and run over to him. Eric came behind her. They picked him up and he clamped onto Sam. She and Eric walked him over to the passenger seat of his car. Sam gave Eric a kiss and walked around to the driver’s side of Vaughn’s car. She buckled him in like a child, and gave him a kiss on the check and with that she pulled the car out of view and fell line with the rest of them. The only thing left in her view was the flowers they had all put down to mark the spot. Sydney Bristow put her head down and cried.

********************************************************************

“Everything is going to plan. She saw the whole thing. Yes. We are headed to the airport now. We will be there is 26 hours.” With that, Sark hung up the phone and motioned to his man to start driving.

To the world she had once belonged to Sydney Bristow was official dead and eulogized. Free to circle the earth in the breeze.


********************************************************************

So, what do you think? Tell your friends if you like it!
 
This is really good!!! :D
That last chapter was really sad!!! :depressed:
I'm looking forward to the reunion and lots of Syd and Vaughn scenes!!!! :2love: (Though I know that probably won't be for awhile!!!!)
You've got me intrigued!!! :lol:
Please add me to your PM list!!!!! :Please:
Thanks, :smiley:

MJ :P :angelnot:
 
Thanks :jump: I'm glad that you all like it. I've been working really hard to get it set up for the action and stuff. You guys are right it will be a while for Syd and Vaughn :lovers: to get back to each other - but I hope to keep you interested while we get there :smiley: .

Thanks,
:syd4:
 
Okay so everyone knows this is my PM list. If I have anything wrong or if you want to get on the list just leave a message.

Spy_Love
texasalias2004
entropy
Syd26
stargirl591
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Thanks for reading guys!
:syd4:
 
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