Thanks for the reviews! I couldn't update earlier, because school started again and I didn't have enough time.

Chapter 2: Coming Home

,,What did you do in the bureau of Dr. Vaccari ?" wanted the guard to know.

,,Oh, didn't he tell you about me?.......I'm new here and I should bring some documents back in his bureau when I've finished my work." fabricated Sydney quickly an excuse.

The watchman looked at her skeptical and cast his eyes over her faked identity card, which she had wedged on her lab overall.

,,And how did you get into the office?" he asked then curtly.

,,mhm...you really want to know that he?" Sydney attacked the guard with one of her kickboxing combinations. First the man was surprised, but he reacted pretty well by pulling his arm up to defend himself from her hit. But before he could attack her, she hit him a second time after what he lost consciousness. She went over him and looked around. As she couldn't see any other guards and didn't hear any alert, she went to the stairs.

Sydney nodded to the porter for farewell and left the building. She went full of determination along the street and turned on the next corner, where Dixon was already waiting for her.

,, It took you longer than I had expected!"

,,There were some surprises." said Syd during getting in the silver Van which was parked in front of them.

Dixon laughed and also got in , when the driver started the motor. The van drove on and turned in the direction of the airport.

LOS ANGELES

Sydney closed quietly the door behind her. It seemed like nobody was in her apartment. Neither Francie nor Will. She went with a sigh in her room, where she put down her bag and let herself tired fall on the bed.

The flight had taken an eternity and although she wasn't rarely in a plane, she wasn't able to sleep there. This missed sleep revenged itself now. Before Sydney could change her clothes she was already asleep.

When Francie came home from work, there still was no trace of Sydney. ,, I hate these permanent business trips!" she thought , while she went to the icebox and took a yogurt. she recently realized again and again that Syd was more and more distanced to her and they were only rarely talking so opened or behaved foolishly like in the past. Since Danny's death she buried herself in her work with the bank and one week ago had Francie that feeling like Will and Syd were having secrets from her. Both were talking excitedly , but when Francie came into the room they suddenly became silent.

Francie past Sydney's room and abruptly turned around, when she saw a long black something lying on the bed. She had to smile at Sydney's sight. ,,She has to be really done in"

Sydney slowly opened her eyes. Warm sunlight came through the window in her room. Syd looked down on herself and smiled at the realization that she slept in her clothes. She went in the bathroom and took a long shower to shook off the last bit of her tiredness.

Then she went in the kitchen, where Will and Francie already were sitting.

,,Hi!" greeted Syd

,,Hi! You were really shattered yesterday, weren't you?" asked Francie with a smile.

,, When did you came back? "Will wanted to know, while he sipped at his coffee.

Sydney sat herself down and took the cup of warm coffee ,which France gave her. ,,Yesterday afternoon."

,, Where have you been again? "asked Francie

Syd took a sip of coffee. ,,London. Data exchange with one of our partners."

Will meanwhile was used to it, that Sydney had to lie to Francie about her job and shared with her a knowing look.

In that moment opened the door and Vaughn came in.

,,Hi honey!" he said to Sydney and kissed her. Will and Francie looked at themselves plottedly.

,,Want some coffee?" offered Will ,,No thanks, I have to go again. "he hugged Syd. ,, And I have to take you with me."

,,Wow, I'm getting kidnapped!" she laughed, said farewell to Will and Francie and followed Vaughn out the door holding hands.

,,These two seem to really have a crush!" joked Will.

,,Yeah, seems so." Francie devoted herself to the dirty clothes, which stood in a basket on the floor. She didn't miss that strange look Will and Sydney shared, when she was talking about her business trip, and wanted to talk with Syd about that later. Francie went to Syd's room in order to get her laundry. When she wanted to take the clothes out of Sydney's bag, a white garment leaped to her eyes. She really needed a white blouse for the wedding of her cousin next week and she wanted to ask Sydney, if she could borrow a blouse from her anyway. But when she creased the garment apart, it wasn't a blouse.

,,For what the hell needs Sydney a lab overall?????"