Title: This Woman's Work
Author: sydofthesea
Summary: Takes place after 3.15 – Façade, starts off from their hug.
Spoilers: S3
Ship: Sydney/Vaughn
Disclaimer: the characters in this fic are JJ's, not mine.
Note: This fic is in script format however it's extremely basic and doesn't contain many of the technical details. It's also inspired by Kate Bush's song, This Woman's Work. The lyrics work so well for Syd's situation that I just had to write a fic around it. This was my first fanfic, so please bear with me.
Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things I should've said,
That I never said.
All the things we should've done,
That we never did.
All the things I should've given,
But I didn't.
Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.
Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.
(I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.)
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things we should've said,
That were never said.
All the things we should've done,
That we never did.
All the things that you needed from me.
All the things that you wanted for me.
All the things that I should've given,
But I didn't.
Oh, darling, make it go away.
Just make it go away now.
1
INT. CIA PARKING GARAGE – EVENING
Syd and Vaughn are still locked in their embrace, she slowly backs away...
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
VAUGHN
Shhhhhh....it's ok. WE'RE ok.
SYDNEY
But Vaughn...
He puts an index finger to her lip and slowly wipes away her falling tears with his thumb. She looks at him with such adoration in her face and this breaks his heart because he feels undeserving of such devotion from her. She notices his rueful look and immediately breaks their gaze as she steps back a little.
SYDNEY
I'm...I'm sorry Vaughn...I don't know what came over me
VAUGHN
It's ok. Don't apologize. [beat] I understand...
SYDNEY
It's just that it's been such an emotionally exhausting day.[beat] I found out that Ryan's brother was the man the Covenant had me kill...and then having to negotiate with him for your life while hiding my guilt...and his deceiving us and my naivete believing he'd actually help...and dad killing him...and
VAUGHN
Seriously Syd, you don't have to explain. I UNDERSTAND.
She lets out a dejected sigh and hangs her head and nods with her eyes close. He hasn't seen her look this vulnerable in such a long time and instincts tell him to just take her in his arms and shower her with kisses and tell her that everything will be ok. But he knows better.
VAUGHN
Come here
He takes a step closer to her and takes her back in his embrace. Vaughn can feel her crumbling in his arms as she lets out more tears and a silent whimpering that tear at his heart's strings. He strokes her hair with one hand, while rubbing small, comforting circles around the small of her back with the other. He does this for what seems like ages to both of them.
VAUGHN
We should probably get you home
Sydney backs away from the warmth of his embrace and starts to fish through her pockets for her car keys
SYDNEY
You're probably right. It's been a long day
She finds her keys and takes them out...fidgeting with them in her hands. She gives him a half smile and he mirrors her gesture
SYDNEY
Vaughn, thank you.
Another tear grazes her cheek and she quickly wipes it away with the back of her hand and gives him a very sincere and full-dimpled smile. He looks at her in awe.
VAUGHN
I didn't do anything
He puts both hands in his pockets and looks down giving one of those famous Vaughn longing look. It hurts Sydney to have him so close and yet so far away. She knew she had to get out of there before her heart betrays her and makes her do something she'll regret later on.
SYDNEY
We both know that's not true.
She gives him another smile and turns around to open her car door. He walks next to her where she can see him from her side
VAUGHN
Maybe it's not a good idea for you to be driving home like this. [beat] {nervously} I...I can take you to your place and you can just leave your car here for the night
Sydney is surprised by this offer and from the look on Vaughn's face, he too was clearly surprised by the suggestion he just made. She looks down and then looks at him straight in the eyes.
SYDNEY
Thanks for the offer Vaughn, but really I'm ok...just...emotional. It'll pass. Besides, Dixon and my dad are waiting for your debriefing about Sark's capture. You should just get it over with and head home. You need the rest just as much, if not more than me. I'll be fine and besides, you've already done your duty...you've diffused the Bristow ticking time bomb.
She says the last statement half-joking and half serious. This concerns him and he takes a step closer to her and looks at her square in the eyes...a look that's so serious and yet so gentle.
VAUGHN
I never saw you as a duty, Sydney
His utterance of her whole name suddenly makes her heart skip a beat.
VAUGHN
Besides, even in your most emotional state, I'd hardly call you a ticking time bomb. A hurricane maybe, but not a time bomb
This elicits a chuckle from her and she is once again smiling her gorgeous smile. He returns the favor with his own set of dimples, but his face quickly turns serious once more.
VAUGHN
But seriously, Dixon and Jack can wait till later. I'm sure they won't mind if I just took you home really quick.
Sydney is surprised by his insistence, but she knew that having him bring her home would just make it harder for her to leave his presence.
SYDNEY
I'll be ok, Vaughn. I promise. I'm just gonna drive home, draw myself a bath, maybe have a glass of wine and [beat]...and just try to forget about this day. But thanks for the offer and [beat]....and I'm glad you made it home safely.
She gives him a gentle squeeze on his arm and with that, she enters her car and drives away, leaving him behind in the parking lot watching her take off with the saddest of expressions on his face.
Author: sydofthesea
Summary: Takes place after 3.15 – Façade, starts off from their hug.
Spoilers: S3
Ship: Sydney/Vaughn
Disclaimer: the characters in this fic are JJ's, not mine.
Note: This fic is in script format however it's extremely basic and doesn't contain many of the technical details. It's also inspired by Kate Bush's song, This Woman's Work. The lyrics work so well for Syd's situation that I just had to write a fic around it. This was my first fanfic, so please bear with me.
Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things I should've said,
That I never said.
All the things we should've done,
That we never did.
All the things I should've given,
But I didn't.
Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.
Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.
(I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.)
I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things we should've said,
That were never said.
All the things we should've done,
That we never did.
All the things that you needed from me.
All the things that you wanted for me.
All the things that I should've given,
But I didn't.
Oh, darling, make it go away.
Just make it go away now.
1
INT. CIA PARKING GARAGE – EVENING
Syd and Vaughn are still locked in their embrace, she slowly backs away...
SYDNEY
Vaughn...
VAUGHN
Shhhhhh....it's ok. WE'RE ok.
SYDNEY
But Vaughn...
He puts an index finger to her lip and slowly wipes away her falling tears with his thumb. She looks at him with such adoration in her face and this breaks his heart because he feels undeserving of such devotion from her. She notices his rueful look and immediately breaks their gaze as she steps back a little.
SYDNEY
I'm...I'm sorry Vaughn...I don't know what came over me
VAUGHN
It's ok. Don't apologize. [beat] I understand...
SYDNEY
It's just that it's been such an emotionally exhausting day.[beat] I found out that Ryan's brother was the man the Covenant had me kill...and then having to negotiate with him for your life while hiding my guilt...and his deceiving us and my naivete believing he'd actually help...and dad killing him...and
VAUGHN
Seriously Syd, you don't have to explain. I UNDERSTAND.
She lets out a dejected sigh and hangs her head and nods with her eyes close. He hasn't seen her look this vulnerable in such a long time and instincts tell him to just take her in his arms and shower her with kisses and tell her that everything will be ok. But he knows better.
VAUGHN
Come here
He takes a step closer to her and takes her back in his embrace. Vaughn can feel her crumbling in his arms as she lets out more tears and a silent whimpering that tear at his heart's strings. He strokes her hair with one hand, while rubbing small, comforting circles around the small of her back with the other. He does this for what seems like ages to both of them.
VAUGHN
We should probably get you home
Sydney backs away from the warmth of his embrace and starts to fish through her pockets for her car keys
SYDNEY
You're probably right. It's been a long day
She finds her keys and takes them out...fidgeting with them in her hands. She gives him a half smile and he mirrors her gesture
SYDNEY
Vaughn, thank you.
Another tear grazes her cheek and she quickly wipes it away with the back of her hand and gives him a very sincere and full-dimpled smile. He looks at her in awe.
VAUGHN
I didn't do anything
He puts both hands in his pockets and looks down giving one of those famous Vaughn longing look. It hurts Sydney to have him so close and yet so far away. She knew she had to get out of there before her heart betrays her and makes her do something she'll regret later on.
SYDNEY
We both know that's not true.
She gives him another smile and turns around to open her car door. He walks next to her where she can see him from her side
VAUGHN
Maybe it's not a good idea for you to be driving home like this. [beat] {nervously} I...I can take you to your place and you can just leave your car here for the night
Sydney is surprised by this offer and from the look on Vaughn's face, he too was clearly surprised by the suggestion he just made. She looks down and then looks at him straight in the eyes.
SYDNEY
Thanks for the offer Vaughn, but really I'm ok...just...emotional. It'll pass. Besides, Dixon and my dad are waiting for your debriefing about Sark's capture. You should just get it over with and head home. You need the rest just as much, if not more than me. I'll be fine and besides, you've already done your duty...you've diffused the Bristow ticking time bomb.
She says the last statement half-joking and half serious. This concerns him and he takes a step closer to her and looks at her square in the eyes...a look that's so serious and yet so gentle.
VAUGHN
I never saw you as a duty, Sydney
His utterance of her whole name suddenly makes her heart skip a beat.
VAUGHN
Besides, even in your most emotional state, I'd hardly call you a ticking time bomb. A hurricane maybe, but not a time bomb
This elicits a chuckle from her and she is once again smiling her gorgeous smile. He returns the favor with his own set of dimples, but his face quickly turns serious once more.
VAUGHN
But seriously, Dixon and Jack can wait till later. I'm sure they won't mind if I just took you home really quick.
Sydney is surprised by his insistence, but she knew that having him bring her home would just make it harder for her to leave his presence.
SYDNEY
I'll be ok, Vaughn. I promise. I'm just gonna drive home, draw myself a bath, maybe have a glass of wine and [beat]...and just try to forget about this day. But thanks for the offer and [beat]....and I'm glad you made it home safely.
She gives him a gentle squeeze on his arm and with that, she enters her car and drives away, leaving him behind in the parking lot watching her take off with the saddest of expressions on his face.