Chapter 5.
It was two hours before the black sedan stopped in front of the small cabin. After two hours of backtracking, to ensure they weren't being followed, Jack and Sydney finally arrived at the safe house. Some one had obviously prepared for their arrival because the lights were on and there was smoke slithering from the chimney. The cabin was set back off the road and was surrounded by pine trees. The trees provided a good cover for the cabin from the road. Anybody driving by would have no idea that there was even a house there.
Jack was the first to get out of the car. He shut the door and walked to the back of the car. Sydney heard keys jingling and the pop of the trunk release as it opened. Jack reached in and picked up a black overnight bag, slung it over his shoulder and slammed the trunk shut. He walked up to Sydney's door, opened it and helped her to get out.
Sydney was happy to get out of the car. She had always loved the mountains and the clean, pine smell of the air. She wasn't expecting it to be as cold as it was and she shivered a bit as her dad began to lead up to the cabin. The rest of the team proceeded Jack and Sydney, doing a sweep of the area to make sure it was safe. As they walked up the steps to the cabin, the door opened. Standing there, dressed in blue jeans and huge red flannel shirt was Weiss.
Sydney rushed past her dad, taking the last two stairs in one leap, and threw herself into Weiss. He grunted at the impact of Syd's body into his. They locked their arms around each other in a. Sydney pulled back and looked up at Weiss. Tears were threatening to spill over his bottom lids as he looked back at her with a smile. She smiled back at him as a tear steamed down her cheek.
"You look good for a dead woman." Weiss quipped as he choked back tears.
" I feel good for a dead woman." She played back at him.
" I know you feel good." Weiss flinched as Syd slugged him in his arm. They hugged again and stepped into the warmth of the cabin.
The cabin was lit by a couple of small table lamps and the fire that was burning in the fireplace. From the doorway, Syd could see the entire cabin. A tiny kitchen was off to the left of where she stood. (Which she supposed was the living room). Straight ahead, past the couch and coffee table, was a door to the one bedroom. To the right of that, was the bathroom.
Jack let the overnight bag fall from his shoulder and onto the couch. A cloud of dust exploded up into the air and gently settled back down. He turned to Sydney and said,
" Everything you might need for the next few days is in here." He pointed to the bag.
"Everything but answers." Sydney mumbled. She folded her arms, refusing to move from where she stood.
Weiss had made his way into the kitchen and was washing an old beat up pot.
"Sydney, are you hungry? I can make you some soup or something." Weiss raised up a can of condensed soup to prove to Sydney that he was fully prepared to show off his culinary skills.
"Maybe a little later Eric, thank you though."
Sydney looked back at her dad as he began to walk towards her.
"Sydney, why don't you go take a shower and freshen up? You'll feel better. Maybe then you'll feel like eating something." Jack suggested.
Sydney was too tired to argue with him and a shower actually sounded pretty good at the moment. There wasn't a place on her body that hadn't been affected by the last 48 hours. She hurt everywhere. She exhaled and shuffled over to the couch, picked up the bag, and continued on her way to the bathroom.
Jack waited until he heard the water from the shower turn on before turning to Weiss.
" Mr. Weiss? Would you do me a favor and stay with her tonight? She is not to have any contact with anybody and under no circumstances is she to take one step out of that door. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Mr. Weiss?
Weiss set down the can of soup and hurried over to Jack, who was now heading for the front door.
"I understand. But…what do you want me to say if she asks about Vaughn?" Weiss swallowed nervously.
Jack paused for a moment to make sure he could still hear the water running from Sydney's shower. He wanted to be gone before she came out. He placed his hand on the doorknob and opened the door. Before he stepped outside, Jack looked at Weiss and said,
" You can tell her what you think she should know. Tell her everything or tell her nothing. All I care about is that she stays put and speaks to no one." Jack replied. He was already down the steps before Weiss had a chance to say anything else. He watched as Jack got into his car and drove off. Weiss looked around, taking in the scenery and felt a cold sense of isolation. After locking the door, Weiss returned to the kitchen, opened up a can of chicken soup and started to cook him and Sydney dinner.
Sydney stood in the shower and let the hot water pound into her back. She inhaled, letting the warmth of the steam fill her lungs. She wasn't sure how long she had been in there. Sydney reached down and picked up the shampoo bottle, gave it a squeeze, and poured some into her hand. She massaged it into her hair and tilted her head back to rinse it out. The bubbles slid down her body followed by a trail of goose bumps. Reluctantly, Sydney turned off the water. She pushed aside the shower curtain and carefully stepped out. She grabbed her towel and began drying herself. Syd wrapped her head, so her hair wouldn't drip, and began digging through the bag her father had packed for her. She pulled out a fluffy terrycloth robe, slipped into it, and tied it around her, pulling the knot tight. Sydney opened the bathroom door and a wall of steam poured out around her.
Sydney Bristow didn't need to see him to know that he was in the room. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and the room buzzed with his presence. Standing in the living room dressed in jeans and a Los Angeles Kings sweatshirt was Michael Vaughn.
End of Chapter 5