For all disclaimers, please see part one.

Part 16

Vaughn is quiet as we head back to the Ops Center. I know he's still pissed at me for the comment I made about Jack. And I don't blame him. I shouldn't have said it, but seriously, I needed to get that grin off his face. I'm happy that he was finally able to kiss Sydney. I'm happy for both of them. But somehow, I doubt Kendall will be as happy, or as understanding.

I glance over and see he's staring out the window and I know there is more to this than him just being pissed about some comment. I sigh. I never sigh. Well I never used to sigh until Vaughn met Sydney.

"What's wrong?"

He looks over at me, and I can tell he's trying to decide whether or not he's going to talk. But this is Vaughn. He'll talk. "It's just something Syd said."

Okay, like I didn't see that one coming. I sigh again. Shit, I really have to stop this sighing crap. I swear, I'm surprised I don't have the impression of a brick permanently imprinted on my forehead from this wall I keep running into. But what the hell. What's one more concussion? "What did she say?" And please don't let it be, "Oh God, Vaughn, don't stop…"

I try to get that thought out of my head only to find that he's already started talking. I hold up my hands. "Whoa, wait a sec. Start over."

Now it's his turn to sigh and I want to laugh, but the look on his face has the chuckle dying in the back of my throat.

"She wondered about Sloane. How many more people were going to get hurt before we catch him."

"He can't hide forever. We'll find him."

"I tried to tell her that, but I don't know. I just don't know."

"You can't honestly think he's going to get away with all of this?"

"I don't. But then I never thought I'd be cooperating with, working with the woman who killed my father either."

"Sloane isn't Irina. And just remember, she's in custody. Just like Sloane will be."

He nods and turns back to look out the window. "You didn't see her, Eric. I don't know how much more she'll be able to take. And if something happens to Jack…"

"Jack will be fine. He's too stubborn to be anything else." Oh, God. Did I just try to reassure Vaughn by telling him that Jack Bristow was going to be okay?

"You said he was in bad shape. If…"

I don't let him finish. "Jack is in bad shape. But I'm sure he's been worse. He'll pull through. He'll have to if he's going to kick your ass after he finds out you kissed Sydney in the middle of a ruined SD-6."

Vaughn's eyes go wide as if this is the first time he's had to think about what Jack's reaction is going to be like. And I know I shouldn't do it, but I just can't help myself. "You know he's not going to be very happy with you."

A sly smile crosses Vaughn's face. "No, I don't think he will."

She's been locked in the bathroom for the better part of an hour now. I'm supposed to be good with words, but whatever possessed me to say that I didn't want to just have sex with her is completely beyond me.

I knock on the door again and again I get no answer. I put my ear against the wood and at least I don't hear her crying anymore. I think that's a good thing until I realize I don't hear anything.

I try the knob again, hoping that this time it will miraculously open, but it won't. So I try banging on the door. "Fran? Fran, come on, say something."

When I still don't get an answer, I'm seriously tempted to try breaking the door down. Try being the key word because I'm under no illusions about my own strength, but I'm willing to do anything to make sure she's okay.

I'm just about to throw a shoulder against it when I hear the lock click and she emerges. She walks past me without a word and I wonder just how badly I've fucked this up. "Fran?"

"I'm going to bed."

Dammit. "Fran, listen."

"No, Will. I'm tired. I'm going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow and you've made your desires perfectly clear."

I grab her arm as she tries to move past me. She looks down at my hand before slowly returning her gaze to my face. "Let me go."

"No." I lead her back over to the bed, probably not the best place to go, but it's the best option I've got. I let go of her arm and point to the bed. "Sit."

I didn't think this was going to be easy, but the way she's standing here glaring at me, I know it's going to be more difficult than I thought. "I did make my desires clear. But apparently not clear enough."

"You said you didn't want to sleep with me. I think that's pretty damn clear."

"No, Fran, I told you I didn't want to just have sex with you. There is abig difference."

I can tell she's not convinced. "Do you think it was easy resisting your rather persistent advances because it wasn't."

"I'm sure you wouldn't have even tried with Jenny."

"You're right about Jenny. I wouldn't have. And I don't think I ever did." I place my hands on her shoulders and force her to sit. "But you're not Jenny. And maybe this time I want something more. Maybe this time, I want it to be more than just sex."

"And if I hadn't gotten drunk?"

"I don't know what would have happened. I didn't bring you here to seduce you."

"So why did you bring me here? And don't tell me it's because you wanted help with an article, because you hardly asked me any questions while we were at dinner that could possibly pertain to any article."

I can't tell her the real reason. I don't even want to think about the real reason we are here, but I just don't know how much longer I can lie to her. "You needed to relax." I sit down and pull her next to me and she rests her head on my shoulder. "You work too hard." At least that wasn't a lie.

"I need the restaurant to work, Will."

"I know. And it is working. You need to take some time to enjoy it. Aren't we always going on about how Sydney's job runs her life?"

"I guess."

I lean back a bit so I can look at her face. "You guess?"

She smiles at me for the first time since this whole misunderstanding began. "Okay. I work too hard. But from now on, I'll try to take more time to enjoy the success the restaurant is bringing me."

"Try?"

She laughs and lightly pushes me away. "Okay, okay. I will take more time to enjoy myself. Is that better?"

I pull her back to me and place a quick kiss on her forehead. "Good, then we can start tomorrow."

I get up, leaving her staring after me as I head to the bathroom. "Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?"

I grab a couple of aspirin from my bag and pour some water into a glass. I return to the bedroom and hand her them to her. She takes them and hands back the empty glass.

"What is tomorrow, Will?"

I just smile at her. "You'll just have to wait and see."