Title: This is:
Author: Kerry (NDKerry@optonline.net)
Rating: PG-13 (Just to be safe)
Spoilers: Seriously? Everything up through, including, and especially, Double Agent.
Category: Post-Ep, Romance (S/V), 1st person POV, Series of Vignettes.
Summary: Different thoughts from different sources during and after Double Agent.
Archive: That would be lovely, just please let me know where.
Feedback: Crave it like I want Michael Vartan.
Disclaimer: Still not mine. Damn.
Author's Notes: Special thanks to super-beta Lisa! Love and shout-outs to Dani & Flip.

This is: the Beginning of the End (Francie POV)

Placing the cover back on Sydney's television, I glance around the room. From what my briefing manual said, this room is very typical of her style--bright and simple, yet homey. She's still trying to make up for the home she never had as a child. I roll my eyes and smirk. That just makes her weak in my book. She's still trying to compensate for what she never had to begin with.

It is certainly taking some getting used to, and Sydney is much friendlier than I had anticipated. Of course, as I'm supposed to be her best friend, I imagine that she's friendlier with me than the average Jane Doe on the street. And in fact, if she had any idea I wasn't 'her' Francie, I don't doubt she would come at me in full pit-bull attack mode. Let her try.

This is far easier than I thought it would be. Obviously her friend was a very dim-witted person. It seems she lived on the restaurant and gossip. And ugly clothes. The worst part of this is the outfits I have to wear constantly. I've studied the surveillance tapes, so I think I've got her mannerisms and voice inflections down perfectly. At least, close enough to perfect that the Almighty Sydney Bristow hasn't noticed yet.

She did give me a funny look earlier, though, when she introduced me to 'Michael from the bank.' Of course, I did see them kissing, so maybe she was just embarrassed about that. She seems very into this Michael. I will need to do more research on him. He must be from the CIA. Very interesting. Of course, that will make using him a little more difficult, as I'm sure he's been trained to defend himself.

He did seem rather protective of her, though, the way he was looking at her, and speaking with her. It's obvious that he cares very much for her. That, of course, is his weakness, and I'm sure that it is hers, as well. It certainly hasn't taken me long to find Sydney's Achilles Heel.

I've nearly finished planting all the bugs in the house. Amazing how with a few strategically placed cameras nearly every corner of the house can be visible on my computer. I will be able to find every weakness that Sydney Bristow has. And I will be able to use them all against her. I will break her, until she is begging for mercy. And how sweet will it be that the person who has betrayed her so deeply is her own best friend?

I will admit, this whole body-doubling thing is a little weird. I mean, for all intents and purposes, I really am Francie. I look exactly like her, I sound like her, I try to act like her, but even my DNA--that's hers, too. It's as if *I* never existed, all that's left is Francie. And all I have to say is I'm glad it's not permanent. I want to wear my old clothes again eventually.

Of course, however long I'm in Francie's body, or whatever, depends on how long it takes Mr. Sark and Mr. Sloane to attain their goals. Not that I know what these goals are, of course. Talk about being paranoid with knowledge. I know what's occurred up until now, but as for the current mission, I only know two things: my particular part in this job, and that I'm being paid very nicely to do my job well. All I can say is, when I'm done with this, it's off to the South Pacific for a lifetime of Rest and Relaxation. Sydney's demise is just an added bonus.

The best part about destroying Sydney now, and having her best friend betray her now, is that now is when she is finally happy. She's with that Michael from the bank, and she thinks that life is just oh so grand now that she's taken down SD-6. If she had any idea that this was all part of Arvin Sloane's greater plan, perhaps she wouldn't be so thrilled with her accomplishments. On the other hand, since she is now relaxed and happy, this makes my job a little easier.

I finish up with another camera in the kitchen, and one in the living room. Heading back to Francie's room... my room, now, of course, I flip on my laptop and double check to make sure that each of them work. Perfect. Grabbing my headset, I check the levels on the audio bugs. Sydney's not going to get a glass of water in this place without me knowing about it.

But of course, there's still more work to be done. I grab a few extra bugs, and head out to Sydney's car. Wouldn't want her travel time to go unrecorded.

Sydney thinks that her time for happiness has finally come. Little does she know the worst is still in front of her.

For Sydney Bristow, this is the beginning of the end.

END (2/4)

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