Don't Give Up

Blankets flying, they separated, breathing heavily. They both lay back, eyes closed.

"Well" she gasped after a moment, turning towards him "I must say, I'm more convinced than ever that you must be the best handler at the CIA."

"How many CIA agents have you been handled by, exactly?" he asked, his breathing still strained.

"Stop it" she giggled, hitting him playfully.

"Well, come on now" he said, pretending to be serious, "I think I deserve a straight answer. I can honestly say you're my one and only asset."

"Good" she pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him. "Good." They lay there silently, neither wanting to ruin the perfect moment. With a sinking heart, she realized it had to be done and spoke. "It's almost seven o'clock. I have to be at work in two hours. So do you."

"Mmmm, I know." He made no move to leave. "But that doesn't mean I have to want to go." His voice was soft and sad and he held her tighter.

"You know I don't want you to go Vaughn."

"Michael" he corrected, smiling into her hair.

"Michael" she said shyly, testing it out. "I like the way that sounds." She turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his, but broke the kiss before it led to anything else. "This has to be said, so I'll just say it." Her tone was serious. "We can't lets this affect our work. I could be assigned a new handler, or, more importantly, one or both of us could be killed if anyone found out. I don't know that I could handle loosing you like Danny." Her words tumbled out over each other, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Okay, baby, okay" he cooed. "Nothing' s going to happen. I won't let it." He held her in silence, then, slowly, "So do you regret this then?" He was terrified of her answer, but he had to know.

"Never" she said firmly. "Never in a million years could anything make me regret this. One night is nothing, really, but one night everything compared to no night at all."

He wanted nothing more than to make love to her again, but he knew he couldn't. Instead he kissed her quickly and detangled himself from her arms and legs and sheets, and moved toward the bathroom.

As she watched him gather his clothes she could not remember a time she had felt happier. Just watching him pull on his pants filled her with such joy it scared her a little. She may never get to see him do that again. She swallowed, fighting back tears, and her voice only wavered a little when she called "Are they dry?"

"The pants are okay" he gave a low laugh "they landed in the bedroom. But my sweater was lying in a puddle all night." He held it up to show her. "Your floor is still kinda wet."

'Leave it here than" she gestured to the dripping sweater in his hand "I can sleep in it… if that's okay?"

He smiled. "Yeah, that's fine."

She slipped out of bed then, pulling a robe around herself. She moved toward the kitchen, then turned and called "you can used my toothbrush if you want" before disappearing through the door.

"God she's perfect," he thought as he picked up the toothpaste.

"God he's perfect, " she thought as she switched on her coffee maker.

As he left the bedroom he watched her puttering around the kitchen. This is what I want he thought. Just to be able to see her live. He leaned against the doorframe of the kitchen just watching her until she glanced up and noticed him. They both smiled, and stood looking at one another.

"Do you, um, want some coffee, or something?" she asked, waving an empty mug in the air as she glanced around the kitchen for something else to offer. "Froot Loops, maybe?"

"Nah," he said, trying a little to hard to make it sound casual "I'd better get going."

"Right" she turned away, studying the floor. "Well, thanks for the shirt, and, I'll, um, see ya at work, later, I guess."

He was suddenly right behind her, holding her. He couldn't see her face, but he knew she was crying. He rocked her gently. "One day I'll sit across this table from you, wearing no shirt, and you don't have to wear one either…" she gave a small, pained laugh and he continued. "And I'll eat Froot Loops, or whatever you want me to eat, and we'll talk about what we're going to do that day, and then we'll go out and do it, and love every minute of it."

She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, and held him tighter than she had ever held anyone. He kissed her forehead, and then pulled away. He was halfway out the door when he paused, turned, and stared her right in the eye. "Don't give up on us Sydney." Then, as suddenly as he had entered, he was gone.