The Flood

It had been sunny when she entered the warehouse, but now, as she navigated home through the streets of LA, the early afternoon sun was muted by thick, menacing clouds. It was not long after she began to drive that big drops of rain began splattering her windows.

"Mood weather" she grumbled. Why had she been so tough on him, on herself? "Because you ARE emotionally involved" she said aloud, and was startled at how loud her own words sounded in the empty car. She knew she loved him. She had known for a long time now. But it was how he felt that was important to her now, even though it shouldn't have been. It was already causing problems, for both of them. But there was nothing she could do about it . There were times when she was oh-so-certain he felt the same way, like when he had rescued her in Casablanca, and looked at her with those eyes. But then there were others when she was not nearly so sure, like today. She knew it could never happen for them, and it scared her how much that hurt. It was loosing something she never had, but it devastated her. She knew it was affecting her job performance, and lately his, and she couldn't let it happen anymore. This thing with her father had to be a wake up call. If she couldn't see Vaughn anymore, even if it was just as a co-worker, she didn't know what she would do.

It was pouring by the time she arrived home, and she was soaked as she entered the house. "Fran? Francie are you home?" she called, standing still inside the door. When no response came, she glanced down at her watch and realized it was only five after two. Francie wouldn't be home for hours. "Good" she sighed, feeling a bit guilty. It wasn't that she didn't love Francie, but right now she could use some time alone. She started peeling off her wet jeans as she walked down the hall to her room. She felt a little silly and laughed at herself as she changed into her most comfortable pair of pink flannel pajamas. "The life of a double agent" she giggled as she hung her damp clothes in the bathroom adjoining her room. "So tough." She glanced in the mirror, briefly frowning at her wet hair and streaked mascara. "Ice cream" she remembered, walking back into the kitchen. She scooped herself a little too much mint chocolate chip, and plunked down in front of the TV. After ten minutes of finding nothing but soaps, she turned the TV off dejectedly. She looked around the room. This is what she dreamt about, a normal, boring life, and now that she had an afternoon off she could think of nothing to do. "A bath" she decided. "A bath would be good." Stretching, she headed back into the bathroom and began filling the tub. She remembered her ice cream, and as she stood up to retrieve it, heard a knock at the door. "I wonder who that could be?" she mused, glancing at her pajamas.

It took a lot to surprise her these days, but when she opened the door, she was genuinely shocked. "Vaughn!?" What…?"

"Syd, I'm sorry," he cut her off. "I know this is breaking so many rules, but…"

"No, no, I'm just a little… come in." She moved aside, allowing him to enter. He glanced around the living room as she shut the door.

"Nice house."

"Thanks."

His eyes landed on her, and he gave a little laugh. "Nice PJ's."

She blushed, glancing at the floor. "Thank you." She smiled up at him, and he smiled back. Her heat beat a little faster. "So what are you doing here?" He wouldn't risk coming to her house if it weren't important. "Is everything all right?"

He saw the concern in her eyes, and shook his head quickly. "No, nothings wrong. Well, no, that's not true." He paused, rubbing his nose, then continued quickly. "Syd, I wanted, needed, to apologize for the warehouse. I don't know why I got so upset. I mean, I know why I got upset about not being your handler, but I don't know why I got angry with you. You said some really nice things about me, and, I'm sorry."

"No Vaughn" she grabbed his hand, but then dropped it quickly, shocked at herself. "It was my fault, I was being rude. I was upset at my father. And at myself" she added quietly. "I'm sorry. Now you've come all this way, and I feel horrible." She dropped her eyes, staring intently at her hands. He laughed then, and she had never been so glad to hear it. "What?"

"Nothing."

"What's so funny?" she was smiling now too, feigning annoyance.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking how I was sort of glad we had this fight."

"Why?" she stopped laughing, confused.

"Just because I finally got to see where you live" he grinned. And what you wear to bed, he thought to himself.

"Oh. I'm kind of glad about that too." They stared at each other, smiling slightly.

"Well, I guess I'd better be going." He started to turn toward the door.

"No! " she heard herself say, feeling quite surprised at her boldness. She moved in front of the door, blocking him in. "Since you're here, do you, maybe, wanna come in, have some ice cream, or something?" She smiled, blushing a little.

"You're not busy?"

"No." She shook her head. "I was just going to take a bath, relax."

"Oh" he raised his eyebrows slightly. "Well, I should just jump back into the shower then" he joked, gesturing to the rain out side with his thumb.

"Oh, no" she whispered, staring past him. She moved slowly, as if in a trance, pushing past him with one arm.

"Syd!" he said, slightly panicked "I was just kidding… a joke… about the rain. I didn't mean…"

"No, Vaughn, I got it." She turned back to him. "I just remembered I left the tub running." She moved quicker now, through her bedroom, toward the bathroom. He watched her go, unsure if he should follow.

"Vaughn!" she squealed, popping her head around the door. "Help!" She disappeared back into the bathroom. He kicked off his shoes, hurried down the hall, and entered her bedroom. It was so her, simple and contemporary, but elegant. It smelled like her, and he breathed deeply.

"Vaughn?"

"Hmmm?" He snapped out of his daze. "What?"

"Grab some towels? Out of that cabinet." She pointed. "Hurry."

He did. Grabbing as many towels as he could, he moved quickly back toward the bathroom. The floor was covered with water, and it was starting to spill form the tiles of the bathroom to the hardwood of the bedroom. He tossed her a towel, kept one for himself, and placed the rest on the counter. He knelt beside her, and was instantly soaked. Like he cared.

"I am such a idiot" she groaned, pushing hair out of her eyes with a wet sleeve.

"No, this was definitely my fault. I distracted you."

"Yeah." She raised her eyes to meet his. "Yeah, ya did."

He had never seen anyone so beautiful as she was then, kneeling on the floor in sopping wet pajamas, hair in her face. They sat there, staring at each other for a second, an eternity.

"Well, um" she cleared her throat, breaking the gaze, turning her attention to the floor. She then turned back to him, and noticed his wet clothes. "Oh, Vaughn, I'm sorry. You're all wet." She moved for a dry towel, and held it out to him. "I'm sorry."

"No problem" he smiled. "I had to park my car down the block, so I was kinda damp anyway." Instead of using the towel on himself, he lowered it to the floor, never taking his eyes off her. He rubbed the floor in wide circles, moving closer to where she knelt. "Besides, you're all wet too."

"But you're going to have to drive home like that. I live here, I can change. "

"Don't change." He was right beside her now. He reached up slowly, brushing the damp hair from her cheek. "I like this." He couldn't help it, being so closed to her like that. She was drawing him in. He had let his guard down, and now he was in trouble. He leaned forward and brushed her lips softly. She responded instantly, and they kissed deeply, with increasing passion, urgency. All too soon they broke apart, and he swallowed hard, sitting back on his haunches. His head spun, and he looked down at her. Now he'd done it… "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"Thank God" she whispered, not hearing his apologies. She smiled, slow at first, then wider. "Thank God."

He was relieved to see she was smiling, that it hadn't been a mistake. "What?"

"I didn't know if you… I was never sure that you… ya know…" she studied her fingernails intently "felt… that way…"

"You didn't know?! " He laughed loudly "And you're supposed to be a genius?" She laughed then, too, as he continued "I always thought you could see right through me, but that you didn't think of me that way."

"Oh, I've thought of you that way, believe…"

He didn't let her finish. Instead, he caught her mouth in another kiss, then another. They moved together hungrily. He cradled her neck and wound his fingers through her hair. She stood, slowly, and he moved with her. His hands moved down over her shoulders until they reached the buttons of her flannel top. He began unbuttoning it slowly. She slid her hands under his damp sweater, pulling it quickly over his head, letting it splash to the floor. Her skin was on fire; her brain was on fire, as he kissed slowly down her neck. Her shirt slipped away. She turned and walked slowly backwards into the bedroom, pulling him after her. He stopped her before they reached the bed, breaking the kiss.

"Yeah?" He asked raising one eyebrow and giving a sly half smile.

"Oh yeah" she whispered huskily, crawling backward onto the bed. She grabbed his belt buckle and pulled him with her. "Definitely."

***

She was awake before she opened her eyes. If this were another dream, she'd kill herself. She slowly opened one eye, then the other. He was lying close to her, watching her with a smile on his face. "Hey" she said with great relief, as her eyes were met by two of the most beautiful green ones she had ever seen.

"Hey." He reached out and ran his thumb over her cheek.

"Ummm." She caught his hand and kissed his knuckles. "What time is it?"

He rolled over, glancing at the clock on her night stand "five forty-five."

"What?" She was instantly alert. "Why didn't you wake me? Francie will be home any minute!" She moved to get out of bed, but he caught her hand and pulled her back.

"Francie called earlier, while you were asleep. Her mom," he scrunched up his face, trying to remember "or grandma, did… something, and she won't be home tonight."

"You answered the phone?" she gasped, shocked at his carelessness.

"The machine got it." He pulled her close to him, kissing her arm. "Relax."

"Okay" she whispered, sinking against him. "So, we have all night?"

"Yup" he nodded, smile growing.

"Hungry?" she asked.

"Nope."

"Want a bath?" she laughed, running a hand through his hair.

He laughed. "Maybe later."

"What do you want to do then?" she asked, eyes shining.

"Well, there is one think I can think of." He smiled. "One thing I do want."

"Oh? What's that?" she asked innocently.

"You." He pulled the blanket over their heads, kissing her shoulder gently. "Just You."