Chapter 2: The Call
"On the human chessboard, all moves are possible." – Miriam Schiff
Ops Center, four hours later
Sydney sat at Vaughn's desk looking longingly at the computer. If someone had walked past, they might have guessed that she was trying to will Vaughn to materialize out of the monitor. She swore if she tried hard enough, she could smell his aftershave all around his desk. This only served to remind her that the man she loved was missing, and no one could do anything about it. Weiss came over to her and sat a cup of coffee on the desk.
"Hey…how're you doing?" He stared at her for a moment but she did not respond.
He looked away for a moment and was about to leave when she said quietly, "I can't lose him Eric, not now, not ever. I can only imagine what they might do to him. And it would be my fault. I got him into this. He's there because of me." The tears started to fall again.
Weiss squatted down so he was closer to her. "Listen Syd, Mike doesn't think that way. He doesn't blame you. He made the choice; he's made a lot of choices to stay right where he is. You didn't put him anywhere, Sloane did this."
"What if they hurt him?" Sydney looked at him with tears falling continuously.
"He wouldn't ever blame you Syd. Ever. You hear me? I mean come on; you gave him a drawer right? How could he ever blame the person that gave him a drawer?"
Sydney smiled slightly. "He told you about that?"
Weiss smiled back. "Yeah, and let me tell you, no one has ever given me a drawer! He's damn lucky to have met you. And I know he feels that way, and do you know why?"
"No, why?"
"Because he told me…"
Sydney smiled and tried to wipe away some of the tears. "Thanks for the coffee Eric, and everything. You're a great friend."
"Yeah, that's what they pay me for. If you need anything else, let me know, ok?"
Sydney watched as he went back to his desk. She knew he was just as worried about Vaughn as she was. She drank some of the coffee and tried to focus on something other than the computer screen. She was lost in her thoughts when the shrill echo of her cell phone brought her out of her reverie. She took it out of her jacket pocket. "Hello?"
"Hello Sydney."
Sydney almost dropped the phone. "SLOANE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH VAUGHN!" Everyone in the Ops Center turned to look at Sydney. Weiss, Jack and half of the Ops Center made a semi-circle in front of her. Jack watched, trying to read Sydney's reactions.
"Now, now, Sydney. Is that anyway to greet me? I mean, what makes you think that I have Mr. Vaughn?"
"You have him you bastard. Why? Why Vaughn? Why not just come after me?"
"Well, that's not nearly as much fun, Sydney."
Sydney had conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to hurl at the sound of this man's voice and throw the phone across the room, but the other part of her knew she had to listen because Vaughn's life depended on it.
"Look, I'm sorry about Emily. I loved her too, but it was an accident and it wasn't my fault and it wasn't Vaughn's fault either!"
"Sydney, that's so nice of you to say. I'm sure Emily would be pleased, but you see, I have nothing else to lose now. Emily is gone. I would have given it all up for her…but now, it just doesn't matter anymore…I know what loss feels like Sydney, as do you. I just want you to feel it one more time, because Danny's death was quick, Mr. Vaughn's will not be."
Sydney shuddered at the thought of Sloane's responsibility in Danny's death and started to shake at the prospect of what Sloane would have in store for Vaughn. She was in shock.
"Sydney, are you still there?" Sloane said in an almost mocking tone.
It took all of Sydney's composure not to yell at the top of her lungs at the man on the other end. "Yes, I'm here."
"Good."
"What do you want Sloane?" Sydney tried to keep an even tone.
"Hmm…that's such a complicated question. What I really want is Emily back, but since I know that's not possible, I seek to make you suffer."
"Emily wouldn't want that…" Sydney tried to reason.
"Well, probably not, she loved you like a daughter."
Sydney winced at that remark. Yet another person she let down.
"But that is of no consequence anymore, you see, Emily is gone, and she no longer has any wants."
"Sloane, name your price. What can I do to get Vaughn back?" Sydney hoped there was still something that he wanted.
There was dead silence at the other end of the phone and Sydney was beginning to panic. "Sloane?"
"Yes, I'm still here. I'm just thinking what I could possibly want that would warrant this man's life. Trouble is, I can't think of anything at the moment," Sloane replied coldly.
There was some muffled noise at the other end of the phone. Sydney swore she heard Vaughn's voice.
"Sloane! Is that Vaughn! Don't hurt him, please; I'll do whatever you want. Whatever the cost!"
The crowd that had gathered to watch the display of emotions over Sydney's face was brought out of their stupor by Kendall who made a move towards Sydney after she uttered her last sentence. He was stopped by Jack, who placed himself directly in front of Sydney. No words were exchanged, but by Jack's demeanor, Kendall knew to back down. His horns receded and he fell back into the crowd. Jack stayed in between the crowd and Sydney. She would have taken it as a heartwarming paternal gesture had she not been bargaining for Vaughn's life at the time.
Sloane laughed on the line and it made Sydney's blood run cold. Sloane was playing with her and she knew it.
"Sydney, I've already told you, there is nothing you have that I want. Do you want to speak to him one last time? I'll grant you that. I suppose I owe you that."
Sydney fought the tears that were brimming. "Yes…" She heard a scuffle again and then heard the voice that she had longed for all day. However, the voice was weak and strained.
"Sydney?"
"VAUGHN! Are you all right? What did he do to you? Can you tell me where you are?" She realized Sloane would never let him answer all those questions and decided to just let him talk a moment.
"I'm ok, don't worry. I'm sorry Syd."
"Oh God, Vaughn, no, don't be sorry."
"Sydney…….."
There was a long pause and for a moment Sydney thought he was gone, "Vaughn? Are you still there?"
"Sydney…I love you."
"Vaughn, I love you too. I'm coming to get you, do you hear me? I'm going to find you, ok? Just hang on!"
There was another scuffle on the other end and Sydney could decipher the sounds of punches being thrown.
"VAUGHN! VAUGHN!"
The voice was not who she wanted. "That was really quite moving Sydney, I must say, even I was touched."
"You bastard, if you hurt him, I swear I–"
"Please, Sydney, your threats are completely useless, and as far as the injuries go, he all ready has quite a few."
Sloane let the last part of his sentence sink in before he continued. "It's been nice chatting with you again, I must say, I've missed hearing your voice…until we meet again." The line went dead.
"Sloane! SLOANE! NO!" Sydney was screaming through her tears. Then everything went black…