Moving on From Tragedy

Chapter 7

A.N. Here it is Chapter 7. Thanks Nichole for her help with ideas and

reading over before I post it

Setting: Briefing Room

By now a few weeks had passed and Sydney was now about 2 ½ months along.

Since the mission in Italy had failed due to the incident with Sark. They

had no choice other than to inform Dixon of the horrific event that happened

to Sydney. He was also now made aware of her 'condition' and strove to make

sure she and her baby remained healthy.

Weiss, Jack, Vaughn, and Sydney sat gathered around the table as Dixon sat

at the head. All eyes met the door when it opened. Four guards entered, two

on each side of Lauren Reed. She was bound at the wrists and ankles, so

after the length of time it took for them to shuffle her over to the table;

they sat her down and cuffed her shackles to the chair. The guards stepped

back and waited at attention as the briefing continued.

Dixon: Ms. Reed, we need your help with apprehending Julian Sark. We know

that you are aware of his location and one way or another; you will give us

the information that we need. Am I clear?

Lauren: As glass.

Her snotty remark only fueled the rage inside the rest of the people around

the table, but all remained professional.

Dixon: There have been certain situations that have occurred and they must

be justified immediately.

At this statement, Sydney's stomach turned. Her hands flew to her mouth as

she quickly fled the debriefing. Everyone in the offices watched her as she

ran to the bathroom, her face panic stricken and her speed not able to go

unnoticed. Another thing that didn't go unnoticed was Michael Vaughn behind

her trying to catch up to her.

Inside the meeting, the remaining three men knew what was going on, but

Lauren and the four guards looked puzzled.

Lauren: I take it Sydney has something to do with this. Nothing is ever this

important unless it affects the Great Sydney Bristow.

Dixon: We're not here to discuss anything other than you and Sark. Now,

please... enlighten us.

Lauren: Well, I am not sure where he is at the moment but when we left Italy

he said he was headed back to Switzerland. He said he needed to attend to a

project that I know nothing about.

Dixon: Why would he choose Switzerland, Ms. Reed?

Lauren: Now that I think about it he once said he owned a house in

Switzerland. One that he shared with his wife before she disappeared.

Weiss (shocked): Wife? Sark was married?

Lauren: Yes, I met her several times; her name was Julia Thorne.

Dixon and Jack: So, you were Covenant before Agent Vaughn even met you?

Lauren: Yes, I was ordered by Sark to make Agent Vaughn fall in love with me

so that he would quit his search for Sydney and so that they could be happy together.

Dixon: So, you know more information about Sydney's missing two years?

Lauren: Yes, I do. And I will only reveal this information to Agent Bristow

and Agent Vaughn.

Dixon: Thank you, Ms. Reed; you may go now.

With that, the gauds undid the chains and took Lauren back to her cell.

Setting: Bathroom

Meanwhile, Vaughn had finally caught up with Sydney; he was getting really

concerned about her. Morning sickness was one thing, but if hearing Sark's

name made her sick, she wasn't going to make it though this pregnancy.

Vaughn: Sydney, Sweetheart, are you alright?

Sydney: I'm fine, Vaughn, just embarrassed that's all.

Vaughn: Syd, it's okay, everyone understands.

Sydney then emerged from the bathroom stall and went right into Vaughn's

arms. Vaughn just held her and didn't move. He just stood there rubbing

Sydney's back in soothing circles, he didn't know how long they stood there

acting as if there was no one in the world at that very moment. But then he

felt Sydney start to pull away from his embrace.

Vaughn: Syd?

Sydney: Vaughn, we need to get back. I'm fine, I promise.

Vaughn: If you're sure you're feeling better.

Sydney: Yes, I am.

Setting: Debriefing

Sydney and Vaughn reentered the meeting.

Dixon: You okay, Sydney?

Sydney: Yes, Dixon, I'm fine.

Dixon: Lauren revealed that she knows some information about your missing two years, Sydney. But she will only reveal this information to you and Vaughn. I want to set

up a private meeting with her so that you can get this information.

Vaughn (angry): No way! I won't allow this Dixon. Sydney has been through

too much already.

Dixon: I understand that, Agent Vaughn. But, I believe Sydney needs this

information and so do we.

Again they were talking like Sydney wasn't in the room and that really

annoyed her when they did that.

Sydney: Excuse me, may I have a say since this has to do with me?

All eyes turned in her away and waited for her to speak.

Sydney: Vaughn, and I will meet with Lauren; but the only way you will get the

information she tells us will be in a debrief after the fact. I don't want to be wired or whatever and risk her realizing that it is not a private meeting.

Dixon: I will set it up then, Sydney. This meeting is finished. You may go.

All the agents gathered their things and headed out of the conference room;

as soon as they left Vaughn pulled Sydney to their flirting space.

Vaughn: Syd, are you crazy, going to talk to Lauren alone?

Sydney: Vaughn, I won't be alone. You will be with me the whole time. She will

only give us the information if were both there anyway.

Vaughn: Are you sure you want to know what she is going to tell us?

Sydney: Yes, if she can fill in some, if not all of my missing two years

as well as why I married Sark, then I need to know.

Vaughn: Okay, Syd, you win. We'll talk to Lauren.

Sydney: Thank you, Vaughn. I love you.

Vaughn: I love you too, Syd.

Sydney: Vaughn, I'm exhausted. Lets go home

Vaughn: Okay, Sweetheart.

Setting: Vaughn & Sydney's Apartment

Vaughn and Sydney had just arrived home. As they entered the apartment the

phone was ringing.

Vaughn: I'll get it; you go rest.

Sydney: Okay.

Vaughn ran into the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the hook.

Vaughn: Hello?

Dixon: Vaughn, you'll be meeting with Lauren at 8am tomorrow morning.

Vaughn: Thanks, Dixon. Bye.

Dixon: Bye.

Vaughn headed in to the bedroom to tell Sydney.

Setting: Sydney and Vaughn's Bedroom

Vaughn: Syd that was Dixon we are meeting with Lauren at 8am.

Sydney: Okay.

Setting: The Next Morning. Sydney and Vaughn's Apartment

Sydney and Vaughn were sitting at the table eating breakfast when all of a sudden she spoke up.

Sydney: Vaughn, I'm worried what Lauren might say today. This will change

everything I thought I knew about my missing years.

Vaughn: I know, Syd, but I will be there the whole time with you and whatever

Lauren says, it won't change how I feel about you.

Sydney: I know that, I'm just scared.

Setting: JTF

Sydney and Vaughn have just arrived and Dixon and Jack walk up to them.

Dixon: Sydney, are you ready for this?

Sydney: Yes.

Dixon: Let's go then. You will have as long as you need and as soon as you're

done, you will come brief us.

Sydney: Okay, Dixon.

With that Dixon and Jack led them down to Lauren's holding cell.

As Sydney and Vaughn approached Lauren's cell, Dixon and Jack left.

Setting: Lauren's Cell

Vaughn (angry): Lauren.

Lauren (coldly): Agent Vaughn, Agent Bristow. I see, that you couldn't

wait to get rid of me so that you could go back to your sweet Sydney, could you, Michael?

Vaughn: Cut the crap, Lauren! We are only here to get information that you said you had. Just get on with it and tell us and this will be a whole lot easier on you. So, start talking.

Lauren: Well, I was told to make you forget about Sydney any way I could. But,

at the time, I didn't realize that Julia was Sydney until I met her once she

got back. Then it finally clicked where I had met her before. By then I knew

if Sydney recognized me and told the CIA and they figured out who I really worked for, that my cover would be blown. So, I tried everything to make sure Sydney never found out that I had met her before.

Sydney: Lauren, how many times did you encounter me while I was Julia Thorne?

Lauren: On many occasions, you were always around when I would be with Sark.

Sydney: Do you know how they conditioned me?

Lauren: That I know nothing about, but when it seemed that they finally broke

you, I saw Sark starting to fall in love with you. And as soon as he was in

love, he asked you to marry him and you didn't hesitate to say yes. From what

I could tell, you loved him just as much. The next time I saw you, all you wanted to do was talk about planning the wedding. You seemed so in love with him, but I must have

been wrong. You're good at faking things and making people believe it's true; because

I sure believed it and so did everyone else in the Covenant.

Vaughn just stood quietly looking at the floor. He knew what she said was meant

to harm him, and they did. But he knew Sydney had to do what she had to do

to convince Sark that she was who they wanted her to be. He couldn't show Lauren that her words had affected him.

Lauren (evilly): But, I knew that after you came back, that Sark missed you

dreadfully. He told me that he saw you at that party in Italy and I know what

happened in the basement. He has had someone from the Covenant following you ever since. So, needless to say, we know you're pregnant. Did you really think you could keep it a secret from him? He knows it's his and he won't let you just ignore that fact and pass it off as my husband's child.

Sydney couldn't believe what she was hearing. He had known this whole time. As it

hit her, she turned and ran out of the cellblock. Vaughn just stood there and

stared at Lauren a moment longer, trying to make sense of all he had heard; then he turned and ran after Sydney. Once Vaughn entered the rotunda he went in search of Sydney; he had to find her, he knew she couldn't handle what Lauren them. He couldn't figure out why she even agreed to speak with Lauren. Jack saw what was going

on the whole time thorough a closed television set and went up to Vaughn.

Jack: What happened, Vaughn?

Vaughn: Jack, not now. I need to find Sydney, she ran off after our conversation with Lauren. It was terrible; she couldn't handle what she told her. We have to find her.

Jack: Do we even know where to start?

Vaughn: The pier, she goes there when she is upset.

Jack: Lets go.

Setting: LA Pier

Vaughn and Jack had just arrived, but there was no sign of Sydney. When all

of a sudden, a woman caught Jack and Vaughn's attention.

Jack and Vaughn: Sydney!

She heard them but didn't turn around, not wanting them to see her

like that. She had to deal with it on her own. She heard them running up.

Vaughn: Sydney.

Vaughn noticed she was shaking very badly and took her in his arms. Sydney curled up in Vaughn's embrace and sobbed.

Vaughn: Shh, Sweetheart, it's going to be okay. I'm here, you'll be fine, I promise.

Sydney (sobbing): Vaughn, he had me followed, he knows.

Vaughn: I know, Baby, but it will be alright.

Suddenly she moved out of Vaughn's embrace and ran to Jack.

Sydney (crying): Daddy, he knows I'm pregnant.

Jack: Who?

Sydney: Sark! He knows about the baby. Lauren told us that he had someone

following me since Italy and he knows that he got me pregnant. I'm scared he's going to come after me; I don't want him near my baby, Dad. I don't know what to do.

Jack: Oh, Sydney, I'm so sorry. We will figure out how to catch Sark; I promise

he will never hurt you again.

End of Chapter 7