Chapter Five
Five Minutes
How do you say goodbye?
How do you tell someone you love her?
It would take a lifetime, but all they had been given was five minutes.
"How are you doing?" she asked hesitantly, but refusing to drop her eyes.
"Fine." Her eyes darted to the floor, telling him wordlessly that she had been expecting a different answer. "Truthfully? I'm scared to death, Syd. I don't know how I'm going to do this without you."
"Without me?" She moved over to stand beside him, her arms wrapping around his middle in the tiniest of hugs. It was too much for his self-control, and he held her back. "All I ever do is burden you with my problems and mess up your life. I am the one who doesn't know how I'm going to do this without you." He could hear the echoes of tears in her voice, and he remembered what Jack had said. She had cried for him.
And his troubles are gone as quickly as that, replaced by the need to soothe hers. There will always be a childish part of him that believes as long as Sydney is smiling the world must be all right.
"'Your never forgotten as long as someone's dreaming of you.' What if I promised to dream about you? That way you won't be alone again."
"No, never alone. No matter what country, no matter how short the dress or uncomfortable the shoes."
His laugh had a rough edge to it. "My prayers too, then."
"Prayers? I didn't know you prayed."
"My mother taught me the Hail Mary when I was little, in English and French. For you I'll do anything, even pray. On my knees. Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grace...Hail Mary, full of grace..."
She stepped back, laughing, and his arms fell limp and empty by he sides.
Time was running short. Go on, then. Stop wasting time. "Syd, I-I-"
The door opened, and the world blew in like an icy wind. "Sir? I'm sorry, but five minute is up."
He knew the words were on his lips, but he couldn't quite bring himself to say it now. His courage had failed him. "Thank you, Sydney." At least it was better than goodbye.
She merely smiled, "Sweet dreams, Vaughn." The guard took her arm firmly, leading her out of the room.
He panicked. "Sydney! Wait! I love you!"
The door closed.
She had left him. In the blinding light. With his heart in his hands.
He didn't even know if she had heard him.
A/N: So did she hear him? REVIEW!!! And maybe I'll tell you...
Five Minutes
How do you say goodbye?
How do you tell someone you love her?
It would take a lifetime, but all they had been given was five minutes.
"How are you doing?" she asked hesitantly, but refusing to drop her eyes.
"Fine." Her eyes darted to the floor, telling him wordlessly that she had been expecting a different answer. "Truthfully? I'm scared to death, Syd. I don't know how I'm going to do this without you."
"Without me?" She moved over to stand beside him, her arms wrapping around his middle in the tiniest of hugs. It was too much for his self-control, and he held her back. "All I ever do is burden you with my problems and mess up your life. I am the one who doesn't know how I'm going to do this without you." He could hear the echoes of tears in her voice, and he remembered what Jack had said. She had cried for him.
And his troubles are gone as quickly as that, replaced by the need to soothe hers. There will always be a childish part of him that believes as long as Sydney is smiling the world must be all right.
"'Your never forgotten as long as someone's dreaming of you.' What if I promised to dream about you? That way you won't be alone again."
"No, never alone. No matter what country, no matter how short the dress or uncomfortable the shoes."
His laugh had a rough edge to it. "My prayers too, then."
"Prayers? I didn't know you prayed."
"My mother taught me the Hail Mary when I was little, in English and French. For you I'll do anything, even pray. On my knees. Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grace...Hail Mary, full of grace..."
She stepped back, laughing, and his arms fell limp and empty by he sides.
Time was running short. Go on, then. Stop wasting time. "Syd, I-I-"
The door opened, and the world blew in like an icy wind. "Sir? I'm sorry, but five minute is up."
He knew the words were on his lips, but he couldn't quite bring himself to say it now. His courage had failed him. "Thank you, Sydney." At least it was better than goodbye.
She merely smiled, "Sweet dreams, Vaughn." The guard took her arm firmly, leading her out of the room.
He panicked. "Sydney! Wait! I love you!"
The door closed.
She had left him. In the blinding light. With his heart in his hands.
He didn't even know if she had heard him.
A/N: So did she hear him? REVIEW!!! And maybe I'll tell you...