Title: CHAT
Chapter: 14 Part 3 (3/3)
title: Screaming in My Mind
Dedications:

FF.et:


Speedy: hey Stanford thanks for always being so supportive and encouraging... even offering to beta... lol I love your reviews, and you are definitely my MV-whimpering partner so who else would be better to dedicate chapters too?
kittyfantastico: review-queen~ thanks for making sure i had your feedback even when your computer was being spastic
AA-Alias-Addict: that was a GREAT review~ I couldn't stop laughing and my smile must have been a mile wide~


SD-1:


Kat: for being willing to help me figure out what I wanted to do with the chapter and also for teaching me why it's worth it to actually think things things through before writing~
Screech: lol, how are you so happy all the time? And it rubs off i swear, you are CA-RAY-ZEE and i love it~ here's to you.
BlueMoon: Other than having an avatar that I would dedicate a chapter for anyway... you leave the best reviews ever! They make me smile, they make me laugh... if there was an award for them, you would probably get it thanks for being encouraging when i was being a retard.[/b]
JoJo: because you rock my world, hun lol… I'm still so sorry that I forgot you in the PM rush~ you and Shammi are both angels~ you leave the greatest reviews, always make me smile… and that's way more than reason enough for a dedication


Screaming in My Mind




The suitcase was slammed down onto the tabletop with a force that was displayed through the sound. The bar glasses shook and emitted their shrill, clinking sounds which accompanied the "thwap" of the suitcase in a sort of cacaphonous melody.

The burly bartender in front of him looked up. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Michael didn't smile. "Don't tell me you don't recognize me."

The man opened the cuitcase and saw the bundled bills.

Whistled.

"...Michael...was it?"

"Where the hell is she?"

"Where the hell is who?"

Vaughn's jaw visibly clenched, the muscles bunching on the sides of his face. "Tell. Me. Where... she... is... you f*ckin' bastard."

The man's eyes slitted and all pretense of friendship was lost. "Listen. I don't know what you want or who the hell you're looking for you better watch out and realize who you're talkin-"

Vaughn's thin restraint was broken and he slammed the man's head down onto the bar, held it there, pushed a gun up so that it pressed into his neck. He pulled out a picture of Sydney. Shoved it in his face. "I'm looking for her you son of a bitch," he growled.

The man stilled. "Listen, I don't know who that is. I don't know who you're looking for."

He trembled underneath Michael's fingers.

With disgust and disappointment etched into his features, Vaughn pushed the man away from him, took hold of the suitcase, and left, leaving the man pressing a hand against his forehead and shaking his head warily.

Michael bit his lip in anger- at the bartender, at the people who had Sydney... at himself. Letting out a yell of frustration, he kicked his foot against the brick wall, refusing to wince.

He picked up the suitcase and started walking to the car.

"I hear her screaming at night."

He turned back, his eyes widening at the mere prospect of a 'she', his heart already wrenching at the thought of her screaming. His eyes searched the narrow alley until he caught sight of the shriveled old man leaning against the wall, hidden in too-big clothes. "Who? Who's screaming?"

The man turned his eyes back to the wall, staring at nothing once again. "Not even at night. She screams all the time now."

"Who is she?"

"Weird things... sometimes I understand her and sometimes I don't."

"She screams in different languages... I wish she would stop screaming... I can't hear Josie in my head anymore... it's always that woman... always that screaming woman instead."

He wanted to shake the man until he talked. "Who? Who are you talking about???" Desperation leaked into his tone, coating it, drenching it.

The old man looked away, as if suddenly bored with the conversation. Picked the dirt from his fingernails. Started to hum absent-mindedly. Seemed to forget that Michael was even there.

Michael knelt, not knowing what else to do. "Where? Please... where is the screaming?"

The man narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on Michael's eyes. "Her screaming keeps Josie away."

"If you tell me where the screaming is coming from, I'll make it stop."

The old man's mouth dropped a little, his eyes incredulous. "Really?"

"Yes."

~:~

He ran to the car, threw the door open and jumped in without noticing the figure in the passenger seat.

"You really didn't think that you would be doing this alone did you?"

Michael shrugged. "Not really. Why do you think I left the car unlocked?"

"Where is she?"

"The old warehouse on 36th and Vine. There's a storage room and leads down towards a bomb shelter. Are you up to this?"

Jack Bristow sneered. "Shut up and drive."

~:~

The car rolled slowly until it was thirty feet away before the two men walked out of the car.

"Are you sure that they're alone?"

"No."

Jack nodded, handing Vaughn his tactical gear. "You of all people should know, Agent Vaughn, to always be prepared."

~:~

The door to the outer warehouse was open. Seemingly abandoned.

There was a guard inthe storage room.

Vaughn's breathing grew haggard until he himself realized the change and attempted to stop himself. "I remember this place."

The musty air was inhaled as both men reached the outside frames of the door. Each counted to three. And then went forward, catching the guard off-guard with a end of a gun ramming into his throat and cocking up, snapping his neck.

He hoped she was here.

Her words still haunted him.

She loved him.

She was sorry... and she loved him.

He and Jack went their separate ways, Vaughn walking down the corridors he knew so well... corridors he had been forced to walk through so that he would truly understand how close he was to Sydney... how close he was to her yet knowing that she didn't know he was there. Knowing that she was lying helpless, cheek to the stone floor, breathing fluttery breaths.

...[present tense]

He's standing in her cell, frozen in place as he looks at her.

Looks at how fragile she seems, lying there. Motionless.

His breaths ragged and uneven, he kneels down to her body ever so slowly, turns her battered body over so that she's laying in his lap. Tenderly moves the hair out of her face with gentle fingers.

Felt her slow faint pulse throbbing somewhere deep within her, threatening to flicker out.

Nothing else matters anymore.

"Sydney." His whisper is soft, a warm breath across her cheek. "Sydney... wake up. Please. I'm here... I'm here for you... please."

His thumb strokes her cheek, taking away the dirt that smudges her face.

He bends down and lighting touches his lips to hers... it's almost a kiss.

"Syd..."

He places a hand on her heart, jostles her slightly, wills her to stir.

Her cracked lips part slightly. "Va- Vaughn?"

"Yeah."

"Are- are you really here?" Her voice cracks, breaks. Her eyes open slowly as if scared that what she thinks is there will disappear.

"I'm here."

"I'm sorry."

"No... don't be sorry," he kisses her cheek, "It's not your fault- it doesn't matter..." he kisses her eyelids, "we got you back. I have you back..." he kisses the tip of her nose.

"And I'm never letting you go. I promise."

He kisses her mouth.

And she kisses him back.




















tbc...


more???


how was that for a chapter that didn't end in a cliff? I know that a bunch of the middle stuff was hazy but it wasn't important and I was antsy to get to the end and finally update~ so forgive me.


-jenn

yech... read it back and it wasn't as good as i'd hoped... maybe i'll edit later~