[MGW] 019 - Hospital

June 24th - 1319 hours - Umbertide PG Italy

She had been drifting between that haze of awake and asleep since they'd revived her. Her body flinching still in phantom response to things that had long since ceased being put upon her was the one sign that she still had fight in her. Her father looked tired, seated beside her with her hand held lightly in his own as if holding it too tightly might break her somehow. His thumb strayed over the top of her hand over the tape holding in the IV carefully so as to not tug at it. His other hand pressed to his forehead as he leaned against the side of the bed just watching her. The call had come in just past three in the morning from Sydney. It was a rush of information, and all Daniel could think to do was get to Italy. He was on the red-eye within two hours trying to get some sleep during the nine hour flight.

From the airport he'd texted Rachel's boyfriend. He wasn't sure what he might have already known, or what to even say. He sent a simple message of 'Rachel's in the hospital in Umbertide Italy' and thought maybe that was enough. Silently he hoped it would be enough, and that when he got there someone would have more answers for both of them. He cursed at the cab driver that cut through the winding roads of Italy, and skipped over checking into a hotel moving straight for the hospital and to Rachel's side.

Seeing her through the glass he lost his voice, his fingers pressing to the cool surface before Sydney Bristow came up to him.

"Mr. Gibson, I'm sorry we're not meeting again under better terms."

"How did this happen?" Daniel asked trying to stay strong for his daughter who was going to need him. Glancing over he saw Agent Vaughn, but was shocked to not see Julian at her side already. It didn't seem right, but nothing about the situation seemed right to him.

"We should go talk, Rachel's sleeping now. Here we'll go get you a coffee, and I'll explain."

***

Stirring for a moment she felt the room come back into focus for a moment even through closed eyes. Her body shifted taking in a breath, her throat hurting from the tube that no doubt had been in there earlier. Her hand felt warm and as her head tipped aside she saw her father at her side staring at her hand.

"Dad?"

"It's okay Rach, I'm here okay?"

"I'm in Italy... still... I think," her head was aching and her chest hurt to breathe. "Sydney called you."

"I'm glad she did, I'm just even more glad my girl's so strong."

Her features fell for a moment, tipping her head back to glance to the ceiling trying not to think about it all, but the images of it flashing over the backs of her eyelids each time she shut them for a moment. His hand tightened against hers as she exhaled, but kept her gaze upward trying to hope that gravity would work for her and her tears wouldn't fall, "Thanks Dad."

"Of course... I just... I can't help but notice, Rach..."

Even through the haze of drugs she was on to relieve the pain she knew what he was alluding to, "It's complicated Dad."

"We still love you, always have, always will Rach, but... he should be here. What kind of a man isn't at the side of the woman he cares about?"

"The kind that's not allowed to be," she admitted honestly still looking up at the water stain in the ceiling tile. One thing was for sure wherever she was in Italy the health codes were lax. A shaky breath exhaled out of her with a whimper of pain that wasn't as dull as the IV should've made it. "You can't tell Dad... not anyone, it's not that he works for a different agency..."

It was shocking to her that she could lie to the enemy, bold faced and seething with anger and just say whatever she wanted, but now facing the truth which should've been simple, felt even more difficult.

"Rach, sweetie, we all trust you, and you're my girl. I'm not going to put you in danger... I'd never wish that, ever."

"I know... Daddy I know. He's freelance, but not for us. The time we met, he had been hired to counter the mission I was on. We were after the same thing... but different sides of the game."

It didn't take long before her father understood, "Sydney and Michael?"

"They'd take him in on sight I'm sure," Rachel sighed turning to face her father. "It wasn't supposed to happen like this you know. I'm the good one remember," she teased lightly, "but... I love him."

"I know you do sweetie, I know you do. I won't tell, I won't put you in jeopardy or him. You know we can't tell your mother, this already has her worried. Sydney told me what happened to you... or at least what she was allowed to say. I don't know what I would've done if the call had been different news Rach." He swallowed hard, leaning over to press a kiss to her forehead, "Do you want me to fix it... so he can visit you?"

His words were so soft, and Rachel's heart ached to hear them, nodding the tears finally spilled onto her cheeks, "Please..."

"It's going to be okay Rach, I'm here."