Disclaimer : I don't own anything except the story idea. And most of the story is based on what was left off from the season finale. Please R/R!

PART ONE: RETURNED

"Sydney, you've been missing for two years."

His voice seemed distant and I almost didn't hear what he was saying to me. I could feel the look of horror creep up on my face. You know the one. It's the one where I'm fighting back tears and my face becomes twisted. I hate that face. And I could feel it appear. My heart was beating way too fast and my breaths became short and rapid. How could this have happened? How could I have lived two years in one day? Impossible. Surely this was some kind of mind trick.

When I didn't respond, nor look up at him, he said my name. I felt my head tilt up automatically. I wasn't controlling my movements. His face was filled with concern and a deep sadness that I can't explain. I held myself tighter then I ever had before, arms wrapped around my abdomen, but could not speak.

He didn't say a word and eventually the silence began to madden me. "What is going on?" I said finally in a hoarse whisper. The words rose in my throat and I then began rambling. "Francie and I, well it wasn't Francie, per say, but her clone. We were in this huge fight and then I shot her and she died I think. Then I passed out, I remember I could smell the blood, hers and mine. And then when I woke up, I was in an alley. I was in Hong Kong. And now, here I am and you're telling me that I've been gone for two years?!" I was ranting loudly and had stood up sometime during it. Vaughn was still seated on that chair, staring at me with surprise and concern.

"Sydney?" he asked after I fell into silence.

I was looking out the window, staring out into Hong Kong coldly. I turned and looked back at him. "What?" He was playing with the ring on his finger and just the thought of it stung. It hurt like knives digging into my chest, carving out all the confusion and hatred and pain and loss I felt at that moment.

"Kendall wants me to bring you back to LA headquarters," he said softly. I didn't reply. "It's basically going to be a very long debrief, Syd. You've obviously lost all memory of the last two years. Kendall wants you filled in. We have big problems on our hands now."

I stared at him, letting what he'd said sink in, then after a moment I said, "Bristow."

He blinked. "What?"

"You will refer to me as Agent Bristow, Vaughn." It was cold and I knew it, but it was nothing compared to what he'd done. Married? How could he? Didn't what we have (or had) mean anything to him? How long had he waited before… and who was she?

He stood up, letting his breath out slowly and I could tell this was not the same Vaughn I'd known a day ago. I mentally shook my head. I had known him two years ago. Things had changed. But I still had to get used to the idea of completely missing twenty-four months of my life.

He opened the door and headed out, expecting me to follow him. But I couldn't. Not yet. I had one more question. He stopped and stuck his head back in. "You coming?"

I nodded, but didn't move. "Who is she?"

"Her name is Robyn. She works with the CIA. She transferred to LA from the DC headquarters about a year ago. We're not married, just engaged." His face was blank and after he'd finished, he turned and left. This time I followed.

So, I'd been replaced. I'd been replaced not only at the CIA but also in Vaughn's bed. Did this mean what I feared? Did he ever love me at all? Or did he just have a thing for kick-ass agent chicks?

I wasn't even allowed to go home and take a shower, because I was informed my apartment had been sold after my disappearance. After I arrived in LA I was taken directly to HQ where I was greeted more then pleasantly. The place looked the same; everything was a dark color, as if the world revolved around darkness and stealth. Well, I suppose when you work for the CIA, it does. Vaughn led me to the meeting room where my father and Kendall were waiting patiently and silently.

Kendall was the first to stand and say something. He was smiling, as if he missed me. As if he cared. I suppose he did, but I can never be sure. First he shook my hand then hugged me briefly. He said a few words that I can't remember and I nodded. I was distracted.

My father wasn't smiling. He finally stood up and came to me. After a pause, he embraced me and I could have sworn I heard him sniffle as if he were trying hard not to cry. He let me go and told me to sit. Before he turned away I saw a single tear leave his eye. Good, someone sincerely cared that I was back.

I took a seat and so did the other three. Kendall sat at the head of the table with my father and Vaughn at each of his sides. Not much had changed. There was a long silence and to my own surprise, I was the one to speak first.

"Please tell me what is going on."

Vaughn looked at me sympathetically while my father avoided my eyes. Kendall sighed. "A lot has happened…"

I cut him off, without really meaning to. "Tell me when I disappeared."

Kendall shook his head. "The night Francie Calfo's double was compromised by Will Tippin, Vaughn arrived at you're house with no sign of you, Calfo shot dead, and Tippin dieing in the bathtub. Tippin was taken to the hospital and is now working in the research department if you'd like to see him later. We never found you but suspected kidnapping. A year went by, Sydney, and you still were not found."

"And you gave up," I stated coldly.

Vaughn's face looked hurt. "You could not possibly expect us to drop everything we were doing and search the globe for you."

I glared at him. "No. I did not expect the CIA to do that, but I did expect you to." He gave no response but instead stood up and left the room.

Kendall glanced at my father, who nodded. The director continued. "You must understand we had no way of knowing where you were, what condition you were in, or even if you were still alive. We have covered much in two years." He paused.

"Is Sloane gone?"

My father shook his head. "No. However, we again have Irina Derevko in federal custody. Sark escaped and was shot dead. Agents Vaughn and Colley have acquired a great deal of information."

Agent Colley. That must be Robyn. I sighed deeply. Then something clicked. "You have Derevko here?" Kendall nodded. "Does she know I'm here?"

My father shook his head. "Telling her would not be in your best interest. Moving her to a federal prison was a risk we could not take, however. She has given us little information, close to none, but she acted deeply grieved when she was told of your disappearance even though we assume she knew beforehand."

"Wench," I mumbled. They chose to ignore my comment.

"Sydney, listen to me." I looked at my father again. He looked older and very tired. "We know where Sloane is and we know what he is planning. If the next mission goes as planned, we will finally have him."

"I'm going," I said suddenly.

"Absolutely not," Kendall shouted, slamming his fist down on the table. Then, in a calmer tone, he said, "You've only just returned. You were just told that you've been missing. You do not have your memory back. We need to find out what happened to you first."

"I'm not going to be hypnotized," I snapped. "I do not care to know where I've been. My goal is still the same. I still want Sloane dead. And knowing him, the reason I've been gone is because of one of his conniving plans for world domination or living forever or something! I want in on this mission. No question about it."

Jack Bristow stood up. "Sydney, we are not even sure what type of physical condition you are in, let alone mental. We can not have you go on a mission."

I stood up and placed my hands on the long fine wood table. "Fine. Test me. Do anything. I can handle it." I didn't even believe my own words. I must have been insane. I was also most positive the reason I'd gone missing was because of Sloane and no matter what condition I was in, I still had a passionate hate for that man and I wanted him dead more then anyone.

Before anyone could reply, the door opened and a woman with chestnut hair, a little lighter then mine, and a round childish face, rushed in. Her stature was somewhat shorter then mine yet I could tell she was in excellent physical condition. She was wearing a nice black suit, similar to what I would wear to work. "Kendall," she said, a little out of breath. "Somehow Derevko found out of Agent Bristow's return and is now demanding to see Bristow. Vaughn told her no and now she is throwing a fit. She's ripped up the mattress and pillow…"

"Enough, Agent Colley," Kendall stated and now stood up. He followed her out of the meeting room. I glanced at my father and then rushed after them, my father trailing at my feet.

I could hear the screaming from the hallway. She was furious. Yet, how had she found out? Had someone let it slip? Perhaps a guard? As I reached the hallway that lead to the cell, I saw Kendall giving strict instructions to Colley and Vaughn, then head towards the metal bars that opened before him.

I was about to follow but was stopped by Vaughn. "You can't go in there, Syd – Agent Bristow," he said, grabbing my shoulder and remembering what I'd told him in Hong Kong.

"Why the hell not?"

"Kendall's orders," replied Colley.

I glanced at her. I could take her, maybe not Vaughn, but I could definitely take her. I decided to play it sweet, however. "You're Robyn Colley?" I crossed my arms. She nodded, unsure of how to respond and of what was going on in my mind. I outstretched a hand and she shook it lightly and I introduced myself. "Sorry I couldn't be here when you arrived in LA, hope you like it so far." She and Vaughn were slightly dumbfounded at my politeness and I eased myself passed them. "Hope you two aren't in bed when the next earthquake hits." They stood there in stunned silence and I walked right passed them, headed towards the cell in which my mother was being held.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. "You had no right to do that, Sydney." It was Jack, the man who called himself my father. "It took him a long time to get over you and now you're back and you can't see it, but it's killing him inside."

I rolled my eyes and turned to him. "You don't get it, do you dad? I've been gone for two damn years and I didn't even know it. I wake up and come to find that the man I love is engaged to someone else who's replaced me at work. How would you feel?"

"I've never loved a man," he stated as the last gate opened.

Feathers were lightly floating to the floor and I could see Irina Derevko, the woman who had betrayed my father and I on countless occasions, being held by a large guy and not listening to what Kendal was obviously yelling at her. She looked up, saw me, and her face brightened.

"Let go of me!" she screamed. The guard looked at Kendall, who saw me and then nodded in defeat. I was let in to the cell while Kendall and the guard walked out.

I crossed my arms and leaned against the glass. "Wow, you've found yourself here again, Derevko. How did they get you this time?"

She looked at me silently; a feeling of what looked to be remorse flickered across her face and was then gone. "Sydney. You're alive. I didn't think he'd keep you alive."

"What?" I stared at her. What was she talking about? Did she know what had happened to me?

"Sloane," she said softly, leaning against the opposite wall. "He had Sark and I kidnap you while you were down. Sark found out of Alexandra's death, told Sloane of the failed mission and he demanded we kidnap you, for he had plans." She stood there silently for a moment, keeping her eyes to the floor. "You made it easy for us, by being unconscious."

I was scared to ask what happened next. After a moment, and after finally swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I said, "What did he do to me?"

He eyes raised off the floor and found their way to my own, which matched hers in color. "He programmed you, Sydney."