Title: If Only Once More

Arthur: Secret Agent Girl (SAG)

Rating: Hard PG-13 (mainly because I don't feel it's R but a touch more than PG-13)

'Ship: S/V

Spoilers: Everything is up to Countdown is fair game.

A/N: School is officially over… tomorrow. But see, during my French exam… hi who got a burst of ingenious? Yeah, that's right… ME. Yeah. Totally and completely after I finished my exam like grabbed some paper and started furiously writing. Which is why you get this today rather than tomorrow!!! Enjoy!!

Ch. 9

            The world seemed to move as if in slow motion. He could see Sark's fist fly towards him seconds before it happened, but seemed powerless to stop it. He felt himself falling backwards landing hard as Sark stood.

            And then she was flying towards him. Her once powerful and agile body crumbling under Sark as he flung her away. He knew what was coming as Sark shifted his body, his gun falling upon her. He watched in terror as Sark's grip tightened around the trigger. His heart screamed for him to do something, anything to save her, but he could only sit in shock as each second seemed to take an hour to pass.

            Seconds before it happened his mind finally caught up to speed and he began to struggle to stand.

            "No!" He cried out in horror as the shot rang out and froze in place as the body crumbled to the ground before him.

            His breath caught in his throat as he watched it fall, disbelief playing across his face. How…? Spinning around he found his answer.

            Jack stood in the open door, his gun poised straight ahead of him, trained on the exact spot in which Sark had been standing.

            "Are you ok?" Jack asked as Vaughn stared at him. "Vaughn?"

            Vaughn blinked in response as his heart began to beat again.

            "Yeah." He breathed as he turned to look at the body on the ground.

            Sark was dead.

            Forcing all thought of the last minute from his mind, he raced forward to where Sydney lay. He bent down and began frantically searching for a pulse. As he struggled to find one, the reality that her fall, combined with her weakened state could have killed her began to drift down upon him.

            "No, damn it. Come on Sydney." He pleaded softly as he searched. "Don't you dare do this to me damn it, not now. Not when I just got you back…o thank God." He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt her fait pulse. Leaning close to her he could see her chest rise and fall ever so slightly.

            She was there, but she was fading fast.

            "Jack." Vaughn croaked as he moved to place her in his arms. "We have to get her to a doctor fast. I don't know how much longer…" He trailed off as he met the older man's gaze.

            "There's a helicopter waiting for us." Jack replied as he watched his daughter's limp body slowly rise into the safety of the younger man's arms.

            Vaughn nodded as he grasped her, careful not to damage her any more. He quickly made to move past Jack. Racing out of the building he saw the helicopter sitting idly several yards ahead and held her tight as he rushed towards it.

            Hurrying inside he placed her down on the bench, her head cradled in his lap as Jack moved to the front informing the pilot that they could leave.

            Glancing down at her, he began to run his fingers through her hair absentmindedly. She seemed to be so peaceful. Almost as if she had simply fallen asleep on his lap. Tears welled in his eyes and he wished for nothing more than for that to be the case.

             He kept his gaze on her as she slept silently, her head pillowed in his lap, the TV casting an eerie blue glow in the background. He didn't even notice that the movie had finished. His sights had been on her since she had fallen asleep.

            He leaned back against his hand, watching as she breathed deeply in her sleep and shifted slightly, the movement forcing her eyes away. She blinked and yawned before twisting to look up at him.

            "Hi."

            "Hi." He smiled back as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Have a nice nap?"

            She smiled sheepishly and ran a hand across her tired face. "How long have I been out?"

            "About an hour or so." He whispered, his fingers still entwined in her long locks.

            "I missed the ending." She whined slightly as she noticed the blue of the TV.

            "So did I." He smiled at her nervous expression.

            "You didn't seriously sit here and watch me sleep for an hour, did you?"

            "Yeah." He replied sheepishly. "What can I say? You're beautiful."

            She smiled and leaned up, kissing him softly. "I'm lucky, you know that?" She ran a hand across his cheek, feeling the slight stubble that lay on it. "You are the sweetest, most wonderful man I have ever met."

            "I try." He shrugged as she laughed softly.

            "So, what really happened at the end of the movie?"

            "I have no idea." He told her truthfully. "Last thing I can remember is that Melanie had finally gotten Jake to sign the papers and was getting all ready for her wedding."

            "Damn. I've been wanting to see this for a while too." She sighed dramatically. "We'll just have to renew it and watch it again."

            "No we won't." He stated matter-of-factly. "There are only so many chick flicks I can stand. The old ones, I'm not too bad with. The ones with Tom Hanks, I can handle. I'm all for You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Joe Vs. The Volcano  hell I'll even do When Harry Met Sally but there is only so much a man can take!"

            She laughed and kissed him softly. "What if I let you rent a movie of your choice too? Anything you want."

            "Anything?"

            "Anything."

            "Ok, but I'll warn you now. You really want to rent this again, I'm renting the 1993 Stanley Cup finals. Kings vs. The Canadians." He smiled as she laughed lightly.

            "Whatever." She rolled her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her again. "Hey, you know what?"

            "What?"

            "I bet they'll make it next year." She whispered as he smiled softly.

            "Of course they will. And we'll go to every game held here."

            "I'd like that." She smiled as he leaned down and kissed her. "You know, I don't think I'm quite so tired anymore." She smiled as he pulled away.

            "Good. Me neither." He flung back before pulling her up and capturing her lips in his once again.

            Tears built in his eyes as images of her ran through his head. Why? The question kept reverberating in his mind. Why had Sloane done this to her? Sloane…

            "Jack." He called out weakly, suddenly alert. The older man turned at the sound and looked the younger man dead on. "Sloane?" Jack could only shake his head no.

            Vaughn sighed as he leaned back against the cushions of the seat and ran his fingers through Sydney's hair. Bending down he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

            "Just hold on Syd. We're going to be there soon. Jut hold on." He kissed her forehead once more before whispering, "I love you."