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The Letter

by Kara B.

© 2001

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An Alias Story



Rating: PG-13



Archival: FanFiction Universe Archive, All others ask before using!



Summary: Sydney faces a harsh reality.



Disclaimer: SUE ME NOT. ME IN COLLEGE. HAVE NO MONEY.



MY ALIAS PAGE:

http://dreamwater.net/karafic/fic/alias.html



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Sydney sighed as she tossed her duffel bag onto her bed. The latest assignment had been rougher than usual, but she had again managed to get the information for the CIA and hide her double-agent status, but just barely. Now she was looking forward to a nice, peaceful long weekend. She slung her purse onto the bed and then went over to her dresser and brushed her hair thoroughly. When she was satisfied that she looked halfway decent, she sat the brush down and headed toward her kitchen to get something to eat.



The phone rang suddenly, startling her. It had to be Francie or Will . . .



She picked it up, "Hello?"



"Joey's Pizza?"



"Sorry, wrong number." She hung up the phone, puzzled as to why the CIA was calling her so soon. Maybe they had trouble finding the information where she left it. Or maybe it was some problem deciphering it . . .



She quickly changed into her jogging clothes and headed toward the warehouse. She casually glanced around to make sure that no one had followed her, and quickly slipped inside.



She opened the gate and stopped. Vaughn wasn't the one here. Had they reassigned him again? She could feel anger rising on that thought. She studied the person standing there . . . she had seen him with Vaughn many times . . . Weiss . . . that was his name. "What are you doing here?" she asked suspiciously.



He looked at her sadly, "I have some bad news . . . Agent Vaughn . . ."



"What happened?" she asked, hurriedly interrupting, "Did SD-6 find out? What happened?" Her concern echoed in her eyes.



Weiss averted his gaze momentarily. "Agent Vaughn died yesterday."



"What? How?" She couldn't bear this . . . Vaughn's death being because of her, because of trying to stop SD-6.



"It wasn't SD-6." Weiss said, as if he'd read her mind, "It was a car accident. Someone lost control, rammed into him . . ." he trailed off. "They took him to the hospital and he did regain consciousness . . . but died a few hours later."



"A car accident?" she breathed, stunned, "How can that be? SD-6 could've arranged it . . ."



Weiss shook his head, "Sydney, it was an accident. I know it's hard to believe and it certainly is a senseless death, but trust me . . . we did investigate the other participants."



She stood still in complete shock.



"He asked me to give you this." Weiss held out an envelope, "He dictated it to me yesterday, when he woke up."



"What did he say?" She asked, accepting the letter, staring at it uncertainly.



"Go home and read it." Weiss said.



She nodded absentmindedly . . . the letter had become her world . . . that one piece of paper . . . one thread of connection between her and Vaughn. Slowly, she made her way outside. Unable to face the letter now, she folded it in half and stuck it in her pocket, then ran home as fast as she could. Once there, she delayed . . . taking a shower, eating her dinner, but finally couldn't wait and sat down on her bed to open it.



i

Dear Sydney,



I'm having Weiss write this down for me . . . I was in a car accident as you now know and the doctors don't think I'll make it. Just in case they're right, there are some things I need to tell you.



First, I have never had any hard feelings toward you because of your mother. I've always cared about you and that hasn't and will never change.



I love you. I know this sounds weird or crazy, but it's true. I fell for you the first time I saw you, bozo hair and all. Weiss is staring at me now . . . and Devlin would have my butt if he knew. But I wanted you to know. I . . . don't know how you feel and it's okay if you don't feel the same way. You deserved more than what I would have been able to give. (Weiss says I'm getting mushy now). That's why I never told you. You know our jobs would prevent me from being able to give you a relationship at all. I wouldn't be able to be there all the time and you deserve a love like that.



I hope you won't hate me for telling you this or for not telling you sooner . . . and that you can forgive me for not having the courage you do so that I could tell you how I felt. Maybe I should have told you. I probably should have also asked to be reassigned . . . but if anything had gone wrong or happened to you, I would have blamed myself. Besides that, seeing you has become a need. As corny as it sounds, (and Weiss rolls his eyes about now) being around you makes me believe in true love and the goodness of life. You see the darkest parts of humanity, the grimmest imaginings of the mind and yet you are still the same.



You are a good person Sydney. Never forget that and never lose your fire. Don't let SD-6 EVER changed you. That's all I ask. Don't let them change you. Hang on . . . however you can and find some happiness. You might even try talking to your father. You deserve the best. You're amazing . . . beautiful, intelligent, and never afraid to speak your mind. I've always respected you for that.



Keep hanging on and I guess that I'll see you again someday.



I love you,

Michael

/i



Through the tears in her eyes, she noticed that he'd signed his first name. She'd suspected how he felt . . . and the feelings were mutual. She loved him . . .



There was a knock at her door and she got up, wiping the tears from her eyes.



"I heard." Her father said when she opened the door. He walked inside and sat down as she shut the door. "I'm sorry."



She nodded, arms hugging herself.



"He had Weiss give me a letter too." Jack added, "He told me that our relationship meant a lot to you. And even though I don't deserve another chance to be a father to you, I'd like you to give me one if you can."



Sydney vaguely wondered exactly what Vaughn had told him in the letter, "I'd like that." She said softly, leaning onto her father and hugging him. She started to sob.



Uncomfortably, at least at first, Jack put his arms around her and for the first time since she was a little kid, he held her.



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