Title: Skeletons in the closet
Summary: Sydney faces her past at SD-6.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Alias related, only the characters you don't know.
Spoiler: 3:17 'The frame' and before, AU after that.
Rating: PG-13
Chapter Ten
"Syd, do you know who Elliot's handler was? When you were at SD-6, blindly risking your life, helping the very people you despised?" Danny muttered in her ear. "None other than your devoted father. They both lied to you Sydney; they lied to you and left you. Then I left, and Will and Francie, even Vaughn abandoned you. He couldn't even wait two years before he was jumping into bed with the first blonde he could find." Sydney let her tears run freely down her cheeks. She had no fight left, after countless years of deceit and tragedy and pain she simply gave in. She couldn't care whether she lived or died.
Lauren turned to Vaughn next. "Do you know where Sydney spent the other night?" Sydney's eyes bulged in alarm. "She was with Elliot." Vaughn's bruised and bloodied features darkened as he saw the guilt etched on Sydney's face. She found a new strength within her, the only thing that had kept her going before, when she was at SD-6 and when she was missing, it was Vaughn. She couldn't lose him.
"Vaughn we didn't…"
"You were with her? You said she didn't turn up! You liar! I'm starting to see the family resemblance…" He croaked out. Jack scowled.
"At least Sydney has a father, I didn't get my self killed by doing something stupid like trying to apprehend Derevko..."
"No, you just fucked her!" Vaughn spat.
"Hey!" Elliot snapped, defending her handler.
"Aw, poor little agents. All at each other's throats." Danny mocked and then motioned for two men in dark clothing to untie Jack and Vaughn. "Take them to the basement. The room at the far end." He walked over to Sydney while Lauren got Elliot. "And you two ladies can settle your differences in your own room. Far away form Jack and that cretin, to tell you the truth my money's on Jack killing him within the hour."
Danny pulled Sydney to her feet and Lauren had two men drag Elliot in the opposite direction. Sydney followed with her eyes. "Don't worry sweetie, Lauren's just gonna' play with her for a little while."
He took Sydney to a small room in the basement. It held two single beds and nothing else and he threw her down on one. "You're pathetic Sydney. You used to have strength. You used to be a player, now you're just a bitter, weak, spoilt brat. You should have been harder to break." Danny shouted as she lay motionless on her back, staring at the cracking and peeling paint on the ceiling. "Elliot knew about me, so did your father, they lied to you Syd. They let you be hurt and used…they don't care about you. They took you for a fool. You were so like your old self when you were Julia, but better. You lived life the way it should be lived…however the hell you wanted to. "
"Julia Thorne is no longer a part of me." She muttered coldly. "Neither are you."
Danny laughed cruelly and shook his head. "Don't believe for a second that there is no part of Julia Thorne left inside you Syd. She was you. You remembered everything then and you were just like me. Just like Lauren. Just like you mom. Guess blood is thicker than water, huh?" He left her in the dark little room with the peeling ceiling, with her tears and broken spirit and she stayed on her own until Lauren brought Elliot back to her.
When she tossed Elliot onto the second bed she lingered in the doorway as Sydney sat up from her curled position and looked at the motionless woman. Her chest heaved as she gasped for air and her tank top revealed she'd been beaten and her lip was cut and coated in dry blood.
"You know Lauren, you might have mentioned you were into S&M when we were together. I might not have got bored and dumped you." She grinned as Lauren slammed her against the wall. "Oh c'mon. You're not even trying now." Lauren paused as she went to strike her and turned to look at Sydney as she sat watching everything. Her eyes were hollow and lifeless and she looked like a small child witnessing something they couldn't stop.
"Hey Sydney." She stroked a loose strand of hair behind Sydney's ear. "How about you and I become a little more acquainted?" Sydney stared straight passed her. Her cold gaze unwavering.
"No!" Elliot objected. She tried to jump Lauren but could barely move and so Lauren easily pushed her back down on to the bed and grinned at her weakened state.
"Danny won't let you hurt her." She panted as she tried to catch her breath. "He still loves her, I know he won't let you have her." Lauren shook her head, causing her blonde locks to bounce slightly.
"Sydney isn't playing nice. He thinks some…shock tactics should get her back to her old self." Sydney didn't resist as Lauren dragged her to her feet and pushed her out the door, slamming it shut with Elliot still inside. "We've got a lot to catch up on Sydney. Danny thinks it's time for you to find out the truth about Julia Thorne, not just the rubbish Kendall told you. There are two sides to every story Sydney and I doubt you'll like my version."