Authors Note…I wasn't going to do a second chapter to this story but then the idea started to grow on me...haven't decided whether or not to do a third chapter…lemme know what you think!

Never…Ever…

Her eyelashes fluttered open and immediately, she was nauseous with pain. Every fiber of her body started to tingle with unbearable pain. It seems as though every nerve in her body was on fire. Her back ached as it never had before and every muscle was stiff and sore. Her mouth felt like cotton and it hurt so much to swallow. There was a deep, tinny taste in her mouth. She recognized the taste and she was immediately more concerned. It was a mixture of blood and adrenaline. In addition to the pain, she was completely disoriented. The room that she was in was completely dark and damp. The air was deeply settled and cold. Shivering slightly, she curled closer to whatever she was curled against. Her senses were slowly coming back to her as she recognized the material that her face was resting against. It was suede. Her brown eyes fluttered a little bit more and she realized that the warmth radiating from it was from a person…a man….Her eyes shot open-Vaughn. She was suddenly aware of everything. Her arms were wrapped around his torso and her legs were intertwined with his. There were so many thought going through her head, she felt dizzy. But the one coherent thought she could concentrate on was the absolute pain coursing through her back. Vaughn had wrapped his arm around her, resting his forearm against the gash going down her back.

Her thoughts caught up with the sensations. She remembered what had happened and why they were both there. Most importantly, she discovered why she was in pain. Vaughn's arm was hooked around her waist…right were the deep gash was.

Vaughn had slid down the chain fence and ended up on his back. The exhaustion had crept its way through his body and he could no longer move. His intentions of staying awake and watching over her had faded and the adrenaline drained from his system. Now, his eyes were tightly shut…only having drifted to sleep a few minutes earlier. The blanket had wrapped around his body as curled closer to Sydney, subconsciously wrapping his arms around her and bringing her closer to his body.

"Vaughn." She whispered through a tear soaked voice. This pain was worse than anything she could imagine. Her head started to spin and she felt insanely nauseous. Her voice was weak and raspy and barely audible, "Vaughn?"

He stirred slightly, pulling her closer, "Shh, baby. Go back to sleep. It's okay." He mumbled before drifting back off. He kissed her forehead and caressed her back softly with his hand. "All gonna be okay."

"Vaughn, please. Please, wake up." The tears were beginning to course down her face and she felt her body begin to shake from the pain. It would only be a matter of time before she passed out. Pain had never felt that intense coursing down her body.

This time he woke up a little more and became aware of his surroundings. It took a moment for him realize what was going on, "Sydney." He managed to gasp, as he struggled to sit up a little bit, feeling her body shake and tear in his arms. "Syd, what's wrong."

She couldn't even speak, the pain was so intense. "M-my b-a-back." She managed to whisper as he sat up and gathered her into his arms. She sat on his lap, wrapped in his arms in the fetal position as the tears coursed down her face. "So much pain."

"Where are you hurting, Syd?" His eyes scanned her body in the darkness, looking and feeling for blood. Was she bleeding? Was she broken?

"My back." She curled into his chest and started to sob. The tears didn't even feel like real tears anymore. It was just an empty void of emotions that spilled out over her cheeks.

"Oh Syd." He pulled her closer, angling her body in such a way that his hand was supporting her upper back, with another resting across her legs. She was firmly situated in his lap, with her legs thrown over one of his "Shh. It's going to be okay." He bent his neck and talked into her smoky smelling hair.

She turned her head so that she was talking directly into his cheek. He was scruffy and exhausted. "You-you keep saying that." She placed a hand on his chest and sobbed a little harder.

"But it is. You have to believe me, Sydney. Please." He ran his thumb along her shoulder, "Please believe me." He rocked her back in forth like a tired child in his arms. Beneath his breath, he made soft soothing sounds trying to stop her tears. He hated to see her like this. This made his heart break a thousand times.

"I can't." She shook her head against his face. "I can't." Sobbing took over her speech. Her vision started to blur in and out and she knew that it would only be a matter of time before pain took her consciousness.

"You have no choice." He turned his face so that they were eye to eye. It took a moment for Sydney to comprehend what was happening. Everything was getting blurrier. The tinny taste was getting worse. Were their lips touching? The pain was getting worse. Was that the smell of his cologne? She was almost sure her cuts were beginning to bleed again. Were his eyes that green? Her abs contracted and she was sure that she was going to pass out, vomit, or just die right in his arms. Were their lips touching? Was she kissing him and not really be aware of it? They were close. She knew that a half of a millimeter more and they were would press against each other. That was should have been the last thing on her mind. There was not a rational thought in her brain. All she could concentrate on was the deafening heartbeat in her ears and the throbbing sensation spreading through her back. "You're stronger than this, Syd. I know it hurts. Just please believe me that everything will be okay."

He was starting to wonder how close they were getting. Their lips were almost touching and he almost felt as though he was talking against her withering chapped lips. He adjusted her slightly in his arms. She was positioned at an odd angle to his body. This was going to end poorly. If anyone had seen them, there would go the relationship with the woman he loved. Was it possible to love two women at the same time? He loved being with Alice and he enjoyed her company and how he felt when he was around her….but his happiness depended on Sydney's. He hated when she was depressed, angry, or upset. Things with Alice were easier when things with Sydney were going right.

Sydney's frame was situated firmly between his legs, her legs bent over his thighs. She was tilted back slightly, his arm securely wrapped around her upper back, careful to avoid the gash. Her lower back was supported by the inside of his thigh. His other arm was crooked beneath her bent knees. "What time is it?" She asked, sobbing through her words.

He awkwardly caught a glance at his watching-a cheap one he found in the back of a drawer. It was 6:39. He had to be at work in an hour and eleven minutes… "Syd. Syd, we need to get you home. I need to call Will."

"No! He's out of town. I'm fine. I'm fine. I swear-" she sobbed again, feeling a loss of control over her body. "I swear to you, I'm fine. I'm fine." She started to lose her breath, feeling her chest heave with each inhale. She shook violently and grasped at his jacket lapels.

His heart felt like it was breaking. He gripped her tighter and pulled her closer to his body, trying to will away her pain and talked over her gasping. "Being in this warehouse isn't good for you. Will can help you cover with Francie."

"I can't explain this to them." She tried to pulled his face towards hers-to stare into his eyes but failed rather miserably. She didn't have enough muscle left in her body and the injuries to her body were too great.

"Will already knows that you're with the agency." He tried so hard to reason with her and found his exhausted mind unable to compete with her.

"But he can't see me like this. He can't know what I really do."

He sighed, frustrated, "You need to get over your vanity, Syd."

She took a moment to let the words sink in. Trying so hard, she regulated her breathing a little bit more. He listened to the wet gasp of her lungs. A moment lapse of panic took over both of them as he wondered if she was bleeding internally. But realistically, it was panic attack that was causing her to breathe like that. Finally after a moment, she gasped, "You think this is about vanity? Vaughn, look at me! Look at me!"

He maneuvered her body in his arms so that he could look into her eyes. He saw what she was talking about. There was something broken deep inside her. A deep, insurgent pain that rocked her core had grip on her. He looked away and felt his brow wrinkle in concern. "Sydney."

She reached up and dried her eyes. With the tears still damp on her hands, she touched his drying skin. He closed his eyes for a moment and felt her touch, raw with emotion. "Just stay with me for a few more minutes and then I can go home." She tried to curl up tighter in her skin but instead curled up tighter in his arms. Her hand retracted back to her collar bone and she shuddered slightly.

Vaughn sighed reluctantly and literally lifted her off the ground and placed her on her side. "You need to sleep in a real bed, Syd." He maneuvered her more and she silently complied, feeling him wrap the blanket around her body. He tucked it beneath her body and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Please, Syd: let me help you." He knelt over her, watching the pain overtake her body. He received no response and leaned over further. The moment her head hit the ground, she passed out. The exhaustion and the pain was too great for her fragile frame. He laughed to himself; fragile was the last word he would ever use to describe Sydney Bristow. He made his way to his feet, looking at her one more time before walking off to one of the darker area of the warehouse. Pulling the cell phone from his pocket, he dialed a number, confident that the cell number couldn't be traced. The phone on the other end must have rang five or six times, making Vaughn increasingly frustrated.

"Will Tippin."

"Will, it's Michael Vaughn. You need to meet me at the warehouse."

It took a moment for Will to register what was going on and then Vaughn heard the thought process, "How bad is it?"

Vaughn turned back towards Sydney and sighed, "It's bad. Bring the kit that she keeps in the back of the closet."

"Give me a half hour-I just walked in the door."

WORLDSCANONLYCONLIDEONCE

The air was damp and the entire building was cold. Will left the rest of the world, complete with the rising sun to enter the warehouse. His arms were heaving with large duffel in his arms. Sydney always kept the bag in the back of her closet in case of emergencies. It was full of a pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt, one of her favorite blankets, prescription for painkillers, a complete alias with wig and all, and other misc. odds and ends that she would undoubtedly need. It was all compacted in a purple quilted bag. "Vaughn." He spoke softly as he walked through the dim building.

Vaughn stood from his post, resting on a crate and watching over Sydney, "Will. Thanks for coming back." They briefly shook hands and Will handed him the bag.

"How could I not come? How's she doing?" he looked past Vaughn to the sleeping form of the girl he adored.

Vaughn followed Will's eyes. "Not well. The injuries are being infected and I'm getting worried. We need to get her out of here." Vaughn placed his hands on his hips and let his head hang, shaking it slightly. "We can successfully get her to the hospital without the two of us putting ourselves in deep.

Will almost smiled and looked back at Vaughn, "I'm already in deep, Mr. Vaughn."

Vaughn looked at Will and almost smiled, "I think you're about to get in deeper. Drop the formal stuff." He walked back over to Sydney, kneeling down behind her, "This is going to take a few minutes."

THESETWOMENWEREHERWORLD

The car pulled up no place special as the sun started to rise over the horizon line. Will sat behind the wheel of his gray four door car with Vaughn and Sydney in the back of his seat. Vaughn had concealed himself as much as possible, throwing on an old baseball camp and keeping his head down. He had made sure that Will took all the necessary precautions so they wouldn't be caught. He knew in the pit of his stomach it was so dangerous for him to make this trip but Will needed an extra pair of hands to get her safe.. Things were just getting harder, not easier. "This is it."

Will simply nodded and killed the engine. "We need to hurry and get her inside, don't we? I-"

Vaughn unfastened his seatbelt and released his grip against the sleeping woman in his lap. Vaughn and Will had a hell of a time getting her into the car. She was still dressed in the outfit she was tortured in. And as they made their way to the car, she awoke slightly and started screaming, sinking her nails deep into Vaughn's shoulder, causing him to almost drop her in searing pain. Her four long nails drew blood on the back of his right shoulder.

But that was nearly forty-five minutes ago and now, came the task of getting her out of the car and into the place that she needed to be; a real bed. Will jumped out of the driver's side door and walked to the backseat. Without a word, he lifted Sydney into his arms and made his way towards the motel. Vaughn followed wordlessly, grabbing the purple duffle bag and slamming the door behind him. His heart was pounding so loudly in his chest, he was sure it was going to slam out of his chest. Will had already made it to the front door and was waiting for Vaughn to open the door. They were no place special; some cheap motel off the highway. Will took the initiative and placed Sydney down in a chair resting near the front desk. Without regarding Vaughn or anyone else in the room, he strolled up to the front desk. "Yo man, we need a room." Will leaned against the counter of a cheap motel about thirty-five minutes away from the warehouse. His voice was heavy with a cockney accent. There were running the risk of being caught. He and Vaughn were out in daylight with no alias. Their only saving grace was that they used an alias's credit card and ID. Both decided that Sydney was worth the risk. "My girl here needs a place to recover from a little nip tuck." Sydney was placed in a nearby chair and slumped over. Her nose was covered with gauze and then over her brow and around her chin were carefully wrapped. Her torso was wrapped from her collarbone to her hips. Both ankles were bound and to anyone else in LA, she looked like she had just gotten out from under the knife.

The receptionist popped her gum and starred at the men in disbelief, "Her? Hey, whatever floats your boat." She tossed her peroxide dyed blonde locks of her shoulder as she handed him the keys. "Room 37 has a king size bed. That good enough for you?" She popped her gum again and drilled her neon pink nails against the rotted wood counter. The place was old and cheap.

"No." Will replied, looking back and forth from Vaughn to the receptionist, "We need two beds and a cot. One for my girl, one for me, and one for the nurse."

She popped her gum again and looked over Vaughn, "You're a nurse?"

"I'm a nurse." Vaughn snarled back causing the receptionist's eyes go wide.

"We don't have no cots. Two beds are the max. Looks like you and your girlfriend are gonna be in the same bed. Sucks to be you." She replied, continuing to drill her nails against the counter top.

"Fine. We'll take the two beds." Will looked over to Sydney protectively and sighed.

"Room 42." She tossed him the key and turned back to her small TV playing her soap opera. "Best of luck, to you."

Vaughn shot a pointed look and they left the yellow and bright orange confines of the motel lobby. Vaughn took the lead and gathered Sydney's slender frame in his arms from the small . She woke slightly and pulled her body closer to his, "Wha-"

"We're taking care of you. Don't worry." Vaughn murmured softly into his hair still curled but matted from sweat and blood. Turning slightly, he faced Will, "Where are we going?" They walked out of the lobby in plain sight of the main road that coursed in front of the motel. The danger of them being there was only increasing. Vaughn began to second guess his decision to come here. Maybe they should have gone back to Sydney's place or gone to his place. This was a bad idea and the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him so.

"Room's this way." Will took the lead, taking care to glance back every once and a while. He carried the purple duffle that still contained everything that they would need if something were to happen. But nothing was going to happen. SD-6 was not tailing them and there was no way for them to be tracked to this location. Will's blue eyes scanned over the horizon, "We gonna-"

"Later." Vaughn answered.

The two men filed into the room in silence. The walls were covered with an ugly mustard yellow wallpaper. The floors were covered with bright orange carpeting, matted and dirty from years of use and neglect. It smelled of rotted wood and stale air. There were two small beds pushed on either side of the room with a small night table in the center with a little ceramic lamp. On the other side of the room, was the small bathroom and little pull shut closet. There was a broken old television resting on an old rickety stand in front of a short dresser with three drawers, with no handles. This sat directly across from the night table. There was a pretty decent size window on the same wall that shared the door. But the only view that it had was the bright yellow balcony and the highway. It just felt filthy. It was one of those motel rooms that men took call girls and only paid by the hour. Who knew what had gone on here before they arrived? Will internally shuddered at the thought. "This is better than the warehouse."

Vaughn simply nodded and placed Sydney on far bed. After much debating, the two men had changed her out of her full skirt and replaced the heavy fabric with a pair of black sweatpants she kept in the purple quilted duffle. She was still covered with the Georgetown sweatshirt and she would end up keeping it for a while. The extra large gray material swam on her body. Under the bright lights, he could see the damage done to her face. Sighing slightly, he acknowledged Will, "Those bastards beat her for three days, starving her, and who knows what else. She said that she couldn't sleep because every time she did, she saw him standing over her." Vaughn looked disgusted and disdain dripped from his voice, "I want to kill him." He sat at her side and worked the comforter around her body to cover her. "This is the first time she's slept in who knows how long. I mean, she slept for a little while in the warehouse but woke up in so much pain. We should probably get some sort of pain killer in her system. I don't want to wake her though." The internal battle was bubbling over.

Will sat down on the other bed and couldn't bring himself to look at her, "I hate her being in this life."

Vaughn nodded, "It's not an easy life for anyone but she's good at what she does. She's strong, Will. As much as we may worry about her, she knows exactly what she's doing. I-," He looked down for a moment and felt his brow wrinkle up with concern. He simply shook his head back and forth, "I don't know what to do for her anymore." Without warning, Vaughn reached into his pocket. His phone had been vibrating during his little speech and it was calling his attention. "Vaughn."

"Sweetheart, is everything okay?" Alice's worried voice came hushed over the other end of the phone. Her body was still warm and curled up in the bed that he left hours and hours ago.

Vaughn smiled in spite on himself, "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry." He got to his feet and crossed to the decrepit bathroom, "Something came up with work."

The concern began to creep into her voice, "Is there anything I can do?"

He sighed heavily and no matter what he wanted with Sydney, he wanted to be with her at home. It sounded so appealing just to be for a little bit. "Baby, I'll be home soon. Please don't worry."

"You know I always do." She smiled into the phone. "Talk soon?"

Vaughn turned further way from Will and Sydney before replying, "Of course."

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you. I've got to go."

"Bye." She turned over in the sea of white down sheets, wanting to fall back asleep, praying that when she woke, she would find him laying beside her.

"Bye." He barely whispered and snapped his phone shut. Feeling slightly overwhelmed, he put his arm upon the wall and shifted his weight against it. His eyes shut tightly and felt the exhaustion of the past couple of hours catch up to him. He knew in the pit of his stomach that it was dangerous for him to be there. Without him there, there was no danger. It was her not going home after a dangerous mission. His heart started to pound in his chest as he turned around to face them. Sydney was still unconscious. It was probably better that way. "Will." He responded simply by looking up. "I-um-I shouldn't be here. I'm making this too dangerous for her. I'm the link to the Agency." He started to shuffle his feet slightly. His hands were thrust deep in his pockets and looked towards the door.

Will's eyes got wide, "You're-you're leaving? Man, I can't handle if something happens." He got to his feet and ushered Vaughn over to a nook in the room. "What if SD-6 barges in here? I'm already in deep with them. They'll kill both of us."

"But if they see that I'm here, you're going to be in that much more trouble. I'm known CIA. They'll see me and then all three of us will be as good as dead." Vaughn hissed back. "Listen, no one is going to come after you. We took all the precautions and Sydney knew what she was doing. I picked this place for a reason. If anyone is suspicious, she's recovering from plastic surgery." He reached to his side and revealed his gun, "I want you to take this and use it only in an emergency. No one should be here but take it just in case. I need to make sure that you two are safe. I'll call for a security team. Trust me, Will."

Will took the gun from Vaughn's outstretched hand and felt the weight of it in his hands, "This was a bad idea bringing her here, wasn't it?"

"Anything's better than the warehouse and now you don't have to explain anything to Francie."

"Couldn't bring her to your place?" Will questioned, looking through Vaughn for a moment. He was exhausted and the tires of traveling and now the emotional strain.

"Girlfriend." Vaughn couldn't meet his eyes when he said it.

Will just nodded his head and turned back to look at Sydney, "Well, I guess we'll do the best we can. Hopefully we'll only have to be here for a day or so. Just until she gets strong enough to come back home. We'll have to work on a cover story with Francie. She's going to be fine. She always is." He took in a deep breath and shook his head. "She has to be okay."

Vaughn nodded his head in agreement, "You try telling her that." He took a moment and looked at her sleeping form again, "I'll try to get back when I come. Regardless, there will be a watch on the room. You're safe. You're going to be okay and so she's." Vaughn took another inhale and walked over to Sydney's sleeping form, "I'm sorry." He whispered to her and then without saying another word or looking back, he walked out the door to his car. This was for the best. He was going back to the woman that he loved, leaving the other to heel in the arms of a friend. Things would have to be okay.