Well, here's chapter 4. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Not sure why... but I really enjoyed it. Hope you all like it too. I was trying to make it all serious... like I said I was going to, but it all ends up coming out fluffy. Eh well. What can you do. Read and review!
Surprise
I reached the warehouse later than I had expected, and as I rushed into the building, I saw Sydney sitting on a crate, swinging her leg back and forth. She beamed at me as I made my entrance, and I could tell from the look in her eyes that the mission had been successful.

As I saw her smile, I realized again how much I had missed her, how worried I had been, and I was overwhelmed by the need to hold her. Without a word, I grabbed her arm gently, pulling her up and into my embrace. I squeezed her tightly, just needing to touch her.

She chuckled into my shoulder.

"Happy to see me, Vaughn?" She asked, and I could feel her grinning.

"I was worried," I said. "Your flight was late and I thought something had happened. She nodded into my shoulder.

"I know," she replied, pulling away from me slightly. "But I'm here. I'm okay." She smiled again, and my heart melted. I reached out to lay my hand against her cheek, running it down her neck and over her shoulder, just to reassure myself that she was actually there.

She inhaled sharply as my hand reached her shoulder, and I hesitated. I looked into her eyes, surprised to see that they were watering.

"What?" I asked, concerned at the sudden change. "What's the matter?" She shook her head.

"Nothing… I'm just getting a little bruise. Some guy knocked me on the shoulder after I switched the documents. It's just a little sore"

"Oh God… I'm sorry," I apologized, feeling guilty for causing her pain. "Let me look," I said, reaching back towards her arm.

"Vaughn… it's nothing. Really." She backed away, her eyes focused on the floor.

"If it's nothing, then you won't mind me looking, just to be sure." I said, calling her bluff.

"Fine." She sighed, exasperated, turning her back to me. I reached up to her shirt, pulling it to the side. As my eyes fell on her bruised skin, I couldn't help but let out a shocked gasp.

"Syd," I said, biting back the anger in my voice. "This is far from nothing." Her skin was a deep black and blue, from the bottom of her right shoulder blade, over the top of her shoulder, and into the hollow of her clavicle. I traced the bruise gently with my fingers, not completely unaware of the goose bumps that rose on her skin at the contact.

"It's not as bad as it looks," she muttered, embarrassed. "It's just ugly."

I sensed the self-consciousness in her voice, and gently placed a light kiss on her shoulder. "Nothing about you could ever be ugly," I whispered, before pushing her shirt back over her shoulder. "You need to see a doctor."

She immediately shook her head. "Vaughn, I don't need-"

"Sydney, you could have a broken bone." She shook her head again.

"No, it's not broken. I know what that feels like." I paused, my heart contracting at those words, knowing how true they were.

"Still," I continued. "That guy did a lot more than hit you." I paused, thinking of what I would do to him for hurting Sydney if he were standing here right now. It wouldn't be pretty. "You can tell me," I said, gently running my hand over her cheek. She sighed.

"Ok," she admitted, realizing I wasn't going to let this go. "He hit me a couple times." She hesitated. "More than a couple times. He had me tied up for awhile…" her voice faded, recalling something unpleasant, and the tears returned to her eyes. "It hurt," she said softly, and my heart shattered into a million pieces at those two simple words.

Silently, I pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her back. Sydney was a lot of things, but a complainer was not one of them. If she said something hurt, it hurt. And it hurt a lot.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, my lips pressed against her hair. "I wish I had been there… I should have been there." She shook her head, still wrapped in my embrace.

"It's not your fault," she said softly, pulling away slightly so she could look into my eyes. "I know you would never do anything to hurt me. And besides-" she continued, smiling wryly at me. "I've had worse."

I would have laughed at the humor in her voice, but, again, I knew the truth of her words. I nodded, not knowing how to reply. Instead, I leaned my head down, brushing my lips lightly across hers, feeling her own lips tremble beneath mine as she pushed back tears.

"I missed you," she said seriously.

"Me too." I kissed her again, feeling her begin to relax in my arms. I grinned. "Weiss could tell that I missed you."

Sydney laughed at this. "He could?"

"Yeah. He told me to get some sleep when he called me tonight--gave me a hard time about it."

"You couldn't sleep again?" She asked, frowning.

"Not even a little," I replied softly.

"Sorry," she said.

"Don't be," I replied.

Sydney smiled, running a finger over the dark circles beneath my eyes. "You look like Hell," she said bluntly. I laughed.

"Thanks," I replied, feigning annoyance.

"It's ok," she continued. "I look like Hell, too."

I shook my head at her words, reaching up to brush a stray hair away from her face. "You look beautiful."

She looked at me skeptically, obviously thinking otherwise, but I sent her a look that left no room for argument. Smiling, she leaned into me, until her lips were only inches from mine.

"You promised me a surprise," she whispered, before claiming my lips.

"I did?" I asked. She nodded, kissing me again. "I don't remember anything about a surprise." I said, playing dumb. She pulled away, measuring the look in my eyes.

"You're lying," she said. I grinned down at her. Never try to outsmart a spy. I reached into my pocket, pulling out a white envelope. Sydney took it from me, glancing at me suspiciously before opening it. "Vaughn, what is this?" She pulled out a slip of paper, skimming over it.

"A reservation. I was out a couple weeks ago and saw an advertisement for this resort. It's by the ocean. They have a spa and everything. I thought you could use a break. It's only for the weekend…" I rambled nervously. She continued to stare at the slip of paper. "Do you like it?" I asked, concerned at her silence.

"I love it," she said softly. Tearing her gaze away from the slip of paper, she looked up at me smiling brilliantly. "There's just one thing."

I hesitated, concerned. "What?"

"I wish you could go with me." I nodded.

"I know. I wish I could, too. Just think of me when you get that well-deserved massage." She laughed.

"I will." She glanced at her watch.

"Need to go?" I asked. She sighed.

"Yeah." Francie will be getting worried." She moved towards me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and brushing her lips against mine. "Thank you for this, Michael."

"Good surprise?" I asked, grinning down at her.

"Definitely." She smiled at me as she left. After I heard the echo of the warehouse door shutting behind her, I grinned to myself.

The weekend was only half the surprise.
More surprises... yay! I wonder what it will be? Review, please! P.S. Who else loved the whole S/V pillowtalk scene in last night's ep? I DID. I think that Syd and Vaughn should have a big Spy Wedding, lots of Spy Nookie, and have some Spy Children. AWWWW :) Happy thoughts.

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