IMPORTANT NOTE: Ok so by the way I've changed the rating back because it's no way an R. If you think that's an incorrect decision let me know and I'll change it. Readers just be aware this is a high PG-13 and if the fic disappears, I've changed the rating again. Thank you so much to AFan17, sydneyvaughn, sark is sexy, piglet (glad you found me!), daisyduke947, Fair Cate, Kyyra, sarKISSexy, vaughnbear, bristow, Aly, boyscoutswoman, MB138 (thank you very much), agent bristows, mrs michael vartan (sigh love the name), Catherine, Suzanne, supergirl14, Mila, Maggieann452, Tine, Vaughn4ever, Vaughn is hot (can't help but agree), anma 27, i would have waited, total vaughn lover and also a special thank you to a and Twinnie for reviwing my other fics nostalgia's triangle and closely guarded secret!
p.s i just found the button that lets me put it lines to separate the fic- i'm such a loser would have done that ages ago if i knew!
It turned out that Sydney had left just before midday; Vaughn had discovered this after checking the entry log on the security system. Her files had been neatly tidied away and her computer was snoozing quietly in the corner of her desk. He left a little after three in the afternoon, due to the discovery of a hidden case report that had been due in the previous Friday. He found it amusing that at thirty-six he was still being given homework; he felt sometimes as if he were at school, trying not to be caught messing around, sitting at a desk, being under the watchful gaze of the grey-haired superiors and stealing a glance or two at the prettiest girl in class.
Eric looked up from his own desk to see his best friend's glazed eyes staring at nothing in particular
"Yo Vaughn" no response, "Vaughn" he whistled in an attempt to get his attention, waving his arms slightly "Vaughn!" nothing, "Mike!" still nothing
Vaughn was contemplating dinner; he had booked a reservation at Friscatti's a small but extremely classy Italian place tucked away amongst blossoming city gardens and boutiques. He had found it when buying her the photo frame only to rediscover it a few weeks ago; he instantly knew it was perfect. Vaughn was yanked from his thoughts.
"Hey!" he laughed "Was that necessary?" he picked up the scrunched ball of paper from the floor throwing it back at Eric who caught it
"Yer considering I've been trying to get your attention for the past two minutes" he threw it back at Vaughn
"Sorry man I was miles away" again the small paper ball was tossed between desks. Eric produced a small laugh
"You sound just like Sydney" Vaughn smiled at the mention of her name. "Speaking of my favourite girl how are things?" he asked tentatively. He could have sworn his best friend blushed as he caught the paper sphere
"It's going...it's going really great" Vaughn smiled
"That's great man! See I told you everything would be ok. You just had to open up."
"Yer no more Dr. Phil for you"
Eric laughed "Hey I'm just saying. So spill, tell me what's happening" he threw the scrunched ball into the bin near Vaughn's desk
"What are we at a slumber party all of a sudden?"
"Mike come on. You've been whining to me about how you want to be with Sydney for the past five years- excluding when you barely spoke to me during your marriage- I had to sit through you complaints, carry you home from bars with Jack, try to convince you to talk to her in the first place and now, you finally pluck up the courage and now you tell me nothing?"
"Ok first of all I barely know what's going on as it is; everything's moving so fast. Secondly I'm sorry about the whole not talking/Lauren thing, and thirdly-" he sighed "Please, please don't tell Syd about the whole Jack seeing me drunk in every bar in Los Angeles thing. I couldn't handle her knowing that, she nearly found out as it."
"How?" Eric was shocked; there had been a silent agreement that Jack's almost nightly collection of Vaughn was to remain a secret.
"Gary. I took her to the bar before the game and he nearly blurted it all out"
"How that man worked for the CIA, I'll never know," Jack coolly stated behind them. Vaughn closed his eyes frowning slightly
"Jack" he began his eyes still firmly closed "I'm sorry you weren't meant to hear that- it's just-"
"Hear what?" he stated kindly. Vaughn smiled at Sydney's father "I told you, I won't tell her. I'm a man of my word Vaughn... as far as I'm concerned, she doesn't need to know."
"Thank you" he said gratefully. The older agent gave a small smile and a nod as he departed, leaving Vaughn only with his memories. Eric quietly left realising he needn't say anything on this occasion.
"Gary. I want another one" the young attractive man slurred
"I think you've had enough buddy. You know drinking yourself into oblivion isn't going to bring her back" his New York accent was thick, making his words heavy
"I said I fucking want another one!" Vaughn shouted
"No!" Gary contested
"Its my body, my life. M-my heart. I'll do whatever I want" Vaughn replied pushing the glass forcefully along the smooth wood towards the barman. He applied too much force however, and the fragile object slid off the end of the counter smashing angrily on the sticky floor.
Vaughn's spy sense, even in his intoxicated state alerted him to the pressure in the air caused by the presence of someone knew. He remained facing the bottles of coloured liquid refusing to look him in the eye.
"What do you want?" Vaughn stated coldly
"A whisky sour please Gary" he said ignore the drunken bitter man beside him "and another for him" he indicated Vaughn with his head
"Ugh, I don't think that's a good idea"
"Just do it Gary" The barman, slightly unnerved placed the two drinks before the men
"If he wants to drink his life a way he can be my guest. The sooner this world is shot of him the better" Vaughn crunched his ice in his teeth, his face bitter with anger.
"This is ridiculous Vaughn" Jack stated. "She's been dead nearly three months, you need to start accepting that. It's never going to hurt less and she's never going to come back. You need to move on."
"I can't" the young man nearly whispered, "I won't"
"You must Michael!" jack shouted "You think this is what she would want, how she would want to see you? Sitting here drinking away your sorrows instead of living your life the way you're supposed to? You're not the man she fell in love with. You're an embarrassment and a coward." Vaughn threw a punch, but his actions were sloppy and Jack blocked his swing, offering a blow of his own. With a muffled thud Vaughn fell to the floor. He didn't move or even flinch at the pain. He just lay there looking up at the man he spent two years trying to prove himself to.
"What do you want Jack?" Vaughn's voice was strained with emotion, threatened to collapse
"I want you to pull yourself together before you prove to me you weren't worthy of her after all. Get up of the floor and go home."
Vaughn sat in traffic waiting for the lights to change tapping his thumb lightly on the steering wheel. He sang gently as he drove his mind wandering. He pulled up at Weiss's at about three thirty, walking across the lawn to Syd's. The door was unlocked so he let himself in, calling her name. There was no response; he frowned slightly begging to worry. He couldn't hear the gentle hiss of the shower nor her movements around her home. There was no noise at all, just a silent, seemingly empty house. He pushed her bedroom door open, cocking his head slightly to peer around it. He smiled at what he saw
Sydney lay curled up tangled in her sheets; she wore his black jumper from the evening before and her underwear- her legs bare and one was draped seductively over a pillow, which she was holding. The room was dim but not dark due the time of day as he sat next to her on the bed, running the back of his fingers against her jaw. He dusted the pad of his thumb across the softness of her lip, his touch just above a whisper. She smiled and shivered under his touch and to his delight he hummed his name. He bent to kiss her temple, whispering sweet nothings in her ear in the way only she could make him.
God I hope it's the right rating and that it is ok. Please please review much love dani Xxx