*
Chapter Four: The Only Thing Left

*

Will was abruptly awakened by a knock on his door. A glance at his clock told him it was nearly 10pm. Stumbling wearily to the door, he opened it to reveal a shaking Sydney Bristow Vaughn.

"Syd! What's wrong?" Will pulled her inside, ushering her to his couch.

Sydney sobbed on his shoulder for what seemed like hours, just holding onto him like he was the only thing she had left in the world.

"Sydney, please, tell me what happened?" Will put a few strands of loose hair behind her ear gently.

"She hates me Will, she hates me." Sydney managed to choke out before being wracked with more sobs.

"Who hates you Syd, who?" Will forced her to look into his eyes.

"My mother in law." Sydney started to compose herself.

"Oh Syd, I bet she doesn't hate you." Will tried to soothe her.

"No! I deserve it! I am the daughter of her husband's killer. I am a horrible, awful, evil person!" She began to cry again, her face becoming more and more blotchy with every tear, her eyes bloodshot.

"No Syd, she just needs time to soak it up, she will understand. I promise." Will knew it was unfair of him to promise her something like that, but he would have done anything to relieve her of her guilt.

After nearly another full hour of sobbing, Sydney fell asleep in Will's arms. When Will was sure of this, he carefully lifted himself off the couch, not wanting to wake her. Finding the phone in the next room, he dialed a new number.

"Hello?"

"Mike? It's Will."

"Thank God. Is Sydney with you?"

"Yah she-" Will was cut off by the sound of gunshots close by.

"Will! What's going on? Is Sydney okay?!"

When no response came, Vaughn grabbed Bernadette, afraid to leave her with a neighbor in case something bad was happening. A minute later, he found himself on the road to Will's house.

~

"Sydney?" Will quickly dropped the phone and ran into the next room. The couch was empty.

"Sydney!?" He called more urgently this time, heading toward the kitchen.

Backed up against a counter, he saw Sydney, fear shining in her eyes. And across from her, gun drawn, stood someone Will had never seen before. A woman in her mid 50s, with a stunning resemblance to Vaughn, and piercing green eyes.