Chapter 13
The next night

Vaughn had been waiting for thirty minutes when Derevko had gotten to the Aeroparto di Fierenze. Both were near the runway, but a safe distance from any incoming planes. Vaughn was slightly surprised by Derevko's ability to bypass security of an airport, even if the airport was in Florence and not in the United States. Of course Vaughn had gotten in, even being as weak as he was. But he had just paid off a baggage handler.

Vaughn hadn't seen Sydney's counterpart, or his, at the airport. He was disappointed. Even if Derevko was killed, that didn't guarantee that their relationship wouldn't end. They needed to admit their feelings to each other, so they wouldn't start doubting each other. Or another Derevko, or Sloane, or Sark would destroy them.

Derevko was about to kill Sloane. All Vaughn had to do was wait for that, and then kill Derevko. But he had gotten much weaker since yesterday. He had managed to stay strong for Sydney, but her death impacted Vaughn both emotionally and physically. Vaughn took a breath, hoping to summon all his strength within him.

Luckily Derevko was busy avoiding detection, so she didn't notice Vaughn in the shadows. She was also waiting for Sloane's plane to land, which Vaughn knew would be at 10:33 pm. The airport closed at 11:00, so this was the perfect opportunity to kill someone and have no one know about it until tomorrow.

Sloane's Austrian flight arrived, and both Derevko and Vaughn stood straighter. Derevko snuck into the crowd walking down the steps of the plane into the airport. She grabbed Sloane's arm and ushered him back to her hiding place. Vaughn was at too much of a distance to hear what they were saying, but he could tell they were arguing. Derevko's back was to Vaughn, but could tell her arms were crossed tightly. Sloane's eyes flash of anger, which Vaughn could barely see from the light coming from windows of the airport.

Soon Sloane was gesturing wildly. Their argument was escalating, and Vaughn knew Sloane would soon be dead. Vaughn surpressed his grin from that fact, knowing that that alone wouldn't bring peace. Vaughn was about to start over to Derevko, but an Air France flight was landing which forced him to stay where he was.

Vaughn looked over to Sloane and Derevko and saw her hand go to the back of her waist. He saw a glimmer of a gun resting there. The passengers started coming out of the plane, not seeing the argument. Vaughn looked over and saw Sydney's younger self exiting the plane. She was looking around and saw Sloane and Derevko almost immediately.

Vaughn looked back at Derevko and saw her pull the gun out and shoot Sloane. There was no sound, and Vaughn realized Derevko had a silencer. He began running over to Derevko so she wouldn't escape. Vaughn was closer to her than Sydney was, and he still wasn't sure of her intentions. He drew his gun out of his holster, and quickly ran up to Derevko.

Vaughn yelled at Derevko who was on the phone. He was out of breath from the run over and the anticipation of the fight that would ensue. Derevko looked up, amused at first until she saw his face. Confusion flashed over her face momentarily, then quickly replaced it with her poker face.

Who are you? she asked as she pocketed her phone and pointed her gun at Vaughn.

Don't you recognize me? Vaughn asked mockingly.

Derevko answered by kicking the gun out of Vaughn's hands, and then slamming him down to the ground with her fist. Vaughn attempted to get up, but didn't have the strength. He looked up at her, and saw her smile as she pointed her gun back at him.

Drop your gun! Sydney yelled, running up to them.

exclaimed Derevko. Who is this?

Doesn't matter, Sydney responded, dismissing Derevko's question. Drop your gun.

Derevko dropped her gun over towards Sydney. She looked over to Sydney, who still had her gun trained on Derevko. Ignoring the gun, Derevko asked, Sweetie, why are you here?

I'm here to arrest you.

I can't go back there, you know they'll kill me.

That's not my problem, Sydney replied cooly.

You could help me Sydney, Derevko started. I love you. Look Sloane is dead. I did that for you, so you could be free. Please let me be free.

You don't deserve to be free.

I'm not the monster everyone else makes me out to be. You have to believe me.

If you're not a monster, how could you kill Vaughn's father the way you did?

Vaughn looked up at Sydney, confused. He didn't know how she knew about how his father died. They had never discussed it, and she didn't have the clearance to see the photos.

Derevko stuttered.

If you're not a monster how did you kill Vaughn's father by burning him to an unrecognizable form?

Sydney, darling, I was young, Derevko pleaded, I thought that I was a patriot, that I was serving my country. Please I need your forgiveness, and your help to escape. I'll come back, but I need to prove myself to the CIA first. I promise I'll come back, I love you. No repercussions will come to you.

Sydney remained silent. She looked to Vaughn, who was breathing hard still lying on the cement runway, then to her mother, then back to Vaughn. Sydney knew, by the look in Vaughn's eyes, that what Derevko was saying wasn't true. She knew there was only one way to prevent the pain Sydney saw in Vaughn's eyes.

Sydney aimed her gun and shot three times into Derevko. Derevko fell back onto the ground, a look of surprise on her face. Sydney walked over to her body, her gun still pointed at Derevko. She would have liked to have shot her twelve times, one for each of the CIA agents Derevko had killed, but it was unnecessary and it would have been more difficult to claim self-defense to the CIA.

When Sydney was satisfied Derevko was killed, she ran over to Vaughn's side. It surprised Vaughn to see that there weren't any tears in her eyes. He imagined they would come eventually, but right now she was too pumped with adrenaline.

Are you alright? Vaughn asked gently.

Yeah, I'm fine, Sydney responded automatically. Let's get you up and looked at.

No, I'm too weak. Where's Vaughn?

On a plane with a CIA task force coming from L.A. I was in Paris on a reconnaissance mission. I kept changing my mind about coming here. At the last minute I decided to come. Vaughn insisted that I have back up.

Nice back up. Vaughn joked, You didn't wait for him like you were suppose to, did you?

Well I couldn't, Sydney replied, stubbornly. I got off the plane, at 10:47 I might add, and saw my moth... Derevko kill Sloane. What was I suppose to do. Pretend I didn't see it and let her kill you too?

She was on the phone when I came up. She was probably sending the message to kill Sark, Vaughn stated, trying to catch his breath. You'll want to follow up on that.

Fine, but we need to go to the hospital.

No, there isn't any time, and there's nothing they can do for me anyway. I'm dying.

No you're no- Sydney started to answer, then looked around the runway. Where's Sydney?

She died yesterday, Vaughn answered, trying not to let emotion in his voice. He blinked back the tears, and then changed the subject. How did you know how my father died?

I received an envelope in the mail, Sydney stated. Inside were pictures of the agents Derevko killed and no note. The only fingerprints were my own. What was odd, was that the envelope was licked, but the DNA showed that it was me who licked it. You didn't know about it?

Vaughn replied. She must have known what it would have taken to get you to kill your own mother.

Well, she probably knew me pretty well.

Yeah, like I know Vaughn, Vaughn whispered. His breath was shallow as the pain increased. Tell him how you feel, you have to promise me that.

Vaughn, I... oh God, you're bleeding under your fingernails. You need to get to a hospital.

I'm going to die any second, but I need you to promise me first. Derevko is gone, the rest is up to you. Promise me you will tell him you love him.

Sydney sighed as she gently stroked the side of his face, I promise.

Thank you. For completing the mission and your promise. Thank you, Vaughn said more peacefully. He took a breath, and allowed himself to let go. Tears slid down Sydney's cheek, as she gently closed his eyes with her hand. Sydney stared at Vaughn's lifeless body, holding down the sobs that threatned to escape from her mouth.

She forced herself up and looked down at the three bodies down at her feet. She wiped her face of the tears, turned towards the airport taking her phone out and dialing the one number that would make this all okay.