Chapter 3

God my head hurts. Doesn't your head hurt? Weiss asked Vaughn as they sat down in the cafeteria with their lunches.

Yeah, a little, Vaughn responded distractedly.

Weiss looked over to Vaughn, wondering if he should bring it up. Sighing, he asked, It was hard to see her again, wasn't it?

Vaughn responded by raising his eyebrows, rolling his eyes, and nodding slightly. He didn't really want to talk about it, but knew Weiss wouldn't let him off the hook so easily.

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Who says time travel is complicated? Sydney joked after the waitress put down their food and left then table. Over the passing years, Sydney had used sarcasm as a defense mechanism. A way to deal with her problems and keep people at a distance. It kept her from being hurt, but proved lonesome.

Sydney, I know it wasn't easy for you to see him again, Jack said ignoring her joke.

Sydney sighed heavily. She knew that was the main reason Jack had taken her out to lunch was to discuss Vaughn. But she didn't want to. It brought back too many unpleasant emotions.

We are going to talk about it, Sydney, Jack stated sternly.

What's to talk about? I choose Derevko over Vaughn. Case closed. Let's move on, Sydney replied strictly, hoping her father would take the hint.

Sorry, I'm not buying it.

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Fine, Weiss, let's talk about it. Fifteen years ago Sydney took her mother killing Sloane as sign that Derevko was proving herself to the CIA. She let Derevko escape, again. More than that, she helped plan Derevko's escape. Without any consideration to the CIA, her father, or me.

I don't think Sydney would see it that way.

I don't care how Sydney would see it, Vaughn replied bitterly. She made a choice. She chose Derevko.

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Do you know how difficult it was to help her? Sydney asked, not expecting a response. I knew that Vaughn would see it as a betrayal. And I did it anyway. I thought I could explain myself. Or that Derevko would come back and make it right. But I was wrong. Derevko used me, and I betrayed Vaughn.

What made you think Derevko was worth it?

I doubted that Vaughn loved me.

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That proved that she never actually loved me' Vaughn spat. And it doesn't matter that the CIA has forgiven her and has let her in on this mission. They were right to fire her, and they are wrong to let her back in. But I'm not going to do that. I will never forgive her for releasing my father's murderer.

What are you going to do then? Weiss asked. You're going to have to work with her.

Well, with this time machine, maybe I won't have to forgive her. Vaughn said with a glimmer of hope.

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There isn't anything I could do to make up to Vaughn for what I did to him. I don't expect him to forgive me. I never have.

How are you going to work with him?

Maybe I won't have to make it up to him, Sydney replied somewhat nervously.

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You're not thinking of volunteering for this mission, are you? Weiss asked, shocked.

Vaughn didn't reply. He just got up from his seat and left Weiss looking after him, dismayed.

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You're not thinking of volunteering for this mission, are you? Jack asked, shocked.

Sydney didn't reply. She just got up from the table and left the restaurant, with Jack looking after her, dismayed.