Everything was quiet and peacefully. The sun had risen about three
hours ago and she had just opened her eyes beneath the white fluffy
comforter in her bedroom. G-d, she loved her home. It smelt like lavender
and chai tea. It was an absolutely perfect morning. She hadn't had a
morning like that since..well, let's not go there for a moment.
The pure white light from her lamp gave the room an angelic like glow early that morning, nearly ten days after what was now referred to as "the incident". It was barely 9:45 but she was sure that Francie had been up for at least an hour cooking this perfect morning's breakfast. She was humming in the kitchen, singing every now and then and soon joined by Will, singing the parts he knew.
Unfortunately, she didn't wake up on her own. A phone had cut through her peaceful dreams that were a little smutty but they were all hers and someone was all hers. An arm, still scarred with track marks and bruises reached up from the comforter and groped around for her old-fashioned phone on her nightstand. On the fourth or fifth ring, she finally found her phone and brought the receiver beneath the covers and answered with a familiar, "Hello?" She waited with half excitement half dread to hear what was on the other end.
"Joey's pizza?" a familiar voice answered over the phone. A slow grin started to spread across her face and she could tell that he was smiling on the other end.
"Wrong number." A long sigh escaped her lips as she spoke. How was she going to get out of the house..well, Francie now knew everything about SD-6 and they were safe from it now and could help her get out of the house. There really wasn't a reason to use the standard Joey's pizza thing but she assumed something was up. SD-6 was still in business but her mother was now the most loved person at the Joint Task Force. Irinia Derevko, master mine of deception and international black market intelligence queen, had successfully found Arvin Sloane and shot him in point blank range. SD-6 was dead for now. Sydney was a free agent for at least another month, when she would return for duty under a new director. Jack had hacked into Sloane's files and destroyed all orders and evidence of Sydney being a double agent. She was free until the replacement, Mr. Santo-Thomas came in less than seven days.
As she went to hang up the receiver, she heard the voice shout over the other line, "Hey, lady- do you think they'd deliver for a party in three hours?" His voice was full of happiness. It was so obvious.
"Why not. Sure." Sydney responded, decided whether or not she should be happy that he had called her and woke her up. She had been back in her bed and emphasis on bed, for less than a week later. The doctors in the Spanish hospital had strictly enforced that she stay in bed for ten days when she got home so not to tear out any of her 400 stitches. Absurd and large number, I know, but that little tool did real damage to both of her legs and feet. They ached with the sleeping pill wearing off and cramped, not being able to stretch out for a while.
She was tired of being bed-ridden.she was forced to only sponge baths and either had to crawl or be carried whenever she needed to use the facility. It was humiliating and humbling but thank G-d for Francie. She had muddled through it for nearly a week now and hadn't uttered one complaint. She was nearly better, going through intensive therapy for a week straight and on heavy dosages of antidepressants. It was almost as if nothing had happened. While Vaughn and Sydney were in Madrid, a team of agents came in and repaired the house completely. Furniture was new and replaced. Even Francie's pots and pans had been completely restores and were even better quality than before. Devlin had owed a favor to Jack and it came in the payment of new furniture and a complete house cleaning and addition of security cameras, detectors, and agents stationed about the block.
Sydney stretched her arms and slammed the phone back down as the door to her bedroom squeaked open, sitting up slightly. There was Francie holding a tray of pancakes, grapefruit, and a cup of tea. "I thought the phone would wake you up. Who was it?" She leaned against the door jam, dressed in jeans and a tank top and held the antique tray in her hands as she tilted her head and smiled at her friend.
Sydney smiled and motioned for her to come in, "My handler. I have to meet him in three hours." Francie smiled broadly and sat down on her bed as Sydney sat up folded the comforter over her lap and set the tray there as well. "This looks good!" She wanted to avoid the subject of her handler for the moment. She just didn't feel like it. Her eyes engulfed the food and her stomach suddenly felt extremely empty.
"Eat! You're getting too skinny!" Francie curled her chocolate colored feet beneath her light wash jeans and leaned on her hand, propped up on her knee. "Wait a minute..Your handler is the guy who came to the house?"
With a mouthful of food, Sydney managed to smile a chipmunk looking smile and nodded like a love struck teenager. "Uh-huh."
"The hot one?"
Sydney felt the blush rise in her cheeks and the smile began to form as much as she tried to suppress it. "I guess he's hot."
Francie was floored and laid back on the bed, squealing, "You guess he's hot? Syd, you're blushing more than when you told me about your first date! No, your first kiss!"
Good Lord is he not the hottest creature known to man? I want him! I need him! I have to have him-like today! "Okay! Okay! He's so hot."
"And he's cute hot but not dorky cute."
Sydney was now squealing with laughter, "And he's ripped too."
"Good lord, girly, he's perfect!" Francie yelped, completely out of character. "Anything else you're not telling me?"
Sydney sat up a little taller and scanned through her memory. "Well, Vaughn. He's..he's wonderful." She let her voice drop low for a moment and a chill overtook her body. "He's above average dancer..French..good conversationalist." She licked her lips as she remembered the night club, "and definitely hot."
Francie had fallen on her back and was shrieking with laughter, "And you're meeting him in three hours?"
"Yes." It was like Cinderella was finally able to go to the ball. Sydney looked down at herself, wearing an old stretched out t-shirt with old pajama pants and stale, oily hair with no make-up on and dry, disgusting feeling tight skin. "I need help then." She moaned, feeling the worry lines arch up on her forehead.
"Then we gotta get you going!" Francie jumped to her feet and rushed to her closet. The tray on Sydney's lap bounced up and down as Francie bounded towards the closet, ripping through the neatly organized things. "Let's see! Let's see!" She smiled and turned around to Sydney now and then. "You can't wear pants 'cause of your legs so let's see what we can get you in!" She bounced back and forth on her feet until she had proclaimed on finding the perfect outfit. She laughed and found a sexy black peasant skirt and pink tank top with lacy accents. "These are perfect! And they go with.." She bent down for shoes but was promptly stopped by Sydney's quick demand.
"No shoes!" Sydney motioned down at her feet as Francie picked up her little pink pumps. "I wish I could wear those but I think they would kill me."
Francie set the shoes down and looked Sydney soberly, "That's not funny, Syd. You almost died."
Her tongue ran over her lips quickly and she bit down hard on her bottom one. Eye contact was lost for a moment as Sydney responded, "Francie, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I just don't want you to talk that way." She looked at the items of clothing in her hands again. Her entire attitude changed in an instant. "We need to wash your hair! Wiiilllll!" She tossed the clothes on the bed and marched out to find the unsuspecting Will.
"You want me to what? Where?" Sydney heard Will exclaim and began to giggle slightly.
"You heard me! I need you to carry her into the bathroom so I can wash her hair! I need to pamper her!" Francie shouted, dragged Will into the bedroom by his t-shirt collar. Unwillingly, Will came to the side of Sydney's bed and motioned for her to grab onto his neck. "Come on."
"I'm sorry." Sydney shook her head back and forth, clearly embarrassed. She casually pulled the blankets aside, revealing a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. "I really am."
Will smiled and picked her up, "Think nothing of it." He bent his knees and pretended to drop her, causing her to give out a shout and clutch his neck tighter. "You little princess."
Sydney smiled and laughed as she was brought into her bathroom and sat on a chair, provided by Francie, skipping about at Will's heals. She was like an excited toddler.
Sydney laughed once more and leaned her head back into her sink and all of the smells and disgusting feelings were washed away and replaced with green tea extracts. Her eyes focused on the beige ceiling and remembered how much she loved her simple gold and beige bathroom. The wooden stool she was propped on squeaked every now and then. Francie sang happily as she fussed around her friend. The aroma of the shampoo and conditioner filled the room and smelled so sweet. She had been thoroughly shampooed, conditioned, and rinsed when Francie helped to sit her upright and reached for the hair dryer and curling iron.
Despite protests, Francie insisted on doing her hair. And sure enough, about a half hour later, her hair was pulled half up half down and lightly curled at the bottom. Sydney won the war and did her own make-up and nails. The fake ones had been ripped off in the hospital and within an hour of waking up, she was made up with lavender colored nails. A creamicle scented moisturizer covered her skin, instantly giving it life and color. She applied a soft eyeliner and concealer for the bags under her eyes. The rest of her face went on and as she looked in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile. She was back. She used make-up with names like "Natural Nude" and "Lovely Lilac" and her favorite lipstick, "Blissful Berry."
She was still plopped in the bathroom, putting the finishing touches on her eyelashes with the long black mascara wand, when Francie came back in, showing three pieces of jewelry. One was an antique looking necklace with rose quarts, another was a flower ring made of rose gold and the third was a pair of earrings Sydney had found in a garage sale months ago. They were solid gold and from the 1920's. The little hoops hung elegantly from her ears as she fastened them into place, looking at the big rectangle mirror in front of her. Francie retreated once more into Syd's bedroom and grabbed the clothes and the appropriate lingerie but not before Will had popped in to view the intense process Sydney was going through.
"Perfect." Will replied from the door. "Vaughn will love it."
Sydney looked nothing less than horrified. "I am not doing this for Vaughn. I am doing this for myself!"
Will wasn't convinced. "Oh yeah? Then why is Francie going around the house proclaiming, 'Vaughn and Sydney sitting in a tree.' or 'Sydney loves Vau-ghn.'?"
"Good lord." Sydney blushed and turned her body, including her heavily bandaged feet towards him. Will immediately cringed at the sight of the gauze going from above her knees to her big toe.
Will was obviously pained by what he was about to say, "You know Syd, he's really into you."
Again, the rose in her cheeks flared and a goofy smile spread across her lips. "You think?" She attempted trying to be nonchalant.
Will laughed lightly, "Uh yeah. I do think. I think Francie wants me to get out of here so you can get changed. Do you need a ride to the warehouse?"
Sydney stopped breathing for a moment. She needed to see her mother before she met with Vaughn. It was the first time in the last few years that she truly needed her mother and could go and see her. "Could you get me my cell near the white lamp on my dresser? That's my CIA one." Sydney replied slowly, turning back to the mirror.
Will nodded a reply and made his way to the dresser and found the black faceplate phone. "Here ya go. I'll give you some privacy." And walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door tightly behind him.
"Hey Will!" Sydney shouted and he appeared once again, "Thank you for everything.and for understanding."
"You know I love you, Sydney." A slow sober response came that had a double meaning. He loved her as a friend but now more than ever found himself wishing that there was something more.
"I love you too." But I love Vaughn more, Will, I'm so sorry. Sydney's eyes met his blue sapphire eyes and smiled a sad little smile and then turned to her phone and dialed a familiar number.
The next hour moved quickly and was almost non-eventful. Sydney had gotten dressed in the most painful way, her body still entirely sore from her ordeal.
"Is she ready?" Jack asked from the door of Sydney's house. His eyes were like steal and starred straight ahead looking Will over crudely.
"Yeah, she is. She's in her room." Will replied from the doorway, ushering Jack into the house, stopping him for a moment. "How are you doing?"
Jack was slightly stunned for a moment, "I'm fine, Mr. Tippen."
It's almost Agent Tippen. "Okay. Good. I just wanted to make sure with everything that's been going on."
"Mr. Tippen, my daughter is in her room?" Jack asked again, impatiently.
"Yes."
Jack stiffly walked to the back of the house to find is daughter nervously twitching on her bed. "Hello, Sydney."
Her eyes jumped to the door and her heart began to accelerate. "Hi dad." She managed to squeak.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably and walked into the room, "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure." She extended her arms to her father and wrapped them securely around his neck as he lifted her up
He groaned slightly but smiled, "You're getting heavy in your old age." He joked lightly. It took almost losing his daughter to find his sense of humor.
Sydney smiled brightly, "Hey, watch it. As soon as the bandages come off, I can kick you to curb."
"Very funny." He returned her bright gaze and walked out of the house. The sun was shining brightly that day and the rays felt wonderful against her face. "It is a nice day out." Jack spoke, trying to bring some warmth into his voice.
Sydney smiled and murmured a reply as her eyes scanned over her little lawn and street. The black government issue car was parked out front, with the engine still running. Jack's pace was slow and steady, trying to keep her as still as possible. He finally reached his car and opened the door with his free hand, letting go of her back for a moment. Using her upper body, she managed to slide into the car and seat belt herself in. Today was going to be a day of firsts. After she would talk to her mother, she would go and talk to Vaughn and then everything would be out in the open. It would all go according to plan. This would work. It had to work.
"So you feel that strongly about my daughter, Agent Vaughn?"
"I guess you could say that."
"And you have no hard feelings about the letter?"
"No ma'am."
Irinia's lips curled into a smile, "Good. She's in love with you too." Her brown eyes lit up at the sight of Vaughn. He looked so much like his father that it tortured her inside but at the same time, it was the only thing that kept her sanity. "You and your father are so much alike, it frightens me." Her voice started to tremble slightly. "I don't think I ever told you how terribly sorry I am for that. In person, at least." She lost eye contact for a moment as she felt the flashbacks flood her body.
Vaughn's mouth dropped open and he stood there gaping for a moment. He wanted so desperately to say something but he couldn't manage to use his mouth. As much as he desperately tried to, he couldn't get control of his emotions. His father's killer had just given him so much information about her daughter and about his father. He wanted to laugh and he wanted to cry all at the same time.
Irinia managed to laugh a little bit at his reaction only to cover up the tears that threatened to overflow. Their eyes met and she smiled sadly, "You're so sweet, my dear." She used such an endearing term to him. "You're like your father in more ways than I could have ever imagined." She lost eye contact with him for a moment. "He was quite possible the dearest man I have ever met."
His tongue started to regain feeling as he spoke foreignly, "Thank you, ma'am." He cleared his throat uncomfortably as his mind screamed for him to ask just one question, "Ms. Derevko, I have just one question for you." All of his muscles tightened as he awaited the impending conversation.
"Please, call me Irinia and go ahead." She spoke softly and lovingly.
"How did my mother know the story?" He blurted out so fast that he instantly regretted opening his mouth. He rested his body wait heavily on the crutch he was forced to walk with until his leg fully healed. The stitches had already been removed but it was still sore and covered with horrible bruises. His long-sleeved shirt covered the track marks that had turned a disgusting color purple and were swollen. His face was drawn and pale but his eyes were full of cover and life. Ten days was not enough time for him to heal but he needed to get out of the house and settle all of these things that were up in the air.
Irinia walked closer to the glass and starred directly into his eyes, "Well. I was in love with him you know. " Vaughn nodded him solemnly. "I guess you could say that the Bristow women always manage to fall for the men we really can't have. But I was at his funeral..I stood beside Jack and your mother in front of the casket. I saw you and your little sister-"
"Delia.'' Vaughn interjected quickly.
She smiled at the name. Strangely enough, that was the name of her alias that fateful night. She was Delia White, a wealthy heiress sent to a party to collect information. "I saw you and Delia and you had your arms wrapped around her so tightly I thought you were going to crush her." She almost laughed at his memory as she starred to the left of him, starring like there was a movie playing next to him. "You knew exactly what was going on but your sister really didn't. But your mother kept both of you busy right afterwards. She didn't want you to see her cry. I remember so clearly. That was the first time she met Sydney.she was only what, five or six?" Yes, it was right before I left her. "Anyway.your mother sent you out to keep Delia and Sydney busy while she, Jack, and I all spoke." She looked at him, the tears brimming over her eyes. This was her vulnerable side that not many had seen in her life, "You and Sydney played together after it was all over. And the three of you had so much fun. Sydney actually beat you in some game you were playing. But I couldn't make in through the day without telling her. Jack had stepped outside to see how Sydney was doing and your mother and I stole away to the upstairs. I held your mother as she cried and I told her the story. All of it. She was the only part of my old life that knew who I really was and what I was there. I swore her to secrecy and then, six months later, I left." She concluded, now in full tears and turned away from Vaughn, who was now visibly crying too.
Vaughn didn't see that coming at all. He was stunned again but this time, he managed to speak, "You were at my father's funeral? No wait. That's how my mother knew the story? Wait! Sydney and I played together when we were little?"
Irinia let out a tearful laugh and smiled at Vaughn, "All of that information and you pick out that?"
"Agent Bristow, how are you feeling?" Kendall asked as he spotted Jack carrying Sydney across the Joint Task Force Office. He matched his stride to that of Jack's and suddenly turned around, "Somebody get be a wheelchair! NOW!" He turned back to Jack and told him to stop.
"I'm feeling fine." Sydney replied, awkwardly as she starred into Kendall's hellish looking eyes. He was suffering from lack of sleep but something in his eyes gave the impression that he was excited to see her. "I'll be back in a few weeks."
Kendall nodded solemenly, "As soon as those stitches come out and you've met with Barnett and we've checked out a statement from you." A new recruit came rushing towards them with a wheelchair. "Ah, you're ride is here."
"Here you, Agent Bristow. I hope you're feeling better." She rushed through her sentences very quickly.
Jack set Sydney down into the chair as she looked back at the young recruit. "You're Chayse, aren't you?" She smiled slightly and wait for the answer.
"Yes, ma'am." She started to hurry through her speech again and it was completely lost on Sydney, who smiled politely and waited for her to finish. *Oh yeah. I do remember this girl. She does not stop talking !*
Jack did not have the patient nature that Sydney had. He had no idea where it came from but he knew that it didn't come from him or her mother. "Are you ready to go and see Irinia?" he asked in the most father-like tone. His body stepped in front of Chayse and barely waited for an answer before he heard the answer. His robust body was entirely in control and he walked with confidence across the office to the most secluded area, showing the guard two sets of ID: his and hers. The guard nodded and the familiar clank of the bars being raised for their entry. The air was stale and hung around them. Sydney tried to keep her composure and settled on starring down at her clasped hands in her lap. She tried to control her breathing. She had never been nervous to see her mother but this time, all she could hear was her heartbeat throbbing in her brain.
Jack kept his game face on and walked briskly into the cell, listening to the familiar creek of the wheels against the floor, and set her in front of the glass, "Please, take all the time you need." He bent over and kissed her on the cheek as his eyes locked on Irinia, who had already stood up and was starring at Sydney with a look of a true mother. "Hello, Irinia."
The remark was completely lost on her. Her eyes were locked on her daughter's and the emotions were too much to be contained. The tears were already brimming over her brown eyes as she put her hand to the glass, unable to hold her daughter, "What did that bastard do to you?" She managed to whisper. Her voice betrayed her emotions and her body language showed the hurt she felt inside by the state of her daughter. She ignored Jack saying something about leaving and coming back in a few moments.
Sydney's eyes were reflecting the sorrow that Irinia had in her eyes. She sat close enough to the window that she could touch the glass where her mother's hand rest and reply, "It wasn't him. It was Ophelia."
Irinia cringed at the name. "I had the opportunity to kill her on one op and I didn't." her voice was full of regret, "I should have. She's a witch."
Her eyes were brimming over and she didn't even want to talk about it anymore. She was tired of talking about the torture and the injections and the threats. She wanted it to end once and for wall. "Mom." Sydney silenced her with the one word.
Something in her snapped and her mouth could only utter one sentence, "I killed him for your safety, Sydney." Her tone was soft but hard. All emotion quickly drained from her face. "I had to. He was going to kill you." She kept shaking her head like she was in shock from it all. "I didn't even know that he was dead until I saw the blood on my hands but I knew that he needed to die. Sydney, he was going to kill you, Jack, your friends, and Mr. Vaughn." *I couldn't let him kill you or the ones you loved. You've already lost so much.*
He had it coming
He had it coming
He only had himself to blame
If you had been there
If you had heard it
I betcha you would have done the same!
The tears were threatening to overflow now. "Mom." She was in overdrive. Hearing that he was going to kill all of them was so much to bear but she knew that there was more. She didn't want to hear about it anymore. She was sick of it and was coming to have a cynical view of the world.
*He had it coming
He had it coming
He took his power in his pride
And then he used it
And he abused it
It was a murder but not a crime!
Her mother needed to justify herself as fast as humanly possible. "I went there just to capture him and I saw the plans..I heard the commands..I knew what was going to happen if Ophelia didn't kill you. I couldn't let him hurt you." Her tongue moved rapidly over her teeth as she described the horrific plans that Sloane had in mind. "One bullet to the head and the devil died."
Sydney was horrified. "He was going to do that..to me?" She managed to whisper. She had always known that Sloane was the devil but she had no clue how horrible he was. "To my family? To our family?"
He had it coming
He had it coming
He had it coming all along
Cause if he used us
And if they abused us
How could you tell me that I was wrong?
Irinia was now openly sobbing and tucked her long brown hair behind her ear. "I couldn't let them hurt my little girl. I know I haven't been the best mother to you and I can never make up for it but I'm trying to make up for. I'm so sorry for everything. It's my fault you're in this life...if I hadn't.." the sobs took over her body and shook her hard. "I love you Sydney."
If you had been there
If you had heard it
I betcha you would have done the same!
"I love you too." She sobbed, pressing her hand up the glass harder. Her face was growing red and puffy. "I've loved you since I was born. I don't care about your past or what you've done. You're my mother and that's all that matters." She wanted to comfort her mother but couldn't. "Please Mom, stop crying." She removed her hand and tried to wipe the tears away in vain.
Irinia followed suit and managed to smile a little, "You're ruining your make-up."
Sydney laughed tearfully at this remark. "That's a typical mom thing to say. I know, I have some in my bag, in the car." She ran her fingers under her eyes and sighed and sniffled. The silence coated them for a few moments as Sydney got the courage to say something that she had wanted to for a few days now. Actually, she needed to say this for a while but didn't have the courage to say it. "But Mom. Mom, I wasn't here to blame you or to accuse you. I'm here...because I need your advice."
Irinia's sobs still shook her body but she managed to look up, "Advice? From me? Why? You have no mission." Sydney found a smile cross her lips and Irinia understood. "It's about a man." The smile broadened and the woman's instinct kicked into high gear. She knew who it was about. "He was here this morning, you know."
Sydney smiled more and she felt the adrenaline rush through her bones. "You know what I'm going to ask you about?" She felt so excited that her mother knew her that well already.
Irinia gave her a look like 'of course I know who you're talking about you silly little girl' and walked closer to the glass, glancing hesitantly at the glass and then back at her daughter, still red and puffy from the tears but at the same time, she had never looked so beautiful in her life. "It's about Agent Vaughn."
A/N: So what do you think? I've one more chapter and an epilogue to go! And I'm thinking of a sequel to this! It's kind of fluffy from here on out but it's still fun, I think! Please review and tell me what you think! Please, please please!
The pure white light from her lamp gave the room an angelic like glow early that morning, nearly ten days after what was now referred to as "the incident". It was barely 9:45 but she was sure that Francie had been up for at least an hour cooking this perfect morning's breakfast. She was humming in the kitchen, singing every now and then and soon joined by Will, singing the parts he knew.
Unfortunately, she didn't wake up on her own. A phone had cut through her peaceful dreams that were a little smutty but they were all hers and someone was all hers. An arm, still scarred with track marks and bruises reached up from the comforter and groped around for her old-fashioned phone on her nightstand. On the fourth or fifth ring, she finally found her phone and brought the receiver beneath the covers and answered with a familiar, "Hello?" She waited with half excitement half dread to hear what was on the other end.
"Joey's pizza?" a familiar voice answered over the phone. A slow grin started to spread across her face and she could tell that he was smiling on the other end.
"Wrong number." A long sigh escaped her lips as she spoke. How was she going to get out of the house..well, Francie now knew everything about SD-6 and they were safe from it now and could help her get out of the house. There really wasn't a reason to use the standard Joey's pizza thing but she assumed something was up. SD-6 was still in business but her mother was now the most loved person at the Joint Task Force. Irinia Derevko, master mine of deception and international black market intelligence queen, had successfully found Arvin Sloane and shot him in point blank range. SD-6 was dead for now. Sydney was a free agent for at least another month, when she would return for duty under a new director. Jack had hacked into Sloane's files and destroyed all orders and evidence of Sydney being a double agent. She was free until the replacement, Mr. Santo-Thomas came in less than seven days.
As she went to hang up the receiver, she heard the voice shout over the other line, "Hey, lady- do you think they'd deliver for a party in three hours?" His voice was full of happiness. It was so obvious.
"Why not. Sure." Sydney responded, decided whether or not she should be happy that he had called her and woke her up. She had been back in her bed and emphasis on bed, for less than a week later. The doctors in the Spanish hospital had strictly enforced that she stay in bed for ten days when she got home so not to tear out any of her 400 stitches. Absurd and large number, I know, but that little tool did real damage to both of her legs and feet. They ached with the sleeping pill wearing off and cramped, not being able to stretch out for a while.
She was tired of being bed-ridden.she was forced to only sponge baths and either had to crawl or be carried whenever she needed to use the facility. It was humiliating and humbling but thank G-d for Francie. She had muddled through it for nearly a week now and hadn't uttered one complaint. She was nearly better, going through intensive therapy for a week straight and on heavy dosages of antidepressants. It was almost as if nothing had happened. While Vaughn and Sydney were in Madrid, a team of agents came in and repaired the house completely. Furniture was new and replaced. Even Francie's pots and pans had been completely restores and were even better quality than before. Devlin had owed a favor to Jack and it came in the payment of new furniture and a complete house cleaning and addition of security cameras, detectors, and agents stationed about the block.
Sydney stretched her arms and slammed the phone back down as the door to her bedroom squeaked open, sitting up slightly. There was Francie holding a tray of pancakes, grapefruit, and a cup of tea. "I thought the phone would wake you up. Who was it?" She leaned against the door jam, dressed in jeans and a tank top and held the antique tray in her hands as she tilted her head and smiled at her friend.
Sydney smiled and motioned for her to come in, "My handler. I have to meet him in three hours." Francie smiled broadly and sat down on her bed as Sydney sat up folded the comforter over her lap and set the tray there as well. "This looks good!" She wanted to avoid the subject of her handler for the moment. She just didn't feel like it. Her eyes engulfed the food and her stomach suddenly felt extremely empty.
"Eat! You're getting too skinny!" Francie curled her chocolate colored feet beneath her light wash jeans and leaned on her hand, propped up on her knee. "Wait a minute..Your handler is the guy who came to the house?"
With a mouthful of food, Sydney managed to smile a chipmunk looking smile and nodded like a love struck teenager. "Uh-huh."
"The hot one?"
Sydney felt the blush rise in her cheeks and the smile began to form as much as she tried to suppress it. "I guess he's hot."
Francie was floored and laid back on the bed, squealing, "You guess he's hot? Syd, you're blushing more than when you told me about your first date! No, your first kiss!"
Good Lord is he not the hottest creature known to man? I want him! I need him! I have to have him-like today! "Okay! Okay! He's so hot."
"And he's cute hot but not dorky cute."
Sydney was now squealing with laughter, "And he's ripped too."
"Good lord, girly, he's perfect!" Francie yelped, completely out of character. "Anything else you're not telling me?"
Sydney sat up a little taller and scanned through her memory. "Well, Vaughn. He's..he's wonderful." She let her voice drop low for a moment and a chill overtook her body. "He's above average dancer..French..good conversationalist." She licked her lips as she remembered the night club, "and definitely hot."
Francie had fallen on her back and was shrieking with laughter, "And you're meeting him in three hours?"
"Yes." It was like Cinderella was finally able to go to the ball. Sydney looked down at herself, wearing an old stretched out t-shirt with old pajama pants and stale, oily hair with no make-up on and dry, disgusting feeling tight skin. "I need help then." She moaned, feeling the worry lines arch up on her forehead.
"Then we gotta get you going!" Francie jumped to her feet and rushed to her closet. The tray on Sydney's lap bounced up and down as Francie bounded towards the closet, ripping through the neatly organized things. "Let's see! Let's see!" She smiled and turned around to Sydney now and then. "You can't wear pants 'cause of your legs so let's see what we can get you in!" She bounced back and forth on her feet until she had proclaimed on finding the perfect outfit. She laughed and found a sexy black peasant skirt and pink tank top with lacy accents. "These are perfect! And they go with.." She bent down for shoes but was promptly stopped by Sydney's quick demand.
"No shoes!" Sydney motioned down at her feet as Francie picked up her little pink pumps. "I wish I could wear those but I think they would kill me."
Francie set the shoes down and looked Sydney soberly, "That's not funny, Syd. You almost died."
Her tongue ran over her lips quickly and she bit down hard on her bottom one. Eye contact was lost for a moment as Sydney responded, "Francie, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I just don't want you to talk that way." She looked at the items of clothing in her hands again. Her entire attitude changed in an instant. "We need to wash your hair! Wiiilllll!" She tossed the clothes on the bed and marched out to find the unsuspecting Will.
"You want me to what? Where?" Sydney heard Will exclaim and began to giggle slightly.
"You heard me! I need you to carry her into the bathroom so I can wash her hair! I need to pamper her!" Francie shouted, dragged Will into the bedroom by his t-shirt collar. Unwillingly, Will came to the side of Sydney's bed and motioned for her to grab onto his neck. "Come on."
"I'm sorry." Sydney shook her head back and forth, clearly embarrassed. She casually pulled the blankets aside, revealing a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. "I really am."
Will smiled and picked her up, "Think nothing of it." He bent his knees and pretended to drop her, causing her to give out a shout and clutch his neck tighter. "You little princess."
Sydney smiled and laughed as she was brought into her bathroom and sat on a chair, provided by Francie, skipping about at Will's heals. She was like an excited toddler.
Sydney laughed once more and leaned her head back into her sink and all of the smells and disgusting feelings were washed away and replaced with green tea extracts. Her eyes focused on the beige ceiling and remembered how much she loved her simple gold and beige bathroom. The wooden stool she was propped on squeaked every now and then. Francie sang happily as she fussed around her friend. The aroma of the shampoo and conditioner filled the room and smelled so sweet. She had been thoroughly shampooed, conditioned, and rinsed when Francie helped to sit her upright and reached for the hair dryer and curling iron.
Despite protests, Francie insisted on doing her hair. And sure enough, about a half hour later, her hair was pulled half up half down and lightly curled at the bottom. Sydney won the war and did her own make-up and nails. The fake ones had been ripped off in the hospital and within an hour of waking up, she was made up with lavender colored nails. A creamicle scented moisturizer covered her skin, instantly giving it life and color. She applied a soft eyeliner and concealer for the bags under her eyes. The rest of her face went on and as she looked in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile. She was back. She used make-up with names like "Natural Nude" and "Lovely Lilac" and her favorite lipstick, "Blissful Berry."
She was still plopped in the bathroom, putting the finishing touches on her eyelashes with the long black mascara wand, when Francie came back in, showing three pieces of jewelry. One was an antique looking necklace with rose quarts, another was a flower ring made of rose gold and the third was a pair of earrings Sydney had found in a garage sale months ago. They were solid gold and from the 1920's. The little hoops hung elegantly from her ears as she fastened them into place, looking at the big rectangle mirror in front of her. Francie retreated once more into Syd's bedroom and grabbed the clothes and the appropriate lingerie but not before Will had popped in to view the intense process Sydney was going through.
"Perfect." Will replied from the door. "Vaughn will love it."
Sydney looked nothing less than horrified. "I am not doing this for Vaughn. I am doing this for myself!"
Will wasn't convinced. "Oh yeah? Then why is Francie going around the house proclaiming, 'Vaughn and Sydney sitting in a tree.' or 'Sydney loves Vau-ghn.'?"
"Good lord." Sydney blushed and turned her body, including her heavily bandaged feet towards him. Will immediately cringed at the sight of the gauze going from above her knees to her big toe.
Will was obviously pained by what he was about to say, "You know Syd, he's really into you."
Again, the rose in her cheeks flared and a goofy smile spread across her lips. "You think?" She attempted trying to be nonchalant.
Will laughed lightly, "Uh yeah. I do think. I think Francie wants me to get out of here so you can get changed. Do you need a ride to the warehouse?"
Sydney stopped breathing for a moment. She needed to see her mother before she met with Vaughn. It was the first time in the last few years that she truly needed her mother and could go and see her. "Could you get me my cell near the white lamp on my dresser? That's my CIA one." Sydney replied slowly, turning back to the mirror.
Will nodded a reply and made his way to the dresser and found the black faceplate phone. "Here ya go. I'll give you some privacy." And walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door tightly behind him.
"Hey Will!" Sydney shouted and he appeared once again, "Thank you for everything.and for understanding."
"You know I love you, Sydney." A slow sober response came that had a double meaning. He loved her as a friend but now more than ever found himself wishing that there was something more.
"I love you too." But I love Vaughn more, Will, I'm so sorry. Sydney's eyes met his blue sapphire eyes and smiled a sad little smile and then turned to her phone and dialed a familiar number.
The next hour moved quickly and was almost non-eventful. Sydney had gotten dressed in the most painful way, her body still entirely sore from her ordeal.
"Is she ready?" Jack asked from the door of Sydney's house. His eyes were like steal and starred straight ahead looking Will over crudely.
"Yeah, she is. She's in her room." Will replied from the doorway, ushering Jack into the house, stopping him for a moment. "How are you doing?"
Jack was slightly stunned for a moment, "I'm fine, Mr. Tippen."
It's almost Agent Tippen. "Okay. Good. I just wanted to make sure with everything that's been going on."
"Mr. Tippen, my daughter is in her room?" Jack asked again, impatiently.
"Yes."
Jack stiffly walked to the back of the house to find is daughter nervously twitching on her bed. "Hello, Sydney."
Her eyes jumped to the door and her heart began to accelerate. "Hi dad." She managed to squeak.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably and walked into the room, "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure." She extended her arms to her father and wrapped them securely around his neck as he lifted her up
He groaned slightly but smiled, "You're getting heavy in your old age." He joked lightly. It took almost losing his daughter to find his sense of humor.
Sydney smiled brightly, "Hey, watch it. As soon as the bandages come off, I can kick you to curb."
"Very funny." He returned her bright gaze and walked out of the house. The sun was shining brightly that day and the rays felt wonderful against her face. "It is a nice day out." Jack spoke, trying to bring some warmth into his voice.
Sydney smiled and murmured a reply as her eyes scanned over her little lawn and street. The black government issue car was parked out front, with the engine still running. Jack's pace was slow and steady, trying to keep her as still as possible. He finally reached his car and opened the door with his free hand, letting go of her back for a moment. Using her upper body, she managed to slide into the car and seat belt herself in. Today was going to be a day of firsts. After she would talk to her mother, she would go and talk to Vaughn and then everything would be out in the open. It would all go according to plan. This would work. It had to work.
"So you feel that strongly about my daughter, Agent Vaughn?"
"I guess you could say that."
"And you have no hard feelings about the letter?"
"No ma'am."
Irinia's lips curled into a smile, "Good. She's in love with you too." Her brown eyes lit up at the sight of Vaughn. He looked so much like his father that it tortured her inside but at the same time, it was the only thing that kept her sanity. "You and your father are so much alike, it frightens me." Her voice started to tremble slightly. "I don't think I ever told you how terribly sorry I am for that. In person, at least." She lost eye contact for a moment as she felt the flashbacks flood her body.
Vaughn's mouth dropped open and he stood there gaping for a moment. He wanted so desperately to say something but he couldn't manage to use his mouth. As much as he desperately tried to, he couldn't get control of his emotions. His father's killer had just given him so much information about her daughter and about his father. He wanted to laugh and he wanted to cry all at the same time.
Irinia managed to laugh a little bit at his reaction only to cover up the tears that threatened to overflow. Their eyes met and she smiled sadly, "You're so sweet, my dear." She used such an endearing term to him. "You're like your father in more ways than I could have ever imagined." She lost eye contact with him for a moment. "He was quite possible the dearest man I have ever met."
His tongue started to regain feeling as he spoke foreignly, "Thank you, ma'am." He cleared his throat uncomfortably as his mind screamed for him to ask just one question, "Ms. Derevko, I have just one question for you." All of his muscles tightened as he awaited the impending conversation.
"Please, call me Irinia and go ahead." She spoke softly and lovingly.
"How did my mother know the story?" He blurted out so fast that he instantly regretted opening his mouth. He rested his body wait heavily on the crutch he was forced to walk with until his leg fully healed. The stitches had already been removed but it was still sore and covered with horrible bruises. His long-sleeved shirt covered the track marks that had turned a disgusting color purple and were swollen. His face was drawn and pale but his eyes were full of cover and life. Ten days was not enough time for him to heal but he needed to get out of the house and settle all of these things that were up in the air.
Irinia walked closer to the glass and starred directly into his eyes, "Well. I was in love with him you know. " Vaughn nodded him solemnly. "I guess you could say that the Bristow women always manage to fall for the men we really can't have. But I was at his funeral..I stood beside Jack and your mother in front of the casket. I saw you and your little sister-"
"Delia.'' Vaughn interjected quickly.
She smiled at the name. Strangely enough, that was the name of her alias that fateful night. She was Delia White, a wealthy heiress sent to a party to collect information. "I saw you and Delia and you had your arms wrapped around her so tightly I thought you were going to crush her." She almost laughed at his memory as she starred to the left of him, starring like there was a movie playing next to him. "You knew exactly what was going on but your sister really didn't. But your mother kept both of you busy right afterwards. She didn't want you to see her cry. I remember so clearly. That was the first time she met Sydney.she was only what, five or six?" Yes, it was right before I left her. "Anyway.your mother sent you out to keep Delia and Sydney busy while she, Jack, and I all spoke." She looked at him, the tears brimming over her eyes. This was her vulnerable side that not many had seen in her life, "You and Sydney played together after it was all over. And the three of you had so much fun. Sydney actually beat you in some game you were playing. But I couldn't make in through the day without telling her. Jack had stepped outside to see how Sydney was doing and your mother and I stole away to the upstairs. I held your mother as she cried and I told her the story. All of it. She was the only part of my old life that knew who I really was and what I was there. I swore her to secrecy and then, six months later, I left." She concluded, now in full tears and turned away from Vaughn, who was now visibly crying too.
Vaughn didn't see that coming at all. He was stunned again but this time, he managed to speak, "You were at my father's funeral? No wait. That's how my mother knew the story? Wait! Sydney and I played together when we were little?"
Irinia let out a tearful laugh and smiled at Vaughn, "All of that information and you pick out that?"
"Agent Bristow, how are you feeling?" Kendall asked as he spotted Jack carrying Sydney across the Joint Task Force Office. He matched his stride to that of Jack's and suddenly turned around, "Somebody get be a wheelchair! NOW!" He turned back to Jack and told him to stop.
"I'm feeling fine." Sydney replied, awkwardly as she starred into Kendall's hellish looking eyes. He was suffering from lack of sleep but something in his eyes gave the impression that he was excited to see her. "I'll be back in a few weeks."
Kendall nodded solemenly, "As soon as those stitches come out and you've met with Barnett and we've checked out a statement from you." A new recruit came rushing towards them with a wheelchair. "Ah, you're ride is here."
"Here you, Agent Bristow. I hope you're feeling better." She rushed through her sentences very quickly.
Jack set Sydney down into the chair as she looked back at the young recruit. "You're Chayse, aren't you?" She smiled slightly and wait for the answer.
"Yes, ma'am." She started to hurry through her speech again and it was completely lost on Sydney, who smiled politely and waited for her to finish. *Oh yeah. I do remember this girl. She does not stop talking !*
Jack did not have the patient nature that Sydney had. He had no idea where it came from but he knew that it didn't come from him or her mother. "Are you ready to go and see Irinia?" he asked in the most father-like tone. His body stepped in front of Chayse and barely waited for an answer before he heard the answer. His robust body was entirely in control and he walked with confidence across the office to the most secluded area, showing the guard two sets of ID: his and hers. The guard nodded and the familiar clank of the bars being raised for their entry. The air was stale and hung around them. Sydney tried to keep her composure and settled on starring down at her clasped hands in her lap. She tried to control her breathing. She had never been nervous to see her mother but this time, all she could hear was her heartbeat throbbing in her brain.
Jack kept his game face on and walked briskly into the cell, listening to the familiar creek of the wheels against the floor, and set her in front of the glass, "Please, take all the time you need." He bent over and kissed her on the cheek as his eyes locked on Irinia, who had already stood up and was starring at Sydney with a look of a true mother. "Hello, Irinia."
The remark was completely lost on her. Her eyes were locked on her daughter's and the emotions were too much to be contained. The tears were already brimming over her brown eyes as she put her hand to the glass, unable to hold her daughter, "What did that bastard do to you?" She managed to whisper. Her voice betrayed her emotions and her body language showed the hurt she felt inside by the state of her daughter. She ignored Jack saying something about leaving and coming back in a few moments.
Sydney's eyes were reflecting the sorrow that Irinia had in her eyes. She sat close enough to the window that she could touch the glass where her mother's hand rest and reply, "It wasn't him. It was Ophelia."
Irinia cringed at the name. "I had the opportunity to kill her on one op and I didn't." her voice was full of regret, "I should have. She's a witch."
Her eyes were brimming over and she didn't even want to talk about it anymore. She was tired of talking about the torture and the injections and the threats. She wanted it to end once and for wall. "Mom." Sydney silenced her with the one word.
Something in her snapped and her mouth could only utter one sentence, "I killed him for your safety, Sydney." Her tone was soft but hard. All emotion quickly drained from her face. "I had to. He was going to kill you." She kept shaking her head like she was in shock from it all. "I didn't even know that he was dead until I saw the blood on my hands but I knew that he needed to die. Sydney, he was going to kill you, Jack, your friends, and Mr. Vaughn." *I couldn't let him kill you or the ones you loved. You've already lost so much.*
He had it coming
He had it coming
He only had himself to blame
If you had been there
If you had heard it
I betcha you would have done the same!
The tears were threatening to overflow now. "Mom." She was in overdrive. Hearing that he was going to kill all of them was so much to bear but she knew that there was more. She didn't want to hear about it anymore. She was sick of it and was coming to have a cynical view of the world.
*He had it coming
He had it coming
He took his power in his pride
And then he used it
And he abused it
It was a murder but not a crime!
Her mother needed to justify herself as fast as humanly possible. "I went there just to capture him and I saw the plans..I heard the commands..I knew what was going to happen if Ophelia didn't kill you. I couldn't let him hurt you." Her tongue moved rapidly over her teeth as she described the horrific plans that Sloane had in mind. "One bullet to the head and the devil died."
Sydney was horrified. "He was going to do that..to me?" She managed to whisper. She had always known that Sloane was the devil but she had no clue how horrible he was. "To my family? To our family?"
He had it coming
He had it coming
He had it coming all along
Cause if he used us
And if they abused us
How could you tell me that I was wrong?
Irinia was now openly sobbing and tucked her long brown hair behind her ear. "I couldn't let them hurt my little girl. I know I haven't been the best mother to you and I can never make up for it but I'm trying to make up for. I'm so sorry for everything. It's my fault you're in this life...if I hadn't.." the sobs took over her body and shook her hard. "I love you Sydney."
If you had been there
If you had heard it
I betcha you would have done the same!
"I love you too." She sobbed, pressing her hand up the glass harder. Her face was growing red and puffy. "I've loved you since I was born. I don't care about your past or what you've done. You're my mother and that's all that matters." She wanted to comfort her mother but couldn't. "Please Mom, stop crying." She removed her hand and tried to wipe the tears away in vain.
Irinia followed suit and managed to smile a little, "You're ruining your make-up."
Sydney laughed tearfully at this remark. "That's a typical mom thing to say. I know, I have some in my bag, in the car." She ran her fingers under her eyes and sighed and sniffled. The silence coated them for a few moments as Sydney got the courage to say something that she had wanted to for a few days now. Actually, she needed to say this for a while but didn't have the courage to say it. "But Mom. Mom, I wasn't here to blame you or to accuse you. I'm here...because I need your advice."
Irinia's sobs still shook her body but she managed to look up, "Advice? From me? Why? You have no mission." Sydney found a smile cross her lips and Irinia understood. "It's about a man." The smile broadened and the woman's instinct kicked into high gear. She knew who it was about. "He was here this morning, you know."
Sydney smiled more and she felt the adrenaline rush through her bones. "You know what I'm going to ask you about?" She felt so excited that her mother knew her that well already.
Irinia gave her a look like 'of course I know who you're talking about you silly little girl' and walked closer to the glass, glancing hesitantly at the glass and then back at her daughter, still red and puffy from the tears but at the same time, she had never looked so beautiful in her life. "It's about Agent Vaughn."
A/N: So what do you think? I've one more chapter and an epilogue to go! And I'm thinking of a sequel to this! It's kind of fluffy from here on out but it's still fun, I think! Please review and tell me what you think! Please, please please!