Title: I'll Remember
Author: Blue
Disclaimer: All these characters are from the talented J.J. Abrams and I don't own any of them. I've just borrowed them for my story Summary: Sydney must deal with a temporary replacement of Sloane. Meanwhile Vaughn has to fight the CIA to keep his job with Sydney Classification / Genre: Action & Vaughn/Sydney Romance Rating: PG13 Author's Note: Feedback is more than welcome. E-mail me at bluemnms@hotmail.com
Sydney ran into the warehouse-soaking wet. It had been raining for over a week and she was actually looking forward to getting away from it and seeing some sun on her next mission in Hawaii. She looked around the empty warehouse; Vaughn was nowhere in sight. "That's weird. I've never been here before him, he's probably stuck in traffic." A Half hour passed and still no Vaughn, Sydney started to worry. Suddenly her beeper went off. Dam it, a 911 from Sloane. She groaned. She didn't want to leave without knowing that Vaughn was okay. She decided to wait for five more minutes, anymore and she'd be late. Five minutes later and Vaughn still hadn't turned up. Sydney had no choice but to leave. She ran back to her car, took one last look at the empty warehouse and drove away.
Sydney walked into Sloane's office to find her father and Dixon had already arrived. Well at least I'm not late she thought. "What's going on?" Sydney asked still worried about Vaughn.
" I'm not sure we're waiting on Sloane," her father replied his face tense.
Sydney took a seat just as Slone arrived.
"Ahh, it's good to see you're all here, the mission to Hawaii has been cancelled. The man Sydney was supposed to be investigating has been killed. It turns out our suspicions were correct, James Miteck has been running errands for Khasinau behind K-Directorate's back. We are unsure who killed him but have decided to lay low. If the K-Directorate ordered his execution they will be on high alert. There is no need to alert them of our interest in Khasinau. I will tell you when there's a change in the situation, that's all."
Dixon, Jack and Sydney all get up to leave.
"Sydney could you stay behind please."
Jack paused in the doorway wondering what Sloane could possibly want with Sydney. Knowing there was nothing he could do, and that if Sydney needed him she would ask, he left the room.
Sydney hated to be in the same room as Sloane any longer than she needed to, and of all the times he could have talked to her why this very moment? She needed to find out if Vaughn was okay. She turned around and forced herself to make eye contact with Sloane.
"I will be attending a meeting on Monday which will cause me to be out of town for the entire week. I was wondering if you would have the time to visit Emily? I would hate for her to be lonely right now."
"Of course. I'll make sure she's okay," Sydney forced a smile.
"Thank-you Sydney, I appreciate this."
"Who will be looking after SD-6 while you're away?"
"The Alliance has decided to send someone, so that they can see SD-6 in action. I have not received the name of the man they are sending."
"Is the Alliance worried about SD-6?"
"No, on the contrary they are quite pleased with what we have achieved concerning Khasinau."
"Oh, is that all you wanted to ask me?"
"Yes you may go Sydney."
"Great now I have to worry about Sloane's replacement," Sydney told herself as she drove home. Sydney parked the car outside her house and walked up to the front door. As soon as she opened it she could hear Francie and Will arguing. "Hi, guy's what's up?" she asked grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Will is trying to set me up with a guy from his work, can you believe it? I am not that desperate"
"Francie its one date and Syd and I will come along, it'll be a group thing. Right Syd."
"Right. Come on Francie it'll be fun," Sydney tried to convince her.
"I don't know, I guess. But if it turns out he's got three heads or something then I'm outta there.'
"Deal, so I'll set it up for this weekend?"
"Great," Sydney replied happy that the cancelled trip allowed her time to veg out with her friends.
"The phone rang and Sydney instantly felt guilty about forgetting about Vaughn, even if it was only for a few minutes. She grabbed the receiver hoping to hear the familiar pizza greeting.
"Joey's pizza?"
"You have the wrong number," Sydney answered relieved that she could talk to Vaughn about Sloane trip and his mystery replacement.
"Not that dam pizza place again!" Francie complained, "that's it I'm going to ring Joey's Pizza and demand that they change their number." She grabbed for the phone but Will beat her to it.
"Francie you just can't demand that they change their number," Will laughed.
"Give me the phone," Francie warned.
"Hey I'm going out to the store, do you guys need anything?" Sydney asked.
"Nope, now Will how about giving me that phone."
Sydney left them to fight over the phone. She got into her car quietly laughing to herself. It had stopped raining and Sydney smiled, today had been an okay day for a Monday. No missions for the week, Francie was going on a Date and she was on her way to see Vaughn, things were looking up.
Sydney walked into the warehouse to see not Vaughn but Weiss waiting for her. "Where's Vaughn? And why didn't he turn up this morning?" Sydney instantly panicked, not that you could tell from her voice or body language, Sydney was as cool as ever addressing Weiss.
"Mich. I mean Agent Vaughn is okay. I was left a message about today's meeting but I." Weiss paused starching his neck. "I slept in. I didn't get it. Now this mission to Hawaii, we-"
"It's been cancelled," Sydney cut in, "Where's Vaughn? You never told me why he missed the meeting."
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you why, just that he's okay. I'm only your temporary handler. Devlin will assign you a new handler as soon as possible."
"A new handler what are you talking about. When's Vaughn coming back? What is going on?"
"I really can't tell you what's happening, I'm sorry."
Sydney was in a state of confusion and her usual calm appearance was falling apart. She tried to extract the information out of Weiss some more but it was useless. Sydney walked out of the warehouse in defeat. It had started to rain again. Funny how things can turn around so quickly, she thought to herself as she drove home. She had a sudden urge to call Vaughn on her cell phone but resisted it; she didn't want to disturb him or get him in any trouble. "Or maybe you don't want to call him because your afraid he won't want to talk to you," she said to herself. Sydney found herself driving to Vaughn's apartment, and before she could make herself turn around she had arrived. She knew she shouldn't of come here but her feet weren't listening and she soon found herself outside Vaughn's front door. Sydney paused she could hear someone moving around inside. "Now or never," she told herself.
Michael Vaughn was surprised to hear a knock at the door and glad. He had been going out of his mind. He left the movie that he really wasn't watching and got up to answer the door. "Down Donovan," he said to his overprotective dog. He answered and to his surprise Sydney was standing there.
"Hi," she said obviously nervous.
It took him awhile to get his thoughts together. "You shouldn't be here," he finally managed to say.
"I know, but no one will tell me what's going on. Do you know they're getting me a new handler? You better tell me what's happening."
Vaughn could see that Sydney was angry and motioned her inside before she alerted any of his neighbours. He looked around his apartment, he was glad to see that it was relatively clean. "I know about the handler," Vaughn answered her. How was he going to explain to her that he was being investigated for being suspected of having a romantic relationship with her? "I'm being investigated and so have been pulled from your case. I'm sorry."
A look of confusion came over Sydney's face. "What are you being investigated for?"
"I can't tell you Syd. I'm sorry."
Sydney's look of confusion turned to one of anger. "You are the second person to tell me that today. I thought you of all people would at least have the decency to tell me the truth."
A pained look came over Vaughn's face. "They think I. that I am. that we have a romantic relationship. I am being investigated for breaking CIA protocol," Vaughn watched Sydney's face for a reaction.
A look of disbelieve showed on Sydney's features. "What? Why? How would they come to that conclusion?"
"Haladki."
Sydney detested the little man that had caused her, her problems with the FBI. It was lucky that he was such a squealer, or she would still be locked in a room with the FBI. "It's not fair. What about when you're cleared?"
Vaughn felt like laughing. She was so sure he would walk away from this; she had no idea how much trouble she was in. Vaughn knew the evidence against him was great and that was his fault. If he hadn't of become so attached to Sydney. "I don't think Devlin will let me be your handler after an accusation like this."
Silence filled the room as Sydney tried to digest all the information. Her cell phone broke the silence and Sydney cursed. It was Dixon. "I have to take this." Vaughn nodded but didn't say anything. "Hello."
"Sydney," came Dixon's voice, "Sloane wants us all to come in. I think his replacement has arrived."
"Already?"
"They didn't waste must time."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Sydney turned off her cell and turned to face Vaughn. "It seems that Sloane's."
"Don't tell me," Vaughn interrupted her, "I can't know."
"I have to go." As Sydney spoke those words she realised this would be the last time she would see Vaughn. Her anger flared up as she willed her self not to cry.
Vaughn didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Sydney when they took him of her case. Now he did and it was going to be the hardest thing he had ever had to do. "Syd, you're an amazing agent and you don't need me to help you break down SD-6. I am proud to have worked with you and so will your new handler."
Sydney wanted to hit something. How could he CIA do this? Vaughn was not just her handler he was her friend. She had lost to many people she couldn't lose him. "Thank-you." Sydney didn't know what else to say. What could she say other than goodbye? And she couldn't do that, she couldn't.
"You better go," Vaughn broke the silence.
"Yeah." Sydney paused and then against her better judgement threw her arms around him.
The hug only lasted seconds and then she was gone. Vaughn caught the last glimpse of Sydney he would ever see as she went around the corner.
Tears streaked down Sydney's face as she ran out into the rain.
I'll remember the love that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
And I'll remember
The way that you changed me
I'll remember.
Sydney took one last look at Vaughn's apartment before she drove towards Credit Dauphine.
Disclaimer: All these characters are from the talented J.J. Abrams and I don't own any of them. I've just borrowed them for my story Summary: Sydney must deal with a temporary replacement of Sloane. Meanwhile Vaughn has to fight the CIA to keep his job with Sydney Classification / Genre: Action & Vaughn/Sydney Romance Rating: PG13 Author's Note: Feedback is more than welcome. E-mail me at bluemnms@hotmail.com
Sydney ran into the warehouse-soaking wet. It had been raining for over a week and she was actually looking forward to getting away from it and seeing some sun on her next mission in Hawaii. She looked around the empty warehouse; Vaughn was nowhere in sight. "That's weird. I've never been here before him, he's probably stuck in traffic." A Half hour passed and still no Vaughn, Sydney started to worry. Suddenly her beeper went off. Dam it, a 911 from Sloane. She groaned. She didn't want to leave without knowing that Vaughn was okay. She decided to wait for five more minutes, anymore and she'd be late. Five minutes later and Vaughn still hadn't turned up. Sydney had no choice but to leave. She ran back to her car, took one last look at the empty warehouse and drove away.
Sydney walked into Sloane's office to find her father and Dixon had already arrived. Well at least I'm not late she thought. "What's going on?" Sydney asked still worried about Vaughn.
" I'm not sure we're waiting on Sloane," her father replied his face tense.
Sydney took a seat just as Slone arrived.
"Ahh, it's good to see you're all here, the mission to Hawaii has been cancelled. The man Sydney was supposed to be investigating has been killed. It turns out our suspicions were correct, James Miteck has been running errands for Khasinau behind K-Directorate's back. We are unsure who killed him but have decided to lay low. If the K-Directorate ordered his execution they will be on high alert. There is no need to alert them of our interest in Khasinau. I will tell you when there's a change in the situation, that's all."
Dixon, Jack and Sydney all get up to leave.
"Sydney could you stay behind please."
Jack paused in the doorway wondering what Sloane could possibly want with Sydney. Knowing there was nothing he could do, and that if Sydney needed him she would ask, he left the room.
Sydney hated to be in the same room as Sloane any longer than she needed to, and of all the times he could have talked to her why this very moment? She needed to find out if Vaughn was okay. She turned around and forced herself to make eye contact with Sloane.
"I will be attending a meeting on Monday which will cause me to be out of town for the entire week. I was wondering if you would have the time to visit Emily? I would hate for her to be lonely right now."
"Of course. I'll make sure she's okay," Sydney forced a smile.
"Thank-you Sydney, I appreciate this."
"Who will be looking after SD-6 while you're away?"
"The Alliance has decided to send someone, so that they can see SD-6 in action. I have not received the name of the man they are sending."
"Is the Alliance worried about SD-6?"
"No, on the contrary they are quite pleased with what we have achieved concerning Khasinau."
"Oh, is that all you wanted to ask me?"
"Yes you may go Sydney."
"Great now I have to worry about Sloane's replacement," Sydney told herself as she drove home. Sydney parked the car outside her house and walked up to the front door. As soon as she opened it she could hear Francie and Will arguing. "Hi, guy's what's up?" she asked grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Will is trying to set me up with a guy from his work, can you believe it? I am not that desperate"
"Francie its one date and Syd and I will come along, it'll be a group thing. Right Syd."
"Right. Come on Francie it'll be fun," Sydney tried to convince her.
"I don't know, I guess. But if it turns out he's got three heads or something then I'm outta there.'
"Deal, so I'll set it up for this weekend?"
"Great," Sydney replied happy that the cancelled trip allowed her time to veg out with her friends.
"The phone rang and Sydney instantly felt guilty about forgetting about Vaughn, even if it was only for a few minutes. She grabbed the receiver hoping to hear the familiar pizza greeting.
"Joey's pizza?"
"You have the wrong number," Sydney answered relieved that she could talk to Vaughn about Sloane trip and his mystery replacement.
"Not that dam pizza place again!" Francie complained, "that's it I'm going to ring Joey's Pizza and demand that they change their number." She grabbed for the phone but Will beat her to it.
"Francie you just can't demand that they change their number," Will laughed.
"Give me the phone," Francie warned.
"Hey I'm going out to the store, do you guys need anything?" Sydney asked.
"Nope, now Will how about giving me that phone."
Sydney left them to fight over the phone. She got into her car quietly laughing to herself. It had stopped raining and Sydney smiled, today had been an okay day for a Monday. No missions for the week, Francie was going on a Date and she was on her way to see Vaughn, things were looking up.
Sydney walked into the warehouse to see not Vaughn but Weiss waiting for her. "Where's Vaughn? And why didn't he turn up this morning?" Sydney instantly panicked, not that you could tell from her voice or body language, Sydney was as cool as ever addressing Weiss.
"Mich. I mean Agent Vaughn is okay. I was left a message about today's meeting but I." Weiss paused starching his neck. "I slept in. I didn't get it. Now this mission to Hawaii, we-"
"It's been cancelled," Sydney cut in, "Where's Vaughn? You never told me why he missed the meeting."
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you why, just that he's okay. I'm only your temporary handler. Devlin will assign you a new handler as soon as possible."
"A new handler what are you talking about. When's Vaughn coming back? What is going on?"
"I really can't tell you what's happening, I'm sorry."
Sydney was in a state of confusion and her usual calm appearance was falling apart. She tried to extract the information out of Weiss some more but it was useless. Sydney walked out of the warehouse in defeat. It had started to rain again. Funny how things can turn around so quickly, she thought to herself as she drove home. She had a sudden urge to call Vaughn on her cell phone but resisted it; she didn't want to disturb him or get him in any trouble. "Or maybe you don't want to call him because your afraid he won't want to talk to you," she said to herself. Sydney found herself driving to Vaughn's apartment, and before she could make herself turn around she had arrived. She knew she shouldn't of come here but her feet weren't listening and she soon found herself outside Vaughn's front door. Sydney paused she could hear someone moving around inside. "Now or never," she told herself.
Michael Vaughn was surprised to hear a knock at the door and glad. He had been going out of his mind. He left the movie that he really wasn't watching and got up to answer the door. "Down Donovan," he said to his overprotective dog. He answered and to his surprise Sydney was standing there.
"Hi," she said obviously nervous.
It took him awhile to get his thoughts together. "You shouldn't be here," he finally managed to say.
"I know, but no one will tell me what's going on. Do you know they're getting me a new handler? You better tell me what's happening."
Vaughn could see that Sydney was angry and motioned her inside before she alerted any of his neighbours. He looked around his apartment, he was glad to see that it was relatively clean. "I know about the handler," Vaughn answered her. How was he going to explain to her that he was being investigated for being suspected of having a romantic relationship with her? "I'm being investigated and so have been pulled from your case. I'm sorry."
A look of confusion came over Sydney's face. "What are you being investigated for?"
"I can't tell you Syd. I'm sorry."
Sydney's look of confusion turned to one of anger. "You are the second person to tell me that today. I thought you of all people would at least have the decency to tell me the truth."
A pained look came over Vaughn's face. "They think I. that I am. that we have a romantic relationship. I am being investigated for breaking CIA protocol," Vaughn watched Sydney's face for a reaction.
A look of disbelieve showed on Sydney's features. "What? Why? How would they come to that conclusion?"
"Haladki."
Sydney detested the little man that had caused her, her problems with the FBI. It was lucky that he was such a squealer, or she would still be locked in a room with the FBI. "It's not fair. What about when you're cleared?"
Vaughn felt like laughing. She was so sure he would walk away from this; she had no idea how much trouble she was in. Vaughn knew the evidence against him was great and that was his fault. If he hadn't of become so attached to Sydney. "I don't think Devlin will let me be your handler after an accusation like this."
Silence filled the room as Sydney tried to digest all the information. Her cell phone broke the silence and Sydney cursed. It was Dixon. "I have to take this." Vaughn nodded but didn't say anything. "Hello."
"Sydney," came Dixon's voice, "Sloane wants us all to come in. I think his replacement has arrived."
"Already?"
"They didn't waste must time."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Sydney turned off her cell and turned to face Vaughn. "It seems that Sloane's."
"Don't tell me," Vaughn interrupted her, "I can't know."
"I have to go." As Sydney spoke those words she realised this would be the last time she would see Vaughn. Her anger flared up as she willed her self not to cry.
Vaughn didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Sydney when they took him of her case. Now he did and it was going to be the hardest thing he had ever had to do. "Syd, you're an amazing agent and you don't need me to help you break down SD-6. I am proud to have worked with you and so will your new handler."
Sydney wanted to hit something. How could he CIA do this? Vaughn was not just her handler he was her friend. She had lost to many people she couldn't lose him. "Thank-you." Sydney didn't know what else to say. What could she say other than goodbye? And she couldn't do that, she couldn't.
"You better go," Vaughn broke the silence.
"Yeah." Sydney paused and then against her better judgement threw her arms around him.
The hug only lasted seconds and then she was gone. Vaughn caught the last glimpse of Sydney he would ever see as she went around the corner.
Tears streaked down Sydney's face as she ran out into the rain.
I'll remember the love that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
And I'll remember
The way that you changed me
I'll remember.
Sydney took one last look at Vaughn's apartment before she drove towards Credit Dauphine.