Yeah! Another chapter up. I've actually had this chapter done for a while, but my internet is down on my typing computer. And it still is. I just got frustrated by the fact that my stories weren't getting updated. But! For all of you faithful readers out there, I have figured out an alternative. Unfortunately, it takes more time than my 26 hour day allows (yes, I know that there is only 24 hours in a day, but even with my extra two hours, there's not enough time) so, here is the next chapter.
One more side note. I have had someone ask me why I chose Sydney and Vaughn to watch Moulin Rouge. Simple. Great movie. I mean it. And in the oddest sense, it fits part of their relationship. Not the penniless writer, and a courtesan part, or the part where- wait! Can't give away end, for all you people who've seen it, I think you know the ending-. But the secret love part, having to hide it from everyone. And the jealous other person who also loves our heroine *cough* Will *cough* Plus, that movie is very important later.
Wow, that is like my longest Author's note ever! Oh well.
The days passed into the third and final week. But there was still seven days to go, until they were predicated to be out. The room still continued to grow smaller. She and Vaughn had precious little time together. When Sydney had her small three hour break, Vaughn would more often than not, be working. The two other times that their schedules had worked out so that they could break together, Vaughn had prepared some food, and they enjoyed a nice lunch, and the other, they just enjoyed each other's company in the break room. (Weiss also had his break then too).
Sydney watched as two young, new agents had arrived, and gone insane the week before. It seemed that Sloane had given up on Sydney and Dixon being alive, and two new agents were sent in to place the pen. On this day in the third and hopefully final week, two agents arrived. They too showed up wearing the ugly jumpsuits. Only Sydney noticed something different and odd, about their arrival. She could hear whispers about a third agent. And only one agent brought both agents in. Sydney had realized that for each person brought in, there was a CIA agent escorting them. But these two were doubled up. She eyed the door carefully. Maybe she wasn't seeing the second agent. But there wasn't. The only men at the door, was the two regular agents, and the one that brought the two SD-6 people was up. According to Vaughn, they weren't short on agents, so that wasn't a problem. Sydney knew that something was up, and she wanted to know what it was.
Sydney stood up from her spot playing cards, and walked over to where the new agents sat, with her back turned to the door. She began to talk to them, only to discover that the third agent was none other than her father. They weren't there to place the pen; Sloane had given up on that. Instead they were assigned as hit men. And it was common knowledge that as good as Sydney was at recovering artifacts, her father was at being a sniper. And just as when Sydney had arrived, they had separated Jack from the other agents.
"SYDNEY!" A panicked Vaughn called. He was all out of breath as if he had been running. Sydney spun around, as did everyone else in the room. They all shot her icy glares for either betraying them, or cracking to the torture. Sydney knew the more favored stare. Betrayal. Frustrated that her cover was blown, she trotted over to the door where Vaughn was.
"What was that? You just blew my cover!" She exclaimed as they got to the hall.
"It doesn't matter any more. Listen, Weiss and Jack fell down some stairs, they look pretty hurt." He explained showing her to a large stair case.
"How?" Sydney asked.
"Tripped on some stairs. Weiss likely broke his leg, and your dad probably has a concussion. According to CIA policy, they can't work."
"What does this have to do with me?"
"We really need you to cover for Weiss. Your dad will be just another SD-6 agent. Every single agent, both in LA and here, are working on the take down. This is an amazingly large take down."
"So you want me to take Weiss' place?"
"Yes."
"You do know that they'll kill me. They think I betrayed them. And I did."
"I've already called Devlin. He says that he is inches away from ordering you to do this."
"You mean that you suspected I would act like this."
"I know I've only known you a month Syd, but that is a very predictable reaction for you."
Sydney stopped cold. "Are you saying I'm predictable?" She demanded.
"No, yes, well, sometimes." Vaughn stumbled. Sydney threw her hands up, and stormed off. "Wait, you don't even know which stairs they fell on!" Vaughn shouted after her.
"I'm sure I'll find it!" She shouted back.
Vaughn let out a heavy sigh, and then went running after Sydney. He grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her into a kiss. She pushed him away. And continued to storm down the hallway. "Vaughn, it's not just this. There is little things too. I mean come on, we've had the conversation where we both agree to bring this all out. But when someone comes you change your mind. It's like you are ashamed of us." Sydney said. "Now, which way?"
"It's that way." Vaughn said when she arrived at a decision. Sydney looked at him, then turned down the correct hallway. "I didn't mean for it to sound that way." Vaughn said, still trying to get Sydney back. "It was any agent's reaction really." But he slapped himself as Sydney continued to storm on. "Left." He instructed. "And I just think we should wait until the take down, that's all. And when we agreed, I never thought you meant the next person who walked into the room." Sydney turned left. "Please Syd?" He gave one last plea before they would be at the stairs.
Sydney spun around very fast. "Congratulations Mr. Vaughn. You just figured out one more thing that ticks a woman off." She said. She turned around before Vaughn could see her tears. She ran down the rest of the hallway where she could see her father and Weiss laying, with two other agents surrounding them. Sydney went to tend to them, trying not to show the fact that she was about ready to burst into tears at any given second. When she had seen that after a little medical treatment they were going to be fine she turned to see Vaughn standing there.
"I don't seem to have a choice." She said, referring to acting as a guard.
"Good. Since Weiss just left for the hospital, I can show you where your room will be, and where everything else will be." Vaughn said.
"What about a shower and clean clothing?" Sydney asked. "After two weeks, I probably look horrible."
"You still look beautiful to me." Vaughn said.
"No matter what you do, I'm still really mad at you."
"I'm sorry Sydney."
"Me too Vaughn. Me too." Vaughn and Sydney walked down the halls. Vaughn showed Sydney the highlights of the building.
"What about clothing? I don't want to remain in this jumpsuit." Sydney said.
"I can take you shopping on my break. We'll have to go to the mall across the street."
"Ok." Sydney sat on the cot that was set up in the room. It was uncomfortable, but after two weeks on a concrete floor, she felt that even sleeping on rocks would be more comfortable.
"Um, you'll start tomorrow. Tonight just rest and eat, and whatever." Vaughn said, he gave one last smile, and then shut the door on his way out. Sydney made sure that Vaughn had left before she buried her head into her pillow, and let the tears freely flow. That was the last person she wanted detached from her life. It had already been two weeks without seeing just about everyone, sparing only the handful of agents running around the abandoned high school. She was ready for her mission to be over with. She wanted that normal life she had always dreamed about. No one wanting to kill her, becoming a lit professor, and not having to lie at every turn. In the month that she had been dating Vaughn, he had given her every hope of all of it. He was her key to a normal life. Only she never told him. And now it was too late.
Will our lovely heroes see that they care for each other? Will they get back together? Find out in one of the upcoming chapters, to be posted soon, fingers crossed!