Mette
Cadet
Hi. I've been a member of this board for a while, but am sorry to say that I haven't really been here much. 
I've been posting my story on SD-1, but since that's closing, I've had to find a new home for my story, and this place was warmly recommended. So, here I am with my story. I started posting it on April 30th, so since it's rather old, I'll be posting all the chapters I've written, so that my former readers can catch up. I hope that'll be alright. I had the idea for this story in my head for about a year, and then finally one night, I started to write. It's a decision that I haven't regretted. This story is the first out of three connecting stories. The second story takes place about 4 1/2 years after this one ends, and the third one takes place probably around the time the second one ends. This is my first attempt at writing a fan fiction.
Title: It Was For The Best.
Rating: Eh, not sure, but most of it is clean.
Spoiler: It picks up in Sovogda when Irina has left. It will contain a lot of the known characters, but it will primarily be a Jack/Irina story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias. It belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, and ABC.
NOTE: Everything in this story, might not be how the characters on Alias really were or how they might have turned out. Some things might not be rational, some things might be exaggerated, some things might be unbelievable, some things might not be able to happen in real life, and some things might just be downright silly. But bear in mind that it's a fiction, and that this is just my way of having a little fun.
Chapter 1
Jack and Sydney stood and watched Irina leave. When they could only see her in the distance Sydney spoke. “You let her go dad”.
“Yes, I did”.
“Why?”
“Your mother has been locked up and tortured by her own sister. She deserves freedom.” They faced each other, and he gave her a small smile, which Sydney returned. Just before Irina was completely out of their sight Jack took one last look at her, and before he turned to leave said, “I’ll go check on the others, and explain what happened. We’ll tell the CIA that your mother took off when we went around securing the area, and taking care of Nadia.”
“You think that’ll work?”
“If we all stick to the story it will.” When he turned around he came face to face with Vaughn. Vaughn gave Jack a nod indicating that he would go along with the plan. Jack nodded in return, and left to talk to Sloane.
“Are you really okay with that plan?”
“Your mother was put through hell by her own sister, and though your mother is not my favorite person in the world, no one deserves that kind of treatment.” Sydney smiled at him and then hugged him. “Besides she’s your mother and will be my mother-in-law, so it’s probably not the best course of action to not go along with the plan.” That earned him a small laugh from Sydney, and a kiss.
“Thank you Vaughn. It means a lot to me.” They looked at each other, and hugged again.
The following day Jack, Sydney, and Vaughn were back at APO, facing director Chase, who wasn’t happy to hear that Irina didn’t return with them. “Just how did Derevko get away from three highly trained CIA agents? That shouldn’t be possible.”
“As we already explained to you, Vaughn and I went to secure the area, and Sydney was by her sister’s side with Sloane. She is after all Irina Derevko, and quite capable of slipping past even the best trained agents.”
Chase was fuming, and turned angrily to Sydney. “I trusted you, and she’s out there running around freely, because of you.”
“I know, and it was my responsibility to look after her while my father and Vaughn went to secure the area, and I take full responsibility. But I was concerned about my sister. The important thing is we stopped it, and that was with my mother’s help. She did something good.”
Jack was a little distracted when he heard that Sydney took full responsibility for her mother’s ‘escape’. That had definitely not been part of their plan. He quickly focused on the conversation again when Chase’s booming voice spoke again.
“I hardly think that justifies anything agent Bristow. Derevko might have been helpful in Sovogda, but now she’s out there on her own, doing god knows what. She doesn’t exactly have the best track record for doing good things, now does she?”
“No she doesn’t.” Sydney wanted to tear Chase’s head off. Why couldn’t she just be happy that the mission had gone well, and then not care so much about her mother. She didn’t however, want to get into heavier water with Chase, so she kept her cool, but inside she was fuming as much as Chase was fuming on the outside.
“Fortunately for you, Sloane is given the exact same story as you are. I’m not convinced that Derevko didn’t have help in her so-called escape, but again fortunately for you, I can’t prove it.” She looked at them one by one to see if any of them would give anything away, but they didn’t. Not that she had really expected anything. Especially not from the Bristows. Vaughn was another thing, but she figured it had to be his love for Sydney that kept him quiet. “Very well. You’re all excused and there won’t be any further investigation into the matter. But I’m watching you. If you associate with Derevko again in anyway, you will be thrown in jail. Solitary confinement. You know what that’s like, right Jack?” She was smirking at Jack, a triumphantly smirk. If he wouldn’t give up Derevko, she could certainly make him think back to what he went through the last time worked with her, and didn’t give her up.
Jack knew she was baiting him, but he kept his calm. He smirked right back at her. “Yes, I do.” His smirk had the effect he had hoped for. Chase stopped smirking, and instead put her mad face back on. A small smile escaped Sydney and Vaughn’s lips. They looked briefly at each other, and then turned to look at Chase again.
“Get out of here. Write out your report on the mission. I want it by tomorrow morning.” Jack, Sydney, and Vaughn left, and walked away from the office. They walked far away, so that no one would hear them.
“Sydney why did you take full responsibility?”
“I thought Chase would accept it more if I said it was my fault, rather than your fault dad.” She put her hand on his arm to let him know that she didn’t mind taking full blame for what happened, and smiled at him too.
Jack gave a small smile in return, and nodded. “Well, I guess we better get started on that report.”
Nearly two weeks after leaving Sovogda, Irina returned home. She stood outside of her house in Russia, and she couldn’t believe she was seeing it again. “I’m really here.” She saw that the lights were on inside, and a smile spread across her face. “Sergei.” She started to shake a little and had to steady herself before ringing the bell. “Hello Sergei.”
“Irina? Irina is that really you?” A dark-haired man in his mid-thirties was shocked to see that she stood in-front of him. “My god, it is really you” He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
“Yes, Sergei it’s really me. I’ve missed you so much.”
He kissed her cheeks and forehead and hugged her again. “I thought I’d never see you again, and I’ve missed you too. And I love you. You know that right? Because, I don’t want you to ever doubt that.”
“I don’t doubt that, and I love you too.” She kissed his cheeks and forehead just like he had done with her. He let her inside and she looked at the stairs. “Are….?” She had a lump in her throat, and small tears escaped her eyes.
“Yes, right up there in bed and fast asleep. It’s late after all.” He smiled broadly at her. He knew how much she must have been longing.
“And are….?” Her emotions took over, and she couldn’t seem to get the words out.
“Yes, and absolutely fine. But everything will be much better now that you’re home. Why don’t you go up and see. You need to do that.” He wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead again. “After that we can talk if you’re up to it.”
“Thank you Sergei. I can’t believe I get to see…..” Her tears took hold of her once again, and she put her hands to her face.
“It’s okay Irina.” He hugged her again, and once more dried her tears. “Now go on. Get upstairs. Go see for yourself”
She kissed him on the cheek, and walked slowly upstairs. She got to the room she was looking for, and stood outside putting her hand on the door. She gathered herself and slowly opened the door, and the sight that met her made her cry again. She couldn’t say anything through her tears, and just stood their looking at the beautiful sight she hadn’t seen in over a year, but had longed so desperately for.
Chapter 2
After returning from Sovogda Sydney’s life had been turned up side down. Her sister was in a coma fighting for her life, she was pregnant, and Vaughn’s name wasn’t really Vaughn. The two of them had been through hell the last couple of weeks and now he was lying there, in a hospital bed fighting for his life, just like Nadia. She hadn’t known what to do, so she had called her father. He would know what to do. Vaughn’s life was in danger, and something needed to be done. Fifteen minutes later Jack arrived.
“Sydney, are you alright?”
“Yes, dad I’m fine. It’s Vaughn who’s injured.” Jack hugged her tightly, and they walked over to see Vaughn. Jack looked at Vaughn, and couldn’t help but be worried about Sydney. They stepped away from the door, and Sydney started to explain. “Dad, Vaughn needs your help. He’s not safe here.” She couldn’t quite read the expression on Jack’s face, and decided to tell him her secret. “I’m pregnant.” The stunned expression on Jack’s face couldn’t be missed, and Sydney felt she needed to move on quickly. “I’m sorry this is not the way I wanted you to find out. But I desperately need your help. Not just for me and Vaughn, but also so our unborn child can have both Vaughn and I in his or hers’ life.”
Though Jack was still stunned to learn he was going to be a grandfather, he also knew Sydney was right. It wasn’t safe for Vaughn to be out in the open. He needed to go into hiding. Jack was also no stranger to being lied to. But he had to give Vaughn some credit. At least he had told Sydney the truth in time. That thought gave him an idea that he was sure would be the best way to keep Vaughn safe. “Of course I’ll help sweetheart. I have someone in mind who can help, but I’m not sure if Vaughn will like the idea.”
Sydney saw the look on Jack’s face and knew exactly, who he was talking about. “Mom.”
“Yes. I had planned on getting in touch with her to hear if she got back safely, wherever that might be. This seems like the perfect time. I don’t know if Vaughn will accept her help, though.”
“He doesn’t really have a choice. Not when it’s for his own safety. Do you really think mom will help?”
“First of all, your mother will do anything for you.” Jack knew that to be the truth now. “Second of all, your mother owes Vaughn for all the times he protected her.” Sydney smiled at Jack, and knew he was right. “I’ll get started on contacting her right away. You stay here with Vaughn and fill him in on what we talked about.” He squeezed her hand and smiled at her before leaving. When Sydney reached Vaughn’s door, she heard Jack call out for her. “Sydney.”
“Yes, what is it dad? Did you forget something?”
Jack looked at her, and the image of a four-year-old Sydney with a pillow under her shirt pretending to be pregnant, briefly entered his mind. “I believe you said something about being pregnant?” He smiled at her, and she returned it nodding. ‘My god, my baby’s having a baby.’ He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. It was still something he wasn’t quite used to doing, being the one to give the hug. But with every hug he gave her he felt more comfortable. He kissed her cheek and looked into her eyes.
“I know what you’re thinking dad. Me at four, pretending to be pregnant.” Jack couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Yes.”
“I guess I’m not so little anymore.”
Jack looked at her, and for one of the first times ever realized, she indeed was a grown-up woman. “No, you’re not. But that doesn’t mean I still don’t think of you as my little girl.” Sydney’s eyes started to tear up a bit, and Jack suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to being so emotional. Not knowing quite what to do, he decided to excuse himself. “I think I better contact your mother. The sooner, the better.”
Before he could leave though, Sydney kissed him on the cheek. As he left she called out to him. “Dad, I might be a grown-up, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need you anymore. I’ll always need you.” Jack wasn’t sure on what to do, so he simply smiled. Sydney however, could see through that thick exterior of his that deep down inside he needed to hear that, and that it meant more to him than she would probably ever realize. “Dad, could you do me another favor?”
Jack had to swallow a few times to get his voice in control. “Sure sweetheart.”
“Tell mom I’m pregnant. I want her to know. I would’ve loved to be the one to tell her myself, but since that’s not going to happen…..” She trailed off, and Jack knew that it was important for her that Irina knew.
“I’ll make sure to tell.” Then he left.
The following day in Russia at night, Irina sat in her study looking at the website for the London Globe. There it is, a note from Jack. “Well, at least you’re not in prison because of me.” She responds to the add, and sighs deeply. Soon she’ll know how her daughters are doing. She had wanted to get in touch with Jack to know how they were doing, but she had also needed time to get reacquainted with some people when she came back to Russia. She had just been gone for far too long.
“I thought you might like a cup of tea.”
She looked up to find Sergei standing by her desk with a steaming cup of tea. “Yes, please that’s exactly what I need.” She smiled and took the cup from him.
He looked at her computer screen, and was a bit puzzled. “The London Globe?” Then realization dawned on him, and he got a bit mad. “It’s Jack, isn’t it? You’re getting in touch with him again.” When he received a small nod from Irina, he got a little madder. “Why on earth are you getting in touch with him? Have you forgotten that he actually thought you were capable of putting a hit on Sydney?”
“First of all Sergei, Jack got in touch with me and not the other way around. Second of all, Sydney is exactly the reason why I’m getting in touch with him. Her and Nadia. They’re my daughters Sergei, and I need to know how they’re doing. Help them if I can. I wanted to get in touch with them sooner, you know that. But I also needed to pay attention to….” She got too emotional to carry on with what she was saying. But she could tell that Sergei understood her.
“Still that doesn’t justify anything. He’s an idiot, and someone needs to tell him that.”
“Sergei, I told you the other day, I don’t want you to talk that way about Jack in the house. Or outside the house. Or anywhere. I don’t want there to be the slightest chance that…..”
“I know, I know Irina.” He cut her off before she could finish. “But I really don’t think there’s any chance of hearing me now. I mean, I’m down here, and….”
“Regardless of that,” This time it was his turn to be cut off, “I don’t want you to talk badly about Jack. Is that understood?” He didn’t answer her. “Sergei.” She was annoyed with him, and wanted him to answer her. When her slightly rough tone hadn’t had any effect on him she spoke softer. “Sergei, please.”
“Fine, fine.” It was clear by the tone in his voice that he didn’t hold Jack in the highest regards at the moment. A noise broke his thoughts and he looked at Irina. She gave him a little taste of the Derevko death glare, and he sighed and smiled a little. “Yes, I know that could’ve been a close call. I promise I won’t talk badly about Jack again. You should go, because I believe you’re needed.” She gave him a big smile in respond to the last part, kissed him on the cheek, and went to tend to the noise. Sergei sat down by the computer, and looked at the website for The London Globe that was still appearing on the screen. “We’ll meet someday Jack, believe me we’ll meet someday. And if you ever doubt her again, I’ll make you pay.”
Chapter 3.
The following day Irina was sitting by her computer, and saw Jack’s screen name Johnny_Cash2. This time they’d chosen a country music chat room. She took a deep breath. She needed to prepare herself to find out how her daughters were doing. Especially Nadia. She had especially been in her thoughts. No sooner had she finally found her long lost daughter, before she was nearly taken away from her again. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you sweetheart, not now that I finally have you in my life again.” She was now brave enough to write to Jack.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Hello Jack. I can see they didn’t throw you in jail.
Johnny_Cash2: No, they didn’t. Did you get back safely?
Dolly_Parton_x2: Yes, thank you. You? Did you have any trouble?
Johnny_Cash2: Only with Chase, but nothing we couldn’t handle.
Dolly_Parton_x2: How are Sydney and Nadia? Any change with Nadia?
Johnny_Cash2: No, no news on Nadia. She’s in a coma, and fighting for her life. We’re doing our best to find a cure.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you Jack. I know she’s well looked after.
Dolly_Parton_x2: What about Sydney?
Johnny_Cash2: That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to get in touch with you. I need your help.
Dolly_Parton_x2: My god. Is Sydney alright? Is she hurt?
Irina was immediately alarmed, and it seemed it took forever for Jack to respond.
Johnny_Cash2: Sydney’s fine. It’s Vaughn. It’s a long story and I won’t go into details now. He was nearly killed, and he needs to go into hiding. I need your help with that.
Irina could’ve smacked Jack if he was right beside her for making her worry about Sydney. She also knew why someone had tried to kill Vaughn, and now she was a little concerned about coming clean to Jack.
Dolly_Parton_x2: No need to explain Michael’s situation. I know.
Jack was stunned to read what she’d just written. But that wore off quickly. Of course she knew. He took a deep breath, and tried to calm down. If she had been right beside him he would’ve yield at her.
Johnny_Cash2: You knew. All this time you’ve known and you didn’t say anything. Why? Don’t you think Sydney needed to know this?
Dolly_Parton_x2: I understand you’re mad Jack, but it was not my place to tell her. If I thought she wasn’t safe with Michael, I would’ve told her.
Johnny_Cash2: She wasn’t safe. Vaughn was in a car accident at first, and Sydney was in the car with him. When he was shot she was there too. Her life wasn’t the only life in danger. She’s pregnant.
Irina gasped. ‘My baby’s having a baby.’ “I wish I could be there for you right now sweetheart. I will be soon, I promise.” She got back to the matter at hand, when she heard that Jack had written to her again.
Johnny_Cash2: Irina, are you there? I’m sorry. That wasn’t exactly how I wanted to break the news about our first grandchild.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Yes, I’m here Jack. I just didn’t expect that kind of news. How is she?
Johnny_Cash2: She’s fine. Morning sickness hasn’t kicked in yet. She’s taking care of herself the best she can while being worried sick about Vaughn.
Dolly_Parton_x2: That’s our girl.
Dolly_Parton_x2: I’m sorry, I brought her life in danger as well as the life of our grandchild.
Johnny_Cash2: Vaughn had only started to tell her the truth right before the car accident. You didn’t bring her life in danger.
He thought, he needed to tell her that. After all, he thought that she’d been capable of hurting Sydney, when he knew deep down inside, she would never do that. It was just so much easier blaming her, when she wasn’t right there beside him.
Johnny_Cash2: I know that whatever you’ve done to her in the past, is for her own protection.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you.
Johnny_Cash2: About Vaughn. It’s urgent. He needs to go into hiding somewhere very remote.
Dolly_Parton_2: I think I have the perfect place. Give me a couple of hours to arrange it. I’ll drop off all the information needed in our usual place.
Johnny_Cash2: Thank you. I should get going. I have arrangements of my own to take care of.
Johnny_Cash2: Sydney told me to tell you she loves you.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Tell her I love her too. Can I ask you for a favor Jack?
Johnny_Cash2: What did you have in mind?
Dolly_Parton_x2: Could you please look in on Nadia for me? Spend some time with her, and talk to her? Tell her I love her?
Jack sighed deeply. Of all the things she could ask of him, this was what she asked. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea. He had visited Nadia a few times. She was after all a fellow agent, Sydney’s sister, and he felt responsible for what happened to her. But he had never really talked to her. He talked to her doctors to find out how she was doing, and made sure she was well taken care of, but that had been all he’d done so far. He sighed again. Spending time with Nadia, and talking to her seemed like the right thing to do when Irina couldn’t be there for her daughter.
Johnny_Cash2: Yes, I will. I should go.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you. I should get on with the arrangements too.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Take care and stay safe Jack.
Johnny_Cash2: You too Irina.
Johnny_Cash2 has logged off.
Irina couldn’t help but smile a little. She wanted to be there for both Sydney and Nadia, but was glad that Jack was there for both of her daughters. She didn’t think Sloane would be there for Nadia, whether or not he was locked up for getting involved with Rambaldi again. She would hope that Sloane would never see the light of day again, but maybe Nadia needed a father by her side, even if that was Sloane. She shook Sloane from her mind and concentrated on Sydney. “My goodness, how I would love to see your child grow up Sydney. I would love nothing more than to be a grandmother to your child, but I have to settle for being a grandmother from a distance. I’ll do anything I can to protect you, even if that’s from afar. Starting with your baby’s father.” She picked up the phone and started dialing.
A few hours later everything was set. Jack had received the plans and he came into Vaughn’s room where he found Sydney. She looked up at Jack and started to cry a little, and turned her attention back on Vaughn. She wanted to speak, but was stopped by Jack. He pulled a pen out and clicked on it. It was the anti-eavesdrop device he had pulled out earlier, when he had come to explain how they would fake Vaughn’s death. Vaughn nodded and Sydney did the same. “I put the drugs in this juice.” He pulled out a bottle of juice, and handed it to Sydney, so that she could help Vaughn drink it. The drugs were similar to the drugs he had put in the red wine Sloane had, before he was executed. The drugs would make it seem that Vaughn died of his injuries, and no one could do anything to try to safe him. “It won’t take us long before we have your ‘body’ released, and we’ll wake you up as soon as we get you to the safe location Irina provided us with.”
“I know Jack. I’m not worried about me.” He turned to Sydney, and couldn’t help but just looking at her helplessly. “I’m so sorry Syd. You shouldn’t have to go through the pregnancy alone. Or have to pretend to grieve for me when I’m not dead. It’s just not right.”
“Your safety is the most important thing at the moment. You just worry about getting better and staying safe. Besides, we’ll have more children. You can experience pregnancy with me then.” She gave him her bravest smile through her tears, and bend down to kiss him.
“Careful. You don’t want to get any of the sleeping drugs in you.” That earned Vaughn a small laugh from Sydney. She couldn’t believe he was lying there still fighting for his life, but at the same time he was able to make her smile and laugh.
“I won’t. And don’t worry about me being alone. I have dad, Eric, Dixon, Marshall, Carrie, and a bunch of other people at APO. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re lying, but thank you for putting on a brave face for me.” He put his hand to her cheek and just held her gaze. “Remember not to tell anyone that I’m alive. It’s best if they all believe I’m really dead. I don’t want to put them in danger.”
“I won’t tell, I promise. Only dad, mom, and I’ll know.”
Jack felt a bit uncomfortable being in the same room with them when they were sharing such an intimate moment, for what would be one of the last ones in a long time. He cleared his throat. “If you need to say anything else to each other that no one else should pick up on, you should say it now. We’re almost out of time.”
Vaughn looked at Sydney, but spoke to Jack. “No Jack. I believe we’ve said everything.” They all stayed silent and a few moments later they heard the beeping sound of the pen. Jack put the pen back in his pocket and walked to the door.
“I’m going to get some coffee and give you two some time alone.” He looked at his watch and gave a reassuring smile to Vaughn and Sydney. In about 20 minutes Vaughn would ‘die’, and he thought it’d be best to leave that time to the two of them.
20 minutes later there was a mad dash for Vaughn’s room. The doctors and nurses tried their best to get Vaughn back, but they had to tell a crying Sydney that there was nothing they could do. Jack and Sydney put on a display. Sydney as the grieving girlfriend, and Jack as the comforting father. But the truth was, it really wasn’t an act. Sydney was grieving for real. She wouldn’t know when she’d see Vaughn again, and she’d probably go through childbirth without him. Jack was indeed comforting a grieving daughter.
Vaughn’s ‘body’ was released the very next day. Jack had called APO the day before to let them know about Vaughn’s ‘death’ Now he, Vaughn, and Sydney were at the safe location Irina had given them. They met with the men who would make sure of Vaughn’s safety, and the leader of the team greeted them. “Mr. Vaughn it’s nice to meet you. You’ll be well looked after. Miss Bristow, may I say you’re the spitting image of your mother. Just as beautiful as she. It’s indeed an honor to meet you. And Mr. Bristow. It’s equally an honor to meet you.” He shook hands with each of them. “I don’t mean to be rude but we need to get going. You have five minutes.”
Sydney looked at Jack and he knew she needed those minutes alone with Vaughn. He shook Vaughn’s hand. “Be safe.”
“Thank you Jack. I know I don’t have to tell you to look after Sydney for me, because I know you will. You always have and you always will. I respect you for that, and at this moment I’m thankful.” Jack couldn’t do much other than nod at him, and left to talk some more with Irina’s team. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself Syd. I don’t want anything to happen to you or our little one. I love you too much. Both of you.”
“Oh Vaughn.” She threw her arms around him and cried her eyes out. “I love you too, so much. Remember that always.” They held each other, cried together, and shared passionate kisses before it was time for Vaughn to leave. Jack had an arm around her when Vaughn left, and even some time after they could no longer see his plane, he still had a protective arm around her.
“We should get going. We have a plane to catch too.” She nodded and leaned in for another hug before they left.
Chapter 4.
When Jack and Sydney returned to APO everyone was concerned about Sydney. They feared for her well-being and tried their best to comfort her. She felt sick having to pretend that Vaughn was dead. She was lying to his friends. To Eric, his best friend. One of her best friends too. He had been there for her when she got back after being missing for two years, and she was lying to him. She hated it but also knew it was what needed to be done, in order to keep Vaughn safe. “Thank you, it means a lot to me Marcus. Vaughn would’ve loved that Eric. Yes Marshall, it’s unfortunate that he’ll never know if he had a son or daughter.” Those were some of the lies she told to people. To her friends who were really more like family to her. But she kept up appearances and accepted all the help that was offered to her.
The day before Vaughn’s funeral, she had accepted Eric’s invitation to let him cheer her up, and Jack was at APO finishing up work. He didn’t really know what to do, because he had spent all evenings with Sydney planning the funeral and supporting her. He took one last look at a report about a meeting taking place in London, and he remembered. The London Globe. Irina. Nadia. “You did promise her. Might as well get started on those visits.” He finished up, and went to the secret CIA hospital where Nadia was being kept.
Just before reaching Nadia’s room he met her primary doctor, Dr. Peter Blake. Jack and Peter had known each other for many years, and he was one of the only people in the world that Jack really trusted. They couldn’t really call their relationship a friendship or anything like that, but they shared a deep respect and admiration for each other. “Hi Jack, what brings you by this time at night? Did you come here to talk to me?”
“Hi Peter. No actually, I came to see Nadia.”
“Really? Well good for you, and good for her. I’m sure it’ll do both of you some good.”
“Yeah well, I made a promise to…..Sydney.” He had nearly said Irina, and thought he pulled off his almost slip of the tongue.”
“Sydney huh?” Jack knew he hadn’t fooled Peter. Peter had known Jack since Sydney was five, and had on a few occasions met Irina. He had seen what Irina’s betrayal had done to Jack, and known how they had worked together trying to find the people responsible for Sydney’s disappearance. He had also seen how much Irina had loved Sydney, and he’d never believed that her love for Sydney was an act. That’s why he knew that it would also be killing Irina now that she couldn’t be here for Nadia. But he was glad to know that she had turned to Jack for help. “Well, next time you see ‘Sydney’ tell her I said hi.” He smiled at Jack and returned to his work.
Jack entered Nadia’s room and stood by her bed. Not quite sure on what to say he just started to talk off his head. “Hi Nadia….this is Jack by the way….Sydney’s dad.” He rubbed his hand over his head not knowing what he had gotten himself into. ‘Damn it Jack, stop sounding like Marshall.’ “Your mother says hi….she would’ve been here, but you know…..she can’t….she’d be arrested…..obviously.” He shook his head. ‘One of these days Jack, someone has got to tell you, you’re an idiot.’ He took a deep breath and gathered himself. He pulled up a chair and sat next to Nadia. “As Sydney’s probably told you or by your own observation, you’ll know that I’m not really good at this. Talking like this, making conversation. Hopefully I’ll improve one day.” He knew that the room wasn’t bugged, so he felt comfortable speaking freely about Irina. He tugged a strand of loose hair behind Nadia’s ear, and just sat there looking at her for a few moments. “Your mother told me to tell you, she loves you. She really does, and trust me there’s no mistaken that. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” He took hold of her hand, and stroke it gently. “You’ve been deprived of your mother your whole life, and when you finally found each other, you were pulled apart again. But I promise you Nadia, you’ll see each other again. We’ll find a cure for you, and you’ll get to spend all the time in world with your mother. You just have to do it secretly though. Director Chase threaten to throw us all in jail, if we’re caught associating with your mother. But what she doesn’t know won’t harm her, right? Well, harm us really.”
He sat back in his chair, and if he could look in a mirror, he would have seen a tiny smile on his lips. “Tomorrow is Vaughn’s funeral. However, that’s not exactly the truth. You see, he’s not really dead. He had to go into hiding for his own safety. I’m really not supposed to tell you this. The only ones who know are Sydney, you mother, and me.” He leaned forward in his chair, and tried his best to be serious. “So I trust you can keep a secret.” He smiled a bit of his own little joke, and thought that Nadia would’ve smiled at that too. He knew in his heart that one day he would see her smile again.
The funeral went well. As well as a funeral can be expected to go well. Everyone had respected Sydney’s wish for a closed casket, though everyone was surprised by her decision. At the reception afterwards Sydney felt like screaming. It was like she was being suffocated. What she needed was to get back to work to take her mind off of things. However, Jack was not thrilled by the idea when she talked to him about it a few days after the funeral.
“No, Sydney. Absolutely not. It’s out of the question, and that’s final.”
“That’s final? What am I eight?” She might not have said it intentionally, but it made Jack think of the time when he got back from solitary confinement after Irina’s betrayal. He had often told Sydney no whenever there was anything she wanted to do, and he didn’t want to do anything. “Dad I’m pregnant, not handicapped.”
“I know you’re not, but I’m looking out for you and my grandchild. There’s no reason to put that child in unnecessary danger.”
“I’ll be careful dad, you know I will. I need to be part of this whole Prophet 5 thing for Vaughn’s sake. Not just for his sake, but mine too and my baby’s.”
Why did she have to be so stubborn. Unfortunately, it was a family trade. Something she had inherited from both him and Irina. He sighed deeply, and knew he couldn’t get her to change her mind. “Fine Sydney you can go. But your safety comes above anything else. The minute you expect any danger, you get out of there at once. Understood?”
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “I love you too, dad, and I’ll be careful. That’s a promise.” She kissed his cheek and gave him a smile of encouragement before she left his office. She had to take care of a few things, and then she had a plane to catch. She was going to see Renee Rienne.
It was safe to say that Jack wasn’t happy with the outcome of Sydney’s meeting with Renee, and the events following. He had been furious and scolded her for being anywhere near people like Curtis and Gordon Dean while she was pregnant. Sydney had tried her best to calm him down, and had tried her best to convince him that her involvement in all of this was for the best. Jack knew she was right, but was still not happy. “Sydney, you and your baby are all I have. I don’t want to lose you. I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself and your baby, but…..”
“I know dad, I know.” He didn’t have to tell her how worried he was for her safety. She could read that all over his face. “After we get back from my ultrasound do you want to go out for dinner or eat in?”
“Eat in. That way we can talk freely.” He had been there with Sydney for all her doctor’s appointments, and he expected he would be there for everything else that had to do with the baby. That probably involved building the baby’s crib, which he wasn’t all that thrilled about. He could still remember how building Sydney’s crib had been very difficult. Irina had mostly built the crib by herself when he believed that the instructions were in a language not known to man. To this day he still believed that. The phone in his office rang and it broke his thought. “I should get that. You should get some rest before your doctor’s appointment.” She smiled at him and left his office.
When he was done with his phone conversation he sat back in his chair puzzled. ‘Why didn’t he take the job. It’s a lucrative one to pass up.’ There was only one way to find out. He walked out of his office and spotted Weiss sitting at his desk. He had been happy that he and Dixon had been by Sydney’s side in the involvement with Curtis and Dean. She was always well looked after when they were around. “Eric do you have a minute?”
“Sure Jack. What’s up?”
“I just got a call from Washington telling me how fortunate I am to still have you be a part of my team, and that they were sorry you didn’t accept their job. Why didn’t you take the job? It’s a great opportunity for you and a very lucrative job.”
“Not really Jack. Yeah sure, it was a bigger position and it paid a lot more, but it wouldn’t have made me happy.” He sighed deeply and took a look at what used to be Vaughn’s desk, and then the desk where Nadia used to sit. “With Vaughn dead, Sydney needs all the help she can get. Especially, now that she’s pregnant. She needs her friends.” He realized what he’d said and looked at Jack apologetically. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re not there for Sydney, because you are.”
Jack smiled a little at Weiss. “It’s okay, I wasn’t offended. Go on.”
“Well, it’s not just Sydney. It’s the job too. I like it here, and I like the people I work with. It’s like we’re one big family. Sydney’s the sister, and Marshall is the annoying little brother. Sure he’s nice and you love him, but at times he just talks too much. Marcus is the wise older brother, and you…..well, you’re kind of like the dad….eeeehhhh or more like an uncle.” By the expression on Jack’s face he wasn’t really sure how he felt to be referred to as a father-like type to anyone other than Sydney. Maybe uncle wasn’t exactly the best expression either, but it was the best thing he could come up with.
Jack didn’t really know how to respond to that. ‘Oh’ was all he said, and Weiss felt he better move on. “Then there’s Nadia. I know there’s a chance she might never wake up, and that she might die.” He shivered at the thought. “But I can’t leave her. She doesn’t even know how I feel about her Jack. She doesn’t know how much I….how much I love her.” He had never told Sydney that he was in love with her sister, though it was possible that she knew. He had to admit he was not good at hiding his feelings. After spending time with Nadia before Sovogda, he had often come home and found himself looking like a lovesick puppy dog in the mirror. It felt good to finally tell someone how he really felt about her.
Jack wasn’t sure how to respond to Weiss. Matters of the heart were not something he was good at talking about. But after studying Weiss a little closely, he felt comfortable enough to respond. “Nadia is lucky to have you Eric. And I think you should tell her that you love her. I think that’ll help her heal.” Being a little surprised by Jack’s words he returned the smile Jack gave him. “And I’m glad you’re staying. You’re definitely needed here in every way.”
“Thanks Jack.”
Jack smiled and nodded in return. He went back to his office, and looked out at Weiss. He felt bad that they had to lie to him about Vaughn’s death, he was after all his best friend. But the fewer people who knew about Vaughn the better. Weiss would probably yell at them when he found out that they had been lying to him, but he would also come around. After all, Weiss wasn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge.
Later that night Jack and Sydney had just finished dinner at her place, and Jack was now looking at the ultrasound picture of his grandchild. A tiny smile was spread across his face. “So, have you talked to mom lately?”
Jack looked up. “We’ve written emails back and forth to each other.”
“You haven’t talked together in a chat room?”
“No, not since we planned Vaughn’s ‘death’.”
“Oh okay.” She was playing with her leftover food on her plate, a question playing on her mind. ‘You might as well just ask him. Get it over with’ “Uuuhhmm dad, you think I could get mom’s email address?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Sydney.”
She got a little mad with his responds. “And why not?”
“For your own safety. Remember what Chase said?”
“I don’t give a damn about Chase.” Her angry outburst surprised him. “Her threat is not stopping you from getting in contact with mom. Why should it stop me? All I want is to be able to tell her about my pregnancy myself. I’m tired of having to have you tell her about that through emails.” She was screaming at the top of her lungs by the time she finished, and immediately broke down crying. Jack was by her side at once, and held her tightly. “I’m so sorry dad. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” She was trying to dry her tears, but they kept coming. “It’s just, just…..hormones.”
“It’s okay sweetheart. I understand.”
She pushed him away roughly and spat at him. “How can you possibly understand. You don’t have a clue of what I’m going through. You’re a man, you can never get pregnant. You don’t have to deal with sore breasts, hormones that are all over the place. One minute you’re happy, but the next minute you’re crying your eyes out over the silliest things. Don’t tell my you understand. Don’t you dare tell me that.” She was pointing her finger at Jack, and he wasn’t quite sure what to do. Hearing his daughter talk about her sore breasts wasn’t something he could really handle. But it was soon lost from his thoughts when Sydney threw her arms around him. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”
He hugged her tightly and kissed the side of her head. “It’s okay sweetheart. I’m here for you. You can yell at me all you want, and cry on my shoulder anytime you need to.” He tried to comfort her the best he could, but he realized she needed something else. Someone else. He took her face in his hands and dried her tears. “I’ll set up a secure email address, so that you can write to your mother, and I’ll let her know. She’ll be happy to hear from you.”
“You’ll do that for me?” She saw the expression in her father’s eyes and knew the answer to her own question. “You’ll do anything for me,” she stated. He nodded and she kissed his cheek. “I love you dad.”
“I love you too sweetheart.” They hugged for a while longer before Sydney had gotten her emotions in control. “Tell you what. Why don’t we hurry up and clear the dishes, and then go out for a Sunday ice-cream. Would you like to do that?”
She smiled at her father. “Yeah, I would love to do that.”
I've been posting my story on SD-1, but since that's closing, I've had to find a new home for my story, and this place was warmly recommended. So, here I am with my story. I started posting it on April 30th, so since it's rather old, I'll be posting all the chapters I've written, so that my former readers can catch up. I hope that'll be alright. I had the idea for this story in my head for about a year, and then finally one night, I started to write. It's a decision that I haven't regretted. This story is the first out of three connecting stories. The second story takes place about 4 1/2 years after this one ends, and the third one takes place probably around the time the second one ends. This is my first attempt at writing a fan fiction.Title: It Was For The Best.
Rating: Eh, not sure, but most of it is clean.
Spoiler: It picks up in Sovogda when Irina has left. It will contain a lot of the known characters, but it will primarily be a Jack/Irina story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias. It belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, and ABC.
NOTE: Everything in this story, might not be how the characters on Alias really were or how they might have turned out. Some things might not be rational, some things might be exaggerated, some things might be unbelievable, some things might not be able to happen in real life, and some things might just be downright silly. But bear in mind that it's a fiction, and that this is just my way of having a little fun.
Chapter 1
Jack and Sydney stood and watched Irina leave. When they could only see her in the distance Sydney spoke. “You let her go dad”.
“Yes, I did”.
“Why?”
“Your mother has been locked up and tortured by her own sister. She deserves freedom.” They faced each other, and he gave her a small smile, which Sydney returned. Just before Irina was completely out of their sight Jack took one last look at her, and before he turned to leave said, “I’ll go check on the others, and explain what happened. We’ll tell the CIA that your mother took off when we went around securing the area, and taking care of Nadia.”
“You think that’ll work?”
“If we all stick to the story it will.” When he turned around he came face to face with Vaughn. Vaughn gave Jack a nod indicating that he would go along with the plan. Jack nodded in return, and left to talk to Sloane.
“Are you really okay with that plan?”
“Your mother was put through hell by her own sister, and though your mother is not my favorite person in the world, no one deserves that kind of treatment.” Sydney smiled at him and then hugged him. “Besides she’s your mother and will be my mother-in-law, so it’s probably not the best course of action to not go along with the plan.” That earned him a small laugh from Sydney, and a kiss.
“Thank you Vaughn. It means a lot to me.” They looked at each other, and hugged again.
The following day Jack, Sydney, and Vaughn were back at APO, facing director Chase, who wasn’t happy to hear that Irina didn’t return with them. “Just how did Derevko get away from three highly trained CIA agents? That shouldn’t be possible.”
“As we already explained to you, Vaughn and I went to secure the area, and Sydney was by her sister’s side with Sloane. She is after all Irina Derevko, and quite capable of slipping past even the best trained agents.”
Chase was fuming, and turned angrily to Sydney. “I trusted you, and she’s out there running around freely, because of you.”
“I know, and it was my responsibility to look after her while my father and Vaughn went to secure the area, and I take full responsibility. But I was concerned about my sister. The important thing is we stopped it, and that was with my mother’s help. She did something good.”
Jack was a little distracted when he heard that Sydney took full responsibility for her mother’s ‘escape’. That had definitely not been part of their plan. He quickly focused on the conversation again when Chase’s booming voice spoke again.
“I hardly think that justifies anything agent Bristow. Derevko might have been helpful in Sovogda, but now she’s out there on her own, doing god knows what. She doesn’t exactly have the best track record for doing good things, now does she?”
“No she doesn’t.” Sydney wanted to tear Chase’s head off. Why couldn’t she just be happy that the mission had gone well, and then not care so much about her mother. She didn’t however, want to get into heavier water with Chase, so she kept her cool, but inside she was fuming as much as Chase was fuming on the outside.
“Fortunately for you, Sloane is given the exact same story as you are. I’m not convinced that Derevko didn’t have help in her so-called escape, but again fortunately for you, I can’t prove it.” She looked at them one by one to see if any of them would give anything away, but they didn’t. Not that she had really expected anything. Especially not from the Bristows. Vaughn was another thing, but she figured it had to be his love for Sydney that kept him quiet. “Very well. You’re all excused and there won’t be any further investigation into the matter. But I’m watching you. If you associate with Derevko again in anyway, you will be thrown in jail. Solitary confinement. You know what that’s like, right Jack?” She was smirking at Jack, a triumphantly smirk. If he wouldn’t give up Derevko, she could certainly make him think back to what he went through the last time worked with her, and didn’t give her up.
Jack knew she was baiting him, but he kept his calm. He smirked right back at her. “Yes, I do.” His smirk had the effect he had hoped for. Chase stopped smirking, and instead put her mad face back on. A small smile escaped Sydney and Vaughn’s lips. They looked briefly at each other, and then turned to look at Chase again.
“Get out of here. Write out your report on the mission. I want it by tomorrow morning.” Jack, Sydney, and Vaughn left, and walked away from the office. They walked far away, so that no one would hear them.
“Sydney why did you take full responsibility?”
“I thought Chase would accept it more if I said it was my fault, rather than your fault dad.” She put her hand on his arm to let him know that she didn’t mind taking full blame for what happened, and smiled at him too.
Jack gave a small smile in return, and nodded. “Well, I guess we better get started on that report.”
Nearly two weeks after leaving Sovogda, Irina returned home. She stood outside of her house in Russia, and she couldn’t believe she was seeing it again. “I’m really here.” She saw that the lights were on inside, and a smile spread across her face. “Sergei.” She started to shake a little and had to steady herself before ringing the bell. “Hello Sergei.”
“Irina? Irina is that really you?” A dark-haired man in his mid-thirties was shocked to see that she stood in-front of him. “My god, it is really you” He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly.
“Yes, Sergei it’s really me. I’ve missed you so much.”
He kissed her cheeks and forehead and hugged her again. “I thought I’d never see you again, and I’ve missed you too. And I love you. You know that right? Because, I don’t want you to ever doubt that.”
“I don’t doubt that, and I love you too.” She kissed his cheeks and forehead just like he had done with her. He let her inside and she looked at the stairs. “Are….?” She had a lump in her throat, and small tears escaped her eyes.
“Yes, right up there in bed and fast asleep. It’s late after all.” He smiled broadly at her. He knew how much she must have been longing.
“And are….?” Her emotions took over, and she couldn’t seem to get the words out.
“Yes, and absolutely fine. But everything will be much better now that you’re home. Why don’t you go up and see. You need to do that.” He wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead again. “After that we can talk if you’re up to it.”
“Thank you Sergei. I can’t believe I get to see…..” Her tears took hold of her once again, and she put her hands to her face.
“It’s okay Irina.” He hugged her again, and once more dried her tears. “Now go on. Get upstairs. Go see for yourself”
She kissed him on the cheek, and walked slowly upstairs. She got to the room she was looking for, and stood outside putting her hand on the door. She gathered herself and slowly opened the door, and the sight that met her made her cry again. She couldn’t say anything through her tears, and just stood their looking at the beautiful sight she hadn’t seen in over a year, but had longed so desperately for.
Chapter 2
After returning from Sovogda Sydney’s life had been turned up side down. Her sister was in a coma fighting for her life, she was pregnant, and Vaughn’s name wasn’t really Vaughn. The two of them had been through hell the last couple of weeks and now he was lying there, in a hospital bed fighting for his life, just like Nadia. She hadn’t known what to do, so she had called her father. He would know what to do. Vaughn’s life was in danger, and something needed to be done. Fifteen minutes later Jack arrived.
“Sydney, are you alright?”
“Yes, dad I’m fine. It’s Vaughn who’s injured.” Jack hugged her tightly, and they walked over to see Vaughn. Jack looked at Vaughn, and couldn’t help but be worried about Sydney. They stepped away from the door, and Sydney started to explain. “Dad, Vaughn needs your help. He’s not safe here.” She couldn’t quite read the expression on Jack’s face, and decided to tell him her secret. “I’m pregnant.” The stunned expression on Jack’s face couldn’t be missed, and Sydney felt she needed to move on quickly. “I’m sorry this is not the way I wanted you to find out. But I desperately need your help. Not just for me and Vaughn, but also so our unborn child can have both Vaughn and I in his or hers’ life.”
Though Jack was still stunned to learn he was going to be a grandfather, he also knew Sydney was right. It wasn’t safe for Vaughn to be out in the open. He needed to go into hiding. Jack was also no stranger to being lied to. But he had to give Vaughn some credit. At least he had told Sydney the truth in time. That thought gave him an idea that he was sure would be the best way to keep Vaughn safe. “Of course I’ll help sweetheart. I have someone in mind who can help, but I’m not sure if Vaughn will like the idea.”
Sydney saw the look on Jack’s face and knew exactly, who he was talking about. “Mom.”
“Yes. I had planned on getting in touch with her to hear if she got back safely, wherever that might be. This seems like the perfect time. I don’t know if Vaughn will accept her help, though.”
“He doesn’t really have a choice. Not when it’s for his own safety. Do you really think mom will help?”
“First of all, your mother will do anything for you.” Jack knew that to be the truth now. “Second of all, your mother owes Vaughn for all the times he protected her.” Sydney smiled at Jack, and knew he was right. “I’ll get started on contacting her right away. You stay here with Vaughn and fill him in on what we talked about.” He squeezed her hand and smiled at her before leaving. When Sydney reached Vaughn’s door, she heard Jack call out for her. “Sydney.”
“Yes, what is it dad? Did you forget something?”
Jack looked at her, and the image of a four-year-old Sydney with a pillow under her shirt pretending to be pregnant, briefly entered his mind. “I believe you said something about being pregnant?” He smiled at her, and she returned it nodding. ‘My god, my baby’s having a baby.’ He took her into his arms and hugged her tightly. It was still something he wasn’t quite used to doing, being the one to give the hug. But with every hug he gave her he felt more comfortable. He kissed her cheek and looked into her eyes.
“I know what you’re thinking dad. Me at four, pretending to be pregnant.” Jack couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Yes.”
“I guess I’m not so little anymore.”
Jack looked at her, and for one of the first times ever realized, she indeed was a grown-up woman. “No, you’re not. But that doesn’t mean I still don’t think of you as my little girl.” Sydney’s eyes started to tear up a bit, and Jack suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to being so emotional. Not knowing quite what to do, he decided to excuse himself. “I think I better contact your mother. The sooner, the better.”
Before he could leave though, Sydney kissed him on the cheek. As he left she called out to him. “Dad, I might be a grown-up, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need you anymore. I’ll always need you.” Jack wasn’t sure on what to do, so he simply smiled. Sydney however, could see through that thick exterior of his that deep down inside he needed to hear that, and that it meant more to him than she would probably ever realize. “Dad, could you do me another favor?”
Jack had to swallow a few times to get his voice in control. “Sure sweetheart.”
“Tell mom I’m pregnant. I want her to know. I would’ve loved to be the one to tell her myself, but since that’s not going to happen…..” She trailed off, and Jack knew that it was important for her that Irina knew.
“I’ll make sure to tell.” Then he left.
The following day in Russia at night, Irina sat in her study looking at the website for the London Globe. There it is, a note from Jack. “Well, at least you’re not in prison because of me.” She responds to the add, and sighs deeply. Soon she’ll know how her daughters are doing. She had wanted to get in touch with Jack to know how they were doing, but she had also needed time to get reacquainted with some people when she came back to Russia. She had just been gone for far too long.
“I thought you might like a cup of tea.”
She looked up to find Sergei standing by her desk with a steaming cup of tea. “Yes, please that’s exactly what I need.” She smiled and took the cup from him.
He looked at her computer screen, and was a bit puzzled. “The London Globe?” Then realization dawned on him, and he got a bit mad. “It’s Jack, isn’t it? You’re getting in touch with him again.” When he received a small nod from Irina, he got a little madder. “Why on earth are you getting in touch with him? Have you forgotten that he actually thought you were capable of putting a hit on Sydney?”
“First of all Sergei, Jack got in touch with me and not the other way around. Second of all, Sydney is exactly the reason why I’m getting in touch with him. Her and Nadia. They’re my daughters Sergei, and I need to know how they’re doing. Help them if I can. I wanted to get in touch with them sooner, you know that. But I also needed to pay attention to….” She got too emotional to carry on with what she was saying. But she could tell that Sergei understood her.
“Still that doesn’t justify anything. He’s an idiot, and someone needs to tell him that.”
“Sergei, I told you the other day, I don’t want you to talk that way about Jack in the house. Or outside the house. Or anywhere. I don’t want there to be the slightest chance that…..”
“I know, I know Irina.” He cut her off before she could finish. “But I really don’t think there’s any chance of hearing me now. I mean, I’m down here, and….”
“Regardless of that,” This time it was his turn to be cut off, “I don’t want you to talk badly about Jack. Is that understood?” He didn’t answer her. “Sergei.” She was annoyed with him, and wanted him to answer her. When her slightly rough tone hadn’t had any effect on him she spoke softer. “Sergei, please.”
“Fine, fine.” It was clear by the tone in his voice that he didn’t hold Jack in the highest regards at the moment. A noise broke his thoughts and he looked at Irina. She gave him a little taste of the Derevko death glare, and he sighed and smiled a little. “Yes, I know that could’ve been a close call. I promise I won’t talk badly about Jack again. You should go, because I believe you’re needed.” She gave him a big smile in respond to the last part, kissed him on the cheek, and went to tend to the noise. Sergei sat down by the computer, and looked at the website for The London Globe that was still appearing on the screen. “We’ll meet someday Jack, believe me we’ll meet someday. And if you ever doubt her again, I’ll make you pay.”
Chapter 3.
The following day Irina was sitting by her computer, and saw Jack’s screen name Johnny_Cash2. This time they’d chosen a country music chat room. She took a deep breath. She needed to prepare herself to find out how her daughters were doing. Especially Nadia. She had especially been in her thoughts. No sooner had she finally found her long lost daughter, before she was nearly taken away from her again. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you sweetheart, not now that I finally have you in my life again.” She was now brave enough to write to Jack.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Hello Jack. I can see they didn’t throw you in jail.
Johnny_Cash2: No, they didn’t. Did you get back safely?
Dolly_Parton_x2: Yes, thank you. You? Did you have any trouble?
Johnny_Cash2: Only with Chase, but nothing we couldn’t handle.
Dolly_Parton_x2: How are Sydney and Nadia? Any change with Nadia?
Johnny_Cash2: No, no news on Nadia. She’s in a coma, and fighting for her life. We’re doing our best to find a cure.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you Jack. I know she’s well looked after.
Dolly_Parton_x2: What about Sydney?
Johnny_Cash2: That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to get in touch with you. I need your help.
Dolly_Parton_x2: My god. Is Sydney alright? Is she hurt?
Irina was immediately alarmed, and it seemed it took forever for Jack to respond.
Johnny_Cash2: Sydney’s fine. It’s Vaughn. It’s a long story and I won’t go into details now. He was nearly killed, and he needs to go into hiding. I need your help with that.
Irina could’ve smacked Jack if he was right beside her for making her worry about Sydney. She also knew why someone had tried to kill Vaughn, and now she was a little concerned about coming clean to Jack.
Dolly_Parton_x2: No need to explain Michael’s situation. I know.
Jack was stunned to read what she’d just written. But that wore off quickly. Of course she knew. He took a deep breath, and tried to calm down. If she had been right beside him he would’ve yield at her.
Johnny_Cash2: You knew. All this time you’ve known and you didn’t say anything. Why? Don’t you think Sydney needed to know this?
Dolly_Parton_x2: I understand you’re mad Jack, but it was not my place to tell her. If I thought she wasn’t safe with Michael, I would’ve told her.
Johnny_Cash2: She wasn’t safe. Vaughn was in a car accident at first, and Sydney was in the car with him. When he was shot she was there too. Her life wasn’t the only life in danger. She’s pregnant.
Irina gasped. ‘My baby’s having a baby.’ “I wish I could be there for you right now sweetheart. I will be soon, I promise.” She got back to the matter at hand, when she heard that Jack had written to her again.
Johnny_Cash2: Irina, are you there? I’m sorry. That wasn’t exactly how I wanted to break the news about our first grandchild.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Yes, I’m here Jack. I just didn’t expect that kind of news. How is she?
Johnny_Cash2: She’s fine. Morning sickness hasn’t kicked in yet. She’s taking care of herself the best she can while being worried sick about Vaughn.
Dolly_Parton_x2: That’s our girl.
Dolly_Parton_x2: I’m sorry, I brought her life in danger as well as the life of our grandchild.
Johnny_Cash2: Vaughn had only started to tell her the truth right before the car accident. You didn’t bring her life in danger.
He thought, he needed to tell her that. After all, he thought that she’d been capable of hurting Sydney, when he knew deep down inside, she would never do that. It was just so much easier blaming her, when she wasn’t right there beside him.
Johnny_Cash2: I know that whatever you’ve done to her in the past, is for her own protection.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you.
Johnny_Cash2: About Vaughn. It’s urgent. He needs to go into hiding somewhere very remote.
Dolly_Parton_2: I think I have the perfect place. Give me a couple of hours to arrange it. I’ll drop off all the information needed in our usual place.
Johnny_Cash2: Thank you. I should get going. I have arrangements of my own to take care of.
Johnny_Cash2: Sydney told me to tell you she loves you.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Tell her I love her too. Can I ask you for a favor Jack?
Johnny_Cash2: What did you have in mind?
Dolly_Parton_x2: Could you please look in on Nadia for me? Spend some time with her, and talk to her? Tell her I love her?
Jack sighed deeply. Of all the things she could ask of him, this was what she asked. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea. He had visited Nadia a few times. She was after all a fellow agent, Sydney’s sister, and he felt responsible for what happened to her. But he had never really talked to her. He talked to her doctors to find out how she was doing, and made sure she was well taken care of, but that had been all he’d done so far. He sighed again. Spending time with Nadia, and talking to her seemed like the right thing to do when Irina couldn’t be there for her daughter.
Johnny_Cash2: Yes, I will. I should go.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Thank you. I should get on with the arrangements too.
Dolly_Parton_x2: Take care and stay safe Jack.
Johnny_Cash2: You too Irina.
Johnny_Cash2 has logged off.
Irina couldn’t help but smile a little. She wanted to be there for both Sydney and Nadia, but was glad that Jack was there for both of her daughters. She didn’t think Sloane would be there for Nadia, whether or not he was locked up for getting involved with Rambaldi again. She would hope that Sloane would never see the light of day again, but maybe Nadia needed a father by her side, even if that was Sloane. She shook Sloane from her mind and concentrated on Sydney. “My goodness, how I would love to see your child grow up Sydney. I would love nothing more than to be a grandmother to your child, but I have to settle for being a grandmother from a distance. I’ll do anything I can to protect you, even if that’s from afar. Starting with your baby’s father.” She picked up the phone and started dialing.
A few hours later everything was set. Jack had received the plans and he came into Vaughn’s room where he found Sydney. She looked up at Jack and started to cry a little, and turned her attention back on Vaughn. She wanted to speak, but was stopped by Jack. He pulled a pen out and clicked on it. It was the anti-eavesdrop device he had pulled out earlier, when he had come to explain how they would fake Vaughn’s death. Vaughn nodded and Sydney did the same. “I put the drugs in this juice.” He pulled out a bottle of juice, and handed it to Sydney, so that she could help Vaughn drink it. The drugs were similar to the drugs he had put in the red wine Sloane had, before he was executed. The drugs would make it seem that Vaughn died of his injuries, and no one could do anything to try to safe him. “It won’t take us long before we have your ‘body’ released, and we’ll wake you up as soon as we get you to the safe location Irina provided us with.”
“I know Jack. I’m not worried about me.” He turned to Sydney, and couldn’t help but just looking at her helplessly. “I’m so sorry Syd. You shouldn’t have to go through the pregnancy alone. Or have to pretend to grieve for me when I’m not dead. It’s just not right.”
“Your safety is the most important thing at the moment. You just worry about getting better and staying safe. Besides, we’ll have more children. You can experience pregnancy with me then.” She gave him her bravest smile through her tears, and bend down to kiss him.
“Careful. You don’t want to get any of the sleeping drugs in you.” That earned Vaughn a small laugh from Sydney. She couldn’t believe he was lying there still fighting for his life, but at the same time he was able to make her smile and laugh.
“I won’t. And don’t worry about me being alone. I have dad, Eric, Dixon, Marshall, Carrie, and a bunch of other people at APO. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re lying, but thank you for putting on a brave face for me.” He put his hand to her cheek and just held her gaze. “Remember not to tell anyone that I’m alive. It’s best if they all believe I’m really dead. I don’t want to put them in danger.”
“I won’t tell, I promise. Only dad, mom, and I’ll know.”
Jack felt a bit uncomfortable being in the same room with them when they were sharing such an intimate moment, for what would be one of the last ones in a long time. He cleared his throat. “If you need to say anything else to each other that no one else should pick up on, you should say it now. We’re almost out of time.”
Vaughn looked at Sydney, but spoke to Jack. “No Jack. I believe we’ve said everything.” They all stayed silent and a few moments later they heard the beeping sound of the pen. Jack put the pen back in his pocket and walked to the door.
“I’m going to get some coffee and give you two some time alone.” He looked at his watch and gave a reassuring smile to Vaughn and Sydney. In about 20 minutes Vaughn would ‘die’, and he thought it’d be best to leave that time to the two of them.
20 minutes later there was a mad dash for Vaughn’s room. The doctors and nurses tried their best to get Vaughn back, but they had to tell a crying Sydney that there was nothing they could do. Jack and Sydney put on a display. Sydney as the grieving girlfriend, and Jack as the comforting father. But the truth was, it really wasn’t an act. Sydney was grieving for real. She wouldn’t know when she’d see Vaughn again, and she’d probably go through childbirth without him. Jack was indeed comforting a grieving daughter.
Vaughn’s ‘body’ was released the very next day. Jack had called APO the day before to let them know about Vaughn’s ‘death’ Now he, Vaughn, and Sydney were at the safe location Irina had given them. They met with the men who would make sure of Vaughn’s safety, and the leader of the team greeted them. “Mr. Vaughn it’s nice to meet you. You’ll be well looked after. Miss Bristow, may I say you’re the spitting image of your mother. Just as beautiful as she. It’s indeed an honor to meet you. And Mr. Bristow. It’s equally an honor to meet you.” He shook hands with each of them. “I don’t mean to be rude but we need to get going. You have five minutes.”
Sydney looked at Jack and he knew she needed those minutes alone with Vaughn. He shook Vaughn’s hand. “Be safe.”
“Thank you Jack. I know I don’t have to tell you to look after Sydney for me, because I know you will. You always have and you always will. I respect you for that, and at this moment I’m thankful.” Jack couldn’t do much other than nod at him, and left to talk some more with Irina’s team. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself Syd. I don’t want anything to happen to you or our little one. I love you too much. Both of you.”
“Oh Vaughn.” She threw her arms around him and cried her eyes out. “I love you too, so much. Remember that always.” They held each other, cried together, and shared passionate kisses before it was time for Vaughn to leave. Jack had an arm around her when Vaughn left, and even some time after they could no longer see his plane, he still had a protective arm around her.
“We should get going. We have a plane to catch too.” She nodded and leaned in for another hug before they left.
Chapter 4.
When Jack and Sydney returned to APO everyone was concerned about Sydney. They feared for her well-being and tried their best to comfort her. She felt sick having to pretend that Vaughn was dead. She was lying to his friends. To Eric, his best friend. One of her best friends too. He had been there for her when she got back after being missing for two years, and she was lying to him. She hated it but also knew it was what needed to be done, in order to keep Vaughn safe. “Thank you, it means a lot to me Marcus. Vaughn would’ve loved that Eric. Yes Marshall, it’s unfortunate that he’ll never know if he had a son or daughter.” Those were some of the lies she told to people. To her friends who were really more like family to her. But she kept up appearances and accepted all the help that was offered to her.
The day before Vaughn’s funeral, she had accepted Eric’s invitation to let him cheer her up, and Jack was at APO finishing up work. He didn’t really know what to do, because he had spent all evenings with Sydney planning the funeral and supporting her. He took one last look at a report about a meeting taking place in London, and he remembered. The London Globe. Irina. Nadia. “You did promise her. Might as well get started on those visits.” He finished up, and went to the secret CIA hospital where Nadia was being kept.
Just before reaching Nadia’s room he met her primary doctor, Dr. Peter Blake. Jack and Peter had known each other for many years, and he was one of the only people in the world that Jack really trusted. They couldn’t really call their relationship a friendship or anything like that, but they shared a deep respect and admiration for each other. “Hi Jack, what brings you by this time at night? Did you come here to talk to me?”
“Hi Peter. No actually, I came to see Nadia.”
“Really? Well good for you, and good for her. I’m sure it’ll do both of you some good.”
“Yeah well, I made a promise to…..Sydney.” He had nearly said Irina, and thought he pulled off his almost slip of the tongue.”
“Sydney huh?” Jack knew he hadn’t fooled Peter. Peter had known Jack since Sydney was five, and had on a few occasions met Irina. He had seen what Irina’s betrayal had done to Jack, and known how they had worked together trying to find the people responsible for Sydney’s disappearance. He had also seen how much Irina had loved Sydney, and he’d never believed that her love for Sydney was an act. That’s why he knew that it would also be killing Irina now that she couldn’t be here for Nadia. But he was glad to know that she had turned to Jack for help. “Well, next time you see ‘Sydney’ tell her I said hi.” He smiled at Jack and returned to his work.
Jack entered Nadia’s room and stood by her bed. Not quite sure on what to say he just started to talk off his head. “Hi Nadia….this is Jack by the way….Sydney’s dad.” He rubbed his hand over his head not knowing what he had gotten himself into. ‘Damn it Jack, stop sounding like Marshall.’ “Your mother says hi….she would’ve been here, but you know…..she can’t….she’d be arrested…..obviously.” He shook his head. ‘One of these days Jack, someone has got to tell you, you’re an idiot.’ He took a deep breath and gathered himself. He pulled up a chair and sat next to Nadia. “As Sydney’s probably told you or by your own observation, you’ll know that I’m not really good at this. Talking like this, making conversation. Hopefully I’ll improve one day.” He knew that the room wasn’t bugged, so he felt comfortable speaking freely about Irina. He tugged a strand of loose hair behind Nadia’s ear, and just sat there looking at her for a few moments. “Your mother told me to tell you, she loves you. She really does, and trust me there’s no mistaken that. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” He took hold of her hand, and stroke it gently. “You’ve been deprived of your mother your whole life, and when you finally found each other, you were pulled apart again. But I promise you Nadia, you’ll see each other again. We’ll find a cure for you, and you’ll get to spend all the time in world with your mother. You just have to do it secretly though. Director Chase threaten to throw us all in jail, if we’re caught associating with your mother. But what she doesn’t know won’t harm her, right? Well, harm us really.”
He sat back in his chair, and if he could look in a mirror, he would have seen a tiny smile on his lips. “Tomorrow is Vaughn’s funeral. However, that’s not exactly the truth. You see, he’s not really dead. He had to go into hiding for his own safety. I’m really not supposed to tell you this. The only ones who know are Sydney, you mother, and me.” He leaned forward in his chair, and tried his best to be serious. “So I trust you can keep a secret.” He smiled a bit of his own little joke, and thought that Nadia would’ve smiled at that too. He knew in his heart that one day he would see her smile again.
The funeral went well. As well as a funeral can be expected to go well. Everyone had respected Sydney’s wish for a closed casket, though everyone was surprised by her decision. At the reception afterwards Sydney felt like screaming. It was like she was being suffocated. What she needed was to get back to work to take her mind off of things. However, Jack was not thrilled by the idea when she talked to him about it a few days after the funeral.
“No, Sydney. Absolutely not. It’s out of the question, and that’s final.”
“That’s final? What am I eight?” She might not have said it intentionally, but it made Jack think of the time when he got back from solitary confinement after Irina’s betrayal. He had often told Sydney no whenever there was anything she wanted to do, and he didn’t want to do anything. “Dad I’m pregnant, not handicapped.”
“I know you’re not, but I’m looking out for you and my grandchild. There’s no reason to put that child in unnecessary danger.”
“I’ll be careful dad, you know I will. I need to be part of this whole Prophet 5 thing for Vaughn’s sake. Not just for his sake, but mine too and my baby’s.”
Why did she have to be so stubborn. Unfortunately, it was a family trade. Something she had inherited from both him and Irina. He sighed deeply, and knew he couldn’t get her to change her mind. “Fine Sydney you can go. But your safety comes above anything else. The minute you expect any danger, you get out of there at once. Understood?”
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “I love you too, dad, and I’ll be careful. That’s a promise.” She kissed his cheek and gave him a smile of encouragement before she left his office. She had to take care of a few things, and then she had a plane to catch. She was going to see Renee Rienne.
It was safe to say that Jack wasn’t happy with the outcome of Sydney’s meeting with Renee, and the events following. He had been furious and scolded her for being anywhere near people like Curtis and Gordon Dean while she was pregnant. Sydney had tried her best to calm him down, and had tried her best to convince him that her involvement in all of this was for the best. Jack knew she was right, but was still not happy. “Sydney, you and your baby are all I have. I don’t want to lose you. I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself and your baby, but…..”
“I know dad, I know.” He didn’t have to tell her how worried he was for her safety. She could read that all over his face. “After we get back from my ultrasound do you want to go out for dinner or eat in?”
“Eat in. That way we can talk freely.” He had been there with Sydney for all her doctor’s appointments, and he expected he would be there for everything else that had to do with the baby. That probably involved building the baby’s crib, which he wasn’t all that thrilled about. He could still remember how building Sydney’s crib had been very difficult. Irina had mostly built the crib by herself when he believed that the instructions were in a language not known to man. To this day he still believed that. The phone in his office rang and it broke his thought. “I should get that. You should get some rest before your doctor’s appointment.” She smiled at him and left his office.
When he was done with his phone conversation he sat back in his chair puzzled. ‘Why didn’t he take the job. It’s a lucrative one to pass up.’ There was only one way to find out. He walked out of his office and spotted Weiss sitting at his desk. He had been happy that he and Dixon had been by Sydney’s side in the involvement with Curtis and Dean. She was always well looked after when they were around. “Eric do you have a minute?”
“Sure Jack. What’s up?”
“I just got a call from Washington telling me how fortunate I am to still have you be a part of my team, and that they were sorry you didn’t accept their job. Why didn’t you take the job? It’s a great opportunity for you and a very lucrative job.”
“Not really Jack. Yeah sure, it was a bigger position and it paid a lot more, but it wouldn’t have made me happy.” He sighed deeply and took a look at what used to be Vaughn’s desk, and then the desk where Nadia used to sit. “With Vaughn dead, Sydney needs all the help she can get. Especially, now that she’s pregnant. She needs her friends.” He realized what he’d said and looked at Jack apologetically. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re not there for Sydney, because you are.”
Jack smiled a little at Weiss. “It’s okay, I wasn’t offended. Go on.”
“Well, it’s not just Sydney. It’s the job too. I like it here, and I like the people I work with. It’s like we’re one big family. Sydney’s the sister, and Marshall is the annoying little brother. Sure he’s nice and you love him, but at times he just talks too much. Marcus is the wise older brother, and you…..well, you’re kind of like the dad….eeeehhhh or more like an uncle.” By the expression on Jack’s face he wasn’t really sure how he felt to be referred to as a father-like type to anyone other than Sydney. Maybe uncle wasn’t exactly the best expression either, but it was the best thing he could come up with.
Jack didn’t really know how to respond to that. ‘Oh’ was all he said, and Weiss felt he better move on. “Then there’s Nadia. I know there’s a chance she might never wake up, and that she might die.” He shivered at the thought. “But I can’t leave her. She doesn’t even know how I feel about her Jack. She doesn’t know how much I….how much I love her.” He had never told Sydney that he was in love with her sister, though it was possible that she knew. He had to admit he was not good at hiding his feelings. After spending time with Nadia before Sovogda, he had often come home and found himself looking like a lovesick puppy dog in the mirror. It felt good to finally tell someone how he really felt about her.
Jack wasn’t sure how to respond to Weiss. Matters of the heart were not something he was good at talking about. But after studying Weiss a little closely, he felt comfortable enough to respond. “Nadia is lucky to have you Eric. And I think you should tell her that you love her. I think that’ll help her heal.” Being a little surprised by Jack’s words he returned the smile Jack gave him. “And I’m glad you’re staying. You’re definitely needed here in every way.”
“Thanks Jack.”
Jack smiled and nodded in return. He went back to his office, and looked out at Weiss. He felt bad that they had to lie to him about Vaughn’s death, he was after all his best friend. But the fewer people who knew about Vaughn the better. Weiss would probably yell at them when he found out that they had been lying to him, but he would also come around. After all, Weiss wasn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge.
Later that night Jack and Sydney had just finished dinner at her place, and Jack was now looking at the ultrasound picture of his grandchild. A tiny smile was spread across his face. “So, have you talked to mom lately?”
Jack looked up. “We’ve written emails back and forth to each other.”
“You haven’t talked together in a chat room?”
“No, not since we planned Vaughn’s ‘death’.”
“Oh okay.” She was playing with her leftover food on her plate, a question playing on her mind. ‘You might as well just ask him. Get it over with’ “Uuuhhmm dad, you think I could get mom’s email address?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea Sydney.”
She got a little mad with his responds. “And why not?”
“For your own safety. Remember what Chase said?”
“I don’t give a damn about Chase.” Her angry outburst surprised him. “Her threat is not stopping you from getting in contact with mom. Why should it stop me? All I want is to be able to tell her about my pregnancy myself. I’m tired of having to have you tell her about that through emails.” She was screaming at the top of her lungs by the time she finished, and immediately broke down crying. Jack was by her side at once, and held her tightly. “I’m so sorry dad. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” She was trying to dry her tears, but they kept coming. “It’s just, just…..hormones.”
“It’s okay sweetheart. I understand.”
She pushed him away roughly and spat at him. “How can you possibly understand. You don’t have a clue of what I’m going through. You’re a man, you can never get pregnant. You don’t have to deal with sore breasts, hormones that are all over the place. One minute you’re happy, but the next minute you’re crying your eyes out over the silliest things. Don’t tell my you understand. Don’t you dare tell me that.” She was pointing her finger at Jack, and he wasn’t quite sure what to do. Hearing his daughter talk about her sore breasts wasn’t something he could really handle. But it was soon lost from his thoughts when Sydney threw her arms around him. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”
He hugged her tightly and kissed the side of her head. “It’s okay sweetheart. I’m here for you. You can yell at me all you want, and cry on my shoulder anytime you need to.” He tried to comfort her the best he could, but he realized she needed something else. Someone else. He took her face in his hands and dried her tears. “I’ll set up a secure email address, so that you can write to your mother, and I’ll let her know. She’ll be happy to hear from you.”
“You’ll do that for me?” She saw the expression in her father’s eyes and knew the answer to her own question. “You’ll do anything for me,” she stated. He nodded and she kissed his cheek. “I love you dad.”
“I love you too sweetheart.” They hugged for a while longer before Sydney had gotten her emotions in control. “Tell you what. Why don’t we hurry up and clear the dishes, and then go out for a Sunday ice-cream. Would you like to do that?”
She smiled at her father. “Yeah, I would love to do that.”
