Moscow had been a narrow escape. For once Sydney would've liked an
assignment like Positano. Just walk in and have a clock fixed, and walk
out. Of course, Ana Espinosa showing up unexpectedly had ruined an almost
easy assignment. Even that was better than this assignment. Being shot
while hanging on a rope was no picnic. At least it was over and done.
Of course, the assignment was nothing compared to awkwardness that she would have to face when she would brief Vaughn. She smiled at the thought of him, and then looked over at Dixon to see if he noticed. Dixon was fast asleep. It always amazed Sydney how Dixon could sleep on a moving plane. In this instance, she was glad for the reprieve. She let her mind wander to her last conversation with Vaughn.
After the news about her mother, and her announcement to leave SD-6, she had screwed up her nerve and asked Vaughn out to a hockey game. She couldn't believe she had been that bold. She had held her breath waiting for him to answer too, but had been disappointed when he turned the discussion back to business.
But the last time they talked…… Oh how he made her heart skip a beat. He had wanted to be with her too. He was interested in her the same way she was; but he was too dedicated to his job. Maybe that's why she was so attracted to him. He was as dedicated to bringing down SD-6 as she was. Maybe more.
Sydney sighed lightly and tried to get more comfortable in her seat. After all the time, she'd spent on a plane, you'd think she'd be used to these damn chairs.
A few more hours……..
Vaughn checked his watch for the millionth time in ten minutes. He couldn't concentrate on the work on his desk. They were all a big blur to him when Sydney was on assignment. He could never concentrate. Weiss was always telling him to be not so obvious about his agent. With Haldaki on the warpath to get him out of the agency, he should be more careful.
She'll be here in the morning…..
He should go home and try to get some sleep. It was almost midnight, and he had stayed behind to try to catch up on some files. But he hadn't gone through even one. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples slightly, sighing softly.
That was unbelievably stupid of him to tell Sydney how felt. To look at you directly. God, her sweet smile, and those dimples, almost had him pouring his heart out to her. How he felt when she thought he was married, or the time, she apologized for his father. That time he had been able to hold himself together.
Vaughn sighed again. It's better that she knows, he thought to himself. He couldn't bare to hurt her. He wanted to be with her. Only if the circumstances were different.
He looked at his watch again.
She'll be here soon. Please God! Let her be here in the morning.
When Sydney opened the door to her house, it was almost noon. She had gone straight to Credit Dauphine from the airport. Then she had spent the next three hours preparing her report and being grilled by Sloane. When he was satisfied, she had told him that she was going to take the next two days off. She had given him some vague explanations about having some assignments.
She walked to her room, and put her bags away, before jumping in the shower. Half an hour later, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She fidgeted with her hair a little before pulling into a ponytail.
Sydney took a deep breath and exhaled out, "Time to call Vaughn".
Vaughn was a nervous wreck by the time Sydney called him. Weiss had stuck his head in the office twice to tell him to calm down. She was at least two hours late, by his calculations. He exhaled hard when he got her call.
She was alive. And, she was here.
He closed his eyes for a moment, with her breathing in his ear. He could almost see her on the other end. He cradled the phone closer to his ear, while he told her to meet him at the warehouse in half an hour.
Maybe he'll swing by that Deli on the corner and pick some Pastrami sandwiches before he headed to the warehouse, he thought to himself. Why not? I can be casual with her in the warehouse, he smiled to himself.
It's lunchtime, and it's only a couple of sandwiches.
He smiled to himself as he walked out of his office, whistling. He didn't notice all the curious looks he was getting as he walked down the hall.
When Vaughn reached the warehouse, she was already there. He hurried over to open the gate and let her in.
"Sorry. I got hungry on the way," he held the bag with the sandwiches. "I was waiting for your call."
"You were worried about me?" she said casually. Duh, Syd. You weren't going to ask.
"After the way you took down Cole, Nah," he smiled at her while unloading the content of his bag. One pastrami sandwich, one roast beef, a bottle of water and a large container of Slusho. She smiled at the sight of the Slusho.
"That's not for me, is it? Blue is not my color"
He smiled at her comments. "I bought you some lunch. Didn't know if you had a chance to eat before…" he trailed off as he looked up. Her dimples were back in her cheeks. He cleared his throat, and dropped his eyes to the food. He grabbed half his sandwich, and pushed the other towards her. "Maybe we should get started."
"Oh right. We should," she said, and Vaughn cursed himself. The dimples were gone.
Sydney talked for the next half-hour, while Vaughn listened intently, pacing back and forth. Sydney had polished off her food, and grabbed his half of the sandwich as well.
I am having lunch with Sydney Bristow, he thought. He would've liked it to be outside, in a park, with a blanket spread on the ground and sunlight highlighting her hair. Not in this dull and dank warehouse with a light bulb overhead. But, he was having lunch with Sydney Bristow. He smiled slightly.
He wished he hadn't offered her his half of the sandwich when he noticed that she was rolling her shoulders around to work out the stiffness. The sandwich would've given me something to hold on to, he thought ruefully, looking down at his hands. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the table.
"So K-Directorate's new boss is willing to play with The Man," Vaughn said. "Interesting."
"Well, he didn't have much of a choice."
"Yeah. Are you… you feeling alright? Do you need to see a doctor about your shoulder?"
"No, I'll be alright. It's just a little bruised," she smiled at him. But he wasn't looking at her. She frowned slightly. "Vaughn, we're not outside. You can look at me here, in this warehouse."
"Yeah," he whispered slightly. He looked up at her and smiled slightly. "Syd, I don't regret what I said. I am a little concerned that it might change our focus. We can't afford to lose out head right now. Hockey can wait Syd. This.. what we do… can't," he looked at her imploringly. "Until SD-6 is just a memory, we have to be careful. YOU have to careful."
"Yeah.. You're right," Sydney answered a little stiffly. She got up from her chair. "I've got to go. I haven't slept in like…forever," she smiled briefly.
Vaughn touched her arm slightly. She turned around to look at him. "I was a little nervous about seeing you again..after the talk. You know," he said. "I thought it would be uncomfortable."
"Yeah, me too," she smiled at him to let him know she understood. "I'm going to go now."
"Ok. Sweet dreams then."
Sydney walked out the gate, and then turned around. "I like roastbeef sandwiches. Thanks for lunch"
Vaughn smiled slightly, and said "Your welcome."
Once she was out of his sight, he sat back down on the chair that Sydney had occupied minutes ago, and dropped his head in to his hands, and exhaled loudly.
Well, that went well, he muttered to himself. Great going, Vaughn.
The lunch had been a total surprise to Sydney. She had come to the warehouse expecting this meeting to be awkward. Vaughn had somehow made it a little easier with the food. And, she had been hungry. Though she was upset a little that he wouldn't look at her in the warehouse, he had made her feel better afterwards.
He feeds me and he worries about me, she thought. That comment about the doctor had been a giveaway. He had also had been pointedly referring to her to be careful. She sighed slightly, and leaned back her seat.
Since she told Danny the truth, everything has been going wrong for her. Finding out that she worked for the enemy, finding about her parents, the stress of the job itself. She wasn't sure she could've handled it all if it weren't for Vaughn. He had been supportive and understanding.
Sure, she had Will and Francie; but telling the truth about what she does would've endangered their life. She wished she could talk to Francie though. It would be so sweet to gossip and giggle like old times over a guy. She would really love to tell Francie about Vaughn.
Francie would like Vaughn. If only I could talk to her about him…
Of course, the assignment was nothing compared to awkwardness that she would have to face when she would brief Vaughn. She smiled at the thought of him, and then looked over at Dixon to see if he noticed. Dixon was fast asleep. It always amazed Sydney how Dixon could sleep on a moving plane. In this instance, she was glad for the reprieve. She let her mind wander to her last conversation with Vaughn.
After the news about her mother, and her announcement to leave SD-6, she had screwed up her nerve and asked Vaughn out to a hockey game. She couldn't believe she had been that bold. She had held her breath waiting for him to answer too, but had been disappointed when he turned the discussion back to business.
But the last time they talked…… Oh how he made her heart skip a beat. He had wanted to be with her too. He was interested in her the same way she was; but he was too dedicated to his job. Maybe that's why she was so attracted to him. He was as dedicated to bringing down SD-6 as she was. Maybe more.
Sydney sighed lightly and tried to get more comfortable in her seat. After all the time, she'd spent on a plane, you'd think she'd be used to these damn chairs.
A few more hours……..
Vaughn checked his watch for the millionth time in ten minutes. He couldn't concentrate on the work on his desk. They were all a big blur to him when Sydney was on assignment. He could never concentrate. Weiss was always telling him to be not so obvious about his agent. With Haldaki on the warpath to get him out of the agency, he should be more careful.
She'll be here in the morning…..
He should go home and try to get some sleep. It was almost midnight, and he had stayed behind to try to catch up on some files. But he hadn't gone through even one. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples slightly, sighing softly.
That was unbelievably stupid of him to tell Sydney how felt. To look at you directly. God, her sweet smile, and those dimples, almost had him pouring his heart out to her. How he felt when she thought he was married, or the time, she apologized for his father. That time he had been able to hold himself together.
Vaughn sighed again. It's better that she knows, he thought to himself. He couldn't bare to hurt her. He wanted to be with her. Only if the circumstances were different.
He looked at his watch again.
She'll be here soon. Please God! Let her be here in the morning.
When Sydney opened the door to her house, it was almost noon. She had gone straight to Credit Dauphine from the airport. Then she had spent the next three hours preparing her report and being grilled by Sloane. When he was satisfied, she had told him that she was going to take the next two days off. She had given him some vague explanations about having some assignments.
She walked to her room, and put her bags away, before jumping in the shower. Half an hour later, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She fidgeted with her hair a little before pulling into a ponytail.
Sydney took a deep breath and exhaled out, "Time to call Vaughn".
Vaughn was a nervous wreck by the time Sydney called him. Weiss had stuck his head in the office twice to tell him to calm down. She was at least two hours late, by his calculations. He exhaled hard when he got her call.
She was alive. And, she was here.
He closed his eyes for a moment, with her breathing in his ear. He could almost see her on the other end. He cradled the phone closer to his ear, while he told her to meet him at the warehouse in half an hour.
Maybe he'll swing by that Deli on the corner and pick some Pastrami sandwiches before he headed to the warehouse, he thought to himself. Why not? I can be casual with her in the warehouse, he smiled to himself.
It's lunchtime, and it's only a couple of sandwiches.
He smiled to himself as he walked out of his office, whistling. He didn't notice all the curious looks he was getting as he walked down the hall.
When Vaughn reached the warehouse, she was already there. He hurried over to open the gate and let her in.
"Sorry. I got hungry on the way," he held the bag with the sandwiches. "I was waiting for your call."
"You were worried about me?" she said casually. Duh, Syd. You weren't going to ask.
"After the way you took down Cole, Nah," he smiled at her while unloading the content of his bag. One pastrami sandwich, one roast beef, a bottle of water and a large container of Slusho. She smiled at the sight of the Slusho.
"That's not for me, is it? Blue is not my color"
He smiled at her comments. "I bought you some lunch. Didn't know if you had a chance to eat before…" he trailed off as he looked up. Her dimples were back in her cheeks. He cleared his throat, and dropped his eyes to the food. He grabbed half his sandwich, and pushed the other towards her. "Maybe we should get started."
"Oh right. We should," she said, and Vaughn cursed himself. The dimples were gone.
Sydney talked for the next half-hour, while Vaughn listened intently, pacing back and forth. Sydney had polished off her food, and grabbed his half of the sandwich as well.
I am having lunch with Sydney Bristow, he thought. He would've liked it to be outside, in a park, with a blanket spread on the ground and sunlight highlighting her hair. Not in this dull and dank warehouse with a light bulb overhead. But, he was having lunch with Sydney Bristow. He smiled slightly.
He wished he hadn't offered her his half of the sandwich when he noticed that she was rolling her shoulders around to work out the stiffness. The sandwich would've given me something to hold on to, he thought ruefully, looking down at his hands. He put his hands in his pockets and leaned against the table.
"So K-Directorate's new boss is willing to play with The Man," Vaughn said. "Interesting."
"Well, he didn't have much of a choice."
"Yeah. Are you… you feeling alright? Do you need to see a doctor about your shoulder?"
"No, I'll be alright. It's just a little bruised," she smiled at him. But he wasn't looking at her. She frowned slightly. "Vaughn, we're not outside. You can look at me here, in this warehouse."
"Yeah," he whispered slightly. He looked up at her and smiled slightly. "Syd, I don't regret what I said. I am a little concerned that it might change our focus. We can't afford to lose out head right now. Hockey can wait Syd. This.. what we do… can't," he looked at her imploringly. "Until SD-6 is just a memory, we have to be careful. YOU have to careful."
"Yeah.. You're right," Sydney answered a little stiffly. She got up from her chair. "I've got to go. I haven't slept in like…forever," she smiled briefly.
Vaughn touched her arm slightly. She turned around to look at him. "I was a little nervous about seeing you again..after the talk. You know," he said. "I thought it would be uncomfortable."
"Yeah, me too," she smiled at him to let him know she understood. "I'm going to go now."
"Ok. Sweet dreams then."
Sydney walked out the gate, and then turned around. "I like roastbeef sandwiches. Thanks for lunch"
Vaughn smiled slightly, and said "Your welcome."
Once she was out of his sight, he sat back down on the chair that Sydney had occupied minutes ago, and dropped his head in to his hands, and exhaled loudly.
Well, that went well, he muttered to himself. Great going, Vaughn.
The lunch had been a total surprise to Sydney. She had come to the warehouse expecting this meeting to be awkward. Vaughn had somehow made it a little easier with the food. And, she had been hungry. Though she was upset a little that he wouldn't look at her in the warehouse, he had made her feel better afterwards.
He feeds me and he worries about me, she thought. That comment about the doctor had been a giveaway. He had also had been pointedly referring to her to be careful. She sighed slightly, and leaned back her seat.
Since she told Danny the truth, everything has been going wrong for her. Finding out that she worked for the enemy, finding about her parents, the stress of the job itself. She wasn't sure she could've handled it all if it weren't for Vaughn. He had been supportive and understanding.
Sure, she had Will and Francie; but telling the truth about what she does would've endangered their life. She wished she could talk to Francie though. It would be so sweet to gossip and giggle like old times over a guy. She would really love to tell Francie about Vaughn.
Francie would like Vaughn. If only I could talk to her about him…