Here is the next chapter. I think after I post the chapter after this, I'm going to put this on the back burner until I get some of my other fics done. I have got like two fics that are like three to five chapters left until they're done. So this isn't going to be that long. Hopefully. Well, in any case, enjoy this chapter.
Vaughn tried to ignore that feeling. But when Sydney didn't come home the next day when she was supposed to Vaughn, began to worry. Sydney always called home the minute her plane had landed. It was something that she did to let Vaughn know that she was ok. Vaughn did the same for her. She never called. Worried, Vaughn called the airport. Her plane had landed almost an hour ago. Sure, Sydney had to go down to headquarters before coming home, but it never took an extra three hours. Vaughn tried to shrug it off. "Have you heard from Syd?" Vaughn asked Francie as he dropped Alexandra off.
"No, I'm sure she's fine though." Francie assured.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're right." Vaughn passed Alexandra onto Francie.
"But if she calls here, you'll be the first to know."
"Thanks. Bye Alexandra." Vaughn said. Alexandra buried her head in Francie's chest as she smiled at her father. Vaughn turned around. "France, no cartoons. Syd caught Alexandra quoting one, and got kinda mad at me for having her watch too much cartoons."
Francie chuckled. "What did she say?"
"Something from an old one. I wasn't there, but Syd didn't like it."
"Ok, I wasn't planning on it anyway. We were just going to the indoor play ground, then head home for some good old fashioned sleeping fun." Francie said.
"Thanks for doing this Francie. I'll pick her up after ten."
"Ok, have a good party." Francie shut the door. Vaughn walked out to his car. He picked up his cell phone and dialed Sydney's cell number. She wasn't answering it. Then again, if she was inside a building, her phone wouldn't work. Vaughn then tried the house. Sydney wasn't there either. Vaughn took a deep breath and crossed his fingers as he dialed Larson's cell phone. He only got a message saying that the phone was unavailable. He dialed the number to Weiss, but it was busy. Frustrated, Vaughn threw the cell phone on the passenger's seat and sped off, hoping that he'd beat the guests to his house. He was lucky. None of the guests had arrived yet, but he didn't have time to ponder on this. He was barely home for more than ten minutes before the door bell rang. Happy that he had changed into nicer clothing before dropping off Alexandra, Vaughn straightened his shirt and answered the door.
"Michael! How wonderful to see you!" Seth Marks said, upon seeing Vaughn at the door. "Where is Sydney?" Inwardly Michael groaned. Of all of Sydney's fellow teachers, Seth was his least favorite. He made it no secret that he liked Sydney, a lot. Sydney wasn't a fan of him either, but he was always invited to parties because he is an important British Literature in the English department. Numerous times, he has caught Seth hitting on Sydney. Sydney wasn't going for it every time.
"She's not back yet." Vaughn answered. No one at the college knew about Sydney's very part time job as a CIA agent.
"Where did she go?"
Vaughn had to think quickly. "She's dropping off Alexandra off at the babysitters." Vaughn said.
Seth put on a phoney smile. "That's nice." He said. Vaughn stepped out of the door way to allow Seth inside. "Where shall I put the wine?" He asked, holding a bottle of wine in his hands.
How about you and your wine go back to your apartment. Vaughn thought. "Just over there on the counter." Vaughn was annoyed at the fact Seth was the first one there. It meant that he was forced to play nice host and talk to him. But he didn't have to for long. Vaughn was very relieved as other professors and their spouses arrived. The house was soon filled with food that people had brought, and filled with people chatting. After the first ten people had arrived, Vaughn was able to avoid Seth. Vaughn went into the kitchen to refill the ice, when he felt Seth's presence behind him.
"Shouldn't Sydney be back by now?" He asked. "The party has been going for almost two hours now, and I didn't think it would take that long to drop off a little girl."
"Syd and Francie have been known to talk for hours. I'm just going to call her to remind her." Vaughn said. He went into the bedroom, and began dialing numbers. Francie hadn't heard anything from Sydney yet, Sydney wasn't answering her cell phone, Larson's cell wasn't available, and Weiss's was still busy. Vaughn wasn't at all surprised. Weiss only turned on his cell when he was expecting a call, and whenever Weiss got on the internet, he was on for like five hours at a time. Frugal Weiss decided that it was too expense to have two lines, or any other kind of internet. "Damn it Weiss." Knowing that Jack was the only one he hadn't called, and knowing that Jack didn't like to be called while directing a mission, Vaughn opted to join the party again. But he was distracted.
Vaughn was in the kitchen when someone went and found him. "Michael, there is someone at the door looking for you." She said.
"Thanks Lana." Michael put down the empty plates, and went to the door. Weiss was standing there, looking grim.
"Eric, what's up man?" Weiss pushed his way to the door. "Hey, have you heard from Sydney?"
"That is why I'm here tonight."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Weiss pulled Vaughn into the nursery. "Something went wrong." Vaughn opened his mouth to ask what, but Weiss held up his hand to silence him, "Someone was anticipating them. They had thought of everything. We couldn't talk to them. We know at least that Larson was zapped, making all communication devices useless. There was a definite struggle. Larson is dead. We had a recovery team in there just thirty minutes ago. Sydney was no where to be found."
Vaughn sunk into the rocking chair by the bed. This couldn't be happening. He began to silently weep. He knew this mission wasn't good.
"What do you want me to do?"
"The people." Weiss took two steps to the door before Vaughn stopped him. "But don't tell them anything." Weiss nodded. Vaughn sat there. He looked around his daughter's room. Situations ran through his head. Sydney couldn't contact the CIA, but had escaped alive, and was trying to find a way home. Sydney had been kidnapped, but she was ok. And then there was the worst case scenario, and Vaughn didn't, he couldn't believe it. Sydney could also be dead.
"They're on their way out now." Weiss said. "One guy wouldn't leave until she made an appearance, but I told him now, or I could wheal him out on a stretcher."
"That's Seth."
"The same Seth that you come into work once a month complaining about?"
"The very one. I need to get Alexandra." Vaughn stood up.
"No, you stay here, I'll go get her. You can't drive."
"I need to get Alexandra."
Weiss saw how badly his friend needed that connection to his family right then. "I'll drive you there."
"Thanks." Vaughn quietly sat in the car. He was too distracted. Weiss was right, he couldn't have driven. He unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car. "Eric, come in, it's too cold for you to sit in the car like that."
Vaughn walked like a zombie up the steps to Francie's apartment.
"Michael, you're here earlier than expected, I just got Alexandra down." France cheerfully said when she opened the door. She saw the very somber look on her best friend's husband's face. "What is it Michael? You never heard from Sydney did you? Eric what are you doing here? What happened?" Francie's questions hit Vaughn hard. He ignored them, and went into the bedroom where Francie always put Alexandra to sleep. Francie then turned to Weiss for her answers.
Vaughn couldn't hear much. But he could hear Weiss say, "She's missing." And Francie beginning to cry. Vaughn picked up his daughter, and her bag. Alexandra began to stir in her father's arms. "Shh…. Daddy's here." Vaughn comforted.