Chapter 4
Sydney almost lets out a groan as they step into the restaurant. The restaurant is jam packed with people. Usually it is a reflection of how good the food is, but tonight to Sydney, a crowded restaurant only serves to remind her how much she really does not want to be around people.
" Maybe we should go, it looks like we might have to wait all night to get a table," she whispers in a pleading tone into Danny's ears. He contemplates her suggestion, but as he looks around to examine the place, he knows it will do her good to stay. This place should brighten up anyone's spirits. The atmosphere is elegant, but relaxed. It is crowded, but there is an excitement in the air. There is live music over by the corner and happy couples swaying to the music.
" I think that we should wait a little longer. Look at this place . . .Francie was right." It's my kind of place he thinks to himself. It is Sydney's type of place too. Or would have been if certain events didn't happen. He keeps telling himself that she is simply going through a natural phase, and that the way she has been acting will pass. He misses the "old Sydney" so badly. She is still here he keeps telling himself; she just needs more time.
After a few more minutes of waiting impatiently on Sydney's part, she opens her mouth to again protest the restaurant, but she is cut off by someone from behind.
" Daniel? Daniel Hecht?" They both turn their heads to see a petite young blonde walking and smiling towards them. The woman is wearing an elegant black form-fitting dress. Obviously, she wants to impress someone tonight, Sydney thinks. Who is this? Sydney wonders to herself. She had never seen her before. A fearful dread comes over her as she contemplates if this woman could be a former girlfriend.
" Oh my gosh . . .Alice . . ." Danny is quite surprised. He hasn't seen Alice Thompson for almost four years. He wasn't even sure if she was still in the LA area. His initial surprise quickly turns into a smile. "What are you doing here? How have you been?"
" Hi. I've been great. Here for dinner. So how have you been?" Sydney clears her throat as to remind the two people next to her of her existence as well.
" How terrible of me. Alice, this is Sydney Bristow, my fiancee. And Syd, this is Alice Thompson. We were good friends in medical school." Danny steps back a little to let the two women greet each other after introductions.
" Nice to meet you," Alice is the first to speak as she holds out her hand.
" You too," Sydney says politely, but unsure how to take this Alice woman. Next to this woman, Sydney feels abnormally tall. As they shake hands, a couple brushes past brusquely almost knocking them both down.
" Whoa! What a popular place huh?" Alice smiles.
" Yes. We don't even know if we should wait any longer or just go home," Sydney says with a laugh but gives Danny a glare.
"I come here often enough to know that you should get reservations. But it is a wonderful place. You guys should definitely stay."
" See Syd? It is worth the wait." He matches the look in her eyes.
" I know. You two can join me at my table. We haven't ordered yet."
" oh no . . ." Sydney and Danny both protest at the same time. " We don't want to intrude on your dinner."
" It's fine really."
" But you are probably here with someone else," Sydney says.
" He wouldn't mind. He was late anyway," Alice gives a little chuckle. " Besides, I would love to know what you have been doing for what . . .four years . . ." she turns to Danny as she finishes her sentence.
" You're sure?" Danny is on the verge of giving in. Sydney couldn't believe it. Is he actually going to agree?
" Yes. Come." Alice turns to lead the way back to her table and awaiting dinner date.
* * * * * * *
Vaughn sits at the table by himself wondering why his date is taking so long to brush up in the restroom. She should be back by now, he thinks as he checks his watch. He has had a long week and was hoping that they would have a quick dinner and he could go home to sleep. He is going back to SD-6 tomorrow and he still doesn't know what Sloane will do about his partner-less status. He quickly reprimands himself. "Don't think about work now. Just relax and enjoy your time with the girlfriend who you haven't seen for many months," As he glances from the menu, he sees Alice walking back.
Being the polite gentleman he is, he naturally stands up to wait as she approaches. He then notices that there are two people following her. He is surprised to see her turn her head to talk to them. A tall man with sandy colored hair in a brown suit nods his head in response to something she says. Behind the man is a woman in a navy blue dress. As they come closer and closer, Vaughn's eyes widen.
He couldn't believe it. The woman in the navy dress is the one person that he least expected to see . . .ever again.
" Michael. I want you to meet some people," Alice says as she finally reaches the table. This is Daniel Hecht. A friend that I haven't seen since medical school."
" Nice to meet you," the two men say almost simultaneously as they shake hands.
" And this is Daniel's fiancee. Sydney Bristow." Vaughn has a funny feeling at the mention of the word fiancee. It never even occurred to him that she might have been engaged or even married. He doesn't remember seeing a ring on her finger that day at the office. But then again, she had her hands hidden under the table. He doesn't know why he is so dumbfounded by this new realization. He is unsure of what to say.
Like him, Sydney is speechless as she realizes to whom she is being introduced. She doesn't know why, but she can't bring herself to lift her face up to meet his. She holds her breath awaiting to hear his polite greeting.
But instead of "nice to meet you," she hears, " We've met before." Everyone stands there, surprised by his response. He knows she is the most surprised of them all.
Sydney almost lets out a groan as they step into the restaurant. The restaurant is jam packed with people. Usually it is a reflection of how good the food is, but tonight to Sydney, a crowded restaurant only serves to remind her how much she really does not want to be around people.
" Maybe we should go, it looks like we might have to wait all night to get a table," she whispers in a pleading tone into Danny's ears. He contemplates her suggestion, but as he looks around to examine the place, he knows it will do her good to stay. This place should brighten up anyone's spirits. The atmosphere is elegant, but relaxed. It is crowded, but there is an excitement in the air. There is live music over by the corner and happy couples swaying to the music.
" I think that we should wait a little longer. Look at this place . . .Francie was right." It's my kind of place he thinks to himself. It is Sydney's type of place too. Or would have been if certain events didn't happen. He keeps telling himself that she is simply going through a natural phase, and that the way she has been acting will pass. He misses the "old Sydney" so badly. She is still here he keeps telling himself; she just needs more time.
After a few more minutes of waiting impatiently on Sydney's part, she opens her mouth to again protest the restaurant, but she is cut off by someone from behind.
" Daniel? Daniel Hecht?" They both turn their heads to see a petite young blonde walking and smiling towards them. The woman is wearing an elegant black form-fitting dress. Obviously, she wants to impress someone tonight, Sydney thinks. Who is this? Sydney wonders to herself. She had never seen her before. A fearful dread comes over her as she contemplates if this woman could be a former girlfriend.
" Oh my gosh . . .Alice . . ." Danny is quite surprised. He hasn't seen Alice Thompson for almost four years. He wasn't even sure if she was still in the LA area. His initial surprise quickly turns into a smile. "What are you doing here? How have you been?"
" Hi. I've been great. Here for dinner. So how have you been?" Sydney clears her throat as to remind the two people next to her of her existence as well.
" How terrible of me. Alice, this is Sydney Bristow, my fiancee. And Syd, this is Alice Thompson. We were good friends in medical school." Danny steps back a little to let the two women greet each other after introductions.
" Nice to meet you," Alice is the first to speak as she holds out her hand.
" You too," Sydney says politely, but unsure how to take this Alice woman. Next to this woman, Sydney feels abnormally tall. As they shake hands, a couple brushes past brusquely almost knocking them both down.
" Whoa! What a popular place huh?" Alice smiles.
" Yes. We don't even know if we should wait any longer or just go home," Sydney says with a laugh but gives Danny a glare.
"I come here often enough to know that you should get reservations. But it is a wonderful place. You guys should definitely stay."
" See Syd? It is worth the wait." He matches the look in her eyes.
" I know. You two can join me at my table. We haven't ordered yet."
" oh no . . ." Sydney and Danny both protest at the same time. " We don't want to intrude on your dinner."
" It's fine really."
" But you are probably here with someone else," Sydney says.
" He wouldn't mind. He was late anyway," Alice gives a little chuckle. " Besides, I would love to know what you have been doing for what . . .four years . . ." she turns to Danny as she finishes her sentence.
" You're sure?" Danny is on the verge of giving in. Sydney couldn't believe it. Is he actually going to agree?
" Yes. Come." Alice turns to lead the way back to her table and awaiting dinner date.
* * * * * * *
Vaughn sits at the table by himself wondering why his date is taking so long to brush up in the restroom. She should be back by now, he thinks as he checks his watch. He has had a long week and was hoping that they would have a quick dinner and he could go home to sleep. He is going back to SD-6 tomorrow and he still doesn't know what Sloane will do about his partner-less status. He quickly reprimands himself. "Don't think about work now. Just relax and enjoy your time with the girlfriend who you haven't seen for many months," As he glances from the menu, he sees Alice walking back.
Being the polite gentleman he is, he naturally stands up to wait as she approaches. He then notices that there are two people following her. He is surprised to see her turn her head to talk to them. A tall man with sandy colored hair in a brown suit nods his head in response to something she says. Behind the man is a woman in a navy blue dress. As they come closer and closer, Vaughn's eyes widen.
He couldn't believe it. The woman in the navy dress is the one person that he least expected to see . . .ever again.
" Michael. I want you to meet some people," Alice says as she finally reaches the table. This is Daniel Hecht. A friend that I haven't seen since medical school."
" Nice to meet you," the two men say almost simultaneously as they shake hands.
" And this is Daniel's fiancee. Sydney Bristow." Vaughn has a funny feeling at the mention of the word fiancee. It never even occurred to him that she might have been engaged or even married. He doesn't remember seeing a ring on her finger that day at the office. But then again, she had her hands hidden under the table. He doesn't know why he is so dumbfounded by this new realization. He is unsure of what to say.
Like him, Sydney is speechless as she realizes to whom she is being introduced. She doesn't know why, but she can't bring herself to lift her face up to meet his. She holds her breath awaiting to hear his polite greeting.
But instead of "nice to meet you," she hears, " We've met before." Everyone stands there, surprised by his response. He knows she is the most surprised of them all.