Part 6   -   Transitions

It was almost six o'clock in the morning when Sydney crept back upstairs from Vaughn's room.  She had slipped from his embrace while he slept, exhausted from their activities.   Although Sydney didn't really give a damn whether anyone found out that she had been with him, she didn't really feel like discussing it in sessions with Judy Barnett.  So, she decided to get back to her room next door before the doctor awoke.  As for Kendall, he was visiting his buddies in the bunkhouse.  The only ones left were Will, Weiss, Jenkins and Morganetti.  She didn't anticipate any trouble from them.

Once safely back in her room, Sydney contemplated whether to shower or head back to bed.  She too was exhausted, but didn't want to risk sleeping through Vaughn's departure.  As she headed towards her bathroom, she paused for a moment to enjoy his scent which lingered on her skin.  She wasn't sure how she was going to make it through this morning, but she knew that she needed to hold it together for the both of them.  Neither one of them wanted it to happen, but there really was no other option.

After showering and dressing in jeans and a sweater, she could hear someone downstairs in the kitchen.  She headed down to find Jenkins in the kitchen making coffee.

"Good morning, Agent Bristow.  You're up early.  Can I get you some coffee?"

"No thanks.  I prefer tea.  Please call me Sydney."

"Very well then", said Jenkins as he pulled out a kettle, filled it with water and set it on the stove.  "The name's Tom if you've forgotten, but we should stick to the formalities around our beloved leader.  He doesn't like me getting too familiar with the 'guests'."

Sydney nodded as she pulled a mug and tea bag from the cabinet.  "I want to thank you for what you did yesterday, giving Vaughn and I a chance to talk privately."

"Not a problem.  It's a strange situation that we've got going on around here, treating fellow agents almost as if they were inmates.  I understand the need for all the security given what we're up against, but that doesn't mean that we can't show each other a little common decency."

Sydney could see why Vaughn and Weiss trusted this man.  Jenkins gave a formidable appearance with his size and bulk.  He appeared to be in his mid-forties and his strawberry blonde hair had started fading to silver in some locations.  He looked a bit like an aging linebacker and she didn't doubt that he could handle himself should the need arise.  However, his demeanor showed that the years spent on the job hadn't hardened him off like so many others.

Soon, the kettle started whistling and Sydney quickly pulled it off the stove so as to not disturb the others.  Despite her efforts, she could hear movement in the rooms nearest the kitchen.  Within minutes, she and Jenkins were joined by Morganetti. 

Morganetti bounded into the kitchen.  He was much younger and smaller than Jenkins, Mediterranean-looking in his early thirties and no taller than Sydney.  He was dressed in running gear.  He greeted them both and then told Jenkins that he'd be back within the hour to make breakfast.  After he left, Sydney and Jenkins continued their conversation.

"I've been meaning to ask you, Tom", Sydney started, "how you got such a great deal here and how come you and Morganetti get to stay in the 'big house' instead of over yonder with the troops."  Sydney nodded towards the bunkhouse through the big picture window by the kitchen table.

"Well, it's pretty simple really.  I ran the previous enclave on Bainbridge for about 5 years.  I was a field agent before that.  That, plus I'm from this area originally, Friday Harbor over on San Juan Island.  I pretty much know these islands like the back of my hand, so it was an obvious fit.  As for Morganetti, he was my assistant at Bainbridge too.  I had finally gotten him broken in over there when they decided to close up shop.  So, I brought him along.  Truth is, I can't stand my own cooking.  Since this is long-term for us, we get the better digs."

Sydney nodded and then something occurred to her.  "So you met Vaughn before all this?"

"Twice actually.  First time was about four years ago when he was part of a debrief team for a Chinese defector.  The other was a little more than two years ago when he escorted a young couple and their son up to Bainbridge.  The wife was a former Russian agent."

"The Caplans"

"Yeah", Jenkins nodded.  "They're good people.  Hard to believe that she was a Russian agent, he was NSA and knew, and they still somehow managed to work it out.  I've actually kept in contact with them.  They have another child now, you know.  A little girl.  I believe she's named after you, Sydney Anne."

"Really," Sydney beamed.  This was the one of the few pieces of good news that she'd had aside from Will's survival.  She couldn't believe the Caplans had named their daughter after her.  "How old is she?"

"She just turned a year old.  Vaughn is, or I guess I should say was, her godfather."

Sydney shook her head in amazement.  Since Jenkins had known Vaughn before, Sydney decided to press on with a few questions.  "Tom, how bad was it when Vaughn got here?"

Jenkins gave her a thoughtful look.  "He's fine now.  Why do you want to go revisit that?"

"Because I'm not 'revisiting'.  I just got here.  I need to know.  I need to understand.  I also think that you're one of the few people who can give me an objective answer."

Jenkins nodded in understanding.  "I don't know exactly what they told you, but when he first got here, it was pretty bad.  He was down about twenty pounds from where he is now.  He was all splinted up.  Both of his legs and his right arm were fractured in multiple places.  It was quite the effort to get him up from the dock.  I don't know that much about the other stuff, but it seemed like he wasn't there at all.  I don't even think he knew where he was for the first couple of weeks.  He didn't even vaguely resemble the man I'd met previously."

He paused before continuing, "But then, he started coming out of it.  You could tell that he was noticing things, actually seeing you.  She got him to start eating and drinking on his own.  She kept at him, in a good way, not like the shrinks and the doctors.  She helped him come around."

"She has a name", Sydney said as she looked down at the floor.

"I know, but he told me how it was with the two of you.  It can't be easy for you, the way things ended up."

"It's not, but I'm coming to accept it, especially seeing what she did for him."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah", Sydney admitted sadly.  "He'll be safe with Alice.  I can't exactly say that that would be the case if he were to stay with me."

Jenkins nodded.  "So you don't hold it against your father?"

"What?" Sydney responded, confused.

"Oh, I guess that they left that part out…"

"Why don't you fill me in…"

Jenkins shifted uncomfortably.  "After Vaughn came out of it and started talking, Kendall was going to ship Alice off-island.  However, your father intervened.  He had noticed that she had already started to do physical therapy with Vaughn.  That part of his recovery wasn't exactly a priority with the JTF.  They just needed him talking about what had happened.  Your dad convinced them that not only would she be able to support him so that they could get the intel quicker, but they wouldn't have to hassle clearing a physical therapist to come out and help him.  He knew that they had no such plans, but he also knew that they weren't about to admit that point-blank.  Alice had him down to a knee brace and a wrist splint by the time they left two and a half months later.  I tell you that was no mean feat.  Look at him now.  Except for that little incident the other night, you wouldn't even know anything had happened."

Sydney just shook her head.  Part of her just wanted to hate Alice and convince herself that Vaughn was better off with her, but with every new piece of information came the realization that he would indeed be safer, maybe even happier, in Alice's care.

Just then, the door to Will and Weiss' room opened and Will Tippin struggled into the kitchen, desperately making his way to the coffee maker.  Once he had his hot, black coffee in hand, he greeted both Jenkins and Sydney before greedily sipping at the piping hot brew.

"Rough night, Tippin?"  Jenkins asked, bemused.

"You have no idea.  I forgot what a horrible snorer Weiss was from the last time that I came up for a visit."

"I know.   We could hear him clear over in our room.  He really should get that looked at, if not for himself, for all those who have to endure him."

Sydney started examining the floor, hoping that that's all that anybody had heard.

Jenkins excused himself to go down to the dock to make sure that they had started to prep the boat for the morning supply run, leaving Will and Sydney to themselves.

"Morning, Syd", Will drew out as he smiled and cocked his head to the side, giving her one of those looks. 

Sydney looked up, but had trouble meeting his eyes.  "Hey."

"It's okay, Sweetie.  I don't think anybody heard anything but me and the only reason I did was because I was already awake from the lumber mill."

Sydney flushed a bit and let out a deep breath.  She was about to say something when Will interrupted her.

"Syd, you don't have to say or justify anything to me.  These are difficult circumstances anyway you look at it.  I'm just glad that the two of you got to say goodbye properly, although I don't think that was exactly what Barnett meant by 'closure'."

Sydney's cheeks were in full bloom, but she was grateful that her friend was letting her off relatively easy.  She only had one request.  "Please don't say anything to Vaughn."

"I wouldn't dream of it.'

"Thanks", she said as they embraced.

Within minutes, Jenkins and Morganetti had returned, Weiss had materialized, and Dr. Barnett had joined them.  They were just sitting down to breakfast when Vaughn finally emerged, showered, dressed, and packed. 

"I was wondering when you were going to join us", mused Jenkins.  "The boat leaves in half an hour.  I thought that I was going to have to come in there after you."

"Sorry", Vaughn said sheepishly as he caught Sydney's eye, "I guess the last couple of days finally caught up with me."  Sydney slid over on the window seat in the breakfast nook to make room for him.  He sat down next to her, grabbing her hand under the table and giving it a gentle squeeze. 

After breakfast, Vaughn was checked out one last time by Drs. Barnett and Kramer and cleared to leave.  He and Weiss had just come back to the main house so that he could say his final farewells to Will and Sydney when Kendall came in.

Kendall was in particularly good spirits.  "Well, Mr. Vaughn, I just came over to say goodbye and thank you for your cooperation in recovering Agent Bristow."  He extended his hand toward Vaughn.  Vaughn hesitated and the others glared at Kendall suspiciously.

Kendall withdrew his hand and continued, "Listen, Vaughn, I know that we've had our differences, but that's in the past.  I appreciate the work that you've done and the risks that you've taken to do it.  I've just gotten off the phone with Justice and we've set up your relocation for Saturday.  Your contact at the school will take care of everything.  Agent Weiss will escort you back to the rendez-vous with your contact.  Please give my regards to Mrs. Vaughn and apologize for the inconvenience of the move.  Good luck, son."  He extended his hand again and Vaughn, though inwardly cringing, sensed it would be best for everyone if he simply accepted the gesture.  He shook Kendall's hand with a slight grimace on his face.

Kendall then turned to Will and Sydney.  "We have a conference call in a few minutes over in Communications with top brass from CIA, FBI, and NSA to review the latest intel and strategize our next move."  Then, turning to Sydney, "Marcus Dixon will be patched in from LA.  Say your goodbyes and come over immediately."  With that, he turned and left, heading towards the other building.

Will extended his hand to Vaughn, but then went to embrace him.  "Take care of yourself, man.  I promise that we'll keep an eye out for Syd.  Go take care of yourself and your family.  Go have a life.  We're all jealous." 

"Thanks, Will.  Good luck."

Then, Will broke the embrace and grabbed Weiss by the arm and led him outside.

Vaughn turned to Sydney.  "I guess this is it", he whispered.  He could see the tears that had already started to fall.  He cupped her cheek with his hand, but she fell into him, embracing him fiercely.

"I want to go down to the dock with you", she managed to eke out.

"That's not a good idea.  You don't have the time.  Plus, if you came down, I don't think I could actually get on that boat."

She looked up at him to see tears in his eyes.  "I love you, Vaughn."

"I love you, too.  Please, don't ever doubt that I loved you and that part of me always will, no matter what."  He paused and swallowed hard before continuing, "But it's better this way.  Sloane won't be able to use me or what he learned about us against you if he finds out your alive.  My job now is to keep my family safe."

"Keep yourself safe too."

"I'll promise if you will", he said pointedly.

She nodded and then he lifted her chin up and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.  Then, he broke the kiss, gave her a sad smile, picked up his duffle and headed out the door, refusing to look back.  She saw him meet Weiss just outside the house and the two men hurriedly headed toward the stairs to the dock.

Will came in to get Sydney.  Seeing the state she was in, he simply hugged her and whispered, "It's okay, Sweetie.  We'll get you through this.  I promise."  After a minute or two, he spoke again.  "We better get over there before Kendall sends some of his boys over here to get us."  Sydney nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes, and the two of them headed toward the other building.

Right before she entered the building, Sydney turned and bolted.  She sped off behind the main house, furiously running down one of the woodland paths.  She could hear Will calling after her, and then Kendall, but she kept running, hoping that they would just leave her be.  Her lungs and her legs were burning, obviously unused to the exertion after all this time, but she couldn't stop.  She was a bit disoriented and hoped that she was picking the right paths.  Several minutes later she came to a stop on the same high bluff that she had been on yesterday.  Winded, she sat down on the edge, silently praying that what Eric had said was true.

Vaughn and Weiss watched the island as the boat pulled away from the dock.  Weiss could see the pain and concern etched in his friend's features.  "She'll be okay, Mike.  Will, Dixon, and I will make sure of it.  Instead of one handler, she'll have three."

"She shouldn't have any."

Weiss looked down, knowing he was right.  Besides, what was there to say.  This sucked and they all knew it.  They also knew that, given the situation, none of them had any choice. 

The boat slowly made its way around the island, heading them back in the direction of the naval air station.  Vaughn couldn't take his eyes away from the enclave.

"Promise me something, Eric"

"Anything"

"Don't let them push her around.  Make sure that she understands all of her options and support her, whatever decision she makes."

Eric Weiss nodded.  "Done.  But I don't exactly think you have to worry about Sydney getting pushed around.  She's pretty good at fending for herself if you haven't noticed."

"That was before.  It's been two years and so much has happened..."

"Two years nothing.  Consciously or subconsciously, Sydney's managed to survive the past two years.  The CIA may not have been looking too hard for her, but Sloane sure as hell was.  She's going to be fine.  She won't let Kendall and his friends push her around."

"I hope you're right."

"No hoping involved.  Just look up over there.  She's already bucking him."

Vaughn looked up to see Sydney standing on the bluff about a hundred yards away.  For a moment, his breath caught in his throat as he relived an all too familiar nightmare of another cliff on another shore.  However, once he took in her body language, he calmed himself.  They locked in on each other and he said under his breath, "Good girl, you show him who's in charge."

They continued to watch each other until they were out of sight.

Sydney was escorted back by several agents who had been sent to retrieve her.  They had arrived moments after the yacht had disappeared behind a neighboring island.  She put up no resistance and was back at the Communications building about an hour after she ran for the bluff.

Once there, she met a chagrined Kendall followed by a rather cowed Will Tippin coming out of the conference room.  "Ah, Agent Bristow, how nice of you to join us now that the tele-conference is over.  Shall I tell you went on or do you care?"

"I just needed some time to myself. I'm all yours now."

"Mr. Tippin, please go over to the main house and let Dr. Barnett know that Ms. Bristow will be joining her shortly for another session.  Agent Bristow and I need to have a little chat." 

Kendall motioned Sydney to the conference room.  Will stood his ground momentarily until Sydney let him know with a tilt of her head that he should go ahead.  She could take care of Kendall herself.

She and Kendall sat down in the conference room across from one another, each fixing the other with an icy glare.  Kendall finally started at a low growl, "Ms. Bristow, I just got rid of one problem and I'll be damned if I'm going down that road again.  There's a lot of work ahead of us and we are going to require your full and complete cooperation, do you understand or do I need to make things clearer?"

"Do I get any say in all this?!"

"Maybe you would have, had you actually decided to come to the meeting!"

"Vaughn was leaving.  You could have at least waited until later today to have the meeting!"

"Excuse me, but I thought you and your old boyfriend would have gotten all of your goodbyes out of the way last night."

Sydney shot a horrified glance at Kendall.

"I have no idea what you are talking about", Sydney bit out.

"Oh, don't you now.  You no doubt noticed all the monitors out there", he said gesturing to the other room.  "Some of them are for the main house.  None of them in the bedrooms, mind you, but in most of the common areas.  Some even have infrared sensors." 

With that, he picked up a remote from the table and turned on a video monitor at the end of the conference table.  Immediately, an image of Vaughn opening the door to his room filled the screen.  The date and time code on the video read "10/5/04 10:57 PM".  Then, the video fast-forwarded, lights turned out, and then someone else appeared with an IR halo around them.  The video slowed and, although the features were somewhat obscured, it was obvious that it was her.  The date and time stamp read "10/6/04 12:37 AM".  Again, the time elapse on the video sped forward until it slowed at 5:49 AM.  Within a minute, Sydney emerged.  The IR halo was gone, replaced by the harsh light of the new day, her features clearly defined.  Kendall then shut off the monitor.

"Listen, Ms. Bristow, I don't particularly care about your and Vaughn's extra-curricular activities.  What I do care about is getting Sloane and not having to battle you every inch of the way.  I know that you have many friends in the JTF and that they will follow your lead.  What I'm looking for is a little cooperation.  With that, we can forget that this little peccadillo ever happened."

Sydney was incredulous.  "You're blackmailing me?  Why would I care if anyone saw me going into Vaughn's room?"

"It's obvious that you still care a great deal about him.  I would think that you wouldn't want to cause him any more pain.  It would be a shame if his lovely wife were to see that tape."

Sydney felt nauseous, but retained her composure.  "Not even you would stoop that low."

"To help catch the world's most wanted terrorist?  In a heartbeat.  But I also believe that we can help each other too.  It doesn't have to be like this.  Yes, I can ruin Vaughn's marriage if I choose to do so, but I can also assure him of a very comfortable existence."

"What are you talking about?"

"Did Vaughn have a chance to tell you what his life was like in protection, before we called him back?"

Sydney nodded unsure of where this was going. 

"Pretty nice, eh?  You have your father to thank for that.  He called a former CIA colleague who now works in Justice and called in a few favors to make sure Vaughn got the best placement possible.  Your father's not here to do that again, but I am.  You cooperate and I can guarantee a placement straight out of heaven, you cross me and I'll make his life a living hell.  Do we understand each other?"