Chapter Four
A Game of Hearts
Will and Francie had set up a card game on her bed tray, settling in chairs on either side of her bed, clutching their hands away from anyone else's view, glaring at each other with looks that belonged more to rapid animals than a friendly game of Hearts. Sydney was a little more relaxed--at least on the outside--than the other two, letting her cards falling loosely forward whenever she forgot to keep them to her chest, until she caught Will angling himself to catch a glimpse of them.
She wasn't feeling guilty around her friends for once. What she was feeling was worse: envy. She envied them, even Will who knew so much, because they had more freedom than she ever could.
Will set down a four of diamonds, and Francie put her six over it. Sydney ducked with a five, and Francie reached out to gather up the pile.
She envied Will for how easy it was for him to walk away from it all. He had lost a little blood, a couple tears, a few screams, and his reputation; it would cost her much more.
Ten of clubs. Three. She placed a jack over all of it and slid the cards toward her across the slick, peach plastic.
She envied Francie for her safety, her carefree life, her untroubled sleep; Sydney Bristow would never be safe.
She tossed a three of hearts out with enough force so it almost skidded off the edge of the tray, but Francie caught it in time, and positioned it and her seven in the center.
Never be safe. Never hold a regular job. Never get married, or have kids.
Will laid down a nine with a frown and gathered up the cards.
Children. Danny had wanted children, and she had realized lately that she did too. Maybe by having children of her own she could have put to rest all her doubts about motherhood and motherly instinct that Irina had raised.
Francie took the next round of cards, and Sydney threw down her last heart.
She would never take them to the pool, or teach them to read, never throw birthday parties, or wipe away the tears.
She gathered up the three spades, and flung out another.
She couldn't even have a pet. She was gone far too often to take care of one. No dog, or cat, or even a goldfish. Nobody that depended on her for food or life, nobody to love her unconditionally.
Oh, she might be saving someone else who owned a pet or someone's child, but she was missing a part of life she would have liked for herself. What she wanted for herself always seemed to come a distant second.
Well, not anymore. Her sudden resolve frightened and excited her. Things would be different from now on.
"Syd. Your turn," Will prompted, irritation in his voice.
Without speaking, she cast the queen of spades down. Will scowled as reached over her to collect the cards, and Francie grinned wolfishly when she caught his eye. "Thirteen more points for Will!" she sang out happily.
Sydney smiled victoriously too, but she was only pretending.
A/N: Okay, I know this is really short...please don't hurt me! I may write another chapter today if I have time, and guess who's in it! Yes, it's the moment you've all been waiting for: Sydney gets a visit from...STAN?! Who's Stan, you're asking; well, you'll just have to wait and see!
A Game of Hearts
Will and Francie had set up a card game on her bed tray, settling in chairs on either side of her bed, clutching their hands away from anyone else's view, glaring at each other with looks that belonged more to rapid animals than a friendly game of Hearts. Sydney was a little more relaxed--at least on the outside--than the other two, letting her cards falling loosely forward whenever she forgot to keep them to her chest, until she caught Will angling himself to catch a glimpse of them.
She wasn't feeling guilty around her friends for once. What she was feeling was worse: envy. She envied them, even Will who knew so much, because they had more freedom than she ever could.
Will set down a four of diamonds, and Francie put her six over it. Sydney ducked with a five, and Francie reached out to gather up the pile.
She envied Will for how easy it was for him to walk away from it all. He had lost a little blood, a couple tears, a few screams, and his reputation; it would cost her much more.
Ten of clubs. Three. She placed a jack over all of it and slid the cards toward her across the slick, peach plastic.
She envied Francie for her safety, her carefree life, her untroubled sleep; Sydney Bristow would never be safe.
She tossed a three of hearts out with enough force so it almost skidded off the edge of the tray, but Francie caught it in time, and positioned it and her seven in the center.
Never be safe. Never hold a regular job. Never get married, or have kids.
Will laid down a nine with a frown and gathered up the cards.
Children. Danny had wanted children, and she had realized lately that she did too. Maybe by having children of her own she could have put to rest all her doubts about motherhood and motherly instinct that Irina had raised.
Francie took the next round of cards, and Sydney threw down her last heart.
She would never take them to the pool, or teach them to read, never throw birthday parties, or wipe away the tears.
She gathered up the three spades, and flung out another.
She couldn't even have a pet. She was gone far too often to take care of one. No dog, or cat, or even a goldfish. Nobody that depended on her for food or life, nobody to love her unconditionally.
Oh, she might be saving someone else who owned a pet or someone's child, but she was missing a part of life she would have liked for herself. What she wanted for herself always seemed to come a distant second.
Well, not anymore. Her sudden resolve frightened and excited her. Things would be different from now on.
"Syd. Your turn," Will prompted, irritation in his voice.
Without speaking, she cast the queen of spades down. Will scowled as reached over her to collect the cards, and Francie grinned wolfishly when she caught his eye. "Thirteen more points for Will!" she sang out happily.
Sydney smiled victoriously too, but she was only pretending.
A/N: Okay, I know this is really short...please don't hurt me! I may write another chapter today if I have time, and guess who's in it! Yes, it's the moment you've all been waiting for: Sydney gets a visit from...STAN?! Who's Stan, you're asking; well, you'll just have to wait and see!