Disclaimer: I don't own anything Alias related (Sydney, Vaughn etc) don't sue me

Missing Sydney- Chapter 5

They drove for what felt like hours listening to cheesy radio stations and talking. Sydney was beginning to fall asleep when Vaughn's cell rang

"Vaughn"

"Hi I assume you got to her on time"

"Yeah I did, where are we going cos right now we're just driving down the coast trying to get as much distance as possible"

"There's a safe house just out side Richmond in Virginia if you call back when you're nearer I'll get you some more precise directions, Jack will be there when you arrive he's flying out tonight"

"Okay, thanks Eric"

"Oh before I go, Devlin is not a happy person right now, he's gonna want to talk to you when you get to Virginia and be careful, most of the intelligence world would kill to get a hold of Sydney"

"I will - bye" Vaughn hung up

"So…" Sydney prompted quietly

"We're headed for a safe house in Virginia where your father will be waiting for us"

"Oh" Sydney tried to control her mixed reactions to that statement, she was happy at the thought of seeing her father again, she hadn't had any contact with him for the whole year she had been gone. But on the other hand she had been hoping for some time alone with Vaughn, this was she convinced herself purely for talk, before she left he had been her sole confidant and she had missed the closeness of their friendship. They passed a road sign for a service station and Sydney had a thought "Can we stop at the services please?"

"Sure but not for too long" Vaughn said turning off the road

When they reached the service station Sydney went to the ATM and withdrew all the money in Virginia Harry's bank account, knowing that Sloane would be monitoring it. Vaughn bought them some take away coffees and a box of donuts for the journey. They sat on the hood of the car with the map out planning their route, they would have to double back on themselves a few times and take the long route, but it would be worth it if they kept safe. The journey would take a long time and Sydney estimated they would arrive at their destination at about ten o'clock the next evening.

"How you holding up?" Vaughn asked when Sydney sighed

"I'm okay, I think I'm just waiting for everything to seem real at the moment it's a bit like a crazy dream"

"I know its weird, this time yesterday I didn't think I'd ever see you again"

"I'm sorry about that, about the way I left" Sydney said quietly looking down at her hands but she looked up and quickly continued before Vaughn could say anything, "I think you would have heard from me again eventually, because to tell you the truth I was beginning to get restless, in fact I'd had even thought of getting in contact with my Dad and coming home"

"But why?"

"Normal life isn't everything its made out to be, I don't know, maybe its just me but spying is obviously in my blood and I don't think normal will ever be enough for me, after everything I've seen and done it feels wrong to just sit back and pretend to be oblivious to all things I know are happening in the espionage world"

Vaughn didn't really know what to say to that but Sydney jumped off the hood of his car and began to fold up the map so a reply clearly wasn't expected.

"Would you like me to drive for a while?" Sydney asked smiling at him

"If you want" Vaughn smiled back when Sydney nodded and he chucked her the keys.

Like it? Hate it? Any comments at all? REVIEW Thank you

-AA