I am SO sorry y'all for not updating this in so long. I've been so intent on getting the next chapter out on Desert Mirage and starting my new fic The Sea Calls My Name, which is a Summerland fic, that I've neglected this story. I apologize for that.
Also, this chapter is dedicated to Eyghon, who asked to see more with Syd and Vaughn, and also dferveiro, who gave me the idea for the end of this chapter and the whole next chapter. Well, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Eleven

Rain streamed down the window where Sydney's face was illuminated by the lightening that split the sky in half. Tears ran down her face and she wiped them away with a trembling hand. It had been a week and they were no closer to finding Chloe than they had been when she first went missing.
Sadly, Sydney turned away from the window and tried to focus on the work that was spread out over the coffee table. Michael had brought some paperwork home with him so that Sydney could keep her mind focused on something. Already, Sydney had missed five days of work, but Dixon was allowing her those days. He knew what it was like for a parent when their child went missing.
The front door opened and Vaughn came in, rain dripping from his clothes. He shook his head and a flurry of water rained down on the wood floor. He removed his coat and set the umbrella up against the wall.

"Hey," he said, kissing his wife on the cheek, "how are you doing?"

"I don't know Michael," Sydney said shaking her head. Vaughn wrapped her in a comforting hug and kissed the top of her head.

"It's gonna be all right." He whispered, "It's gonna be all right."

"How can you be sure?" she asked, her voice trembling and fresh tears falling from her face.

"I'm not," Vaughn said, "but I just feel that she's okay."

"I wish I could be as certain as you." Sydney buried her face in her husband's shoulder.



Jack didn't care that the pounding rain was soaking through his clothing. He didn't care that the wind was whipping around him, sending chills down his spine. He walked steadily up the walkway to the Vaughns' front door and knocked. His briefcase was clutched tightly in his hand, the files dry and safe inside. The door opened with a creak and Vaughn stood looking at him.

"Jack," he said, slightly surprised to see his father-in-law standing outside in the rain, "please come in." he stepped aside and Jack entered the front foyer. The older man shed his rain soaked coat and handed it to Vaughn, who hung it up. "What are you doing here?" Vaughn asked.

"I need to speak with you and Sydney." Jack said calmly, though on the inside he was bursting at the seams to tell them what he had learned.

"Of course," Vaughn replied, "Sydney's in the living room." He led Jack into the living room where Sydney sat staring blankly at the TV show that was on.

"Dad," Sydney said, snapping out of her trance, "What are you doing here?" Jack sat down on the couch beside his daughter and placed his briefcase on the coffee table in front of them.

"I think I know who took Chloe." Jack said.

"You do?" Syd cried, her face immediately brightening.

"I said I think," he said, not wanting Sydney to get her hopes up as she often did. He opened the briefcase and pulled out the files that he had taken from the CIA office.

"Dad, you didn't steal those, did you?" His daughter asked suspiciously.

"No I didn't," Jack replied, "Dixon granted me clearance to investigate Chloe's disappearance."

"Oh," Sydney relaxed visibly and sank back into the couch, eager to hear what her father had found out.

"Sydney, Vaughn," Jack said looking at the couple, "I've been looking through all the cases that you've both worked in the last few years to see if there was something there that could give us a clue as to who took Chloe." Jack paused and debated how to phrase what he had to tell them. Never one to beat around the bush, he decided to just tell them. "I think the Covenant took Chloe." Sydney gasped and her face drained of color. Though his reaction was less noticeable than his wife's was, Jack could see Vaughn's body go rigid and his jaw clench.

"But why? What could they possibly what with her?" Sydney asked as fresh tears began to prick at her eyes.

"I still don't know that." Jack said, "But I'm pretty sure that it was the Covenant that took her."

"I can't believe this," Syd cried looking up at her husband; Vaughn immediately knelt down beside her and held her tenderly. Her sobs were muffled by his shoulder, but they resounded in the room loudly. Jack almost regretted coming to tell them, but he knew that they had to know. He knew that Sydney needed information; she needed some kind of hope, no matter how small, to cling to. And that's what it was that Jack had brought them. Hope. Hope that they were just a little bit closer to finding Chloe.
He stood silently and left the couple to comfort each other.



A bright light blinded Chloe and she closed her eyes tightly in an attempt to block the light out. She could hear Sark and Devin moving around in the room, but she could not open her eyes to see what they were doing.

"If this is going to work, you have to open your eyes." Sark said, a trace of laughter in his voice.

"And go blind!" Chloe said, "Are you stupid or something? Oh wait, don't answer that."

"Funny Miss Vaughn," Sark replied unamused, "now open your eyes." Chloe did so reluctantly, and was somewhat relieved to see Sark standing in front of her, blocking the light. He held a gold pocket-watch in his hand. The light played off it gently, sending bits of light across Chloe's face.

"Now relax," Sark ordered.

"Oh yeah, like that's gonna be easy," she scoffed lightly. Sark scowled. "Alright, alright, I'm relaxing. Don't get your boxers in a bunch." She said taking in a deep breath and forcing her thundering heart to slow. Sark held the watch up so it was at eye level and swung it gently. Chloe cleared her mind of all thought and focused only on the watch and Sark's voice, which flowed over her like a gently crashing wave.

"I want you to focus Chloe, focus on your past. Focus on what happened when you were little." Chloe felt herself drifting off lazily, as if a cloud bore her away from the room. Her eyes became heavy and she felt sleepy. Slowly her eyes closed and she listened to Sark as he spoke softly, commanding her to focus on her mother and her past.



Well, I hope you liked it. I know it was kinda short, but I will try to make the next one longer since it will be pretty important to the story. We will finally get to learn about Chloe's past and what the Covenant wants from her, or will we? Lol. I hope y'all will review and tell me what you thought.

Beautiful Tragedy: I'm glad you enjoy this story. And I totally am with you on the whole Sark being a guilty pleasure thing. He is so hot.

csk8-20: I understand what you're saying 'cause I both hate and love cliffhangers as well.

Natalie: I think I'll use your suggestion later on in the series. Thanks for the idea.

Sallene: Devin backed off yes, but he'll make a move soon enough. Yeah I liked Sark's thoughts too. I decided to make him seem a little more human so that my readers could begin to connect with him.

Tentoesupurnose16: Oh you're so sweet. Devin is going to come into play later and then you'll see what's going on with him.

Eyghon: Thanks for the idea and for reading this story.

Zeriae: Yes, he probably would have more control, but this is how I percieve Sark to be. The age difference just popped into my head and so I decided to write it down.

Nicholette: No, nobody knows what the Covenant wants.

Sarks-Girl-89, Kim, Wicked-sista, soccerchic1099, RedRose121, and dferveiro: Thank you all for reviewing.