Title: The Test
Author: Jenn, Jennyfer, Vaughn's Jenn... Yeah
Rating: PG-PG13
Summary: AU (alternate universe) Sydney and Vaughn meet under very different circumstances.

Chapter 1

"Wait... you want to put me out in the field?" There was a look, a mixture of looks really, of attempted control, surprise, giddyness... Distrust.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry but... I don't really understand. I just graduated The Far-"

"I'm aware of your past, Agent Bristow. However, I am also aware of your standing, your record... it's all very impressive really."

She leaned forward, placing her hands on his desk before realizing what she was doing and sitting back down. "But I'm completely green. You want to put me in the field? Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

The man raised an eyebrow in mock puzzlement. "Are you trying to get out of this?"

"What? No! No... that's not what I meant. It's just... surprising, that's all."

She bit her lip, feeling the heat of embarassment washing over her, feeling acutely how young she was, how inexperienced... how much she still had to learn about controlling her emotions. Strategizing. "What am I doing?"

"You're going undercover as Lily Stevens. You'll be posing as an intern at Barnard and King."

"The law firm?"

"The law firm."

"How long am I going to be there?"

"I'm not sure. Are you going to be comfortable there?"

It was then that Sydney felt the slightly condescending tone. God Syd, stop acting like such a baby. You're not working for McDonald's for God's sakes... Just do it! "Of course I can do it."


~:~


"Hey Mike, Devlin wants to see you."

Vaughn rolled his eyes. "God, he probably wants to know when I can turn in my paperwork. God Eric, I should be out there! I should be.. be... well, I'm not sure exactly what but I know that there is a better way to live my life and honor my father's than sitting behind a desk every day."

Eric nodded sympathetically as he always did when this subject came up. "I know man. But hey, your time will come. You know they want you. They're just waiting for Firdaus to retire. You're the best of us, Mike. And they know it."

Michael grinned, at Eric, shaking his head. "You're such an ass-licker you know that?"

"A "leche-cou." Eric smiled cheekily.

"Someone's been reading "500 naughty French phrases" haven't they?"

"Yeah well... someone's going to be late to their meeting with Devlin."

Michael jumped up, grabbing the three files that lay on his desk and nearly ran down the hall. "Thanks, man!"

Eric grinned, turning and walking back to his desk. You're welcome.

Michael opened the door hastily and readjusted his tie, reddening as he watched Devlin watching him. "I'm sorry I'm late, sir."

"That's quite all right Agent Vaughn. Please take a seat."

He did so, sliding the files over to him while he sat. "Here are the files on McKinnis, sir."

"Thank you Agent Vaughn. Let me start off by telling you that your work here is excellent, thought through... and overall very impressive. I've also been keeping track of your field training. You still go to the firing cage every week."

Michael smiled. "It took be a hell of a while to be able to hit the guys' chest, sir. I didn't want to get rusty."

"I see. Anyway, I've heard nothing but good reports about y-"

"Sir... don't think that I'm being rude but that's just what I wanted to talk to you about. I want to be out in the field. I want to go out and come home at whatever time on whatever day knowing that I've done something good for this country. I know that paperwork and filing is prestigious and important in its own right but sir, I can be out there. I should be out there. I know that you're-we're all waiting for Firdaus to retire... or that what I hear anyway, but I don't understand why we have to. I just... I just don't."

Michael looked into the other man's face.

There was absolutely no reaction.

Well, there's my go at it, anyway.

"Are you quite through, Agent Vaughn?"

"Umm... yes. Yes, I think that that about covers it."

"All right. As I was saying, I have heard nothing but good reports about you and it is for this reason that I have decided to give you an assignment."

Shock was registered throughout Michael Vaughn's face. "Are you serious sir?"

Devlin's eyebrows raised. "Actually no, Agent Vaughn. I was lying just to toy with your emotions."

Vaughn laughed weakly. "That was very good sir... that deadpan was... excellent." He flushed, hearing his suddenly childish voice in his head. God... could he get any more juvenile.

"Thank you Agent Vaughn. Anyway, as I was saying, you will be going undercover as Adam Keeley and you are posing as an up and coming young lawyer at Barnard and King."

"The law firm?"

"That would be why you would be posing as a up and coming young lawyer."

Oh. Right.







tbc...

more?

I know that this chapter was kinda boring too because it's still all exposition and I apologize. I feel a little uncomfortable writing this genre even though I love writing it... I'm just so used to writing the angst that writing something as AU and OOC as this is kinda jarring

I hope that you guys don't mind that the characters were a little ... Out of character. I apologize~ it had to be tweaked though.

Let me know what you think/thought!

-Jenn