Disclaimer: I don't Alias or the actors, or anything else involving the show.

Chapter 4

"Hey," Alice began as Vaughn sat across from her at their table, "Isn't that Rita?"

Vaughn drew his eyebrows together and wrinkles appeared on his forehead. "Rita? Who's that?"

"Oh, you remember Rita. You used to work with her."

With a frown he remembered Sydney's former alias. "Oh, yes, Rita. I remember now." He tried to sound casual. "Where is she?"

Alice pointed to a table a nearby. "See her?"

Vaughn nodded as his eyes fell on Sydney. For a moment he didn't notice the man sitting with her, but when he did he eyed him carefully and suspiciously. Who was he and what was his relationship to Syd?

"My goodness has she changed. Let's go say hi." Alice said pushing her chair back.

"What?" Vaughn asked as Alice's voice jarred him out of his thoughts. "No, I don't think that's a good idea." He replied when Alice's statement registered.

"Why not?" By now she was standing and looking down at him through curious eyes.

"Um." He searched his mind for an excuse. Years at the CIA had sharpened his mind and reflexes, which usually allowed him to lie with ease, but now he found himself struggling to come up with something, anything, believable. "She's obviously on a.date." The last word was the hardest to utter.

"I'm sure she won't mind." Alice shrugged and headed off in Sydney's direction. Swearing softly under his breath, he stood and followed her.



"How's your meal?" Kevin asked, as he swallowed his own food.

"Rita!" Alice exclaimed appearing beside the table. "It's so good to see you again."

"Excuse me?" Sydney asked, playing dumb.

Continuing as if no one had spoken Alice commented, "I like the new look. Blonde works for you." She smiled sincerely.

"Mia?" Kevin asked, slightly bewildered. "What is this woman talking about?"

"I'm not sure." Sydney replied, quickly glancing at him before turning her attention back to Alice and Vaughn. "I think you have me mistaken with someone else." She smiled politely.

Alice frowned. She was sure the woman seated in front of her was Rita. Shaking her head slightly, she turned to her boyfriend. "I guess we were wrong Michael." She looked back at the couple sitting at the table. "I'm sorry to have bothered you, I was almost positive you were this woman my boyfriend used to work with."

"I must have one of those faces."

Alice nodded, "Again, I'm sorry." She said, before taking Vaughn's hand and walking away.

'That was too close.' Sydney thought before facing Kevin again and taking a bite of her dinner.



"Lunch was a good idea." Jack nodded across the table at his daughter, two days later.

"Yeah, it was." Sydney agreed.

A short silence fell over them before Jack asked, "How is your life? Your new life." He added.

"It's good." Syd replied with a small smile. "I'm teaching at a middle school in Ohio. I love it there, the kids are great." She paused for a moment. "And, I've met someone. His name is Kevin."

"That's wonderful."

"Yeah, I think so. He's actually here now." She said carefully.

Jack's eyes flew up to meet his daughter's. "You brought him here? Why?"

She frowned ever so slightly. "I had to. I tried to tell him that it wasn't necessary, but he insisted."

"What was the story you gave him for coming?"

"You." She answered. "I told him my father was sick and I needed to come see him." At his hard gaze she hurried to continue. "Well, I couldn't tell him the real reason."

"I know that, but now he's going to want to meet me. I suppose I'm in the hospital too?"

"Of course not," Sydney assured him, "But that might be a nice touch."

"I'll talk to Devlin about this, maybe he can help iron out the details of your cover story."

"I think it's a good cover story. Simple and workable."

Jack sighed. "It is good. But it would have been nice to be informed in advance so I could have been prepared."

"Look, I'm sorry, but all this happened on such short notice. I didn't have time to contact you."

Jack gave her a small smile. "I understand." He paused as if contemplating his next words. "I'm glad to have you home, Sydney."



Sydney snuggled into the arms that held her tight and buried her face into his chest. "Mmm." She murmured as his scent invaded her senses. Forcing herself to concentrate, she went back to the dream she was having.

Everything was perfect. His one arm was wrapped securely around her waist; his other hand moved to her face and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "I've missed you." He whispered and slowly lowered his face until it was inches from hers. "Welcome back Syd." He saw her mouth curl up into a smile mere seconds before his lips brushed against hers. Bringing her arms up, she pulled him closer and ran her fingers though his hair.

"I missed you too." She said, his kiss still fresh on her lips.

"Mia?" Another voice reached out to her through the fog. "Mia, honey. Wake up." Whoever owned the voice shook her gently and she slowly opened her eyes to find herself tucked tightly against Kevin.

Hers eyes fluttered shut for a moment, but the dream was gone and she looked at the man next to her once morning. "Hey." She muttered in a voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning, sleepy head." He smiled and placed a kiss in her hair.

"Morning." She rolled away from him, sighed loudly, and through the covers back. "I have some errands to run this morning, but we can go sight-seeing later." She grabbed her robe and turned towards the bathroom. "Does that sound ok to you?" She asked. When he nodded in agreement, she stepped into the other room and shut the door behind her. Leaning against it, she allowed the feeling she'd experienced in her dream to hit her with full force once more. It had been so real.



"Hey Dad." Sydney greeted with a smile as she entered his office. "What did you need to see me for?"

Jack's eyes softened s he gazed upon the young women who had just entered his office. "You should sit down." He told her gently, his voice soft, but serious.

"Ok." She replied slowly, easing into the chair across from his desk. "What's this all about? What's going on?"

"It's Vaughn." He watched her reaction as he spoke the words and saw fear slice through her momentarily before she stifled it.

A frown creased her features. "Vaughn?" She found herself having to take a deep breath before continuing. "Is he ok?"

"Sydney, he's in the hospital. It doesn't look good."