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Disclaimer etc, see previous chapters
Chapter 24 – Missing
One final cast around the room and Vaughn climbed into the car in front of the hotel.
While everyone else had partied on, he had returned to the hotel room, his mind distracted. He slept little the night before, thoughts of Sydney racing through his head. The group had eaten breakfast down in the hotel restaurant, some looking a little worse for wear than others. As long as they get through the flight Vaughn thought to himself. They quickly packed and soon, they were leaving the hotel they had stayed in for such a brief amount of time.
Vaughn sighed as he leaned back in his seat. Weiss had promised. That was what was killing him more than anything, that Weiss had gotten his hopes up and now he was sorely disappointed. The need to see her ached in his chest and consumed his mind.
"You alright?" Logan muttered, not looking up from his morning paper.
Vaughn glanced around the car before continuing the conversation. "I saw some people I knew last night"
Logan raised his eyebrows, but continued to read. "Who?"
"Oh just my best friend and girlfriend from LA" Vaughn replied, trying to sound nonchalant
"Oh just them" Logan replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "What were they doing in London?"
"They were actually in the middle of a mission" Logan replied softly
Vaughn felt Logan take a deep breath. "At least you got out of there"
"My friend told me he would try and get her to the hotel, so I could see her before we left. But neither of them showed"
Logan finally looked up from his paper. "The thing about this business, you can't keep promises. You are promised first and foremost to your country. If something else compromises the mission, then it must be abandoned. Its the cruel reality of our job"
"Yeah, I guess I still just hoped"
"Nothing wrong with that. Just don't let it distract you" Logan replied, returning to his paper.
Vaughn rested his head against the cool window. The stormy grey skies seemed to reflect his confused mind. While he was accurate in his description, Logan was uncharacteristic in his response. Vaughn had only heard him speak in that tone a handful of times and none of them had been directed at him. But maybe he needed to be spoken to like that, to snap him back into reality. Still, he remained staring out the window the whole way to the airport.
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Vaughn had always enjoyed hotel newsagencies. Items always cost at least three times what they cost in regular shops and the range of magazines is impressive. He always managed to find a new genre every time he visited, each more obscure than the first. They were always brightly lit, with some new vogue "rainforest sounds" CD playing in the background. Airports are one of the most boring places on the face of the planet, but the newsagency seemed to be a sanctuary for tired minds.
Lily had been the only one willing to go for a walk when Vaughn suggested it. Their plane had been delayed "briefly" and they had been sitting down for almost thirty minutes. Lily was browsing through the ladies section, occasionally picking one up to glance through an interesting looking article.
Vaughn stumble upon a sports magazine and flicked it open, leafing through the pages, not noticing the woman with a short blonde bob walk behind him.
"Don't turn around"
Vaughn suddenly couldn't move. "What are you doing here?" he whispered
"We didn't get to the hotel on time. So Weiss let me come here"
"Why can't I look at you?"
"Can you imagine the uproar back in LA if they find out about us meeting here?"
"So why are you here?"
"I wouldn't be anywhere else" she replied. Vaughn could almost hear her smile.
"I almost died when I saw you last night"
Sydney laughed lightly. "Some agent I make, I didn't even spot you"
"I'm just too good at hiding" Vaughn replied teasingly.
Sydney moved so she was standing next to him. "I've missed you so much" she whispered
Vaughn resisted the overwhelming urge to take her in his arms. "I miss you too" he replied simply, hoping that she would know instinctively exactly how much he missed her. "Syd… I need to look at you… isn't there any way….?"
"Maybe, can you come now?"
"I'm here with a friend, tell me where and I'll meet you"
"There is a fire escape corridor next door. I'll have Weiss disable the alarm for a couple of minutes"
Vaughn stepped off first, rushing over to where Lily was standing. "Lil, I'll meet you back with the rest of the guys. I have to go and do something"
"Alright" she replied, not looking up from her magazine
Vaughn hurried out of the newsagency and with a quick glance, he slipped through the fire escape door.
The first thing he was aware of was a body pressed against his, two slim arms wrapped tightly around his neck and warm tears wet the cheek that was pressed up against his. He reacted instinctively, and responded likewise.
"I can't believe it is really you" Sydney whispered in his ear.
Vaughn hugged her even tighter. "I was waiting for you to come" he replied softly. He breathed her in, taking in. No matter which alias she had, Sydney Bristow always had the same scent. It was gentle, warm, calming. To Vaughn, it represented the afternoons curled up on the sofa watching TV, all those times he had comforted her, the nights spent together.
Slowly he lowered her to the ground and cupped her face in his hands. The face looking at him was no different to the one in his memory. "You are so beautiful" he whispered the familiar words, bringing a shy smile from Sydney. He slowly lowered his lips to hers.
"No" Sydney muttered, moving her face abruptly. "If you kiss me now, I don't think I can let you leave" she rushed, noticing Vaughn's confused face.
Vaughn took this in and simply pressed a kiss to her head and pulled her into his arms again. "Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing" he replied lightly
"I know you have a job to do" she replied simply, pulling him closer.
They stood there for several moments, embracing in silence. The nearness of the other person was the most important thing, just being together was enough.
Suddenly Vaughn's cell phone started ringing and he quickly answered it, not letting go of Sydney.
"Yeah?"
"Didn't your mother teach you how to answer the phone properly?"
"George, this is not the best time"
"Well too bad because the plane is good to go"
Vaughn sighed. "Alright, I'll be there" he stated sadly before hanging up
Sydney looked up. "You have to go?"
"Yeah" was his simple reply as he ran his hands over her face.
"Don't drag it out, okay? Just go now" she whispered, pain flashing through her eyes.
Vaughn nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you"
Sydney smiled sadly. "I love you too"
Vaughn turned suddenly and reached for the door. He paused and turned one last time.
"Did you get my letter?"
Sydney smiled. "Yeah I got it"
They shared one last smile before Vaughn slipped out of the corridor.
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"Sometime today would be nice" George called out as he spotted Vaughn jogging through the terminal towards them.
"Sorry, spotted someone I knew" Vaughn replied, casting a knowing glance at Logan who smiled gently.
They all gathered their belonging and headed towards the exit which would lead them to their private plane.
"You okay?" Logan asked, falling in step next to Vaughn.
Vaughn took a deep breath. "Actually, yeah" he replied with a smile.
Logan clapped a hand on his shoulder as they continued towards the plane.
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