Hey everyone. Here's chapter 3. I'm glad to see that everybody likes it so far. I was iffy about it in the beginning, but I'm getting some ideas now. Yay :) Thanks for all the nice reviews! Keep them coming!
Worry
The last four days had been the longest of my life. Sure, Sydney had been gone longer in the past, and she had definitely been involved with more dangerous missions, but things were different now. I had so much more to lose.
Of course, Sydney had always meant a lot to me, even before we told each other our real feelings. I would have been devastated to lose her as a colleague, as a friend, and, most importantly, as the focus of my own unrequited love. But now, that love was definitely reciprocated, and I cherished it more than ever.
Sydney was my life. She had been since she had walked into CIA headquarters with pink hair and a swollen mouth. It was my job to protect her, to guide her. But over the past months, it had become so much more than a job.
If she wasn't safe, I would lose her.
And if I lost her, I would lose myself. She was all that mattered to me.
I had been sitting by the phone for hours now, waiting for the call that would tell me she was home safe, that would let me finally relax. I had slept about two hours while she was gone, plagued by the same insomnia that showed up every time she went away. I could feel the fatigue beginning to catch up with me, felt the inevitable headache building behind my temples.
I knew her mission was simple—simple for her anyways. A simple smash and grab—that's what she would call it. But it didn't keep me from worrying about her. I wanted her out of this life.
I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. 7:38. Her flight was scheduled to get in at 6:43. It wasn't that late, but I still found myself becoming increasingly unsettled. I rose from my bed, pacing from one end of the room to the other, watching the minutes fly by. By 8:45, panic was beginning to build in my chest. I had just decided to head to the airport when the phone rang.
I lunged for it, slamming my hand against my headboard as I went. I winced at the sharp pain that shot through my arm. That would definitely leave a bruise. I answered the phone on the second ring, my voice strained from the pain and from worry.
"Vaughn," I said sharply.
"Hey, so a dog walks into a bar…" I scowled as I heard Weiss on the other end of the line.
"Where's Sydney?" I asked abruptly. I wasn't in the mood for his jokes at the moment, although I felt slightly better, since I knew he wouldn't be telling jokes if something really serious had happened.
"Her plane just landed," Weiss replied, wisely forgetting about the joke as he picked up on the anxiousness in my voice. "Her flight was delayed in Switzerland. They had some snow there, so they grounded flights for an hour or so."
At Weiss' words, I let out a breath I hadn't even known I was holding.
"She's fine, man," he said, finally realizing how worried I had been. "Sorry. I should have called you earlier. We didn't get word on the flight until about half an hour ago.
"Don't worry about it. I was just beginning to get a little concerned," I lied. Concerned wasn't exactly the right word.
Panicked.
Frantic.
Crazy out of my mind worried. Those were a little closer.
"Right," Weiss said, seeing right through my lie. I took a deep breath, relief flowing over me in a wave. I was suddenly exhausted, and I collapsed backwards onto my unmade bed.
"When am I meeting with her?" I asked, knowing I would need to pick up some files from her as soon as possible.
"10:15," Weiss replied. "The call's already been made."
"Thanks Weiss," I replied, closing my eyes and rubbing my temple with my free hand. I'd be needing about five Aspirins to get rid of the headache I was going to have later on tonight.
"Get some rest, buddy," Weiss said, chuckling. He knew me too well.
"I will. Thanks. See you tomorrow."
"See ya." I turned the phone off, rolling over to check the time. I had about forty minutes until I would have to leave to meet Sydney.
With a great deal of effort, I dragged myself from my bed and into the bathroom. I slashed some water on my face, trying to wake myself up a little before I left. I looked at myself in the mirror, disgusted at the circles under my eyes. I sighed. Oh well. No one would understand being exhausted better than Sydney. How she got past the constant jet-lag I would never know.
I headed back out to my living room, grabbing a small envelope from my kitchen counter, smiling to myself as I imagined Sydney's reaction to my surprise. I had actually been planning it since the second week of our vacation, knowing that she would probably be a little depressed at work. And it was about the only thing I could do to cheer her up, considering I couldn't single-handedly take down SD-6. Thought I would if I could.
Glancing around the room one final time, I patted Donovan on the head before heading out to my car.
Review review review... :) Thanks! Perhaps I will reveal the secret surprise in the next chapter.......
Worry
The last four days had been the longest of my life. Sure, Sydney had been gone longer in the past, and she had definitely been involved with more dangerous missions, but things were different now. I had so much more to lose.
Of course, Sydney had always meant a lot to me, even before we told each other our real feelings. I would have been devastated to lose her as a colleague, as a friend, and, most importantly, as the focus of my own unrequited love. But now, that love was definitely reciprocated, and I cherished it more than ever.
Sydney was my life. She had been since she had walked into CIA headquarters with pink hair and a swollen mouth. It was my job to protect her, to guide her. But over the past months, it had become so much more than a job.
If she wasn't safe, I would lose her.
And if I lost her, I would lose myself. She was all that mattered to me.
I had been sitting by the phone for hours now, waiting for the call that would tell me she was home safe, that would let me finally relax. I had slept about two hours while she was gone, plagued by the same insomnia that showed up every time she went away. I could feel the fatigue beginning to catch up with me, felt the inevitable headache building behind my temples.
I knew her mission was simple—simple for her anyways. A simple smash and grab—that's what she would call it. But it didn't keep me from worrying about her. I wanted her out of this life.
I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. 7:38. Her flight was scheduled to get in at 6:43. It wasn't that late, but I still found myself becoming increasingly unsettled. I rose from my bed, pacing from one end of the room to the other, watching the minutes fly by. By 8:45, panic was beginning to build in my chest. I had just decided to head to the airport when the phone rang.
I lunged for it, slamming my hand against my headboard as I went. I winced at the sharp pain that shot through my arm. That would definitely leave a bruise. I answered the phone on the second ring, my voice strained from the pain and from worry.
"Vaughn," I said sharply.
"Hey, so a dog walks into a bar…" I scowled as I heard Weiss on the other end of the line.
"Where's Sydney?" I asked abruptly. I wasn't in the mood for his jokes at the moment, although I felt slightly better, since I knew he wouldn't be telling jokes if something really serious had happened.
"Her plane just landed," Weiss replied, wisely forgetting about the joke as he picked up on the anxiousness in my voice. "Her flight was delayed in Switzerland. They had some snow there, so they grounded flights for an hour or so."
At Weiss' words, I let out a breath I hadn't even known I was holding.
"She's fine, man," he said, finally realizing how worried I had been. "Sorry. I should have called you earlier. We didn't get word on the flight until about half an hour ago.
"Don't worry about it. I was just beginning to get a little concerned," I lied. Concerned wasn't exactly the right word.
Panicked.
Frantic.
Crazy out of my mind worried. Those were a little closer.
"Right," Weiss said, seeing right through my lie. I took a deep breath, relief flowing over me in a wave. I was suddenly exhausted, and I collapsed backwards onto my unmade bed.
"When am I meeting with her?" I asked, knowing I would need to pick up some files from her as soon as possible.
"10:15," Weiss replied. "The call's already been made."
"Thanks Weiss," I replied, closing my eyes and rubbing my temple with my free hand. I'd be needing about five Aspirins to get rid of the headache I was going to have later on tonight.
"Get some rest, buddy," Weiss said, chuckling. He knew me too well.
"I will. Thanks. See you tomorrow."
"See ya." I turned the phone off, rolling over to check the time. I had about forty minutes until I would have to leave to meet Sydney.
With a great deal of effort, I dragged myself from my bed and into the bathroom. I slashed some water on my face, trying to wake myself up a little before I left. I looked at myself in the mirror, disgusted at the circles under my eyes. I sighed. Oh well. No one would understand being exhausted better than Sydney. How she got past the constant jet-lag I would never know.
I headed back out to my living room, grabbing a small envelope from my kitchen counter, smiling to myself as I imagined Sydney's reaction to my surprise. I had actually been planning it since the second week of our vacation, knowing that she would probably be a little depressed at work. And it was about the only thing I could do to cheer her up, considering I couldn't single-handedly take down SD-6. Thought I would if I could.
Glancing around the room one final time, I patted Donovan on the head before heading out to my car.
Review review review... :) Thanks! Perhaps I will reveal the secret surprise in the next chapter.......
