Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Alias or its characters.
AN: Here's the update I promised. It's a pretty short chapter but it should answer one or two questions. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think.
Dreams That Haunt: Friends and Flames
Vaughn woke up in pain. He was bleeding pretty badly, thankfully though he knew it wasn't serious. Zisman had shot him twice in the chest and once in his left arm. Thankfully Vaughn had come prepared wearing an old bulletproof vest. Vaughn got up slowly and looked at his arm. It was only a scratch but it hurt like hell. He looked at his watch and realized he'd been out for about twenty minutes. Suddenly he remembered all about Lauren's plan and ran out the door. He ran a block before he found his car and immediately jumped in and drove off. He knew Eric usually went home at five and he had forty minutes until then. He picked up his cell with his left arm, and although it hurt so much he managed to dial Eric's number. The phone rang and rang but Eric wouldn't answer.
"Damn it Eric, answer!" he yelled at no one. Frustration was taking over him, he feared he'd be too later. He feared that he wouldn't get there in time and would have to bury his best friend.
"Hey this is Eric Weiss, I can't get to the phone right now but leave me a message and I might call you back."
"Eric, it's Michael. Whatever you do don't go to your apartment. There's a bomb in there. I can't go into much detail right now but I'm on my way there. Call me back as soon as you get this." Vaughn said. Vaughn hung up and dialed the number to the CIA.
"ID 2300708." He said to the automated voice recording.
"Los Angeles CIA office." A woman answered.
"I need to speak to Director Dixon." Vaughn demanded as he took a sharp turn making his tire screech.
"Director Dixon is in a meeting in Langley." She responded.
"Then connect me to Agent Weiss!" Vaughn yelled in frustration.
"I'm sorry Agent Weiss went home early." she said to him.
"What time!" he yelled at her.
"About ten minutes ago." She answered sounding angry at Vaughn. Vaughn hung up and began to speed up. He knew he was about ten minutes from Eric's house but he was determined to get there in five. He drove as fast as he could not caring to stop or slow down at any time. Cars had to swerve to miss hitting his car but he didn't care. He couldn't let his best friend die.
He was getting close to Eric's house. He was only about two blocks away now. He took another sharp turn and saw Eric's house. He felt relieved that he had gotten there in time. But as he came closer to the familiar house he heard a loud noise and then saw the explosion. Vaughn stopped his car and got out. His eyes were filled with tears and his heart was filled with anger, hate and an immense sadness. Vaughn fell to the floor and leaned against his car. He didn't want to do anything, he didn't want to move or yell all he wanted to do was sit there and watch his best friend's house in flames. As he sat there indulging in his guilt and pain he heard ringing. He realized it was his phone but he didn't want to answer it. He didn't want to talk to anyone, he just couldn't. The phone stopped ringing and soon the place was swarming with cops and firefighters. It was then that he heard something that gave him hope.
"Mike! Mike are you alright?" a voice said. Vaughn turned around to face the person who sounded so much like Eric. His eyes lighted up as he realized that it was Eric.
"Eric! You're alive!" Vaughn yelled as he stood up and walked towards his friend.
"I tried calling you back but you wouldn't answer. When I got here and I saw the house in flames and I thought it might have been you." Eric began.
"I got here just before the explosion, when I saw it I thought I was too late. I'm so happy you're okay." Vaughn said. They hugged and turned to look at the house in flames. They turned to each other in confusion. If it hadn't been either of them who had set off the bomb then who had it been?
