Oh ye of little faith! Do you guys really think that I'm going to let the story go on THAT EASILY?? Hell no… just cause Danny's back and Irina is thrown into the mix doesn't mean I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve.

It isn't going to be that easy, that's all I have to say. Complications galore. And even when things seem to be resolved… you never know what can pop back up again. Okay, so that's my warning.

So enjoy :)


To: blonde-chica, twin*muse, serendipity112233, Anika, and Mj


M
: Thanks again for the hugely flattering review… but I don't think that JJ would let a
15 year old high school girl who's in love with Michael Vartan write for the show… :) If you are really stuck on people to read, I would suggest Andi Horton and Secret Agent Girl and… just look at people' s favorite lists… and for people that write a lot… they tend to be more experienced (which explains why the beginning of this fic was so rocky, it was my almost-first). And if you STILL can't find anything, I have 12 other fics and I would recommend "With my Dying Breath" but it might make you cry… that's my warning.


Lainie-
talk about kick-ass reviews… that was AWESOME!!! I love it when people gush! Especially when it is about how well I did something… ego gets boosted way up :) I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Dream Writer 4 Life: Dear GOD BECKY!!! When did you add that thing in your bio????? I have NEVER been more flattered in my life… no YOU ROCK! You know why you rock? Because you read everything, you review everything, you give both praise and constructive criticism, you do mind-blowing things like what you did to your bio, and you are just a really good writer and e-mail buddy :)

Kristine: Ms. English Major and Queen of Long Reviews… love em all ;)

ME: Haha, thanks for the study tips ELISE… it was Elise right?

Reecee: That review made my day… that's okay, I talk to myself too… not out loud though… :) I'm glad you liked what you saw~

I know that this is like the longest author's note EVER but still: My throat hurts sooo much from screaming b/c of last night's episode… the Frenchman can FRENCH… now if only I was the right Jennifer…

I can't believe SD-6 is gone… that makes this "little" out-dated now huh? Well… not for long *hint hint*

I can't believe "Francie" is evil… Sydney has no ties to the outside and normal world…but she has Vaughn… and I can't believe this A/N is more than a page long… I'll get to the point (Who actually reads these anyway?)

30.

She sat at the table, leaning slightly towards the person sitting across from her. Her eyes wandered across his face, as if trying to memorize every contour, every shade of color that flashed through his skin, how every piece of hair weaved in and out of the others.

He had to admit that he liked her scrutiny.

But she wasn't. Scrutinizing. She was merely playing a part.

a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage.

And then is heard no more.

Life was a stage, life was her stage and she'd be damned if it controlled her.

"What are you thinking?"

She smiled a little, closing her eyes for a moment just to hear the sound of her voice and fall back into memories. Of better times. But perhaps they weren't better.

No, now that she thought about it, they weren't. Different maybe. But certainly not better.

"I just can't believe you are here again. Sitting opposite me at a table and talking to me. You've been gone so long…"

She stopped as she felt him take her hand in his own. "It hasn't been that long. We can still make it."

She nodded, if a little tearfully.

Full of sound and fury. Signifying nothing.

~:~

Vaughn clenched his teeth as he cinched the headset tighter to his ears. He could almost feel the muscles along his jaw jumping as he listened to them. He had never felt jealousy like this in his life.

She's playing a part. That's all she's doing. This isn't real.

He hated himself for doubting her. But she was just too good.

"Sydney, I've never stopped loving you." Danny's voice trailed into Michael's ears.

"I know."

Don't say it. Please Sydney, don't say it.

I will understand if you do and if you have to but… please don't.

Silence.

He heard Danny's awkward chuckle. "Aren't you going to say anything else?"

Sydney took a breath. "I know that you want me to say that I love you back. But Danny, it's still too soon. I have to regroup my feelings and… I started my life over again. And even though I remember being with you and loving you, I can't remember being yours. Not anymore. We have to start over. Because I couldn't take it if you were to leave me again. Not at this point."

Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is this about the other guy?"

Shut up Danny. Don't you know that they're listening? Sloane has probably pricked up his ears already. They are always listening.


"There's no other guy."

"Yeah, the one… I thought…"

Don't say it. Whatever you do, do not say it.

Sydney's eyes looked concerned as she reached over and placed her hand on his. "I understand why you might feel mixed up and I know that you are dealing with a lot right now and I understand why you made that mistake. But listen to me, there's no other guy."

"But the ring…"

"Ring? What ring? Danny what are you talking abo-" Sydney stopped and took in a little gasp of air. Reaching in her pocket she took out a small silver ring as tears rose up in her eyes. "This ring?"

Danny looked at it in wonder, picking it up and looking at it in the light.

Her voice cracked. "Don't you recognize it?"

"You-" Danny looked up at her, wonder in his eyes. "You never took it off?"

"I tried to move on. And I did. This was just the last thing left tying me to you. It was too hard to just let it go. It still seemed so soon…" Sydney hung her head, looking at her hands.

He reached over and placed his hand on hers. "Don't cry, baby. I'm sorry I misunderstood."

Don't cry baby. Sydney shuddered. Don't call me "baby".

"Syd?"

"What?"

"What are they going to do to me? Why am I being kept here?"

She sighed and looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes with her own. "They're going to run tests. They're going to see if you are safe."

He nodded. "And then?"

"We'll get there when we get there."

~:~

He held her in his arms a long time, pressing her against him, stroking her hair, kissing her forehead, smelling the sweet scent that defined her.

"God Sydney, that was absolute torture. I don't know how long I can do this."

She raised her head. "How long do we have to?"

"I'm not sure."

She sighed, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I am so sorry about what you had to go through. I'm sorry we can't be like any other normal couple."

He smiled at her. "Syd, I wouldn't trade this life for anything. Sure I'd love to be yours and have everyone know it but… this is a test. And if our love is strong enough to make it through, then it will be stronger for it."

She bit her lip. "What if it doesn't?"

Fear ran through him. Why would you say that? Instead, he softly kissed her lips. "Don't even think that. It will."

~:~

"Are you still planning on going through with it?"

Her cultured voice pierced through to his ears though she was whispering.

"Yes."

"Then I won't try to stop you. I know it won't do any good."

He wasn't sure how to answer that.

"Have you at least spoken to Sydney?"

"I only told you yesterday. I doubt that she would be ready for this kind of news."

"Will she be ready two weeks from now?"

Jack clenched his jaw. "She better be."

~:~

"Bendolyne Pentoxide is a very interesting choice, Mr. Backley."

"I am not paying you 500 dollars an hour to commend me in my choice of poisons Evan. So please, move on." Jack flicked his hand towards the table to his left, looking at the flow of odd and ends and at the small vial full of clear liquid standing at the very far end of it."

Evan Gamli nodded nervously, he was always nervous when this kind of thing was going on. "Bendolyne Pentaoxide is very unusual in the fact that it cannot be detected after it goes through the entire system."

"Does that take the entire five minutes?"

"Until the time that the person is dead, it is still able to carry a trace of acidic residue which will automatically flush itself out later on… but as time goes on, the traces get weaker and weaker as it is ejected from the body as the patient sweats."

"It moves extremely quickly."

"Of course."

"I will take the vial."

"Hold on. I have to tell you the rest. Bendolyne Pentaoxide can only be exposed to the air for about 1 and a half minutes before it loses all potency. Because of the fact that its contents are so fast-reacting and moving, the kinetic energy of the entire substance is constantly changing and moving which means-"

Jack nodded. "I'll have to wear gloves when I handle it."

"Yes, the increase in kinetic energy will result in the increase in temperature of the substance itself and if any should fall on our skin while you are administering the "Bend-ox"…"

Jack nodded. "I understand the consequences."

Evan walked over to the table and put on his rubber gloves before gingerly picking up the vial. Jack could tell from his scrunched up face that, even then, it was hot. He set it on the metal block in front of them. "Show me."

Evan hesitated but he nodded. There had to be some consequences for 500 an hour. Painstakingly slow, he lifted the cap with the razor thin needle attached and reached out to the cage on his right to get a hold of a nearby rat.

He slid the needle smoothly into the ribcage of the animal and placed it back.

Jack watched dispassionately as the animal started to sweat and then, after thirty seconds of discomfort, died.

Nodding, he handed Evan the envelope with the money and also the suitcase to put it in.

"Do I need to count this?"

Jack walked out towards the door with the suitcase in hand. "If you think you need to."

Evan watched the man's retreating back and knew that even if he wasn't paid the right numbers, he would never dare ask for more.

 TBC…

I hope this chapter was all right…

2 finals down, 3 to go~!

Let's try for 590-600!!! I would LOVE to have 4-digit reviews by the time this is over… would definitely make my day… I'm just thinking "out loud"

-Jenn