A Sleepless Night

This story is set in the episode 'Salvation'. Where Syd and Vaughn are in isolation.

Rating: G

Vaughn was looking at Sydney sleeping and smiling slightly. Sydney moved in her sleep and started to shake slightly though Vaughn couldn't see it. Vaughn closed his eyes and decided to try and sleep and not think about what could happen later. He fell asleep quickly after seeing Sydney sleeping peacefully.

A few hours later Sydney was tossing and turning. Her eyes were streaming with tears, she was terrified. Vaughn opened his eyes slowly at the sound of her tears, he thought it was a dream. He turned over and saw her tossing and crying. He sat up quickly and got out of bed. Getting over to the side of her bed quickly he knelt down next to her.

"Syd?"

"Vaughn!" she cried "No don't go. Vaughn! Someone help me." Vaughn was scared he stilled her movement and tried to make her wake up.

"Sydney, wake up!"

"Let go of me. HELP!" she stopped moving and just shook still crying.

"Sydney! It's me Vaughn" he said and he shook her shoulders gently. She woke up suddenly and pushed him away trying to find a weapon automatically. Vaughn stayed still "Syd, it's me you're safe" She put a hand over her mouth.

"Vaughn you're ok" she said still shaking. He cautiously knelt next to her again and touched her hand.

"It's ok I'm here I won't let anything hurt you I swear" She just looked at him then surprised him by hugging him tightly. He seemed stunned for a couple of seconds then returned her embrace.

"I thought I lost you" she said into his shoulder.

"It was just a dream. I'm right here, I'm not leaving" he said holding onto her tighter to reassure her.

"Thank you" she whispered. He drew her back to look into her eyes. He saw the terror still there and pain.

"You want to tell me about it?" he said gently. She nodded, he stood up and picked her up and set her on her feet then led her to sit on his bed. He sat beside her waiting for her to begin.

"I was in the cell where my mother had me but you were there too. You were unconscious and I couldn't reach you I tried then some men and my mother came in and they started to beat you up my mother made me watch then she put a g.. a g.." she started to shake again and Vaughn put his arm around her hugging her to him tightly "She shot you, it felt so real. I was terrified that I'd really lost you." Vaughn pulled her onto his lap and whispered to her in a choked voice.

"I will never leave you. I promise. I was scared when you were yelling you know" he said leaning his head on hers and he smiled as she relaxed in his grip so that she was resting against him.

"Really?"

"Yeah I thought you were in pain or something."

"I was the thought of losing you…" she trailed off as she seemed to realise what she was saying 'We shouldn't be doing this' she thought but she wasn't about to complain she couldn't believe how far away her fears felt right now. She was sitting on Michael Vaughn's lap in his embrace. She tentatively put her hands on his hands which were holding her tightly. He smiled as she did this he wanted her to feel safe with him 'God she is so beautiful' he thought looking at their reflection in the window. She moved her head and looked up at him she smiled up at him and he returned her smile. She put her head back on his shoulder and he moved back on the bed. She looked up again.

"What are you doing?"

"Moving so I can lean on the wall, back's still a bit funny" he said moving.

"Oh I'm so sorry" she said getting off him

"Wait Syd. It's not you I just prefer leaning against something. Please don't go" he said catching her hand. She looked down at their hands then back up at him.

"I'm not going anywhere" she smiled "I promise" he smiled as she sat down next to him again. He leaned back on the wall and she wriggled so that she was too. "You're right it is more comfortable leaning on something." He smiled at her.

"You know Syd the thought of losing you does the same thing to me" whispered Vaughn to himself really. She looked at him in surprise and then leaned her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to try and sleep again?" He felt her shudder and cursed himself for saying it "I'm sorry"

"No it's ok. I just don't want to go back to my head. I just keep thinking that it's still there, the dream I mean and if I shut my eyes it'll come back. It's stupid" she said looking at her hands.

"Hey" said Vaughn lifting her chin so she was looking at him "It's not stupid I hate going back to sleep after I've had nightmare in the same place."

"Well it can't be too stupid then" she said smiling. She leant against him against him again and he put an arm around her.

"Why don't we just stay awake?" said Vaughn suddenly "Or you could just sleep in this bed or I'll sleep in yours"

"Can we stay awake?" asked Sydney sheepishly.

"Of course" said Vaughn with a little too much excitement in his voice.

They sat on the bed and talked about their childhoods, sports and other strange things for nearly five hours. After that time Sydney's eyelids began to droop. By this time she was lying on Vaughn's lap as he had been tickling her for the last couple of minutes.

"You're tired come on go to sleep."

"Ok" she relented and sat up then leaned against him against he sat still as she wriggled around trying to get comfortable.

"Syd, stay still for a sec" he said and she did to tired to argue. He care fully moved her onto his lap wrapping his arms around her as he did before. She calmed instantly and curled up against him. He rested his head on hers as she fell asleep. He watched her in the window as she slept occasionally stroking her hair. He finally fell into a doze three hours later his last clear thoughts were 'Gods Sydney Bristow fell asleep on me, my god she's beautiful and I love her' then last 'Sod protocol'. With that thought he kissed her forehead and she smiled.

The next morning the security found them like that but they said nothing. They knocked on the door waking them both up. Sydney started and shrank into Vaughn scared again.

"It's ok it's just them come to check up on us" said Vaughn with a reassuring smile.

"You two seem ok" said a sarcastic voice through the intercom, "The docs will be in a second to with the results."

"Thanks" said Vaughn. The guards wandered away and Sydney slipped off of his lap.

"Thank you" she said looking directly at him.

"It's ok," he said flustered "You were upset I had to help. You know me glutton for punishment" She just looked at him.

"What are you talking about?" she said lying but her heart was skipping round her chest with hope 'Maybe he likes me back'.

"Nothing" he said quickly. She raised her eyebrows then turned to make her bed. The doctor came in with the results that cleared Sydney but meant Vaughn had to stay there for awhile longer. He put on a brave face but Sydney could see the fear wriggling in the back of his eyes. She touched his hand bringing him to focus on her she just smiled to reassure him. He smiled back then she left and he was cleared later that day. Both of them would have a hard time trying to act normal after their sleepless night