Epilogue-Back to Normal
She pulled the keys out of the ignition, jingling them a bit before dropping them into the depths of her purse. She hummed unconsciously as she slipped out behind the wheel and stood regarding the outside of the warehouse for a moment. Then shoved her sunglasses up on her head and started in.
Back to work. She was-not resigned, resigned implied resentment-reconciled with the idea.
She smiled to herself as she remembered Francie's reaction to her entrance in the kitchen this morning. Francie had taken in her appearance and declared she absolutely could not go back to work. "You've only been home three days!" she had repeated her argument several times as she followed Sydney's progress across the room. Sydney had only grabbed up a bagel and her bag, studiously ignoring the complaints behind her ear. "The world will keep turning without you!"
"Sometimes I doubt that," Sydney had murmured to herself as she shut the door.
Even going to SD-6 had almost been...well, tolerable. She had smiled straight into Sloane's face, all the while wondering what his expression would look like it she told him what she really thought of him. She could wait forever for that moment. Forever. She had brushed off Dixon's inquiries about her health and speculating glances with good-natured laughter. Laughter truly was the best medicine. And Marshall, she'd had a very engaging conversation with Marshall that somehow turned from her well being, to his mother's ailments, to squirrels.
She chuckled out loud at the memory, the sound bouncing around the warehouse in rhythm with her footsteps.
"Something funny?" Vaughn asked as he unfolded from his position on one of the crates. She fought the urge he inspired to tug the cuff of her blouse down lower over a bruise, scolding herself that he'd seen her with worse things than a couple bumps.
"Nothing," she teased him lightly as she stepped into the cage, and she watched with amusement as he ran a self-conscious hand over his hair. She couldn't help raining another one of her smiles on him as he shifted, obviously wishing for a mirror. Women aren't always the vain ones.
"I forgot to say thank you at the hospital before I fell asleep," she changed the topic to something more serious. "For saving me," she added the unnecessary clarification.
"No problem," he smirked, the edges of his mouth jerking up, at what she wasn't quite sure.
They both paused, unsure, then he took the last couple of steps toward her. His arms went lightly around her lower back, as hers timidly encircled his neck to return the embrace. She couldn't help that her whole body tensed as their stomachs touched and her chin brushed his shoulder. But no alarms went off, no armed men jumped out to separate them, nothing came between them. She finally relaxed into him, melting into the hug, dropping her cheek to rest near the curve of his neck as she sank into the comfort. And if they held each other a few more seconds than they should have, there was no one there to tell them so.
The world fell back into its normal place as they stepped back, slid back into their game, their eyes shifting to avoid each other, then back again to catch stolen glances. They have gotten so good at this, they barely recognize they are doing it anymore. Desire is a second nature, lying a little farther underneath everything they do than they're willing to go.
But no matter how hard they pretend, beneath it all something's changed, and sooner or later they will have to confront it.
A/N: I'm sorry to see this one go because of all the great reviews I was getting--thanks guys!--but there wasn't much more I could no with it because Syd worked out her problems (with a little help from Vaughn!)...Still, I have a new story in mind that should be up late today or early tomorrow. I expect you all to read and review it!
She pulled the keys out of the ignition, jingling them a bit before dropping them into the depths of her purse. She hummed unconsciously as she slipped out behind the wheel and stood regarding the outside of the warehouse for a moment. Then shoved her sunglasses up on her head and started in.
Back to work. She was-not resigned, resigned implied resentment-reconciled with the idea.
She smiled to herself as she remembered Francie's reaction to her entrance in the kitchen this morning. Francie had taken in her appearance and declared she absolutely could not go back to work. "You've only been home three days!" she had repeated her argument several times as she followed Sydney's progress across the room. Sydney had only grabbed up a bagel and her bag, studiously ignoring the complaints behind her ear. "The world will keep turning without you!"
"Sometimes I doubt that," Sydney had murmured to herself as she shut the door.
Even going to SD-6 had almost been...well, tolerable. She had smiled straight into Sloane's face, all the while wondering what his expression would look like it she told him what she really thought of him. She could wait forever for that moment. Forever. She had brushed off Dixon's inquiries about her health and speculating glances with good-natured laughter. Laughter truly was the best medicine. And Marshall, she'd had a very engaging conversation with Marshall that somehow turned from her well being, to his mother's ailments, to squirrels.
She chuckled out loud at the memory, the sound bouncing around the warehouse in rhythm with her footsteps.
"Something funny?" Vaughn asked as he unfolded from his position on one of the crates. She fought the urge he inspired to tug the cuff of her blouse down lower over a bruise, scolding herself that he'd seen her with worse things than a couple bumps.
"Nothing," she teased him lightly as she stepped into the cage, and she watched with amusement as he ran a self-conscious hand over his hair. She couldn't help raining another one of her smiles on him as he shifted, obviously wishing for a mirror. Women aren't always the vain ones.
"I forgot to say thank you at the hospital before I fell asleep," she changed the topic to something more serious. "For saving me," she added the unnecessary clarification.
"No problem," he smirked, the edges of his mouth jerking up, at what she wasn't quite sure.
They both paused, unsure, then he took the last couple of steps toward her. His arms went lightly around her lower back, as hers timidly encircled his neck to return the embrace. She couldn't help that her whole body tensed as their stomachs touched and her chin brushed his shoulder. But no alarms went off, no armed men jumped out to separate them, nothing came between them. She finally relaxed into him, melting into the hug, dropping her cheek to rest near the curve of his neck as she sank into the comfort. And if they held each other a few more seconds than they should have, there was no one there to tell them so.
The world fell back into its normal place as they stepped back, slid back into their game, their eyes shifting to avoid each other, then back again to catch stolen glances. They have gotten so good at this, they barely recognize they are doing it anymore. Desire is a second nature, lying a little farther underneath everything they do than they're willing to go.
But no matter how hard they pretend, beneath it all something's changed, and sooner or later they will have to confront it.
A/N: I'm sorry to see this one go because of all the great reviews I was getting--thanks guys!--but there wasn't much more I could no with it because Syd worked out her problems (with a little help from Vaughn!)...Still, I have a new story in mind that should be up late today or early tomorrow. I expect you all to read and review it!