Vaughn sits at his desk, agonizing over a decision. "Hey Mike, are you coming to the pool hall tonight?"
"No, Ryan. I don't think so."
"Come on Mike, its Friday. You don't want to sit alone now, do you?"
"Actually no. I may have a date tonight."
"May, or Do?"
"Actually, do, but I don't know..."
"Mike, you better go, or I'll drive you there myself. You need to find a good woman, work some of that starch out of your shirts."
"Thanks for being so crude. It's just for drinks..."
"Go, leave now. Don't go home without some!"
Vaughn left the office thinking, how close Ryan was to his friend Weiss and wondering how he always attracted that kind of friend?
~~~~~
Vaughn entered the restaurant. It was dark and a bit smoky at the bar. He surveyed the floor plan and saw her, sitting at a table. He walked over to her. Meelon smiles and greets him, "There you are. I was over at the bar, but it was way too smoky, so... I asked for a table. I hope that's OK." Meelon looks at Vaughn for reaffirmation.
'Pro #1 – doesn't smoke' drifted through Vaughn's mind. "So, I guess that means that we are ordering dinner." Vaughn sat down.
"I wasn't sure you would be here."
"I said I would. I don't often go back on my word."
"Yeah, but you were pretty shook up and I thought I had upset you. You ran out of the van and I didn't know what I did to cause that."
"It wasn't you. I just... look... it's been some time since I've been on a date. I don't want to do something wrong."
"Michael. Just be honest with me and I'll do the same. If it works out great, if not, we can handle that later. But something tells me... something in your eyes earlier..."
'And in my dream and in my stomach and lower' Vaughn thinks.
"...Makes me think we should be together." Meelon finishes.
The waitress arrives and they place their order. Vaughn, with Meelon's nod of approval orders a bottle of Chianti. Vaughn pours them each a glass and begins the required 'first date' round of questions.
Vaughn starts, "Live here long?"
"About two years now."
"Where did you grow up?"
"Virginia, along the coast."
"Parents still live there?"
Meelon got a far away look and her eyes dulled over. "My parents died in a traffic accident about five years ago. I was just finishing up my training and all of a sudden I was by myself. You know how, when you're in college and you think, I'm on my own, 'all growed up!' Then, all of a sudden, you're really alone... both parents gone..."
A tear dripped down her cheek. Vaughn shifted in his chair closer to hers. He placed his arm around her. "I'm sorry Meelon. I didn't want to make you sad."
"No, its not you... I think I'm getting by and then all of a sudden... this. I shouldn't be sobbing like this."
"It's OK. I can't even imagine what you went though, alone. My father died when I was eight, but my mother is still here and we supported each other though a lot of the hurt. All I can tell you is the hurt will lessen, but I still miss my Dad." Vaughn continued to comfort Meelon until the waitress came with their salads.
"Thank you Michael. Now that you know I cry at the drop of a hat, you have probably decided not to ask me out again." Meelon looked at Vaughn, her eyes begging that won't be the case.
"Meelon, if we decide not to date, it won't be because you show emotion. You will find that emotions will draw me closer to you." Their eyes meet. Vaughn is again struck by the intensity of her eyes. Her eyes calmed him. They echoed his burgeoning feelings for this woman. His dream earlier today and the feelings in the pit of his stomach and groin confirmed his feelings.
By the end of their dinner, Vaughn knew he would ask her out again, as soon as possible. They walked out to the parking lot, toward her car. He took her hand. "Meelon, I've had a good time tonight. Did you?"
"Yes, Michael." She put her arm around his waist and Vaughn moved his arm around her shoulder. They stopped at the driver's door of her car.
"Meelon, I want to see you again." Meelon smiled. "Are you busy tomorrow?"
"My only plans for tomorrow are to do laundry and I will gladly put that off." She looked up at him. Her eyes darkened.
Vaughn moved his hand to the base of her neck, under her silky black hair. He drew her closer to him and wrapped his other arm around her back. Their lips met, softly at first. Vaughn shifted their bodies and pinned her against the car. The kiss deepened and Vaughn parted her lips with his tongue. Meelon let out a soft moan that conveyed her approval. Vaughn moved closer to her, their bodies touching and their hands beginning to explore.
"Michael, follow me home." The request was soft and her eyes conveyed her reasons.
Again, Vaughn was struck with a sense of ease. This was where he was supposed to be... with Meelon, tonight. His dream voice played in his head. ('I've been waiting for you.') It would be so easy to say yes to her... to follow her, to her house, to her bed. It would be easy to lay with her, to assuage his needs, to answer her with a yes. To allow her hands access to his skin, now burning with desire not previously felt... since... "No!"
Vaughn backed up. Meelon was stunned, questioning his action. "I'm sorry, Meelon. It's not that I don't want to. I do... God, you have no idea how much I want to." Vaughn confirmed this statement by placing his hands on her hips and tracing the curves of her body. "I really want to. But, it's too soon. It's..."
Meelon kissed Vaughn. Stroked his cheek and pushed him away from her. "I'm OK with that, for now." She slipped him a business card. "My home phone number is on the back. Call me, whenever you want, tonight, tomorrow, whenever. I may not be waiting by the phone, but I do want you to call."
"I will." Vaughn takes her lips again, their hands pulling and exploring and their movements becoming more needy and aggressive.
Once more Meelon pushes Vaughn away. "You better leave now, before I push you into the back seat of my car and take you here." Meelon's eyes conveyed the message that she was not joking.
Vaughn stepped back and completely severed all physical contact. Meelon moved out of the way and Vaughn opened the driver door for her. "I will call you."
"Evening, Michael." Her hand reached up to his cheek and caressed it again. Vaughn took her hand, kissed it, placed it back into the car and shut the door. He watched her drive away. His need for her caused a physical ache. How could these feelings overtake him so completely? They just met; never had he felt this intensity so early in a relationship. Vaughn got into his car and drove home.
~~~~
Vaughn sat alone in his quiet apartment. He had been staring at the phone trying to will his fingers to dial. He wanted to, needed to, but his mind convinced him otherwise. The number he dialed was not on the small business card that already had tattered corners.
The phone rang and rang. On the fifth ring it was answered, "Tippen."
Vaughn overcame the desire to hang up. "Hey Will, its Mike."
"Wow, great to hear from you. How are you doing?"
"Doing great. How about you?"
"Really good."
"Great. Hey Will. I know you can't give me details, but any progress?"
"Actually, no. We haven't heard a peep from Sloan, or Derevco since before you left. It's almost eerie how quiet it's been lately."
"Nothing about Sydney?"
"No. Mike, we have had all our informants asking questions on the sly. There has been no word, no rumors, nothing. Sorry Mike."
"I understand."
"What's going on Mike, you sound weird."
"I feel guilty Will."
"Guilty? Why?"
"I had a date tonight." Will was quiet. "I didn't think about Sydney the whole time. This girl consumes my mind. I don't understand how this could happen, so soon."
"And you feel guilty because you don't think about Sydney every waking hour of every day?"
"She's not dead Will. I have never accepted that she was. How can I start to date?"
"Vaughn. Don't you think we would have heard something by now? If she were alive, don't you think some flunky would have spilled his guts to one of our operatives by now?"
"Will, I can't accept that she is gone."
"Mike, we don't have any choice. It's the only info we have, even if we can't confirm it."
Vaughn grew quiet. Will knew this was a crossroad for Vaughn. Tonight could be the difference between a lifetime alone and a life fulfilled. Will knew he had to push Vaughn. Sydney was his best friend; Vaughn was the love of her life. 'How come I end up in the middle all the time?' "Tell me about her, Mike."
Vaughn told Will about Meelon. "She's beautiful, smart, good tempered, and funny. I want to be with her. I want to learn more about her. Will, I want to know what she looks like in the morning, what side of the bed she sleeps on, what kind of shampoo makes her hair smell of mint and honey."
"Vaughn, you did not have to call me to make this decision. You have already made it. You just called me because you felt guilty about your decision."
"Didn't I say that at the beginning?"
"Mike, you know I can't make this decision for you. I can't convince you to believe what I am not sure that I even believe. But, I do know that Sydney would want you to be happy. You meant the world to her and your happiness was always foremost in her mind. Other than that, if you want me to tell you to take this girl to bed, you need to call Weiss to convince you of that."
"I knew I should have called him first." Both men laughed. "Thanks Will. You are a good friend. I know your going through a lot of the same thing."
"Yeah... but I have the physical proof of..." (Fran's death.)
"Will, I am going to let you sleep now. Call me if you need anything. And come to Phoenix for vacation."
"Sure man. See-ya soon."
Both hung up. Vaughn knew there would be little sleep tonight. He lay back on the couch and picked up the small white business card. His watch said 3:47 a.m. The card said 'call anytime' in nice even scroll. Vaughn thought about her. He closed his eyes and saw her. The ache in his groin returned with just the thought of her. He imagined her gesturing to him. "Call me any time, Michael." His hand dialed the number with little thought from his brain.
She answered on the second ring. "Hello?"
"Meelon, I know it's so early. I couldn't sleep. I needed..."
"Michael, is that you?"
"Yes... I'm sorry... this was stupid... I should not have called..."
"Michael, I wasn't sleeping. I couldn't. I've been thinking of you all night... hoping... Come over Michael."
"It's late. I shouldn't have called..."
"Michael. Do you want us both awake and both alone, or do you want to be with me tonight?"
Vaughn paused, "Give me directions."
~ To be continued~
A/N - Next chapter will have to be raised to an R rating, because I am going to be bad and give into my Vaughn pleasures. Hope you have enjoyed this story so far. There are probably 4 or 5 chapters left in my mind, and more if the muses are willing.
Please read and review. Your suggestions have been quite helpful so far.