D: J.J's; not mine.

An: Sorry for the longer than expected wait for the update. My church is having a festival and guess who gets to run the "Jingle Board" booth? Yep, me. So, been busy, and sunburned. (OUCH!) Here's the next chapter!! Thank you so much for reviewing, especially to my devoted reviewers: Whitelighter Enchantress and nattie700!! You guys make my day!! Enjoy!

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Five agonizing hours later they finally made it through the door. Vaughn was the first one through, gun ready. He swept his gaze across the room, securing that is was empty of any danger, then froze when he saw Sydney huddled in the corner trembling. He hollered over his shoulder.

"Get a medic!" he yelled, putting his gun on the ground then slowly started going towards Sydney hesitantly.

"Agent Vaughn. I think you need to see this first." Another agent reported from across the chamber. Vaughn glanced back at Sydney first then hurried to the agent. He stepped up to the odd container. When he peered over and saw what was inside, he grimaced.

It was Francie.

"Oh no." he whispered. He spun around and hurried over to Sydney, kneeling down.

"Syd? Sydney, speak to me..are you okay? Are you hurt?" Vaughn asked, touching her tearstained face. Sydney slowly shifted her gaze meeting Vaughn's eyes. What he saw broke his heart. So much sadness.

"Yes...m-my heart...it HURTS!" she choked out, falling into a fit of sobs. He pulled her close to him, noticing instantly how cold she felt. She was trembling and chattering, her lips slightly blue-ish.

"My gawd, you're freezing!! Sydney!" he cried out, rushing to take his jacket off. The medics arrived then and struggling against her sobbing fits put her on warming fluids and wrapped her in hypothermia blankets. Vaughn carried her out himself; also making sure someone got Francie properly taken care of.

Hours later Sydney was stabilizing, her temperature back closer to normal. She lay, sleeping, curled on her side; her IV'd hand resting in Vaughn's hand.

In walked Jack with Sytory clinging to his elbow and Irina holding his other hand.

"Oh my poor baby." Irina mumbled out, tears falling as she went to Sydney's side. Vaughn stood to give them space. Sytory kissed Sydney's temple and sat in Vaughn's chair while Irina stood, brushing Sydney's hair behind her ear.

"She okay?" Irina asked Vaughn.

"She went into shock..when she saw Francie. That on top of the freezing temperatures put her in hypothermia quick. But they got her stabilized now, back to a normal temp. She's lucky." Vaughn relayed. Jack nodded rubbing Sydney's arm.

"They want to keep her till tomorrow...in the thermals just to be safe." Vaughn said referring to the long thermals Sydney had on to help her temperature.

"But emotionally..she's destroyed. Initial tests show that Francie, the real Francie, has been deceased for months." Vaughn added. Jack looked grim.

"Whoever this other Francie is, we now know who the second clone was. Who knows how much she's been able to get on the CIA." Jack said, gritting his teeth as Sydney's face pinched up in her sleep. She started murmuring then.

"No.NO..Francie..." she quietly said. Irina shushed her, rubbing her back tenderly while Sytory squeezed her hand.

"It's going to take a lot to help her through this." Jack said.

"What about the clone? Do we have her?" Vaughn asked, wanting his revenge.

"No..she's fled. But we have some leads. We've come to find that she's performed a number of mind hypnosis procedures on Mr. Tippin. We're in the process of figuring out what." Jack explained.

"I want to be a part of the team that goes after this. I have to, for Sydney." Vaughn said passionately.

"You and me both." Jack murmured, agreeing.

Irina, Sytory, and Jack stayed with Sydney for a little while before leaving to let her rest. Vaughn stayed with her all night, receiving a brief visit from Kendall and Weiss.

The next morning he was woken up to her cries. He sat up from his spot next to her and saw tears staining her face.

"It's real?! It's not just a nightmare? She's ..gone?" she cried. He frowned, leaning forward taking her hand. He just nodded.

"I'm so sorry baby." He mumbled as she started crying again. He held her a little while so she could just cry. When her tears subsided, she wiped her face, looking up at Vaughn.

"Will?" she whispered. He grimaced.

"He knows. Apparently, this clone, she did hypnosis procedures on him to get information from him. He went through some tests to see how much. She was very good at it, Syd." He told her, knowing she'd only want the truth, no sugar coating it. She nodded.

"Is he okay?" she whispered.

"He's pretty tore up to. I guess he destroyed one of the conference rooms." Vaughn replied. Sydney just shook her head, looking away.

"How long?" she asked, knowing he'd understand what she meant.

"At least a couple of months. Since the takedown." He answered softly. She nodded her face crumpling.

"She's been dead for months and I didn't know! She never got a proper burial or funeral!" Sydney cried, getting upset again. After a couple more minutes she calmed down again.

"Did you notify her family?" she asked. He shook his head.

"We didn't know how. We were waiting to find out from you what family she has." Vaughn said, kissing her temple.

"Okay. When can I leave here?" she asked, fiddling with her IV'd hand.

"This afternoon...I'll help you with this baby. You don't have to do it alone. Will too." He said holding her close.

That afternoon when Sydney was released she, with Vaughn and Will close by, notified Francie's family. Over the next couple of days, Sydney did all the arrangements for Francie's wake and funeral. She had doves released at the graveside service. She had Francie laid to rest beside Danny, where she believed France would want to be. With who she considered her family and where Sydney could always visit her.

Will eventually got over the hypnosis effects. Within a few days, the regression therapy helped him to recall all that had been done to him. They continued to find leads on the clone, Sloane basically cutting all ties to her since he had no use for her anymore.

One week later they received a huge lead. They found the clone's hide out. Sydney and Vaughn rushed into HQ from their late night page.

"We got her. And maybe Sloane. In South America. We're assembling a team now." Kendall explained.

"I want on it." Sydney stated evenly. Kendall eyed her, then exhaled.

"Fine. But DON'T blow your cool on this. I know you've got personal ties to this, but don't make me regret my decision." Kendall warned. Sydney just nodded. They were ready within the hour taking teams, including Vaughn. All decked out in CIA black gear, Sydney's hair in tight double French braids, they boarded the CIA issued jet for the half day flight.

"You should rest, save up your strength. You are still recovering from hypothermia AND a difficult week." Vaughn said to Sydney just after they were in the air. Sydney nodded, already feeling the tiredness that she knew he saw in her eyes.

"Only if you hold me." She whispered, not caring if the other agents noticed. The only visible 2 agents she could see from their back seat were Weiss and her father.

"Of course." He said flashing her one of his melting smiles. She dimpled slightly and crawled in his lap, snuggling up in his shoulder/neck as he leaned the seat back. Within minutes she was out. Weiss glanced back to check on his buddy and rolled his eyes, snorting.

"Agent Weiss? A problem?" Jack asked when he heard him.

"Nah...just my comment on Tweedledee and Tweedledumb back there." Weiss said, waving his hand over his shoulder. Jack saw his daughter peacefully sleeping away in Vaughn's arms as he watched her intently, a smile present on his face.

"I hope you're referring to my daughter as the 'dee' of that Tweedle Agent Weiss, or there will be trouble." Jack said evenly.

"Oh definitely sir. Mike's for sure the one who fell stupidly in love with her. A fool with a capital F." Weiss joked, shaking his head. Jack murmured, but smiled inwardly.

Eight hours later Vaughn was woken by Eric.

"Hey Romeo, wake up. We need to go over the mission stats. Wake Juliet up will you?" Weiss said snickering as he went back to his seat. Vaughn shook his head awake a little, blinking and yawning before he looked down to the sleeping beauty in his arms and smiled. He gently stroked Sydney's cheek with his thumb, watching her stir.

"Syd..baby, you gotta get up. C'mon Syd." He said softly. She turned slightly; burying her face in his chest, readjusting herself then was still. Vaughn smiled shaking his head as he looked over at Weiss. Jack was glaring back.

"Well?..I tried sir. She's not a morning person. No matter what the reason is for getting up." Vaughn said, shrugging. Jack grumbled something about backbones or some sort. He cleared his throat, then said loudly.

"Sydney Alewndra Bristow. You BETTER be up by the time I get from my seat or ELSE!" Jack said. Sydney startled then sat up suddenly, blinking and looking around.

"I'm up." she said sleepily, sending a dirty look at Vaughn for the smirk on his face.

"Let's go over the mission." Sydney stated, moving to the front of the plane with all of them as they grouped up with the rest of the team. By the time they landed, everyone was set and ready for the mission. They departed the plane and piled into 2 CIA vans heading to the compound where the intel confirmed the clone's whereabouts with possibly Sloane's and Sark's. The building was set away from any busy civilization in an abandoned office duplex out in the middle of nowhere. When they pulled up to the building, it was still in the cover of darkness. The teams geared up with Jack and 2 com agents staying behind to monitor the mission. They split the two teams with Sydney on one led by Agent Hale, and Vaughn leading the second team. Just before the two teams parted, Sydney gave one last glance to Vaughn taking his hand.

"Stay safe." She whispered.

"Be careful." He answered back. When she turned, Vaughn eyed Weiss, who was on Syd's team. He motioned with two fingers pointing at his eyes then pointed to Sydney's back.

"Always buddy." Eric said, patting his shoulder then retreating with his team. Just before Syd's team, the Alpha team, went around the building, Sydney took one last glance at Vaughn before he led his team around the opposite side of the building.

If she would have known then that that would be the last time she saw him, she would have ran to him, holding on to him for dear life.

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An: Dun Dun DUN!!! There's the next chapter for you!! Hope you enjoyed the little cliffhanger I left you!! More soon, don't forget to review and tell me what's on your minds!! Thanx!