Betrayal & Forgiveness

Author: Janet (SkyGirl5)

Genre: S/V, AU

Summary: Jack finds out the truth about 'Laura', how will he react?

Disclaimer: Sydney, Jack, Irina, etc are properties of JJ Abrams and ABC.

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Chapters 1-10 // Chapters 11 - 20 + Epilogue

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Chapter 10

Three weeks had passed since Jack and Irina last spoke. Their communications now only consisted of a few gestures and an occasional grunt. In other words, highly primitive. Irina had just about enough of her husband’s foolishness and she was once again determined to speak to him once more. She choose a Friday evening when Sydney was having a sleepover with one of her friends from first grade which gave the parents an opportunity to yell as loudly as they wished without scaring their child.

She contemplated trying to coax him into a conversation but knew that would be no use, instead she decided on just diving right in while they were eating. “It was real, Jack.” She said. He looked up at her, trying to hide his intrigue but doing so unsuccessfully. “It was real. I did fall in love with you.”

He grunted and turned away.

“Fine, you may not believe me, after all I haven’t done much to earn your trust, but it’s the truth. I don’t know how to make you see it but damn it, it is!” She said. He made to walk away but she stopped him by grabbing his arm. He gave her a dangerous glare. “You’re going to listen to me whether you like it or not even if I have to tie you down and you know that I can so you should just listen willingly.”

Jack tried to hide the small smile that came to his lips but it didn’t work very well and she saw it. “You know, it doesn’t do you well to threaten me.”

“I’m not threatening. To threaten is an implication of impending harm. As far as I know tying you to a kitchen chair doesn’t hurt you physically though your ego may be bruised from being taken by your pregnant wife.” She said sternly. He sighed in submission and turned to face her, trying to keep his face as stoic as possible.

“I’m sorry I hurt you; that was not my intention. I realize that sounds foolish considering the situation I forced you into but I am still sorry. I figure the least I can do is be brutally honest with you so here’s how it is. Yes, I tricked you and yes I deceived you, at first. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have feelings too. I’m not a monster as you once called me. I’m a person; I have feelings. I did fall in love with you Jack, I did. You know why? Because you’re a good person Jack, you’re a good man who loved his wife and his family. You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t blame yourself for the things that I did.” She said.

“Why should I believe you?” He asked quietly.

“You don’t have a reason to believe me Jack but you were there too. You were there; you lived it. Do you want to know when I realized I loved you? Well, I’m going to tell you. It was that weekend at the beach.” She said. He shook his head and looked away, pretending like he had no idea what she was talking about.

“You know what I’m talking about.” She continued. “It was only a few weeks before you proposed to me. We took a weekend trip to the beach and we were walking along the sand and there was a hole I didn’t see. Remember? I fell flat on my face and you laughed at me until you realize I had hurt my ankle and then you carried me back to the car. You were worried it was broken even though I told you it was fine and you stayed up the whole night putting ice on it.”

Jack cleared his throat, trying to rid his mind of the memories.

“That was when Jack. And when you proposed; that was real. It wasn’t just my job anymore it was my life and I wanted to be with you. And with Sydney that was all real too. It’s the truth, I promise.”

Jack laughed. “Promises from a woman who murdered dozens of people including ten US agents carry little weight in my mind.”

This time Irina laughed. Jack looked at her. “Ten?” She shook her head. “You didn’t watch the tapes did you Jack?” Then she walked away leaving Jack dumbfounded. He only stood there for a moment before grabbing his keys and driving to work. He didn’t speak to anyone he simply found the transcripts of her interrogation and skimmed through them. What he found surprised him and made him skeptical until he verified it.

She hadn’t killed ten agents. Only four. Not that it made it much better but it appeared she had tried to save them. She helped them disappear and faked their deaths. These agents and their families had been relocated to safe locations where the KGB couldn’t find them. Could it be she wasn’t the heartless killer her thought she was?

~*~

Jack had stared at those papers for almost two hours until he finally came home and tried to go to sleep. But he couldn’t so he ventured out to the family room and sat down on the couch. He was wide awake, staring blankly at the TV which had no sound only moving pictures, when he heard someone shuffling slowly down the hallway behind him. He switched off the TV and went to investigate. The glow from the refrigerator filled the kitchen as a shadowy figure leaned in, pulled out a jug of water and set it on the counter. He could only see her faint outline but he knew exactly what she was wearing. It was the same thing she wore when she was pregnant with Sydney: long pajama pants tucked under her expanding belly and a tank top that didn’t quite meet the top of her pants. She was only five months pregnant so her belly wasn’t huge, simply distinctly round but Jack could still see it.

“What are you doing?” She asked quietly, noticing him gaping at her

“Nothing.” He said quickly. “I just... heard something. What are you doing?”

“The baby’s kicking and keeping me awake. I just wanted a drink.” She told him.

He took a few steps closer so that they were now only a few feet apart. “The baby’s kicking?” he asked. It was then that Jack realized he hadn’t even taken the slightest interest so far in his unborn child. He hadn’t gone to one doctor’s appointment and he had taken the ultrasound photo she had given him and tucked it away in the back of his chest of drawers, refusing to look at it. He hated himself for that.

“Mmhmm.” She said as she sipped her water.

Suddenly, Jack’s throat felt very dry. “Can... can I feel?”

She had to admit, she was slightly surprised. “Sure, if you want. Here, give me your hand.” She said as she reached out for his. He gave it to her and she placed the tips of his fingers just to the left of her belly button.

He felt the kick and smiled. “I never get tired of feeling that...” He sighed.

“Yeah, it’s nice.” She sighed. She didn’t want to say too much. She knew they were having a moment and she wasn’t sure how long it would last; still, it was good.

Jack took another step closer to her, his finger tips still resting on her warm, soft belly. “Irina.” He said quietly. She looked up at him and into his eyes, slightly surprised at his mention of her name. He looked down, her face was mostly shadowed but he could see part of it from the moonlight bouncing through the kitchen window. He saw the beauty he had seen in her almost ten years earlier when they had met and his heart fluttered again like it always had.

For a moment, his logical brain took over. Telling him to run before it’s too late. He was walking into her trap again. But his heart didn’t care about that. His heart wanted, no, needed to kiss her. He leaned down, their lips met, she was hesitant but she didn’t pull away. It was only a moment and then they broke. She looked away but he quickly pulled his hand off her stomach and up to her face, turning it back towards his. There was a tear in her eye when she looked at him. Both of them had desire in their eyes. “Don’t do this if you don’t mean it.” She whispered.

A small smile tugged at the one corner of Jack’s mouth for a second. Oh, he meant it. And then they were kissing once more as they made their way back to the bedroom they had once shared.



Chapter 11

It was morning. How did that happen? It felt like only minutes ago he went to bed. He rolled over onto his side so he was facing the center of the bed and there she was. It hadn’t been a dream. She was waking up, her eyes fluttering open occasionally and she was stretching out her legs. He smiled softly.

Forgiveness. Not typically a term in the Jack Bristow vocabulary but maybe for her he could make an exception. Yes, it would be hard. Yes, he’d probably have to admit things he didn’t want to. Yes, he’d have to swallow some of his stubbornness and pride but... yes, yes he could do it. “Irina, wake up.” He whispered.

She groaned and began to mumble sleepily. “Jack you know the phrase about not waking sleeping dogs? Well the same goes for pregnant women.”

He chuckled softly. “I want to talk.”

“Mmm I’m listening.” She sighed. Her eyes were still closed but her head was now propped up slightly on her hand.

“I’m sorry I called you a heartless machine who was incapable of love.” He said, cringing at the fact that he had actually said that. It sounded so childish. She opened her eyes and gaped at him. “What?!”

“I’m just making sure that you’re really Jack Bristow.” She smirked.

“Ha ha.”

“I’m sorry, do go on.”

“I think... I mean I’d like... I want to try again.” He said.

“Try again?” She asked, trying to hold in her excitement.

“Yes... if you want to.”

She glanced down at the bed where she saw Jack’s left hand was noticeably missing his wedding ring and it had been ever since that night he took her into CIA custody. “Yeah.” She smiled up at him.

“Okay,” he smiled softly back. “But there have to be ground rules.”

“Ground rules?”

“Yes. Like no lies, no secret stealing no... deception.” He said.

She nodded in agreement. “I don’t know how to make you trust me Jack, but I swear I’ll do anything I can to make that happen.”

Jack nodded. “I have a question. Those six men...”

“So you did watch the tape.” She smiled.

“Not until yesterday.” He admitted. “I mean I had seen part of it before... just not all of it.”

Irina nodded. “They had families. I did what I could.”

“And the others?”

“I wasn’t alone... I couldn’t...” She said rather painfully.

Jack leaned over and kissed her gently. “You’re a good person.”

She looked away and shook her head. “I’m not. I’ve done horrible things.”

“You’ve also done good things.” He said. She looked over at him. “Sydney. When you were gone, she was a mess. She loves you so much.”

“I love her.” Irina sighed.

“I know. You know, Sydney would sit in your closet for hours just crying. It broke my heart.”

“Is that why you let me come back?”

“Yes.” He said. “And no...”

Irina looked over and smiled at him briefly before a light bulb went on in her head. “OH! Sydney! What time is it? We have to pick her up from her friends...”

“I’ll get her. You go back to sleep. After all I wouldn’t want to be accused of prematurely waking my pregnant wife and thus causing her to be moody.” Jack smiled.

Irina just laughed slightly as she rolled over and buried her face in her pillow once more. It was only after he had gone that she realized something and smiled broadly. He had said ‘my pregnant wife’.....

~*~

In the subsequent weeks, things were dramatically different around the Bristow residence. There was no longer painful silence, death glares and snide remarks. Instead there was laughter, smiles and kisses. The first thing Jack did was move back into the bedroom with his wife. They talked through their issues nightly and while Jack was still hesitant to trust her entirely but he had to admit that he was much happier that they were back together. Sydney too seemed to be happier that her parents weren’t at each other’s throats anymore. By Christmas it seemed that everything was going almost perfect for them. Unfortunately, Christmas Eve brought something that they never expected.

It was nearly midnight by the time they were able to put Sydney to bed since she was overly excited for the following day. Jack and Irina finished setting up her presents underneath the Christmas tree before going to bed themselves. Irina awoke with a start but she wasn’t sure why. She looked at the clock and saw that it was three am and figured it was just the baby who had woken her. She rolled over and tried to fall back asleep but then she heard a noise.

She tensed immediately as the spy in her kicked in and she listed attentively. Glass breaking. She shook her husband. “Jack, wake up.”

“Uhh.” He grunted.

“Jack there’s someone in the house.” She whispered.

“What?” He asked, still sounding asleep. Then there was a little girl’s scream.



Chapter 12

“Jack there’s someone in the house.” She whispered.

“What?” He asked, still sounding asleep. Then there was a little girl’s scream.

“Sydney!” Irina gasped as she sat bolt upright in bed.

“Oh god.” Jack sighed. He was now entirely alert and climbing out of bed. He reached underneath the bed and pulled out his lock box where he kept his guns.

“MOMMY!” Came a scream and then a louder wail combined with a sickening thud.

“Sydney.” Irina repeated as she began to race towards the bedroom door but Jack caught her arm.

“Stay here.” He commanded. She went to protest but his expression was firm so she shrank backwards and protectively covered her stomach with her hands. Jack opened the bedroom door slowly, gun raised but before he could step out into the hall way he was met with gunfire and quickly retreated as Irina shrieked and cried out her daughter’s name.

“We... we need a plan.” Jack said breathlessly.

“I can help.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“I can help.”

“You’re-”

“JACK! It’s our daughter!” She hissed.

Jack just nodded in silent agreement as reached for his second weapon and handed it to her. His heart did a flip flop when she loaded it like a pro and he made a silent prayer it hadn’t been a mistake. He gestured for her to follow her as he opened their now bullet ridden bedroom door and she did so. It was dark but they could see shadowy figures of men roaming their house.

Irina went straight for her daughter’s room where she found her bed empty but a large, shadowy man going through her toy chest. Irina took aim and fired, killing the man instantly. The sound of gunfire in the house once more sent another barrage of bullets flying back and forth across the house as the enemy returned fire. Irina returned to the hall where she found a man attacking Jack with a weapon she couldn’t make out in the dark. She shot him off as the other men fled through a broken window and Jack gaped at her in shock.

“Now do you trust me?” She sniffed as she let her weapon fall to the ground. Irina slowly turned back to her daughter’s room where she flicked on the light switch and began to sob at what she saw. The sheets on Sydney’s bed were thrown haphazardly about, her teddy bear lay forgotten on the ground and there were a few droplets of blood on her pillow.

“Sydney.” Irina sobbed as she collapsed onto her knees and clutched the teddy bear tightly. Jack walked over to her and sat down beside her, pulling her close as he hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry.... I’m sorry it’s my fault...”

“No it isn’t.” He told her.

“They were after me.” She sobbed.

“You don’t know that.” He said. “We need to call this in.”

Irina didn’t move at all when Jack made the call; she didn’t even move when agents arrived and began moving around her, searching for evidence, she just stayed in position. Finally, Jack had to practically carry her out of the room so that the agents could complete their investigation.

“These two men were killed with single shots to the head, care to explain that Ms. Derevko?” An agent asked.

“I was trained as an assassin for the KGB. What more explanation do you need?” She said shortly. “The one man was attacking my husband and I thought the other had my daughter. I was protecting my family.”

“It appears these men took your daughter, Agent Bristow. We’re working on confirming the identities of the deceased and we’ll let you know the moment we know anything. But, for your own protection we’re relocating you to a safe house.”

Slowly and sadly Irina gathered a few days worth of clothes for Jack and herself. Before leaving she stopped in Sydney’s bedroom and picked up her stuffed bear from the floor, barely able to hold in her tears. “We’ll get her back, I promise.” Jack said as he put his arm around her. Irina nodded slowly as she rested her head on his shoulder for a moment before they both left their broken home.

~*~

That day was Christmas, but it certainly wasn’t merry for anyone involved. Upon arriving at the safe house Jack and Irina tried to get a few hours more sleep but they both ended up lying awake, just staring at the ceiling until 10 am when they both got out of bed. Neither of them spoke as they ate and slowly sipped their coffee. They just sat there. After they ate, Jack went into work and Irina sat on the couch clutching Sydney’s bear and stroking her stomach sadly.

“Any news?” Jack asked immediately after arriving at the office.

“Well, those men weren’t KGB.” The director told him. “The KGB thinks Irina Derevko’s dead. They weren’t after her. They were after Centinel.”

Jack’s face fell. “They were?”

“Yes, and now they’re holding your daughter as collateral until they get it.”

“Oh god....” Jack sighed. How could this have happened? He always tried to keep his family safe and now he was responsible for his little girl, his precious Sydney, being held captive.

“Jack, where is Centinel?”

“It’s... it’s safe. I have it still.” Jack said distantly.

“Well bring it here. We need to protect it.”

“What about Sydney?”

The director sighed heavily. “We’re doing everything we can.”

~*~

Jack wasn’t even sure how he made it back to the safe house but when he walked in and saw Irina sitting on the couch hugging Sydney’s bear his heart crumbled into a million pieces. “Irina.” He said quietly.

“Jack? Jack where is she?!” She asked frantically.

“They don’t know.... but, I need to tell you something.” Jack sighed.

“Jack this is all my fault! Those men must have been after me ... or maybe they were after Sydney. They threatened to take her if I didn’t leave and now they’ve taken her.” Irina sobbed.

“Irina stop, please, it’s not your fault.” Jack said, trying to comfort her. “Those men weren’t after you; they were after me, or rather something I have.”

“You?” Irina sniffed.

“Yes. It’s a data project. I hid it in the house and....”

“You hid it?! You put us all in danger?!” Irina shouted angrily.

“I know; I’m sorry. At the time, I thought it was a good plan.” He hung his head. It was true he had thought it was a good plan.

“Well where is it? Those men practically destroyed our house looking for it! How do you know they didn’t find it already?!” She demanded.

“Because it’s in that bear.” Jack said quietly.

Irina looked down at the bear, Sydney’s bear, which was in her lap and then looked curiously back up to Jack. Jack reached out for the bear, took out his pocket knife and made a tiny slice in the seam at the back of the bears head. He pulled out a tiny computer chip and held it up.

Fury filled Irina’s face as she snatched the bear back from him. “I want my daughter back.” She said before storming off to the bedroom, shutting the door and sobbing once more.



Chapter 13

A day went by and still there was no news. Jack was growing restless. Irina wasn’t speaking to him and Sydney was out in the world somewhere scared, alone and being held captive by horrible people. Finally, two days after Christmas they got a lead on the case and Jack insisted on going in with the team.

He went back to the safe house to tell Irina and found her giving him the silent treatment still. “I just wanted to let you know that we may have a lead and I’m going in with the team.” He said.

Irina looked up at him and nodded. “Bring her home Jack.”

“I will.” He said as he kissed her cheek before leaving.

~*~

On flight to Prague, Jack could barely sit still. All he could think was that he was going towards Sydney and the plane just had to fly faster! He had to save her.

Their tactical team was in position and Jack was waiting impatiently. He had been instructed that he was no allowed in the building until it was all clear because of his emotional attachment to the situation. Fifteen agonizing minutes later he was given the all clear and he charged into the building.

“Second floor Jack.” Someone said through his comm. Jack charged up the stairs and found a group of agents hovering outside a doorway. “We didn’t want to go in and scare her anymore.” They told him.

Jack’s heart skipped a beat at their words. Sydney was there. She was ok. He immediately dropped his weapon and ran into the room where he saw his little girl tied to a chair. Her pajamas were filthy and she was blindfolded but she looked alright. “Sydney.” He said.

“Daddy?!” She whimpered.

“It’s ok sweetheart. Daddy’s here.” Jack said as he rushed over and began to untie her. The moment her hands were free she locked her arms around his neck and refused to let go as she sobbed. Jack tried hard to control himself but his emotions got the better of him and a few tears fell down his face. “You’re ok Sydney, you’re ok.” He sighed.

“Jack we’ve got to go.” One of the other agents told him. Jack scooped Sydney up and carried her out of the building. The medic looked her over and determined that she was dehydrated but otherwise fine, physically anyway. That was all Jack needed to hear because he knew that once Sydney was home and back in her mother’s arms she could begin to forget about all the horrors of the past few days.

By the time they arrived back in LA Sydney was sleeping peacefully. Jack gently transported her to the car and drove back to the safe house. It was late at night so Irina was asleep but Jack knew this was something worth waking her for. He carried Sydney into the bed where Irina was sleeping and set her down gently. Irina stirred at the movement in the room. “It’s me.” Jack said quietly.

“Jack?” Irina mumbled sleepily. At the sound of her mother’s voice, Sydney woke up.

“MOMMY!” She screamed.

“Syd-Sydney.” Irina gasped. She rolled over to find her daughter sitting up on the bed smiling. “Oh Sydney come here.” Irina sobbed as she pulled her daughter into a hug. “Oh thank god you’re ok.” Irina said as she kissed her daughter all over. Jack just sat down on the edge of the bed and watched the mother-daughter reunion that brought a tear to his eye.

After a few minutes of hugging and crying, Irina took Sydney to the bathroom to get her cleaned up and changed out of her now filthy clothes. Once she had finished Sydney had fallen back to sleep and Irina put her to bed.

“Thank you Jack.” Irina said as she returned to bed and gave her husband a kiss. “I love you.” She added cautiously. Those three little words had proved a cautious subject for them in the months since they had agreed to try again. Irina said them occasionally and meant them with all her heart but Jack had yet to say them to her. She understood why, of course. But still, she longed to hear them.

Jack said nothing. He just put his arm around her and kissed her forehead as they drifted off to sleep.



Chapter 14

It was three weeks until they could return to their home. When they did it was mostly repaired with the exception of one window that still had a tarp over it. Irina was worried that Sydney would be afraid to go back to sleep in the bedroom she was taken from but it seemed that Sydney had forgotten about the incident entirely, especially after her parents had presented her with her belated Christmas presents.

With the move, Irina was harshly reminded that she was only a little more than a month from her due date. This brought tears to her eyes and though she tried to choke them back one night in bed they all fled through. Her sobbing awakened Jack and he rolled onto his side, stroking her arm lightly and trying to comfort her. “What’s wrong sweetheart?” he asked.

“It’s nothing.” She sniffed.

“No tell me what’s wrong. Is it the baby?”

“No. Not exactly... its... well the baby’s due soon. And once she comes I have to go.” Irina sobbed violently. “After everything... I don’t want Sydney to have to grow up with out a mother.”

Jack sighed heavily for he had come to the full realization of that same problem only days earlier.

“I’m sorry.” She sniffed. “I should be thankful I just got this chance.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re right. Both our daughters deserve to have a mother.” Jack sighed and closed his eyes. Preparing himself for the once in a life time admission he was going to make. “Irina look at me.” He said. She slowly rolled over to face him.

Jack reached out and stroked her cheek, wiping away a few tears in the process. “They deserve to have you as their mother because you’re the best mother they could ever ask for. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens because... because I love you Irina.”

Irina’s breath hitched in her chest. She had been waiting ten years to hear him say that and it felt better than she ever could have expressed. “I love you too.” She sobbed.

Jack pulled her into a tight hug. “We’ll get through this I promise.” Irina nodded against his chest as she continued to sob lightly. “Hey, you know what we never talked about? Baby names.”

“Oh... yeah.” Irina sniffed. “Well I was thinking and I thought Nadia would be nice.”

“Nadia.” Jack said. “I like it.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, plus its only fair that you name her since I named Sydney.”

“Right.” Irina laughed. “Because I was unconscious at the time.”

“You were sleeping but... yeah.”

“And the nurse came in and asked if we named her and you thought that meant we had to name her right then...” Irina laughed harder.

“I panicked!” Jack defended. “And I said the first name I could come up with.”

“Well its good you didn’t say Fern or something because I would have killed you when I woke up.” She said.

“Yeah I know.” He groaned. “I would have killed me.”

“Yeah.” She sighed, her voice taking on an air of sadness once more.

“It’s going to be ok. I promise.” He told her.

~*~

“Absolutely not!” Director Johnson boomed. “I told you this was madness from the start Agent Bristow and I will not support it anymore! You yourself said that she needs to pay for her crimes.”

“Well maybe I was wrong.” Jack said.

“Jack! She killed government agents!”

“Only four...” He mumbled.

“ONLY FOUR! ONLY FOUR!” the director boomed.

“What if we reach some kind of bargain like... finding the real killer of those four men.” Jack said.

“Jack, listen to yourself. You’ve lost your mind.” He sighed exasperatedly. “You can’t just forgive something like that!”

“Why not?”

“Jack! Its murder! It’s against the law. Perhaps you have worked out your issues with her but the US government has not.”

Jack sighed heavily. “What kind of time are we looking at here?”

“Well, four counts of first degree murder is life in prison.”

“LIFE?!” Jack gasped.

“I’m sorry Jack.” Director Johnson sighed. “I really am sorry.”

~*~

Jack went home that evening more depressed than ever and dreading facing his wife. What could he tell her that wouldn’t break her heart? How could this situation end without all four of them – Irina, Sydney, the baby, and himself- without heartbreak? Such an outcome was unforeseeable.

“Jack?” Irina asked. “You’ve been standing there for ten minutes. Are you alright?”

“No.” He said honestly. She looked up at him. “I tried to talk to the director today....”

“Oh...” Irina sighed as she placed both hands on her growing stomach protectively. “I guess it didn’t go well.”

“Not exactly, but I haven’t given up I promise.” He said as he stroked her cheek.

“Okay.” She nodded.



Chapter 15

The next two weeks were filled with endless research for Jack. He was beyond determined to find a way out for her. His children needed her; he needed her. Finally he had collected enough evidence to form some semblance of a plan.

“This is what I figure.” Jack began. “We need something drastic, something dramatic, something huge.”

“Great.” Irina said with sarcasm. “Any suggestions.”

“Well I don’t know... any US Agents betraying the US.... KGB agents inside the US....” Jack shrugged. “Anything the CIA doesn’t already know.”

“I told them almost everything.” She sighed.

“I know.” Jack sighed.

“Okay wait.” Irina sighed. Then she asked him if he recognized the name of an organization.

“Yes. We’ve been researching them for the past couple months. They’re new but deadly. Mostly dealing in assassinations and illegal arms... why?” He asked suspiciously.

“My sister Yelena, it’s her organization.” Irina said.

Jack laughed. “Well that figures. You must have one hell of a family reunion.”

“Thanks Jack.” She said sarcastically. “I can hand them to the CIA – both my sisters.”

“You’d do that? Betray your family?” Jack asked cautiously.

Irina smiled slightly as she looked towards Sydney’s bedroom. “I’m not betraying my family; I’m saving it.”

Jack smiled softly.

“Besides, they don’t like me anyway.” Irina laughed. “I was the youngest and got all the attention from our mother so....” She shrugged.

“I’m sure you had an interesting childhood.” Jack smirked.

“It wasn’t as bad as you think.” Irina said. “Actually... my parents would be quite horrified to find out that their daughters turned out to be assassins....”

Jack couldn’t help but laugh. “Good to know. So where are your sisters?”

“I don’t know.” She said. Jack cocked his head to the side and looked at her. “I don’t! But I could find out.”

“How...” he asked suspiciously.

“By looking where they used to be... finding some of their contacts. It wouldn’t be too difficult.” She said.

“Uh, just one problem. The whole nine months pregnant thing isn’t exactly conducive to wild goose chases for your estranged sisters.” Jack said.

“Right.” Irina sighed. Then she winced.

“What? What is it?” Jack asked.

“I... I think I’m going into labor.” She hissed as she grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight. “Jack...” She whimpered.

“It’s going to be ok.” He said calmingly. “Sydney!”

“Yeah Daddy?” Sydney asked as she popped her head out of her bedroom.

“Your mother’s having the baby. We have to go to the hospital now!”

“Okay!” Sydney grinned. “YAY! I get my sister now!”

~*~

“You know what the bright side is?” Irina said half heartedly as the nurse was hooking her belly up to the baby monitor.

“What’s that?” Jack asked.

“Well, I don’t have to pretend to be sweet and innocent this time.” She smiled.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“You’ll see.” She winked.

Jack just shook his head. “I’ll be right back ok?” He said. She nodded and then Jack left; he had an important phone call to make.

~*~

“You’re almost there Mrs. Bristow. Only a few more hours.” The doctor told her after an examination. Irina thanked the doctor wearily and he asked if she was alright.

“I’m fine.” Irina said. I just wish my husband would come back! She thought.

As if he had heard her Jack burst through her hospital room door at that moment. “Did I miss it?” He asked breathlessly.

“No.” Irina sighed.

Jack walked over and kissed her damp forehead. “I got us a month.” He whispered into her ear.

“What?” Irina gasped.

“I got the director to sign a paper saying that you have a month with the baby before...” But he was cut off by Irina kissing him.

“I would say I love you except that I really hate you right now.” Irina said.

“Why?” Jack asked in surprise.

“Because I forgot how much this hurts!” She winced as she grabbed his hand in a bone crushing death grip.

Jack laughed. “You’re doing great.”

“How would you know? Do you see a baby!” She snapped. He raised an eyebrow at her. “I told you I wasn’t going to be sweet.” She muttered. Jack laughed.

“AH! It’s a good think I’m going to be in prison because I wouldn’t be letting you near me anyway!” Irina whined through another contraction. Jack just laughed. “Don’t laugh at me Bristow.”

“I’m not laughing I swear.” He protested. She glared. “I’m not! But, if memory serves, I wasn’t in here the last time was I?”

“No, you chickened out.... chicken shit.” She muttered. He gaped at her. “I told you I wasn’t nice!”

“Well, you weren’t kidding.” He said as shook his head. “But I will be here this whole time, I promise. Even if you do try to kill me.”

“The thought had crossed my mind.” She said under her breath. He looked at her. “Kidding.” She smiled.

“Oh yes, this is fantastic fun.” Jack rolled his eyes.

“Where’s Sydney?” Irina gritted her teeth through another contraction.

“With the neighbor.” Jack told her.

~*~

“Hey guess what? Having a baby is more painful than getting shot! I’m so glad I can finally admit that.” Irina panted through another contraction.

“When were you shot?!” Jack gasped.

“During recruitment training. Some dumb ass forgot to put their safety on. And then this other time but-” Her story was interrupted by her own scream. The doctor told Irina that she had to push to which Irina gave a very colorful response that shocked the doctor entirely. But, ten minutes later they had their baby girl.

“Oh Jack look, look she has hair.” Irina sobbed when the doctor held up the baby who had a clump of dark hair on her head.

“She’s beautiful.” Jack smiled. “You’re beautiful. I love you.” He said as he kissed her cheek.

“Yeah I love you too.” She sniffed. “But no more children.”

“Okay.” He laughed.

“Here you go Mrs. Bristow. She’s perfect.” The nurse said as she handed Irina the baby. Irina took her gently and cradled her tightly to her chest as the tiny infant wailed.

“Oh she is perfect.” Irina sighed as she held onto one of the baby’s tiny hands. “So perfect.”



Chapter 16

Two days after the birth of Nadia Marie Bristow, her parents brought her home to meet her big sister. Jack held his arm protectively around Irina, who was cradling their child, as they walked into the house.

“Mommy!” Sydney grinned.

“Shh Sydney,” Irina said in a quiet voice. “You don’t want to wake your sister.”

“I wanna see her!” Sydney said, quieter this time.

“Alright.” Irina said as she slowly sat down on the couch next to her daughter and pulled back the blankets from around the infant. Nadia was sleeping peacefully with one of her fists curled around her mother’s finger. “This is Nadia.”

Sydney crawled on her knees over to her mother and sat up slightly so she could see the baby. She scrunched up her face. “She’s funny lookin’.” Sydney proclaimed.

Irina laughed slightly. “She’s a baby. This is how she’s supposed to look. You looked just like her except you didn’t have any hair.”

“Oh.” Sydney grimaced. “Can I hold her?”

“Maybe in a few days sweetie. She’s really delicate right now.” Irina said.

“Okay.” Sydney sighed as she slid off the couch and returned to her coloring. She had lost interest already.

Irina stood up and followed Jack to the nursery they had set up in their guest room using Sydney’s old baby furniture which they had thankfully not thrown away. Irina placed Nadia gently in the crib and made sure she was tucked in tightly before stepping back into Jack’s embrace. She buried her face in his chest and tried not to cry. “It’s going to be ok.” He told her. “I promise.”

“Mmhmm.” Irina said quietly.

“Why don’t you go take a nap, alright? I’ll make sure that Sydney gets her lunch.”

“Okay.” Irina nodded as she walked off towards her bedroom.

Jack took one last look down at his tiny sleeping daughter and smiled before quietly slipping from her room and shutting the door. He found Sydney coloring in the family room and he sat down beside her. “Hi sweetheart.”

“Hi Daddy.” She smiled. “Daddy, do you like the baby?”

“Of course. I love Nadia just like I love you.” Jack said.

“I don’t like her.” Sydney said.

“Why not?”

“She’s boooooring. She doesn’t do anything.” Sydney whined.

Jack chuckled. “Sydney she’s just a baby. She can’t do anything. But in a few months she’ll sit up and start to crawl and talk and then she’ll be very interesting I promise.”

“Okay.” Sydney smiled. “Can Mommy come play with me now?”

“Your mom is really tired and she went to take a nap but I’ll play with you.” Jack said.

“Okay Daddy.” Sydney smiled.

~*~

In the middle of the night Jack awoke to the quiet whimpering of an infant. He noticed that his bed was empty meaning that Irina was already tending to Nadia but he got up anyway to see if she needed anything. As he neared the baby’s room he could hear Irina’s soft humming. He peered in the room and saw Irina rocking the baby gently as she nursed. He just watched them in amazement for almost ten minutes before going back to bed. But as he did he vowed that someway, somehow, not matter what it took his daughters would not grow up without their mother.

~*~

The next two and a half weeks in the Bristow household were rather tense to say the least. Every day when Jack went to work Director Johnson reminded him that his wife had one less day as a free woman which kept Jack on edge. He was researching intensely but he was no closer to finding a solution to their problem. But he was still determined.

Irina had forgotten how amazing it was to take care of an infant but still she couldn’t help but be slightly hesitant. She was already far too attached to her tiny daughter but she didn’t want to be just incase they couldn’t find a way out for her.

Finally with only a week before their deadline was up they could ignore the issue no longer. Jack and Sydney had just watched Irina give Nadia a sponge bath and he was helping her put Nadia back in her pjs when he brought it up. “So I was thinking... I could just go after Yelena myself....”

Irina looked up at him and sighed. “Jack you’ll never find her.”

“But if you tell me-”

“No... without me it’s a suicide mission.” Irina said.

“I’m going Irina. We can’t loose you.” Jack said.

“Then take me.”

“No, Sydney and Nadia need you.” Jack said.

“Jack, if you get killed what will happen? They’ll lock me up and put Sydney and Nadia in an orphanage. If we both go at least we have a shot. It’s our only chance.” Irina said.

Jack sighed, knowing she was right. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“Of course.” Irina said. “I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Jack sighed. “We’ll go tonight. I’ll arrange transportation. Where are we going? Russia?” He asked. Irina nodded.

~*~

It was after midnight and Irina had just finished feeding Nadia. She kissed the head of her child lovingly. “No matter what, I’ll always love you.” Irina whispered as a tear came to here eyes. She made sure the blanket was tightly around Nadia before leaving quietly. After saying the same thing to Sydney who was also sleeping she and Jack slipped from the house and headed for the air field.



Chapter 17

“So.... how’s this going to work?” Jack asked once they were up in the air.

“Well we’re going to start at this warehouse where Yelena used to base her operations. And if she’s not there we’ll have to snoop around a bit more using my contacts.” She said.

Jack nodded. “We may need back up though. I mean, I assume Yelena won’t come willingly.”

Irina smiled. “Of course she won’t. But I know some people we could...” She paused when Jack looked incredibly skeptical. “What? Jack... if you don’t trust me then this isn’t going to work.” She sighed heavily.

“No, I trust you. It’s them I don’t trust.” He said.

“Well I trust them.” She said.

“How can you trust anyone?!” He asked in disbelief.

“How can you?”

“Simple. I don’t.” He smiled.

Irina laughed. “Well that makes sense.”

“Of course.” He smiled. “You know... this could actually be fun, us working together.”

“Fun?” She asked.

“Well... not fun per say but, um-”

“I know what you mean.” Irina smiled.

“We should both get some sleep.” Jack said.

“Yeah ok.” Irina sighed as she curled up on the plane seat with her head on Jack’s shoulder. He put his arm around her and kissed her head before they both drifted off to sleep.

~*~

Once they landed, Irina took control of their operation telling Jack they were in need of weapons and she knew just where to get them. Jack, who was not as familiar with the city of Moscow as he’d have hoped in such a situation, reluctantly relinquished control.

They arrived in a residential neighborhood and began weaving through back yards. “May I ask- where the hell are we?” Jack grunted.

“I grew up here; we’re going to my parent’s house.”

“Why?”

“I told you, we need weapons.” She said.

“I thought you said that your parents would be horrified to find out their daughters are assassins?” Jack sighed.

“Oh they would be. They also never use their cellar.”

“You’re a very scary woman, you know that?”

Irina looked back and smiled at him. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“So what are we going to do just knock on the front door?” Jack asked.

“Of course not.”

“And if they see us?”

“Jack, are you normally this annoying?” Irina asked, half teasing.

“When I’m behind enemy lines, yes, I am.” He told her.

“Here it is.” Irina said as she stopped in the back yard of a small two story home. “I haven’t been here in 15 years...” She sighed.

“Where do your parents think you and your sisters are?” Jack asked cautiously.

“Runaway I suppose. I don’t really know.” Irina sighed. Just then a tall woman in her early sixties burst out of the back door of the house and called out Irina’s name and started chattering on in Russian. Jack had never been more thankful that he knew the language. Within a moment he determined that this was Irina’s mother and she was completely overjoyed to see her youngest daughter after fifteen long years.

“It’s nice to see you too Mom.” Irina smiled.

“Who is this?” Her mother asked, gesturing towards Jack.

“Oh this is....”

“Her husband.” Jack finished for her.

“Husband! When did you get married?”

“Eight years ago.” Irina said quietly.

“Eight years! Irina!” Her mother scolded.

“Sorry Mom.” Irina sighed. Jack smiled at the fact that for the first time Irina looked like she had been taken down a peg from her usually high, proud status.

“Well do you have any children you didn’t tell me about?” Her mother demanded. Irina looked down shamefully. “Irina!”

“Two girls.” Irina told her.

“Well that is certainly good to hear! You’ve made a much better life for yourself than your sisters.” Her mother said disapprovingly.

“Have you talked to them?” Irina asked hopefully.

“Yes! Did you know that your sisters were storing weapons in the cellar?!”

“Damn it. We’re too late” Irina sighed to Jack in English.

“English?! Why are you speaking English?” Her mother demanded.

“No time to explain Mom, I need to find Yelena.”

“Is your sister in trouble?” Her mother’s eyes narrowed.

Irina refused to answer and simply stomped off towards the cellar doors, quickly breaking the lock. Her mother was ranting at her as she disappeared down the steps. Jack just stood aside, entirely confused and slightly worried. “AH! She didn’t take it all! Stupid Yelena!” Irina muttered.

“Irina stop speaking English! You know I don’t understand!” Her mother scolded.

Irina returned from the cellar caring two handguns, a sight to which her mother recoiled greatly. “Irina! What are you doing?!”

“I’m sorry Mom.” She said as she loaded her weapons. “We have to go.”

“Irina stop! You told us you were working for Russia! You were working for the right people! What are you doing? What are your sisters doing? Why are you speaking English?! Why haven’t we seen you in fifteen years?!” Her mother demanded tearfully.

“I’m sorry Mom, I wish I could explain better. All I can say is that I’m working for the right people, I swear I am. I’m protecting my family.” Irina said as she kissed her mother’s cheek and then took Jack’s hand, pulling him back towards the street. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s ok.” Jack lied. “So what now?”

“Well I have no idea why Yelena took the weapons but we need to find Katya.”

“Katya? Why Katya?”

“Because she’s weak. She’s the middle sister; easily swayed. She’ll take us to Yelena.” Irina said. Jack just nodded and followed her.

Half an hour later they were in front of a dingy bar in a side of town Jack didn’t want to be caught dead in, pretty much because ending up there was effectively killing yourself. “Why are we here?” Jack asked, dreading the answer.

“Katya’s sleezy boyfriend owns this place.” Irina said.

“Boyfriend? How do you know they haven’t broken up in 15 years?” Jack asked.

“Well first, it hasn’t been 15 years. Yes, I haven’t been back to Russia since then but, I was still in contact with my handler until nine months ago. Secondly, my handler Alexei was a close friend with Katya’s boyfriend and as of nine months ago they were still together. Trust me they’ve been together through the most absurd things you can imagine; they didn’t break up.” Irina said. They entered the bar and went straight to the back where Irina found a girl around sixteen clearing tables. “Alexandra where is your father?”

“How do you know my name?” The girl asked, sounding afraid.

“Where is your father?” Irina repeated.

“In the back.” She said timidly.

Irina stomped off towards the back, readying her gun. “Hello Viktor.” She smiled coolly.

“I-Irina.” Viktor laughed. “We thought you were dead!”

“That’s nice. Where’s Katya?” Irina asked.

“I don’t know.” He said. Irina roughly grabbed his shirt, pinning him against a wall and pressing the gun barrel to his temple. “Alright! She said she’d be back tonight. She hasn’t seen Alexandra in two months!”

“You’re sure?” Irina asked.

“Yes, I’m sure. She told me to leave the back door unlocked for her.”

“Good.” Irina said as she released Viktor. “Then we’ll be waiting.”

Irina turned to Jack who was just gaping at her in partial shock. She went through her mental rolodex of languages, choosing one that she knew Viktor didn’t understand: French. “We’ll wait for Katya here.” She told Jack.

Jack nodded. “That girl, she’s your niece?” He asked in French.

“Yes.” She nodded.

~*~

Almost five hours they waited around the tiny back table until Katya burst through the back door cursing and complaining on her way. “Hello Sis.” Irina said coolly.

“Irina!” Katya gasped. “My god! We thought you died in the states at the hand of that dreadful husband of yours.”

“No.” Irina smiled coolly.

“Did you escape?” Katya asked.

Irina continued to smile but she nodded towards Jack who had just stood up. “I’d like you to meet my dreadful husband.”

Katya froze and backed towards the door. Irina pulled her gun. “Don’t.”

“What is this?!” Katya demanded.

“Where is Yelena?”

“Why?”

“Tell me where Yelena is. I know you’re working with her.”

Katya’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing Irina?”

“I’ve just been having an interesting chat with Viktor. It seems you haven’t exactly been the best mother, have you Katya?” Irina said in a judging tone. “Interesting since you’ve always been more interesting in doing other’s bidding.”

“Did you hurt Alexandra?”

“Of course not. Unlike you I know what it’s like to love a child therefore I would not hurt another’s child.”

“You speak of that girl you had against your will as if you care.” Katya laughed.

“I did not have her against my will. I wanted my daughters; both of them.”

“Daughters?” Katya asked.

“Yes.”

Katya smiled. “I see. You know your heart has always been your weakness Irina. That’s what Alexei told us. You had fallen in love with this man. You failed to separate your job from your life. Love will destroy you.”

“Interesting how you see that as a weakness. But fitting.” Irina said. “Take me to Yelena.”

“No.” Katya laughed.

“Then I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way.” Irina smiled.



Chapter 18

“What are you doing?” Katya demanded as Irina roughly grabbed her sister’s arms and yanked her towards a stairway behind an old, beat up door.

“You still have that room in the basement, don’t you Katya?”

Katya laughed. “You wouldn’t torture your own sister. You couldn’t.”

“Maybe not, but my husband could.” Irina smiled. Katya looked afraid. Once at the bottom of the stairs Irina kicked open a door but found that the next room was not empty. “Who is this?!” She asked as she gaped at the man tied to the chair in the center of the room.

“My god...” Jack said.

“What?” Irina asked as she looked back to Jack.

“He’s CIA.” Jack said as he rushed to untie the man. “His name is Bill Vaughn. I’ve met him once...”

While being untied Bill awoke and tried to fight his way out. “Who are you?!” he demanded.

“My name is Jack Bristow; we’ve met before.”

“Jack... from the LA office....” Bill said. Jack confirmed. “How did you find me?”

“By accident actually.” Jack said. One Bill was untied he stood up quickly and looked up to Katya who was being held at gunpoint by her sister.

“Who’s that?” Bill asked, gesturing towards Irina.

“Long story.” Irina muttered as she threw her sister down in the chair and tied her up. “So Katya, as long as we’ve got you here and you don’t seem too busy... why do you have this Agent tied up in your basement.”

“It was your job to assassinate him. Though you never really did your job, did you? Don’t think the KGB didn’t know you saved those agent’s lives. Honestly.” Katya laughed. “You’re lucky the let you live so long with the useless intel you were giving them.”

“How did you find him Katya?”

“I have my sources...” She said proudly.

“Wait.” Jack interrupted. “You didn’t tell them?” He asked Irina.

“I didn’t know.” Irina shook her head.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Bill demanded out of confusion.

“She’s former KGB, working with us now.” Jack explained. “Wait, if you didn’t tell her... who did? Agent Vaughn who within the agency knew of your whereabouts?”

“Just the director and-”

“The director...” Jack sighed as he looked at Irina.

“Well at least your husband isn’t as dumb as he looks.” Katya laughed.

“Where is Yelena?” Irina demanded once more. Katya just smirked. “You know Katya you may have a cold, uncaring heart but you do have one weakness. And it’s a fairly obvious one too. You cannot tolerate physical pain.”

Katya squirmed slightly at the mention of this.

“Every time our mother would take us to the doctor when we were children you would scream and cry and wail for hours after he gave you a simple shot.” Irina smiled. “Image a teeny tiny needle – that’s nothing. Imagine what a bullet would feel like Katya. Now I personally can attest to the fact that being shot isn’t as painful as giving birth but... oh yes, that’s right you were completely knocked out on morphine when you had your baby so I guess you wouldn’t know would you. Pity.” Irina said as she took out her weapon and waved it in front of Katya’s face.

“You wouldn’t.” Katya said through gritted teeth.

“You’re

right. I should save this for later.” Irina smiled. Then she found a knife on the table behind her and held it out. “Jack.”

“Wait.” Bill said. “Let me.” Irina handed Bill the knife and stepped aside. “You know, I’m going to enjoy this.” Bill said as he ran the knife lightly across the flesh on Katya’s hand. Katya shuddered.

Five minutes later they had their answer. “I told you she couldn’t stand pain.” Irina smiled as she tied a bandage around her glaring sister’s hand.

“Bill would you mind coming with us? We need to secure Yelena before returning to the states and we could really use your help.” Jack said.

“Of course. It’s the least I can do after you rescuing me. But tell me, why are you doing this? It’s not a family feud I hope.” Bill said.

“No, it’s for our daughters.” Irina told him. Bill looked curious but simply nodded anyway.

~*~

Later that night they had pulled up in front of Yelena’s warehouse with their borrowed truck. Katya was tied in the back, immobilized by a sedative.

“So here’s the plan.” Irina began. “We’ll secure Yelena’s guards and then Yelena. But we have to find evidence of her communications with whatever CIA director it was.”

“Right.” Bill and Jack agreed.

Within minutes of entering the building, all the guards were down and Irina made her way back to her sister’s office. Surprisingly, Yelena was sitting at the desk, almost waiting.

“I was wondering when I’d be seeing you Irina.” Yelena smiled.

“Miss me?” Irina smirked.

“Of course; we’re family. Even if you have betrayed us.” Yelena said coolly. “I see you have two new men I’ve never seen before.” Yelena nodded to Bill and Jack who were standing on either side of Irina, their faces shadowed and unable to be seen.

“Oh you know them, at least one of them.” Irina smiled as she walked forward, raising her gun.

Yelena laughed. “You are far too good to shoot your own sister. I however am not.” Yelena said, drawing her own weapon. In an instant Jack shot Yelena’s leg and Irina knocked her gun away.

“Make sure she can’t get away.” Irina instructed as she began pulling files from Yelena’s desk.

“You two must have one hell of a marriage.” Bill muttered to Jack while they were restraining Yelena.

“Tell me about it.” Jack sighed.



Chapter 19

After securing their cargo (aka the Derevko sisters), Jack, Irina and Bill made their way onto the plane and began sifting through the papers Irina had taken.

“So... are you two ever going to explain what the hell is going on here?” Bill asked impatiently. Jack and Irina exchanged glances and then began their tale, telling Bill enough so that he understood.

“So let me get this straight.” Bill said as he rubbed his forehead. “You’re turning in your own sisters in the hopes of the CIA forgiving your life in prison sentence so that you can be with your daughters?”

“Yes.” Irina said.

Bill laughed slightly. “Well it’s a noble effort but... well, I wish you luck with that.”

“You don’t think it will work?” Jack asked sadly.

“I hope it does.” Bill sighed.

Then they fell into silence as they looked through the papers once more.

“I think I have something.” Irina said. “Andrew Johnson....”

“That’s the Director of the LA office.” Jack said.

“Well it seems Yelena has been paying him a great deal of money.” Irina said as she handed him the paper she was reading.

“It could make sense.” Bill said. “You said he was eager to get your wife in prison right? What if her sister was paying him to get her out of the way or something? She also could have found out the information on my whereabouts from him....”

“Yes.” Jack nodded in agreement. “We have to take this to Langley.”

~*~

They rerouted the plane to Washington and instructed the pilot to contact the CIA and tell them they had extremely valuable and extremely sensitive intel that needed to be discussed and they were able to secure the CIA’s Deputy Director to meet them at the airfield.

“Agent Bristow I do hope you realize the severity of your actions and are willing to accept the consequences of them.” The deputy director boomed once he boarded the plane.

“I’m sorry sir but this is far too important.” Jack said. “This is...”

“Agent Vaughn! The Agency has been searching for you for months!” The deputy director exclaimed.

“I realize that. Agent Bristow and his wife found me.”

“Wife?” The deputy director asked suspiciously as his eyes turned to Irina. “Ah yes, Ms. Derevko I presume.”

“Yes sir.” Irina said.

“Sir, we have in our custody Katya and Yelena Derevko. Both of them have been controlling one of the largest up and coming terrorist organizations around. Also, we have evidence that Director Johnson of the LA office has been communicating with them and selling them secrets and identities of our agents including that of Agent Vaughn.” Jack said.

The deputy director’s eyes widened at this. “Let me see this evidence.” Irina handed him the papers and he examined them. “Where are the Derevko sisters?”

“Tied up in the back.” Irina said.

“I want all of you to come with me, NOW!” The deputy director said sharply.

~*~

The three of them had been sitting in a tiny conference room for almost three hours. Occasionally they would speak a few minutes about their children but mostly they were silent. Finally, the deputy director came in with a few other men. They all stood.

“Well I must say this is excellent work. We have the Derevko sisters in custody. We brought Johnson into custody. We have put a major dent in their operation and we have rescued one of our own. This is superb work Angst Bristow.” The director told him.

“Thank you sir, but I couldn’t have done any of it without Irina’s help.” Jack said as he put an arm around her shoulders.

“Yes well this deserves recognition. I’m prepared to offer you the position as director of the LA branch.”

“Thank you sir but I respectfully decline. I have my own proposal if you don’t mind.” Jack said bravely. The director looked curious but he nodded for Jack to continue. Jack took a deep breath. “Sir my wife and I orchestrated this in hopes of bargaining with the CIA... our original intention was to turn over the Derevko sisters and their operation to you and the development about Johnson was entirely unexpected... you see my wife is scheduled to be taken into custody in two days and...” Jack paused when the director’s face hardened.

“Sir, if I could.” Bill interjected. All the attention in the room turned their focus on him. “When I was being held captive by Katya Derevko I thought about what would happen to my family. I have a son a few years older than their daughter and I kept wondering what it would be like for him to grow up with out his father. I felt horrible and I don’t think any child should have to suffer that if they have the chance not to. I was with them on this operation and Irina was imperative to its success. She is a good person.” Bill said.

The director sighed as he turned his gaze from Bill to the other couple in the room who had their arms around each other. He knew what Bill had said was true for he had children of his own. “You drive a hard bargain Bristow.” The director said gruffly. “But Ms. Derevko has proven her worth by turning in her own sisters so... very well, she may have a pardon agreement but there will be conditions mind you.”

A smile broke across Jack’s face. “Thank you sir.”

“Thank you.” Irina smiled as well.

“Yes... you’re welcome. We’ll talk about the agreement further in a few days. For now I need to go to LA and sort this mess out and I’m sure the three of you are anxious to return to your families. There is a plane waiting for us.” The director said as he left the room.

“Thank you, thank you so much.” Irina said to Bill.

Bill smiled. “It was my pleasure.”



Chapter 20

The flight to LA was filled with much happier chatter than the previous flight they had taken together. They spoke more about their children and their lives in Los Angels. When they landed, Bill was hardly off the plane before there was a short, blonde woman flinging herself at him. Irina and Jack just stood back and watched.

“Bill what happened? They told me they didn’t know where you were.” She sniffed.

“I’m ok Amelia.” Bill said as he kissed her softly.

“Okay.” She nodded tearfully.

“Oh! I’m sorry. This is my wife Amelia and this is Jack and Irina. They’re the ones that found me.” Bill told his wife.

“Oh thank you so much!” Amelia said as she pulled Irina into a semi-awkward hug.

“You’re welcome.” Irina laughed as she hugged the woman back. Then they said their goodbyes and parted ways as they went home to their children.

~*~

“MOMMY!” Sydney screeched the second her mother walked into the house.

“Hello sweetheart.” Irina said as she scooped up her daughter and hugged her tightly. “Were you a good girl for Mrs. White?”

“Yes but Nadia wasn’t.”

“She wasn’t? What was Nadia doing?” Irina asked.

“Screaming allllll night.” Sydney groaned.

“Oh dear.” Irina sighed as she set her daughter down and walked back to the nursery. “Hello sweetheart.” She said softly to Nadia as she lifted the tiny baby from her crib. Nadia stirred slightly and snuggled closer to her mother’s warm body while Irina sat down in the rocking chair.

“Daddy.” Sydney whined.

“Yes sweetheart?” Jack asked.

“Where did you go?”

“Well your mother and I went out on a very important assignment.” Jack explained.

“I missed you.” Sydney said as she hugged one of Jack’s legs.

“I missed you too Sydney. Come here.” Jack said as he picked her up and carried her back to Nadia’s room. Sydney clambered down and walked over to the rocking chair, looking down at her sister.

“She’s quiet.” Sydney said almost in surprise.

Irina smiled. “Yeah.”

“She missed you I think.” Sydney said. Irina just smiled. “Mommy are you going to leave us again?”

Irina glanced up at her husband who was smiling down at her and then she looked back to her daughter. “No sweetie, I’m never leaving. I promise.”

~*~

The conditions of Irina’s pardon agreement were simple. She was no longer to contact anyone from the KGB or her family and if necessary, the CIA could call upon her for intel they needed or thought she could provide. That was all. Jack was promoted to the director of the LA office simply because there was no one else more qualified or willing to do the job than he was. He was actually thankful for this because it meant that he wouldn’t have to be out in the field risking his life. While field work was his first love, it simply wasn’t worth the risk to his family anymore.

In those months following their return from Russia, Jack and Irina were happier than they had ever been in their lives. It was one night that Jack awoke and had difficulty falling back to sleep that he came to a realization while watching his wife sleep peacefully. If he had failed to forgive her for the things she had done then he would have ended up betraying his own heart.



Epilogue

“Mom, what time is it?” Seventeen year old Nadia asked.

“Um, its one thirty.” Irina told her.

“What time is Sydney coming with her lover?”

“LOVER?!” Jack interrupted. “Irina!”

Irina looked to her daughter who was snickering. “Nadia Marie stop getting your sister into trouble when she’s not here to defend herself.”

“Sorry.” Nadia laughed. “When is Syd coming with the mystery boyfriend?” She said dramatically.

“Four.” Irina said.

“Good, I still have time to get ready after my run then.” Nadia said.

“Lover...” Jack muttered under his breath. “How long has she been dating this boy anyway?”

“Umm I think Sydney said their four month anniversary was last week.” Nadia told them.

“FOUR MONTHS?!” Jack practically screeched. “How come she didn’t say anything?!”

“Well that’s the point of a secret relationship Dad.” Nadia said. “I mean if I was dating a cowoker...”

“COWORKER?! She’s dating an AGENT?!” Jack gasped. Nadia nodded. “How do you know this?!”

“She tells me.” Nadia shrugged.

“Irina did you know about this?!”

“Well... she told me she was dating an agent but I didn’t know it was four months...” Irina said.

Jack sighed exasperatedly and threw down his newspaper. “How come I am the only one that knows nothing?!”

“Because you’d over react... like you’re doing now.” Irina smiled.

Jack gave her a look. “Is there anything else I should know? I mean are they shacking up too?”

“Shacking up? Dad...” Nadia laughed.

“But! ARGH!” Jack gave a frustrated grunt.

Nadia just laughed as she jogged out of the house while cramming headphones over her ears.

“Jaaack.” Irina said soothingly. “Relax.”

“I can’t. Some boy has been dating my daughter for four months without my knowledge! He could be a criminal!”

Irina laughed. “He’s one of your agents; that’s impossible.”

“Maybe he’s a bad Agent... maybe he’s...”

“Her partner?” Irina suggested.

“Do you know that?!” Jack asked.

“No.” She laughed. “Simply guessing because I thought her partner was male.”

“I think she hates her partner... she tried to kill him once...” Jack said.

“You’re kidding?” Irina half gasped-half laughed.

“Oh yeah it was in the gym – she beat the living hell out of him.” Jack asked.

“That’s our girl.” Irina smiled.

“Yeah.” Jack smiled back. “But who is it...”

“Jack Bristow quit obsessing.” Irina scolded.

“Why? I have over two hours left to obsess.” He smirked. Irina rolled her eyes. “I still can’t believe she didn’t tell us.”

“She didn’t want to give you a chance to polish your gun.” Irina smiled. Just then a light bulb went on in Jack’s head and showed on his face. “DON’T! No guns at the dinner table. That’s the rule.” Irina said.

“But what if he’s-”

“Jack, she’s twenty four. She’s perfectly capable of making her own decisions. Besides you need to reserve judgment until you actually meet him.” Irina said.

“Fine.” He grunted and then he walked off.

“Where are you going?”

“To obsess...”

~*~

“They should be here by now!”

“Dad, chill out.” Nadia sighed as she played with her hair.

“It’s after four!” Jack said as he paced the kitchen.

“It’s 4:03.” Irina sighed.

“Oh I think that was a car door.” Nadia said.

“It’s about time!”

“Mom? Dad?” Sydney called from the front door.

“Back here.” Irina said.

“Good.” Sydney smiled as she appeared with her boyfriend in tow. “I think you already know him but... this is Michael Vaughn.”

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