In The Air Tonight
By RocknVaughn
Summary: S/V, Post "The Telling" (Season 2 finale), semi-AU (last two minutes haven't happened). This story follows canon up until the last 2 minutes; that's where this story veers off into something that seemed more fitting for Vaughn's character.
A/N: This is an old story I wrote that I have chosen to repost in a more public place. I cannot guarantee that I will be adding any new chapters to this WIP past the ones I already had written (which are quite a few). That being said, the plot for this story is already fully-formed in my head and perhaps having it dangling in front of me here will help me be inspired to complete it.
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Michael Vaughn strode from his apartment building into the crisp night air, whistling as he went. Tonight, he thought, will be the start of something fantastic. As he approached his car, he popped the trunk with his keychain remote, plopping a black duffel emblazoned with an LA Kings logo inside and shut the hatch. Looking up, he took a deep breath and stared up at the sky. It was a clear night and the stars were blazing and bright, nearly drowning out the light from the sliver of moon just above the horizon.
So this is what it feels like to be normal. For perhaps the first time since joining the CIA, I am normal, Vaughn thought. He opened the car door and slid inside, partially rolling down the window before starting the engine and putting it in gear.
The light breeze that blew through the half open window ruffled his hair as he drove. He switched on the radio and began tapping his thumbs on the steering wheel, keeping time to the heavy bass beat from "In The Air Tonight" while he hummed along. He was in a good ~ no, great mood ~ now that the longest debrief of his life was over.
Or at least it had felt like the longest; way longer than the one last week, when he couldn't keep his eyes off Sydney and imagining what he was going to do to her the moment he got her home. A wicked smile tilted the corners of his mouth until his dimple showed as he recalled what happened after that meeting.
Shaking his head, Vaughn tried to push his thoughts back to the present. A thrill of excitement that pulsed in his stomach intensified the closer he got to Sydney's apartment. He and Sydney were going away for a long weekend to Santa Barbara, just as they'd planned. For once in their lives, they were going to put themselves and their relationship first and let others deal with Sloane, Rambaldi, Derevko, and yes, even the "second double" for just a few days. God knows they had more than earned it.
Still, as hard as he tried not to, Vaughn couldn't help but mull over the developments from the past week. His initial investigation into the mole hunt had led him straight to Sydney's friend Will. All the pieces had fit… but Sydney had stubbornly refused to believe. She was the only one, with perhaps the exception of Jack, that didn't believe it. And luckily, this time her stubbornness paid off, because it ended up clearing Will's name. Even though he realized he was just doing his job, Vaughn felt a twinge of guilt for what had happened to Will. He mentally made a note to apologize to Will the next time he saw him. Will was a nice guy; the kind of guy you could imagine playing a game of pick up basketball with, or sharing laughs over a few beers.
Maybe sometime soon that would be possible…as soon as they found the real double. Vaughn shook his head to clear it. No more thoughts about work, he chided himself. Tonight and the rest of the weekend, we'll just be Syd and Mike on vacation…just like normal people.
Pulling up in front of Sydney's apartment, Vaughn turned off the engine. As he pulled the keys from the ignition, a sudden shiver crawled up his spine. Thinking it was just the evening air, he rolled up the window before climbing out of the car.
Vaughn couldn't explain it, but for some reason, that surge of excitement from earlier now had quickly become a lead ball in his stomach. Looking up the walkway towards Sydney's house, he couldn't place a finger on what it was that unnerved him. It was so quiet here… maybe too quiet.
Trying to shake off the sensation of foreboding, Vaughn strode up the walk and rapped lightly on the door. As seconds passed in silence, the feeling of unnamed fear grew exponentially. He knocked a little louder, this time calling out worriedly, "Sydney?" Still no answer. His shaking hand tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. He turned the knob and pushed, stepping onto the threshold as the door swung open wide.
The only sound to be heard other than the sudden roaring of blood in Michael Vaughn's ears were his car keys, dropped from stunned, lifeless fingers, harshly clanking to the hardwood floor.