Chapter 6: The Possibility of Thirteen
A/n: Thank-you SO much everyone who reviewed! I loved everyone's thoughts on stuff too.
~Twin*Muse- your dad's prediction sounds really good. I'm kind of thinking that way too now.
Disclaimer: Belongs to JJ Abrams.
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She walked quickly through the halls of the hospital, heading straight for the room at the end of the brightly lit hallway; her mother's room.
She found her father watching Irina from outside, leaning his arm against the window. He looked up when he heard her footsteps. he said. How was your mission? He looked as if he hadn't slept in awhile.
I got the cure. And I gave it to the drop-off like we planned. She recalled slipping the bottle into the maintenance man's pocket at the airport (maintenance man meaning CIA agent). I got a call from Kendall a few minutes ago saying that they had just given her the medicine.
I too received a similar phone call. He turned to look back at the woman he once loved. He said your mother should wake up within the hour. He rubbed his sleep deprived eyes. Come on, let's go get coffee.
He led her down a series of hallways until they reached the cafeteria, where he ordered two coffees. Sydney noticed how Jack knew his way so well around the hospital, as if he had gone for coffee many times while she was away. She pushed these thoughts out of her head as Jack handed her a coffee filled styrofoam cup.
she mumbled softly, before taking a sip.
I hope the cottage I booked for you and Agent Vaughn was adequate.
Oh, yes. The view of the ocean was beautiful, and it was very quaint. Except the mattress was missing in my bedroom, so I had to sleep in Vaughn's bed –
You what? Jack exclaimed.
Crap, I shouldn't have said that... she thought. So he slept on the couch.
Thank God I'm an experienced liar. Sydney checked her watch. We have a meeting to get to with Kendall soon, she told her father. Do you want to walk over with me?
Actually, I have a few things I need to do first, so you can go ahead without me.
Sydney nodded and turned to leave, heading back to Headquarters. On her way out, she happened to stuff her hand in her large coat pocket to find a hat inside...
~Flashback~
She pulled her bag towards her house. The boat trip was lonely, the plane ride was lonely. All she wanted to do was take a long relaxing bath with her favorite book, then crawl into bed. She felt like being alone.
The lights were turned off in the apartment, so she assumed that Francie and Will were out.
Good, she thought. She didn't exactly want them around while she cried about how she could never be with Vaughn again the way they had been on the island. She would cry about how she missed him already, and she would cry about anything else worth crying over.
She secured her new Kings hat on her head and unlocked the door. If she couldn't be with Vaughn, then she'd at least be with his hat. She had barely taken it off since he placed it there.
I would never take it off if it weren't for sleeping, showering, work, and Will's hatred for them, she thought.
She stepped into her apartment, and noticed that the lights in the kitchen were on.
Sydney, is that you? Francie called from inside of it. I hope you're hungry, I just made this huge dinner and I found out that Will isn't coming, so... Sydney heard Francie's footsteps coming towards her.
The hat! Francie thinks I went to Philadelphia. She took off the hat and shoved it quickly into her pocket just before Francie appeared around the corner. Yeah, I'm starved. But first I want to take a bath, that was a long flight.
~End Flashback~
She found herself outside Vaughn's office, her hand still tightly gripping the Kings hat in her pocket. She knocked on the door.
Come in, she heard. Sydney turned the handle and stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. Vaughn had his back away from her. He was rummaging through a file cabinet. He quickly pulled out a file and threw it on his desk before he looked up.
She didn't move at first. She wanted him to do something, but he simply stood still, too. She couldn't take it anymore, and she ran to his arms.
I love you, she whispered softly in Vaughn's ear.
I love you, too, he replied, kissing her on top of her head.
She refused to let go of him. She wanted to stay in his warm embrace forever. She lifted her head, and allowed her eyes to search through his.
Suddenly the phone rang, startling them both. Sydney jumped back away from Vaughn, and sat down in one of the chairs in his office. Vaughn first glared angrily at the phone, but realized that it wouldn't do any good.
he said, picking up the phone. Yes. Right away. He set the phone down. That was Kendall.
Time for the meeting? she asked, receiving a nod from Vaughn.
Go ahead. I have to grab another file.
She looked at him one last time. Vaughn couldn't stand her pleading eyes, and he walked up to her and brought his hands to her face. He pulled her mouth to his and kissed her passionately. He broke the kiss, and said, See you in a few.
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear, and turned back to the file cabinet. Sydney quietly opened the door, and quickly made her way to the meeting room.
Kendall was already there, putting papers in order. Agent Bristow, nice work in the island, he told her, not lifting his head.
She nodded in recognition, and took a seat across from him. She was still in a daze from the kiss.
Slowly, the rest of the agents filed in and took their seats. Kendall quickly closed his binder and slid a manilla folder to everyone in the group. As most of you know, there are twelve SD cells. We have recently received intel that there may possibly be a thirteenth cell.
Now, this cell is different than the other SD cells. If our sources are correct, then it contains information on the Alliance members that we could use to our benefit. Also, this cell contains information to bring down the Alliance. Our CIA sources have not yet located this cell, but they have several cities that they believe this cell may be in. One of these cities is Madrid, Spain.
Sydney's head perked up at his speech. ...bring down the Alliance...' played again and again in her mind. The end of SD-6. She quickly cast a glance at Vaughn, who was already staring intently at her.
This could mean so much for them.
Agent Sydney Bristow already has a mission to Spain by the order of SD-6...
~Flashback~
She had been only half listening to Sloane through the whole meeting. As far as he knew, she had just returned from vacation, and she was ready to work. She kept her eyes watching him, and nodded every so often, as she learned to do over the years when she didn't feel like listening.
Agent Bristow, he startled her back into the real world, you will depart for Madrid on Thursday. You will retrieve the Rambaldi manuscripts that are located in the back of a painting. The painting is Las Meninas by Velazquez in the Prado. Marshall has some useful gadgets for you. Marshall?
Uh, ok. First, since this is, like, one of the highest security-guarded museums in the world, you're going to need some way of getting in. Mr. Sloane got me one of the security guard's identity cards, and I just pulled a switcheroo on the picture. See? he held up the card with Sydney's picture on it and showed it to fake people that he pretended to be passing by and waved to them. he said, setting the card down onto the table, I also made this glove that you'll have to wear to touch the keypad that deactivates the alarm system around the painting itself. Nothing special, he chuckled at the last part. By the way, Sydney, your earrings are really nice. They remind me of these ones my grandmother used to wear, only they were bigger, or her ear lobes were small, but –
Thank-you, Marshall, Sloane interrupted. Marshall sat down.
~End Flashback~
Kendall continued. Has Agent Vaughn given you the counter mission yet?
Sydney looked over at Vaughn quickly, too afraid that a longer glance would captivate her body. Not yet, she said, shaking her head.
Kendall nodded. He will later fill you in on details, then. When Agent Bristow's mission for SD-6 is completed, she will meet us at our assigned base in Madrid. Our team will be waiting for her. Once she arrives we will search for SD-13.
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After the meeting had adjourned, Jack walked up to Sydney and whispered, Your mother is most likely awake... I assume she wants to speak with you.
Sydney nodded. Jack slipped away to talk some more with Kendall, and Sydney began to briskly walk back to the hospital. She didn't realize how fast she had remembered her way around the busy hallways, but she suddenly found herself looking through the glass window at her mother.
She was awake. A nurse from inside waved for Sydney to come in. She slowly opened the door as if she might be disturbing something of great importance.
Her mother's wrists and ankles were trussed to the bed. Her skin was still so pale, and the mysterious twinkle in her eyes had not yet returned. Her brown hair loosely framed her face against the pillow.
How are you feeling? Sydney asked after dismissing the nurse.
Her voice seemed lost and faded.
Really, it wasn't anything –
Sydney, I mean it. Thank-you.
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Sydney came home to find that Francie had cooked another huge dinner.
Hey, Syd. Just sit down and get started, I'll be right back, she said in a rush.
Sydney joined Will at the table and began to serve food to herself.
he glanced around the wall to make sure Francie was out of earshot. What have they had you up to lately?
Sydney sighed slightly. She came home to escape the epics of work. It was a big relief that she could talk to Will about SD-6 and the CIA, but she wasn't sure if it was safe all of the time. Could she tell him about Vaughn, or the possibility of SD-13? I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. There; it was short, and straight to the point.
Will chuckled at first, but then stopped. Oh, you're serious.
They're sending me to Spain soon, she whispered
Wait, the good guys or bad guys?
What was that? Francie returned, surprising Will suddenly.
Oh, uh, Sydney was just saying that she has to go to Boston soon, Will covered.
That sucks. When do you leave?
Do you think you'll have any free time? Because Boston has some great shopping! Francie became exciting by the idea of shopping.
Is shopping always on women's' minds? Will asked in a somewhat whiny voice. Sydney and Francie stared at him blankly. Never mind...
Well come guys, let's eat, Francie urged
Francie, this looks great. You really didn't have to do this, Sydney said, placing her napkin on her lap.
It was absolutely necessary.
Sydney smiled, ate her meal, and continued the evening with talk of completely normal subjects with her two best friends.
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Later that night, Sydney was just getting out of the bath tub when she heard her cell phone ring. By then it was quite late, and she could only think of one person who might call her at this time of night.
she answered
Joey's Pizza?
She smiled. Wrong number.
Quickly she changed out of her pajamas into real clothes and grabbed her keys. Francie and Will were already asleep, so she crept silently out of the apartment. She stepped into her car, and without much thought she drove to the warehouse.
Vaughn heard her footsteps and watched her walk in. He was all alone with her once again.
he said.
Sydney stood rather far away from him at first. She knew if she got any closer then she may not be able to separate from him.
Vaughn noticed the separation, gazed at her sadly, then slowly averted his eyes. Your counter mission, I almost forgot. Once you retrieve the manuscripts, there will be a drop-off man before you get back with Dixon. He will also be dressed as a security guard. He'll be stationed near the exit, and he'll whisper The hallways look cleaner tonight' to you. Give him the manuscripts. He'll copy them and if we have time, make a fake. You'll get this back and give that to Dixon.
Got it. She looked wistfully into Vaughn's eyes. She couldn't take it any longer.
She dropped her purse and ran to Vaughn, and just let him hold her. Vaughn gently stroked her back. Vaughn, I love you.
I know, and I love you too. He kissed her forehead. Can you believe it, SD-13?
She pulled away slightly so she could look her love straight in the eye. I hope with all of my heart that there is an SD-13.
If there is, we'll find it, Sydney. I am going to do everything in my power to find this cell. We can find it, I know we can.
They stayed in each others' arms for a great while longer until Vaughn told Sydney that she should head back to her apartment. She once again was forced to reluctantly abandon her love.
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Her hair was curled and she wore a midnight blue dress that ended mid calf. She was boarding the plane to Madrid, and Dixon was a few people in line behind her. She knew that once she got through this mission, she could be with Vaughn and search for her ticket to freedom. But first, she had to get into SD-6 spy mode.
A/N: Ok! I'm sad to say that there won't be very much S/V in the next chapter, but the one after that will have some more for all of you.
I realized after writing this chapter that I'm not to great at writing in Marshall... but oh well he's coming back no matter what.
I'm not sure if I want this one to come to an end then make a sequel (I mean when I get to the ending part), or just make this one LONG fic . I'm leaning towards the sequel, but give me your thoughts.
Also, I want to know what Sark's first name is. Why don't they tell us? It's really bugging me. At first I was confused as to whether it was his first name or last name, and then I thought what if the writers are crazy and it's his middle name. But then I read this article saying it was his last name. Sorry. I'm insane. Anywho..
REVIEW!!!! please.