I must apologize! I am so sorry for having Vaughn call Sydney baby all the time. I must admit I was under the influence of my boyfriend when I wrote the chapters and he calls me baby, not in a sexist way, but more of in a Dirty Dancing way. (Nobody puts Baby in the corner). So I was somewhat high on the hey there baby fumes! It won't happen again! Anyways, this story is going to be put on hold for a few days because I'm going home to be with my friend. She's having an operation to remove the tumor this weekend. Fingers crossed for everything to go well!

Chapter Four: New York City, Center of the Universe

No matter what city she traveled to, she always favored New York, from a spy's perspective. The crowds made it easy to get lost in and the diversity of people never made her stand out like a sore thumb. Sydney always fit in, whether she was wearing a skintight red mini dress, a business suit, or an elegant ball gown.

The crowds seem rather thicker today then normal. Vaughn and she had gotten through the airport easily as Mr. and Mrs. Patterson from Texas. APO had not given them any disguise except for the aliases, so Sydney and Vaughn were left on their own to develop their characters. She was wearing low slung jeans, and a light pink tiny tee. Vaughn had gone for a more Texan look, jeans and a plaid shirt with a cowboy hat. The hardest part was catching a cab to Manhattan and the hotel they were staying in. With their Texan drawl, the cab driver had found it hard to understand them, and they ended up in the Bronx before he realized what they wanted.

They moved easily through the thick throng of people, blending in easily with the tourists. Vaughn's hand was reassuring at the small of her back, making sure they were not separated. Sydney spied the Café Pres and nudged Vaughn. They crossed the street and Sydney began scanning for the agent.

It didn't take long to pick her out. She was a beautiful young brunette sitting at a table for four. Her hair was loose and she was in a white tank top and an airy pink peasant skirt. But what made her stand out the most was the toddler in the high chair next to her. The little girl had inherited her mother's brown curls and blue eyes. She was smiling. That smile was exquisite. The child's whole face was lit up and she had two dimples on her cheeks. Sydney drew her eyes away from the child to look at the table. Sure enough, there was a cup of coffee with a blue pen leaning against it. She started to move forward, grabbing Vaughn by the hand.

"Excuse me miss? Do you know if the Yankees are in town?"

"No they are in Boston kicking some Red Sox ass."

Brigid motioned for them to sit and Sydney followed her blue eyes as she gave them a once over. She then pulled out a lipstick and twisted it, placing the tube on the table.

"Bug killer."

"I figured." Sydney responded "I am Agent Sydney Bristow; this is my partner Agent Michael Vaughn."

"Brigid Breslin. This is my daughter Katie."

"She's absolutely adorable."

"Why thank you. But down to business. Global Rings is indeed a front company for the Ring of Life. All the files and documents that prove their plan are back at my apartment. I'm going to give you the address in case something happens."

"Ok Ms. Breslin—"

"Please, Brigid."

"Ok Brigid. Vaughn and I will escort you to your apartment. You can collect the files and some belongings for you and your daughter. We will then head over to our hotel where we will transmit the documents back to our team in LA. As soon as that is done, we'll head over to the airport and get you and Katie out of here."

"I think I should return to my apartment by myself. They watch us very closely and I don't want to run the risk of them identifying you as CIA. I did a sweep to make sure that none of their agents are here, but I can't guarantee that the situation will be true at my apartment. Give me your hotel and room number and I will meet you there after I pick up the files and pack a bag for Katie."

"Brigid I don't think that is a good idea."

"Agent Bristow. If they identify you as CIA at my apartment they will not hesitate to kill my daughter."

"It's still not safe."

"Sydney let her go. She knows this company better than we do. She's right."

"Thank you Agent Vaughn, I must be going now however."

Brigid rose and put away the bug killer. She picked up the pen and began to lightly tap on the table with it.

"I hope you folks enjoy your stay in the city. I can't believe your Maggie's sister. You two are so different!"

Sydney responded while tapping her fingers on the table.

"We are, aren't we? It was such a joy meeting you and the little critter!"

As Brigid walked away, Vaughn lightly touched Sydney's shoulder.

"Did she give you her address?"

"Yes. She typed it out in Morse code. I gave her the hotel name and room number as well. She also told us to come to her apartment if we don't hear from her in the next two hours."

"Do you think that's going to be necessary?"

"I really hope not Vaughn."

Sydney and Vaughn wasted the next two hours in their hotel room, working up aliases for Brigid and her baby. When two hours came and went, Vaughn and Sydney made their way to Brigid's apartment fully armed. They feared what they would find there, and Vaughn couldn't shake the feeling that he had just caused another child to die.

Her apartment was a cute little brownstone tucked away on a side street. Sydney motioned for Vaughn to take the back door as she went up to the front stairs. Sydney slowly approached the door, noting that it showed no signs of forced entry. But she thought she heard crying coming from inside. Sydney prayed that it was the tenants in the apartment that was right next door.

She cautiously swung open the front door.

It was mayhem. Everything in the apartment was turned over. Papers and clothes were flying everywhere. The water was running in the kitchen and the back door was off its hinges. Vaughn was in the middle of the kitchen looking at Sydney.

"Do you hear crying, Syd?"

"Yea."

They made their way towards the source of the sound. It was coming from behind a set of closed wooden doors. Sydney opened them and almost fainted out the sight before her.

Brigid was lying on a bed, dead. Her blood was all over the room. Vaughn ran to check for a pulse and Sydney walked about the room searching for the crying that she was sure was in here. Stopping at a closet, Sydney swung open the door and pushed back the clothes. There curled up in the back of the closet was Katie, crying. Sydney drew the little girl into her arms and tried to block her sight from the scene in the bedroom. The little girl kept on crying mama. Sydney tried to shush her and turned to face an ashen Vaughn.

"She's dead. We have to get out of here, Syd. She wrote something on her bedspread in her blood. 'Don't forget Katie's teddy'. We have to take her daughter and get back to LA."

"Vaughn, I think that's were the files might be, why would she write that?"

Sydney looked at the little girl in her arms. She had fallen asleep from her tears.

"Go pack a few spare diapers and look for baby food and formula. I'll find the teddy."

As they separated, Sydney did a quick glance around the room and assumed that one of the doors led to the nursery. She went through one and was in a warm yellow room with a bunny trim. A crib was in the center, with a single teddy in it. The teddy was pink and had "Katie" written on it in script. Sydney shifted the little girl's weight to one arm and pulled the teddy out of the crib. She squeezed it and was satisfied when she felt something more than fluff in the huge stuffed animal.

Vaughn came into the nursery with a bag. He showed the contents to Sydney. Baby food, bottles, and formula. She nodded and pointed out the diapers to him. Sydney then went over to the dresser and pulled out spare onesies and some extra clothes.

"Ready?" Vaughn asked, his voice hushed.

Sydney opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a shout.

"FREEZE. Put the bag on the floor and turn around slowly with you hands in the air. Both of you."

Sydney and Vaughn turned simultaneously to face the proud members of the NYPD.

Hope it was a good enoguh chapter to hold you for a few days:)