Title: For Love of Country
Author: DOKChairman
Time: No particular time frame. Assume everything that has happened up to Counteragent is fair game.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for my bank account, J.J. Abrams, Bad Robot Productions, and ABC own Alias. I own nothing so don't sue me.
Author's Note: OK, I NEED EVERYONE TO READ THIS. There seems to be a huge misunderstanding. A misunderstanding that is entirely my fault I assure you. I should have known that the way I ended the last chapter was going to lead to the kind of questions I've been getting. I'm such a moron. I shouldn't have made the end so ambiguous.
Let me address certain things. First, there is noone at the door. Well there is, but its not Sydney or anybody else. When I wrote that I meant that it was someone from SD-6 coming to check what was going on because Jack had disabled the surveillance devices. There is no rescue. Vaughn is as dead as a doornail. Second, I thought for a long time on if I should do a chapter with Sydney but I decided against it. It didn't fit in with my vision of the story. This story is about three people: Vaughn, Jack, and Vaughn's mother and the loss each of them feel. I figure we all know how Sydney would react so we don't need to see her. Some of you may disagree but I ain't changing my mind.
Thirdly, some of you will probably feel cheated by the end, but if you are that's good because that means my job was done properly. This story is meant to grab your emotions and never let go. Its not supposed to be a big all inconclusive plot. Its an angsty piece with no setup, plot devlopment, or conclusion. It just ends. There I'm done. Please continue with the great feedback.
Dedication: To the dirtiest ho I know. You know who you are. And to her partner, the woman who has trouble drinking soda.
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." - Nathan Hale
Fittingly enough, the skies overhead the sky of Langley, Virginia were overcast and gloomy. Jack Bristow wouldn't have it any way. The sun did not deserve to shine on a day like this. This was a somber occasion.
Jack sighed and knew that it was time for him to do what he had come to do. This was something he dreaded, something he loathed, but he had made a promise and he was not going to break that promise. No matter what. Even if he was not supposed to be there.
He cut her off before she made it inside. In as gentle and as nonthreatening a tone as he could manage Jack asked. "Mrs. Vaughn?"
Marie Vaughn stopped her dispirited walk and looked at the tall man standing before her with a critical eye. She was tempted to tell him to go away. She was supposed to be here for her son's memorial ceremony and she did not want to be interrupted. Something in the man's eyes made her hesitate.
She responded carefully, "Yes, I'm Marie Vaughn. Who are you?"
Jack was suddenly at a loss for words. Did he tell her his name? It only took him a quick second to decide. "My name is Jack Bristow Mrs. Vaughn. I...worked with your son."
Marie instantly went on edge at the mention of her son. Her eyes saddened and her head drooped slightly. She felt her eyes begin to water but she harshly shut her eyes to stop the confluence of tears.
She repeated weakly, "My son?"
Jack wanted to do something for the woman standing in front of him, but he didn't know what. He was not used to showing emotion of any kind. Finally he decided on just giving her the time she needed to compose herself.
When she looked ready for him to continue he began, "Yes, your son Michael. We worked closely for two years and I just wanted you to know that he was an excellent agent. He served his country well."
Marie's eyes hardened and Jack hastily added, "He was also a good man, Mrs. Vaughn. One of the finest I have ever met. He would have made his father proud."
Marie's eyes widened in surprise. "You knew William?"
Jack nodded his head stiffly. "Yes. I had the pleasure of working with him for a number of years." Jack paused. "I'm sorry for you loss. For both of your losses."
The two mourners stared at each other in uncomfortable silence. Jack fidgeted nervously. There was more he wanted to say but he wasn't sure how to say it. Luckily, Marie provided the opening he needed. "D-d-do you know how he died? They won't tell me." Her voice was low and pleading.
"I can't tell you where your son died, and I can't tell you why he died, but I can tell you how he died. He died a man. He died a man who would not give up his principles, who would not betray his friends. He gave his life for his country Mrs. Vaughn. Don't ever forget that."
Marie sniffled quietly. "You were there weren't you?"
Jack smiled softly. He was amazed at how perceptive the woman was. No wonder Vaughn had been so exceptional. He came from good stock.
Jack faltered slightly, "I...was there when he died." He paused and swallowed slowly. "He told me to tell you that he was sorry."
Marie couldn't hold the tears in anymore and she started openly crying. Jack was once again unsure of what to do. Throwing caution to the wind, he wrapped his arms around the woman and held her in a light hug. Marie clung to his jacket and sobbed.
She mumbled, "I begged him not to join the CIA, but he was always so independent and determined. He desperately wanted to follow in his father's footsteps." At that utterance of irony, her cries became more violent.
Jack patted her on the back. "I'm so very sorry Mrs. Vaughn."
Not for the first time, Jack was struck by the vicious irony of the situation. Her son had died for the daughter of the woman who had murdered her husband. That was something Jack would never get over. He owed Michael Vaughn a debt of gratitude that he would never be able to repay.
Eventually Marie calmed down and she embarrassingly extracted herself from Jack's embrace. Both shared another nervous silence. Marie looked down at her watch and noticed with some alarm that it was almost time for the ceremony to start. "Oh dear, its almost time now. Why don't you join me Mr. Bristow. You were obviously close to Michael."
Jack winced imperceptibly. He had been far from close to Vaughn. "I'm sorry Mrs. Vaughn, but I must decline. I would like nothing more than to be there for your son's ceremony but unfortunately its just not possible. I'm not even supposed to be here now."
Marie asked worryingly. "You won't get in trouble will you?"
Jack reassured her, "It doesn't matter. I made a promise to your son."
Marie responded softly, "Oh. Well thank you Mr. Bristow for your kind words. It helps to know that Michael had an effect on the people around him. Its nice to know he will be remembered."
Jack actually felt a tear slip down his cheek. "I will never forget your son Mrs. Vaughn. I owe your family more than you will ever know."
Marie looked at Jack with a puzzled look. She was about to comment on what Jack had said when a noise drew her attention towards the Original Headquarters Building where the ceremony was being held. She turned her head back to Jack but to her surprise he was nowhere to be seen. In his place, lying carefully on the ground, was a gold watch. With a flutter of surprise Marie picked up the watch and recognized it immediately. It was her son's watch. The watch he had been given by his father. Marie felt a tear fall down her cheek and she placed the watch in the pocket of her thick coat. She turned around and set off towards the ceremony.
Marie could not tear her eyes away from the marble wall in front of her. 80 tiny two and a half inch by two and a half inch stars glared back at her. 80. Not 79 but 80. One more to recognize the death of her son.
Marie just stared at the wall that she had grown to hate. She had hoped, no she had prayed, that she would never have to see it again. If it was possible, this time was much worse than the first. She had lost her only son. Her connection to her dead husband was truly gone. All that she had left was a star.
Marie finally pulled her eyes away from the wall to face the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency who was beginning the ceremony. "Today we are here to honor and mourn the passing of one of this Agency's most promising agents. Michael Vaughn was an exemplary agent, beloved by his coworkers, dedicated to his country, and a good man. We mourn the loss of another one of this country's brightest stars. Michael Vaughn was a hero who died in the service of his country. For that we will forever be in his debt."
The Director walked over to Marie and handed her a folded American flag. He whispered to her, "This country can never repay you for the losses that you have suffered. But know this, your son did not die in vain. Because of his death, he gave this Agency the opportunity to destroy an organization that would have caused hundreds, if not thousands of deaths. Your son was a hero. Remember him as such."
Marie accepted the flag and placed it demurely in her lap. She quietly responded, "Thank you. And my son was always a hero."
The Director smiled gently and nodded his head. He then stood up and walked up to the wall. He picked up the ornate pen lying next to the glass case and turned the page of the book lying there. Whether by blind luck or by Fate, the name Michael Vaughn was written directly underneath the name of another Vaughn. In death, father and son were finally together again.
Marie stood up and turned her back on the marble wall. The haunting words had been ingrained on her mind years ago. "In honor of those members of the Cental Intelligence Agency who gave their lives in the service of their country." Marie cried silently as she left the building of so many bad memories; clutching the American flag tightly in her hand. For love of country indeed.
P.S. I credit the depressing nature of this story to my own crappy life and my love of really depressing music. I recommend listening to the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence while reading this story. It almost made me cry while listening to that song and I wrote the damn thing. But mostly I just like putting Vaughn through hell. The man is just so perfect that he pisses me off. I figure if all of Sydney's boyfriends die, eventually she'll have to make it to me. Hehe. Wait, what do you mean this isn't real? Huh? Alias is just a TV show? No freakin way! Sydney is real and nobody can tell me otherwise. Lalalala.
P.S. Thanks for all the great feedback. I'm glad I was able to make people cry. That was my goal from the beginning. In fact I might just kill Vaughn off in all my stories. Nah. He's got to get the girl in at least one fic.
P.S. Now it is time for the gratuitous pimping. If you like this story, please read my other work. Angel Dark is guaranteed to make you confused and Ham and Cheese is guaranteed to make you high just from reading it. Trust me on this. 9 out of 10 doctors agree. DOKChairman fanfic is good for the heart but bad for the lungs, the liver, and quite possibly the kidneys. I'm not sure on this one yet. The lab reports are inconclusive.