Title: Coming to Terms (Chapter 8)
Author: UConn Fan (Michele)
E-Mail: LoveUConnBasketball@yahoo.com
Authors Note:
There's a scene in this story (and I'll give you a hint, Vaughn's in it and it's a SCENE not a SECTION) that is the ENTIRE reason I started writing this. This scene was thrown into my head after hearing Jennifer Garner & Scott Foley talking about making room to have a baby. If you think you know what the scene is, e-mail me and if you're right, I'll send you part of the opening scene/section of the sequel (I haven't finished THIS yet, but I'm just writing the sequel as it comes to me so I don't lose it). If you can't figure it out, don't worry, I figure it'll be out in 3-4 weeks at the latest, so no worries. I just thought it'd be fun to see if anyone could get it!
This is getting tricky, because now an infant is involved and we've seen the title characters have very little contact with children, nevermind babies. So I'm taking a leap of faith here in characterization - tell me what you think.
Also, before you get mad at my name choice, remember that late season 1/season 2 has NOT happened & instead remember what's happened in THIS story.
I've never had a baby, the most I've ever seen is TLC's a baby story & I've read a couple of birthstories. If you've given birth and this is completely off, please don't kill me, I've done my best to remain true to the characters and the situation.
The whole remainder of the story is most likely going to be shorter then Ch 7, but I think that this is the chapter everyone's been waiting for, so please excuse me if it seems short.
DEDICATION: Meg, because she's faced the brunt of it; Thank you to ALL the name/gender suggestions - I didn't exactly take any name suggestions, but I still hope the name doesn't disappoint.
DISCLAIMER: If it's recognizable, it's not mine. Technically, I suppose, I own Patrick, Maya, Charlotte, Jennie, Brigitte & the baby, but if you want to use them, go ahead, just let me know! Don't sue, this is just a complete labor of love.
Jack had been to Our Lady of Mercy countless times as both a patient and as a visitor. That day, however, was the first day he came for the labor & delivery ward. After all, when Laura gave birth to Sydney - almost thirty years ago, he remembered with goose bumps - they were still living in West Virginia. Regardless, when he walked into the hospital he was relieved to see a secretary there although it was almost ten at night.
"I'm here for Sydney Bristow, she's in labor."
"Yes, Ms. Bristow as just admitted to the fifth floor. Take the elevator up and they'll direct you to her room."
In the end, Jack didn't have to bother asking for directions. Instead his daughter's friends came into view seconds after he got off of the elevator. Francie, Charlie and Jennie sat anxiously in the hallway. Francie spotted him first, meeting him halfway. "Mr. Bristow, I'm so glad you're here. Will's in there with her, we didn't want to leave her alone."
Jack nodded and thanked his daughter's friends before walking into the room. Sydney's eyes were closed and she was humming as Will sat holding her hand. When she opened her eyes and saw her Father, she smiled. "Sydney, how are you feeling?" He asked, stepping closer to the bed.
"As well as could be expected," she smiled. "I'm five centimeters, so they want to keep me."
"Syd, I think we're going to go get something from the cafeteria and we'll be just outside, okay?" Will suggested.
"You guys don't have to stay -"
"Like Francie's going to let us leave?" He reminded her as she laughed. "Mr. Bristow, it was good to see you again," he shook the elder mans hand. Standing, Will left the pair alone.
Jack took off his coat and sat down, taking his daughters hand. Before she could speak, she started to hum again in obvious pain. Apparently her years of training to be a spy and manage pain was finally coming to use, he thought with meager amusement. "Thank you for being here Dad," she said as he nodded.
"You're going to be fine Sydney." He reassured her.
Not surprisingly, her friends spent the night sleeping in the chairs outside Sydney's room. Jack kept vigil over his daughter as Sydney lulled herself to sleep for a few hours. Her sleep was so sound that she didn't even awaken during the pelvic exams the doctors had performed throughout the night. Early the next morning, around five, she woke up, finally in too much pain to ignore.
"They offered me an epidural earlier," she whispered to her Father, holding his hand as another contraction hit. "I turned them down."
Jack nodded in understanding. His daughter would rather die from the pain then be injected with some unknown substance. While it was a hospital, it was an Alliance hospital and there was no such thing as too cautious. Eventually the doctor suggested going for a walk in the late morning. She was progressing but her water had yet to break. So Sydney looped her arm through her Father's and walked the hallway with him while her friends ate lunch in the cafeteria.
"Do you remember going to Disneyland when you were smaller?" Jack asked.
"We went to Disneyland?" She looked up in obvious surprise.
"Yes. Right after we moved. You loved it." He smiled at one of his favorite memories. "Perhaps the three of us could go visit this summer." He suggested.
Sydney smiled at how her Father was trying to be the Father he was when she was a little girl, and at his intentions to be a full-fledged grandfather. However, before she could respond she was hit by another contraction. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she leaned against him and hummed through the pain as he rubbed her lower back. Opening her eyes to look at him, she saw he was concerned. "That's the second contraction in three minutes Sydney, I think it's time to return to your room."
"Okay," she nodded, holding on to his arm again as they walked the hallway back to her room.
Another pelvic exam was performed upon her return to her room. At eight centimeters dilated, her bags had yet to break and she still needed to finish dilating. It was nearly early in the afternoon and Sydney was growing more and more exhausted. Jack excused himself to talk to the doctor in the hallway while Sydney closed her eyes. The contractions were worsening, growing more intense. She hummed as her body shook. Nausea ran rampant through her stomach, as her body seemed to convulse from pain. When she finally started to breathe again and opened her eyes, she found her bed was soaked.
The doctor and her Father walked back in seconds later. "Ms. Bristow, I think your waters broken," the doctor observed as he neared her.
"Don't touch me," she hissed as yet another convulsion shook her body. Gently taking her hand, her Father rubbed her back.
"Sydney, the doctor needs to perform an exam to see if it's time to push," her Father gently warned her. After she finished humming, she nodded and laid back. A painful few seconds eclipsed as the doctor pulled back to look at her.
"Your fully dilated Ms. Bristow. It's time to push."
Moving to her left side, she started to push as her Father rubbed her back in encouragement. Eventually she grew sore and moved to sit up on the bed. After a particularly painful contraction, she stopped humming. "I can't do this anymore," she tearfully insisted.
"Sydney, you are so close and you are doing wonderfully." Her Father encouraged her.
"Just a few more pushes Ms. Bristow, you're so close." The doctor reassured her. Bottling her strength, she started to push down again, biting her lip as she felt the contractions start to burn. "Ms. Bristow you're crowning," he told her as her contractions briefly reprieved. "Reach down and touch the baby's head," he encouraged. Swallowing back her tears, Sydney used her free hand to reach down and touch the top of her baby's head.
"There's hair," she told her Father tearfully.
"Yes Ms. Bristow, lots of hair," he agreed. "Now I need a gentle push, not too hard or else your going to tear," he instructed. While she wanted to push with all of her might, she followed the doctor's instructions and gently bore down. "Good job Sydney, the head's out."
Jack kept an eagles-eye on the doctor as he suctioned the baby's ears, mouth and nostrils. Then he checked for a cord around the neck, the elder Bristow instantly relieved when the doctor felt none. "Okay, we're going to do one shoulder at a time here Ms. Bristow." The doctor explained.
Patiently, with less forceful pushes, Sydney pushed one shoulder at a time. After what seemed like an eternity, the most amazing sound in the world - a newborns cry - filled the room. The warm, screaming infant was instantly placed on her bare stomach as she looked down in awe. "Congratulations Ms. Bristow, you have a daughter."
"It's a girl," Sydney tearfully echoed, touching her baby for the first time. "Oh, your so beautiful . . " She cooed as the nurse draped a towel over the baby and started to clean her. "She's perfect . . . Daddy, she's perfect," she looked at her Father, who nodded.
"Mr. Bristow, would you like to cut the cord?" The nurse asked, having clamped the cord and handed Sydney's father the scissors. Carefully, Jack cut where indicated, finally freeing the baby from its Mother.
"I'm going to go tell your friends." Jack suggested.
"Okay," Sydney tearfully agreed. As her Father left the room, he heard the nurse showing Sydney how to breastfeed for the first time.
Vaughn went to his Mother's house Sunday evening for dinner, just as he promised Brigitte he would do. After watching a Mets game with Pat, he and his brother in law sat down at the dining room table. Brigitte had prepared her son's favorite, chicken cordon bleu, and the family sat down to eat.
"Who won the game?" Charlotte asked as she paced around the rice.
"Mets, 5-1." Patrick smiled proudly. Looking at her brother, Charlotte was surprised to see her brother so despondent. Even the first Mets win of the season hadn't shaken him from the apparent slump he was in.
"I'm glad your team won, but we're still not naming the baby after a Mets player." Charlotte insisted.
"Look who's talking," Michael spoke up. "Who were you named after again?" He teased.
"Charlotte is a wonderful literary heroine," Brigitte insisted. "You should be very proud to be named after her."
"Mom, you named me after an animated spider!" Charlotte reminded her as they all laughed.
Suddenly, the shrill ring of Michael's cell phone broke through their laughter.
"Michel, I thought I asked you to turn that off," Brigitte asked disapprovingly in French.
"Sorry Maman, it must be work," he apologized. Slipping into the kitchen, he answered. "Hello?"
"So, I left my yo-yo at work on Friday and I went in to get it today." Eric replied.
"Is there a point to this story?" He asked, hoping it was one of Eric's shorter yarns.
"I ran into Devlin. Guess what?"
"What?"
"You're a Dad man."
"Pardon me?" He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Devlin had just finished talking to Jack. Sydney had the baby this afternoon."
"What did she have?"
"A little girl." He answered. Vaughn smiled widely. He had a little girl. Briefly he wondered if he could convince Sydney to mold her into the NHL's first female player.
"How much did she weigh? What's her name?" He asked in a hurried albeit hushed whisper.
"I don't know, I couldn't exactly interrogate Devlin. Not unless you want to be the one to explain why you're so interested," he snorted.
"Sydney's okay though?"
"She's fine. I'm sure if she wasn't Devlin would have said something."
"Thanks man."
"Your welcome." He said as they hung up. After a brief second of collecting himself, he walked back into the dining room and sat down.
"Who was it?" Brigitte questioned.
"Eric."
"What did Eric want?"
"He needed to update me on a case," he shrugged.
"You should bring up Eric next time, you haven't brought him in awhile," Brigitte remembered with a smile. "Is everything okay with work?"
"It's fine," he sighed heavily. His depression was even more apparent now that he joined the table again, and only little Maya was oblivious to it.
"Uncle Mikey, want my orange?" She offered sweetly as Vaughn smiled. Maya was a sweet little girl, and he loved her. All she did was make him think of his own daughter. His elation was suddenly guilt. Somewhere out in Los Angeles he had a brand new daughter and he couldn't even see her. Somewhere out there Sydney had just had his baby and he couldn't be there to take care of her. Eventually he believed they could be a family, but the take down of the Alliance wouldn't be soon enough to allow him to participate in the beginning. As a result he was doomed to miss the first precious moments of his daughters life. Wherever they were, he just hoped that one day they'd be able to forgive him.
On the other side of town, Francie and Will quietly slipped into the post partum room. The lights were dimmed and they had suspected she was asleep. They were surprised then to see her look up and smile at them, breastfeeding the infant in her arms. "Hi," Sydney greeted them with a smile.
"Hi," Francie smiled, putting a teddy bear on the night table while Will tied a pink 'It's a Girl' balloon down to a rooms chair. "She's beautiful."
"She is," Sydney agreed. Looking down at the little girl in her arms, she was amazed by the love and emotions bubbling inside of her. The baby had the Bristow forehead and ears, wisps of light brown hair with her Mother's nose, a pouty lower lip and a cleft in her chin.
"That's so adorable," Francie decided, pointing to the little cleft.
"She's gorgeous Syd," Will agreed as she smiled at him.
"What's her name?" Francie asked.
"Wilma? Wilhelmina? Willow?" Will guessed as they all laughed.
Sydney smiled at the little girl in her arms. As much as she had liked the name Emily, Vaughn had expressed dislike at how common it was nowadays. So many of her friend's suggestions had been good, and both she and Vaughn had liked many of the same names. Eventually, however, it became obvious to her that it was only right to name the baby after the two most important people in her life. "Jacqueline Michele."
"Jackie after your Dad!" Francie realized with a smile. "It's beautiful Syd, it fits her perfectly too," she smiled. "What's Michele for?"
"Michael was Danny's middle name," Will whispered. Sydney looked up from her daughter, hoping she didn't look as surprised as she felt. Although that hadn't been her intention, the name served an even greater purpose now that she knew that. After a few seconds of smiling down at her daughter, she looked back at her friends.
"Thank you guys for staying."
"We promised we would." Francie reminded her. "I'm so happy for you."
"We're so proud of you too," Will added.
"I bet your glad you wore your favorite nightgown now," Francie smiled.
"Yeah . . But it's ruined now," Sydney thought sadly as she looked down at the nightgown.
"I'll buy you a new one," Francie promised.
"When are they going to keep you until?" Will asked.
"They're going to release me Tuesday afternoon."
"Well I'll stop by the house and make sure you have enough diapers, bottles and wipes so you'll be all set," Francie offered.
"Thank you," she smiled.
"We should go, it's getting late and you need your sleep. We'll come by later tomorrow," she promised. Carefully she hugged Sydney before she kissed her goddaughters cheek. "Aunt Francie loves you sweetie," she cooed before walking out of the room.
"I'm proud of you Syd, and happy for you too," Will promised.
"Thank you. Please thank Jennie for me too."
"I will," he agreed, kissing her cheek. Then his eyes turned to his goddaughter. "I love you too kiddo, even if you were supposed to be a boy."
She laughed as she smiled at her friend. "Bye Will." She whispered as he walked out of the room.
Sydney looked down at her daughter, alone with her for the first time. Her eyes, which were the newborn shade of blue, were already starting to turn emerald like her Fathers. The cleft in her chin made her smile, thinking of the man she had inherited it from. "I love you so much," she whispered and yawned, laughing as the baby yawned in return. "It's just going to be us for a little while sweetie, but we'll be okay," she vowed. "Your Daddy loves you so much too," she promised. "Wherever he is."
Vaughn walked into work in a daze Monday morning. The last night he hadn't slept, wanting to call Our Lady of Mercy and find out everything he could, but he couldn't do that. It was too dangerous to even risk blowing Sydney's cover, especially now that they had a daughter and the Alliance was on the brink of it's final demolition. Even after Weiss' phone call he had been left wondering how Sydney was doing, how his daughter was doing . . What she looked like . . How much she weighed . . . Sitting at his desk daydreaming about the possibilities, his secretary knocked, causing him to nearly burn his hand with coffee.
"Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Devlin and Mr. Bristow would like to see you."
Vaughn stood and nodded. Fixing his tie and jacket as he walked the halls, he prayed that this wasn't bad news. This 'joyous occasion' had already done enough damage to his nerves. Deep down he was excited, thrilled, joyous, but with so little he could do or say it was hard to be too thrilled.
Walking in, he found both Jack and Devlin, neither face was terribly sullen. Taking that as a good sign, he took a seat and looked at the older men expectantly. "Agent Bristow will be out of commission the next few weeks. We thought as her handler you had the right to know." Devlin said. Meeting Jack's gaze, Vaughn hoped he could express all of his gratitude with a single glance.
"Here," Jack handed him a manila folder. Opening it, he found a few hospital forms and a picture fell into his lap. Quickly he scanned the paper, finding the information he sought for. His daughter had been eight pounds and twenty inches long, and she had been named Jacqueline Michele.
At the sight of the name he had to force himself not to smile like a goofball. Sydney had surprised them all, naming their daughter after her Father and himself. Picking up the picture that had fallen into his lap, he allowed himself to smile. It was a newborn hospital photo of Jacqueline. She was beautiful, and with the exception of her cleft she looked very much like a Bristow.
"Jack, congratulations," he said in what he hoped was a professional manner, putting the picture back in the folder and handing it to Sydney's Father.
"Agent Bristow intends to be back to SD-6 by the raid, but either way you're still working on the case," Devlin informed him.
"Is Agent Bristow okay?" He asked, surprised to hear himself call her that.
"She's recovering nicely," Jack spoke up. "She'll be at Our Lady of Mercy until sometime tomorrow, but then she should be discharged barring any unexpected complications."
Vaughn nodded, hoping he appeared to have only a passing interest. "You may return to your office Mr. Vaughn, we just thought it necessary to update you on Agent Bristow's status," Devlin explained. He stood and nodded, thanking them once again before he walked back to his office.
Early in the afternoon, Weiss walked in, playing with his yo-yo. "The yo-yo's sleeping, so we need to be quiet," he explained as he sat down across from his friend. "So what's up with Bristow?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"Please, I saw Jack in here earlier and then someone saw you walk in to Devlin's office. This whole office is talking about it."
"Don't they have anyone else to spread fallacies about?" He muttered.
"Seriously man, what's up with Bristow?"
"Sydney's recuperating fine at Our Lady of Mercy."
"Your baby?"
Finally he allowed himself to look at his friend and smile. "Eight pounds, 20", Jacqueline Michele."
"Jackie Vaughn, very impressive," Weiss tried it out.
"Jacqueline *Bristow*," Vaughn corrected.
"Po-tae-to, po-tat-toe, same thing in the end. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," he said stoically. The truth was he wanted to drive across town to Our Lady of Mercy, screw protocol, and sit with Sydney and his daughter eating green jelly and watching hospital television until she was discharged. At least he had seen a picture of her, but he knew from pictures of Sydney that photos did not do Bristow women justice.
"How was your Mom?"
"Fine," he shrugged. "We had chicken cordon bleu this weekend. She told me to invite you next time."
"Then invite me next time," Weiss shrugged. "How's your sis doing?"
"Getting bigger and crankier." He explained as both men laughed. "Must be because she's having a boy, with Maya she was a lot more pleasant."
"Or that she's pregnant plus taking care of a two year old."
"That could be it." He agreed.
"You'll see her soon," Weiss reassured him with a surprising sincerity. Vaughn looked at him, surprised at how kind his friend was being. "You will. My money's on Wednesday morning, at the latest."
He laughed and smiled. "Given the circumstances, I hope that's a bet you win."
Late Monday evening, towards the end of visiting hours, Arvin and Emily Sloane came in for a visit. Emily glowed as she stepped into the room, carrying a wrapped box. "You look wonderful dear," Emily gently insisted, hugging the girl.
"Jacqueline is a beautiful baby," Sloane said as Sydney handed her daughter to Emily, praying that the infant wouldn't he held by her boss.
"Yes . . She looks quite a deal like you," Emily noted, sitting down in the chair as Jackie slept in her arms. "Please, open the gift," she insisted.
"It was so sweet of you to get me something," Sydney smiled as she pulled off the wrapping paper. Opening the plain cardboard box she found inside, she pulled out a beautiful classic Winnie the Pooh teddy bear.
"Your Father mentioned that the nursery theme is teddy bears, and when Emily saw that she just had to get it," Sloane explained, his smile sending goose bumps up and down her arms.
"You still must be exhausted." Emily realized as she shrugged.
"A little," she conceded, although it was the understatement of the year.
"We'll come visit again when you get settled in with her at the house. We certainly don't want to barge in when you're trying to get settled into a routine," Emily explained. Sydney smiled at how sweet she was and wondered how she had ever fallen in love with such a slime bucket as Arvin Sloane.
A knock from the door drew Sydney's glance off of her daughter. "Come in," she called, surprised when a delivery boy walked in carrying a large bouquet of beautiful lilies.
"Ms. Sydney Bristow?" He asked, looking at her as she nodded. "These are for you." He handed her the flowers. As the boy was turning to leave the room and Sydney searched for a card amid the flowers, her Father walked in.
"Jack," Sloane greeted, shaking hands with the man.
"Arvin, Emily, it's good to see you both."
"You have a beautiful granddaughter Jack," Emily beamed.
"Yes, I do," Jack agreed with surprising sincerity. "Sydney, gifts?" He asked in a light-hearted tone, motioning to the bear and the flowers that his daughter attempted to balance in her lap.
"They bought me the bear, wasn't that sweet of them?" She smiled at her Father took the flowers from her, setting them on the night table.
"Here," Jack found the card and handed it to her. Sydney looked down and briefly nibbled on her lower lip as she opened the card. Biting back a smile, she read the card in the familiar chicken scratch.
'From bozo pink hair to pink baby blankets. Aunt Trish wouldn't have guessed it; I wouldn't change any of it'
"It's from Jennie, Will's girlfriend," she smiled, hoping that not even her Father picked up on her lie. Jack Bristow would not react well if he knew that Vaughn had sent flowers although only in terms she would understand. The last thing she wanted was for him to be yelled at once again for being reckless and foolish. She had needed this, no matter how dangerous it was, to know that he was with her, even if just in spirit.
"That's sweet," Emily smiled as her husband nodded. Jackie started to fuss in Emily's arms. "I think she's probably hungry," she realized as she handed the baby back to the younger woman. "We'll leave you alone to feed her. You get some rest sweetheart."
"Yes, Sydney, get some rest." Arvin agreed as her Father followed them out of the room.
Jackie grasped at her Mother, quickly becoming a pro as she started to eat. Sydney sat enthralled with the tiny package in her arms, the tiny face the embodiment of all the feelings she had for one man and all the feelings he had for her. Using her free hand she used her finger to gently trace the baby's soft face. "I'm not sure I know how to do this, but you don't know how to be a baby either, do you?" She remembered Nancy's words with a smile, as Jackie remained passive. "One day you'll think I'm funny. You have a birthday that's very easy to remember. 4-11-04, either way it comes out the same," she pointed out with a smile. "I know, it's not very funny but when you sit here all you have left to do is think," she explained. "I love you very much Jackie, everyone does, your very lucky."
Her daughter pulled back from her food and looked at her Mother, seeming to understand her words. "Maybe that's all we need. We're going to be okay," she promised, pulling the pink knit cap farther down. "I promise we're going to be just fine."
Tuesday evening Francie and Will arrived to take her home. The car seat was safely installed and the nurse wheeled Sydney out of the hospital as she cradled the baby in her arms. Jackie was sleeping soundly as Will gently took her and buckled her in while Francie helped her get into the back seat, since she insisted she wanted to sit next to her daughter.
"These flowers really are pretty," Will said as he carried them into the house. Sydney carried the infant carrier by the handle while Jackie slept and Francie bought in the bags.
"Yeah, they are."
"Who are they from?" He asked.
"Will, stop being a reporter," Francie scolded.
"No, it's fine," Sydney explained as she put the carrier down on the coffee table. "They're from my friends at work."
"That's sweet," Francie agreed.
"Thanks for moving the swing and cradle in here Will," Sydney said as she took off her jacket and sat on the living room sofa.
"Well, I thought that way it's easier. In here you have the television, you're close to the bathroom and the kitchen. For the first couple of days it might just be easier to crash in here."
"Everything else is in the nursery though," Francie remembered regretfully.
"No, here Sydney, I solved part of that problem," Will said triumphantly. Sydney opened the wrapped package curiously, smiling when she pulled out a portable changing pad and a couple of diapers. "Now everything's at your disposal."
"Thank you, this is wonderful."
"Now the kitchen's all stocked up. You've got juice and cold cuts and peanut butter and jelly. I also got peaches, chocolate *and* Twinkies, so you should be all set. Plenty of milk and I put a cold pitcher of water in there for when you nurse." Francie explained.
"You are both so wonderful, thank you," she slowly stood and hugged them.
"You look so good," Francie smiled as Sydney rolled her eyes.
"I look about four months pregnant, it's disgusting."
"The weight will come off in time." Francie gently insisted. Her friend yawned and took her pillow, cuddling down on the sofa. "We'll leave, okay? Call us when you wake up or if you need something, okay? If you don't feel like talking, don't answer, we'll just leave messages and take a hint," she assured her, pulling the afghan off the back of the sofa and pulled it over her friend. "Get some sleep sweetie," she whispered before kissing a sleeping Jackie. "Syd, do you want me to put Jackie in the cradle?"
"Hmm," she mumbled, already getting comfortable and drifting into sleep. "Do you mind Fran?"
"Nope, not at all." she assured her friend, carefully lifting the infant and putting her into the cradle. Will stood rocking it back and forth for a few seconds until he was assured that Jackie was sound asleep.
"We love you Syd," Will whispered as he and Francie walked out of the house.
Both Mother and Daughter slept for the next two and a half hours. Jackie's cries woke her after the sun had set. The fluorescent lights on her VCR blinked '9:52' as she changed her daughter's diaper, grateful that her friends had thought so far ahead. Without Francie and Will she knew she wouldn't have survived as well as she had. Friendship was about giving without concern for oneself, and her friends did just that.
Nonetheless Sydney found herself carrying Jackie into the nursery. Grabbing a solid blue sleeper with feet that was covered with bright yellow ducks and walked back to her own room. Setting her daughter on the bed, she quickly changed into a fresh t-shirt and sweatpants and walked over to the bed. Jackie lay on the bed between her Mother's legs while her Mother changed her into the sleeper. Pulling back, Sydney was thrilled at how adorable she looked, and liked that her feet were already nice and warm in the stretchy sleeper.
Suddenly her eyes drifted back to the phone. The clock read after ten at night and she knew logically she shouldn't call anyone, especially not him. Not only did he have work the next morning, but also it wasn't fair to risk his life because she had the selfish desire to see him . . Was it? Either way, she reached out and picked up the phone, dialing the numbers she knew by heart.
Half an hour later Sydney held on to the carrier and had the diaper bag thrown over her shoulder as she walked into the warehouse. After tossing a soft pink baseball cap with bears on it on to Jackie's head to keep her warm, she had loaded all of them into the car and drove there. It amazed her how much one tiny newborn needed for a short ride. It would be worth it though - she needed to see him, and she suspected he probably needed to see both of them.
Walking in she smiled as he sat on the pile of boxes, unaware of her presence. Due to the late hour he was dressed only in dark sweatpants, a leather jacket and a 'Hockey is Life' t-shirt. With his hair out of place and his eyes soft from being woken from his sleep, it made her heart melt. Seeing him like that it made it near impossible for her to deny how she felt about him.
Vaughn jumped off the boxes the instant he sensed their presence. Looking over at the entrance of the cage, he looked closely at them. Sydney's hair was pulled back in a French braid and she wore sweatpants. Then in the carrier in her hands was the tiny, beautiful, precious baby girl he had seen in the hospital photo. His earlier assumption had been correct; photos didn't do the Bristow women justice.
"Hi," he greeted after a prolong glance.
"Hey," she nodded and walked closer to him. Carefully she set the carrier down on the plastic chair and looked at him. "Thank you for the flowers."
"How are you feeling?" He responded.
Instead of telling him the truth - tired, bloody, sore - she shrugged. "I'm okay," she insisted. Her gaze gave her away, which was more then enough.
"Jackie?" He asked softly, looking at the sleeping cherub.
"Yeah," she nodded. Slowly she unhooked the carrier and picked up the baby. Vaughn swallowed hard as she approached and put their daughter into his arms.
Jackie's eyes slowly opened and her soft fusses died out as she looked up at him. "Hi," he whispered, starting to bounce her slightly in his arms. "Hi Jackie, I'm your Daddy," he cooed. Sydney sat down, able to sit in the plastic chair for the first time in weeks, and watched. The very sight of him holding their daughter was enough to make her post-pregnancy hormones cry.
"I love you sweetheart, so much," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "You are the most beautiful little girl in the world. You are." He soothed. Looking up at Sydney, he met her eyes, not bothering to hide the tears welling in his eyes. Without words he told her how much he felt for her, how much he felt for both of them, and she smiled widely at him. "She's perfect."
"Yeah," Sydney agreed, her own eyes welling with tears. "She is."
"I like the baseball cap," he grinned as she laughed.
"The sleeper was the first thing I grabbed. I thought it would be a bit too chilly for the Kings onesie."
"It's okay, she'll wear it one day," he agreed, looking down at his daughter as he bounced her gently.
"Everything still on schedule?"
He looked up at her sharply. "Syd, I don't want you worrying about - "
"Vaughn, I'm going to worry about it." She cut him off. "Please, I'd really like to know."
"Everything's still on schedule. I can't tell you when, but we're still on schedule to raid New York City soon."
"Good," she nodded. "How'd you find out?" She questioned softly.
"Officially or unofficially?" He asked, his eyes back on the fussing bundle in his arms.
"Devlin called me into his office yesterday with your Father to update me as your case handler. Weiss had called me the night before to tell me."
"Weiss? How did he find out?"
"His yo-yo," he smiled, his eyebrows rising as she laughed.
"What does his yo-yo have to do with anything?"
"He forgot his yo-yo at work, so he went back Sunday to get it. Devlin had just finished speaking to your Father on the phone and told him."
"A yo-yo," she repeated again in a whisper of disbelief.
"Weiss is as attached to his yo-yo as most people are to their kidneys."
Her laughter delighted him as he continued to gently bounce Jackie. "She looks just like you Syd," he said softly.
"Except for her chin."
He nodded and smiled, "she's been cursed with the Vaughn cleft. Sorry sweetie."
"It's not bad, I like it."
"It's bad when your five and the other kids are trying to convince you that there's going to be a moon landing on your chin." He said as she responded in laughter.
"Please tell me you didn't believe that."
"I was five!" He quietly protested as she shook her head. After sharing another prolonged gaze, he looked away and grew serious. "Do you need anything?"
"No, Francie stocked up the kitchen and Will moved the cradle and the swing into the living room," she explained.
"If you need anything, you'll contact me." He told her. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"We're both going to be fine," she reassured him.
"It's late, you shouldn't be here, you should be home resting," he realized regretfully. She sat still, watching in awe as he gently placed Jackie back in the car seat and strapped her in. His eyes met hers in the dark warehouse, all the feelings he held for her unhidden in his gaze. For her it was only a cold comfort knowing he wanted to go home with her as much as she wanted him there.
"Thanks," she said softly as he nodded. He smiled at her as she grabbed the carrier and walked out of the warehouse.
*A/N* - I KNOW MicheLLe is the French spelling, but after seventeen years of spelling it MicheLe, I couldn't bring myself to spell it any other way, it just looks wrong to me. Sorry.
Author: UConn Fan (Michele)
E-Mail: LoveUConnBasketball@yahoo.com
Authors Note:
There's a scene in this story (and I'll give you a hint, Vaughn's in it and it's a SCENE not a SECTION) that is the ENTIRE reason I started writing this. This scene was thrown into my head after hearing Jennifer Garner & Scott Foley talking about making room to have a baby. If you think you know what the scene is, e-mail me and if you're right, I'll send you part of the opening scene/section of the sequel (I haven't finished THIS yet, but I'm just writing the sequel as it comes to me so I don't lose it). If you can't figure it out, don't worry, I figure it'll be out in 3-4 weeks at the latest, so no worries. I just thought it'd be fun to see if anyone could get it!
This is getting tricky, because now an infant is involved and we've seen the title characters have very little contact with children, nevermind babies. So I'm taking a leap of faith here in characterization - tell me what you think.
Also, before you get mad at my name choice, remember that late season 1/season 2 has NOT happened & instead remember what's happened in THIS story.
I've never had a baby, the most I've ever seen is TLC's a baby story & I've read a couple of birthstories. If you've given birth and this is completely off, please don't kill me, I've done my best to remain true to the characters and the situation.
The whole remainder of the story is most likely going to be shorter then Ch 7, but I think that this is the chapter everyone's been waiting for, so please excuse me if it seems short.
DEDICATION: Meg, because she's faced the brunt of it; Thank you to ALL the name/gender suggestions - I didn't exactly take any name suggestions, but I still hope the name doesn't disappoint.
DISCLAIMER: If it's recognizable, it's not mine. Technically, I suppose, I own Patrick, Maya, Charlotte, Jennie, Brigitte & the baby, but if you want to use them, go ahead, just let me know! Don't sue, this is just a complete labor of love.
Jack had been to Our Lady of Mercy countless times as both a patient and as a visitor. That day, however, was the first day he came for the labor & delivery ward. After all, when Laura gave birth to Sydney - almost thirty years ago, he remembered with goose bumps - they were still living in West Virginia. Regardless, when he walked into the hospital he was relieved to see a secretary there although it was almost ten at night.
"I'm here for Sydney Bristow, she's in labor."
"Yes, Ms. Bristow as just admitted to the fifth floor. Take the elevator up and they'll direct you to her room."
In the end, Jack didn't have to bother asking for directions. Instead his daughter's friends came into view seconds after he got off of the elevator. Francie, Charlie and Jennie sat anxiously in the hallway. Francie spotted him first, meeting him halfway. "Mr. Bristow, I'm so glad you're here. Will's in there with her, we didn't want to leave her alone."
Jack nodded and thanked his daughter's friends before walking into the room. Sydney's eyes were closed and she was humming as Will sat holding her hand. When she opened her eyes and saw her Father, she smiled. "Sydney, how are you feeling?" He asked, stepping closer to the bed.
"As well as could be expected," she smiled. "I'm five centimeters, so they want to keep me."
"Syd, I think we're going to go get something from the cafeteria and we'll be just outside, okay?" Will suggested.
"You guys don't have to stay -"
"Like Francie's going to let us leave?" He reminded her as she laughed. "Mr. Bristow, it was good to see you again," he shook the elder mans hand. Standing, Will left the pair alone.
Jack took off his coat and sat down, taking his daughters hand. Before she could speak, she started to hum again in obvious pain. Apparently her years of training to be a spy and manage pain was finally coming to use, he thought with meager amusement. "Thank you for being here Dad," she said as he nodded.
"You're going to be fine Sydney." He reassured her.
Not surprisingly, her friends spent the night sleeping in the chairs outside Sydney's room. Jack kept vigil over his daughter as Sydney lulled herself to sleep for a few hours. Her sleep was so sound that she didn't even awaken during the pelvic exams the doctors had performed throughout the night. Early the next morning, around five, she woke up, finally in too much pain to ignore.
"They offered me an epidural earlier," she whispered to her Father, holding his hand as another contraction hit. "I turned them down."
Jack nodded in understanding. His daughter would rather die from the pain then be injected with some unknown substance. While it was a hospital, it was an Alliance hospital and there was no such thing as too cautious. Eventually the doctor suggested going for a walk in the late morning. She was progressing but her water had yet to break. So Sydney looped her arm through her Father's and walked the hallway with him while her friends ate lunch in the cafeteria.
"Do you remember going to Disneyland when you were smaller?" Jack asked.
"We went to Disneyland?" She looked up in obvious surprise.
"Yes. Right after we moved. You loved it." He smiled at one of his favorite memories. "Perhaps the three of us could go visit this summer." He suggested.
Sydney smiled at how her Father was trying to be the Father he was when she was a little girl, and at his intentions to be a full-fledged grandfather. However, before she could respond she was hit by another contraction. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she leaned against him and hummed through the pain as he rubbed her lower back. Opening her eyes to look at him, she saw he was concerned. "That's the second contraction in three minutes Sydney, I think it's time to return to your room."
"Okay," she nodded, holding on to his arm again as they walked the hallway back to her room.
Another pelvic exam was performed upon her return to her room. At eight centimeters dilated, her bags had yet to break and she still needed to finish dilating. It was nearly early in the afternoon and Sydney was growing more and more exhausted. Jack excused himself to talk to the doctor in the hallway while Sydney closed her eyes. The contractions were worsening, growing more intense. She hummed as her body shook. Nausea ran rampant through her stomach, as her body seemed to convulse from pain. When she finally started to breathe again and opened her eyes, she found her bed was soaked.
The doctor and her Father walked back in seconds later. "Ms. Bristow, I think your waters broken," the doctor observed as he neared her.
"Don't touch me," she hissed as yet another convulsion shook her body. Gently taking her hand, her Father rubbed her back.
"Sydney, the doctor needs to perform an exam to see if it's time to push," her Father gently warned her. After she finished humming, she nodded and laid back. A painful few seconds eclipsed as the doctor pulled back to look at her.
"Your fully dilated Ms. Bristow. It's time to push."
Moving to her left side, she started to push as her Father rubbed her back in encouragement. Eventually she grew sore and moved to sit up on the bed. After a particularly painful contraction, she stopped humming. "I can't do this anymore," she tearfully insisted.
"Sydney, you are so close and you are doing wonderfully." Her Father encouraged her.
"Just a few more pushes Ms. Bristow, you're so close." The doctor reassured her. Bottling her strength, she started to push down again, biting her lip as she felt the contractions start to burn. "Ms. Bristow you're crowning," he told her as her contractions briefly reprieved. "Reach down and touch the baby's head," he encouraged. Swallowing back her tears, Sydney used her free hand to reach down and touch the top of her baby's head.
"There's hair," she told her Father tearfully.
"Yes Ms. Bristow, lots of hair," he agreed. "Now I need a gentle push, not too hard or else your going to tear," he instructed. While she wanted to push with all of her might, she followed the doctor's instructions and gently bore down. "Good job Sydney, the head's out."
Jack kept an eagles-eye on the doctor as he suctioned the baby's ears, mouth and nostrils. Then he checked for a cord around the neck, the elder Bristow instantly relieved when the doctor felt none. "Okay, we're going to do one shoulder at a time here Ms. Bristow." The doctor explained.
Patiently, with less forceful pushes, Sydney pushed one shoulder at a time. After what seemed like an eternity, the most amazing sound in the world - a newborns cry - filled the room. The warm, screaming infant was instantly placed on her bare stomach as she looked down in awe. "Congratulations Ms. Bristow, you have a daughter."
"It's a girl," Sydney tearfully echoed, touching her baby for the first time. "Oh, your so beautiful . . " She cooed as the nurse draped a towel over the baby and started to clean her. "She's perfect . . . Daddy, she's perfect," she looked at her Father, who nodded.
"Mr. Bristow, would you like to cut the cord?" The nurse asked, having clamped the cord and handed Sydney's father the scissors. Carefully, Jack cut where indicated, finally freeing the baby from its Mother.
"I'm going to go tell your friends." Jack suggested.
"Okay," Sydney tearfully agreed. As her Father left the room, he heard the nurse showing Sydney how to breastfeed for the first time.
Vaughn went to his Mother's house Sunday evening for dinner, just as he promised Brigitte he would do. After watching a Mets game with Pat, he and his brother in law sat down at the dining room table. Brigitte had prepared her son's favorite, chicken cordon bleu, and the family sat down to eat.
"Who won the game?" Charlotte asked as she paced around the rice.
"Mets, 5-1." Patrick smiled proudly. Looking at her brother, Charlotte was surprised to see her brother so despondent. Even the first Mets win of the season hadn't shaken him from the apparent slump he was in.
"I'm glad your team won, but we're still not naming the baby after a Mets player." Charlotte insisted.
"Look who's talking," Michael spoke up. "Who were you named after again?" He teased.
"Charlotte is a wonderful literary heroine," Brigitte insisted. "You should be very proud to be named after her."
"Mom, you named me after an animated spider!" Charlotte reminded her as they all laughed.
Suddenly, the shrill ring of Michael's cell phone broke through their laughter.
"Michel, I thought I asked you to turn that off," Brigitte asked disapprovingly in French.
"Sorry Maman, it must be work," he apologized. Slipping into the kitchen, he answered. "Hello?"
"So, I left my yo-yo at work on Friday and I went in to get it today." Eric replied.
"Is there a point to this story?" He asked, hoping it was one of Eric's shorter yarns.
"I ran into Devlin. Guess what?"
"What?"
"You're a Dad man."
"Pardon me?" He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Devlin had just finished talking to Jack. Sydney had the baby this afternoon."
"What did she have?"
"A little girl." He answered. Vaughn smiled widely. He had a little girl. Briefly he wondered if he could convince Sydney to mold her into the NHL's first female player.
"How much did she weigh? What's her name?" He asked in a hurried albeit hushed whisper.
"I don't know, I couldn't exactly interrogate Devlin. Not unless you want to be the one to explain why you're so interested," he snorted.
"Sydney's okay though?"
"She's fine. I'm sure if she wasn't Devlin would have said something."
"Thanks man."
"Your welcome." He said as they hung up. After a brief second of collecting himself, he walked back into the dining room and sat down.
"Who was it?" Brigitte questioned.
"Eric."
"What did Eric want?"
"He needed to update me on a case," he shrugged.
"You should bring up Eric next time, you haven't brought him in awhile," Brigitte remembered with a smile. "Is everything okay with work?"
"It's fine," he sighed heavily. His depression was even more apparent now that he joined the table again, and only little Maya was oblivious to it.
"Uncle Mikey, want my orange?" She offered sweetly as Vaughn smiled. Maya was a sweet little girl, and he loved her. All she did was make him think of his own daughter. His elation was suddenly guilt. Somewhere out in Los Angeles he had a brand new daughter and he couldn't even see her. Somewhere out there Sydney had just had his baby and he couldn't be there to take care of her. Eventually he believed they could be a family, but the take down of the Alliance wouldn't be soon enough to allow him to participate in the beginning. As a result he was doomed to miss the first precious moments of his daughters life. Wherever they were, he just hoped that one day they'd be able to forgive him.
On the other side of town, Francie and Will quietly slipped into the post partum room. The lights were dimmed and they had suspected she was asleep. They were surprised then to see her look up and smile at them, breastfeeding the infant in her arms. "Hi," Sydney greeted them with a smile.
"Hi," Francie smiled, putting a teddy bear on the night table while Will tied a pink 'It's a Girl' balloon down to a rooms chair. "She's beautiful."
"She is," Sydney agreed. Looking down at the little girl in her arms, she was amazed by the love and emotions bubbling inside of her. The baby had the Bristow forehead and ears, wisps of light brown hair with her Mother's nose, a pouty lower lip and a cleft in her chin.
"That's so adorable," Francie decided, pointing to the little cleft.
"She's gorgeous Syd," Will agreed as she smiled at him.
"What's her name?" Francie asked.
"Wilma? Wilhelmina? Willow?" Will guessed as they all laughed.
Sydney smiled at the little girl in her arms. As much as she had liked the name Emily, Vaughn had expressed dislike at how common it was nowadays. So many of her friend's suggestions had been good, and both she and Vaughn had liked many of the same names. Eventually, however, it became obvious to her that it was only right to name the baby after the two most important people in her life. "Jacqueline Michele."
"Jackie after your Dad!" Francie realized with a smile. "It's beautiful Syd, it fits her perfectly too," she smiled. "What's Michele for?"
"Michael was Danny's middle name," Will whispered. Sydney looked up from her daughter, hoping she didn't look as surprised as she felt. Although that hadn't been her intention, the name served an even greater purpose now that she knew that. After a few seconds of smiling down at her daughter, she looked back at her friends.
"Thank you guys for staying."
"We promised we would." Francie reminded her. "I'm so happy for you."
"We're so proud of you too," Will added.
"I bet your glad you wore your favorite nightgown now," Francie smiled.
"Yeah . . But it's ruined now," Sydney thought sadly as she looked down at the nightgown.
"I'll buy you a new one," Francie promised.
"When are they going to keep you until?" Will asked.
"They're going to release me Tuesday afternoon."
"Well I'll stop by the house and make sure you have enough diapers, bottles and wipes so you'll be all set," Francie offered.
"Thank you," she smiled.
"We should go, it's getting late and you need your sleep. We'll come by later tomorrow," she promised. Carefully she hugged Sydney before she kissed her goddaughters cheek. "Aunt Francie loves you sweetie," she cooed before walking out of the room.
"I'm proud of you Syd, and happy for you too," Will promised.
"Thank you. Please thank Jennie for me too."
"I will," he agreed, kissing her cheek. Then his eyes turned to his goddaughter. "I love you too kiddo, even if you were supposed to be a boy."
She laughed as she smiled at her friend. "Bye Will." She whispered as he walked out of the room.
Sydney looked down at her daughter, alone with her for the first time. Her eyes, which were the newborn shade of blue, were already starting to turn emerald like her Fathers. The cleft in her chin made her smile, thinking of the man she had inherited it from. "I love you so much," she whispered and yawned, laughing as the baby yawned in return. "It's just going to be us for a little while sweetie, but we'll be okay," she vowed. "Your Daddy loves you so much too," she promised. "Wherever he is."
Vaughn walked into work in a daze Monday morning. The last night he hadn't slept, wanting to call Our Lady of Mercy and find out everything he could, but he couldn't do that. It was too dangerous to even risk blowing Sydney's cover, especially now that they had a daughter and the Alliance was on the brink of it's final demolition. Even after Weiss' phone call he had been left wondering how Sydney was doing, how his daughter was doing . . What she looked like . . How much she weighed . . . Sitting at his desk daydreaming about the possibilities, his secretary knocked, causing him to nearly burn his hand with coffee.
"Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Devlin and Mr. Bristow would like to see you."
Vaughn stood and nodded. Fixing his tie and jacket as he walked the halls, he prayed that this wasn't bad news. This 'joyous occasion' had already done enough damage to his nerves. Deep down he was excited, thrilled, joyous, but with so little he could do or say it was hard to be too thrilled.
Walking in, he found both Jack and Devlin, neither face was terribly sullen. Taking that as a good sign, he took a seat and looked at the older men expectantly. "Agent Bristow will be out of commission the next few weeks. We thought as her handler you had the right to know." Devlin said. Meeting Jack's gaze, Vaughn hoped he could express all of his gratitude with a single glance.
"Here," Jack handed him a manila folder. Opening it, he found a few hospital forms and a picture fell into his lap. Quickly he scanned the paper, finding the information he sought for. His daughter had been eight pounds and twenty inches long, and she had been named Jacqueline Michele.
At the sight of the name he had to force himself not to smile like a goofball. Sydney had surprised them all, naming their daughter after her Father and himself. Picking up the picture that had fallen into his lap, he allowed himself to smile. It was a newborn hospital photo of Jacqueline. She was beautiful, and with the exception of her cleft she looked very much like a Bristow.
"Jack, congratulations," he said in what he hoped was a professional manner, putting the picture back in the folder and handing it to Sydney's Father.
"Agent Bristow intends to be back to SD-6 by the raid, but either way you're still working on the case," Devlin informed him.
"Is Agent Bristow okay?" He asked, surprised to hear himself call her that.
"She's recovering nicely," Jack spoke up. "She'll be at Our Lady of Mercy until sometime tomorrow, but then she should be discharged barring any unexpected complications."
Vaughn nodded, hoping he appeared to have only a passing interest. "You may return to your office Mr. Vaughn, we just thought it necessary to update you on Agent Bristow's status," Devlin explained. He stood and nodded, thanking them once again before he walked back to his office.
Early in the afternoon, Weiss walked in, playing with his yo-yo. "The yo-yo's sleeping, so we need to be quiet," he explained as he sat down across from his friend. "So what's up with Bristow?"
"I don't know," he shrugged.
"Please, I saw Jack in here earlier and then someone saw you walk in to Devlin's office. This whole office is talking about it."
"Don't they have anyone else to spread fallacies about?" He muttered.
"Seriously man, what's up with Bristow?"
"Sydney's recuperating fine at Our Lady of Mercy."
"Your baby?"
Finally he allowed himself to look at his friend and smile. "Eight pounds, 20", Jacqueline Michele."
"Jackie Vaughn, very impressive," Weiss tried it out.
"Jacqueline *Bristow*," Vaughn corrected.
"Po-tae-to, po-tat-toe, same thing in the end. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," he said stoically. The truth was he wanted to drive across town to Our Lady of Mercy, screw protocol, and sit with Sydney and his daughter eating green jelly and watching hospital television until she was discharged. At least he had seen a picture of her, but he knew from pictures of Sydney that photos did not do Bristow women justice.
"How was your Mom?"
"Fine," he shrugged. "We had chicken cordon bleu this weekend. She told me to invite you next time."
"Then invite me next time," Weiss shrugged. "How's your sis doing?"
"Getting bigger and crankier." He explained as both men laughed. "Must be because she's having a boy, with Maya she was a lot more pleasant."
"Or that she's pregnant plus taking care of a two year old."
"That could be it." He agreed.
"You'll see her soon," Weiss reassured him with a surprising sincerity. Vaughn looked at him, surprised at how kind his friend was being. "You will. My money's on Wednesday morning, at the latest."
He laughed and smiled. "Given the circumstances, I hope that's a bet you win."
Late Monday evening, towards the end of visiting hours, Arvin and Emily Sloane came in for a visit. Emily glowed as she stepped into the room, carrying a wrapped box. "You look wonderful dear," Emily gently insisted, hugging the girl.
"Jacqueline is a beautiful baby," Sloane said as Sydney handed her daughter to Emily, praying that the infant wouldn't he held by her boss.
"Yes . . She looks quite a deal like you," Emily noted, sitting down in the chair as Jackie slept in her arms. "Please, open the gift," she insisted.
"It was so sweet of you to get me something," Sydney smiled as she pulled off the wrapping paper. Opening the plain cardboard box she found inside, she pulled out a beautiful classic Winnie the Pooh teddy bear.
"Your Father mentioned that the nursery theme is teddy bears, and when Emily saw that she just had to get it," Sloane explained, his smile sending goose bumps up and down her arms.
"You still must be exhausted." Emily realized as she shrugged.
"A little," she conceded, although it was the understatement of the year.
"We'll come visit again when you get settled in with her at the house. We certainly don't want to barge in when you're trying to get settled into a routine," Emily explained. Sydney smiled at how sweet she was and wondered how she had ever fallen in love with such a slime bucket as Arvin Sloane.
A knock from the door drew Sydney's glance off of her daughter. "Come in," she called, surprised when a delivery boy walked in carrying a large bouquet of beautiful lilies.
"Ms. Sydney Bristow?" He asked, looking at her as she nodded. "These are for you." He handed her the flowers. As the boy was turning to leave the room and Sydney searched for a card amid the flowers, her Father walked in.
"Jack," Sloane greeted, shaking hands with the man.
"Arvin, Emily, it's good to see you both."
"You have a beautiful granddaughter Jack," Emily beamed.
"Yes, I do," Jack agreed with surprising sincerity. "Sydney, gifts?" He asked in a light-hearted tone, motioning to the bear and the flowers that his daughter attempted to balance in her lap.
"They bought me the bear, wasn't that sweet of them?" She smiled at her Father took the flowers from her, setting them on the night table.
"Here," Jack found the card and handed it to her. Sydney looked down and briefly nibbled on her lower lip as she opened the card. Biting back a smile, she read the card in the familiar chicken scratch.
'From bozo pink hair to pink baby blankets. Aunt Trish wouldn't have guessed it; I wouldn't change any of it'
"It's from Jennie, Will's girlfriend," she smiled, hoping that not even her Father picked up on her lie. Jack Bristow would not react well if he knew that Vaughn had sent flowers although only in terms she would understand. The last thing she wanted was for him to be yelled at once again for being reckless and foolish. She had needed this, no matter how dangerous it was, to know that he was with her, even if just in spirit.
"That's sweet," Emily smiled as her husband nodded. Jackie started to fuss in Emily's arms. "I think she's probably hungry," she realized as she handed the baby back to the younger woman. "We'll leave you alone to feed her. You get some rest sweetheart."
"Yes, Sydney, get some rest." Arvin agreed as her Father followed them out of the room.
Jackie grasped at her Mother, quickly becoming a pro as she started to eat. Sydney sat enthralled with the tiny package in her arms, the tiny face the embodiment of all the feelings she had for one man and all the feelings he had for her. Using her free hand she used her finger to gently trace the baby's soft face. "I'm not sure I know how to do this, but you don't know how to be a baby either, do you?" She remembered Nancy's words with a smile, as Jackie remained passive. "One day you'll think I'm funny. You have a birthday that's very easy to remember. 4-11-04, either way it comes out the same," she pointed out with a smile. "I know, it's not very funny but when you sit here all you have left to do is think," she explained. "I love you very much Jackie, everyone does, your very lucky."
Her daughter pulled back from her food and looked at her Mother, seeming to understand her words. "Maybe that's all we need. We're going to be okay," she promised, pulling the pink knit cap farther down. "I promise we're going to be just fine."
Tuesday evening Francie and Will arrived to take her home. The car seat was safely installed and the nurse wheeled Sydney out of the hospital as she cradled the baby in her arms. Jackie was sleeping soundly as Will gently took her and buckled her in while Francie helped her get into the back seat, since she insisted she wanted to sit next to her daughter.
"These flowers really are pretty," Will said as he carried them into the house. Sydney carried the infant carrier by the handle while Jackie slept and Francie bought in the bags.
"Yeah, they are."
"Who are they from?" He asked.
"Will, stop being a reporter," Francie scolded.
"No, it's fine," Sydney explained as she put the carrier down on the coffee table. "They're from my friends at work."
"That's sweet," Francie agreed.
"Thanks for moving the swing and cradle in here Will," Sydney said as she took off her jacket and sat on the living room sofa.
"Well, I thought that way it's easier. In here you have the television, you're close to the bathroom and the kitchen. For the first couple of days it might just be easier to crash in here."
"Everything else is in the nursery though," Francie remembered regretfully.
"No, here Sydney, I solved part of that problem," Will said triumphantly. Sydney opened the wrapped package curiously, smiling when she pulled out a portable changing pad and a couple of diapers. "Now everything's at your disposal."
"Thank you, this is wonderful."
"Now the kitchen's all stocked up. You've got juice and cold cuts and peanut butter and jelly. I also got peaches, chocolate *and* Twinkies, so you should be all set. Plenty of milk and I put a cold pitcher of water in there for when you nurse." Francie explained.
"You are both so wonderful, thank you," she slowly stood and hugged them.
"You look so good," Francie smiled as Sydney rolled her eyes.
"I look about four months pregnant, it's disgusting."
"The weight will come off in time." Francie gently insisted. Her friend yawned and took her pillow, cuddling down on the sofa. "We'll leave, okay? Call us when you wake up or if you need something, okay? If you don't feel like talking, don't answer, we'll just leave messages and take a hint," she assured her, pulling the afghan off the back of the sofa and pulled it over her friend. "Get some sleep sweetie," she whispered before kissing a sleeping Jackie. "Syd, do you want me to put Jackie in the cradle?"
"Hmm," she mumbled, already getting comfortable and drifting into sleep. "Do you mind Fran?"
"Nope, not at all." she assured her friend, carefully lifting the infant and putting her into the cradle. Will stood rocking it back and forth for a few seconds until he was assured that Jackie was sound asleep.
"We love you Syd," Will whispered as he and Francie walked out of the house.
Both Mother and Daughter slept for the next two and a half hours. Jackie's cries woke her after the sun had set. The fluorescent lights on her VCR blinked '9:52' as she changed her daughter's diaper, grateful that her friends had thought so far ahead. Without Francie and Will she knew she wouldn't have survived as well as she had. Friendship was about giving without concern for oneself, and her friends did just that.
Nonetheless Sydney found herself carrying Jackie into the nursery. Grabbing a solid blue sleeper with feet that was covered with bright yellow ducks and walked back to her own room. Setting her daughter on the bed, she quickly changed into a fresh t-shirt and sweatpants and walked over to the bed. Jackie lay on the bed between her Mother's legs while her Mother changed her into the sleeper. Pulling back, Sydney was thrilled at how adorable she looked, and liked that her feet were already nice and warm in the stretchy sleeper.
Suddenly her eyes drifted back to the phone. The clock read after ten at night and she knew logically she shouldn't call anyone, especially not him. Not only did he have work the next morning, but also it wasn't fair to risk his life because she had the selfish desire to see him . . Was it? Either way, she reached out and picked up the phone, dialing the numbers she knew by heart.
Half an hour later Sydney held on to the carrier and had the diaper bag thrown over her shoulder as she walked into the warehouse. After tossing a soft pink baseball cap with bears on it on to Jackie's head to keep her warm, she had loaded all of them into the car and drove there. It amazed her how much one tiny newborn needed for a short ride. It would be worth it though - she needed to see him, and she suspected he probably needed to see both of them.
Walking in she smiled as he sat on the pile of boxes, unaware of her presence. Due to the late hour he was dressed only in dark sweatpants, a leather jacket and a 'Hockey is Life' t-shirt. With his hair out of place and his eyes soft from being woken from his sleep, it made her heart melt. Seeing him like that it made it near impossible for her to deny how she felt about him.
Vaughn jumped off the boxes the instant he sensed their presence. Looking over at the entrance of the cage, he looked closely at them. Sydney's hair was pulled back in a French braid and she wore sweatpants. Then in the carrier in her hands was the tiny, beautiful, precious baby girl he had seen in the hospital photo. His earlier assumption had been correct; photos didn't do the Bristow women justice.
"Hi," he greeted after a prolong glance.
"Hey," she nodded and walked closer to him. Carefully she set the carrier down on the plastic chair and looked at him. "Thank you for the flowers."
"How are you feeling?" He responded.
Instead of telling him the truth - tired, bloody, sore - she shrugged. "I'm okay," she insisted. Her gaze gave her away, which was more then enough.
"Jackie?" He asked softly, looking at the sleeping cherub.
"Yeah," she nodded. Slowly she unhooked the carrier and picked up the baby. Vaughn swallowed hard as she approached and put their daughter into his arms.
Jackie's eyes slowly opened and her soft fusses died out as she looked up at him. "Hi," he whispered, starting to bounce her slightly in his arms. "Hi Jackie, I'm your Daddy," he cooed. Sydney sat down, able to sit in the plastic chair for the first time in weeks, and watched. The very sight of him holding their daughter was enough to make her post-pregnancy hormones cry.
"I love you sweetheart, so much," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "You are the most beautiful little girl in the world. You are." He soothed. Looking up at Sydney, he met her eyes, not bothering to hide the tears welling in his eyes. Without words he told her how much he felt for her, how much he felt for both of them, and she smiled widely at him. "She's perfect."
"Yeah," Sydney agreed, her own eyes welling with tears. "She is."
"I like the baseball cap," he grinned as she laughed.
"The sleeper was the first thing I grabbed. I thought it would be a bit too chilly for the Kings onesie."
"It's okay, she'll wear it one day," he agreed, looking down at his daughter as he bounced her gently.
"Everything still on schedule?"
He looked up at her sharply. "Syd, I don't want you worrying about - "
"Vaughn, I'm going to worry about it." She cut him off. "Please, I'd really like to know."
"Everything's still on schedule. I can't tell you when, but we're still on schedule to raid New York City soon."
"Good," she nodded. "How'd you find out?" She questioned softly.
"Officially or unofficially?" He asked, his eyes back on the fussing bundle in his arms.
"Devlin called me into his office yesterday with your Father to update me as your case handler. Weiss had called me the night before to tell me."
"Weiss? How did he find out?"
"His yo-yo," he smiled, his eyebrows rising as she laughed.
"What does his yo-yo have to do with anything?"
"He forgot his yo-yo at work, so he went back Sunday to get it. Devlin had just finished speaking to your Father on the phone and told him."
"A yo-yo," she repeated again in a whisper of disbelief.
"Weiss is as attached to his yo-yo as most people are to their kidneys."
Her laughter delighted him as he continued to gently bounce Jackie. "She looks just like you Syd," he said softly.
"Except for her chin."
He nodded and smiled, "she's been cursed with the Vaughn cleft. Sorry sweetie."
"It's not bad, I like it."
"It's bad when your five and the other kids are trying to convince you that there's going to be a moon landing on your chin." He said as she responded in laughter.
"Please tell me you didn't believe that."
"I was five!" He quietly protested as she shook her head. After sharing another prolonged gaze, he looked away and grew serious. "Do you need anything?"
"No, Francie stocked up the kitchen and Will moved the cradle and the swing into the living room," she explained.
"If you need anything, you'll contact me." He told her. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"We're both going to be fine," she reassured him.
"It's late, you shouldn't be here, you should be home resting," he realized regretfully. She sat still, watching in awe as he gently placed Jackie back in the car seat and strapped her in. His eyes met hers in the dark warehouse, all the feelings he held for her unhidden in his gaze. For her it was only a cold comfort knowing he wanted to go home with her as much as she wanted him there.
"Thanks," she said softly as he nodded. He smiled at her as she grabbed the carrier and walked out of the warehouse.
*A/N* - I KNOW MicheLLe is the French spelling, but after seventeen years of spelling it MicheLe, I couldn't bring myself to spell it any other way, it just looks wrong to me. Sorry.