- Title: Presages
- Author: A. Jinnie McManus
- Rating: PG-13
- Spoilers/Timeline: Begins directly at the end of "A Free Agent." All episodes aired afterwards do not apply to this AU story, though some elements have been incorporated. Conversely, all elements prior to AFA, both on and off camera, fully apply to my plot. Spoilers for at least the episodes prior to AFA, and probably most after it.
- Summary: Love can both condemn and conquer. Sloane captures S/V in Zurich. AU from "A Free Agent" on.
- Disclaimer: Not mine. Some quotes are directly from various episodes. No infringement is intended.
- 'Ship: S/V, J/I, some others.
- Archiving: Ask first.
Author's Note: Welcome to Jinnie's longfic followup to her Surmising Alliances surprising success. This one is focused more on drama, but no worries, plenty of humor also appears. I hope. This has no relation to SA, BTW, other than being longer.
(FYI: On the Brink will conclude tomorrow. I'm just impatient to get this started.)
Chapter One - Flipped Coin
"And you, my dear... you'll be driving me out of here." Almost lazily, he tossed her the keys, which she reflexively caught one-handed.
"And what makes you think I won't take the opportunity to drive you into a building?" Sydney asked icily, fingering the keys. Beside her, Vaughn's anxious gaze was almost palpable. "Even if I die, the world will be a better place without you in it."
"Ah," Sloane smiled. "I have the ultimate insurance. My ride will be the envy of all other chauffeured riders, dear Sydney. You've already demonstrated your willingness to do whatever it takes to keep those you care about safe, even if it means going against everything you stand for and aiding in cold-blooded murder."
Vaughn stiffened, eyes hardening as the truth behind Sloane's "insurance" began to dawn on him.
"Mr. Vaughn will be joining us on our little car ride," Sloane informed her mildly. "I trust you'll utilize your considerable talents to give us all a smooth drive?"
"Coward!" Sydney bit out, after a few precious seconds of stunned silence during which Vaughn looked at her sharply, trying to order her with his eyes to not even consider Sloane's offer, which she ignored deliberately. "Hiding behind an innocent man-"
The former head of SD-6 chuckled. "He's hardly a civilian, Agent Bristow. In fact," he turned his attention to Vaughn, "if I am to understand things correctly, I owe you as much gratitude for getting The Alliance out of my way as I do the Bristows. You have my thanks."
"The pleasure was all mine," Vaughn returned drolly.
Sloane nodded appreciably, amused by his tone. "I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy getting to know you, Mr. Vaughn." Bending, he picked up both discarded revolvers, tucking one in his shirt and aiming the other squarely at Vaughn. Sydney flinched.
Still smiling broadly, he stepped forward to Vaughn's right side and pressed the gun against him, gesturing with the hand holding the remote detonator for Sydney, who held the suitcase, to precede them. Vaughn's jaw clenched, enraged at being used in such a manner, but currently unable to do anything about it.
"Shall we?"
Sark watched with interest via satellite as the three of them walked slowly towards a blue Ford Focus. Sloane had been bluffing, of course. After such an intense obsession, the man would simply not allow himself to die before fulfilling it.
Sydney would also be a key "ingredient" of sorts to the finished product. The prophecy had guaranteed that. Her cooperation would presumably be essential, which meant that her former handler also held a great deal of importance in their plans.
She would do anything for him, as she had already demonstrated. And Agent Vaughn's record had proven him to hardly be the type of man that needed to hide behind a woman. Just as he was her weakness, she was his.
Weiss paced nervously by the helicopter, listening with growing horror to the conversation between Mike, Sydney and Sloane that the L.A. office had connected him into.
"Jack?" he said into his receiver. "We're standing by to get them out."
No answer.
"Jack, I can understand your feelings, but-"
"Patronizing may work with your FBI agents, Director Kendall, but it will not work with me. I am aware that what I am planning to do goes against policy."
"Good. May I remind you that Sloane is right there? Completely out in the open and vulnerable? And yet, you want to simply let him go? I know you're just as aware as I am that the external remote detonator threat is a farce. Why not go in and take care of a wanted terrorist?"
"The threat is doubtlessly a hoax, yes. But by taking care of Sloane right now, we run the risk of losing at least one, possibly both, of the best and most qualified agents we have to take down not only Sloane, but Sark. I will not allow that."
"Jack, I'm going to be blunt. I know you're worried about your daughter. But the chance to take out a wanted terrorist has to take priority! Sydney would understand."
"I'm going to be equally blunt. Do not presume to speak for my daughter. And with all due respect, whose orders do you think Agent Weiss, the ranking agent pursuing the three of them, will listen to? My orders, which will save the lives of his friends, or yours, which will condemn them?"
Kendall said nothing.
"I'm going to give Agent Weiss the go now," Jack told him coldly. "And if this little chat delay costs me my daughter, I will be very upset."
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