Missing Two Years
A/N: Hi! Sorry it took me a long time to getchapter three done. I got busy with homeworks and projects. You know, school stuff. Also, I had a little difficulty thinking about what should happen next and how it should happen. Never the less, here's chapter three. Hope you like it.
Chapter 3 – Benevolent Conspiracy
"Weiss, Jack and I talked. We have a plan and we need you to pull some strings in the CIA."
"Okay, I'll meet you at the safe house." Weiss hung up the phone, grabbed some files and headed out towards the basement parking lot.
"Eric! Wait a second!" It was Lauren. "Have you been able to talk to Michael? I've been trying to call him but all I get is the answering machine. He's not answering his cell phone either. Where is he? Is he okay?" She asked worriedly. "He's fine Lauren. Maybe he's just busy with checking the papers of his students, that's all." He smiled at her, and then continued, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go meet somebody." "Okay, thanks Weiss." Then she walked to her desk. She thought for a while. After sometime she picked up the phone and dialed the number for the UCLA. "Hello, this is Lauren Reed, may I please talk to Michael Vaughn?"
"I'm sorry Miss Reed, but Mr. Vaughn have already resigned yesterday," came the reply of the lady on the other side. "Oh, okay then, thank you," Lauren hung up. Confusion and suspicion evident on her face. Why didn't Weiss tell me? What's going on? Something's up, I know it. Then she stood up, got her bag and left.
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Vaughn arrived at the safe house first. He slowly walked through the familiar dark hallway. It felt like a long time since he had been here. This place brings back so many memories. Memories of Sydney. This was their meeting place. This is where they would make plans to take down SD-6, talk about missions or for some other cases, cases that he loved the most, they'll just sit here chatting just about anything outside the spy world. This is where they shared their worries and pains to each other. This is where they would sometimes argue with each other. This is where they shared hugs and intimate kisses. This was also the place where he hid himself from the world when she "died." He had spent countless days in the darkness of the safe house drinking, thinking of her, talking to her.
His thoughts were cut short when he heard the clattering of the railings.
"Hey man, what's up?" Sure enough it was Weiss.
"Weiss," Vaughn approached his best friend, "thanks for coming."
"No problem, here's everything on Sydney." He handed the folders to Vaughn.
What do you need that for anyway?"
"Thanks. I just thought that maybe there's something here that may help us know what happened to Sydney that we did not notice before." Vaughn explained.
"Okay, so what's the plan?"
"Jack believes that Sydney is being held by The Covenant and that they had been using her, sending her to missions," Vaughn started intently.
"Wait, did you say The Covenant? That's the group that the CIA has been trailing for some time now." Weiss added.
"Yes, that's it. So here's the plan. We'll leak a bogus intel that says that there would be transport of a Rambaldi artifact tomorrow night at the harbor, ship number 0905. When The Covenant picks up the intel, chances are they would send Sydney to intercept the package. And we'll be there, waiting." Vaughn finished with determination.
"Okay, so I'll just have to send the intel from the CIA right?" Weiss clarified. "Yeah, and we'll also need you at the pier tomorrow." Vaughn replied. The Weiss' phone rang. "Weiss here…Okay, I'll be right there." Vaughn nodded and tapped Weiss' shoulder as he started walking to open the gate.
"Hey Mike," he turned before he left, "Lauren's been asking about you. You should talk to her." Vaughn nodded. Vaughn stayed there for a little bit longer, making sure that everything was planed clearly.
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"I think they're trying to look for Bristow again," Lauren reported to whoever was on the other side of the phone. "I suggest that you don't send her on any missions for a week or two. Okay…I'm meeting with Lindsay now," She paused to open her window to show her ID to the guard. "I have to go." She hung up and parked her car.
"Ms. Reed, Director Lindsay is waiting for you in his office." The guard in the parking area approached her as she was getting out of her car. "Okay. Thanks," She smiled.
Lauren entered Lindsay's office after a while. "So, Ms. Reed how's everything going at the CIA?" Lindsay inquired. "It's been okay," she paused and thought whether or not she should tell Lindsay about her suspicion. "Alright, now I want you to know that…."
"Except for one thing," Lauren interrupted.
"What is it?"
"I think that, Jack Bristow, Eric Weiss and maybe, just maybe, Michael Vaughn are looking for Sydney Bristow again."
"Michael Vaughn? The former handler of Bristow? I thought he's already out of the CIA?" Lauren nodded. "Are you sure? How do you know?" Lindsay questioned.
"I'm not sure but I have noticed that Weiss has been talking on the phone with Michael and just this morning I found out that he pulled Sydney Bristow's file and photo copied everything."
"I see, that's not right," Lindsay said sternly, "that search operation has been ordered to stop last year." Then he paused, thought for a while then said, "Okay, Ms. Reed, you may go now. I know that you and Michael Vaughn are in a relationship but you did not let that interfere with your duties to the NSC. Keep up the good work." With that Lauren left after saying thank you. Lindsay picked up the phone, "Director Dixon, I received a report that some of your agents together with a certain former agent are conduction unauthorized operations searching for Sydney Bristow, a person that has long been dead by now! You better put a cork on this or I'll be the one to report this on the higher level," he threatened and hung up.
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Weiss parked in Vaughn's drive way. He prepared himself before getting out of the car. Vaughn wouldn't be happy at all when he hears about this. He sighed and walked to ring the bell.
"Weiss, good. You're here." Vaughn said, "I have reviewed everything and we're good to go." Vaughn finished confidently. "Have you sent the intel to the Covenant?"
"Yes, but we have a problem." Weiss stated making Vaughn's forehead crease.
"What is it?"
"We have been suspended, Jack and I. Director Dixon received a call from the NSC reporting what we are trying to do. I don't know how they found out but they did. I mean, we both know that we're not supposed to be doing this." Weiss finished sitting down on the sofa.
"What? Are you serious?" Vaughn asked furiously.
Weiss nodded in response. "Director Dixon called us in, he said that he understood us for not giving up the search for Sydney but, as we all know, it was already been ordered to stop, we disobeyed, so he had no choice but to suspend us. He ordered us not to carry on whatever plan we have or we'll lose our job. I'm lucky because I'm just being suspended, I heard Jack is being investigated."
"That son of a bitch! The fact that he suspended you instead of helping us shows that he does not understand at all! He doesn't care! All he cares about now is keeping his position!" Vaughn stormed furiously.
"C'mon Mike, don't say that. You know how Dixon cares about Sydney. Of course he also wants to find Sydney but if we all get dismissed then it would be much harder for us to find her."
Vaughn sighed and sat beside Weiss on the couch. Then the phone rang but neither of them was in the mood to answer it. So the answering machine went off. "Hi. Michael Vaughn here. Leave a message after the beep."
"Vaughn. It's me, Dixon. Weiss probably told you already that I suspended him and Jack. I had to. I had to put up a show to whoever reported them. And I want you to know, that whatever you have planed, count me in. You know where to find me." Then he hung up. Weiss smiled at Vaughn. "What did I tell you?"
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That night they carried out their plan. They were all there geared up just in case that they have to fight off a number of people to get Sydney. Vaughn, Weiss, Jack and Dixon, they were all there but Sydney wasn't. She did not show up. There were two men who showed up instead, they checked the ship out then left. They waited till sunrise and by then they were pretty sure that she wouldn't show. So they left. Everyone went to their designated places. Weiss went home. He was suspended. Jack drove away to nobody knows where. Dixon went to the CIA. Vaughn stayed at the harbor. He just sat there and before he knew it the sun was already setting. He got up and drove to the ice rink. He needed to feel the coolness of the ice. That always helps take the frustration and sadness away. He did that when his father passed away. He skated hard, as fast as he could until he got tired. He laid on the ice with his eyes closed. He thought about a million things. He tried to think of a reason why she didn't show up. Maybe the Covenant discovered that the intel was bogus. Maybe luck was just not on their side that the covenant sent those two men to intercept the artifact instead of sending her. Or maybe…He stopped. He did not want to entertain that thought. But it kept ringing on his head. Maybe she's really gone. Maybe she really did die. "No!" He hit the ice. Blood oozing out of his knuckles but he didn't care. After some time, when he got to his senses and realized that he's already shivering from the cold, he stood up and went home.
Vaughn parked his car. He sighed heavily and got out of his car. He fondled on his keys. It was too dark and his hand hurt and he was tired. He cursed when he dropped the keys. He picked it up located the right key and shoved it to the knob. Angrily, he kicked the door open and slammed it shut as he went inside. He sunk to the floor, leaning on the door. Then he saw something moved towards him. Instinctively, he reached for his gun but it wasn't there, he left it in the car.
"Who's that?" he stood up immediately and motioned to turn on the lights.
"Stop! It's me. Don't turn on the lights!"
Vaughn froze.
TBC….
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So, what do you think? I know, it's pretty obvious who the person is. But hopefully you liked it. Thanks for reading and thanks also to those who wrote their comments and reviews. You guys keep me determined to finish this story. Keep the reviews coming. I'd love to know your thoughts. I'll try to begin and finish with the next chappie as soon as I can. Until then….Happy Holidays!