Disclaimer

None of the characters in this story so far are mine, all Alias characters are property of J.J. Abrams and ABC. I have no money, don't sue.

After the Getaway

Sydney quietly snuck into her apartment and laid her bags on the floor. It was 2am, and she didn't want to wake Francie up. They had gone out earlier that evening for cocktails, after she had gotten back from France. Being unable to sleep, she finally decided to get her bags out of her car and unpack. Suddenly she felt someone watching her. Quickly she spun around to see who it was.

"Will?" She was surprised to see him. Sydney hadn't seen him since she had left for France; he had been out some place when she got home. Then she and Francie had gone out, and he had come in and crashed before they got back.

"Hey Syd, how was France?" Sydney just stared at him.

"Will, sweetie, what are you doing up? It's two- freaking- am! Hon, you look kind of pale, what's the matter?" She hastily whispered, ignoring his question. By this time lines of worry had appeared around her eyes, and she moved to help Will to bed.

"Syd, Syd calm down. I'm the one who should be worried about you, and I just had a nightmare is all. I was staying with Francie while you were gone, leaving me alone to worry about you isn't safe, or so says judge Francie." Will supplied as he was stumbling to his feet. As they hobbled to the guest bedroom where Will always stayed, Sydney, although exhausted, continued to fuss over him.

"You don't get like this every time I leave do you?" She asked worriedly.

"No, just this once. Bad gut feeling Syd, I can't explain it. I'm sorry to worry you. Look, you just walked in from who knows what, and you're already trying to nursemaid me. What did happen? How'd you get that?" He gestured towards the appearing bruise on her collarbone, the edge of it just barely visible. Even from what little he could see, he noticed that it was big and dark, and probably very painful.

"Hazard of the job," Sydney shrugged it off, not wanting to talk about how she had gotten it while diving from the restaurant table, after realizing that she and Vaughn were in danger. Will knew better than to press it, but he didn't like how lightly she was taking her injury.

"Right, sure. But I'm warning you Syd, you better come back to us alive, or else I will personally go postal on the CIA." Sydney chuckled lightly at that, and kissed Will on the forehead.

"I bet you would Will. Get some sleep though, ok? I'm here safe and sound, and you need to rest, or I will go postal on you!" Will secretly loved that she was concerned about him.

"Yes dear," He replied mockingly, as she stepped out of the room. Sydney then went to the kitchen and gathered up her bags from where she had left them. She dragged them to her room and laid them by the foot of her bed. *I'll deal with that mess tomorrow* She decided. Going over to her bureau, she rooted through it until she found a cozy pair of pajamas. Once changed, she slid into her bed, and for the first time since leaving France, she let her mind wander.

Why had Vaughn asked her to dinner? Could he possibly feel the same way she did? NO, wait, he was with Alice. *Sigh. Why do I care about every little thing that happens between us? Even if he did feel the same way, it's not like we could be together. Why did I tell Francie that I had a crush on him? Because you love him, you dolt. Crap, what if Francie told Will? I bet she did too, damn it. I've lost it. Falling for the one guy I can't have. I don't know whether or not to be grateful to Francie for taking me out for cocktails last night. Part of me wants to blame this headache on the alcohol, but I know I'd have a bigger headache without it.* Sydney's thoughts faded as she drifted into a dreamless sleep.