Title: Escape This
Author: Soul Artist
Summary: When Sydney loses someone close to her, she wants out of SD-6. Pretty linear plot, I guess, but hey, I liked it.
Spoilers: After "The Solution, before "Rendezvous", cause it hasn't aired yet.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the story. Characters, etc. belong to J.J. Abrams and crew. Don't steal.
The wall clock read half-past four.
She should've been here by now. Vaughn paced restlessly inside the blood donor van, checking the clock every so often. Sydney was over fifteen minutes late to their meeting, and as a double agent, that was not a risk she could or should afford to take.
Vaughn was about to call her again when the door of the van opened and Sydney appeared. Vaughn turned to look at her, and was about to say "You're late", but cut himself off when he noticed her condition. Sydney's face was tear-streaked, her eyes red and a look of sorrow mixed with terror on her face.
"Sydney?" He rushed over to her and led her gently across the room. "Syd, what's the matter? What happened?" Sydney shook her head and covered her mouth, locking eyes with him before dissolving into sobs. He awkwardly pulled her to him, stroking her hair tenderly. She cried against his chest, not able to let go.
Vaughn didn't know how long they stood there (it felt like hours), but finally Sydney calmed down and raised her head to look at him. Still holding her, Vaughn said, "Syd? What happened? I need you to tell me." Seeing her like this broke his heart, and the sooner he found out what was wrong, the sooner he could do his best to fix it.
"It's -" Her voice choked. "It's Emily. They..." she trailed off, unable to finish.
Vaughn felt a wave of sadness wash over him. He hadn't known Sloane's wife personally, but he knew very well how much Sydney cared for her. He struggled to continue.
"How did..." Sydney looked at the ground. "This morning. Dad came into Sloane's office...Sloane wasn't there. I went in and when he looked at me...I knew."
Vaughn looked at her sadly. He tucked a stray lock of hair beyond her ear, and she glanced up at him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. She nodded, then leaned against his chest. Vaughn didn't fight, just put a hand on her back comfortingly.
Author: Soul Artist
Summary: When Sydney loses someone close to her, she wants out of SD-6. Pretty linear plot, I guess, but hey, I liked it.
Spoilers: After "The Solution, before "Rendezvous", cause it hasn't aired yet.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the story. Characters, etc. belong to J.J. Abrams and crew. Don't steal.
The wall clock read half-past four.
She should've been here by now. Vaughn paced restlessly inside the blood donor van, checking the clock every so often. Sydney was over fifteen minutes late to their meeting, and as a double agent, that was not a risk she could or should afford to take.
Vaughn was about to call her again when the door of the van opened and Sydney appeared. Vaughn turned to look at her, and was about to say "You're late", but cut himself off when he noticed her condition. Sydney's face was tear-streaked, her eyes red and a look of sorrow mixed with terror on her face.
"Sydney?" He rushed over to her and led her gently across the room. "Syd, what's the matter? What happened?" Sydney shook her head and covered her mouth, locking eyes with him before dissolving into sobs. He awkwardly pulled her to him, stroking her hair tenderly. She cried against his chest, not able to let go.
Vaughn didn't know how long they stood there (it felt like hours), but finally Sydney calmed down and raised her head to look at him. Still holding her, Vaughn said, "Syd? What happened? I need you to tell me." Seeing her like this broke his heart, and the sooner he found out what was wrong, the sooner he could do his best to fix it.
"It's -" Her voice choked. "It's Emily. They..." she trailed off, unable to finish.
Vaughn felt a wave of sadness wash over him. He hadn't known Sloane's wife personally, but he knew very well how much Sydney cared for her. He struggled to continue.
"How did..." Sydney looked at the ground. "This morning. Dad came into Sloane's office...Sloane wasn't there. I went in and when he looked at me...I knew."
Vaughn looked at her sadly. He tucked a stray lock of hair beyond her ear, and she glanced up at him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. She nodded, then leaned against his chest. Vaughn didn't fight, just put a hand on her back comfortingly.
