AN: Just wanted to say thank you to all those reading and for all the reviews so far :) Really appreciate it.

At the end of the day

Dixon –

It was a stupid short-lived apology. Vaughn's voice seemed tired and still it was hard to look at him without resting your eyes on that badly bruised eye and red scar on his face.

No-one bothered to say anything in return as who was to blame for the mission did not make any difference at this point. This meeting was a courtesy to the CIA so that the higher up people always know exactly what conspired.

Sydney had smiled with an expression as much to say, 'what an idiot'. Weiss was still transfixed between the two, probably trying to see why they were acting so shifty.

Sloane had become bored a long time ago and simply remained rested against the door again, his head looking down at the floor and only briefly looking up at who was speaking.

Nadia had her usual look of concern slapped on her face. She was mainly looking at Vaughn, whom now looked like he would soon become rather angry.

Vaughn sat down again however, looking quite sheepish yet annoyed at everyone's apathy. His announcement had been more of a push in Jack's direction to get the meeting to its end.

Jack had kept looking at Vaughn. Now he'd sat down, Jack look gobsmacked. Well, in his own monotone way.

He cleared his throat. "Right well I think we'll just crack on and detail exactly what happened then". And that was what appeared to be the end of the blaming game.

"Vaughn, see me in my office afterwards please". He muttered.

An hour later –

It had been fairly awkward once they'd reached the details of how exactly Vaughn and Sydney had been captured. It was news to Dixon that Sydney had had an allergic reaction.

Marshall had pipped in and stated how it's apparently very common. I don't think so.

This had spread a speculation on whether Sydney's tracking device had been tampered with in order to sedate her or if it had been an actual bad reaction.

The incident in which Vaughn had been freed yet had stayed to free Sydney was played around very quickly before moving on to how they escaped.

Dixon thought that Vaughn's regard for protocol due to his fear for Sydney's safety, was rather kind of him. It was clear that they had a mutually caring relationship which had probably made it difficult for one to be freed to leave the other in danger for a short while.

They slowed the pace a little now as they explained how they had evacuated once Vaughn had been rescued.

"For which Dixon was a very reliable source. Thank you." Jack had said, without even looking at him. He meant it, but he was still trying to divert attention away from Sydney and Vaughn.

You didn't really need me. It was true, they knew the building fairly well from observing blueprints earlier so Dixon was more of a 'shout if you're going the wrong way' guy. Not that he minded on this particular occasion.

He had faith in Sydney to resolve the slight mess up. He'd worked with Sydney for a few years now and one thing he would always admire her the most for, was her ability to improvise.

Whenever something went wrong, she would be back on the mission in a snap.

Sydney had tried to sneak in a few, 'if we'd done this' or 'but if I hadn't done that' but Jack was having none of it.

By the end of the debrief everyone was more than tired and desperate to get out of there. Weiss and Nadia had been instructed to help Sloane with the money and contacting the various companies involved.

Dixon had wrote his mission report fairly quickly as he wasn't involved in the most part of it and it did end pretty quickly itself.

He went to Sloane's office to see if he could be any help.

Sydney –

She was fed up. Vaughn didn't exactly hold his hands up and admit fault but he might as well had. They knew the only person that would care was Jack. Just do it for him, please.

If he could make it seem more of Sydney's fault, which she strongly believed it was, then Jack may actually forgive him and not hate him as much.

As soon as the mission was over Jack sped off to his office. Vaughn had been asked to join him but Sydney grabbed his arm and pulled him gently away to a darker corner where they had at least a little privacy.

"Vaughn. He thinks you're making a mistake with me. He wants to see you trip up so that he can have further reason to think you'll hurt me." She told him quietly, keeping her voice kind and looking at him with caring eyes.

He seemed fed up of the whole thing and she didn't blame him. He was likely a little scared at what jack would shout at him when he reached his office. Why couldn't she just take him home, why?!

She carried on staring up at him as he simply put his hand on her shoulder and rubbed his thumb against it.

"It's ok. As long as you don't think that I'm going to hurt you, I don't care anymore."

He'd said it whilst keeping eye contact. Sydney tried not to read him for the truth but being a highly skilled agent made it difficult.

She'd seen his expression and could tell although he meant most of it, he seemed not too sure on whether he still cared or not.

She understood his wariness of Jack. Jack had said cruel things in the past and he was an intimidating man with a lot of power. But Sydney still found it hard to see why he couldn't just honestly not care anymore.

"Ok. You'd better go." She replied after a long pause. She decided to let it drop. At least until Jack gave him grief again.

She leaned up and planted a warm kiss on his cheek. She desperately wanted to take him home and sooth his injuries. She hated seeing him in pain, and today he'd had it all. Physical and emotional.

Dixon –

He'd seen Sydney lead Vaughn to their usual meeting corner. It was a corner that slipped behind the main transparent office but laid just behind the wall separating that part from the rest of APO.

He had seen as they'd shared a few words and Sydney had kissed him.

Something did not seem too right. They were acting like there was more at stake than a slightly messy mission.

He turned away and walked into Sloane's office. It was too large he thought. There were two large red sofas which they all usually congregated around during briefings.

Dixon could feel his hatred for the man before him. Still, after working for APO now for a few months, he'd still feel uneasy around Sloane.

"Can I help you Marcus?" He said without looking up. He was organizing some files whilst Nadia and Weiss were silently chatting to each other by the phone on the edge of his desk.

Dixon took a deep breath and walked in closer to the desk. Sloane still didn't look up.

"Is there anything I can be helping with?"

He never knew whether to add 'Sir' when addressing this monster.

Sloane finally looked up, but only for a second. He gave a short grin then returned to his papers whilst sitting at his office chair.

"Well Dixon. You should probably help Sydney with her report. I'm sure she has a lot to say".

Was he getting pleasure from the thought of how badly Sydney's part in the mission had gone?

She may have neglected her post and ended up potentially causing Vaughn's cover to be blown, but it was not her fault.

Dixon simply nodded then returned to the centre of APO.

He looked around and saw Vaughn sat in Jack's large transparent office. Vaughn looked sad. Dixon had taken a liking to him, as he was a good agent and seemed to be a very good man.

Vaughn was kind and caring, a man that would protect the people he cared about to great lengths.

He was a guy that could be serious when he needed too and good at thinking of fast solutions. His specialty in the field was his great combat skills but also his ability to respond fast to situations.

But Dixon had spent a few nights over at Sydney's apartment and seen that Vaughn was one who could successfully divide his work life from his social life. He was fun to be around, he had a good sense of humour and would always make sure you were having a good time.

Right now however, he looked awfully sad. Dixon watched as Jack was sat behind his desk giving a lecture. He didn't appear angry but Jack didn't often show a lot of emotion.

"My dad's probably telling him that he should leave." Sydney said as she suddenly appeared behind Dixon's shoulder.

He turned slightly so he could still see Vaughn but could look at Sydney as well.

"Why would he do that?" He didn't understand what had happened between them all.

Sydney wore a sad smile. She was trying to remain calm about it all and was clearly more worried than she was letting on.

"Let's just say my dad hates competition." She said as she didn't take her eyes from Vaughn and her father.

"I'm supposed to help you with your report." Dixon decided to not push the issue as Sydney didn't appear in a mood to share right now.

He noticed her face contort into confusion as she turned to face him. She was a very beautiful woman, whom Dixon usually enjoyed talking too but he knew Sydney was having a bad day and this wasn't going to make it any easier.

"I can handle my report Dixon. Who told you to do that?" She wasn't being mean. She felt threatened by the thought that someone would be thinking of her as incapable. Especially seeing as that would be the last word to describe her by.

Dixon knew her, he knew that she would never accept help unless extremely necessary.

"Of course Syd. But a lot happened, perhaps you'd like me to help you go over the details one more time?" He didn't much care about the report himself. He didn't mind helping Sydney but the mission was over and he wanted to go home as much as he could feel Sydney's desperation to leave also.

She gave him an appreciative smile, "well thanks Dixon, but I've basically finished it anyway. I was taking a break as frankly I'm getting fed up with revisiting the whole thing again and again."

She wondered her eyes over to Vaughn again as she spoke. Dixon guessed she probably wasn't just talking about the mission.