Pandora's Box

Disclaimer: I don't own Alias. The only character I own is Amanda, and I don't really want her. If I owned Vaughn, he would be married to Sydney already.

A/N: The name of this chapter is Pandora's Box. According to Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman, and she let all of the evils that plague humankind out of a box. It's a slightly different scenario here, but if you think about it for a minute, the things in Sydney's box could be looked at as 'evils'. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Flipping through the album quickly, she sees that it contains more similar pictures.

Under that she finds a few men's t-shirts and a pair of jeans.

These were in *his* drawer, she thinks.

Among other things, she also finds the picture frame Vaughn gave her, mementos from several of their dates, and even a few items from missions they'd been on together that she is sure he must have saved.

One such item is a medium-length black wig that, for her, brings back memories of a short, tight black dress that clung quite uncomfortably. But she also remembers that Vaughn's eyes rarely left her body while she was wearing that dress. She smiles sadly.

Sydney closes the box quickly as Will walks back into the building.

"I'm taking this one too," she says, tucking the box under her arm. "I don't need anything else," she adds quickly, hoping Will doesn't open the box or insist on carrying it; it is much too heavy to be clothes.

"Okay," he says, "Then you're ready to head to my place? I'm sure you're tired."

"Yeah. I haven't slept too good lately," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

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Vaughn gathers up all of his courage and approaches the holding cell, only to find it vacated.

"Where's Sydney?" he asks in surprise.

He is told she left with Will.

The box! he thinks. Will will take her to get at least *some* of her things. If Amanda finds out about that box…

He can't finish the thought.

He kicks himself again mentally for ever getting involved with Amanda. But as much as he loves Sydney, he can never hurt Amanda like that. She's really a great person, she just got caught up in the web of lies and deception that all started with Irina Derevko…

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Sydney sits on the bed in Will's spare bedroom with the contents of the box dumped before her. It is 6:00, and Will thinks she is sleeping. But she isn't; she can't. She sorts through each item, remembering the story attached to each object as she does. She doesn't know what she's looking for. Possibly she's searching for some sign that his feelings for her haven't changed.

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Vaughn is pulling into his driveway when his cell phone rings. He is tempted not to answer it, but he does anyway out of habit.

"Hello?"

"Agent Vaughn." It is Kendall. "I've just spoken with Dr. Barnett. I believe you're familiar with her. You will be in her office first thing Friday morning."

"Tomorrow?!?" Vaughn cries. "Can't it wait until Monday?"

"And give you time to come up with an excuse? No. Tomorrow." Kendall hangs up before Vaughn can object.

He pounds the steering wheel before he bolts out of his car.

"Are you happy, Amanda?" he yells, slamming his brief case down on the table by the door.

"What are you talking about, Michael?" she asks softly, fearfully. Like a rookie agent, he thinks.

"Kendall scheduled me to meet with that damn psychologist tomorrow!" he yells, pacing in long strides around the kitchen where Amanda had been starting dinner. "I bet you told him you thought it would be a good idea, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!?" he nearly screams.

She is scared, but she is also worried about him, too. He's never been like this…he seems almost wild at times.

"N-no, Mike," she stutters, "I w-wouldn't, n-not if you didn't w-want me to, but I told you sh-she'd just go over y-your head…"

Vaughn pounds his hand flat on the kitchen table in frustration before he walks out.

As soon as he is gone, Amanda picks up her CIA issue cell phone and dials.

"I need to speak to Dr. Barnett," she says nervously when the phone is answered.

There is a short pause.

"Dr. Barnett."

She sighs softly.

"This is Agent Amanda Vaughn. I need to talk to you about my husband," she says softly, afraid Vaughn will hear her.

"What's wrong?" Barnett asks.

"I think finding Sydney Bristow has pushed him over the edge," she blurts before she loses her nerve. "I even think he regrets marrying me. I've made friends at the agency; I know all about him and Bristow before she disappeared. Everyone that knew them was sure they would get married soon. There was even a rumor that he'd already bought her a ring when it happened. Lately, he just seems to get angry at me, no matter what I do or don't do. I don't want to hurt him, but I think it's only fair that you know completely what he's doing."

"Thank you, Amanda. I'll speak with him," Barnett says gently.

"I'd rather he didn't know I spoke with you. He really is against this, and he already thinks I talked to Kendall about this…"

"I won't tell him I spoke with you, Amanda. I'm sure there are other people he's been short-tempered with, not just you. He'll never know."

"Thank you."

For about the millionth time since she'd been recruited, Amanda sits down and wonders why she even wanted this job with the CIA so badly. She'd always been shy and timid. Until Michael, she'd never been in a relationship that lasted more than a month. So why did Michael chose *her*?

An unsettling thought crosses her mind. She has seen formal black and white photos of Sydney Bristow. But now she wants to meet the agent face to face.

Amanda grabs her purse and runs out the front door, yelling over her should that she's leaving but she'll be back in time for dinner.

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It is 7:00 when Sydney hears a knock at Will's front door. She hears him move to get it.

"Is Sydney Bristow here?" a woman's voice asks.

"Official or personal interest, Amanda?" Will asks. He has gone places with Vaughn and Amanda, so he knows her, but something about her is different, more…aggressive, or may be she just seems to have a very definite goal in mind.

"Personal," Amanda answers promptly. "Now is she here?"

Will nods.

"I think she's asleep right now. What do you want?" Will asks suspiciously.

"I knew you'd ask. I just want to meet her, and talk a little. Michael's been…touchy…since she was found. I feel like, if I can talk to her, she might can help me clear some things up."

"Go sit in the den," Will relents. "I'll see if she's awake."

Sydney, upon hearing this, scurries to clear things off of the bed back into the box, which she pushes behind the bed.

Will knocks lightly. "Syd, you awake?"

"Yeah. Come on in," Sydney says.

"So I guess you heard all that?" he asks, stepping into the room and closing the door.

"Yeah," she admits, "But I don't know if I can. I don't know how I'll handle trying to talk to my *replacement*."

"I understand completely," Will says with a sigh, "And I can't make you, but I think she can clear up as much for you as you can for her. You know, help each other out. It's not easy for her, all this."

She looks up and sees how sincere he's being.

"Okay. I'll talk to her."

"I'll be in the kitchen," Will says quickly.

"What?!? You're leaving me *alone* with her?"

"I'm not getting between you two," he says so matter-of-factly that she has to smile.

She rolls her eyes and walks past him.

She stops in the doorway of the den. The woman is standing in front of the window with her back to Sydney.

Amanda turns around slowly when she hears Sydney. Now it is clear to her why Vaughn chose her.

Neither woman can believe how similar they look.

"Amanda Vaughn, I presume?" Sydney asks coldly.

"Sydney Bristow…It's good to…to meet you," she stutters, all of her training as an agent failing her.

"Oh, likewise, I'm sure," Sydney spits back sarcastically.

Amanda sighs and shakes her head.

"Miss Bristow, I'm sure I'm among the last people you want to help, yet that's what I'm here to ask of you. Michael has been different since you came back. He never seems happy or even relaxed. I don't know if it's because of you or me, and that's what I want to find out," Amanda pleads.

Sydney's resolve fails.

"Okay. Um, let's sit down and…talk," she says softly.

Amanda smiles gratefully. "Thanks."

Sydney's impression is that this woman is much younger than she, or may be she has had a simpler life and is just more naïve.

"So," Sydney breaks the tense silence, "How is he?"

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Hmm, what a great cliffhanger, huh? Will Amanda refuse to answer the question? If not, what will Amanda tell Sydney about Michael? Will the two women confront the fact the they look so much alike? Will they hate each other and feel that each is taking away what the other wants?

Okay, I'm thinking of starting a future story, but it's going to be based on some stuff that will come up in, like, chapter ten or so. It would be helpful to me if you'll continue to read this story at least that far and let me know what you think!

Also, reviews are more than welcomed!