Keeping The Faith

Disclaimer: I do not own Alias, nor am I in any way associated with any member of the crew or cast of the show, or rep of ABC.

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE SPOILED FOR EPISODE 2.5 "THE INDICATOR," TURN BACK NOW. MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. You have been warned.

"Vaughn, what is it?" Sydney Bristow asked breathlessly. She had just gotten a call from him...but not the typical call.

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*Flashback*

She groaned as her cell phone rang next to her. She reached for it and held it to her ear.

"Hello?"

It continued to ring, and she realized that she hadn't pushed the "OK" button. She rolled her eyes and pressed it.

"Hello?"

"Sydney?"

She raised her eyebrows and glanced at the clock. 12:44 a.m. Why would he call so late?

"Vaughn? What is it? Is something wrong?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry to call you so late, but there's something extremely important that you need to know. It can't wait."

Sydney blinked in surprise before reacting. She sprung out of her bed and through on some jogging clothes.

"Okay, I'll be right there," she said, pulling up her pants and hanging up before he could reply.

She quickly snuck through the house and out the door, without waking Francie, and proceeded to run to the warehouse.

*End Flashback*

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"Syd, I hate to be the on to tell you this, but..." He hesitated.

"Vaughn, you said this couldn't wait. Now, whatever you called me here for, just say it."

"It's about your father."

"My...my father?" Sydney asked, alarmed. "What happened? Is he alright, is he hurt?"

"No, no," Vaughn said, frustrated, "it's nothing like that. Listen, Sydney, I've received information..."

"What information?"

"Information that indicates that your father was one of the leaders of an organization which transforms children into spies."

Sydney looked at him, shocked.

Vaughn took a deep breath. "I also found out that it wasn't your mother who lied to you about that mission in Madagascar. It was your father who had the bombs planted."

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Vaughn looked down at the floor.

"Sydney, I know this is hard to digest, but..."

Sydney laughed, and Vaughn looked back up at her smirking face.

"I cannot believe you," she spat bitterly.

"What?"

"How could you lie to me like that? After everything we've been through together, how can you stand there and just lie to my face?" she demanded.

"Sydney, no, I..."

"I can't believe you would accuse my father of something that ridiculous, Vaughn! A spy school?" she exclaimed in disbelief.

"Sydney, I know it sounds strange, but..."

"No! No, Vaughn, this is my father we're talking about, here. My father. What is the matter with you?"

"Please, Syd, listen..."

"And my father would never endanger either of our lives on a mission like that! Never! You should know that!"

"Look, I didn't believe it at first, but..."

"Are you having some major issues, or something?" she asked, beginning to pace, throwing her hands in the air. "Are you upset about something, so you have to take things out on my father? On me? Or are you just upset that he has so much power over you? Is that it? Huh?"

Vaughn averted his eyes from her angry glare.

"Look at me! I said look at me! My mother is a traitor of this country. She works for the enemy, and she cannot be trusted. I made that mistake. Twice. Against my father's advice. And she tried to kill me. Both of us. Or maybe that's why you're upset. My father took Irina Derevko away before you could get your revenge on her for killing your father."

Vaughn's lips parted in astonishment. Sydney's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe what she had just said. But she quickly changed her expression back to anger.

"My father," she said, "saved both of us from getting blown to pieces that night. If you don't appreciate that, I can't do anything about it. But do not feed me lies because you are upset."

And with that, she turned on her heel and stalked out of the warehouse, leaving a shell-shocked Vaughn standing alone, jaw dropped and eyes filled with tears.