Your reviews, yet again have been completely overwhelming! Thanks to angryapplepie, vaughnbear, Bubbles, nattie700, scott-land, Shelz, Rach5, alllieee and Ren201 for your amazing reviews! My apologies if I missed anyone, my account has been a bit weird recently!
This chapter is short, but I think there might be a couple of happy readers out there with this one.
I actually listened to Alicia Keyes "Troubles" while writing this story. If you listen to that song while reading, it adds to the whole mood of the piece.
Please review!
For disclaimer etc, see previous chapters
Chapter 8- Comfort
It was still dark outside as Vaughn woke to the abrupt sound of his alarm clock early the next morning. The sleeping pills he had taken seemed to have finally taken effect as he struggled to raise his arm to shut off the alarm.
He became aware of another presence in his bed and memories of the previous night came rushing back at him. Despite the alarm, Sydney was still last asleep. Her warm body was pressed up against his and the prospect of getting out of bed was becoming more and more unattractive. But life called and Vaughn knew there was no point in avoiding the inevitable.
He slowly tried to extract his body from Sydney's grasp without waking her. He failed in his mission as Sydney stirred slightly.
"Vaughn?" she moaned slightly, turning to gasp hold on him again.
"Shhh" Vaughn whispered as he pressed a kiss against her forehead.
"Why are you up so early?" she muttered, finally opening her eyes slightly.
"I have training for the mission. Go back to sleep" Vaughn replied reassuringly, running a hand over her face.
Sydney turned her head slightly into Vaughn's gentle touch before drifting off to sleep again.
Vaughn watched her fall asleep again before reluctantly heading towards the bathroom.
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Vaughn emerged from the bathroom to the smell of fresh coffee. He walked into the kitchen to find Sydney once again swathed in his bathrobe. She was sitting on a stool, coffee in hand and eyes drifting over a section of the newspaper. She looked up as he walked in a beamed at him.
"Couldn't sleep" she stated, answering his unasked question.
Vaughn smiled in response, resisting his overwhelming desire to go over and simply hold her.
Instead, he simply indicated the towel around his waist. "I better go and get dressed"
"Do you want coffee?"
"I get one when I'm ready"
Vaughn quickly retreated to his room. Things always got uncomfortable between them when they needed to talk about something. Their ability to communicate was a key in their relationship and their relationship suffered when they avoided this important aspect.
Vaughn quickly dressed, determined to talk to Sydney. She didn't look up as he came back into the kitchen and Vaughn took this opportunity. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her neck and kissing her neck gently. He felt Sydney relax and lean back into his body.
"Syd, about last night..." he began gently.
She sighed "We were ambushed, they knew we were coming. They waited until we entered the location before they attacked" Sydney replied abruptly. Vaughn could hear the strain as she tried to keep her voice steady.
"I just fought my way out, back to base ops. There so many of them and there were so many of us who didn't make..." A single tear slipped down her face.
Vaughn gathered her in his arms. Sydney rose from her sitting position and nuzzled her face into Vaughn's welcoming shoulder. They stood there for minutes, gathering their thoughts.
"Do you want me to stay home today?" Vaughn asked, pulling away and wiping her tears away.
Sydney forced a smile. "Of course not! I'll be fine! I have to go in this afternoon anyway..."
"Oh no way. Syd, you can't go in today"
"Why not?" Sydney replied, stubbornness only too present in her tone.
"Sydney, have you even looked in a mirror this morning? You looked like a battered house wife!" Vaughn exclaimed. He couldn't believe that after everything which had happened last night, she actually wanted to into the office.
"No offence Vaughn, but I've been doing this for years. I know how to cover up a bruise" Sydney retorted, an annoyed tone coloring her words.
"No amount of makeup could cover that up..."
"Yes it can Vaughn. Trust me; I've covered up worse than this"
"So why didn't you just cover it up last night before going home?" Vaughn asked, hardly thinking of what he was saying. It drove him crazy when Sydney insisted on pushing her body like this.
"Because I wanted to be with you!" she exclaimed. "Is that so hard to believe? I had a hard day, I watched some agents who I have known for a long time get shot in front of me, I got the crap beaten out of me and all I could think of was coming to see you" Sydney shouted at him, tears now pouring down her face.
Vaughn looked at her dumbfounded. I am an idiot, he thought as he pulled Sydney into his arms. She first fought him, pushing away his embrace before she didn't have the strength to any more. He held her as she let all the pain she was carrying out. Soon, Vaughn found silence filling the room as Sydney slowly caught her breath.
"I love you" Vaughn muttered into Sydney's head as he pressed a kiss into her hair.
Sydney looked up at him, surprise evident in her features. "What?" she asked, not believing what she was hearing.
"I love you" Vaughn replied simply, not hesitation in his voice.
Sydney looked at him in wonder for several moments. "I...I love you too" she replied, a slight smile playing on her lips. She pulled Vaughn's head to her own where they shared a sweet kiss.
"Um, I hate to end this, but I really need to leave" Vaughn stated after several moments.
Sydney smiled, breaking away slightly. "What time do you finish?"
"I don't know. They were a bit sketchy on the details" Vaughn replied, reaching for his briefcase.
"Give me a call when you are done?"
"Defiantly" They kissed again. "Okay, here are the spare keys. Let yourself out when you are ready, okay?"
Vaughn quickly headed toward his front door.
"I love you" Sydney called after him
"I love you too" he replied as he was closing the door behind him.
Vaughn paused on his front door step. He knew he had a stupid grin on his face and he really didn't care. He had found his perfect moment.
My muse was crying for a little happy moment in this very depressing story! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! All my roses are beginning to die and I would love some more to replace them... hint hint! Hehe!
