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: In the previous chapters, Fran & Will played detectives as Sydney made one of her many visits to 'Joey's Pizza'. They discovered Vaughn...and Fran wanted to meet him! Vaughn and Sydney accepted to have dinner altogether at Sydney's... Jack arrived to give news about Sark and Dixon, and he didn't like Vaughn's presence there. Meanwhile, Will, still jealous, threatened Vaughn, and Sydney arrived just in time to save him from Will and Fran's questions. They had a conversation in the back yard, and kissed eventually…Vaughn's pager beeped as Weiss was trying to get in touch with him because a furious Jack wanted to visit Vaughn...And he did. They had a conversation, and Vaughn didn't know what to do with Sydney...
A/N: Hi, this is the eleventh chapter. This one's a bit special, I wanted you to read something funnier...or at least... different. So here's my 'Reloaded' chapter. Enjoy! And please don't forget to REVIEW! Thanks. S@nd.
* - * - *
* CHAPTER 11 – (WHAT A DAY FOR A) DAYDREAM *
ALIAS… RELOADED CHAPTER
* - * - * The MorNinG aFter
The alarm clock rang. Sydney woke up with a jerk. She had had a dream, or a nightmare, she didn't know. The only thing she remembered was that she was with Vaughn, and…she suddenly remembered everything... "Oh, my God, was it true, or have I been dreaming? Did I really kiss him? No, I couldn't have done that…But I did. Oh! Get him out of your head, Sydney! Nothing can come between you and him! Just give up!" she repeated to herself once again.
She sighed. If only things had been different! And she immersed herself in thoughts…
What a day for a daydream…
* - * - * The MorNing aFter tHe piEr sCeNe
The alarm clock rang. Sydney woke up with a jerk. She had spent a restless night, sleeping with one eye open, and now she had such a heartache!
She stretched herself, slowly got up and went out of her bedroom. She walked like a zombie towards the kitchen. She needed coffee. Yes, coffee was a good idea. It could help her to wake up and get rid of a terrible heartache!
As she was struggling to stop yawning, she didn't notice that Fran was already there, taking a sip of her coffee, and was staring at her.
"Hey, Syd, you're up early. Are you OK?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.
Sydney started, and turned to face her.
"Hi, Fran. I didn't know you were here. You made me start." she said, before answering her question. "I'm fine, thank you, Fran. I have to go to the bank first, and I have plenty of things to do today" she replied.
Fran nodded, drinking her coffee. She was staring at Sydney, watching her every movements, wondering how long she would keep hiding her secret from her. She met one of the most handsome men last night, and she had to tell her about him!
Sydney tried to relax, and to behave naturally, pouring a cup of coffee. 'Fran don't seem to be talkative this morning' she thought. But she was wrong.
Fran was burning to ask her THE question: Who was that guy she was with last night?
And she suddenly decided to question Sydney.
"Syd..." she said seriously, "I know everything!" Then she paused, waiting for Sydney to reply.
Sydney was almost choked. "What?!" She was utterly taken aback. "How could she know, what could she know?" she thought.
"Don't act so innocent, Syd" Fran continued. "I won't be taken for a ride this time, I won't leave you alone until you admit everything!"
"Everything, what ?!" Sydney replied, playing for time. "What the hell could I tell her?" she thought.
"Syd, I saw you...and, hummmm…" Fran coughed.
Sydney was still pretending ignorance, and just nodded questioningly.
"Hmmmm what?" she asked, trying to keep her composure.
"That guy!" Fran insisted.
"What guy? Is it a trick question, Fran? What are you talking about?" Sydney replied, a bit angry. She understood she was on a dangerous ground.
"Oh! Stop it, Syd! You're busted! What guy, what guy…! The one you rushed up to and hugged so tight on the pier last evening! Who else? How many men are you dating, Syd?" Fran almost yelled, impatient.
Sydney was dumbfounded at the news. Fran had found out, she couldn't believe it. Vaughn and her were made. And it was probably her fault!
How could that have happened? All things considered, she understood pretty easily that Fran must have followed her, and now she didn't know if she should feel relieved not to have to lie again to Fran when meeting Vaughn, or if she should panic because they could both be in danger. If Fran did know she had met Vaughn the night before, perhaps she was not the only one…
For a few minutes she stared dumbly, thinking about what could happen next and what to explain to Fran. She couldn't tell her the truth, she had to find something, something else to say, however painful it was to lie again.
"Sydney, still here?!" Fran shouted, bringing her back to reality.
"Err…I'm not dating anyone, he's just … he's just… a colleague of mine" she acknowledged.
"Syd, I won't believe everything I'm told anymore. Who the hell is that guy? I won't set you free until you tell me everything. And this time I want the truth!" she ordered.
Sydney sighed. It was too late now. She had to find an answer, she chose to tell her the truth, but not the whole truth, just a little bit of what happened.
She took a deep breath, and started speaking. "Ok, Fran. I'm going to tell you…"
"At last! I was wondering how long it would take you to talk to me? You know I never would like to have a grudge against you, but I don't know why you decided to hide such a secret from me. I wonder when all this started, and above all, how long it was supposed to last before you decide to eventually tell me the truth" she said, a bit sad.
"Fran…That's not what you think! There's nothing doing with a secret…" Sydney pretended.
"Oh, please, Sydney, I thought we were close friends, but sometimes I have the feeling I don't know who you are…Why do you keep secrets from me?"
Sydney closed her eyes for a second and sighed. She felt sad too. "You know, Fran, sometimes I don't know who I am anymore either!" she wanted to say. She didn't like to have to hide such secrets from her best friend, especially because Fran used to know everything so far. She used to know her so well she had guessed, she had found out the truth, she had discovered Vaughn.
But Sydney couldn't tell Fran about him, it was too dangerous for him. She decided to be honest with Fran, as much as possible. But she would do her best not to endanger Vaughn's life once again.
"Look, Fran, I swear, he's just a colleague of mine. We met last night because…" she stopped, tears in the eyes. "Oh, Fran, something happened to Dixon, he's ill, and we don't know if he'll recover or…" she stopped and sighed, almost crying.
"Oh, no, Sydney, I'm so sorry! I didn't know. Oh, please forgive me for harassing you like that!" Fran apologized.
"I suppose you followed me last night. I just met my colleague to have news, and…he was just comforting me, because I worry a lot for Dixon! He doesn't deserve such a thing. You were just mistaking, Fran, there's nothing between us, we just…work together, that's all!"
She couldn't believe she had managed to pretend Vaughn was nothing to her, without letting her true feelings show, and above all, without Fran noticing she didn't tell her the truth about him.
Fran was still shocked. She had been wrong, she couldn't believe it! She used to be able to read Sydney's mind, but now, she had made a mistake, and it was not like her. But she was puzzling out now. She recalled that moment when Sydney had come home, looking sad and worried. She was just pulling the pieces together, and now it was easy to understand Sydney was too upset to be willing to talk about it again and again.
"Sydney, I didn't want to hurt you, never, I was sure you were meeting someone secretly, that's why I was asking you all those questions…"
Sydney almost blushed. "If Fran was to find out I'm meeting Vaughn secretly, now that I told her I'm not, I'm sure she would kill me!" she thought.
It was obvious that Fran wanted to know who Vaughn was. But she wouldn't tell Fran, she had promised herself. And even if she was torn between two opposite feelings, she wouldn't change her mind. It was the best solution, for Vaughn's safety. She couldn't stand thinking she could endanger someone else's life again. Especially someone she loved. She had to do it for him.
"I don't blame you for that, Fran, you're my friend, and I know you care for me. Okay, I acknowledge I should have told you about Dixon earlier, but it was too painful.. I can't help thinking about that, all day long, and when I'm home, I just want to forget…"
"Okay, okay, Syd, no need to explain…!" Fran interrupted.
"Um, Sydney, can I ask you a question, though?" Fran added.
Sydney was surprised, and wondered if she had to worry or not.
"Just ask, Fran!"
"Okay, this guy…is nothing to you, right? Then…err, if that wonderful and handsome guy is just a colleague of yours, would you please introduce us both?"
Sydney was taken aback. She didn't expect Fran to ask such a question. For a second she thought: "No, he's mine!". But she couldn't say that, as she just swore he wasn't. And she couldn't tell Fran they couldn't meet because she was a double agent, and he was her handler, working for CIA, without blowing her cover…
"I'm sorry, Fran, he has a girlfriend…" she replied.
"Oh, what a pity! Every time I find a beautiful guy, he already has a girlfriend! I can't stand it! Why not me?"
Sydney smiled. She was wondering how Vaughn would react if she was to tell him Fran wanted to meet him, because she found him so cute… And it was true he was.
"Isn't he cute, Syd?" Fran asked.
"Yes, …um, what Fran?" she mumbled, lost in her thoughts.
"Don't you find he's cute, Syd?"
Sydney felt herself blushing. She had to stop that, she was on a dangerous ground again. Of course she found him cute. But wouldn't that seem too obvious? She didn't want to let her feelings show. It was her secret, nobody should know. Not Fran, and…above all, not Vaughn! How would he react if he was to find out she had feelings for him? She had no clue, but she would never find the strength to ask him though. No! She didn't want to know.
Suddenly she heard the sound of her pager. "Saved by the bell" she thought. She ran to her bedroom to check who was calling. "It's the bank. A meeting. I have to go, sorry, Fran." She shouted from her room.
"Why don't you want to quit that job, Syd? How long will they keep using you like that? They just give you a phone call, and then you have to go. Aren't you tired of it?" Fran asked.
Of course she was. But she had no other choice but to continue, until everything is over. She just expected that day to come soon.
"Perhaps they have good news about Dixon, I have to go, Fran"
Sark had probably contacted SD-6 to tell them what he wanted. And then she would find out as soon as she meets Sloane….
* - * -
And I'm lost in a daydream
Sydney's pager beeped. She came back to reality. She was just daydreaming. She sighed, as she realized it wouldn't have been better, it wouldn't have changed things. Dixon was still Sark's prisoner, and nothing would change that.
And even if time ain't really on my side
She shook her head and got up. She had to go to the bank. The sooner the better. "Ok, Mr Sark, you want something from me. Okay, I'm ready…"
And so saying, she headed to the bathroom…
I've been dreamin' since I woke up
Today…
*****
Daydream (John Sebastian)
What a day for a daydream
What a day for a daydreamin' boy
And I'm lost in a daydream
Dreamin' bout my bundle of joy
And even if time ain't really on my side
It's one of those days for takin' a walk outside
I'm blowin' the day to take a walk in the sun
And fall on my face on somebody's new mowed lawn
I've been havin' a sweet dream
I've been dreamin' since I woke up
today
It's starred me and my sweet dream
'Cause she's the one makes me feel
this way
And even if time is passin' me by a lot
I couldn't care less about the dues you say I got
Tomorrow I'll pay the dues for droppin' my load
A pie in the face for bein' a sleepy bull toad
And you can be sure that if you're feelin' right
A daydream will last a long into the night
Tomorrow at breakfast you may pick up your ears
Or you may be daydreamin' for a thousand years
What a day for a daydream
Custom made for a daydreamin' boy
And I'm lost in a daydream
Dreamin' 'bout my bundle of joy
* END OF CHAPTER 11 *
A/N: Ok, I hope you liked that chapter, it was just to have some 'rest', before action starts again… Sark will be back soon, it's high time we had news from Dixon, don't you think, so?
This chapter was just a dead calm before the storm rages! Get ready, and don't forget to REVIEW, as always! Thanks.
Kat, thanks for still being my wonderful beta!
I was glad to read your reviews…Here are my answers:
Bubbles: sorry, but Vaughn and Syd can't be together... for the moment! That's not mean or evil, that's just the plot, but don't worry, I have a great plan, hehe! Glad you liked the previous chapter, what about this one? Thank you so much for telling me that whatever I write would be alright. Wow, thanks!
Bartlettfan04: Nice to meet you. Thank you, thank you for telling me my story's one of the best you've ever read. What a pleasure! Do I really have such talent? LOL! If you do think I'm a high school or college student, sorry, dear, I'm far beyond this! (Lol. If you knew, you wouldn't believe it!) If I were to use my 'talent', well, I'd ask: hey, J.J would you please hire me as a scriptwriter, please...! I'm daydreaming too, sorry! About another S/V meeting, you'll see... and, yep, Mike's really hot, and he's French! Frenchies are wonderful! (I can congratulate myself, after all, lol)
Laura: Um, you found my chapter interesting, you loved Fran...Great! Now, can I assure you that Syd & Vaughn will end up together in the end? You'll have to read this story till the end to find out ;-))
Jen: hehe, Jack is just...Jack! Did he ruin everything...?In fact, no! I needed it to happen, sorry!
Adelaide Bristow: your review was simply wonderful, I don't know what to say to thank you for supporting me the way you do! YOU ROCK! Yep, you're right, I just don't understand why we never had the chance to watched Syd at Vaughn's home! Really! And to your question, will SYD AND VAUGHN END UP TOGETHER at the end...hehe, I won't tell you yet! Don't worry, I loove talking to people, I rarely have the opportunity to speak English in France, you know...If you want to talk to me, "just remember that you can always... you know. You got my.." …e-mail! lol!
serendipity112233: Your review was short, but great too!
star16: Ryan, glad you liked my idea eventually. I'm such a creative one, as you know now! Jack was perfect, thanks. Just thank my beta for her good advice too.
Natalie: Suspense is going to last, dear...Just wait and read!
Stay tuned for CHAPTER 12 – WRONG IMPRESSION…