"I never realised you could sing" Vaughn said the next day at the debriefing. "Another hidden talent." The atmosphere between them today was easy not awkward or clumsy just nice.
"I'm not good. It was awful. I can't wait till SD6 is gone so I never have to wear another wig and I can throw away my eyeliner."
"You were good. I didn't recognise you when you first came out. I've never seen you like that before. You looked very different." Vaughn looked at the ground.
"You mean I looked like a hooker."
"No, just very different."
"Is that why you fell off your chair?" Sydney burst into hysterical laughter and simulated Vaughn falling off the chair from her position sat on the table. Vaughn blushed.
"It's not funny." He said sulking
"Oh it so was" Sydney said picking herself up off the floor.
"No it wasn't"
"Oh is Mike upset that I took the mickey?" Sydney said sticking out her bottom lip in a feigned pout.
"No" Vaughn said firmly.
"Oh yes he is." Sydney said advancing towards him.
"No" Vaughn up half exasperated. Sydney reached out and his heart started to race. Her hands slipped gently under his jacket and he felt her cool touch on the outside of his shirt. She started to tickle him.
"Sydney" he laughed "Sydney stop!" he doubled over with laughter. "Syd please" he jumped up and tried to move away but she was quicker. "Sydney stop it" Why he did, what he did next he didn't know. He leant and kissed Sydney. She stood stock-still. Shocked. Then she kissed him back. It was the most amazing kiss she had ever had. They broke away from each other gasping for air. Vaughn sat down heavily on a chair.
"Sydney. I'm sorry; I shouldn't have done that. It was wrong." He put his head in his hands. She walked over and sat on the table in front of him. She took his hand and examined it.
"Vaughn." She said softly "Its ok. I wanted that just as much as you did. Its ok."
"No Sydney. Its not." He got up and turned away. "I didn't want this." He looked round. She sat still on the table. She looked horrified as if he'd punched her.
"You don't want me?" She sounded scared I can deal with
this she told herself
"No Sydney" he interrupted
"No Vaughn it's ok, I understand."
To stop her speaking he kissed her again. Sydney gripped him tightly. She felt warm and safe. "Sydney, I want you. I have done ever since you walked into this room with your bozo hair. I didn't want it like this. I want to be able to walk down the street and hold your hand or take you to dinner. Not worry about if you'll come home in one piece from whatever God forsaken place you've been sent to or worry about losing my job because I love you." He smiled a half smile. "I don't want you to regret me because it was sordid and hidden." The room echoed with silence now Vaughn had stopped talking. Sydney tried desperately to collect her thoughts.
"Vaughn"
"No Sydney don't try to make me feel better. I'll ask for a new handler tomorrow."
"VAUGHN" Sydney shouted, shocking him. "Shut up and listen. I don't want a new handler, I want you." Just as she had been about to confess her feeling to him her mobile rang. She grabbed it and punched the button. "What?" She snapped. Her face fell "Where." Vaughn looked carefully at her. "I'm on my way." Turning to him "That was Devlin. My Dad's been attacked. He's at a CIA hospital. You've got to follow me there. Separately."
"Let's go then."
Sydney ran out of the warehouse with Vaughn soon behind her She jumped into her car. Her heart racing. She prayed silently that her dad would be ok; they'd gotten closer recently. Thoughts of Vaughn and her dad rushed through her mind. She was in too much shock to fully comprehend the changes in her relationship with Vaughn. "I'll think about that later." She told herself. Looking in her rear view mirror as she stopped at the traffic lights she could see Vaughn. The adorable lines appeared in his forehead when he was worried were there. Her thoughts then turned back to her dad.
******
Sydney rushed into the hospital with Vaughn close behind. She ran up to the desk.
"Jack Bristow."
"ITU third floor."
Sydney ran towards the elevator and punched the button. She felt Vaughn walk up behind her.
"Don't worry Sydney. He'll be ok." Vaughn told her gently the lift beeped and the doors slowly opened. They both stepped in the lift.
Sydney placed her hand to her mouth and tried desperately not to cry. Vaughn reached out and took hold of her hand. Just holding his hand such a simple gesture gave her strength and hope. The lift opened and Vaughn released her hand. Sydney ran out of the lift into Deputy Director Kendall.
"What's happened? Where is he? I want to see him."
"The doctors are with him now, you can go in a minute. He was in a car accident. Some maniac cut him up on the freeway. He's been arrested."
"Has he got anything to do with Sloane?" Vaughn asked.
"Its possible but very unlikely. We're investigating now."
A doctor in a white coat emerged from a side room "Miss Bristow you can go in and see him now, He's stable but quiet ill." Sydney raced in leaving Kendall and Vaughn staring after her.
"Dad." Sydney stepped into the room to be greeted by the site of her father lying prostrate on the bed. He was hooked up to monitors, a drip and had an oxygen mask on his face. Sydney's voice broke
