Bent

Summary: Companion to 'Numb'.

Rating: PG-13

AN: This happens because I am a slave to the majority. (Later: And because this didn't happen last night, goddamnit) Thanks for reviewing!

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If I fall along the way

Pick me up and dust me off

If I get too tired to make it

Be my breath so I can walk

If I need some other love then

Give me more then I can stand

When my smile gets old and faded

Wait around, I'll smile again

Shouldn't be so complicated

Just hold me and then

Just hold me again

I woke up in darkness, the haze of sleep clouding my thoughts and vision, vaguely aware of arms wrapped around me. It took a moment for the events of the night to hit me.

Lauren.

Things were coming back now. Lauren. The suitcase. Dixon's 'briefing' at the CIA. Then falling into Sydney.

The arms around me shifted slightly. She was waking.

I raised my head off of its pillow of her chest and searched for her face in the darkness. I saw dark eyes opening slowing, unsure of what was happening. I think I smiled.

"Hi," I said. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes in response. The childish gesture, one I remember from two years ago, pulled at my heart.

"How are you?" she asked, as the memories of the night return.

I shook my head. "I'm not sure. You?"

She smiled slightly. "Well, I'm sleeping on the couch with my shoes on."

I took in her appearance. She was still dressed in her work clothes, high heels still on. Come to that, I still had my shoes on too.

"We can fix that, though," I said, disentangling myself from her and standing up. She followed for a moment, but had to take over the lead as I realized that I had no idea where her room was.

A few moments later, I stripped off my shirt and jeans and flopped onto her bed. She followed suite, changing into her typical sleepwear: a tank top and shorts. Neither one of us were very concerned about the inappropriately of all this.

As soon as she slid under the covers, I reached out for her, hands sliding over soft skin as I pulled her close. Syd shifted so that we were laying how we were on her couch; my head pillowed on her chest, an arm splayed across her stomach, both of her arms wrapped around me.

She felt so different from Lauren, who was all softness and curves. Syd had curves, yes, but there was more hardness, more muscle. I absently let my fingers graze across her abdomen, tracing abstract patterns across her flesh. At the same time, I pressed my lips to the hollow in her throat, her neck, her collarbone.

She let me, running her fingers through my hair. My lips worked their way upward, to her jaw, her chin and then to her lips. I kissed her as gently as I could, as softly as I could and felt her lips respond under mine. I began to slowly move my lips against hers, coaxing her to open her mouth. As soon as I accomplished my goal, the kiss deepened and I felt her hands tighten in my hair.

In a moment, though, she pulled back. She wanted to be sure I wasn't doing this just because of the events that had happened tonight. I knew I wasn't, but I wouldn't push. This was enough.

I smiled at her before dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. She smiled in return and I rolled to my back, pulling her to my side.

We lay in contented silence for an undefined period of time. The only thought in my mind was that this is right. This is how it should be.

"Vaughn?" The soft murmur brought me gently back to a pleasant reality.

"Mmm?"

"I can hear your heart."

If I wasn't in love with her, I would have been then. But as it stood, she owned me, heart and soul. God, I so loved this woman. I bent my head slightly and kissed the crown of her head.

"Things are going to be alright for us, Syd," I said, truly believing it.

I could feel her smile. "I know."

She closed her eyes then and her body relaxed. For me, there was nothing in this world that could have come close to this moment. As her deep breathing put me to sleep, I was…happy.

Hysterical screams and crying woke me, hours later. Sydney had pulled away from me and was fighting her invisible demons.

As I tried to wake her, a horrible thought entered my head. How many times has she woken from dreams like this, alone?

I'm distracted from this vein of thinking when her eyes fly open and she sits bolt upright, breathing erratic as she grappled with the hysterical sobs that were fighting their way to the surface. I reach for her and the moment I put my arms around her, she screams and tries to pull away. I won't let her go that easily though.

"Syd! Shh… it's me, Sydney," I whisper, trying to calm her. "Shh, baby. It's alright." Realizing who was holding her, Syd turned around and threw herself into my arms.

I do my best to comfort her, to ease the shaking and the tears that dampen my shoulder. Eventually, the crying stops and I lay her down so she's facing me. The tear tracks that mar her cheeks break my heart.

"You alright?" This seems hardly adequate, but it's the best I can do.

She puts on her 'brave face'. "I'm fine. This happens a lot. I haven't slept through the night since I got back."

To know this hurts me, to know that she has had to cope with nightmares like this with no one to comfort her. To know that I should have been the one to be beside her. I brushed a stray tendril of hair away from her face and kissed her temple softly.

Her façade was cracking. I saw her lip tremble again.

"Stay with me?" she requests as a tear slides down her cheek; I kiss it away.

"I will never leave you." I meant every word I said.

Her eyes close again and she slides closer to me, resting her head against my arm.

I woke for the third time to find that the sun had risen and that Sydney was engulfed in a golden light. Things felt perfect.

Eyelids began to flutter and I smiled, a truly happy smile, as dark eyes looked up at me.

"Good morning," she whispered softly, stretching like a cat.

"Best one I've had in a long time," I murmur, pulling her back to me. She complies, wrapping her arms around me.

She's warm and soft and she smells good and God, I do not want to get up and go to work. Go face the problems that make up my life. I buried my face in her hair.

Before long, I can feel soft lips brushing my neck. I lift my head and try to steal a kiss, but she pulls away, wrinkling her nose.

"Morning breath," she says, as way of explanation.

The innocence of this makes me content in a way I haven't been in over two years.

"Whatever you say, Syd."

She smiles in triumph before nestling back into my arms. This was definitely something I intended to get used to. Again.

"I love you," I whisper, brushing wayward strands of hair away from her face.

She smiled again, a smile full of hope and happiness and devotion… and love. Her lips parted, but I pressed a finger to them.

"I know, Syd. I've always known." Her smile grew.

I couldn't help myself then. Ignoring her (not very strong) protests, I leaned down and kissed her. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to chance the dreaded morning breath and kiss me back.

So this was what it was like to feel alive again. This was what it was like to be unbroken. This was what it was like to have your soul healed.

It was kind of nice.