Hey everyone! I am soooooooooooooooo sorry it took so long for this
chapter! I had a play and then I had writer's block. Please don't hate
me! I promise I won't take so long anymore now that I'm all caught up with
my life. I personally feel that this chapter is a little weak in
comparison to those before it but don't let me tell you how it is. Judge
for yourself and then respond with what you thought. There are a couple
things I'm not sure I like so criticism is welcome also!
Chapter 5
As Sydney walked into the warehouse, her stomach grumbled angrily. 'I knew I shouldn't have skipped breakfast,' she thought, 'I could have used a cup of coffee too, I'm exhausted!' Rounding the corner, she was surprised to see Vaughn sitting on a stool holding two cups of coffee.
"Here," he said, handing her one as she sat down, "There's muffins in here," he continued, picking up a bag from his feet. "There's blueberry, banana nut, chocolate chip, and honey wheat. I had no idea what kind you liked," he blushed.
"Thank you," Sydney replied, surprised and confused. "What is all this?"
"I didn't want you to miss breakfast. I know it's not Lucky Charms, but it's the best I could do."
"Vaughn, it's.Lucky Charms! How did you.?"
"I'm your guardian angel. I have my ways." Sydney just looked at him and laughed. "Okay, okay. You forgot to hang up your phone before you told Francie you had to go."
"Oh, Vaughn. You're too good to me," she said, bringing the coffee cup to her lips. "Mmmmmm, Hazelnut. My favorite. Thank you Vaughn, I owe you."
'Seeing your smiling face is payment enough,' he thought, but settled for "No problem."
"Oh! Here's the ring," Sydney said, sliding it off her finger.
"You've been wearing it?!" Vaughn said, laughing.
"Just this morning so I wouldn't forget it!" she said defensively. "Did you call me her just to make fun of me," she said, feigning hurt. Vaughn laughed,
"Of course not," he said, reaching out his hand for the ring. Sydney meant to drop the ring into Vaughn's hand, but due to lack of rest, her aim was a little off and it fell right through his fingers. They heard the ring hit the floor, roll around, and hit something, coming to a stop.
"Shoot," Sydney said, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, let's just find it." Both got down on their hands and knees and began crawling around looking for it. After about three minutes of this, they both found it.at the same time. Vaughn and Sydney simultaneously locked eyes on the ring, then up at each other. Each stared into the other's eyes, slowly leaning closer, thinking the same thing-
"Good morning," Jack said from the corner of the room, startling both agents and causing them to hastily move apart.
"Dad!" Sydney said, embarrassed, quickly standing up and brushing off her knees.
"Maybe I should go," Vaughn said pocketing the ring and standing up, avoiding Jack's eyes.
"Sit, Agent Vaughn!" Jack commanded, "As Sydney's handler you should know what's going on with her."
"Dad! Will you just tell me what is going on?!"
"Your mother has asked to privately speak to you." Sydney and Vaughn chanced a shocked and questioning glance at one another. "You are to come to Headquarters and see her. Agent Vaughn, do you have the ring to turn in?"
"Yes."
"Then I expect to see you both at the Op Center in 10 minutes," Jack instructed, getting up to leave, "separately."
"Are you okay with talking to her?" Vaughn asked after Jack had left.
"I guess I have to be. It doesn't sound like I have a choice. I'm curious as to what she could have to say to me anyway."
"Take care, Syd."
********************
"Hello, Sydney," Irina said, untangling herself from a particularly complicated yoga pose. "I was wondering when you would get here."
"Dad told me you wanted to talk to me."
"Yes. I wanted to have a mother-daughter heart-to-heart, if you will. Ever since I've been here, it's been all business. I want to change that."
"I doubt we'll ever have a normal relationship, Irina. I mean you're in a cell and I'm a double agent. Think about it."
"First, call me Mom," Irina interrupted.
"Fine, M-mom," Sydney stuttered, hesitantly. She had meant to sound sarcastic but it was hard to keep her guard up, feeling the formation of a word she didn't usually say, hearing the sound of her voice saying it. She was starting to lose her composure.
"What do you want to tell me?" she went on, pulling over a chair from the wall and sitting down.
"I've been watching you, studying you, if you will, since I've come back. I wanted to know my daughter, see how you turned out. I could only learn so much from the small amounts of time I've been with you; when you visit me, our mission together," she said, a smile on her lips. "I always thought you would be a lot like your father, you did grow up with him, even if he wasn't there much. I see many traits you both share, your loyalty to your job, your patriotism," she paused, "your devotion to those you love. You also have his stubborn tendencies, never willing to compromise. I was surprised, however, to find that you were also a lot like me. I see your strength, your stamina, your cleverness, and I see myself. We both share an unwillingness to give up, to give in. You're never satisfied until things are done right. You're a perfectionist.like I am. You are truly my daughter, I only wish I could have been a real mother to you. Sydney, you have to believe me when I say I didn't want to leave you, but I had to. I follow orders just like you. I am happy to see that I have still passed on traits to you, though. It's like they say, 'like mother, like daughter.' Sydney, why are you so pale? Sydney?"
Sydney had had a major breakdown. She was white as a ghost, sitting stark still and staring off into space. Suddenly she jumped up and started pounding the glass separating her from her mother, ranting and raving.
"Why does all of this happen to me?! Why?! What did I do to deserve this? This is too much! Why can't I have a normal family? A normal job? Why does everybody I love get hurt?! I don't want to hurt anybody like you do!" She started sobbing, "I can't take this anymore! I want out, I want out," she cried, falling backwards in a faint. Luckily, Vaughn had been watching the entire meeting from a security monitor and had run down to Irina's cell as soon as Sydney became upset. He got there just in time to catch her. Picking her up, with one arm supporting her neck and the other arm under her knees, he looked up at Irina."
"Can't you see she's had enough?" he hissed at her. "Why can't you just let her be?"
"But if I hadn't made her upset, Mr. Vaughn, you wouldn't have been able to fly in to save the day. Can't you see? She's the damsel in distress and you're her knight in shining armor," Irina smiled.
"Leave us both alone!" he barked, turning around and carrying Sydney out.
"Take care of my daughter," she called after them.
********************
Jack was waiting for Vaughn when he came out.
"How is she?" Jack said, walking briskly to him.
"She's asleep now. She's probably exhausted from her mission last night."
"Here, I'll take her home," Jack said, reaching for her.
"Actually, I was hoping I could take her," Vaughn replied, subconsciously pulling Sydney a few inches, away, "I wanted to talk to her." Jack put his hands to his face and massaged his temples. He stayed silent, thinking, making Vaughn nervous.
"Fine," he said finally, "but not for you, for her. Take her to your car and lay her in the back. Make sure nobody sees you two together. Drive to the warehouse and take her inside. Make sure you aren't followed. Once there you have fifteen minutes with her, if she is asleep, don't wake her up. She needs the rest. I'm going to speak with Irina and then I'm coming to take care of my daughter. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Vaughn quickly turned around and made his way to the parking garage. He knew Jack didn't trust him or like him and was going to get there as fast as he could. As he walked through the Op Center, people stared at him and turned to others, whispering and pointing. 'This may be the CIA,' Vaughn thought, 'but there's still office gossip. And for spies, these people aren't very discreet.'
"I just heard what happened," Weiss said, leaving his office and falling into step with Vaughn.
"News sure travels fast," Vaughn replied sarcastically.
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She fainted, but came to and immediately fell asleep."
"Good thing you got there in time to catch her. You know, your timing is impeccable." Ignoring that last comment, Vaughn continued,
"I'm taking her to the warehouse and Jack is coming later."
"How did you manage that?"
"Some begging. and the fact Jack knows Sydney would want to talk to me."
"Good luck," Weiss said, opening the door for Vaughn as he walked into the parking garage.
The garage was silent, with the exception of Vaughn's footsteps echoing rhythmically through the emptiness. He looked down at Sydney. 'She looks so peaceful, so beautiful,' he thought.
"You're right, you don't deserve this," he whispered softly to her, brushing a piece of hair of her face and tucking it behind her ear. Vaughn smiled, some how she had snuggled up close to him with her head on his chest, he wouldn't mind standing that way all day. 'And yet,' he thought, 'it's so ironic that this is all I've wanted ever since the day she walked into my office with that crazy red hair but I finally get it in such a horrible situation.' Feeling guilty for enjoying the moment, he walked on. Once at his black luxury sedan, he pulled out his keys, opting to manually unlock the door instead of risking waking her by using the remote. Careful not to move her too much, he awkwardly bent lower so that his stiff arm was level with the door. After the car was unlocked, he opened the back door, just as awkwardly, and laid Sydney down on the seat. Reaching over her, he fastened the seatbelt around her waist. Worried she might hurt her neck lying flat, he took off his black designer jacket and bunched it up, lifting her head carefully as he slipped the makeshift pillow underneath. Pausing for a moment to look at her, he bent down and kissed her forehead before gently closing the door.
tbc.
Chapter 5
As Sydney walked into the warehouse, her stomach grumbled angrily. 'I knew I shouldn't have skipped breakfast,' she thought, 'I could have used a cup of coffee too, I'm exhausted!' Rounding the corner, she was surprised to see Vaughn sitting on a stool holding two cups of coffee.
"Here," he said, handing her one as she sat down, "There's muffins in here," he continued, picking up a bag from his feet. "There's blueberry, banana nut, chocolate chip, and honey wheat. I had no idea what kind you liked," he blushed.
"Thank you," Sydney replied, surprised and confused. "What is all this?"
"I didn't want you to miss breakfast. I know it's not Lucky Charms, but it's the best I could do."
"Vaughn, it's.Lucky Charms! How did you.?"
"I'm your guardian angel. I have my ways." Sydney just looked at him and laughed. "Okay, okay. You forgot to hang up your phone before you told Francie you had to go."
"Oh, Vaughn. You're too good to me," she said, bringing the coffee cup to her lips. "Mmmmmm, Hazelnut. My favorite. Thank you Vaughn, I owe you."
'Seeing your smiling face is payment enough,' he thought, but settled for "No problem."
"Oh! Here's the ring," Sydney said, sliding it off her finger.
"You've been wearing it?!" Vaughn said, laughing.
"Just this morning so I wouldn't forget it!" she said defensively. "Did you call me her just to make fun of me," she said, feigning hurt. Vaughn laughed,
"Of course not," he said, reaching out his hand for the ring. Sydney meant to drop the ring into Vaughn's hand, but due to lack of rest, her aim was a little off and it fell right through his fingers. They heard the ring hit the floor, roll around, and hit something, coming to a stop.
"Shoot," Sydney said, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, let's just find it." Both got down on their hands and knees and began crawling around looking for it. After about three minutes of this, they both found it.at the same time. Vaughn and Sydney simultaneously locked eyes on the ring, then up at each other. Each stared into the other's eyes, slowly leaning closer, thinking the same thing-
"Good morning," Jack said from the corner of the room, startling both agents and causing them to hastily move apart.
"Dad!" Sydney said, embarrassed, quickly standing up and brushing off her knees.
"Maybe I should go," Vaughn said pocketing the ring and standing up, avoiding Jack's eyes.
"Sit, Agent Vaughn!" Jack commanded, "As Sydney's handler you should know what's going on with her."
"Dad! Will you just tell me what is going on?!"
"Your mother has asked to privately speak to you." Sydney and Vaughn chanced a shocked and questioning glance at one another. "You are to come to Headquarters and see her. Agent Vaughn, do you have the ring to turn in?"
"Yes."
"Then I expect to see you both at the Op Center in 10 minutes," Jack instructed, getting up to leave, "separately."
"Are you okay with talking to her?" Vaughn asked after Jack had left.
"I guess I have to be. It doesn't sound like I have a choice. I'm curious as to what she could have to say to me anyway."
"Take care, Syd."
********************
"Hello, Sydney," Irina said, untangling herself from a particularly complicated yoga pose. "I was wondering when you would get here."
"Dad told me you wanted to talk to me."
"Yes. I wanted to have a mother-daughter heart-to-heart, if you will. Ever since I've been here, it's been all business. I want to change that."
"I doubt we'll ever have a normal relationship, Irina. I mean you're in a cell and I'm a double agent. Think about it."
"First, call me Mom," Irina interrupted.
"Fine, M-mom," Sydney stuttered, hesitantly. She had meant to sound sarcastic but it was hard to keep her guard up, feeling the formation of a word she didn't usually say, hearing the sound of her voice saying it. She was starting to lose her composure.
"What do you want to tell me?" she went on, pulling over a chair from the wall and sitting down.
"I've been watching you, studying you, if you will, since I've come back. I wanted to know my daughter, see how you turned out. I could only learn so much from the small amounts of time I've been with you; when you visit me, our mission together," she said, a smile on her lips. "I always thought you would be a lot like your father, you did grow up with him, even if he wasn't there much. I see many traits you both share, your loyalty to your job, your patriotism," she paused, "your devotion to those you love. You also have his stubborn tendencies, never willing to compromise. I was surprised, however, to find that you were also a lot like me. I see your strength, your stamina, your cleverness, and I see myself. We both share an unwillingness to give up, to give in. You're never satisfied until things are done right. You're a perfectionist.like I am. You are truly my daughter, I only wish I could have been a real mother to you. Sydney, you have to believe me when I say I didn't want to leave you, but I had to. I follow orders just like you. I am happy to see that I have still passed on traits to you, though. It's like they say, 'like mother, like daughter.' Sydney, why are you so pale? Sydney?"
Sydney had had a major breakdown. She was white as a ghost, sitting stark still and staring off into space. Suddenly she jumped up and started pounding the glass separating her from her mother, ranting and raving.
"Why does all of this happen to me?! Why?! What did I do to deserve this? This is too much! Why can't I have a normal family? A normal job? Why does everybody I love get hurt?! I don't want to hurt anybody like you do!" She started sobbing, "I can't take this anymore! I want out, I want out," she cried, falling backwards in a faint. Luckily, Vaughn had been watching the entire meeting from a security monitor and had run down to Irina's cell as soon as Sydney became upset. He got there just in time to catch her. Picking her up, with one arm supporting her neck and the other arm under her knees, he looked up at Irina."
"Can't you see she's had enough?" he hissed at her. "Why can't you just let her be?"
"But if I hadn't made her upset, Mr. Vaughn, you wouldn't have been able to fly in to save the day. Can't you see? She's the damsel in distress and you're her knight in shining armor," Irina smiled.
"Leave us both alone!" he barked, turning around and carrying Sydney out.
"Take care of my daughter," she called after them.
********************
Jack was waiting for Vaughn when he came out.
"How is she?" Jack said, walking briskly to him.
"She's asleep now. She's probably exhausted from her mission last night."
"Here, I'll take her home," Jack said, reaching for her.
"Actually, I was hoping I could take her," Vaughn replied, subconsciously pulling Sydney a few inches, away, "I wanted to talk to her." Jack put his hands to his face and massaged his temples. He stayed silent, thinking, making Vaughn nervous.
"Fine," he said finally, "but not for you, for her. Take her to your car and lay her in the back. Make sure nobody sees you two together. Drive to the warehouse and take her inside. Make sure you aren't followed. Once there you have fifteen minutes with her, if she is asleep, don't wake her up. She needs the rest. I'm going to speak with Irina and then I'm coming to take care of my daughter. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Vaughn quickly turned around and made his way to the parking garage. He knew Jack didn't trust him or like him and was going to get there as fast as he could. As he walked through the Op Center, people stared at him and turned to others, whispering and pointing. 'This may be the CIA,' Vaughn thought, 'but there's still office gossip. And for spies, these people aren't very discreet.'
"I just heard what happened," Weiss said, leaving his office and falling into step with Vaughn.
"News sure travels fast," Vaughn replied sarcastically.
"Is she okay?"
"She's fine. She fainted, but came to and immediately fell asleep."
"Good thing you got there in time to catch her. You know, your timing is impeccable." Ignoring that last comment, Vaughn continued,
"I'm taking her to the warehouse and Jack is coming later."
"How did you manage that?"
"Some begging. and the fact Jack knows Sydney would want to talk to me."
"Good luck," Weiss said, opening the door for Vaughn as he walked into the parking garage.
The garage was silent, with the exception of Vaughn's footsteps echoing rhythmically through the emptiness. He looked down at Sydney. 'She looks so peaceful, so beautiful,' he thought.
"You're right, you don't deserve this," he whispered softly to her, brushing a piece of hair of her face and tucking it behind her ear. Vaughn smiled, some how she had snuggled up close to him with her head on his chest, he wouldn't mind standing that way all day. 'And yet,' he thought, 'it's so ironic that this is all I've wanted ever since the day she walked into my office with that crazy red hair but I finally get it in such a horrible situation.' Feeling guilty for enjoying the moment, he walked on. Once at his black luxury sedan, he pulled out his keys, opting to manually unlock the door instead of risking waking her by using the remote. Careful not to move her too much, he awkwardly bent lower so that his stiff arm was level with the door. After the car was unlocked, he opened the back door, just as awkwardly, and laid Sydney down on the seat. Reaching over her, he fastened the seatbelt around her waist. Worried she might hurt her neck lying flat, he took off his black designer jacket and bunched it up, lifting her head carefully as he slipped the makeshift pillow underneath. Pausing for a moment to look at her, he bent down and kissed her forehead before gently closing the door.
tbc.