Chapter 5:- The Decision

            Vaughn awoke one day and noticed blossom on a tree outside of his apartment. He wasn't sure how many months had passed since that last meeting at the warehouse, but in that instant he made a decision about his future. A decision he hadn't even allowed himself to think about because he felt it could never come true. However he was now ready to at least make an attempt. He sat up in bed and picked up the phone on his bedside table to arrange an appointment.

            Vaughn knocked on the door and waited for an answer before he entered the office. He sat down on a leather chair that had been placed near the desk. He didn't waste time on the usual pleasantries. Instead he immediately launched into why he had asked for the meeting.

"I know it may seem futile and stupid of me to even ask, but I would like to be re-instated as Sydney Bristow's Handler."

            "Why?" Devlin asked. He was curious to know what had made Vaughn change his mind and why it had taken so long for it to happen.

            "I believe that I can be a better Handler than before. That I will be better than anyone else." The words that came out of Vaughn's mouth were said both confidently and with immense conviction.

            "If Agent Bristow asked you to help her on another unauthorised mission, would you agree to do so?" Devlin bluntly asked.

            "I volunteered last time. She never asked for my help." Vaughn replied.

            "Would you agree to help her?" Devlin repeated his question.

            "Yes, in an instant." He answered; his tone of voice even and sincere.

            "Mr. Vaughn…" Devlin began, finally able to use his 'breaking-the-rules-is-not-allowed' speech.

            "…My job as Handler was not only to give counter missions, but to do my best for Sydney, whatever that took." He said interrupting Devlin. "I couldn't have stopped either Sydney or her father, so the only solution for me was to help her. As I've already said, I'd do the same again if necessary. I could have been selfish thinking only of my job and my career, but I didn't. I only thought of Sydney." He knew it wasn't the most eloquent or well-argued speech, but he was being honest with Devlin. He hoped that counted for something.

"Both Jack and Sydney have talked to me at length about supporting you if you wanted to come back as Sydney's Handler."

Vaughn's eyebrows shot up in surprise. All those times they had met, Sydney had never told him that she had spoken with Devlin on his behalf. He had also convinced himself that Jack Bristow had lost what little respect he had for him after Taipei.

"If you are to come back as Sydney's Handler, there are some conditions."

Vaughn finally allowed himself to feel hopeful. He didn't care about any provisions. He would cope with anything Devlin handed out if it meant being able to work with Sydney once again.

"You will have a six month probation period and during that time Agent Weiss will oversee your work."

Vaughn finally smiled with relief. If he did have to have someone checking up on him he didn't mind it being Weiss. It would also give him a chance to re-new their friendship.

"Thank you." Vaughn said truly grateful to have been given a second chance.

The next day Vaughn walked into Weiss' office.

"You don't mind, do you?" Vaughn asked, not wanting to upset Weiss.

"Of course not!" Weiss replied. "I'm just happy you finally came to your senses. It took you long enough." Weiss joked.

"I'm glad to see you haven't changed Eric."

"You have though." Weiss simply stated.

"Yeah. I guess I made too big a deal out of everything." Vaughn said.

"No. I understand what you tried to do. Sydney explained it all to me."

"How's Sydney doing?" Vaughn asked not looking at Weiss.

"Michael! You know exactly how she's doing!" Weiss began to laugh. He had guessed that Sydney and Vaughn still kept in contact, but it was only recently that he had managed to pry the information out of Sydney.

Vaughn smiled at Weiss. It suddenly felt like old times. Before Vaughn got up to leave he had a favour to ask of Weiss.

"Can you do something for me? I didn't want to ask you Eric, but…"

"No problem." Weiss immediately answered. "Sydney will be so pleased."

"You think so?" Vaughn asked unsure of her reaction for some reason.

"You know how she'll react." Weiss answered trying to reassure him.

"She told me she likes working with you. I don't want to mess that up."

"I won't let you!" Weiss joked. He then searched in his jacket pocket and eventually found what he was looking for. "I kept it for when you came back. It'll give you something to do while you wait.'

"Thanks." Vaughn said as he caught the key to his office that Weiss had thrown him. All the parts of his old life were beginning to fall back into place. But he didn't want to feel happy until he saw Sydney standing in front of him.

Vaughn unlocked the door to his office and walked in. He noticed two boxes full of reports and files sitting on the floor beside his desk. He knew he'd have to pretend to study them, to get up to date with all of Sydney's counter-missions. But he already had them stored in his memory. It was as if he had in his mind, tape recordings of Sydney's voice, laying out all the missions in minute detail.

There was however one file he wanted to see. The one that he desperately wanted in his hands. He knelt down on the floor and glanced across the files in the boxes. He quickly picked it out and sat down on the floor, his back resting against the desk leg. It was Sydney's personnel file. He went straight to the first page. His eyes remained on her photograph for a long time. It was a small black and white photograph taken when she had joined the CIA. He had seen the same determined, concentrated look on her face many times before, but he now felt as if he was seeing her for the first time.