Author's Note: I'm sorry it's been a while since I've updated...I'm
sorry...life's gotten so crazy! I hope you like the next couple of
chapters...be forewarned...it's gonna get a little weird and you're gonna
wonder what the hell I was thinking when I wrote this but...bear with me.
Keep this in mind...whatever you think about Kilmer and Madison or Sydney and
Vaughn....it's about to totally turned around...You think you know but you have
no idea.
"This cannot be the end of story, Vaughn. What if you hesitate? That could cost me my life and you yours. I will not allow you to come back to the States in pieces!" Sydney forced herself up to her feet but swayed a little bit. She was tired of feeling sick. She just wanted to go home and slip into a drug induced sleep. Her ed eyes blinked rapidly as she focused on Vaughn's unmoving form.
Vaughn raked his hands threw the black hair he was forced to wear. It made him look and feel like a totally different person, which he supposed was the point. "How many times have you put your life on the line? Since you've gotten back, you've been reckless-"
"I've been reckless?" She repeated incredibly, unable to fathom where he was truly going with this.
"Yes." Vaughn starred her down. "So don't you dare-"
She unleashed a deadly demon suddenly, "Would you like to know why I've been reckless, Vaughn? If you haven't been so busy to notice- I've had nothing to live for!" She threw her hands down at her side and felt the rawness of her soul bared. She hated to feel this naked in front of him.
"What? How can you say that, Sydney?" He took a stepped towards her. He couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. He had never heard her talk this way before. There was an incident, something like four years ago, that she stated that she had no reason to live but that...that was over four years ago.
"Because it's true! Vaughn, I am living in hell. I don't sleep at night because I'm haunted by my past. I can't get through my day because I'm haunted by my present. What is there to do Vaughn? I don't live anymore. I go through the motions. Being reckless-that's what keeps me alive. It's the life or death balance that keeps me going!" She shook her head, "But none of this matters! You're playing an-"
He threw his hands up, the black tuxedo wrinkled in the wake of the movement. "I can't believe what you're saying! Why didn't you say anything to me? What-"
"How could I tell you, Vaughn? How could I tell you that it breaks my heart to see you every time you're near Lauren? How could I confide in you when you were sleeping with another woman in your bed at night?" She felt her body choke with emotion. It had been long pent up frustration that was screaming through her now. She couldn't stop the charge of exasperation from exploding like an atomic bond.
"Well, that's not going to be an issue anymore." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
She matched his tone evenly, "Do you want me to be happy for you? You loved me so much that it almost killed you and I love you enough to let you go. I've let you go. You were never mine and you're not mine anymore."
There was a long silence between the two. Both were breathing heavily with the hostility brewing between them. Exhaustion made emotions run high. Neither really knew what they were saying or really cared. It was all a total blur. Somewhere in the distance, a clock rang out the time. It was only a matter of time. They both came to a realization in that half of a moment. Sydney drew in a sharp breath and turned away from them. It was only a matter of time before Lauren and Jonathan arrived with the third agent in toe.
LATER THAT EVENING
The tension was so thick in the air, it couldn't have been cut with even a knife. They moved throughout the room without making any contact, physical or otherwise. Sydney had retired to the bed and laid there, trying not to close her eyes. Vaughn sat in the living area, head in hands, just thinking. There was a sturdy knock on the door. A panicked look was sent back and forth between the two warring agents.
Vaughn rushed to the door and looked into the peephole. There were three people standing outside of his door and he felt the pulse in his brain thicken. He pulled it open slowly and was shocked at the sight. "Hello." He said, accent in tact. "Come on in, please."
Lauren paraded in first, her gold evening gown weighed heavily on her tiny form and her blonde hair, newly bleached and curled, bounced with each step. Her eyes, sapphire blue, starred hard and cold as she walked in surveying the scene. "Hello." She greeted with the same icy tone that matched her eyes.
Two men in black suits followed her and watched Vaughn close the door behind them. He glared at both of them and knew immediately what truly wanting revenge was like. He recognized the third man and knew that his recapture into CIA custody was in reach. It would only be a matter of time. It quickened his pulse even further and his breath started to move more rapidly through his chest.
"Carter Gates?" Jonathan Ross turned towards Vaughn and waited for the affirmative.
He fought to get a hold of his emotions. Adrenaline, mostly. "I'm Carter Gates and this is my wife, Shay Roscoe." Vaughn walked over to Sydney, who eagerly stood outside of his arms with his hand on her lower back.
"How do you do, sir?" Sydney extended her hand to Jonathan, who took it and kissed it softly. "And you are, sir?" She smiled bright and kept her broad eyes barely blinking.
"Jonathan Ross. This is my fiancée, Lauren Reed and our associate-"
Vaughn felt like his eyes were going to pop from his head. His veins seemed to surge around his neck and he looked as though he was going to drop Jonathan Ross at any moment.
"I'd really prefer not to mention my name, if that's alright for all parties." The third man spoke and his voice sent chills through Sydney's and Vaughn's bodies. They both hated him with equaled passion but couldn't let the man know that they know who he was. It would blow both of their covers.
"Do whatever makes y'all comfortable." Sydney smiled warmly. "Ms. Reed, it is a pleasure to meet you." She shook hands with the she-devil.
Lauren shared a genuine smile. "Likewise, Ms, Roscoe. Your reputation precedes you, Ms. Roscoe. I've heard wonderful things about you. I'm so please you're thinking of joining us." Shay Roscoe was a sugary sweet house wife from the deep south with a taste for killing. Who would suspect the sweet thing would able to bring men three times her size crashing to their knees. "We'd rather have people like you for us than against us."
"Why Ms. Reed! You flatter me way too much! Let's sit in the living room, shall we? I'd hate to talk business standing up." Sydney herded the group of international terrorists into the living room. G-d, this business made her sick sometimes. The three Covenant agents sat down on the couch, Lauren in Jonathan's arms.
"Do you happen to have any scotch? My throat's drier than the Sahara!" The third man turned towards Sydney and asked, his sugary sweet accent made Sydney's skin sticky. He was trying to conceal his natural accent for reasons passing understanding. Lauren and Jonathan refrained from shooting him dirty looks but instead, smiled politely at the third member of their party.
Vaughn stopped near the doorway, trying to conceal his anger about Lauren and Jonathan. "I can check if you'd like."
Sydney smiled and took this as a key to keep enhancing her character, "We just got here and lord knows what this hotel has! No offense but in the States, you can get whatever you want from the hotel-"
"Shay, darling, your talking." Vaughn caught her elbow as a sign for her to slow it down. "Whatever you want, we can order up from room service, sir."
The nameless man nodded and smiled and joined the couple on the couch. He kept his tone soft and conversed lightly with Jonathan and Lauren.
Vaughn was very uneasy about this man but something about him made Sydney completely panicked. He took her towards the small bar that was established near the large dresser. "We need to get a plan of action."
"I thought you would have one." Sydney hissed back, fighting the urge to slap him upside the head. "We have two in our armoire. We wait until one leaves, get the other two and then take the third down."
"This is like basic training 101." Vaughn grinned back as he found an old bottle of scotch and poured it into the small glass. "Sir, would you like ice?" His accented voice shouted through the doorway.
"No." The true heritage of the third agent started to come through, much to his dismay.
Sydney came swaying back in, lounging against the doorframe, "Is there anything I can get y'all?" She made her noise crinkle and she laughed lightly for no apparent reason.
"I'm fine. Anything for you, sweetie?" Jonathan kissed the temple of Lauren's head. She in turn caressed the inside of his knee.
"Nothing for me." She turned her head and looked deep into his eyes. Lauren started to kiss Jonathan's cheek and moved onto his lips. She quickly laid him against the couch, continuing to kiss him in growing passion. "Business can wait for a while." She murmured between passionate kisses.
The third agent shifted his weight over and looked uneasy. It was an awkward situation and this man was not one for public displays of affection, especially if he wasn't involved in it.
Sydney instantly felt uncomfortable and turned back towards Vaughn, suppressing a shudder. This was disgusting. Watching her ex-boyfriend's wife cheat on him with a sorry excuse for an agent.
Vaughn took the hint and made his way back into the living area. He handed the third agent his scotch and took Sydney in his arms. She felt a little strange doing this but knew that he had to have a plan. He grabbed her and pressed his body tightly to hers. "I agree with Ms. Reed."
Searching for some reason in his eyes, Sydney saw the crafty man that she was in love with. No, that she had loved. She was no longer in love with Vaughn and she had to remember that. She was no longer in love with anyone anymore. She was finished.
But Vaughn had other plans. He pressed her close to him and ducked his head down until his lips met hers. Electricity flowed through their lips and it was a kiss of pure unrequited love and lust. Their tongue tangled up in each other and Sydney had a hard time repressing a low moan as his moved away from her mouth and concentrated on her jugular. He quickly pinned her against the doorframe and they continued to kiss.
Sydney's mind was going a mile per minute and at the same time, she couldn't think straight. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts. She forgot what his lips felt against hers and what it was like to be to be kissed like this.
Wow.
The third agents started to clear his throat loudly again and again. He was growing more and more uncomfortable by the moment. "I'm just gonna be in the restroom, if any of you...." He trailed off slightly. "You won't need me." He got up and made his way towards the bathroom, locking the door firmly behind him.
Vaughn pulled Sydney away from the doorway and tossed her onto the bed, lying on top of her. She rolled over and straddled his hips and leaned down to kiss him but he moved. She looked at him puzzled. Placing his finger to his lips, he stretched up behind him and grabbed the two tranquilizer guns he had stashed when he poured the scotch. Sydney understood instantly and took the gun in her hand. Vaughn also pressed two restraints into her hand. "Too easy." He breathed.
Sydney swung her legs to the side and jumped to her feet and felt that Vaughn was right behind her. Turning the corner, they each took a shot. Lauren jumped first, feeling the dart penetrate her shoulder blade. Jonathan quickly followed and felt it in his arm.
Lauren starred at Vaughn with wide eyes and searched for an explanation.
"It doesn't do well to well to betray me, Lauren." Vaughn hissed as he watched his wife fall unconscious.
"What the-"the third agent came barreling from the bathroom at the sudden noise. Sydney shot him once in the throat and down the man fell.
"That was too easy." Sydney grinned and she walked towards the third agent and had to restrain from kicking him in the ribcage. "I've waited you bound and gagged from the moment that I saw you, you horrible son of a bitch." She hissed as she fastened the clear plastic tightly around his wrists. She moved onto his ankles and fastened them tightly. With much disdain, she rolled pulled him to the center of the room. Lauren was being tied up by Vaughn, who had to restrain the same force from not beating her. He was not a violent man but something about her and this whole situation made his blood run cold. Jonathan was tied up last.
Vaughn stood up besides Sydney and looked down at the three unconscious agents. "I wish that-"
"Don't say anything, okay? I just need-don't say anything." Sydney murmured, her brain still fuzzy from the romantic endeavor from thirty seconds earlier. Her face was still flushed and her body was humming at such a rate that she thought she would pass out at any moment. Her heart rate was beating at such a pace that she could barely see straight.
"Is everything-"
"Vaughn." She breathed as she tried to focus on the task in front of her. Her brown eyes then scanned towards Vaughn and she tried so hard not too knit her brows in concern and collapse into a large heap.
"Syd." He smiled. Oh lord, did he mean what he said in the limo earlier? Did he want to kiss her right then or was this like Noah on her first mission in Paris? He had kissed her in the alley way of Paris to conceal their identities from an oncoming attacker.
"We-uh-we should call Madison and Kilmer to tell her that we've got Lauren and Jonathan."
Oh shit. Kilmer. Sydney felt the red rush to her face again and she wasn't a hundred percent sure she could catch her breath. Of course, the two men that she once loved would show their love for her within hours of each other. She honestly didn't know what to do anymore. Would Kilmer sweep her off of her feet all over again and they could have that same sort of torrid love affair that they always wanted but never had the true chance to realize or would she go with Kilmer and go back to the safe, ever loving arms of her former handler, where she knew every inch of his face and every emotions of his heart?
"I'll go and alert the authorities. Will you be alright with them by yourself?"
Vaughn simply nodded and walked towards Lauren. "You cold hearted, son of a bitch. You thought you could play me to the end, didn't you? Did you think I wouldn't figure out your little secret? Well, you screwed up." He had to restrain from killing her right then and there. But uncontrollably, he leaned forward and found his hands hovering over her neck.
"This cannot be the end of story, Vaughn. What if you hesitate? That could cost me my life and you yours. I will not allow you to come back to the States in pieces!" Sydney forced herself up to her feet but swayed a little bit. She was tired of feeling sick. She just wanted to go home and slip into a drug induced sleep. Her ed eyes blinked rapidly as she focused on Vaughn's unmoving form.
Vaughn raked his hands threw the black hair he was forced to wear. It made him look and feel like a totally different person, which he supposed was the point. "How many times have you put your life on the line? Since you've gotten back, you've been reckless-"
"I've been reckless?" She repeated incredibly, unable to fathom where he was truly going with this.
"Yes." Vaughn starred her down. "So don't you dare-"
She unleashed a deadly demon suddenly, "Would you like to know why I've been reckless, Vaughn? If you haven't been so busy to notice- I've had nothing to live for!" She threw her hands down at her side and felt the rawness of her soul bared. She hated to feel this naked in front of him.
"What? How can you say that, Sydney?" He took a stepped towards her. He couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. He had never heard her talk this way before. There was an incident, something like four years ago, that she stated that she had no reason to live but that...that was over four years ago.
"Because it's true! Vaughn, I am living in hell. I don't sleep at night because I'm haunted by my past. I can't get through my day because I'm haunted by my present. What is there to do Vaughn? I don't live anymore. I go through the motions. Being reckless-that's what keeps me alive. It's the life or death balance that keeps me going!" She shook her head, "But none of this matters! You're playing an-"
He threw his hands up, the black tuxedo wrinkled in the wake of the movement. "I can't believe what you're saying! Why didn't you say anything to me? What-"
"How could I tell you, Vaughn? How could I tell you that it breaks my heart to see you every time you're near Lauren? How could I confide in you when you were sleeping with another woman in your bed at night?" She felt her body choke with emotion. It had been long pent up frustration that was screaming through her now. She couldn't stop the charge of exasperation from exploding like an atomic bond.
"Well, that's not going to be an issue anymore." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
She matched his tone evenly, "Do you want me to be happy for you? You loved me so much that it almost killed you and I love you enough to let you go. I've let you go. You were never mine and you're not mine anymore."
There was a long silence between the two. Both were breathing heavily with the hostility brewing between them. Exhaustion made emotions run high. Neither really knew what they were saying or really cared. It was all a total blur. Somewhere in the distance, a clock rang out the time. It was only a matter of time. They both came to a realization in that half of a moment. Sydney drew in a sharp breath and turned away from them. It was only a matter of time before Lauren and Jonathan arrived with the third agent in toe.
LATER THAT EVENING
The tension was so thick in the air, it couldn't have been cut with even a knife. They moved throughout the room without making any contact, physical or otherwise. Sydney had retired to the bed and laid there, trying not to close her eyes. Vaughn sat in the living area, head in hands, just thinking. There was a sturdy knock on the door. A panicked look was sent back and forth between the two warring agents.
Vaughn rushed to the door and looked into the peephole. There were three people standing outside of his door and he felt the pulse in his brain thicken. He pulled it open slowly and was shocked at the sight. "Hello." He said, accent in tact. "Come on in, please."
Lauren paraded in first, her gold evening gown weighed heavily on her tiny form and her blonde hair, newly bleached and curled, bounced with each step. Her eyes, sapphire blue, starred hard and cold as she walked in surveying the scene. "Hello." She greeted with the same icy tone that matched her eyes.
Two men in black suits followed her and watched Vaughn close the door behind them. He glared at both of them and knew immediately what truly wanting revenge was like. He recognized the third man and knew that his recapture into CIA custody was in reach. It would only be a matter of time. It quickened his pulse even further and his breath started to move more rapidly through his chest.
"Carter Gates?" Jonathan Ross turned towards Vaughn and waited for the affirmative.
He fought to get a hold of his emotions. Adrenaline, mostly. "I'm Carter Gates and this is my wife, Shay Roscoe." Vaughn walked over to Sydney, who eagerly stood outside of his arms with his hand on her lower back.
"How do you do, sir?" Sydney extended her hand to Jonathan, who took it and kissed it softly. "And you are, sir?" She smiled bright and kept her broad eyes barely blinking.
"Jonathan Ross. This is my fiancée, Lauren Reed and our associate-"
Vaughn felt like his eyes were going to pop from his head. His veins seemed to surge around his neck and he looked as though he was going to drop Jonathan Ross at any moment.
"I'd really prefer not to mention my name, if that's alright for all parties." The third man spoke and his voice sent chills through Sydney's and Vaughn's bodies. They both hated him with equaled passion but couldn't let the man know that they know who he was. It would blow both of their covers.
"Do whatever makes y'all comfortable." Sydney smiled warmly. "Ms. Reed, it is a pleasure to meet you." She shook hands with the she-devil.
Lauren shared a genuine smile. "Likewise, Ms, Roscoe. Your reputation precedes you, Ms. Roscoe. I've heard wonderful things about you. I'm so please you're thinking of joining us." Shay Roscoe was a sugary sweet house wife from the deep south with a taste for killing. Who would suspect the sweet thing would able to bring men three times her size crashing to their knees. "We'd rather have people like you for us than against us."
"Why Ms. Reed! You flatter me way too much! Let's sit in the living room, shall we? I'd hate to talk business standing up." Sydney herded the group of international terrorists into the living room. G-d, this business made her sick sometimes. The three Covenant agents sat down on the couch, Lauren in Jonathan's arms.
"Do you happen to have any scotch? My throat's drier than the Sahara!" The third man turned towards Sydney and asked, his sugary sweet accent made Sydney's skin sticky. He was trying to conceal his natural accent for reasons passing understanding. Lauren and Jonathan refrained from shooting him dirty looks but instead, smiled politely at the third member of their party.
Vaughn stopped near the doorway, trying to conceal his anger about Lauren and Jonathan. "I can check if you'd like."
Sydney smiled and took this as a key to keep enhancing her character, "We just got here and lord knows what this hotel has! No offense but in the States, you can get whatever you want from the hotel-"
"Shay, darling, your talking." Vaughn caught her elbow as a sign for her to slow it down. "Whatever you want, we can order up from room service, sir."
The nameless man nodded and smiled and joined the couple on the couch. He kept his tone soft and conversed lightly with Jonathan and Lauren.
Vaughn was very uneasy about this man but something about him made Sydney completely panicked. He took her towards the small bar that was established near the large dresser. "We need to get a plan of action."
"I thought you would have one." Sydney hissed back, fighting the urge to slap him upside the head. "We have two in our armoire. We wait until one leaves, get the other two and then take the third down."
"This is like basic training 101." Vaughn grinned back as he found an old bottle of scotch and poured it into the small glass. "Sir, would you like ice?" His accented voice shouted through the doorway.
"No." The true heritage of the third agent started to come through, much to his dismay.
Sydney came swaying back in, lounging against the doorframe, "Is there anything I can get y'all?" She made her noise crinkle and she laughed lightly for no apparent reason.
"I'm fine. Anything for you, sweetie?" Jonathan kissed the temple of Lauren's head. She in turn caressed the inside of his knee.
"Nothing for me." She turned her head and looked deep into his eyes. Lauren started to kiss Jonathan's cheek and moved onto his lips. She quickly laid him against the couch, continuing to kiss him in growing passion. "Business can wait for a while." She murmured between passionate kisses.
The third agent shifted his weight over and looked uneasy. It was an awkward situation and this man was not one for public displays of affection, especially if he wasn't involved in it.
Sydney instantly felt uncomfortable and turned back towards Vaughn, suppressing a shudder. This was disgusting. Watching her ex-boyfriend's wife cheat on him with a sorry excuse for an agent.
Vaughn took the hint and made his way back into the living area. He handed the third agent his scotch and took Sydney in his arms. She felt a little strange doing this but knew that he had to have a plan. He grabbed her and pressed his body tightly to hers. "I agree with Ms. Reed."
Searching for some reason in his eyes, Sydney saw the crafty man that she was in love with. No, that she had loved. She was no longer in love with Vaughn and she had to remember that. She was no longer in love with anyone anymore. She was finished.
But Vaughn had other plans. He pressed her close to him and ducked his head down until his lips met hers. Electricity flowed through their lips and it was a kiss of pure unrequited love and lust. Their tongue tangled up in each other and Sydney had a hard time repressing a low moan as his moved away from her mouth and concentrated on her jugular. He quickly pinned her against the doorframe and they continued to kiss.
Sydney's mind was going a mile per minute and at the same time, she couldn't think straight. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts. She forgot what his lips felt against hers and what it was like to be to be kissed like this.
Wow.
The third agents started to clear his throat loudly again and again. He was growing more and more uncomfortable by the moment. "I'm just gonna be in the restroom, if any of you...." He trailed off slightly. "You won't need me." He got up and made his way towards the bathroom, locking the door firmly behind him.
Vaughn pulled Sydney away from the doorway and tossed her onto the bed, lying on top of her. She rolled over and straddled his hips and leaned down to kiss him but he moved. She looked at him puzzled. Placing his finger to his lips, he stretched up behind him and grabbed the two tranquilizer guns he had stashed when he poured the scotch. Sydney understood instantly and took the gun in her hand. Vaughn also pressed two restraints into her hand. "Too easy." He breathed.
Sydney swung her legs to the side and jumped to her feet and felt that Vaughn was right behind her. Turning the corner, they each took a shot. Lauren jumped first, feeling the dart penetrate her shoulder blade. Jonathan quickly followed and felt it in his arm.
Lauren starred at Vaughn with wide eyes and searched for an explanation.
"It doesn't do well to well to betray me, Lauren." Vaughn hissed as he watched his wife fall unconscious.
"What the-"the third agent came barreling from the bathroom at the sudden noise. Sydney shot him once in the throat and down the man fell.
"That was too easy." Sydney grinned and she walked towards the third agent and had to restrain from kicking him in the ribcage. "I've waited you bound and gagged from the moment that I saw you, you horrible son of a bitch." She hissed as she fastened the clear plastic tightly around his wrists. She moved onto his ankles and fastened them tightly. With much disdain, she rolled pulled him to the center of the room. Lauren was being tied up by Vaughn, who had to restrain the same force from not beating her. He was not a violent man but something about her and this whole situation made his blood run cold. Jonathan was tied up last.
Vaughn stood up besides Sydney and looked down at the three unconscious agents. "I wish that-"
"Don't say anything, okay? I just need-don't say anything." Sydney murmured, her brain still fuzzy from the romantic endeavor from thirty seconds earlier. Her face was still flushed and her body was humming at such a rate that she thought she would pass out at any moment. Her heart rate was beating at such a pace that she could barely see straight.
"Is everything-"
"Vaughn." She breathed as she tried to focus on the task in front of her. Her brown eyes then scanned towards Vaughn and she tried so hard not too knit her brows in concern and collapse into a large heap.
"Syd." He smiled. Oh lord, did he mean what he said in the limo earlier? Did he want to kiss her right then or was this like Noah on her first mission in Paris? He had kissed her in the alley way of Paris to conceal their identities from an oncoming attacker.
"We-uh-we should call Madison and Kilmer to tell her that we've got Lauren and Jonathan."
Oh shit. Kilmer. Sydney felt the red rush to her face again and she wasn't a hundred percent sure she could catch her breath. Of course, the two men that she once loved would show their love for her within hours of each other. She honestly didn't know what to do anymore. Would Kilmer sweep her off of her feet all over again and they could have that same sort of torrid love affair that they always wanted but never had the true chance to realize or would she go with Kilmer and go back to the safe, ever loving arms of her former handler, where she knew every inch of his face and every emotions of his heart?
"I'll go and alert the authorities. Will you be alright with them by yourself?"
Vaughn simply nodded and walked towards Lauren. "You cold hearted, son of a bitch. You thought you could play me to the end, didn't you? Did you think I wouldn't figure out your little secret? Well, you screwed up." He had to restrain from killing her right then and there. But uncontrollably, he leaned forward and found his hands hovering over her neck.