Chapter Six

Will was a nervous wreck. He hadn't been allowed out of the CIA safe house since his arrival there the week before and he was nearly clawing at the walls to get out. The agent staying with him was an attractive young woman, but she barely said a word to him, her attention on whatever files she had spread out in front of her. The television was on almost twenty- four hours a day, and he was sick of watching it. Agent whatever-her-name- is had brought him books that he requested, but an unceasing restlessness gripped him and he couldn't sit still long enough to read anything.

Neither Jack or Sydney had stopped by to see him, and he had stored up a good number of questions to ask both of them. His imagination had been running wild all week and he surmised that both father and daughter were spies. It all made sense now that he thought about it, considering how busy Sydney always was and how she was always out of the country. Danny's death fit in there somehow, but he refused to go into that matter. He hoped that Sydney would be able to clear it up for him.

If she ever showed up.

* * *

Across town, Vaughn wasn't feeling much different. He knew his mother was only trying to help, but he felt like the walls were closing in on him. He could not remember her past the last couple days and his lack of memory had caused more than one hurtful incident to occur. He could only imagine how difficult it was for her to deal with him and he tried to be kind, but he had his own troubles to sort out. It was his identity that was missing and though he'd been even-tempered thus far, he could feel his frustrations grating on him.

He wanted to talk to Weiss or Sydney, but he didn't know how to contact either of them. It was possible to simply go outside and ask one of the men watching his house to give him Agent Weiss' office number, but he didn't really know what he wanted to ask his friend. He just wanted someone else to talk to but he didn't think it was appropriate to call Weiss up at work for chit chat.

Running a hand through his tousled hair, Vaughn tried to focus on what was on the television. He could hear his mother humming as she worked on her embroidery and the sound was like nails on a chalkboard to him. He needed to get out.

"I'm going to go out," he said in French, pushing himself off the couch.

"Michel, that is not a good idea. What if something happens?" she said worriedly.

"Even though I don't remember, I know I'm fully capable of taking care of myself. I just need to get out for a while, Mom. Please understand that."

Her lips thinned. "Then, at least let me call one of your friends to accompany you."

Vaughn was annoyed that she thought he needed a babysitter, but then he wondered who she was talking about.

"What friends?"

"Eric and Sydney, who else?" A gleam entered Geneviève's eye that he knew he should be afraid of. "How about we try Sydney first?"

In other circumstances, Vaughn was sure he wouldn't be thrilled at his mother's matchmaking, but in this case he wanted to see Sydney. It had been two days since she had come for dinner and he hadn't heard from her since.

"Fine." He turned off the TV. "How did you get her number?"

Geneviève's lips thinned as she picked up the receiver. "Let's just say that I have a few old friends at the CIA."

"Can I at least do the calling?" He held out his hand. "I'm not an invalid."

She handed him the phone. "Fine."

* * *

Sydney curled up on the couch with a glass of wine, exhaustion deepening the lines on her face. It had been a particularly hard day at work as she went over her experience in Taipei over and over again. She was careful not to slip up but the effort was tiring.

"Do you know where Will is?" Francie asked from the kitchen.

"No clue. Why?" Sydney lied easily. She meant to go visit Will but couldn't bring herself to face him and his questions just yet. It was heartless, she knew, but she couldn't find the inner strength to do it.

"I haven't head from him in a while. I'm getting kind of worried. I called the newspaper but they say that he hasn't been in all week. Do you think something's wrong?"

"He probably ran away to a cabin in the middle of nowhere to go fishing," Sydney said confidently. "He's always threatening to run off somewhere."

"Yeah, but I didn't actually think he would do it."

"He's been stressed out lately. He probably cracked and took off."

Francie walked into the living room, a glass of wine in one hand and bowl of chips in the other. "I hope so. I'm still worried though.about you too."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. You've been walking around here with the longest face I have ever seen." She regarded Sydney with a practiced eye. "Did something happen between you and Will?"

Sydney was surprised at the question and looked it. "No. Why do you say that?"

Francie chewed on her lip. "Um.well, you know he's had feelings for you for a long time."

That was news to Sydney. "You've got to be kidding me. Will doesn't see me like that. We've been friends for so long."

"Please, Syd. I can't believe you didn't notice."

"What?"

"He looks at you with these puppy dog eyes. For a little while I thought you felt the same way as he did."

Sydney nearly choked on the sip of wine she'd taken. "No way!" she protested. "Francie, I never considered Will anymore than a friend."

"I believe you now, but for a while.come on, 'fess up. It's only the two of us here. Think about it."

Sighing, Sydney did rack her brain for any signs that she started to look at Will in a new light. To her consternation, she did remember feeling a surge of jealousy when he brought Jenny over for Thanksgiving, but besides that, nothing really. There was that one time when they kissed, but she regretted it the second after it was over. She felt like she had done something wrong and then she felt guilty.

It felt like she had cheated on Vaughn.

Francie watched the array of emotions dance across Sydney's expressive features. She had silently hoped that nothing would ever happen between her two friends, knowing that nothing good would ever come out of it. Sydney was wrapped up in her job and Francie suspected that it would come before any man. Will, on the other hand, would give his right leg to be with Sydney and he would have felt under appreciated because of Sydney's preoccupation with work.

"Maybe for a while." Sydney conceded. "But not now, Francie. Will's a good friend and I'll keep it that way."

"Good," Francie said, relieved. "Do you get lonely sometimes though?"

"Sometimes?" Sydney snorted. "Try most of the time. Passing out in hotel rooms after a hard day's work is not conducive to meeting new people."

"Bet you could liven things up if you tried," her friend said slyly.

Sydney laughed. "Thanks, but no thanks."

"Seriously though, is there anybody out there that you would consider?"

"No."

Francie didn't look convinced. "Really? No hot international men have crossed your path? No intelligent, good-looking men at work?"

Sydney found herself tempted to spill her guts to Francie, but quickly fought the urge. She was already pushing it by visiting him so much.

"Nope. None of the above."

Francie sighed. "Looks like we're going to be stuck in this house for the rest of our days. Old Miss Francie, Old Miss Sydney, and their fifty cats."

Sydney raised her glass. "Here, here."

Just then the phone rang and Sydney picked it up since she was closer.

"Hello?"

"Sydney?"

Sydney recognized his voice. "Vaughn," she breathed before she thought about it.

"I was wondering if you were busy tonight."

A million reasons to shoot him down ran through her mind, but the edge to his voice told her that it would not be a good idea to pay heed to any of those reasons at that moment.

"No, I'm not."

"Do you want to go get a drink or something? I need to stretch my legs out."

"Sure. How about I pick you up in an hour?"

"That sounds great. I'll wait for you."

"Alright. Bye."

Sydney put down the phone, bemused. Francie was looking at her with disbelief.

"Who was that?" she demanded.

"A friend from work."

"A man friend?"

"Yes. He wants to meet for drinks."

Francie grinned. "What are you waiting for? Go get ready!"