1 Title: Rainy Days and Mondays Chapter 3

Author: Karin (Bailsgal)

Email: celtic_7@hotmail.com

Feedback: Live for it!

Summary: When Vaughn can't handle seeing Syd with Noah any longer, he accepts a posting to the American Embassy in London. However a bad mission and unsaid things lead Sydney to his door.

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. All Alias characters belong to the very talented mind of JJ Abrams. Emma Brody and Doug Roach and the rest of the London Embassy crew belong to the cancelled Fox show The American Embassy, produced by Jersey Television., Michelle Fox and Danny DeVito

Distribution: Whoever wants it just ask and it's yours.

Rating : PG to start.

Classification: Angst/Adventure and Romance…what could a person ask for?

Author's Note: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my dear friend and beta girl extraordinar Anne-Marie! I'd be lost without her help and support. And to all the wonderful people who took the time to send me feedback…. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!



"Em? You gotta put the gun down," Vaughn said slowly, his eyes locking with Emma's.

"Give me the gun Emma," Vaughn said again, his eyes moving to the gun she held in her shaking hand.

"Michael? There's so much blood," she whispered as he removed the gun from her hand. Her face was chalk white and her whole body had begun to quiver.

"I know sweetie, it's okay. Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, I don't think so. She just showed up here. She was asking for you and then she collapsed. I…I didn't know what to do…I saw the blood and it was everywhere. I just needed to protect her somehow," Emma's voice was tinged with hysteria and Vaughn looked over his shoulder at Doug.

"She must be in shock," Doug said quietly dropping down beside his girlfriend to check her pulse.

"No I'm okay," she said turning to look into Doug's worried eyes. "Really."

Emma turned her attention back to Vaughn, "I remember you telling me where to find the gun in case I ever needed it. She was so scared when she got here and then she just collapsed. This is her, isn't it, Michael?"

"Yes it's her," he said as he dropped to his knees beside Emma. He reached for Sydney's wrist, searching for a pulse. It was there, but it was very weak. He leaned down to listen to her breathing, but it was so shallow as to be almost non-existent.

Vaughn knew in his gut that Sydney would die if he didn't get her the help she needed and soon. He checked the wound that Emma had packed with a towel. Sydney's blood had turned it a deep crimson. Vaughn began to shake.

I can do this. I've saved her life before I can do it again. She came to me because she trusted me, and she knew I would help. I can do this!

Quickly, and with as little jarring as possible, Vaughn lifted Sydney's limp body into his arms and moved to the staircase.

"Doug, call Dr. Carrington and tell him we have a damaged package that needs his attention."

Doug merely nodded he knew the drill. He let go of Emma to grab his cellphone and began dialling.

"Emma, I need clean towels and hot water. I'll be in my room," he called over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs, cradling Sydney's body against his. Emma scrambled to her feet and ran to the kitchen.

"Come on Syd, hold on baby," he whispered into her ear. He placed a feather light kiss on her temple. Holding her this close was like being given a gift, but it was one he'd be willing to give it back if Sydney were bouncing around, full of life, on the stairs in front of him.

"Vaughn?" Syd had regained consciousness and was whimpering in pain.

"It's me, Syd," he reassured her as he lowered her to his bed. "It's going to be okay. Just hang in there."

"It hurts," she groaned as her damaged body connected with the soft bed.

"We have a doctor on the way," Vaughn said and Sydney started to struggle.

"No… no doctors… I have to…"

"Shh…it's okay, he's CIA. Your safe here, I promise you," Michael said as he pushed her back down. Sydney seemed to settle but then opened her eyes and grabbed his hand.

"Had to come here…to see you."

"Your safe, I won't let anything happen to you," he promised as he cradled her so gently against him that Sydney felt like she was floating in a soft cloud.

"Needed to tell you…" she whispered closing her eyes briefly against the pain that bolted through her.

Sydney had always known that if she were dying, his face would be the last thing she'd want to see. There was something so calm and peaceful about it but in the last six months Vaughn's face had become a blur to her. She remembered that he had the most beautiful green eyes, but she couldn't have described them to anyone even if she'd wanted to. She sighed as her eyes drifted shut. His eyes, they were like a cat's, a big, sensual cat's.

"I love you, Michael," she murmured as she fell over the edge into unconsciousness.

"Syd! Open your eyes Syd. You do not get to tell me that and then die! That isn't the way this is going to go! Sydney!" Michael shook her gently but panic raced through his veins and he felt as though he had ice in the pit of his stomach. She was so still… so very, very still. Did she… was she…? Frantically, he reached for her wrist, searching, searching until he found what he was looking for: a faint pulse, still beating, still breathing. Vaughn released the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding.

"Carrington is on his way," Doug said quietly from the doorway. He watched as Vaughn gently peeled away the towel over Sydney's wound. He replaced it quickly with the sheet on his bed. Blood soaked it through instantly and Doug worried that Carrington wouldn't arrive in time.

"Good. Can you make another call for me? Weiss. His number's on my speed dial. Tell him that I've got his package, but it was seriously damaged in delivery. Tell him we…." Vaughn stopped unable to finish his thought. This had always been his worst fear that something like this would happen to Sydney while she was under his care. But it hadn't…this wasn't his watch.

"Have a repair man coming and we'll call him with a report later? To just relax," Doug finished for Vaughn.

Vaughn nodded, grateful for Doug's infinitely cooler head.

"Tell him to call Jack. He should know."

Vaughn turned his attention back to Sydney. Jack may not have been an ideal father, but Vaughn knew he loved his daughter.

"I'll let him know," Doug said backing away to make room for Emma.

"Doug, can I get a hand…getting her coat off?" he said before Doug could get to far away.

"Sure Mike."

Doug moved into the room but stood watching as Michael pulled the red wig from Sydney's head. Her dark hair fell down around her shoulders and Doug was startled by how gently Michael brushed her damp hair off away from her forehead. He was never like this with anyone… not even Emma.

"If you hold her up, I'll slip the jacket off her," Vaughn's hands shook.

"Let me," Emma said gently, catching Doug's eye and subtle nod. She eased Vaughn out of the way.

Vaughn couldn't pull his eyes from Sydney's pale face. Here she was, finally in his bed and she was dying. How could Weiss have let the mission go so wrong? Wasn't it his job to keep his agent safe? He should have known that Sydney was at risk! Where the hell was their Intel?

"Can you get me something for her to wear? A T-shirt or something," Emma said, touching Vaughn's arm to get his attention.

"Hmmm? Oh yeah," Michael said but made no move to do as she asked, instead he watched as Emma cleaned the blood from Sydney's skin. He was riveted by the dark streaks against her pale skin

"Mike? Why don't you come down with me and wait for the doctor to show up? We need to talk," Doug offered placing his hand on Vaughn's shoulder. Vaughn shook his head.

"I can't leave her again."

Emma's head shot up and she met Doug's gaze.

"I'm not asking you to go far, just downstairs. We need to figure out how to keep her safe. If she was followed…"

"We need to protector her, but not blow her cover with SD-6. Why the hell didn't I think of that?" Vaughn sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe Jack and Devlin were right, his emotional attachment to Sydney was going to get her killed yet.

"Because you're worried about the woman you love. It's okay, Michael. You've done it all right so far," Emma said. She disentangled herself from Sydney and walked over to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugged him tight.

"I didn't know I could still feel like this just by being this close to her. I can't lose her, Emma," he said and returned her hug.

"You won't. If she fought this hard to get to you, I highly doubt she's going to give up on life now. From what you've told me, Sydney Bristow is a fighter. She'll get through this too," Emma rubbed his back, trying to give him whatever comfort she could. She had no idea whether Sydney would live or die, but for Michael's sake she hoped the stubborn woman lived.

"Door," Doug said, hearing a faint knock from the entryway.

"I'll get it. You call Weiss," Vaughn said following Doug out of the room and down the stairs.

When she was sure that the two men were gone, Emma returned to the bed and sat down, resuming her washing of Sydney's side.

"Listen to me carefully Sydney Bristow, I won't let you die if I can help it. You will not die on Michael, not if I have anything to say," Emma spoke softly to the unconscious woman lying before her.

"Michael is the most amazing person I've ever met and why he loves you is beyond me. You don't look all the impressive lying here but according to him you're more than meets the eye. All I can say is you better be worth it. Because, so help me God, I will not see him hurt by you again."

Emma placed a clean, dry cloth directly over the gaping wounds in Syd's side and applied as much pressure as she dared.



Vaughn opened the front door and smiled tensely at the man on the other side.

"Hey Uncle Robert! How was your trip?" He moved aside to let Dr. Robert Carrington and his assistant enter the loft. Robert Carrington had been an old friend of his father's and a frequent visitor to the Vaughn house whenever he was in LA.

"Michael, it's good to see you. You remember my girlfriend Kate," he said indicating the woman next to him. "The trip was fine but those transatlantic flights are nasty!"

If anyone was watching Vaughn and Emma's loft they would see a warm family reunion and nothing more. Posing as a couple visiting Vaughn allowed the doctor and his nurse to drag a couple of large suitcase behind them. Both cases were full of medical supplies. It was the perfect cover.

"Let me take you're coats," Vaughn said closing the door. As soon as the door closed, Vaughn dropped all pretences and became as businesslike as he could.

"Where is he?" Dr. Carrington said, shrugging out of his trenchcoat.

"It's a she Uncle Robert and she's upstairs in my room. She's lost a ton of blood and is, at present, unconscious. Her pulse is really weak and her breathing is quite shallow."

Vaughn lead the doctor up the stairs to his room.

"Michael, there will be another woman arriving soon. Her name is Louise. There will also be a couple guys delivering some boxes. Doug, bring them up immediately," Doctor Carrington called to Doug, who stood at the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll take care of it Robert," he nodded. Doug had done this several times during his career, but never with a female agent or someone his best friend loved.

"Good to see you by the way," the older man said as he continued up the stairs to Sydney.

"Is there anywhere we can move her to? I don't think you want us doing surgery on your bed."

"There's a spare room down the hall. I'll get it ready," Vaughn said.

"Don't bother. There's a collapsible table coming, we'll use that."

"Do you think…"

"Michael, I won't know anything about the patient till I see him."

"Her," Michael corrected automatically. "Her name is Agent Sydney Bristow."

"Bristow? Any relation to Jack Bristow?"

"His daughter."

"I see. I've known Jack since the early days, like I knew your dad," Robert Carrington said. The two men had reached Michael's room and Carrington walked over to the bed to check Sydney's condition. He took a quick startled breath at his first sight of her; the resemblance to her mother was amazing.

"Has her father been contacted?" Carrington asked looking at Vaughn over his shoulder.

"Doug's calling her handler now."

"What I don't get is why she's here at all."

"Before I relocated to London, I was her handler," Vaughn's eyes had focused, once again, on Sydney's pale face.

"You know about everything then?" Carrington asked Vaughn.

"Everything," Vaughn confirmed.

"Kate, can you set up in the other room?" Carrington directed his nurse.

"I'll show her," Emma moved quickly to show the nurse to the spare room.

"The delivery guys are here," Doug called up the stairs.

"You boys move fast," Vaughn commented, silently thanking CIA training for its speed, if nothing else.

"You leave her with us, son. She'll be in good hands, I promise," Carrington said clapping a hand ono Michael's shoulder and guiding him toward the stairs.



Vaughn sat in his empty room staring at the bed that Sydney had occupied only hours ago. Emma had somehow managed to strip his sheets and remake the bed without him seeing her do it and he could no longer see where Sydney's head had left an indent in his pillow. Strangely, that bothered him more than the idea of what what was going on down the hall. It was like she'd never even been there.

A cold, wet nose suddenly nudged Vaughn from his daze and he smiled as Donovan looked up at his worried owner.

"Hey boy," Vaughn said scratching him behind the ear. "Did Emma feed you?"

Probably while they were at the Embassy. She spoiled the little dog rotten! It was kind of weird how Donovan had attached himself so quickly to Emma. He'd never done that with any of the other women that had come in and out of Vaughn's life. Sometimes he was sure that Donovan preferred Emma's company to his. Vaguely he wondered if the dog would like Sydney as much.

"Come on," he said getting to his feet. "Let's go see what's on in the kitchen."

As they walked into the hallway, Vaughn looked at the closed door where Dr. Carrington was working to save Syd's life. He wished someone would tell him that it was a minor flesh wound and she'd be fine but he knew better. Flesh wounds didn't bleed like that. He sighed and wandered down the stairs. He could hear Emma's hushed voice and he headed in the direction of the sound. He was in desperate need of someone to take his mind off what was happening upstairs. He had just reached the bottom step when his cell phone began to ring.

Jesus, I didn't even take my jacket off

Vaughn shook his head, slipping out of the leather jacket before he reached into his pocket for his phone.

"Vaughn."

"It's Jack Bristow. I just got off the phone with Weiss," Jack's voice was tight as Vaughn began to interrupt him.

"Uhh… Jack, is this really…?"

"Don't worry, the line is secure. Weiss told me about Sydney. Is she okay?"

Vaughn wasn't sure but he thought Jack's voice trembled just a little when he said 'she'.

"I don't know anything yet. Dr. Carrington is still upstairs working on her," Vaughn tried to stay calm and in control as he spoke to Syd's father. He hated the way the man intimidated him even over the phone.

"Bob Carrington?"

"Yes."

"She's in good hands then. Why didn't you just take her to one of 'our' hospitals?" Jack asked. Vaughn seethed. His daughter was three-quarters dead and he still questioned Vaughn's every decision.

"Because she was being followed, either by K-Directorate or SD-6. She couldn't tell me who. I thought taking her to a CIA-friendly hospital would only send up a flare for Sloane and the boys. I did what I thought was best. Forgive me if I made a mistake, won't you?" he said trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. He failed miserably.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have I'm sorry," Jack said and he actually sounded sorry! Would wonders never cease.

"Fine," Vaughn ground out as he tried to remember that this was, after all, Syd's father.

There was silence for a moment as Vaughn took a deep breath before continuing, "I'll contact Weiss when she's ready to travel so we can arrange for an extraction."

"I'm coming over."

"No Jack. The last thing we need is for SD-6 to begin wondering why it's two best agents are suddenly missing and hanging out with a bunch of CIA agents in London. What I need you to do is cover for her with Sloane," Vaughn snapped.

Well, well someone's grown a pair of balls since he left town. Jack thought to himself.

"They know the mission went bad so they'll expect her to be in hiding until it's safe for her to return. Dixon is doing the same thing. Sloane isn't going to question her absence at this point. Have her call him when she's up to it."

"Do you know what she did with the scroll, Vaughn?" Jack's voice grew cold and detached again. He was secret agent man and nobody's father.

"Are you kidding Jack? She's been unconscious since she fell through my door and unlike you, my main concern is your daughter," Vaughn wanted to hang up the phone. He could not wait to get off the phone with this emotionally void human being. His daughter was possibly dying and all he was concerned about was the mission. Unbelievable!

"Agent Vaughn, I know you will take care of my daughter for me and believe me when I tell you that I really appreciate it. She couldn't be in better hands. However we still need to find out what happened to the scroll so drop the righteous indignity and do your job," Jack's voice was hard as he uttered his command and hung up he phone.

"Bastard! God damned bastard!" Vaughn cursed as he hit the end button on his phone and threw it, and his leather coat, against the couch cushions. He had enough presence of mind to remember that CIA secure phones weren't cheap after all.

"I take it that was the legendary Jack Bristow," Doug said coming out of the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.

"How could you tell? Was it my loving end of the conversation that gave it away?" Vaughn's sarcasm failed to hide his anger.

"Is he really the cold bastard everyone makes him out to be?" Doug asked, handing Vaughn one of the mugs.

"Worse. How such a miserable person raised a woman like Sydney has to be one of earth's great mysteries. He's so cold. It's a miracle it didn't rub off on her. All I can say is that Jack must have been really good at hiring nannies."

Vaughn sat down and sipped from the mug, knowing perfectly well that the caffeine and his nerves would keep him awake from now until next Tuesday.

"He's good at what he does," Doug's voice held a touch of awe even as he smirked over his mug.

"Yeah, but at what cost to his family? From what I've seen and from what Sydney has told me, his wife's betrayal really closed him down. I just think she deserves… deserved more, someone who could have loved her unconditionally."

Vaughn raised his eyes to see Emma standing in the kitchen doorway.

"Someone like you," she said. It wasn't a question, it was a fact of life.

"I don't…"

"Michael, we're not here to judge you or tell you what you feel for Sydney is against protocol," Emma shrugged. "It happens."

"I've been breaking protocol since the day I got my first training badge," Doug cracked, earning a snort of derision from Vaughn. He sobered instantly.

"I could get her killed."

"But you also make her feel safe. Why else would she have come looking for you?"

Trust Emma to ask the tough questions. Trust Vaughn to not know what to say. Sydney had told him that she loved him but was it a deathbed confession? Had he taken it out of context given the situation? Closing his eyes, he let his head fall back against the sofa.

"Oh my god, the car," he suddenly groaned, remembering the double-parked vehicle.

"Moved it a long time ago, you were to busy to notice. I also took the liberty of calling Peirson and having him set up a neighbourhood sweep for anything that looks out of the ordinary," Doug supplied.

"I forgot."

"You kind of had your hands full," Emma said gently, dropping a hand to his shoulder.

"That's no excuse. I should know better," he sighed again but this one was full of guilt. Would he ever get it right when Sydney was involved?

"Is there anything else you'd like to take responsibility for? Maybe the fall of the Roman Empire? Or perhaps you could take the blame for the famine currently plaguing east Africa," Doug said. He and Emma both knew that next to hockey, Vaughn's favourite sport was beating himself up.

"I just wish Robert would come down and tell us how she's doing," Vaughn said reaching up and covering Emma's hand with his own. It was then that a little body leapt onto the cushions next to Vaughn.

"Donovan! Bad dog, get off the couch," Emma giggled.

"Hey did you feed him earlier? That's what I was coming down to check when Jack called," Vaughn said looking down at the dog perched next to him.

"Of course but he probably needs to go out," she smiled sweetly at Doug.

Emma yawned. It was now well after midnight and there was still no sign of the surgeon or any of his staff.

"Why don't you two just crash? I'll be fine here by myself," Vaughn said, squeezing Emma's hand again.

"Nope, not going anywhere. I'm staying with you. Doug?" Emma returned Michael's squeeze.

"Well. I'm thinking that couch over there is looking mighty comfy and I think I'll park myself on it as soon as Donny-boy and I take a walk around the block. Where's the leash?" Doug asked.

"In the front closet. Thanks Doug, I mean it," Vaughn smiled gratefully at his friend. All he needed now was Weiss to be sitting there, playing with his yo-yo, telling him how strong Syd was.



Two hours and numerous cups of coffee later, they found themselves sitting in exactly the same places. Vaughn was jumpier than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs and Emma just kept giving Doug worried looks.

"Why is this taking so long?" Emma whispered to Doug.

"I'd say it's a good thing. A short time would have worried me more," he reassured her.

"You're probably right," Emma said and tried to relax.

"What are you two whispering about?" Vaughn said looking at the pair.

"Nothing at all, old friend, nothing at all," Doug said.

They bolted upright moments later when an upstairs door opened. Dr. Carrington stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him. Vaughn couldn't help but notice the amount of blood on the front of the man's surgical gown and he felt his stomach turn to ice again.

Please God let her have made it through.

"How's Syd?" Vaughn asked immediately, springing to the bottom of the stairs from his spot on the couch.

"She's not out of the woods, but I think she'll make it. She's lost a ton of blood, as you so eloquently put it Michael, but she'll survive. We just have to hope that an infection doesn't set in."

"That's good news right?" Emma asked looking at the doctor expectantly.

"If she makes it through the next 48 hours, then yes. I'll drop by on my way to and from work. One of the nurses will stay until she's out of the woods and then I'll have them show you how to change her I.Vs and the dressings." the doctor nodded.

"I don't know what to say," Vaughn said as he sagged back against the railing.

"Here's one… how do we cancel a party tomorrow night without raising a whole lot of suspicion?" Doug said looking around the motley group.

TBC