A/N: You're in luck. It's a 2 for 1 day. Here's the next part. Enjoy.

Work and Pleasure

On her way back to the Ops Center, Sydney tried to stay calm. She knew that Vaughn was calling her in simply to giver her more information about her counter-mission, but she couldn't help but loathe being back in his presence so soon after their fight. She still felt insulted by him, and she definitely was not ready to forgive him yet, so she knew that whatever conversation they would have to engage in would be tense, even spiteful.

Upon entering the office, she marched straight to Vaughn's desk, knowing he would be there waiting for her. However, she kept her eyes focused on the ground as she approached him, not wanting to meet his gaze. She even kept that action up during their conversation, focusing her line of sight on anything but him.

Not wanting to waste time, or breath over an apology that he frankly felt he wasn't responsible for and which he didn't think she would accept anyway, he started feeding her the necessary information as soon as she arrived at his desk.

"Once you recover the gyroscope, you and Dixon will separate for your flights home." Pointing to the blueprint on his desk, he continued, "Our team will be set up in this utility room where they will duplicate the gyroscope." He looked at Sydney for a response. Receiving none, and suspecting from her posture that she wasn't even paying attention to him, he asked a mite angrily, "Any questions?"

Finally meeting his gaze, but only for an instant as she next turned her attention to the blueprint and answered him subtly sarcastically, "Maybe you should go over it again. That's a pretty complicated plan. Maybe you could make it easier." She looked at him poignantly, hoping he would feel the sting behind her seemingly innocent words.

He nodded knowingly, understanding all too well what she meant. Having had too much of her attitude he decided to bring and end to their caustic banter.

His voice was low in frustration, "Ok, look. I don't want to be here any more than you do—"

Thankful, he was spared from having to say more, and perhaps only be successful in starting another fight, as Weiss joined them merrily, oblivious to their tiff.

After a warm greeting with Sydney, he immediately turned to business – one that Sydney and Vaughn had had just about enough of.

"Alright, bring me up to speed. What's our plan?"

Vaughn and Sydney could only look away, not knowing what else to say that the other would not take offense to.

Luckily for Sydney, she had an out.

She rushed away saying, "I should get to my plane."

Not even looking at her, Vaughn said in monotone, "I'll see you in France," their exchange leaving Weiss utterly confused.

Later, in Nice…

Having the gyroscope in her possession, Sydney strode quickly into the utility room. Upon entering, her eyes were drawn to Vaughn's in a kind of truce now that the hard part of the job was over. She made her way over to him as he finished up his telephone call.

He deadpanned, "They're estimating two hours until the gyroscope is ready." He paused, not really expecting a response, and caught the glance from Weiss, as Vaughn prepared himself from what he would say next.

He swallowed and looked down a few times, mustering up the courage to actually go through with it. "Listen, do you want to go to dinner?"

That simple question finally brought Sydney's eyes to his. "When we were driving in town, I saw this place – Rousseau, I think it's called."

It took her a moment to come up with a reply, and even then, she spoke unsurely. "Vaughn… We… we can't do that." Smiling a little, she looked at him in slight disbelief of his suggestion.

"Why not," he persisted.

She kept her gaze on him, looking at him as if he were crazy. "Well," she answered, "for a million reasons. If Alliance security sees us together, they'll – kill us."

Back to his favorite argument weapon – reason – he countered her, "The nearest Alliance cell is in Zurich. The CIA tracks SD-6 security section. There haven't been any signals, no movement…"

Still in disbelief, she asked, "You're serious?"

He was on a roll now, and reason actually seemed to be working this time. "We've been to restaurants and sat near each other. We've met in parks and convenient stores, and all of them in L.A. where we are much more likely to be seen. Look, two things: one, I think it's not that great a risk, and two, I'm hungry. I'm starving. I mean, we're going to be together anyway; why can't we be eating. Aren't you hungry?"

She smiled at his logic. "Yeah, I'm hungry."

She took a few moments to respond to him, but her answer was inevitable. She had the chance to go on a date with Vaughn; there was no way in hell that SD-6 was going to stand in her way any longer.

"Let's do it."

"Yeah?" he smiled.

She nodded in happy agreement, purple hair, nose ring, and all. "I'm going to change."

He laughed. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"Okay," she said, smile still plastered on her face, as she picked up her backpack and left Vaughn to celebrate with Weiss.

TBC