Chapter 7: Back in L.A
Author's note: I'm so so very sorry I took this long to post this chapter. I swear, I've been so busy lately and I had writer's block. Hopefully, I'll be able to post more frequently now. Anyway, don't forget to review and please, if anyone has any ideas about where you'd like to see this story go, tell me.
**********
"You still don't know why Sloane wanted this file, do you?" Sydney asked her handler.
Vaughn shook his head.
"They're still working on it. We still don't know why Sloane wanted this file so badly. There's just a list of names, which we already knew were there. Until we find a connection… Once we do it'll be much easier." He explained.
They both remained silent for a moment just enjoying each other's company. Sydney looked around. This time they were meeting in the park. She was sitting in a small bench, wearing her sunglasses and holding a bottle of water. It was pretty hot out there. Vaughn was next to her, pretending to be looking for someone.
"How's your back?" He asked, the concern evident in his voice.
Sydney smiled a little, "Much better, thank you. Francie doesn't think so, though. She saw me the other day… I made up a story, but she was worried about it."
Vaughn turned his head to look at her for a moment and frowned.
"Who's Francie?"
"She's one of my best friends and also my roommate. We met a few years ago. She's really nice. You'd like her." She stole a glance at his direction and quickly looked away.
Vaughn smiled, "I'm sure I would."
Sydney checked her watch and sighed, "I have to go. I promised Will and Francie that we'd have lunch together and I'm running late already."
"Then I guess I'll see you later."
They both turned to look at each other and their eyes locked for a brief moment.
"I'll see you later, Michael." Sydney said before walking away.
Vaughn stood there, just watching her go. As much as he wanted to talk to her all day long, he knew he couldn't, especially when they were in public like this. It was way too risky.
**********
"So, how was Miami?" Will Tippin asked Sydney.
She just shrugged and smiled, "You know, boring."
Francie turned to look at her best friend, "I swear, Sydney, they make you work too hard. You should quit."
"I really whish I could, but my job's very important." She explained and the truth was, it really was very important. She was working with the CIA to destroy SD-6, but she couldn't exactly tell her friends that.
Suddenly, her beep went off: it was Sloane. She sighed and got up from the table.
"I have to go… it's the bank again." She apologized.
"But we haven't even finished eating." Will complained like a four year old.
Sydney tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Look, I promise I'll make it up to you guys, ok? I really have to go. It's an emergency."
That said, she walked away and left the house.
**********
"Sydney, the file you retrieved from Madrid a couple of days ago contains very important intel." Sloane began.
They were, once again, in the room where they always met. Sydney glanced around and saw that her father, Jack Bristow, was sitting in front of her. Next to her was Dixon, who was very focused on whatever Sloane was saying and next to her father was Marshall.
"It is crucial to the very existence of SD-6." He continued, "The people listed here are a powerful threat to SD-6 and therefore, to our country. These people have information that could be used to destroy us."
Sydney looked at her father quickly and immediately saw his disapproving look. She silently cursed herself for being so reckless.
"The first name here is François Lacroisse. He runs an airplane company in Paris. According to this file, he has a disc in his power, which contains a list of our agents in Europe. Needless to say, we need this disc. It could be used to blackmail us, to blackmail this country." He finished his little speech.
"When do we leave?" Dixon was eager to leave for the mission.
Sloane got up and started pacing, "Your plane leaves in eight hours. You're going as Peter Brugmann and Jenna Schmidt. You'll be representing an insurance company. Now, Marshall will give you the details of this assignment."
Marshall got up and smiled at everyone, "Hello, how's everyone doing today? I'm fine. Well, actually I'm feeling kinda dizzy, I think it's probably a cold or something like that." He stopped after glancing at Sloane. "Yeah, uhm, well, you'll be going with the usual, but you'll be also going with this…" he showed a small black device, "This, will destroy the hard disc after you take the disc you need, miss Bristow, because we don't know if there are any copies of the disc there. There won't be much security, so hopefully everything will go according to the plan, but, in case something does happen and there are many security guards… this," He showed a cigarette proudly, "this will put them all to sleep for thirty minutes or so. You just have to press here… and there you go. Of course you'll have to take this pill first so you won't fall asleep too 'cause that wouldn't be good for the mission… that happened to me while I was working yesterday and when I fell asleep I hit my head pretty bad…"
"Thank you, Marshall. That's all. Good luck in Paris." Sloane said and stood up to leave the room.
**********
Sydney was home getting ready for her trip and waiting for Vaughn's call. She had to tell him what Sloane had said about the names.
"Hey." Francie greeted her, "Another trip?"
Sydney just nodded her head, "Yeah."
"Where are they sending you now?" She asked looking at the small bag Sydney was carrying.
"Chicago." She lied, "We have an important client there."
She was saved by the phone ringing.
"I need to buy some things before I leave, do you want anything?" She asked, grabbing her purse and keys.
Francie shook her head.
Sydney answered the phone and couldn't help smiling at the sound of his voice.
"Joey's pizza?"
"Wrong number."
**********
When Sydney reached the warehouse, Vaughn was already there. She could see his shadow. He turned around and smiled at her.
"Hey."
She returned the smile, "Hey."
"So," she started, "Sloane told us why he wanted the file so badly. As it turns out to be, the names listed there are people who have very important intel that could destroy SD-6, according to Sloane." She explained.
Vaughn smiled, "Our people figured that out, too, this morning. I was going to tell you that, but you already know. Now, remember we switched files and I gave you a bogus one? Well, we'll send agents to retrieve the real intel and we'll give you bogus intel. Sloane won't be able to know the difference, since the information we'll give him will be very similar. However, there are some names that we didn't change. One of those is Fraçois Lacroisse."
"So, I'll be actually going to retrieve the real intel Sloane wants?" Syd asked.
"Yes. I'll be waiting for you at the airport when you come back and we'll make a bogus disc, which you'll give Sloane." He explained.
They both fell silent and remained like that for a couple of minutes, just thinking about the possibilities that they'd have if they could bring down SD-6.
"So," Vaughn broke the comfortable silence, "who's Will?"
Sydney couldn't help smiling. Was he jealous?
"Will?"
"Yeah, uhm, you mentioned earlier that you were having lunch with Francie and Will." He explained, trying hard to sound casual.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Yeah, he's a good friend. I met him a couple of years ago. He's a reporter."
"Oh." Vaughn managed to say.
Silence filled the warehouse once again, but this time it was an uncomfortable silence and the air started to feel extremely heavy.
"Well, I guess I should go." Sydney turned around to leave, but was stopped by Vaughn's hands.
Sydney couldn't help turning to look at him and for a moment, she got lost in his emerald eyes.
"I know I say this a lot, but… just be careful out there." He said tenderly, without breaking eye contact with her.
She only nodded.
"I'll see you when you come back." He told her and let go of her.
She smiled reassuringly, "I'll see you when I come back."
**********
Author's note: So, what did you guys think? You know, for some reason I can't help writing these scenes between Vaughn and Sydney. I swear, it's like the characters are alive or something. LOL. Oh, BTW, Twinnie, I'm assuming that Sydney's childhood crush for Vaughn is more than just a crush, that's why I've included so many flashback in this story. She loved him when they were little and now these feelings are starting to reappear again.
Anyway, now that my writer's block is gone (or at least I hope so), I'll be posting more frequently now. Thank you for sticking with me and don't forget to review. Your comments are very helpful because they allow me to improve this story and they also encourage me to write faster.
Lorena