Chap.26- Hope
The last remains of the dinner were scraped onto Eric's plate while the rest of the guests leaned back into their chairs, attempting to relieve the weight of all the food they had consumed and was now uncomfortably present in their stomachs.
Vaughn sat, silent, in his seat while the others around him chattered and talked animatedly to Bridgette whose every response held a kind smile and laughter. His eyes were trained on the fork in his plate and his ears only heard the buzz of conversation.
He smiled though, in remembrance of the very same feeling he had felt when he was little and was dragged along to houses of various colleagues, whom his parents stayed talking to well into the next day. He would always be bored out of his mind and end up sitting next to his mother who would cup his cheek in her hand and assure him that they were almost done. He would then rest his head on his mother's lap and fall asleep to the gentle and constant stroking of her hand on his sandy blonde hair.
Always, though, he would wake up in his own bed the next morning, unaware that he had been carried in his father's strong arms to the safety of their home.
A sudden burst of laughter jolted him from his thoughts and he immediately glanced up at Eric who was basking in the glory of his well-told joke. Lisa was still laughing as she leaned to give Eric a small kiss on the cheek.
"You finally got the timing right, honey." She joked.
He looked at her in a mock confidential way and whispered to her loudly,
"I told you not to say anything!"
Vaughn smiled in amusement and craned his head to the right a little and caught sight of his godson sleeping on Lisa's lap just as he had with his own mother. Eric followed his best friend's gaze and rested it upon his small son.
"We should go," Lisa said looking at the clock hanging on the wall.
"I didn't realize what time it was!" Bridgette exclaimed, looking down at her own watch. Wood scraped wood as people started to stand up and head to the front door.
"We should go too." Sydney said, pushing her own chair away from the table and standing up. "We had a great time. Thank you, Lauren, for the food. It was delicious."
Scott put his arm protectively around Sydney's waist as she maneuvered her way to the front door.
"Thank you for coming." Lauren said, smiling, and started to gather the dishes and place them into the sink.
"It was very nice meeting you, Bridgette." Sydney added.
"You too...Sydney, right?"
"Right."
"Well, you come here anytime you want and I'll cook for you. That was my recipe, you know." Bridgette said, winking discreetly at Sydney.
"I just might take you up on that."
"Oh, you make sure you do."
Sydney laughed and gave Lisa a hug as she walked out of the front door. She waved at Eric who wiggled his fingers at her, as he was busy carrying his son. She thanked Lauren, once again, and hugged Bridgette. She hesitated slightly but reached up to hug Vaughn too.
"Thanks."
"No problem." He answered and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. He opened his mouth to say something to Sydney, but Scott held out his hand to Vaughn.
"Thanks."
"No problem." Vaughn repeated, shaking Scott's hand.
Sydney yawned as she wiped away the sweat that had emerged on her forehead after her run. She bent over the lily buds in her garden and looked up as she heard a door open and close.
"Good morning." She greeted.
"Morning." Vaughn answered as he stretched in his driveway.
"I'm glad your mom came." Sydney said quietly.
"Me too."
The two of them were silent for a couple of minutes as the emerging rays of the rising sun broke the cold of the gray morning.
"I'll see you at the office then," Sydney said, suddenly standing up.
"Yea, see you." Vaughn replied.
He watched as she disappeared into the depths of her house and walked down his driveway toward the street. Pausing, he doubled back and crossed the short stretch of grass and squatted.
Gently, he touched one of the lily buds and saw that the tips were beginning to flower slightly.
He drew his hand away and walked down to the street again, gradually speeding his pace and breaking into a quick jog.
Some things just can't be rushed.
A couple of hours into the work day, the five agents were called into the conference room for a meeting. Mark, Ana, and James were complaining quietly amongst themselves in the small circle they had formed with their leather computer chairs and Vaughn and Sydney smiled with an air of maturity at the snippets of their conversations that occasionally escaped the ring.
The door opened and Mark, Ana, and James quickly wheeled their chairs back into their spots, clearing their throats, straightening clothes, and fixing their hair, trying to be discreet and becoming paranoid that Kendall and Jack had heard anything that they had said.
Kendall strolled into the room leisurely as Jack followed behind him, closing the door gently behind him.
"Hello." Kendall greeted with a sardonic smile on his face. He cleared his throat when nobody answered and sat down, signaling for Jack to take over.
"I would like to start off by telling that we are not ready to send anybody to Bosnia-Herzegovina at this time. Even with the help of the code, it's taking longer than we expected." Jack started, ignoring the large grins that were plastered on Mark, Ana, and James' faces.
"Then why are we here?" Sydney asked curiously.
"He was getting to that Agent Voyer." Kendall said slowly from his seat.
Sydney shot him a glance and Jack turned to him as well.
"Thank you...Mr. Kendall." Jack said, his tone flat and showing no obvious appreciation or respect that his words originally would have held. "The reason why you have been called into this room today is because, as you might be aware, Mr. Vaughn's mother, Bridgette Delorme Vaughn is presently in Los Angeles."
"She is?" Mark asked with excitement, thinking back to all the hot and steaming meals that were served to him in France.
"Really?" Ana asked, remembering how Bridgette had taken them in, no questions asked, that night.
"Yes, Agent Lee. Really." Kendall remarked.
"Anyways," Jack intercepted. "you have all been informed. Now, Agent Jamison, Agent Lee, and Agent Chaplin, will you please excuse us?"
The three nodded and stood up from their seats. Mark turned to give Sydney a thumbs-up and an exaggerated wink. She laughed and waved as the three walked out of the room.
Jack waited until the door was shut and he walked to the back entrance, pulling open the door and telling something to the agent stationed there who immediately walked away.
"Dad, what's going on?" Sydney asked.
"Just wait." He assured her.
A few minutes later, Bridgette walked into the conference room and took the seat where James had sat previously.
"Mom?" Vaughn asked in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Bridgette just smiled at her son and then at Sydney. She leaned back into the leather chair and turned to look at Jack.
"Should we start?" He asked her.
"Yes."
"Bridgette was asked to fly to Washington D.C. two weeks ago." Jack explained. "She is only stopping here for a week or so until she will fly back to France."
"Mr. Bristow....Sir...." Vaughn started, correcting himself. "I am perfectly aware of my mother's flight itinerary. What I want to know is why she, a civilian, is present in a CIA debriefing."
"If you would let me explain, Agent Vaughn," Jack said.
"Yes, please! Explain!" Vaughn shouted. He was fed up with his mother's involvement with dangerous situations and this secret that was haunting him ever since he found out.
"Michael!" Bridgette admonished. "Let Mr. Bristow explain."
Vaughn sighed and leaned back into his chair.
"Thank you, Bridgette. As I was saying, Mrs. Vaughn was asked to fly to Washington D.C. two weeks ago, but specifically, she was asked to fly to Langley."
"Langley?" Sydney asked.
"Yes. It was there where she was made an official CIA officer; something that I felt was long due. So technically, she's not a civilian anymore."
"What?" Vaughn shouted, standing up quickly, his chair rolling backwards from the sudden motion. "So, are you going to send her on missions now? Is that it?"
"Vaughn!" Sydney whispered fiercely. She pulled on his arm until he sat back down into his chair. "Calm down."
"You never allow anyone to finish, do you Agent Vaughn?" Kendall said from his corner.
Sydney's anger flared and she leaned forward in her chair.
"I have had ENOUGH of you and your sarcastic, sardonic comments that you have just been making nonstop since you stepped into this room. Now, Mr. Kendall, I'm sorry that you may not have a life outside of this center, but that is NO excuse...."
"Sydney! That is enough." Jack said firmly, cutting her off. "We don't have time for this. Now, as I was about to say, Bridgette chose to fly to Los Angeles not only to see her son, but also to turn in her resignation."
Sydney and Vaughn turned to look at Bridgette in shock.
"It's true." Bridgette confirmed a bit sadly. "That safe house has been in operation for more than twenty years now and I can't run it by myself anymore. Now that Michael knows, I know that he worries and it just breaks my heart." She turned to look Sydney straight in the eyes and said, "I've learned all that I've needed to learn. All the information that I wanted, I received." She turned her head to look at Jack and Kendall again. "I ask of nothing more than for you to accept my resignation."
"Of course." Kendall answered, standing up and leaving, still furious with Sydney's lash of anger against him.
"It has been a pleasure working with you, Bridgette." Jack said and left the room.
Michael got up slowly from his chair and walked to Bridgette.
"Maman...thank you, for everything." He said, embracing her.
Bridgette smiled and over his shoulder she watched as Sydney walked as softly as she could out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Sydney, had in fact, taken Bridgette up on her offer and was sitting on one of the stools of the kitchen countertop, watching Bridgette cook Michael's favorite dish. The smells wafted up to her nose and gladly accepted the wooden spoon containing a generous spoonful of sauce held out to her by Bridgette.
"Too salty? Too spicy? Too bland?" Bridgette asked, shutting off the fire of the stove.
Sydney shook her head.
"It's perfect."
Twenty minutes later, dinner was finished and Bridgette picked up the phone and persuaded Jack's secretary to remind Vaughn to come home at five every half hour. She placed the phone back into its cradle and surveyed the numerous pots, pans, dishes, and silverware that cluttered the sink and the countertop. She rolled up her sleeves and started to walk to the sink when Lauren held her back.
"Go sit down and relax."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Bridgette scoffed.
"Why don't you and Sydney go for a walk or something while I clean up? It won't take me that long and I'll come join you. You don't mind, do you Sydney?"
"No, of course not," Sydney replied.
Bridgette hesitated and consented, letting her sleeves down and untying her apron. She walked to her room quickly and emerged a couple of minutes later.
"Ready?" Bridgette asked her.
"Whenever you are," Sydney replied, laughing.
They walked out of the front door and Sydney began leading Bridgette on her regular jogging route. They talked occasionally, remarking on a yard or a house or a dog that would run in their path, but it mostly held silence.
The silence wasn't the uncomfortable, stuffy, suffocating kind, but the smooth and gentle one. It allowed a person to settle into it comfortably and know that the two of them weren't talking not because they had nothing to say, but because they knew each other so well and they had too many things to say that they didn't have to say it verbally. They could just listen to each footstep. Listen to each movement of the arm. Listen to each turn of the head. Listen to each smile the mouth curled into.
Sydney and Bridgette reached the park at a considerably short time due to their fast walking paces and Bridgette picked a bench under a large, shady tree. She patted the seat next to her and Sydney sat down.
"Now, Sydney. I know that we didn't exactly end on such good terms since you found out and everything."
"Bridgette...it really wasn't any of my business..."
"No...It was. I'm glad that you found out."
"Why?"
"You can't imagine how long I've wanted to tell Michael about it. I was afraid though. Afraid that he may get hurt because of it, or maybe hate me for keeping it from him like he does now..."
"He does not hate you." Sydney said firmly.
"He was so mad, Sydney."
"It's because he loves you so much. He told me. Vaughn said that he was more worried than mad."
"That child worries too much." Bridgette sighed. "But anyways, thank you for giving me the courage."
Sydney nodded and looked down into her lap, her fingers playing with a loose thread on the sleeve of her shirt.
"I did what you told me to, Bridgette."
"Pardon?"
"I did what you told me." Sydney repeated. "I believed."
"Something happened...didn't it?" Bridgette asked.
Sydney nodded.
"Now I wish that you hadn't retired yet so I could tell you what happened."
"I'll settle for the short version." Bridgette said softly.
"I was in South America and someone was supposed to tell me something." Sydney said, inhaling deeply. "And let's just say that she wasn't who she said that she was."
"Oh, Sydney..."
"You know, I thought that I had finally broken through my paranoia. I felt like I had a connection with her...that I helped her. But..."
"I'm sorry, Sydney."
"It's not your fault, Bridgette."
A slight breeze ruffled the tree above them and the falling of a few leaves caused Sydney to turn and look at the sun that was beginning to set.
"We've been here for this long?" Bridgette asked incredulously.
"We should go before they start to worry." Sydney said, starting to get up.
They walked back to the house and stopped at the sidewalk where Bridgette would walk a few paces to her left and Sydney, a few paces to her right.
"When are you leaving?" Sydney asked.
"Soon...I have few things I need to get done before I leave for France."
"Will you come back to visit?"
"Hopefully." Bridgette smiled.
Sydney gave Bridgette a tight hug.
"Will you let me know when you leave?" Sydney asked.
Bridgette nodded. Sydney turned to walk to her driveway when Bridgette reached out and caught Sydney by the wrist. She turned and looked at Bridgette and walked back to where she was standing before.
She watched as Bridgette felt into her pocket and pressed something round, cold, and heavy into her palm.
"I want you to have this. It's hard for me to part with...but I think you need it more than I do."
Sydney opened her palm and in shock she undid the small clasp to reveal the broken pocket watch.
"Bridgette...I can't take this. It belongs to Vaughn, to you. I can't..."
Bridgette shook her head and gently pushed Sydney's offering hands away.
"Yes, you can. I'm going to be an old woman and insist that you take this."
"No, Bridgette! I can't. It's Vaughn's. His father gave it to him."
"He gave it to me in France. So technically, it's mine and I have the authority to give it to you."
Sydney looked at Bridgette in desperation and when she saw that there was no persuading Bridgette she closed the watch again.
"Why did you say that I need it?"
Bridgette silently unclasped Sydney's hands and turned the watch over, pointing to the simple word in scripted on the back.
Hope.
Author's Note: Teeheehee. Jayme, you're so funny. I didn't know that you really were going to try and get me 120 reviews...by yourself. Lol.
Thank you to EVERYONE that reviewed.
Well...what did you think of the chapter? I didn't think it was as much of a tear-jerker as I would have liked....did you cry? I didn't cry.
But!!! It was as long as I liked! Teeheehee! This is definitely the longest chapter of all!
Well well, the reviews were very fun to read as they always are and I just have to say this before I go:
Go join the Mark-rocks-my-post its club.
Lol.
See Jayme! (at FF.net)
Teehehehe! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 27- ETU (estimated time of upload): Saturday Hehehe! It's like my own little bulletin! I loves it!
The last remains of the dinner were scraped onto Eric's plate while the rest of the guests leaned back into their chairs, attempting to relieve the weight of all the food they had consumed and was now uncomfortably present in their stomachs.
Vaughn sat, silent, in his seat while the others around him chattered and talked animatedly to Bridgette whose every response held a kind smile and laughter. His eyes were trained on the fork in his plate and his ears only heard the buzz of conversation.
He smiled though, in remembrance of the very same feeling he had felt when he was little and was dragged along to houses of various colleagues, whom his parents stayed talking to well into the next day. He would always be bored out of his mind and end up sitting next to his mother who would cup his cheek in her hand and assure him that they were almost done. He would then rest his head on his mother's lap and fall asleep to the gentle and constant stroking of her hand on his sandy blonde hair.
Always, though, he would wake up in his own bed the next morning, unaware that he had been carried in his father's strong arms to the safety of their home.
A sudden burst of laughter jolted him from his thoughts and he immediately glanced up at Eric who was basking in the glory of his well-told joke. Lisa was still laughing as she leaned to give Eric a small kiss on the cheek.
"You finally got the timing right, honey." She joked.
He looked at her in a mock confidential way and whispered to her loudly,
"I told you not to say anything!"
Vaughn smiled in amusement and craned his head to the right a little and caught sight of his godson sleeping on Lisa's lap just as he had with his own mother. Eric followed his best friend's gaze and rested it upon his small son.
"We should go," Lisa said looking at the clock hanging on the wall.
"I didn't realize what time it was!" Bridgette exclaimed, looking down at her own watch. Wood scraped wood as people started to stand up and head to the front door.
"We should go too." Sydney said, pushing her own chair away from the table and standing up. "We had a great time. Thank you, Lauren, for the food. It was delicious."
Scott put his arm protectively around Sydney's waist as she maneuvered her way to the front door.
"Thank you for coming." Lauren said, smiling, and started to gather the dishes and place them into the sink.
"It was very nice meeting you, Bridgette." Sydney added.
"You too...Sydney, right?"
"Right."
"Well, you come here anytime you want and I'll cook for you. That was my recipe, you know." Bridgette said, winking discreetly at Sydney.
"I just might take you up on that."
"Oh, you make sure you do."
Sydney laughed and gave Lisa a hug as she walked out of the front door. She waved at Eric who wiggled his fingers at her, as he was busy carrying his son. She thanked Lauren, once again, and hugged Bridgette. She hesitated slightly but reached up to hug Vaughn too.
"Thanks."
"No problem." He answered and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. He opened his mouth to say something to Sydney, but Scott held out his hand to Vaughn.
"Thanks."
"No problem." Vaughn repeated, shaking Scott's hand.
Sydney yawned as she wiped away the sweat that had emerged on her forehead after her run. She bent over the lily buds in her garden and looked up as she heard a door open and close.
"Good morning." She greeted.
"Morning." Vaughn answered as he stretched in his driveway.
"I'm glad your mom came." Sydney said quietly.
"Me too."
The two of them were silent for a couple of minutes as the emerging rays of the rising sun broke the cold of the gray morning.
"I'll see you at the office then," Sydney said, suddenly standing up.
"Yea, see you." Vaughn replied.
He watched as she disappeared into the depths of her house and walked down his driveway toward the street. Pausing, he doubled back and crossed the short stretch of grass and squatted.
Gently, he touched one of the lily buds and saw that the tips were beginning to flower slightly.
He drew his hand away and walked down to the street again, gradually speeding his pace and breaking into a quick jog.
Some things just can't be rushed.
A couple of hours into the work day, the five agents were called into the conference room for a meeting. Mark, Ana, and James were complaining quietly amongst themselves in the small circle they had formed with their leather computer chairs and Vaughn and Sydney smiled with an air of maturity at the snippets of their conversations that occasionally escaped the ring.
The door opened and Mark, Ana, and James quickly wheeled their chairs back into their spots, clearing their throats, straightening clothes, and fixing their hair, trying to be discreet and becoming paranoid that Kendall and Jack had heard anything that they had said.
Kendall strolled into the room leisurely as Jack followed behind him, closing the door gently behind him.
"Hello." Kendall greeted with a sardonic smile on his face. He cleared his throat when nobody answered and sat down, signaling for Jack to take over.
"I would like to start off by telling that we are not ready to send anybody to Bosnia-Herzegovina at this time. Even with the help of the code, it's taking longer than we expected." Jack started, ignoring the large grins that were plastered on Mark, Ana, and James' faces.
"Then why are we here?" Sydney asked curiously.
"He was getting to that Agent Voyer." Kendall said slowly from his seat.
Sydney shot him a glance and Jack turned to him as well.
"Thank you...Mr. Kendall." Jack said, his tone flat and showing no obvious appreciation or respect that his words originally would have held. "The reason why you have been called into this room today is because, as you might be aware, Mr. Vaughn's mother, Bridgette Delorme Vaughn is presently in Los Angeles."
"She is?" Mark asked with excitement, thinking back to all the hot and steaming meals that were served to him in France.
"Really?" Ana asked, remembering how Bridgette had taken them in, no questions asked, that night.
"Yes, Agent Lee. Really." Kendall remarked.
"Anyways," Jack intercepted. "you have all been informed. Now, Agent Jamison, Agent Lee, and Agent Chaplin, will you please excuse us?"
The three nodded and stood up from their seats. Mark turned to give Sydney a thumbs-up and an exaggerated wink. She laughed and waved as the three walked out of the room.
Jack waited until the door was shut and he walked to the back entrance, pulling open the door and telling something to the agent stationed there who immediately walked away.
"Dad, what's going on?" Sydney asked.
"Just wait." He assured her.
A few minutes later, Bridgette walked into the conference room and took the seat where James had sat previously.
"Mom?" Vaughn asked in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
Bridgette just smiled at her son and then at Sydney. She leaned back into the leather chair and turned to look at Jack.
"Should we start?" He asked her.
"Yes."
"Bridgette was asked to fly to Washington D.C. two weeks ago." Jack explained. "She is only stopping here for a week or so until she will fly back to France."
"Mr. Bristow....Sir...." Vaughn started, correcting himself. "I am perfectly aware of my mother's flight itinerary. What I want to know is why she, a civilian, is present in a CIA debriefing."
"If you would let me explain, Agent Vaughn," Jack said.
"Yes, please! Explain!" Vaughn shouted. He was fed up with his mother's involvement with dangerous situations and this secret that was haunting him ever since he found out.
"Michael!" Bridgette admonished. "Let Mr. Bristow explain."
Vaughn sighed and leaned back into his chair.
"Thank you, Bridgette. As I was saying, Mrs. Vaughn was asked to fly to Washington D.C. two weeks ago, but specifically, she was asked to fly to Langley."
"Langley?" Sydney asked.
"Yes. It was there where she was made an official CIA officer; something that I felt was long due. So technically, she's not a civilian anymore."
"What?" Vaughn shouted, standing up quickly, his chair rolling backwards from the sudden motion. "So, are you going to send her on missions now? Is that it?"
"Vaughn!" Sydney whispered fiercely. She pulled on his arm until he sat back down into his chair. "Calm down."
"You never allow anyone to finish, do you Agent Vaughn?" Kendall said from his corner.
Sydney's anger flared and she leaned forward in her chair.
"I have had ENOUGH of you and your sarcastic, sardonic comments that you have just been making nonstop since you stepped into this room. Now, Mr. Kendall, I'm sorry that you may not have a life outside of this center, but that is NO excuse...."
"Sydney! That is enough." Jack said firmly, cutting her off. "We don't have time for this. Now, as I was about to say, Bridgette chose to fly to Los Angeles not only to see her son, but also to turn in her resignation."
Sydney and Vaughn turned to look at Bridgette in shock.
"It's true." Bridgette confirmed a bit sadly. "That safe house has been in operation for more than twenty years now and I can't run it by myself anymore. Now that Michael knows, I know that he worries and it just breaks my heart." She turned to look Sydney straight in the eyes and said, "I've learned all that I've needed to learn. All the information that I wanted, I received." She turned her head to look at Jack and Kendall again. "I ask of nothing more than for you to accept my resignation."
"Of course." Kendall answered, standing up and leaving, still furious with Sydney's lash of anger against him.
"It has been a pleasure working with you, Bridgette." Jack said and left the room.
Michael got up slowly from his chair and walked to Bridgette.
"Maman...thank you, for everything." He said, embracing her.
Bridgette smiled and over his shoulder she watched as Sydney walked as softly as she could out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Sydney, had in fact, taken Bridgette up on her offer and was sitting on one of the stools of the kitchen countertop, watching Bridgette cook Michael's favorite dish. The smells wafted up to her nose and gladly accepted the wooden spoon containing a generous spoonful of sauce held out to her by Bridgette.
"Too salty? Too spicy? Too bland?" Bridgette asked, shutting off the fire of the stove.
Sydney shook her head.
"It's perfect."
Twenty minutes later, dinner was finished and Bridgette picked up the phone and persuaded Jack's secretary to remind Vaughn to come home at five every half hour. She placed the phone back into its cradle and surveyed the numerous pots, pans, dishes, and silverware that cluttered the sink and the countertop. She rolled up her sleeves and started to walk to the sink when Lauren held her back.
"Go sit down and relax."
"Don't be ridiculous!" Bridgette scoffed.
"Why don't you and Sydney go for a walk or something while I clean up? It won't take me that long and I'll come join you. You don't mind, do you Sydney?"
"No, of course not," Sydney replied.
Bridgette hesitated and consented, letting her sleeves down and untying her apron. She walked to her room quickly and emerged a couple of minutes later.
"Ready?" Bridgette asked her.
"Whenever you are," Sydney replied, laughing.
They walked out of the front door and Sydney began leading Bridgette on her regular jogging route. They talked occasionally, remarking on a yard or a house or a dog that would run in their path, but it mostly held silence.
The silence wasn't the uncomfortable, stuffy, suffocating kind, but the smooth and gentle one. It allowed a person to settle into it comfortably and know that the two of them weren't talking not because they had nothing to say, but because they knew each other so well and they had too many things to say that they didn't have to say it verbally. They could just listen to each footstep. Listen to each movement of the arm. Listen to each turn of the head. Listen to each smile the mouth curled into.
Sydney and Bridgette reached the park at a considerably short time due to their fast walking paces and Bridgette picked a bench under a large, shady tree. She patted the seat next to her and Sydney sat down.
"Now, Sydney. I know that we didn't exactly end on such good terms since you found out and everything."
"Bridgette...it really wasn't any of my business..."
"No...It was. I'm glad that you found out."
"Why?"
"You can't imagine how long I've wanted to tell Michael about it. I was afraid though. Afraid that he may get hurt because of it, or maybe hate me for keeping it from him like he does now..."
"He does not hate you." Sydney said firmly.
"He was so mad, Sydney."
"It's because he loves you so much. He told me. Vaughn said that he was more worried than mad."
"That child worries too much." Bridgette sighed. "But anyways, thank you for giving me the courage."
Sydney nodded and looked down into her lap, her fingers playing with a loose thread on the sleeve of her shirt.
"I did what you told me to, Bridgette."
"Pardon?"
"I did what you told me." Sydney repeated. "I believed."
"Something happened...didn't it?" Bridgette asked.
Sydney nodded.
"Now I wish that you hadn't retired yet so I could tell you what happened."
"I'll settle for the short version." Bridgette said softly.
"I was in South America and someone was supposed to tell me something." Sydney said, inhaling deeply. "And let's just say that she wasn't who she said that she was."
"Oh, Sydney..."
"You know, I thought that I had finally broken through my paranoia. I felt like I had a connection with her...that I helped her. But..."
"I'm sorry, Sydney."
"It's not your fault, Bridgette."
A slight breeze ruffled the tree above them and the falling of a few leaves caused Sydney to turn and look at the sun that was beginning to set.
"We've been here for this long?" Bridgette asked incredulously.
"We should go before they start to worry." Sydney said, starting to get up.
They walked back to the house and stopped at the sidewalk where Bridgette would walk a few paces to her left and Sydney, a few paces to her right.
"When are you leaving?" Sydney asked.
"Soon...I have few things I need to get done before I leave for France."
"Will you come back to visit?"
"Hopefully." Bridgette smiled.
Sydney gave Bridgette a tight hug.
"Will you let me know when you leave?" Sydney asked.
Bridgette nodded. Sydney turned to walk to her driveway when Bridgette reached out and caught Sydney by the wrist. She turned and looked at Bridgette and walked back to where she was standing before.
She watched as Bridgette felt into her pocket and pressed something round, cold, and heavy into her palm.
"I want you to have this. It's hard for me to part with...but I think you need it more than I do."
Sydney opened her palm and in shock she undid the small clasp to reveal the broken pocket watch.
"Bridgette...I can't take this. It belongs to Vaughn, to you. I can't..."
Bridgette shook her head and gently pushed Sydney's offering hands away.
"Yes, you can. I'm going to be an old woman and insist that you take this."
"No, Bridgette! I can't. It's Vaughn's. His father gave it to him."
"He gave it to me in France. So technically, it's mine and I have the authority to give it to you."
Sydney looked at Bridgette in desperation and when she saw that there was no persuading Bridgette she closed the watch again.
"Why did you say that I need it?"
Bridgette silently unclasped Sydney's hands and turned the watch over, pointing to the simple word in scripted on the back.
Hope.
Author's Note: Teeheehee. Jayme, you're so funny. I didn't know that you really were going to try and get me 120 reviews...by yourself. Lol.
Thank you to EVERYONE that reviewed.
Well...what did you think of the chapter? I didn't think it was as much of a tear-jerker as I would have liked....did you cry? I didn't cry.
But!!! It was as long as I liked! Teeheehee! This is definitely the longest chapter of all!
Well well, the reviews were very fun to read as they always are and I just have to say this before I go:
Go join the Mark-rocks-my-post its club.
Lol.
See Jayme! (at FF.net)
Teehehehe! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 27- ETU (estimated time of upload): Saturday Hehehe! It's like my own little bulletin! I loves it!