A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, even the partly bad one shell, all criticism helps me immensely! I'm glad you guys like where the story is going, and I will tell you right now that there will be (at least) 11 chapters, but we'll see beyond that. By the way, if you can't figure out what the capital letters in the chapter titles spell, don't worry; it is NOT important to the story, the statement is just a VERY obvious observation. :-) Enjoy, and I hope to post very frequently, in case you were wondering!

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Will sat in the front, already more confused than he ever thought he could have been, but unwilling to voice his thoughts . . . 'The rest of the short ride to the airport was horrible. I mean, all three of these people are probably armed and they are obviously pissed. I mean, I'm pissed too, but I don't have a gun. That's probably a good thing, because if I did, I would have a hard time not shooting that guy back there who is holding Syd. I mean, how long could she have known him? Two seconds? I've known Syd for years, he …. Who am I kidding? I can't even talk right because my mouth is so swollen and he's Mr. Suave Military Man. Geez, I need a life…'

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Sydney was too angry to ask Will how he was fairing; he is obviously alive, that's good enough for now.

'So, how are we supposed to, I mean, what are we going to, ARGH!' Sydney couldn't even think straight. All that she wanted to say to Vaughn right now, and all she could think of was incomplete ramblings. His arms are still around her and she didn't dare to move them, who knew when this would happen again? Maybe not until SD-6 is REALLY the section that doesn't exist. For now, she just settled into Vaughn's arms, leaning against his surprisingly hard chest – 'He must work out' she thought – and waited for the airport, knowing it was just too close…

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Vaughn had never been so angry with Jack Bristow. Jack told him that he respected him. Where had that gone? If you respect someone, doesn't that mean you trust them as well, at least to a certain extent? Jack obviously did not trust him or his judgment, or he wouldn't have reacted like that. Sydney and I have never kissed before, not even a peck on the lips, because is it so dangerous and, yes, against protocol. But everything about this mission is against protocol, and as always, dangerous. If he had been following protocol, he wouldn't even have been on that transport plane for Jack to tell him that he respected him. How's that for hypocritical? Vaughn wanted to tell Sydney everything; how he looks prematurely aged, especially the worry lines on his face that Eric teases him about, because he worries about her whether she's on a mission or not. He knows what a living hell her life can be, and often is. He wants to take all that pain away, replace it with love and caring, but he knows that the only way that can happen is taking SD-6 down. So for now, their now apparently mutual feelings for each other would have to be shoved to the back burner….

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"We're here," Jack said flatly as he stopped the van on the airport's tarmac. He was in no mood to deal with two love struck agents, especially these two. They were the two most stubborn people that he had ever met, hell if they weren't, neither of them would still know each other. Sydney had fought for Vaughn to be her handler, and Vaughn had rescued Sydney from situations, against protocol, numerous times. OK, maybe I overreacted, maybe they can suck it up at mission time and not… who am I kidding? They couldn't even wait to get out of the warehouse! This could be dealt with on the plane….

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Jack's words startled Vaughn out of deep thought. Sydney too seemed reluctant to get out of the van, but both quickly exited when Jack screeched it to a stop. Vaughn opened the passenger door and helped Will out of his seat. Will was barely able to stand, much less walk, so Vaughn had to hoist him onto his shoulder to carry him to the plane. He was heavier than Vaughn had thought him to be, but they had to get to the plane quickly.

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'I can't believe this guy has to carry me to the plane… This is humiliating. I wish I could be in his shoes right now……….' Will thought as he lost consciousness.

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Once the plane was in the air, the gloves were off.

"How dare you threaten to turn me into Sloane! What makes you think that he would even believe you?" Jack was almost stuttering he was so angry.

"He is suspicious of you after the whole Noah incident," Sydney replied.

"He has had you investigated you more than me Sydney! Think about it for a minute! Why wouldn't he think you were in on it with me?"

"Because I can cry and make him think my cold-hearted daddy threatened to kill me if I told!" Sydney was almost laughing. She couldn't imagine actually turning her father in to Sloane.

Jack stopped short of yelling back when he saw the near laugh. Sydney was scared and confused more than anything, he cold see it in her eyes. "Sydney, I am only afraid that a relationship between you and Vaughn would be the beginning of the end. I think, I know rather, it would be too dangerous."

"We know that, " Vaughn suddenly replied.

Sydney spun to look at him with shock and a new pain in her eyes. "I thought that you…..felt…." Sydney was about to break down and cry.

"No, no Sydney! I do! But we can't…" Vaughn looked up at Jack, and Jack took the hint that this had quickly become a private conversation, moving to the front of the cargo hold.

"Sydney, I do love you and I would do anything to be with you. That is exactly why I know we have to wait to make this work between us! I want to be a normal couple and go on dates, watch movies, eat dinner, and make lo……" Vaughn caught himself at that admission. 'Too much too soon there Mike,' he told himself. "But we would be risking our chance at that normality if we pursed this – us - now."

Sydney was looking down at the floor of the cargo hold. Suddenly she felt the need to sit and think all this over. She knew that every word that Vaughn was saying was true, but who knew when SD-6 would be taken down? That kiss was filled with more passion than she had felt in a single moment, ever. Even with Danny. Now, she had to wait, again, for that passion. "I know," Sydney said softly after she had situated herself on the floor of the plane. "I will wait for you, I want you to know that. But can you w….."

"Yes," Vaughn replied to Sydney's unfinished question as he crouched down and looked into her huge brown eyes. "I will wait forever."

"Um, I need to be alone, you know, to think….," Sydney started.

"OK, one of us needs to talk to your father anyway."

"Thanks for understanding Vaughn."

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Vaughn walked up to where Jack was seated on a crate. When Jack looked up at him, Vaughn didn't see anger in his eyes, just understanding of the pain and longing that was to come between Vaughn and Sydney…..