Title: Failing You

Author: Mango19

Rating: G

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The past seventy-two hours of Sydney's life seemed a lifetime. She wondered if hers would be over by the end of the day when she was dressing that morning. Putting on her pantyhose seemed so insignificant in comparison to what she was about to accomplish. She chose her wine skirt and her black dress shirt. She always felt good in this outfit, even when she was questioning her abilities. Slipping her pumps on she checked the mirror making sure she looked confident. More important than being confident, she figured. And she did. She added the diamond earrings to her ears gingerly smiling at how feminine she could be in comparison with her power.

Driving to SD-6 headquarters she couldn't help but think of Vaughn. Where would she be after all of this? Where would he be? Would he be assigned a new agent and have her feel the same way? Sydney's stomach turned with jealousy just at the thought of it. She would be blonde with blue eyes and a 32D chest … but she smiled while in the elevator because she knew. But did she? She wondered as she got to her desk. Sometimes she was so sure and other times … other times he could be so distant and formal.

She decided to start on the debriefing of her last mission with Dixon. Only this time she left nothing out. Not the switching of the artefact nor her secret meetings with her CIA handler. Two hours later she was just finishing up when she looked over at Dixon's desk and it remained empty. She rose as an agent passed her "Hey, Nathan?"

"Yeah?" He stopped to turn to her, obviously surprised to be talking to her.

"Have you seen Dixon? We're supposed to go over our debriefings from our last mission."

"He went to a meeting with Marshall. Something about new microscopic weaponry, I don't know. I only caught what I did from Marshall's ramblings." He said with a smile.

"Thanks, Nathan." She said turning back to her desk. "Oh, great work in Copenhagen last week, by the way." She added.

"Thanks." He said somewhat in awe as he walked away.

Considering her options she snatched the phone up and dialled a code and then the number she knew by heart.

Then she heard it. The voice. And the shivers started.

"Vaughn."

"I know you said no contact but I had to talk to you." She said as quickly as she could. "And yes, I know the risks and I know how close this is but this is a secure line for three minutes so give me that …"

"God, you rag yourself out before I even get the chance. Go ahead." He said. She loved how she could hear the smile on his face without even having to see it.

"Dixon's out on a meeting with Marshall. What if they come in during the operation? I know I'm supposed to be objective but …"

"They're with us." He cut her off. "They know, they're a little shocked, but they'll be an asset to our team. Marshall especially."

"You really are my guardian angel." She sighed with relief.

"Anything else? You still have 2 minutes and 24 seconds." Smiling he glanced at his watch.

"Well, yes, actually. Why am I doing this?"

"Syd, this is …" He started before she cut him off this time.

"I know for national security and … I guess what I'm asking is … God, I've never been this inarticulate in my life." She could hear him laugh a bit before she blurted out "What's going to happen to us? I need to know …"

"Sydney, it's starting. Go …"

Her heart dropped. "So you won't talk to me?"

"No." He said sternly. Her eyes started to flood just before he added "I'll show you. Just as soon as you get out here. But you have to go, Syd. Now. It's time."

She didn't say anything. Couldn't. She was just trying to digest the cryptic information she was just given.. The silence couldn't have continued for over two seconds before he was forced to speak.

"Go, Cheri … it will be over in 5 minutes. We can wait until then."