Thanks for reading!
Becky
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Vaughn POV
When Sydney's phone rang just a minute ago, I was certain that this was going to be it. I was so certain that everything that Sydney had to go through to get the information had been worth it. Certain that Jack would tell her the code was a match. Certain that soon, very soon, the nightmare of a double life Sydney has been leading the last year and a half would end.
When she got up and turned away from me, obviously upset, I knew something was wrong. And I knew that it had to be something more than the codes not matching, but nothing could have prepared me for the news that Jack had been compromised.
Even now, standing here watching her as she tries not to break down, tries not to give into the fear that must be gripping her, my mind still refuses to believe. I look back up at her and I can tell she's losing her fight, and not being able to hold her, to comfort her, is killing me.
I glance around the room and am thankful that so far no one seems to really notice what is going on. But I know that won't last long, so I guide her out of the bullpen and into an empty meeting room. Once the door is closed behind us, I pull her to me, simply holding her as she finally lets go.
It takes time, but Sydney's tears slow until at last they stop. She pulls away slightly, allowing her just enough space to wipe her eyes. I take this opportunity to lead her over to a chair, sitting her down.
Pulling another chair out, I sit down next to her. I don't really want to do this, but there are questions that have to be asked and Sydney is the only one who has the answers. "Syd, are you certain, absolutely certain, that you heard Jack correctly?"
"Yes." She looks over at me, her eyes pleading with me to understand. "I know what he said, Vaughn."
"Okay, but this code you two came up with. It was just simply a warning for the other to stay away, right?"
"Uh huh."
"You're sure he wasn't trying to warn you that you've been compromised as well?" I watch as her expression freezes, my words, and their implications, registering quickly. I hold my breath for what seems like an eternity until she finally answers me.
"I don't know."
It isn't the answer I was hoping for. I run my hand through my hair, trying to figure out just how to break this news to Kendall when my thoughts are interrupted by Sydney's gasp. "What? What's wrong?"
"Oh, God. If that's what he was trying to tell me... Oh God..."
"Syd, what is it?"
"Will and Francie."
"What about them?"
"If Geiger starts looking for me they won't be safe."
Sydney is a strong woman. One of the strongest I've ever known, but all of this, Geiger holding Jack, the likelihood of having been exposed, the possible threat to her friends, it all seems to hit her at once. The woman I see before me now reminds me of the one I saw a few months back, the one who had just learned about her father's betrayal.
But this is so much worse, and there's only one thing I can do. I pull her chair beside mine and, for the second time in the last fifteen minutes, I wrap my arms around her, holding her as she breaks.
This time, it seems to be harder for her to pull herself back together, but somehow, some way, she does. I brush the few remaining tears from her cheek, my hand lingering there. I'm not sure whether I'm unable to let go, or just unwilling. For all I know, it's both.
My hand is still resting on her cheek, my thumb rubbing her skin lightly when I ask, "Syd, do you know where they are? Can you warn Will?"
She nods, her hand resting on mine. "Francie's at the restaurant, but I don't know where Will is right now. And I can't tell Fran what's really going on." She pulls my hand from her face, sandwiching it between hers. "Vaughn, what can I do?"
"Call the restaurant. Ask Francie if she knows where Will is. Who knows, maybe he'll be there," I state, trying to reassure her.
"And if he's not?"
"Syd, you'll have to leave a message with her to have him call you."
"But what if he doesn't go to there today?" she asks, the panic resurfacing.
"I don't know, but I'll see if Weiss can put surveillance on the restaurant. At least until you've talked to Will. Okay?"
I watch as she takes a deep breath in an effort to calm herself. "Okay. But what are we going to do about my dad and what about the code?"
"I'll call Kendall and let him know what's happened and see if he has any suggestions. But right now, go call Will and I'll get Weiss moving on getting some people over to Francie's."
Sydney nods and gets up. Just as she passes me, I reach out and take hold of her hand. I know she won't believe me, but I have to try and reassure her anyway. "Syd, it'll be okay."
She squeezes my hand briefly before letting go. "I hope you're right."
********
Sydney POV
I'm standing here trying to figure out how to tell Vaughn what I need to tell him. And I thought convincing Will to leave town with Francie was going to be hard. We both know we need that code. It's the only chance that my father has.
Time is a funny thing. Whenever you are waiting for something, it seems to drag on endlessly. On the other hand, when you are worried about something that has yet to happen, something you want to prevent, time moves so swiftly that all you want to do is turn the hands on the clock back. And when you combine the two, the worrying and the waiting, chaos is the only result.
Yet one good thing has come from that chaos. I close my eyes briefly, forcing myself to focus on my plan. Like I've told him, I know I can't go myself. That was never my intention. But I'm not stupid. I know he won't like what I'm about to suggest. "Vaughn..."
He grabs my elbow gently, but firmly, and leads me back into the room we'd been in earlier. Once inside, he lets go of my arm, fixing his hands to my shoulders instead. "Sydney, if you think I'm going to let you go get that code, you're wrong."
I start to protest, but he cuts me off. "I'm serious. If I have to place you in a cell with her to make sure you stay put, I will."
I shake myself loose and take a couple of steps back, putting a bit of space between us. "I have no intention of setting foot inside SD-6 without full CIA backup," I counter as I watch Vaughn warily sit on the edge of a table before I continue. "But I'm not going to just forget that Geiger has my father either."
He looks up at me quickly. "Syd, I wasn't suggesting..."
"I know, but you don't understand. I am not going to leave my father there. I can't. I have an idea of how we can get the code, but you are going to have to let me do this my way; otherwise, it will never work."
Vaughn closes his eyes briefly before looking back at me. "Does your plan involve leaving this building?"
I square my shoulders and place my hands on my hips. I can't bring myself to look at him, so I study the wall just behind his shoulder. "I think you already know the answer to that."
Vaughn stands up quickly, closing the gab between us with a single step. Again his hands grip my shoulders, this time, a bit more firmly than the last. "You are not leaving this building."
"Damn it, Vaughn! I've just told Will that he and Francie have to leave town. And I'm not even sure that once they do, that they will be safe. And what about their families? Do you think SD-6 will just go, 'Oh we can't find those two so let's just wait until they come back?' You know they won't. They will use whatever means necessary to get to them because they know that this is the best way to get to me."
"Syd..."
"No! Don't tell me they won't because we both know better." I shake myself free and start pacing in front of him. "God! I'm scared, Vaughn. Do you hear me? I'm scared! Do you think I want to leave here?" I don't even give him a chance to respond before I continue, "I don't, but I'm not going to sacrifice my father or my friends just so I can stay safe. I won't!"
As I pass him again, he reaches out and grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. "Syd, I'm not suggesting that you sacrifice anyone. I'm simply saying that you can't leave. Geiger has probably figured out by now that you aren't coming in. They are going to be looking for you."
"Will you just listen to my idea? Please," I beg, looking up at him as a tear slowly slides down my cheek, "hear me out."
His left hand gently brushes the tear away as his right falls to his side. "What is your plan?"
"I need to tell Dixon what's going on."
********
Ten minutes later, I'm still trying to make Vaughn listen to reason. "Don't you understand? I'm the only one who can do this."
"Do you honestly think you can get Dixon to do this on just your word? Syd, be reasonable."
"Um, guys, do you want to keep it down a bit? You're starting to draw a crowd."
We both turn as Weiss comes into the room. Closing the door, he looks first at Vaughn, then at me. He puts his hands in his pocket and leans against the wall before asking, "So, what's going on?"
Vaughn and I stare at each other silently before I finally turn and answer Weiss' question. "I'm trying to get him to accept that my telling Dixon is the only hope we have of getting the code."
"And I'm trying to make her realize that while that might be true, she can't be the one to do this because Security Section is probably already looking for her."
Weiss studies his shoes for moment before looking up at Vaughn. "She's right." He immediately holds up his hands, adding, "But so are you," when he sees Vaughn is about to protest.
"So what do you suggest we do?" Vaughn asked.
"Mike, you may not want to hear this, but Sydney has to do this. She has to be the one to talk to Dixon. She's the only one who can. Because if she doesn't..."
"If she doesn't what?"
Weiss pushes off from the wall, joining us near the table. "I know neither of you wants to hear this, but if Jack has been compromised like Sydney believes, chances are she has been as well." He looks at Vaughn. "That's what you're thinking, isn't it?"
We watch as Vaughn silently agrees with Weiss' assessment. "Right. And if that's the case, she'll be put in witness protection and there won't be anything any of us can do."
As bad as things are right now, as bad as they might get, being forced into the program was not something that had even crossed my mind. Hearing it stated, out loud, scares the hell out of me. As if I wasn't scared enough already. And then I take a deep breath and I know what I have to do. I'm not letting Sloane, SD-6, or the Alliance take anything, or anyone else from me.
"Where are you going?"
I turn back to answer Vaughn's question. "To call Dixon. Do whatever you think necessary, but I'm going. And I'm going now."
tbc...
