Title: The Vaughn's
Author: AnnaSun
Summary: Adventures with the Vaughn family. Sequel to 'One wedding and a near funeral'
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers note: I don't own Alias but I do this fanfic
Chapter 14: Reuniting each other
Sydney lay in bed drenched in sweat. In the last few hours her temperature had risen even more so the Doctor had soaked her sheets in cold water to bring her fever down. Vaughn sat at her side worrying about her. Jack had come to see her in the night to sit with her but Sydney had been too ill to even open her eyes. She had been sleeping most of the time. When she had been awake she'd been so drugged up that she could hardly stay awake. She had been feeling so dizzy and sick that the Doctor was giving her drugs to keep it from happening. Vaughn had left Madi in Jack's care for the next day, as he didn't want her to see Sydney in the state that she was in. He feared it would be too much for her and she'd have nightmares. Vaughn sat quietly by Sydney side. She stirred and opened her eyes.
"Hey Honey." Vaughn said, taking her hand and stroking it comfortingly.
Sydney smiled, her forehead creased in pain. Vaughn noticed this and went to get a Nurse who gave Sydney some more drugs. In a matter of minutes Sydney was fast asleep again. A while later the Doctor came in to check on Sydney.
"How is she?" Vaughn asked very worried.
"Her temperature is coming down so the wet sheets must be working. Hopefully in a few hours she may be well enough to have something to eat."
Vaughn nodded.
"Maybe Madi can come and see her later. She needs to see Sydney."
"Yes that is a good idea but I don't want Sydney to be too stressed out with Madi in the room. She needs to rest."
"Okay." Vaughn replied.
Vaughn sat next to Sydney, stroking her hand. She turned over in her sleep and her eyes opened a crack.
"Hey Honey. How are you feeling?"
Sydney looked up at Vaughn and smiled slightly at him.
"I feel like hell." She admitted.
Vaughn leaned in and kissed her warm forehead.
"Don't worry everything will be okay. Get some sleep. I'll be right here."
"Thanks." Sydney mumbled drowsily and drifted off to sleep again.
Sydney woke up a few hours later just as the Nurse was bringing in her food.
"Here you go. You might not feel like eating it but it will do you good. Let me just listen to your heart and lungs and check your temperature."
Sydney nodded and let the nurse get on with her work. She finished as Vaughn came in carrying a cup of coffee.
"How is she?" Vaughn asked.
"Her temperature has decreased slightly. Otherwise heart and lung sounds are fine."
"Good to hear." Vaughn said smiling.
The Nurse smiled and left the room.
"I'm not eating this." Sydney moaned and pushed the food away.
"Syd I know it looks horrible but you have to keep your strength up."
Sydney ate a little bit of it and screwed up her face, turning very white.
"Syd you okay?" Vaughn was worried.
Sydney clamped her hand over her mouth and tried not to be sick all over the bed. Vaughn instantly could see what was wrong and raced to find a bowl. He found one near the desk down the hall and raced back in just in time. Sydney was sitting throwing her guts up. She was wheezing with each breath she took and Vaughn got very worried.
"Syd you're wheezing. I'm going to get a Doctor."
Sydney shook her head and the heaves ceased.
"I'm okay now." She reassured, her breathing evening out.
Vaughn looked at her unsurely but she reassured with her eyes that she was okay.
"I was thinking of bringing Madi in later." Vaughn said.
"That would be great." Sydney said, "Although I don't remember anything about her. It's going to break her heart."
"I know but she needs to find out sooner of later." Vaughn replied.
"Yeah she does. I'll have to thank Dad for looking after her."
"She can be such a handful at times. A few days ago she wouldn't go to bed. She's been having nightmares."
Sydney got worried.
"Nightmares? What about?"
"She's worried about you. I've told her how sick you are. I think she was worried you might die but now you look better than when she first came in."
Sydney smiled.
"I don't feel better though. When I eat I throw up and my head throbs all the time."
Sydney let out a sigh.
"Why can't life go back to how it was before this happened. I wouldn't have felt like this then and I would remember Madi." A tear slipped past Sydney's eye and Vaughn wiped it away with his thumb.
"Everything's going to be okay. I'll make sure of that."
Vaughn caressed Sydney's cheek.
In the afternoon Sydney's wheeze started to act up again. Vaughn had gone to collect Madi and when he returned Sydney was lying on her side taking very shallow breaths. Vaughn noticed this and was instantly by her side.
"Syd hang in there I'm going to get a Doctor."
Sydney didn't argue this time. Vaughn raced outside to where Madi was sitting.
"Can I see Mummy now?" She asked quietly.
Vaughn shook his head.
"I'm sorry Mummy's very sick right now and I need to find a Doctor."
Madi pouted her lips.
"You said she was sick last time. I want to see her."
Vaughn could almost see the tears developing in Madi's eyes. He bent down so he was at eye level with her.
"I'm so sorry Sweetheart Mummy really wants to see you but she's really sick. She needs to see a Doctor and she's going to make her feel better."
Madi nodded, not quite understanding.
"What's wrong with Mummy?" Madi asked.
"Its hard to explain. Right now she's having a little trouble breathing and that's why I need to find a Doctor. Can you wait here whilst I go find one okay?"
Madi nodded.
"I'll stay here promise."
"Good girl." Vaughn smiled and kissed her on the head.
He made his way down the corridor and found the Doctor coming out of another room.
"Doctor?" He asked. The Doctor turned round.
"Hello Mr Vaughn what can I do for you?"
"Its Sydney. She's wheezing." Vaughn said.
"Okay I'll follow you."
Vaughn guided the Doctor back to Sydney's room. Sydney was still in the same position. The Doctor walked over to her side.
"Sydney can you tell me how you're feeling?"
"Slightly out of breath. My chest feels a little tight." Sydney replied.
"Okay can you sit up for me so I can listen to your lungs?"
Sydney nodded and started to sit up in bed but collapsed back down feeling dizzy.
"Easy now." The Doctor soothed and helped Sydney into sitting position. "Maybe try that a bit slower next time especially if you're feeling dizzy."
"Yeah." Sydney agreed.
The Doctor listened to Sydney's lungs before putting her stethoscope back around her neck.
"Okay there is a slight rasp in your breathing. It's not bad at the moment. What I think may be the case is that you still have some water on your lungs. I want you to stay sitting up and hopefully it will go away on its own. As you're having trouble breathing I want you to wear this oxygen mask. Is that alright?"
Sydney nodded and the Doctor slipped the oxygen mask over her nose and mouth.
"Get some rest and I'll check on you in an hour and see how you're doing."
"Thanks." Sydney said smiling.
The Doctor smiled back and left the room.
"You okay now?" Vaughn asked her.
Sydney nodded.
"Sorry I scared you."
"Scared me? Syd you didn't scare me. At least you're okay now and that's all that matters."
Vaughn kissed Sydney on the forehead.
"I've got Madi outside and she's like to see you."
Sydney smiled
"Bring her in."
"Mummy!" Madi cried and rushed through the doors into Sydney's arms.
Sydney held onto Madi not sure whether she should hug her tight or not.
"I really missed you Mummy. Did you miss me?" Madi said hopefully.
Sydney looked at Madi not sure what to say. Of course she hadn't missed Madi she'd forgotten who she was. She looked to Vaughn for an answer.
"So Madi." Vaughn said changing the subject "Why don't you show Mummy that painting you did for her."
"Yeah!" Madi shouted and pulled the piece of paper out of her bag. "This is you and I at the zoo. Remember the penguins that's them." Madi pointed to them in the picture.
"That's lovely Madi." Sydney replied, unsure what to say.
"Yeah I love the day at the zoo and the penguins were my favourite animal."
Sydney didn't reply and a tear slipped passed her eye.
"Mummy what's wrong are you sick again?"
Sydney burst into tears and Vaughn pulled her into a hug. Madi started to cry as well.
"I'm sorry I upset Mummy." Madi sobbed.
Vaughn pulled her into a hug as well.
"Shhh it wasn't your fault. Mummy's just not feeling very well as present."
"Why is Mummy sad?" Madi asked.
Vaughn put Madi on his lap.
"Do you remember when you were three and you fell and hit your head." Vaughn asked.
"Yeah I had to go to hospital."
"That's right. Do you remember telling me you couldn't remember what happened?"
Madi nodded.
"My head hurt a lot."
"Yeah well Mummy's head hurts a lot too and she can't remember either. She's having a hard time remembering you so you'll have to help her."
"Did she fall and hit her head too?" Madi asked.
"Yeah something like that. Her memory will come back soon just like yours."
Madi nodded.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Vaughn asked, not sure if Madi understood what he was talking about.
Madi nodded.
"Good." Vaughn said. "Why don't you tell Mummy about your day whilst I get some coffee and talk to the Doctor."
"Okay." Madi replied and Vaughn left the room.
Madi chatted with Sydney for about ten minutes before Sydney started to become breathless. Her breathlessness grew steadily worse and suddenly the monitors started to beep harshly and Sydney collapsed against the bed gasping for breath…
AN: Thanks for the updates. Sorry for the long wait. I haven't been in the mood to write. More up soon I hope.