The Way It Should Be
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:
Sorry about the lack of updates for this story… it really hasn't been that long but it seems that way because I was on a roll with this one for awhile. Don't worry, I still am. I'm merely being more considerate to my other fics ;)
Check out my latest updates:
Far From Home
Remembrance
Vivian Heights
An Undefinable Sweetness (now complete)
The End of Patience (now complete)
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~~::~~:~:~:~:~:~:
6.
0 Flashback 0
Three months. Three months since the night I came into your apartment ready to take you on our first vacation. Three months since I walked into your house and found everything destroyed.
Three months since I found nearly everything I have been looking for except for you. Where are you?
There are still people working on the case but the numbers are fewer everyday. Some people are beginning to lose hope and others... others have lost hope long ago. Every day that passes increases the chances that she is dead somewhere. If there were some ransom or ultimatum... there is no doubt that it would be paid. But there have been no demands. And it is for this reason that Michael suffers.
~:~
The phone rang on the stand next to him and he jumped slightly at the sound, wondering, as he always did, if he was stupid to be hoping against all hope that her voice would come out on the other side and tell him... tell him anything really. That she needed him, that she was waiting for him, that she wanted him. That she loved him.
But the thick silence had so far been unbroken and, though he would never yet admit to anyone, doubt was beginning to insinuate itself into his mind. But his heart was still strong and he knew that the feelings that he was still experiencing had to mean that she was alive somewhere. If she was dead or hurt, he would know. There was no other explanation for this; he merely knew deep inside of himself that he would know if anything ever happened to her.
So the hope sprang up once more when the phone rang and he picked it up almost eagerly though a trace of reluctance could also be traced in his actions. He knew that his prayers would most likely remain unanswered and killing one's hope is always a painful thing to do.
And it died a little once again as Eric's voice came over the phone.
"What are you doing man?" As always, the voice was strained with an attempt at being jovial though there was the ever-present twinge of worry and concern that had been there ever since Sydney's disappearance.
Vaughn sighed, knowing that Eric at least deserved the illusion that he was fine. "I'm good. I'm watching hockey, drinking a beer, and there's a naked woman waiting in the bedroom."
There was a silence. It had been his first joke about moving on… and he felt nauseous.
Eric's voice was low when the answer came back over the phone. "Don't bullshit me, Mike," he paused, not knowing whether he should urge his friend to move on or keep on fostering the hope that Sydney was still out there somewhere. It had only been three months… "Want to come out with me?"
Michael sighed, rubbing his temple. It was the three-month anniversary of Sydney's disappearance. What he wanted was to get drunk and sit in one position for a very long time. Maybe it was the hope that life would truly pass him by. And he would remain, waiting for Sydney to find him.
He stared at the blank screen of the television.
"I told you that I'm watching hockey."
Eric laughed. "Mike, I know you more than anyone and I know you know hockey more than anyone. It's not even hockey season."
"I could be watching hockey."
"But it's much more likely that you're sitting on some very hard chair, blaming yourself while staring at nothingness."
Vaughn didn't answer.
"Michael…" his voice trailed off, making a decision that he still wasn't sure of, "I know that there is still a chance that Sydney's alive and we're doing all we can to find her. But it's been three months. We've been out of leads for awhile. And I think that you need to go ou-"
"Eric, it's only been three months. There's no body. I'm not going to go to some bar and hit on some girl when all I can think about is her."
"You don't have to meet someone. I'm not saying that you have to meet someone. I don't even want you to meet someone. I'm just saying that going out wouldn't be such a bad idea." His voice faltered, unsure of how to voice his thoughts.
"Don't you know what today is?"
"Of course I do Mike. Don't you know? Do you really think you should be alone?"
Michael sighed, blinking back tears. "What if I was gone and she called-"
Eric took a breath over the phone. "Michael… I don't think she's going to call." After a moment of utter silence, he spoke again. "If she did have that chance, she would most likely call the CIA where she would know for sure someone could answer her. Trust her a little more."
Vaughn's voice cracked with suspended emotion. "I- I don't think I'm ready to leave the house quite yet."
"Then if you're going to get drunk, at least get drunk with me. We'll go to a bar and scream at the TV and I'll smack you if you start to reveal some government secrets."
He couldn't help the slight smirk that overcame his face as he nodded. "Okay. Okay. I'll get my coat and meet you outside."
"Okay. Good. There's hope for you after all."
Michael sighed, standing up and allowing his legs to stretch as he reached up and grabbed his coat, stopping for a minute at his desk where he took out a picture. It was a candid one, he had called her name while when she had come out of the bathroom. Her hair was mussed and her eyes were wide with response and anticipation. Wearing his shirt and still have the remnants of an aura begotten from sleep, she was beautiful.
He traced the outline of her face with his finger, smoothing her cheeks in silent care and suffering.
Sydney… come back to me. Please. I love you.
He placed it back in the drawer and walked outside to meet Eric.
TBC…
Want the next chapter? Tell me about it. Literally. ;)
Thanks for any/all reviews~ … Jenn
