Chapter 16
Later that night
Sydney was lying on the couch thinking about the events of the day. Half of her regretted what had happened, the other told her it was time to move on with her life. A knock on the front door disturbed her thoughts. She opened the door, to find a tall, dark man standing on her doorstep carrying a pizza box.
"Hey Syd, I thought you wouldn't be in the mood to cook, so I ordered us a pizza." Weiss held up the pizza box, the fresh smell of cheese and tomato making Sydney realise that she hadn't eaten at all that day.
"Hi, come on in." She greeted him with a smile, the way she always did. He had become her best friend, the one person she could rely on, no matter what happened. He accepted her invitation, and walked in placing the pizza on the kitchen counter. Sydney took two beers out of the fridge, and opened the box taking a large slice of pizza. She followed Weiss into the living room, where they indulged in the pizza and beers.
"So...how was it? Spending all that time with Vaughn and Lauren?" Weiss asked between mouthfuls.
"It was exactly easy, we're both in love with the same man. But it was definitely eventful!" Syd laughed nervously.
"Why what happened?"
"Well...I thought that there was gonna be a chance for me and Vaughn again. You know, we were getting on so well, talking about old times and stuff. And then he told me that I was the one that he loved and not Lauren. But then everything changed." She fought back the tears.
"You mean he stayed with Lauren?" Weiss put down his pizza, and focused on Syd. It was hurting him to see her so upset.
"Yeah he decided to stay with Lauren. But it wasn't just out of love for her, it was because she's pregnant." Sydney no longer felt hungry.
"WAIT! Lauren's pregnant?!?!?!? When did this happen?" His face was filled with confusion.
"The doctors found out when they were testing her for the virus. Looks like they're gonna be one happy family." She said sarcastically.
"Syd, I'm so sorry." He got up and hugged her.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, it's not like it's your fault. I'm gonna ask Dixon if all my future missions can be done with you. I know that me and Vaughn do great work together, but it just hurts too much to be around him. Besides I've already told him to keep his distance from me." She stared to clear away the pizza box.
"Yeah sure, as long as that's what you want." Sydney didn't answer him. She was still unsure about whether or not she wanted to completely cut Vaughn out of her life.
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A couple of days later
Vaughn woke up early to get ready for work. It was only 6:30am, which gave him plenty of time to shower and change before he had to leave. He was dreading seeing Sydney today, he was no longer sure of how to act around her. He would just have to talk to Weiss about it. He rolled over to find that Lauren was still asleep, so he left her that way.
After putting on one of his dark suits he headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast. He was quite surprised to find Lauren sitting at the table with a glass of water in her hand. He hadn't even heard her get out of bed.
"Why are you not dressed? You're gonna be late for work." He said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"I'm not due in until lunchtime, I have a doctors appointment."
"Is everything ok?" He asked, concern filling his face.
"Yeah, it's just routine. I have to go and see my own doctor to confirm that I'm pregnant." She smiled at him happily. She had a slight feeling that she was more excited about this baby than he was. But she figured that in time he would come around.
"Oh, ok. I'm best get going or I'll be late for work." He kissed her on the cheek, grabbed his jacket and left the house.
At the operations centre
Sydney had talked to Dixon when she arrived that morning. He had been sympathetic with her, and he said he understood her reasons for asking Weiss to be her new partner. Weiss was talking it over with him, whilst Sydney was catching up with some paper work. She noticed Vaughn walk in but she kept her head down. She had so much that she wanted to say to him, but she figured that making a scene would not help matters.
Vaughn headed straight to his desk, to be greeted with a load of work that he need to catch up on. He took out a pen and started to write, but he was finding it too difficult to concentrate. He kept looking at Syd, but either she didn't notice or she was avoiding making eye contact with him. He decided that it was the latter.
"Hey Syd. I just finished speaking to Dixon, and it's all sorted." Vaughn could hear Weiss' voice but he couldn't quite make out what he was saying.
"Thanks for doing this Eric. You're a great friend." She replied.
"Anyways we've got a debrief. Come on." He nodded his head towards the conference room. Sydney made her way there but Weiss remained behind.
"Vaughn...Debrief buddy." He waited for Vaughn to catch up with him before he continued walking.
Dixon was already in there with Jack, Marshall and a few other agents. Sydney took her seat as did Vaughn and Weiss. Sydney and Vaughn exchanged cold glances, which Jack noticed. "I would like to start by welcoming Agent Bristow and Vaughn back." Dixon began. Sydney gave him a fake smile, and Vaughn just looked down at the floor.
"We received Intel this morning that Mr Sark has resurfaced and he has captured a scientist, a Mr. Stochansky, whom he believes will help him fit the Rambaldi device together. Sark will be taking Stochansky to his warehouse in Zurich tomorrow night, but obviously we will be there to intercept him. Sydney and Weiss here are you plane tickets." He slid an envelope down the table to them. "Good luck." Sydney and Weiss each took their ticket and placed it in their pocket.
"Erm...excuse me but why is Weiss on this mission?" Vaughn asked, confusion all over his face.
"Agent Weiss will be doing this mission with Bristow. Do you have a problem with that Agent Vaughn?" Dixon's face was sincere.
"Yes I have a problem with that. I should be on this mission, after all I am Sydney's partner!" He was standing now, clearly not happy about the situation.
"Really Vaughn? You certainly weren't my partner yesterday when you chose your wife over me. And I already told you that I was asking for Weiss to do the missions with me from now on." Everybody's eyes were focused on Sydney and Vaughn.
"Yeah but I didn't think you were going through with it." He paused running his hand through his tousled hair. "So that's it...you're cutting me out of your life, just like that." He looked into her eyes, tears slowly running down her cheek.
"Well you've already cut me out of yours so what does it matter." She grabbed her things, and pushed the chair from beneath her, leaving the room. The other agents just stood in silence, no one knowing what to say.
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When Vaughn got home that night, he found Lauren lying on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying. She sat up when she saw him. "Lauren what's wrong?" Vaughn sat on the couch next to her.
"I er...I went to the doctors today. And it turns out I'm not pregnant, Michael I never was. Dr. Nicholas made a mistake." She wiped away another fallen tear.
Vaughn was speechless. He couldn't believe that he had pushed the woman he loved away for nothing.
"But it's ok Michael. We can keep trying." That was it, he couldn't take anymore. He had to get out of this marriage.
"No, we can't Lauren." He was finally able to say what was on his mind. "I don't love you the way that I should, and it wouldn't be fair to you, or myself if I was to keep living a lie. It's not fair to Sydney..."
"Wait, what's SHE got to do with it?" Lauren stood up, and began pacing the living room.
"I pushed her away. I told her that I still loved her and that I was leaving you, but then I stayed with you because I thought you were pregnant. I know that it's not right to stay with someone just because of that, but I felt a duty. And now that you're not pregnant, that duty has gone. I'm sorry Lauren for putting you through this." She was crying now, tears dropping down from her pale cheeks.
"We could make this work Michael, if you really wanted to..." She was pleading with him.
"That's not what I want. I want us to get a divorce." He took off his wedding ring, and placed it down on the table.
Later that night
Sydney was lying on the couch thinking about the events of the day. Half of her regretted what had happened, the other told her it was time to move on with her life. A knock on the front door disturbed her thoughts. She opened the door, to find a tall, dark man standing on her doorstep carrying a pizza box.
"Hey Syd, I thought you wouldn't be in the mood to cook, so I ordered us a pizza." Weiss held up the pizza box, the fresh smell of cheese and tomato making Sydney realise that she hadn't eaten at all that day.
"Hi, come on in." She greeted him with a smile, the way she always did. He had become her best friend, the one person she could rely on, no matter what happened. He accepted her invitation, and walked in placing the pizza on the kitchen counter. Sydney took two beers out of the fridge, and opened the box taking a large slice of pizza. She followed Weiss into the living room, where they indulged in the pizza and beers.
"So...how was it? Spending all that time with Vaughn and Lauren?" Weiss asked between mouthfuls.
"It was exactly easy, we're both in love with the same man. But it was definitely eventful!" Syd laughed nervously.
"Why what happened?"
"Well...I thought that there was gonna be a chance for me and Vaughn again. You know, we were getting on so well, talking about old times and stuff. And then he told me that I was the one that he loved and not Lauren. But then everything changed." She fought back the tears.
"You mean he stayed with Lauren?" Weiss put down his pizza, and focused on Syd. It was hurting him to see her so upset.
"Yeah he decided to stay with Lauren. But it wasn't just out of love for her, it was because she's pregnant." Sydney no longer felt hungry.
"WAIT! Lauren's pregnant?!?!?!? When did this happen?" His face was filled with confusion.
"The doctors found out when they were testing her for the virus. Looks like they're gonna be one happy family." She said sarcastically.
"Syd, I'm so sorry." He got up and hugged her.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, it's not like it's your fault. I'm gonna ask Dixon if all my future missions can be done with you. I know that me and Vaughn do great work together, but it just hurts too much to be around him. Besides I've already told him to keep his distance from me." She stared to clear away the pizza box.
"Yeah sure, as long as that's what you want." Sydney didn't answer him. She was still unsure about whether or not she wanted to completely cut Vaughn out of her life.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A couple of days later
Vaughn woke up early to get ready for work. It was only 6:30am, which gave him plenty of time to shower and change before he had to leave. He was dreading seeing Sydney today, he was no longer sure of how to act around her. He would just have to talk to Weiss about it. He rolled over to find that Lauren was still asleep, so he left her that way.
After putting on one of his dark suits he headed into the kitchen to make some breakfast. He was quite surprised to find Lauren sitting at the table with a glass of water in her hand. He hadn't even heard her get out of bed.
"Why are you not dressed? You're gonna be late for work." He said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"I'm not due in until lunchtime, I have a doctors appointment."
"Is everything ok?" He asked, concern filling his face.
"Yeah, it's just routine. I have to go and see my own doctor to confirm that I'm pregnant." She smiled at him happily. She had a slight feeling that she was more excited about this baby than he was. But she figured that in time he would come around.
"Oh, ok. I'm best get going or I'll be late for work." He kissed her on the cheek, grabbed his jacket and left the house.
At the operations centre
Sydney had talked to Dixon when she arrived that morning. He had been sympathetic with her, and he said he understood her reasons for asking Weiss to be her new partner. Weiss was talking it over with him, whilst Sydney was catching up with some paper work. She noticed Vaughn walk in but she kept her head down. She had so much that she wanted to say to him, but she figured that making a scene would not help matters.
Vaughn headed straight to his desk, to be greeted with a load of work that he need to catch up on. He took out a pen and started to write, but he was finding it too difficult to concentrate. He kept looking at Syd, but either she didn't notice or she was avoiding making eye contact with him. He decided that it was the latter.
"Hey Syd. I just finished speaking to Dixon, and it's all sorted." Vaughn could hear Weiss' voice but he couldn't quite make out what he was saying.
"Thanks for doing this Eric. You're a great friend." She replied.
"Anyways we've got a debrief. Come on." He nodded his head towards the conference room. Sydney made her way there but Weiss remained behind.
"Vaughn...Debrief buddy." He waited for Vaughn to catch up with him before he continued walking.
Dixon was already in there with Jack, Marshall and a few other agents. Sydney took her seat as did Vaughn and Weiss. Sydney and Vaughn exchanged cold glances, which Jack noticed. "I would like to start by welcoming Agent Bristow and Vaughn back." Dixon began. Sydney gave him a fake smile, and Vaughn just looked down at the floor.
"We received Intel this morning that Mr Sark has resurfaced and he has captured a scientist, a Mr. Stochansky, whom he believes will help him fit the Rambaldi device together. Sark will be taking Stochansky to his warehouse in Zurich tomorrow night, but obviously we will be there to intercept him. Sydney and Weiss here are you plane tickets." He slid an envelope down the table to them. "Good luck." Sydney and Weiss each took their ticket and placed it in their pocket.
"Erm...excuse me but why is Weiss on this mission?" Vaughn asked, confusion all over his face.
"Agent Weiss will be doing this mission with Bristow. Do you have a problem with that Agent Vaughn?" Dixon's face was sincere.
"Yes I have a problem with that. I should be on this mission, after all I am Sydney's partner!" He was standing now, clearly not happy about the situation.
"Really Vaughn? You certainly weren't my partner yesterday when you chose your wife over me. And I already told you that I was asking for Weiss to do the missions with me from now on." Everybody's eyes were focused on Sydney and Vaughn.
"Yeah but I didn't think you were going through with it." He paused running his hand through his tousled hair. "So that's it...you're cutting me out of your life, just like that." He looked into her eyes, tears slowly running down her cheek.
"Well you've already cut me out of yours so what does it matter." She grabbed her things, and pushed the chair from beneath her, leaving the room. The other agents just stood in silence, no one knowing what to say.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When Vaughn got home that night, he found Lauren lying on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying. She sat up when she saw him. "Lauren what's wrong?" Vaughn sat on the couch next to her.
"I er...I went to the doctors today. And it turns out I'm not pregnant, Michael I never was. Dr. Nicholas made a mistake." She wiped away another fallen tear.
Vaughn was speechless. He couldn't believe that he had pushed the woman he loved away for nothing.
"But it's ok Michael. We can keep trying." That was it, he couldn't take anymore. He had to get out of this marriage.
"No, we can't Lauren." He was finally able to say what was on his mind. "I don't love you the way that I should, and it wouldn't be fair to you, or myself if I was to keep living a lie. It's not fair to Sydney..."
"Wait, what's SHE got to do with it?" Lauren stood up, and began pacing the living room.
"I pushed her away. I told her that I still loved her and that I was leaving you, but then I stayed with you because I thought you were pregnant. I know that it's not right to stay with someone just because of that, but I felt a duty. And now that you're not pregnant, that duty has gone. I'm sorry Lauren for putting you through this." She was crying now, tears dropping down from her pale cheeks.
"We could make this work Michael, if you really wanted to..." She was pleading with him.
"That's not what I want. I want us to get a divorce." He took off his wedding ring, and placed it down on the table.