About two weeks later, Sydney found herself at home enjoying a quiet Friday
night in front of the tv. Will and Francie were out, and Sydney was
curious about what may be developing with those two. Actually she was more
hopeful than anything.
Sydney yawned, and looked at the clock. It was only nine, but in her pajamas in the warm house. she was about ready to sleep. Things had been going fairly well for her lately, although work was keeping her busy. She had talked to her mother twice, but also took notice that Vaughn had been into visit. She resisted her curiosity to ask either party what they had talked about. She and Vaughn and not talked much. They didn't make any small talk. She had only had one counter mission in the last week, which Vaughn gave to her and thankfully chose to not prolong her agony by wanting to talk.
Sydney was startled out of her thoughts, which were unfortunately deeper than she had wanted to think about, by her telephone.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end cleared his throat a little. "Joey's pizza?"
Sydney paused. "Maybe."
"Delivery at 11? Bring a small pizza?"
"Whatever." She hung up the phone. She knew the drill. Meet at eleven; bring a small suitcase, of the overnight persuasion. Whatever, she thought again in her mind. She groaned as she got up to pack.
"There goes the peaceful evening at home."
Vaughn stared at the phone a little bit in disbelief. Okay, so she was pissed. But she had the right to be. Vaughn ran a hand over his face and groaned. He got up and walked to the bathroom, to take a long hot shower.
Afterwards, Vaughn felt significantly better. He shaved, and brushed his teeth and then put on slacks and a polo shirt. Casual nice. He grimaced at that thought. He was analyzing his clothes like some insecure high schooler. What an effect this girl had.
As she packed, Sydney found herself a little annoyed with Vaughn's call. How dare he? But maybe there was something important work related. Maybe. In her hearts of hearts she hoped it was something else, but that hope was also what was causing her pain in her heart.
Sydney picked out clothes that looked all right for "work", but would also quite possibly make Vaughn regret turning her out to the cold the night before. That is, if he cared. Still, a little cleavage never hurt anyone.
At 10:50, Sydney left out her front door. She was going to be late, but so what. Vaughn worrying about her might be good for him.
Sydney arrived at the warehouse to find nobody. She was angry. Where the hell was Vaughn? She opened her cell phone and called. His answering machine picked up. Sydney hung up the phone angrily. She surveyed the room one more time before angrily walking out the door.
She was about to cross the street when an idiot driver came very close to running over he toes and stopped their car in her path. The window rolled down, and Sydney's heart quickened a little.
Vaughn leaned over from the driver's side. "Get in. I mean, please."
Sydney opened the door and got in. Vaughn started to drive.
"Vaughn, where are we going?"
"Mission. I'll explain on the way, but it's a two hour drive."
"I don't have any missions from SD-6 though."
"There are no breaks for a double agent, Sydney."
Sydney accepted that and became silent for a while. She looked out her window, intentionally avoiding his gaze. After thirty minutes she became impatient.
"So what's the mission?"
"Stake out. Sloane sent Sark out to the mountains to meet up with someone. but we don't know who. We know when and where though, so you and I will be watching Sark until the drop off. Or whatever it is going on."
"That seems pretty vague."
Vaughn smiled slightly. "I'm sorry." His eyes remained steady on the road.
Sydney didn't want to let him up that easy. "Don't apologize on my account."
Vaughn's forehead crinkled. "Is this the way it's going to be?"
"Is this the way you want it to be?" Vaughn's jaw twitched slightly. He glued his eyes to the road ahead and his hands to the steering wheel.
Sydney yawned, and looked at the clock. It was only nine, but in her pajamas in the warm house. she was about ready to sleep. Things had been going fairly well for her lately, although work was keeping her busy. She had talked to her mother twice, but also took notice that Vaughn had been into visit. She resisted her curiosity to ask either party what they had talked about. She and Vaughn and not talked much. They didn't make any small talk. She had only had one counter mission in the last week, which Vaughn gave to her and thankfully chose to not prolong her agony by wanting to talk.
Sydney was startled out of her thoughts, which were unfortunately deeper than she had wanted to think about, by her telephone.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end cleared his throat a little. "Joey's pizza?"
Sydney paused. "Maybe."
"Delivery at 11? Bring a small pizza?"
"Whatever." She hung up the phone. She knew the drill. Meet at eleven; bring a small suitcase, of the overnight persuasion. Whatever, she thought again in her mind. She groaned as she got up to pack.
"There goes the peaceful evening at home."
Vaughn stared at the phone a little bit in disbelief. Okay, so she was pissed. But she had the right to be. Vaughn ran a hand over his face and groaned. He got up and walked to the bathroom, to take a long hot shower.
Afterwards, Vaughn felt significantly better. He shaved, and brushed his teeth and then put on slacks and a polo shirt. Casual nice. He grimaced at that thought. He was analyzing his clothes like some insecure high schooler. What an effect this girl had.
As she packed, Sydney found herself a little annoyed with Vaughn's call. How dare he? But maybe there was something important work related. Maybe. In her hearts of hearts she hoped it was something else, but that hope was also what was causing her pain in her heart.
Sydney picked out clothes that looked all right for "work", but would also quite possibly make Vaughn regret turning her out to the cold the night before. That is, if he cared. Still, a little cleavage never hurt anyone.
At 10:50, Sydney left out her front door. She was going to be late, but so what. Vaughn worrying about her might be good for him.
Sydney arrived at the warehouse to find nobody. She was angry. Where the hell was Vaughn? She opened her cell phone and called. His answering machine picked up. Sydney hung up the phone angrily. She surveyed the room one more time before angrily walking out the door.
She was about to cross the street when an idiot driver came very close to running over he toes and stopped their car in her path. The window rolled down, and Sydney's heart quickened a little.
Vaughn leaned over from the driver's side. "Get in. I mean, please."
Sydney opened the door and got in. Vaughn started to drive.
"Vaughn, where are we going?"
"Mission. I'll explain on the way, but it's a two hour drive."
"I don't have any missions from SD-6 though."
"There are no breaks for a double agent, Sydney."
Sydney accepted that and became silent for a while. She looked out her window, intentionally avoiding his gaze. After thirty minutes she became impatient.
"So what's the mission?"
"Stake out. Sloane sent Sark out to the mountains to meet up with someone. but we don't know who. We know when and where though, so you and I will be watching Sark until the drop off. Or whatever it is going on."
"That seems pretty vague."
Vaughn smiled slightly. "I'm sorry." His eyes remained steady on the road.
Sydney didn't want to let him up that easy. "Don't apologize on my account."
Vaughn's forehead crinkled. "Is this the way it's going to be?"
"Is this the way you want it to be?" Vaughn's jaw twitched slightly. He glued his eyes to the road ahead and his hands to the steering wheel.