Disclaimer: Alias is not owned by me. If it was, this wouldn't really be fan fiction would it? Lol
Archive: Sure. Just send me a link
A/N: Kinda a short chapter, but oh well. This is where it starts to build into the plot. J
Thank yous: Thanx so much to Yana for letting me base a character on her when I know she didn't want me to and Shannon (Aliasangel) for reading and correcting this story so I wouldn't look stupid. Lol. Everyone read her stuff, it's good! :-) Thanks!! Also, to everyone who's been reviewing. This is my first Alias fic and it's really great to know that people are enjoying it. :-)
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Chapter Three
The next morning I awoke feeling the warm sun shining on my face. The sweet, California breeze was flapping through the curtains and blowing about the corners of my sheets.
As my senses began to sharpen again from the drowsiness of sleep, I heard a faint ringing that quickly became louder. The telephone.
Francie picked it up. I listened closely, sitting up in bed. "Hello?" she waited only a beat before sighing and answering, "No, this is not the pizza place. Try again."
I shook myself completely awake and practically rolled out of my bed.
"Who was that?" I asked Francie as I entered the kitchen.
She sighed again. "Just someone asking for Joey's Pizza again. How much like our number is that place, anyway?"
"Hmm." I shrugged. "Um, what time is it? Isn't it a little early for pizza anyway?"
"Girl, it's noon."
I gasped. "That late? Why didn't you wake me?"
"Well, I wanted to. But according to Will you had a late night. I decided to let you sleep."
I searched my head for a good lie about the "late night." "Yeah, I was helping out a friend of mine. Her car was stolen from the parking lot outside of a night club and she didn't want to wait for the police alone," I explained quickly. Where the hell did I come up with this stuff?
"Jeez, that must have sucked. She doing okay?"
"Yeah, she's fine. They caught the guy. She's just a little shaken up."
Francie looked relieved. "That's good."
"Yeah. Anyway, I've got to get dressed and go. I need to get a few things."
Like a mission that could get me killed or tortured or discovered. Or all of the above. I wanted to add. But I didn't.
"Alright. Well Will called and said he'll be coming by. I don't know why he even bothers calling. He'll show up whether we like it or not," she joked.
I laughed. "Ok. When he gets here tell him I said thanks for helping me out last night."
Francie nodded and I left.
TWENTY MINUTES LATER- THE WAREHOUSE
"Sorry I'm late."
Vaughn stepped out of the shadows. "No problem."
For a minute we just stared. Then I broke the silence. "So I guess I have a mission?"
"Right. Um…yeah. This one's not a counter mission. More like a follow up of your last counter mission. Remember the Circumference you destroyed?"
"Ha. How could I forget?"
Vaughn nodded in agreement. "Unfortunately, it wasn't the only one. We found evidence that there was another built. Apparently there was fear that it would be destroyed, and that fear was justified. We're not sure when it was built, only that it's there. It needs to be obliterated as well."
"So…all I have to do is explode another ten foot bubble. No problem." But there was a problem. And Vaughn knew it.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing. Well, something. It's just that you almost died last time…"
"Oh, right. Well, I'll have to be more careful this time," he answered simply.
"Wait…what?" I asked in shock. That hadn't been the answer I was anticipating. "You're coming with?"
"You're not doing this alone. Especially after the last time."
I wanted to argue. I opened my mouth to protest, to say I'd be fine and could take care of myself, but one look into those green eyes and I fell silent.
"Where is this mission?"
"Well, um, it's almost funny. We were able to pinpoint its location."
"And the funny part is…? Where is it?"
"That's the funny part," he answered.
"Where?"
"Sydney."
"What??" I emphasized again, exasperated.
He gave me one of his amazing and rare smiles. "No. really. Sydney. That's where it is. Sydney, Australia."
I smirked, now understanding. "How fitting."
He nodded and said, "You leave tonight. Your flight is at 11:30 at the Bay County airport. Your alias is Mandy Goldman. You're a 23 year old architect. That way you have access to buildings
I shook my head. "Got it."
"Good. Well, go take a rest. This probably hasn't been the most relaxing week for you and you'll need sleep for this."
"Vaughn, in my line of work, there is no such thing as relaxation."
"Too true."
"Well…um, bye Vaughn."
I turned and headed towards the chain link fence. Just as I was at the streaks of blue through the dim, musty warehouse, Vaughn's voice rang out. "Michael," he corrected softly.
Putting my hand on the latch of the gate, I replied, "Michael. See you in Australia."
"Bye, Syd."
This time, I continued walking out, confused. His words, "Bye, Syd," echoed through my mind. Something about his tone made me feel so warm and happy. I felt like I could listen to that sweet, comforting voice all day.
Shut up, Sydney. You sound like a stupid love sick 7th grader.
Another part of my brain shot back, So?
"Shut up," I willed myself. "I have a mission to get ready for."
I turned a corner back to my apartment.