AN: Okay. We all know how stupid it was that at Syd's "funeral", nobody investigated the huge, suspicious-looking white van parked right next to Vaughn. I know I was ticked. I mean seriously – a group of CIA agents who had NO doubts AT ALL? Come on JJ, be realistic! Especially mah Jackky-poo. No offense. So this is a re-write of what could – AND SHOULD! – have happened. I own nothing. R&R!
The crashing of the waves mimicked the crashing of their world.
Sydney was dead. Gone. They would never again feel her touch, never see her smile.
Jack closed his eyes. He couldn't face the reality. He had created this person, and now the only records of her being on this earth were those with the CIA. The only marks she had left were the ashes Vaughn was now throwing into the wind. He knew that as soon as he got home, there was a shot of whiskey with his name on it. He wanted to be numb. To not feel the pain now ripping at his very core.
Vaughn nearly dropped the urn into the sea. He almost turned the gun in his pocket on himself. But he knew that Sydney wouldn't want him to do that. That was the only thing keeping him sane these days, this moment. Her memory. The knowledge that she wasn't just a dream.
"Ashes to ashes…"
That's all that remained of Sydney, their friend, their family. Just a box of ashes.
"Hey."
Vaughn whirled, to see Weiss standing there. Without another thought, he threw himself into the arms of his very best friend and began to sob, dry and broken.
As he opened his eyes, though his vision was blurry through the thick tears, Vaughn saw something that struck him as odd. Not that there was anything normal about that day. But this… was just weird.
A white van was parked next to him. It had been there before they had arrived at the beach, and yet, the beach was empty that day except for the funeral party.
He pulled out his gun. "Vaughn? Dude?" said Weiss, pulling away and spotting the pistol. "…whoa, man. Put that away."
Vaughn ignored him, pointing the gun at the van door. "Do you have a gun on you?"
"No, because I'm not paranoid and weird."
"Is anyone in the car?" said Vaughn to the door, harshly. Leaving no room for playing games.
There was no answer.
Vaughn started to kick at the door, channeling all his anger and agony into this task.
Jack, Dixon, and Marshall turned to stare at the commotion. "What the hell?" said Dixon.
Vaughn had put a dent in the door by now.
Weiss was staring on, a bit freaked out.
With a huge crash, the door burst open. Everyone's mouths dropped to the floor.
"Dear God… Sydney?"
