Vaughn heard the air ring with the sound of the single gunshot. "Sydney!' He then exclaimed. Sydney could hear Vaughn's voice in her earpiece and instantly realised that he was the one that fired the gun. She grabbed the sleeve of Jack's shirt and they both ran for the door before Sark had a chance to return fire. Sydney then took Vaughn's hand and they all ran down the hallway. Sydney pulled the fire alarm and kicked the emergency exit door open. They heard the alarm blaring in the background and saw people running out of the hotel.

"The van's parked at the front!" Vaughn said to Sydney.

"What about Dixon?" Sydney asked as they continued to run.

"He's taken care of." Vaughn then threw the keys of the van to Jack as he headed to the driver's seat. Both Sydney and Vaughn climbed into the back of the van.

"Did you shoot him?!" Sydney shouted at Vaughn when she saw Dixon's body slumped on the floor of the van. Vaughn shook his head. Jack started the engine and drove away from the hotel.

Vaughn didn't say anything else on the way to the airport. Sydney began to worry as Vaughn seemed as if he was in a daze. Sydney moved to the passenger seat next to Jack.

"I'm worried that Vaughn won't be able to get back to LA by himself."

Sydney, wait until Dixon wakes up. Think of some excuse to tell him." Jack said. "I'll deal with Vaughn. Are you okay?" Jack asked as he looked across at Sydney.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Sydney then returned to the back of the van as Jack drove to the airport. "Vaughn?" She quietly said. Sydney gently tapped Vaughn on the shoulder. Vaughn jumped, startled at her touch. "We're at the airport. Go with dad. I'll see you when we get back to LA." Sydney smiled at Vaughn, but she got no further response from him. It was as if he was oblivious to everything around him. Sydney opened the van door and Jack helped him out of the van.

As she waited for Dixon to wake up the thought of her mother being dead hit her at full force. Her mother's words echoed in her mind; the way she said that she loved her father. And then Sydney could hear the emotion in her father's voice as he said it was all a lie. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"Sydney?" Dixon said groggily.

"You're awake!" She replied as she wiped her tears away.

"What happened?"

"One of Sark's bodyguards hit you with a tranquilliser." Sydney lied.

"Sark?!" Dixon exclaimed as he managed to sit up. "Did you make the switch?"

"It was a set-up. My mother was there. I didn't know that she would be there. But that's why I've been so secretive lately. I was trying to find out where she's been hiding. I knew Sloane didn't support me, so I didn't tell anyone except my father."

"It makes sense now." Dixon said.

"You won't tell Sloane I went behind his back?" Sydney asked. "I don't want anything to do with my mother anymore."

"No more secrets?"

"No." Fresh tears began to fall down her face.

"I won't tell Sloane. I promise."

"Thank you." Sydney whispered.

~~~

Vaughn flew back to LA and the following day was called to see Devlin.

"I've already spoken to Jack. He told me what happened in Geneva." Vaughn only managed to nod his head. "You're obviously in no state to work, so Agent Weiss will temporarily take over Sydney Bristow's case. In the meantime, Dr. Barnett will assess you to see when you will be fit to return to work." Devlin looked at Vaughn with concern. It was clear to him that Vaughn was having difficulty dealing with the situation. "Talk with Barnett. It'll help you deal with, er" Devlin's voice trailed off as he didn't want to mention Sydney's mother's name.

"I'm fine." Vaughn said tersely.

"I've already scheduled an appointment for you. Go and see her." Devlin said firmly.

~~~

Sydney searched for her father at the SD-6 building.

"Dad?" She said as she walked into his office.

"Sit down." He replied.

"How is he?" Jack nodded his head to indicate he understood that she was talking about Vaughn.

"Not good. He's been given some time off." Jack answered

"Will he be okay?" She asked anxious to hear what her father thought.

"I don't know." He said softly. Jack knew that Vaughn had refused to see Barnett after their initial meeting and he had not returned any of Weiss' calls.

"I cleared everything with Dixon."

"Good." Jack looked up and saw one of the office workers at his door.

"If that's all?" Jack asked returning to his usual business-like manner.

"How are you doing?" She quickly asked as she stood up. Jack motioned to let the man at his door enter the office.

"I'll be fine." Jack didn't want Sydney to worry about him as well.

"Bye Dad." Sydney forced a smile across her face at the office worker as she walked out of the office.

~~~

Vaughn received a call from Sydney to set a meeting at the warehouse a few days later. The only reason he wanted to see Sydney was to apologise to her. He knew it wouldn't make any difference, but he needed her to know how sorry he was for causing her so much pain.

Vaughn sat in his usual spot as he heard Sydney's approaching footsteps. A few seconds passed before he looked up to see Sydney standing in front of him.

"Vaughn?" He saw the shocked look on her face. He looked so different from the last time she had seen him. It looked as if he hadn't slept in a long time. His eyes were red and he hadn't shaved in days. It seemed as if he had given up caring about everything.

"I didn't think you'd ever want to see me again after what I did." Vaughn eventually said.

"Is that why you didn't call me? But that doesn't matter now. I just got some good news."

"What is it?" He was surprised to see her smiling.

"Weiss found out that Sark had set up the Geneva meeting. That's why my father followed us out there. Weiss had a description of my mother from the one I gave my father so he was able to alert the Swiss authorities. They tracked her as she left Switzerland and she was arrested in France when she tried to fly out from Nice." She explained. She saw the confused look on his face and added. "Vaughn, you didn't kill her! She wasn't even injured. She will be sent back to the States soon. The CIA can then question her once she gets here. They are still searching for Sark. He must have left her there at the hotel."

"I'm so sorry Sydney."

"But you don't have anything to apologise for. It's okay now." She was puzzled that Vaughn didn't seem relieved.

"You don't understand. I still fired a gun at her. Nothing's changed."

"I do understand, more that you realise." She said softly. "I was in the same situation once. I wanted to hurt Sloane after Danny was killed. The rage and grief is overwhelming and everything else just disappears." The emotion in her voice broke his heart.

"Youyou do know I'd never do anything to intentionally hurt you." Vaughn stumbled tentatively.

"Yes I know." She took a few steps forward before gently taking his hand in hers. She looked at him for a moment before adding, "I wish you'd confide in me the way I can confide in you."

"I wanted to kill her. For a split-second I wanted her to die." He confessed. Sydney looked at him with surprise. "I'm no better than she is." He continued.

"Don't ever say that, Vaughn! You could never be like her."

"I thought I could control my emotions, but to see her there" his voice trailed off as he re-lived the moment once again.

I know how it feels to want revenge." Sydney said.

"But at what price?!"

"You didn't have time to think about the consequences. You shouldn't keep punishing yourself about it." Sydney hoped she could convince Vaughn that he wasn't to blame for his actions.

"These past few days I've been thinking about what you were going through when you thought she was dead. To lose her all over again."

"I didn't lose her again because the woman we saw in Geneva isn't the mother I remember when I was six years old."

"She's still your mother." Vaughn continued.

"No! Genes may connect us, but she is nothing to me. She betrayed us all and I can't forget that. I don't ever want to see or speak to her again." Vaughn could hear the sincerity in her voice and he finally believed she wasn't saying the words just for his benefit.

"Am Ido you forgive me?" Vaughn faltered. Sydney just smiled and nodded her head.

"I should be asking for your forgiveness. I dragged you into this whole mess and you still helped me search for her. It wasn't your job to do so." Sydney answered.

"I'd be lying if I said I did it as part of my job." Vaughn responded quietly. His eyes moved down to the floor as he was unable to look at Sydney.

"So you'll go back to work? I like Weiss, but it just wouldn't be the same!" Sydney tried to change the subject and lift the atmosphere.

"I think I'll have to see Barnett first, but hopefully I can start back on Monday." Vaughn managed to smile at Sydney.

"Good." Sydney returned the smile, pleased to see Vaughn looking more comfortable. At that moment, Sydney's cell phone beeped. She pulled it out of her bag and checked the text message. "I have to go." Sydney said apologetically.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"No, it's just Francie. I forgot that I promised to meet her. I'm late and she's wondering where I am." She returned the phone to her bag and said, "I'll see you soon." She smiled briefly and turned around to leave.

Vaughn watched her disappear out of view before making his own way out of the warehouse.

~~~

Vaughn met with Barnett the next day and was given the all clear to return to work. He returned to his office first thing the following Monday and was stopped by Weiss even before he got to his door.

"There's some people that need to see you." Weiss quietly said.

"Who? And why are you whispering?"

"You'll see." Weiss responded cryptically. Vaughn peered in to his office through the window.

"What's Jack Bristow doing here?" Vaughn could see the figure of another man sitting next to Jack, but his face was hidden from his view.

"I called him. I thought he should be here." Vaughn opened the door and the two men in his office stood up. He looked at Jack first and then to the other man. As soon as he recognised him, Vaughn said incredulously, "What are you doing here?!"

Standing next to Jack, politely smiling as if being in Vaughn's office was the most normal thing in the world was Sark.