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 the third chapter, as promised. Thanks a lot for your nice reviews. I was so happy. But I still can't believe only nine of you read that sorry, so please, whether you like it or not, let me know what you think about this chapter. I really want to have feedback. Please REVIEW. Thank you. S@nd
CHAP 3 - SWIM*****
"Damn, where the hell can she be, I can't believe it!" Fran yelled. "She took her car, so she is probably near the park, but where is that damned car! She can't have gone to a club, or a restaurant wearing a tank top, running shoes, and a sweater well really!", she added, furious.
"We've been driving here and there for a half hour now, Fran. She mustn't be here. Otherwise we would have found her." Will replied, a bit tired of looking for Sydney in vain.
"How about going near the pier, she might be running along the gate, don't you think?" Fran suggested.
"Yeah, sounds like a good idea, Fran. Well, to be frank, I have none other anyway, so let's go there. We've got nothing to lose going, so let's go just to make sure." he acknowledged.
"To the pier!" she nodded.
Will changed direction, heading to the pier, and asked. "But, do me a favor, Fran…"
"Umh! What?" she asked, intrigued.
"If we don't find her there, let's come back home, uh? It's too dark, and she is perhaps already home" he thought.
"Okay, okay, Will. Maybe you're right. Let's just have a look and then go home. But right now, the pier! I don't know why, but I'm sure she's there. Call it what you want, but I have an intuition…" she ordered, impatiently.
*****
Vaughn stopped the engine, and took a deep breath.
It was now or never.
And he had just decided a moment ago that it had to be now.
For a few seconds, he feared she was not where he expected her to be.
Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps he didn't know her as well as he thought.
But he was going to have his answer.
Soon.
He unfastened his seatbelt and opened the door. He stepped out of the car, and headed to the pier.
He had been walking for a few minutes when he spotted her.
*****
Sydney had driven without knowing exactly where to go for a half hour, before ending up there, quite by chance.
She didn't know why she always ended up there. It was not the first time she happened to stand there, when she was feeling that down.
Anyway she was there, once again, trying to wipe her sorrow away.
Even if she knew she had to come home, she couldn't.
Not yet.
She was not strong enough to face Fran's questions, as she was sure she was waiting for her to come back home.
She took a deep breath, and let herself cry, watching the water below, her head in her hands.
"Sydney?" a well-know voice whispered.
She started, then turned and looked at him. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Sydney?" Vaughn said softly. He didn't want to frighten her.
"Vaughn! What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, shocked.
However hard he was trying to keep his composure, he felt his heart jump off his chest, just at the sight of her bathed in tears eyes.
"I was to ask you the same thing?" he replied, trying to hide how worried he was.
"I know I said I had to, but I didn't want to go home tonight, not yet. I just didn't want to lie again to Fran and Will. I don't want them to see me like that, with that ravaged by tears face of mine."
She sighed.
"I can't explain, Vaughn, and I don't want to talk about it now...and...I, I still don't know what you're doing here!" she said, her voice choked with sobs. "How did you find me?" she asked, confused.
He didn't reply immediately, as he was lost in her gaze, his heart melting.
"Don't you remember, Syd...? I mean, last time when we were here together, I told you... You can call me. Anytime, day or night, if you want to talk or even if you don't want to. You can rely on me."
He sighed. "I thought you trusted me enough to confide in me, but you obviously…"
"Vaughn, how can you think like that? That has nothing to do with it. I just…didn't want you to worry because of my stupid feelings." she interrupted him.
"Sydney! If I do tell you that you can talk to me, I really mean you can do it. You'll never bother me, Syd. I'm willing to listen to you, whenever you want to talk to me. If there's anything I can do, well… You know I would go through thick and thin for you. I already did it, and I'd do it again for you … if you asked me to."
She was pleased to hear that, but was still puzzled.
"You still haven't answered Vaughn..." she teased." How did you find me, how did you know I'd be here, as I didn't know myself I would end up on that pier?" she insisted.
He looked serious. "Sydney, I know you, and I was sure I'd find you here. You couldn't be elsewhere."
Sydney kept silent. She felt herself blushing. How had he guessed? Could he really read her mind? Did he care for her that much?
"Vaughn", she sighed. "I feel so down. I don't know what to do. I mean, what will I tell Diane? I don't want to lie to her, and I can hardly stand lying anymore. I'm living a lie. You know, sometimes I think I won't rest until Sloane and SD-6 are brought down. And sometimes I wonder if it's really worth it", her voice died.
"Sydney, stop it!", he cried out. "You and I perfectly know you had no part in it. Syd, you can't blame yourself for what happened to Dixon."
"Sure I can, if I had…"
"Look, Sydney", he said in a soothing voice. "I know I'm not supposed to tell you that, but if it can help you feel better…"
"Vaughn, don't say anything, we don't need to talk about what happened again, I don't need advice, I don't want to listen to…" she cut him off.
"Sydney", he continued. "I was so worried, you just can't imagine! I've been a mess these past few hours, as I was unable to have any contact with you. I didn't even know if you were alive! I was so scared. I was feeling so powerless. I mean, all I could do was sit, wait and pray. And hope you were safe. I could hardly bear it. I'm your kind of 'guardian angel', Syd. I'll be there for you if you need me. Never question that."
Sydney brightened with hope.
It was almost the first time he was expressing such strong emotions on her front.
And she was obviously touched by what he had just said to her.
She would have preferred her own feelings to remain unclear, but the truth was she just couldn't remain impassive.
She just got there because she couldn't go back home yet, because she was fed up with wearing a mask, and she could barely find the strength to continue like that.
She was wondering whether such a sacrifice was really worth or not.
Once again he had found her there, when she was at her lowest, her most depressed.
And once again he was there, just when she needed a friend for comfort, when she was desperately searching for anyone to turn to, anyone to trust.
She had been seeking a moment of intimacy, of honesty and normalcy for such a long time, and now that moment had come.
Suddenly, without a word, she walked the few steps between him and her, and put her head on his chest. For once, she wanted to be honest with herself and just followed the dictates of her heart.
I can't carry these sins on my back
Don't wanna carry any more
I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor
For a few seconds, he stood dumbfounded, taken aback as she suddenly seemed to forget they could be seen, here, in public.
He couldn't believe he was able to see her in such a nonprofessional mode.
Of course they had shared less formal moments, but never to that extent.
For once Sydney was acting as if she was forgetting everything, and taking the risk for both of them to be caught.
Put your head on my shoulder baby
Things can't get any worse
Night is getting colder
Sometimes life feels like it's a curse
She was just nestled against his shoulder. And what was strange was that it seemed to be so natural. He hold her tighter, wrapped his arms around her and started to stroke her back.
Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor
She finally pulled away, her eyes locking with his.
"Vaughn, am I crying for the moon?" she asked, really serious. "I mean, I just,…I just want to be truthful, to have simple moments with my friends. I just want to live a life not predicated on a lie." She sighed.
"But all I have is a miserable, tragic and complicated life, and it was even not my decision! I just have no other choice but to continue like this, and it's just killing me!", she almost shouted.
He stood speechless before replying.
"Look, Sydney, we're here, together, when we were absolutely not supposed to, no need to mention the risks we're running" he acknowledged. "Someday, you'll be free, Sydney. I promise you that."
We can't carry these sins on our back
Don't wanna carry any more
We're gonna carry this train off the track
We're gonna swim to the ocean floor
"Someday, you'll be free, Sydney". The words echoed in his mind. Or, someday WE'LL be free, he should have said.
"Can I confess something to you, Vaughn?" she paused.
He silently nodded.
"You know, I'm not scared of dying, it's part of the job. I know that. It's just that I don't want to. And above all, I never would like to have you killed, like Danny was.", she said, dewy-eyed.
He just clasped her in his arms, before breaking the hug. He took her hand, and looked at the water behind them.
"Don't worry, Syd, that won't happen. I won't let that happen." he said softly.
Let the water wash over you
Wash it all over you
Swim to the ocean floor
So that we can begin again
Wash away all our sins
Crash to the other shore
*****
Fran stepped out of the car, almost running.
"Hey, Fran, wait!" Will shouted at her.
"Don't run so fast, wait for me, I can't keep up with you!" he added, trying to lock the door of the car.
"Get busy, Will! I'm green with envy to find out. I was right when I said I was sure she was here, so I'm probably right about the rest of the story. I'm sure she's seeing someone secretly."
"Or probably no one, Fran. She just went for a ride. She's feeling down, and she's just trying to forget her bad day", he said, a bit tired.
"Or else I'm right, and all we have to do is just to go and check. But unless you hurry up, we won't check anything, come on, Will", Fran ordered.
"Ok, ok, Fran. Where do you want to go first?" he gave up.
"Um, let me see, right or left? Where can she be?" she said, thinking it over.
"Want a coin, Fran, heads or tails?" he joked.
"Oh! Really funny! Stop kidding, Will. Well, let's turn right, and don't make such a noise!" she shouted.
They had been walking a few steps, before Fran broke the silence.
"Will, look, there, on the pier, is that them?"
"Oh! I just can't believe my eyes. God! Fran, it pains me to have to say this, but I must say you were right. Wow! Who the hell can this man be?"
"I have no clue, but we should have known earlier. She always comes here when she's feeling down. Just watching the water makes her feel better. How come I didn't remember that earlier?" Fran was wondering.
Will was still amazed, and a bit jealous. He stared at them, speechless.
"Fran, what will we do now? We can't tell her we followed her. It's going to drive her mad. She would be furious. How do you think she'd react if we were to acknowledge we witnessed her date here with that mysterious stranger? No, we can't tell her!"
"Will, I would never have the strength to face her, and pretend I don't know anything. You know I can't keep secrets, especially such a top secret event. I'm not Jane Bond, or another kind of spy. I'd never be able to look at her straight in the eye knowing what we know now, or manage not burst into laugh when that 'pizza man' will call on the phone… because I'm sure he's the one who keeps phoning so often he almost drove me crazy!" she replied.
Will started laughing, just at the thought of Fran on the phone, joking with the 'Joey's Pizza' man.
"Will", Fran asked, serious. "When do you think that trick started?"
"To be frank, Fran, I have absolutely no idea. So what now?"
"I think we better go back home now, before she gets back. She would find it strange, if she doesn't find me at home. I think I'll talk to her tomorrow…" Fran suggested.
"No, Fran, please, don't tell her anything. I wouldn't like you both had an argument. You're just too close a friend with her to get angry about such a stupid thing. Give her time. You know how difficult it was for her after Danny died. She had to recover. I'm sure she will tell us when she thinks it's the right time to do it. Trust me, Fran."
Fran sighed.
"I'll sleep on it, Will. I can't promise I won't tell her. I'm going to think it over, and I'll see, tomorrow…Now, let's go back home before they notice us!" Fran said.
And so saying, she headed to the car.
I can't carry these sins on my back
Don't wanna carry any more
I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor
*****
END OF CHAPTER 3Here is the full song:
* - * - * -
Put your head on my shoulder baby
Things can't get any worse
Night is getting colder
Sometimes life feels like it's a curse
I can't carry these sins on my back
Don't wanna carry any more
I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor
Children killing children
While the students rape their teachers
Comets fly across the sky
While the churches burn their preachers
We can't carry these sins on our back
Don't wanna carry any more
We're gonna carry this train off the track
We're gonna swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor
Let the water wash over you
Wash it all over you
Swim to the ocean floor
So that we can begin again
Wash away all our sins
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmmm
I can't carry these sins on my back
Don't wanna carry any more
I'm gonna carry this train off the track
I'm gonna swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor
We can't carry these sins on our back
Don't wanna carry any more
We're gonna carry this train off the track
We're gonna swim to the ocean floor
Crash to the other shore
Swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmmm
* - * Madonna 'Swim' * - *
* - * - * -
A/N: Well, that's all… for Chapter 3. I hope you liked it. Thanks a lot to my wonderful beta, Egyptian Kat, and my reviewers.
Now, one question, I have my ideas about chapter 4 but it's never too late to change of mind.
The big question is: WILL FRAN KEEP SILENT OR WILL SHE TELL SYDNEY SHE HAS FOUND OUT? AND IF SHE TELLS SYDNEY, HOW WILL SHE REACT? I really want to know what you think, so please let me know. Please REVIEW.
Stay tuned for CHAPTER 4 – SECRETS… Coming soon, IF you show me love. Don't forget to review.