Chapter Twelve

Sloane read over the reports from agents he sent out to follow Sydney on her dates with Michael Vaughn. The reports were so descriptive that he felt like he was reading from a novel, but the agents he sent out were green so they had no yet learned the finer points of notetaking. This was his way of training them. He was sure Sydney knew she was being followed, but she never tried to make contact with the agents.

He sat back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers as he thought. According to the reports, which tracked Sydney from the second she left her home either to pick Mr. Vaughn up or already with him until she went back in, the lovebirds had never shared a kiss. Sloane was no romantic, but he was realistic. If in fact Sydney was looking for companionship and wanted it with CIA Officer Vaughn, he expected them to have slept together at this point. Yet, they hadn't so much as shared a kiss. Since he'd given Sydney his blessing, he'd been regretting the decision. It was a moment of weakness and she'd said the right thing by asking him to try to have what he had with Emily. Now, it appeared that something strange was going on and he had to do something about it in order to maintain SD-6's, and Sydney's, cover.

It would be a dangerous thing to arrange for the death of CIA personnel, and so he racked his brain to try to find another alternative. He did not want to cause Sydney more pain, sure that one more incident like that of her fiance would push her over the edge and he would lose one of his best agents, but if he could not contain this problem...

* * *

"Dad, I made a mistake," Sydney sighed, closing her eyes painfully.

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is how you handle this situation from now on," Jack said calmly, the voice of reason.

"Of course."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Sydney. It's been a tough month for you. After the ordeal with your mother and now this...you're only human."

"Is that why Sloane hasn't sent me out on any missions?"

"Partly. You were wavering before any of this happened so he just wants to give you a break."

"Are we talking about the same man?" Sydney snorted. "When was the last time Sloane ever gave anyone a break?"

"I asked him to," Jack admitted hesitantly.

Sydney threw her father a sharp look. "You did?"

"I...I didn't want to put you at risk. You're not...you...you're not ready for missions," he stammered.

Sydney found her father's concern touching. The look on his face was embarrassed and he looked everywhere but at her. She reached across the table and took his hand, smiling.

"Thanks, Dad. I did need the time off."

"Besides, I thought that becoming involved with Mr. Vaughn would prove to be a distraction you don't need."

"That it did."

"Why, Sydney?" Jack sighed. "What ever possessed you to slip up like this?"

"Weakness."

"No, no, I don't think it was that. You're anything but weak."

"Thanks, Dad, but Vaughn is my weakness...and at the same time my strength."

"You realize nothing can come out of this relationship. You will either lose him or your lives, Sydney. I believe that there is no decision to be made. If you care about him...you have to do this."

Sydney blew out a breath, her eyes dry but a pain blossoming in the region of her heart. "Yes. It'll be over soon."

* * *

Vaughn entered his apartment for the first time since being released from the hospital. To his surprise, his plants were still alive. He stepped in, Weiss at his heels, when a squat though adorable bulldog came barreling out of the kitchen to throw himself at Vaughn's legs.

"Donovan!" he exclaimed, the name coming to his lips easily. "I can't believe it!"

"I took care of him," Weiss said, stepping around his friend and glancing around the apartment. "He missed you."

Vaughn rubbed Donovan's face, laughing as the dog licked every part of his master he could reach.

"Man, I can't believe I forgot about you," he said.

"Your mom wouldn't let the dog into the house," Weiss said, taking his suit jacket off. "He's been king of the castle for the past months and I think he enjoyed it. He did miss you though. I never thought a dog with a mug like that could look more disappointed, but every time I walked through the door, I swear it looked like he was close to tears."

Vaughn was still on the floor with Donovan when Sydney walked through the door and she nearly tripped on him. Steading herself by putting her hands on his shoulders, she seemed distracted by her surroundings. Weiss hadn't been too excited upon learning that she was coming along, but didn't protest. He watched her walk around the apartment, her hand occassionally reaching out to touch some knick-knack or something else. Vaughn stopped playing with Donovan and he straightened, watching her as well.

"You like it?" he asked, his voice taking on a husky tone that Weiss hadn't heard before.

"I do," she replied, turning her head to smile at him. "It's very you."

He went to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Let's take this tour together."

Weiss cooled his heels in the living room, feeling like a third wheel. Donovan stopped at his feet, tongue hanging out as he looked up at him. Weiss got down on one knee and patted his head.

Trying to ignore the urge to throw herself into Vaughn's arms, Sydney walked through his apartment with him, hesitating slightly when they reached the bedroom. He threw her an amused look, but didn't say anything, walking in and leaving her to stand in the doorway. Decorated in navy blues and grays, she thought it was exactly what she expected out of him.

"I dated an interior decorator," he said vaguely, running a hand along the oak dresser. "She did the place for free. I think she was planning to move in."

"I'll be in the living room," she said.

"No, I'm done. I'll come with you."

He reached for her hand and she slipped it into his grasp. Weiss was waiting for them in the living room.

"Want to grab a bite?" he asked them.

"Sure," Vaughn answered and he turned to Sydney. "Why don't you invite Francie and we can make this a foursome?"

"Hey, no matchmaking," Weiss warned. "Is she cute though?"

Sydney rolled her eyes at him and Vaughn laughed. She picked up the phone and dialed Francie's cell phone number.

"Are you busy tonight?" she asked when Francie picked up the phone.

"Nope. Why? Did Mike get sick or something?"

"No. We want you to come out to dinner with us."

"Oh, definitely! I'll meet you whereever you're going."

"Where are we going?" Sydney asked the two men.

"There's a small place nearby called The Red Rose," Vaughn suggested. "I remember that they make great hamburgers."

Sydney told Francie and hung up. The trio made their way downstairs, Weiss taking note that Vaughn couldn't seem to go more than five minutes without touching Sydney as he now put an arm around her waist. He could only imagine what would happen when all this was over.

They got a table quickly enough and Francie walked in ten minutes later. Sydney smiled as Vaughn introduced Francie to Weiss, for a moment forgetting that all this was just part of the web of lies her life was made up of now. Then, she spotted one of Sloane's lapdogs nearby and the smile faded from her face.

One more week, she told herself. One more week and I'll end it. It's for his own good.

"So, Weiss, do you work at the bank, too?" Francie was asking.

"Yeah, I do," Weiss lied easily. "But I'm not nearly the superstar that Sydney is...or Mike for that matter."

"With all the work she puts in, she better be a superstar," Francie said, nudging Sydney with her elbow.

"It's a tough business," Vaughn agreed.

They chatted easily enough and dinner was delicious. They were four young people meeting for dinner and it was all so...normal. Sydney took a mental snapshot of their table, and memorized how she was feeling so that when things got back to the way they were she'd have something to keep her going. This was the life she wanted, when all things precious to her were close and safe.if only.

She glanced sideways at Vaughn and caught him looking back at her. He smiled, his green eyes glittering with something she didn't even want to guess at, and she smiled back. He put his hand over hers and without thinking, she turned hers over and twined their fingers together. He squeezed her hand as he continued chatting with Weiss and Francie. Sydney decided then and there that until this was over, she would take what she could get.



* * *

"That was fun," Vaughn said as they entered his apartment. "Weiss and Francie really hit it off."

Sydney grinned. "Yeah, they did. I didn't think Weiss was a blusher..."

They laughed companionably and Vaughn reached for her, folding her in his arms. She looked up at him, and he felt like he was drowning in her eyes.

"Sydney," he murmured, leaning in.

Placing one hand on the back of his neck, Sydney urged him forward and their lips met, clinging. It started out slow and gentle, but as the minutes passed grew more fevered and heated. When he stopped kissing her long enough to press his lips against her neck, she let out a low moan and clutched at him, for fear she would slide to the floor. His hands grabbed at her shirt and one found its way underneath to rest on the small of her back. The feel of his hand on her bare skin made her gasp. Vaughn couldn't seem to get enough of her, nor her of him, and they didn't know how long they stood there until Donovan's barks made them break apart. He jumped up, putting two paws on Vaughn's legs, barking loudly.

Sydney wavered and Vaughn put a steadying hand on her arm as he struggled to catch his breath. They stared at each other and the look on his face made something inside of her tighten. His eyes darkened with sensuality as his gaze fell on her lips, swollen from his kisses. She put the back of her hand against her mouth, but couldn't break eye contact with him.

"My God," he murmured, raising a shaky hand to caress her cheek. "I knew it would be good, Syd, but nothing prepared me for that."

"Me either," she said, taking a step towards him.

"If you don't want this to go any farther, you should leave," he warned her. "But I hope that you don't."

"Then, I won't."

He grinned rakishly and took her hand. She laughed happily as they raced to the bedroom, the door slamming shut before Donovan could come in.

In the darkness of Vaughn's room, she found her way into his arms. She sighed as their lips met again, his hands going back underneath her shirt to rest splayed on her back. She wound her arms tightly around his neck as he explored her mouth. In response, she pressed herself against him, every inch of her body touching his, and she groaned when she felt how much he wanted her.

"You're sure?" he murmured against her lips.

"I'm sure," she replied, pulling her sweater over her head. "I need this, Vaughn, and I've wanted you for a long time."

He grabbed her and held her tightly, kissing every part of her bare skin that he could reach. She tugged at his clothes, wanting to feel him against her. They broke apart long enough to get his sweater over his head and she ran her hands on his hair roughened chest before pressing a kiss to it. He sat down on the bed and drew her down next to him. Together, they laid back, and he moved to cover her.

"I love you, Syd," he said tenderly, brushing the hair from her face.

She didn't speak, couldn't say the words, so she pulled his head down to her and showed him how much she loved him too.