Chapter 2: Forever and All Eternity
A/n: Thanks so much for your reviews! I'm glad you all like it so far. It's super exciting... I've never gotten ten reviews in one chapter before.
Disclaimer: Alias and Co. belong to a Mr. JJ Abrams. Not me. Don't sue, please.
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It was hard to open his eyes again. The light was almost blinding, but had more of a warmer feeling than the lights the last time he woke up. The cement he had been lying on had been much harder than what he was lying on now. Vaughn finally opened his eyes and took the pain anyway. It was only physical pain.
When his eyes readjusted he was glad to discover (or more pleased than before) that he was not in an alleyway, but a hospital room. Hopefully another two years haven't passed by, he thought bitterly. He almost jumped out of bed when he heard a nurse at his side. Excuse me, ma'am? he asked when his heart had stopped beating so rapidly, hoping she spoke English. From the looks of it, he was still in Hong Kong. She turned and looked at him. How long have I been here?
Only few hour, she replied with a thick Chinese accent.
And... And we're still in Hong Kong? She nodded in response. Thank God, Vaughn thought. He couldn't take any more surprises for today. But he knew he'd have to. Why did he black out so much all of a sudden? Once every two years was much more than normal to him. He had only passed out once in his whole life before the Two Year Incident: when he was in high school, and had been hit with a hockey puck in his head. His mother had been ragingly angry with him for not wearing a helmet. Now he was was passing out in cars, and in Chinese safehouses. It was a good thing his headache had seemed to cease.
Meanwhile, the nurse had been checking out his stats at all the monitors he was hooked into. I tell Miss Bristow you are awake, she said, walking out the door. Just as she closed it, Vaughn noticed a small window in the door... Out of which Sydney was the only person visible. He tried to see her more clearly. It was obvious she had been crying from the dark mascara trails down her face. However, Vaughn still believed she was gorgeous. Especially with her long, brown hair resting against the side of her face (so that Vaughn could tuck it behind her ear), and with her body looking so warm and huggable. But she looked very vulnerable; something she rarely looked; something that worried Vaughn very much.
Sydney was sitting by herself in what looked like a waiting room (Vaughn couldn't see much else out of his tiny window), biting her nails, tapping her foot nervously, and her eyes were settled on one spot on the floor, glazed over. All signs that worried Vaughn. The nurse finally made her way over to Sydney, but blocked Vaughn's view completely. When she soon moved away, Sydney's eyes were closed, and he noticed she took a heavy sigh. He hoped it was a sigh of relief.
She soon stood up and was out of sight from Vaughn's window. Maybe her sigh hadn't been one of relief. Maybe she really didn't care about him anymore and just wanted to leave? Maybe...
He didn't have to answer the last maybe as he watched Sydney Bristow walk through the door into his room, stopping at the foot of his bed. He wished she would say something to him. Anything. Or simply a hug. A kiss. He would even settle for a hand hold at this point. His lips were burning for her kiss; his skin trembled for her touch; his body ached for hers... He couldn't take the deafening silence any longer. Syd... What happened?
Well, when I got back to the room you had passed out, and you've been unconscious for nearly three hours. She still refused to meet his gaze.
No, I mean, you say I was gone for two years. I just... How? Why?
She let out a shaky breath. What do you remember? Why won't you look me in the eye, Sydney, why?
He cleared his throat. Um... I dropped you off at your place just before debrief. We were going to go to... to Santa Barbara afterwards. Now it was his turn to not look Sydney in the eye. Then, I think someone cut me off, then someone else ran into me. And I woke up in Hong Kong.
A lot has happened since that night. Probably more than you expect. Please, Sydney. Just one look would mean the world to me... But Kendall thinks it's wise if we wait until you get back home before we tell you anything. There's just too much...
Of course there would be too much. Two years had passed, and a lot always happens in that period of time. He had known Sydney for almost two years, well, almost four now, but everything had changed in those two years he knew her. They were the best two years of his life. But why couldn't she just tell him now? Was there something so important that it had to wait until they were in L.A.? Maybe the hospital they were in wasn't safe to talk in. Perhaps Chinese enemies were spying on them at this very instant... Though he doubted it entirely. It was just Kendall being his old stubborn self.
I... have to go talk to Kendall, Sydney said, slowly backing away, and quickly turning around. Vaughn didn't notice the almost falling tears welled in her eyes.
Just as she left, the nurse and a new one entered the room. We're going to have to run one more test on you, Mr. Vaughn, she said, her accent much smoother then the other nurse.
And then can I leave?
Yes. It will take about an hour, though. The two nurses began to wheel Vaughn's bed out of the room and into the hallway. He looked anxiously to where Sydney was sitting before, only to find an empty waiting room. His eyes swiftly darted about the premises. There! She was in a hallway that was to the far right of his room. His view of her was shrinking as the nurses wheeled him farther away, and she was soon gone from his sight. The quick image he saw of her was plastered in his mind: she was talking on her cell phone. She looked angry, but Kendall could easily do that to you. She may have even fallen into a another fit of tears. But she was gorgeous.
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After Vaughn's test results had been completed, the first nurse told him that he be going home soon. He asked to know the results of his test, but the nurse told him nothing. Vaughn didn't even know what the test was for, let alone the tests that had been done on him while he was unconscious. He simply hoped that everything would be explained as soon as he returned to Los Angeles...
Before he knew it he and Sydney were boarding a plane for home. Sydney had tried to freshen up by redoing her make-up, yet she could not cover up her sullen face and lost eyes. She said nothing to him, nor would she look in his general direction. How could she just stand there, when all Vaughn wanted to do was kiss her?
For the first time, Vaughn felt angry about his ordeal. All he had felt so far was confusion, in an immense form. But now he wanted revenge on whoever had done this to him – whoever had taken him away from Sydney. If only they could have made it to Santa Barbara, then she would know that he loved her with all of his heart, body, and soul. She would know that he wanted her to be his and his alone. And if he was lucky, she would tell him the same thing.
But mostly, she wouldn't be shutting him out right now.
That was why he was mad. And he wanted to stay angry as long as he could, because he knew after the anger would come the pain. Pain of the most excruciating sort. It was something Vaughn wanted to avoid for as long as possible.
So he decided while he allowed Sydney to take the window seat on the plane that if she was going to give him the silent treatment, that he would do the same. Except he wanted nothing more than to talk with her. Talk the way they used to, and not the way they talked in the safehouse or in the hospital room. He truly wanted to talk to her so badly. Talk to me, Sydney, talk, please. And look at me. Straight in the eye; straight to my heart...
But no; she would not shift her gaze. Sydney was staring intently out the window, as if a solid vision of water and clouds would hold her interest for so many hours. Vaughn knew it was going to be the longest, loneliest flight of his life.
Eventually Sydney had fallen asleep against the window. Vaughn didn't know how much time had passed. The minutes seemed to fly by, yet the hours were elongated. The water was still endless outside the window.
He sighed, turning to look at the television screens that were showing a movie on the plane. Every screen that he saw was flat; one of many changes in technology he was sure. After a few minutes of watching the movie (or was it an hour?) he decided it must be a third Charlie's Angels movie. It wasn't something he could get into. He then heard a small groan escape from Sydney's throat as she readjusted herself in her sleep. He soon found her head resting on his shoulder, his lips mere centimeters away from hers. It was so tempting... But he wouldn't. He was still pretending to be mad at her, so he settled for a gentle kiss on the crown of her head.
A soft, sweet kiss was all he would allow himself to give. Anything less and his lips would keep burning; anything more and she would wake. Vaughn couldn't wake her. If she woke up, then she wouldn't be nestled by his side, he wouldn't feel her warm breath on his arm, wouldn't be able to take in her luscious scent, couldn't stare at her perfect sleeping body infinitely. Of course, all of this would come to an end when she woke up. He prayed that she could stay forever like this – forever and all eternity.
He sighed to himself and hoped sleep would find him as he leaned his head to the side on top of Sydney's. If she wouldn't speak to him in reality, perhaps she would in his dreams...
Yet the sandman never came to visit. The long hours passed more easily with Sydney by his side, but he felt the pain beginning to set in. Though, remnants of anger still lingered every now and then.
The plane soon landed in Los Angeles, much to Vaughn's dismay. Of course, he was eager to get information now that he was home, but that meant he would also have to wake Sydney. Why? Why would anyone want to do this to him? Make the pilot fly around in the air some more! He just wanted a little more time...
Alas, no. The plane had stopped, ending all further fantasies with Sydney. It was time to face reality. It hit him hard in the face when he reluctantly shook Sydney's shoulder. Syd? We're in L.A., he whispered softly.
she simply said in a flat tone. Once she realized she was pressed against Vaughn, she quickly pulled herself away to her window, leaving Vaughn's arm with a cold, stiff feeling. His arm was Sydney's security blanket, only to be outgrown and tossed aside. Or at least that was how it felt.
Sydney never once spoke to him or even looked at him as they exited the plane. She didn't speak to him until they were out of the terminal, out of the lobby, out of the whole airport. They were just outside the parking lot when she turned to face him, but her eyes were still turned to the ground. There's a car waiting for you that will take you to a safehouse. In the morning another car will pick you up and take you to the Joint Task Center at nine A.M. Everything will be explained to you then. Vaughn closed his eyes for a moment. More waiting. Somehow he'd have to find a way to sleep. There was no way he could make it all the way through the night just sitting around a safehouse. And how was he supposed to know what car was going to pick him up anyway?
He opened his eyes to ask her, only to find that Sydney was gone. All at once his feelings of confusion, anger, and pain came whirring through his body, taking him over and throwing him on the sidewalk; stomping on him and bashing his insides. Finally he had to sit down on the curb, and rest his head in his fists.
Vaughn didn't bring his head back up until he heard a car horn honk loudly. I thought you were supposed to be dead! came a familiar voice from the car that honked. Eric Weiss emerged from behind the door.
Vaughn said, standing up. You have to tell me something.
Well, first things first. He shut the car door and hurried to grab Vaughn into a tight hug, where Vaughn had to struggle for air. For a moment he forgot that Sydney wasn't the only person who lost Vaughn for two years... There was Weiss, Dixon, Francie, Will, Marshall, Kendall if he cared, his mother... Everything hit him. He really was missing for two years. People really did think he was dead. Finally, Weiss let go. Two years, two years.
It only feels like yesterday. God, what happened to me? Please, tell me something.
Look, I'm not exactly sure. Kendall should have some information for you tomorrow though. He paused and looked at Vaughn in awe. I seriously can't believe it's you standing in front of me. I mean, two days ago, I thought you were dead. But now, here you are. Living and breathing right here. It's truly a miracle. Vaughn nodded solemnly. He really hadn't thought this through yet. There was so much to take into consideration. Two years? Two years. All right, ready to go, man? Weiss asked in his usual playful voice, as opposed to his shaky, serious one.
He sat down into the car next to his friend without much thought. He barely noticed that Weiss kept taking quick glances at Vaughn, as if to make sure he was really there and still alive. Vaughn was too distracted to notice such petty things. It was Sydney that was on his mind. Why was she being so weird to him? Why wouldn't she talk to him? Why wouldn't she hug him, kiss him, or even touch him? But the question that Vaughn pondered most, was why wouldn't she look him in the eye? That was what hurt him the most. Weiss, how's Sydney been since... since my disappearance?
I don't know if I should tell you anything...
Please. Anything. I need to hear something.
He heaved a heavy sigh. There was a car crash –
I know that!
Just let me tell the story. Vaughn quieted and leaned back in his seat. Okay, so there was this car crash. Most of us were in debrief when it happened. Dixon came in and told us you were in it. He drove me out there – I still don't get why Kendall let me go – but when I got there the paramedics said that you and the asshole who hit you were no where to be found. That was one crazy night. The morning was even worse...
How so?
Oh, you don't know about Francie and Will, do you?
No, I told you, I don't know anything.
Well, that same night, just after you dropped Sydney off... Weiss proceeded to tell Vaughn about Will being stabbed, Francie being the double, and Sydney fighting her to the death. Vaughn could hardly believe his ears. Francie was dead? But Will was okay. And Sydney... She was a wreck. They had to keep her in the hospital for the while. She's got some pretty nasty scars. And it didn't help matters that her boyfriend was missing.
There was a short silence before Vaughn could bring himself to speak again. And... When did you declare me dead?
I don't know. Maybe a year ago. It, uh, was a nice service. Weiss could sense Vaughn's next question before it was asked. No, there wasn't a body or anything. It was more of a memorial service to give people closure. He paused. It didn't really work.
Did, uh, any of you guys think I was alive? Sydney should have.
I told everyone I thought I thought you were dead. But there was still this voice in my head that kept saying you weren't. And Sydney. It was a couple months after your funeral when she finally accepted it. He wondered briefly if that was why she was being so distant – because he was still dead to her. But that didn't make much sense. There had to be some other reason why she wouldn't look at him...
The car stopped in front of a small, brick house, and Vaughn realized he was at another safehouse. He didn't notice that the car had been moving, actually, feeling the potholes and jolts as his own tremblings. Yet he was still here, and he would have to wait for information until the morning. He slowly stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut. Weiss rolled down the window. Oh, thanks, Eric. See you tomorrow morning?
Yeah, see you then. Weiss put the car in gear and drove a little ways before stopping, reversing, and stopping again in front of Vaughn. And, by the way, she's involved with someone.
Who is?
Then Weiss drove away for good in the darkness of the night, leaving Vaughn all alone as he walked into the safehouse. He didn't care about the other safehouses around him. He didn't care about who may be surveilling them. And he didn't care about the single tear that had escaped his strong eyes, for he could no longer feel.
A/n: What do you think? Do you all still like it? I suppose it is quite a bit angsty, but it'll get better eventually. So now there's only one thing to do: REVIEW!
~Whitelighter Enchantress