Hey guys! I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! Welcome to yet
another excerpt from my fic "the other side of the story," I was writing
like crazy for you guys! Thanks to all of you!!!!!!!!!
And the dedications are as follows!!!!
The sheeplover: this fic is most dedicated to you!!!!!
Alpineracer88: Jess, let's say you "Own," that character, girl I wrote ift for you!!!
PickyNicky160: thanks for you support
Megvaughn2003: Great fics so keep writing!
Ms. MV: Thanks, nuff said, LOL
Melody Anne: Your constructive criticism rocks!
ABCDEFG: You boosted my confidence
Aliasgurl: Eden, the sweetest reviewer, KIT!
Sarabethl and Max X 5452: Welcome to the group!
And so many others!!!!!
Thank you! You made my writing special and gave me self-worth!
Thanks for keeping "The other side of the story," alive and please continue!!!!
Lots and lots of Leo's l'il sista
Part XII The Other Side of the Story" Leo's l'il sista
"Sydney!" Will scolded his daughter who was innocently flinging her spoon of applesauce at Sydney Bristow. "Come on, honey, applesauce is supposed to go into your mouth."
"Messy! Messy!" she laughed as she flung some at her daddy. ".Daddy messy!"
"You bet!" Will frowned. He looked over at Jane who had just gotten up from her nap. "Good evening, baby, sleep well?"
"Like a baby," she replied, covering up her yawn then glanced at her daughter. "Will, are you feeding her?"
"Y~yeah," Will answered, dodging another mount of the sticky dessert that hit an unnoticing Sydney on the shirt.
"Well, it doesn't seem any of it made it into her mouth," Jane giggled. "Should I open another jar?"
"Can you, Jane?" Will responded then looked over at Sydney. "And a washcloth would be nice."
"Okay, one jar of applesauce and a washcloth," she chuckled and went to fetch the items.
Will proceeded to cleaning up as much as he could when Sydney bopped him on the head with her spoon.
"Sydney!" Will grumbled. "I'm trying to clean up your mess."
Little Sydney gulped and tears pooled in her eyes. She began to wail quite loudly.
"Will! Oh my god, what happened?" Jane demanded. But she went for Sydney without waiting for an answer, and she totally forgot about the food in her hand and ended up throwing it all on Sydney.
Jane and Will froze and looked at Syd who's hair was topped with a pile of the gooey stuff.
"Uh Syd, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Sydney told then, but she was silent that Will was sure Sydney wasn't, "good."
But the next moment, Sydney laughed.
"Good one, Jane."
Jane blushed, but began laughing. Will soon joined in with his hearty deep hearty laugh.
"Here, I think you need this," Will put in and handed the wash cloth to her.
"No, I think I'll just go ahead and take a shower, if that's all right with you two."
Will and Jane exchanged a glance.
"It's fine with us."
Sydney gave them an awkward smile but nodded. "Okay then," and left.
"She seems fine," Jane said when Sydney was out of earshot.
"She's more than fine!" will insisted. "She got appplesauce all over her and she didn't flinch. She's so happy with us," Will grumbled, his brow creased. That's why it was so hard to understand why she wanted to leave.
"Well Sydney, why don't you come up with mommy and she'll fix you an apple a la mode," Jane crooned, kissing Sydney's cheek.
"Do you want any help?" Will asked.
"No, we'll be fine, you know what you need to do," Jane signaled with her eyes.
"I'll talk to her," he signaled back and Jane approved and left the living room.
"Me and my big mouth," Will thought to himself as he dropped onto his favorite chair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(flashback)
"I didn't see her at work again. It's been two weeks now. You are telling me the truth right, that Sydney is ill? You would tell me is Syd told you anything about taking on a mission right?"
"Tell her I love her, Will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will held his head in his hands. Never did he think he'd want to help put Sydney and Michael back together, but right now he wanted that almost as much as wanted to marry Jane and have Syd as their Sydney's godmother.
And therefore, he was going to talk to Sydney and try to talk her out of it, then she would be able to be truly happy once again and he would not have to risk his friendship with Sydney.
But somehow he knew he was praying for too much.
"Will, honey?"
Will turned around and smiled. "Yes, Jane?"
"Sydney is done and I'm she was dozing off so I'm going to go put her to bed," she announced, their baby, asleep in her mother's arms.
"Oh, okay," Will replied. He then got up from his seat and went up to Jane and kissed his fiancee's before he kissed his daughter. "Good night, Sydney. Daddy loves you very much." He then gave Jane a deep kiss. "You going to sleep or you want to watch a movie, you Syd and me?"
"Have you talked to her?"
"N~no, she hasn't come out of the shower," Will replied, looking very uncomfortable and Jane took that as an excuse.
"I~Jane, I don't know. This is what she wants. I'm not going to stand in her way," Will protested.
"This is not what she wants and you know it!" Jane hissed, her brown eyes narrowing. "She wouldn't want anything more than to be with Mr. Vaughn."
"But Jane, listen for a second, I don't want to lose my friendship with her. I'm the only stable thing in her life and I want her to always know that,' Will argued, his tone getting a bit sharp.
"You sure it's not because you want her around?" Jane asked, meaning it as a joke but she couldn't' put it that way.
"J~Jane, you cannot be serious! I'm engaged to you, I made a baby with you, I love you, Jane!"
"Prove it," she challenged him. "Talk to Sydney!"
"What's going on?"
Will gulped and Jane cleared her throat, giving Will one more meaningful glance before gazing over at Sydney.
"Hi, sweetie, how was your shower?" she inquired, flashing a bright smile.
"Good," Sydney replied sincerely. "Is everything okay?"
Jane laughed as though what Sydney was suggesting was the most ridiculous thing in the world. "Of course!" she then smiled at Will. "I couldn't be happier, I was just about to put Sydney to bed and then I was going to go to the store."
"The store? But it's late," Sydney replied.
"Well yes, but then sometimes my shifts require my staying up all night long so it's fine with me. I just rather get what I need," Jane told her.
"Oh okay," Sydney shrugged then kissed little Sydney on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, angel."
Sydney watched Jane go off and then looked back over at Will. "Is this normal?"
"Oh yeah. She really uses that convenient store because it's so~~~convenient."
Sydney thought it was awkward but smiled and nodded.
Within minutes, Jane re-entered the room dressed in a comfy pair of sweats and a camisole, her hair in a messy up do.
"Okay, I'll be back in, oh, twenty minutes," she replied. "You two have fun."
"Right," Sydney thought.
"Did you write down the eggs?" Will blurted out. "We're running low on those."
"N~no, I didn't," Jane admitted then gave him a most gentle smile. "Thanks, Will."
"Be careful," he chided her and Jane left.
Will turned around and stared at Sydney who was looking awkward. The silence was even more awkward.
"Well, I think I'm going to go to bed. I have a long day tomorrow," Sydney announced, rubbing her wet hair. "Packing and out-processing," Sydney thought, not to mention seeing Vaughn for the last time.
"Yeah," Will replied but then he added. "You got a few minutes? There's something I want to talk to you about."
"Oh, here it comes," Sydney groaned. She knew Will had been wanting to say something.
"Syd?"
"Sure, after all it's going to be a long time before we can talk again," Sydney replied after a pause.
Will headed toward the balcony and Sydney stared wide-eyed at him.
"Will, did you forget I just took a shower?"
"There's a hot wind tonight. Besides I want you to see as much of L.A as you possibly can."
Sydney didn't move. She was ready to put L.A behind her.
"Come on, Syd. It's like having your hair blow-dried," Will insisted. "Most girls worship that kind of thing."
"Well, Will, as you know, I'm not like most girls," Sydney harrumphed as she came out onto the balcony to join Will and gaze at the nightscape of the silver city.
"No, you're not," Will agreed.
Sydney looked away, feeling the dry air on her skin and bathe her hair in its' warmth, It really was beautiful.
"Syd, I can't help but think you're making a mistake," Will burst out, not registering the shock on Sydney's face. "I know I told you I wasn't going to say anything but I can't lie to myself, Syd. I don't want you to go."
"Will, I know how you feel but I need to do this. You knew why. I told you everything," Sydney reminded him, tears making her eyes glisten, her deep dimples making her smile innocent.
"I'll miss you too," Will stammered, trying to keep it together. God was he going to miss seeing her smile. "But I'm not here to talk about me, right now," he confessed. "I'm here to talk about Michael. I~I went to see him."
Sydney's mouth dropped and then she began choking. "Why? Oh my God! You didn't tell him, did you? Because I trusted you!"
"Calm down, Syd. If I'd told Michael you wouldn't be standing here talking to me," he pronounced dryly. "But it being married to someone who's not you, and now you're going to leave without telling him why? Come on Syd, that's not you."
"He got married, Will. I have to live with that! You think he's crushed! What do you think I've been going through! And I've had enough, Will, enough!" Sydney spit. She began to tremble, the hot air no longer warm enough to comfort her from Michael's unintended coldness.
"You should have heard Michael. He's ready to confess how he really feels right now. But I heard he hasn't gotten around to it because you're avoiding him," Will retorted. "So he had to go through me and I'm going to tell you exactly what he told me. He loves you, Syd!"
"I know," Sydney mumbled, laughing bitterly. "I know he does."
"You do?"
"Yes, and I know why he's wanted to talk to me, to tell me he loves me, that he never stopped loving me, that he's living away from Jess and to him that's the opportune time to pursue me."
"Y~yeah," Will stuttered, speechless.
"The thing is it's not the opportune time. He knows that but he's just ignoring it because he thinks he belongs with me," Sydney replied, her tone getting hollow. "But he doesn't, not anymore."
"Dyf, str you sure this is you talking? Michael wants you, he told me so himself. Listen to this, Syd. Michael has fantasies of living with you away from anything that can stop you, even his conscience," Will protested. "Syd, do you hear me? He loves you, he wants to be with you. It means that you don't have to leave, you belong here, Syd." But when Sydney didn't reply he added, "unless Michael is right and you don't want him anymore."
"No, I do.. He's everything to me. He gave my life meaning when my own parents couldn't. he taught me what unconditional love feels like."
"So, you do love him?"
"Yes, I love him."
"Then what's wrong? You know you guys love each other, why are you avoiding him?" Will inquired, brushing a wet strand away from her face. "Jane wants a double wedding and if you go and make up with him now, he might propose to you. What are you waiting for, the other shoe to fall?"
"No, it's just, Michael got married and he moved on. I don't want to drag him back into the past."
"That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard! He wants to be with you. He's embracing the past with open arms!"
Sydney couldn't deny that was true. But ever since she'd seent hat gold band on his ring finger she'd told herself Michael had found love and happiness in someone else and she vowed to stay out of his way.
"But what about his wife?"
"What about his wife?" Will scoffed. "I thought you hate her?"
"I do."
"Then what are you worrying about her for?"
"I don't think it's right for her to get hurt. I don't like her, I can't stand to see her on Michael's arm but it's happened. I'm not going to put her turmoil because I'm back. She was the one who was there for Michael the two years I was missing. I have no right to take over," she concluded, looking very calm.
"I think you do," Will argued, grabbing her hands. "You were never supposed to be missing. It's not like you left him, then you found out he was married and feeling guilty, you have tow years stolen from you, there's nothing wrong with wanting those years back."
"I~I can't, and I won't."
"For crying out loud, Syd! You've earned it being in the freaking CIA, put your foot down and say what you want. You are entitled to some happiness."
"Yeah, but now I know Michael wasn't the answer."
Will wanted to argue some more but felt it would do no good. HE just stared hopelessly at her, wishing he could at the very least, shake some sense into her.
"Will, I'm sorry if you disappointed in me but things changed. You're engaged and have a daughter, need I say more?" Sydney lamented.
"No Syd. I can never be disappointed in you," Will cajoled her. And for a moment, there was a definite trace of the former attraction these two had once had on each other.
"Will, I've got just one more question. I would have asked Michael but seeing as the circumstances are, I'm going to ask you," Sydney announced in a very hollow and empty voice. "How long did Michael search for me, how long did it take him to realize that I was not going to come back and that Jessica Cozier was his meant-to-be?"
Will listened carefully to the question, knowing this could tear her last shred of hope if he took it the wrong way. Then he closed his eyes remembering how Michael had stayed up all week long, trying to track her down, over-dosing on caffeine pills. Then he'd used up all the CIA's resources all over the world and took a leave from the CIA, searching for six-months on foot after the CIA had delivered a MIA statement and he'd refused to believe it. Then Will remembered getting a phonecall from the CIA informing him of Sydney's presumed dead status. A day later he'd gotten a call from L.A General informing him of Vaughn's overdose. And after that it had been total breakdown leading to a prolonged depression.
"Will? Can you tell me anything?"
Will took a deep breath and launched into an emotional revelation. "The day you disappeared, Vaughn was gung-ho about finding you, and everybody seemed confident it was Sloane. SO they tracked him down to this lab he had in Tanzania but they weren't able to locate him. And you know, Sloane is presumed dead. After a month of two went by, the CIA started losing hope. Michael however, argued the case, even though he knew he'd used the best equipment and ordered the best men from all around the world to be on search for you. He milked the CIA for all its' worth then when they didn't approve of any more funding, he left to go find you on foot, and he didn't find you. He almost lost his job being so subordinate. Then he returned. I didn't know when he did until I got a phonecall from the Agency telling me they'd changed the status. I knew how Mike would be so I called him like crazy but I was too late. I received a call from the hospital informing me he was hospitalized for an overdose.
Sydney gaped at Will, not knowing what to say, or how to feel.
"They told me he wanted me to come over because he was not talking and seemed to be in a state of shock. So I went there and saw Michael. He was asleep when I went in," Will continued as flashbacks continued to attack him. "When he opened his eyes, he grinned at me. And he said that as soon as he was well, he would look for you again."
"But you stopped him, didn't you?"
"I didn't know what to say. I told him the news I'd received and he started moaning like he'd never heard it or was convinced he was in some nightmare," Will whimpered, because he'd felt the same way.
Sydney eyes him steadily, trying to decide what to say next. But somehow Sydney could not muster any anger towards him.
"Michael really tried but soon he was brought down by everybody around him, he felt he had to give up, he was so depressed, I didn't want to keep him out of my sight, I was so sure he'd commit suicide or drink himself to death. He was that torn, Syd," Will reasoned, trying to enlightened Sydney on why he believed Michael's feeling were genuine and so strongly.
"So, I'm guessing you backed off when he met Jess/" Sydney had to ask, despite the pain it caused her to hear it.
"I did. It was weird how they met, it was while he was trekking through Nepal. She says she fell in love with him at first sight but Michael of course couldn't think of anything but finding you, holding you in his arms. He was drunk and according to her, Michael told her that he'd give her a chance if he didn't find you by the anniversary of the day you disappeared. And he didn't. Michael came to my doorstep and broke down, saying he felt you disappear from his world, that a part of him died. Jessica helped him through that and then one day, Michael married her in thanks and just to see if he could move on with her."
Sydney rubbed her eyes.
"Syd?"
"Will, I think I'm going to in. I'm tired, my eyes must be red," she groaned, covering a forced yawn. "Long day tomorrow, I'll be surprised if I get it all done."
"Syd," He whined pleadingly. "Michael loves you, Jane loves you, Syd and I love you, you have a great life awaiting you if you'll just give it a chance. Please stay. Let Michael at least say what he needs to say."
95% of her wanted to give into those words and have Michael shower her with love, the only love she knew she could be certain of. But that 5% told her that Michael was no longer hers and moving away to start a new life sounded more enticing than living with a broken heart, knowing Michael had committed to another woman.
"Syd, please."
Sydney shook her head and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Will, this is what I want, I've made up my mind."
"Syd, you're going ot regret this."
"I may, I don't know. But I'm leaving. I'll get my stuff tomorrow as soon as I find a hotel. Should be as soon as I get my transfer orders, first thing in the morning," Sydney ticked off on her fingers. "I'll call you then."
"You're really not going to see, Michael?"
"No," she replied firmly. "Now that you told me the story, I understand. I understand things can never be the same. I just had to know that before I left, so thank you, Will," she cooed and kissed him on the cheek. "You've been a great friend."
Will shook his head, dismissively.
"Goodnight Will."
Will didn't reply and just watched her leave and then disappear from his sight. Then he looked toward the skyline and murmured. "Sorry, syd. Since I'm such a good friend I'm going to break my promise to you, I won't let you make the biggest mistake of your life," he stated determinedly. "Not this time."
So there you have it! Thought it was okay? Hope so! I've got another part coming up for this chapter! Sorry, I've been a bit busy but I'll still try to get my episodes up as fast as I possibly can!!! Because we're getting to the BIG CONFRONTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm currently trying to publish my novel so please bear with me while I trudge through the oh so painful process of editing!!! It's 299 pages folks, and I have to format it and everything!!!!
And hey guys! If you haven't read my fic, please got to fictionpress.com and read my trying to publish novel "Curses 1 Inhuman Hatred," and tell me what you think! I'm probably going to put a revised copy up just want feedback on the characters content, ya know, all that good stuff!
FIVE REVIEWS PLEASE!!! More is appreciated but FIVE PLEASE THANKS!
Catch ya next, week same TOSOTS time, same TOSOTS channel!!!
And let's just say a prayer for Johnny Cash, And John Ritter who passed on to the greater land.
Leo's l'il sista and Kristina Toffland
And the dedications are as follows!!!!
The sheeplover: this fic is most dedicated to you!!!!!
Alpineracer88: Jess, let's say you "Own," that character, girl I wrote ift for you!!!
PickyNicky160: thanks for you support
Megvaughn2003: Great fics so keep writing!
Ms. MV: Thanks, nuff said, LOL
Melody Anne: Your constructive criticism rocks!
ABCDEFG: You boosted my confidence
Aliasgurl: Eden, the sweetest reviewer, KIT!
Sarabethl and Max X 5452: Welcome to the group!
And so many others!!!!!
Thank you! You made my writing special and gave me self-worth!
Thanks for keeping "The other side of the story," alive and please continue!!!!
Lots and lots of Leo's l'il sista
Part XII The Other Side of the Story" Leo's l'il sista
"Sydney!" Will scolded his daughter who was innocently flinging her spoon of applesauce at Sydney Bristow. "Come on, honey, applesauce is supposed to go into your mouth."
"Messy! Messy!" she laughed as she flung some at her daddy. ".Daddy messy!"
"You bet!" Will frowned. He looked over at Jane who had just gotten up from her nap. "Good evening, baby, sleep well?"
"Like a baby," she replied, covering up her yawn then glanced at her daughter. "Will, are you feeding her?"
"Y~yeah," Will answered, dodging another mount of the sticky dessert that hit an unnoticing Sydney on the shirt.
"Well, it doesn't seem any of it made it into her mouth," Jane giggled. "Should I open another jar?"
"Can you, Jane?" Will responded then looked over at Sydney. "And a washcloth would be nice."
"Okay, one jar of applesauce and a washcloth," she chuckled and went to fetch the items.
Will proceeded to cleaning up as much as he could when Sydney bopped him on the head with her spoon.
"Sydney!" Will grumbled. "I'm trying to clean up your mess."
Little Sydney gulped and tears pooled in her eyes. She began to wail quite loudly.
"Will! Oh my god, what happened?" Jane demanded. But she went for Sydney without waiting for an answer, and she totally forgot about the food in her hand and ended up throwing it all on Sydney.
Jane and Will froze and looked at Syd who's hair was topped with a pile of the gooey stuff.
"Uh Syd, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Sydney told then, but she was silent that Will was sure Sydney wasn't, "good."
But the next moment, Sydney laughed.
"Good one, Jane."
Jane blushed, but began laughing. Will soon joined in with his hearty deep hearty laugh.
"Here, I think you need this," Will put in and handed the wash cloth to her.
"No, I think I'll just go ahead and take a shower, if that's all right with you two."
Will and Jane exchanged a glance.
"It's fine with us."
Sydney gave them an awkward smile but nodded. "Okay then," and left.
"She seems fine," Jane said when Sydney was out of earshot.
"She's more than fine!" will insisted. "She got appplesauce all over her and she didn't flinch. She's so happy with us," Will grumbled, his brow creased. That's why it was so hard to understand why she wanted to leave.
"Well Sydney, why don't you come up with mommy and she'll fix you an apple a la mode," Jane crooned, kissing Sydney's cheek.
"Do you want any help?" Will asked.
"No, we'll be fine, you know what you need to do," Jane signaled with her eyes.
"I'll talk to her," he signaled back and Jane approved and left the living room.
"Me and my big mouth," Will thought to himself as he dropped onto his favorite chair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(flashback)
"I didn't see her at work again. It's been two weeks now. You are telling me the truth right, that Sydney is ill? You would tell me is Syd told you anything about taking on a mission right?"
"Tell her I love her, Will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will held his head in his hands. Never did he think he'd want to help put Sydney and Michael back together, but right now he wanted that almost as much as wanted to marry Jane and have Syd as their Sydney's godmother.
And therefore, he was going to talk to Sydney and try to talk her out of it, then she would be able to be truly happy once again and he would not have to risk his friendship with Sydney.
But somehow he knew he was praying for too much.
"Will, honey?"
Will turned around and smiled. "Yes, Jane?"
"Sydney is done and I'm she was dozing off so I'm going to go put her to bed," she announced, their baby, asleep in her mother's arms.
"Oh, okay," Will replied. He then got up from his seat and went up to Jane and kissed his fiancee's before he kissed his daughter. "Good night, Sydney. Daddy loves you very much." He then gave Jane a deep kiss. "You going to sleep or you want to watch a movie, you Syd and me?"
"Have you talked to her?"
"N~no, she hasn't come out of the shower," Will replied, looking very uncomfortable and Jane took that as an excuse.
"I~Jane, I don't know. This is what she wants. I'm not going to stand in her way," Will protested.
"This is not what she wants and you know it!" Jane hissed, her brown eyes narrowing. "She wouldn't want anything more than to be with Mr. Vaughn."
"But Jane, listen for a second, I don't want to lose my friendship with her. I'm the only stable thing in her life and I want her to always know that,' Will argued, his tone getting a bit sharp.
"You sure it's not because you want her around?" Jane asked, meaning it as a joke but she couldn't' put it that way.
"J~Jane, you cannot be serious! I'm engaged to you, I made a baby with you, I love you, Jane!"
"Prove it," she challenged him. "Talk to Sydney!"
"What's going on?"
Will gulped and Jane cleared her throat, giving Will one more meaningful glance before gazing over at Sydney.
"Hi, sweetie, how was your shower?" she inquired, flashing a bright smile.
"Good," Sydney replied sincerely. "Is everything okay?"
Jane laughed as though what Sydney was suggesting was the most ridiculous thing in the world. "Of course!" she then smiled at Will. "I couldn't be happier, I was just about to put Sydney to bed and then I was going to go to the store."
"The store? But it's late," Sydney replied.
"Well yes, but then sometimes my shifts require my staying up all night long so it's fine with me. I just rather get what I need," Jane told her.
"Oh okay," Sydney shrugged then kissed little Sydney on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, angel."
Sydney watched Jane go off and then looked back over at Will. "Is this normal?"
"Oh yeah. She really uses that convenient store because it's so~~~convenient."
Sydney thought it was awkward but smiled and nodded.
Within minutes, Jane re-entered the room dressed in a comfy pair of sweats and a camisole, her hair in a messy up do.
"Okay, I'll be back in, oh, twenty minutes," she replied. "You two have fun."
"Right," Sydney thought.
"Did you write down the eggs?" Will blurted out. "We're running low on those."
"N~no, I didn't," Jane admitted then gave him a most gentle smile. "Thanks, Will."
"Be careful," he chided her and Jane left.
Will turned around and stared at Sydney who was looking awkward. The silence was even more awkward.
"Well, I think I'm going to go to bed. I have a long day tomorrow," Sydney announced, rubbing her wet hair. "Packing and out-processing," Sydney thought, not to mention seeing Vaughn for the last time.
"Yeah," Will replied but then he added. "You got a few minutes? There's something I want to talk to you about."
"Oh, here it comes," Sydney groaned. She knew Will had been wanting to say something.
"Syd?"
"Sure, after all it's going to be a long time before we can talk again," Sydney replied after a pause.
Will headed toward the balcony and Sydney stared wide-eyed at him.
"Will, did you forget I just took a shower?"
"There's a hot wind tonight. Besides I want you to see as much of L.A as you possibly can."
Sydney didn't move. She was ready to put L.A behind her.
"Come on, Syd. It's like having your hair blow-dried," Will insisted. "Most girls worship that kind of thing."
"Well, Will, as you know, I'm not like most girls," Sydney harrumphed as she came out onto the balcony to join Will and gaze at the nightscape of the silver city.
"No, you're not," Will agreed.
Sydney looked away, feeling the dry air on her skin and bathe her hair in its' warmth, It really was beautiful.
"Syd, I can't help but think you're making a mistake," Will burst out, not registering the shock on Sydney's face. "I know I told you I wasn't going to say anything but I can't lie to myself, Syd. I don't want you to go."
"Will, I know how you feel but I need to do this. You knew why. I told you everything," Sydney reminded him, tears making her eyes glisten, her deep dimples making her smile innocent.
"I'll miss you too," Will stammered, trying to keep it together. God was he going to miss seeing her smile. "But I'm not here to talk about me, right now," he confessed. "I'm here to talk about Michael. I~I went to see him."
Sydney's mouth dropped and then she began choking. "Why? Oh my God! You didn't tell him, did you? Because I trusted you!"
"Calm down, Syd. If I'd told Michael you wouldn't be standing here talking to me," he pronounced dryly. "But it being married to someone who's not you, and now you're going to leave without telling him why? Come on Syd, that's not you."
"He got married, Will. I have to live with that! You think he's crushed! What do you think I've been going through! And I've had enough, Will, enough!" Sydney spit. She began to tremble, the hot air no longer warm enough to comfort her from Michael's unintended coldness.
"You should have heard Michael. He's ready to confess how he really feels right now. But I heard he hasn't gotten around to it because you're avoiding him," Will retorted. "So he had to go through me and I'm going to tell you exactly what he told me. He loves you, Syd!"
"I know," Sydney mumbled, laughing bitterly. "I know he does."
"You do?"
"Yes, and I know why he's wanted to talk to me, to tell me he loves me, that he never stopped loving me, that he's living away from Jess and to him that's the opportune time to pursue me."
"Y~yeah," Will stuttered, speechless.
"The thing is it's not the opportune time. He knows that but he's just ignoring it because he thinks he belongs with me," Sydney replied, her tone getting hollow. "But he doesn't, not anymore."
"Dyf, str you sure this is you talking? Michael wants you, he told me so himself. Listen to this, Syd. Michael has fantasies of living with you away from anything that can stop you, even his conscience," Will protested. "Syd, do you hear me? He loves you, he wants to be with you. It means that you don't have to leave, you belong here, Syd." But when Sydney didn't reply he added, "unless Michael is right and you don't want him anymore."
"No, I do.. He's everything to me. He gave my life meaning when my own parents couldn't. he taught me what unconditional love feels like."
"So, you do love him?"
"Yes, I love him."
"Then what's wrong? You know you guys love each other, why are you avoiding him?" Will inquired, brushing a wet strand away from her face. "Jane wants a double wedding and if you go and make up with him now, he might propose to you. What are you waiting for, the other shoe to fall?"
"No, it's just, Michael got married and he moved on. I don't want to drag him back into the past."
"That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard! He wants to be with you. He's embracing the past with open arms!"
Sydney couldn't deny that was true. But ever since she'd seent hat gold band on his ring finger she'd told herself Michael had found love and happiness in someone else and she vowed to stay out of his way.
"But what about his wife?"
"What about his wife?" Will scoffed. "I thought you hate her?"
"I do."
"Then what are you worrying about her for?"
"I don't think it's right for her to get hurt. I don't like her, I can't stand to see her on Michael's arm but it's happened. I'm not going to put her turmoil because I'm back. She was the one who was there for Michael the two years I was missing. I have no right to take over," she concluded, looking very calm.
"I think you do," Will argued, grabbing her hands. "You were never supposed to be missing. It's not like you left him, then you found out he was married and feeling guilty, you have tow years stolen from you, there's nothing wrong with wanting those years back."
"I~I can't, and I won't."
"For crying out loud, Syd! You've earned it being in the freaking CIA, put your foot down and say what you want. You are entitled to some happiness."
"Yeah, but now I know Michael wasn't the answer."
Will wanted to argue some more but felt it would do no good. HE just stared hopelessly at her, wishing he could at the very least, shake some sense into her.
"Will, I'm sorry if you disappointed in me but things changed. You're engaged and have a daughter, need I say more?" Sydney lamented.
"No Syd. I can never be disappointed in you," Will cajoled her. And for a moment, there was a definite trace of the former attraction these two had once had on each other.
"Will, I've got just one more question. I would have asked Michael but seeing as the circumstances are, I'm going to ask you," Sydney announced in a very hollow and empty voice. "How long did Michael search for me, how long did it take him to realize that I was not going to come back and that Jessica Cozier was his meant-to-be?"
Will listened carefully to the question, knowing this could tear her last shred of hope if he took it the wrong way. Then he closed his eyes remembering how Michael had stayed up all week long, trying to track her down, over-dosing on caffeine pills. Then he'd used up all the CIA's resources all over the world and took a leave from the CIA, searching for six-months on foot after the CIA had delivered a MIA statement and he'd refused to believe it. Then Will remembered getting a phonecall from the CIA informing him of Sydney's presumed dead status. A day later he'd gotten a call from L.A General informing him of Vaughn's overdose. And after that it had been total breakdown leading to a prolonged depression.
"Will? Can you tell me anything?"
Will took a deep breath and launched into an emotional revelation. "The day you disappeared, Vaughn was gung-ho about finding you, and everybody seemed confident it was Sloane. SO they tracked him down to this lab he had in Tanzania but they weren't able to locate him. And you know, Sloane is presumed dead. After a month of two went by, the CIA started losing hope. Michael however, argued the case, even though he knew he'd used the best equipment and ordered the best men from all around the world to be on search for you. He milked the CIA for all its' worth then when they didn't approve of any more funding, he left to go find you on foot, and he didn't find you. He almost lost his job being so subordinate. Then he returned. I didn't know when he did until I got a phonecall from the Agency telling me they'd changed the status. I knew how Mike would be so I called him like crazy but I was too late. I received a call from the hospital informing me he was hospitalized for an overdose.
Sydney gaped at Will, not knowing what to say, or how to feel.
"They told me he wanted me to come over because he was not talking and seemed to be in a state of shock. So I went there and saw Michael. He was asleep when I went in," Will continued as flashbacks continued to attack him. "When he opened his eyes, he grinned at me. And he said that as soon as he was well, he would look for you again."
"But you stopped him, didn't you?"
"I didn't know what to say. I told him the news I'd received and he started moaning like he'd never heard it or was convinced he was in some nightmare," Will whimpered, because he'd felt the same way.
Sydney eyes him steadily, trying to decide what to say next. But somehow Sydney could not muster any anger towards him.
"Michael really tried but soon he was brought down by everybody around him, he felt he had to give up, he was so depressed, I didn't want to keep him out of my sight, I was so sure he'd commit suicide or drink himself to death. He was that torn, Syd," Will reasoned, trying to enlightened Sydney on why he believed Michael's feeling were genuine and so strongly.
"So, I'm guessing you backed off when he met Jess/" Sydney had to ask, despite the pain it caused her to hear it.
"I did. It was weird how they met, it was while he was trekking through Nepal. She says she fell in love with him at first sight but Michael of course couldn't think of anything but finding you, holding you in his arms. He was drunk and according to her, Michael told her that he'd give her a chance if he didn't find you by the anniversary of the day you disappeared. And he didn't. Michael came to my doorstep and broke down, saying he felt you disappear from his world, that a part of him died. Jessica helped him through that and then one day, Michael married her in thanks and just to see if he could move on with her."
Sydney rubbed her eyes.
"Syd?"
"Will, I think I'm going to in. I'm tired, my eyes must be red," she groaned, covering a forced yawn. "Long day tomorrow, I'll be surprised if I get it all done."
"Syd," He whined pleadingly. "Michael loves you, Jane loves you, Syd and I love you, you have a great life awaiting you if you'll just give it a chance. Please stay. Let Michael at least say what he needs to say."
95% of her wanted to give into those words and have Michael shower her with love, the only love she knew she could be certain of. But that 5% told her that Michael was no longer hers and moving away to start a new life sounded more enticing than living with a broken heart, knowing Michael had committed to another woman.
"Syd, please."
Sydney shook her head and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Will, this is what I want, I've made up my mind."
"Syd, you're going ot regret this."
"I may, I don't know. But I'm leaving. I'll get my stuff tomorrow as soon as I find a hotel. Should be as soon as I get my transfer orders, first thing in the morning," Sydney ticked off on her fingers. "I'll call you then."
"You're really not going to see, Michael?"
"No," she replied firmly. "Now that you told me the story, I understand. I understand things can never be the same. I just had to know that before I left, so thank you, Will," she cooed and kissed him on the cheek. "You've been a great friend."
Will shook his head, dismissively.
"Goodnight Will."
Will didn't reply and just watched her leave and then disappear from his sight. Then he looked toward the skyline and murmured. "Sorry, syd. Since I'm such a good friend I'm going to break my promise to you, I won't let you make the biggest mistake of your life," he stated determinedly. "Not this time."
So there you have it! Thought it was okay? Hope so! I've got another part coming up for this chapter! Sorry, I've been a bit busy but I'll still try to get my episodes up as fast as I possibly can!!! Because we're getting to the BIG CONFRONTATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm currently trying to publish my novel so please bear with me while I trudge through the oh so painful process of editing!!! It's 299 pages folks, and I have to format it and everything!!!!
And hey guys! If you haven't read my fic, please got to fictionpress.com and read my trying to publish novel "Curses 1 Inhuman Hatred," and tell me what you think! I'm probably going to put a revised copy up just want feedback on the characters content, ya know, all that good stuff!
FIVE REVIEWS PLEASE!!! More is appreciated but FIVE PLEASE THANKS!
Catch ya next, week same TOSOTS time, same TOSOTS channel!!!
And let's just say a prayer for Johnny Cash, And John Ritter who passed on to the greater land.
Leo's l'il sista and Kristina Toffland
