Author's Note: Here you go, the next chapter! And it's…(wait for it, wait for it)…LONGER!! So, get reading J
Jack turned to face his daughter in the back of the van. She was sitting, slumped against the wall of the van, sweaty hair falling in her eyes. She reached up and brushed it behind her ear, revealing a darkening bruise. She winced slightly as she touched it, pulling her hand away. She seemed to notice his scrutiny, because she looked up to face him.
"What's going on now?" she asked, her voice weary. Jack looked away.
"We have to put you into a safe house for awhile- just long enough to take care of Sloane. He hasn't reported you to the Alliance yet, so you're safe in that respect." Sydney frowned.
"What about Vaughn? And Francie? They can't go back," she asked. Jack sighed.
"They have to join you in the safe house until this is all sorted out. First, we're ditching this car, then we'll sort things out from there." Sydney nodded, then turned to Vaughn. He was sitting, head leaning back against the wall with his eyes closed, breathing deeply. Weiss had given him some aspirin, but there was nothing else they could do for him until they reached a hospital. Sydney watched him, her face a picture of concern.
Will glanced surreptitiously into the rearview mirror, watching Francie in amazement. He wondered absently how many more of his friends were secret agents. They really did seem to be popping up everywhere. He looked at Sydney, and the other agent. She was obviously very attached to him, and somehow hadn't let on to him at all. Strange, how little he actually knew his friends. Seems like all of them were keeping secrets from each other.
*
The van drove (rolled? How best to describe the movement of a car with virtually no wheels?) into a parking lot behind a deserted factory. Sitting patiently in the car park were two more cars- ones without bullet holes in them. Francie stepped out of the van and breathed in the fresh air gratefully. That last crawl through the ducts had been exhausting, sweaty work. Then sitting in an enclosed space with three other people's body odour…not an experience she'd care to repeat. Jack and Sydney climbed out, followed by Weiss and Vaughn.
Will was the last one to get out. He jogged lightly over to Sydney and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. "I was so worried about you," he murmured into her hair. Sydney grinned back, eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you," she murmured back. After about a minute, Will drew away and turned to face Francie.
"I don't know what the hell is going on with you, but…I love you anyway," he declared, hugging her close to him. Francie laughed into his shoulder. Jack cleared his throat, causing Will and Francie to look over to him sheepishly.
"Thank you," Jack said gruffly. Sydney gave a slight, what-can-you-do shrug, which her father ignored.
"We're going to split up now. I'll be taking Mr. Tippen back where he belongs, then back to work to clear up the whole Sloane problem. Agent Weiss will be taking you three to the safe house, where you'll sit tight until this all clears up." Sydney nodded seriously, then her eyes flicked over to Vaughn.
"What about Vaughn's hand? I can't exactly fix it," she said. Weiss looked up from where he was examining his feet.
"I'll take him to the hospital after I drop you off," he explained. Sydney nodded, then turned to Francie.
"You okay with this?" she asked earnestly. Francie looked uneasy for a minute, then nodded. Jack turned and walked over to one of the cars, and Weiss led Vaughn to the other, leaving Will with Francie and Sydney. Will just looked at them, then held them both to him.
"You be careful," he said, his voice rough with emotion.
"You too," Sydney replied, then pulled away to walk over to the car. Francie lingered for a minute, then followed her. Will stood watching them for a second, when the sound of the engine startled him. He jogged over to Jack's car. A few minutes later, the carpark was deserted.
*
Francie watched absently out the window on the car ride, miles away from it all. The recent events were replaying in her mind, and she fervently hoped she'd done the right thing. Sydney was her friend and everything, but this explanation had better be good. She brought herself back to the present, glancing at her watch. No wonder she was tired, it was past midnight. She settled her head on the window and dozed off.
After what seemed like hours Weiss pulled up at a small cottage. Sydney stirred, then looked around curiously. It was a small wooden cottage in the mountains. Her home for the next couple of…days, she hoped. She didn't think she could stand it if it was for much longer. She reached over and nudged Francie awake, then climbed out of the car, grateful for the chance to stretch her legs. Francie climbed out a minute later and took in her surroundings. Vaughn and Weiss talked for a minute, then Weiss leaned out of the car window and handed a set of keys to Sydney.
"I'm taking Mike to the hospital in town. While I'm there I'll pick you up some supplies- we had someone bring some clothes for you and Mike, but we weren't counting on you being here," he said, directing the last part at Francie. Sydney nodded, smiled reassuringly at Vaughn, who smiled back. She jingled the keys in her hand as she watched the car pull away. Only when it was gone did she turn and head to the front door. She unlocked it and stepped inside. Moments later Francie followed, a secretive smile on her face.
*
Sydney looked around the cabin, playing with the keys absently. She stepped into what was probably the lounge room, a largish room with a couch and two armchairs sitting around a fireplace. She smiled despite herself, and then walked down the hall to see what the bedrooms were like. She walked into the first one she found and looked around. There was a suitcase sitting on the bed, but she wasn't sure if it was hers. Only one way to find out…
Sydney glanced around then pulled on the zipper of the suitcase. It fell open, and she looked inside. From the looks of it, not hers but Vaughn's. She entertained looking through the contents, but decided against it. That would just be sad. So she regretfully pulled the zips closed and left the room. She walked into the one across the room, and opened the suitcase in that room. Definitely hers. She looked around the room, reasonably happy. She backed out of the hall and nearly knocked Francie over. Francie was looking at the spare room, getting accustomed to her new home. She smiled at Sydney, who grinned back. They both walked into the lounge room and flopped on the couches.
Sydney frowned at Francie.
"For someone who was willing to knock me unconscious a few hours ago, you seem pretty nice," Sydney started. Francie looked at Sydney thoughtfully.
"I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted. "I thought I was serving my country, doing my duty. Now I don't know what to think. After I handed you in, I was furious with you. I thought you'd betrayed everyone. But when you called out to me, with such conviction that I didn't know everything, I began to doubt myself. After all, I'd been working at a company for years, yet I knew next to nothing about them. I only know 3 other agents in the company, for Christ's sake! And I got to thinking- who am I more likely to believe? Someone I only saw once a week, or the person who started out as an assignment and became my best friend? So I decided on the heat of the moment to listen to you, and I only hope I don't come to regret that," Francie explained, her tone confiding. Sydney listened attentively, then nodded reassuringly.
"I don't think you'll ever regret what you did, once you know everything. I know we promised we'd tell you as soon as we escaped, but I'd rather wait for Vaughn first," Sydney said, her face growing worried when she mentioned Vaughn's name. Francie smiled again, and Sydney frowned at her.
"You like him, don't you," Francie said, more of a statement than a question. Sydney looked affronted.
"I do not!" she protested.
"Yes you do. I see it in your eyes when you look at him- you haven't looked at anyone like that since Danny," Francie said. Sydney blushed and looked down at her lap.
"Fine, I admit it," she started. "I knew it!" Francie exclaimed. Sydney sent her a death glare, and Francie quieted immediately. "I admit it, but there's nothing I can do about it," Sydney continued. Francie frowned, confused. "There's all sorts of…protocol and stuff," Sydney finished lamely. Now it was Francie's turn to look affronted.
"Since when does a little thing like 'protocol' stop Sydney Bristow?" she asked, half joking half serious. Sydney looked away.
"You'll understand," she mumbled, her voice sad. Francie looked away as well. There was a moment's silence.
"You can perve on him though? Because he really is hot," she said. Sydney snickered.
*
Weiss and Vaughn arrived back at the cabin a few hours later, a plaster cast covering Vaughn's hand and lower arm. Weiss struggled to get the door open without dropping any of the grocery bags he was laden with. They stepped into the foyer, the sounds of women's voices floating through the doorway.
"…Friend's pretty cute too though."
"Yeah, but…I don't know, just not my type."
"Good, then he's mine."
Vaughn had a moment to wonder what they were talking about when the voices stopped. There was the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor, then Sydney appeared. She took in Vaughn's cast and her face filled with concern.
"Are you okay?" she asked. Vaughn shrugged.
"One dislocated thumb. That I just happened to stuff up and fracture in about 5 places," he said, waving the cast around. Sydney smiled, relieved. Francie walked into the foyer and took in Weiss' 'supplies'. She grinned.
"Get enough there?" she asked. Weiss grinned back.
"You ever see how much Mike here eats?" he joked. Vaughn shot Weiss a fake-hurt look, then they both cracked up. Francie and Sydney laughed uncertainly.
After getting everything out of the foyer Weiss glanced at his watch.
"I'm going to have to get back, I have to help Jack," he said. Sydney and Vaughn nodded. Weiss started to leave, then stopped. He turned to Francie.
"Here's some clothes for you. I didn't know what size you were, so I just guessed. I suppose it's bound to fit better than any of Mike's stuff," he said. Francie took the bag from him gratefully and Weiss left. She looked inside the bag at the clothes. A couple of pairs of jeans, some jumpers, socks, shirts and underwear, all in around about the right size. She carried it into the spare room and put it all away meticulously in the drawers. Then she walked back out into the lounge room. She sat in one of the armchairs and faced Sydney and Vaughn.
"All right, tell me everything," she said.
Author's Note: There you go, another chapter! And I think it makes more sense now that I'm actually on proper medication, not over the counter stuff. The world seems so much clearer! Anyway, feedback is always good- some of the stories on this site have over 300 reviews! I feel kind of pathetic- please review me!!!
I'm asking some people's opinions here: what do you think of Francie and Will getting together? Possible, probably, as likely as a snowball surviving in hell? If you have a definite opinion on the subject let me know!
Thanks guys!