AN: Hey everyone! Thanks again for your reviews. Side note-I know the last chapter was somewhat like the latest Alias episode. That's because that scene with Vaughn was one of my favorite scenes ever. lol. :) Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!
Thanks to Michelle for fixing my grammar mistakes. :)
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Chapter 8
Vaughn's POV
It was nightfall by the time they reached the small village. It has been awhile since he had been to this part of France. Heck, it had been awhile since he had been to France at all. When Vaughn had first started out, he had gone to France on a couple of missions, but after he transferred back to Los Angeles and became a "desk" agent, he didn't travel much.
There was a quaint quietness to the place. Little kids played in the streets while their parents sat in chairs watching them. Many of the houses had a little garden in the front, and most of the lights were on. Vaughn turned the car to the right and headed down the street that Sydney's mother's cottage was at. Weiss was being unusually quiet and Vaughn wondered why.
"No comment, Eric?"
"What? Why would I have a comment? Just because we're on a wild goose chase to find the mother of a woman you obviously have issues with and ask her if she happened to kidnap her missing daughter doesn't mean I would have a comment."
"Why did I bother to ask?" Vaughn shook his head and sighed. He knew Weiss was right, but he didn't want to admit it. Continuing to drive, he found the cottage and parked the car in front of it.
"Well, here goes nothing." He and Weiss got out of the car and headed down the pathway towards the door. Vaughn pulled his gun out of the holster just to be on the safe side. When they got to the door, they found it ajar. Opening it slightly, they saw Sydney's mother sitting in the corner behind a desk. She looked to be doing something on the computer. Both Vaughn and Weiss jumped when she addressed them.
"Are you two just going to stand out there all night or come in?"
"We didn't think you would be that happy to see us." Vaughn said in a cold tone.
Irina laughed. "Of course not, but I knew you were going to come anyways. I'm Irina by the way."
"Where's Sydney?"
Irina ignore his question and changed the subject. "You look just like your father."
"My father? How did you know my father?" Vaughn looked at Irina in confusion.
"He used to work with Sydney's father." Vaughn didn't think that was the whole truth, but decided to let it go for now.
"Look, I don't have time for small talk. Tell me where she is." Vaughn pointed his gun at Irina.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Even if Sydney hated me, I don't think she would want me dead." Vaughn knew she was right, but refused to budge. If he showed any weakness, she would immediately pounce on it. He had only been in her presence for mere minutes, but he could see that this was not a woman you wanted to mess with.
Irina smiled evilly at him. "Stubbornness will get you nowhere with me, Agent Vaughn. Put the gun down and maybe I'll consider telling you where Sydney is."
"Don't underestimate me. I will do what is necessary to make sure Sydney is safe once again."
"How do you know she isn't? How do you know that she's just not taking a vacation or something?"
"Sydney wouldn't be that irresponsible even if she was raised by you."
"You certainly have more guts than your father. That's for sure." As Vaughn was about to pull the trigger, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Mike, it's not worth it. She has the information we need." Vaughn lowered his shoulders in defeat. Irina smiled.
"You know, there was no need for threats. I would have just told you. You see, I have what I wanted. I have the disk, and I got to see my daughter again. If you promise me you will never tell her the truth about me, I will tell you where she is."
There was no hesitation this time. "I promise."
"If you go back on your promise, everything you hold dear will be taken away from you. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Alright, she is downstairs. I've built this place to have rooms downstairs for prisoners and such. You will find her there. The door opens automatically from the outside."
"How do I know you're not lying?"
Irina smiled. "You don't."
Vaughn turn his head when he heard a sound by the window and by the time he turned his head back, Irina was gone.
"Where did she go?" He turned and asked Weiss.
"I'm not sure. I was looking over at the window too. Let's just go find Sydney." They found a set of stairs leading downstairs and headed to find Sydney. Vaughn was amazed by what he saw down there. The whole place was a bunch of cells with solid metal doors. Weiss took one side and he took the other. They started opening door by door. Always coming up empty. All there usually was was a cot and concrete floors.
Finally Vaughn was at the last door. He took a deep breath and hoped Sydney would be behind this door. When he opened it, Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief. There was Sydney sitting in a corner of the room asleep.
Vaughn walked over to her and gently shook her to wake her up. After a little bit, she started to wake up.
"Michael?"
"Hey Syd. Come on, we're here to take you home." Vaughn helped her up from the floor and was about to lead her out when she put her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for coming to get me." Sydney whispered.
"Of course." For once, Weiss was smart enough to know when he was not wanted.
"I'm going out to the car. See you two in a little bit."
Vaughn leaned back a little to take a closer look at her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. They didn't do anything to me. How did you find me anyway?" Vaughn was about to tell her that her mother had told him, but then he remembered his promise. He also remembered that it was probably wasn't good that he was hugging Sydney right now. Pulling away from her, he made up a reason.
"We were given intel and it helped us locate you."
Sydney nodded and looked down at her hands. After a moment, she spoke. "Where am I?"
"Cordeau, France." Sydney's head snapped back up.
"This is where my mother's old cottage was."