Part 4
Archive: Tell me where first
Disclaimer: I don't own any Alias characters, those are owned by J.J. Abrams.
The wheels on the plane hit the ground hard, jolting Sydney awake. As soon as she relaxed in the air she had fallen asleep, and it was a very deep sleep with no dreams at all.
"Have a good sleep?" Weiss asked noticing she was awake.
"A wonderful sleep," Sydney said stretching. "I have been sleeping a lot recently, haven't I?"
"It's all part of the surgery, and that stressful timetable you used to keep didn't allow you to get enough sleep."
Sydney turned and looked out the small airplane window, seeing the bright sunlight hitting the pavement and the grass outside. Momentarily a gray hanger appeared in her view as the jet came to a stop in front of it. The sound of the jets died down outside as they were turned off.
"We're here," Weiss announced as he got up. "We still got a drive ahead of us."
"Where to?" Sydney asked as she stood up and stretched again.
Weiss looked at Sydney. "Vancouver."
"Vancouver? Why Vancouver?" Sydney was confused. "And why not just fly out there instead of driving?"
"Vancouver is out of the country, so we're hoping that SD-6 will have a harder time tracking you. As for why we're doing it this way, that's on a need-to-know basis only. However we shouldn't have any problems getting into Canada. Vaughn is waiting in Vancouver for you already."
With the mention of Vaughn Sydney moved faster, and thoughts of him flooded back. She never realized how much she missed him since they last chatted. Pulling her emotions back in before Weiss noticed she started moving to the door. It was already open and she descended into equally hot weather as San Francisco with Weiss following right behind.
"I've got a phone call to make before we head off," Weiss mentioned before walking off. "Wait there," he called over his shoulder.
Sydney watched his retreating back disappear around the corner of the hanger, his cell phone out and to his ear. Sydney stood there, she couldn't feel a single breath of wind, none to blow her skirt or to blow her magenta-tipped light brown hair. An airplane was heard going over her head casting a shadow over the ground. Her mind wanders back to thoughts on Vaughn. She wonders what he was doing at that moment, if he was thinking about her. Sydney glances back to where Weiss disappeared and saw him coming back looking very stressed.
"What's wrong?" Sydney asked as he got closer.
"Hmmm?" Weiss said while placing his cell phone away. "Oh, we have to get moving. We don't have much time. You'll find out more later."
"I want to know now though," Sydney whined.
"Vaughn will tell you," Weiss said as he walked off.
Sydney ran to catch up choosing to drop the subject knowing that there was no way to get it out of Weiss.
"We got a slight walk ahead of us. Not very far, but the faster we move, the better off we will be."
Weiss and Sydney walked across the area away from the airport. Ahead was a worn-down building that, from a distance, looked like it hadn't been used in the recent past. It was hard to tell but it looked like it used to be painted white, but years of rain, wind, snow, and sun and peeled most of the paint off. As they got closer to the building Sydney could see there were lights on inside. Weiss approached the back door that was almost hidden from years of wear and began to knock.
4 knocks…pause…2 knocks…pause…5 knocks…pause…2 knocks…pause…1 knock…pause. The door opened a crack and Weiss finished opening it. He quickly ushered Sydney in before himself and shut the door. With the door closed, most of the natural light was blocked out. What little light the room had came from a small window in the front and back and a single light bulb. It took Sydney's eyes a moment to adjust but when they did she realized it was a very sparsely furnished room with just a chair in the corner. There was also a little old man, probably late 60's or early 70's, grinning up at her. His head was almost bald except for the occasional gray strand. He was fairly short, probably only 5 feet tall wearing long gray pants and a shirt to match.
"Good to see you're safe, Agent Bristow. And you too Agent Weiss. My name is Bob Hallifer," the man said, still grinning.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Hallifer," Sydney replied smiling slightly.
"Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Water? Pop? Maybe a glass of Wine?"
Before Sydney could answer Weiss stepped in. "Sorry Bob, we're kinda running late, so we can't stay and chat."
"Of course, of course," Bob mumbled as he moved to a box and began rummaging through it.
"I..know..it..is..in..here..somewhere.." he muttered while rummaging through a fairly big box pulling files, tapes, gizmos, and various other things out and throwing them on the floor.
After a moment he found it, but not before emptying everything out of the box onto the floor. Carefully avoiding everything on the floor, he starts moving back towards Sydney and Weiss. He hands the keys to Weiss.
"The car is parked just up the road. You'll recognize it when you see it."
"Thanks Bob," Weiss said while working his way towards the front door.
"Any time," Opening the door for them and sending them back out into the scorching heat. "And next time we'll have something to drink."
"Yes," Weiss replied over his shoulder as they walked off.
Sydney and Weiss started walking down the road, and almost immediately they heard the door click shut behind.
"He was, erm, interesting," Sydney commented.
"He used to be a very good agent, decades ago. Now he runs the CIA airport hanger. And he's a little paranoid, but I guess you could tell by the fact that there were very few windows."
Ahead they saw a red car roasting in the hot sun. It was the only car for any reasonable distance.
"Well, I can see what he means by knowing it when we see it," Sydney smiled.
As they got closer they could see it was a Contour, latest model. Piling the bags into the trunk they headed towards the front. Inside it was even hotter than outside.
"Good think this car has air conditioning," Weiss said while pulling his seat belt on.
He turns the keys in the ignition and the car roars to life. Sydney turns on the air conditioning, and they're off into the distance.
* * *
The drive to the Canadian border was very uneventful. When they hit the border they didn't have any problems at all. Vancouver was in sight in no time.
"We're almost there," Weiss said. "Just a little more distance before we meet Vaughn."
Glancing at the clock on the dash it showed 3:30, although it felt a lot later to Sydney. 30 minutes later they pulled up to a fairly small fish market. Even though it was small it took them awhile to find a free parking spot. Finally they found one at the far end of the parking lot. Getting out Weiss opened the trunk and took out Sydney's small bag filled with cosmetics and some pajamas.
"Here you go," he says as he hands it to her.
They started walking towards the fish market. Weiss started checking his pockets. He pulls out his yo-yo and starts playing with it. Sydney noticed right away.
"Weiss…" Sydney began.
"Shh… The yo-yo's sleeping," Weiss whispered back.
Sydney rolled her eyes and decided to drop the subject. They entered the market and worked around the people inside. Weiss still had the yo-yo sleeping.
"You're good at that," Sydney commented.
"Thank you," Weiss replied pulling the yo-yo back up. "I see Vaughn."
Following Weiss' gaze she also spots him, looking over some fresh crab. Sydney's heart jumped with joy at the sight of him. Unable to control her emotions she rushed over.
"Vaughn!" She shouted not caring that people were staring.
Vaughn turned around just in time before Sydney's body pulled him into a tight hug. Vaughn returned it immediately.
"I missed you," Vaughn whispered into her ear.
"I missed you too," Sydney replied.
Vaughn looked up and saw Weiss standing slightly to the right playing with his yo-yo.
"Thanks Weiss, I owe you."
"No you don't," he replies. "I'll see you back at the office," and he disappears before Vaughn can comment.
Turning his head back to Sydney's ear he whispers into it. "We can't talk here, and we definitely need to talk"
Sydney pulled out of the embrace, searching his eyes. He takes this moment to study her clothing.
"You're so beautiful," he blurts out before he could stop himself.
Sydney blushes to a bright red and grins. "Thanks."
Vaughn grabs Sydney's hand and leads her out of the market. His car was a beautiful royal blue with a light blue interior. He takes her bag and puts it into the trunk, then holds the door open for her. Getting in on his own side he starts the engine.
"I know you've had a long day, and what has happened might not sit well with you, so I've rented a hotel room in Victoria on Vancouver Island overlooking the ocean. So how does dinner out there sound before we talk?"
"Absolutely splendid," Sydney replied, unable to control her happiness.
Vaughn pulls the car out onto the highway and heads towards the ferry dock. Sydney rolls down the window and lets the wind run over her body. Her ponytail blew around her head, the magenta catching the sun and shining magnificently. Vaughn glanced over.
"That magenta just adds even more to your clothes."
"It was Weiss' idea," Sydney admitted.
They could see the ocean now, and a ferry was just pulling into dock. Vaughn and Sydney manage to catch the ferry just in time so they didn't need to wait for the next one. Once aboard Vaughn leads Sydney to the top deck and outside. The view of Vancouver was gorgeous from up on the ferry, but the wind was quite strong. Sydney shivered. Vaughn pulls her in close, keeping her warm. She snuggles in deeper and listens to his heartbeat while looking at the landscape. To anyone who saw them they looked like a couple. The ferry starts moving away.
"It's so beautiful up here," She says looking out over the city and ocean.
"Yes, this is the most beautiful place I have been to in awhile, almost makes you forget your job."
They spent most of the trip like that up on the deck. Vancouver Island came into sight after awhile and the ferry docked. It was another 10 minutes before they got off the ferry due to technical delays. When they finally made it across the island it was almost 7:30. Their hotel appeared before them. With the site of it Sydney's jaw nearly dropped. It was only a middle-class hotel with a couple suites, but it was done up like an upper-class hotel. It was about 10 floors high, and Sydney assumed the side facing the ocean had huge balconies.
"Welcome to our hotel," Vaughn smiled. "Shall we go in?"
"Sure," Sydney said, still amazed.
Walking in, Vaughn headed to the elevator with Sydney close behind. Getting on the elevator he pushes for the button for the 10th floor.
"Oh, we're in a suite?"
"That we are. CIA is paying for all of this. I'm not even sure why. I never get this treatment on business trips"
The elevator passed foor 7…8…9…10. The doors slide open noiselessly.
"Here we are," Vaughn said after a short walk down the hall.
He opened the door to reveal a huge room with a king-size bed against one wall. It also included a couch opposite the bed, a huge bathroom, and a breathtaking view of the ocean. Sydney ran in and looked around. There was a huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" Sydney exclaimed.
"I know, I was here last night also," Vaughn grinned. "So, about that dinner. Do you want to go eat in the restaurant or order room service? It's only about 7:30."
"Lets go down and eat."
With that they headed down and had a very romantic dinner. Sydney enjoyed every minute of it knowing she was safe for the time being. 2 ½ hours later they made their way back up to the room. The sun was coming straight in through the huge balcony windows. Vaughn leads Sydney to the couch and they both sit down.
"Did you enjoy dinner?" Vaughn small talked.
"Greatly," Sydney replied. "Now, what did we need to talk about?"
"I can't keep you away from this any longer," Vaughn clears his throat and gets ready to reveal what he learned earlier that day. "Sydney…"
"Oh Vaughn! Look at that sunset!" Sydney interrupted.
She jumps up and runs out onto the balcony, looking at the sunset over the ocean. Vaughn sighs and follows her out, putting his arm around her. They stood there together watching the sun disappear behind the horizon.
"What did you want to say?" Sydney finally said once the sun was gone.
She looked up at him, his bright green eyes gazing back at her.
He sighs again. "I'm so so sorry Sydney, and that doesn't even describe it."
Sydney pulled away from him, looking into his eyes, which were starting to fill with tears. "What?" She got out, her own eyes starting to fill up knowing something bad was about to happen.
"Will and Francie are dead."