Magnificent Lies
Decisions

Sydney felt Vaughn raise his hands up from his sides, and she was sure he was going to push her away. Instead, he put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. They only stopped when their need for air overcame their need to kiss.

"I think that answered my question." She said, breathlessly into his shoulder. He kissed exactly the way she had dreamed he would. It had started off hesitant and tender, but soon the built-up feelings of the past two years became compressed into a few minutes.

"Do you have any idea how long I've wanted to do that for?" He whispered. "Ever since you walked into my office with that crazy red bozo wig on."

"Vaughn!" She playfully hit him on the arm. "How long were you planning on waiting?"

"Until it was safe. And Syd, it still isn't. It's too dangerous. I think we should wait." It broke his heart to say it, but his main concern was still her safety, not his own happiness.

"Don't you want this?"

"More than anything."

"Then why not? I can make my own decisions, Vaughn. And I'd rather do something for myself than let the CIA and SD-6 dictate everything I do. For once, can't we do something against the rules? Take a chance?" She kissed him again, knowing full well she could convince him of anything in this way.

"God, Syd. See what you do to me?"

"So we're going to do this?" Her heart went out to him as she saw him struggling between what he knew in his mind was right and what he knew in his heart was right. She didn't want to coerce him into anything, but she couldn't give up on them, especially now that she knew what she would be missing. She searched his green eyes and held her breath.

"Yeah." He kissed her again.

Irina Derevko paced around the interior of her cell a few times before settling on the steel frame that served as her bed. She had been trying to meditate, but she couldn't seem to control her mind the way she usually could. Only one thought was keeping her from the inner peace she strived to achieve. He was alive.

All these years she had assumed he was dead. Her handler, mentor, and, during the last few weeks she had seen him, he had become more than just a friend. He must have changed his name, moved somewhere inconspicuous for a few years. God knows she had tried to find him, to tell him she was alive and still in business.

She had to talk to him. Now. And the only way to achieve that was to allow the CIA to capture him. She needed Jack's help.

Twenty minutes later he was on the other side of the glass, looking down upon her with that stony face he always got when he was around her. Usually it cracked her up. God she loved that face.

"You wanted to know about Mikhail Volkov. He was my handler for the KGB from the moment I started working there. During the last few weeks we spent together, we took up more of a... personal relationship. Then it became clear to me that I needed to be pulled from my position as your wife, and I staged the car crash. He thought I was dead. I never saw him again." Irina said all this in a flat tone, but

"Why are you telling me this?

"Jack, he knows who really killed Agent Vaughn's father. And if Vaughn and Sydney get their hands on him, he will tell them everything. I really don't think that would be good for your relationship."

"How does he know? You promised me."

"I could never lie to him"

"You lied to me."

She frowned at him. "The CIA has to get to Volkov before SD-6. Do you want my help or not?"

"What are we going to do about it?"

"We could go to France. Get Volkov out of there, or bring him in secretly."

"We?

"He'll never cooperate with you unless I'm there. He trusts me. He'll do anything I say."

"How do I know you two won't turn on me?"

"You'll just have to trust me, won't you? Unless you want them to find out." Irina turned away, feigning disinterest.

"Fine. We're going to Paris. I'll get the next flight out of here." Jack left to strong-arm Kendall into letting them go. Irina was left alone in her cell, still thinking about Mikhail Volkov.

Meanwhile Sydney and Vaughn were just getting back to the hotel. They rode the elevator up to the top floor, and got out into a small hallway with one door at the end. Vaughn pulled the keycard out of his pocket and opened the door.

"Wow." Sydney said. The room was beautiful. Romantic. She looked over at Vaughn, who looked over the room and began unpacking. He started with his own bag, hanging up all the perfectly folded clothes he had packed. Sydney did the same, and then they moved onto the bag sent by the CIA. Vaughn tossed the telescope and tripod to her and she set it up on the balcony.

"Can you see anything?" Vaughn called from the bathroom. He was checking over the suite for any bugs or devices.

"No. The place is dark, but the blinds aren't drawn. Doesn't look like he's home. Find anything in there?"

"The place is clean." Their tourist act had worked; no one suspected them. "I'm going to send an update to Sloane and another to the CIA. I'll be right out." Vaughn hurriedly typed a mission status report into his computer and sent it to the Sloane, then wrote another and emailed it to the CIA. He poured two glasses of the champagne left by the hotel personnel and walked out on to the balcony.

"All set?" Sydney asked, taking the offered glass and making room on the cushioned bench. He kissed her lightly and they spent the rest of the evening lounging on the balcony and watching the ever-changing colors of the Paris night.

Finally, Chapter Six!!!! I must admit I'm having fun writing this! I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can, but I have no idea when that's going to be.

Review please! I love hearing from you guys, and I'd love any suggestions or comments!