Weiss had never really thought of Vaughn as young before.
His friend was only a few months behind him, after all, and guys rarely thought of age differences anyway. But right now, he couldn't not notice it.
As Weiss had requested, Vaughn had taken the window seat. That way, it was easier for Weiss to keep an eye on the rest of the passengers, and, equally importantly, to keep Vaughn better shielded from things Weiss couldn't see. In return for sticking them on a civilian flight, Kendall had reluctantly arranged for the seats in front, behind and to their immediate right to be empty, but only after Jack had pointed out that if Vaughn was a traitor, placing civilians that close to him would be an unnecessary risk for the CIA to take.
Adrenaline having removed any chance of him joining his friend in slumber, Weiss scanned his surroundings constantly. As long as he drew breath, no one was getting their hands on Michael Vaughn ever again. Well, except for Sydney, he thought, and then hurriedly tore his mind away from the mental imagery that thought conjured.
Vaughn had given in to his exhaustion the instant the jet had taken flight, all but curling into a ball and facing away from his partner. His even breathing suggested he was sleeping easily, but Weiss knew better. Vaughn's battered frame was tense, clearly on high alert, and his gun was just inches away from his hand. The instant he sensed something was wrong, the younger agent would awaken immediately.
He looked so young, and so scared in his fetal position, that Weiss' heart ached. Lord knew what his friend had endured. He couldn't do anything to erase those memories, but… Weiss sat up straight. He could make sure Vaughn never knew, or at least didn't find out right away, how his impromptu investigation had affected Sydney.
He pulled out his cell phone, his features set.
"You have my apologies, Agent Bristow," Kendall said quietly to her. "Agent Weiss called and explained everything. For what it's worth, you're free to go."
She nodded. Anger over the injustice she had experienced could come later. "Where's Agent Vaughn?"
"At his apartment under Agent Weiss' supervision. He still has a lot to answer for, Agent Bristow, even though we now know he was not the mole. We will be retrieving him in a couple hours, you can see him then."
She scowled. Anticipating her argument, Kendall shook his head. "Not my decision, Agent Bristow. That's by Agent Weiss' request. He wanted Vaughn to get some rest."
She softened. "All right," she said grudgingly. "Where are my parents?"
"Jack is at the Dixon home, seeing to a personal matter," Kendall answered. "Irina is at Vaughn's apartment helping Elsa Caplan. What I wouldn't do to see that confrontation."
Will stared at his phone, willing it to ring. It had been almost ten hours and someone had yet to call and update him, as had been promised.
He sat at Vaughn's kitchen table with Elsa, watching Aaron play on the floor with Matchbox cars while Elsa poured over the files from Vaughn's bedroom. They had moved everything to the kitchen after Elsa had spotted the guns and Aaron kept demanding to see his mother. Understandable, Will thought.
When a key turned in the lock, Will bounded instantly to his feet, relieved someone had come back to update him.
"Jack!" Will said as the door opened, his impatience making him far more brash than normal. "It's about time! Any news?"
The door opened fully and the last man Will would have expected to see stumbled in wearily, Weiss directly behind him. Elsa, who had joined him in the entryway, froze, mouth falling open. Will's eyes widened. "Vaughn!" he blurted. So much for keeping me updated.
For his part, the agent stared at him and the Caplans in utter bewilderment, obviously not having expected to find anyone in his apartment. Will opened his mouth to explain, but the other man held up his hands to stop him, having already endured all the surprises he could take for one day.
Without a word to any of his three apparent guests, or Weiss, Vaughn headed directly for his bedroom, closed the door behind him, and collapsed on his dusty bed. He was asleep again within seconds, physically, mentally and emotionally spent for the time being.
Sark paced in the safehouse. Ricardo had been due to call in and give a status report nearly five hours ago, and clearly was going to miss that call.
I should have shot him myself when I had the chance.
"Any word from Spain, Mr. Sark?"
He turned. Sloane stood there, having returned from the room where they listened to the bug that had confirmed that at least one part of their plan was working. Sydney had indeed been arrested.
"Do you honestly expect there to be, sir? I told them not to underestimate Agent Vaughn, but clearly they did so or they would have reported in by now."
His partner nodded thoughtfully. "It's of no matter. Our asset will have assured Vaughn's guilt by now, and we have nothing to suggest that he will be able to clear himself. It will be his word against the CIA's evidence."
"I don't want to see you," Diane Dixon informed him, leaning against her door.
"I know," Jack said shortly, shouldering his way through. "But we're going to talk anyway."
"When-"
"Just a few hours ago," Eric said, sinking onto Vaughn's couch. "He called me about ten minutes after we all went to visit Sydney."
"Well, thanks for-"
"I had other things on my mind, Will," Eric snapped. He shook his head. "Sorry. Long, long day. I managed to buy him a couple hours before they come for him. He slept the whole way here, too. I think he's done with life in general for the time being."
"Understandable," Elsa said carefully, unsure where she stood with the agent. "After all he's been through…"
"He had a lot of owies!" Aaron chimed in.
Weiss chuckled, switching the subject. "Hey there, kiddo. What kinda car do you have there?"
The five-year-old responded by grinning shyly and hiding behind his mother.
"I haven't seen them in almost two days," Allison reported unhappily. "Tippin told me he was visiting family in Chicago, but I think they are all at the CIA agent's apartment. Francie wouldn't know Sydney's mother was alive."
"Damn," Sark sighed. "Ms. Bristow either discovered the bug or shed it inadvertently. For now, we're blind."
"How should I proceed?" she asked.
A new voice entered their conversation. Sloane. "Send Irina towards us when she pays a visit."
Allison sat up, astonished. "Irina Derevko is coming here?"
They didn't answer, having already disconnected. Long conversations were too risky.
"I've already arrived," a woman said quietly behind her.
Up next: The second part of my last up next. Oh, and Aaron Caplan takes a nap. But most importantly, it's the last chapter before two certain spies reunite.
Review Responses
So I was gonna be all sad, because I couldn't update yesterday, and I can't remember the last time that happened. But then I woke up and found almost 10 new reviews, on top of the eight there were before I went to bed. So y'all made up for it, hence the early chapter today. ;) lol
Kelly9: Well, welcome! Glad you liked! And yes, jinxing is baaaad. ;) lol
Winking Tiger: Your wish is my command!
K4e: Gotta say, I'm kinda proud of the length of the last chapter. It was more than 5 pages before I cut some stuff that was too revealy. It started out at 3 pages, I think, and then I realized right as I went to post that I had left a hole in my plot, so I added the Irina/Sydney scenes, which were not originally in there. Hope they blended okay! lol
Anonymousthinker: LMAO, poor Willage! Are you a Vartanho? I uploaded 4 HQ and 8x10 size pics of MV/MV/cast/JG in the Yahoo chat group thing from PPW yesterday. ;)
Kittyfantastico: Wow! :gushes: You are a reviewing maestro! The reunion's coming! I'm not evil! (at the minute, anyway ;).) They lay eyes on each other in Chapter 29, which is titled 'The Debrief' because I had to use every pun possible after having a chapter titled 'Spy Drawers'. I was gonna order my DVDs online 'cause it's cheaper, but I was too impatient. LOL
Elle Teaseray: "Michael Vaughn, you are under arrest for charges of mishandling classified information and participating in treasonous activity."
Ivy3: I was really happy with the "Dark Turn" ep, because it finally showed Vaughn's feelings toward Irina. That dynamic between them is almost as incredible as the Jack/Vaughn dynamic. Episode 12? Ouch. Yes, in this fic, everything after "A Free Agent" didn't happen. So no desperate ratings stunt in the form of a Ring will be found here! ;)
Nattie700: LOL, I don't want else to say! Except hearing Vartan laying special emphasis on the "Vaughn, it's bigger than I thought" line was hysterical. That and his recollection of shooting the cargo plane scene, where they had to shout at the top of their lungs and look like idiots. Oh, and at the beginning of ATY, where Victor turns around in the chair, they all chorused "that's a sexy man", and VG goes "you're just saying that", and BC goes, "Yeah, we are." LMAO
Jennycraig10: I can totally relate. :( School's been swamping me too. What a fun trip!
MvsGirl: Awww, ditto! :hugs:
LittleSyd: Wow! :gushes: What an honor! Should I make a speech? ;)
C-n-C: Heyyy, allergy season is terrible right now! :P What does VBG stand for? lol.
Ilovemypenguin: I love the Caplans. I think they were all underused on the show. Even little Aaron has a moment in the spotlight in the next chapter. lol
Kay10197: Thanks. :)
valley-girl2: Awwww. :blushes: Thanks for havin' faith in me! Hee. A reunion, ay? Was that a hint?
Raina: Good. ;) I'm an evil author, and that was what I was going for. :whistles:
UKHoneyB: SD-1 people are scary. Right, C-n-C? ;)