So guys, here's another chapter. I know that last time I said I owuldn't take so long to post another chapter I obviously lied but I just couldn't get my ideas down. ) But here they are. I have a few things to say though.
First off, thanks again for reading. It means so much.
Secondly, this chapter is really long. Sorry for that, this one chapter is longer than the other two combined. Oh well, I hope it keeps your guys' interest for the whole time.
Thirdly, this part of the story, is kind of intense and "raw". I can't really write raw stuff but this is as close as it gets for me. It's got language and some stuff that might make some people uncomfortable. It's not like inappropriate I don't think but you know, just wanted to warn everyone. And if some parts confuse you, well for the most part that's good. I want to keep you guessing for a little bit.
So, please read and review and if you want add me on MSN, I really need some Alias friends. )
Erica
"Sydney" he called groggily.
"Sydney? Are you there?" He reached out in the darkness. He blinked and tried to adjust to the darkness but it didn't help. He stumbled through the dark room, searching. Searching for her.
"Sydney!" He became frantic." I know you're here! Please come back."
"I'm here," she responded,"Vaughn I'm in the corner."
He got down on his hands and knees and crawled around the room. "Keep talking so I can follow your voice."
"I'm over here."
He finally found her cowering in the corner. "What are you scared of?"
"I'm scared of you." She replied her eyes full of fear and pain.
"Why are you scared of me?" He took her in his arms, and leaned back on the hard wall.
She reached up to his face and started stroking his rough cheek, "I missed you."
He smiled and closed his eyes a small tear sliding down his cheek.
When he looked down, she was gone and he heard a voice. It was the same voice he had heard for weeks. A smooth voice, he couldn't figure out the accent, it was different and it grated on his nerves. He had never really seen her, she kept herself concealed in the darkness but suddenly she was in face, her blonde hair framing her features. She leaned in closer, "You're going to kill her." She whispered.
She was so close, "No I won't," he yelled slapping her hard across the face.
She stood up slowly, kicking him hard in the stomach. She stalked out of the barren room, leaving him, "You'd be surprised what you'll do under certain circumstances."
"SYDNEY!"
-
Weeks passed, weeks of ridiculous excuses and lots of make up. Weeks of I ran into somebody in the hallway, I slipped in the bathroom and I tripped on the rug. Sydney herself was beginning to believe her ridiculous excuses. Almost every morning she would wake up almost unable to move and she would start fabricating excuses in her head. The stories she made seemed to cloud what had actually happened because she knew herself this fiction was easier to deal with than her reality.
She worked with some of the smartest and perceptive people in the world, her father, Weiss, even Marshall, and they weren't catching on. She hoped they would so she wouldn't have to tell them herself. She didn't want to say the words. My boyfriend beats me, even thinking about it made her sick.
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she jumped out of her chair yelping in pain when her father came behind her and patted her back.
"Vaughn, I'm here!" She yelled up the stairs, hoping he was sober and calm.
"Where have you been?" He asked not getting up from the couch, wrapped up in his hockey game.
"I was working late with that guy Dan at the office, we stopped for a bite to eat on the way home." She cringed, she probably should have lied, she could already it wasn't going to be a good night.
"Oh." He replied bluntly.
"Sorry, I'm late. Did I miss anything?" She slid in beside him on the couch.
"The Kings are losing; it's not a good game."
"Oh, that's too bad." She looked around, there were more than a dozen empty beer bottles thrown around the room. There was an empty quart of rum on the table. She
sighed and looked at him.
"So the game, really upset you, needed to drown in your sorrows?" She asked picking up the last shot of rum on the table.
"No,Sydney you made me do this." He replied grabbing the shot from her and throwing it back.
"What were you thinking, Dan's an idiot, all he wants to do is get you into bed."
"Vaughn, come on, he's just a friend."
"Yeah right, I bet you want the same thing from him," he scoffed stumbling into the kitchen.
"Vaughn, what do you mean?" she asked following him into the kitchen.
"I mean," he rushed over to her pushing her hard into the wall. "That all you are is a cheap slut." He was so close to her, pinning her against the wall.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She could smell his rancid breath. She started to cry. This is all my fault, this is all my fault, this is all my fault. She couldn't stop crying, sobs started to wrack her body and she felt herself slipping, she slid onto the floor, reduced to an uncontrollable woman.
He sat down beside her, "Look at me." She wouldn't look up, he pulled her head up. "Are you sad because he rejected you, didn't want to take you in the back of his car? Thought you were too ugly, too beaten and bruised?"
She stood up and looked at him, her anger flared and she slapped him across the face.
"What would you do? What would you do if I was just a cheap slut?" She asked. "You're wrong, he didn't reject me, I had sex with Dan in the back of your car, in your parking lot, and right beside your apartment. I'm surprised you didn't hear us, what do you think of that you asshole?" She lied and regretted it immediately.
He punched her hard in the face and she stumbled backwards. "You whore."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bedroom, "You're going to learn your lesson, you'll never do anything like that again."
She trembled as he walked over to his dresser. He grabbed a belt and grinned. He stalked back over to her. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Take off your shirt and lay down on your stomach."
"No," her lip was quivering, the tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks again. "Let's just go to bed, I can't let you do this to me. I was just joking earlier."
"Just shut up and do what I say, bitch."
She climbed onto his bed, a place where about two months ago she would have given anything to be. Now she was scared.
He stood beside her, stroking her hair, "Its fine, you just need to learn your lesson."
He brought the belt high above his head and the whip shattered the silence of the room.
She howled in pain, screaming so loud she thought she would wake the neighbors. She thought for sure he was done. One was enough, she had learned her lesson. But then it happened again, and again, and again. She lost count and started slipping in and out of the blackness. She cried and yelled at him to stop. He was laughing and yelling at her. She couldn't take it anymore, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
Vaughn shook her gently. "Sydney?" he was crying. "Sydney, please wake up."
She squirmed and opened her eyes. Her back felt like it was on fire. She rolled over and realized that was probably the worst idea. Vaughn lifted her off the blood stained sheets and carried her to the living room, placing her down gently on the couch. He knelt down beside her, stroking her hair.
"Oh god, Sydney, what did I do to you?"
Did she hear him right? Was he actually admitting to doing this to her? No denial tonight, there really wasn't an excuse that would explain this.
He leaned over and kissed between the welts, his salty tears stung the deep cuts.
"Is it bad?" She whispered.
He lay down beside her, he nodded his head. "I should take you to the hospital."
"No, I'll be fine; I'll just take a few days off. Don't worry, they'll heal fine."
He nodded again and kissed her lightly.
"Sydney, I don't know what to say. I just love you so much, and I know some other guy could just come and take you away."
"There's no guy who could take me away from you." She smiled at him. "You don't have to beat me to keep me with you, I won't leave."
"Sydney, I thought you were dead." He was crying, tears streaming down his face. "You weren't moving, you stopped breathing, I was so scared. I'm so sorry."
She smiled and leaned over to kiss him. "I'm fine, look I'm still alive. You don't have to apologize."
"Yes, I do Sydney, I'm so sorry. I promise I will never lay a hand on you again."
Her father stared at her in shock. "Sydney?"
She smiled sheepishly at him, "Sorry, I was daydreaming."
"Oh, I'm sorry I scared you. You're feeling better?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling fine." She nodded and her father leaned over and hugged her awkwardly.
Vaughn walked up behind him, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, Dad." She smiled as he walked away.
"Well, I don't think I've ever seen your father hug you before." Vaughn leaned on her desk as Sydney sat back down in her chair. She winced in pain as she got comfortable.
"How's your back?"
"It's better," she faked a smile. He shouldn't have to worry about it anymore. It had been a week since he laid a hand on her. He never even raised his hand to threaten her.
"This man, Aidan Champlain, is in possession of somewhat of an instruction manual, this manual decodes and explains certain pages of the Rambaldi manuscript that no one has been unable to recover or decipher." Kendall explained, Sydney's mind wander, the pain in her back plus the upcoming weekend had her distracted.
Vaughn stared at her from across the table, it was ridiculous to expect him to be able to concentrate when she was here.
Kendall cleared his throat rudely and shook Sydney and Vaughn out of their trances. "This is fairly important."
Sydney felt heat rush to her cheeks and she grinned. "Sorry."
"Now, as far as our intel shows the manuscript is located in this house in Montreal, Quebec. Agents Vaughn and Bristow, you'll be going in, we're unsure of the mission at this moment but we'll have more information on Monday morning. I just wanted you to prepare over the weekend. You'll leave late Monday night. Perhaps you'll find yourselves able to concentrate easier at that time." Vaughn's head snapped up.
Kendal started again, "Sydney, Vaughn, I'm sure you'd be happy to know that your work here for the day is done, please have a relaxing, restful weekend. We'll need you up to full strength on Monday."
"Vaughn, what's going on?" She asked as he led her down the hallway. He pushed the bathroom door open.
The bathroom had rose petals scattered everywhere, candles illuminated the whole room and there was a bubble bath waiting for her.
He smiled at her, "You like?"
"It's perfect," she sighed. He leaned over and kissed her. The kiss grew deeper and deeper until he stopped, gasping. "Sometimes, I forget how amazing that actually feels."
He planted kisses down her neck, lifting her shirt over her head. He spun her around staring at her mangled back. He fingered the deep cuts and kissed them gently. She winced at first and then relaxed against his touch.
He continued to undress her slowly and finally lifted her gently and slid her into the bath tub.
"You are perfect," he whispered into her ear, kissing her again.
"Aren't you going to join me?" She asked, smiling.
"Hmm, well I was going to go and make you supper, but if you insist." He undressed himself quickly and slid in behind her.
She sighed and leaned against him, "You're incredible."
"Well, thank you, Miss Bristow."
She took his hand in her, intertwining her fingers with his. They couldn't avoid the subject forever. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Anything." He started planting kisses along her collarbone.
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you hurt me?"
"I never hurt you."
He looked at her, surprised, a confused look plastered across his face. "What are you talking about, Syd?"
She turned around to face him, "Why did you beat me?" She choked on her words.
"Sydney, I never hurt you."
She stared at him speechless. He climbed out of the bath tub and dried himself off, pulling on a pair of boxers. "I can't believe you would say something like that, I would never lay a hand on you."
"God, Vaughn why do you do this? You're confusing me. You admit it, and then you lie."
"Sydney, you're confusing me."
"Who did this Vaughn?" she asked standing up in the bath tub, pointing at her back.
"Sydney, the doctor said you would do this, you were attacked on a mission. It was traumatic. They beat you for days but I don't understand why you would blame me. Why Syd?"
She slid slowly back into the bathtub, it suddenly seemed cold and she shook violently. "Why do I blame you!" She yelled. "I blame you because you did it, you almost killed me and now you won't admit it."
He turned to her, his rage building. For weeks he held it back, when she made him angry he would just hold it in but now it was threatening to spill over. He got so close to her face their lips were almost touching. "You're fucking crazy."
He stalked out of the bathroom leaving her with her thoughts. Am I crazy? She asked herself a million times before she came out of the bathroom. He was waiting for her by the door.
"So…"
"So, I'm leaving." She spat in his face. "I'm leaving and I'm not coming back until you realize what you've done to me."
"You're not going anywhere!" He screamed raising his fist above his head.
"Vaughn! Don't! You promised, you said you wouldn't, you promised." She sat down on the bed, holding her head in her hands.
"I never promised you anything."
"Yes you did, and until you remember, I'm leaving." She pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a sweater.
"Sydney," he cried as she walked towards the door. "You need help, let me help you." She let him take her into his arms before she pushed him away.
"No, no, no, no! You're the one who needs help."
"Fine, leave, just wait and see if I ask you to come back." She pushed the door open, she looked back at him one last time and tripped down the small step.
She fell down hard on the concrete and started to pull her self up. Vaughn was standing there laughing. "Did I do that too?" He asked. "Did I hurt you again?"
She looked away, she felt weak, gripped the doorframe to keep her up. He smiled and slammed the door hard on her hand. She screamed and sunk to the floor. Her hand was still jammed in the door. She banged on the door with tears streaming down her face. "VAUGHN!" He opened the door and before she got the chance he slammed it hard again. She convulsed in pain on the door step. He opened the door once more and kicked her hand out of the door jam.
"You're the one who needs the help."
She curled up in a tight ball on the stone, sobbing quietly, cradling her bloody hand.
She heard a car door slam but she didn't even look up. She hoped someone would see her and help her because she certainly couldn't help herself.
The person was coming towards her, and whoever it was broke it into a light job across the lawn.
"Sydney?"
She recognized the voice immediately. She sat up slowly and saw him through her teary eyes.
"Will…"she stared but started sobbing before she got anything out.
"Sydney! What happened?" He sat down beside her pulling her whole body into his comforting arms. She cried until there weren't any tears left. She didn't know how long it had been. He looked at her with his beautiful blue eyes full of tears. He didn't even know what had happened and he was crying with her.
"Happy Birthday, Syd."
And I can't watch any more
No more denial
It's so hard to lay down in all of this
Red rain is coming down