Hey, thanks to all my reviewers, alpineracer88, abdefg, sheeplover, pickynicky, alias gurl, this is for you, I think you'll like this chapter a lot!!!! Tee hee, Michael finally grows a brain!!!!

The Other Side of the Story Part X
By: Leo's l'il sista

" Agent Vaughn."

Michael stopped in his tracks when he heard Kendall's voice behind him as he entered the building to work that morning.

" Sir, good morning," he stammered, somewhat professionally.

" Agent Vaughn, there was a disturbance on the pier last night," his boss began.

Michael gulped, hard. Kendall didn't sound like he was accusing him of being there and not notifying him, but then again, with Kendall, it was always pretty hard to tell what he was thinking.

" Sir?" Vaughn asked, looking like this was the first time he'd heard about the news.

" We didn't know about it because the operation was kept strictly within the branches of the police force and that of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Kendall went on, getting testier by the minute. " And that raises the suspicion that the shipment may not have been drugs."

" But sir, I was…" Michael blurted out, but caught himself in time before giving away any crucial details.

" What was that, Agent Vaughn?" Kendall demanded, raising an eyebrow at him.

" Um, nothing sir. It's irrelevant to the situation we are discussing," Michael said quickly.

" Very well, Vaughn. Now anyway, I want to find out what the F.B.I has got on their database in conjunction with this mission," Kendall ordered, sternly. " Marshall should be able to help you get into their data base. Whatever you find, report directly to me. I want a full findings report on my desk by the end of this evening."

" Yes, sir."

" Very well then, you are excused," Kendall said, approvingly and went on his way.

Michael began cursing himself on his way to his desk. He fell into his chair, slammed his suitcase on the top of his desk and rubbed his face, tiredly.

" Morning Michael," Weiss greeted, when he saw his friend had arrived.

" I'm so stupid," Michael said in something that was a little louder than a whisper, completely oblivious to Eric's greeting.

" Bad night, huh?" Eric sympathized, turning off his computer screen, and turned to give Michael his full attention. " That would be the only excuse for the always professional Vaughn to come to work with afternoon shadow."

" So I felt the shaver at my house," Michael growled but still looked extremely disappointed in himself, as he felt his face.

" And where were you last night if you weren't at his house?" Eric inquired. " You didn't stay all night at the hospital did you?" But knowing how Vaughn was trying to be a good husband, Eric expected him to say, "yes."

" No, I was at a hotel," Michael replied, as he switched his monitor on and logged in.

" What? Why?" Eric inquired, curiously.

" Jess and I started talking and then we started arguing. It got really tense. I was really shocked at some of the things she'd said about Sydney and I realized how jealous Jess was getting of Syd and how much she doesn't trust me," Michael explained. " And I really just got tired of it."

" What did she say?"

" That Sydney," he began and then lowered his voice, " that Sydney was trying to shoot her."

" Oh my God! Is she going to the police?"

" No, Eric, because it's not true! This just proves she can't deal with Syd in my life! And get this, she says I have to quit my job because as long as Syd and I work together, Syd can get to her and therefore she thinks she's in danger!" he fumed.

" Well, Syd is your ex, Mike. It'll be weird if you wife doesn't mind you associating with your ex. Especially since you technically never stopped loving her."

" I know, and really, I'm tired of making Jess feel this way. Her paranoia is my fault, so I've decided to spend time away from her and finish things with Syd," Michael reported.

" Finish things? I thought you finished things when you gave up on ever seeing her again?"

" But now she's back. And you're right, Weiss. I do love her. I never stopped loving her. We didn't break up, we were separated by powers that we couldn't control. And it's time for me to admit to myself, that I have to be clear with Syd, all the way. She needs to know how I feel. If I didn't love her, why would I have cried when I thought I lost her, and why would I keep making excuses to be with her? It just makes sense now."

" Okay, I'm proud you've come to this conclusion since both you and Sydney deserve this honesty, but what are you going to do Mike, if Sydney still loves you? Are you going to divorce Jessica?"

" I've told myself I'm obligated to be with Jessica because she is my wife. But I don't know how much longer we can do this. It's unhealthy and making both of us miserable."

" I've known that forever, but you've held out for this long," Weiss countered, " what changed your mind this time?"

" She said, " I love you," to me, and for once, I couldn't say those words back. Because I don't, not the way I've always loved Syd."

" Y~~~you're growing up, Michael. Good for you. I just hope you know what you're doing this time, it doesn't seem you really knew last time," Eric teased, good-naturedly.

" Yeah, all right, Weiss. Well, I've got a report to do on last night's bust, you seen Marshall this morning?" Michael asked, swerving his chair around and then stood up.

He saw Sydney.

" Syd!" he smiled as he took in her brown locks, the sight of her excellent figure. She was talking to an agent. She lifted her head and their eyes met.

" Did she smile?" he wondered.

Yes, she sure did!

" Uh-oh, I think we've lost Agent Vaughn to the world of love," Weiss grinned, looking hopelessly at his buddy.

" Agent Vaughn!"

Michael flipped around to see none other than " Marshall #2," Agent John Stroban.

" Good morning, Agent Stroban, how may I assist you this morning?" Michael inquired, impatiently.

" Well, you're my Operations Officer, now, right? You tell me," he replied, wearing a big grin.

" Oh right!" Michael groaned. He'd just been reviewing his report last night. " Oh um, well, Agent Stroban," he stammered, watching Sydney out of the corner of his eyes.

She was leaving the room.

Oh no!

He wanted to talk to her! He had to think fast!

Then it came to him.

" Oh, okay, can you go and find Marshall for me? I need to go do something."

" Yes, sir, what do I tell him?"

" Th~that I need his assistance," Michael concluded. " Tell him I'll return in a few minutes, and to wait for me."

" Yes, sir," Stroban executed again.

" Um, Weiss, would you mind keeping an eye on Stroban, make sure he doesn't break anything, I'll be right back," Michael pleaded to his friend who smiled knowingly.

" I will, Michael, you just go~~~take care of business."

Michael nodded and ten quickly jogged over to the door he was sure he'd just seen Sydney escape through.

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Had Michael smiled at her?

Yes, he sure had!

This lifted Sydney's spirits a bit, but she was quickly saddened knowing nothing would come of it. He had Jess, she was going to England. Simple as that. But, he had smiled at her and she knew she would at least get through her therapy session with Cowell. Michael may not be by her side like he always used to be, but his presence was somewhat comforting.

" Hello Agent Bristow," Michael greeted, coming to a stop a few feet behind Sydney.

Sydney turned around, shocked, but smiled. " Hello, Agent Vaughn. Didn't hear you come up."

" I know," he muttered, hastily. " I was going to call you and find out how you were doing but I thought maybe you wanted to be left alone. Rough night and all, I mean. I found out from Weiss you were discharged, so I wasn't pulling out my hair or anything," he added, jokingly. " If I didn't, I would have yelled loud enough to jump you out of a coma!"

" Thank you for your thoughts and consideration," Sydney replied gratefully, knowing Michael meant well. After all, they were still colleagues. She didn't mention that she'd wanted Michael to call, that was until Will had found her. Then she'd felt better.

" Of course. But I'm sure your roommate took care of you and made sure you made it through the night," Michael added, feeling uneasy. He did feel uneasy knowing Sydney was rooming with almost a complete stranger.

" Oh yeah," Sydney thought sarcastically. Actually, she'd taken care of him.

" Um, actually, me and my roommate got into a really huge fight and so I'm actually staying at Will's place," Sydney replied, looking cheery.

" At Will's?" Michael repeated, his confidence taking a nose dive. " But doesn't he have a girlfriend?"

" Yeah, but Will let me stay. And Jane, Will's girlfriend is such a sweetheart! She was the one who insisted on me staying there," Sydney said with a smile. " And so, yeah, I was taken good care of last night."

" Oh~~~great," Michael stammered, having mixed feelings. It didn't seem like Sydney was going to hook-up with Will. But her being at his house made him feel jealous and nervous at the same time. " S~o, you're okay, then?"

" Yeah, bullet's gone, I'm going to have my stitches removed this week. Everything is dandy," she assured him. " No need to worry about me, I've been in worse fixes."

" I agree," Michael chuckled, but it sounded more like a cough.

"So, how is Jessica doing? Is she still in the hospital?" Sydney asked then.

" Yes, but the doctors have checked her out and she's fine. She should be discharged this afternoon," Michael replied, but without any enthusiasm.

" That's great news, Michael. You shouldn't say it like that, makes it sound extremely bad," Sydney teased, folding her arms as though she were trying to intimidate him.

" Yeah, it is, but, well, me and Jess, we got into a really big argument last night and I'm currently spending time away from her," Michael told her, smiling sadly.

He waited for Sydney to look shocked, but hopeful. If Sydney knew him like she'd always known him, she would agree this was their chance to give their not yet died love, another chance.

" That's terrible, especially in the state she's in!" Sydney gasped, angrily. " You're her husband, Michael, you should know not to upset her. I hope it wasn't about me."

Michael didn't answer and suspicion found a place in Sydney's gaze.

" Vaughn?"

" S~Syd, there's something we need to talk about, you and me," he blurted out suddenly.

" N~no, I don't think so. You need to go mend things with your wife. She's the one who needs you right now. I told you, I'm fine," Sydney protested. She didn't want Michael to use the words," you and me." Because as far as she was concerned, there was no, "you and me."

" I'm serious, Syd. I really have something we need to discuss," Michael insisted, his demeanor getting desperate.

" Michael, I don't think we should. In fact, I don't think we should talk unless it's about work. You saw Jessica, she went into shock because of me."

" Sydney, please, just listen to me," Michael begged, getting more impatient by the seconds as he began to lose his nerve.

" I'm sorry, Michael, but I'm in a hurry. I've got a therapy session with Cowell," Sydney rebuked, part apologetically, part trying to find her way out of it.

" Okay, well, we can do it after that," Michael stated. He wasn't going to take no for an answer.

" Maybe, I'll think about it, Vaughn," she groaned, exasperated.

" I'll be waiting, Syd, I'll expect to see you after the therapy session, and if you don't show," he said in almost a threat, " I'll find you."

Sydney was shaken. She had to get away from Michael. At least for the time being. She didn't' know what Michael wanted to say to her but she was sure she didn't want to hear it.

" I've got to go, Michael, good bye," she stammered and hurried away from him.

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Okay, I know it's shorter than the stuff I usually write, but I just had to put this up at least, I have passed my one week deadline and hope to GOD this will hold you out because it's going to get better!!! Yes! I love you all and am working hard. Right now I am working on this, an AMC fic called "too good to be true," and " Brenda," " Living with Trey Duvall," and " Curses 12 Betrayal by a mother," I update weekly on fictionpress.net as Kristina Toffland, so sorry if it's a little later, but please forgive me I love you all REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!! Thanks, hope to hear from ya and I will get to reviewing once my load is back down!! Toodles. Kris