Author's Comments: Keep reading and reviewing! Oh, and this is where all you spies get to check your answers for the code. One more thing, I hate to leave the story like this but I might not be able to add on for a few days. School's back in session (ugh) and I've got a long week in front of me, but I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can.

Chapter 12

An hour later, Kendall called a meeting and half the office was working their way into the conference room. Vaughn walked in looking dismal, while Jack was confused. Five minutes later, every one was seated and Kendall began the meeting.

"For those of you who haven't already heard, we lost a valuable asset today," Kendall announced somberly. "Agent Diane Patterson was mercilessly shot during a mission for the CIA." Kendall stopped a moment to let this information sink in.

"She was killed by this woman," Kendall said as every one turned to their screens. Some of the agents gasped in recognition, others waited for Kendall to continue. "As many of you know, Agent Sydney Bristow was shot and killed on her mission in Nevada, however, this women, as some of you can tell, has a great resemblance to Sydney.

"At this time, we believe that the women killed last week in Nevada was not Sydney Bristow and that the women in front of you is."

Jack Bristow stood up angrily in protest. "You have nothing to base that on. The CIA's security scan will give you the closest resemblance in the database, i.e. Sydney."

"Jack please sit down," Kendall said calmly. "The episode to which Agent Bristow is referring is the break-in that occurred last night. The same woman who shot Agent Patterson also broke into the CIA and stole the Rambaldi watch and crystal. The CIA's security camera's ran the face threw the database and identified the intruder as Sydney Bristow." Kendall turned back to Jack. "Agent Bristow is right, however our belief that this agent is Sydney Bristow is not solely based on the security footage. Our forensics team found hair, blond in color, at the seen of the break-in. After anaylzing it, it was discovered that its owner had dyed it." Vaughn looked up at this information.

"It was determined that the natural color was brown. They were also able to analyze it for DNA and it too pointed at Sydney Bristow." Vaughn looked across the table at Jack who looked as stunned as he did.

"This meeting was called to inform all agents and handlers that Sydney Bristow has betrayed the CIA. Any information or sightings of Agent Bristow are to be reported directly to me," Kendall informed.

"That's not fair," Vaughn said, angry at the accusations. "We may not know the whole story."

Kendall looked at Vaughn with dismay. "Agent Vaughn, I'll speak with you after the meeting." He turned his attention back to the group. "Meeting dismissed." Agent after agent filed out of the room, leaving Kendall and Vaughn alone.

"Agent Vaughn, the evidence is all here. Agent Bristow stole from the CIA and killed a CIA agent, your agent I might add. Any information we obtain from our now alerted field agents will either prove or dispute my theory. Now I'm asking you Agent Vaughn, do you have hard evidence that disagrees with my theory?" Kendall asked.

Vaughn looked down at the ground. "No, Sir, but Sydney Bristow has been a loyal---" Vaughn started but Kendall waved him away.

"I'm aware of Agent Bristow's credentials. Give me evidence that Sydney is being controlled by some outside force, and we'll do whatever we can to get her out of that situation. But right now, since you have no evidence, we're going with the facts." Kendall stopped. "I still expect that assessment on my desk before you leave tomorrow. That's all Agent Vaughn."

Vaughn walked out of the room more hurt and angry than ever. His arguments in Sydney's behalf were weak to his own ears. He knew everything Kendall was saying was true, but he didn't want to believe it. He didn't have any resources to back up his claims. Vaughn walked to his desk and plopped down in his chair.

He was also greatly upset over Diane's death. She was a wonderful person. She was enthusiastic about her job, and extremely caring to other people's feelings. He may have only been her handler for a week, but he could tell from her file that she was an incredible agent. It just wasn't fair. Diane, Sydney, none of it was fair.

Vaughn reached for Sydney's files once again, more adamant than ever to prove Kendall wrong. He opened his desk searching for a pen and found the note. He took it out and began working on it. This had to be the evidence that he needed to prove Sydney's innocence.

It took a half an hour of staring at the note, before Vaughn recognized a pattern. Nothing was similar about the words or any letter within the words except the first and last letter of ever word. He took his pen and wrote down the first and last letter of every word in the note on an already pen filled piece of paper. He looked at the result:

VA UG HN

IA MA GE NT 34 71 (SD 06 BA SE ME NT AG EN TN) OT DE AD

SO RR YD ID NO TW AN TT OS TE AL HE LP ME

SY DN EY

Vaughn looked at this carefully trying to make sense of the words.

VAUGHN

I AM AGENT 3471 (SD 6 BASEMENT AGENT) NOT DEAD

SORRY DID NOT WANT TO STEAL HELP ME

SYDNEY

Vaughn read the words over several times. This was the evidence he needed, wasn't it? After all, Sydney wrote that she didn't want to steal, and was actually requesting help. The only thing that Vaughn could make sense of was the part that said she was Agent 3471, a SD-6 basement agent. What did that mean?

Vaughn had to do more research before he could give this note to Kendall. He needed to find out what a basement agent was, otherwise Kendall would see the note as an admittance of guilt. He looked through the rest of Sydney's papers filling out the assessment, and looking to see if Sydney had mentioned anything about basement agents anywhere.

The search took him well into the evening, without any mention to what a basement agent was. He even looked through the CIA database of documents that other agents had obtained during their mission, and still he couldn't find any information. He had wished that Sydney had been more specific in her note. God did he miss her.

Vaughn leaned back in his chair trying to think of any reference Sydney may have made to basement agents in conversation but he couldn't even recall one time they had been mentioned. Vaughn closed his eyes in thought, and before he knew it he fell asleep.

"Vaughn? Wake up, man." Vaughn opened his eyes to see Weiss standing in front him. "Geez, were you here all night?" Weiss asked.

Vaughn blinked and yawned. "Depends, what time is it?"

"Seven o'clock, Friday March fourth," Weiss said. "What were you doing here all night?"

Vaughn leaned forward in his chair remembering the note. "I cracked the code," Vaughn said, handing over the note's translation. Weiss read it and looked up at Vaughn.

"What's a SD-6 basement agent?" Weiss asked.

Vaughn rubbed his eyes. "I don't know, that's what I was trying to figure out."

"You got to show this to Kendall," Weiss said, handing the note back.

"What good will it do until I know what the note is referring to?" Vaughn argued.

Weiss looked at Vaughn carefully. "You mean until you can use it to your advantage."

"Sydney is not a traitor. If this is the only evidence that is going to present itself to me in Sydney's behalf, then I'm not going to lose it," Vaughn said determinedly.

"Fine, but you better find out quick. Kendall was serious about that meeting yesterday. Every CIA field agent and handler is on alert for her. If Kendall gets a hold of her before you get something to prove her innocence, it's unlikely that you'll see her for a long while." Vaughn looked at the note.

"Will you help me research this?" Vaughn asked hopefully.

Weiss looked around and then nodded. "Sure, just write me a copy of the note, and I'll let you know if I find anything."

"Thanks," Vaughn said.

"Do me a favor though, Vaughn, go home a take a shower." Vaughn smiled but was about to protest. "Don't worry about the note. I'll get started on it, and it will be like you never even left."

"You're a good friend, Weiss," Vaughn said as he got his coat.

"I know," Weiss answered.

* * *

Vaughn was just driving back from his house when his cell phone rang. He reached for the phone on the seat to him and pushed the talk button.

"Vaughn," he answered.

"Get your ass down here," he heard Weiss whisper over the phone.

Vaughn was overcome with fear. "What's going on?"

"One of our field agents was leaving for a mission and saw Sydney getting off a plane at the Los Angeles airport. He's sending out a team to capture her," Weiss said quickly.

"Dammit," Vaughn cursed as his foot unconsciously increased its pressure on the gas pedal. "Any lead on the note?"

"None. I even asked Jack about it. He's going to go into SD-6 today and try and hack into the system to find information some information. But Sloane's never mentioned anything about basement agents to him."

"Good work, I'll be there as soon as I can," Vaughn said hanging up. He threw his phone down against the seat. Kendall seemed to love making his job more difficult.