Chapter 15: Out of the Frying Pan

Sydney's fever had been brought down during the night and she'd slept peacefully with Vaughn and Will standing vigil over her. When she woke up in the morning, just as Sark had predicted, she didn't remember anything that had happened the previous night. Despite Vaughn's attempts to keep her in bed for a complete recovery, Sydney got out of bed.

"I'm not going to stay in bed all day. I want to find out about Sarah and what happened to her." Sydney said firmly.

"Sydney, you almost died last night!" Will implored her.

"Will, I almost die ever time I go on a mission." Sydney shot back.

"I promise to let you know everything we find out. Just get back into bed." Vaughn bribed hoping that it would work. "Just look at you, you can barely walk."

"Maybe the Mathew's will take pity on my condition and will be more willing to talk." Sydney's legs gave out as she reached the couch and table in the center of the next room. She sat down quickly and she out a frustrated grunt. "Fine, I won't go to the meeting. Only because I can't stand being carried around like a child."

Will and Vaughn gave each other a look wondering if they should tell her about her being carried by three different people last night.

"What? I saw that look you gave each other. Never mind. God I'm hungry, where's the food?" She said impatiently crossing her arms. After a few minutes she smiled. "I haven't thanked you for your shirt and boxers Vaughn. They're fabulous. You're going to have to tell me where you shop." The white collared dress shirt had a faint smell of old spice to it and the silk boxers felt sinfully luxurious.

"Talking about clothes, why don't I get your suitcase?" Will said retreating from the room as quickly as possible. He wasn't going to be the one to tell her who the clothes really belonged to.

"What really happened last night? Why can't I remember anything?" Sydney asked giving Vaughn on of her 'please don't lie to me' looks.

"I already explained it to you. Frank Crowley, a reunion member spiked the punch with a drug called Venerex." Vaughn replied evasively.

"There's something you and Will aren't telling me and I want to know the truth. Did I say or do something last night?" She crossed her legs Indian style and hugged a pillow as if to shield herself from the knowledge to come.

"No, there's nothing you said or did that you need to be ashamed of. Besides, you were under the influence of a drug." Vaughn said reassuringly.

Sydney let out a sigh of relief before attacking again. "Then what aren't you telling me? For instance what is all this? I know both Will and your writing so I know neither of you wrote it." She held up Sark's scribblings from the coffee table.

"Good morning Ms. Bristow! I'm glad to see you're up and well." Sark said rolling in Sydney's breakfast. He took a bite of her omelet and before placing it in front of her. He also stole half of her muffin before sprawling on a lounge chair with an innocent face waiting for Sydney's reaction. He didn't have to wait long.

"You! What are you doing here? Get out!" She exploded once she got over her shock of seeing Sark.

"What ingratitude to the person who saved your life last night." Sark said taking a bite of the muffin."

"Vaughn, what the hell is he talking about?" She quashed the urge to throw her pillow at Sark to wipe the smirk off his smug face.

"He's the one who came up with the counteragent." Vaughn said shooting Sark a dark look.

"Oh, I thought it was you!" Sydney said quietly looking at Vaughn.

"Oh, he helped, he's good at following orders; probably why the boys at the Agency like him so much." Sark said magnanimously. "You really should eat. You're looking a little pale."

"You've made me lose my appetite. I'll eat when you leave." Sydney made a quick prayer so that her stomach wouldn't betray her.

"Suite yourself." Sark finished off the last of the muffin.

"What do you want Sark?" Vaughn asked coldly.

"Sarah Radcliff-King." Sark became all business; his face reverted back to usual bland and emotionless one and his posture straightened and ready for action. The room became tense with energy.

"How did you find out about her?" Vaughn asked.

"You need to cease your investigation of her."

"No!" Vaughn said mutinously. He wasn't going to take another order from Sark.

"But you haven't heard what I'm willing to give you in exchange." Sark said cryptically.

"I don't want anything from you."

"Not even your life?"

"Are you threatening me?" He took a step toward Vaughn.

"I never threaten Mr. Vaughn, I make promises." Sark stood up, daring Vaughn to take another step closer.

"Stop it both of you, this isn't getting us anywhere!" Sydney broke in getting to her feet shakily. "Sark, how is Vaughn's life in danger?"

"A few weeks ago, he came into contact or rather swam in contaminated water." He sat down smoothly. Sydney followed suit.

"So what? I've already been checked out and I have a clean bill of health." Vaughn stayed standing.

"Well, you should get to an doctor as soon as possible then. Make sure that they test your T cells." He refused to give in to Vaughn's power game and looked at Sydney instead.

"Are you telling me that he has aids?" Sydney asked shocked.

"Not aids, but something that works a little faster and isn't as detectable or transmittable."

"And you have the cure?" Sydney asked

"Perhaps."

"Do you or don't you?" Sydney insisted

"I know where you can get it."

"How can we guarantee that you're not lying?" Vaughn asked.

"How can you guarantee that you'll stop the investigation after I give you the location of the cure?"

"Fair enough." Sydney acquiesced.

"No Sydney, I'm not making a deal with him. I'm not going to stop the investigation. If I need a cure we'll find another way to find one, without Sark's help."

"Think hard before you make your decision Mr. Vaughn, you may not have enough time to get the cure after you start showing symptoms." He gets up and walks to the door. Before exiting he turns to give Sydney his parting shot. "Keep the clothes, I can always get more."

Once he'd gone, Sydney gave into her urge and she threw her pillow in the direction of the door. "Arrghhh!"