For disclaimer and other information, see chapter one. This chapter is the direct sequel to the short story available in my profile and on Cover Me.
Author's Note: As my wonderful reviewers requested, here's Chapter 4, a day early. We're in the Long Chapter stretch. (Hey, they're longer than a page, which is really long for me! lol)
Suddenly, Jack Bristow knows the answer to a question that has plagued him since his daughter was chosen as the second double and a young, inexperienced and reckless rookie was assigned to er, handle her.
I look at him, he realizes, and I see myself.
Same honor. Same protectiveness towards his little girl. Same attention to detail. Same ease with reinterpreting policy and orders to keep him – and those around him – alive.
He wonders why that never occurred to him before, and when exactly his tolerance for Vaughn changed into this. Especially considering how they met.
Mr. Vaughn, you're young and you're eager, and I understand that. But one thing you're not, and this is something only time can provide, really, is wise.
He smirks, recalling his exasperated anger over Vaughn's arrogance and his genuine astonishment over the boy's surprising perception skills.
Whoever the hell you think you are, checking up on me, pulling my file, second-guessing my choices, let's just both face the facts. You're not that person. Neither your experience, nor your intelligence has earned you the right to question a thing that I do. So I'm going to make two suggestions. One, that you stop it. And two, that the next time they assign you to be my handler, you kindly decline.
Russek never transmitted a thing, did he?
Of course he didn't. If you got the SD-6 transmission, why the hell are you asking me?
I never got the SD-6 transmission. It was just a hunch.
At the grave, Vaughn shifts restlessly until he is nearly lying on top of the grass in front of the stone. He looks so vulnerable, so helpless, that Jack flinches, recalling the last time he has seen him in such a fashion. At least he's healthy this time.
He had been the one that had watched him wake up that day, having bended his intentions to Devlin to do so.
Someone needs to keep him updated. I won't have my daughter's handler two steps behind everyone else, sick or no.
The businesslike and almost cold reasoning had easily fooled the man, and he had thus headed to Vaughn's hospital room with no objections from any of the agents.
His real reason, however, was something he still wasn't certain of. It certainly had not been a normal course of action for him. So why had he been so concerned? Disappointment over a certain Alice and a certain handler's foolishness, mayhap? Admiration? Worry? Even guilt, perhaps, that his falling for Irina's fake death had nearly cost both their lives?
And also on that day, his daughter and her handler had finally let their guards down, embracing in full view of the Director and agents alike. Even with his knowledge of Alice's existence, Jack hadn't been able to deny warm feelings when he saw the surveillance tape later that day. The happiness they brought each other was indeed genuine. That it would eventually lead to today came as a surprise to no one.
But he can't help but wonder, sometimes. What goes through Vaughn's mind when he kisses the daughter of the woman that killed his father? When he walks into a room and sees Irina/Laura alive and well, having been granted immunity and released in return for her cooperation?
What does it cost him? How can he stand it?
Why does he stand it?
Jack sighs.
Sydney.
Because 90% of all Alias fans reading this are more knowledgeable than me, I have a couple questions for future chapters. If you know the answer, tell me in a review please!
1. Vaughn says in earlier episodes that he is not a field agent, and he tells Will that "agents are field trained," which he apparently isn't. But they start calling him Agent Vaughn later, and he joins Sydney for quite a few missions. What changed?
2. What's Vaughn's middle name? I know Sydney's is Anne, so I'm assuming they just used Michael C. Vartan's middle name, like they did with Jen A. Garner. Anyone know what the C stands for?
3. I can't remember the episode, but I know Vaughn finally asked Sydney why she doesn't call him Michael. What ep was that?
Reviewer Responses..
Melody: Favorite. Movie. Ever!
B'Elanna Paris: haha, yes they are! Really!
Lady Rex: Thank you so much! I actually went back and revised some stuff because of your questions. The answer to Irina was in this one (and will be touched on again later, because she has a chapter to herself), and The Telling will be mentioned later. I say "mentioned," because well, we don't know yet what moment of insanity caused Vaughn to wear The Ring, and I want this story to fit with whatever explanation they come up with. I personally am still in denial about those last 2 minutes. LOL
Egyption Kat: Can I blame that on the fact that I was reading really angsty fic when I wrote this? It eventually turns into fluff. Really! It just takes awhile because their lives are so stressful. In other words, it's not my fault, it's their's! lol
Kat27: No, you rock! My coworkers wandered by and wanted to know why I was grinning at my comp, and it was because of your sweetness! Like I said, I've decided those last 2 minutes didn't happen, which is why I haven't read your fic, but I'm making up for that now! lol
One more remark: I have enhanced stats, so I know each and every reader that clicks on my story. If you are willing to take 2 seconds and leave a review, please, please do so! Lol
