Chapter 1: Secrets Between Friends

Phone rings.

"This is Weiss."

"You answer your home phone like that? Leave it at work, man."

"So, Mike, you just calling me at home because you miss your whup-boy or does this call have a point?"

"Down boy! Actually, I need a favor from you."

"I've got a bad feeling about this…"

"I need you to check on Syd for me."

"Bingo. I knew I was in for it. What's going on with Sydney and why are you acting like her handler again?"

"I'm not acting like her handler, but we are partners and we do go on missions together, if you hadn't noticed!"

"Does this have anything to do with North Korea?"

"Well…"

"Wait – I read part of your debrief. You guys were beaten and put in front of a firing squad. You think she needs to see Barnett for some post-traumatic stuff?"

"Weiss, Syd faces near death experiences on a regular basis. The girl eats trauma for breakfast. She's the queen of compartmentalizing. This isn't about that…exactly."

"Hold on…you didn't do something idiotic, like say, SPILL YOUR TRUE FEELINGS to her while facing your imminent demise, did you?

Silence.

"Oh man…."

"Weiss, listen to me…"

"Oh man, oh man, oh man! You're going to screw up everything – her life, your life – YOUR DEEP COVER ASSIGNMENT! Kendall's going to kick your ass!"

"I got it, Eric! First off, I didn't exactly verbalize my true feelings to Syd. Secondly, I did not bust my cover, so there will be no bald guys kicking my ass anytime soon."

"Like you two ever needed WORDS to express your feelings! All you two have to do is lock eyes and anyone in a five-mile radius gets a jolt from the electricity."

"Weiss, you're not helping me here."

"Fine, fine. What mess did you get yourself into and how do you expect me to clean it up? Spill it."

"We thought we were going to die, man! I couldn't let her die…again…without letting her know the truth. But she wouldn't let me say the words. She just told me she knew and then…we kissed."

"Your ass is grass."

"Thank you. Your support is overwhelming."

"Come on, Mike. That is not a flood gate that you should be opening right now. I know your situation sucks in a big way, but…"

"But, nothing. You can't make me regret what happened. As sick and twisted as it may sound, I'm thankful that for that one brief moment I could drop my cover with her."

"I know what you're saying. But everything you've done for the past year and a half has been for Sydney. She may not know it, but one day she will. You've come too far to blow it all now."

"I took this assignment to seek revenge, Eric. If I had known she was still alive…I never would have gone through with it."

"Mike, you're still getting revenge, man. You're getting revenge and serving your country."

"While putting the woman I love through hell!"

"She'll understand. One day, she'll understand."

"I just hope you're right. Listen, after we got rescued, we didn't speak a word to each other. Once we got back to JTF, I had to slip back into my role of 'doting husband'. I know Syd saw me with Lauren. Thankfully, her dad was there and took her home. I just need you to go see her. She trusts you. Maybe she'll open up to you."

"Okay, I'll stop by and make sure she's not drinking tequila and bedding some random guy…."

"WEISS!"

"Just kidding! Geez, sensitive much? Anyway, if she feels like talking, I'll listen. But you need to know that I care about Sydney, too. I'm not going to tell you what she says just so you can live vicariously through me. You need to step away and get your head back in the game."

"I know, I know. I appreciate your help."

"Just call me Dr. Phil, except with more hair. Of course, Kendall would shoot you dead if he knew you'd blown your cover to me already."

"He knows. I actually asked permission after Sydney resurfaced. He knew I was in danger of spontaneously combusting, so he let me tell you. He knew I'd need someone to talk to."

"The man is a prince."

"Yeah, right. Just go check on her, then call me back."

"No problem."

Click.