The Language of Fire

Show: Alias

Rating: PG

Setting: set in the near future where "Enemy Fire" left off

Summary: Sark and Lauren catch up

She speaks with a burned tongue.

"No, thank you." She places her hand over her empty coffee cup when the waitress comes to check on her. The waitress goes to another table. That's when Lauren gets a clear view of the door and she sees him walk in.

An hour late.

Sark strolls over to her and sits down across from her in the booth.

"What is that horrid smell?" he says with a grimace.

"Hamburgers," she says.

"What poor animal had to die in order for that stench to become possible?" He moves to rest his tailored-suit-covered arm on the table, but stops himself. "I doubt a business like this could afford to pay my dry cleaning bill." He keeps his arms near his body. "How are you, Ms. Reed?"

"Please call me Lauren," she says sarcastically.

He smiles slightly. "How are you, Lauren?"

"Did you come here to catch up or for business?" she asks.

"I was hoping to do both."

"Well, I came here for business." She stands up. "Now, can we get this meeting going?"

He follows her to the door. "You followed my instructions?"

"I'm alone," she says without a trace of fear in her voice.

But when he places his hand on her back, she immediately tenses. He glances at her. "We'll see about that."

**

In the warehouse Sark motions for Lauren to stand against the wall.

"What for?" she asks.

"I need to check for any recording or listening devices," he says.

"You don't trust me?"

"It's not about trust, Lauren." He grips her arm and turns her around to face the wall. "It's about doing my job correctly." He moves his hands over her arms, then her waist, kneels to pat down the outside of her legs, the inside...

"Watch it," Lauren says sternly.

He smirks and stands back up. "You're clean."

She turns to face him. "Did you bring the papers?"

"Did you bring yours?"

She reveals the large manila envelope underneath her trenchcoat.

"We trade and we will never see each other again," Sark says.

"Is that why you requested to see me specifically?" Lauren asks. "To say good-bye?"

"I said good-bye a long time ago, Lauren."

She looks at him curiously, wondering when he had said good-bye. When he shot her in the field that one rainy day? When she agreed to contact Irina Deverko for him so he could escape CIA custody?

"So, you wanted to see me so I could get a chance to say good-bye?" she says.

He shrugs. "It's up to you."

"I never said hello." She extends her hand. "The papers, please."

He frowns at her, but reaches behind his coat and removes the envelope from his back pocket. "How is everyone at the office doing?"

"Why do you care?"

"Some of them were once collegues of mine you know," he says.

"They're fine."

"Your husband?"

"Fine."

"The little man who worked with gadgets..what was his name again...."

"Marshall."

"Yes, Marshall. How is he?"

"Fine."

"How is Sydney doing?"

Lauren notices the light in his eyes. It is glowing a sort of warm glow, if that is even possible coming from someone like Sark. This isn't the first time she has heard Sark call Sydney by her first name. This isn't the first time she's wondered....

"Agent Bristow is doing fine," she says.

"I never did get to apologize for holding her hostage," he says dismissively.

"I don't recall you apologizing for holding me hostage either."

"I abducted you because I was ordered to," Sark says. "I didn't have to abduct Sydney. There's a difference."

Lauren rolls her eyes with disgust.

"Now, now," he steps towards her, "there has to be a reason why you came to meet me without taking any precautions."

"You think I'm safe with you?"

"Are you?" He moves closer.

She steps back. "What do you think?"

He stops moving.

She extends her hand again. "The papers."

He gives her his papers and they trade quickly. They shuffle through the papers silently, checking to make sure the other hadn't gone back on their word.

Lauren looks up at him. "If the CIA finds anything misleading in these documents..."

"I assure you, the information is correct," he says. "Those papers are from the Covenant."

"So, it's true?" she says. "You've gone back to work with Deverko?"

He gives her a wonderous smile. "The only thing we're trading tonight are papers."

"Fair enough." She slides her envelope into her coat pocket. "But before we go, may I ask you one last question?"

He waits.

"How long have you been in love with Sydney Bristow?"

END