They drove in a meandering way around the city for a while, Vaughn making sure they weren't being followed; it becomes second nature in their business. Then he headed out to the ocean, to Hermosa Beach. He knew of a friend of a friend who ran a small motel right on the beach. No surprise that there was a room available on a rainy weeknight in late fall. He turned on the radio, found an oldies station. Sydney seemed content to listen, sit back in her seat and let him do the driving.

Vaughn knew that he was entering dangerous territory here. Sydney. Nighttime. Motel room. But he would do his best to help her out, protect her, without taking advantage of the situation, of her vulnerability. It wouldn't be easy.

**********

Sydney hummed along to the Ronnettes. "The night we met I knew I needed you so,
And if I had the chance I'd never let you go."  Right. How appropriate, she thought. Of course, just about anything played on the radio (except for Howard Stern) would be appropriate. Aren't all songs about love? About longing? We long for our parents to love us, for our friends to like us. For someone to need us. I don't know if Vaughn needs me, she thought, but I need him. Now more than ever. CIA rules and what comes tomorrow be damned!

"Be my, be my, be my little baby. Say you'll be my darling. Be my baby, now. Woh-oh-oh-oh-oh…".  

**********

Vaughn checked in while Sydney waited in the car. This situation seems so seedy, he thought. At least he wasn't renting the room by the hour. And the place was nice; simple, but nice. He chatted with his friend at the desk for a minute, then got the key and went back to the car.

"Where are we?" Sydney felt like she was waking up from a dream.

"We're in Hermosa Beach. They had a vacancy tonight at my friend's motel. I thought you might want to relax away from home and the CIA and SD-6 for a night. This is a really low-key spot, especially at this time of year. No one will bother us here".

"Do you take all of your lady friends here?" She couldn't help herself.

Vaughn grinned. "No, you're the first one. You said you didn't want to go home, so I thought of this place. I'll leave you here and get you a cab in the morning if you'd like." He prayed she wouldn't say yes to that.

Sydney was quick to answer. "No, I was only teasing you. I want you to stay. I just want to talk, and get dry, and eat something".

"Yes, ma'am. One towel and 2 dinners coming right up."

They entered the room. It was cozy, but still managed to have a sitting area, a king-sized bed and a small balcony right on the beach.

"Why don't you take a shower while I get us some food. Is Mexican all right?"

"That sounds delicious. But I usually take baths, not showers."

"I'll have to remember that." And with an arch of his eyebrows, he left the room.

**********

Sydney actually did take a shower. It felt luxurious. Hot, steamy water dripping down her face instead of cold, clammy rain. Much better. She tried not to think of Vaughn while she soaped up her hair. She tried not to think of anything. When she got out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and hung up her clothes on the towel rack. That sweater is going to take forever to dry, she thought. Now what to wear? Somehow eating dinner in her towel with Vaughn didn't seem quite the tact to use. She certainly wanted to be closer to him, but she really wanted to eat first. Aha! Two fluffy robes hung from a double hook on the back of the door. That's a nice touch for a motel. I wonder if Vaughn has stayed here before with someone else.

But that was a pointless puzzle to try to solve. We both have pasts. I'm sure he's had other women, probably other loves. I have too. But we are here now. Together. She opened the bathroom door as she tied the belt around her robe.