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Chapter Ten:
You Know

Vaughn's eyes narrowed. "Why don't you say what you really mean, Jack?"

Jack shrugged. "I only wanted to congratulate you for being able to move on so smoothly."

"Smoothly?" Vaughn's voice was hard edged. "You think that I was able to move on smoothly? You have got no idea what I went through, Jack."

"Oh, I think I might," he replied. "Sydney is my daughter, after all."

"Then don't try and tell me how I moved on."

"But you did move on, right."

"What was I supposed to do?" Vaughn demanded through gritted teeth. "Keep on the path of self-destruction until I died as well? Or should I have stayed with the past, letting my memories turn me into a bitter and twisted man just like—" Vaughn cut off, realizing what he was about to say.

But to his surprise a ghost of a smile crossed Jack's face. "Just like me?" he said.

Vaughn paused. "You may not agree with the path that I chose, but I never stopped loving your daughter. Just as you didn't."

Jack looked at him for a few seconds and then nodded shortly. "You should probably get home. We have a big day ahead of us."

The following morning Weiss arrived at Vaughn's, needing a lift to work.

"So what's wrong with it?" Vaughn asked, in reference to Weiss's car as he looked around for his keys.

Weiss shrugged. "No idea. It just wouldn't start and I didn't have time to figure anything out. I'll look at it tonight."

"Right…aha!" Vaughn triumphantly held up his keys. "Found 'em."

"Good for you…oh," Weiss reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "I found a couple of photos. I know that you probably have some, but I thought they might help or whatever…"

Vaughn took the envelope, but did not look inside. "Thanks," he said quickly. "We should—" He cut off as the shrill sound of his mobile started. Sighing, he grabbed it. "Hello?"

"Vaughn, it's Dixon."

"What is it?"

"How far away are you?"

"I'm just about to leave. Why?"

"She is asking to see you, Vaughn."

"For me?" he asked, taking a few steps and picking up his briefcase.

"Yes, she—"

Static suddenly broke into the conversation. "Dixon?"

"Could you get here—"

"…time to figure anything out. I'll look…"

"Vaughn," Dixon did not sound impressed. "What is going on?"

Vaughn, however, had stiffened. The interference was just like that time at Sydney's. His blood felt as if it were icy cold. Who was listening in to his conversations?

Spotting a light switch to his side, Vaughn leaned in. The static grew louder.

"Vaughn, would you answer—"

"…I thought they might help…"

"Dixon, I'll speak to you when I get in," Vaughn said and then flipped his phone shut.

"Marshall's looking at the bug now," Dixon said to Vaughn. "And I've organised for a team to do a clean up."

"Why me?" Vaughn pondered aloud.

"Unless Marshall can trace where it came from, I don't know if we'll ever be able to answer that." Dixon replied. "But for the time being, you need to get down to the cells."

"Good morning," Vaughn said as he walked in and placed his folder on the waiting table.

Julia stared at him, her eyes narrowed. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Vaughn blinked. "Excuse me?"

"What right did you have to say all those things yesterday?" she demanded. "Do you really think that it's acceptable to create filthy lies?"

"You want to lecture me on what is acceptable? May I remind you what you actually do to earn a wage?"

"Don't turn this back on me." Julia snapped. "What gives you the right?"

Vaughn tried hard not to smile. If she was this riled up about what he had told her, then obviously it was having some effect.

"I have every right," he replied calmly. "Because what I told you is the truth and it's time that you go back to who you really are."

"Who I really am?" she muttered. "You know, I've experienced pain. I've been beaten and I've been tortured. I've had to run until my legs were screaming to be cut off. But I have never experienced anything like this…this insanity."

Vaughn just looked at her unblinkingly. "I know that Sydney is on there somewhere. Why don't you let her speak?"

"Why do you even care?" Julia almost screamed. "I see it in your eyes. Why are you taking this so personally?"

Vaughn drew in a deep breath as he opened up the folder and pulled out a photograph. Not one of Weiss's, but one of his own that he had brought in.

A snapshot of him and Sydney, happy and completely unaware of what was about to come for them.

"Here," he handed it over. "That is why I care so much."

Julia stared at the image. It certainly appeared to be authentic, but she wasn't about to be thrown that easily.

"This is the woman you told me about," she said, looking up. "The one who died."

Vaughn nodded. "Yes," he said quietly.

"And so because we bear a resemblance you have just decided to convince me that I am her?"

"You bear more than just a resemblance. The proof is right there in front of you."

"The truth is that you lost somebody and instead of accepting that fact you've decided to manipulate me because you cannot bear to be alone."

"That is not what I am doing."

"Well, I don't see any other logical explanation."

"I am not here to be logical." Vaughn replied. "I am here to tell you the truth. And that photo is the truth- as are all the others that I have in here."

Julia just shook her head as he pulled them out and tossed them across the table. "Photos can be altered, created. Do you really think that they're going to magically make me believe?"

"What is going to make you believe is that deep down you now that I am telling you the truth. You look into my eyes and know that I can see right through you. I may not know this Julia persona, but I know the way that you think. I know that some things confuse you. And I know that you will not be able to rest until you have the answer to every single question in your mind."

Julia's eyes narrowed. "You think that you know me that well?"

"You know that I do."

"Ok then," Julia challenged. "Who is Mountaineer?"

Vaughn blinked. Of all the questions she could have asked, that was the one that she pulled out? But he also felt a slight sense of victory. The fact that Mountaineer was in her mind had to be a good sign.

"I'm waiting."

"Mountaineer is you. Sydney. It's your CIA call name." Vaughn said.

Julia's brow furrowed. She hadn't expected him to actually give her an answer. But, then again, his reply did not really confirm anything. Maybe he was just skilled at improvising.

Standing up, Julia took a few steps away from the table. "How well do you know Sydney?" she asked, quietly.

Vaughn cleared his throat. "I would say pretty well."

"Was she neat or messy?"

"Neat."

"Did she wear a watch?"

"Of course."

"Was it broken?" Julia knew that the question sounded insane, but if there was the slightest chance that what Vaughn was saying was true, then she had to ask them. If knew as much as he claimed, then he would have an answer for her.

"No…" Vaughn trailed off, suddenly realizing what she was asking about. "That watch you are asking about is mine."

"Yours?" Julia sounded dubious.

"It was my father's. He told me that you could set your heart by it. It stopped the day we met."

Julia froze. October 1st. The side of her mouth started to throb, as she had a toothache.

"You know what I am talking about," Vaughn said, his voice low. "Don't you?"

Julia turned, her expression completely blank. "I have no idea."

Vaughn closed his eyes briefly. He should have known that Sydney, or Julia, would have never conceded defeat that easily.

A malicious smile crossed her face. "You think that you know so much. Well then. Answer these. What is my favourite colour? What is my favourite movie? Who was my best friend in kindergarten? Can you name any of my childhood pets?"

Vaughn stuttered as he tried to reply. She was rattling the questions off so fast that he did not have a chance to respond.

"Where did I live when I was a child? Did I take swimming lessons, or did I do ballet?"

"Do you even know the answers to these?" Vaughn suddenly asked. "Because I find it interesting that you need me to answer them."

"It doesn't matter what I know. This is about what you know," Julia snarled. "So, what was the name of my first boyfriend? Where did the scar on my pinkie come from?

Vaughn could only look at her. He would have not been able to answer these questions to her satisfaction, anyway. He knew Sydney, he would not deny himself that, but these were the little things that had eluded him during their relationship.

"You don't know, do you?" Julia was almost screaming. "Did I sleep with a teddy bear? What was my favourite book—"

"Alice in Wonderland." A voice came from the entry to the cell and Julia stopped short. It was the older man, Jack.

"Excuse me?"

"I said that your favourite book was Alice in Wonderland," he repeated.

Julia eyes him. "And what makes you think that I even own a copy of it?"

"Because I right beside you when your mother gave it to you for your 5th birthday."

Julia felt a small jolt, just about at the end of her tether. First Vaughn claiming that they had been a relationship and now Jack claiming to be her father. Were they ever going to stop?

But of course, she did not let her feelings show. Instead she just turned to Jack, her expression steely. "Oh, so that makes it true," she said, her tone etched in antipathy.

"All you need to know is that it is the truth." Jack responded calmly.

"Well, I don't suppose that you just happen to have my copy right here?"

Jack shook his head, an idea suddenly forming in his mind. "It was destroyed by the fire in your apartment."

"How convenient," Julia said, crossing her arms.

Jack turned to Vaughn. "I think that it's time for a break."

Vaughn registered his expression and stood up immediately. Telling Julia that they would return later, the two men exited the cell.

"She rejected the photos, right?" Jack said.

Vaughn nodded, as they headed down the hall. "Said that they could have been altered."

"What we need are concrete objects," Jack said. "Items that can connect to the slightest memories of Sydney…things like your watch."

Vaughn coughed. "You heard that?" he asked.

Jack just brushed him off. "The problem is that all of Sydney's belongings were destroyed in the fire."

"Are we sure of that?" Vaughn asked. "Was nothing salvaged?"

Jack stopped in his tracks. "I'm not sure. But if anything was salvageable, then there is only one person who I imagine would have them in his possession."

Vaughn's eyes widened slightly. "Will?" he put forward and Jack nodded.

Vaughn drew in a deep breath as he approached the construction suite. He had been sent in alone, to lessen any suspicion. The last thing the CIA wanted to do was risk Will's life by revealing his new identity.

Up ahead he spotted a familiar figure and stopped, not wanting to call out Will's name. Instead, he just stood and waited for him to turn around.

Two seconds later Will did so, and when his eyes fell upon Vaughn he froze, the colour draining from his face.

Slowly Vaughn walked up to him. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" Will asked, his voice low.

"We need your help."

"Help with what?" Will asked, his puzzlement growing.

"It's to do with Sydney." Vaughn paused. "Will, she's alive."