A/N – For those of you who have read any of my other stories, you know that I seem to like POV's…
I've had a cold for the past few days so if this chapter sucks it's because of that…
Freelancer – thanks for pointing out the mistake. When I was typing it up, I was typing too fast to notice and when I read over, it just sounded right, so I skipped it.
Anyway, for all of you who like Romance stories, please (please please) check out my new short story. Thanks.
Vaughn's POV
"You both are going back to L.A." Jack stopped the car and turned to see both Will in the backseat and me in the front passenger seat.
"No." We both argued. I looked to Will and he was shaking his head, his eyes closed. But his stance gave him away. He wanted out, he was too beat up to give a shit about anything. I would've been the same if 1-I was the one who got the crap beat out of me, and 2-If I didn't love Sydney so much that I wanted to know that she was okay as soon as I could.
Jack ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I know you both want to make sure Sydney's alright, but you will just get in even more trouble if you stay here…" He sounded stern and like a father ordering his son around.
Will leaned back and closed his eyes. "I'll leave as long as you contact me, once you find her."
Jack nodded and looked at me.
"No." I told him and shook my head. "I'm sticking firmly to my answer. No." Will looked surprised at my persistence. "I'm not leaving without her."
"Fine, just fine." Jack muttered/snapped. He looked worn down. I was underwater for so long and I didn't even feel as worn down as he looked.
Will muttered something about me being too 'heroic'. When we got to the airport I got out and so did Jack, just to make sure that Will got on the plane. The whole way to his gate Will was mumbling about Sydney and how he never imagined any of this.
Jack and I decided (after Will's plane left) that the airport café would be good enough for 'dinner'. Jack got an English muffin, but he ended up just playing around with it. I just got a coffee.
Most of the time we were in silence, both of us didn't even know how to start a conversation.
Finally he started. "That will keep you up all night." Jack pointed out when I took my fourteenth sip, but who's counting?
"I wouldn't go to sleep anyway." I pointed out. I'd be up all night, worrying about Sydney. Where was she? Is she okay? Did 'The Man' find her?... is she dead?
The last thought played over and over in my head and would play over until we found her.
"Agent Vaughn." Jack looked up at me. "I do not know if you'll believe me right now, but I still respect you and your courage." He looked away and studied the table next to ours. "Actually, I respect you even more for your persistence and… your independence." He finished and got up to throw out his food.
I sat there; watching his retreating back… the guy could be nice at times. Let's just hope those times are here to stay.
Sydney's POV
I've been here for while now. I don't know how long, since the morons decide not to have a clock in here. Of course, Syd, who would put a clock in the torture room? I'm going insane.
Not because I'm tied to a chair and sitting a torture room. No! Because I'm thinking of everyone. Will, dad, mom, Francie…
Vaughn. He's probably dead, by now. No! Don't fool yourself with the probably shit. He is dead.
Just then Alexander came in. I'm gonna call him that from now on… just to piss him off.
I am insane.
"I thought you might like something to eat by now." He held up a sandwich.
"What is it?" My voice had no emotion. Just anger and impatience.
"I think cheese." He smiled and looked me in the eye. "Your mother doesn't know how to make a sandwich that well…" He took a small bit off and held it to my lips. "But you should try."
I shook my head away from it. "I'm not… hungry." That's when my stomach decides to growl. Shit. Damn it. F… no. Calm down Syd.
"No? Okay." I don't know why, but he sounded so funny. Then I see mom walk in and gesture for him to leave.
I leaned back and watched her walk behind me and then sit on the desk in front of me. "You are very stubborn Sydney. Just like me."
"I'm nothing like you." I said bitterly. How dare she. I'm nothing like her. My mind is repeating my words.
She just smiled. I finally decided that I should be trying to get out of here and not worrying about what they are going to do to me.
Alexander came back in and started to whisper something to mom. She left and he watched me for a minute.
"What Alexander." I drew out each syllable. He looked at me angrily and then left. So, I start to hum. In my head there are words all over the place. There are words that will keep me sane and keep me thinking positive.
But there are no words that will keep me from thinking about Vaughn. There are not enough words in the whole world to do that.
Vaughn's POV
"We're almost there." I listened to Jack whisper as I pulled a gun out of the bag in his back seat. He's in the front, driving and he keeps whispering encouraging words to himself. I don't blame him; I'm thinking the same things he's saying.
"Do we have any idea what we're doing?" I looked into the front seat and shivered when he pulled up to a large building. Just knowing that Sydney was inside, the Sydney had even been in there, just gave me the chills.
"No." Jack turned in the seat and reached for a gun. As he did that I stuck mine in my belt. I had no where else to put it. Plus, if I needed it, it would be right there.
"Great plan." I muttered and climbed out. I looked up at the building and around it. There were air vents. I guess we could climb in one. It's not like we could go through the front door… I don't think the guards would like that very much… no action in that.
"You go in the vent. See if you can find the room she's in." Jack told me, then continued. 'I'm going to sneak in and see what's going on." I nodded and he left to go… sneak in.
"Okay, now which one." I mused to myself and then I saw one that I could actually reach. So what do I do? I climb in. No duh! Michael, you're a moron.
So, I'm climbing around the air vents and what do I hear? :::
"She's very stubborn… she won't eat… probably afraid we poisoned it." I heard a voice talking right below me. I looked through the cracks and noticed that it's Khasinau.
"Like I said to her… she's just like me. She won't take crap from anyone and she's protecting herself." A woman said. "Give her some credit… she is my daughter."
I practically fell right then and there. This is Sydney's mother were talking about. Person who made Sydney, the girl I'm in love with. The person who also, on coincidence, killed my father.
I finally realize that they are still talking and that I'm stupid for not listening.
"You can't force food down her throat." Sydney's mom said. "She has to eat at some point so just wait." The she walked away, slowly.
I heard footsteps coming closer to Khasinau, followed by an accented voice. "I got the page." Sark came into view.
"Good." Khasinau smirked slightly. "Now we have to reveal the page."
"They already did. Saves us time." Sark looked around, as if he sensed something was wrong. "What happened?"
"Destroyed." That was the only word I could hear come out of Khasinau's mouth.
"How?" Sark looked a little surprised.
"Bristow." Sark's eyes widened a little. "Her own daughter, would you believe it?" Khasinau's voice sounded angry and un-believing.
"No, I wouldn't." Sark looked around. "I get the feeling we're being watched." His eyes searched around him, behind, in front… not above.
"Impossible." Khasinau smirked. "Come. Let's see if Miss. Bristow will eat now."
When they finally started to walk, I followed in the vents. It was hard not to make noise, while moving, but I finally found where Sydney was. The only thing was that I couldn't continue into the room.
I waited until Khasinau and Sark left the room and went into another down the hall, until I jumped down and out.
"Sydney." I hissed into the room, opening the door slightly; afraid there might be guards or something.
There was a small sound that sounded like a whimper… please let it not be Sydney.
I opened the door all the way and peaked in. Damn it. She was tied to a chair, her head bowed down, and drops of blood falling from her bleeding lip.
"Sydney." I whispered softly and bent down next to her; pushing her hair out of her face.
Sydney's POV
I had no clue who was saying my name and pushing my hair out of my face. My blue, sweaty hair… damn it. I felt the ropes around my wrists begin to loosen and then fall. The sensation repeated around my ankles. I was being pulled out of the chair and I had no strength to stop it. Two hands were secured on my waist and I hadn't even opened my eyes yet… were they even closed?
So, I opened them. I was dreaming, or I was dead, in heaven.
"Vaughn?" I whispered. Choking slightly on the blood that slid down my throat, and the tears that threatened to fall.
"Hey." Vaughn looked at me and smiled slightly. He looked strange, like he himself was about to cry.
"You're… you're… you're dead." I struggled out of my mouth.
"I don't think I am." He whispered and chuckled slightly. Then his voice lowered and went serious. "Syd…" His arms surrounded me as I put my own around his neck. My head rested on his shoulder and I felt a slight brush of his lips on my forehead.
"I saw you… you were underwater…" The tears from before spilled onto his black tee-shirt and formed a darker patch. "I'm dreaming… I know it." I whispered and the tears kept falling.
"You're not dreaming, Sydney." He pulled back and tried to get me to look at him. "Sydney, look at me. Syd." He ordered. Finally, he put his hands on my face forcing me to look. "Sydney, I'm not dead. And I'm not going anywhere soon… I…" But he stopped short.
"Wha…" He put his fingers on my lips and I almost didn't figure out that there had been a sound in the hallway.
"We have to get out of here." Vaughn turned his head and looked at the door, expecting it to open any second. Then he looked around and up. "Thing is, I don't know where your dad is…"
"My dad?" I swiped my eyes with my arm. Annoyed, I ripped part of my sleeve and blew my nose on it. Hey, what use is there otherwise?
"Yeah…" He smirked and continued looking at the door. "He's the one who brought me here." Before I could ask the question that was dying to come out, he answered. "Will is safe on a plane to L.A."
I just nodded. Then the door opened. I jumped and when I saw my dad sliding in the room my hand flew over my heart. That was also when I realized that Vaughn's left arm was still wrapped around me, and his hand resting on my waist.
"You're okay?" Dad looked from me to Vaughn then back to me. He noticed the whole 'arm around me' thing.
"Yeah." I took a deep breath and looked at Vaughn. As if he finally realized it, he took his arm away and moved to the door.
"We should… get out of here." He finished.
Dad nodded and looked out the doorway. "Something is going on… I'm just not sure what…" He looked at me again and sighed. "But we should get going." All the words in my head are repeating. There is no way that this is happening and even if it is, everything is jumbled, but somehow I get words and sentences out… somehow.
"So… why aren't we getting out of here?" I slipped next to both of them.
"Because…." Vaughn started…
"Someone is outside the door." An accented voice finished for him and I gasped as Vaughn fell to the ground. Everything was spinning and moving around me so quickly that I barely felt the blow that knocked me out.
