Chapter 4: Dixon and Syd's Talk

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

"Hey Dixon, thanks for seeing me."

"Of course, Syd – though I wasn't suppose to see you at all for a couple of days at least. It must be pretty important for you to come in on your rare day off."

Sydney gives Dixon a small smile as she comes inside his office and takes a seat across from his desk. She's wearing her running pants, an Everlast tank, and her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail – she ran 5 miles this morning in an attempt to forget last night. But her run had only strengthened her resolve. I just can't do it anymore. I can't keep going on these life or death missions with Vaughn! It's just too painful. Worse yet, it gives me the one thing I can't afford to have right now…hope.

It was those thoughts that had led her straight to the Joint Task Force offices and to Dixon's door. Better to just get it over with – Vaughn will just have to deal. Heck, Lauren will probably thank me.

"I have a request to make."

"Okay, Syd. What is it?"

"When Vaughn rejoined the Agency shortly after I…resurfaced, you had asked if we wanted any 'special considerations.' At the time, I thought it wouldn't be necessary – that we could maintain our professional relationship regardless of our past…involvement. Now that I am being frequently partnered with him on ops, I realize that it would be best for both parties, as well as the CIA, if someone other than Vaughn were partnered with me on any future ops."

"I see." Dixon ponders her statement for a moment. He then gets up from his chair and walks in front of his desk, coming to rest against the edge directly in front of Sydney. He waits for her to meet his gaze before he continues on. "When I got promoted to Director of our division some…10 months or so ago now, one of the first things I asked for was your complete file, as well as Agent Vaughn's."

Sydney's eyes widen a bit in surprise at this statement.

"You see, I knew all about your skills as an agent from being your partner for so many years at SD-6. But your skills as a double-agent were beyond even what I could have imagined. Your ability to deceive the deceiver…to walk the fine line that existed between crippling SD-6, while at the same time still giving them enough good intel to prevent them from discovering you…I was astounded. But the most important thing that I learned from reading those files is that you and Agent Vaughn are nearly unstoppable as a team. The reason the Agency tolerated the blatant breaches of protocol you were both guilty of before your disappearance was because of the irrefutable proof that your instincts with regards to each other are dead on."

Sydney looks down at her hands, letting out a sigh as she processes what he is telling her. "Dixon, while that may have been true in the past, the situation has changed."

Dixon gives her a sympathetic smile. "Syd…it may help you to rationalize this decision you've made by leading yourself to believe that since your return you and Agent Vaughn don't work as well together – but you're wrong. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying – you are still a top notch agent and on your own you are still one of the best agents the CIA has ever seen. But partnered with Vaughn, you are the best."

Sydney shakes her head. "How can you say that? The missions that Vaughn and I have been on since we've been back have not exactly been textbook. There have been plenty of errors made...close calls...instances where one or both of us have been made. Our partnership has not been as perfect as you are portraying it."

Dixon gives Sydney a nod. He stands up and reaches over to pat her shoulder, then he goes to sit behind his desk again. He leans forward and looks Sydney in the eye. "Syd, the best agents are not the ones who follow their orders to a 'T', encounter no obstacles, and fulfill their missions without a hitch. The best agents, the 'best of the best', are those agents that have everything go wrong, are forced to improvise…think on their feet, or are even made, but still complete their mission and get out alive. From reading your files, it was obvious that you and Agent Vaughn fell into that 'best of the best' category."

Sydney breaks his eye contact and looks back down at her hands. She's flattered that Dixon thinks so highly of her abilities, but can tell that she is losing her argument. Sydney hates to lose.

"That assessment has not changed since you both have returned. When you were on that operation in Munich, Agent Vaughn just happened to be in the rotunda. He noticed something that the rest of us, myself included, didn't see on the blueprint of the facility and he got you the correct intel. The same thing happened when you were in Mexico, when he noticed the enemies earpieces. Both times Vaughn grabbed a com and gave you instructions, and both times you followed his instructions without question. Syd, I worked with you for years…we were partners for years, and I'm not sure that we ever had that kind of instantaneous 'sixth sense' about each other. What you and Agent Vaughn have…professionally…is rare. I'm sorry, Sydney, but I am going to have to deny your request."

Sydney stands up quickly and starts to pace. "Dixon…I am speaking to you now as my friend. I am pleading with you – I just don't think I can take one more life or death mission with Vaughn!" She stops in front of his desk, arms crossed and on the verge of tears. She gives Dixon a long look before saying in a hoarse whisper, "There's too much between us…things are said in moments like those…its too much. Please, Dixon…please?"

Dixon stands up and walks over to Sydney, placing his hands on either side of her and grasping her upper arms firmly as he says, "Sydney, you may not believe this, but I'm denying your request for your own good. Our objective right now is to take down the Covenant. You are our best operative, which means you will be on point for at least 90% of the missions. In my current position, I am not able to accompany you on missions anymore. If it's not going to be me, then it's going to be the best – the best for you is Agent Vaughn. Whatever issues that have come up between you two have not affected the outcome of your missions, so I do not have a definitive reason to approve your request."

Sydney gives Dixon a half-hearted nod. He, in turn, pulls her into a hug and continues, "Now, as your friend, I need to remind you that you have only been back for a few months, and are only a week or so past finding out what happened during the past two years of your life. I believe that your issues with Vaughn will dissipate with time – more so than with avoidance."

He pulls back and looks into her teary-eyes. She can see the sincerety in his eyes. "You're probably right. Maybe I just don't have the right amount of perspective at this point in time. Thanks for listening to me. It means a lot." She gives him one more quick hug, then heads towards the door.

"I'll see you in a couple of days, Sydney." She gives him a glance and a smile, then leaves.

Syd, if you only knew how much Vaughn really loves you. The sacrifices he has made for you and because of you amaze even me. There is no one else that I would trust your life with right now, and regardless of the current pain you are enduring, you will know the truth one day soon. Sooner, if I can help it.

Dixon buzzes his secretary.

"Yes, sir?"

"Please tell Agent Vaughn that I'd like to see him as soon as possible in my office."

"Right away, sir."

"Thank you." Kendall could probably get me fired for this, but he doesn't understand how Sydney and Vaughn work like I do.