Chapter 2:- The Meeting

            Sydney heard the phone ring and ran to the kitchen to answer it.

            "I'll get it Francie." She called out as she picked the phone up.

            "Joey's Pizza" The voice at the other end of the phone said. Sydney recognised that it was Vaughn immediately.

            "Wrong number." She gave the usual answer and put the phone back down. She wondered why Vaughn was calling her directly as he normally got another agent to make the call. She pushed the thought out of her mind, as she needed to talk to him about the plans her mother had to destroy SD-6. She couldn't help being confused about it all. She knew her mother had done many evil things in the past and that her mother would probably use Sydney for her own gain. But Sydney thought that she could use her too. If it meant SD-6 being eliminated, maybe it was worth the risk.

            As usual Sydney found Vaughn waiting for her in the warehouse. He was sitting on a wooden crate; his legs swinging like a child's. She noticed he had taken his suit jacket off and that he didn't have his gun with him. His head was down seemingly studying his shoes. He didn't notice Sydney approaching until she spoke.

            "Vaughn." She said softly.

            "Hey." He said looking up at her face.

            "I've got something to tell you about my mother…" Sydney rushed.

            "...Stop." Vaughn interrupted.

            "What's wrong?" She asked suddenly worried.

            "There's no point telling me." Vaughn replied.

            "What?! Why?!"

            "As of tomorrow, I will no longer be your Handler. Eric will most likely take over. I've got to ask Devlin, but I'm sure he'll okay it." He spoke quickly. He thought that if he allowed her to interrupt, she would be able to see through the façade he had so carefully created.

            "Vaughn?!" Sydney began to pace up and down in front of him. Vaughn continued to swing his feet as he spoke.

            "I've been 'reassigned'. Demoted is nearer the truth. I had a better job when I started at the CIA! I'll be listening to surveillance tapes, writing up other people's reports. I'm especially looking forward to some guy younger than me, having to watch my every step for the next few years." His voice was full of sarcasm. 'If they want a robot that can use a computer, then that's what they'll get.' He said to himself.

            "What if…what if I speak to Devlin? Or my father, perhaps? It worked last time after Lambert." Sydney said thinking out loud.

            "No. I don't want you to do anything." He didn't tell her that he hadn't even tried to save himself. "Besides I'm lucky to still have a job at the CIA." He added trying to placate her. "Devlin actually called me a 'renegade'! I had to stop myself from laughing at him. I don't think I've ever been called that before!" His voice sounded bright as if he was recounting a funny story to a friend, but his face looked weary and resigned.

Sydney looked at him with incredulity. How could he be so flippant? Making jokes about his ruined career.

            "I'm sorry Vaughn. I shouldn't have agreed to you going with me."

            "I chose to go. I made the decision. So I have to live with the consequences." The sentences that came out of his mouth sounded harsh and rehearsed.

            "I'm so sorry for everything." She said sincerely.

            "Don't be."

            Sydney continued to pace in silence for a few minutes. Vaughn waited patiently for her to speak again.

"I can't believe this is happening." She finally said. She felt helpless and unable to do anything to make it better. Sydney sat down on the crate next to Vaughn. She noticed that his hands were clasped together. She slowly moved her right hand toward Vaughn's and gently intertwined her fingers with his.

            As he looked down at their joined hands, Vaughn wondered if he was being brave or in fact a coward. He believed it was the right thing to do. To leave would be best for her. His love for Sydney had consumed his every breath, his every thought. It had clouded his judgement and almost cost them their lives.

            But on the other hand he was being a coward. Even though Devlin had forced the decision on him, he had accepted it willingly.  He wanted the chance not only to run from the responsibility of having to care for Sydney's safety, but also for loving her so completely. He simply couldn't deal with it any more. He was suffocating and the separation would give him the air he so desperately craved.

            Vaughn raised their hands and tenderly kissed the back of Sydney's hand. His mouth remained there for a few moments. Sydney could barely feel his lips touching her skin, but she could feel his warm regular breaths on her hand. Sydney closed her eyes so that she could imagine they could stay like that forever. He slowly released her hand and then turned around to grab his jacket. He jumped off the wooden crate and without looking at her, he started to walk out of the warehouse for the last time.