Chapter Five - One Last Thing Before We Quit...

One last thing before I quit,
I never wanted any more than
I could fit into my head,
I still remember every single word you said,
And all the sh-t
That somehow came along with it,
Still, there's one thing that comforts me
Since I was always caged and now I'm free

"Monkey Wrench" Foo Fighters


[Vaughn's POV]

She looks so peaceful when she sleeps. It's like she's in another world, and I guess she technically is. This isn't her world. It's her idealized world, where close friends hang out at the local bowling alley. Which one of their friends happens to own and practice law out of. Yeah, that's definitely one crazy ass idealized world of hers.

I can see it in her face even as she sleeps...she's happy. She's at peace with herself. And I'm glad because she sure as Hell deserves it.

"Hey Mike," Ed calls from his car as he gets out, "you gonna join me or what?"

I motion to him that she's asleep. Please God, don't let her wake up. Let her stay in whatever world she's in now, because I've never seen her happier...

"Oh..." Ed says, lowering his voice as he approaches the car. I step out and open the back seat. Our bags are fairly large, but I hand them both to Ed. "Geez, bring enough?"

"I don't just wake up looking this good...It takes time, effort, and a hell of a lot of accesories," I joke, patting him on the back.

"Trust me, I know," he replies, shaking his head exaggeratedly, "I was your roomate, in case you forgot after all these years..."

It's so great to see him again. There's just something about him, and even his friends, that just feels so welcoming. I always feel like I'm at home, hanging out with my best friend when I'm around him.

"You'll take care of her?" He asks, looking toward Sydney.

I nod. I don't want to have to wake her up, she's had a long day. No, beyond long. This day was more than emotionally draining, but the last couple of hours were a nice way to relax. For awhile, I actually forgot that I was there with Sydney working out our covers because our lives depended on it...it was just me, Syd, Ed, Mike, Nancy, Molly, and Carol -- just hanging out.

Carol. So that was the Carol Ed had worshipped for so long. I guess nothing really became of his little stunt...except for the Stuckeybowl of course.

She's gorgeous. I don't blame him for coming back to sweep her off her feet, despite the fact that he didn't. And by gorgeous I mean, above average. But let's be serious here, she's no Sydney Bristow. No one in this world is like Sydney Bristow.

Speaking of which...I guess I should carry her in?

No.

It really is sad when the CIA has instilled such a fear happiness in one's heart.

It's no big deal, I don't want to wake her up, so I'll bring her in myself.

I reach down to unbuckle her seatbelt, and can't help but catch a whiff of her perfume. It's not the first time I've noticed it, but I guess having her face within inches of mine is a little distracting.

How do I do this again? Slip a hand under her...?

That sounds so wrong.

So wrong...

But if the situation calls for it...

No!

I decide to play it safe and nudge her towards me. She sighs in her sleep and shifts her weight towards me.

Perfect!

I make sure I have her securely, then pick her up, making sure I don't let her head hit the roof.

She's as light as a feather. And it's kind of sick, to tell you the truth. That someone this small and (yes I know this word so doesn't apply to her but I'm tired and have Sydney Bristow in my arms) dainty could be so deadly.

I close the door of the car with my foot, and hear her mumble something in her sleep as she lies her head on my chest. There's no denying it, I'm in heaven.

I have died and gone to heaven.

A heaven called Stuckeyville.

I walk toward the entrance to Ed's place and I feel her start to stir. She starts to speak in mumbled fragments, her eyes still closed.

"Shhh," I say soothingly, bending my head so that it's hovering over her ear, "go back to sleep."

She sighs once again and I feel her hand on my chest, right beside where her head is lying. I can't help but grin as I walk through the threshhold. I feel like we're newlyweds beginning our new life together.

And when you think about it, we really are.

Not newlyweds of course. But beginning our new lives together...Definitely.

I maneuver my way through Ed's foyer and grab his attention.

"Where should I put her?" I whisper, with a nervous excitment in my tone.

"She looks pretty comfortable where she is," Ed replies with a devilish grin. I roll my eyes. I would come back with some sort of witty response, or better yet, smack him, but I can't. For obvious reasons. Instead I give him a 'comeon, jackass' look, and I think he gets the point.

"You can put her up in my room," he says, laughing slightly. "Both rooms are up the stairs and to the right. You can't miss it."

"No, we don't want to take your bed from you..." I reply immediately, not wanting to be a hassle.

"First of all, you're my guests, it's fine. Second of all, I was thinking that the room would be for her only, but if you'll be together...make sure you change the sheets afterwards."

I knew he'd do this. I so knew he'd do this. He knows the situation between me and Sydney, and unlike most, he thought it was funny. I guess he could afford to think it was funny, seeing that he wasn't risking his life everyday. But whatever, it was still nice to have someone to talk to about her. To laugh with and not feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Not having to think about consequences or dangers...it was just her.

Although he did get pretty creeped out after awhile and then made me stop immediately. He said that I was "taking this friendship a little too far"...

I shake my head and turn toward the stairs. I'd give him the finger, but again, my hands are a bit preoccupied. He wouldn't care anyway. It would just fuel the fire, and I'm hot enough as it is.

I walk up the stairs and into Ed's bedroom.

It's a typical 'Ed Stevens' room. Pictures of his friends. Pictures of his family. Creepy plastic 'Yo Quiero Taco Bell' Dog action figures.

He actually bothered to make the bed. Now that is a suprise.

I walk towards it, savoring the last seconds I have with Sydney Bristow in my arms. I look down at her peaceful form and decide right at that moment...

Our 'vacation' from our lives will be rockin.

Yeah, I just said rockin, get over it.

As I lay her down onto the bed, and her head on the pillow, she suprises me as she grabs my arm.

"Don't go." She says simply, her eyes shut.

She's probably sleep talking. Just take her hand off your arm...

It's not budging. Her eyes are opening...and a smile is creeping onto her face.

"Don't go," she says again, softly.

I smile. This is insane. I can't believe this is going on. And I can't believe my gut is still telling me to get the Hell out of that room.

Who gives a sh-t if we actually do what the both of us want for once. We aren't under CIA surveillance. And when it really comes down to it, when we get back, SD-6 will have been shut down for good and we'll be able to actually live our lives with no restrictions. It wouldn't hurt to start a few weeks early...

Still, my gut's telling me no...

I let my hand brush against her face as I pull a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It's been a long day, you should go to bed." I say, regretting the words right after they get out of my mouth.

She looks disappointed. She closes her eyes and opens them once more, sleepily. I feel her hand rest on top of mine, and she takes a deep breath.

"Please," she pleads, barely above a whisper. She looks so vulnerable. So desperate.

"Alright." The word's out before I can even think about it.

"But I have to go down and get my stuff to change..." I don't bother to continue because she's back in her state of slumber, now with a huge grin on her face. I stand up, and walk toward the door with a jump in my step.

Agent Vaughn's gonna get some lovin' tonight, baby. Okay, maybe not physical lovin' but definately snugglin' lovin'. And everyone knows that snugglin' lovin' is better than no lovin' at all.

"Hurry back," I hear her call, as she covers rustle.

I must have had some sick grin glued to my face, because Ed called me on it the second I came down.

"Is my little Mikey gonna get some lovin' tonight?" He asks jokingly as he arranges a pillow and blanket on the couch.

I shrug my shoulders, and act like I don't know what he's talking about. I told you that we're so similar it's sick...

I make my way towards my suitcase and Syd's and carry them up towards the stairs.

"Mikey's gettin' some lovin'!" Ed calls out. I shake my head, but can't hide the smile that is breaking through my straight face. "See?! Go Mikey, go Mikey, go Mikey."

You know your life is pathetic when a friend you haven't seen in years is churning the butter at the prospects of you "gettin' some lovin'."

I put our stuff in Ed's room, then open up my bag quietly, pulling out a pair of sweatpants. I look over my shoulder, checking if Syd's asleep. She's out cold. Relieved that I won't have to undress under her watchful eyes, I unclip my empty gun holster and place is beside my bag. Then I untuck my shirt and unbotton it, thowing it ontop of my bag. Unbuckle my belt, unzip my pants, step out of them, while reaching for the sweats I just pulled out...

"Ow-ow."

WHAT THE HELL?! I jump and turn around, startled. I don't know how she does it, it's actually quite frightening. Her eyes are open -- drowsy, but open. And staring at me standing in front of her in my black boxers and white undershirt. I feel like the little boy in "Billy Madison" who pees in his pants during the field trip and everyone laughs at him. Except I don't have Adam Sandler here to back me up. And that's probably for the best, now that I think of it...

"I always pictured you as a boxers kind of guy," she says with a grin. I turn around and slip the sweats on, not wanting her to catch the deep crimson my face has now turned.

I walk towards the bed, still somewhat in shock of how far our relationship had come in the last day. Only yesterday I wasn't even allowed to look at her, let alone jump into bed with her. This was getting to be a bit overwhelming.

"You've pictured me in my boxers?" I ask flirtatiously, as I sit down on the side of the bed.

Hey, if she wants to go about it this way, I'm so game. Ladies Man Mike is alive and kickin'.

"I've pictured you in lots of things..." she replies ambiguously, as her eyes close once again but the grin is still plastered on her face.

Now that isn't Syd talking. Maybe it's the beer she had earlier? What am I talking about...She had one at it was like a couple hours ago. She wants me. Score!

"Ditto," I say simply, pulling the covers over me. I feel her inch her back towards me and she yawns tiredly, before speaking.

"Good to know."

There. She's out. I know it. She has to be!

This isn't happening. This defininately isn't happening. I don't know what happened to us. We must be in some alternate universe, or in my dreams or something, but this right here? This doesn't happen between Michael Vaughn and Sydney Bristow.

Wait. We aren't Michael Vaughn and Sydney Bristow, are we?

We're Michael Saunders and Sydney Hanton now. And I guess that means this isn't as unbelieveable as it seems.

I've had enough thinking. It's late, I'm tired, and I only have 8 or so hours to spend enjoying the incredible close proximity I am to her.

I breathe in the scent of her shampoo.

Mmm, fruity.

Somehow, my hand finds itself on her hip and before I know it, I'm drifting off into sleep.

Actually, I don't know if it's sleep or not, because that line that usually stands between dream and reality seems to be blurring...

END CHAPTER FIVE