Vaughn watched as Sydney made her way off the plane. He stayed right behind her, as promised. She straightened with each step. Vaughn was proud of her. She wouldn't show Kendall any fear or confusion, but Vaughn knew it was there, both fear and confusion. As they neared the airport door, Kendall came into view. "Ready agents, their coming." He called to his armed squad.
Sydney jumped and stopped walking when the agents clicked off their safeties in unison. "There are three of them." Sydney stated, seemingly calm. Vaughn knew differently.
"Yeah, but your dad's out there too. He won't let Kendall go overboard." She seemed to accept this advice, because she continued walking.
They stepped into the airport. Kendall stepped forward, "Ms. Bristow… you are under…"
"Dad?" was all she said as she stepped past Kendall, into the open arms of her father. She melted into his embrace.
"Sydney," Emotion overwhelmed the two.
Vaughn stepped up to Kendall, "Why don't you give them a moment."
Kendall looked at Vaughn, "McAllic, take the prisoner into custody. Agent Vaughn, you will be reprimanded for not containing your prisoner."
McAllic stepped up to Sydney, aiming his gun at Sydney's head, he said, "Agent Bristow, release the prisoner. Miss, put your arms in the air." Jack took his arms from around Sydney and took her head in his hands. He kissed her on the forehead and communicated his love through his eyes. Sydney stepped back one step and put her hands in the air as requested.
The other two agents on Kendall's team stepped forward; McAllic holstered his weapon and began to cuff Sydney. As he moved Sydney's arm to her back, Jack stepped in, "Kendall, that's enough." Vaughn watched as Jack protected his daughter. He had seen the same irate blackness in Sydney's eyes earlier. "She's not a hardened criminal… she's…"
"Jack, she's a rogue until proven otherwise. Cuff her McAllic."
Jack continued to negotiate. "In front then. Cuff her in front. Please Kendall."
"Okay then, in front." McAllic complied with Kendall's agreement. "Take her to the station."
Again Jack stepped in… "She'll ride with me."
"Jack, I don't think…" Kendall stopped talking when Jack stared at him again. "McAllic will ride with you too." Was all he said, as they all made their way through the airport.
Jack opened the passenger side door for Sydney. McAllic sat himself directly behind Sydney. As Jack closed Sydney's door, he looked at Vaughn for the first time. "You coming with me?" Vaughn smiled as they made their way to the driver side. Vaughn sat in back with McAllic. Jack got in front and turned to McAllic. "Put a safety on that weapon. Sydney's the only one here without a sidearm, so I don't think she's going anywhere." McAllic complied. Vaughn smiled and laid his head back and closed his eyes.
About thirty minutes into the drive, Sydney looked toward Vaughn's sleeping form. "Dad, what's going to happen when we get there?"
"Vaughn didn't go over this with you?"
"Well, I kind of refused to sit next to him… then I fell asleep."
"You will be in lock up for a while. Kendall will want to interrogate. There will be a detailed physical exam and if nothing comes of it, therapy and possibly hypnosis. You will be OK. I will always be there for you."
"You'll visit me… in the cell?"
"Of course I will. You are going to have a lot of visitors…" Jack watched Sydney turn toward Vaughn's sleeping form. "Perhaps not all the visitors you want?"
"I'm glad he found someone to make him happy."
"You made him happy, Syd."
"But he needs someone who will be there for him, someone who, when he asks 'where are you going today dear' he doesn't need to look it up on a world map. He needs someone he can… love."
"He loves you, Syd."
"Not any more."
The statement was spoken quietly and seemingly without emotion. Vaughn hadn't meant to listen to the conversation. But his eyes were closed and… well… he didn't want to interrupt the father/daughter reverie. When the conversation turned to him, all he could do is listen. A single tear slipped from his closed eye at her last statement.
Finally, Jack announced, "We're getting close to the gates. Vaughn, McAllic, you need your ID's out." Sydney looked at her father. "You'll be OK, Sydney. I'll be there." She glanced over her shoulder at Vaughn. No words were spoken, but Vaughn winked at her when their eyes locked.
Jack stopped at the check point. The three agents showed their ID. The guard walked around the car and stopped by Sydney's door. "ID Ma'am.? Sydney looked at the young soldier.
"I'm the captive." She laughed and raised her cuffed hands.
The guard waved the vehicle into the base. Jack drove to the CIA building and parked. McAllic immediately jumped out of the car, clicked off his safety and opened Sydney's door. "The prisoner will remove herself from the vehicle." The order was given. Sydney stretched and apparently took too long for McAllic. He took her arm and dragged her out of the car. Vaughn made his way to the passenger side in time to see her sprawled on the concrete.
"Back Off!"
"I have my orders, agent."
Vaughn reached out to help Sydney rise. "She's been on an airplane for 18 hours and in a car for another hour and a half. Give her a break."
"Thanks Vaughn." She looked at him. "I'll be OK." She looked down at his hand lingering on her arm. Vaughn removed it and McAllic stepped between them.
"Ma'am, if you want no further incident, you will proceed directly to the holding facility immediately, with no interruptions. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." Was all Sydney could say as she entered the door her father held open.
Sydney stepped into the familiar facility, coming here so often to visit her mother. They were all there, waiting for her, to see her. All her friends, who now knew she wasn't dead, waited to see her as she passed through the main office area…
Marshall, "Miss Bristow" he smiled as his eyes looked to his feet.
Weiss, "Sydney, great to see you."
Dixon smiled. "Sydney…" She held out her fists to him, he tapped hers with his.
McAllic stepped in, "Stay on track, no distractions…" He was getting antsy. He knew Kendall had entered the facility and he wanted to give the impression that everything was under his control. That's what Kendall expected of him.
Sydney made her way past Dixon and a few other agents. There he was. Standing there, breathing, healthy, smiling… "Will…" She went to him, touched his face and wiped his tears. He took her into his arms and kissed her cheek. McAllic was yelling something in the background, but all they heard was each other.
"Will…"
"You're alive… Syd."
"You too! You're really OK?"
"Now that you're back." Syd looked into his eyes; suddenly there was pain and blackness.
Vaughn saw it happening before he could stop it. McAllic ordered Sydney to the holding facility. When she did not respond, he took the but of his gun and hit her in the back of her head. Sydney's body went limp into Will. Will's eyes went wild with confusion. Vaughn stepped up to McAllic. Vaughn's fist connected directly to McAllic's upper cheek bone. McAllic faltered and fell back at the unexpected blow. Vaughn took his gun away and placed his knee on the man's chest. "She is an agent of the United States CIA. We know of nothing she's done that would contradict that. You will treat her with the respect she deserves."
Dixon pulled Vaughn off the soldier. Vaughn moved to Sydney. Will was cuddling her limp body in his arms. Vaughn lifted her; he looked at Will, "Get the doctor." Then, looking at Kendall, "Where do you want me to put her, so the doctor can look at what your thug has done?"
"In the cell," was all he said.
Vaughn carried her toward the cell. She started to stir and opened her eyes. Looking at Vaughn… "It was all a dream?" Her hand touched his cheek.
"Yeah, a nightmare." Their eyes met. As the cell opened for them, Sydney moved to bring their lips together. 'Her soft touch, gentle lips…' Vaughn placed her on the cot. Sydney deepened the kiss with her tongue. Vaughn responded tentatively, and then stopped.
"Sydney…"
"Don't talk Vaughn, just kiss me…"
"Sydney…" Vaughn took her face in his hands to look into her eyes. "Syd… I can't." Vaughn moved away from the cot as Will and the doctor entered.
"Vaughn? You said…"
The doctor started his exam by looking into her eyes. Vaughn, seeing Will sit by her bedside, slipped out of the cell.
Agents began to file into the debrief room that Vaughn had used as refuge. Jack, Dixon, Marshall and Kendall entered. Will rushed in and sat next to Vaughn, just prior to Kendall starting his sermon.
"While she is here, she will be treated no different than any other captive."
"But she is different." Vaughn stated, challenging Kendall.
"She will have no contact from anyone, unless I approve it."
Will spoke up, "Wait… I thought… you can't…"
Kendall affirmed his superiority. "She will be kept in lock down, no visitors until she is able to tell us exactly where she has been. I don't buy into the 'I don't remember' crap and neither should any of you. She is a disciplined agent and for all we know, she is working for Sloan now."
Dixon spoke, "She would never work for that devil under her own will."
"That's just it agent Dixon, do we know what her 'will' is? She has been gone for over two years. Views change…"
"Not Sydney's."
"You will all do as I command!"
Vaughn stood. "I'm sorry. Each minute I'm here, I understand more why I left. You are treating her as if she did something wrong. She didn't. She woke up in Hong Kong, immediately contacted the distress line, like she is supposed to do! She followed the orders from the CIA; she knew where the safe house was. She has lost two years; none of the inquiries sent out during that time identified any activities on her part. Kendall, how can you treat her like this when all she has ever done was for the good of the United States?" Vaughn moved toward the door.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To find a ride to a hotel... I haven't slept in four days."
"You will stay to complete the debrief."
"I will be back for the debrief, to make sure Sydney is OK, then I'm going home."
Kendall stepped to block the door, but Jack held him back. "Get some rest, be back whenever you can.
Will handed Vaughn a key. Vaughn looked at it. "My apartment. Curtis will take you. Guest bedroom is upstairs to the right. Fridge is stocked, make yourself at home. Vaughn left.
Jack sat Kendall into a seat, "You're all dismissed." All the agents quietly rose and left the room. Only Jack and Kendall remained. Both were quiet, until the room was empty and the door closed.
"Jack, you had no right to contradict my orders."
"Have you learned nothing about this group in the three years you have been here? They are not motivated by your orders or tantrums. That's why Vaughn left in the first place. If we want to keep him, that's going to be the first thing you change."
"Why would I want to keep him? He's always…"
"Always thinking 'What's best for Sydney!' If you want her back, he is the key. Without him, she will sit the rest of her life in that cell. We may never know what happened. This group needs contact with her. She is connected to every one of the agents in this room. If you want this group to start performing to their exemplary potential, you will start with Sydney and Vaughn. Put them on a training schedule, together. Make them interact. Get Vaughn to move back to LA."
"His wife…"
"She's an adjunct. Bring her in as a low security lab tech."
"You think Sydney will respond to Vaughn? She's probably furious at him."
"Sure, she is now. Let them spar and workout their… her… aggression. They are the best team I have ever seen. You can't deny that. Sydney and Vaughn will adjust to the circumstances, they always do."
Kendall looked defeated, but nodded his head, thus agreeing to Jack's plan. Jack spoke again, hoping to improve on his winning streak. "Rescind you visitation order. Sydney needs her friends. Always has. She worked hard to keep her friends while at SD-6. She will be mourning Francine and Vaughn and she needs Dixon and Will and… Please Kendall. She shouldn't be in isolation."
Kendall nodded again. Jack got up and left the room.