A/n: Just need to say thanks for the reviews! You keep me going! I'm going to try and update every two weeks, you know one week to write it and then one week to type it. I've got seven fics going on top of my novel at so I can basically work on one for one day of the week.
Okay, enough of this booring stuff. Let's get back to Syd and Ethan!
The Other Side of The StoryTotal Vaughn Lover
Season 2 (Part VII, Part II)
"SSyd...you're not going to believe this but...you're...you're pregnant," Ethan blurted out, watching her with a steady eye.
Sydney didn't look like she'd heard him.
"Well seems that I've gotten two wonderful surprises on your trip here, I got to meet my sister-in-law and now I'm going to be an uncle."
Sydney jolted forward as though she'd been socked in the stomach. Pregnant? Now?
"You don't seem too enthused. I'm going to assume this wasn't a planned event," he said dryly to fill in the silence, hoping that the baby really couldn't hear or feel what was going on outside because there was no joy present there.
"NNo, it wasn't," she admitted, her gaze going down to her stomach, wonder slightly present in her expression. "I mean, this is the last thing I thought would happen to us, I mean, with all I've gone through and...I didn't think I was healthy or stable enough to carry a child."
Camden realized Sydney's concern was genuine and leaned his elbow onto the counter and propped his head on it. "But you said you're married and you know even in the CIA, it is possible to have a family. Or did you aand...Michael not plan on having kids?"
"Oh...I'm sure that he would like to have kids, I know I've always wanted at least one boy and one girl," Sydney put in quickly, and to the relief of the doctor, her face lit up with a smile at that comment. "Bbut not yet. I mean we're both very busy with work. When I was on regular duty I was always shooting off to Malaysia or France at short notice, I'm never in L.A long enough, not to give my body the care it would need to bring him to term."
"Well, maybe this is just your sight from God to slow down and put your career on hold," Camden suggested gently. "I mean, you got married, part of you is more than ready to settle down. And with the physical torture you go through everyday, I'd say you're lucky you can even get pregnant. You do know the more woman work, the less likely it is that she'll stay fertile. Stress can speed up menopause."
Sydney did understand all that. But this just wasn't the right time. She still had a ways to go, trying to find out what happened to her and after that, she would probably need time to herself to come to terms with it all. She may be in good shape, but not in this, not when her mentality was so messed up.
"Sydney?"
Sydney shook her head and let out a low laugh. "I know, but doc, you don't understand. I still feel part of me is missing, and I just got married to Vaughn...a few days ago. Actually the night before I left for this mission."
This took Camden by shock but he didn't show it. "It doesn't matter," he cut in, sounding irritated with her protests. "You two were married and you've got to think it's a possibility that you could get pregnant if you consumated your union...wwithout protection."
"NNo, you don't understand. Vaughn, he illegally married himself to me." She paused then added, "Vaughn is still married to his legal wife."
And indiscernable anger hardened Camden's heart. Michael C.V Vaughn, he was supposedly the good son in the family, the one his parents had chosen over him. And Ethan had believed there had been a good reason, that even if his twin wasn't perfect, that there had to something golden about him that he'd been able to outshine him and leave Ethan Camden, formerly Ethan David Vaughn in a dark foster home without an ounce of real love. So how could Sydney be telling him that his brother didn't even have the guts to end his marriage with his wife before making the same promise to this amazing woman?
Ethan shook his head, not wanting to believe it. Instead he said, "WWell Michael knows what it's like to have a father and then lose that precious parental figure. I'm sure he wouldn't do something stupid like stay out of the child's life." He could feel Sydney's gaze bore into him like acid. "And before you make any...final decisions regarding your baby's life, I think you...you should tell Michael. After all, he is the father of your baby."
Sydney chuckled as though the thought had never crossed her mind. "Oh, I wouldn't even think of that. There are some cruel heartless things we are trained to do but...never to end a pregnancy. If I really am pregnant, I will take leave from the CIA. And when I take maternity leave, it will be with or without Vaughn's help."
Ethan had to admit, he was very impressed by Sydney's strength and forthrightness.
"I know that my mother screwed up a lot of thing but...she did give birth to me. I'd say that was the only thing she did right."
Camden listened to Sydney and was suddenly nostalgic for the mother he'd never gotten to know. Something about her voice was soothing and full of love, and he wondered if his mother had had that love him. Then he'd definitely missed out.
"Great, well, you're only a few days along. I'd suppose you'd want to tell Vaughn, there's a phone right there if you want to use it."
Sydney didn't move, which concerned Camden slightly. She noticed it and decided to comment on it. "Vaughn is not supposed to know where I am. The whole JTF knows that we're together and my Director didn't want Vaughn to influence my decision in coming here to offer my assistance in anyway."
"Oh. So you can tell him when you get back then," Camden suggested, his eyes sparkling with pride. "You probably don't have the time to have a very long conversation with him anyway since our briefing is due in fifteen minutes. I'm going to go in the back to change then we can go together."
Sydney flipped her head around and grinned. "Sure that Cowell won't make a scene?"
"I could careless what that boy does. Ever since you told me he manipulated the system to be assigned as your partner, it's made me a bit uneasy that you have to be around him," Camden admitted, his eyes narrowing just enough to make an impression.
"I think that's your older brother thing kicking in," she called back as she heard the door close to her office. She then made sure no one was looking, with the exception of the cameras that monitored close to every agent of the CIA agent's life in the building before she cautiously put a palm to her non-existent bulge. Even though she knew she wouldn't be able to feel the kicking or real physical proof that there was nothing living human growing inside of her, she felt suddenly overprotective and overcome with the urge to let her miracle inside know that she was already in love with him or her. She suddenly felt very toasty and the heat dulled any pain she had until it was bearable She also felt the strength she needed to get through her days away from her love, part of him would always be with her, for the rest of her life. That filled her with a sense of purpose and as soon as Vaughn got the divorce in writing, life would be pretty close to perfect.
"Hey."
Sydney lifted her head and smiled. Ethan was standing against the doorjamb, dressed in a light-blue shirt, a dark tie and polished shoes that remind her very strongly of Vaughn's appearance at the office. "You ready to go?'
Sydney nodded. She got her feet, straightened her dark blazer then gave him the most dazzling smile that had been a frown of pain only moment ago. "Yeah, let's go."
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"Okay Agent, I thank you for coming in this morning," Landor began as he hurried into the room with an offical-looking man, his arms full of paperwork. It reminded Sydney very well of Marshall in his hyperventilating state. He smiled grimly at his assembled cast, who all but one of them had a very grim expression on their faces.
Sydney looked confused.
Cowell didn't lean over to explain anything, in fact he was whispering to Camden, probably as curious as he was but he didn't want to know just the same. IT was obvious the news this man came with was never good.
"For those of you who don't know, this is Agent Forner, he's our Special Operations Specialist that has been behind the strategizing of mission: CT13698700135 "Biopsy Extraction for Project Christmas Vital Intel" And his job is to make sure our Operation goes off without a hitch, and if something happens, he is the one who has to accommodate the changes. So I think you know that something has happened and there are going to be some changes in our Operation."
Landor left the podium and gave the floor to Agent Forner who was probably about six-two, wearing a very crisp black suit. He shoved his papers under the podium then cleared his throat before he addressed the assembled group.
"Good morning fellow agents. I do apologize for any inconvenience but we just receive new intel a few hours ago," he began and then clicked a button towards the wall. "This is the new report going forward. I'm going to give you a couple of minutes to go through it and then I will take questions."
Sydney swerved her glance around the room to all the agents who had stopped their chattering and focused on the screen sitting before them. She looked to her side and saw Leighton studying the screen, looking serious. He then pointed at Syd's screen to beckon her to it. She almost said something about being condescending but didn't. She instead clasped her hands under chin and glanced over at Ethan who was also reading, but when he felt her eyes on him, he raised his head, gave her an understanding smile before he returned his attention back to his screen.
She finally decided to check it all out for herself.
The screen displayed a familiar looking document, an order in report format with its' heading and short but detailed paragraphs entailing the steps of action.
It read.
Agent Mike E Forner
CIA Special Operations Officer
Adjustments in Operations # CT13698701135
Most of the actions designated in the former order Operation # CT13698701135 are still going to go forward.
Director of Operations at London Field Office 0860 will have two field-rated agents meet Sydney Bristow and Agent Leighton D. Cowell at the arranged rendez-vous point at 0900 hours. From there the two agents Bristow and Cowell will process to Bristow and Cowell's temporary living quarter where the two visitors will await further instruction.
Director of Operations will then hold a briefing for the extracting procedure on David Lansing (code name: Mind Meld) and teams will be assigned. Bristow is to accompany her handler for the Briefing then Cowell is to escort Bristow her pre-assigned physician, Dr Ethan Camden, where she is to undergo a complete physical examination, immunizations outlined in the guide lines and biopsy of possible Project Christmas related tumor,
At approx 14:00, Agent Cowell, Bristow, Camden, Hill And Op Tech Loren will travel the CIA-affiliated medical facility St. Mary Joseph Hospital. Team a will enter through entrance 1 and get admission completed for Bristow's Alias: Dr. Dawn Schroder. Team B will go in through Entrance 36 and proceed to enter Access 89 to await further word from Team A. Then Team B to proceed to David Lansing's suite for observational purposes. Team A is to do a rehearsal of the planned break and wait for Team B to respond then both teams are to return to London Office HQ and Cowell to turn an update report to Director of Operations. Hill to turn in report regarding success of rehearsal. Agent Sorbeck to finalize prototypes of any and all surgical and extracting EQ by 24:00 May 2005.
Now the following is the adjustments to the former scheduling. The Operation # CT13698700135 is to commence on 18 May, 2005 at approx 0700 as scheduled with Team A and B to meet up with Team C (Previously formed medical team of 5) at entrance 18 instead of 86. And instead of being a defense weaponery free project, every agent to be assigned a 36 mil hand gun and a team of six from the Professional Marksman Division is going to accompany the 3 teams with their Director designated weaponary.
Team B is to capture David Lansing and send him to the Emergency Bay where the Lansing's replacement will be located. Team A's Loren will move the clone into suite 136 while Hill and Cowell will trip the fire alarm located on the third floor near oncology, a gas-smelling fume will be eject from all vents and put occupants into semi-coma state. Agent Bristow will call into the hospital after Cowell informs her that the line that report back to the emergency number has been temporarily tripped. After the coast is clear, the "Family Physician," is to stand by in Lansing's room to warn agents or ward off any unexpected visitors. Bristow and Camden will proceed to moving Lansing down to the surgery unit located beyond Access 62 which is in actuality surgery room 3.
Team C is to gain entrance into David Lansing's skull then Dr. Ruhter is to locate the tumor and then Dr. Camden is to remove the sample and freeze it before handing it to Agent Bristow. Team C will then put a cleared TNT device into his brain and set it up to respond to a remote designator in case the method of intravenous lethal injection does not perform correctly or if the patient becomes in anyway violent. This is a brain surgery and therefore the possibility of him coming out of his vegetable state is possible. If this happens the protocol is to plug him with a stun gun and then radio HQ to designate the explosion.
Team A B and C will then exit through their first exits and meet at rendez-vous point to be determined by Marksman's evaluation of the possibilities and all agents will be notified.
Agent Cowell and Agent Bristow to attend a debriefing and then immediately after, Agent Bristow is to undergo a psychological examination with Ethan Camden present. Camden is to report any finding regarding Bristow's biopsy. Hill is to write any overview of the mission to send to Langley. Sorbeck's prototype must be deactivated and destroyed. Then Agent Bristow and Agent Cowell is free of duty for seven days, technically to recooperate from possible psychological trauma. Then Camden is to run them through detoxication and them ship them to the Rendez-vous point B where a place with a CIA contact from L.A will be present. Agent Camden is to contribute on the autopsy of whatever remains of Lansing then report the finding to the CIA Directorate. David Lansing two is to buried in place of Lansing and then unmarked for the Operation to be considered complete.
Sydney gasped and felt a chill go down her spine. What in the world had happened to the make the CIA have to issue everyone a handgun? And even their break in and exiting had changed. Basically everything going forward had been modified.
She heard Cowell gasp as well and it traveled in a sort of wave through the other agents. She swore she'd just heard Camden curse to her right. If she hadn't looked, she could have easily believe it was Vaughn sitting there.
She found a scrolling bar on the edge of her screen and hesitantly moved the screen down. At the bottom of the page was an attn. She swallowed as she absorbed herself into it.
Director Landor, Directorate of London's finest field-office 0860, please advise the following in conjunction with the adjustments described above.
Agent Mike E Forner.
CIA Special Operations Officer
This is an excerpt of an e-mail the CIA received from Dr. Dodson (Agent Medical Officer) at 11:54 May 14 via an untapped mailing code, recognized as the St. Mary Joseph Project url.
"Director of Special Ops, Langley, I strongly feel that somebody from our unit has leaked some vital into to some persons of the St. Mary Joseph staff. There has been interesting movement including a call Agent Dazoner traced going out of the hospital to Scotland Yard. The agency advised Agent Dazoner to go to Scotland Yard and find a recording of the call. I have included this in addition to this e-mail. I believe that this is a validation of what we have feared since the disappearance of Agent Bristow and so many others, there is a double agent in the midst and we the Medical Team at St. Mary's believe this is an attempt to thwart our mission, put best men into custody long enough so they can do whatever it is they are planning. This also increases the importance of making sure the sample of David Lansing's tumor reach the right hands and ever so vital that we do have the spy take the clone and that Lansing's body be our possession. The imposter is using this even to cover their tracks and we must not only let that happen, but make sure we find out this information.
Please add this to our inventory of intel and then forward it to the Special Ops officer responsible for strategizing Operatioon CT13698701135 and have him make the necessary adjustment as priority. Langley has been notified and we at Team C have been told to move as planned until further notified."
We believe this e-mail is not a threat and the CIA will adhere to its' contents. We hope that this information will help the agents understand why the classification of this operation has been elevated and the reason for the added ammunition.
And right there, it abruptly ended. Sydney raised her head along with all twelve others, they all seemed to be thinking the same thing, what the hell was going on? And if the imposter could possibly be in the room.
"Okay, since I'm getting alarmed and confused glances, I'm assuming that you all have been able to get through this piece of work," Landor finally boomed from his corner where he was doing something on his own. "Agent Forner, if you will take their questions, I just received an urgent message and I'll have to take leave of the office for the moment."
Agent Forner nodded to him. Sydney watched Landor hurry out of the room with mounting curiousity, and didn't turn back until Forner began speaking.
"Okay first off, I want to think Agent Cowell, Hill, Loren, Bristow and Camden for their work last night and apologize because now that we've received this disturbing e-mail, everything we've planned to do as procedure is no use to use from this point going forward.
The agents all exchanged tired glances.
"No, regarding the procedure explained in the report, I think it is pretty straight forward. The danger amount of the mission increased but other than that I think we can be successful. Tipping wires, manipulating the security system, ambushing the facility, all of these things are thing you have all undertaken before," Forner pointed out, doing his best to comfort the anxiety stricken faces. "But for those few and just because we feel it wouldn't hurt, all agents present will to take a brief retraining in this marksman and the individuals required to disable security and so forth will also receive proper instruction...because, we really cannot fail."
Gasps of relief flew from the red-faced agents who felt they needed more training and groans and exasperated sighs from the totally capable agents on regular field duty.
"That's understood then, great," he beamed. Then he took a pause as he said gravely. "I know you all probably have a lot of concerns and questions you want answered regarding the spy we believe we have in our midst but let's keep it professional and we'll just go around the room till we can all of them addressed."
Nervous chatter broke out throughout the room but they quieted down to give respect to their team mates, also because the briefing made them feel too musty and contained and they all wanted to get some fresh air, to perhaps clear their heads.
"Let's start with you, Agent Nelson, our head neural surgeon," Forner beckoned him and the thirty-some doctor came to a stand.
"I think I speak for everyone when I ask who does the CIA think the imposter is? I mean, are they in the room? And if so, shouldn't the agent immediately remove him or her so the rest of the team can proceed without accusing one another?"
"Vvery good input, Nelson. And if you all read the e-mail, I'm sure you caught the little bit about how we do have the audio recording of the telephone in our possession. However, who ever did make this phone call knew how to morph his voice so that not even our best technology here in London can decipher it. It's currently back at HQ but they informed us it could be weeks before they de-puzzle the voice to give it an accurate I.D. Hence the reason why the CIA is feverishly tracking down a different way to catch this traitor. At this time, all we can conclude is that whoever made this call to the staff at St. Mary Joseph is working someone we believe is an agent of what we're thinking the supposedly defunct-organization, the Alliance disguised as a doctor and that he was able to give very detailed information, so detailed that we have to reevaluate every step." Forner paused as he stepped over to his screen. "I'm going to play now the recording of that call so we can all absorb it, I'm asking for silence. It will appear subtitled on your screen."
Sydney turned her head back to the screen that had now changed to a screen that had a graph to display the frequency and typed the subtitles in green lettering at the bottom of the screen.
She heard a soft click and perked her ears as static filled the room then died away to reveal a very gruff voice.
"St Mary Joseph hospital, Dr. Calcite speaking."
"Dr Calcite, this is P.R..O.P.E.R (static) requesting connection with code name: K-Dir C49."
"Agent PROPER, this is A Dir c-49. I must say this is a surprise."
"Likewise. I didn't think I would be able to contact you so quickly but the CIA's security is a joke and I have some information regarding David Lansing that you might want to know."
Sydney heard fell to her stomach. It just really angered her that someone would want to take advantage of an innocent man who was decapitated without fault.
"I've been waiting. Ever since I heard that your boss let that Sydney Bristow back onto the land. I still doesn't get why she didn't just kill her."
She gulped as she felt the agents sitting next to her shift uncomfortably. Others across the room shot her pity glances along with Hill, Sorbeck and Loren. Why hadn't Landor prepared her for this?
"She's got her reasons. It's all part of her big plan, she'll kill her soon enough," the manipulated voice promised in his oily tone. "But first things first, the CIA has assumed that Bristow will develop the tumor and that is why they are going to perform neural surgery to remove the tumor which they are going to hand Bristowto carry back to the U.S. They also plan to kill Lansing, take is body and put an clone they've developed in his place for the next months till the drug implanted within his body kills him."
"Agent PROPER, we cannot let that happen. If the CIA are able to take the body, everything could fall through! The work we've been doing for two years would mean nothing!"
"Exactly why I am going to tell you exactly what is to happen so you'll be able to ambush them, Now on the 18th of May, approx at 7:00 p.m, Team A of Cowell, Loren and Hill and Team B of Camden and Bristow will proceed to en through entrance 86. The emergency bay where they will meet with Team C of Nelson, Kaizer, Anderson, Rolwry and Jonathan. And then Team A will retrieve the clone while Team B proceeds to take Lansing to surgery, so if we are going to do this, we need to catch them in the act when all Teams meet, can you get a team ready for this?"
"I won't have to. I'm a doctor after all, it would much less-time consuming and effective to call Scotland Yard and have the agents taken into custody. Of course they'll be arraigned after they admit they're CIA but that will give us enough time to clean up our mess, and I think we'll be able to use the clone just like they have planned to."
"My boss will be so pleased."
"Great. I'm sure she will be more pleased to know that we are able to do this so inconspiciously. I would really make executing this plan a lot more easier."
"Agreed, so that is it then?"
"Well, just one more question, where would you be during all this?"
"You will know soon enough. I did make sure this line is not tapped but I'm not sure it is safe or necessary to divulge that at this time."
"Very well then. I look forward to meeting you again. After this is over, you really must squeeze in some time to have a drink with me, we will definitely have a reason to celebrate."
"Most definitely will. And if this goes through without a hitch, I am sure that the boss will be glad to award you for you loyalty. I will keep in touch."
Static followed the evil laughter than ended the call. Sydney couldn't pull her eyes away form the screen. Now, as she sat there, the ones who had kidnapped her were planning her death. If that wasn't heart shattering, she didn't' know what was. She suddenly had the disgusting feeling that she was not going to be able to see Vaughn as soon as she'd hoped. She could barely keep her tears form displaying themselves on her smooth face. She was pregnant, she was happy, what had she done to make these people hate her?
"Very disturbing, I believe. The spy has been doing very well to communicate this. We really thank Agent Dazoner for his work, without them we could have easily lost Bristow again. The other disturbing fact is that Dr. Calcite, doesn't exist. So we don't even know who the doctor is under the codename A Dir C-49," Forner commented, shuddering ever so slightly and exasperation made his nice face look extremely aged.
"Well, why can't we just go in there and interrogate the doctors?" Camden demanded, standing up. He had squeezed Sydney's hand, knowing she probably hadn't taken the news very well.
"Because they are not all spies. The general public already have a strong dislike toward us as an agent so we're not too keen on making a scene to scope out the suspect," Forner chided him. He'd known Camden for a while and he knew he was a smart young man and he knew his worry for his fellow agent sitting next to him was the reason he'd blurted out something so unintelligent, that with a little that could have easily been prevented.
Camden nodded with understanding and flushed noticeably when smart-ass Cowell did what he did best, make an ass out of him,
The briefing commended for another hour until all the questions were addressed. Sydney was of course sitting there, but only physically, emotionally she had detached herself and put all her energy into convincing herself and her baby that she would make it and that she and Vaughn would be able to enjoy years of parenting.
"Thank you all for being so patient and cooperative. Team A and B, you can have your lie detector test done at the main facility, Team C, please return to you sector of the building have it done there, you will all receive further instruction regarding the changes and they will be accommodated," Forner concluded as he gathered his papers.
As soon as he clicked off the image on the wall, returning it to its' while painted surface, all agents stood up looking confused and reluctant but with somewhat of a sense of direction.
The doctors moved first, looking very eager to get the test over with so they could get back to their rewarding work of saving people who had injured themselves by risking their lives on the job. Each of them stopped before Sydney, some of them apologized for the revelation that turned our shocking to her more than anyone, and others just eager to meet the girl who had made it alive through the kidnapping. Or maybe they just really wanted to examine her.
After that show and tell session, she shakily got to her feet and Leighton and Ethan each took an arm to steady her until she found her footing. But she pulled out of their grips and braced her palms against the edge of the table. Leighton and Ethan exchanged glances of concern for a moment before they went back to griping. It was obvious the two were suspecting each other of being the imposter. They didn't notice that Sydney had hobbled out the door until after they'd chewed each other out for being insensitive and self-absorbed. They burst out the door cursing but they stopped the moment they saw Sydney's lanky figure leaned against the wall.
"Hey! I was wondering where you'd done," Ethan crooned as he walked up to her. "You feeling okay? I mean after...that, I...if you really wanted to I can probably think of something to push the test off a bit. I mean, they were talking about uh...you...so they shouldn't even suspect you."
"Hey Camden, aren't you taking advantage of your position as a medical officer here?"
"She could have easily been traumatized," he protested, his green eyes flashing with anger.
"No, you're trying to do my freaking job!"
"No, you're just angry that I have her best interest in her well being and she knows it!"
Cowell actually lowered his voice and glared at him with loathing. "You know Camden, if I was actually pursuing a married woman, I might be immature and punch you in the face."
Camden stood still, his eyes daring hit not only to hook his arm but smash it into his face.
"Actually I don't either of you are on anything but a power trip," Sydney broke in, silencing both men. "Because if you cared at all, wouldn't you have asked the one you're bickering over what she wants?"
The two handsome men didn't have a reply.
"Look, I'm not broken and the last thing I want is a pity party," Sydney cut in very harshly that it actually surprised her that Cowell didn't just sock her in the face. "And what I really want is to have some time alone with Camden, I have your number Cowell. I'll get back in touch with you after the rest. JJust....leave me alone."
They watched Sydney stalk off and felt pretty badly about the way they'd treated her. In fact they felt so bad that they'd didn't say anything and waited a minute before they joined their peers for the lie detector test.
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So now wasn't that chilling? Poor Sydney having to listen to that! I know I would have lost it! But hey, she's pregnant!
Please review so I know you all are still reading okay, seriously, even just to say you'd like to see some more.
Next chapter Vaughn is going to be the center piece of it all.
For those of you, reading my other fics, please be assured that they will all be updated this week.
Oh and last favor, if anybody can just check out my latest chapter on "For better or worse till the NSC do us part," that would be appreciated!
Thanks for your support, you all rock!
Till next time.
Total Vaughn Lover
