This is a story about Jacks devotion to Sydney- how he feels about being the father of a CIA agent. He is forced to watch his daughter in action and the consequences of that will resonate for many stories to come. This would occur
Before Diane died in season 2.
Its my first fanfic of any kind so please let me know what you think

DISCLAIMER- I don’t own, didn’t invent any characters or any part of Alias.
The show its characters and its storyline all belong to JJ Abrams and ABC
This is just me- making up an adventure that borrows some of these characters
Purely in the sprit of fan FICTION

BRENDA L. WOOD

A Father’s Fear

CHAPTER 1

Jack Bristow stood at the doorway to her room- he couldn’t bring himself to enter just yet

She was his whole life – had been from the moment she was born, and now she was nearly dead- put through more physical and emotional torture than anyone could ask a human being to withstand.

Despite his fear of her almost certain death, despite his anger at Sloane – he was overcome with pride at how strong a character, a resolve – his daughter possessed.

(6 weeks earlier)

Jack had actually had a good time- he couldn’t say it- but Sydney could tell
She was amazed at how far he had come in the past year- he could smile occasionally, and tonight- he had actually laughed.

The Bristow’s along with Vaughn, Marcus and Diane had all gone out to dinner at a casual restaurant- and Diane had even managed to convince Jack to wear the outfit that had shown up at his office that morning. Khaki’s, loafers, a casual deep red shirt- Jack felt ridiculous at first- but when he saw everyone else in

Similar garb he remembered his promise to himself to relax to try and interact a little with others. Not everyone was Lau- Irina, and he wanted to keep an eye on Sydney and Vaughn. So after steak, French fries (of all things), salad and a good red wine- Jack sat back and watched as the two couples smiled, laughed.
He saw how attentive Michael Vaughn was to Sydney- a hand on her shoulder
Gently rubbing her back – or holding her hand- looks of love passed between the two. As much as he realized the absurdity of their lives- he realized that Vaughn truly loved Sydney- and Sydney- he looked at her face and saw at once the little girl of the past and the woman of the future. She was genuinely happy.
Jack understood that this relationship was safe- good, what any father should want for his child. He leaned back in his chair and reflected on some advice Dr. Barnett had given him recently. He needed to let his daughter be happy.


Maybe it was the wine- or the late summer night or both- but Jack was actually smiling – a little- afterwards the others wanted ice cream- but Jack begged off- how much progress could he make in one night? But he pulled Sydney aside and thanked her- and then he was rewarded by a quick hug and of all things- a kiss. That hadn’t happened in – in – since she was 6. Before.

good keep writing :)

Good start. Please post more soon.

very good, please continue, and if you're sending out pm's could i have one?

This is brilliant! I was waiting for it but now...now I want more! MORE!!!!

Thanks everyone

I was hoping it would be well received- I want to make it a good stroy- one that I would love read - and one of my biggest pet peeves are stories that are started- brought to a climax and then abandoned by the author.

I will not do that to you. If for some reason I start something and can't finish it- i will at least post to that effect. ( story dead someone take over etc)

I will update with Chapter 2 soon- sometime this weekend - and then a chapter a week -on average.

I don't know how to PM yet but if soemone explains it to me I will give it a try

Brenda

Oh and how do I get a sidebar with a picture and all of that fancy extra stuff some of you have ( LOL at me - ms naive)

go to the "My Controls" link at the top of the page. That will bring up a page where you can customize your avatar and signature, etc.

Interesting start. I look forward to see the next chapter.

Ok this is a test to see if my avatar works if it doesn't I will try agian tomorrow

LOL

Brenda

chapter 2 will be up today or tomorrow

Brenda

:D It's a very nice start. You have a feel for the father daughter angst that Jack has and a good feel for his character. Looking forward to your next addition. B)

Hi everyone

Thanks for the feedback

Chapters 2 to 4 are ready but they need proofing so I will get them up here tomorrow- Monday Sept 8th


Thanks guys

Brenda

Come people, let's rally!

What do we want?
NEW CHAPTER
When Do we want it?
NOW!

What do we want?
NEW CHAPTER
When Do we want it?
NOW!

What do we want?
NEW CHAPTER
When Do we want it?
NOW!

Hip-hip-Hoorah! New chapter on the horizon...I'm getting excited, this really is some dang good stuff!!! Go Leaves go!

Here is the next installment Hope you like it- I had fun writing it

brenda - (Disclaimer still applies- )

CHAPTER 2


The facts were pretty simple, even if the implications were not.

Jack had studied law, game theory and engineering sciences at university – followed by an entry level position in the US government analysis division- soon recruited to the CIA. He had lived a simple solitary life – devoting himself to work and keeping US secrets safe. An only child Jack had grown up in West Virginia- a quiet farming existence- with only time for friends and fun when he wasn’t busy helping his father. He wasn’t classically handsome and his parents had not believed in teaching their son about anything frivolous or dreamlike. His dad was a farmer who sat down at night to watch game shows and the news. His mother – a housewife- who cleaned mended and cooked. He knew they loved him and one another- and Jack had never lacked for anything he needed. But he had never been taught to dream to laugh for no reason to share a joke or to socialize for the sheer pleasure of human contact. At school – he saw the other kids – laugh and play and even get into trouble but Jack never really fit into that. He honestly couldn’t see the use for any of it. He tried a few times- but usually was left on the sidelines. The girls found other boys more handsome, and football had never been his thing.

Jack grew strong in body from tending to the livestock, baling hay, plowing. His mind grew strong form his books and his natural ability to understand gaming theory and how things worked. Scholarship to Harvard had taken him away. And while his parents were still alive- retired now- Jack never spoke of, or visited them.

In college Jack had a few girlfriends- but nothing serious. They were serious, classic girls who wanted a stable husband - their MRS. Degree. To marry a lawyer or an accountant; to be housewives who spoke to each other and redecorated the guest room and took their babies to the park. Jack wanted something different. No idea what he wanted but that was not it. He would be a bachelor – he figured and so much the better.

She just materialized one morning. Laura – masters’ student in literature was just there- new to the apartment complex. Born in Russia, no family here- sent to live with a family friend at 18 to pursue an education and life away from cold war Russia. She was shapely, exotic, charismatic, opinionated and for the life of him Jack did not understand why he was so drawn to her.

Jack learned to laugh, to spend Saturday afternoon in the park by the lake- picnicking, he went to the movies and held her tight while her eyes filled with tears at romances and heartbreak. He listened to her beautiful European lilt as she read poetry to him. And he was there when she began teaching at the university.- bringing a passion into the eyes of her students- - unlike anything he had ever seen before.

That winter he caught pneumonia while on a mission- and when he returned home- he was overwhelmed by her concern about- about HIM. She moved him into her apartment- and called him in sick to work (of all things) she filled his prescriptions, made him soup and helped him to the shower. Jack had never had anyone take care of him like this and his wonderment that she cared for him, his safety his health his feelings. Jack felt akin to the Grinch in the old Dr Seuss books- his heart was growing a little each day.

He was proud of her, fiercely protective, and to his amazement- deeply in love. One night he waited for her- at the library- and when she walked in an hour late with a bruise on her cheek- explaining how one of her students had waylaid her and thinking that she loved him- had attempted to attack her. Livid Jack had wanted to kill the bastard, but she convinced him not to – and that evening – he stayed at her apartment watching her sleep- thinking about how his life would be without her. He understood that he needed her- and that she needed him.

Within they year they were married – and soon after Sydney A Bristow came into the world healthy, beautiful and to his delight – she had his eyes. She was a strong thoughtful little girl who looked just like Laura.

Two years after she was born Jack was transferred to the Los Angeles bureau.
Other than the fact that he was a covert agent for the CIA – their lives were typically normal. Laura was happy to teach part-time at UCLA. Evening classes
so jack could have time with Sydney. Some evenings Laura would be more talkative about her classes than others. Some evenings she was very quiet when they lay in bed- Jack worried momentarily about an affair- but she laid those ideas to rest without him even bringing the subject to light. His missions went well, and he came home to a loving family. Sure there were occasional arguments- but money was never an issue- all in all the Bristows were well off
the envy of the neighbourhood.

The only secret Jack knew of- was his job- and that was only a secret from Sydney. Laura had hinted very early in their relationship that she knew he was more than an analyst- that “big quiet men with boring jobs’ likely had jobs as secret agents, and surprisingly he had told her. She said nothing about it- told him that she loved him and to be careful. One evening in fact- several evenings in fact- Arvin and Emily Sloane had come to the house to dine with the Bristow’s and vice versa, Emily was taken with Sydney and Arvin thought she was a polite and smart girl. The Sloanes couldn’t have children- so they doted on Sydney. In fact jack and laura went to Prague together for a few days and Emily and Arvin took care of Sydney.

The only criticism Laura had of the Sloanes was Emily’s ignorance of what Arvin did for a living. I figured out what you did years ago- she intoned as they undressed for bed. How Emily can not know- thinking Arvin has just been asked to run a bank. Jack himself wasn’t sure about this new development. He an Arvin had discussed the alliance of 12 and how Arvin felt that the CIA was not at all what he thought it would be. Arvin was going to turn on his country- and Jack was supposed to join him. Jack was preparing to become a double agent. This he had not told his wife. He sensed danger was coming. He was a little afraid for himself—if he was caught how would his family do? Laura had no family- and Sydney- well he supposed as long as she was with her mother she would be safe. At 6 she was still very much daddy’s girl- but she was less of a tomboy now and more interested in things her mother said and did. Jack missed his “best friend”. But now with this new development at work maybe it was better that Sydney was so close to Laura.

He did not have any idea how wrong he was.

That winter held the worst day of any of their lives. That horrible rainy day when Jack had to tell his daughter that their family was only two. That Mommy had been killed in a car accident. The car had slipped on an icy road- it had been just cold enough that morning for the road to freeze and she had taken a request from a colleague to teach his class. The phone call had come quickly and despite jack’s insistence that he drive her in- she had not wanted Sydney to have to go out- as she was recovering from a cold. Both of them had kissed her good bye- and she disappeared form his life as quickly as she had entered it.
The car had slipped into the river and she was gone.

It was the first time he felt truly broken. She had the safe life the quiet life- He was the one who risked life and limb for national security and here he was – a widower. He was numb as he held his daughter on his lap and explained what had happened. Then he had to chase after Sydney as she bolted from the room- in only her pajamas- out into the rain. “MOMMY MOMMY” she had screamed. Jack scooped her up into his arms and both of them clung together in the cold California rain.

No one realized it but Sydney lost both of her parents that day.

CHAPTER 3

A/N : Disclaimer still applies hope you readers like my work.
Chapter 4 in progress.
Brenda


“Jack”

He turned around to see Michael Vaughn standing before him. The young man looked as beaten as he felt. “Jack”
“Can I get you a coffee?” Jack shook his head no. He said instead- I need a minute with her- and Vaughn nodded and turned back towards the lounge.


Jack steeled himself and entered the private hospital room
Sydney lay so still her hair fanned out on the pillow, Monitors and tubes everywhere
“My god “ he uttered aloud “what have they done to my girl?”
Brusquely he picked up her chart and he stood there silently reading the preliminary report- and what he read chilled him right through.

In layman’s terms she was severely dehydrated - she was malnourished, she had cuts and bruises everywhere jack could see. Her left shoulder was dislocated, her right arm broken
Her ribs smashed, her right lung punctured.

One bullet had missed her heart by millimeters, she had lost so much blood it was a miracle she was still alive. The side of her head was swollen- indicating blunt force trauma and immense swelling. Another gunshot wound through her right thigh, and her right hip made it three bullets.

He looked into her face- and if he didn’t know those dimples- it would have been nearly impossible to say she was Sydney.

Dimples – she was awake and she was attempting to smile

“dad?”

He sat next to her and said quietly “I am here honey”

“Dad- is Vaughn OK? “ She struggled to get the words out
“Dixon –“ she coughed a little and winced

“shh Sydney – everyone is fine – but you.”

“dad I am fine.”

Damn it he thought to himself – she would say that. He felt her fingers grasp for his hand and he let her- he didn’t want to injure her by forcing or preventing anything she felt she could do. Her touch was so light. “Dad I am gonna take a nap OK “ the words were whispered but he could understand her. “Sydney I will be right here” “good” she fell asleep and Jack put his head down on the side of the bed next to her . he closed his eyes
And for the first time in a long time Jack prayed. …
-

He remembered each time he had been in the hospital with her

The first time was on her birthday- and that visit had been joyous. He had entered the hospital with a pregnant wife and left as a father.

He second time was when she was nearly 6 – they had gone camping and she had
Climbed the trail ahead of her parents- and she slipped – falling about 40 feet down the mountainside. He recalled how afraid he had been that day- racing down the slop after her – picking her up and carrying her back to the car- Laura beside him all the way
Her broken leg had healed quickly but Jack was sure he had gone grey all at once that afternoon.

When he found out she had become a tutor in high school- to inner city kids in a seedy neighbourhood – he had worried. The afternoon the reading center she worked in was torched by a gang member- he had been in the crowd scanning everywhere for her face,
And when he heard one of the kids say that Syd – the teacher was inside helping get everyone out – he had wanted to slam his head into a brick wall. She had emerged a few minutes later, disheveled , with a few cuts. scratches and burns; and a child on either side of her. A hero the paper said, Jack didn’t disagree but he wondered how much more he could take. Alcohol helped – in that it numbed him – for a few hours.
He could not understand how she could be in danger – when he discovered Laura’s betrayal- the fact that her entire life in the US with him and Sydney had been a lie- he had distanced himself from his daughter to keep her safe.

God only knew where Laura was- if she had really died that day- and what superiors of hers at the KGB what enemies, of hers and of his – what they could do to Sydney.

So he let nannies raise her and he stayed away. It kept her safer- and he couldn’t be hurt so badly if anything did hurt her because he was trying to erase the love- the bond they shared, as she grew though- he found himself loving more and hurting more.

She grew to be an amazing young woman- with grades and a mind to get her into any school in the country. She stayed out of trouble- no drugs or any of the other nonsense other teenagers seemed to distract themselves with. She raised herself and she did a very good job of it too. They spoke once in a while- through email or on the phone but she was cool with him.
She thought he sold airplane parts- and that her mom’s death had taken away his only reason for loving her- she figured she reminded him of Laura and without her Sydney wasn’t a person- just an obligation to be fed to uphold the Bristow name or some such thing. She toyed with the idea of going all punk – trashing her life to get back at him- but then she realized that she would only be hurting herself because- she reasoned- he didn’t give a damn about her- and she wanted her mother in heaven- to be proud.

When she was approached to work for the CIA (or so she thought) Sydney had decided that she could learn to do that- she was perfect for it- no family to hurt by her death- no one to care what she did. Krav Maga made her feel powerful. Literature classes at school made her feel empowered. Learning different languages gave her a freedom to travel the world as an independent citizen- belonging everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

The agency was pleased with her- and she advanced quickly

Jack had just returned form a year long assignment in Vienna when he saw her leave Sloanes office. He shook his head, he was imagining things, but when he entered the area a minute later he could smell Laura’s perfume- and with a sick dread he pulled up some files on the computer.

New recruits- Sydney Bristow SD-6

She was more of a target now than if he had trained a gun on her himself.

He pulled her file and was horrified by it. This isn’t happening- he needed a drink.
He saw what she had been doing- he saw pictures of her- read injury reports, read her reports of what she had seen and done. Christ when he was her age he was just starting to work as an actual analyst in game theory. He couldn’t even imagine being an agent at 20
Hell he had been but a sophomore with a part time job grading papers at 20. He wasn’t even at the CIA yet !

His daughter was obviously much more capable than he had ever given her credit for.
And he understood that there was nothing he could do to keep her safe, In fact by pulling away from her he had opened her up to this career path. For a game theorist he was ashamed of himself. How could he not have seen this?

Think Jack Think - how can you get her out of this?
And he realized that Arvin Sloane had set this up on purpose.

He hated Laura for starting this- but by God he would make Arvin pay for this.
He just wasn’t sure how….

Jack felt her move slightly and he started- he realized she was still asleep and Thank God asleep and not dead. He looked at her morphine levels and antibiotic dosage and was comforted – slightly- that for the moment she was unable to feel any physical pain.

He needed to understand what had happened on this mission, so he went into the hallway to find Vaughn.

Did you do a complete profile on Jack before you started writing this? I have one on IRina from birth to the KGB. Then one on her training with the KGB.
THis is best way, I think, to set your characters and stories up. :D
Congratulations on the start of this story. It's well done.
:wave:
Thanks for the pm.
B)

I :D :D like i like. Keep writing.

What did we get?
NEW CHAPTER!
When did we get it?
THEN!

Amazing stuff! A brilliant and smooth read, it didn't take a lot of effort to find out what you meant, which shows you have a gift for communication! Your story is excellent, and I really enjoy reading this! You are bringing Jack to life, and it's great!

What do we want?
NEW CHAPTER
When Do we want it?
NOW! (or as soon as you can post it, but we prefer now :) )

Chapter 4

(instead of doing a recap of Vaughn’s thoughts here I decided to voice this chapter as if it was actually happening and to give you readers a bit of humour to break up the angst and such- the next chapter gets back in to the meat of the story- with recaps of mission specs and more angst)

Brenda

The heat and humidity were unbearable. Dixon swore, “This is worse than the time we came to Argentina to look for that first Rambaldi book”

Sydney grinned- "come on Dixon- it beats freezing in the arctic- or – well it beats the arctic!" Dixon looked over at her and smiled “yeah I guess it does- only promise me Anna Espinoza isn’t going to show up and shoot me again or I could get real paranoid about South America”

Sydney laughed. The two of them were hiking though some jungle in Brazil- she had lost track really because there had been so many hikes through so many jungles- but with the sun above the foliage to provide shade and the fact that she was actually getting fresh air as opposed to some op in a smoky club in Moscow- she was going to make the best of this.

“Hey I bet I can sweat off 10 pounds”

“ Syd is it time for us to check in with HQ”

“Yeah actually- it is “ she pulled out the sat comm. And entered the code

“Boy scout here” “boy scout, it's freelancer and poppa bear- we’re about 2 hours outside of Calleja’s compound- we’ll check in once we arrive – freelancer out”

“Copy that freelancer- and be careful”

Sydney hung up and rolled her eyes. Honestly between Michael and her father these days she was hearing those two words so often she thought they must be tattooed on her forehead,

Dixon could sense her frustration

They both love you- you know

I know she said and its sweet really and I love them but I am just not used to this-- attention- is that the right word?

I know kid – why else am I letting you get away with calling me Poppa bear’ How came you and jack don’t get sent out on missions together?

She laughed “ I think its because Kendall is secretly afraid of that whole family spy thing we have going on” My god I am the only person in the universe who can say that huh?.

“The trip to India with your parents was successful” he reminded her

“Yeah but dad was worried about me- that is why he came- he wanted to make sure that my mother wouldn’t hurt me or compromise the operation. But mostly to protect me. “
He won’t admit it but inside he is a typical dad I guess- “ Sydney smiled as she vocalized this. “ all the things I am complaining about now I actually like it that he cares , that he loves me” she started to blink back tears and she shielded her face with her hair so Dixon couldn’t see.



“I guess if I was sitting In LA and my dad was out here – and Vaughn wasn’t in Rio safe in some hotel room- I guess I would be saying it too” She grinned “Our official motto should be ”be careful””

Dixon chortled- “sure Syd I’ll have Marshall commission up a batch of T shirts”

The idea of her dad, Kendall and all those other stuffy office types- in T-shirts with Be careful emblazoned on the back – she dissolved into a fit of giggles. It was a long time since she had laughed like that. Dixon just waited for her and shook his head
“You are a real nut job ms Bristow- but it's good to see you laugh”

After a few minutes she looked down at her watch- OK time to get serious- we have a long week ahead of us. God a week inside this place. I am so going to the spa with Francie when I get home.

For the next hour or so they hiked in silence each thinking about their upcoming roles in this latest attempt to stop Sloane .

[/QUOTE]

You could call this BE CAREFUl. Nice piece of humor.

Cute! It would be nice if we see another spy family thing this next season. I love seeing Jack and Irina together with their daughter. That might happen so keep your fingers X'd :rolleyes:

At last, he loves me! Sydney realizes it, at least in your fic. Now for the real Alias thing will she realize that BOTH parents love her?

[QUOTE]“Our official motto should be ”be careful””

Dixon chortled- “sure Syd I’ll have Marshall commission up a batch of T shirts”

The idea of her dad, Kendall and all those other stuffy office types- in T-shirts with Be careful emblazoned on the back – she dissolved into a fit of giggles[QUOTE]

Another nice piece of humor. I really liked it. :wub: Keep it up. :D

B)

Now I'm laughing! This really is funny stuff! But now for the angst! *rubs hands together* *FLASH* *K. Reappears wearing a uniform with CIA on the chest, and BE CAREFUL on the back* *Shakes Pom Poms*

Ready? OKAY! *bunch of ppl jump out from behind bleachers and cover K's mouth with Duct tape*

Sorry about that episode...but this is so good, I really don't think I can help it!

K :P
Your Unofficial Cheerleader ;)

really really good, i am so loving this and the be careful on t-shirts thing,lol, i'm still laughing. could you please pm me next time you update?

her is chapter 5
disclaimer still applies

let me know what you think

Chapter 6 is almost finished

Chapter 5


“Agent Vaughn” Jack strode up to his side in the waiting room of the ICU at this private hospital in Rio. I want answers. My daughter is assigned to a mission I disapprove of and then she goes missing- not for a few hours or a few days but for 5 weeks. Then yesterday I get a call telling me she is here in critical condition. I demand to know what the Hell Happened!

“Jack I don’t know much more” Vaughn spoke pleadingly. " The CIA has the girl in for questioning and she isn’t talking until we get there- All she will tell us is that she is Calleja’s daughter and she found Sydney and brought her here”

Jack turned to the nurse at the closest monitoring station and said “ We will be away for a couple of hours. Keep my daughters morphine drip and antibiotics at whatever level she needs to remain comfortable, if her condition changes at all CALL ME”
That was better – he had some semblance of control again- the young nurse was cowering so he must be sounding like himself.


They rode to the holding warehouse in a small black Mercedes.
The younger agent began updating Jack as they drove.
“Dixon is back in LA recovering. He was missing for a week and as you know when he was returned to us- he remembered very little, he had been hit from behind and kept in a cell alone for a few days. After that he was shot in the leg and left to bleed to death in the jungle. The CIA sweeper chopper that day just happened to catch sight of him moving in the brush.
He is trying to remember but all he knows his that Slaone showed up a the compound- he tried to warn Syd but it didn’t happen. They were all taken to another location in the heart of the jungle and then he and Syd were separated. Then they let him go.

Vaughn reflected bitterly “A week long stay at this compound to recover stolen archaeological pieces from Calleja’s Collection. Pictures of his files and other pertinent info that could lead us to sloane-
All under the guise of being archaeologists searching for information about Ramabaldi. They were posing as a Professor and his intern, they were taking a week to study Calleja’s information, and to venture out into the rainforest to look for more potential finds”. He paused. “ That’s all it was a simple recon mission “

They drove in silence then – each wondering what this young woman could tell them.

Jack thought about the past 5 weeks as the scenery flashed by. It was a couple of days after the dinner with Dixon and Dianne- Kendall had called everyone in to assign this new mission- and even though Jack was against it- Sydney and Dixon had been selected as the team to take this op. She had stopped by his office in her way out and said “ don’t worry dad- I’ll check in with you. “
"Don’t be ridiculous Sydney" he had dismissed her “ it is a simple recon mission go in be professional and get out just be careful” My objection is simply that any agent out for a week is gone toolong for a reconaissance mission. I'll see you when you get back."

She hadn’t believed him for a second of course. She had entered the office and come right to his desk and looked him in the eye,
“Dad I am getting to know you better and I have to say that clenched jaw – it doesn’t fool me," with that she left the office but not before adding

“believe it or not I worry about you”

and then she was gone.

he knew the flight had gone well and they had set up in Rio with all the op tech needed and all the necessary documentation to prove they were Carl Smithson and Diane Peters
they had hiked in and the first few days had been non eventful. He had actually started to anticipate her return when Vaughn contacted him

“Sydney missed her call in today”

Damnit he had thought.

Still in his typical Jack manner this is what he said to Vaughn “ Of course she missed her call in - it has been almost a week and the jungle is dense- of course the signal is jammed just go pick her up at the extraction point. And if she lost the comm. Link I will make sure she is reprimanded."
Then he hung up on Vaughn.

It was easy to be the angry disciplinarian. Especially since she had pulled that stunt to rescue Neil Caplan last winter. Thank god she had called Vaughn in to help her or – well he couldn’t think about that now. Then she had come to him – demanding that any and all punishment be directed her way for that stunt. He had let her off with a warning.
But as soon as she left his sight- he had let go of his worry and realized the good that had come of her actions and he knew then as he did now that he would have a hell of a time actually following through on one of his managerial threats. Mostly because he knew she would accept it, just like when she was little. He remembered when the first call had come from the school. :” Sydney had been in a fight” Jack had seen the torn shirt and the black eye and whenhe found out she had slugged a 4th grader over some injustice to another child- he had no clue what to say. Laura had been plenty upset for both of them but it was sysdney who had interrupted them all saying- “todd and I fought and we aren’t supposed to. I should have told the yard teacher what was happening to Pamela instead of jumping on him. Biting her lip she had then asked if she wa going to be expelled from school.
Her teacher- trying very hard to look deadly serious- but that Sydney had to stay afterchool for week and it would be a good idea if her mommy and daddy had a little talk with her at home.
Well "Mommy" had decided that Sydney should go to bed early every night for that same week and write a small essay about controlling her temper.. Sydney didn’t protest once. She did tell Jack very wisely- that she was glad she had stopped Todd from hitting little Pamela- and if it meant she got in trouble well that didn’t matter so much.

This kind of thing continued all through her childhood. She had inherited a sense of right and wrong and a hell of a temper to back it up. Jack hadn’t known whether to strangle her or ask the city of LA to give her a medal, and he was secretly glad the nannies had to handle most of it. It was easy to give all of that control to the nannies- because he could see that her need to help those in trouble- at whatever cost to herself- was going to get her hurt someday- and he couldn’t deal with that. Deal him out of this game. "If I don’t play teh game then it doesn’t exist" had been his thinking, and he was coming to understand that as her Dad no matter what hand he dropped- he was still the biggest player at her table. .

So when she hadn’t been at the extraction point and then when Dixon was found
Jack had been frantic, he had flown to Rio not once taking his eyes of his cell phone. To hell with being a manager, with being an agent- those were just tools he would employ to help him with his most important job- being Sydney’s father.

I like the background you're giving on the characters.

i really really enjoyed reading this and that last chapter is so sweet, i hope i get to read more soon and thank you very much for the pm.

Chapter 6

(Disclaimer still applies)

They pulled up to a small storefront- just a gas station in the middle of nowhere – a lone pump outside and inside a few imported American sodas and chocolate bars. Through the back room they entered another world- a dark air conditioned CIA standard issue office- a barren one – with a table a few hard chairs and the requisite bad coffee brewing. Even if this were Colombia there would be bad coffee; it wasn’t a CIA office without horrid coffee. Through two security doors Jack and Vaughn entered an interrogation room.

Sitting at the table was a young Brazilian woman. “Hola” she said – in a voice clear and sweet she continued in English “ You are Sydney’s boss yes?
I am Marisa – I am the one who took her to the hospital is she OK”
They ( she indicated the standard issue CIA suits in the office) told me her bosses would be coming. Is she getting better? I came home early from my trip and I learned about the girl. I am so sorry about what my father and his men did to her. I only knew about sydney for a few days or I would have done something sooner I assure you"

Quietly Vaughn said “ we don’t know exactly what happened to Agent Bristow. She went missing 5 weeks ago all we know is she is critically injured” tears sprung to his eyes but he wouldn’t let them fall.

Marisa nodded “ She seems like a very special person. She saved the life of her colleague” at this Jack and Vaughn looked at one another.

“this man Sloane- he says that the man and Sydney they have betrayed him and they are not archaeologists- they are spies for the CIA and they will make sure my father goes to jail. My father has his guards take them to his hide out- where he ships his drugs and other stolen items” Marisa had a disgusted look on her face. She looked imploringly at the men in front of her, “Please do not judge me as I am sure you do these men- I do not like what my father does- but I have no way to stop him- until now- this man says if I testify your government will keep me safe and my father will go to jail?
Marisa had indicated one of the suits,

I took some of these courses at university- I hear of Rambaldi and others like him
I do not know if they intend for their discoveries to be used by evil people. But ordinary people who search for these answers they become evil No?

I am invisible to my father – so I can come and go as I please around his properties, he send me to school in Spain- in Rio – on trips in the summer time. I have friends and money but no parents. My mother is killed and I find out weeks later when I am home for a holiday. Papa he says it is an accident but I hear that she has killed herself with her medicine. Papa has no time to be with her”

Marisa wiped tears from her cheeks. “So of course when I see this girl I see she is strong and I am curious why my father wants to hurt her. Then I hear what she is doing to help stop the evil and I understand they are afraid of her, they want to be all powerful and she and her colleagues – You too (indicates Jack , Vaughn and the others in the office) you all help to make people safe.”

Jack was very uncomfortable. H e didn’t want to hear this but he knew that it was necessary on so many levels. To know what had happened to Sydney in case she could never tell them herself. To know how to apprehend these criminals before they did more damage. To assess the situation. –“ and because you are exactly like Alcazar in so many ways” nagged his conscience. “You abandoned your daughter and she is likely in so much trouble due to you.” Jack wanted a drink. And at the same time he realized that that was exactly the last thing he needed. If Sydney could be tortured then he could bloody well sit there and listen to what happened. Symbolically fair- on some small scale. She could die never knowing how he truly felt- and he would live for years with the pain of knowing that it was all his fault. No other punishment could hurt him more.

Vaughn’s cell rang just then and his face went absolutely white as he listened to whoever was calling. He hung up after a minute and said bluntly
“Sydney flat lined- they revived her but her lung has collapsed again. She is in surgery.”
The young agent broke down – and excused himself.
Jack hurried after him. The two men took a chopper this time- they needed to be there when Sydney got out of surgery.
Vernon the on duty agent with Marisa took her to a holding cell where she could wait until Jack and Vaughn returned.

(back at the hospital in the waiting room outside of the recovery area a couple of hours later)

It was a fairly quick procedure to re inflate Sydney's lung and secure it a bit better to prevent further damage. Now they were waiting to see how she would be when she awoke.

For a moment Jack opened up to the young man standing beside him
“Michael If I – if we lose her – I think I will go insane” he continued
“I know she has – told you about me—our troubles our misunderstandings; but she has always been my daughter and even when I was distant from her- I was only trying to protect her and “ he broke a little but forced himself to talk “ A parent should not have to bury their child- and a young man like you- his fiancée?” Controlling himself again he looked hard at Vaughn.

Vaughn took a breath “Sir—Jack. You called me Michael. And yes, Yes I have a ring I wanted to propose as soon as this mission was completed.” It was all supposed to be so different. She was going to be extracted on the Saturday – and then I was taking her away to Paris for a few days “

Both men smiled at each other, if only for a moment. Jack said “when she wakes up – maybe you should ask her that way she will know—in case”

Vaughn nodded. He wiped his eyes with his shirt sleeve and for a minute Jack actually wanted to put his arm around the boy – His son in law to be.
And then he found himself hugging Michael Vaughn and despite the fact that this was all due to their fear—each man knew that Sydney would be thrilled to see this. Michael said as much
“if Syd could see this she would either think you were trying to crush me in two- or she would realize that we just hugged each other. She would pass out from shock””

Jack smiled “yes she probably would” and right now that would make me the happiest man on earth ….” his thought trailed off and the smile left his eyes. “ I have to ask why does everyone call her Syd?
Her mother and I chose such a beautiful name for her – and as soon as she started school everyone called her Syd. “

Vaughn was surprised “its just a nickname a term of endearment- isn’t Jack supposed to be short for John or Jo--”

“Its Jonathan actually” he interjected. “ My parents told me that my birth certificate said Jonathan Donahue but I have always been Jack. So when I had a child I swore she would have a distinguished name. I should have known better. Any name with more than one syllable can be shortened. I just really liked the name Sydney. So pretty so simple so elegant, classic. Just like my daughter.”

Vaughn said suddenly- how come no one shortens Marshall’s name? You know Mars or Marsh? Mars really would fit the guy. “

Jack was startled by the question but he heard the words before he even knew he had said them “ Marshall is already too short”

He laughed at himself, as did Vaughn. It was uncontrollable the way they were laughing.
Weiss came out into the hall and said “You guys can you hold down comedy hour out here? Sydney just woke up and she wants to see both of you”

Both men raced into the room leaving Weiss standing gaping. Grief does strange things to people; he thought. Jack Bristow just told a joke.

He looked at the cup of coffee in his hand and remembered that Jack and Mike both had been drinking lots of this stuff for the past month. Hurriedly he dumped it in to the nearest garbage can. I need Orange juice he thought- or water- anything that isn’t coffee.

o great job seriously so can't wait to find out more.and thanks for the pm.

Chapter 7 will be up in the next couple of days I am just proofing it
Ch 8 is in progress and will be done by the weekend

I envision about 9 to 10 chapters total for this story so It should be completd by the end of this month.

I have some ideas for more fan fics but I want to see how they deal with some S 3 issues so i stay true to the characters

brenda

Chapter 7

A/N: Disclaimer still applies only a few days till season 3 YAY
marisa and more secrets in chapter 8 to be posted soon
________________________________________________________________



Jack and Vaughn entered the room and were stopped by the head nurse- and she wasn’t taking any of Bristow’s guff. In clipped no nonsense English she said
“I know you want to see my patient- but please – do not upset or excite her, she is still in critical condition and do not get your hopes up just yet. She has to get through the next few days before we can say one way or another." Her gaze softened " I know this is difficult. I have made sure she is as comfortable as possible but we cannot dull the pain completely- the dosage of medication needed for that would kill her. She will feel some pain – she is very badly hurt this girl”

Forlornly the two men approached Sydney’s bed and were dismayed to see how pale she looked. Neither man had seen Sydney look quite so beaten, so ill.

Sydney watched two shadows approach her bed- it was her guardian angel Vaughn and her Dad. She could make out the concern on their faces- she tried to smile .

“Hi” Vaughn leaned in and kissed her very gently on the cheek.
Jack did the same “Hello sweetheart”.

She tried to speak- “hi Daddy hi Vaughn. “ she coughed a little and winced.
“Can you stay with me for a while?” Both men nodded and pulled up chairs on opposite sides of her bed. She stirred as if she wanted to sit up and Vaughn soothed her “Syd please not yet – lay still honey your ribs need to heal”. He leaned over and whispered in her ear
“Ma cherie je t’aime avec tout mon coeur “ ( My dear I love you with all my heart)

She smiled at him and whispered back “Moi aussi” (me too)

“Dad?”- Jack leaned in ‘Please stay here ok I need to go to sleep for just a few minutes – everything hurts- and I want you to stay with me. I love you” . She was out like a light. The medication was working.

Sydney slept for several hours and during that time both men stayed at her side.

Vaughn swore the second she was coherent he was going to put that ring on her finger – in fact he spent a minute or two looking to see if he could somehow slip it on without hurting her. By God her adored her, He wanted her to get better- he wanted to take her to Paris and make love to her over and over. To watch her smile as she splashed in the ocean on the Cote D’azur. To take her to his favourite restaurants. To meet his mother…

Jack was lost in thoughts of the past--

The night he arrived in Rio he had immediately followed up leads on Alcazar and his properties. They had not found Sydney but over the next few days they had found a Tilley hat- a pair of binoculars and an over shirt- all pretty battered, muddy and with traces of blood. DNA tests had confirmed it was hers- and on the shirt traces of blood for two other people. Jack remembered feeling elated that she had been able to hurt her captors a little . But her blood – particularly that found inside her hat had troubled him. Where was she and how badly was she hurt?

He had gone back to town and stopped in at a bar- where he drowned his sorrows in Vodka, not enough to get drunk; just enough so he couldn’t feel the fear anymore. This became a bit of a habit over the weeks he searched. It didn’t work though. And he discovered that it did nothing for him anymore. It was a habit he didn’t need. The search lead them all around South America . Each night Jack slept only because he was so completely exhausted. Still it was a sleep haunted by dreams of the past.

The year after Laura died – at first he was an attentive father but he learned of Laura’s KGB involvement and when he had been arrested as an accomplice he had made sure that the nanny he hired would keep the awful truth from Sydney. The 6 or so months he languished at Camp Harris he had no idea what had happened to his life. His wife a traitor, a murderer- had she ever loved him?- had she loved Sydney?- surely you couldn’t fake that?
Surely some of it was real?

How was his little angel at home? How did she manage? Sydney was so strong- too strong. After the first couple of days- she had stopped crying and started to look after her dad. Even when he ignored her, even though he was constantly in for questioning at work- learning the truth about his wife. He came home and went straight to the liquor cabinet. Sydney was always there. Jack relied on the nanny to look after Sydney- he couldn't bear to be with her- to look at her. She only ocmplained a few times and then she semed to sense that Daddy couldn't be her friend anymore.

After he had been at Camp harris for a few weeks Jack was allowed to see some mail from Sydney. The CIA cover was that Jack was on a business trip in Europe and would be gone for several months. Becasue Devlin knew Jack, he suspected Jack was not at all involved in Derveko's deception. Devlin knew Brsitow was falling apart and Devlin hoped that some contact with his little girl would help.

Her letters told about how she missed him and she would take good care of him as soon as he came home.

Dear Daddy
Please don’t be sad because of mommy – please come home and I will make your supper and I can iron your shirts and I can make sure your shoes are shiny.
I know I am little but I can learn to help you sell airplanes. I can do that after school instead of ballet and soccer – Please daddy please come home and be my friend again. Are you angry with me?
If I did something bad you can punish me. I won’t watch TV or play with my toys. If my mommy is in heaven is that where we are supposed to go? Is that where we can find her? Come home from Europe and Sally can go away and we can be a family. You and me and Kitty.

Love
Sydney


Jack had felt his heart break in two as he read that letter because he knew damn well she meant every word of it. His eyes couldn’t hold his sadness. He had to get home to his daughter - but how could he care for her when he was such a mess?
Unfortunately the guard on duty that night had seen jack's tears and had taunted him “big CIA joke... tell the KGB all our secrets. Why you are at Camp Harris we don’t know. You are the biggest loser we have ever seen.
We are here to smack the crap out of tough guys – your wife was more of a tough guy than you could ever hope to be.” The shame of everyhting shut Jack up tighter than a vise.

He was allowed to write back to Sydney – the CIA director didn’t want to be held responsible for the breakdown of a little girl- so Jack wrote a letter that was carefully screened for any hidden messages. As a result it was stiff, cold.

“Sydney

I can’t come home yet. I have a lot of work to do. You go to school and keep up your activities. Sally is a good nanny. She can take excellent care of you.
Don’t send any more pictures –I do not have room to keep all of them in my suitcase. I am very busy.
Be a good girl. I will write again in a few weeks.

Dad”

God he had wanted to say so much more but he knew that he couldn’t- if Sydney was never going to see him again it was better she think he was cold and distant. It would be easier for her if she hated him.

But she was a stubborn little girl- and she saw the ‘postmark’ that the CIA put on that letter. So she reasoned – if daddy can’t come home I will go and live with him-. Unbeknownst to anyone her mother had shown Sydney how to prepare for international travel and Sydney remembered where her mom’s secret box was. She got some money and her secret passport and used the credit card to reserve a seat on a flight to ‘Prague”. She knew her daddy would be mad when he saw her but even if she was grounded for a million years as long as she could be with her father- that was all she cared about. She knew she could turn him back into the nice man he was before Mommy died.

Jack had been wakened at 3 in the morning to be told that his daughter had disappeared and that they were questioning the nanny and combing L.A
Jack knew he was only being told this for two possible reasons
a) Devlin really did have some concern for him and his daughter
or B) they figured that having Sydney disappear would break him.

Either way he was dumbfounded by this news. "can't you ididots kep an eye on a 7 year old girl?' he had thrown a classic Jack Bristow tantrum - loud and thunderous with an undercuurent of just enough emotion to scare the guards on duty. What if Sydney made it to Prague? What if Derevko's operatives took her?
What if some stranger took advantage of her?" She was brilliant and mature but she was still only 7
His anger earned him some rough treatment but he didn’t care. If they were going to hold him they damn well better be protecting his little girl. No one listened to anything he said. At least now they knew how smart she was. Maybe now they would be on their toes. He had tested project Christmas on her – which he regretted. He hadn’t bargained on not being there to raise her. He was touched to learn how much she wanted to be with him- and he was amazed at what she could accomplish at 7. He was also afraid. What other “secrets” had her mother taught her? A few hours later it was reported that Sydney had been located in London and was being escorted home. It was also reported that she was fine and that she wanted to see her Dad.

A very grateful Jack was allowed to call his daughter - and the anger and fear in his voice did not have to be manufactured. He was furious with her.

(A/N- I have seen her middle name as A, anne and amanda I don't remember which one is the real one so I am using amanda for now")

"SYDNEY AMANDA BRISTOW
WHAT THE HELL were you trying to prove? Young lady you are grounded for the rest of the summer and I don't want to hear another word about it. You
can keep your suitcase packed because you are going to boarding school in the fall. STOP CRYING I am VERY DISAPPOINTED in you. I had to miss a whole morning of meetings to deal with your immaturity. I am selling the house.
NO I am NOT coming HOME. WE do not have home. Your home will be your new school- My home is here in Europe. I told you when yor mother died that things were going to be different and you wouldn't accept it. Now grow up - I have to get back to work"

The suit at camp harris nodded his satisfaction and Jack hung up on his daughter.

Back in his cell - he turned to the wall and with the little privacy this afforded he wept silently until he fell alseep.


Jack wished that he had never accepted the CIA’s recruitment call. But then there would be no Sydney. Jack was so confused at this point in his life that it was wonder he didn’t splinter into a million pieces. Was he an agent? For whom? Was he a husband? A father?- surely not now that he had bellowed at her like that. If Sydney ever acknowledged him again it would be a miracle. Damn Irina Derevko.
damn arvin slaone and his new agency SD 6 -

By the middle of august - 10 months since the accident - 6 months since he had been taken in to Camp Harris- Jack had been released from custody- cleared of all charges- and given a new assignment. Infiltrate SD-6 and reprot all activity back to the USA. He didn't care how dangerous it was, he had been reborn - as a dead man. his daughter was safe at school in the eastern US- and he had nothing but hatred on his mind.

.....

Sydney moaned a little and he snapped back to the present. Darn it she was running a fever. Her face was flushed and she looked very ill. The monitors were going off like crazy. Vaughn ran for the doctor and Jack whispered in her ear- Sydney fight – please fight.

that's really sad, aaww, so sad.

thanks for the pm and i think syd's middle name is anne, but whatever.great job.

What a nice story. You've put it together with style. I could see Jack in the scenes you put him into, especially the anger at her trip to Europe.
B)

argghh

I have tried modifying it but I can't get that smiley face out of the middle of my story or get some of the errors fixed the smile is supposed to be " B)" as in a) and B)

I write it off line in word but of course there are always one or two words that get past you in proofing LOL I guess I am just so anxious to get it posted.

I am forgetting my usual rule of taking a couple of days in between to get a fresh look at it

Lets hope I can resolve some of this stuff as I continue to learn how to post and how to get the text to look the way I want it to.

I tried italics for some of the memories but they didn't translate either -sigh

Oh well I will learn as I go I guess

Brenda

It just takes awhile to get the hang of it.
You'll get it.
B)

If you put a space between the b and the bracket, it should work b ) it doesn't look as cool though ( :lol: bad pun, sorry)

Love the story. You make me cry!!! :( It's so sad. Poor Sydney...*sobs*

More more MORE!

-Discalimer applies and OMG what did everyone think of episode 3.1 last night-
Holy crap Jack and Syd told each other they loved each other-I was bawling
and I could just smack Vaughn!!!

Alas that is JJ's story and this is mine so forget all about S 3 and pretend we are still in S 2 in a parallel universe LOL
Chapter 9 may be up today or tomorrow- depends on if I have to go in to work later or not.

WARNING_ this chapter begins to deal with some adult issues and trauma that is not necessarily suitable for anyone dealing with sexual trauma. I don't want to send anyone off the deep end. its pretty tame until the end and CH 9 will defintlely get into it so please if you can't handle that kind of thing- don't read past this chapter OK. I am now rating this story age 14 and up.

Chapter 8

48 hours later Jack Bristow stood in his daughters’ hospital room watching the rain stream against her window. Vaughn was grabbing a quick shower and a nap they had taken turns with their vigil and now it was Jack’s turn. He was freshly showered and had slept a few hours thanks to the sedative the nurse had given him. He looked at Sydney sleeping peacefully now and breathed a sigh of relief. How much more could any of them take? Jack walked over to her bedside and gently touched her forehead. Cool. Thank God. Yesterday her fever had risen to 106 C and it took a lot to get it back down. The wound in her hip had become infected- some undetectable bacteria that had somehow settled in her blood. This bacterium apparently wormed its way through your system until it was ready to launch a full toxic attack and then within an hour or so it could kill. The doctor had stopped it and her most recent blood panel showed that she was over that hurdle. She had been in a lot of pain yesterday though- and up until 12 hours ago she had been wide eyed with white hot fever and neuromuscular pain. Still – she wouldn’t give up. Her doctor had been amazed by her ability to handle the pain until the drugs and drainage took effect. Thankfully the infection was purged from her system and she was recovering.

Jack was hoping she could sleep peacefully for a few hours and regain some of her strength. Again he picked up her chart and read over the information. He shook his head in wonderment- she was tough.
Vaughn slipped into the room and asked for a few minutes alone with her, Jack agreed because he had something to do. He had arranged for Marisa Calleja to be transferred to the hospital and had a small corridor and room roped off so he could speak to her and get the rest of the information without straying too far from his daughter. Jack leaned in and gave Sydney a light kiss on her right cheek- “sweetheart – I love you” To Vaughn ‘Page me if you need to” Vaughn was confident “Jack it will be OK”

Jack nodded to the nurse on his way out and strode down the hall.---

A couple of hours later Sydney stirred and woke up
“Vaughn?” she asked sleepily
“Hi beautiful-how are you feeling?”
She pondered that for a second before answering “not bad-I feel a bit fuzzy and I really want a cheeseburger and some ice cream though”

Vaughn laughed. “How about we try some juice and Jell-O- ice cream and burgers soon I promise” “Ok” she agreed. Vaughn however made her wait for her meal- he had something to say.
“Sydney- when I first met you, I thought you were crazy- but you know that- and over the last couple of years we have gotten really close- and I thought I had seen you through some pretty unbelievable scenarios- Donati park, the time you jumped out of that airplane; countless others but this time" he stopped himself and looked down for a moment before facing her – tears in his eyes.

“Syd I have never been so damn scared for anyone in my whole life. I promised myself and your dad too that the first chance I got- I would let you know how I feel”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box- her eyes grew very wide but before she could speak he started again- “Sydney Bristow even though you scare me half to death- even though I can’t sleep when you are on a mission even though we fight like crazy – I love you more than anyone I have ever known and I need you to know that until you- my life was incomplete. I can’t stand the thought of you being in any pain and God knows I wanted this to be more romantic but you have to know that I want to marry you and be with you forever. He ran his hand through his hair as he finished this sentence and looked expectantly at her

Sydney was tearing at his words. “Michael”
“oh god that can’t be good” he said- “you ‘re calling me Michael”

“Shut up- would you let the patient say something- I say yes because I feel the same way about you. I love you and I want to be your wife”

Smiling and crying Vaughn gently slipped the ring on her finger and with a little effort not to hurt her hand he was able to get it on to her finger. Sydney grinned at him – and she said- “ I feel like Cinderella or Sleeping beauty or somebody like that- you really want me?”

Sydney – that is something you never have to question trust me. You are my fairy princess; my ass kicking fairy princess.

“Vaughn?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you say my dad knows about this?”- she held up her left hand a little

“Yes he does and believe it or not he gave us his blessing, we hugged and everything- you missed it apparently you had surgery or something like that” he tried to joke.

He eyes widened-“ You did not”

“Honest to god we did- but if your dad and I being friends comes at the expense of your health we can go back to hating each other. Whatever it takes to get you healthy again—“

He nodded ruefully as she grinned a bit more wickedly- “I know I know
Coffee ice cream and a cheeseburger - look we can have that for our wedding dinner’ My mom and your dad eating chesseburgers and coffee ice cream.
Dixon and diane - everyone.

“Oh my god” said Sydney laughing a little and wincing "Vaughn don’t make me laugh!!! broken ribs are the worst"


H e reached for her and held her hand as best he could- and he said gently
Syd- I don't know if you are ready to tell me what hapened to you these past few weeks but I will listen and I will help you deal with it OK? You don't have to protect me. I promise to always be here for you I am your guradian angel don't forget.

"Vaughn- I want to tell you but I just can't right now- I am still processing it myself OK?"

Syd honey- thats fine - but just so you know I can see that you have been battered and shot and I know how you must have fought calleja. We know you saved Dixon's life. In fact- your dad is talking to a witness right now - do you remember how you got to the hospital?

"Marisa is here?" she whispered. "is she ok?"

Sydney she is fine- you are the only one who you need to worry about.

"Go to sleep sweetheart - I promise to wait right here. When you wake up we'll call Francie and she can plan the whole thing - she'll love that."

Sleepily agreed and with one last look at her left hand and a mumbled "I'm getting married- she drifted off.

Micheal Vaughn said a prayer of Thanks as he watched her sleep - and he vowed that her captors would be brougth to justice. He hoped Jack was getting some good evidence from Marisa. He thought about the wave of fear that had engulfed him the whole time Sydney had been missing and he shuddered. No way could that happen again. Besides never mind how he had felt- what hell she had been through. No wonder her father had been such a mess. If his daughter-- vaughn couldn't even go there. He looked at his fiancee and vowed that he would never let her be in such danger ever again.

---

Jack was getting lots of evidnece from Marisa- who was determined to talk and to put things right. She was amazed she was not being arrested. In fact Jack had offered her complete imunity and a spot in witness protection in Europe. Marisa had saved Sydney from a horrible death in the jungle- and for that Bristow would be forever grateful. Marisa had found Sydney hanging in a barren outbuilding- her body strung up by her wrists- secured to a ceiling beam. Barefoot, bruised deprived of water and food. Beaten repeatedly. The worst part was yet to come

"Mr Bristow- I know my father and especially his guards. They would have raped her. I am so sorry"

Excellent :D
You're doing a great job.
I thot last night's episode was great in the tradition of opening a season. I loved Syd giving Vaughn a tongue lashing. :lol: (Of course, this is all JJ's doing.)
And Jack telling her for the first time that he loved her. :wub: Wow. We already knew Irina loves her. But did she hear her mother?

B)

that was awesome, i loved it. i can't believe they might've raped syd though, that's just sad. but hey she is engaged to vaughn, woohoo. and jack, gotta love him. great job and thanks for the pm.

its sunday ooh ahh more alias tonight.

Please note my disclaimer still applies and I am feeling ill today so please ignore any typos I may not have picked up. I spell checked this thing like 10 times


Chapter 9


Jack was having trouble breathing.
He knew that his was a possibility but he hadn’t wanted to think about it.
Now he had been told it was a most likely scenario and he knew in his gut it had to be true. God damn it- he thought. Why was it that Sydney had to go through every misery on this earth?
“Ms Calleja-“ - he swallowed- “Thank You for all your help. If you will excuse me—

"Sir please do not leave yet – there is more I must tell you before I go."

More – more than rape and beating? Jack wanted to throw up. However he acknowledged her request and sat back down. He knew Sydney would have been trained to deal with this possibility. It was something all female agents were trained to deal with.
He knew this because of his position in the agency- however as a father this was not something he could be trained into accepting. Jack was also acutely aware that he had been dreading this moment for almost all of Sydney’s life. Rape could happen anywhere.


"My friend Juan- he was a newer guard- and my father had him killed- he helped me to get Sydney free- Juan told me that Mr. Sloane had arranged for Sydney’s cell to be taped- on a digital camera computer machine. Sydney and my father did not know- Juan gave me the discs- if you take them I think you can use them in a trial. Maybe they can help you to find out what happened to your daughter. I have not seen them- but I have kept them safe- they are in my jacket pocket. I do not know how Juan knew about these discs but they are real."

Jack was numb but he stood and shook her hand. "Ms Calleja- these agents Vernon and Weiss have been assigned to escort you to a safehouse and prepare you for transport to your new home your new identity. Thank you for all you have done."

Marisa nodded “I wish I had arrived home sooner and that I could have known your daughter was a captive- perhaps this could have ended weeks ago.” I learned she was there a week before I brought her to the hospital- I could not figure out a way to get her out . The police- my father owns them. There was nothing else I knew how to do. I am sorry.”

“Marisa”- Jack sighed- “You are not a trained agent. You did not have any way to help my daughter other than what you did. Your father would not hesitate to have you killed if it would foil his plan. “ {and fathers like me nearly kill their daughters in order to frame their wives for treason- thought jack remembering his brilliant move to laden that old house with Semtec.}

"Agent bristow-Thank you for your help and I hope my father can make up for his mistakes. Maybe I will be able to see him again someday. Maybe he will understand what he did with his life was horrible "

With that she was gone.

Jack was left with the discs and a laptop on which to play them.
He wasn’t sure he could watch them or that anyone should- but the agent in him needed to know the facts- and the father in him needed to see what had happened to his daughter.

The first disk was hard to see but it showed Sydney being thrown into an empty cell- dirt floor concrete walls no light. He could hear his daughter’s muffled groans as she hit the floor – kicked in the side by one of the thugs.

“You little whore, Come to my compound and pretend to be here from Australia to help me- to learn from me- and you are stealing my files?” He spat on her. “ You will see what I do to people who are so rude.” He turned and left the cell and three heavily armed and well-muscled men entered the cell. Jack couldn’t see Sydney at this point but her heard the sounds of fighting and he heard his daughter grunt as she was pushed kicked and beaten with the butt end of their rifles. After what seemed an eternity he could see her again- bloody, disheveled and obviously suffering from broken ribs. The cell had nothing in it and as the guards left they turned and threw her a piece of bread and a moment later a bowl of water was tossed in- spilling onto the dirt floor.

Jack was humbled to watch Sydney wait till they were gone and then try to lap a few drops from the puddle in her cage- he watched her pick up the bread in her mouth as her hands were bound behind her. And he watched her crumple into the corner shuddering with pain. He heard her talking to herself- prepping herself “Ok Sydney think. You know they let Dixon go. Why would they do that. I know some of the files were transferred back to Vaughn- but not all of them. - Ooh god that bastard-“ nauseous she turned to the side and threw up. “Ok Bristow relax- base ops will figure out you went missing- concentrate- I hope to god Dad and Vaughn are OK “
Despite his fear- Jack found himself feeling rather proud of Sydney. She was strong and she could handle herself. He tried to think of her as not his daughter but just an agent- and when he did that he could see why so many agents had been looking for her- had worried about her. She was compassionate, she was conscientious and she was instinctively good at this job. If Sydney were someone else’s daughter he would tell them not to worry- that she was resilient and would be found.

The next few days of tape showed her left alone. Absolutely nothing except the noise of a bowl of water being tossed in- a flash of light as that happened and then back to the infrared -. Sydney was left like that for about 10 days. Then they were back.

Questioning techniques this time- Jack flinched as he watched her take punch after punch. In his mind these images were intertwined with the face of a tiny girl pumping swings at the park- cuddling a puppy. A young girl studying at the kitchen table. her laughing face at dinner only weeks ago.
Now that beautiful face was being assaulted – and for no reason except to cause pain.
At one point Sydney mumbled sarcastically- “I think you forgot to blacken my left eye.”
Jack almost laughed at her tone – only Sydney could crack a joke while being tortured.
He remembered reading about her time with suit and glasses- how she had that man write down “em etib” knowing full well it was not going to help her case at all. The noise form the laptop brought him back to the present.


The punches resultd in no information so the guards tried choking her – and when that failed they tried drowning her. A form of the old Chinese water torture.
She responded by asking if they would leave her a bar of soap to go with the bucket of water so she could have a bath. Jack vowed to kill these bastards with his bare hands. Sydney had a point when she wondered why they hadn’t killed her yet. As much as it terrified him to think that she could accept that possibility, he conceded that she wouldn’t be feeling all of this pain. He stopped the disc closed the laptop and put his head down on the table. He wanted this to be a bad dream. He wanted Sydney to show up like she had after the Neil Caplan mission. He wanted to suspend her from active duty- he wanted to scream at her for putting him through so much worry. He wanted Irina to be there with him as Sydney’s mother and as his wife- to back him up- to help share this burden of fear for their child. He lifted his head and wiped away his tears.
Then he berated himself. “Bristow this is getting you nowhere.” He laughed though his tears- that was where she got it from - calling herself Bristow and talking herself through tough situations. He splashed some cold water on his face from the sink in the adjoining bathroom and returned to the laptop.

More time passed and this time Sloane came into the room. “Sydney co operate- I cannot keep Alcazar from harming you – or your family. Surely you don’t want us to find Irina or your father? For a moment Jack saw fear on Sydney’s features and he was frozen when he understood that the fear wasn’t for her own well being but for his. In fact it was the only time she lost control.

“Sloane you can do whatever you want to me- you aren’t going to get the information you want. But so help me god if you so much as breathe in my fathers direction I will hunt you down if I have to come back from the dead to do it.”

Sloane had laughed sardonically and brushed lightly at her hair- “Oh Sydney- if only you weren’t so stubborn- you could be home with Emily and me right now- we could be decoding the works of Rambaldi together. But I gather you will not join me?” Sydney just glared at him. She turned to the guard and asked very calmly if he wouldn’t mind escorting her guest away – she was tired and would like a nap. Of course she was sucker punched for being saucy- but she didn’t care anymore. The more punches she took, the more injuries- the more determined she became. She had discerned that the angrier a captor became- the more he or she lost control- meant that she Sydney was doing the breaking – and not the other way around. So if that meant that her face felt like a smashed watermelon and that she wanted a hot bath desperately- well so be it. This is what she did. Who she was. Very controlled she uttered the words- “you can kill me – day by day minute by minute by minute- but you won’t get what you want.
I simply will not give it to you.”

Jack wasn’t quite sure which emotion was stronger at that moment- intense fear or immeasurable pride. Either way it was doing a hell of a job on his gut – and he found himself reaching out to the screen capture of his daughter.

One of the disks was damaged and Jack calculated that he had missed about two weeks of her time in the cell. The next disk however – Jack wished that it was the one that had been destroyed. Better yet that it had never happened.

Calleja was screaming at Sydney. He was beyond angry. He was also drunk Jack realized – and he had lost his focus. He could see that Sydney was looking at him a little fearfully. She had good reason- the guards opened the door and Alcazar Calleja entered the cell and began pawing at Sydney. She fought back- a few kicks- but it was obvious at this point that she was unable to fight this battle. Calleja spoke in Spanish but Jack understood “ ahh you little whore- you look like shit and you smell worse but still you are a woman and there is something you can give me before I kill you. You won’t talk you won’t reveal your secrets but I can tell you my secrets. I love American women. I have not been with a woman in quite some time and today is my birthday” With that he pulled her close to him and began assaulting her. Sydney bit him- she head butted him but she wasn’t strong enough- and he was rough. Jack had to turn away but he could hear her fighting. It broke his heart. When Calleja finished he told his guards they could have dessert if they wanted it. Laughing the guards took him up on it. Sydney had managed to lift her head long enough to look at Callejas’ departing figure and utter “ of course it takes three of you to the job of one – you little boys” and then she passed out.
The screen went fuzzy and when it resumed picture and sound it was obvious they were in a new location. The guard called Paolo said – “Boss wants us to get rid of her-Marisa is home and she knows we have a girl here. This one- she is a wild stallion. She will not break.” The other guard said- I know how we can break her "and he went to the nearest wall out of camera range and returned with a coil of wire- he bound Sydneys hands and with a leather strap he hoisted her up to the ceiling beam. When she was hanging to his satisfaction he said “ in honour of our bosses birthday we should have a piñata."

Grinning Paolo agreed and both men took turns beating Sydney with a club.
She was awake and she cried out in pain- but still she fought back- she lifted her legs to her head and attempted to pull herself up onto the beam. She didn’t make it- but it was enough to frighten the cowards away. “God she is a devil she will not die” exclaimed one of the guards. C’mon boss has work for us anyway we can come back later.”
On the way out he turned and fired a couple of shots at her – almost kindly he said- maybe that will put you out of your misery.


With that they left her. Jack was unable to watch anymore. He picked up the computer and threw it across the room. “Sir”- a young agent poked his head into the room and then thought better of it. Jack Bristow was best left alone.

His daughter had to be the strongest most amazing person on earth. He knew from Marisa’s statement that after Sydney had been pulled down by Marisa and her friend Juan- they had been shot at and still Sydney had manged to shield her rescuers and take a couple of shots herself. The last thing Marisa had told him- "Sydney said to tell her father that she loves him. She would do anything to keep him safe. “He has already suffered so much please make sure he knows that I understand now. He is more than a dad he is also my best friend.”

Jack didn’t want to think anymore – It was a miracle she was even here in this hospital and it was foolish to think she would leave this hospital alive. But all he wanted was to take her in his arms and never let her go. She was his miracle- her capacity to live was even more extraordinary because of her ability to forgive.

He knew she needed a father right now- and he realized that he had to be the strong one.
He had to let her be his little girl and he had to let her know how much she meant to him


He walked down the hallway his emotions whirling. He knew for certain that she loved him. Why he had no idea- but he certainly knew how far she was willing to go to protect him. He was going to be worthy of that love -

WOW!!! DOUBLE WOW...................!!! :reallyexcited:
That was alot of punishment for her to take, no wonder she was almost dead. Good descriptions. Excellent work.
B)

Oh my WOW! That was wonderful. You might just be come the next lenafan. You have got skill.