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. Fran & Will play detectives as Sydney makes one of her many visits to 'Joey's Pizza'. Do they discover Vaughn? And if they don't, what do they find out?
A/N: Hi this is still my first fiction. I'm still French so please forgive me if there are mistakes. I'm still doing my best, but you seem to like it. This is just the second chapter. Read and let me know what you think. Please Review. Thank you.
Sandra
CHAPTER 2 – HEART AND SHOULDER* - * The WaReHouSe * - *
Vaughn was pacing in the warehouse, looking worried and impatient.
He sighed.
She was late, and she wasn't used to. That wasn't like her.
Wanna cry for you
Would it do any good?
If I rained for you
It would just be water
For a few seconds he realized he didn't know if she was safe, if she was back, and even if she was at home when he had phoned.
All things considered he just supposed she was at home because it was probably Will who had picked up the receiver.
It was not Francie's voice and he knew Will was usually spending his evenings with the two roommates.
So he could guess pretty easily who it probably was as he started to get accustomed to hearing that male voice every time he was playing the pizza man on the phone.
And the night's with you
And the storm's in your hand
And you're down, and you're down
And I can't lift you
He kept wondering. Perhaps she didn't know he had phoned, and he was probably waiting in vain.
I'm powerless to change your world
I'm powerless to stop the hurt
He had no evidence she was back, as she had shown no sign of life. Perhaps she was still in Kabul…
He just had no clue.
And it caused him to worry even more.
And above all, he was pretty sure that Sark had an idea at the back of his mind.
And if Sydney was still alive, no doubt Sark would want her to do something for him, and force her to endanger her life once again.
He sighed again, she still wasn't there.
Suddenly he felt the urge to do something.
He could hardly stay there, waiting in vain for something that might not happen.
If she had been caught, he had to save her.
He needed to save her.
After the wonderful work she had done so far, he couldn't do else but help her again. Once more.
She deserved it.
But I'll give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
Over and over
He unlocked the chain-link fence, went along the hallway, and opened the door of the warehouse.
It was dark, and he glanced at the sky.
It was about to rain. Damned weather!
Wanna run for you
Would it do any good?
If I flew for you
You would still be standing
He stepped outside after checking nobody was there, watching him. Then he saw it.
And it's hard watching'
Cause I'm part of you
And it's hard not to
Not to know what I can do
A familiar car was parked a few steps away.
Sydney's.
For a few seconds, he found himself smiling.
If the car was there, that meant that SHE was there.
But where was she?
How came she didn't come in as she used to do? Something must have happened, there was no reason for her staying outside when she was supposed to meet him.
So what was wrong?
In fact WHAT ELSE was wrong, as the sun seemed to have gone down on her that day.
I'm powerless to change your world
I'm powerless to stop the hurt
I'm trying hard to be your tower of strength
I'm trying hard to bring you back to joy
He undid the buttons of his jacket, grabbed his gun, cocked it, and slowly approached the car.
I'll give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
***
"Stop, I think I just noticed her car, look, there, on the left. Follow her, Will !", Fran yelled, excited.
"Calm down, Fran, cool! I never suspected there was such a private detective in you", he joked, laughing at Fran's strange and unusual behavior.
"I don't think I'm a detective, I'm just a girl, and you know how nosy girls can be. She's my roommate, and she has secrets from me! Isn't she supposed to tell me everything, like she used to do before? I want to know why she doesn't want to introduce me to that oh-so perfect guy. I won't bite him, or charm him."
Will smiled.
Fran frowned. "What does that smile mean?" she asked a bit mad at him. "Do you mean I could do that to her?"
Will shook his head. Of course she wouldn't. She was too nice to do such a malicious thing.
He turned left, and looking for that damned car.
***
It was dark and he couldn't see through the windshield. He came nearer and opened the door slowly, pointing the gun at whoever was in the car.
Sydney was in, alone, her face buried in her hands.
When the night just cuts you through
And the dream is lost to you
When you're worried and confused
Vaughn sighed of relief, let the door open, and put his gun in his holster. She was alive! Safe!
He squatted down. "Hey", he whispered softly, caressing her shoulder.
On one hand, he hated seeing her like that, but on the other hand, it was the only moments he could touch her and be close to her.
I will give you my heart give you my shoulder
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
Over and over
She started and turned to face him. She opened her mouth to speak but she only burst into tears again.
He hugged her, rocking her slowly.
Time and again
Give you my shoulder
I will
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
I will
Time and again
Over and over
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder…
They stood like that for a few minutes when Vaughn eventually broke the silence.
"Sydney, I think we better go inside, out of sight. It's not safe here. Somebody could spy on us. And you know we shouldn't be seen together, come on", he whispered softly.
She looked at him straight in the eye, silently nodding.
He didn't have a clue.
During her ride to the warehouse, she couldn't think about something else but Dixon's kidnapping.
And harking back the same story again and again just made her feel even more down.
She was feeling so powerless she didn't even have the strength to get out of her car and meet Vaughn.
Her sympathizing handler, whatever happened though.
Vaughn wrapped his arms around her, and helped her out of the car. They headed to the warehouse, and came in.
Walking like a zombie, Sydney reached a crate and sat down while Vaughn was locking the door, after checking nobody was following them.
Then he turned to face her and waited for her to say something. He didn't want to rush her. She was still crying, her mascara running down her face.
"I'm sorry, Vaughn. I didn't want you to worry about me. I thought you wouldn't have waited for me. I feel wiped out", she let out, her voice choked with sobs.
"Syd, don't feel even guiltier, there's no point in doing it. You know I understand, I watched what happened. I know how terrible it was…", his voice trailed off, as Sydney seemed to be at her wit's end.
"I don't want to turn the knife in the wound, but we should talk about it…", he insisted.
"I know", she replied, resigned to do it. "Okay".
She paused, took a deep breath and closed her eyes, so as to visualize the scene again.
She started telling him what happened, trying to remember any details that could help them.
She only wanted Dixon to be rescued, whatever the cost.
And she knew she better prepare for the worst.
Sark wouldn't spare her.
However hard she was trying to pull herself together, she couldn't help sobbing.
Vaughn let her retell the story, without saying anything.
But while listening to her he couldn't help thinking he really couldn't stand seeing her crying, knowing he was not supposed to comfort her.
For a simple reason, protocol.
That stupid protocol again.
And it's hard watching
'Cause I'm part of you
And it's hard not to
Not to know what I can do
I'm powerless to change your world
I'm powerless to stop the hurt
I'm trying hard to be your tower of strength
I'm trying hard to bring you back to joy
He knew he had to follow the rules. But protocol didn't refer to what to do when an agent like Sydney Bristow was crying on your shoulder, and needed someone to talk to.
And he couldn't resist her.
But I'll give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
Over and over
So, he suddenly left the crate he was sitting on, walked to her, and hugged her.
Sydney was not expecting him to be that familiar, that close, but she quite liked it.
It was what she just needed.
She clung to him, and held him tight.
Vaughn held her even tighter, caressing her back.
And they stood like that, keeping silent.
She finally pulled away, wiping her tears away.
Even if he had not said anything, she was sure he knew what her feelings were.
He needed no word to understand.
She bet he could read her mind, but at the same time, she just hoped he couldn't.
Because he would know she needed him even more than he could ever imagine.
And however painful it was to keep that for herself, she knew he was not supposed to guess.
He shouldn't.
She suddenly felt the urge to leave, as if she knew he was about to discover.
Discover how much she wanted him to be a part of her life.
Ever since that moment, she knew she wouldn't be able to live without seeing him. She wouldn't be able to do otherwise.
And it's hard watching
'Cause I'm part of you
And it's hard not to
Not to know what I can do
"Vaughn, it's rather late and I'm tired. It's been quite a long day. I think I better go now. I told Fran not to wait for me, but I'm sure she is worried. I think we better talk about what to do next later, as soon as Sark contacts us. Anyway, there's nothing we can do tonight." She said, sighing.
"Are you sure you're Ok?", he asked, a bit anxious. He paused. "Syd, I'm sure Sark has a plan. I'm convinced he kidnapped Dixon just because he couldn't hit you, and above all because he wants something from you. I don't know what it is yet, but I really have the feeling he will require something from you."
"I already know that, Vaughn. It's easy to guess, but…"
"Be careful, Syd, we both know, especially now, how dangerous that man can be", he cut in.
"I know, and I will, as always. I'll be OK", she replied.
And so saying, she turned to leave.
She was about to burst into tears again, and she didn't want him to comfort her again, because she didn't know if she'd have the strength not to crack up.
Vaughn understood she was worried, but there was something else, something she didn't want to tell him.
He didn't know what, but he couldn't help feeling puzzled.
He waited a few minutes before leaving the warehouse and getting in his car. He was still chewing over something.
Yes, there was something Sydney Bristow didn't want him to know.
But it was high time she told him.
And he wouldn't wait any longer.
He would ask her, and not later that now.
He started the engine, perfectly knowing where to go.
Time and again
Give you my shoulder
I will
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
I will
Time and again
Over and over
I give you my heart
Give you my shoulder
* -* - * - * - *
* * Heather Nova 'Heart and Shoulder' * *
END OF CHAPTER 2A/N: Hey, that's all… for Chapter 2. I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think. Please REVIEW.
PS: Thanks a lot to Egyptian Kat, my wonderful beta, and to those who reviewed so far. I was really pleased to read that you like that plot (and you've never seen yet!). You made my day.
To answer your questions, I just wanted to tell you:
1. Don't worry, I'll keep going as long as you keep reviewing!
2. That I already miss the good old days too, and I haven't seen Season 3 yet.
3. That I CAN'T watch Alias S3!!!! Because it won't be on TV before September 2004!!!!!!!!!!! And It's not on DVD yet! You such lucky guys in the USA!
4. And above all, that I'm so pleased to read you find my English is not too bad for a French-Italian girl!!! Woaw! What a pleasure!
Thanks again.
Stay tuned for CHAPTER 3 – SWIM… Coming next week, IF you show me love.
Let's strike a deal. If I have 7 reviews or more for chap 2, I'll manage to post Chapter 3 within 7 days.
DEAL? 7/7?