Chapter 23 – Friends

Weiss quickly steered Vaughn out of sight and into a small room just inside the "employees only" area. He pushed Vaughn into a vacant seat and shut the door.

"Okay, we are in the middle of an incredibly important mission and, as happy as I am to see you, your presence is going to screw up our entire plan" Weiss yelled at him, stress evident in his eyes

"How am I going to screw up your mission?" Vaughn replied stubbornly, crossing his arms

"What do you think Sydney is going to do when she sees you, huh? She is going to be distracted, her mind won't be on the mission and that's when accidents happen, Mike" Weiss stressed, pulling up another chair and flopping down.

"You're looking good Weiss"

"It's the new diet and don't change the subject with flattery, you ass!"

Vaughn sat forward in his seat, suddenly serious. "I have to see her"

"No you don't. You have seen me!" Weiss replied, trying to act cheerful

Vaughn laughed. "It is great to see you as well, but I have to see her, talk to her"

Weiss sighed, leaning back in his seat, eyeing Vaughn warily. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"We were sent here for the weekend to work with British Secret Service. We fly back tomorrow, first thing"

Weiss sighed. "I can't let her see you here, but I'll try and organize something, okay? It is the best I can do and you bloody know it. What hotel are you staying at?"

"The Empire Grand as Luke Collins"

"Nice"

Vaughn laughed. "Yeah, it's not bad"

"What time do you leave the hotel tomorrow?"

"9am"

"If I promise that you will see her before you leave London, will you leave now?"

Vaughn sighed. "Yes" he promised, his eyes serious.

"So this big secret mission you are on…" Weiss began

"It's still big and still secret" Vaughn replied with a grin.

"Oh well" Weiss paused. "It is really good talking to you again"

"Aw, I knew you missed me!"

"I've no one to mess about with now! Sydney gets serious all the time, Marshall becomes annoying and Jack doesn't think any of my jokes are funny"

Vaughn smiled. "I don't think your jokes are funny either"

"Yeah, but at least if you don't laugh at the joke, you just laugh at me. Jack just looks down his nose at me and says "don't you some work to be getting on with, Agent Weiss?" Weiss continued, putting on the perfect Jack Bristow impersonation which made Vaughn laugh loudly. "See! You do find me funny!"

They laughed together, comfortable in the other person's presence. While Sydney was never far from him mind, Vaughn hadn't truly acknowledged how much he missed his best friend.

Weiss suddenly stopped laughing as he leant forward, listening carefully to his ear piece.

"Copy that base. Will rendezvous with mountaineer at extraction point in two minutes" Weiss stated, his previous light voice gone and replaced by a much more serious tone. "Alright, I got to go" he stated, standing up

"It really was good to see you" Vaughn said, extending his hand.

They shook hands and pulled into a typical male thump on the back. Weiss walked towards the door.

"Wait five minutes before leaving, okay?' he said, turning at the door

"Yeah. Don't forget" Vaughn replied with a grin.

Weiss smiled back. "I never forget a promise"


Please review! If everyone is really nice, I might update tomorrow… (ya gotta love bribery!) Cate