Title: A Case Of You
Author: S@nd
Feedback: sydneyvaughnmailbox@yahoo.fr
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.J, Bad Robot, ABC… blablabla (you know). OK, OK, I don't own anything.
Summary: Forget Season 2, and try to imagine what might have happened if the scriptwriters had followed different tracks. Dixon has been kidnapped by Sark. Sydney feels down, and Vaughn is worried…
A/N: Hi this is still my first fiction. I'm still French, so please forgive me if there are mistakes. I'm doing my best. This is the first chapter, so now the REAL story is about to begin. It still happens at the end of season 1. As always, let me know what you think. Please review. Thank you.
S@ndra
*****
CHAPTER 1 – EVERYBODY HURTS * - * LoS AnGeleS - SyDneY's HouSe again *- *Sydney was still leaning against the door when Will and Francie came from Francie's room, joking.
"Hey, Sydney, you're back?!" she said, surprised to see her as she didn't know she was due back in LA. "We didn't even hear you coming in. How was your trip?", Fran asked.
Sydney opened her bathed in tears eyes and tried to smile.
She opened her mouth to say something, and felt tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Wow, wow, wow, Syd, what's wrong?" Francie asked, worried.
"Bad day, Syd, wasn't it? You look exhausted", Will said, walking over to Sydney.
"Thanks. You just couldn't imagine", Sydney replied, being ironical.
"Well, why don't you come and watch a movie with us?"
"Thank you, Fran, but I just would like to have a bubble bath, and next, go to bed. I'm worn out."
"Ok, Syd. But if you change your mind...Well, you know." Francie said, hugging her.
It was obvious that Sydney was down and Fran didn't know what to do to ease her pain. She just felt powerless to help her.
"Let me get that for you." Will offered, taking Sydney's luggage to set it into her bedroom.
"Thank you Will, and you too", she replied, kissing Fran on her cheek.
Sydney felt a bit relieved to be back home, as she knew that Will and Fran did sympathize. Of course she couldn't tell them the truth, but she knew she was not alone in the house for the night. If she had been, she would have gone round in circles, and she knew oh-so-well that it wouldn't get her much further forward.
Without saying anything, Will left her alone in her room, but just glanced at her, to make sure she was OK. He knew she was too upset to talk, and he respected her will to be left alone.
Sydney took a deep breath and sat on her bed. She felt so tired and powerless that she didn't know what to do. She knew she needed a bath so she decided to head to the bathroom.
She went in, then looked at her face in the mirror and sighed.
She looked ill.
But there was nothing she could do to change that, at least for the moment.
So she turned on the faucet to run her bath, and immersed again in thought.
Yes, Will was right, it was a bad day.
Maybe the worst she has had to endure so far.
But she couldn't change what happened.
Dixon was lost, maybe dead and she was unable to do something.
She immersed herself in the water, and tried to relax.
But it was easier said than done.
What she needed now was some support, a shoulder to rest her head on, an ear she could talk to, and wash away her problems.
In fact, all things considered, she had that support in her life, that shoulder, that chest to have her head cradled against and that someone to ease her mind.
But at the present time she was there, alone, with no one to confide in.
And she realized once again that the only one she could trust was Vaughn.
Yes, Vaughn.
Her 'guardian angel', as she often nicknamed him, her oh-so-sexy guardian angel.
She found herself smiling and blushing just at that thought. Of course she couldn't do else but acknowledge that he was handsome, but there was something special with him, something else.
It was true that he had such a devastating smile, that he was damn sexy when he smiled with that dimpled chin, but when he looked at her, most of time shyly, with those green piercing eyes of his, she always felt as if she was about to melt.
She couldn't help it.
But he was her handler.
Her handler. And they were not supposed to have anything else but just strictly professional relations.
She sighed again, and closed her eyes, as if she was trying to forget everything.
But she already knew it was all in vain.
She stopped racking her brains and let herself think about that song which was always running through her head when she was feeling that down. It was just a way to overcome her feelings.
When your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough of this life
Well hang on
Don't let yourself go
Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts
Sometimes
Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
(When your day is night alone)
Hold on, hold on
(If you feel like letting go)
Hold on
If you think you've had too much of this life
Well hang on
Cause everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand
Oh, no
Don't throw your hand
When you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you're not alone
If you're on your own
In this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much
Of this life
To hang on
Well, everybody hurts
Sometimes, everybody cries
And everybody hurts
Sometimes
And everybody hurts
Sometimes
So, hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on
(Everybody hurts
You are not alone)
* * R.E.M 'Everybody Hurts' (Written by Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe) * *
*****
Sydney came back to reality as she heard the phone ringing.
Then she heard Will's voice, but she couldn't understand who he was talking to as he hung up the phone almost immediately after.
Then she heard Francie shout "No, no, no, I can't stand it anymore!". She seemed to be beside herself.
Sydney started. It was probably Vaughn with the pizza code.
"Sincerely, you should consider opening a pizzeria, Fran, I'm sure you'd earn a lot, it would make out", Will said, wisecracking.
"Will, please", she replied, really serious, "I don't want any more wisecracks about pizzas, people called Joey, or else. I'm so nervous about it, I think I'm about to kill anyone who even suggest it!"
Sydney couldn't help but smile.
She had hit the bull's eye.
She was sure that it was Vaughn.
So that meant that she had to go, and tell tall stories to Will and Fran again. When would all this end?
She sighed again, feeling even guiltier.
But at the same time she felt happy deep inside because she would be able to talk to someone about what happened at last, and even if there was no solution yet, she might feel better after getting it off her chest. Yes, the sooner the better.
She went out the bathroom, wrapped up in a towel and entered her bedroom. She looked for a pair of long running pants, a tank top, and a sweater.
After dressing, she then rummaged in her closet to find her running shoes. She put them on, grabbed her backpack and went out of the room.
Will and Francie were sitting on the sofa eating Chinese food and watching a movie. As Sydney was coming nearer, they both looked at each other, smiling, and turned round. For sure Sydney had changed her mind.
"Well, I was sure you'd change your mind, come here, Syd...", Fran told her. Her voice trailed off.
They stared at her, speechless, and looked at each other again, surprised to see her dressed like that and ready to go out so late, when she had just told them a moment before that she was tired.
"Syd, what's going on?", Will said, puzzled.
"Sorry Will...um, Fran… I think I better go out for some fresh air. I mean, I can't sleep, so I am going to go for a run so I can be tired and go to sleep when I get back. I'm sure it'll help me feel better. Don't wait for me. I'll see you tomorrow, Fran. Good night, Will"
Then she turned on her heels and headed to the door to leave the house.
A bit stunned, Francie and Will looked at each other for the third time, still speechless.
Fran seemed to be worried, and Will noticed pretty easily that she was chewing something over.
She kept silent for a few minutes, but unable to stand it longer, she finally let out: "Don't you think that's strange?"
She paused, a bit irritated.
"I'm sure she's seeing a date secretly." She finally stated.
Will looked at her, raising his eyebrows.
He started laughing. "Oh, Fran, you must be kidding!"
Fran seemed to look serious.
Will's smile vanished and he looked at Fran straight in the eye.
"What kind of idea do you have at the back of your mind, Fran?" he asked. "I can't keep up with you, what do you mean?"
She waited a few minutes before answering Will's question.
"Well, I'm not sure, I mean, I'm just suspecting something…"
Suddenly she stood up from the couch, heading to the door.
She turned again to look at Will.
"But I think it will be easy to find out", she added. "Let's just follow her!" she suggested.
Will couldn't believe his ears, but he really wanted to know too. For a few seconds he felt jealous. Just the thought of Sydney meeting a guy secretly made him stand too. He wanted to know, to see him, whoever he might be.
Fran took her purse on the counter and opened the door.
Will looked at her, nodding without saying anything and went out.
Fran followed him, locked the door and they headed to Will's car.
END OF CHAPTER 1To be continued…
A/N: Hey, I hope you like the cliffhanger. Stay tuned if you want to know what Will and Fran will discover. Please REVIEW.
Thank you for those who reviewed, you made my day, and thank you, Egyptian Kat, for being my beta again and for your suggestions for improvement.
S@ndra