A SALVATION OF ONE
The Counteragent's Someday
Remember: Actual spoilers for Episode #7, Counteragent, are separated by *** Everything else is my own imagination.
A clean bill of health. Words that would typically be a blessing to the ears of anyone threatened by chemical warfare. Not for her. For her a life sentence was beginning to seem much more unbearable than the alternative.
She was fine and he . he wasn't. The bitter waters had swallowed him up, while she remained safely behind the glass and steel - out of harms way. That was where he belonged. He was her handler, but this had gotten out of hand.
Over-watering Francie's geranium wasn't helping, but at least it was an occupation - until Weiss called. Until she knew she had a purpose.
"Hey," Will said, as he walked through the front door. "Francie wanted to know if you're going to stop in tonight. She could use your support."
"No," she said, absently, continuing to drown the greenery.
"No?" he asked, irritation in his voice. "Syd, I know you've got priorities - but Francie doesn't understand that. She's counting on you."
Sydney whipped around, furious - with Will for unwittingly insinuating that Francie restaurant woes somehow compared to Vaughn's illness - with herself for not being there on any level for ANYONE except Kendall and Sloane. How had she managed to pledge her allegiance to them and fail her friends. Vaughn.
"I'm a terrible friend." She sobered her fury, turning it inward.
Will crossed the room and placed both hands squarely on her shoulders. "I didn't mean to say-Sydney, you once told me . if I knew what you did I'd thank you ever day. And I do, every morning I wake up thankful that you're out there doing what you do. Keeping me alive. Keeping . Jesus, keeping the WORLD safe."
"The world ." she said bitterly, "sure I can save the world, but at what cost?"
"What's this about? This isn't about Francie." He reached down for her hand and guided her towards the sofa. "Is it your mom?"
Sydney sank into the sofa, the weight of the world sinking her into a comfortable softness she didn't deserve. "It's Vaughn," she managed, quietly.
"Vaughn . you're CIA contact?" He stiffened.
Tears filled her eyes, but remained unshed. "In Taipei, while my dad was making the exchange for you - Vaughn and I were busy trying to destroy this device. The explosive I ignited set off a tidal wave of water . only it wasn't water. I got out before the halls flooded, but Vaughn wasn't so lucky."
"But he did escape. We've met."
Sydney pushed her hair back with both hands. "He did . when I found him . I was so relieved. I thought I'd lost another-"
"Like Danny," Will said.
"Friend," Sydney said. "But it turns out this liquid . the flood . it was filled with a chemical compound . some kind of biological warfare. Vaughn ingested it into his lungs. And now-he . it looks like he's going to . we don't have the antidote."
Will reluctantly put his arm around her and drew her closer. As he held her, a sudden realization came over him. "Syd, you were there. The water."
She shook her head. "Doctor's gave me a complete work-up. I wasn't close enough to be infected. I never absorbed any of the compound."
"This guy's important to you."
She looked up at Will, knowing that at this moment, he would understand. Jealousy wasn't a factor when a friend was hurting. "There was a time when Vaughn was the only person who knew everything about me. He risked his career to care about me, to be my friend, to save you."
Will stroked her hair. "Good guy ." Will reluctantly admitted. "So you're waiting for word on the cure. You're going after it." He was catching on fast.
"As soon as I hear from-" Her cell phone rang. "the CIA." She pulled out of Will's embrace, rose and walked toward the light of the window. Pushing hard on the "send" button of her phone. "Hello?"
"The line is secure Sydney," Weiss said.
"Tell me we located it."
"They're pretty sure they know where to find it, but it's not going to be easy - and even if you manage-"
She sighed heavy with relief, but it was short-lived. "You're hesitating. Why are you hesitating?"
Weiss cleared his throat. "There's not much time. There's no guarantee that Agent Vau-that Mike will be-"
"Every second we spend talking about it, we're wasting time. What do I need to do?" she demanded.
Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Will left the room. Clearly, he was becoming aware that the less he knew about her double life the better for everyone.
UCLA Medical Center, Intensive Care Ward
Sydney entered the large room, shocked to find Vaughn among all of the hospital's critical patients. He lie still, eyes closed, his entire body covered in a clear plastic oxygen tent.
In just two days he had deteriorated. His face was gaunt, pale. He looked even worse that when she first found him at the hands of Khasinau. If only a shot of adrenaline would work this time.
She approached his bedside, reaching into her bag, retrieving a package wrapped in black cloth. She opened it to reveal a carefully placed syringe, test tube and blood drawing paraphernalia.
She spied the rubber gloves Weiss added to the package and hesitates. Why should she be afforded such safety? It seemed the risk of touching him was the least she could do. But she donned them anyway. Who knew what bacteria she could carry to his already fragile body.
Unfastening the window in the oxygen tent, she gingerly reached in and pulled his arm down to reveal his weakened veins. Vaughn's head turns, expecting to see another nurse, more than likely. Surprise registered in his shadowed eyes.
"Syd," he whispered.
She could feel her lips spreading into a smile, trying to make the mask cross her face. The one that said, you're going to be okay. "How are you feeling?"
"Great," he said sarcastically. "I was thinking of hitting the gym, but Nurse Ratchet told me my membership wasn't any good here. You planning to switch your degree to nursing?" He nodded toward the syringe on the table beside her.
She sobered a little. "I'm headed back to Russia. Weiss tracked down the antidote. All I have to do is take a little of your blood with me, mix up a dose in their lab, and jump on a plane home. *** In a couple days you'll be doing wind sprints."
The mask cracked. She can't smile. He doesn't look convinced. Instead, she continued what she started, pricking his arm with the needle and drawing his blood.
"Yeah," Vaughn said. "I was thinking about a triathlon."
Sydney unscrewed the syringe and caped it, placing it in the drawer beside her. She removed her hand from the glove to retrieve the vial of blood, but Vaughn catches hold of her first. His fingers wrapped around her ungloved hand, holding it tight.
"Be careful." He knows that this isn't going to be easy. He knows finding a cure is a risk for both of them. There are words in his eyes, words she can't hear and he can't speak. Not yet. "Syd, I'm sorry . I'm so tired ."
The mask was gone. The tears flowed readily. His eyes shut, and he lies still again. His grip loosened. Compensating, she turned her fingers, so that she might hold his hand.
She had no idea if he could hear her, but it might be her last chance. Those words in his eyes. she heard them. She needed him to know she heard them. "... everything we do... all the time we spend together... and I don't know anything about you, really..." She tightened her grip around his fingers, protectively. "I don't know what movies you like, what books you read... what music you listen to. I don't even know where you live. But I've always thought... that someday... after... after all this...
that I'd get to know those things."
Someday. Somedays seem so unlikely in their business. There was always another day - never a someday. Tomorrow, she was determined . tomorrow when he was well would be their someday.
Suddenly an alarm sounded. Her eyes darted to his heart monitor, which has flat-lined.
"Vaughn!"
Doctors and nurses raced to his bedside, pulling her away. Pulling his lifeless fingers from her hand. *** She backed away, but couldn't take her eyes off of him. A nurse tried to lead her toward the door, but she doesn't know whom she's dealing with. One shoulder shove and the woman became instantly aware of Sydney Bristow.
They worked on him feverishly. She watched as the paddles came out, as they spread the lubricant on his chest and deliver outrageous amounts of electricity through his body. It went on for what seemed like hours, but in affect only a handful of minutes passed. She refused to even blink until she heard the doctor's words . "We have a tone."
Before they've even checked his pulse again, she has bolted out the door. Syringe in hand. Her mind full of details. quicker steps that will get her out of the door of the hospital, though LA traffic, onto the jet tarmac. every second is another in his life. Every second is another closer to someday.
A/N: Okay. that's spoiler #2. will be getting to Episode 8: The Passage tomorrow. Obviously, I'm leaving off blocks of detail here. You can fill in the blanks with your own imaginations. Of course, I realize only a handful of you are reading this because it's so full of spoilerly goodness. Hope those of you who have no patience (like me) are enjoying it. - L.D.
Remember: Actual spoilers for Episode #7, Counteragent, are separated by *** Everything else is my own imagination.
A clean bill of health. Words that would typically be a blessing to the ears of anyone threatened by chemical warfare. Not for her. For her a life sentence was beginning to seem much more unbearable than the alternative.
She was fine and he . he wasn't. The bitter waters had swallowed him up, while she remained safely behind the glass and steel - out of harms way. That was where he belonged. He was her handler, but this had gotten out of hand.
Over-watering Francie's geranium wasn't helping, but at least it was an occupation - until Weiss called. Until she knew she had a purpose.
"Hey," Will said, as he walked through the front door. "Francie wanted to know if you're going to stop in tonight. She could use your support."
"No," she said, absently, continuing to drown the greenery.
"No?" he asked, irritation in his voice. "Syd, I know you've got priorities - but Francie doesn't understand that. She's counting on you."
Sydney whipped around, furious - with Will for unwittingly insinuating that Francie restaurant woes somehow compared to Vaughn's illness - with herself for not being there on any level for ANYONE except Kendall and Sloane. How had she managed to pledge her allegiance to them and fail her friends. Vaughn.
"I'm a terrible friend." She sobered her fury, turning it inward.
Will crossed the room and placed both hands squarely on her shoulders. "I didn't mean to say-Sydney, you once told me . if I knew what you did I'd thank you ever day. And I do, every morning I wake up thankful that you're out there doing what you do. Keeping me alive. Keeping . Jesus, keeping the WORLD safe."
"The world ." she said bitterly, "sure I can save the world, but at what cost?"
"What's this about? This isn't about Francie." He reached down for her hand and guided her towards the sofa. "Is it your mom?"
Sydney sank into the sofa, the weight of the world sinking her into a comfortable softness she didn't deserve. "It's Vaughn," she managed, quietly.
"Vaughn . you're CIA contact?" He stiffened.
Tears filled her eyes, but remained unshed. "In Taipei, while my dad was making the exchange for you - Vaughn and I were busy trying to destroy this device. The explosive I ignited set off a tidal wave of water . only it wasn't water. I got out before the halls flooded, but Vaughn wasn't so lucky."
"But he did escape. We've met."
Sydney pushed her hair back with both hands. "He did . when I found him . I was so relieved. I thought I'd lost another-"
"Like Danny," Will said.
"Friend," Sydney said. "But it turns out this liquid . the flood . it was filled with a chemical compound . some kind of biological warfare. Vaughn ingested it into his lungs. And now-he . it looks like he's going to . we don't have the antidote."
Will reluctantly put his arm around her and drew her closer. As he held her, a sudden realization came over him. "Syd, you were there. The water."
She shook her head. "Doctor's gave me a complete work-up. I wasn't close enough to be infected. I never absorbed any of the compound."
"This guy's important to you."
She looked up at Will, knowing that at this moment, he would understand. Jealousy wasn't a factor when a friend was hurting. "There was a time when Vaughn was the only person who knew everything about me. He risked his career to care about me, to be my friend, to save you."
Will stroked her hair. "Good guy ." Will reluctantly admitted. "So you're waiting for word on the cure. You're going after it." He was catching on fast.
"As soon as I hear from-" Her cell phone rang. "the CIA." She pulled out of Will's embrace, rose and walked toward the light of the window. Pushing hard on the "send" button of her phone. "Hello?"
"The line is secure Sydney," Weiss said.
"Tell me we located it."
"They're pretty sure they know where to find it, but it's not going to be easy - and even if you manage-"
She sighed heavy with relief, but it was short-lived. "You're hesitating. Why are you hesitating?"
Weiss cleared his throat. "There's not much time. There's no guarantee that Agent Vau-that Mike will be-"
"Every second we spend talking about it, we're wasting time. What do I need to do?" she demanded.
Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Will left the room. Clearly, he was becoming aware that the less he knew about her double life the better for everyone.
UCLA Medical Center, Intensive Care Ward
Sydney entered the large room, shocked to find Vaughn among all of the hospital's critical patients. He lie still, eyes closed, his entire body covered in a clear plastic oxygen tent.
In just two days he had deteriorated. His face was gaunt, pale. He looked even worse that when she first found him at the hands of Khasinau. If only a shot of adrenaline would work this time.
She approached his bedside, reaching into her bag, retrieving a package wrapped in black cloth. She opened it to reveal a carefully placed syringe, test tube and blood drawing paraphernalia.
She spied the rubber gloves Weiss added to the package and hesitates. Why should she be afforded such safety? It seemed the risk of touching him was the least she could do. But she donned them anyway. Who knew what bacteria she could carry to his already fragile body.
Unfastening the window in the oxygen tent, she gingerly reached in and pulled his arm down to reveal his weakened veins. Vaughn's head turns, expecting to see another nurse, more than likely. Surprise registered in his shadowed eyes.
"Syd," he whispered.
She could feel her lips spreading into a smile, trying to make the mask cross her face. The one that said, you're going to be okay. "How are you feeling?"
"Great," he said sarcastically. "I was thinking of hitting the gym, but Nurse Ratchet told me my membership wasn't any good here. You planning to switch your degree to nursing?" He nodded toward the syringe on the table beside her.
She sobered a little. "I'm headed back to Russia. Weiss tracked down the antidote. All I have to do is take a little of your blood with me, mix up a dose in their lab, and jump on a plane home. *** In a couple days you'll be doing wind sprints."
The mask cracked. She can't smile. He doesn't look convinced. Instead, she continued what she started, pricking his arm with the needle and drawing his blood.
"Yeah," Vaughn said. "I was thinking about a triathlon."
Sydney unscrewed the syringe and caped it, placing it in the drawer beside her. She removed her hand from the glove to retrieve the vial of blood, but Vaughn catches hold of her first. His fingers wrapped around her ungloved hand, holding it tight.
"Be careful." He knows that this isn't going to be easy. He knows finding a cure is a risk for both of them. There are words in his eyes, words she can't hear and he can't speak. Not yet. "Syd, I'm sorry . I'm so tired ."
The mask was gone. The tears flowed readily. His eyes shut, and he lies still again. His grip loosened. Compensating, she turned her fingers, so that she might hold his hand.
She had no idea if he could hear her, but it might be her last chance. Those words in his eyes. she heard them. She needed him to know she heard them. "... everything we do... all the time we spend together... and I don't know anything about you, really..." She tightened her grip around his fingers, protectively. "I don't know what movies you like, what books you read... what music you listen to. I don't even know where you live. But I've always thought... that someday... after... after all this...
that I'd get to know those things."
Someday. Somedays seem so unlikely in their business. There was always another day - never a someday. Tomorrow, she was determined . tomorrow when he was well would be their someday.
Suddenly an alarm sounded. Her eyes darted to his heart monitor, which has flat-lined.
"Vaughn!"
Doctors and nurses raced to his bedside, pulling her away. Pulling his lifeless fingers from her hand. *** She backed away, but couldn't take her eyes off of him. A nurse tried to lead her toward the door, but she doesn't know whom she's dealing with. One shoulder shove and the woman became instantly aware of Sydney Bristow.
They worked on him feverishly. She watched as the paddles came out, as they spread the lubricant on his chest and deliver outrageous amounts of electricity through his body. It went on for what seemed like hours, but in affect only a handful of minutes passed. She refused to even blink until she heard the doctor's words . "We have a tone."
Before they've even checked his pulse again, she has bolted out the door. Syringe in hand. Her mind full of details. quicker steps that will get her out of the door of the hospital, though LA traffic, onto the jet tarmac. every second is another in his life. Every second is another closer to someday.
A/N: Okay. that's spoiler #2. will be getting to Episode 8: The Passage tomorrow. Obviously, I'm leaving off blocks of detail here. You can fill in the blanks with your own imaginations. Of course, I realize only a handful of you are reading this because it's so full of spoilerly goodness. Hope those of you who have no patience (like me) are enjoying it. - L.D.