Author's Notes: Sorry everyone about taking so long. I think our snow days are done for the year, so I can only right on weekends when I don't have too much homework. Thanks to everyone for reviewing, and I hope you enjoy Chapter 18!

Chapter 18

"What?" Vaughn asked eyes wide. "Was she with anyone? Did she saw where she was going? Did she leave any message for me?"

Dr. Conner shook his head. "No, she wasn't with anyone, she didn't say where she was going, and she didn't leave any message."

"But why didn't you stop her?" Vaughn asked.

Dr. Conner gave Vaughn a hard look. "Mr. Vaughn, I've been on duty since seven yesterday morning, and though Ms. Bristow was one of my patients her physical condition was good enough for her to leave. She was the one who had to sign the release forms. I couldn't hold her here until you came to pick her up. There was no way." Dr. Conner softened. "I want to find her as much as you do. With Ms. Bristow's new emotional state I believe it's best. Now tell me, Mr. Vaughn. Do you think Ms. Bristow's capable of suicide?"

Vaughn could only look up into the doctor's eyes and answer with a hesitant "I don't know." After making a few more inquires Vaughn discovered that Sydney had not called a cab, and had simply walked out of the hospital. It was with this information that Vaughn decided to walk down LA's crowded streets, starting from the hospital's front entrance.

Vaughn passed each shop, one-by-one, thinking none of them likely as to a place that Sydney may have stopped. He didn't understand why Sydney was doing this. All she needed to do was to open up and talk to him. This whole scene seemed like the beginning of their first meetings all over again. Sydney would enter, receive her mission, and leave. During that time, there was no in between chatter, or comments about their daily lives.

Vaughn stopped and pulled out his cell phone for the tenth time and pushed the redial button. He had been calling Sydney's cell phone every twenty minutes and he had yet to get in touch with her. He closed his phone in disgust as Sydney's voice mail picked up once again. The street sidewalk around him was a bustle of activity and it seemed as if the chances of him finding Sydney were slim. Sydney, where are you?

The phone that Vaughn had angrily placed in his jacket rang. Vaughn reached inside his coat and pulled it open eagerly. "Sydney?" he asked in place of his normal greeting.

"Sydney?" came Jack Bristow's confused voice. Vaughn was filled with dread. He had yet to inform Jack of Sydney's disappearance and he could tell that this confrontation was not going to be pleasant. "She's not with you?"

Vaughn paused trying to think how to answer that question. He finally decided to be blunt. "Sydney checked herself out of the hospital, and I have no idea where she is."

The growl in Jack's voice became apparent with his next words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I've been trying to find her," Vaughn stated lamely. What he was really trying to say was already implied. He had been trying to cover his ass when in actuality there was nothing to cover. Sydney's disappearance hadn't been his fault, but it sure felt that way.

Noticing this, Jack steered the conversation in a different direction. "Any leads?"

"All I know is she walked out of the hospital making her moves untraceable," Vaughn said, frustrated.

Jack pondered on this and was careful not to hint any blame in his words. "I'll inform the CIA and get our men to work on it." Jack paused. "Get something to eat and go home, Agent Vaughn. Sydney will be found." The line went dead and Vaughn put his phone away again. He looked at his watch, and decided to head back in the direction of the hospital to get his car.

There were so many questions he didn't understand. Why had Sydney left? Why was she depressed? Where was she? Was she okay? Why had her house been bombed when no one was home? He thought briefly of the bombing and the time frame in which it had taken place and the realization hit him. Sydney was supposed to be released at noon on that day, which would have placed her at home at the time of the bombing. The bombing wasn't meant to be an act of sabotage or a threat, it was meant as murder.

It has to be the act of the Alliance, Vaughn thought. He shook his head sadly. Anyone could say that they've had a harder life than Sydney Bristow, but he thought that the competition would be slim. Sydney had to lie to her friends every day while keeping an eye over her shoulder. She had lived thinking her mother dead, then found she had been a spy for the KGB. Later she found her mother was alive and she had shot her on their first meeting. She had watched Will's life become ruined because of her secrets. She had also been estranged from her father until she joined an agency that threatened her life as part of its daily requirements. She had even discovered that he had used her in an experiment and had tried to frame her mother to prove her disloyalty to the CIA. She had been under more torture situations than Vaughn cared to count and on more dangerous missions than he cared to remember. Even the starts of their relationship had been rocky because of SD-6 and Rambaldi. Sydney Bristow had not had an easy life.

Vaughn opened his car door and got in. Just pondering on Sydney's hard life depressed him, but Vaughn figured that if it was Sydney's past that was bugging her, she would feel no reason not to come forward. Their first meetings aside, the two of them had always been open about her life as an agent and her "normal" life with her friends. There had to be something else.

Vaughn headed towards the CIA office after finding no interest in eating and no desire to go home. He would feel better if he could monitor the investigation of Sydney's disappearance himself. He pulled into the CIA parking lot and headed up to the office. Jack Bristow, even though he had advised Vaughn to go home, he wasn't surprised to see him.

"Any news?" Vaughn inquired within minutes of his entry.

"We've got a lead," Jack said standing up and walking briskly towards the tech room. "We've been monitoring credit card usage among local shops and we've hacked into their security cameras."

"What's the lead?" Vaughn asked impatiently.

Jack glared at him briefly and continued. "Dover Electronics. This footage," he said gesturing to running footage of the inside of the local electronics store, "shows Sydney entering, searching briefly, and purchasing several items with cash."

Vaughn stared at the footage trying to make out the items. "Any idea what they are?"

"Only one for sure," Jack said. "That right there is a video tape." Jack pointed at the package of several rectangular objects bond together in plastic. "We've sent agents down to inquire about her other purchases."

Vaughn thought for a moment about the whole situation. "Any idea as to why she needs these items?"

"No," Jack said with a set jaw. He was worried, Vaughn could tell. For both of their sakes he hopped Sydney would try to contact them soon.

Suddenly, a ringing came from the holster in Jack's pocket.

"Bristow," he answered. He nodded as the person on the other end talked for a few minutes. "Alright, come on back."

"What was that about?" Vaughn asked.

"Those were the agents I sent out to inquire about Sydney's purchases. Aside from the tapes, she purchased a video tape recorder," Jack said.

"A video tape recorder?" Vaughn repeated, pondering aloud. What in the world was she up to?

"Any leads on the bombing?" Vaughn asked, trying to figure out this whole crazy mess.

"The explosive was set to go off at one o'clock with the whole base of the house being wired to it," Jack said in his emotionless voice. The voice he always took into affect when he wanted to hide his feelings.

Vaughn just nodded as he turned his attention back to the TV monitors in the tech room. He rubbed his temple and glanced at his watch. Five o'clock. The day had been long, and it seemed like months since he had had a good night's sleep. He turned his attention back to the screen. He tapped Jack in surprise.

"What's going on?" Jack looked down to see what Vaughn was talking about. He looked at the screen in confusion. All the monitors had turned to snow. "Jim! What's happening to the monitors?" Jack asked, addressed one of the other senior officer's who was on the computer.

"Someone's hacked into the satellite," Jim replied, typing furiously on the computer. Seconds later however, his computer went blank.

"Jack," Vaughn said. Jack turned towards Vaughn who stood frozen staring at the monitor.

"Sydney?" Jack exclaimed.