AN: Thanks for your kind reviews. I apologize for my affinity to cliffhangers. :) Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 9
Sydney's POV
As I slowly opened my eyes, I felt pain slice through my body. Groaning inwardly, I willed my eyes to open fully. Looking around, I realized that I wasn't in the hospital anymore. Suddenly, it all came back to me. The doctor and nurses had left my room and a strange woman had come in carrying a tranquilizer. I had tried to call out for help, but my throat was too sore for anyone to hear my cries. Before I knew what was happening, she had shot me and all I saw was darkness. Trying to keep myself from panicking, I thought about who had taken me away. Could it have been an associate of Sloane or was it Sark again? If it was, why did he hire someone else to take me? It wasn't Sark's style to do that. Before I could think more about it, I heard footsteps entering the room. Closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep, I listened in to the conversation.
"How is she doing?"
"She's recovering. It'll be a few more days. I'm curious, why didn't you just kill her?"
"Because I want her to suffer for what she did to him."
"How?"
"You'll see."
Once I heard them leave the room, I cautiously opened my eyes. Even though it hurt to even think, I willed myself to figure a way out of here. Soon I realized though, that it would be at least a day or two before I would be able to escape. The pain was just too much. Not sure where it had come from, I deduce it to something they had given me. I wondered silently if it woud subside anytime soon. Although I was glad to be awake, this wasn't exactly the situation I had imagined myself in. I had imagined that I would wake up to Vaughn by my side and there would be tears, hugs, and kisses for hours. Instead, I hadn't even gotten to see him.
At least I had gotten to hear his voice for awhile. What doctors said was true, people in a coma do hear the things around them. I had listened to him speak loving and comforting words to me and reminisce about our past. I had tried to wake up, but it was as if there were invisible chains keeping me from speaking, from opening my eyes so I could stare into his emerald ones. It was as if I were stuck in a mind-like prison and when I escaped, my angel had not been there. It was okay of course. Eric had told me he was going to call him so I lay there and waited to see my angel again. I never had a chance though. Anger surged through me. I wanted to destroy the person who had taken me away before I had the chance to see him. Now, I may never see him again.
Tears fell from my eyes and I put a hand over my mouth to muffle my cries. I knew I couldn't alert them that I was awake. If I delayed them knowing, I would have more of a chance to escape. Finally, my cries died down and the tears had dried on my face. I could feel sleep pulling at my exhausted body, but I didn't want to give in. I wanted to know who those people were and what was going to happen to me and I certainly wouldn't know that if I were asleep. You would think the pain would keep me away, but it made me want to sleep even more.
I settled on thinking about other things, hoping that would keep me awake. I thought about Abby and how I hoped she was okay. I felt guilty for her being in that situation even if I had no control over it. She had always been my favorite student even though I tried to like her equally as much as the rest. Even Vaughn had gotten attached to her. I smiled as I remembered the time they first met. He had gotten off early and was visiting me at work. I hadn't even noticed he had come into the room since I was engrossed in the lecture about romance literature I was giving. Finally when I noticed none of the students were listening to me anymore, I noticed him watching me.
I smiled and shook my head.
"Look what you did. My students aren't even paying attention to me anymore."
"I can't help it if the subject you're talking about is boring, Sydney." I lightly smacked him on the shoulder and turned to the class.
"Class, this is my husband, Michael Vaughn." There was a chorus of hi's around the class. I almost laughed as I saw the girls staring dreamily at him.
"Why don't you all get started on your homework since it looks like we won't be getting much of this lecture done today." They got out their stuff and started working. I couldn't say it was quiet though since there were whispers and noises all around the room. Laughing inwardly, I turned to Vaughn.
"It seems you've got some admirers, Michael." He raised one of his eyebrows at me and smiled.
"Jealous, Syd?" I rolled my eyes and smacked him again.
"You wish. There's nothing to be jealous of." Vaughn was about to speak and say some witty retort back when Abby came up to her desk.
"Mrs. Vaughn?"
"Yes, Abby."
"Can I take this hockey book home?"
"Sure, you like hockey?" She nodded and smiled.
"My favorite team is the Kings." I smiled and leaned back in my chair, knowing that Vaughn was interject any second now.
"That's my favorite team too. How long have you been a hockey fan?" Vaughn said. I watched observantly as they talked about teams, playing, and who would make the playoffs. Vaughn's eyes had light up with excitement. Although I played hockey with him, I wasn't an avid fan like him so I knew he was happy to find someone who was. From the way he talked to her, I knew he would make a great father. He had the protectiveness thing down before, but he also knew when to just be a friend and never talked down to kids. They talked until the class was over and Abby had to leave. I grinned at him when he turned to me.
"What?"
"You have this way with kids. You always know how to talk to them." He shrugged.
"It's nothing really. We were talking about hockey. I can talk to anyone about hockey."
"Well what about that time we took care of Sam? Will said that he kept asking for you every hour once they got him home." He blushed.
"Sweetie, I think it's cute." Giving him a kiss, I smiled at him again.
"Cute, huh? You couldn't have to picked a better word?" I laughed.
"Come on, let's go home. I'll make you your favorite dinner to make up for using 'cute'." Grabbing his hand, we walked out of the classroom.
I smiled sadly and wiped the tear that was falling down my face. Before I knew it, my eyes were slowly closing and I was drifting into sleep. Just before I did though, I heard a faint gun shot and then silence.
