CHAPTER TEN – INTRODUCTIONS & REUNIONS
As Vaughn was about to open the bathroom door, Sydney's voice stopped him,
"So, I'm supposed to be crazy… delusional, right?"
Vaughn turned to look at her, wondering why she was asking a question like that, "Well… yeah."
"OK, just checking… I'll be out in five minutes." Then she turned and walked into the shower stall. Before pulling the curtain closed behind her, she paused and gave him a small smile that was both innocent and unbelievably provocative.
Vaughn just shook his head, glad to have the old Sydney back. I can't wait for time for a proper reunion, he thought as he pulled the door open and stepped through into the hallway. Soon… She said she'd wait… that's all I need. He knew that the elation he felt was premature. She needed to get home, and he needed… Oh, crap!
Vaughn quickly removed his phone from this inside pocket of his jacket and dialed the last person he wanted to speak to. He told En Kai of his conversation with Jack Bristow and that the man would be arriving to retrieve his daughter shortly.
After disconnecting, Vaughn replayed the conversation in his head. There was no obvious alteration in En Kai's demeanor, but something was off… Suddenly, Sydney stepped out into the hallway and Vaughn had to shove thoughts of his employer to the back of his mind to concentrate on not giving in to the amazing beauty before him.
Their encounter, and the hot shower that followed, did Sydney worlds of good. One night of uncertainty and despair was followed by half an hour of near bliss. After her short, quick run under the scalding water, she wiped down the small mirror and inspected herself. Her episode with Vaughn showed in her wide eyes and flushed face, but she also noticed how thin she had become.
Vaughn had noticed her weight loss as well. When he had embraced her, he could feel bones that stuck out from her thin skin, but he didn't say anything. Now was not the time to wonder about what aspect of the life over the past two years had instigated such a dramatic alteration in her physical appearance and, he surmised, her health.
Her demure smile nudged him back to the moment, and he led Sydney back down the hall to the holding cell. Vaughn held the door for her as she walked through and back to the corner to sit.
"Sydney, let the guards know what you need, and they will bring it to you. I'll see you in a few hours, after your father arrives." She nodded her understanding and watched him walk toward the door.
Vaughn gave her one last brief smile, and as it dropped, Vargas returned, pulling the door closed and sliding the deadbolt into place. The instant transformation chilled Sydney to her core. He'd seen her in wigs and tight outfits too many times to count, but her opportunities to view him undercover were much fewer. And he had never had to be anyone remotely like Vargas before.
She'd never expected him to be so good at it. He reminds me of someone…He reminds me of… Sark… Sydney shuddered at the thought of inadvertently comparing Vaughn to that remorseless murderer. Attempting to quash her thoughts for the moment, she laid her head on the stiff pillow and tried to sleep.
She would see her father today.
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As Jack Bristow looked out over the tarmac from the top of the gangway stairs, a sudden realization swept over him…
He would see his daughter today. Sydney… alive after two long years…
As he descended the staircase, a uniformed driver standing next to a black limousine caught his eye with a lift of a hand. As he walked over to the driver, he wondered why Vaughn would have chosen such a conspicuous car.
"Mister Bristow?" the driver questioned, opening the rear passenger door.
Jack nodded and ducked into the open door. His doubts about the car were vindicated when the door closed and another voice greeted him from inside the vehicle.
"Good morning, Mr. Bristow. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Jack did not lose his bearings for an instant and addressed the man sitting assuredly in the middle seat, facing him. "Good morning. Kin En Kai, I presume? I have heard much of you from Mr. Vargas. Pleased to meet you at last."
En Kai nodded. "I am sorry to say that my son-in-law has told me relatively little about you. I have, of course, been made aware of the situation with your daughter. Her illness is very unfortunate, but her discovery, I'm sure, relieves you greatly."
Jack kept his face hard as he tried to discover En Kai's motivation for this meeting. Curiosity? Suspicion? What does he need from me? Jack decided to respond.
"It does, indeed. I have been very worried and was elated when I was told that Mr. Vargas had recovered her here. I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality in keeping her safe."
"My own daughter, Mrs. Vargas, is just about her age… perhaps slightly younger… I understand the need to keep them from harm." En Kai allowed silence to overtake the car as it drove through the slowly-awakening city.
This man, Jack Bristow, was exactly what En Kai would have expected from a CIA officer-gone-freelance. Stony face – impossible to read… limited words – better to listen than speak. Completely predictable.
Jack allowed En Kai to study him. He was sure, now, that this visit was for curiosity's sake. There was no reason for Vargas to have mentioned his name before, and the situation did call for questions. But before any more inquiries could be made, the car stopped and the driver opened the door.
When both men were standing in a shaded alleyway, En Kai gestured to a rusted metal door. Jack quickly pushed through and walked down a metal staircase, brightly lit from open large windows and skylights above, to another, sturdier metal door. En Kai nodded to the guard, who slid a keycard through the magnetic lock and opened the door.
At the intrusion of daylight into the windowless hallway, Vargas looked up from his heated phone exchange. When his eyes adjusted and met Jack's, each man discernibly relaxed, and Vargas abruptly ended his conversation with a short, "Never mind!" and a snap of his cell phone.
Vargas looked from Jack to En Kai, slightly startled, but didn't have a moment for questions.
"Where is she?" Jack's near monotone still betrayed a hint of his anxiety to the younger man.
Vargas shifted his gaze to the nearby blue-steel door. He stepped over to it and quietly slid back the lock, opening the door for Jack to step through.
He barely glimpsed Sydney's rising form before Jack crossed the room in a step, falling to his knees as he enveloped his missing daughter in a crushing embrace.
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A/N: Thanks, again, to everyone who read. Since I'm finished with school for awhile, I intend to concentrate on this. Keep looking out for more updates!
megvaughn2003 – I'm happy you like it! There will be more twists to come…
Ryanne – Of course it's gonna be SV! But I can't promise there won't be just the tiniest bit of angst to come.
Kira – Yea! I have a double reviewer! Our deal is definitely still in effect, & since my updates will be coming more quickly, now, I hope you've got your reviewin' shoes on!
twin*muse – I'm glad you liked the 'let me go' confusion… I wanted to lighten the mood just a tad… Thanks for reading!
aliasgurl – OK, I don't know if this is soon… but I've added. Thanks for sticking with me!
Skylark – Thank you for your sweet & frequent reviews! Irina will get back into the story soon… I just didn't want you all thinking I'd forgotten her!
