Sydney straightened in her chair. It was a habit she had picked up as a young child, from her mother constantly scolding her for slouching. Every time Sydney heard that her parents were coming, she would always straighten her posture. "Let them in." Sydney said.
Vaughn moved behind the curtain, ever so slightly. Sydney's father scared him. Jack never seemed to take a liking to Vaughn. But there was a part of Vaughn that also despised Irina. To him, the only good that came out of Irina was Sydney. True, Sydney was his Goddess, but Irina killed his father. If anything, that mysterious woman scared him just as much as Jack did. The two of them together were a force unparalleled by anything in the natural world. Vaughn figured, any obstacle that was between him and them, even just a thin curtain, was a good thing.
"Hello Sydney." Jack warmly greeted. Behind him trailed Irina, dressed in civilian clothing.
"Hi Dad. Mom." Sydney returned.
"Hello Sydney. Agent Vaughn."
"Hi." Vaughn answered from behind the curtain.
"Come out from behind the curtain Agent Vaughn." Irina exclaimed.
Still very afraid of a US federal prisoner, Vaughn did as he was told. Irina quickly saw Samantha, and rushed to her bedside. "How is she?" She demanded.
"She'll live." Sydney replied emotionless.
"I would have never suspected Abby to do such a thing."
"Dad told you then?"
"He filled me in on the plane. When will she wake up?"
"Soon."
A very uneasy silence came over the room. The only sound came from the machines hooked up to Samantha. "I'm going to go get a cup of coffee or something." Vaughn said, quickly exiting the room. Sydney saw his face, and followed after him. Jack and Irina watched their daughter run after the man she loved.
"Michael." Sydney called out. Vaughn briefly turned around, before he decided to keep walking. Hurt, Sydney jogged to catch up to him. Vaughn looked over to see Sydney walking right along side him. He defiantly looked away. "If you won't stop and listen to me as your girlfriend, then stop and listen to me as your coworker." Sydney demanded. "Or if you won't stop and listen to me as your coworker, then stop and listen to me as your girlfriend." Vaughn stopped and looked at Sydney. He said nothing, but Sydney could tell he was waiting for her to talk. "So which is it? Girlfriend, or coworker?"
"Neither."
"What?"
"We've worked together for years and what I can't seem to figure out is why you thought that I would think you were playing the other side."
Sydney looked at him. "I don't know what I was thinking. You asked me what game I was playing, and I don't know what I was thinking."
"You saying that, made me think that you don't believe that I trust you. It was a blow right to my heart Syd."
"Michael."
Vaughn looked at Sydney. "You keep calling me that."
"It's your name."
"Never has been to you. I liked you calling me Vaughn."
"Fine, Vaughn, you got to hear me out."
"Syd, when you figure out that I trust you, come find me." Vaughn walked away, leaving Sydney stunned. She sat down in a nearby chair, and began to cry.