Michael just excused himself, and headed out of my office to use the restroom and get a drink. Glancing at a clock, I'm hardly surprised- we've been talking for over an hour. I take the brief respite I've been granted to lean back and think. My whole world, everything I've believed in, has just changed… and I think I like it.
I have no idea where Sydney Bristow is, if she's still alive, why I haven't seen her… I feel completely out of the loop, which I am. Michael Vaughn may know the answers to all of those questions, but I don't. I can only hope, that by the end of the day, I will.
I wish I would have known all of this 6 years ago. It would have been easier, knowing the truth about Sydney. Knowing that she hadn't just fallen off the face of the earth and been forgotten. But would it have been easier, truly? To know that she was out there somewhere, presumably held hostage, and just kept slipping away… is that what I truly would have preferred? As I think of how I've been reacting to Michael's story over the past hour, I just can't answer that question honestly.
Last night is a perfect example. I was almost falling asleep at the bar, but then after I got home, I couldn't stop thinking about Sydney, and the truths that would be revealed. I didn't sleep two full hours. Would that have been the norm if I had learned the truth earlier?
Michael's described some of the events so vividly, I could almost swear I was there. In my mind, I can envision the pain in Sydney's eyes as she turned and ran from him in Lithuania. I can feel the heartbreak as Michael realized just how close he and Irina had gotten to her in Mexico, only to have it all slip right past them. I can sense the shock of that first phone call, and it is overwhelming.
Suddenly, as if in the distant background, I hear my own phone ringing. I barely realize that I have picked it up and answered, until I hear the voice on the other end.
"Francie?" I snap out of my trance as I recognize who it is.
"Fran? Hon, are you ok?" My response comes out before I have time to think about it.
"Will Tippin, you are so dead!" I can practically see him racking his brain, trying to recall what he may have forgotten that would land him in such a predicament.
"Umm… ok, ok, wait… it's not your birthday. It's not our anniversary… it's not your dog's birthday-"
"I don't have a dog," I growl.
"Which would explain why it's not his birthday," Will adds seamlessly, and I see his tactic. He's trying to use humor to make me forget my anger. But this goes beyond a forgotten date, and it's not something I can get over that quickly.
"It's nothing like that, Will!" He's silent again.
"OK, then I'm lost. What did I forget, Francie?"
"What did you forget? I'll tell you- you conveniently forgot to tell me the truth about our best friend. For six years, Will!" He's deadly silent, and I know he's likely fighting back tears.
"What are you talking about, Francie?" he whispers, so low I can barely hear him.
"I'm talking about the fact that for years now, you have known the truth about Sydney. I understand why you two never told me… all our lives depended on it. But for six years now, she's been missing, and did you ever think that it might be a good idea to clue your idiot girlfriend in to what was going on?"
"Francie-"
"I'm not finished, Will. I may not have been smart enough, or perhaps I should say nosy enough, to catch on for myself, but did that make me unworthy of knowing the truth about Sydney? Didn't I deserve to know what a truly amazing person my best friend was when I still had a chance to tell her how proud I was? I may never be able to do that now, Will. Is that fair?"
"No Francie, it's not! Nothing about this situation is fair! It's not fair that Syd's missing, and it's not fair that it wasn't safe to tell you. And you know what? Maybe you're right. Maybe I should've told you everything after Syd disappeared. But I…" he trails off, and I know he's suddenly worried about something.
"Where are… who are you talking to, Francie?" I don't answer immediately, unsure of how much to tell him. Will Michael be angry with me if I admit it to Will?
"Francie, please. I need to be sure you're safe." That settles it.
"Michael," I say softly.
"Vaughn? Vaughn told you everything?"
"Well… not everything. He's not done with the story yet."
"Where are you at?"
"Why?" I question.
"Because by now, you probably know as much as I do, if not more. I want to hear whatever Vaughn has left to say."
"I don't know if he's going to like that, Will…"
"I'm not particularly concerned with that, Francie. I need to know what else happened."
"Fine… we're in my office at the restaurant. I'll tell him you're on your way. But hurry."
"Thanks Francie."
"Don't think you're off the hook just yet," I warn before hanging up.
"Who was that?" Michael asks as he re-enters the room.
"Umm… Will." He nods.
"Oh… ok. Where'd we leave off?"
"Leaving the Maldives, but, uh…"
"But what?"
"Well, um… Will is on his way."
"What?"
"Yeah… he kinda wants to hear the rest of it." Michael sighs and leans back in the chair, shutting his eyes in the process.
"Ok… fine." With that, we fall into a slightly tense silence as we await Will's arrival.
Carrie: A lot of the time when I need to ship them off somewhere, I think of countries I'm familiar with- I haven't necessarily been to them, but I have some knowledge of places like Germany and New Zealand, so I use those a lot. Or else, I just grab a globe and pick one at random… that's a lot of fun. ;)
SAG: Heh… no, I made sure to keep all of my evil tendencies intact when I headed out to Europe. Couldn't lose those, you know- very important for my evil updates.
Jade: Never give up? Hmm… well, I'm sure there's something to be said for that… I just don't know what. ;) Well… did you ever specify what kind of shipperness? Cause you know, Francie and Will…
Thalia: No… I didn't know about Proper Breakdown Procedure… I must be some kind of idiot. Or maybe it's just because I do live in the middle of nowhere…
The General: Wow… someone was busy… so you come here for the sole purpose of stalking? Damn… I feel very special now. And not little yellow bus special either… oh, and thank you, oh so kind and generous General, for allowing me to go to Europe- it was much appreciated.