Title: Joyless
Rating: PG-13 for language
Summary: Sydney deals with Francie's death
Disclaimer: JJ Abrams, Touchstone, and ABC own Alias and it's characters. I
don't. I just obsess over them. But that's healthy, right?
A/N: Please, please, please review. I'm pretty sure I need reviews like I need
oxygen. Or is that ice cream?



She sat up in bed, breathing hard. A body next to her sat up with her. Syd,
what's wrong?

She jerked at his voice. She cried. She quickly wrapped her arms
around him, and held him as tight as she could. Vaughn quickly put his arms
around her waist, and she began to sob. He stroked her hair, trying to calm her.

Shh, it was just a dream. It's okay. Shh. Did you see Francie again?

No. It was like finding Danny again, Sydney started, but it wasn't him I
found this time. It was you. She held on to him even tighter as she remembered
the image of him in the bathtub.

You're okay now, Vaughn whispered. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.

Sydney nodded through her tears, but she wasn't convinced. She had already lost Danny, Noah, and now Francie. And Sydney knew she could lose Vaughn at any
minute with their jobs and Sloane promising revenge.

She knew she couldn't handle losing Vaughn too. She was barely making it
knowing Francie was gone. Vaughn had become her lifeline, and the thought of him
dead because of this spy trade was too much to handle. Sydney took a breath,
feeling Vaughn's warm skin against hers.

Vaughn leaned back to lie down again, slowly taking Sydney with him. She put
her head on his chest, reverently listening to his heartbeat. Sydney fell back
to sleep in Vaughn's arms, with swollen eyes and tear stained cheeks, afraid of
what dreams and life would bring her.




I can't do it, whispered Sydney.

Yes, you can, Vaughn replied, also whispering. You compartmentalize all
the time.

This is different. She killed Francie, but I'm just supposed to forget that and
pretend she's my best friend! I can't do it.

If we want to get to Sloane, we have to.

Sydney sighed. She knew Vaughn was right, but she hurt so much. All she wanted to do was run from her bedroom into the living room and put a bullet into this
'double,' avenging Francie's death. Sydney looked into Vaughn's eyes, gathering
strength from their loving green pools. Sydney managed a small smile, Thanks
for the 'we' part.

You think I'm going to leave you alone with that bitch?

A small laugh escaped Sydney's lips. Only Vaughn could cause laughter in Sydney when she was in this state of sadness. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him into an embrace. Vaughn's arms found their way around her waist.
Sydney sighed, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

Sydney released Vaughn, looked into his eyes once more, and took his hand. They walked out of her bedroom, faking happiness. Sydney gripped Vaughn's hand
tighter, when she spotted the double in the living room, watching television.

Hey Francie, Sydney greeted the double with a fake smile. She held back the
bile that was threatening to come up. How are you this morning?

The double looked over to the two of them, making a mental note of them
together and the time. She replied with a fake smile of her own, I'm not sure
if it still is morning.

Sydney, still smiling, looked at Vaughn. Well I guess we were up kind of late
last night.

Vaughn smiled sheepishly, but decided not to respond to the comment. What do you want for breakfast?

Why don't the three of us go down to the restaurant, and I'll make us lunch?
the double suggested. Since it really is past breakfast time.

Sydney and Vaughn shifted, not wanting to spend more time with the double than necessary. Vaughn replied, Well, we have some work that we need to catch up on. We were thinking of just grabbing a bite to eat, then heading into the office.

It's Sunday, you don't want to work on a Sunday, the double stated, obviously
trying to get some information out of them.

Well, we don't want to, Sydney said. It's more like we have to. We have this
huge financial conference coming up, and we really need to prepare. And with all
of our business trips, we just haven't had the time to do so. I'm sorry sweetie.
Rain check.

Yeah, sure, whatever.

Sydney and Vaughn grabbed their coats, thankful to get out of the double's
presence. The double had yet to turn around to the TV; she was more interested
in watching the two leave. This did not go unnoticed by Sydney and Vaughn.
Sydney wondered how she missed all the signs that this was not her Francie. She
mentally berated herself, she couldn't allow herself to think like that in front
of the enemy.

See you later Francie, Sydney said as she waved to the double and opened the door.

the double replied, still staring at them as they walked out the door.