A/N: Sorry this didn't get posted earlier, but I had to work all weekend. ( By the way, I don't know where the inspiration for this chapter came from, but if you were hoping for a love triangle, I'm sorry. I just couldn't write it; I became nauseated every time I tried. So, here's my alternative… (

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Jack looked up at Vaughn as Vaughn approached him slowly. 'Vaughn looks like his heart has just been ripped out,' Jack thought. 'I knew his feelings for Sydney were, well, more than they should be at times, but I had no idea that he loves her. Vaughn doesn't have a 'crush' on her and is not going to hurt her like Noah; he truly loves her. And she obviously returns those feelings wholeheartedly.' Jack was mulling these new revelations over in his mind when Vaughn spoke.

"Can we talk?"

"Of course," Jack replied as he motioned to the crate across from him.

Vaughn sat with a groan, his bruises and cuts were finally registering with his pain sensors.

"So did you see if Khasinau was actually there?" Vaughn inquired.

"No," Jack answered. "Did you?"

"No, but I was unconscious for quite a while I think."

"I'm assuming you and Sydney completed the mission?"

"Yes," Vaughn replied. "But the 'circumference' was bigger than Sydney though it was. Apparently, the one she had seen before was just a mock up. The water flooded the hallways and I guess Khasinau's guards rescued me after I got trapped in the hall." Vaughn neglected to tell Jack that he had been trapped in that hallway because he was going after Sydney, and instead moved onto the real reason he came to talk to him. "Look, Jack, I just wanted to let you know that, well, Sydney and I have agreed to, um, not peruse a relationship at this time." Vaughn's voice was cracking and nearly overflowing with emotion as he told Jack this while staring a hole into the floor.

"Agent Vau – Michael – I know you and Sydney love each other. I am not trying to pull you two apart, I'm just trying to keep you two alive. You two work excellently together and for her to have to have another handler because you got reassigned or kil--…, well, I think that it would just be too much for her. She shouldn't have to go through losing another close, um, friend. That is the only reason I agreed to help her retrieve Will – she doesn't deserve anymore pain."

Vaughn was shocked to realize that Jack knew how much his daughter was hurting inside. Vaughn knew because Sydney confided in him, but Jack knew because he observed, because he cared.

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Sydney sat in the rear of the cargo hold, knees pulled to her chest, head to her knees, thinking. 'Why did I become a spy? I never should have taken that business card, much less called the number on it! Then I could be with Michael and … wait. I wouldn't even know Michael. God, I don't know what I would do if I could do it all over. Sure it's great knowing that you're doing something to help your country, but I could give that up in a heartbeat. But Michael…' Michael was like a drug and she was definitely addicted. She glanced around her and saw Will, leaning against a crate, sleeping soundly. She glanced up to the front of the cargo hold and saw Vaughn and her father speaking quietly. 'God, this is going to be hell, trying to NOT have a relationship with Vaughn after that kiss… But, they had come through other obstacles – I mean, Irina killing his fath- OH GOD! Did Vaughn and her father know about Irina?!? Probably not….' Sydney jumped up so fast she was instantly dizzy.

Vaughn heard Sydney jump up and run up to where he and Jack were sitting.

"Sydney, what's wrong?" asked Vaughn, concerned.

"The Man," Sydney began.

"Yes, what about Khasinau?" asked Jack.

"No, dad, I'm sorry,….the Man is mom." Sydney looked at her feet as she finished, not wanting to see the pain and hurt in her father's face.

Jack was speechless. He had never considered the possibility that Laura, er, Irina, was…

"How did you find this…." Jack questioned.

Just then the pilot came over the speaker. "We will be landing in Los Angeles in two minutes. Please secure yourselves."

"I'll tell you everything after we land dad."

As the plane found the runway and slowly came to a halt, Jack knew that no matter what Sydney was about to tell him, there was no way he could prepare himself.

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On the ride back to her place, Sydney told her father and Vaughn everything. Will was in the backseat with Vaughn, but he seemed dazed and uninterested. She told them about how Khasinau tried to feed her and that it was he who revealed he was not the Man, Irina was. She recounted how Irina came in, made accusations that she loved Vaughn, to which she did not reply, and left. Both men looked stunned, but only her father looked hurt. Vaughn looked more tired than anything else. The only reaction that bothered Sydney was Will's. It was very odd for this reporter not to want details on everything that went on everywhere. Jack then pulled the car up to a dark corner about 8 blocks from Vaughn's apartment.

"Bye," Sydney said quietly as she turned to face him from the passenger seat. It was all she could manage without crying.

"I'll be in touch," Vaughn replied.

Vaughn stepped out of the car and immediately hailed a cab that could drive him around for a while before taking him home, in case they had any tails.

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Jack dropped Sydney and Will off at Will's apartment, no one wanting to have to explain Will's condition to Francie.

"Clean him up and if he needs further medical treatment, which I doubt he does, let me know, " Jack told Sydney matter-of-factly.

"Ok. Thank you dad."

"Good night Sydney, Mr. Tippin."

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Inside Sydney's home, Will was in no mood to let Sydney clean him up without some explanations. He had a million questions, beginning with finding out who that Vaughn guy was exactly and what he meant to her.

"Sydney," Will quietly said as she was beginning to clean the blood off his face.

"Hmm?" Sydney replied.

"Are you and that Vaughn guy, um, involved?"

Sydney smiled softly and looked at the bruises on Will's face. She could not bring her self to look into his eyes. "That's a complicated question. At the moment, no. But, …."

"What? Does that mean you two were involved and that hugging in the van and the kiss before that was just a flashback kind of thing?" Will was beginning to get agitated.

"No Will. Vaughn and I have never been involved. In fact, not that it is any of your business, but that was the first time that we have ever kissed. Now, like I was saying, Vaughn and I can't be involved right now. It would be too complicated and dangerous with our jobs. One day, after we take SD-6 down, we'll have freedom of choice again." It felt good to be able to tell the truth to Will for once, even if it was awkward.

"Look Syd, I didn't mean to act like and ass. I just want you to be happy. If you and this Vaughn can be happy, then…"

"Thanks Will. That means a lot to me." Sydney kissed Will on his forehead in appreciation of not pushing the envelope on her and Vaughn's relationship.

"Could you be happy with me?" Will asked.

"What? You mean…..what? Like a relationship? Between us? Uh, Will, you're my friend…..I don't really…." Sydney was completely shocked that Will was being so forward.

"Think of me like you do Vaughn?"

"Well, I mean, not exactly the same as him, I do like you though, I mean, um, you're one of my closest friends, and I um,… look. I don't want to lie to you. I have had feelings for you at one time, but…"

"Then why not now? We could be together now Syd. Syd, I love you," Will began to stand up, and was now walking towards Syd, who was slowly backing away.

"Will, I… I love Michael. I couldn't be with anyone else right now." Sydney was getting slightly angered now; Will was not normally this aggressive.

"Tell me you love me Sydney," Will grabbed Sydney's shoulders. "Look me in my eyes and tell me you love me!" Will was screaming at Sydney now.

"If you don't back off, I will hurt you Will," Sydney growled in a low tone.

"Oh, well isn't that fitting? You stomp all over me and I am just supposed to take it! Sydney, you have hurt me plenty already, I don't need your excuses Sydney, I want to know that you love me!"

Will had gone too far, she really didn't want to hurt him more than he already was, but he was getting irate. Sydney suddenly kneed Will in the groin and he let go of her shoulders. He doubled over in pain and hit the floor hard.

"I'm sorry…" Sydney said softly as she ran out of Will's apartment.