I'm sooooooo sorry for the delay in chapters but I had computer problems and lost all my hard drive so it took me a while to redo everything. Thank to everyone who reviewed, it really is appreciated.

Take care,

Claire
Against All Odds
Part 3
Sydney tensed slightly as her arms adjusted to the weight of the sheet of metal that she was gripping tightly. Her knuckles were turning a harsh white against the pressure and she took a deep breath as she shifted her body slightly to get a firmer grip. Putting all her strength into the action she slowly raised the panel inch by agonising inch until it was high enough for her to flip it onto its other side. She then had the chance to finally get a close up look at Vaughn. He was lying on his side and for a moment the terrible thought that he was dead crossed her mind, he was that pale and still. But then she noticed the slight rise and fall of his chest and relief washed over her as she realised that he was indeed alive. Oh thank you thank you.........

She quickly bent down and brushed a stray lock of brown hair behind her ear before rolling him gently onto his back. She glanced over him and winced slightly at the deep gash on his left arm that was bleeding profusely.

"Michael can you hear me? Michael please wake up." Swallowing hard she tried to force back the tidal wave of tears that were threatening to fall and instead concentrated on finding a compress for the wound. She could run back to the wreckage and try and locate the first aid box but that would mean leaving him and as selfish as it sounded she didn't want to do that. Even thought it was only a few metres back to the plane she had the stupid notion that something could happen to him if she wasn't there to protect him.

She leaned back putting all of her weight onto her knees and grabbed at her top, quickly lifting it up to expose the white tee shirt underneath. Without a further thought she ripped the bottom part off in one fluid motion and carefully placed it on the wound, tying a fairly tight knot in it. As the bright colour of the material quickly changed into a deep crimson Sydney bit her lip in concentration wondering helplessly if it would do anything to help at all.

She glanced over the rest of him and couldn't see any other injuries but she knew she wouldn't be satisfied until Vaughn woke up and told her that himself. Actually she pondered that thought and realised she wouldn't be happy until a doctor told her that.
Michael would probably keep any injuries to himself so as not to worry her. It was just one of the annoyingly sefless things he did.

Leaning down carefully Sydney gently placed a kiss on Vaughn's forehead almost feeling like a child in wishing it would be the magic touch to wake him up.

"Vaughn?" She whispered, stroking his cheek gently. "Baby can you hear me?"

Upon getting no response Sydney leant down and kissed him tenderly on the lips forcing all of her love and emotion into the action before leaning her forehead against his.

"Vaughn, please wake up. You can't leave me alone here."

The scene seemed all too familiar to Sydney. Memories danced before her eyes as she replayed the interactions that occurred between the two of them on the plane what seemed like just a few short minutes ago. She couldn't lose him, she just couldn't. He was the reason she got up every morning, what drove her continuously. When he held her close in his arms she had the almost naïve feeling that she had been blessed with him to make up for all the unspeakable acts that had occurred in her life. She saw so much of the darkness in life that she needed his overwhelming strength and integrity to remind her that there was good in this world, and that God had graced the world and her with a single shining example before throwing away the mould. Fortunate was not the word. She could only beg God now not to want him back just yet.

Feeling a sudden slight movement below her Sydney quickly raised her head and her gaze locked on the green eyes that she loved so much.

"Hey." He murmured, squinting hard against the brightness. He tried to raise his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight that was sprinkling through the overhead trees but stopped when he felt an onset of pain from his arm.

Seeing he was awake it was all Sydney could do not to break down and cry like a baby as she fought to contain the emotions that were flying through her. She mustered a weak smile before returning the familiar greeting.

"Hey." She stroked his cheek and placed a scattering of light kisses over his face "God I'm so glad you're awake Vaughn. I thought I'd lost you there for a moment. How are you feeling?"

She helped him raise himself gingerly into a sitting position and saw him wince slightly as he moved his arm.

"Well my arm hurts, obviously, and my chest feels like it's been slammed with a sledgehammer a couple of times. Other than that, yeah I'm great." Giving her the once over he made sure that she was doing fine as well. "How are you doing?"

"Now that you're awake? Great is not the word." She replied giving him a smile that spoke volumes about how she was feeling. She shifted slightly so that she was sitting next to him and as she moved the enormity of what they had survived hit Vaughn full force. He was able to get his first glance at what was left of the plane and the state of it shocked him that they had escaped virtually unscathed.

Vaughn took a side glance at Sydney and saw that she too was having a hard time coming to terms with what had happened. The tension that was ebbing from her was almost visible so he took a moment before trying to lift her spirits.

"Damn." He muttered.

"What." Sydney asked, giving him a concerned look.

"We are good. We didn't even get to the bathroom and we brought down the plane! Adams and Walker must be thrilled. Where are they?" He asked searching the clearing for the other two agents.

"Vaughn......" Sydney started but couldn't carry on as her mind flashed back to the scene she had stumbled upon in the plane. A overwhelming part of her was filled with a deep feeling of grief and sadness for the other agents and pilot but there was a part of her that was so relieved that she was sitting there with the man she adored and they were both fine. She suffered such guilt at feeling that way but knew she had to tell Vaughn what she had seen.

Vaughn could see the play of emotions that were fighting for control of Sydney and he grasped her hand in his and squeezed it gently to remind her he was there and that she had his strength to draw from. "What? Are they alright?"

"Michael, I'm so sorry but they didn't make it."

He stared at her hard trying to digest what she had just said. Surely she was mistaken, they couldn't have been the only ones to have survived. "What about the pilot?"

She just shook her head.

"Oh my God. So it's just the two of us?"