It Was For The Best - Part 2.
Next chapter is here. Thank you all for reading and for commenting. It means a lot.
Happy reading.
Dlenafan: Yes, after everything Jack and Irina went through, I wasn't going to break them up. Yes, Sloane on the loose is never a good thing. They always work out like this for real. They don't throw easy punches, but they're the best, so they never leave a workout session injured. Thank you very much. You're too kind.
Sydney Derevko Bristow: Yes, when it comes to Jack and Irina. Something had to happen in those 4 years, so it was only natural that more children were added. Yes, everyone is happy. Glad I could help.
nicewoman: Yes, they were. I hope you'll like Katya in this chapter.
Irina_Derevko_Bristow: Something had to happen during those 4 years. :lol: That doesn't necessarily mean that something will happen. They just all have their family and children as their number one priority, which is why they don't go out on too many dangerous missions. Not all the chapters can have all the characters in them. Chapter 2 was an introduction chapter as to what has been going on in the past 4 years. But the story takes place throughout an entire year, so yes there'll be plenty of the triplets, and they have a personality. I can't promise that. Katya and Kendall? I don't know about that.
sleepy1t: Hope that you're feeling better and that your sugar problem is better.
Yes that's all it was. Jack and Irina are together forever. I hope it will be.
Chapter 3
A few days later Kendall was pacing around APO, looking at his watch every other second. Katya would be arriving soon and he wasn’t happy about it. Everyone had enjoyed seeing how Kendall had been a little annoyed the last few days, but they had also not teased him about it. Eric watched him and couldn’t help but laugh a little to himself. He poured himself a cop of coffee, and also poured one for Kendall. Kendall looked like he could use it. Kendall had his back turned to Eric when he walked over.
“You look nervous, uncle Kendall.” Kendall turned around and looked at Eric annoyed. “Ah. I guess you’re not really in the mood for jokes right now.” Kendall let out a held in breath.
“No, not really. I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, if that’s what you were doing. But I know that Katya will annoy me plenty, so I’d appreciate it, if you’d just lay off with the teasing.” Eric nodded and smiled.
“You got it. Here. Thought you could use a cup of coffee.” He handed Kendall the coffee, and he smiled back at Eric.
“Thanks. Yeah, I could actually use this.” They drank their coffee and didn’t speak for about a minute.
“Don’t let Katya get to so much. I know she has her moments, but she’s actually quite nice and sweet.” Kendall rolled his eyes.
“People keep telling me about her nice qualities, but I have yet to experience them. Yes, I’ll admit that I’ve seen her be nice to other people, but she’s never been nice to me.”
“She doesn’t exactly hate you.”
“You might be sure of that, but I’m not.” Eric laughed.
“Just give her a doze of her own medicine.”
“I try, but I’m never really successful. She throws remarks after remarks at me, and I hardly ever have a comeback.” Eric laughed a little as Kendall went on. “I always start off by being nice to her and smile at her, but she never shows me the same kindness. She smirks at me. Her little Derevko smirk. Her little Derevko, triumphant smirk.”
“Hey, careful now.” Kendall turned around and saw Irina coming up behind him. “I might be a Bristow, but I’m also still a Derevko.” She smiled at Kendall and he smiled back.
“But you don’t have that smirk. So maybe using Derevko is the wrong word. But it’s still a triumphant smirk.” Irina laughed a little.
“Do you want me to talk to my sister?” Kendall shook his head and smiled.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’m a big boy. I can handle myself. Katya might annoy me like hell, but I’m not about to let someone else fight my battles for me.” Irina laughed a little and nodded.
“I respect that. I won’t say anything to her then.”
“Thank you. But if I wanted you to talk to her, I would’ve asked you years ago.” Irina and Eric laughed a little. Jack walked out from his office and joined them. He smiled at Kendall.
“Katya’s here and waiting for you.” Kendall took a deep breath and took another sip of his coffee.
“I better get going. No need to piss her off by keeping her waiting.” They all laughed a little and watched Kendall walk away.
“Show time.” Irina and Eric looked at Jack. Eric laughed and Irina hit Jack playfully on the arm, shaking her head, but she laughed too.
Kendall saw Katya waiting for him with one guard at the entrance to APO. He smiled at her. “Hello Katya. Good to see you again.” She looked at him annoyed as he signed her in.
“This is really getting old and ridiculous. I’ve been working for the CIA for more than four years, and I’ve never done anything to harm the CIA. I’ve done my job to perfection, so I don’t see why you still have to sign me in or be my contact person. I should be able to just walk in to APO, and I shouldn’t have other people sign me in whenever I’m in Washington, at other CIA offices, or abroad.” Kendall took a deep breath and smiled at her.
“Yes, you do excellent work for the CIA, but it’s still part of your pardoning agreement that someone has to sign you in.” She gave him a stern look.
“Do something about it. It’s a disgrace that someone still has to sign me in, and it’s a lack of trust.”
“I can’t do anything about it. If I could, I would.”
“Of course you can do something about it. You can talk to Devlin and have that part of my agreement changed. I’m sure there are plenty of people, who can speak on my behalf.”
“Your agreement was for five years. You’ll be free to leave the CIA in December of this year. If you’ve been able to stand it for this long, I’m sure you’re capable of being able to stand it for the rest of the year.” She looked at him even more sternly than before.
“It’s a mystery to me, why someone as incompetent as you, ever became part of the CIA. I just told you that it’s getting old and ridiculous that someone has to sign me in. Obviously that means that I haven’t been thrilled about this for years. And don’t be a smart ass. Of course I’m capable of being able to stand it. I don’t complain about things, I deal with them.” Kendall was getting annoyed with her and was about to speak, but Katya kept talking. “Why couldn’t Marcus have been my contact person? At least he’s smart and nice, and he would’ve talked to Devlin years ago, and had it arranged so that no one would have to sign me in anywhere. But no, I get stuck with a moron like you, completely useless and lacking manners.”
“Now hang on. I’m a very nice person. Everyone else thinks so. It’s just you, who can’t see that or won’t see that. I always start out by being nice to you, but you’re never nice to me.”
“God, you’re such a whiny little girl.” Kendall gaped at her. “And you think too highly of yourself. It’s really an unattractive quality, but giving the way that you look, it suits you just fine.” He looked at her annoyed. She smirked back at him. “Now since you’ve signed me in, I’m going to walk in and get started on work. Staring at your face is quite boring.” Kendall was about to say something, but never got the chance as Katya just walked away from him at a quick pace.
The guard, who’d been standing with them, was still there and grinned a little. Kendall looked at him angrily. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll wipe that grin off your face right now.” The guard swallowed and wiped the grin off immediately.
“Yes sir.” Kendall turned on his heels and walked away.
Katya had just put her coat away when Dixon walked passed her. Kendall reached Katya at the same time. “Hi Katya. Nice to see you again.” Katya smiled warmly at Dixon, and spoke to him with the same warmth.
“Hello Marcus. It’s nice to see you too. How are the children?” He smiled back at her.
“Just fine, thank you.”
“And yourself?”
“Can’t complain. And you?”
“Fine, thank you. I can’t really complain either.” Kendall got even more annoyed with how kind Katya was towards Dixon. “So, is everyone else around?” Dixon nodded.
“Yeah, they’re all around. I’m pretty sure they’re all somewhere near your desk. Why don’t we go and see?”
“Yes, let’s.” Kendall walked behind them, shaking his head a little to himself. Irina spotted them as they came walking and smiled at her sister.
“Hi Katya.” Katya smiled back and when they reached each other they hugged.
“Hi Irina.” Like Dixon had said, everyone had gathered around Katya’s desk. Sydney, Nadia, and Eric all gave Katya a hug too, while Jack, Vaughn, Marshall, and Carrie smiled and nodded at her.
“So, what have you been up to lately? It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from you.” Katya shrugged.
“This and that. Traveling mostly, out seeing the world. I needed to relax, before I had to deal with work and all the unpleasantness it involves.” She shot Kendall a look and he gave her an annoyed look in return. Everyone else tried not to laugh. Jack swallowed a laugh.
“Why don’t you tell us about all of it at dinner tonight. I’m assuming you don’t have any plans.”
“You assume correctly. I plan on spending the evening with the triplets.” Jack nodded.
“They’ll be happy to see you again. You have some urgent work to attend to, so I suggest we all get back to work. Everything that you need to work on is right here on your desk. The number one priority is at the top of the pile.” Katya nodded and smiled at Jack.
“I’ll get on it right away.”
“You want a cup of coffee?” Katya smiled at Irina.
“Yes, thank you.” Irina went to get Katya a cup of coffee, and everyone else went back to work. Jack and Dixon walked to Jack’s office.
“It looks like Katya got to Kendall already.”
“Well, it usually doesn’t take that long.” They both laughed a little. “He didn’t look too pleased when I met Katya. In a way I feel bad for Kendall, but in another way it’s quite entertaining to watch him get so annoyed with her.” They laughed some more.
“Yeah, I agree with you. Luckily for him, he only have to put up with it once is a while. It would be worse if Katya worked here all the time.”
“But it would be so much more fun for us.” They both laughed harder at that.
A few hours later Kendall walked over to Katya. He had promised himself that he would be polite towards her, despite how she’d acted towards him earlier. He stood in front of her desk and spoke kindly. “Katya are you done with the analysis that was on the top of the pile?” She didn’t answer him, or even acknowledge his presence. He tried again, still speaking kindly. “Katya, the analysis that was on the top of the pile, are you done with it?” She still didn’t respond. Now he got annoyed. “Katya, the analysis?” She held up her coffee mug without looking at him.
“Get me a cup of coffee.” He gaped at her.
“What? No. I’m not your servant. Now the analysis. I need it. Are you done with it?” She waved her coffee mug at him and he got even more frustrated with her. “I need the analysis for a call I need to make to Washington. The sooner the phone conversation is over with the better, but I need to have made the call before 4.00. p.m. Do you have the analysis finished or not?” She looked at her watch.
“It’s only 1.00. You have plenty of time.”
“Damn it Katya.” He was getting more and more annoyed with her.
“Get me a cup of coffee, and I’ll let you know if I’m done with the analysis or not when you bring me my coffee.” Kendall rubbed his head in frustration and then started to go through everything on Katya’s desk. Now she got angry. “What do you think you’re doing? I’m working. You’re messing everything up.” He found the file he was looking for and looked it over.
“If you had just giving me this when I asked for it, I wouldn’t have had to go through everything myself. Or you could’ve just said you were done with it and pointed to where I could find it, and I could’ve gotten it myself.” She looked at him sternly.
“Clean up the mess you made.” He looked back at her angrily.
“I already told you, I’m not your servant. You brought this upon yourself.” She cocked an eyebrow at him.
“You should really be careful.” She held onto her coffee mug tightly. “If something heavy was to fall on your bald head, a bump would be very visible, and you would look worse than you already do.”
“You’re not allowed to thrown anything at me. If you harm anyone, you’ll be violating your pardoning agreement, and it would be my right to throw you in jail, if you violate your agreement.” She looked at him in mock shock and spoke the same way.
“You had a comeback. I’m shocked.” She smirked at him. “You must feel like such a man right now instead of the whining little girl you always act like.” He was still angry.
“Get back to work.” With that he walked away from Katya’s desk and she laughed to herself.
In the late afternoon Jack, Irina, and Katya went home. Jack parked the car and he and Irina walked towards the front door. Katya got out of her own car, opened the trunk and started walking. “Jack, my luggage.” Jack looked over his shoulder, but then kept walking.
“Get it yourself. This is not a hotel, and I’m not a bellboy or any other kind of servant.” She stopped, crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at him.
“The polite thing to do is for you to take my luggage up to my room. You can’t very well expect me to carry it myself.” He stopped and turned around to look at her.
“Yes, maybe it would be. But whenever you live here, this house becomes partly your home too, and here we do things ourselves. You know that.” He then smirked at her. “And if you don’t feel like carrying your luggage up the stairs, you should’ve arrived to LA on your broomstick. That way you could’ve just flown upstairs with your luggage.” She smirked back.
“How could I do that, when you still haven’t returned it.” Irina shook her head at them laughing.
“You two are behaving like such children.” Jack pointed at Katya.
“She started it.” Katya stuck her tongue out at Jack, and all three of them laughed.
“Fine if you won’t get my luggage, I’ll get Sergei to do it.” Irina shook her head.
“No Katya. You’re getting the luggage yourself.”
“Irina, did you ever think that maybe Sergei wants to help me with my luggage?” Irina shook her head laughing, and walked towards the front door.
“I know for a fact that he wouldn’t. Just grab the luggage yourself. It’s not that hard.” Jack still looked at Katya and shot her another smirk.
“I hope you packed light.” He then walked towards the house laughing, and saw that Irina was still shaking her head. Katya laughed too shaking her head and got the luggage herself.
“We’re home.” Irina called out to the triplets and Sergei when she walked in.
“In the living room.” Irina walked into the living room with Jack following closely behind. They both went around and gave the triplets a kiss.
“Did you have a nice day at school?” The triplets all nodded.
“Yes, daddy.” Maddie gave Jack a kiss in return.
“And did you do your homework?” Caitie smiled broadly at her mother.
“Of course mommy.” Irina smiled warmly at Caitie.
“I thought so. You can show daddy and me later.” Ethan looked at his parents.
“Where’s aunt Katya?” Just then Katya walked in.
“Right here. Your father didn’t want to help me with my luggage.” Jack rolled his eyes.
“But you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, aunt Katya. And women are just as capable as men in doing most things, so daddy shouldn’t have to help you with your luggage. I thought you had your pride?” Katya gaped at Maddie, while everyone laughed. Jack clasped his hands together and kissed Maddie’s head.
“That’s my girl.” Katya crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow.
“What about every time your father holds out the car door for your mother, holds out the chair for her, and helps her with other things? Shouldn’t she do that all by herself?” Ethan smiled.
“Daddy does all that because he’s in love with mommy. He’s being romantic.” Jack smiled warmly at his son.
“And that’s my boy.” Katya rolled her eyes and then looked at Caitie.
“What about you? Do you have something to add?” Caitie smiled.
“No, but I agree with everything my sister and brother said.” Everyone laughed.
“And that’s my girl too.” Jack smiled warmly at Caitie too. Katya smiled at the triplets.
“Well, are the three of you going to give me a hug or not?” The triplets got up off their seats and went to Katya to hug her. Sergei went up from his seat too and went to hug his cousin.
“Hi Katya. Good to see you again.” She smiled back at Sergei.
“You too, Sergei.”
They all had a pleasant evening together and Katya talked about her travels through Europe. She’d brought the triplets some presents, which they spent a lot of time looking at. Later in the evening after the triplets were in bed, Jack was in the kitchen when Katya walked in.
“Jack do you have a garbage bag?” He looked at her curiously.
“Yeah, why?”
“No reason. I just need one.” Jack nodded and went to get her one. “Thank you.”
“If you need to take out some trash, just say the word. I’d be more than happy to throw you out with the garbage.” He smirked and her she smirked back.
“You wouldn’t be strong enough to carry me.”
“Now couldn’t that also mean that you’ve gained weight rather than it being an attack on my strength?” Jack laughed, while Katya looked at him sternly.
“I’ll have you know that I’m in the best shape of my life. I have not gained weight.”
“Maybe because of your old age, you’re retaining more water in your body.”
“I’m not old or retaining water in my body.” Jack shook his head laughing.
“Whatever Katya.”
“I’m not.” He laughed more.
“You just keep telling yourself that. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” He walked out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. A few seconds later Irina walked into the kitchen.
“I’m going to bed. Goodnight Katya.”
“Yes, goodnight.” Irina looked at Katya a little more closely and then looked at her amused.
“Did Jack say something that annoyed you?” Katya looked at Irina and Irina could tell that Jack had. She started to laugh.
“It’s not funny. He called me an old, wrinkled, big, fat whale.” Irina laughed harder at that.
“Now you’re exaggerating.”
“Hardly.” Irina walked over to Katya, gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Good to have you here again.” They smiled at each other. “And if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it.”
“Typical of you to side with your husband.”
“I know.” She gave Katya another kiss on the cheek and started leaving. She waved her hand in the air. “Goodnight Shamu.” She could hear that Katya gaped and she laughed at that.
The next day Kendall had waited at the entrance at APO for Jack, Irina, and Katya. He knew they’d be arriving at the same time, and thought that he might as well be there to sign Katya in when they arrived. Jack and Irina had smiled at him and greeted him. He’d shown them the same kindness and had also been friendly towards Katya. She on the other hand had not said a word to Kendall, or given him the time of day.
A little while later Katya walked over to Kendall. She had a present for him. “Here.” He looked at her curiously.
“What’s this?” She rolled her eyes at him.
“For someone in intelligence, you really aren’t that intelligent at all. They should have you clean the toilets in this place, and not have you be, an assistant director.” He looked at her annoyed. “It’s a garbage bag.”
“I can see that perfectly well. What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Put it over your big ugly head, so that I don’t have to look at it.” Kendall gaped at her for a second before he put the bag back in her hand.
“Stop acting like a child and get back to work.” She looked at him in mock compassion.
“Did I hurt your feelings? Are you about to cry?” He groaned.
“Stop it and get back to work.” He left pissed off at her. Katya laughed to herself.
Katya had stayed for a few days working at APO. She’d been able to annoy Kendall plenty every day. Everyone had enjoyed seeing Kendall so pissed off with Katya, and Vaughn and Eric had also teased Kendall a little, which didn’t make things better for Kendall. While Katya wasn’t at APO, she’d spent time with the family, who’d all enjoyed having her around. She was now heading for London to do some work.
The day after Katya left, Irina went into Jack’s office at APO. He was at the secret CIA operations facility with Dixon, and she was heading to headquarters to teach in a few minutes, so she just wanted to leave Jack a note. She’d often left him a note on his computer, whenever he was not in his office. The note would be hidden by the screensaver and Jack would see it the next time he’d use the computer, which he always did. She sometimes just left him a sweet little note, but other times she also left him notes that were for his eyes only. This was one of those notes that was, for his eyes only. She had started to write about how wonderful he’d been last night and how he’d made her feel, when all of a sudden she was interrupted.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Irina looked up and saw an angry Chase looking at her. “Back away from the computer. Now.” Irina held up her hands and pushed the chair back. “What are you doing on Director Bristow’s computer?”
“I was just leaving Jack a note.” Irina spoke calmly and kindly. But Chase was furious.
“You can do that with a pen and paper.”
“I could, but the note is for his eyes only.” Chase walked closer to the computer.
“Oh is it now? Well, let’s just see about that, and if you’re in fact even writing a note to Director Bristow.” Irina moved a little closer to the computer.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“I said back away from the computer.” Irina held her hands up again, and pushed the chair back again. Chase started to read the note. Her eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. She only read a little bit of the note and then turned her head away, looking even more angrily at Irina. “This is a place of business and this is a government computer. It’s not your own personal diary.”
“I know. As I was saying, I just wanted to leave a note for Jack, which was for his eyes only. That’s why I’m writing it on the computer.”
“You have no business being on his computer.”
“What’s going on here?” Irina and Chase looked and saw that Kendall had just stepped into Jack’s office, closing the door behind him.
“Agent Bristow, is using Director Bristow’s computer.” Kendall shrugged.
“So?” Chase looked at him angrily too.
“She shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near his computer.” Kendall glared at Chase.
“Irina has the same level of security that all the high level agents here have. Including Jack. She got that clearance a year after she joined the CIA. And she got that clearance, because the CIA knows, she can be trusted and she’s proven to be one of the greatest agents this company has ever had.”
“Not everyone is the CIA thinks so.”
“No, clearly not.” Kendall and Chase kept looking angrily at each other, while Irina watched quietly. “She works with Jack in his office all the time, and he hasn’t got anything on his computer that she’s not allowed to see. She has free access to everything, so if she wanted to do something corrupt, she could do it from her own computer. It’s about time you realize that she’s one of the good guys. I thought that you’d be smarter, and have realized this years ago. But apparently you’re not that smart.” Chase gaped a little at Kendall and then looked at him even colder.
“Do I need to remind you that you’re talking to a Director of the CIA?” Kendall shot right back at her, and was angrier than before.
“Do I need to remind you that I get along better with Devlin than you do? Do you really want to be reprimanded by him again?”
“Do not threaten me.”
“Do not harass one of my agents. And it’s not a threat.”
“You should have more control over your agents. She’s writing a personal note to Director Bristow on his computer and during work hours.” Kendall rolled his eyes at Chase.
“He’s her husband. It’s normal for spouses to leave notes for each other. With the line of work that we do and deal with on a daily basis, even if we’re just working here in the office, we need a sense of normalcy. And she’s entitled to a break. So leaving Jack a note is not interfering with her work. If you want to be hard on Irina for leaving a personal note for Jack, you should be hard on every married couple in this place, because they all leave notes for their spouses. Even Jack. And Jack, Marcus, and I have perfect control over our agents and of this place.” They kept looking angrily at each other, and none of them spoke for a while. “Was there something in particular you wanted?”
“I came here to drop off some work for you, Jack, and Marcus to look at.” She waved the folder she had in her hand a little.
“Then I suggest you give it to me, and then leave so that we can get back to work. Irina has to leave for headquarters to teach in a few minutes, and I doubt you want to interfere with her doing her job.” Chase stood looking at Kendall for a few seconds. She then turned to glare coldly at Irina, who looked at her apologetically. She looked back at Kendall and gave him the folder.
“Don’t think I’ll forget this conversation.” Kendall smirked a little at Chase.
“I certainly hope you don’t.” Chase left Jack’s office angrily and Kendall and Irina watched her leave APO. Kendall rubbed his head with his hand and shook his head. “I just had to deal with one nutcase for a few days. I didn’t think I’d have to deal with another nutcase so soon after.” Irina laughed. Kendall looked at her and laughed too. Irina smiled warmly at Kendall.
“Thank you for the laugh and for sticking up for me.” He returned the smile.
“Don’t mention it. I’m just so tired of the way Chase treats you. You’d think that after more than four years, she would’ve come around.” Irina nodded.
“Yeah, I’d certainly like that. But I doubt she ever will think of me any differently.” Irina smiled at Kendall a little sadly.
“Well, we can always hope that she’ll one day come to her senses.” They shared a smile. Kendall looked at his watch. “It’s nearly time for you to leave, so I’ll leave you to finish your note. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye Kendall.”
Two hours later Jack and Dixon returned to APO. Jack went to his office and sat down to work on his computer. He saw the note from Irina and started to read it. His face turned a little red as he read on.
“Quite a note, huh?” Jack looked up and saw Kendall standing with a grin on his face. He looked at him a little horrified.
“You read it?” Kendall laughed.
“No, of course not. I don’t want to know what you two write to each other. The color on your face gave you away.” Jack smiled a little embarrassed. Kendall looked out at the others and when he couldn’t see Dixon anywhere, he walked into Jack’s office closing the door behind him and took a seat. “But I also know about the note, because Chase stopped by when Irina was writing it to you.” Jack’s expression turned mad.
“I take it she gave Irina a hard time?” Kendall nodded.
“Yeah. She walked into your office as Irina was typing on your computer, and she was less than thrilled with Irina for using your computer. I think Chase read some of the note.” Jack stared a little wide eyed and then got madder.
“When is she going to stop thinking that Irina is up to something? Irina has done nothing but excellent work for the CIA since she joined. She’s helped prevent a lot of bad things from happening, and her teachings have proved to be life saving for agents. Chase has been at Sydney’s house for dinner a few times with Marcus, and I know that Isabelle and Sarah have talked about Irina, and how much they love her. She’s seen Irina on a few occasions with the triplets, her grandchildren, and Marshall and Carrie’s children. She should know by now that Irina is not up to anything.” Kendall nodded.
“If it helps, I didn’t let Chase off easily.” Kendall smiled and Jack smiled back at him.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Jack can I ask you a question?” Jack nodded.
“Yes, of course.”
“Why doesn’t Irina ever stand up for herself when it comes to Chase? I mean I know she doesn’t want to hurt Marcus. The rest of us don’t want to hurt Marcus either, but we still talk back to Chase if she harasses Irina. But we only do that if Marcus is not around. Irina doesn’t even talk back to Chase when Marcus is no where around. I’ve just been curious about this for years, and should probably have asked about this sooner or asked Irina.”
“Irina doesn’t talk back to Chase, because she feels that she deserves Chase’s hatred.” Kendall looked at Jack oddly.
“What? Why does Irina think she deserves Chase’s hatred?”
“Because of all the bad things she’s ever done. Even though she never killed all those agents, that she helped end Rambaldi, and have done nothing but excellent work since she joined the CIA, she still feels guilty for the crimes she’s committed.”
“That’s ridiculous. Irina’s been through hell in her past. Her time in Kashmir turned her into crime, and it was not her fault that she was sent to Kashmir.” Jack shivered a little by the sound of Kashmir. He and Irina never talked about it, but he still vividly remembered the night she talked about it in Russia. Like the rest of the team had been informed about what had gone on in Irina’s life, Kendall had likewise been told about what had happened with Irina and what had led her to her path of crime and Rambaldi. “She was also put through hell by her own sister. She’s suffered enough, and she shouldn’t have to suffer anymore. She shouldn’t feel guilty anymore or let Chase get to her. She’s been forgiven by everyone within the CIA. The ones who doubted her in the beginning, now completely trust her.”
“I completely agree, and it’s not that it’s something she really thinks about. But she has a wonderful life now. She has her family back and doesn’t have to live in hiding anymore. A part of her feels that she shouldn’t have all of this, because of all she’s done. She’s forgiven herself for all she’s done, but still she feels guilty too. Chase’s hatred is a reminder of what she’s done, which is why she never talks back to her, because she feels like she deserves it.”
“Then it would be even better if Chase treated her as nicely as everyone else does.” Jack nodded.
“Yeah, I think it would, and Irina wants that too. I mean, I still think she’d feel guilty. But as I said it’s not something she thinks about that much. Though, it would definitely be better if Chase treated her better. For all of us. But I do know that Irina appreciates everyone who stands up for her. It has definitely helped her feel more accepted for who she was and for who she is.” Kendall smiled.
“I’m glad.” Jack smiled back. “Chase actually also brought some work over for the two of us and Marcus to look at. So if you have the time, I can get the folder and Marcus and the three of us can go over it now?” Jack nodded.
“Yes, I have the time.” Kendall got up from the chair.
“Great. I’ll just go and get the folder and Marcus. You want me to bring you back a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, thank you.” Kendall nodded and left Jack’s office.
In another part of the world another man sat down across from another man. One of them was drinking a glass of red wine, while the other who’d just arrived ordered a double scotch. “Nice to see you again.” He took a sip of his wine.
“You too.”
“I trust you weren’t followed?” The scotch drinking man looked at the wine drinking man a little angrily.
“You know I wasn’t. It’s an insult for you to say that to me.” The wine drinking man gave a nod to the scotch drinking man.
“I apologize, but you can never be too careful.” The scotch drinking man’s drink arrived and they waited for the waitress to be far enough away before they started talking again. “I trust you’ve thought about my offer?”
“Of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
“Does that mean you want to destroy Jack and Irina?”
“Absolutely. Nothing would give me greater pleasure. But we are equal partners in this. You don’t control me or call the shots.”
“I won’t.” He took a sip of his wine. “I suggest we send some of your men and some of my men to LA, so that we can get to know Jack and Irina’s routines. It’s going to take a long time to plan the perfect way to destroy them.” The scotch drinking man nodded.
“I agree. Everything has to be perfect in order for us to be successful.” He raised his glass. “To our partnership, and to bringing down Jack and Irina ones and for all.” The other man raised his glass too.
“That’s definitely something worth drinking to.”
TBC