D: J.J. and co.'s. Not mine.
An: Here's the next chapter, sorry it's been such a long time. From trying to cope with my uncle's death, catching up with school I missed because of it, and still in ticked off shock from the finale it's been a rough week and a half. But here's the next chapter, hope you all enjoy. Drop me a review or two (or more!!;) and tell me what you think!
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[previously]

"Donovan got out of my yard...the wood fell on top of him..they had to dig him out."
[Now]

'He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt

thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.'

~psalm 91:4
"He's in the hospital. I had to tell them to authorize a surgery." Vaughn said still in shock, repeating the same thing again.

"What type of surgery Vaughn?" Sydney said softly, voice full of concern.

"Uh,..something about putting pins in his hind leg. He's unconscious too from a hit to the head." Vaughn said evenly, swallowing hard. Sydney's face twisted up in pity.

"Poor thing. Go see him." Sydney said, touching his hand.

"No..he'll be in surgery for at least an hour or so. Then out of it for awhile. They said in a couple hours or so." Vaughn said defeated.

"I know he's just a dog...but that's my little buddy." Vaughn revealed, getting a choked voice.

"Oh...we totally understand Mike. We all love Donny. He's the best." Eric sympathized. Sydney got Vaughn to eat something before she left to go home, done for the day. She wished Vaughn luck and concern for Donovan then made sure he'd call to update her on his condition.

When the 'escort' dropped her off, she had a plan set in her mind that would cheer her handler up. At least a little anyways. She made a call, then had Will run an errand for her.

That evening when Vaughn stopped by Tender Hearts Emergency Animal Hospital to visit his dog, he found Donovan in a middle level air circulatory/warmer cage...with a special treat.

"What's this?" Vaughn asked after patting the groggy Donovan.

"It was delivered by a young gentleman about 2 hours ago. Shaggy light brown hair, 'bout your height. Glasses. Kinda cute." A nurse replied as she fiddled with the I.V. board and straightened the blanket under Donovan's bright green cast. The toy was a small squeaky stuffed doll.

A clown.

With BRIGHT red hair.

"There was a note left on the cage door." The nurse said detaching it and handing it to Vaughn. He read it and smiled. It said :

'To Donovan,

In hopes to cheer you up and send you on the way to recovery so that my guardian angel may be at peace.

Love, Lola

He kept the note and gently tucked the clown toy back next to Donovan's head where he laid his head on it. It squeaked a little as Vaughn visited with him a little longer. He found out that he gets to bring him home the next afternoon.

When he got home and settled after dinner he called Sydney's phone. She answered on the 2nd ring.

"Hey, thanks. Donovan loves his little clown. He lays his head on it." Vaughn said with a smile.

"Your welcome. Guess I know how he's feeling in away. How's he doing?" she asked, lying back in her bed.

"Good. A little groggy on meds and he was in the air chamber, a little shock-y after the emergency surgery, but happy. He gets to come home tomorrow. Don't know how I'll deal with him, being gone at work all the time." Vaughn said, realizing his situation.

"Well..I'll take care of him." Sydney said, evenly, like it was an everyday thing.

"What?!" Vaughn exclaimed, shocked.

"Well...why not? I'm pretty much house-ridden till I get my walking cast. I'm not going in to HQ any time soon. I'll be home the whole time. I can watch him." Sydney explained logically. Vaughn thought about it forwards and backwards trying to find any reason not to go with it. When he didn't find any, he smiled.

"Well..I can't find any reason not to let Donovan over, that way I'd be a little more relaxed. Just going about getting him there will take a little planning." Vaughn said, trying to figure out a workable plan. An hour later they had a story all planned out.

"So, Will is going to pick up his 'cousin's' dog, to care for him since his cousin's away on vacation. Will had been feeding the dog for his 'cousin' while he was away. Eric will get the paperwork out just in case. Seem set?" Sydney asked with a yawn.

"Yep..it's getting late and you're probably exhausted from having to be out and about today. Have a good night, Sydney. Take care." Vaughn said, stifling a yawn himself.

"I will...and you too. Bye." She said sweetly before hanging up. She fell asleep with a smile, thinking about Vaughn.

The next day Donovan came home to stay with Sydney and Sydney instantly fell in love with the canine.

Over the next 2 weeks, both cripples lounged about the house, movie watching, reading and snoozing. Francie wasn't completely thrilled to have the slobbering dog underfoot, but took pity on the poor mutt. By a week in she was preparing special dinners for the 'little prince'. Vaughn was mortified that his dog was gonna come home 10 pounds heavier and spoiled rotten.

On the day Sydney went in to receive her walking cast, Will carrying her the whole time, Francie staid with Donovan. Sydney gritt her teeth as they re-x-rayed her ankle and began the work of molding a walking cast to her. This time they gave her a walking cane instead of just crutches. In 48 hours she would start walking a little by little till she was just using the cane. Then after 1 week she should be walking on it like a pro. Will carried her up to HQ to stop by her desk. As he was walking in they ran into Jack and Vaughn rushing by.

"Hey Syd! Got your cast on now? What'd the doctor say about your ankle?" Vaughn said, smiling at her.

"Hi dad...Vaughn. He said I'm healing nicely, maybe only 4 weeks in this thing, then to therapy." She said, happy she was moving faster.

"Well, since you're hare, come to the meeting. It's on the information from Mr. Castello. He'll be there too." Jack said, a glint in his eye. He didn't exactly LIKE the man, if only for the fact that he put his only daughter in all this misery.

"Great. Will, I'll have my dad take me home. Go ahead. Tell Francie I'm having lunch with him." Sydney said, letting him pass her off to Vaughn, who smiled like a little kid who just got permission to raid the biggest candy store.

"Sure. See you later Syd. Bye Mike..Mr. Bristow." Will said, leaving to check his desk, then to home. Vaughn carried Sydney as they left to the meeting. The meeting went over all that Mr. Castello could give the CIA; a huge step towards the takedown of SD-6 and all the Alliances.

After the meeting, Mr. Castello got permission to apologize personally to Sydney whose reply was.. Well, different.

"Actually, I want to thank you for getting me some vacation time...and it's not all that bad. I LOVE everyone pampering me for a change." Sydney gazed at Vaughn, thinking how much he actually did do for her. He was always there, protecting her and being there for her whenever she needed him. Guardian Angel was a perfect title he deserved. She turned red at her thought. Mr. Castello watched this than leaned in.

"You may have been 'playing' fiancé's but let me tell you..you two didn't have to 'act' all that much. You're very good at it NATURALLY already." He teased, seeing how she blushed.

"Thank you. And...maybe once I'm all healed up I can take you up on that dance." She replied kindly.

"At the wedding, I'll bet." He said winking. Sydney just smiled bigger.

So for the next couple days Syd was still house ridden..By the following week she was back to work. With a lot of help from the cane and kind people helping her out. Donovan went home shortly after, he himself getting around well. The next couple of weeks went swiftly for Sydney as she got comfortable in her 'light' duty status in both SD-6 and the CIA. She was eventually walking around on her cast like it was another shoe, like predicted.

She got her cast removed and a brace type bandage replaced it as she began therapy. And she bounced back faster than even she expected; back to field status in just over 3 weeks, with only a small brace to wear for protection.

Donovan healed up well and lost some of those pounds put on from his stay with Sydney. Vaughn made sure to run him on his jogs where he frequently 'ran into' Sydney as she was doing her therapy runs.

Another thing that was making it's way together was Francie's "Open Mike Night". It was starting to become a big event. And Francie found a little...secret about Sydney she or anyone for that matter never noticed before.

Francie had come home one afternoon to find Sydney working on her exercises with head phones on. Francie stood there frozen as Sydney sang the most beautiful version of 'Angel' by Sarah McLacklin. She was so moved by how pretty Syd's voice was, she got teary-eyed. Will came in next and he too was mesmerized.

Finally Sydney turned and yelped, jumping a little at seeing them standing there staring at her. She took off her headphones and slowly caught her breath.

"Hey! I didn't hear you come in!..What?" she asked getting worried that they were still standing there not moving.

"Th-that was..." Will stared, shaking his head in shock.

"Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! Sydney!?! Where'd THAT come from?! How come you didn't tell me you could SING like that?!?" Francie finished, wiping a lone tear away and going over to her. Sydney just nibbled her lip, shrugging.

"I don't know. I don't think it's all that special." Sydney mumbled. Will huffed in disbelief.

"Sydney! You're great! You definitely need to sing at Francie's O.M.N.!" Will said, shocked she didn't believe in herself.

"What's this?!" Francie said, picking up a medium sized notebook with writings filling half of it.

"Oh...just some things..some stuff I wrote...no biggy." Sydney said, trying to reach for it. Francie held onto reading it like a nosey friend would.

"Syd!?! This is fabulous! YOU wrote this?!" Francie exclaimed. Sydney blushed and nodded meekly.

"This is perfect! My BEST friend is a closet singer AND songwriter! Move over Jewel, here comes Sydney!" Francie exclaimed, smiling as she flipped more through the pages. It dated back to her college years. Francie nodded at Sydney.

"You, my friend, are singing at my O.M.N. No buts." Francie said, ending the conversation there.

So Sydney was now practicing at home and when she ever got to be alone at the restaurant when Francie closed. Her life was returning back to like it was before the accident, except with her practicing her songs with Francie's house band a few nights a week.

Then the big day came. The day Sydney had been fighting for and lost SO much for. The day the CIA and other agencies took down the Alliance. All 12 cells. And Sydney and Vaughn, with Eric close by, raided SD-6, taking it down.

Also, Sydney and Vaughn's relationship became VERY much closer. But, unbeknownst to anyone, Francie was murdered and replaced by a 'double'. With Sloane and Sark still out free, Sydney realized the night after her and Vaughn didn't quite make it to dinner, that her fight wasn't over.

With Evil Francie in place, Sloane and Sark were still very much in the game. And because of the Evil Francie in place, Sydney and Will began to notice Francie acting oddly.

One morning Sydney woke up on a rare day off, to an empty bed. She got a confused look on her face till she made her way to the kitchen and could hear before she saw Vaughn and Will fighting. Over the cereal box toy.

"Dude..just cause your like..Syd's betrothed or whatever doesn't give you precedence over the bobble head toy! It's mine fair and square!" Will threatened.

"How? I poured my bowl first. That means I get the toy. It's like..calling shot-gun." Vaughn defended.

"No...no way. I'VE lived here longer than you've been here. Seniority rules." Will said back. Sydney couldn't help playing along.

"Oh Boys!..let's stop fighting. Besides..I bought the Kix. Therefore, the Goofy bobble head toy is..MIO!" Sydney said motherly, reaching into the box expertly and pulling out the toy.

"Oh..cute!" Sydney said girly, playing with her new toy as both 'Boys' finished their cereal sullenly. Will couldn't help but stick his tongue out at Vaughn.

"Hey! Syd?! He stuck his tongue out at me!" Vaughn cried, pointing. Sydney just rolled her eyes and turned to Francie. Her face dropped and she looked thoroughly lost. Francie looked up at her sudden face.

"What is it?" Francie asked evenly.

"You're eating an orange?" Sydney pointed out slowly. Francie looked at her then the orange, not getting it.

"Yeah...it's breakfast." Francie said evenly again.

"You NEVER eat oranges, not matter WHAT meal of the day. You hate getting all the pulpy stuff in your teeth." Sydney pointed out to her. Francie froze, but then smiled, devilishly almost.

"I changed my mind. It doesn't bother me so much anymore. Girls gotta get her Vitamin C." Francie said, passing by her and leaving to her room like that explained everything. Vaughn and Will witnessed this, Sydney giving them a confused/worried look.

Sydney's phone going off snapped her from her thought as she answered it. Then Vaughn's went off.

"Hey bud, it's me..need you in HQ. Something's up...can you tell Sydney too?" Eric asked, knowing wherever one of them is, the other's not far off.

"Uh..she's talking to Jack right now actually." Vaughn revealed. Eric just snorted.

"He's like 10 ft. from me. We should have just called ONE of you. Saved some minutes. Alright,.see ya' soon man." Eric said hanging up. Jack hung up then too.

"That was Eric. Did your dad say to come in...that something's up?" Vaughn asked as Sydney came over.

"Yeah. Something to do with my moms 'empire'." Sydney said. They got dressed then left to the J.T.F. within a half-hour. When they arrived, everyone was a little bit busier. Kendall met up with them.

"Good, you're both here, we received intel that Sloane and Sark are starting to try to take over Derevko's empire in her absence. Your mother is NOT very comfortable with this since if he succeeded...a LOT of important people around the world would be in danger from BOTH sides. Jack's down with her now trying to put everything together. She might have to make an 'appearance'." Kendall stated briefly.

"Release her again? On another mission?" Sydney asked.

"Precisely...there is a place in Russia where you mom has some very important belongings that she'd wanted to retrieve for some time now. Seems like a good time for her to go get it, making her appearance. You're on her team." Kendall announced to Vaughn.

"Me, sir?" Vaughn asked, not sure about why.

"Irina asked for you personally. Apparently, she trusts you. You, Jack, and Sydney." Kendall pointed out. Vaughn didn't know how to take that.

They made their way to Irina's cell to find Jack on the Inside at a table with different maps and photos strewn all about. The guards let Syd and Vaughn in and they joined in the planning.

A few hours later Eric came to escort Marshall who was gonna go over some 'gadgets' they'd be using. Marshall saw the 'family' and smiled, going off on one of his rants.

"Wow...all sitting together...all you need is a turkey and some trimmings..you'd be set." Marshall mumbled out. Jack growled, Syd smirked, and Irina smiled truly.

"Or a deck of cards." Eric murmured, finally getting Vaughn to smirk.

"Ahem."Jack interrupted, getting them back to work. Eric was also going as the point man. The mission was set in 2 days.

"Teach them to mess with what's not THEIRS. They didn't work for YEARS creating." Irina told Sydney as she was out on her walk, mumbling almost to herself. Sydney just smiled at that, not sure if it was a good or bad that she had 'created' it.

"Mom, why'd you ask for Vaughn on this mission?" Sydney asked finally. "I was wondering when you'd get to that..because he is the only one I know that will keep you safe and protect you wholly, with nothing else on his mind to...distract him." Irina stated.

"But dad's gonna be there. And you...oh, I see. He'll be distracted by you and vise-versa." Sydney put together.

"Even if neither of us wants to admit it." Irina finished, smiling sadly/shyly at her daughter.

"I've seen those looks..between you two. Little...moments." Sydney revealed quietly, dimpling at the girly type of conversation she was having. Irina just nodded some more, smiling a little more. She could only shrug.

Sydney didn't stay long with her mom and afterwards her and Vaughn went out for dinner.

"What do you think the belongings are your mom wants so badly?" Vaughn asked, picking her brain instead of his own for awhile. Sydney shrugged.

"The way she's attached to those earrings..probably something personal." Sydney said. Vaughn nodded at the good guess.

"Do you think it has anything to do with you..or your father?" Vaughn asked softly. Sydney thought for a moment.

"Maybe." She softly returned, not wanting to put too much hope in her voice. She'd hate to be disappointed. He didn't push any further.

2 days later Jack, Irina, Sydney, Vaughn, Eric and 2 other agents left for Russia. The two agents would play Irina's 'men' as if she was still out and running things. Kendall and Jack had convinced Irina to bring 2 agents that Sloane wouldn't recognize if they happened to be found out. Eric ran point- ops while Jack, Sydney, and Vaughn sat on the ready to charge in on the smallest sign of trouble. That came before Irina could get through her own front door of her pueblo home.

"This is MY house!" she threatened, instantly hitting the anger button. This pueblo had been in her family for generations. It was said without being said that no one messed with it, not one trespassed. It was like when you didn't have to worry about locking you doors in a church parking lot. Almost sacred. And now she was denied entrance on her own land.

Jack instantly noticed his ex-wife's mood change.

"You DARE trespass on my family's home...that's-that's..WRONG!" Irina boiled, not able to see straight let alone speak.

"She's losing it. She's gonna do something that'll jeopardize this whole mission!" Sydney pointed out.

"We can't go out till it's absolutely necessary. Once Sloane sees us, he'll know she's with the CIA; he'll have her killed on the spot." Jack said tersely, barely able to hold back himself.

"Oh...dear Irina...this isn't yours anymore...I decided to move in and take over..since you decided to disappear whereEVER you ran off to. Go back, you don't belong here anymore." Sloane said over the phone to her that one of the guards there had given to her.

"Your making a huge mistake...there's a lot...a LOT of s**t you can take from me, steal from me, do to me..but not this. You'll be sorry...I SWEAR it! You don't even KNOW what they've got on you already. My own DAUGHTER will take you down herself...with ME right by her side!" Irina seethed into the phone. Sloane startled, then realized what she inadvertently revealed. Jack cursed.

"She told him! Let's go! He'll have her killed right on the spot!" Jack yelled jumping out the van.

"You...you little.TRAITOR!! You're working for the CIA! You sold us out!" Sloane said through clenched teeth then hung up, then dialed a number.

"Destroy it! Everything! Kill WHOEVER is on sight!" he hollered then slammed his phone down, Sark right next to him in shock. He'd been Irina's right hand man for YEARS. He never saw this coming. He KNEW about her soft spot for her family, but THIS? Then he froze. He knew her soft spot. Family.

He had a plan forming, a way to get back at Irina for her betrayal on him. He' been waiting for her to show herself for awhile now. And now she's chosen the other side.

He'd beat her at her own game.

After all, she'd taught him everything he knew.
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An: There's another little cliffhanger. Hope you liked this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think or if you have any questions. Next chapter should be up as soon as possible, but I do have finals coming for school and all. And helping out my aunt. Don't forget to review; I'll see ya next time! Thanx!