FIFTEEN





Later on, around three in the morning, Sydney was driving to Will's place. Her eyes were crusty from having sobbed all the way from Sloane's house to the CIA office in L.A., her walk to the warehouse, and finally on the drive to Will's.

She sucked in a breath and tried to blink back more tears. Vaughn was dead and there was nothing she could do to change that fact. During the drive, she thought about what a good friend he had been and how she always looked forward to her briefings with him.

She sighed heavily and wiped her eyes. She ran a hand through her soaked hair and switched on the radio. When she had left Sloane's and was driving to the CIA office, it had begun to rain.


After meeting with Devlin and relaying the story to him, she had stood in front of the building allowing herself to be rained on.

Before long, she had begun to shiver and realized standing in the rain voluntarily was probably one of the dumbest things a person could ever do. She shoved her hands in her pockets and began to turn around so she could go back inside and ask if it would be possible for someone to give her a ride back to the warehouse where she had left her car.

She bumped into Weiss who was standing behind her under the safety of the awning.

she mumbled, not even noticing whom it was she had run into.

Weiss said calmly.

Sydney stopped walking and turned back around. She bit her lip nervously, unsure of how the conversation was going to unfold. She walked slowly up to him. she said quietly.

Weiss nodded but didn't speak.

She decided to try the casual small-talk approach. Uh, it's been a while since we—

Weiss interrupted her. he repeated.

Sydney looked into his eyes for a moment, as if asking him to continue. She had no idea what she was supposed to say in a situation such as this, plus, Weiss had initiated the conversation in the first place. She looked at her feet.

You ruined his life, Weiss said coldly.

Sydney scoffed and shook her head. Yes, thank you, that is exactly what I need right now.

I think it is, Weiss continued.

So you're saying this is all my fault? I didn't even do anything! Sydney yelled angrily.

That's the point, Weiss argued. Your mission was to collect information then blow Sloane's head off. That's probably one of the easiest tasks you've ever had to complete and you couldn't even do it.

Sydney suddenly felt the urge to cry again but angrily fought back the tears. You have no idea what happened while I was in there.

Weiss scoffed. How bad could it have been? You go in, ask a few questions and shoot him. What could have possibly happened that prevented you from doing all that in the space of about five minutes?

Sydney avoided Weiss's gaze. I don't want to talk about it, she said quietly, her eyes glassy from the tears just seconds away from falling.

Weiss sighed. Look, Sydney, just tell me what happened. Otherwise— he said, throwing his hands up in the air, —otherwise I'm going to have to believe that it was you who caused the death of my best friend. Weiss crossed his arms over his chest and fixed his icy glare on Sydney's vulnerable, shaking figure.

Sydney sucked in a breath and clenched her teeth. Fuck you. She brushed past him angrily. She fought the urge to look over her shoulder when she heard Weiss's voice behind her.

Just so you know— Weiss said loudly, —you ruined his life long before tonight!

The tears finally started rolling down Sydney's cheeks and she raised a hand to her face to wipe them away.

In fact, Weiss continued in the same loud voice, you ruined his life the day you walked in here!

Sydney reached under her coat where the Magnum and tranquilizer gun were both resting comfortably in her belt. She fingered the Magnum and seriously considered taking it out and silencing Weiss. She shoved the thought out of her head angrily and continued to walk in the rain.

Luckily, the warehouse wasn't all that far from the CIA building and Sydney reached it in about ten minutes. She got inside her car quickly, turned on the heater, and sobbed.


Sydney sighed as she pulled into Will's driveway. She got out and walked quickly to the door. She knocked loudly because she was certain he was asleep.

Inside the house, Will asked who it was as he tugged on some clothes. He stopped suddenly upon learning it was Sydney. Just a minute! he called, zipping up his jeans and pulling on a shirt.

He opened the door and gaped at Sydney. My God, he blurted, What the hell happened to you?

Sydney started crying again as she stepped inside and fell into Will's arms.