Title: Consequences
Summary: Vaughn, Sydney and Lauren deal with the consequences of Senator Reed's death in different ways.
Disclaimer: Sadly I own neither Alias nor any of the characters.
Spoilers: Set after 3.17 'The Frame', but AU after that.
Rating: PG-13
A/N: This story contains non-graphic F/F and M/F.
Lauren sat
on the couch cuddled into Vaughn. He held her protectively in his
arms and whispered comforting words to her. She'd lost her father
that day and almost lost Vaughn. She couldn't afford to fail the
Covenant. She was determined that she would continue to use Michael.
It wasn't out of some pitiful need to keep her husband and
the cosy little life she had. It was too torture Sydney further. As
long as Lauren wanted Vaughn she would have him and Sydney would be
alone and in pain. Alone with her microwave dinners for one, alone in
her apartment where Vaughn had no place being and in pain from the
constant memories that paraded in her mind.
They'd be memories of her and Vaughn. All the times they'd helped each other, or shared a joke or small smile. All the times he kissed her, all the times they made love and every single moment they'd ever shared would be running through her mind, pushing her closer and closer to the edge. Unknown to Vaughn a small smile spread on his wife's lips as she thought of how desperate Sydney must have been becoming.
The next morning Vaughn left his wife sleeping peacefully in their bed and got ready for work. As he watched her sleeping form he knew she depended on him and that she was his priority in life. Sydney was the past and he had to live in the present, otherwise his memories would kill him.
When he arrived at work and walked straight into Syd it was awkward. The last time they'd spoke she'd been close to tears as he'd told her they couldn't go for coffee. In that simple conversation he'd destroyed the small glimmer of hope that Sydney still clung to.
She smiled and greeted him like it was any normal day and even managed to seem genuine when she gave Lauren her sympathy. Vaughn couldn't handle how strong Sydney was. He avoided her for most of the day until they were called into Dixon's office for a briefing. Sark was up to his old tricks. He was trying to buy a list of CIA undercover agents from a Russian contact and Vaughn and Weiss were sent to intercept him.
Vaughn impatiently scanned the room as he rang Lauren. He didn't want her to be on her own for too long. He was her husband; he was supposed to be with her. The phone rang for twelve rings and then Vaughn gave up. "Something wrong?" Sydney noticed the worry in his expression, he'd used it for her often enough. He shook his head.
"I'm leaving in ten minutes and I can't tell Lauren...I don't want her on her own at a time like this."
"I'll go over and see her."
Vaughn was stunned by Sydney's suggestion and forgot to reply. "She's my colleague Vaughn. I want to make sure she's okay...I thought maybe if we could try to get on better then it would be easier for all of us." She smiled and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder before leaving the office for Vaughn and Lauren's house.
When Lauren heard a knock at the door she shook her head and smiled. "Did you forget your keys...Sydney?" She paused as she realized Sydney Bristow was standing on her doorstep. "What's wrong? Has something happened? Where's Michael?"
"Nothing's wrong. He's been sent into the field with Weiss. He didn't want you to be on your own so I said I'd check in on you." Sydney explained; trying to wear a genuine smile when all she could think of was that she was standing outside of her house. The house where she and Vaughn slept and ate laughed and celebrated. The house that could have been Sydney's if fate hadn't been so cruel.
"Oh...would you like to come in?"
Sydney had expected her to argue she didn't need to be watched or at least frown at Sydney's presence, but she simply smiled and stepped to the side so Sydney could enter the house.
She closed the door behind her with a sickening click that filled Sydney's ears. She felt a swirling nausea in her stomach. She didn't want to be alone with the grieving with of her ex.
The house was well kept and abundant with modern furniture and expensive ornaments. Not to mention the memorabilia of Lauren and Vaughn's marriage. When Lauren led her into the living room she instantly noticed a large silver frame adorning a wedding photo on the fireplace.
"Would you like something to drink?" Lauren asked as she directed Sydney to sit on the sofa. Sydney shook her head politely and Lauren sat down next to her, tucking her legs under her. "You don't have to stay Sydney. It's not like we're friends and you certainly don't owe me anything." Lauren's eyes were glazed with fresh tears as she spoke.
"I want us to be." Sydney argued. "Maybe if we both got on better then things would be easier for all of us." Sydney placed a reassuring hand on Lauren's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.
If Lauren hadn't been so great at her job she would have burst into a triumphant grin there and then. Instead she allowed the false tears she'd forced up to run down her cheeks and then sunk her head into Sydney's neck. She sobbed quietly as Sydney held her and tried to soothe her. Telling her everything would be okay. She and Vaughn were so alike. Both tried to please everyone and do the right thing, whether or not it was what they wanted. That's what made them both so easy to step on.
When Lauren finally pulled away she'd soaked Sydney's white shirt in tears and mascara. "Oh...I'm so...here, I'll clean this up or you..."
"It's fine-" Sydney couldn't object. Lauren undid her shirt and removed it so she was only wearing a small white vest and then left the living room to put the shirt into the washing machine. When she returned Sydney sat with her arms folded protectively around herself; her muscular biceps clearly on display in the revealing vest. When Lauren sat back on the couch Sydney rested a hand on her leg.
"It's okay, it was just an old shirt." Sydney soothed her and smiled as Lauren's eyes met hers.
Before Sydney knew what was happening Lauren's lips were pressing gently against hers. When Sydney pulled away she fell to the floor with a thud and scrambled to her feet.
Lauren would have scowled if she weren't supposed to be playing the confused, grieving daughter. She held a hand to her lips disbelievingly and shook her head. "Sydney I'm so...I didn't mean to...I..." She burst into tears.
Sydney grabbed her jacket and mumbled something incoherently before running out of the house. Lauren grinned once she was gone. She licked her bottom lip savouring the taste of Sydney. She knew the true reason she wanted Vaughn was because she wanted Sydney. She'd decided that if she couldn't have Sydney then Michael wouldn't get her either. She was Laurens; whether Sydney was willing to accept it or not.
