-Revelations-
"Again. They knew we were coming again." Sydney said bitterly as she pulled up the chair across from her father's desk. She was beyond frustrated and made no attempt to stifle it. After yet another long and ultimately futile debrief, she was fed up. How could they have lost the artifact yet again? They still didn't even know what this 'Golden End' was. And how had Sark been one step ahead of them in both Greece and Denmark? Something was rotten and she was bound and determined to find out exactly what it was. There was no way Sark would come out on top a third time.
"That appears to be the case," Jack agreed stoically as he sat down at his desk. He looked Sydney in the eye, his expression grave, "We have a serious problem on our hands."
She knew what he was implying. It was the exact conclusion that she had reached the moment she'd discovered that the warehouse was empty. "You think there is someone on the inside."
Jack nodded solemnly, "It looks as though we have a mole."
""
Vaughn was slumped in his chair, his head resting heavily in his hands, when Weiss approached. Perched on the edge of the desk, Weiss cleared his throat before tentatively offering the obvious question, "So, are you going to confront her?"
Not bothering to lift his head, his muffled response traveled on a shaky sigh, "Does it matter? It's not like I have been entirely faithful in this whole thing either."
"What? What are you talking about?" Weiss looked at Vaughn with disbelief, "You haven't cheated… have you?"
"Not physically, no," he continued, despair lining his tone, "But don't you think being in love with someone else would be considered an affront to one's marital vows?"
"You've got me on that one," Weiss shrugged, mulling it over. "I'll have to ask my friends at the Church of Mammals. But regardless, I think you need to confront Lauren about her extracurricular activities."
Vaughn finally lifted his head to meet the concerned gaze of his best friend. "I don't know that I have enough evidence to call her on this. What am I going to say? You threw away perfectly good eggs – are you sleeping with someone else?"
"Are you suggesting a little clandestine investigation?" Weiss asked.
His sea green eyes were troubled as he admitted slowly, "I'm definitely considering it."
"What is it exactly that you are going to look for?"
"Look for?" Vaughn repeated absently, his mind elsewhere as he glanced up and saw Marshall crossing to his office. He smiled wryly to himself, "No, I have a better idea." Vaughn rose without another word and strode determinedly across the room.
The door of Marshall's office was cracked open. Vaughn knocked and entered without waiting to be admitted, "Marshall? You got a minute?"
Marshall looked up and beamed, "Agent Vaughn! Of course I have a minute. Come in, come in." He indicated the bright yellow oblong contraption in his hands and offered a proud smile, "It's a present for Mitchell. You've heard of those electronic toys that you can program to act like humans or pets? Well, this is my own custom design," he hesitated for a moment, "I know that he's too young for something like that, but I figure by the time I get all the kinks worked out and design the body… and if you factor in his predictably superior intelligence…" He gave an embarrassed shrug, "He'll love it."
Vaughn nodded briskly, "I'm sure he will." He closed the door behind him before speaking, "Marshall, I… I have a personal matter… I was wondering if… I was hoping maybe you could help me with it – off the record." He was faltering so much that he was beginning to sound like Marshall himself. Maybe it's contagious. Or maybe it's something about this office…
"Oh, well… uh," Marshall stuttered both surprised and flattered by the request, "Of course, Agent Vaughn. If I can do anything I would certainly like to help you."
"Okay, well… I'm going to need a tap on someone's cellular phone. I want to be able to monitor all incoming and outgoing calls without their knowledge."
"You're going to spy on someone, huh?" Marshall asked conspiratorially. "Well, I mean, of course you are. That's what you do. You spy. You're a spy. Just like 007. Although, you're not 007, you're 2300708…"
Vaughn looked at him quizzically and Marshall hastened to explain. "Photographic memory. Although there is 007 in there, so that must be why you have so much luck with the ladies…" Not noticing the flicker of pain that passed over Vaughn's face at his observation, he continued, "I'm not trying to spy on you, Agent Vaughn, Sir. I couldn't do that. I'm not a spy. Just a tech nerd, you know – not that I haven't been on any missions." Just as Vaughn thought Marshall had mercifully finished he started again with renewed vigor, "Did agent Bristow tell you about when we went to London and I had to use my Ewok…"
"Marshall, the tap?" he interrupted.
"Oh, right. Cell phone. That'll be no problem. I can have the calls routed to your own phone so that you can listen as they take place. Just give me both numbers and I'll have that ready for you within the hour."
Vaughn's lips curled in a wry smile, "Perfect. Thank you."
""
Sydney walked over to Weiss' desk as the JTF emptied for the day. Weiss was playing solitaire on his computer in humorously deep concentration, oblivious to the outside world.
"Earth to Eric," she grinned. "You know you can go home now?"
"Huh?" he responded, his eyes still glued to the screen.
"It's five," she informed him as she waved her hand in front of his face to garner his ever-illusive attention. "You're free to go."
"Really?" he asked as he closed the game. "Wow," he stretched dramatically, "time flies when you're working hard." He stood, gathering his jacket and keys.
"Yeah, looks like it." Sydney smiled with warm affection as she slipped an arm into his and they began walking toward the parking garage.
"You want to go out to dinner?" she asked as they neared his car. "I've been a little Weiss-deprived as of late."
"Syd," he hesitated, just spending time with his best friends was becoming more and more like walking through an emotional mine field, "you know I'd love to, but Mike and I were going to have beer and pizza night tonight."
"Oh, okay," her voice wavered only for a brief second. "Another time then," she added quickly.
"Hey, why don't you come?" Weiss offered expectantly.
Sydney shook her head, casting a self-conscious gaze downward. "No, no. I'm not going to intrude."
"Come on," he insisted, opening the passenger door for her, "You wouldn't be intruding." Deciding to press his luck, he added softly, "I know Mikey wouldn't mind."
"Are you sure?" she asked cautiously as she lowered herself into the car. Weiss walked around to the other side and took his place behind the wheel.
"Of course," he patted her hand in a gesture of support and sealed the pact with a wink. "I've got a hankering for pineapple anyway."
""
When they arrived at Weiss' house he gallantly offered to order dinner while she ran home to change. After hanging up with the pizza parlor, he dialed Vaughn's cell.
"Yo," Vaughn answered.
Weiss stifled a laugh at his greeting. "Who are you, Bruce Willis?"
"Since when did Bruce Willis say 'yo'?"
"Doesn't he?"
"I honestly don't think so."
"Anyway," Weiss drew out the word with exaggerated impatience, "the reason I called…"
"Yeah, get to that," Vaughn cut short the anticipated banter.
"When you pick up the beers, make sure and grab some Coors Light."
"Coors Light…" Vaughn trailed off, attempting to keep a firm grip on his spiraling emotions. "Sydney's coming?"
"Yeah, is that okay?" Weiss asked softly.
"Yeah, sure," he regained his composure after only a moment. "I'll be there in a few." Vaughn hung up the phone and stared straight ahead, lost in thought. Well, no one ever said life was simple.
""
Vaughn, arriving on Weiss' stoop, had just raised his fist to knock when the door swung open. He was greeted by Sydney's smiling face.
"What's up, Monkey-Meat?" she asked cheerfully.
Vaughn rolled his eyes as he entered the house. "So, I see you've been talking to Ella."
Sydney grinned. "Yup. Every day. That girl is chalk full of good information. For example, I find it interesting to know that your favorite pastime as a child was to play Barbie with your little sister."
Weiss joined them in the living room, carrying napkins and two boxes of pizza. "You used to play Barbie? Did you have your own doll?"
Vaughn opened his mouth to respond but Sydney answered for him. "Yes, in fact he did," she informed her audience with prim authority, pausing for effect before continuing, "her name was Peggy."
Both Sydney and Weiss began laughing uncontrollably. "The best part is," Sydney continued through fits of giggles, "that when he and Ella would play with their Barbie dolls, they would act out little real life scenarios. And Vaughn would always be the one that 'spoke' for the dolls. He wouldn't let Ella be their voices because he claimed that she 'didn't know what they say.'"
Weiss choked on his beer. Recovering slowly, he managed to get his next words out. "Tell me Mike – how did you know what they say? Do you have some telepathic connection with the little plastic women?"
"Alright, alright," Vaughn put his hands up in surrender. "Make fun of me if you must. But I'll have you know that there's nothing abnormal about playing with dolls. It is just an unfortunate byproduct of growing up with a little sister."
Sydney and Weiss remained unconvinced. "Did you have a favorite outfit for Peggy?" Sydney wondered.
"No," Weiss laughed, "I bet he liked to strip her naked!"
"I would never have violated her in that way," Vaughn defended himself. This only set off another round of laughter as he continued, "I had my mom change her clothes for me."
"Aw," Sydney cooed as she placed her hand on his leg, "you're such a gentleman." The moment he felt her touch his laughter choked to a muted gasp. It was an innocent action. She probably had placed no conscious thought into the familiar gesture. I know that, Vaughn chastised himself. But that didn't stop his pulse from quickening nor did it stop every nerve in his body from humming wildly. It was such a casual contact– but at the same time one that spoke of comfort and intimacy. His fingers itched to reach for her, to succumb to the increasingly demanding pull of desire. It was time to tell her, he vowed decisively. Time to tell her that he loved her and he was sorry for giving up. To tell her that he would never make that mistake again. To beg and plead for a second chance.
His eyes traveled from her hand to her eyes, allowing himself a quick glance. Sydney's gaze flickered up and met his. The room seemed to fade around them as her dark brown eyes widened in anticipation, knowing instinctively what he wanted to say. "Vaughn," she said, a syllable of warning.
The shrill ring of his cell phone brought him back to reality. He looked down at the display. Lauren was making a call.
"Excuse me for a moment," he said distractedly as he hurried into Weiss' room and closed the door. He needed privacy and complete silence. It was imperative that he heard every word. Vaughn pressed the number one key, as per Marshall's instructions. After three rings a woman answered.
"Designer's Spectrum, this is Tina."
"Hi Tina, it's Lauren Reed. I was hoping to schedule an appointment for this coming week."
"Of course. And what would you like done?"
"Just a haircut and color," Lauren replied.
"Okay," Tina paused, "how's 11:30 on Tuesday?"
"That's perfect. Thank you."
"Uh huh. Bye." And she disconnected.
Vaughn pressed 'end.' He looked down at his hands and realized that they were shaking. I'm such an idiot. The simple act of my wife making a hair appointment practically drives me over the edge. Calm down, he berated himself. "Damn it, Vaughn," he hissed, feeling the energy drain from his entire body. A wave of self-loathing coursed through him. Wow. Batting a thousand tonight. First that near miss with Sydney and now… With a jerky shrug of determination he forced himself to focus and cool down.
The ringing of Lauren's phone caused him to nearly jump out of his skin. Taking a calming breath, he checked the display. This time it was an incoming call from a number he didn't recognize: (770) 908-7383. He pressed the one key and waited for Lauren to pick up.
"Let me guess. You couldn't go another minute without hearing my voice," Lauren answered huskily.
So he was right! She was cheating on him! All this time he was so worried about honoring his marriage vows and the promises he had made. He did not want to get a divorce because he thought it wouldn't be fair to Lauren. He'd suffered through months of self-flagellation for caring about Sydney – and all the while his wife was having an affair. He bit down hard, forcing himself to remain silent.
"While that may be true, Love, that is not the reason I called," replied a sultry British voice. So, she's seeing someone British. I guess French wasn't – wait a minute. He knew that voice. Sark.
Distracted, he caught only the end of Lauren's next question. "…have you found the artifact's importance?"
"Not yet. We managed to get it open, but there is some text on the inside that we cannot decipher. We're moving the artifact to our site in Azerbaijan for further study."
"Notify me when you find something."
"Consider it done," he paused for a moment. "Any luck with your marital problems?"
"The problems have been rectified," she answered coolly.
"Just remember when you're with him – think of me."
"Always," his wife affirmed as the line disconnected.
Vaughn's head was spinning. Lauren is Covenant.