So exactly what happened last episode? Well, I guess Leo's l'il sista
forgot this was going to be S/V? No! You are not going to believe this but
just stick with it, I still think Sydney and Vaughn should be together for
ever. Haa haa, thanks for reviewing: thesheeplover(this work is most
dedicated to her), alpineracer88, pickynicky160, melodyanne, sarabethel,
megvaughn2003, Ms.MV and Zrozedina! Thanks for coming back to review, the
one who did way before anyone!!!!!!! Lots of Love for ya!!!!
Part XI (Part II) The Other Side of the Story Leo's l'il sista
Will didn't move from his position on the couch even though he heard the door unlock and knew the love of his live was home.
"Hello? Anybody home? Will? Sydney?" Jane's voice echoed from the entrance but it was as if Will didn't register either one of those names. And that seemed odd, because wasn't it he who had called her at the hospital, asking if she was on her way home, with an urgency to hold her in his arms?
But Will just sat there.
It had been him, but two phone calls had changed all that.
Vaughn had called his cell that morning, asking if Sydney was sick and staying home. Will had been forced to lie and say yes because Sydney had made him promise her he wouldn't say anything about her plans that morning. Usually, in the past, Will would have loved to lie to Vaughn and say Sydney was with him to make his competition jealous.
But those days were over. He knew how much Vaughn had hurt the first days he realized Sydney was gone after the CIA had issued a "presumed status," for his beloved Sydney Bristow. And Will just didn't think it was right for Syd to disappear yet again, and her plan to go on with a new alias was just wrong.
The second call had been from Sydney telling him she'd put everything on the table and now all she could do was wait. That had made Will sick to his stomach, knowing Sydney would only be a memory soon. And then she'd thanked him for lying to Vaughn while he was feeling nothing but guilt.
So, now here he was sitting, the receiver still clutched in his hand.
"No good afternoon, honey for the doctor who left her duties at the hospital to rush back to her loving fiance?" Jane cooed, coming into the room.
Right. Will had asked Jane to marry him last week, with the help of Sydney. And she'd said, "yes." This was supposed to be the happiest moment of his life.
"Good afternoon, honey," Will crooned and embraced Jane when she was seated next to him.
"You sure it was good?" Jane inquired, and noticed his hand had turned white from squeezing the phone so hard. "Bad phonecall?"
"Two bad phonecalls," Will murmured, creased appeared on his forehead and Jane rubbed his temples soothingly.
"Anything a "wife-in-training," can help with?"
Will couldn't stop himself from grinning. Was he really marrying this sweet and understanding woman? And did he deserve her?
"Could you turn back time and make it so I didn't just lie to Michael and pretended to be happy for Sydney when she announced she's closer to living thousands of miles away from me?" Will groaned, still grinning, trying to keep things light. "Sorry, just thought I'd try. I'm turning into a wreck right now. I'm deceiving two of my good friends, I'm such a bad guy."
"No, Will. You're not. You're my fiance and those two phonecalls hasn't made you any less perfect than the time I said I will be Mrs. Will Tippin," Jane cooed.
The next moment the house was filled with the sound of a wailing baby who knew her mother had come home.
"Will, honey, I'm going to go and see our daughter and coax her to sleep. Then I'll bring in some coffee and we can discuss what's on your mind, then maybe I can figure out a way to cheer you up, even though I'm not Sydney, of course," Jane told him, getting up.
Will came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Jane's neck and kissed her on the cheek. "No, you're not, but that's exactly why I love you. Sydney is amazing, but you're so much more," he said huskily.
"To think I'll be able to hear you shower me with those words for the rest of my life."
"That is until our daughter becomes a teenager and tells us we're out of day," Will teased.
"True love will never be," Jane promised and pecked him on the cheek. "I'll be right back with the refreshments. Try not to break anything while I'm away."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a few minutes, Will saw Jane come back in the living room with a tray and she set it down on the glass table.
"Hey, how is Sydney?"
"Sleeping like an angel," Jane assured him as she handed him a mug. "I think she knows Daddy needs someone to talk to."
"Yeah, she is "Daddy's little angel," he beamed, looking very much like a proud papa.
"Well unfortunately Daddy's little angel is not old enough to understand what is going on with daddy, so Sydney sent mommy to listen to daddy talk."
"Does daddy get a say in this?" he asked, half-grinning.
"No, he doesn't," Jane replied, then dropped the "mommy,daddy," dialogue and became serious. "Really, Will. What's weighing on your mind? I thought you were happy that Sydney was moving on. That you understood."
"I do. I guess I just never thought she would be a million miles away. I just lost Sydney and I thought it was forever, but she came back. If I could, I would have loved to keep an eye on her for a little longer but I can't," Will concluded, heaving his shoulders. "I know that."
"So, you do understand and it's not Sydney," Jane realized, sipping her coffee. "What is it then?"
"It's~~~it's Michael."
"Michael Vaughn? Your old colleague? What's wrong with him?" Jane asked innocently, trying to act like she didn't know where this conversation was going.
"There's nothing wrong with him, not yet. He's finally opening his eyes and trying to do what he should have done," Will assured her, though he was looking unsure as each second passed.
"Well, that's good, right? If Michael goes with his heart and courts her properly, we could have a double wedding," Jane cheered, smiling at the idea. "And I'm not listening to objections. That would the only perfect way to get married, watch our two friends exchange their vows of love."
"I agree completely, Jane darling," Will cooed, lying his head onto his fiance's lap. "But I don't see it happening. Looks like Michael created more damage than he could have hoped to fix. Sydney put it in her request for transfer today."
"Oh," Jane frowned. "I'm sorry, Will."
"Don't be. I have you and that's more than enough," Will replied as Jane massaged his head with her fingers. "But Michael won't."
"He's got a wife," Jane pointed out, earning her a, "you've got to be joking," look from Will. "Well, he does."
"Yes, but Michael was never in love with her as much as I am with you at this very moment," Will reminded her, the guilt rising in him. Then Will paused before he asked, " Don't you think he should know?"
Jane didn't respond.
"I just feel sorry for him, Jane. He married thinking Sydney would never be in his arms again and he's been tossing and turning between being faithful to his wife and to his heart. And just when Michael realizes he needs to be truthful to himself, Sydney does what she thinks is right and is going to leave~~~for good!' Will whined, trying to get Jane to see his side. "Michael went thought hell when he was told Sydney was dead, I don't know what he's going to do if she disappears again. He's not even going to know what him."
Jane understood what Will was feeling and gave him a sympathizing glance.
"Which brings me to the question preying on the edges of my mind since Sydney told me about London and about doing it without telling anyone, Should I tell Michael what Sydney is about to do?" he murmured, and looked straight up into Jane's clear brown eyes.
"Will, I know how you feel and I know it must suck to lie to your friend to please another but, you can't control the universe, Will," Jane tried to explain without hurting her fiance's delicate feelings.
"In other words, stay out of it."
Jane nodded. "If Sydney is the decent woman I think she is, she's going to tell Michael Vaughn. And really, if she's going to transfer, everyone will soon find out."
"You don't know the CIA," Will thought to himself.
"Let them figure it out, Will. You've done enough," Jane coaxed him, leaving Will wondering what had he done. Jane didn't like the position Michael and Sydney had put him in.
"Usually I would agree with you, and Syd is a decent woman, a most kind human being. But she lost two years o her life. That's going to change a woman no matter strong or how great she is," Will argued. "And I know I can't control the universe but I can do this and help Michael. Maybe then he'll figure out how he can fix what he screwed up and get Sydney to drop her fears and learn to love him again.
Jane saw a determination grow within Will's beautiful irises and couldn't help but support what Will believed was right and would prove best for all involved.
"Well, Will, it looks like you've all ready made up your mind without my help," Jane concluded, smiling. "I guess that leaves one question from me. "If I were leaving tomorrow, and I told Sydney, wouldn't you want her to tell you?"
Will's face hardened, as he thought, "is that a question?" But a second later, he understood what Jane was getting at.
"So, I tell him."
"I'm not going to tell you what to do and in other cases, I'd probably tell you to stay out of it. But you're right, their relationship has all ready had a painful strain. Give Sydney till the day before she leaves. If she doesn't say anything, you go and you tell him."
Will nodded, feeling lighter about knowing he would tell his friend but at the same time, heavier, knowing he was going to break the promise of another. He only hoped he was doing the right thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Michael very wearily pulled himself out of his car. He was looking very tired. He had looked at the clock on his dash and it had been past ten when he'd finally completed the report Kendall had wanted. But that had been his fault, 50% of the time he'd been trying to find out what Sydney was up to by trying again to break into the database, the other 40% of the time he'd barked out of nowhere at the world and Weiss had been forced to listen to all of it.
He had to say he appreciated Weiss even more now than before. Weiss had listened to his rants, smiling in agreement whenever possible and offering a refill of caffeine whenever his cup was empty.
So it wasn't until Michael was in the driveway he realized he was home. The house was dark.
Good. Jessica seemed to all ready be asleep. He would crash on the couch and leave before Jessica woke up, she would never have to know.
He fumbled with his keys and somehow managed to open the door. He crept in, lugging his briefcase, and then took off his shoes and somehow managed to hang his coat in the closet, within the darkness.
He was done using the bathroom and was getting ready to make arrangements for sleeping on the couch when he heard a voice shout.
"Okay! Don't move or I call 911!" Jessica swore, coming down the stairs.
"Shit!" Michael grumbled. He'd woken Jess up. Now he had to leave. He couldn't believe he was being run out of his own house, but it was either that or pretend he loved her.
"I'm turning on the light," Jessica told the "intruder," in a very calm tone that sort of surprised Michael.
Michael had thought about leaving, but instead he stood there as the light filled the room, bracing himself to look at the wife he'd been avoiding for six days.
He stared at Jessica, clad in a nightgown, pointing a gun at him. Whoa? Where had she gotten a gun? He didn't recognize it. He put his hand to his back pocket and felt his gun there. So it had to be hers.
"You can put the gun down, Jess," Michael told her calmly, and Jessica did retreat, her face registering shock. "Good."
"M~Michael? God! I didn't know it was you, I wouldn't have shot at you. I wouldn't have even pointed a gun at you," Jessica protested, relieved that her husband was home. "But now you're home, and that's all that matter." She reached her arms to him but Michael took hold of her hands and pushed them down.
"I think you're misunderstood, I'm not home," Michael said coldly, loosening his tie.
"Don't talk to me like I'm stupid," Jessica playfully scolded him. "You're here, where we've been living since we became husband and wife. I know we had a fight but this has been our home for the last year, almost two."
Michael ignored her words and looked instead at the weapon in her hand.
"I don't remember you having a gun, want to tell me where you got it?"
"Michael, come on, it's your first day back, must you look at me like I'm a low human being?" Jessica complained, wearing a pouty expression.
"Yes, since if my memory serves correctly, the last thing you did to me was low," Michael told her, looking more irritated than usual from his red eyes and grouchy demeanor.
"But it was true, Michael! You're just shocked by her return and you're feeling sorry for her. I understand that, but it's for your own good. Sydney did shoot at me, believe me!"
"I don't know if you stand on any grounds to say anything, Jess," Michael argued, Jess's words going in one ear and going out the other. "You're the one with a gun I didn't know about."
"Michael, this is ridiculous! Yes, I have a gun. I don't know why that's so wrong! The majority of Americans have guns!" Jessica shrieked angrily. "You have one!"
"Yes, but that's because I wanted one to protect you," Michael reminded her. Then Michael got very quiet that it scared her, and asked in a very hollow tone. "Jessica, are you sure it wasn't you that tried to kill Sydney that night, and she pointed a gun at you in defense?"
"Oh Michael, you're unbelievable! Sydney got shot by a gang member! It's been confirmed by the LAPD! So that means I didn't shoot at her, but that doesn't clear Sydney of not shooting at me!"
"No, she saved your life," Michael repeated, not willing to believe anything else.
"Well Michael, if you want to believe it that much, tell me, has Sydney told you why we were even at the pier in the first place?" Jessica demanded, folding her arms.
"N~no," Michael replied. But then he hadn't had a work with her or seen a hair of Sydney's since she'd itched him in the parking lot.
"Well maybe you should know. Maybe you should ask her," Jessica told him, confidently. "But knowing Sydney, she'll try to distract you by trying to make love to you~~~"
"SHUT UP!"
"Ooh, have I hit a nerve?" Jessica inquired, wearing a teasing smile. "You've been lounging at your ex-girlfriend's haven't you? Would make sense."
"No, I haven't," Michael replied as he punched his pillow and set it on the couch.
Jessica was stunned.
"And it's really none of your business but I haven't spoken to Sydney Bristow either. I told you I went on a leave for personal recollection."
"So you really didn't go to Sydney?"
"No," Michael replied, trying not to groan. If Sydney had allowed him back into her arms, he would be there in a flash.
"So, have you finally opened your eyes and realized there's a good reason why God put us together?"
"No, Jess. And I'm sorry about that," nice guy Michael lamented, his eyes filled with genuine sorrow.
"You're sorry? Then why did you come home, Michael? You obviously don't want to be here," Jessica demanded, not knowing if she was more angry or more sad.
"Hard day at work. I arrived here before I knew it. I didn't mean to wake you up. I was hoping to crash here and be gone before you even knew," Michael admitted. "Getting shot at wasn't on my list."
Jessica bit her lips, tears filled her large eyes. "You hate me, Michael?"
"I don't have you, Jess," Michael told her gently. "Personally, I don't think we know enough about each other to hate each other. It's just Sydney, she's the love of my life. That's not your fault, it's just the way things are."
Jessica actually listened to the words the husband she loved said to her and her heart-ached. Finally after a pause she whimpered.
"Michael, are you ever going to return to me?"
Michael looked seriously at her and shrugged. "I honestly can't say, Jessica."
Jessica was stung and begun to sob, wondering where she had gone wrong. She was Jessica Cozier, the sought after honey during her high school, college and after college career. So why did Michael want plain- Jane Sydney more than her with the gorgeous hispanic body. It just didn't make sense.
"Listen, Jess. If you'll let me crash here, I'll pretend tonight didn't happen and not press charges or ask you about your gun. I know you're a decent woman, Jess, and if you're the woman I married, you'll stop accusing Sydney of trying to kill you and accept she saved your life," Michael told her, looking at her with warm eyes, and a hint of smile on his lips. "By the way, I'm glad you're out of the hospital, guess you're going to be okay," he added as his eyelids closed, having no strength left to keep himself awake any longer.
Jessica stared at Michael, sleeping so peacefully she couldn't have any animosity against him at that moment. She pulled the throw cloth from the edge of the couch and covered him with it.
She stared at him for a moment and then climbed onto the couch next to her sleeping husband. At least that much was true, they were still married.
Michael shifted his body and unconsciously pulled her against his chest and wrapped her with his arms. She assumed he must be dreaming of Sydney, or maybe Michael had gotten used to having her next to him as he slept. Whatever the reason, Jessica felt very warm and safe in Michael's arms, so safe she didn't even think she needed to lock the door. Besides, she didn't want to move and risk him waking up.
She instead threw off her robe. She glanced at Michael's hand and saw he was still wearing the ring, their ring. She kissed his hand, held it tightly in her grasp and closed her eyes, wishing the morning would never come, or that God would knock some sense into him and when he opened his eyes, he would see her and not want to get up and go to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael woke up the next morning and saw Jessica in his arms, only he thought it was Sydney.
"Syd?" he murmured but then recognized it was Jess right before he laid his lips onto hers.
God! Had she been sleeping next to him all this time?
He glanced at the cuckoo clock on the wall. It was seven. He could check in for work.
He carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake Jess. He then changed into another suit, grabbed some new clothes from his room and left the house without another glance.
Jessica opened her eyes just as the door locked. She threw a pillow at the wall out of fury. Jessica then cried, for once she had really fallen in love with a man.
But Michael was all ready gone, and Jessica didn't know when she would see him again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC
Hee hee! Thanks for the reviews! So I think there's hope in the air, and his name is Will! Only hope Sydney doesn't find out he's going to tell because that could be the end for him. Maybe I'll give syd a knock on the head and wake up those feelings we know are locked up inside of her. You all Rock! Stay tuned
The other side of the story is just going to get BETTER and BETTER!!!
So until next time: Same TOSOTS time, Same TOSOTS Channel!
ALIAS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Part XI (Part II) The Other Side of the Story Leo's l'il sista
Will didn't move from his position on the couch even though he heard the door unlock and knew the love of his live was home.
"Hello? Anybody home? Will? Sydney?" Jane's voice echoed from the entrance but it was as if Will didn't register either one of those names. And that seemed odd, because wasn't it he who had called her at the hospital, asking if she was on her way home, with an urgency to hold her in his arms?
But Will just sat there.
It had been him, but two phone calls had changed all that.
Vaughn had called his cell that morning, asking if Sydney was sick and staying home. Will had been forced to lie and say yes because Sydney had made him promise her he wouldn't say anything about her plans that morning. Usually, in the past, Will would have loved to lie to Vaughn and say Sydney was with him to make his competition jealous.
But those days were over. He knew how much Vaughn had hurt the first days he realized Sydney was gone after the CIA had issued a "presumed status," for his beloved Sydney Bristow. And Will just didn't think it was right for Syd to disappear yet again, and her plan to go on with a new alias was just wrong.
The second call had been from Sydney telling him she'd put everything on the table and now all she could do was wait. That had made Will sick to his stomach, knowing Sydney would only be a memory soon. And then she'd thanked him for lying to Vaughn while he was feeling nothing but guilt.
So, now here he was sitting, the receiver still clutched in his hand.
"No good afternoon, honey for the doctor who left her duties at the hospital to rush back to her loving fiance?" Jane cooed, coming into the room.
Right. Will had asked Jane to marry him last week, with the help of Sydney. And she'd said, "yes." This was supposed to be the happiest moment of his life.
"Good afternoon, honey," Will crooned and embraced Jane when she was seated next to him.
"You sure it was good?" Jane inquired, and noticed his hand had turned white from squeezing the phone so hard. "Bad phonecall?"
"Two bad phonecalls," Will murmured, creased appeared on his forehead and Jane rubbed his temples soothingly.
"Anything a "wife-in-training," can help with?"
Will couldn't stop himself from grinning. Was he really marrying this sweet and understanding woman? And did he deserve her?
"Could you turn back time and make it so I didn't just lie to Michael and pretended to be happy for Sydney when she announced she's closer to living thousands of miles away from me?" Will groaned, still grinning, trying to keep things light. "Sorry, just thought I'd try. I'm turning into a wreck right now. I'm deceiving two of my good friends, I'm such a bad guy."
"No, Will. You're not. You're my fiance and those two phonecalls hasn't made you any less perfect than the time I said I will be Mrs. Will Tippin," Jane cooed.
The next moment the house was filled with the sound of a wailing baby who knew her mother had come home.
"Will, honey, I'm going to go and see our daughter and coax her to sleep. Then I'll bring in some coffee and we can discuss what's on your mind, then maybe I can figure out a way to cheer you up, even though I'm not Sydney, of course," Jane told him, getting up.
Will came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Jane's neck and kissed her on the cheek. "No, you're not, but that's exactly why I love you. Sydney is amazing, but you're so much more," he said huskily.
"To think I'll be able to hear you shower me with those words for the rest of my life."
"That is until our daughter becomes a teenager and tells us we're out of day," Will teased.
"True love will never be," Jane promised and pecked him on the cheek. "I'll be right back with the refreshments. Try not to break anything while I'm away."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a few minutes, Will saw Jane come back in the living room with a tray and she set it down on the glass table.
"Hey, how is Sydney?"
"Sleeping like an angel," Jane assured him as she handed him a mug. "I think she knows Daddy needs someone to talk to."
"Yeah, she is "Daddy's little angel," he beamed, looking very much like a proud papa.
"Well unfortunately Daddy's little angel is not old enough to understand what is going on with daddy, so Sydney sent mommy to listen to daddy talk."
"Does daddy get a say in this?" he asked, half-grinning.
"No, he doesn't," Jane replied, then dropped the "mommy,daddy," dialogue and became serious. "Really, Will. What's weighing on your mind? I thought you were happy that Sydney was moving on. That you understood."
"I do. I guess I just never thought she would be a million miles away. I just lost Sydney and I thought it was forever, but she came back. If I could, I would have loved to keep an eye on her for a little longer but I can't," Will concluded, heaving his shoulders. "I know that."
"So, you do understand and it's not Sydney," Jane realized, sipping her coffee. "What is it then?"
"It's~~~it's Michael."
"Michael Vaughn? Your old colleague? What's wrong with him?" Jane asked innocently, trying to act like she didn't know where this conversation was going.
"There's nothing wrong with him, not yet. He's finally opening his eyes and trying to do what he should have done," Will assured her, though he was looking unsure as each second passed.
"Well, that's good, right? If Michael goes with his heart and courts her properly, we could have a double wedding," Jane cheered, smiling at the idea. "And I'm not listening to objections. That would the only perfect way to get married, watch our two friends exchange their vows of love."
"I agree completely, Jane darling," Will cooed, lying his head onto his fiance's lap. "But I don't see it happening. Looks like Michael created more damage than he could have hoped to fix. Sydney put it in her request for transfer today."
"Oh," Jane frowned. "I'm sorry, Will."
"Don't be. I have you and that's more than enough," Will replied as Jane massaged his head with her fingers. "But Michael won't."
"He's got a wife," Jane pointed out, earning her a, "you've got to be joking," look from Will. "Well, he does."
"Yes, but Michael was never in love with her as much as I am with you at this very moment," Will reminded her, the guilt rising in him. Then Will paused before he asked, " Don't you think he should know?"
Jane didn't respond.
"I just feel sorry for him, Jane. He married thinking Sydney would never be in his arms again and he's been tossing and turning between being faithful to his wife and to his heart. And just when Michael realizes he needs to be truthful to himself, Sydney does what she thinks is right and is going to leave~~~for good!' Will whined, trying to get Jane to see his side. "Michael went thought hell when he was told Sydney was dead, I don't know what he's going to do if she disappears again. He's not even going to know what him."
Jane understood what Will was feeling and gave him a sympathizing glance.
"Which brings me to the question preying on the edges of my mind since Sydney told me about London and about doing it without telling anyone, Should I tell Michael what Sydney is about to do?" he murmured, and looked straight up into Jane's clear brown eyes.
"Will, I know how you feel and I know it must suck to lie to your friend to please another but, you can't control the universe, Will," Jane tried to explain without hurting her fiance's delicate feelings.
"In other words, stay out of it."
Jane nodded. "If Sydney is the decent woman I think she is, she's going to tell Michael Vaughn. And really, if she's going to transfer, everyone will soon find out."
"You don't know the CIA," Will thought to himself.
"Let them figure it out, Will. You've done enough," Jane coaxed him, leaving Will wondering what had he done. Jane didn't like the position Michael and Sydney had put him in.
"Usually I would agree with you, and Syd is a decent woman, a most kind human being. But she lost two years o her life. That's going to change a woman no matter strong or how great she is," Will argued. "And I know I can't control the universe but I can do this and help Michael. Maybe then he'll figure out how he can fix what he screwed up and get Sydney to drop her fears and learn to love him again.
Jane saw a determination grow within Will's beautiful irises and couldn't help but support what Will believed was right and would prove best for all involved.
"Well, Will, it looks like you've all ready made up your mind without my help," Jane concluded, smiling. "I guess that leaves one question from me. "If I were leaving tomorrow, and I told Sydney, wouldn't you want her to tell you?"
Will's face hardened, as he thought, "is that a question?" But a second later, he understood what Jane was getting at.
"So, I tell him."
"I'm not going to tell you what to do and in other cases, I'd probably tell you to stay out of it. But you're right, their relationship has all ready had a painful strain. Give Sydney till the day before she leaves. If she doesn't say anything, you go and you tell him."
Will nodded, feeling lighter about knowing he would tell his friend but at the same time, heavier, knowing he was going to break the promise of another. He only hoped he was doing the right thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Michael very wearily pulled himself out of his car. He was looking very tired. He had looked at the clock on his dash and it had been past ten when he'd finally completed the report Kendall had wanted. But that had been his fault, 50% of the time he'd been trying to find out what Sydney was up to by trying again to break into the database, the other 40% of the time he'd barked out of nowhere at the world and Weiss had been forced to listen to all of it.
He had to say he appreciated Weiss even more now than before. Weiss had listened to his rants, smiling in agreement whenever possible and offering a refill of caffeine whenever his cup was empty.
So it wasn't until Michael was in the driveway he realized he was home. The house was dark.
Good. Jessica seemed to all ready be asleep. He would crash on the couch and leave before Jessica woke up, she would never have to know.
He fumbled with his keys and somehow managed to open the door. He crept in, lugging his briefcase, and then took off his shoes and somehow managed to hang his coat in the closet, within the darkness.
He was done using the bathroom and was getting ready to make arrangements for sleeping on the couch when he heard a voice shout.
"Okay! Don't move or I call 911!" Jessica swore, coming down the stairs.
"Shit!" Michael grumbled. He'd woken Jess up. Now he had to leave. He couldn't believe he was being run out of his own house, but it was either that or pretend he loved her.
"I'm turning on the light," Jessica told the "intruder," in a very calm tone that sort of surprised Michael.
Michael had thought about leaving, but instead he stood there as the light filled the room, bracing himself to look at the wife he'd been avoiding for six days.
He stared at Jessica, clad in a nightgown, pointing a gun at him. Whoa? Where had she gotten a gun? He didn't recognize it. He put his hand to his back pocket and felt his gun there. So it had to be hers.
"You can put the gun down, Jess," Michael told her calmly, and Jessica did retreat, her face registering shock. "Good."
"M~Michael? God! I didn't know it was you, I wouldn't have shot at you. I wouldn't have even pointed a gun at you," Jessica protested, relieved that her husband was home. "But now you're home, and that's all that matter." She reached her arms to him but Michael took hold of her hands and pushed them down.
"I think you're misunderstood, I'm not home," Michael said coldly, loosening his tie.
"Don't talk to me like I'm stupid," Jessica playfully scolded him. "You're here, where we've been living since we became husband and wife. I know we had a fight but this has been our home for the last year, almost two."
Michael ignored her words and looked instead at the weapon in her hand.
"I don't remember you having a gun, want to tell me where you got it?"
"Michael, come on, it's your first day back, must you look at me like I'm a low human being?" Jessica complained, wearing a pouty expression.
"Yes, since if my memory serves correctly, the last thing you did to me was low," Michael told her, looking more irritated than usual from his red eyes and grouchy demeanor.
"But it was true, Michael! You're just shocked by her return and you're feeling sorry for her. I understand that, but it's for your own good. Sydney did shoot at me, believe me!"
"I don't know if you stand on any grounds to say anything, Jess," Michael argued, Jess's words going in one ear and going out the other. "You're the one with a gun I didn't know about."
"Michael, this is ridiculous! Yes, I have a gun. I don't know why that's so wrong! The majority of Americans have guns!" Jessica shrieked angrily. "You have one!"
"Yes, but that's because I wanted one to protect you," Michael reminded her. Then Michael got very quiet that it scared her, and asked in a very hollow tone. "Jessica, are you sure it wasn't you that tried to kill Sydney that night, and she pointed a gun at you in defense?"
"Oh Michael, you're unbelievable! Sydney got shot by a gang member! It's been confirmed by the LAPD! So that means I didn't shoot at her, but that doesn't clear Sydney of not shooting at me!"
"No, she saved your life," Michael repeated, not willing to believe anything else.
"Well Michael, if you want to believe it that much, tell me, has Sydney told you why we were even at the pier in the first place?" Jessica demanded, folding her arms.
"N~no," Michael replied. But then he hadn't had a work with her or seen a hair of Sydney's since she'd itched him in the parking lot.
"Well maybe you should know. Maybe you should ask her," Jessica told him, confidently. "But knowing Sydney, she'll try to distract you by trying to make love to you~~~"
"SHUT UP!"
"Ooh, have I hit a nerve?" Jessica inquired, wearing a teasing smile. "You've been lounging at your ex-girlfriend's haven't you? Would make sense."
"No, I haven't," Michael replied as he punched his pillow and set it on the couch.
Jessica was stunned.
"And it's really none of your business but I haven't spoken to Sydney Bristow either. I told you I went on a leave for personal recollection."
"So you really didn't go to Sydney?"
"No," Michael replied, trying not to groan. If Sydney had allowed him back into her arms, he would be there in a flash.
"So, have you finally opened your eyes and realized there's a good reason why God put us together?"
"No, Jess. And I'm sorry about that," nice guy Michael lamented, his eyes filled with genuine sorrow.
"You're sorry? Then why did you come home, Michael? You obviously don't want to be here," Jessica demanded, not knowing if she was more angry or more sad.
"Hard day at work. I arrived here before I knew it. I didn't mean to wake you up. I was hoping to crash here and be gone before you even knew," Michael admitted. "Getting shot at wasn't on my list."
Jessica bit her lips, tears filled her large eyes. "You hate me, Michael?"
"I don't have you, Jess," Michael told her gently. "Personally, I don't think we know enough about each other to hate each other. It's just Sydney, she's the love of my life. That's not your fault, it's just the way things are."
Jessica actually listened to the words the husband she loved said to her and her heart-ached. Finally after a pause she whimpered.
"Michael, are you ever going to return to me?"
Michael looked seriously at her and shrugged. "I honestly can't say, Jessica."
Jessica was stung and begun to sob, wondering where she had gone wrong. She was Jessica Cozier, the sought after honey during her high school, college and after college career. So why did Michael want plain- Jane Sydney more than her with the gorgeous hispanic body. It just didn't make sense.
"Listen, Jess. If you'll let me crash here, I'll pretend tonight didn't happen and not press charges or ask you about your gun. I know you're a decent woman, Jess, and if you're the woman I married, you'll stop accusing Sydney of trying to kill you and accept she saved your life," Michael told her, looking at her with warm eyes, and a hint of smile on his lips. "By the way, I'm glad you're out of the hospital, guess you're going to be okay," he added as his eyelids closed, having no strength left to keep himself awake any longer.
Jessica stared at Michael, sleeping so peacefully she couldn't have any animosity against him at that moment. She pulled the throw cloth from the edge of the couch and covered him with it.
She stared at him for a moment and then climbed onto the couch next to her sleeping husband. At least that much was true, they were still married.
Michael shifted his body and unconsciously pulled her against his chest and wrapped her with his arms. She assumed he must be dreaming of Sydney, or maybe Michael had gotten used to having her next to him as he slept. Whatever the reason, Jessica felt very warm and safe in Michael's arms, so safe she didn't even think she needed to lock the door. Besides, she didn't want to move and risk him waking up.
She instead threw off her robe. She glanced at Michael's hand and saw he was still wearing the ring, their ring. She kissed his hand, held it tightly in her grasp and closed her eyes, wishing the morning would never come, or that God would knock some sense into him and when he opened his eyes, he would see her and not want to get up and go to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael woke up the next morning and saw Jessica in his arms, only he thought it was Sydney.
"Syd?" he murmured but then recognized it was Jess right before he laid his lips onto hers.
God! Had she been sleeping next to him all this time?
He glanced at the cuckoo clock on the wall. It was seven. He could check in for work.
He carefully slid out of bed, trying not to wake Jess. He then changed into another suit, grabbed some new clothes from his room and left the house without another glance.
Jessica opened her eyes just as the door locked. She threw a pillow at the wall out of fury. Jessica then cried, for once she had really fallen in love with a man.
But Michael was all ready gone, and Jessica didn't know when she would see him again.
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TBC
Hee hee! Thanks for the reviews! So I think there's hope in the air, and his name is Will! Only hope Sydney doesn't find out he's going to tell because that could be the end for him. Maybe I'll give syd a knock on the head and wake up those feelings we know are locked up inside of her. You all Rock! Stay tuned
The other side of the story is just going to get BETTER and BETTER!!!
So until next time: Same TOSOTS time, Same TOSOTS Channel!
ALIAS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
