Vaughn sighed as he looked out the window of the rental car he, Sydney,
Jack and Weiss had all shared and into the rainy London evening. That sigh
was followed by another when he saw how far they had to park from the
hotel. This was why he hated London. He hated getting rained on. It was
depressing, as far has he was concerned.
Weiss, knowing his friend's opinion on precipitation, was only mildly surprised when the second the car started to brake, Vaughn jumped out and took off across the parking lot toward the hotel. Sydney, grasping her father's hand to help her lift out of the car, stared after him, a mixture of shock and annoyance on her face.
Rolling her eyes, she commented, "This from the person who stood and stared as a wall of water came at him."
In a few moments, they had joined Vaughn, who was waiting at the front of the hotel. He held the large glass door open for the group, and then followed them in. He was relieved when none of them brought up his sprint across the parking lot, though he was sure he knew what Sydney was thinking. Even HE was thinking it. Jack's voice broke into his musings, and Vaughn quickened his pace to catch up with the group once more.
"Reservation for Paul Hettigrew," Jack said, leaning casually on the counter. The concierge typed away at his computer for a moment, and then looked up.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Hettigrew. Penthouse 1, the hotel's finest. I'm sure you've been made aware of the arrangements."
Jack nodded, and the man continued, "Right then. Mr. Randle and Mr.Peters have already arrived from the airport. It's a bloody bother that storm warning. All the hotels from here to the next country are booked. But, I don't suppose that would be anything of your interest, now would it? Here is your card key, and William her will take any luggage you have up to your rooms."
The concierge waved over the bellhop, William. Weiss gratefully handed over the four bags he had been carrying. It seemed he was the only one who had remembered the luggage. "Yeah, thanks for the help guys," he grumbled, as they followed the bellhop towards the elevators.
Sydney smirked and held up her hands as they boarded the lift. "Hey," she said, moving one hand over her fake belly. "Pregnant women aren't supposed to lift heavy objects!"
"Weiss turned to Vaughn. "And you? Your excuse? 'Cause I know you have to have one."
Vaughn grinned. "You know how I feel about rain. There wasn't time to get the bags, and they would have slowed me down."
Sydney opened her mouth, looked as if she was bout to say something, then shut it again abruptly. As the elevator dinged, Jack said, "Dr. Golden, I paid for you to come on this trip, not to be rude to my daughter and." here he paused, a pained expression flickering across his face, as though it was the hardest thing he had ever had to say, ". son-in-law."
The walk down the hall was a short one. Thank god, Sydney thought. The Belly just kept getting heavier and heavier. William stopped in front of a large oak door, reading "1" and swiped a card through the electronic lock. After opening door, pushing the trolley carrying their luggage part way into the room, and graciously accepting a tip from Jack, he left with a short "enjoy your stay".
The penthouse itself was huge. A large main room contained two overstuffed sofas, which would pull out into beds, a big screen TV in the center of the room, a desk off to the side, and several small tables, scattered strategically around the area. Also in that room, on a raised floor, was the kitchen and dining area. Large windows made up the outside walls.
Off the main room were three doors. Sydney assumed two would lead to the bedroom, and the other to a bathroom. This theory was proven correct when the two men who had been sitting on one couch informed them that they would share a pullout bed, and the other three could be split up however they wanted.
Jack smiled tightly, and introduced the other agents. Agent Palmer shook every person's hand in turn, and Agent Duncan followed suit.
"Now," Jack said, once the pleasantries were finished and everyone was seated. Duncan and Palmer had resumed their spots on the couch closest to the kitchen, and Sydney was sprawled on the other, leaving just enough room for Weiss to sit. "I've decided that we will remain here for a week, regardless whether the airlines begin flying before then. Sloane may wonder if we return the same day transatlantic flights start up again - especially since to his knowledge we're in Florida. This should help prevent any suspicions from rising."
From his position on the floor, Vaughn asked, "What exactly will we be doing until then?"
Jack gave him a blank look, then said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Training."
Vaughn raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
Jack continued, "As for sleeping arrangements, Sydney will take one of the bedrooms. I will take the other."
"Mr. Bristow," Weiss started. Jack turned a cold stare on him. Beginning to feel smaller and smaller, he tugged at the bandage on his neck and said, "Uh. the couches are slightly. uncomfortable. and I was hoping that. people could take turns with the beds. or not, you know. Whatever." he concluded, grumbling to himself. That man was so intimidating it was just wrong.
"Good. Now that that's settled, it is late, and it will be an early morning for all of us tomorrow," Jack stated, grabbing his bag and entering the bedroom furthest away from the sitting area.
"Wow," Weiss said, eyes opened wide at the performance. Vaughn shook his head, clearing thoughts of Jack Bristow's behaviour out of his head.
"I'm going to go have a shower," he announced, also grabbing his bag. Sydney watched him go, and suddenly the panicked feeling she had earlier in the dock building returned. That irrational fear that if he left her sight, he would be gone forever. And that's crazy, she thought, forcing herself to try to calm down. But it scared her that she couldn't picture herself without Vaughn in her life. That she couldn't figure out what she would do without him there.
Standing quickly, blinking back tears that had formed in her eyes, Sydney excused herself from the room. Once alone, she sat on the bed, and drew several shuddering breaths. Ignoring the tears that had begun to overflow, she began to unstrap the Belly. You need to calm down, Syd, she told herself. You're a spy, and spies can't afford to get this attached to other agents.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, Vaughn stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it loosely around his waist, then began rummaging through his bag. Retrieving a gray T-shirt and boxers, Vaughn put the articles of clothing on and left the steamy room.
The guys had set up the two couches, and Weiss was currently stretched across one, eyes glued to the TV set. Vaughn realized he must have had an odd expression on his face when Palmer spoke up from his seat on the other pullout bed, saying, "It's Spy Kids he's watching. Don't worry, none of us would like to find out what Jack would have to say about, uh, more questionable material."
Vaughn opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. Frowning, he surveyed the room, trying to decide where he had last seen the phone. While the other agents may have set up the beds, they had made a considerable mess while doing so.
"Mike, would you get that already? We're coming to the part with that weird floor!"
Vaughn stopped in the middle of turning a cushion over and asked incredulously, "Have you WATCHED this before?"
Weiss' face registered a caught expression as he fumbled for words. "Well, my nephew was.. And I - just find your damn phone!"
Vaughn rolled his eyes and resumed his search. After what seemed like forever, he found it on the bed beside Weiss. At the glare he was receiving, Weiss asked defensively, "What?!"
"If looks could kill." Duncan said, laughter in his voice, as Vaughn flipped open the phone.
"Vaughn," he stated, wondering who could possibly be calling him at this number. Usually, it was only reserved for Sydney.
"Joey's Pizza?"
Weiss, knowing his friend's opinion on precipitation, was only mildly surprised when the second the car started to brake, Vaughn jumped out and took off across the parking lot toward the hotel. Sydney, grasping her father's hand to help her lift out of the car, stared after him, a mixture of shock and annoyance on her face.
Rolling her eyes, she commented, "This from the person who stood and stared as a wall of water came at him."
In a few moments, they had joined Vaughn, who was waiting at the front of the hotel. He held the large glass door open for the group, and then followed them in. He was relieved when none of them brought up his sprint across the parking lot, though he was sure he knew what Sydney was thinking. Even HE was thinking it. Jack's voice broke into his musings, and Vaughn quickened his pace to catch up with the group once more.
"Reservation for Paul Hettigrew," Jack said, leaning casually on the counter. The concierge typed away at his computer for a moment, and then looked up.
"Ah, yes, Mr. Hettigrew. Penthouse 1, the hotel's finest. I'm sure you've been made aware of the arrangements."
Jack nodded, and the man continued, "Right then. Mr. Randle and Mr.Peters have already arrived from the airport. It's a bloody bother that storm warning. All the hotels from here to the next country are booked. But, I don't suppose that would be anything of your interest, now would it? Here is your card key, and William her will take any luggage you have up to your rooms."
The concierge waved over the bellhop, William. Weiss gratefully handed over the four bags he had been carrying. It seemed he was the only one who had remembered the luggage. "Yeah, thanks for the help guys," he grumbled, as they followed the bellhop towards the elevators.
Sydney smirked and held up her hands as they boarded the lift. "Hey," she said, moving one hand over her fake belly. "Pregnant women aren't supposed to lift heavy objects!"
"Weiss turned to Vaughn. "And you? Your excuse? 'Cause I know you have to have one."
Vaughn grinned. "You know how I feel about rain. There wasn't time to get the bags, and they would have slowed me down."
Sydney opened her mouth, looked as if she was bout to say something, then shut it again abruptly. As the elevator dinged, Jack said, "Dr. Golden, I paid for you to come on this trip, not to be rude to my daughter and." here he paused, a pained expression flickering across his face, as though it was the hardest thing he had ever had to say, ". son-in-law."
The walk down the hall was a short one. Thank god, Sydney thought. The Belly just kept getting heavier and heavier. William stopped in front of a large oak door, reading "1" and swiped a card through the electronic lock. After opening door, pushing the trolley carrying their luggage part way into the room, and graciously accepting a tip from Jack, he left with a short "enjoy your stay".
The penthouse itself was huge. A large main room contained two overstuffed sofas, which would pull out into beds, a big screen TV in the center of the room, a desk off to the side, and several small tables, scattered strategically around the area. Also in that room, on a raised floor, was the kitchen and dining area. Large windows made up the outside walls.
Off the main room were three doors. Sydney assumed two would lead to the bedroom, and the other to a bathroom. This theory was proven correct when the two men who had been sitting on one couch informed them that they would share a pullout bed, and the other three could be split up however they wanted.
Jack smiled tightly, and introduced the other agents. Agent Palmer shook every person's hand in turn, and Agent Duncan followed suit.
"Now," Jack said, once the pleasantries were finished and everyone was seated. Duncan and Palmer had resumed their spots on the couch closest to the kitchen, and Sydney was sprawled on the other, leaving just enough room for Weiss to sit. "I've decided that we will remain here for a week, regardless whether the airlines begin flying before then. Sloane may wonder if we return the same day transatlantic flights start up again - especially since to his knowledge we're in Florida. This should help prevent any suspicions from rising."
From his position on the floor, Vaughn asked, "What exactly will we be doing until then?"
Jack gave him a blank look, then said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Training."
Vaughn raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
Jack continued, "As for sleeping arrangements, Sydney will take one of the bedrooms. I will take the other."
"Mr. Bristow," Weiss started. Jack turned a cold stare on him. Beginning to feel smaller and smaller, he tugged at the bandage on his neck and said, "Uh. the couches are slightly. uncomfortable. and I was hoping that. people could take turns with the beds. or not, you know. Whatever." he concluded, grumbling to himself. That man was so intimidating it was just wrong.
"Good. Now that that's settled, it is late, and it will be an early morning for all of us tomorrow," Jack stated, grabbing his bag and entering the bedroom furthest away from the sitting area.
"Wow," Weiss said, eyes opened wide at the performance. Vaughn shook his head, clearing thoughts of Jack Bristow's behaviour out of his head.
"I'm going to go have a shower," he announced, also grabbing his bag. Sydney watched him go, and suddenly the panicked feeling she had earlier in the dock building returned. That irrational fear that if he left her sight, he would be gone forever. And that's crazy, she thought, forcing herself to try to calm down. But it scared her that she couldn't picture herself without Vaughn in her life. That she couldn't figure out what she would do without him there.
Standing quickly, blinking back tears that had formed in her eyes, Sydney excused herself from the room. Once alone, she sat on the bed, and drew several shuddering breaths. Ignoring the tears that had begun to overflow, she began to unstrap the Belly. You need to calm down, Syd, she told herself. You're a spy, and spies can't afford to get this attached to other agents.
* * *
Fifteen minutes later, Vaughn stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it loosely around his waist, then began rummaging through his bag. Retrieving a gray T-shirt and boxers, Vaughn put the articles of clothing on and left the steamy room.
The guys had set up the two couches, and Weiss was currently stretched across one, eyes glued to the TV set. Vaughn realized he must have had an odd expression on his face when Palmer spoke up from his seat on the other pullout bed, saying, "It's Spy Kids he's watching. Don't worry, none of us would like to find out what Jack would have to say about, uh, more questionable material."
Vaughn opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. Frowning, he surveyed the room, trying to decide where he had last seen the phone. While the other agents may have set up the beds, they had made a considerable mess while doing so.
"Mike, would you get that already? We're coming to the part with that weird floor!"
Vaughn stopped in the middle of turning a cushion over and asked incredulously, "Have you WATCHED this before?"
Weiss' face registered a caught expression as he fumbled for words. "Well, my nephew was.. And I - just find your damn phone!"
Vaughn rolled his eyes and resumed his search. After what seemed like forever, he found it on the bed beside Weiss. At the glare he was receiving, Weiss asked defensively, "What?!"
"If looks could kill." Duncan said, laughter in his voice, as Vaughn flipped open the phone.
"Vaughn," he stated, wondering who could possibly be calling him at this number. Usually, it was only reserved for Sydney.
"Joey's Pizza?"