Interventions



Summary: Irina causes chaos between our two favorite agents and others.



Disclaimer: ... I own my coffeemaker, mirror, bed, tv, laptop, but not the whole Alias idea. Otherwise I'd own a car, a pool, a mansion, etc...



* * * * * *Chapter Four: Florida or California * * * * * *

Sydney picked up her cell as she wept away spiteful tears. She needed someone, anyone to talk to. As she quickly skimmed her fingers over numbers she knew by heart, but never called, she decided it's his day off. He shouldn't have to worry over me everyday. Considering all the factors, she punched in the numbers and listened for the end of the dial tone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Francie, it's me."

"Me who?" Francie replied jokingly, but after a long pause she added in a concerned tone, "Honey, what's wrong?"

Choking back the tears, she regained her voice, "I'm leaving work early, so I'll be home for dinner."

Unsure she agreed, "Okay. Hey you know what? I'll leave work in a few and we can talk. Of course, that involves one of us picking up a gallon of chocolate chip ice cream?" she ended tantalizingly.

Sydney sour expression grew to a slight grin, "I'll pick it up. Need anything else?"

"Some oranges. Will has a really bad cold and I promised not to act all motherly with the whole chicken soup fiasco, so I'm going to whip up some homemade orange juice. He'll be fine in no time." She rambled.

"Yes mother," she stated in a sarcastic pitch, "I'll see you at home. Bye."

"Wait until you get sick. Who's going make your juice then?"

With that Sydney exited the freeway and pulled into the parking lot of Key Food.



Meanwhile, Michael Vaughn was sulking in his home pining for a solution to his problem. His life at work and his life at home had come at a crosswords, which he properly named the intersection, Sydney. The only other person who knew of his dilemma was at work. Weiss, why the hell did you have to take a sick day so you could get drunk and burn the apartment down? he ranted to himself. Thankfully, Weiss' shift would be over in a few hours. But until then, what was he supposed to do?

Just then his stomach growled. Hobbling over to the refrigerator, he yanked the door open. Half a bottle of beer, Heinz ketchup, mustard, batteries, and an unfamiliar container with some green speckles. Figuring, it was time to go shopping he grabbed his jacket and strolled out into the street.



Pushing the cart, she noticed that every so often the cart would swerve considerably to the right. She struggled against the current and reached into the freezer for ice cream. However, her mind was in its own world pondering her mother's remarks. Subconsciously, she ran her thumb over the sleek amber surface too engulfed in her thoughts.

She considered buying the California oranges, but then again the drought did affect the crops. Of course, Florida oranges were always an option, but they were packaged and hauled halfway across the country so the could be spoiled by now. Wait a minute since when do I put in so much thought into oranges? Just pick one and pay, Sydney!

"Excuse me, miss," she felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around to see an elderly lady, "could you hand me that plastic bag over there?." Involuntarily, she grabbed the bag and watched the lady leave in disgust.

'If only mom could mind her own business. Why can't she leave me alone? If it wasn't for her she would have never obtained the necklace, have to hear the sappy love story, reassess her love life, she wouldn't have to think about Michael Vaughn.' She hurled a bag of California oranges into her shopping cart and stormed out down the aisle. In a complete fury, she didn't see the cart in front of her until it was too late. Her shopping cart crashed into another one, contents spilling to the floor.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she poured out as she rushed to pick up the spoiled goods.

"You know you should have bought the Florida oranges, they taste sweeter than the ones from the local groves," replied the voice.

Gradually she lifted her head and smiled. Crouched on the floor with her was Vaughn. She fought to find words to somehow make the situation even the tiniest bit un-awkward. Vaughn caught on and restarted their conversation, "No work today?"

She rubbed the back of her neck and stammered, "Oh, no. I had work, but left early."

"Kendall being an ass again?" he inquired as he stood up.

"No, I just," she stopped. They shouldn't be talking in public about work.

The awkward environment once more settled about them and each looked for a way out. Vaughn catching onto the "strangers act" motioned to her neck, "That's a beautiful necklace. Did, uh, Will get it for you?"

Noting his jealous inquisition, she swiftly corrected the assumption, "No, my mom gave it to me, it was from her mother, and so on. It was bound to come my way." She chose her words carefully as fragments of her conversation came flooding back.

'Your grandmother said that whoever possessed it would have found their true love standing in front of them.' The phrase uttered by her mother resounded in her mind.

Vaughn watched Sydney's face draw a blank. Clearing his throat, he reintroduced her to reality, "It was nice bumping into you, literally."

"Oh sorry about that, but it was nice meeting you," she exchanged a handshake and rolled her ramshackle cart to the cashier. Taking a mental note, she reminded herself to talk to Irina.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That was so predictable I promise the next chapter will be better. I was struggling with paying attention to Mid terms and my other story.

There will be a scene with Vaughn and Irina in a chapter or two.

The anonymous review problem has been fixed so review like crazy!!

~Stephanie~