Chapter 6

After Vaughn got off the phone with Jack, he called Weiss to let him know he'd need some time off.

'Hello?'

'Hey, it's me. Listen, could you let Devlin know that I am taking a week or so off?' Vaughn asked.

Weiss exclaimed, 'Sure! Man, he'll probably throw a party. He's been after you to take some time off since…'

'Yeah, I know.' Vaughn replied not wanting to fight over how much time he had devoted to finding Syd, 'I'll see you some time next week OK?'

'Sounds good. Relax Buddy!' Weiss said good naturedly.

As they both said their goodbyes, there was a knock at the door. Vaughn looked at his watch as he turned off his phone and saw that only ten minutes had passed since he talked to Jack.

Jesus Jack! he thought to himself as he opened the door.

'Hey.' Jack said.

He was a mess! It took Vaughn a moment to register who this was and then he realized how horrible he himself must have looked after he got her call.

'Vaughn…' Jack started impatiently.

'Sorry, Yeah, she's in here.' Vaughn replied as he lead the way to the spare room. As they entered the room, Vaughn prayed that Jack would be okay because the more he looked at Sydney the more he saw how much she had changed from what she was.

'Oh God…' Jack breathed as he walked over to the side of the bed.

Vaughn stayed in the doorway and just watched ready to plead his case at a moments notice. Jack stared at his daughter trying to fathom what she had been through but both men knew in the back of their minds that no matter what, they would never have an inkling of understanding for what she had lived through. Vaughn watched as Jack bent down to brush a lock of hair from the side of her face and was startled when Jack kissed her on the forehead.

'I am so sorry baby girl.' he whispered, his voice breaking.

Vaughn decided that he needed to leave and turned to do so but Jack stopped him.

'How long has she been asleep?'

'About half an hour.'

Jack nodded as if to say he accepted this but didn't want to. Vaughn understood what he was feeling, he wanted to see her awake, smiling, talking, and laughing like they were both used to. Instead he was seeing a bruised, broken, and weak woman lying in that bed who resembled his daughter. Jack got up and left the room and Vaughn followed with a lingering look toward the bed.

Once they made it back to the living room, Jack started asking questions right away. Vaughn answer every last one of them to the best of his ability but said nothing more, he wanted Jack to say what was on his mind.

'I want her to stay here with you Vaughn.' he stated.

Vaughn looked at him dumbfounded.

'Pardon me?' he stammered.

'You have proven that you would lay down your life for her, and you have on more than one occasion. She came to you first so it is obvious where she feels safe, and I definitely don't want her hurt anymore. I know that you will do whatever you have to to prevent that from happening.' Jack explained.

'Thank-you.' Vaughn whispered.

'I just have one more question before I go, does she know yet?' Jack asked.

'No, I haven't told her yet.'

'Maybe we should hold off on that then for the time being, we have no idea how she'll react. I'll ask Barnett to set up an appointment for her and we can decide what to do from there.' Jack decided.

'Whatever you feel is best Jack, I'm behind you one hundred percent.' Vaughn replied.