Chapter One

He was unconscious when they found him. Eight hours later, waking up in the hospital hooked up to IVs and other standard equipment. The scars on his face told of the horrors the last week held for him, it was the only part of his body not covered in the white hospital sheet. He moves slightly and feels the impact on his fractured and perhaps broken ribs, the pain is blinding but he's been trained to endure worse, proud he did not divulge a single governmental secret or Intel.

He hears a slight shuffle and immediately snapping to attention he opens his eyes for the first time and surveying his visitors. His mother is next to the bed on his left, her head pillowed on the bed next to his. Alice is next to her holding her hand. They are both asleep but a troubled one, he could tell by the way one of them would shiver or involuntarily jump every now and then.

He turns his head to find; on his right is none other than Jack Bristow a pensive look on his normally expressionless face. He wonders where Sydney is and if the look on Jacks face has anything to do with her. The older man however seeing the patient is now awake moves closer to the bed and fishes for something out of his pocket.

V: Don't make this a habit Jack.

J: Don't make what a habit, Mr. Vaughn?

V: The last time I woke up in a hospital you were there to tell my Syd risked her cover/safety to save my ass. Please don't tell me she did it again I really couldn't handle that at the moment.

J: Well, I'm not here to tell you she did that, however she did risk her sanity. Right now she is at home catching up on some much needed sleep. She'll come to see you when she wakes up in about half a day or so.

V: You drugged her didn't you?

J: About 30 minutes prior to receiving word that you were found I slipped her something in her coffee. She was going crazy on us. But that isn't the reason I'm here, there are two actually. The first being that Sloane and Sark were captured at the location you were at, so I assume that when Derevko is caught which should be soon my daughter will be quitting the agency.

V: Understandably so. And the second reason?

J: To return this to you it was found when we retrieved you belongings off of the plane. I don't think that you want another confrontation with Dr. Barnett about agent/handler protocol, do you?

He hands Vaughn a small black box that was in his hand and turns to walk out he door.

V: Jack! Thanks.

He smiles as Jack walks out the door and turns to his mother and ex who have watched the scene unfold with interest. Placing the box on the bedside table he says to his mother Marie in his native French.

V: No

M: No what?

V: It's not for her

He darts his eyes to Alice so his mother knows it is her he is referring to.

M: Then who?

V: Later.

Alice: How do you feel sweetie? Do you need the doctor? Do you need anything?

She queries jumping into the conversation jealous that she has no grasp on the French language. He passes out from exhaustion and stays out for about 6 more hours. When he wakes up his mother and Alice are still there but both look refreshed and are wearing different clothes than when he passed out.

V: Hey.

M & A: Michael! You scared us.

V: Sorry.

Alice looks to the box several times in a minute and he notices, and realizes his mother didn't say anything to her about it he tells her.

V: It's for a close friend.

He states simply, hoping she'll drop it and knowing she won't.

A: Really, who?

V: Sydney. It's her birthday soon.

A: How long have you known her? Why haven't I met her? Who is she? Someone walks in the door and answers for him.

S: Me.

A: Rita! It's nice to see you again. What do you mean you're Sydney? Marie this is Rita Stevens, she works with Mike at the State Department. Rita this is Marie, Michael's mother.

M: Nice to meet you dear.

V: Hey, Syd. What did he give you? You were out for a good 24 hours.

She smirks, and walks closer to the bed, and hugs him while he is talking.

S: First of all, you should be quiet and save your strength.

He cuts her off.

V: Why?

S: You should listen to me because I've been in your position more times than I care to count. Secondly It's nice to meet you Marie, but Alice has mixed my name up I'll explain later. I'm Sydney Bristow. Third, it's great to have you back Vaughn. Fourth my father told me he came to see you, I hope he wasn't too harsh. And lastly, let me get Matt and we'll talk some more.

V: I'm fine.

S: Look me in the eye when you say it.

He can't.

S: Don't play the tough attitude; I know all he tricks remember?

She turns around to get Matt, his doctor, a friend and a fellow agent, and returns minutes later with a tall man around their age with blonde hair, blue-eyes and glasses.

Matt: Hey man, good to have you back. Now someone can control your rambunctious agent.

He says with a pointed stare at Sydney. Which prompts Vaughn to stare at her and she puts her hands up, palms facing them, in mock defense.

S: I didn't do anything!

Matt: That's not what I heard. Rumor has it you threatened to withhold Intel from Kendall until he authorized a rescue team to be assembled.

Sydney blushes and looks out the window.

S: Well that's not completely true.. dad helped!

Matt and Vaughn chuckle at her obvious discomfort. And Vaughn takes the time she looks out the window to look at what she is wearing. It's one of her favorite pantsuits, and some 3 ½ in heels. Her face is perfect as always, not a wrinkle or line that shouldn't be there. He sees her smirk and realizes that he's been caught staring through his reflection in the window, but doesn't look away until the tension in the room starts escalating and Matt decides to start his exams to prevent something from happening. They all sit in silence while he observes and pokes at Vaughn until he is complete and address them again.

Matt: All right you can be discharged today and I'll come by tomorrow to take a look at those ribs they should heal nicely though. You'll be at the beach?

S: I don't think so, too tempting and too much exposure, probably lake side.

V: Hey! S: Not this time, last time I left you alone with doctors orders you ignored them and made you shoulder worse.

V: Fine. They coming?

S: Your mom should, I'm not too sure about Alice though. It's more family business for her to be there.

V: And Jack?

S: Already there. We've got transport and everything just waiting for you.

V: Don't I feel special.

Matt, Syd, Alice, and Marie start to gather everything in the room so they can leave.

Matt: I know this is an agency hospital but how do you know someone's not listening?

S: Matt, when you work with someone in the field and make as good a team as us you learn how to read each others body language. He saw me turn on the scrambler the minute I walked in here.

She pauses, scanning a few papers and laying them and a pen in front of Vaughn for him to sign.

S: Isn't that right, Doug?

V: Hey, it's Phil! Maybe I should start calling you Kate? Huh? Maybe Rita?

S: I'm going to get you for that Boy Scout.

V: Whatever mountaineer, or is it freelancer?

S: Mountaineer, Freelancer, Maverick? I don't have a stable one it changed often so I wouldn't blow my cover at SD-6.

V: We should see about getting you a full time one, maybe, spybarbie.

He says knowing it'll get to her.

S: Hey!

V: And the beach too tempting but you're taking me to Lake Arrowhead?

S: Not too many people know about our cabin there, so you'll be safe there and I can keep you under supervision.

V: Yeah, you'll probably handcuff me to the bed so I can't get up.

S: Nah more like the couch, after all you wouldn't want to miss the Kings game tomorrow, would you?

V: Add some refreshments, beer, and you're a goddess.

S & Matt: No beer.

V: It was worth a try.

S: All right we've wasted enough time sign the release forms and let's get going.

He does so and they are in a CIA issue sedan in half an hour to a plane that will take them to Lake Arrowhead, with Alice tagging along.