Day 6
The smell of toasted bread woke Sydney up. She looked around and saw Michael, in the following room, knelt besides a little fire, cooking something for breakfast. She got up slowly and went there. She felt more mobility, but her side ached terribly.
"Good morning", she said
"Hey! Morning!", Michael turned to her, "What are you doing out of the
bed?"
"I felt better... I couldn't stay more in bed. What's the time?"
"Almost midday. I didn't want to wake you yet. Last night was bad for
you"
"Thanks for being there", Sydney kissed his cheek.
Mentally, Michael thanked God. She really looked better and that was all he needed to see.
The meal was ready. They sat at the table.
"They're not coming, are they?", she asked
"Who?"
"CIA. They're not coming for us...", she stated again
"I can't lie to you, Syd", Michael nodded, "If they were to, they
would already be here. Kendall loves the protocol and this is outside
the protocol."
"We'll have to do something"
"First of all, you have to recover. Then, we'll think about the next
move, OK? Don't think about it yet".
They kept eating, in silence. Michael observed her and Sydney caught his glance.
"What?", she asked
"Nothing, Syd"
"Don't tell me nothing, Vaughn. I can see it in your eyes"
"I'm worried for you, that's all", he answered touching her hand.
" Vaughn..."
"Yes?"
Sydney shook her head, a sad movement.
"Nothing"
"OK. Don't tell me if you don't feel so."
Then or never. Sydney took a deep breath and spoke.
"Vaughn... I haven't told you everything"
"Syd, you don't have to. I'm here, when you want to, just do it"
"Come on, Vaughn. I think you know it. You saw me last night"
"You've suffered a lot these days and you were having a nightmare,
it's logical. Time will help"
"Hope so"
"I only want you to be OK. I'll do whatever to help you...with
anything. I know there's something more you've not told me about,
called it a sixth sense, but I can feel it. Don't ask me why. I can't
pretend I wouldn't like to know it, to help you if I can, I can
imagine lots of things, but I'm not forcing you. I'll just wait. But I
want you to know that I'm here."
"Vaughn... I was raped. It was Flavio, I could do nothing to stop
him", Sydney found the strength to tell him, "Was this what you wanted
to know?"
Michael got shocked of hearing the truth. He knew it, he felt it, but he hoped it was not true. That wasn't what he wanted to know; he wanted to hear nothing near to his suspicions. Sydney kept on talking.
"I couldn't defend myself. I was almost unconscious. I couldn't do
anything...", she broke in tears.
Michael took her in his arms.
"It was not your fault. He took advantage of the situation, Syd. Do
you listen to me? Nobody deserved such a thing, but you had no guilt
in it, OK? You'll eventually forget it. I'll help you. If I see that
son of a bitch again, I'll kill him, I swear. I... I only say
nonsenses... I don't know what to say, I don't know how to help you...
I'm so sorry... If only I had arrived before... God!", he was in
anger.
"Neither was it your fault. You were successful, Vaughn, you saved my
life. If you hadn't come, I'd have killed myself before going into
Sloane's hands."
"Don't say such a thing. Don't say it again... ever. We'll fight this
together, I promise. And we'll get it. I don't know how, but we will,
Syd, we will."
Both became silent, embraced by each other's arms. Sydney felt safe, she had just thrown away a heavy weight. She truly believed they were going to get over that.
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It was two o'clock. Hidden in the forest, Sloane, Flavio and Blackmore were watching the bunker front door. A hundred metres away from there, other two SD-6 agents, were doing the same with a side door.
Sloane's walkie sounded.
"Sloane, Vaughn have just gone out. Should we get him?", a voice asked.
"Not yet", Sloane answered, "As soon as he goes a little far, enter the
bunker, understood? I want you all inside. And remember I need them
alive. Ending transmission"
They had reached the bunker. The moment of the truth was near.
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Michael went to walk a little. Everything looked as quiet as before. Sydney had gone to bed again, she felt tired. Michael was still shocked by Sydney's confession. He didn't know how to help her.
He walked away from the door, kicking the ground, looking sadly the floor.
And he didn't see the shadows silently going into the bunker.
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Sloane's henchmen took position in all the building, vigilant to the doors and looking through the little windows.
Sydney was resting, her eyes closed. She felt better after telling Michael the truth, even she would have preferred not to remember never more the issue. She heard steps coming. She smiled slightly. Michael would never leave her alone more than the necessary.
"This wait is consuming me. We don't know if they're coming. If
only the Agency would be on the way...!, she said, unaware of what was
actually going on.
She felt him sitting on the bed. But she noticed a strange scent, a very familiar perfume and she opened her eyes... to find herself in front of Sloane. She attempted to shout, to warn Michael, but Sloane's hand shut her words.
"Hello, Sydney. How are you?", Sloane leaned on her injured side
making tears come to Sydney's face, "mmmmm... I see that not very
well. I'm terribly disappointed with you and with your father. He has
managed to escape, for now. But now that I have you, he'll come
crawling as soon as he notices. Now we're going to stay silent a time,
until your tender guardian angel comes back, OK?"
Sydney tried to move, but Sloane's hands were like pincers. The end had come; they wouldn't resist much in their hands. Fear invaded her again.
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Michael turned to walk back to the bunker, but something caught his attention. A light smell of burning, and a thin smoke column between the bushes. Stealthily he took his gun out and went there. There was nobody, but a cigarrette butt smoked still in the trampled grass. He stopped. They were in. They'd been observing and when he went out, they entered. How could he be so confident? He had wide opened the doors for them.
And now? He had to think something, and quickly.
He was being observed and the agents soon realized Michael was suspicious. Blackmore called Sloane.
"It's Blackmore. Vaughn has noticed something. He had hidden from us"
Sloane cursed.
"Your pal is clever, Sydney. I'm not giving him time to plan anything.
Though he doesn't count with means to do anything. CIA has abandoned
you, hasn't it? Why don't you call him and tell him to come here
inmediatly? He'll obey", he said.
"Don't count on it, Sloane", said Sydney smiling
Sloane slapped her in the face.
"You think so? We'll see it", he said
He forced her to follow him to the bunker main door, a gun pointing her head.
"He knows you won't kill me. You need me alive 'cause you need to know
how much the CIA knows about the SD-6", Sydney said.
"Better if you don't bet to that horse, Sydney. I must confess that
I'm desperate and if I must conform myself with the testimony of only
one of you, I'll do it. Sydney, after so many years, you know me, you
know I'm not shooting a line. You've been my most brilliant agent and
nevertheless I didn't hesitate in ordering your fiancee's death,
remember? And I don't really need to kill you to force agent Vaughn to
come. I only have to take advantage of the human weakness, what
becomes particularly easy in this situation".
Sydney didn't answer.
Michael observed the scene, hidden in the forest. Nor a single useful idea came into his mind. And he had no time to think properly.
The bunker door opened and Sloane appeared. Two of the henchmen took Sydney out.
"Agent Vaughn!", Sloane called him, "I know you're listen to me.
You're clever, but your time to act the hero has ended! Come here now,
hands up. If you don't, you know who's going to pay for it"
"Michael!", Sydney shouted out, "Don't do it, that's what he wants.
Get out of here, please!"
Sloane went to Sydney and shut her words by slapping her. Michael felt his blood boiling. Sloane hit her in her injured side. Sydney's knees bent down but she bit her lip to avoid screaming. Sloane took a knife out and pointed to her neck... Michael tried to think about something, desperate. Sloane scratched slightly Sydney's skin.
Michael couldn't bear it for more. He threw his gun and went out of his hiding place, with his hands clearly up.
"Michael don't...", Sydney sobbed.
The two soldiers ran to Michael and tied his hands to his back.
The group went back to the bunker.
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Sloane kept them in a room. He stayed with them.
Michael was worried. He could notice there was a blood stain in Sydney's shirt. The wound might have opened again. It was not good, she wasn't strong enough now to resist anything.
"You've been very bad guys...", Sloane was talking, "Sydney... I can
understand that such a gorgeous man like agent Vaughn can attract you
to the bad way. Did you seriously think we'll never hear of your
little plan? But...", he crossed the room towards Sydney, "you
shouldn't have bitten the hand that pays you... never!"
He was angry and hit her fiercely. Sydney look to him, defiant.
Sloane turned to Michael.
"And you... I think you're too soft to be a ops agent for the CIA, and
so subjective to be a good handler for her... don't you think so?", he
said to Michael, "You're making big mistakes which have eventually
given us the victory... First of all, the error a handler shouldn't
never commit... to fall in love with the handled one! So sweet...! In
the camp you let our man escape when you had the chance to prevent him
from contacting us, but minutes were vital to safe her, true? That
saved her in that moment, but it has finally proved to condemn you
both".
Sloane looked satisfied, while Michael was broken in two. "Sloane is right", he thought, "I've been stupid". Sloane switched his talkie on.
"Come here, Flavio, sure you wanna meet our guests again", he said.
Sydney became pale. She has dreamed of never seeing his face again, but it couldn't be. She was tense. Michael looked at her, worried. If Sloane got to know what happened with Flavio...
Seconds passed. Flavio entered the room and Sydney couldn't avoid a slight moan of anguish.
"Surprised?", Sloaned inquired, "Don't say you don't know he was
my little mole... It would be disappointing. How do you think I'm
sending my dear Sydney to a non-return mission, if I don't have
someone to bring her back to me?"
Michael looked at Sydney. She was trying to restrain her tears, but her eyes were wet.
"What happens Sydney, dear? Aren't you glad to see Flavio again?", he
asked to her.
Sydney's lips trembled of rage. If Sloane knew the truth, he wouldn't hesitate to use it against her. Maybe he already knew...
Sloane tied Michael to the chair, while Flavio did the same with Sydney. She couldn't control her trembling when she felt Flavio's hands touching her again. She close her eyes not to think of it.
Flavio and Sloane left the room. Michael and Sydney looked at each other.
"Well, what can we do now?", Sydney tried to keep calm, "It's clear
that we cannot count on the CIA. We need a miracle"
Michael was blocked. He tried to find something which allowed them to gain sometime, but he couldn't. Sydney let a sigh out.
"What's the matter, Syd? How are you?", he asked
"Don't worry. The side... it aches", she said taking a deep breath.
Sloane came back, followed by Blackmore.
"Come on... Don't make things worse", he said.
Blackmore kicked Michael's stomach.
"I've been a time with suspicions about your link. You've put me in a
difficult situation and I don't know yet how much the CIA knows about
our activities... Agent Vaughn, would you be so kind of telling me
something to this respect?", Sloane talked to Michael.
He said nothing. Blackmore hit him again. Sydney tried not to look. She didn't want to see Michael suffering, but she knew that in the moment they gave the information Sloane wanted to hear, their death sentence would be signed. It was necessary to gain some time, awaiting for a miracle... Michael looked at Sydney, forbidding her to say anything to Sloane, while Blackmore kept on punishing him. Sydney could not bear it. Her eyes were full of tears. Sloane turned to her.
"You impress me, Bristow. I didn't think you would like to live again
the death of your loved one because of you", he stated.
"Don't be cynical. You know you'll kill us anyway"
"Of course!", Sloane laughed, "But there are many ways to die. Some
are fast, even painless, but there are others which can turn your last
life moments in a hell..."
He went near Michael to whisper something to his ear.
"She's strong, she acts like if she had no feelings at all. I trained
her well, uhmm? But would you be able to do the same? Let's check
it!", he said.
Sloane made a sign to Blackmore and he beat Sydney. Sydney tried to recover breath.
"Michael... don't say... anything", she begged.
Michael didn't know what to do. He had to stop it. Tied as she was to the chair, Sydney fell to the ground, while Blackmore keep attacking her.
"Strong... both of you are strong ones. Ok, Ok... I realize that I
won't get anything this way...", Sloane began walking up and down the
room, pensively.
Sloane went out the room with Blackmore.
"Syd... are you OK?", Michael asked
She nodded her head, trying to hide a expression of pain.
"I can't stand this. I can't see you this way, Sydney"
"Do you prefer to see me dead? Don't be crazy, don't tell him
anything, understood?", she replied.
Blackmore came into the room again. He untied Sydney and took her out of the room.
"Where do you take her? Leave her alone!", Michael protested
unsuccessfully.
Sloane closed the door and sat next to Michael.
"I wanna be sure that the information you're gonna give me, 'cause
you're gonna do it, is reliable", he stated.
"Where is she?"
"You'll see it right now, Vaughn. But in the meantime, we can save
sufferings and you can tell me the password to access the CIA server
where the SD-6 files are located"
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to do that. I don't even know all
the codes".
"It's OK. Begin with the ones you do know"
Michael didn't answer. Sloane opened a computer, a notebook, he had left on the table and turned it on. There appeared an image of a room Michael haven't seen before. Blackmore was pushing Sydney inside that room. The more details appeared in the image, the more worried Michael was. He realized, horrified, what they intended. Hanging from one the room's beams, there was a rope and Blackmore was adjusting it around Syd's neck. She had her hands tied to her back and her eyes were covered.
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In that room, Sydney tried to loosen the ties. But Blackmore had done a good work. They were done for, but, for that time, the feeling of having no chance kept her senses alert. She already knew the rules of that play; she had seen it before and she never had the need of try it. Sloane could be very creative when he wanted to get information.
Sloane's voice sounded through Blackmore's talkie.
"Well, Sydney... you're still on your agent's hands. I think you're
clever enough to know how this works, aren't you? I could have used
any of you for this play, but I have my reasons to do so... I have
feelings too, Syd, it hurts me that the people I put my confidence in
stab my back... I've always treated you as a daughter to me, you were
part of my family, and this is how you pay for it?"
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"Come on Sloane... it doesn't matter who is in that room... you'll
finally get what you want. Change her place for me", Michael asked
for.
"Vaughn... I've already said it didn't matter, but I want some
satisfaction for the personal side of her betrayal. Now, stop
chatting. Give me the codes..."
Michael hesitated.
"Go on!", Sloane ordered through the talkie.
Michael looked at the screen to see how Sydney handled a hit in the stomach. Her knees trembled and she staggered. Blackmore prepared to hit a second time.
"Sloane, wait!", he said. "The main directory of this case, has all
the information you want. My access code is 555-GHJ-2947-mv. "Your ID, agent Vaughn?" "VAUGHN-LA-435"
"OK, I'm gonna go check it. If you've lied to me, she'll pay for it"
"You can check it, it's true. But stop your agent"
Sloane looked at him with a sardonic smile in his mouth. And Michael realized he had gone right into the trap. Sydney was not saved. Sloane looked for revenge and he was going to get it anyway. Anguished, he turned to the screen.
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The first attack caught her by surprise. She almost lost the balance. Sydney tried to keep her head concentrated, overpowering the pain; if she fell down she would suffocate herself. She cope as her best with the next ones, but if Sloane didn't stop that, she wouldn't resist much more.
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Michael was really worried, waiting to see her falling any moment on, when Flavio burst into the room, with a gun in his hand.
"Sir, an armed team is coming from the west side of the bunker. There
are about twenty men", he announced.
"Damn it! So the CIA guys have sent their people to the rescue, after
all. Flavio, took Vaughn to the jeep. Don't hesitate to kill him if
it's necessary", Sloane turned the talkie on, "Carson, Mainfield,
we're just under attack, cover the west access"
Sloane left the room quickly. Flavio followed his orders and, pointing him with the gun, he took Michael out.
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Blackmore stopped. Sydney hear Sloane's alterated voice while she was being untied. Her eyes were uncovered.
"Your CIA friends have come to the rescue. But I assure you that
they're not going to get your way", he said to her.
"We'll see it, Sloane, we'll see it"
Sloane grabbed strongly her arm.
"I would kill you right now, but I need you to escape from here.
That's the only reason why you're still alive...", Sloane's voice was
threatening.
He pushed her towards the back exit of the building. Blackmore stayed with the other two soldiers, installing C-4 charges to get rid of the CIA team. Sloane was more worried about reaching the jeeps than to be aware of what Sydney was doing. Sydney had to refrain a triumphal laugh; the ties in her hands were stretching.
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Flavio guided Michael to one of the jeeps. He fixed Michael's ties and locked him in the back part of the vehicle.
"If I catch you, you... bastard, you'll wish to die", Michael told
him.
"Don't dream of it. Anyway I've already lived a lot of this life,
agent Vaugh and many people will remember me, I assure you. Even your
girl... though she hasn't much time to remember the time I enjoyed
with her.", Flavio tried deliberately to provoke Michael, "Have she
told you about me?"
Michael felt anger burning him. But he decided not to answer to the provocation. That was what Flavio wanted. If he got killed, Sydney would be lost. Michael ignored the commentary.
"There are so many CIA agents around. You'll not escape"
"So many agents who will blow out the very moment they entered the
bunker, Vaughn"
Flavio closed the jeep door and went away. He didn't want to be captured. He was sure that if he ran away now to hide in the forest, he would survive.
Michael fought against the ties. He had to hurry. He had to find Sydney once more. And to warn Weiss, because he was sure it was Weiss the one directing the team.
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Weiss looked around, carefully. He made a sign to the agent who followed him. No movement could be seen. He hoped they hadn't come too late. Or maybe he was mistaken and the bunker was not the place Michael wanted to indicate.
Jack Bristow had luckily contacted him again and when Weiss told him the situation, he inmediatly contacted Kendall to force him to use their last card.
The team had just arrived and they didn't know what they could expect. Everything was very hasty and they hadn't time to plan a well-structured operative.
The agents were close, rounding the bunker. A little far, Weiss caught a glimpse of a jeep figure, camouflaged in the vegetation. Pointing at it in silence, he sent two of his men to investigate. He didn't want to take the risk of entering the bunker yet. He took a deep breath and grabbed his assault gun.
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Sloane noticed movement near the jeeps. He decided to hide in the forest, until the agents entered the building and he could get rid of them. She pushed Sydney the opposite way and looked around for a place to hide.
She had managed to untie her hands and when Sloane was near enough, he kicked his hand to throw away the gun. She threw the ties to the floor, in front of her old boss' astonished eyes, and attacked him.
To her surprise, Sloane had physical skills which didn't fit his age. He stopped her blows, which were weak ones, given her situation, and he managed to get her guard off a couple of times. Sydney realized that Sloane was trying to move their fight near the place where the gun had fallen. She was getting tired, her side ached and she breathed with difficulty. Sloane jumped over her and both rolled along the ground. A rock stopped them.
Sloane stood up, triumphant; that rock proved to have been providential. Sydney lay at his feet; her head had banged against the rock.
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Michael, after long minutes, freed his hands. He pushed with his feet, trying to open the jeep door. The lock seemed to be strongly fixed. Finally, he got it and he went out of the car. He looked inside the vehicle and he found two guns. He had no time to check how much ammunition there was, time was pressing. He went towards the bunker, eyes wide open.
He was walking down the path, covered by the shadows of the trees, when somenone jumped over his back. Michael got up, taking a gun out, to find himself in front of the ATACANTE. A huge smile appeared in Michael's face.
"Weiss! I was sure it was you. Where are your men?"
"Just about to assault that damn bunker. We've not find anything
around, so we supposed you were in."
"Stop'em Weiss. It's a trap. C-4 is connected inside the building to
blow you out"
Weiss connected his talkie.
"Weiss speaking! Abort... don't enter the bunker, it's full of
explosive. I got Vaughn. Ending", he turned to Michael after the
transmission, "How are you? Where is Syd? I thought she would be with
you."
"That's the pending issue. Sloane took her with him. I supposed they
were for the jeeps but nobody had reached there. Sloane must have seen
movement and he will have moved into a different direction, awaiting
the explosion...", Michael explained quickly, "I have to find them"
"I'll go with you. I'll warn the guys"
"Don't. I prefer you to look for a tall dark men, called Flavio. He
escaped through this way. I want him alive, it's a personal issue. As
for your men, I'm the last person Sloane expects to see now. We'll
increase the chances if I go on my own. Give me your gun, please"
"I'm not going to argue with you, foolish guy. You're crazy, and I'm
worried about you, but for some unthinkable reason you're always right
and you get your targets, so... just take care, OK?
Sloane must be now very very furious...uhmm? Don't get yourself killed
now, you're my future boss when we'll get fired, remember?"
Vaughn ran, bent down, across the terrace. He had to hurry more than ever.
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Sydney recovered. Her head ached. She tried to stand up, but she had been tied again. She heard Sloane's laughing besides her.
"Did you seriously think you were going to overpower me? An old man,
you thought. Yes, definitely I'm not in my twenties, but there must be
some reason for the fact that I'm still in charge of the SD-6, don't
you think?"
Sydney analized the situation. Now, she was done for. She decided to try attract some attention to the area.
"MICHA...!!!", she shouted, but Sloane's rude hand closed her mouth.
"Don't even try, Sydney. He may hear you... from another world! Flavio
had very clear orders to get rid of him. He was not useful anymore.",
Sloane made a pause, "It's unlucky to fall in love with you, isn't
it?"
Sydney's heart bumped. Sloane talked through the talkie.
"Is the C-4 prepared, Carson?"
Sloane attended to the answer and pushed a button in the talkie. Near there, in the bunker, an explossion resounded in the forest. The three SD-6 agents were rounded by the CIA guys and they couldn't go out of the building, but Sloane detonated equally the artifact.
"Well, Sydney, we've come to an end. Sorry for not saying goodbye
properly, but I have to get out of here. Now I'm alone and I don't
have nor a single vehicle, so you wouldn't be more than a nuisance"
Sloane kissed Sydney's forehead.
"If you play with fire, sooner or later you get burnt. I told you once
but you didn't listen to me...", he sentenced
Sloane pulled the gun safe. Sydney closed her eyes, waiting the shot, focusing her last thoughts in Michael's face. Maybe she would find him in other life... The shot was made and she felt Sloane's body falling over hers. Shocked, she opened her eyes to see Michael, standing there, with a gun in his hand. She was waiting for a miracle and it happened. Michael threw his gun, took Sloane's body away and tied his hands. He knelt in front of Sydney and embraced her. He trembled while Michael was taking the ties off. They kissed, unable to say anything.
"Just in time... I almost lose you forever, again", Michael repeated,
touching her face,
"Sloane told me you were dead...", she cried
"I'm here, Syd. It's over.", he whispered.
Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke behind them.
"Oh... what a tender scene."
It was Flavio. Sydney looked at him over Michael's shoulder. He had a gun pointed right at them. Michael moved his hand to the side, looking for the other gun he had taken from the jeep.
"Stop, Vaughn!", Flavio ordered, pulling the safe, "Throw the gun. I
knew there were two guns in the jeep"
Michael did so. He looked to Sydney's eyes and embraced her hard. She felt Weiss' borrowed gun and she, slowly, grabbed it. In a fraction of a second, Michael separated while Sydney shot to an astonished Flavio. He fell down. Sydney stood up to shoot him two times. She let her fall in the floor, crying. Now, it was over.
Weiss and his team were running towards there. They caught Sloane, still fainted, and carried him back to the bunker.
"You two", Weiss said, "You've been born lucky. Come on, the
helicopter is near. Can you walk?", he asked Sydney, realizing she
seemed still shocked.
She looked completely exhausted. Michael took her in his arms and went towards the helicopter which was landing. Everything was over, yes, but what was going to happen now? He preferred not to think. He got Sydney and that's what he had come for.
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The smell of toasted bread woke Sydney up. She looked around and saw Michael, in the following room, knelt besides a little fire, cooking something for breakfast. She got up slowly and went there. She felt more mobility, but her side ached terribly.
"Good morning", she said
"Hey! Morning!", Michael turned to her, "What are you doing out of the
bed?"
"I felt better... I couldn't stay more in bed. What's the time?"
"Almost midday. I didn't want to wake you yet. Last night was bad for
you"
"Thanks for being there", Sydney kissed his cheek.
Mentally, Michael thanked God. She really looked better and that was all he needed to see.
The meal was ready. They sat at the table.
"They're not coming, are they?", she asked
"Who?"
"CIA. They're not coming for us...", she stated again
"I can't lie to you, Syd", Michael nodded, "If they were to, they
would already be here. Kendall loves the protocol and this is outside
the protocol."
"We'll have to do something"
"First of all, you have to recover. Then, we'll think about the next
move, OK? Don't think about it yet".
They kept eating, in silence. Michael observed her and Sydney caught his glance.
"What?", she asked
"Nothing, Syd"
"Don't tell me nothing, Vaughn. I can see it in your eyes"
"I'm worried for you, that's all", he answered touching her hand.
" Vaughn..."
"Yes?"
Sydney shook her head, a sad movement.
"Nothing"
"OK. Don't tell me if you don't feel so."
Then or never. Sydney took a deep breath and spoke.
"Vaughn... I haven't told you everything"
"Syd, you don't have to. I'm here, when you want to, just do it"
"Come on, Vaughn. I think you know it. You saw me last night"
"You've suffered a lot these days and you were having a nightmare,
it's logical. Time will help"
"Hope so"
"I only want you to be OK. I'll do whatever to help you...with
anything. I know there's something more you've not told me about,
called it a sixth sense, but I can feel it. Don't ask me why. I can't
pretend I wouldn't like to know it, to help you if I can, I can
imagine lots of things, but I'm not forcing you. I'll just wait. But I
want you to know that I'm here."
"Vaughn... I was raped. It was Flavio, I could do nothing to stop
him", Sydney found the strength to tell him, "Was this what you wanted
to know?"
Michael got shocked of hearing the truth. He knew it, he felt it, but he hoped it was not true. That wasn't what he wanted to know; he wanted to hear nothing near to his suspicions. Sydney kept on talking.
"I couldn't defend myself. I was almost unconscious. I couldn't do
anything...", she broke in tears.
Michael took her in his arms.
"It was not your fault. He took advantage of the situation, Syd. Do
you listen to me? Nobody deserved such a thing, but you had no guilt
in it, OK? You'll eventually forget it. I'll help you. If I see that
son of a bitch again, I'll kill him, I swear. I... I only say
nonsenses... I don't know what to say, I don't know how to help you...
I'm so sorry... If only I had arrived before... God!", he was in
anger.
"Neither was it your fault. You were successful, Vaughn, you saved my
life. If you hadn't come, I'd have killed myself before going into
Sloane's hands."
"Don't say such a thing. Don't say it again... ever. We'll fight this
together, I promise. And we'll get it. I don't know how, but we will,
Syd, we will."
Both became silent, embraced by each other's arms. Sydney felt safe, she had just thrown away a heavy weight. She truly believed they were going to get over that.
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It was two o'clock. Hidden in the forest, Sloane, Flavio and Blackmore were watching the bunker front door. A hundred metres away from there, other two SD-6 agents, were doing the same with a side door.
Sloane's walkie sounded.
"Sloane, Vaughn have just gone out. Should we get him?", a voice asked.
"Not yet", Sloane answered, "As soon as he goes a little far, enter the
bunker, understood? I want you all inside. And remember I need them
alive. Ending transmission"
They had reached the bunker. The moment of the truth was near.
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Michael went to walk a little. Everything looked as quiet as before. Sydney had gone to bed again, she felt tired. Michael was still shocked by Sydney's confession. He didn't know how to help her.
He walked away from the door, kicking the ground, looking sadly the floor.
And he didn't see the shadows silently going into the bunker.
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Sloane's henchmen took position in all the building, vigilant to the doors and looking through the little windows.
Sydney was resting, her eyes closed. She felt better after telling Michael the truth, even she would have preferred not to remember never more the issue. She heard steps coming. She smiled slightly. Michael would never leave her alone more than the necessary.
"This wait is consuming me. We don't know if they're coming. If
only the Agency would be on the way...!, she said, unaware of what was
actually going on.
She felt him sitting on the bed. But she noticed a strange scent, a very familiar perfume and she opened her eyes... to find herself in front of Sloane. She attempted to shout, to warn Michael, but Sloane's hand shut her words.
"Hello, Sydney. How are you?", Sloane leaned on her injured side
making tears come to Sydney's face, "mmmmm... I see that not very
well. I'm terribly disappointed with you and with your father. He has
managed to escape, for now. But now that I have you, he'll come
crawling as soon as he notices. Now we're going to stay silent a time,
until your tender guardian angel comes back, OK?"
Sydney tried to move, but Sloane's hands were like pincers. The end had come; they wouldn't resist much in their hands. Fear invaded her again.
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Michael turned to walk back to the bunker, but something caught his attention. A light smell of burning, and a thin smoke column between the bushes. Stealthily he took his gun out and went there. There was nobody, but a cigarrette butt smoked still in the trampled grass. He stopped. They were in. They'd been observing and when he went out, they entered. How could he be so confident? He had wide opened the doors for them.
And now? He had to think something, and quickly.
He was being observed and the agents soon realized Michael was suspicious. Blackmore called Sloane.
"It's Blackmore. Vaughn has noticed something. He had hidden from us"
Sloane cursed.
"Your pal is clever, Sydney. I'm not giving him time to plan anything.
Though he doesn't count with means to do anything. CIA has abandoned
you, hasn't it? Why don't you call him and tell him to come here
inmediatly? He'll obey", he said.
"Don't count on it, Sloane", said Sydney smiling
Sloane slapped her in the face.
"You think so? We'll see it", he said
He forced her to follow him to the bunker main door, a gun pointing her head.
"He knows you won't kill me. You need me alive 'cause you need to know
how much the CIA knows about the SD-6", Sydney said.
"Better if you don't bet to that horse, Sydney. I must confess that
I'm desperate and if I must conform myself with the testimony of only
one of you, I'll do it. Sydney, after so many years, you know me, you
know I'm not shooting a line. You've been my most brilliant agent and
nevertheless I didn't hesitate in ordering your fiancee's death,
remember? And I don't really need to kill you to force agent Vaughn to
come. I only have to take advantage of the human weakness, what
becomes particularly easy in this situation".
Sydney didn't answer.
Michael observed the scene, hidden in the forest. Nor a single useful idea came into his mind. And he had no time to think properly.
The bunker door opened and Sloane appeared. Two of the henchmen took Sydney out.
"Agent Vaughn!", Sloane called him, "I know you're listen to me.
You're clever, but your time to act the hero has ended! Come here now,
hands up. If you don't, you know who's going to pay for it"
"Michael!", Sydney shouted out, "Don't do it, that's what he wants.
Get out of here, please!"
Sloane went to Sydney and shut her words by slapping her. Michael felt his blood boiling. Sloane hit her in her injured side. Sydney's knees bent down but she bit her lip to avoid screaming. Sloane took a knife out and pointed to her neck... Michael tried to think about something, desperate. Sloane scratched slightly Sydney's skin.
Michael couldn't bear it for more. He threw his gun and went out of his hiding place, with his hands clearly up.
"Michael don't...", Sydney sobbed.
The two soldiers ran to Michael and tied his hands to his back.
The group went back to the bunker.
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Sloane kept them in a room. He stayed with them.
Michael was worried. He could notice there was a blood stain in Sydney's shirt. The wound might have opened again. It was not good, she wasn't strong enough now to resist anything.
"You've been very bad guys...", Sloane was talking, "Sydney... I can
understand that such a gorgeous man like agent Vaughn can attract you
to the bad way. Did you seriously think we'll never hear of your
little plan? But...", he crossed the room towards Sydney, "you
shouldn't have bitten the hand that pays you... never!"
He was angry and hit her fiercely. Sydney look to him, defiant.
Sloane turned to Michael.
"And you... I think you're too soft to be a ops agent for the CIA, and
so subjective to be a good handler for her... don't you think so?", he
said to Michael, "You're making big mistakes which have eventually
given us the victory... First of all, the error a handler shouldn't
never commit... to fall in love with the handled one! So sweet...! In
the camp you let our man escape when you had the chance to prevent him
from contacting us, but minutes were vital to safe her, true? That
saved her in that moment, but it has finally proved to condemn you
both".
Sloane looked satisfied, while Michael was broken in two. "Sloane is right", he thought, "I've been stupid". Sloane switched his talkie on.
"Come here, Flavio, sure you wanna meet our guests again", he said.
Sydney became pale. She has dreamed of never seeing his face again, but it couldn't be. She was tense. Michael looked at her, worried. If Sloane got to know what happened with Flavio...
Seconds passed. Flavio entered the room and Sydney couldn't avoid a slight moan of anguish.
"Surprised?", Sloaned inquired, "Don't say you don't know he was
my little mole... It would be disappointing. How do you think I'm
sending my dear Sydney to a non-return mission, if I don't have
someone to bring her back to me?"
Michael looked at Sydney. She was trying to restrain her tears, but her eyes were wet.
"What happens Sydney, dear? Aren't you glad to see Flavio again?", he
asked to her.
Sydney's lips trembled of rage. If Sloane knew the truth, he wouldn't hesitate to use it against her. Maybe he already knew...
Sloane tied Michael to the chair, while Flavio did the same with Sydney. She couldn't control her trembling when she felt Flavio's hands touching her again. She close her eyes not to think of it.
Flavio and Sloane left the room. Michael and Sydney looked at each other.
"Well, what can we do now?", Sydney tried to keep calm, "It's clear
that we cannot count on the CIA. We need a miracle"
Michael was blocked. He tried to find something which allowed them to gain sometime, but he couldn't. Sydney let a sigh out.
"What's the matter, Syd? How are you?", he asked
"Don't worry. The side... it aches", she said taking a deep breath.
Sloane came back, followed by Blackmore.
"Come on... Don't make things worse", he said.
Blackmore kicked Michael's stomach.
"I've been a time with suspicions about your link. You've put me in a
difficult situation and I don't know yet how much the CIA knows about
our activities... Agent Vaughn, would you be so kind of telling me
something to this respect?", Sloane talked to Michael.
He said nothing. Blackmore hit him again. Sydney tried not to look. She didn't want to see Michael suffering, but she knew that in the moment they gave the information Sloane wanted to hear, their death sentence would be signed. It was necessary to gain some time, awaiting for a miracle... Michael looked at Sydney, forbidding her to say anything to Sloane, while Blackmore kept on punishing him. Sydney could not bear it. Her eyes were full of tears. Sloane turned to her.
"You impress me, Bristow. I didn't think you would like to live again
the death of your loved one because of you", he stated.
"Don't be cynical. You know you'll kill us anyway"
"Of course!", Sloane laughed, "But there are many ways to die. Some
are fast, even painless, but there are others which can turn your last
life moments in a hell..."
He went near Michael to whisper something to his ear.
"She's strong, she acts like if she had no feelings at all. I trained
her well, uhmm? But would you be able to do the same? Let's check
it!", he said.
Sloane made a sign to Blackmore and he beat Sydney. Sydney tried to recover breath.
"Michael... don't say... anything", she begged.
Michael didn't know what to do. He had to stop it. Tied as she was to the chair, Sydney fell to the ground, while Blackmore keep attacking her.
"Strong... both of you are strong ones. Ok, Ok... I realize that I
won't get anything this way...", Sloane began walking up and down the
room, pensively.
Sloane went out the room with Blackmore.
"Syd... are you OK?", Michael asked
She nodded her head, trying to hide a expression of pain.
"I can't stand this. I can't see you this way, Sydney"
"Do you prefer to see me dead? Don't be crazy, don't tell him
anything, understood?", she replied.
Blackmore came into the room again. He untied Sydney and took her out of the room.
"Where do you take her? Leave her alone!", Michael protested
unsuccessfully.
Sloane closed the door and sat next to Michael.
"I wanna be sure that the information you're gonna give me, 'cause
you're gonna do it, is reliable", he stated.
"Where is she?"
"You'll see it right now, Vaughn. But in the meantime, we can save
sufferings and you can tell me the password to access the CIA server
where the SD-6 files are located"
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to do that. I don't even know all
the codes".
"It's OK. Begin with the ones you do know"
Michael didn't answer. Sloane opened a computer, a notebook, he had left on the table and turned it on. There appeared an image of a room Michael haven't seen before. Blackmore was pushing Sydney inside that room. The more details appeared in the image, the more worried Michael was. He realized, horrified, what they intended. Hanging from one the room's beams, there was a rope and Blackmore was adjusting it around Syd's neck. She had her hands tied to her back and her eyes were covered.
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In that room, Sydney tried to loosen the ties. But Blackmore had done a good work. They were done for, but, for that time, the feeling of having no chance kept her senses alert. She already knew the rules of that play; she had seen it before and she never had the need of try it. Sloane could be very creative when he wanted to get information.
Sloane's voice sounded through Blackmore's talkie.
"Well, Sydney... you're still on your agent's hands. I think you're
clever enough to know how this works, aren't you? I could have used
any of you for this play, but I have my reasons to do so... I have
feelings too, Syd, it hurts me that the people I put my confidence in
stab my back... I've always treated you as a daughter to me, you were
part of my family, and this is how you pay for it?"
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"Come on Sloane... it doesn't matter who is in that room... you'll
finally get what you want. Change her place for me", Michael asked
for.
"Vaughn... I've already said it didn't matter, but I want some
satisfaction for the personal side of her betrayal. Now, stop
chatting. Give me the codes..."
Michael hesitated.
"Go on!", Sloane ordered through the talkie.
Michael looked at the screen to see how Sydney handled a hit in the stomach. Her knees trembled and she staggered. Blackmore prepared to hit a second time.
"Sloane, wait!", he said. "The main directory of this case, has all
the information you want. My access code is 555-GHJ-2947-mv. "Your ID, agent Vaughn?" "VAUGHN-LA-435"
"OK, I'm gonna go check it. If you've lied to me, she'll pay for it"
"You can check it, it's true. But stop your agent"
Sloane looked at him with a sardonic smile in his mouth. And Michael realized he had gone right into the trap. Sydney was not saved. Sloane looked for revenge and he was going to get it anyway. Anguished, he turned to the screen.
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The first attack caught her by surprise. She almost lost the balance. Sydney tried to keep her head concentrated, overpowering the pain; if she fell down she would suffocate herself. She cope as her best with the next ones, but if Sloane didn't stop that, she wouldn't resist much more.
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Michael was really worried, waiting to see her falling any moment on, when Flavio burst into the room, with a gun in his hand.
"Sir, an armed team is coming from the west side of the bunker. There
are about twenty men", he announced.
"Damn it! So the CIA guys have sent their people to the rescue, after
all. Flavio, took Vaughn to the jeep. Don't hesitate to kill him if
it's necessary", Sloane turned the talkie on, "Carson, Mainfield,
we're just under attack, cover the west access"
Sloane left the room quickly. Flavio followed his orders and, pointing him with the gun, he took Michael out.
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Blackmore stopped. Sydney hear Sloane's alterated voice while she was being untied. Her eyes were uncovered.
"Your CIA friends have come to the rescue. But I assure you that
they're not going to get your way", he said to her.
"We'll see it, Sloane, we'll see it"
Sloane grabbed strongly her arm.
"I would kill you right now, but I need you to escape from here.
That's the only reason why you're still alive...", Sloane's voice was
threatening.
He pushed her towards the back exit of the building. Blackmore stayed with the other two soldiers, installing C-4 charges to get rid of the CIA team. Sloane was more worried about reaching the jeeps than to be aware of what Sydney was doing. Sydney had to refrain a triumphal laugh; the ties in her hands were stretching.
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Flavio guided Michael to one of the jeeps. He fixed Michael's ties and locked him in the back part of the vehicle.
"If I catch you, you... bastard, you'll wish to die", Michael told
him.
"Don't dream of it. Anyway I've already lived a lot of this life,
agent Vaugh and many people will remember me, I assure you. Even your
girl... though she hasn't much time to remember the time I enjoyed
with her.", Flavio tried deliberately to provoke Michael, "Have she
told you about me?"
Michael felt anger burning him. But he decided not to answer to the provocation. That was what Flavio wanted. If he got killed, Sydney would be lost. Michael ignored the commentary.
"There are so many CIA agents around. You'll not escape"
"So many agents who will blow out the very moment they entered the
bunker, Vaughn"
Flavio closed the jeep door and went away. He didn't want to be captured. He was sure that if he ran away now to hide in the forest, he would survive.
Michael fought against the ties. He had to hurry. He had to find Sydney once more. And to warn Weiss, because he was sure it was Weiss the one directing the team.
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Weiss looked around, carefully. He made a sign to the agent who followed him. No movement could be seen. He hoped they hadn't come too late. Or maybe he was mistaken and the bunker was not the place Michael wanted to indicate.
Jack Bristow had luckily contacted him again and when Weiss told him the situation, he inmediatly contacted Kendall to force him to use their last card.
The team had just arrived and they didn't know what they could expect. Everything was very hasty and they hadn't time to plan a well-structured operative.
The agents were close, rounding the bunker. A little far, Weiss caught a glimpse of a jeep figure, camouflaged in the vegetation. Pointing at it in silence, he sent two of his men to investigate. He didn't want to take the risk of entering the bunker yet. He took a deep breath and grabbed his assault gun.
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Sloane noticed movement near the jeeps. He decided to hide in the forest, until the agents entered the building and he could get rid of them. She pushed Sydney the opposite way and looked around for a place to hide.
She had managed to untie her hands and when Sloane was near enough, he kicked his hand to throw away the gun. She threw the ties to the floor, in front of her old boss' astonished eyes, and attacked him.
To her surprise, Sloane had physical skills which didn't fit his age. He stopped her blows, which were weak ones, given her situation, and he managed to get her guard off a couple of times. Sydney realized that Sloane was trying to move their fight near the place where the gun had fallen. She was getting tired, her side ached and she breathed with difficulty. Sloane jumped over her and both rolled along the ground. A rock stopped them.
Sloane stood up, triumphant; that rock proved to have been providential. Sydney lay at his feet; her head had banged against the rock.
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Michael, after long minutes, freed his hands. He pushed with his feet, trying to open the jeep door. The lock seemed to be strongly fixed. Finally, he got it and he went out of the car. He looked inside the vehicle and he found two guns. He had no time to check how much ammunition there was, time was pressing. He went towards the bunker, eyes wide open.
He was walking down the path, covered by the shadows of the trees, when somenone jumped over his back. Michael got up, taking a gun out, to find himself in front of the ATACANTE. A huge smile appeared in Michael's face.
"Weiss! I was sure it was you. Where are your men?"
"Just about to assault that damn bunker. We've not find anything
around, so we supposed you were in."
"Stop'em Weiss. It's a trap. C-4 is connected inside the building to
blow you out"
Weiss connected his talkie.
"Weiss speaking! Abort... don't enter the bunker, it's full of
explosive. I got Vaughn. Ending", he turned to Michael after the
transmission, "How are you? Where is Syd? I thought she would be with
you."
"That's the pending issue. Sloane took her with him. I supposed they
were for the jeeps but nobody had reached there. Sloane must have seen
movement and he will have moved into a different direction, awaiting
the explosion...", Michael explained quickly, "I have to find them"
"I'll go with you. I'll warn the guys"
"Don't. I prefer you to look for a tall dark men, called Flavio. He
escaped through this way. I want him alive, it's a personal issue. As
for your men, I'm the last person Sloane expects to see now. We'll
increase the chances if I go on my own. Give me your gun, please"
"I'm not going to argue with you, foolish guy. You're crazy, and I'm
worried about you, but for some unthinkable reason you're always right
and you get your targets, so... just take care, OK?
Sloane must be now very very furious...uhmm? Don't get yourself killed
now, you're my future boss when we'll get fired, remember?"
Vaughn ran, bent down, across the terrace. He had to hurry more than ever.
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Sydney recovered. Her head ached. She tried to stand up, but she had been tied again. She heard Sloane's laughing besides her.
"Did you seriously think you were going to overpower me? An old man,
you thought. Yes, definitely I'm not in my twenties, but there must be
some reason for the fact that I'm still in charge of the SD-6, don't
you think?"
Sydney analized the situation. Now, she was done for. She decided to try attract some attention to the area.
"MICHA...!!!", she shouted, but Sloane's rude hand closed her mouth.
"Don't even try, Sydney. He may hear you... from another world! Flavio
had very clear orders to get rid of him. He was not useful anymore.",
Sloane made a pause, "It's unlucky to fall in love with you, isn't
it?"
Sydney's heart bumped. Sloane talked through the talkie.
"Is the C-4 prepared, Carson?"
Sloane attended to the answer and pushed a button in the talkie. Near there, in the bunker, an explossion resounded in the forest. The three SD-6 agents were rounded by the CIA guys and they couldn't go out of the building, but Sloane detonated equally the artifact.
"Well, Sydney, we've come to an end. Sorry for not saying goodbye
properly, but I have to get out of here. Now I'm alone and I don't
have nor a single vehicle, so you wouldn't be more than a nuisance"
Sloane kissed Sydney's forehead.
"If you play with fire, sooner or later you get burnt. I told you once
but you didn't listen to me...", he sentenced
Sloane pulled the gun safe. Sydney closed her eyes, waiting the shot, focusing her last thoughts in Michael's face. Maybe she would find him in other life... The shot was made and she felt Sloane's body falling over hers. Shocked, she opened her eyes to see Michael, standing there, with a gun in his hand. She was waiting for a miracle and it happened. Michael threw his gun, took Sloane's body away and tied his hands. He knelt in front of Sydney and embraced her. He trembled while Michael was taking the ties off. They kissed, unable to say anything.
"Just in time... I almost lose you forever, again", Michael repeated,
touching her face,
"Sloane told me you were dead...", she cried
"I'm here, Syd. It's over.", he whispered.
Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke behind them.
"Oh... what a tender scene."
It was Flavio. Sydney looked at him over Michael's shoulder. He had a gun pointed right at them. Michael moved his hand to the side, looking for the other gun he had taken from the jeep.
"Stop, Vaughn!", Flavio ordered, pulling the safe, "Throw the gun. I
knew there were two guns in the jeep"
Michael did so. He looked to Sydney's eyes and embraced her hard. She felt Weiss' borrowed gun and she, slowly, grabbed it. In a fraction of a second, Michael separated while Sydney shot to an astonished Flavio. He fell down. Sydney stood up to shoot him two times. She let her fall in the floor, crying. Now, it was over.
Weiss and his team were running towards there. They caught Sloane, still fainted, and carried him back to the bunker.
"You two", Weiss said, "You've been born lucky. Come on, the
helicopter is near. Can you walk?", he asked Sydney, realizing she
seemed still shocked.
She looked completely exhausted. Michael took her in his arms and went towards the helicopter which was landing. Everything was over, yes, but what was going to happen now? He preferred not to think. He got Sydney and that's what he had come for.
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