A/N: Everyone thought it was Syd! Serindipity9 was the only one that had specs on Rick so she gets a brownie point. ;) I thought about doing this in everyone's pov, but Rick in the end made the most sense. Syd is still knocked out and sick, Weiss' ego, can't take it and I even considered other characters. (Ack.. Kendall, annoyed parent on a road trip, and even a janitor!) But I like it like this I think.

Important Note: The italics are a flashback and the scene is suppose to occur after "A Dark Turn." To refresh your memory, the SpyRents go to try to trick Sloane but in turn it was all set-up.

Archive: FF.net, COVERme, and Allies. All else, e-mail me! I would love to see your archive. :D

Dedication: Jade @ xanga who gave me an almost idea, and to Linz who blackmailed me but can hopefully catch this before jetting off to that fancy hotel of hers. :P Need I mention all you wonderful readers and reviewers? I heart you. :)

Disclaimer: Property of JJ and Co. But if only.. Think of the possibilities! Oh and I like interns; Rick doesnt.

+Chapter 6 - Over the Edge+

"Enough!"

Naturally, the hard glare in my eyes leave Jacks' and dart to the owner of the voice. More surprise comes to me when I see Rick approaching with a frightened nurse trailing behind him. Weiss quickly scurries to the side to allow him to pass, sensing what's coming. By the looks of it, Rick's seemingly positive personality is starting to rival Jack's. The nurse wheels him over to us.

"Good lord, do you know people need rest here? My grandkids are more mature than you two!" He says in a low growl.

Through the entire moment, Jack is unfazed. "I didn't know you were here." He says, in turn allowing him to pass.

"The hell you didn't, Jack." He says fiercely. He starts to mumble something under his breath. "Same old dictator... pushing around the green ones."

Even through my complete confusion, I find my voice. "Hey! I'm not-"

Rick is a step ahead of me and cuts me off sharply. "You might as well be an intern, boy!"

I'm about to argue back when Jack steps in. "I don't believe this concerns you, Rick." He says firmly.

At the moment, I don't know who I'm dreading more: Jack who can break my bones with one hand or Rick who, even though is in a wheelchair, makes me nervous standing in the room. I notice the doctor inching away slowly and Weiss giving me a look that tells me exactly what I'm thinking: He's really done it now.

Rick on the other hand is silently staring down Jack Bristow. His voice is unnerved as he begins to speak. "I'm going to bed now and you can go on about who loves the girl more, who's the better father or boyfriend and sure as hell not giving a damn about what she's thinking as she hears this. If you two don't care, I have to."

With a flick of his hand, the nurse pushes him back into the room, coming out seconds later and closing the door behind her. She looks over at the two of us nervously and skidderers away. I bring myself to face Jack. The silence only settles the matter. Rick is right; this ongoing feud that we share has to stop.

"Jack-"

He cuts me off again. "I don't want to hear it."

"I want this to stop." I say insist. He doesn't look at me but instead, turns away. "Jack, look... I know you're upset- and I know you blame me."

Instead of telling me it wasn't my fault, I hear him make a sound that's comparable to a snort. My new found straight tells me to ignore it, and surprisingly, I do.

"I know you're hurting-"

For about the fifth time since we first started this conversation, Jack stops me. He has anger in his eyes and his voice comes out as a ragged whisper. "How could you possibly know what it feels like to lose someone you loved?"

His words are like daggers and so much colder than I've ever heard. He's speaking in a tone I've never heard him use before. He knows this is exactly what can get to me and this is it. Behind me, Weiss starts to interject, but I stop him and turn back to Jack, urging him on. At the moment, I didn't know why I did it.

Jack isn't holding back anything. I can tell because he doesn't hesitate to start on me. "You don't know what love is." He says simply. "You know comfort, but you don't know love. The second Sydney disappeared, you were weak and selfish because you didn't have it anymore. You married right afterwards because you are weak. Too weak to notice deception and too weak to live life on your own." He's glaring at me and there is a slight pause.

"You don't really love her and she sure as hell doesn't love you."

Suddenly, I feel my arm muscle tense, but I strain to ignore it. Eric puts a hand on my arm thinking that I'm going to hit him. "Mike-"

"No man, he's right." I free myself from Eric's grasp but my eyes never leaves the dark, cold ones on Jack's face. "You win, Jack." I say softly.

-=-=-=-

It didn't matter that SD-6 was gone now, I still never got to spend much more time with Sydney. My feeble attempt to take her out for a simple dinner was shattered by Kendall. The only reason I didn't fight it was because I knew for once, Syd wanted to go into work.

The last three days were ones of filled with silence, fake smiles and forced moods. She never said it to me out loud, but something in me knew that a small part of her was wondering about the outcome the mission. She's a million miles away, sitting next to me in the car looking pointedly out the window. Gently, I smooth small circles into the hand I'm holding onto. She looks over, a grateful, soft smile on her face.

"She'll be okay, Syd."

She doesn't say anything; just nods. After a moment she's back looking out the window at the carnival lights of the Santa Monica Pier. Suddenly, she grabs my arm, urging me to stop and park. For some reason, I don't question it. I take a sharp turn and immediately find a spot near the sand. What could she possibly be up to? It's about sixty degrees out so she couldn't possibly want to go for a swim.

My judgment fails me though as she unbuckles her seatbelt and hops out of the car. Before I make it to her side, she's started to walk towards the ocean. I scramble to keep up with her; a million thoughts going through my head. She walks further into the water as the tide goes down.

"Syd! What are you doing? You're going to get wet and-"

At the precise moment, another wave comes crashing towards her, covering him completely. My first instinct is to worry as I hurry over to her. The tide goes back and I see her sprawled on the sand. Saving my scoldings for later, I rush over to gather her up in my arms when I hear something; laughter. Sydney is laughing.

She puts her arms around my neck; the silly grin still on her face. "We have to be at the ops. center in an hour and you're soaking-"

Even though I was worried, her laughter takes it all away. I year ago, I coudn't even dream about her molded so perfectly in my arms and sharing a moment of normalcy. Dripping and covered with sand, Sydney is still more beautiful than I can ever imagine.

"I can't believed you followed me." She says breathlessly. I'm about to say something when another wave comes toward us. "Vaughn! What are you waiting for?"

All my senses tell me to get away from the cold, wet blanket that's threatening to cover both of us, but I can't get my feet to move. Sensing this, Syd buries herself into the crook of my neck as I hold her closer, waiting for the wave to crash into us.

Without my knowing, my laughs join hers when it leaves us in a tangled heap in the sand. Whatever part of me that Sydney didn't get wet, is now. Getting up first, I extend my hand, pulling her up and to me at the same time. I place a soft kiss on her lips, as she murmurs her plans about the next time we do this. She pulls away and I can finally recognize the gleam in her eyes that never fails to make me blush. Putting my arms around her as we walk towards the car, I can feel her smiling as I leave a trail of kisses starting form the bottom of her neck. I place the last kiss on the side of her face as I lean in to whisper my own message into her ear.

"I'd follow you anywhere, Sydney.

-=-=-=-=-

Leaving the hospital, I drove aimlessly. One thought was bored into my mind: I couldn't see her. I didn't deserve to.

I drove here with the hope that some part of Sydney would be here waiting for me but obviously, I'm not meant to enjoy this beach without her. The sea is nothing but small ripples and there is no happiness and laughter filling my ears. Above all else, there is no Sydney to complete me.

TBC

A/N: Sniffers.. It'll get better; I promise! Until then, review, review, review. I'll love you forever 'n ever?