Sydney heard the outside gate open, meaning someone was coming to see her. She stopped the push-ups and sat cross-legged on the floor, waiting for the visitor. "Will," 'I haven't seen Vaughn since I kissed him.' The door opened and Will entered, Sydney smiled.
Will knew better, he sat next to her on the floor. "You don't have to look so sad to see me."
"I'm not sad."
"I know I'm not Vaughn."
"I guess I lost my 'everything's cool' face while I've been gone."
"Syd… you don't have to pretend for me. You know that, right?"
"I've been here a day and a half and he hasn't been back to even say goodbye."
"Syd, he's been at my house. He hasn't left. In fact, he hasn't been to see Kendall for debrief yet. He'll be by to see you. Don't worry."
They talked for a while about this and that and general light issues. "They're going to be here pretty soon to take you to your initial exam. I can stay with you, if you want… I mean… I'll wait for you… if you want."
"Thanks Will… they're going to be poking and prodding. I will be OK. I can send word when I'm done. I know you have work to do. You don't have to baby-sit me."
"OK, but you call for me, all right…? If you need me?"
"Yes Will."
"Hey, tonight, I think I can sneak in some ice cream and maybe a portable DVD/TV. It'll be like old times."
"Except no tequila or…"
The two friends looked at each other. "I am so sorry Will… I messed up your life, Francine is dead… everything I touch or love is tainted…"
Her tears flowed easily. There was nothing Will could say. He took her in his arms and cried with her. He had been through this mourning two years ago. It was actually how he and Vaughn had become such good friends. They had leaned on each other from that first night together. Now it was Sydney's turn to cry and Will vowed he would be there for her.
She continued to cry until they heard the outer door opening again. "They're coming now." She said as she wiped her eyes and stood. "You better go."
"I will see you tonight, unless you have a date or something?"
"No Will, I have nothing on my schedule tonight." She laughed and gave Will a hug.
"See you tonight."
"I'll see you tonight… Syd...? You call me if you need me for anything. OK?"
"Love you Will."
Two armed soldiers arrived and lead Sydney away.
~~~
Sydney had been correct; she was thoroughly poked and prodded. Doctors ran blood tests, X-rays, MRI's, stress tests and were very meticulous about each test. All went well until the gynecology exam. A lab tech led her into the exam room. She was instructed to remove all her clothing, put on the hospital robe and sit on the table when ready. Sydney did as she was told. A female lab tech and a male doctor entered the room. "Good afternoon Ms. Bristow, please lie down and scoot to the end of the table." The doctor took her arm to assist her onto the table.
Something in Sydney's mind snapped at the doctor's touch. Her eyes went wild and she fought away from his grip. "No, I won't do it... you can't make me do it..." Sydney jumped off the table. The doctor hollered, "Security... Ms. Bristow, please calm down. Tell me what's wrong." The doctor tried to get close to Sydney. She backed away from him, toward the door.
The security guard opened the door and Sydney lashed out at him, knocking him over. Before running out the door, she looked back at the doctor. "You can't make me; I will never work for you." She ran down the hall. Sneaking around corners and hallways, Sydney searched for an exit. She heard people coming, found a small closet and hid inside. 'I can hide here and leave when they pass my position.' She heard footsteps pass. She quickly opened the door. Looking around she saw no one else and continued to move to the exit.
She peered around the corner, Vaughn was there. "Quick Vaughn, they'll be coming. We have to get out of here," Vaughn saw her and held her to him.
"Sydney... Where are we?"
"We got to get out now... come on." Sydney took his hand and started to pull him out.
"Wait Sydney, come in here." Vaughn pulled her into an office. He clicked on an intercom as they entered the room. "We're in room 4. She's with me." Sydney looked at Vaughn.
"You're not Vaughn... get out of my way." Sydney went to push pass Vaughn. He fought back and held onto her.
"Sydney, calm down. You are dreaming or something... you are safe. There is no one after you."
"Vaughn?" She looked at him, the wildness starting to leave her eyes. She started to calm.
"You are OK. You are safe." The door opened and the doctor and the security guards barged into the room. Sydney jerked back into motion.
This time Vaughn held her, listening to her protests as the doctor injected her with a sedative. As she calmed, Vaughn loosened his grip. The doctor left, "When she's asleep, bring her back to Room 7. We will finish the exam. Soldiers, move back to your post, she's not going anywhere now."
Vaughn laid Sydney on the bed. "Where are you Syd?"
Sydney looked up, her pupils starting to dialate. She sat up slowly, almost drunkenly and looked at Vaughn, "I will never work for you, Sloan." She suddenly kicked, landing her foot on Vaughn's jaw. He fell sideways, unconscious. Sydney opened a window and climbed out.
'I have to find a hiding place, before I collapse. I can feel the drug already starting to work. Where should I go?'
Sydney surveyed the area. She saw the dumpster, and no one around. She crawled inside and curled into the corner, covering herself as best she could. She felt the drug wash through her system. She soon lost consciousness.
The doctor reentered room 4 to find Vaughn on the floor and Sydney missing. He immediately went to Vaughn who was waking up. "Where is she?"
"She kicked me and got away. I will find her."
"She won't be far. That sedative will take effect quickly."
"I'll bring her back."
"You understand, I have to call Kendall."
"Give me a half hour?"
"You know I can't."
"Please?"
"Vaughn... you have ten minutes. If she's not back, I have to call him."
Vaughn slipped out the window; he figured this would be the way she would have gone. He looked around. He stood at the back of the building. 'Where would she go? Where would I send her to hide for a few hours while the drug wears off?" Vaughn slipped around the corner of the medical facility and spied the dumpster. 'Good hiding spot.' He lifted the lid. It was full of shredded paper. He did not see her in the rubble. He started to close the lid, when a glint of auburn came into his eyesight. Vaughn reopened the lid, climbed into the dumpster and unburied Sydney.
Her eyes fluttered lightly. She spoke dreamily, "Help me Vaughn."
"I will. Where are you Syd?"
"Sloan... I don't know... why don't you come... get me?"
"What country Syd?"
"I... don't... know. I'm alone."
"What are they doing to you? What do they want you to do?"
"Sammy will do it... for them... Sammy... Help me... please."
"Sydney... who's Sammy... Syd?" She was fully asleep now. Vaughn worked his way out of the dumpster, with Sydney and carried her back to the exam room.
The doctor completed his exam, while she slept. Vaughn stayed by her side through the experience. He assisted the lab tech when she redressed Sydney and he placed her on a cot in another room. "I'll be back in an hour. Will she still be asleep?"
"Most definitely," was the doctor's reply.
Vaughn sat in Kendall's office with Jack. They had discussed the trip to Hong Kong as well as the most recent incident in medical. Vaughn gave his opinions about her capture, "Sloan had her. She more or less told me that. He was trying to get her to do something, she wouldn't say. She didn't agree whatever it was."
Kendall opined, "I told you, we have to keep her in lock up. We have to keep her under guard at all times. We don't know what will spark another incident."
Vaughn shifted in his seat. Jack spoke. "No, we need to get her daily appointments with Barnett, and she needs to stay active. Put her on a training schedule. Vaughn, you could work with her. You need to get back in training shape too."
"Now wait..."
Kendall pounced. "See you think she needs to be caged as well!"
"No... I meant..."
Jack and Kendall both looked at him. Vaughn squirmed. "Kendall, I agree with Jack, you are going to get more information from Sydney if she is active. Her mind and body work together. And Jack... I'm going home tomorrow."
"OK, you can go home... to make arrangements, to move back to LA!"
"No... Jack... my wife knows nothing of the CIA. I can't just tell her I'm moving back to LA to 'Work at a bank.' What if she doesn't want to move...? What could I do here any way?"
"You will work with Sydney of course. You are a team. She needs you Vaught." Jack used his trump card.
"Sydney is a good agent, Jack. She will work with anyone. She... She won't work with me. Heck, she couldn't even sit with me on the plane."
"Vaughn, you are the one who will help her the most. She responds to you. Look at how much she has told you already. Vaughn, you and her feed off each other. I think you need her too."
Vaughn stood. "Jack... I can't... I'm married. Sydney is... She... NO! I can't." Vaughn walked out of the room.
Kendall looked at Jack. "Your plan won't work without him. If he refuses we will have to start at the beginning with her."
"I'm not done yet. I have one more ploy."
Jack entered the medical room. Sydney was stirring. "Dad."
"Syd... you OK?"
"Yeah... I have a headache. The nurse said they gave me a sedative."
"Yes, do you remember anything?"
"I was getting ready for the exam. I got a bad feeling, like something bad was going to happen. I don't know after that."
"Sydney... Vaughn mentioned that you referred to Sammy. Who is Sammy?"
Sydney got a faraway look in her eyes. She closed them. She sat up on the bed, no longer appearing tired or groggy and reopened her eyes to look at her father. "I don't know anyone named Sammy. Why? Where did he hear that name?"
Jack looked at his daughter. "Vaughn said you brought up the name when you were sedated. He said you mentioned Sloan and that 'Sammy' would do... something. He didn't understand what you were talking about."
"I don't know dad... you know how those drugs affect your mind, probably meant nothing. Sorry."
"It's OK Sydney. Kendall may ask you to go through hypnosis with Barnett. There is something obviously locked up there."
"I'll do what I can."
"I know. Sydney, I need to ask you to do something for me."
"What do you need?"
"When Vaughn comes by tonight, I need you to convince him to stay with CIA."
"I don't think so dad... It's his life and..."
"Sydney. Do you want him back?"
"Dad, I would never..."
"No... That's not what I meant. He's your partner, whether he's married or not. You and he are one of the most successful teams I have ever seen. You need to get back on your feet. He should be here, to help, to be your handler again."
"Dad, that's a pretty big request for him."
"Don't you mean for you?"
"Dad..."
"Sydney. Ask him. Be nice... keep it professional... you want him back... on you team... or not."
"I'll ask him, but I won't pressure him. Anyway, he will say no."
Jack kissed his daughter on the cheek. "Not if you ask."
She smiled as Jack left. 'Not if Sydney asks.'
~~ To be continued...
A/N: Well, well, well... the suspense continues. I hope you are all enjoying this long..... long story. I guess I never meant it to be this long. But, I have more ideas to include. Sooner or later I may even work in Sark (just to make Vaughn jealous????)
Hope you are enjoying this 'tome.'
Maxie.