If asked, Vaughn would've said that his day could not get any worse. Kidnapped, marked for execution, tackled and thrown into a wall… it all added up to perhaps the most terrible day a person could ever have. It hardly seemed possible that anything else could happen to him.
But apparently it was possible, as indicated by the flashing lights in his stolen car's rearview mirror.
Weiss stood at the backs of the elder Bristows - correction, the elder Bristow and a Derevko - and tried not to pinch himself. It seemed the only solution to the topsy-turvy world he had woken up to the morning Sloane had decided that Michael and Sydney would make excellent pleasure-driving company.
"Dad! Mom! Have you heard from Vaughn? Is he okay?"
"We haven't heard anything," Jack told Sydney gently, even as she spotted Weiss standing behind them and waved him forward.
"Hey," he said awkwardly, feeling like an intruder as he stood between Sydney's parents. This is Mike's spot. Thank God. "Uh, I haven't heard anything either."
"I know," she replied, somewhat dryly. "I was wondering… these charges against Vaughn… do you know anything? He was captured with me! The way they treated him… the way they threatened him… there's no way that he could be working with Sloane and Sark! He is not disloyal!"
Weiss gulped, pure rage replacing his normally even demeanor at the hints of what Michael had experienced. Was experiencing, at that very moment. His vision turned red and he shivered involuntarily. They'll die for this, at my hand. Slowly, and in great pain.
Sensing his mutual thoughts, Sydney nodded to him. You'll have to get in line, she thought silently. I go first.
"Believe me, Syd- uh, Agent Bristow, I've sat through all sorts of Q & A sessions, but I know as much as you about what he was doing. Which is, you know, nothing."
The bars behind them rattled. All of them turned as Kendall strode in to join them.
"Mirada, mi nombre es Michael Vaughn y soy oficial con la CIA Americana." Vaughn said wearily to the officer standing outside the car window. ("Look. My name is Michael Vaughn and I'm an officer with the American CIA.")
The officer rolled his eyes, having heard every possible excuse from drivers trying to get out of tickets, although this one was quite imaginative. The American had clearly found himself in a bar scuffle or two and the remnants of alcohol were apparently toying with his mind. He kept his tone smooth and non-confrontational. "Por supuesto. Licencia y registro, por favor." ("Of course. License and registration, please.")
Vaughn shook his head. "No! Ah, no, estoy diciendo la verdad!" ("No, I'm telling the truth!")
The other man sighed impatiently. "¿Entonces puedo ver su identificación, por favor?"
("Then can I see your identification, please?")
Vaughn scowled. His ID was in his jacket pocket, and Lord knew where that was. "No lo tengo... fui tomado de mí. Por favor, I..." ("I don't have... it was taken from me. Please, I...")
The officer snorted, torn between amusement and annoyance. "La derecha. ¿Usted importaría de salir del coche, por favor?" ("Right. Would you mind getting out of the car, please?")
Vaughn's jaw dropped, even as he obliged the order. He thinks I'm drunk!
"Escuche mí. Soy un oficial de la CIA que fue encarcelado aquí contra mi voluntad. Estoy intentando encontrar una manera de entrar en contacto con a mis superiores y..." ("Listen to me. I'm a CIA officer that was imprisoned here against my will. I'm trying to find a way to contact my superiors and...")
Vaughn trailed off, realizing that the man was about to bust out laughing. He searched his mind, trying to come up with a way to convince this man to help him. But the police officer did it for him, eyes widening as he saw the telltale bullet hole in the center of Vaughn's blue silk shirt.
"I'm here to give you one final chance to confess, Ms. Bristow," Kendall said curtly. "I'd suggest you'd take it."
Sydney stared at him, steaming. Vaughn was still a captive and the FBI operative seemed certain of her guilt! Déjà vu, that part.
And then the sound of a cell phone ringing cut through the tension.
Weiss groaned, horrified. Of all the times for you to ring! he berated his phone. Fully aware of the glares of the other four people, he pulled it out quickly.
"Weiss," he said shortly. You had better be someone important.
"Eric? It's me."
He froze, aggravation immediately fading away. They wouldn't let him… oh, thank God!
And then he remembered Kendall's presence. And the cameras. And the cell. And the investigation.
"Uh, hi Mom!"
Vaughn blinked, trading puzzled glances with the Spanish police officer that had heard Weiss' voice boom out of the phone. Huh?
"Weiss… it's Michael. Listen, I just got out. Is Syd with you?"
"Oh, she's right here," Weiss answered brightly, before he realized what he had said and resisted the urge to smack his forehead. Kendall looked at him sharply. "Yup, my favorite tie and I never go anywhere without each other. You have great taste, Mom!"
"Oh, my God. Weiss, what time is it there? Are you drunk?"
"No," Weiss stammered. This was not going well. Why couldn't Kendall leave?
"Right. Sure. Okay, listen. I'm going to make my way to the American embassy in Madrid and-"
Weiss froze. They'll arrest him if he does that!
"Uh, no, don't do that," he said quickly. "The curtains do not go with your carpet. You know that store down 47th? It's called, uh, Under the Rug? You could go there and grab a throw rug or something that would make everything go together. Or at the very least, it would cover up those stains underneath the night table."
Vaughn paused. He's either drunk or trying to tell me something.
With Eric Weiss, it was hard to tell.
"Agent Weiss, if you don't mind-"
"Right," he apologized to Kendall. "Sorry. Um, Mom? Listen, I have to go. Stay put and I'll come and help you look after I get off work, okay?"
Vaughn shook his head. "Whatever. Listen. Madrid. Hotel El Coloso. I'll book under Delorme."
"See you then, Mom!"
Weiss disconnected, dimly aware of the fact that he had probably lost more than a few pounds during the course of that conversation. The Michael and Sydney Diet. I should market it.
"Sorry," he apologized again. Kendall looked annoyed, but nodded.
Sydney, however, flashed him a discreet smile of thanks.
Up next: Weiss has bad news.
Review Responses
wonder monkey: LOL, sorry! That was actually long chapter length for me. You shoulda seen my last story, my chapters averaged half that. LOL
Anonymousthinker: I just wrote a big revenge moment for him, I swear. ;) Well, revenge the Vaughn way which is, you know, stooped in morals and all. But still amusing. Homework, eh? I can relate. I'm really getting hammered this semester. Hope Spanish!Vaughn And Weiss the Great helped lighten your load. ;)
Ilovemypenguin: Sorry! :( I love responding to reviews, mainly because I love reviews! But sometimes "real life" interferes. Sucks, man. Don't those people know there's fanfic? I come on every morning to (hopefully) read reviews, so I can relate!
Erin: :blushes: well, thanks! I hope so! I as a reader hate it when authors assign characters to chapters. I try to have a much a mixture as possible so everyone gets at least mostly regular glimpses of their favorites.
Maxwell: ROTFL! Soon. ;) I love your reviews, they're so unique!
Teaser: "You look like hell."
valley-girl2: Well gee, when you put it that way, how can I not update? lol. You strapped down? Good and tight! ;) A life, ay? I should get me one of those!
MvsGirl: Welcome back!!!
Raina Elizibeth: You'll see. ;)
UKHoneyB: :snerks: I couldn't resist. Poor guy! LOL
Nattie700: I'm glad your eyes are okay! I just got new lenses and stuff and the prescription is wayyy too strong, so I have to go back. :( The Alias DVDs are awesome, man! And I love teasers, too. ;) See the one for next chapter?
C-n-C: When? Now! You do, do you? Do tell. ;)
Mayleen: Phew! What a relief! hehe
Chelsea: Thanks. :)
Kittyfantastico: Have a safe trip!!! I expect a full recap! And uh, mail presents to… ;)
MJ: Awww! I had to drop everything once I saw your review, so we're even. ;) About Ricardo… he had demonstrated that whatever his feelings were about Vaughn, he would still obey orders and kill him. Vaughn knew that if he let Ricardo go, it could mean his, Vaughn's, life. However, at the same time, Ricardo really would have done Vaughn a favor by killing him quickly, because as Sloane and Sark's guard-guy, he could've done much more to Vaughn than guard him. So Vaughn took that into account and shot him painlessly, just as it woulda been done to him. And about your last paragraph.. Dude, that's my whole plot! ;)