The Warehouse

Vaughn heard the scrap of the door opening.  Stepping toward the door with his gun drawn, he lowered it when he saw Sydney step into the warehouse.  Sydney looked at his lowered gun. "Dad wasn't giving you any trouble was he?" she inquired in a wry tone.

"No, I …" Vaughn stopped as he realized what she had said.  "No, I heard someone coming in, I wasn't sure it was you.  I thought you would be gone longer."

"So did I, I shoulda called you.  When Sloane heard about Dad's 'accident' he said the mission could wait a couple of days.  He wants me to look after Dad," Sydney explained.

"Do you think he bought your story?" Vaughn asked.

"That's the funny thing, I thought he didn't believe it, but then he just nodded and told me to look after Dad."

"Well, I'll contact the doctor and make sure he's got the paperwork done and filed.  If Sloane does run a check, we want to make sure there is some supporting evidence," Vaughn said. "Oh by the way, your Dad's been a model patient since you left," Vaughn tossed over his shoulder as he walked over to the desk.  Picking up his cell phone, he called the doctor.

Walking back to Jack's side, Sydney sank onto the chair wearily and wiped a hand across her face and took his hand.  Thinking about Sloane, she dozed off.  Vaughn finished his phone call and picked up the paper Sydney had brought back in with her.  Checking the sports page, he smiled.  The Kings had won again.

Jack slowly opened his eyes and started to stretch.  Feeling a dull pain in his shoulder he decided that wasn't the best thing to do.  He then noticed that someone was holding his hand.  Turning his head, he saw Sydney sitting in a chair next to him.  He wasn't sure where they were, but it must be safe otherwise Sydney wouldn't be so relaxed.   Squeezing Sydney's hand he managed to say or more rightly croak out "Syd."

Hearing him, Sydney woke up and looked at him.  "Dad, how are you feeling?" she asked.  Vaughn stepped into Jack's line of vision and handed Sydney a glass of water.  Addressing Jack he said, "I thought you might want some water."  Jack nodded his head gratefully.  He struggled to sit up but had little success. Seeing his effort, Sydney helped him sit up against the wall and helped him drink the water. That simple act exhausted him. "I'm so weak," he thought. "What happened?"  The dull pain in his shoulder however, quickly remained him of what had happened.

For several minutes Jack rested against the wall trying to regain his strength. Sydney again asked him, "Dad, how are you feeling?" Ignoring her question, Jack managed to get out one of his own. "Did Devlin take care of Dreyer?"

"Yes he did," Vaughn answered.  "He contacted me earlier.  He said that when Dreyer's body is found it will look like a robbery gone wrong.  They checked his cell phone.  The last number he called was the hotel.  So it looks like he didn't contact Sloane or anybody else." Jack nodded.  "What time is it?" he asked. 

"Its 10:00," Sydney answered. A look of alarm flashed across Jack's face.  "I had an early meeting scheduled with Sloane. I should contact him."

"Don't worry, Dad.  I've already seen Sloane and told him about your 'dislocated' shoulder.  The doctor suggested that as a good cover story especially since he wants you to wear this sling for the next week. Here let me put it on."

Grimacing at the pain in his shoulder Jack let Sydney set his arm in the sling.  It did help to ease the pain some. "Why did Sloane want to see you?" he asked.

"Actually he wanted to see both of us. He had a mission for me, but he said it could wait a few days. He wants me to look after you."

"How did he react to the news?" Jack asked.

"At first I wasn't sure he believed me, but then he seemed to consider it and just nodded his head and told me to look after you."

"You know that he'll have someone follow up don't you?" Jack said.

"Yes, we do," Vaughn interjected.  "I've called the doctor who treated you and he has all the paperwork done to support your cover."  Sydney then filled Jack in on what she'd told Sloane about the specifics of the 'accident'.

"Good." Jack shifted uncomfortably on the cot and winced at the pain the movement had caused in his shoulder.  Seeing his discomfort, Sydney reached into her bag and pulled out the antibiotic and painkiller the doctor had given her.  Sydney handed the pills and water to Jack while Vaughn went and got another glass of water.  "Here, take these," she said.

Jack looked suspiciously at the pills. "What are these for?" he asked.

"One is an antibiotic and the other is a painkiller.  The doctor wants you to take them."

Jack considered them for a moment and then swallowed the pills.  Even though he felt tired and wanted to sleep, he said, "Sydney, I need to go to work. I don't want to give Sloane any reason to suspect anything.  He knows that I've worked with worse then a dislocated shoulder."

"Sorry, the only place you're going is home. Sloane will kill me if I let you go to work.  He told me to look after you and he isn't expecting you at work.  Besides, you look like you could use some more rest. The doctor said you should rest for couple of days and drink plenty of fluids to rebuild your strength. You lost a lot of blood."

Jack opened his mouth to protest but it turned into a yawn.  Seeing the determined look on Sydney's face all he could say after the yawn was "Yes, ma'am. But, I want to contact Sloane sometime today."

"I think I'll allow that," Sydney said with a laugh. "Do you feel up to going home?"

"Yes," Jack replied.

With Vaughn's help, Sydney got Jack on his feet and draped his shirt over his shoulders.  Gritting his teeth, Jack shrugged off their assistance as they walked slowly to Sydney's truck.  While Sydney got Jack settled in the passenger seat, Vaughn want back and retrieved Sydney's bag and Jack's bloody coat and gun.

"Here's your stuff," he said as he handed it to Sydney.  After she put it in the truck, she turned to Vaughn and said, "Thanks Vaughn."

"No problem."  Turning to Jack he said, "I hope you feel better. I'll fill Devlin in on what's happened in the last few hours."

Jack glared at Vaughn and ground out, "I … uh … Thanks for your assistance Agent Vaughn." Vaughn walked Sydney around to the driver's side of the truck. Helping her in he said, "Well I guess he's feeling better, he's glaring at me.  Drive carefully, I know how tired you are."

"I will, I'll call you later and let you know how things are going."

Sydney put the truck in gear and started driving to Jack's.  Vaughn watched the truck until it was out of sight then turned and went back into the warehouse to tear down the cot and fold the blankets.  He then pulled out his cell and called Weiss to come get him.