Chapter 2: Figure by the Shore

A/n: Big thanks to Carma for her review. It was the only one ::sobs:: If I don't get anymore reviews maybe I won't post anymore. Hehe, threats are fun. Wow, I went back and reread Mission Rescue, and the first like 8-ish chapters are really bad. I can't believe how much my writing has improved since then. Anyway,
Theme Songs: Thriller by Michael Jackson and Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield. Isn't 13 Going on 30 a great movie?

Disclaimer: Alias is owned by JJ Abrams. It's not mine so don't sue me.

* * * * * * *

When are they going to get here? Mandy whined as soon as Monday morning rolled around. They're already five minutes late!

You know Uncle Eric, Vaughn sighed. He gets quite paranoid about packing.

Is this gonna be like when we went upstate? Vaughn gave her a solemn nod. Then I'm going back inside with Jay. Tell us when they get here. She dropped her pillow onto her overstuffed suitcase and hurried back inside the house.

She angry that Weiss is late again? Sydney asked, appearing from behind the car. Vaughn told her yes. At least she's punctual.

The two finished packing up the car, finding it interesting how four people could want to bring so many items on vacation. Even if it was only for a week. All right. Everything's packed and in the car, and there are three seats left up front. You, me, and Francie. We'll make Weiss drive the kid's car, he smirked.

Don't we do this to him every year? Sydney smiled.

It's good for him. Vaughn wrapped his arms around Sydney's body. He brought one hand up in the back to massage through her hair, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. This vacation will be wonderful, he whispered. The beach, the sunsets, the late nights...

Sydney opened her mouth to reply with a suggestive remark, however a honking car horn interrupted her. Please, keep the public displays of affection to a minimum! Eric Weiss shouted out of the red van's window.

Well good morning to you too, Vaughn mumbled, turning away slightly from his wife.

I'll go get the kids, Sydney said. Vaughn nodded and Sydney walked back into the house. In a matter of seconds, Jason and Mandy were running out of the house with Sydney slowly trailing behind.

Who's car are we in? Jason asked, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

Uncle Eric's, Sydney replied, winking at her husband.

Weiss exclaimed. Every damn vacation...

The van door slid open, revealing Chloe sitting in the middle seats buried beneath tons of suitcases. Mandy, sit by me! she shouted. Mandy agreed with a smile and climbed in.

All right, I'm sitting up front with the Weissmeister! Jason said as he opened the door.

And I'm up front with the Jasonater! They gave each other a few encouraging grunts before Jason took his seat, pushing aside empty fast food paper cups with his feet. We'll get a head start and meet up with you kids later.

Sounds good, Francie said. Bye, sweetie see you later. Chloe and Weiss responded with an empty bye before the van pulled out and headed down the street. Ah, child free at last! she moaned, pulling her thick black hair from the white hair clip that held it up.

Vaughn agreed, and only one and a half more hours of this bliss.

Well, we can make it two if we drive slowly... Sydney added, biting her lip. She looked at her husband, specifically noticing the way the sun glinted off his green eyes with a spark. That very spark caused him that grab his wife into his arms once again, lean in to smell her perfect scent, and kiss her softly on the lips...

Eric's right, Francie interrupted them. Get a room.

*Meanwhile in the kid's car...*

Weiss sighed with boredom in a nearly silent van. Jason lay asleep next to him, a little bit of drool dripping down his lips. Mandy sat comfortably behind her brother, music blaring out of her headphones almost loud enough for Weiss to hear perfectly. And then of course, Chloe contentedly was reading a book next to Mandy, seemingly not bothered by the music.

He beat his thumbs restlessly on the steering wheel, thinking of something to do. How long had they been driving. Oh God, only fifteen minutes. Checking the rearview mirror, he noticed the Vaughn's SUV wasn't even in sight. There had to be something for him to do. No, he reminded himself, there's absolutely nothing to do when sleepy teenagers are left to their own devices. A few scary images for a father to think of came to mind, but he told himself they were sleepy teens, not horny ones. To further rid himself of these thoughts, he reached for his coffee in a white, styrofoam cup and finished the last gulp, feeling a caffeinated jolt run down his spine.

Then he got an idea. Why don't we play a game!? he asked, loud enough to stir Jason awake, overpower Mandy's music, and break Chloe away from her book.

Jason quickly straightened up, blinking a few times and wiping the saliva from his lips with the back of his hand. Are we there yet? he asked hopefully.

No, but I was just saying we should play a game.

Mandy pulled her earphones down and turned off her MP3 player, which also happened to be her cell phone. (**New times, people! New technology too!**) A game? I don't know...

Dad, no one plays games anymore, Chloe sighed, rolling her eyes at with dad and setting her book down. Anyway we've only been on the road for like twenty minutes and you're already bored?

From the mirror, Weiss saw Chloe lift her book again. Oh, come on, doesn't a rousing game of twenty questions sound like fun?

Fine, whatever, Mandy said, staring in a daze out the window.

I guess, Jason surrendered, turning around to look at Chloe.

she said, I have one.

Jason and Mandy both answered together.

Why not? Weiss wanted to know.

She's way too smart! Jason said. She always picks the hardest ones and they take forever to figure out, then half the time we don't even know what they are anyway.

Well you'd know what they were if you paid more attention in class, Chloe countered back.

Hey, I got all A's, thank you very much.

Just let her go, I'll try to get it, and if it's too hard so what? I'm sure we'll all have fun.

Can't say I didn't warn you... whispered Jason.

Chloe smiled. Thanks, Dad. Okay, ask away.

Is it a person?





There was a slight pause. Kind of.

Weiss cast a quick, nervous glance to Mandy and Jason. Mandy had crossed her arms and gave him an eyebrow raise that said we told you so.' He gripped the steering wheel tighter and uttered,

*Meanwhile, back in the adult's car...*

Francie sat behind Sydney in the passenger's seat, filing her nails. Wouldn't it be awful if we stayed at home and left Eric with the kids all week?

Not really, Vaughn grinned, receiving a playful smack from Sydney. I mean, yeah, that would be terribly rude of us. He decided his first answer was better. A week away from his kids would be great. Just him, alone with Sydney... It would be pure heaven. Not that he didn't like being around his kids, because he loved them very much and barely got to see them with his job. But a total week of relaxation would mean a total week minus two kids. Syd, when was the last time we were on vacation without the kids?

she paused in thought. I don't know, Michael. Our honeymoon? she laughed. There were those times when we just dropped them off at my Dad's for a few days, and your Mom's as well.

He frowned. There hadn't been any real vacations without them then, as he suspected. We should think about taking one, just the two of us, he finally suggested.

Francie stopped filing her nails at once, clearly interested in Sydney's reaction. And just where would we go? And for how long?

He held back a smile. She seemed to mildly like his idea. Someplace small and secluded where we could get away... Not like DisneyLand where we give the kids the room next to us with an attached door.

It seems to me that you liked that DisneyLand Hotel. Or was it just the rides in the dark where you could kiss me? I seem to have forgotten. He opened his mouth, but curtly closed it. Truthfully, he hadn't expected such a snide remark to come during this conversation. She was right, he did enjoy stealing the kisses on the dark rides, but that wasn't enough alone time for Vaughn. I don't even see why we stayed in a hotel in the first place.

I just thought it would be fun to get away from home, he defended himself. But don't go on a tangent, I'm serious about us going on vacation alone.

Sydney shrugged. You know how I feel about leaving the kids... It was true, Sydney hated having them anywhere that wasn't home. Even if they were just spending the night at a friend's house. She always had a feeling something bad would happen; Vaughn told her she was overprotective. Being alone wouldn't do us any harm, though. Vaughn's smile finally broke free. What would we do with Jason and Mandy?

You could leave them with Eric and me. I know Chloe would love it, Francie finally piped in. Sydney turned around, raising her eyebrows. Okay, so we all know Chloe would love it, she added with a giggle.

Mark my words, began Sydney, Jason and Chloe will be married one day. Sometimes when they fight it reminds me of... Well, how Michael and I used to argue when I was first assigned to him.

Vaughn paused in reminiscence. Yeah, they do... he said, remembering the time in particular when he asked Sydney to draw what she thought was SD-6, and then remembering Jason and Chloe's recent fight when they were creating their own country and couldn't agree on anything. Good times...

Then again, they love going to Dad's house. I guess he tells them stories about times when he was in the CIA.

Is he allowed to do that? Francie wondered.

He uses quite a bit of exaggeration in them, I've been told. Dad's so different than he used to be. She had to admit, she liked the dramatic change in his personality. But she also knew that when he told his stories, he told some about Grandma Bristow. Sydney and Vaughn had argued for years about what to tell Jason and Mandy, and finally settled with Grandma did a lot of bad things' and Grandpa Vaughn is dead because of the bad things she did.' It was the partial truth, but they didn't want to expose their children to their entire CIA life, which happened to include a lot of the past. The kids seemed happy with that mystery, however, and didn't ask too many questions. Sydney was almost certain of one thing, however, that Jason knew his grandmother was in prison. But if he did suspect such a thing, he had yet to tell anyone including his sister or Chloe.

Mandy likes going to her Grandpa's, Sydney continued. She's got him wrapped around her little finger. And he just succumbs to her because she looks exactly like me, and Mom.

*Meanwhile, back in the kid's car, twelve minutes and a thousand questions later...*

Nope, it's not that either, Chloe sighed. At this rate, they would be in Santa Barbara before they guessed it.

That's it! I give up! Mandy cried, putting her headphones back on her head, but keeping her music quiet so she could still hear Jason and Weiss guessing.

Dad, you haven't asked a question in a long time, Chloe observed.

That's because I'm still hung up on how it's a place and a thing at the same time.

Is it like... a state of mind? Jason asked exasperatedly.

Chloe thought for a moment. Yeah, I guess you could say that.

*Still in the kid's car, but another thousand questions later...*

Okay, I'm sick of guessing, and frankly I have no idea what it is. So I'm taking the initiative to go the cheap route. Does it start with a A? Weiss was desperate to figure this out.

Oh man, Uncle Eric, that's a bold move... We're talking about the alphabet here.

Not an A.

She shook her head; no. Weiss proceeded through the rest of the alphabet. X? Is it X?



Now I have a fifty-fifty shot here, with Y and Z. And I could go alphabetically with Y, but I'm taking my chance on Z. So, does it start with a Z?

Wow, Dad, I have to hand it to you, that was pretty smart thinking there, but no.

Dammit! Y?

Because she's too smart. Jason crossed his arms.

No, I mean the letter Y.

Yes, it starts with Y.

Weiss turned to Jason. How many words do you know that start with Y?

Jason bit his lip. Yes? No. It's not that. Yyyyyour mom?

Haha, nope, it's not that. But you should do that some time.

Oh my God, I know what it is! Mandy yelled, pulling her headphones down and sitting up as straight as she could. It's yonder!



* * * * * * *

Finally, after a very long drive in the kid's car, Weiss's crew reached Santa Barbara and the cottage the two families' were renting. The kids dove out of the car, leaving all their things behind and ran down to the beach. As they ran, they quickly stripped off the clothing they had on over their bathing suits and kicked off their sandals. Mandy was the first to dive into the water, finding it to be much colder than she expected. Don't come in, guys! she warned, running back to shore with chattering teeth.

Like hell I'm not! Jason shouted, receiving another, if not colder, awakening. She's right, Chloe, don't do it.

Trust me, I won't. Why don't we walk down the beach a ways?

Jason agreed. Come on, Mandy.

Actually, I'm gonna stay here and unpack. You guys can go without me, I'll just meet you later.

Jason gave her an inquisitive look, as did Chloe. You sure? her brother asked.

Yeah. Go find a cove to make out in or something.

Not. Funny. Jason stared menacingly at her for a moment, but she simply shrugged and started walking back towards the cottage.

She paced herself slowly, letting the ocean mist breeze gently against her body. Picking up her shoes and the lost clothing, the mist faded and she approached the cottage. Weiss was unpacking his van, and Sydney, Vaughn, and Francie had just arrived. When she came closer, she found that only Vaughn was outside. Hey, sweetheart, he greeted her. Where are the others?

Taking a walk... she replied quietly.

Vaughn understood completely. This was, he now realized, their first trip to Santa Barbara without Donovan. Donny had always loved running, or trudging as fast as he could, through the sand with his tongue hanging out and biting viciously at the waves. Mandy was always the person to take him out and walk with him up and down the beach for miles, and Donovan had a special attachment to her since they day they brought her home from the hospital. But two years ago, Donovan had died of natural causes. You miss Donovan? She nodded in silence and made her way into her father's comforting arms. He kissed the top of her head. We all miss him. But you have to understand, he was sixteen years old, which is really old for most bulldogs. We were lucky to have him so long.

I know, she muttered, holding back tears, determined to not let them fall. And I know it's been two years already, but I really miss him still. She dug her head further into his shoulder. It's hard to enjoy the beach again without him here.

How can you say that? he asked her gently. You love Santa Barbara, the beach especially. He paused. Come here. He stood up, releasing his grasp around his daughter but holding her hand, and led her back down the where the sand began. Now, just close your eyes.

Dad – she began to whine.

Just do it. She grudgingly complied. Listen to the waves crashing on the shore. Imagine that you're running along that shore, with Donovan right at your side, barking away biting at the waves. Okay, open your eyes. Mandy sighed at looked up hopelessly at her father. This is our vacation time, and I want you to have fun. So whenever you're down at the beach with Jason and Chloe or whoever, and you start to miss Donovan, just close your eyes, listen to the waves, and remember all the times you had Donovan with you barking and biting away. Whenever you miss him just close your eyes and he'll be there.

Mandy looked at the waves with a look of uncertainty, then back to Vaughn's strong gaze. Finally, she gave him a small smile. Thanks, Dad, she said, cuddling back into his arms. But I think I just want to unpack now. I'll go back to the beach in a little bit.

Okay. Kids are upstairs. You and Chloe have one bedroom and Jason has the other.

Mandy nodded and found her suitcase and pillow from among the many in their SUV before grabbing her backpack from Weiss's van. She hurried into the cottage and Vaughn dawdled in behind her carrying more bags.

Hey, Syd? Vaughn asked quietly while watching his wife put food into the refrigerator. I think it's time we got another dog.

* * * * * * *

The week had gone by too quickly, everyone decided at dinner on their last night in Santa Barbara. So instead of doing something together, as they had each evening following dinner that week, the adults and the kids split. Jason, Mandy, and Chloe had shoved the food down their throats and hurried back out to the beach, yearning for the maximum time out there that they could. Mandy was just beginning to feel her love of the beach once again, but would be ripped away from it in the the coming morning. Sure, there were beaches at home, but none the same as Santa Barbara's; none with the perfect memory of Donovan.

They had, of course, left the adults to clean up dinner. But this gave them the chance to reflect on the day and tell each other of any news they may have missed. They talked for a while longer after the dishes were clean, sipping away at coffee, but decided to call the kids in and get to sleep early; they would have to finishing the serious packing in the morning.

Weiss volunteered to get the kids inside, or rather, Francie volunteered him. But as his feet reached the sand, he felt a wild urge to kick off his sandals and join the kids splashing away in the water without a care in the world. Their dark figures silhouetted beautifully against a rich, golden sunset, and the urge became stronger. And who can resist such urges?

The next thing Chloe knew a huge tidal wave crashed her way, only to wipe away the water from her eyes to find a very wet father. At first, Chloe looked at her friends in confusion, but they all shrugged and included Weiss in their fun. It was another ten minutes or so of pure bliss before Francie started yell from the cottage porch. At last their fun had ended, and quite turtle-like, they hiked out of the water, grabbing their sandals, and reluctantly away from the beach and ocean.

Once inside the cottage, they each hugged their parents good night and headed up the steep stairs. Chloe plopped onto the couch in the small foyer between bedrooms, declaring she would shower in the morning. Mandy said the same, but went to change into her pajamas and brush her teeth. Since Jason was the only one who wanted to shower now, and since Mandy would be brushing her teeth in their shared bathroom, he resorted to using the one downstairs.

If there was one thing Jason learned about girls from living with his sister and sharing a bathroom with her all his life, it was that girls hated being cut short from any bathroom time. If Mandy said five more minutes' she clearly meant seven or eight. And there were certain things he learned that he would never understand, like why a girl would spend that extra five minutes trying to better her appearance, when the guy she's doing it for most likely won't notice. But this was what Jason understood; this was where the guys were separated according to the girls. The dumb guys wouldn't notice any difference at all – they just saw the boobs and butt and were completely happy with that. The smarter guys would look up and notice they're eyes, at least. But the smart ones, the really smart ones, would notice every tiny detail like the curve of their hair at their shoulder, or a tiny freckle by their nose.

And Jason didn't know it, but he was one of those smarter guys.

He traipsed back up stairs in long flannel pants and a white undershirt, still rubbing his hair dry with a towel. Where's Mandy? he asked, finding Chloe lying on the couch in her pajamas.

I think she went to sleep, since I can't hear her clamoring around the bathroom anymore. She slipped the black hair tie from around her wrist and pulled her long hair up into a tight bun. But I'm not tired yet.

Neither am I, he replied, throwing the towel towards the door to his room and sitting down on the floor. Chloe lay on her stomach, her head facing the direction of the stairs, and when Jason leaned his head back his hair would nearly touch the tip of her nose. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of his shampoo; it seemed familiar, like an old friend with inviting warmth. Why do I get the feeling Mandy went to bed early on purpose? he asked, breaking her thoughts.

I think I know what you mean, like she thinks we're gonna make out or something the second she goes away.

She's convinced we like each other that way.

I don't know where she'd get an idea like that.

Me either... We're too much like siblings, it would just be...



Jason agreed. And siblings don't make out. Ick.

Chloe grinned evilly. But speaking of making out, who was it? Tell me her name or I'll tell everyone about last fourth of July.

You wouldn't.

I would.

But that's blackmail! He was screwed. If he didn't tell her who he made out with on New Year's Eve then he would get in trouble for the fourth of July thing... he swore quietly. Fine, fine. It was Emilia Zewe.

You made out with that slut!? she nearly shouted. What, were you desperate?

No, just... never mind. He had almost let it slip that he was just jealous. He needed to get back at Chloe for holding hands with Brian Pentor. So now that you know, never mention the fourth of July fiasco again. Ever.

You do realize how busted you would be if your mom found out? she asked.

I know. Grounded for life. But how was I supposed to know Luke was gonna be right there? And he wasn't even burned that badly. Chloe overlooked this with a shrug, and laid her head down on the couch, her nose even closer to his scent. Those fireworks were fucking sweet though.

Those illegal fireworks, you idiot, she reminded him. And Joe Russell is a cop! You so should have gotten busted. She paused. Though I have to admit, they were pretty sweet. And the way you hid them so perfectly in that field; genius.

Yes, well, that means a lot coming from a real one. Had the room not been dark, and had Jason's head been turned the other way, he would have seen Chloe blushing. Suddenly, he cringed in pain, his hand immediately flying to his neck. he groaned, not now...

Want me to massage it for you? Chloe asked in a lingering whisper.

The words echoed perpetually in his mind. he stammered back, trying to hide the pain from her. Why did this one hurt so badly? Usually it would dull into throbs, but this kept growing, more pain by pain. Soon Chloe's soft fingers reached his neck, and he twitched at her touch. But her knuckles kneaded through the tense spots, and soon his pain was nothing but gentle throbs. Thanks, he whispered, knowing she hadn't needed to massage his neck for the past minute or so. But her touch was so soft, so perfect; he didn't want it to end. Yet she whispered an okay' and reluctantly removed her fingertips from his skin. He felt a cold twinge from their absence, but adjusted quickly.

They sat in silence for a while, both recovering from the close contact. Jason could feel her warm breath reverberating on the back of his neck. But the pain still bothered him. With Chloe's fingers gone, the pain slowly rose back. I'm gonna go get some water, okay? Chloe? But as he stood up, he noticed that Chloe was asleep on the couch. Despite his growing neck pain, he carefully turned her body onto her back and lifted her into his arms, carrying her to her bed and placing a blanket over her. He watched her snuggle up to the new warmth for a moment, but a demanding torture told him to go downstairs and get some water.

With a dripping glass of water in his now trembling hand, he sat down at a chair by the sliding glass door. He could see the ocean's waves undulating whenever the lighthouse would flash in that direction. But then with the next flash, he noticed a person walking down the shoreline, the figure not recognizable to Jason. He set his water down on the large, round table and opened the sliding door. The brisk wind blew across his body, whisking his hair in all directions at once. He stopped when he reached the stairs leading down to the ground from the porch. The figure was nearing...

His whole body shook from the combined cold air and pain; his quaking hand could barely feel when he stretched it back to his neck. Soon the figure was off the beach and onto the grassy area, and a shiver slid down Jason's spine.

There was something about this man – he knew it was a man – that he didn't like. Slowly he backed away, hoping he'd reach the glass door before the man reached him. Jason's fingertips had just gripped the handle when the man stood casually at the bottom of the stairs. There was still not enough light to see his face, and he strained for some feature to remember, yet found none. Why were the porch lights inside, where he couldn't get to them?

Jason's pain became more intense by the second, and as the man ascended the stairs, Jason's legs gave way and he collapsed. His teeth clenched as he lay helplessly on the ground, and he closed his eyes as he writhed in pain. When he squinted them open again, he saw the slightly curled tip of a long, brown leather jacket. Jason forced his gaze up, though the sharpness in his vision faded in and out. A faint light from the kitchen allowed him to view the man's strikingly blue eyes before Jason's own eyes closed in a very deep sleep...



A/n: Um, can you say cliffhanger? I can! I hoped you enjoyed it, please review! Okay so what's up with Alias lately? My thoughts are as follows:
~I hate Lauren
~Why the heck is Jack kissing Katya?
~Yum, Vaughn is hot hot HOT!
~I hate Lauren
~Sloane is such an asshole
~I don't have enough patience to wait a whole three fricken weeks for the finale! Thank God I have enough Alias DVDs
What do you think?
~Whitelighter Enchantress