Sydney's feet pounded the pavement. It was dark, not the safest time to jog. Even though she could protect herself, her CIA bosses wouldn't be thrilled if she went around beating up muggers. So she went a different route then normal, closer to the local park, a better-lit area.

Her breathing started coming heavier, and she slowed down pace a little. She jogged along a little dirt path through the park, a haven in the big city. Up ahead, another jogger was running towards her.

And he was familiar. Vaughn. Sydney's breath gave out a little. She regained composure and kept her steady pace jogging towards him. He looked out of it and then very surprised when he realized who it was.

"Sydney?"

Sydney pretended to be surprised. "Vaughn? Do you normally jog here?"

"Um. sometimes. But not usually this late. I just had- had to get out."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Sydney jogged in place a little, that antsy feeling taking over again. She was afraid if she didn't move she was going to kiss him.

"Well, um, I guess I better go." Vaughn motioned forward. He started moving.

"Vaughn! Wait. Would it be so bad?" Sydney bit her lip for saying this.

Vaughn wrinkled his forehead. Then he nodded. "We would have to live a lie. It could endanger the mission or. you. And I couldn't live with that."

"I already live a lie. I can settle for another one."

Vaughn cocked his head to the side. "Do you think this easy for me? Do you think this is what I want?"

"Its what your deciding." Sydney knew she was being unfair, but suddenly she could care less. "Besides. endangering the mission? Are you saying that your feeling don't already effect your decisions regarding me? Generally love is supposed to mean something more than physically being with the person."

Vaughn was taken back. She had a point. "No, I mean. I love you. But you make things so damn complicated. And I know I make things complicated for you."

Sydney could not take it anymore. "Fine. If I make things so difficult for you, then you get over it and I'll leave you alone."

"Sydney wait. What about you? Do you even know how much hell this has been for me? The moment I met you. I knew I loved you. But it wasn't protocol keeping us apart then. It was you."

"Me?"

"Yes. You and. Noah. God, do you know how I felt? CIA is not stupid, they are always watching. I'm your guardian angel right? I am always watching. I know what happened with Noah. Do you know how hard that was for me. And then, the bastard tries to kill you and you still carry around this guilt, when you deserved someone better."

"Like who? You? Lets talk about you for a second Vaughn. Want to know a slap in the face? After everything, after how close we were getting, Alice shows up at that hospital. Your girlfriend."

Vaughn was getting angry. Sydney didn't care- she was already pissed. "Sydney, I tried to explain. There is nothing between Alice and I. Nothing. We're friends. Like you and Will."

Sydney softened slightly. "Then why aren't we together?" Her eyes were quickly filling with tears.

Vaughn looked down. "Because we can't be."

Sydney lifted his chin and left her hand cradling his perfect chin. "Look at me. We can be. You have to decide if you want us to be."

Vaughn's eyes know grew teary. He blinked away tears and swallowed hard. "Sydney, I don't want us to be together." Sydney removed her hand like it was diseased. She nodded her head to show she understood and then she backed away.

Sydney turned, pausing for only a moment. The she jogged away, tears edging in the corner of her eyes. Vaughn grimaced watching her run away, spending the next half hour standing there thinking about what might have happened if he had ran after her.