Alternate Infatuation

Sequel to Alternate Existence. We all know that certain people are simply destined to be together. When Syd finally gets out of the life of espionage she was drawn into at sixteen, how will she find her own destiny?

Chapter 7: Clearance

Disclaimer: Author does not own most of these characters. Said author does not wish to be sued. However, Jeffrey is all mine! This is also my original plot, and if anything resembling it ever shows up on Alias, I'm suing!

The atmosphere as Vaughn walked with Sydney to her door was one of reckless abandon. Vaughn could no longer hear she's too young bouncing around in his head, and Sydney was more that willing to give herself over to the comfortable tone he unconsciously set.

"I enjoyed this," Sydney murmured as she paused outside her door, trying to gauge how open Vaughn might be to suggestions of further companionship.

"Me too," Vaughn said in a low voice. He wasn't sure what to do now, with Sydney looking at him with that expression of complete contentment.

He nervously reached out and took her keys from her hand. He kept his eyes on hers as he unlocked her door and saw excitement there, and when disappointment appeared he felt like his heart had dropped like a stone into his stomach.

"Jeff's still here," Sydney said, her voice regretful.

The sting of rejection quickly eased into the ache of disappointment, and he forced a smile and handed Sydney her keys after pushing her door open.

"Another time, then," he said, leaning over painfully slowly to brush a light kiss across her lips.

Sydney closed her eyes, savoring the electric feel that spread like five through her entire body, paralyzing her for an instant.

"Yes," she breathed, her eyes opening wide of their own accord. "Another time."

She hesitantly pushed her door open just enough to slip in, not wanting to break eye contact with Vaughn.

She smiled softly and eased the door closed.

Sydney leaned against the door for a brief moment while a broad smile spread across her face, then she danced toward the spare bedroom, suddenly unbelievably giddy and looking for Jeffrey to share in her happiness.

"Jeffrey!" she called happily. "Jeffrey, where are you? Quit playing, Jeff!"

Then she saw the suitcase flipped over on the bed, clothes spilled across the spread, which was half on the floor. The handle had been torn off of a dresser drawer, as if hit by a blunt object.

After a moment of complete panic, Sydney spun and careened through the apartment to the door.

"Vaughn!" she shouted, her voice much louder than she'd intended, causing her shout to echo in the hall.

Vaughn, almost to the elevator now, turned back, and alarm too his features when he was the fear written plainly on Sydney's face.

"Syd?" he said questioningly, already starting at a trop toward her.

"Jeffrey's gone!" Sydney gasped as he grabbed her arms, unsure she was steady.

She threw her arms outward, shaking out of his grasp.

"Why are you just standing here?!?" she demanded.

"Sydney, calm down," Vaughn said.

"No! Vaughn, Jeffrey's been kidnapped!"

More furious now at Vaughn's disbelief even than she was fearful over Jeff's disappearance, Sydney pushed Vaughn away when he tried to take hold of her arms again and stalked back inside.

"Why did I even bother?" she snapped. "You can't help me. After all that, you still can't see me as an equal!"

"No, wait!" Vaughn just caught the door before it was slammed in his face. "Syd, wait!"

Sydney spun on him.

"You leave me alone! Get out of my apartment, now! I'll find my friend myself, without any help from you!" she yelled.

"Sydney, come on, I just…what makes you think he was kidnapped?" Vaughn tried.

Sydney didn't move.

"Get out."

"Sydney, I'm sorry. Tell me, what's wrong?" Vaughn pleaded. He didn't want her mad at him, and she'd been genuinely upset about her friend. If she'd just talk to him, he could alleviate her fears.

But her eyes were hard and angry now.

"I don't need your help."

Vaughn stared, holding her gaze for a long moment. Then he stepped to the side and walked past her, further into her apartment.

"Hey!" she cried, trailing after him as he stalked around looking for any hint something was wrong. "That's my bedroom! Get out of here!"

Vaughn continued his methodical search. Sydney finally crossed her arms across her chest and leaned against the doorframe to wait.

When he finished his search, he moved on to the next room--and froze in the doorway.

"This, you condescending ass hole, is the room Jeff was staying in," she said calmly, stopping a good six feet behind him.

"God, Sydney, I'm sorry," Vaughn said after a moment. "I'll go in to the CIA, and report…"

"The hell you will," Sydney snapped. "I'm going too."

"You're a civilian," he said firmly.

"I'm a former agent," she corrected, moving toward the door. "In fact, I may still have some clearance."

Poor Vaughn…he has no idea what he's gotten himself into! What will he do?