Title: Failing You
Author: Mango19
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The stillness that seemed to envelope them startled them both. She couldn't figure out why she wasn't jumping with excitement. SD-6 … gone. What would the world look like without that shadow following her? "Gone?" she whispered.
"Mmm." He said inhaling the scent of her hair.
She had never been scared of change before. Why should this be any different? Life as she knew was beginning to fall to pieces around her feet. But this was what she always wanted, right? Then why wasn't she ecstatic? It could have been the fear of being killed during her last mission and never getting the chance to embrace the freedom she had dreamed of. It could have been the fear of losing the only connection she had with her father. But she was pretty sure it was the fear of having to deal with her feelings for her so-called handler. For better or for worse.
She backed out of his embrace, but not without reluctance. "Excuse me if I seem … shocked." She said beginning to pace the width of the warehouse. Knowingly, Vaughn backed off and let her ponder this through. "When does this happen?"
"The team needs tomorrow to prepare and the mission goes down the day after …"
"Wait." Sydney interrupted. "What do you mean, 'the team'? This is me, this is my job. I'm doing this."
"Syd …" Vaughn said trying to keep her calm. There were drawbacks to such a fiery woman. "We need you inside. We need you in SD-6 … to take care of Sloane. Can you do that/?"
"I'm a CIA double agent who spends her time trying to save the U.S. from certain destruction. I think I can handle the likes of one man. No matter how repulsive." Sydney replied trying to keep the sarcasm from biting too hard.
"Good," Vaughn tried to ignore the annoyance in her voice and focus on the objective. "We need you in Sloane's office alone by the time the team gets in. You'll take him out then with the gun your father has placed in the right hand drawer of your desk. When you're done stay in there until an operative comes to get you. His office is made of bullet proof material so you'll be safe in there once he's taken care of."
"When will I go to his office?"
"I'll contact you once the team is assembled, we'll give you a fifteen second head start."
"Alright," she said trying to gain confidence. "I can do this."
"Yes, you can." Now it was Vaughn's time to pace. "Now, we won't be in contact until the day after tomorrow. We'll try to salvage as many agents as we can, mainly Dixon and Marshall but we can't make any promises."
"I understand." She had put a lot of thought into this earlier when she was dreaming about this very day.
"Good. Now you better get going, Francie's going to get worried."
"Wait. I want a comm. piece."
"Syd, that's risky." Vaughn replied with concern in his voice.
"I know. I'll wear the diamond earring piece. I just … I need to be able to talk to you. Just in case." She said gathering her purse and coat trying not to make eye contact.
"Alright, consider it done." She started to leave when Vaughn caught her hand. Lifting it he kissed her wrist, savouring the feeling of her pulse racing under the pressure of his lips. "Good luck."
Holding onto his hand as she began to walk away she mouthed "Thank you." and walked to her car.
