Chapter 2: And the Sick Get Sick
Vaughn just keeps getting worse. Yesterday I wouldn't have thought it possible but then today came with all its glory.
Glory for Sloane, who gets to live without wondering why he wouldn't.
Not for Vaughn, who could die today. Today is his third day after signs of illness showed and I really don't think I have ever been this scared before in my life. Not a small feat.
Not for Sark, who was cheated out of getting what he freed me for.
Not for the CIA, who has to watch Vaughn die, cover his position, and make sure Sark doesn't retaliate towards me for not delivering Sloane after he let me live.
Not for me, who has held Vaughn's hand every minute possible through the protection glass as I watch the man I couldn't help falling for deteriorate in front of me. Nor for my conscious which isn't sure this really is the higher road.
Right now I am sitting in front of a barely conscious Vaughn just stroking his hand. He is in pain and delirious but that isn't anything new. The drugs they are giving him to ease the pain makes him sleep most of the time and be only half wake even when he doesn't.
"Tell them, Alice. They won't believe me. Go on, they'll listen to you," Vaughn babbles towards me.
"Shhhhhhh," I try to comfort him as he starts to thrash.
Comfort him. and myself. How sick is it that at a time as unbearable as this, I still wonder why he thinks of Alice and not me?
"Go on Alice! Tell them how we're through. How I am really with."
"Agent Bristow?"
I let out a frustrated sigh.
Who is he with? Would he have said me? Would I have wanted to know if it isn't my name that was next out of his lips? When exactly did I become so twisted that this is what I worry about when Vaughn is in pain and dying?
"Agent Bristow?" the voice from behind me is firmer now.
I turn my head around without dropping my hand from Vaughn's. Not that he would notice, he has returned to speaking of Alice and how important it is that she comes clean to 'them'.
"I have news from your father. He says that he is encountering more difficulty than expected with keeping up appearances at SD-6. He doubts the cover will hold for another day."
I stare at the messenger for a minute.
"I'll be there when I am done here."
That rhymed. I almost smile. Almost.
The messenger looks down and scares away. I get the feeling she about to cry.
I almost feel bad. Almost.
I turn all my attention back to Vaughn, who has finally stopped struggling. Sleep has taken over again.
And once more I am all alone.
Vaughn just keeps getting worse. Yesterday I wouldn't have thought it possible but then today came with all its glory.
Glory for Sloane, who gets to live without wondering why he wouldn't.
Not for Vaughn, who could die today. Today is his third day after signs of illness showed and I really don't think I have ever been this scared before in my life. Not a small feat.
Not for Sark, who was cheated out of getting what he freed me for.
Not for the CIA, who has to watch Vaughn die, cover his position, and make sure Sark doesn't retaliate towards me for not delivering Sloane after he let me live.
Not for me, who has held Vaughn's hand every minute possible through the protection glass as I watch the man I couldn't help falling for deteriorate in front of me. Nor for my conscious which isn't sure this really is the higher road.
Right now I am sitting in front of a barely conscious Vaughn just stroking his hand. He is in pain and delirious but that isn't anything new. The drugs they are giving him to ease the pain makes him sleep most of the time and be only half wake even when he doesn't.
"Tell them, Alice. They won't believe me. Go on, they'll listen to you," Vaughn babbles towards me.
"Shhhhhhh," I try to comfort him as he starts to thrash.
Comfort him. and myself. How sick is it that at a time as unbearable as this, I still wonder why he thinks of Alice and not me?
"Go on Alice! Tell them how we're through. How I am really with."
"Agent Bristow?"
I let out a frustrated sigh.
Who is he with? Would he have said me? Would I have wanted to know if it isn't my name that was next out of his lips? When exactly did I become so twisted that this is what I worry about when Vaughn is in pain and dying?
"Agent Bristow?" the voice from behind me is firmer now.
I turn my head around without dropping my hand from Vaughn's. Not that he would notice, he has returned to speaking of Alice and how important it is that she comes clean to 'them'.
"I have news from your father. He says that he is encountering more difficulty than expected with keeping up appearances at SD-6. He doubts the cover will hold for another day."
I stare at the messenger for a minute.
"I'll be there when I am done here."
That rhymed. I almost smile. Almost.
The messenger looks down and scares away. I get the feeling she about to cry.
I almost feel bad. Almost.
I turn all my attention back to Vaughn, who has finally stopped struggling. Sleep has taken over again.
And once more I am all alone.