Chapter 8
A/N: I know it's a bit short, sorry! Just seemed like a nice place to stop for now.
My mind is a tricky thing; I'm filled with joy, for what could be nothing, and filled with nerves for the same reason. I can't help but remember the way Vaughn's eyes sparkled when he made the pass; I know he must be up to something. Lost in thought, I didn't notice the traffic light was on red, which can't be good.
I try to calm down and look into the rear view mirror. The woman looking back at me seems as if she's about to confront a ghost, yet her cheeks are rosy from excitement and anticipation. The rose and mysterious note probably meant nothing; I'm surely overreacting. And even as I comfort myself with this thought, leaving the car proves to be a challenge; a battle in my head. Part of me is saying to get in the car and speed back home, and the other part is telling me to use some of that spy gut and just go for it. I decide to side with the spy part and build up some courage.
Working my way to the back proves to be no harder than choosing sides, and finding the doorway labeled "Private, Staff Only" comes with ease. Keeping a steady hand, I turn the knob and find the door is open. I step into the room and close the door behind me. It's very dark in the room and I make my way to what looks like a door.
"Vaughn?" There's no answer. I'm starting to get worried, something doesn't seem right. I walk out of the room and I find I'm under the bleachers. On the other side, sitting near the bottom, which is rather lucky for me, is Vaughn, waiting for me patiently. I let out a sigh of relief and walk over to the other side. I climb out from under the bleachers, which is much harder than I thought it would be.
"Hey" He says, smiling at me. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a large box under the bench behind him.
"Hi" I sit down, ready to listen. I notice Vaughn isn't wearing a suit, which is a nice change. He looks wonderful in casual clothing and I swear it will be hard to keep from staring. His navy blue sweater and khakis look great on him, and I don't think I've ever seen him in sneakers before, except for that time that I met him while jogging.
"Your counter-mission's pretty simple," he says, getting right to work, which I must admit is kind of disappointing, " just switch the code that you find behind the frame with this" he hands me a sheet of paper with a series of digits imprinted upon on it. I take it and sit, as if waiting for more, and to my surprise there doesn't seem to be any more.
"That's it?" He smiles. I'm so confused, "You weren't kidding when you said it was simple" I say, carefully putting the sheet in my purse.
"Yes. that's everything work-related, that is" I knew he wouldn't let me down. He seems to find this amusing and I can feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Reaching behind him, he pulls out the afore-mentioned box from under the bench.
"What is it?" I try to peer into the box, but he's blocking my sight, not that I mind looking at him, this is quite a nice angle. His smile only gets bigger.
"You'll see" I just can't help but smile, this man sure knows how to make me curious. He opens the box and inside are two pairs of ice skates. "I got you figure skates, hope you don't mind" he says with that adorable grin of his. I'm in shock.
"How. how did you know my size?" It's only one of the many questions floating, or rather zooming, through my head currently.
"It's my job to know, isn't it?" he says with a wink," here, try them on" He hands tem to me and then pulls out of the box a pair of hockey skates. He then unties his shoelaces and removes his shoes. I know this is silly, but [I] oh my god [/I] Vaughn in socks! I watch, fascinated, as he puts on the skates and bends over, expertly tying them, and giving my a nice view. I'm sitting there, mouth wide open, when he looks up at me. So much for not staring. "Need help?" I manage to nod my head and he picks up my skates. "You'll have to take of your shoes Syd"
He's laughing at me! I take off them off silently and look back up at him like a helpless child. He has rendered me speechless, the only man with the capability to do that. "Come on" He kneels in front of me and takes my foot and puts it in the skate. I feel like a little girl again and I know I'm going bright red. He does the same with my other foot, still grinning. Carefully, he ties the laces tight and then wraps them around the ankle of the boot and ties them in a bow in the front.
"Ow," I can't help but fuss, " They're a bit tight" He just can't stop grinning, can he?
"They're supposed to be" I seem to regain all sense and the ability to speak something other than gibberish, but only to defend myself.
"I knew that" He just laughs again and helps me up. "This is really sweet of you Vaughn" I finally break into a smile and wrap my arms around him tightly.
"My pleasure Syd, I'm glad to do it"
A/N: I know it's a bit short, sorry! Just seemed like a nice place to stop for now.
My mind is a tricky thing; I'm filled with joy, for what could be nothing, and filled with nerves for the same reason. I can't help but remember the way Vaughn's eyes sparkled when he made the pass; I know he must be up to something. Lost in thought, I didn't notice the traffic light was on red, which can't be good.
I try to calm down and look into the rear view mirror. The woman looking back at me seems as if she's about to confront a ghost, yet her cheeks are rosy from excitement and anticipation. The rose and mysterious note probably meant nothing; I'm surely overreacting. And even as I comfort myself with this thought, leaving the car proves to be a challenge; a battle in my head. Part of me is saying to get in the car and speed back home, and the other part is telling me to use some of that spy gut and just go for it. I decide to side with the spy part and build up some courage.
Working my way to the back proves to be no harder than choosing sides, and finding the doorway labeled "Private, Staff Only" comes with ease. Keeping a steady hand, I turn the knob and find the door is open. I step into the room and close the door behind me. It's very dark in the room and I make my way to what looks like a door.
"Vaughn?" There's no answer. I'm starting to get worried, something doesn't seem right. I walk out of the room and I find I'm under the bleachers. On the other side, sitting near the bottom, which is rather lucky for me, is Vaughn, waiting for me patiently. I let out a sigh of relief and walk over to the other side. I climb out from under the bleachers, which is much harder than I thought it would be.
"Hey" He says, smiling at me. Out of the corner of my eye I notice a large box under the bench behind him.
"Hi" I sit down, ready to listen. I notice Vaughn isn't wearing a suit, which is a nice change. He looks wonderful in casual clothing and I swear it will be hard to keep from staring. His navy blue sweater and khakis look great on him, and I don't think I've ever seen him in sneakers before, except for that time that I met him while jogging.
"Your counter-mission's pretty simple," he says, getting right to work, which I must admit is kind of disappointing, " just switch the code that you find behind the frame with this" he hands me a sheet of paper with a series of digits imprinted upon on it. I take it and sit, as if waiting for more, and to my surprise there doesn't seem to be any more.
"That's it?" He smiles. I'm so confused, "You weren't kidding when you said it was simple" I say, carefully putting the sheet in my purse.
"Yes. that's everything work-related, that is" I knew he wouldn't let me down. He seems to find this amusing and I can feel a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Reaching behind him, he pulls out the afore-mentioned box from under the bench.
"What is it?" I try to peer into the box, but he's blocking my sight, not that I mind looking at him, this is quite a nice angle. His smile only gets bigger.
"You'll see" I just can't help but smile, this man sure knows how to make me curious. He opens the box and inside are two pairs of ice skates. "I got you figure skates, hope you don't mind" he says with that adorable grin of his. I'm in shock.
"How. how did you know my size?" It's only one of the many questions floating, or rather zooming, through my head currently.
"It's my job to know, isn't it?" he says with a wink," here, try them on" He hands tem to me and then pulls out of the box a pair of hockey skates. He then unties his shoelaces and removes his shoes. I know this is silly, but [I] oh my god [/I] Vaughn in socks! I watch, fascinated, as he puts on the skates and bends over, expertly tying them, and giving my a nice view. I'm sitting there, mouth wide open, when he looks up at me. So much for not staring. "Need help?" I manage to nod my head and he picks up my skates. "You'll have to take of your shoes Syd"
He's laughing at me! I take off them off silently and look back up at him like a helpless child. He has rendered me speechless, the only man with the capability to do that. "Come on" He kneels in front of me and takes my foot and puts it in the skate. I feel like a little girl again and I know I'm going bright red. He does the same with my other foot, still grinning. Carefully, he ties the laces tight and then wraps them around the ankle of the boot and ties them in a bow in the front.
"Ow," I can't help but fuss, " They're a bit tight" He just can't stop grinning, can he?
"They're supposed to be" I seem to regain all sense and the ability to speak something other than gibberish, but only to defend myself.
"I knew that" He just laughs again and helps me up. "This is really sweet of you Vaughn" I finally break into a smile and wrap my arms around him tightly.
"My pleasure Syd, I'm glad to do it"