Title: Caught in a Dream
Author: Mandi
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Summary: Sydney is assigned to a mission that's to die for. Pre-Phase One. S/V Goodness.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias. If I did, I would put Vaughn in leather pants all the time. Heh... yeah. So anyway, don't sue me. All you'll get is a large bill from your lawyer and a rather large collection of pressed pennies.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewd so far! True, Sloane is a little out of character, but for some reason I liked the edginess so I added it. Just one of those let's make Sydney's already horrid day much worse type things. Anyway, thanks for the reviews!
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Chapter 3: Of Handlers and Assets
I drove downtown to the area where the warehouse was located. I cautiously looked into my rearview mirror to make sure that I wasn't being followed. After I was sure that I wasn't in any danger, I slipped into yet another daydream of Vaughn.
I knew that he was my handler and that I was his asset and that that was a business relationship. There was a line that we couldn't cross. And he had a girlfriend. Her name was Alice. I hated to say it, but I despised her almost as much as I despised Sloane. I guess it was because I was simply jealous of her. It's like when I see her, she brings out a bright green in my dark brown eyes. But I always wondered if Vaughn would ever feel the same way about me that he feels about her.
I came around the corner and parked my car. I got out and once again felt butterflies in my stomach. I was going to see Vaughn. I felt like a silly teenager with a crush, but I didn't care. I just hoped that he didn't notice how nervous I was around him.
I stepped through the door and his smell instantly hit me. I felt calm and relaxed for a moment, but then I looked up and saw him and got that jittery feeling again.
He was standing there with a worried look on his face and the same forehead wrinkles he always gets when we meet, only today he seemed somehow different. His big, green eyes were sparkling and he had that half-smile on his face, like he knew a secret that I didn't. No matter how many times I had seen him in the past year and a half, I could never take my eyes off him. He was my perfect match, I knew that for a fact, but was I his?
Vaughn stepped out of the shadows and I had to silently remind myself to breathe.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," I replied, exchanging our usual greeting.
"Alright, now, your leaving for Paris tomorrow night. You'll be at a party in the ballroom of the hotel. Sark is supposed to stay in the ballroom and direct you over the earpiece on how to get the disk. When you do get it, you'll have a brush pass with me on the fourth floor of the hotel down hallway B. I'll give you the fake and you'll give that one to Sloane. We've already sent a CIA agent to Spain to retrieve the disk that Dixon is going to get tomorrow, so Dixon will bring back a fake just like the one that you will give to Sloane, that way, they'll both appear to be real," Vaughn said.
"I can't do this," I said, beginning to doubt myself.
"What do you mean? You're the best agent we have," he asked.
"Well, I mean Sark is... observant. He'll know if something is up. He might possibly have some of his own guys there to make sure that nothing happens. He's dangerous," I said worriedly.
"I don't know, I'll have to ask Kendall if there are any other options. But, Syd, I know that you can do this," he said reassuringly.
There are so many things that I love about Michael Vaughn. The way he worries about me. The way he tries to make my life easier. But most of all, I love the way he calls me Syd.
"Thank you. Well, I have to leave," I said but I just stood there, not wanting to go.
After
a few seconds, I reluctantly walked out the door and back into the
real world. I got in my car and drove towards home, where I could let
my heart slow down to my normal
speed.
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