Chapter 10

Are you going to make it, Syd? Vaughn asked, concerned.

I'll be fine, Sydney answered too quickly. Don't worry about me. She hurriedly turned toward the dresser to gather the rest of her clothes. Her bag was half-packed, and Sydney had been packing for over an hour. She was breathing hard, and had to sit down again when she reached her bag on the bed.

Here let me, Vaughn said as he walked towards the bed. He grabbed the pile of clothes and began stuffing them in Sydney's bag. They were now in a Hampton Inn in Medford, Oregon. They had seen worse rooms in the past nine months, though the rooms were starting to blend together in Vaughn's memory. This room had one huge king bed in the middle. A desk and a small table, with chairs. A standard hotel television, but a bonus microwave and small refrigerator. And this room was relatively clean.

Sydney's health was deteriorating rapidly, while Vaughn was lagging a bit he was doing better than Sydney. They had both woken up that morning knowing that it was time to contact their younger selves for help. They knew that the likelihood of them completing their mission by themselves was unlikely.

The fact that their deaths were looming over head so imminently, was not what was bothering them. It was the fact that they might fail in their mission. Then all of what they had done and gone through would be for nothing. They decided that morning to pack and leave at separate times. They would meet up in Los Angeles. Since the Alliance was gone they had more freedom to be seen together, but they didn't want to draw attention to themselves.

Vaughn looked over at Sydney as he zipped her bag up. He was concerned about Sydney. She hardly had the strength to walk across the room, and now she was going to be flying to L.A. The last month had taken its toll on both of them, but Vaughn knew that Sydney did not have that much time left. He hoped that she could hold on a little bit longer until they were able to talk with their younger selves.

Sydney was not worried about making it to L.A., she was worried about contacting themselves. She wasn't sure how they would react to their older selves and the mission. After the preparation and planning Sydney and Vaughn had done, Sydney knew the success of the mission would come down to their younger selves. That didn't provide much hope for Sydney.

Are you ready to go? Vaughn asked gently, yet he kept his distance from Sydney.

Sydney replied as she stood up and grabbed her bag. I'll contact Vaughn as soon as I land.

Are you sure? You may want to rest.

I'll be fine. I can take care of myself. Besides, neither one of us has that much time left.

Vaughn said, disheartened. Any idea on what you are going to say to him?

The truth, Sydney answered coyly.

Any specifics of how you are going to tell him the truth? Vaughn asked, annoyed. His forehead wrinkles were in full bloom and Sydney was starting to give him a headache. He was glad he would have time away from her while they flew to Los Angeles.

No, I don't know how I'm going to tell him. You?

Not a clue.

Well I'm glad we have a clear cut plan.

Good luck, Vaughn said without realizing he was going back to his old standby.

I'll see you later.

Los Angeles

Sydney was sitting in her rental car, waiting outside the warehouse. She had called the younger Vaughn, posing as her younger self, and asked him to come to the warehouse. He could tell something was wrong and had asked her what it was, but she dismissed his questions saying she would explain everything when they met. She had tried to make it to the warehouse before Vaughn, but had gotten caught in traffic. Now he was already inside, and Sydney was trying to steel herself for what was about to come.

She took a deep breath, and opened the car door. Sydney had been able to sleep on the plane, and was surprisingly rested. She reached for the door of the warehouse, and noticed her hand was shaking. She quickly clenched her hands into fists, trying to control the movement. Sydney shook her head forcing her nervousness out, and opened the door.

He was in the cages, where they used to meet before the Alliance was taken down. She stopped a moment to look at him. Though the years had been good to Vaughn, he had lost an energy that he used to have. Looking at his younger self, she saw that energy again and it made her smile. Sydney knew he was untainted by her betrayal, and it looked good on him. He was happy.

Sydney shouted out as she walked up to him. He turned towards her smiling, but it was soon replaced with forehead wrinkles and a confused look. His hand went to his gun, resting on it but ready to pull it out at any second.

What's going on? Who are you?

That's what I'm hear to tell you. It's a long story though.

Vaughn didn't reply, just kept the stern look on his face. He had no idea what to make of what he was seeing. He searched this woman's face, looking for anything unfamiliar. There were a few more wrinkles and some gray hair, but the woman in front of him looked like Sydney.

Vaughn, I'm going to sit down. Sydney stated finding an orange plastic chair. What I'm about to tell you, you aren't going to believe at first. But I need you to try, it'll make this easier for both of us. I guess I'll start out saying it involves Rambaldi.

Oh, God, Vaughn muttered. He had removed his hand from his gun and was now rubbing his forehead. Vaughn knew he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.

Okay, I am Sydney Bristow. I'm from... the future. Fifteen years to be exact.

You're from the future? Vaughn asked disbelieving.

You remember the Circumference. It was actually a time machine. Well actually a platform to a portal, but that's not important.

Vaughn grabbed the other chair and sat down slowly. He nodded to Sydney for her to continue.

We were sent back on a mission. The mission-

Vaughn interrupted.

Your older self and me. The mission it to kill a dangerous terrorist before she is too powerful to touch, and she escapes from CIA custody again.

Who's the terrorist?

Irina Derevko.

You came back fifteen years to kill your mother?

A lot has happened in fifteen years, Sydney replied, not wanting to go into details, but knew he would ask for them.

Like what?

Sydney looked down to floor and sighed. She knew she was going to have to admit her past mistake to him, but had hoped it wouldn't come up. Sydney sounded detached as she started, Derevko killed Sloane, and the CIA was able to take her back into custody in Florence. Before she was caught she was able to set some explosives which killed Sark.

I talked with her while she was awaiting transport back to L.A., emotion was creeping back into Sydney's voice. She apologized for abandoning me, stating she wished she could have stayed with my father and me. And she was afraid she would get the death penalty, as Sloane and Sark was gone and her leverage was gone.

Derevko said she had killed them for me. So I could go on with my life, leave the CIA behind me. She convinced me to help her escape. Derevko said she would come back. And I believed her. She never came back. And I lost everything.

A tear escaped Sydney's eye, which she hastily wiped away. She hadn't looked at Vaughn while she was recounting what had happened. Sydney didn't want to see the betrayal in his eyes. But she forced her head up and looked at him. Vaughn's face was sad, but didn't hold any blame. He knew he hadn't heard the whole story yet.

What happened after that?

The CIA packed my bags for me, and you left. You were so angry, which I never blamed you for. You took a five-year placement in Madrid. The last time I saw you, you were boarding the plane. I begged you to forgive me, but we both knew you couldn't, Sydney's voice broke and she was forced to stop talking.

Vaughn wasn't sure how to react to this information. Normally he wouldn't be inclined to believe a story like this, but something made him believe. Or someone. Though the woman in front of him had changed from the woman he knew now, there was no doubt that she was Sydney. It was heartbreaking hearing the story of her betrayal, but he somehow was detached from it. But that didn't stop his curiosity.

Did you think we would be alright after you helped Derevko escape?

No, not that I was thinking about that. I was thinking that my mother loved me, and I would have that. You and I hadn't admitted our feelings to each other, and I honestly wasn't sure how you felt about me. I doubted you long enough to let her go.

How could you not know-

I know now. Besides I'm not the one you should tell.

Vaughn nodded in understanding. So, why are you coming to me? And why not to both Sydney and me?

Vaughn is going to Sydney. We are avoiding our younger selves, Marshall isn't sure what would happen if we saw ourselves. And we are coming to you because we need your help.

Our help?

The time traveling will kill us, is killing us. We're not going to be able to kill Derevko ourselves. We need you to do it.

-------------------------

Who are you? the younger Sydney demanded. She had just flipped Vaughn over her shoulder, and he was now sprawled out on her living room floor.

Vaughn coughed violently, but holding his hands up to show he was not a threat. Sydney backed off of him, seeing that there wasn't much he could do as he was coughing. She hadn't thought she had thrown him that hard, she was ready for more of a fight.

This is going to take a while to explain, Vaughn stated after he had recovered from his coughing fit. He was now sitting on the floor, with the younger Sydney looming over him.

Sydney didn't say anything, just raised her eyebrows. She wasn't going to let him off the hook by him threatening a long conversation.

You are stubborn, Vaughn muttered, though Sydney heard him. She crossed her arms in front of her, letting him know she was not amused. I'm Michael Vaughn from fifteen years in the future.

Excuse me? Sydney wasn't sure if she should laugh or call an asylum.

Rambaldi's Circumference was a platform to a time portal. Your older self and I came from there to stop a terrorist.

All this way to stop one person?

She's too powerful in the future to stop her.

Sydney asked, though she had a feeling she knew the answer.

Vaughn paused before answering. He wasn't sure how Sydney was going to react to their mission. Finally he stated, Derevko. We came back to kill her, after she kills Sloane and Sark.

I came back to kill my mother? Sydney asks quietly, sitting on her couch. She didn't know how to take in this information, she was starting to believe this man in front of her. Sydney didn't know why she believed him, but she did.

Derevko doesn't deserve your sympathy, Vaughn stated, trying to avoid spatting at her. It was difficult for him to hear Sydney care about her mother.

In fifteen years, we never caught her?

Vaughn sighed, but she escaped.

Again? With no outside help?

You helped her.

I did what? Sydney asked, disbelieving. No, I would never help her escape. Not after all that she has done.

She manipulated you. Derevko got you to feel connected to her, and then feel sorry for her. You thought she loved you.

But I wouldn't do that to you, to my father. I... Sydney couldn't form complete sentences. She didn't understand how she let this happen. How could she betray Vaughn like that?

You questioned how I felt for you, and you helped her escaped. Afterwards, when she didn't come back, after she assured you she would, the CIA fired you. And I felt betrayed. I assumed you didn't care about me at all. I didn't know how you felt for me before it happened, so I left. Spent five years in Madrid on assignment. I didn't see you again until we were both asked to volunteer for this mission.

Did you send me those pictures? Sydney asked, remembering the envelope she received a month and a half ago. They had made her sick, but she forced herself to look at them. She had to see what her mother had done, the pain she had caused.

What pictures?

Sydney replied quickly, not wanting to talk about the images she had seen. She hadn't talked to anyone about them, not even the younger Vaughn. Sydney didn't want to make him relive his father's death, and she wasn't sure if he had seen the picture of his father before. She wasn't going to be the one to show him what his father looked like when he died.

Why are you coming to me?

We need your help. We aren't going to live much longer. We need you and Vaughn to kill Derevko.