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: It's my version of the end of Season 1. In the previous chapters, Fran & Will played detectives as Sydney made one of her many visits to 'Joey's Pizza'. Did they discover Vaughn? Yes! And what else do they find out?…
A/N: Hi this is the fifth chapter, the longest so far. Sloane is back. Thanks a lot for your nice reviews. As always, 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
CHAPTER 5 – SOMETHING TO SAVE
(Jealous guys)
* - * CreDit DauPhiNe * - *
Sydney arrived in front of Sloane's office, and stopped. He was reading a file on his desk, but looked up and spotted her. He waved her in.
"You wanted to see me?" she asked.
"Yes, Sydney, please take a seat!" he offered.
She sat across from him and waited for him to speak.
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it?
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me?
"Sydney, I wanted to see you this morning to talk about Dixon, but at first I wanted to make sure you're all right" he confessed.
"I'm okay, thanks" she replied, a bit surprised. Sloane sympathizing, that sounded strange!
"Good. Now, let's start with what we know. In fact, almost nothing, I'm afraid. We had Intel that Sark left Kabul in a jet. And it was witnessed that Dixon was with him, so we can pretty easily guess that Sark wanted him alive. But the reason why he wanted him alive is still unknown…" he sighed.
"That's just what I concluded. Did Sark contact us?" she interrupted.
"Not yet, but it won't be long before he does, I guess. And if the case arises, I suppose you'd like to do your best to bring Dixon back safely, am I right?
"Of course you are. I'm sure Sark has a plan, but I won't let him get what he wants easily" she replied, cold-bloodedly.
"I was sure I could count on you, Sydney. I'll call you as soon as Sark contacts us. Be prepared to leave at any minute" he advised.
Sydney nodded. "Is that all?"
"That's all. Thank you, Sydney."
Sydney stood up, and turned to leave Sloane's office.
"Sydney, I'm glad you're back. Safely" he said. "To be frank, if anyone can help Dixon now, it's probably you." he added.
"I hope so, I hope so, and I'll do my best…" she almost whispered, tears in her eyes.
Then she turned on her heels, and left.
*****
* - * - SyDneY's houSe * - * -
Fran was about to head to the bathroom to have a shower when she heard a knock at the front door. She went to the door, and unlocked it to discover a smiling Will standing in front of her, handing her a bag of donuts.
"Will, what the hell are you doing here? And…um, thanks" she said, grabbing the bag.
"Won't you be late at work?" she asked, surprised.
"Don't worry, Fran, don't worry. I phoned to tell I'm out to do research today. Tell me, do you really want to have breakfast outside or will you let me in?" he joked.
"Um, yes, come in, quick, you're turning up just at the right moment. I have so many things to tell you…" she replied, pulling him in.
Will raised his eyebrows, wondering what we was talking about, and closed the front door.
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it?
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me?
Fran sat on the couch. Will stood in front of her.
"So, what?" he asked. "Tell me, Fran!"
"Are you ready? You're going to be upset…" she warned him.
But you'd better watch your step
'Cause you're not far from the ground
And one fine day this all falls down
Like I have
"…but I'm going to tell you though" she explained.
'Cause I have no secrets from you
And I have nothing left to hide
And I'm open to all your questions
Why can't you reach inside
Like I have
"What happened, Fran? Don't make mystery of it, I'm curious to know where you're going with this" Will replied.
Fran took a deep breath.
"I talked to Sydney…" she began.
"Seriously? Oh, no, Fran! You must be joking!" he said, laughing. He looked at her, and he realized she was serious. He sat on the couch next to her.
"No, no! I told you not to do that! Why didn't you listen to me?!"
"Wait, wait! I couldn't help it. I don't know how she managed to look at me without telling me for such a long time, I simply couldn't, so I talked to her. At first, she denied. She told me the man she was with last night is just a friend, but I have the feeling that, for the first time since Danny died, she has a crush on someone! It was ages since we last talked on such an intimate level, you know. She didn't want to acknowledge that, but when she's talking about him, her eyes are sparkling. I'm sure there is some kind of attraction between them. He works at the bank, so I guess he's quite smart, and he looks so cute!"
Will just felt jealous, cut to the quick. Just at the thought of seeing Sydney on the pier with that man, his arms wrapped around her, stroking her hair, and solacing her just made him feel sick. It couldn't have happened, he must have been dreaming. Or more precisely he was having nightmares.
"I really want to meet him, so I suggested having dinner together…" Fran continued.
"What? When?" he cried out, shocked. It was going from bad to worse. The more Fran was talking, the more he was feeling sick.
"I don't know, Syd thought it was not a good idea to have dinner together, but she said she would think it over, so…I'm sure I'll manage to make her change her mind. Oh, I can't' wait!"
Will was puzzled. 'I'm going to wake up and realize I was just dreaming' he thought.
"And that's not the end of the story!" Fran continued.
"What, what do you mean, that's not the end of the story?" he asked, worried. He was about to fall down in a faint. What could be worse?
"The 'pizza man' called this morning."
Will couldn't believe his ears anymore, he shook his head, waiting for Fran to give him details.
"That was funny, because I told him I knew the truth, and he almost immediately hung up the phone, telling me he probably dialed a wrong number! But I'm sure it was him! I bet you anything it was him on the phone! This time it was his turn to dial the 'wrong' number" she giggled.
Will was speechless. He couldn't believe it. Had the world turned upside down today? Had he been sleeping for years?
*****
Sydney just went out of the Credit Dauphine building. She had written a message to contact Vaughn on a paper bag, as always, and was heading to a trash can to drop it in.
She had so many things to discuss with him that she didn't know what to write. What did they have to talk about first? What happened last night? Her conversation with Fran, the dinner, and her meeting with Sloane? She didn't know.
There were so many things to discuss. Anyway, she had to meet him. She needed to meet him and as soon as possible.
She crumpled the paper bag, approached the can and threw the bag in.
She then looked for a phone booth, and finally found one a bit further. She gazed around her, to make sure no one had followed her, and picked up the receiver. She dialed a number, and pressed the appropriate button, before hanging up.
She stopped for a few seconds, just to consider what to do next.
She didn't want to go home to face Fran again. Not that soon. She was sure she would try again to convince her of having dinner with Vaughn. Even though she would love to have dinner with him, she still wondered whether if was a good idea to introduce him to Francie.
No. It was definitely the worst thing she could do. She had risked their lives the night before, and she was not about to make that mistake again.
She had made her decision, and she didn't want Fran to have an influence on her.
So she decided to go straight to the warehouse and wait for Vaughn to arrive.
She knew he wouldn't be long to arrive. He was always early…
* - * The WareHouSe * - *
Sydney was sitting on a crate, looking impatient. She finally stood up, and started pacing.
She had been wrong.
Vaughn was used to be early, but this time he was pretty late. She then realized he was always there to wait for her. His words echoed in her head, when he told her how worried he was to stand there, waiting for her, ignoring if she was safe or not.
She now understood how painful it was.
She felt a shiver down her spine. Had he been caught? If so, she thought she'd never forgive herself. She had been irresponsible and now she was maybe about to pay for it.
And the price to pay seemed to be too high.
Suddenly a second shiver ran its way down her spine, and if almost on queue, footsteps sounded, announcing a well-known figure that came nearer and nearer with each step. She sighed in relief. Vaughn was safe, but she still wondered why he was so late. Something must have happened.
He opened the chain-link fence, and stopped, staring at her.
"Hey" she whispered, a bit confused.
"Hey" he replied, coldly.
"So you got the message…" she guessed.
"Obviously…" he said, a bit angry.
"Well, I don't even know where to begin…" she sighed.
"Maybe the beginning, could be a good start…." he grumbled.
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it?
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me?
"Yes, the beginning. Okay" Sydney agreed.
"Sloane called me this morning, and wanted to see me. We still have no news from Dixon, but no news is good news… It won't be long before Sark contacts us, and Sloane told me to be prepared to leave at any time. So I thought I better tell you all about it as soon as possible."
She paused, waiting for him to give an answer. But he kept silent, his arms folded.
Sydney felt something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was. Or more precisely she imagined it was because of what happened the night before. As he didn't seem to be willing to tackle the question, she then took the initiative in doing it, a bit reluctant.
"Vaughn" she started. "About last night…I'm sorry I…"
"Let's forget that, there's no need to talk about that anymore!" he bluntly interrupted.
She stood, her mouth opened, surprised by the way he replied. He had been dumb since he had stepped in, and now he was almost shouting. Something was wrong. But what?
Was it because he had understood her feelings for him, because she refused to talk to him, and acknowledge how she was feeling, because she forgot she was double and had rushed into his arms in public, endangering his life? She just didn't know. And she didn't have the strength to ask him why he looked so angry.
"Vaughn, I don't want to press you, but please don't refuse to listen to me…" she pleaded.
He seemed to nod, so she continued.
"I know I made a mistake…" she acknowledged.
"I do agree with you!" he shouted.
"Please, Vaughn, listen to me… I know it probably wasn't the best idea to hug you in public, but that was just instinctive. I mean, I know I was wrong, but that was what I needed, that was the right moment, and I simply couldn't help it."
Vaughn felt his blood boil. He was about to fly into a rage. Unable to stand it any longer. "Sydney, have you finished?" he shouted, not even waiting for her to give an answer.
"Now, you listen to me! You're right, what we did last night was not the best thing to do, but it was the best I could do for you, and to be honest, for me as well. I couldn't let you feel that down. You know I care about you. But what is getting on my nerves is that you lied to me…"
"I lied to you, wh… what?! When did I lie to you? What the hell do you mean?" she replied, cut to the quick.
"What do I mean? You perfectly know what I'm talking about; you just don't want to talk about that. You just don't want to tell me anything about that. I won't be taken for a ride, Sydney. I've always been frank with you, I just want you to be frank with me. DON'T-LIE-TO-ME!"
'Cause I have no secrets from you
And I have nothing left to hide
And I'm open to all your questions
Why can't you reach inside
Like I have
Sydney was puzzled. She didn't know what to say.
"What do you want me to say, Vaughn? What do you want me to tell you?" she sighed.
"Why not telling me when that story began?" he suggested.
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it?
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me?
Sydney looked at him, surprised.
"Are you kidding me, Vaughn? Do you have amnesia? You perfectly know what happened and when the story began. SD-6 recruited me, they had Danny killed and I realized who they really were, and I came to you. Don't you remember?" she said, ironically.
"Don't try to play for time, Sydney. I'm not talking about that. Who is that boyfriend of yours Fran was talking about?" he asked.
But you'd better watch your step
'Cause you're not far from the ground
And one fine day this all falls down
Like I have
Sydney was taken aback. Had the world turned upside down today?
"What? You talked to Francie? When and where did you meet Fran? What did you tell her? And who the hell is this boyfriend you're talking about?" she shouted.
"I ask the questions, you answer! he ordered.
"I don't understand anything Vaughn, I'm sorry, I…" her voice died. What the hell had happened? Who was he talking about? Why was he torturing her like that? She didn't recognize him. He was not used to reacting like that, and she didn't know how to quiet him down.
"You don't remember who your boyfriend is…" he wisecracked.
"What! What boyfriend!? I have no boyfriend, no one since Danny died. You perfectly know that, Vaughn!" she replied, tears in her eyes.
"But you're seeing someone, and you never talked about him…Perhaps you thought it could be dangerous for him…You knew what to expect now…"
"I'm not seeing anyone, Vaughn! Who do you think I am? The only person I'm seeing secretly is…you, Vaughn!"
"Are you sure you're telling me the whole truth?" he teased.
"You have doubts about me! I just can't believe it! If so, I think that conversation is over…" she said, annoyed.
"No, Syd, it won't be over till you tell me who Fran was talking about!"
"I have no idea, Vaughn, when did you talk to Fran, do tell me?!"
"Earlier, this morning. I phoned you. I wanted to see you, to make sure you were alright. She told me she knew everything, about you and this man, Stone…"
"Oh my God! Vaughn! No, no! It's a mistake! Let me explain. I wasn't sure I had to tell you about that, but it is going to change the situation. You know, I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how to say it. We have a problem. Fran followed me last night, and she saw me on the pier… with you!"
"What?!" he cried out.
"She figured you and I have some kind of a love affair. She was in bed when I came home but this morning, she told me she knew everything, she kept asking questions again and again, she really wanted to know who you are, and why I never told her about you. That's why I told her your name is Michael Stone, and that we're working together… at the bank. That's all, purely and simply, Vaughn. The man I'm seeing, that Stone…it's you."
But you'd better watch your step
'Cause you're not far from the ground
And one fine day this all falls down
Like I have
Vaughn was stuck with astonishment. He couldn't believe his ears. HE was the man he had been so jealous of. How came he didn't think about that earlier? It couldn't have been someone else, all things considered. He should have guessed, but he was so angry that the only thing he wanted to do was to meet her and ask her.
He sighed of relief, and smiled, blushing. HE was the man Fran thought Sydney had a love affair with. He wished it could be true. But they were not likely to have more than a strictly professional relationship, even if they were closer than they should.
"Sydney, I'm terribly sorry. I just couldn't believe you could have hidden such a secret without telling me about that. And it just drove me crazy. It wasn't like you, and for a moment, I thought I had been betrayed from the very beginning. I shouldn't have been mad at you, but I couldn't help it! I'm so sorry, Sydney…" he apologized profusely.
He went to her, and hugged her. "Please forgive me, Sydney, I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't…"
"It's nothing, Vaughn. I don't blame you for that. I just wonder…what can we do now? I told Fran we're just friends, but she is sure there's something between us. So I told her it was a bit early, that I was not ready for that, but she'll soon lose patience. I don't know what to do."
"Tell her we split up, or that I'm about to be transferred, that our job is the most important to us, and that we don't want to be dismissed… I know I can trust you, you'll find some fine story to tell her." he tried to joke.
"Yes, of course, but I hate doing that, Vaughn." She sighed, lost in his gaze. She couldn't get her eyes off of him. She couldn't help it. And it seemed as if he couldn't either.
"I think I better go now" she said, breaking the silence, after a few seconds that seemed like centuries.
"You're right" he acknowledged, feeling a bit awkward. "I'm sure Fran will suspect you of meeting me…which is true indeed" he said, smiling.
"Not you. Stone." she corrected, laughing.
"Yes, 'Stone'." He giggled. "Take care, Sydney" he said, serious.
"As always". She said, turning to leave. It was high time she left, if she wanted to resist the urge to rush up to him and kiss him. She took a deep breath, and almost ran out.
Vaughn watched her going away, and swallowed hard. Wow! What a meeting! What a clash! He started laughing again. It was so ridiculous, he had been jealous of a man that happened to be him. And he didn't recognized himself, he had never behaved like that.
He couldn't refuse to acknowledge now that he was too emotionally attached to Sydney.
If he weren't, he wouldn't have reacted like that. He wondered how he managed not to rush up to her, hug her and kiss her, as he had been green with envy to do it. He realized he had been about to cross the line he had promised himself not to cross.
'Be careful, Vaughn, she's just twisting you around her little finger…' he murmured to himself. He sighed. "Michael Stone, Sydney Bristow's love affair…" that could be nice. If only it were true…
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it?
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me?
Day after day I have to say it
If we've got something to save
Why don't we save it
*******
TO BE CONTINUED… END OF CHAPTER 5And here is the full song:
* - * George Michael 'Something to save' (Listen Without Prejudice) * - *
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me
Day after day I have to say it
We're moving further from heaven
And closer to the deep blue sea
'Cause I have no secrets from you
And I have nothing left to hide
And I'm open to all your questions
Why can't you reach inside
Like I have
Like I have for you
And all these games that you play
Don't tell me how a man should be
Some would say if you knew
You wouldn't be here with me
I love you
I still love you
But I guess it's time to let you be
'Cause I have no secrets from you
And I have nothing left to hide
And I'm so tired of all these questions
'Cause maybe you just changed your mind
Like I have
Like I have
Like I have
Like I have
When I was at your doorstep
You told me to look around
Said come in
You and your heart sit down
But you'd better watch your step
'Cause you're not far from the ground
And one fine day this all falls down
Like I have
Like I have
If you've got something to say
Why don't you say it
If you've got something to give
Why don't you give it to me
Day after day I have to say it
If we've got something to save
Why don't we save it
* - *
A/N: Well, that's all… for Chapter 5. I hope you liked it. Thanks a lot to my wonderful beta for reading and suggesting, I liked you 'spicy' paragraph ;-)))), Kat.
Thanks a lot for your nice reviews. Sorry folks, THE kiss is not for THAT chapter, not yet. But someday… LOL. Seriously I know Vaughn could have 'punished' Sydney with a kiss, but it would have been to simple. Hehe. For THE kiss, I have a plan, and I hope you'll like it, just wait. Ok, now, let me know what you think about that chapter. Please REVIEW.
Stay tuned for CHAPTER 6 – Heal The Pain … Coming soon, IF you show me love. Don't forget to review.
PS: I NEED YOU! Please HELP ME! I need ideas about Vaughn's past, his background, where he studied… that kind of details, for a new chapter, and I must say I'm clueless. So would you please give me ideas… Any ideas would be welcome. THANK YOU so much! And remember NO suggestions = NO update… So please review.