Tomorrow's Promise


Author's Note: I don't know anything about CIA training, and there's probably a good reason for that.

Chapter Thirteen - Decisions

Will walked into Vaughn's makeshift office.  He was sprawled on the hospital bed with his arm draped across his eyes, trying to get some much needed sleep.  It was 10:00 on Thursday morning.  Vaughn had been at the hospital for 48 hours straight.  Will debated on whether to wake him.

"What's up Will?" Vaughn asked without removing his arm from his eyes.

"Do they teach you how to do that in training?" Will asked.

"Do they teach us how to do what?" Vaughn asked.

"To see through things," Will said, "Like your eyelids, your arm… walls…"  Vaughn replied only with a chuckle.  Will continued, "The reason I ask is that I'm thinking about doing that – going into training."

Vaughn sat up slowly to look at Will.  "What makes you think you want to do that?" he asked.

"Well, the exotic locales and beautiful women, of course," Will deadpanned.  Vaughn sighed and grinned just a little.  "Apparently, I only have two choices," Will said.  "Witness relocation or join up."

"Honestly, Will, you do have a third option -- to do nothing.  But, of course, we can't  guarantee your safety," Vaughn said.

"Apparently, you guys can't guarantee my safety with the other two options either," Will said.  Vaughn chose not to reply.  Will walked closer to the bed.  "I don't want to give up my life.  I don't want to say goodbye to my family and friends.  I don't want to start over again…" Will looked down at the floor and mumbled, "I don't want to be alone."

Vaughn understood what Will was saying – he didn't want to be without Sydney.  If anybody understood that, it was Vaughn.  But still he wondered if that was enough to get Will through field training.

"Has anybody told you what training is like?  What your life will be like when you come back?" Vaughn asked.  "You say that you don't want to give up your life.  If you become an agent your life will never be the same."

Will looked Vaughn in the eyes.  "Yeah, Weiss has gone over all of that."

Vaughn shook his head thoughtfully.  "It's not an easy life, you know.  It's not easy for me, and considering your circumstances, it won't be easy for you."

"Vaughn, I've made up my mind."

Vaughn sighed.  "Okay.  I won't be able to get you going on this until after Sydney is back…"

"Weiss has already made all the arrangements, and Devlin has signed off on it.  I'm headed to Langley this afternoon," Will said.

"Wow," Vaughn shook his head.  "You must be serious about this.  I'm guessing that you won't be going through all of the traditional training – the assignments at the D.O.D.* and such," Vaughn said.  Will shook his head.  "So, how long will you be at Langley?"

"They're saying five to six months," Will replied.

"Has Weiss got you a cover?"

"Yeah," Will said.  "Apparently, I'm going on a bike tour of Europe.  Alone.  And I'll be writing a series of articles on it for the paper."

"You talked your boss into that?" Vaughn asked.

"It wasn't easy, but she finally gave in when I told her I would give up my salary and she could just pay me per article."

"Good thinking… Well then," Vaughn stood up and walked over to his worktable.  He pulled a business card out of his wallet, turned it over and scribbled a number on it.  He walked over to Will and gave him the card.  "That's my cell number.  It's totally secure.  If you need anything, any time, call me."

"Thanks, man," Will replied.  He turned the card over.  Vaughn's name and job title were imprinted on it: Michael Vaughn, Security Analyst, US Department of Defense.

Vaughn reached out to shake Will's hand.  "As soon as things get settled down, I'll be out to visit," Vaughn promised.  Will nodded appreciatively.  "Good luck, Will."

*****

Shortly after Will left, Vaughn wandered out into the hall.  He needed a change of scenery – any change of scenery would do.  Vaughn glanced down the hall towards Sydney's room wondering if he should check in on her.  He saw Weiss sitting in a chair across from Sydney's door.  Vaughn sighed and ran a hand through his hair.  He walked slowly down the hallway.

Weiss glanced at him as he approached and then quickly returned his eyes to Sydney's door.  "Hey," Vaughn said.

"Hey," Weiss replied without looking at him.

"Will saying goodbye to Sydney?" Vaughn asked.

"Uh-huh," Weiss said.

After a pause Vaughn said, "Thanks for making all the arrangements for Will."

"It's my job."

Vaughn thought about walking away.  Instead, he grabbed a nearby chair and set it by Weiss.  He turned it so that he could straddle it, rest his arms on the back and look Weiss directly in the eyes.

"Look, Eric… I'm…  I'm sorry I was such an asshole the other day," Vaughn said.

Weiss finally looked at Vaughn.  He was conflicted.  He was hurt by the way Vaughn treated him, and he'd had 24 hours to stew in self-righteousness.  But he also knew that he had betrayed Vaughn and it could have cost Vaughn his life.  Weiss pondered: admit fault or continue the feud?

"You were an asshole," Weiss said coldly.  After a short pause he said, "But I deserved it."  Vaughn smiled at him.  "Seriously, Mike, I'm really sorry about going to Devlin.  If anything had happened to you or Sydney…" Weiss stopped abruptly.  "I mean, if anything worse had happened… I mean… if you guys had been killed…"

"Stop, Eric!  I know that you didn't mean for any of that to happen…" Vaughn said.  "Can we just forget all of it?"

"I doubt that we will ever forget it," Weiss said referring to the entire Taipei mission.  "But, between you and me?  Already forgotten."

They smiled at each other awkwardly.  Then Weiss held out his arms and said, "How 'bout a hug, Mikey?"

Vaughn was happy to be clowning around with Weiss again.  "Hey," he exclaimed as he remembered something Weiss had said, "Congratulations on the baby, man.  I didn't even know that you guys were trying."

"That… well…" Weiss dropped his eyes and his voice, "We weren't actually trying, and…" He looked back up at Vaughn, "Darci had a miscarriage."

Vaughn was silent for a moment.  He had little experience with this type of conversation.  "Uh, I'm sorry," Vaughn tried to read Weiss' eyes, "I think…?"

"It's been a tough time for us," Weiss said sadly.  Vaughn waited patiently for him to continue.  "Mike, I'm not even sure I want to start a family.  I don't know if I can handle those type of complications – I mean, considering what I do for a living."  Mike nodded sympathetically.  "And, I thought Darci was with me on this.  But, when she got pregnant… things changed… she changed."

Vaughn thought long and hard about his response.  "I'm sorry, Eric."

*****

*D.O.D. – Department of Defense