Is it just me or does anyone else think that it is kind of weird that SD-6 was able to hack into the CIA directory and find out about Vaughn right after I wrote about that almost-same scenario???

I think JJ's surfing the nets and taking ideas ;) just kidding.

P.S. This chapter is really long... Therefore, I'm expecting more reviews :)

TO: Kate... Your review was just too awesome to not mention

Precious Jewelle... Thanks for reading and reviewing and getting caught up even though you started late.

RPGirl17... You were the first person to review my story (before i had to repost it) and it's nice to know that you were there at the beginning.

Sk8er Chick... Thanks for all those times you reassured me by telling me I wasn't a nerd and for also always encouraging and giving kind words.

Blonde-chica your reviews are too nice and I'm glad that you like the story and are reading my other ones too (I'm obsessed with him too, don't worry it's easy to be)

Secret Agent Girl I know I dedicated a chapter to you already but your review was SOOO funny that I couldn't let it go lol I would die if I saw you doing the flailing-arm-Kermit-dance lol, you are the best Jenn-junkie anyone could ask for ;)

Isabel thanks for the e-mail definitely made my day a little better.

Lastly; I wanted to thank everyone who has been reading this (longer than expected) story. I know that I'm not an extremely gifted writer who packs emotion in and is able to write extremely long chapters that are so so so good... The two that come to mind are Rhonda and Andi Horton... But you guys have really made me feel good about my writing so thanks.

Here's 24. (Wow... 24... How long is this thing going to be?????)

24.

Sydney looked up. "I'm sorry?"

"I said, who exactly is Michael Vaughn?"

She laughed a little, looking down quickly before meeting Sloane's eyes. "Michael Vaughn?"

He nodded, wondering what her reactions meant. She acted like she either didn't know what the hell he was talking about or couldn't believe what he was asking her.

"What, are you following me now?"

"Just answer the question."

"He's a friend that I haven't seen in years. Why are you asking?"

"Because we traced Daniel Hecht and found him. And you. At Mr. Vaughn's residence."

Sydney had to stop herself from taking in a sharp breath. How had everyone suddenly found out? Against her instincts, she found herself blaming Danny.

Everything had been perfect until you came and messed everything up. Yes, I did love you but I HAVE moved on and you aren't in my future. So stop trying to ruin my life.

"Yeah, I was there last night. I'm sorry but I don't see the relevance of this conversation. I thought we were talking about how Danny seems to be alive and walking around?"

Though her tears had long since dried, she procured some more. "Is this some twisted game? Why are you doing this to me? Have I done something wrong?"

Sloane paused, not sure what was happening. The Michael Vaughn situation had been dismissed without even a thought though he himself had believed it to be the most important issue. But he reminded himself that he had known that Daniel Hecht was alive when Sydney herself had not. Of course it would be a shock.

Unless she wanted him to think that it was unimportant. He had learned not to underestimate her brainpower. She was most definitely not stupid. Not even close.

"Of course not Sydney. But you have to understand that I was considerably shocked that you were at another man's house. I had no idea that you had another boyfriend."

In an almost genuine burst of anger, Sydney leaped up, swiping the papers from him desk as she leaned forward, breathing hard. "How dare you? He isn't my boyfriend and even if he was, I do not have to clue you in on every single detail of my private life. I LOVED Danny. And you destroyed him. How dare you presume that I don't love him anymore or that I would sleep with another man and that, even if I did, I would report to you? You haven't given me a lot to put my faith into.

"You said that you presumed that I had found someone else because what? Because after I had gotten over the initial shock, i wasn't overjoyed that he had come back from the dead?

"I saw him an HOUR ago. I wouldn't assume anything. And I certainly wouldn't say that a mere 60 minutes would be enough to cope with the fact that the bloody man in the bathtub that I cried over nearly two years ago wasn't my fiancé. That he had been alive all this time.

"That I would forget all the tears I shed. The pain I endured. The self-hate that I carried around everywhere I went for months. His death had been my fault. And even though he is alive, it doesn't change that fact.

"I might appear to have healed but I haven't. You want the truth? You want the absolute truth?"

Sloane was surprised at this outburst but carefully contained it. He was reminded of the night when Sydney had found Danny in the bathtub and had stormed into his office and attacked him. He had genuinely been scared of her then.

But not even then had she displayed this... rawness. Her eyes were puffy and the tears were streaming down her cheeks though they seemed only to enhance her strength rather than diminish it.

Her face was dangerously close to his. "Well? Do you?"

Sloane nodded, a slight tilt of his head that was barely noticeable. But Sydney was so high on adrenaline that she could have seen it if he had moved a hair on his head.

And braced herself for the biggest lie she would ever have to say.

"Let me say this slowly so that you can digest this. For the final time, I LOVED my fiancé. And I died the day he did. His death destroyed me. Utterly destroyed me.

"I don't know how I was able to function because you killed me. You know you did. Killing Danny was like sticking a knife into my body and then twisting it around."

She paused and looked up, collecting her thoughts.

"And here's an idea.

"I never stopped loving him."

Sydney felt her whole body shake from her heavy breathing; her knuckles and fingers were white from how hard she had been holding onto the desk.

Forgive me Michael.

"And I didn't even know how dead I was until I saw him and felt absolutely nothing. You have destroyed my ability to love. The love of my life came back to me and this time, I was dead. I have been dead."

All the energy left her; she felt as if she was going to fall over. Quickly, she grasped a chair and collapsed, leaning her head back as she silently let the tears flow.

Arvin didn't know how to react. "Sydney, I'm sorry about what had to happen. But surely you have to admit that you were the one who facilitated my actions. Had you not revealed your job, Daniel Hecht would never have been removed from your life."

And I never would have known who I was working for.

Sydney opened her eyes. "Then you should have done the job properly. You fucked up. He came back."

Sloane closed his eyes, losing his patience. "TELL ME ABOUT MICHAEL VAUGHN."

"Why?" Sydney shot back. "Why? Do you want to kill him too? Go ahead. Why don't you kill everybody? You have ultimate power; you're like God and we are all your puppets. We're all your fucking marionettes aren't we? Fine. Do it."

He wasn't God. Much as he would like to be, he wasn't. And truth was, he had never seen Agent Bristow this worked up about anything before. She had either given up on everything and really had snapped when Danny re-entered her life or it was all an act. To protect the person who really mattered.

He had to know.

But would she go as far as to goad him to kill everyone?

"No one is going to get killed, Sydney. I would appreciate your cooperation."

Sydney sighed wearily, her eyes dull when they looked back at him. "Fine. I'll play along. Michael Vaughn is a guy I met in high school. I met him through my friend Francie Calfo. We were close for awhile but lost touch."

Her voice was a heavy monotone, giving each syllable the same amount of stress as she droned on.

"Francie mentioned that he was back in town to stay and I had to visit him. But surprises didn't work. He was with his girlfriend.

"Roses for me did you say? Please. I haven't gotten roses in years."

She knew it was a crap story. But she was tired from her ranting and she couldn't think. She was sluggish.

Arvin arched an eyebrow. The story was plausible but barely so. There were still so many unanswered questions. But one of them had to be answered right now.

"You were close you said? How close? How much do you know about him?"

Sydney looked at him, suspicion growing in her eyes. She let him see that. She knew that if she had been clueless, she would have been suspicious by now. And so she let it show. "I'm curious as to why you feel you are privy to this information. Yes we were close. But we never dated. Didn't I tell you that I was still... Never mind. You never answer any of my questions anyway.

"Okay. I'm cooperating. Michael's just an ordinary guy. He works in the music industry or something. Gets a crap salary. I think that that's where he met his girlfriend too."

"What were you doing in the house?"

"He was a mess. They had gotten into a fight and he had stormed out and I knocked on the door and she opened it and jumped to the worst possible conclusions. She left too. So I was standing there when the flowers arrived. That's it. Can I go?"

He sighed and agreed; it would take time to verify all this information.

She got up, a little slowly as if she was being dragged down. She put her hand on the door but turned around.

"What's going to happen to Danny?"

Sloane looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"What's going to happen to him? Are you going to re-murder him? Take him back as a captive? Or let him go?"

She sounded wistful at the last suggestion and looked down though not before Sloane saw the sudden light of happiness spread across Sydney's face at the thought.

He smiled at her, showing his kind grandfather side once more. "We'll see."

She nodded and walked out the door nearly collapsing with exhaustion.

I love you Michael I love you Michael I love you Michael.

It was true. She knew it was true. She loved Michael absolutely and with her entire heart. She was just afraid of the fact that she felt she had to remind herself of it.

As the door closed, Sloan's tightly held _expression relaxed. There were two possibilities. Either the whole scene had merely been a brilliantly played act or she did still love Danny.

And if that was true, everything would be a piece of cake.

Could it be possible that her story was true? Could she really not know who Michael Vaughn really was?

It was time for a quick judgment call.

Danny? Or Michael?

~:~

Sydney got into her car, slamming the door behind her and starting up the engine quickly; scared that if she lost the adrenaline that was coursing through her body, she would never be able to make it.

At the next stop sign, she opened her bag and took out three phones.

Red Phone Blue Phone Clear Phone

She carefully turned on the music and then picked up her clear one. Dialing the only number she had ever dialed on it, she waited.

"Hello?"

It felt so good to hear his voice.

"15 Loretto's Pizza?"

She heard the hesitation that came almost immediately after her words.

And then he replied, speaking in a very low and uncertain voice. "Are you sure?"

"I'm famished. Absolutely starving."

"Wrong number."

She sighed and put the phone down. She now had 15 minutes to get to where she was going without being tailed.

Looking in the rearview mirror every couple of seconds, she raced; always in motion, always needing to do something. She needed to keep herself strong.

At least until someone was able to pick her up again.

~:~

"Elle Farlin."

The receptionist looked up at the young woman standing in front of her. She was pretty but it was clear that she had been crying and was close to shaking.

"Are you all right, Miss Farlin?"

"Elle Farlin please."

The receptionist nodded. "I'm sorry but the only room we have left is the adjoining one. It's on level 3. Please have a nice stay."

There was only a tiny "thank you" out of Elle's mouth before she headed up there.

~:~

If Luke Guyson thought that Elle would come running into his arms crying, he was sorely mistaken.

As soon as he heard the door slamming in the other room, he felt his heart quicken and start doing somersaults as he mentally prepared himself to be a source of comfort.

But when the door opened, hard enough to almost hit him in the face, he didn't see a crying woman in need of help.

He saw Sydney. And then he didn't see anything. He felt her lips come to his with almost desperation. She was already trying to slip off his jacket and her own.

Scared of what exactly she might be feeling, Vaughn gently caught her arms in his and lifted his face away from hers.

"Syd?" He whispered softly.

"Do you love me?" The pleading note was obvious in her voice and Vaughn almost cried at the thought that Sydney had to ask him.

He traced her cheek with a finger and looked into the eyes that were looking so deeply into his own. "Of course I love you. I love you more than anything."

She kissed him again but this time it was softer, more full of meaning and Vaughn was slightly relieved. He hadn't known before Sydney Bristow that kisses could be complicated.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him to her, holding him so tight against her that he knew that she didn't need him to speak. Just needed him to be there.

After assuring herself that Vaughn was, indeed, in her arms, Sydney laid a head on his shoulder. And finally did start to really cry.

"Vaughn, I'm so sorry."

He brought a finger to her chin and lifted up her face. "Why?"

"I had to tell Sloane that I was still in love with Danny. That I had never stopped loving him and that I died that day he did. And I told him that I was at your house because we knew each other back in high school."

They sat together on the couch and Vaughn laid a cheek against hers. "I know that everything you tell Sloane is a lie. As long as you still love me I don't care."

He paused.

"You told Sloane that you were at my house?"

"He knew already. He knew everything. He didn't tell me he knew but he did. He was asking all these questions about you. So I had to make up a crap story about how I came to visit you and you and your girlfriend got into a fight and you stormed out and she did and I got stuck at the doorway when the flowers came."

"There is so much wrong with the story."

She sighed. "I know. There is a lot of stuff unaccounted for. Like why did I go inside after the flowers came? I think that I came inside because the flowers were for your girlfriend so I had to put them in the house."

"Okay."

"5 dozen is a big number."

"I wiped them clean. If they had had more, you would've gotten them."

He was expecting a little laugh from her. But instead, she looked at him, her eyes clouding.

"Vaughn, it hurts so much."

His heart broke for her. "I know sweetie, I'm so sorry."

She lay down on the couch now, staring blankly at the television that wasn't on.

After a slight hesitation, Michael determined that she needed him a lot more than she needed to be by herself.

Lying down behind her, he wrapped her protectively in his arms, feeling the same feeling he always felt when she moved herself to adjust to his body.

They always had fit together perfectly. Her head under his and their hands intertwined.

He kissed her hair. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't want to hurt you."

He was confused by her words. "I'm not the focus in this conversation."

She turned herself so that she was facing him. "I love you. You know that right?"

He smiled. "I know."

"But I loved Danny too. You know that too?"

"Yeah."

"I still love you. And I don't love him anymore. But that fact that I don't bothers me. I mean, I don't want to be in love with him because I love you so much but... I don't know. I think that I feel like since I don't love him anymore even though he was never dead, my love must not really mean anything."

"Your love means everything, Sydney."

She smiled through her tears. "You always know exactly what to say."

Vaughn thought about the crumpled letter in his coat pocket but pushed it out of his mind. And then he remembered he had taken the card from the roses too.

That was good. If Sloane came looking, they would find nothing contrary to Sydney's statement.

"Syd, do I have to let the CIA know that they should change my profile to that of someone in the music industry?"

"No," she whispered. "Sloane already knows about you. What he doesn't know is if I know. I'm the one who's supposed to be in the dark. And to take the heat off of you, I swore my undying love to Danny. If he thinks that Danny is the one I love, it's more likely that they will capture him again for future blackmail."

She said it surprisingly easily. Vaughn even felt a little confused as to why she didn't seem to have any emotion when speaking of this.

"Sydney, you do know that you're setting Danny up right?"

She looked down. "Yeah. But I'd rather lose him than lose you."

He pulled her closer to him and held her as she sobbed into his shoulder.

TBC...

Aren't you guys proud of me? I actually didn't end this chapter with a cliffhanger! How long as it been since I did that? Chapter 19?

Lol... habits die hard.

REVIEW!!!! I made this chapter really really really really long... You know I could have stopped it after Sloane and then it would have been a cliffhanger...oh so I DID use one...damn.

Anyway, you know I could have and then saved the S/V goodness for later. But I didn't so I expect to see reviews! Mountains of reviews! Like... 40 or 50! (Dare I hope for more?? No I dare not but if you feel the need to surprise me I would be ;) )

(That would make me soooooo happy...you don't even understand. If I got 40+ I would update right away) *hint hint* Otherwise, this might be the last update until the end of the month because finals are hell

Anyways, I hope you liked it, keep on reading/writing/reviewing~

-Jenn