Chapter 7
2002

Sydney and Vaughn managed to leave the warehouse without detection from The Man, or any of her guards. Once they knew they were safe, they slowly walked to a hotel to rest. The adrenaline had worn off, and the stress of the trip had taken it's toll on their bodies. They both felt tired and sick to their stomachs.

Breathless after their retreat from the warehouse, they collapsed on the bed. Neither one of them had talked much since their heart-to-heart in the briefing room a few days prior. An uncomfortable silence settled down on them, but neither had the strength to make conversation. Soon they were both asleep on top of the covers, careful not to touch each other.

Sydney woke up first, eight hours later. She was grateful she felt better than before, though she knew that eventually it would get worse. She tried to shove that thought aside, as she glanced over at Vaughn. He looked so peaceful. Waking up next to him almost made her forget all that had happened in the past sixteen years. Like it was just a bad dream, and soon he would wake up, pull her in his arms, and make her forget that there was any evil in the world.

God she missed him. She still remembered how it felt to be kissed by him. How if felt to have his arms around her waist. How it felt to have him staring at her, pretending he wasn't, when she was in the kitchen. Or the way it felt the morning after when he'd snuggle, placing his head on her chest, refusing to believe it was actually morning.

Sydney was knee deep in memories, staring and smiling at his sleeping form, when he woke up. Vaughn half smiled self-consciously, then furrowed his brow wondering if he was drooling. Sydney shook her head to clear her memories.

Good morning, Sydney said, or rather good afternoon.

Vaughn replied back. What time is it?

Umm, it's four-thirty.

Still 2002?

As far as I know, Sydney responded grinning slightly. How are you feeling?

Better, good, Vaughn answered sitting up and stretching his muscles.



They looked at each other, their eyes sparkling more than they had in years. The connection they shared obviously still there. The silence between them had somehow grown comfortable.

Vaughn finally looked down; unable to look at the woman he ached for, but could never have again. He decided work would be easier to focus on and asked, So what's the plan of action?

Well, uh, Sydney stammered, turning her attention to work, we should lay low for awhile. Remember what 2002 is like. Keep moving, but never together. We'll meet at hotel rooms only, changing cities at least every two weeks.

Right, we have to avoid the Alliance's radar.

And the CIA's.

That'll be fun, Vaughn replied sarcastically as he ran his hand through his sleep flattened hair.

And we'll steal whatever Rambaldi artifacts we can, and mail them to the CIA.

And in May, we'll kill Derevko.

And Sloane and Sark if necessary, Sydney reminded Vaughn.

Right. What if were too weak to get to them? Do we have a back-up plan?

Sydney thought. It was a possibility that they might not live untill May. Do you think our younger selves would help?

I don't know, Vaughn replied honestly. I think we were both more idealistic then, and would consider killing a last resort. And I thought Marshall said we shouldn't see our younger selves.

He did, and that's not what I'm suggesting, Sydney said. I was thinking if necessary I could talk to your younger self, and you could talk to my younger self. And maybe if we explained our past, they would understand why we are doing what we are doing.

When did you become an optimist?

I'm pretty sure I've always been an optimist. If I wasn't, SD-6 never would have gone down, Sydney retorted. When did you become a pessimist?

About two seconds after I found what you did, Vaughn answered, becoming serious with the mention of their past.

Sydney sighed. The silence had become uncomfortable again. Their emotions were getting in the way of their words. The two had changed so much since their breakup, that they hardly recognized themselves. Though Sydney never allowed a man to define her, she knew that Vaughn brought out the best in her. And without him, she had become just a shell of the person she used to be.

I'm going to take a shower, Sydney finally announced. She quickly left the room, feeling suffocated with her own guilt.

Vaughn watched her leave, and felt guilty for bringing up their past. He hadn't planned it, but it had escaped his mouth before he could stop it. The censor in his brain worked less than it used to, and he now said things he didn't always mean. A lot were knee-jerk defensive reactions.

He heard Sydney start the shower, and remembered how their lives had been approaching normal before their breakup. Their lives were almost what one would call domestic. Sleeping in on the weekends and complaining about their boss on weekday nights. He still longed for that life, still longed for Sydney. But pride and his love for his father and prevented him from that life. All he had now was hope that Sydney and he could start over.