Story: Beyond All Limits

Author: Steph (stephanie406@juno.com)

Disclaimer: Don't own Alias, or any characters thus portrayed. It all belongs to JJ Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, ABC, etc.

Rating: PG-13 (for now)

Spoilers/Summary : post "After Thirty Years"; Vaughn's alive, and Sydney's been captured

Distribution: I'd love it if you would, just let me know where it's going! CD definitely has all rights to posting (grin)

Oh dear God. This could not be happening.

But it was.

Vaughn and Sydney sat quietly together in the car. They could see Sark and his crew of henchmen parked a fair distance away, patiently waiting.

"Vaughn" she said, breaking the silence. She turned to him and his heart jumped into his throat. The look in her eyes... She was just so beautiful, even if she had auburn hair and blue eyes. She was still Sydney to him, no matter what she looked like on the outside. She would always be beautiful to him.

Oh God. That look... The pain, all the pain that was there in her eyes for him to see. She wasn't hiding her fear anymore. She almost looked... defeated.

He could have drowned in her pain; the look in her eyes was so overwhelming.

Her left hand moved over and caressed his cheek, audibly scraping against the stubble that had grown in the past day. His head unconsciously leaned into the touch. His left hand still held hers, his thumb gently, absently, caressing the back of her hand.

She cleared her throat and looked away. "Oh God, Vaughn... I'm... I'm scared," she confessed in hushed whisper so soft he could barely hear her. She glanced back at him. 'This wasn't supposed to happen. It didn't have to end like this' were the unspoken words. She didn't have to say them. He knew exactly what she was thinking, for he was thinking the same things.

"You don't always have to be the strong and brave one, you know." His voice was soft, pained. He wanted to take away her pain, so badly. He wanted to shoulder all the burdens that wore her down. His heart was breaking in two for her. Because no matter how much he tried, no matter what rule of protocol he broke, no matter what he said... he couldn't save her this time...

She was the single, most courageous, bravest person he'd ever even known.

"I'll be okay," she said, her voice lacking conviction, staring off into the distance. She didn't believe it. He knew that. She knew that he knew, so why the pretense?

"Syd, I-" he broke off. What did you say in this moment? Vaughn didn't know. Maybe there weren't words enough for this...

A car was driving towards them from the side. A helicopter settled in the direction the car was coming from. The CIA had finally arrived, in time to help Vaughn, save Francie... but there wasn't a thing they could do to save Sydney.

She shifted her gaze back on him. "Vaughn, no matter what happens" she said, turning to search his eyes probingly, "just know that I... I love you" she finished quietly.

Oh God.

"I love you too, Syd" he choked out, not even feeling the tears that slipped down his face.

She somewhere found her initiative, her courage, her resolve... Sydney Bristow was a wealth of strength, it seemed; no matter what happened, what curve ball life threw at her, she found some way to bounce back. She started the car, shifted into drive, and made the short drive to where her destiny awaited her. The CIA car turned to follow them. The helicopter had landed and people were emerging.

Life was continuing on.

Vaughn wanted to scream, to shout, to protest. He said nothing. He just blinked and brushed away the dampness on his cheeks with the back of his hand.

She parked next to Sark's entourage, turned of the car with such finality, leaving the keys in the ignition. One last sad and extremely sorrowful look, and a whispered "I'm sorry", she was gone, the door closing softly behind her.

Vaughn slowly climbed out of the car. He had to collect himself, slip into "agent mode". For Syd. He had to take her friend to safety. And try to forget that he'd had to leave her behind. That she'd consciously chosen to do this.

This just couldn't be happening. It was his worst nightmare personified.

She didn't look back at Vaughn. Just kept her eyes glued to Sark. "Where's Francie?" she asked, outwardly calm, cool and collected.

A slight nod from Sark and Francie was pulled from the car. "Such an advantage for us, Ms. Bristow, that you place such high priority on the lives of your friends. Seems to have been a rather expensive price for you to pay in the past 24 hours. Although, I do suppose that Danny could be included in the overall price tag, could he not?"

"Let her go" was all Sydney said. There was a quiet strength to her voice, but also something very deadly.

"Didn't realize you were bringing friends either. That was not part of the agreement. Although, I must say, I don't blame you for bringing 'safe' transportation for your dear friends. Anyway, I ramble. Shall we proceed?" Vaughn could see one eyebrow quirked in question. Vaughn wanted to punch the other man for it... well for other things too. Just being here topped that list.

Sydney glanced briefly back at Vaughn, holding his gaze for only a mere second. Not nearly long enough to say goodbye. The mask had disappeared for that second, and her soul was bared to him; he could read her every thought and emotion. And then the mask was back, and she had turned around and was walking away from him. She managed a quick hug with the hysterically sobbing Francie.

Vaughn noticed this with a cold sense of detachment from the scenario. He figured that her tranquilizer was wearing off. But all he wanted to think, to do, to say... was run after Sydney and kiss her senseless. To protect her. Take her place. Sacrifice everything in his possession for her.

Francie was yanked from Sydney's embrace, and an armed henchman was prodding her towards Vaughn.

At Sark's direction, Sydney held out her hands to be handcuffed in front of her. And then she willingly got in that car, where Vaughn was quite sure more armed men sat waiting.

"Now, Mr. Vaughn" Sark continued once the car door had been shut behind Sydney. Vaughn again thought he'd be sick. "We part our separate ways now. No games. I doubt you would do anything to risk the life of Ms. Bristow, but I still warn you. You're going to take her" he waved his hand dismissively at Francie, who stood behind Vaughn, her hands clutching the jacket he wore. The one Sydney had given him... Sark continued "get in your helicopter, plane, whatever they plane on transporting you back to LA with. And just as a helpful little hint, don't bother returning to the warehouse. I'm quite sure you're well aware enough of our proceedings to know it now appears like any other abandoned warehouse in industrial Taipei. And with that, I bid you adieu." Thankfully, the man had said his piece and was turning to leave.

"And what about SD-6, Mr. Sark? I'm sure you're well aware that Sydney's sudden disappearance will arouse their suspicions. I was led to believe your goal was to destroy SD-6, not eliminate a source whose goal was the same" Vaughn snapped, now in full "agent mode". With Sydney out of sight, he had to concentrate on the situation at hand, do what he could. He was going to be lucky if he wasn't out of a job after this.

"Don't worry, Mr. Vaughn. We've already notified SD-6 that we have taken Ms. Bristow into our custody. They believe she was captured by 'The Man' for questioning purposes relevant to Rambaldi." Sark had turned to face Vaughn again, and an ugly leer was aiming itself at Vaughn. "After all, we do aim to take down the Alliance. But for all intensive purposes, giving SD-6 a story will not save her seeing as there are no immediate plans for releasement."

And with that devastating statement, Sark climbed into his limo and was gone. And Francie was again wailing as she watched the car disappear from sight. Vaughn actually had to wrap his arms around her to hold her in place and prevent her chasing the car.

And then Agents were encircling them, questions were flying, and they were headed towards the helicopter. Vaughn had switched to autopilot. Inside, he was dying.

She was gone.

She was gone.

She was gone.

She'd told him she loved him, and then she'd walked away, so selflessly. And all he wanted to do was be selfish and tell her to stay if she truly loved him.

But then she'd be the one dying, and Vaughn could never do that. He always had and always would do everything he could to ensure that whatever Sydney wanted was what Sydney got.

Even if it meant hurting himself in the process.

AN: Poor Vaughn huh? I know, I know, I sympathize, really, I do. I'm writing this angst ridden stuff, remember? Okay, we know the drill. The more feedback I get, the faster I post (keep in mind it's a 3 day weekend *wicked grin*)... although I must say I was pretty impressed by the last batch of reviews... I even got myself a beta reader out of the deal! (And I'm quite sure there are numerous jealous souls that Erin will get to read it all first... lol... Which of course will slow down how quickly they get from draft to post, but it's all good)... Okay, I've rambled enough. Review! hehe