Wow, I can't believe how well this story was recieved. Thank you so much for all your reviews, and I am so glad you are enjoying it.
Five Stories Fallen: Tollston is completely fictional.
Chapter Two:
Two Years
"Good afternoon," she smiled. "Can I help you?" The man shifted slightly and Audrey caught a glance of his face. She stopped short. It was a face that had been stamped on her mind for the past two years.
And even though she knew what the answer would be, she still asked the question.
"What are you doing here?"
TWO YEARS EARLIERNobody spoke. The normal buzz that usually filled the JTF had halted. Or so it seemed to those surrounding Sydney Bristow's computer, waiting for the arrival of an email that could change everything.
Michael Vaughn stared at Sydney's profile as she stared intently at her computer screen. She hadn't spoken a word since getting back from seeing Dixon. When she had entered the facility, Vaughn had never seen her look so wrung out, or lost. Not even on that fateful day in October, when both their lives had changed forever.
"Sydney," he had approached her but she had held up her hand and shook her head. Vaughn had backed off immediately, all the while wishing desperately that he could do something to comfort her.
Sydney had gone straight to her computer desk, and had not moved- until now. Those grouped around the desk tensed as a new message appeared on the screen. Vaughn didn't need to look at it to know what it said. All he had to do was read Sydney's body language.
Her saw her lean forward and her shoulders sag, as if the weight of the world had decided to settle there. When he heard the small choke of a sob, he knew.
Sydney stood up and walked off, her hand covering her mouth. Before following her Vaughn glanced at the computer screen, even though he knew what he would see. There, right in front of him, was Sydney's worst nightmare confirmed.
The codes did not match.
"Agent Vaughn." Director Kendall strode up to him, a manila folder in his hand. "I need to talk to you about Agent Bristow."
"Where is she?"
Kendall ignored the question. "I need to you escort her to Dover Airfield in thirty minutes."
"Why? Where is she going?" Vaughn was confused. Why the hell was the CIA sending Sydney out on a mission now?
"I'm sure you will understand when I say that I cannot disclose Agent's Bristow's destination."
Realization suddenly dawned on Vaughn, as both relief and a deep ache coursed through him. "Sydney has agreed to go into protection."
"Agent Bristow has come to the understanding that she has no other choice. That if she stays, the Alliance will most certainly have her executed."
"Where is she now?" Vaughn asked, desperate to see her. Time was scarce and he didn't want to waste a second.
"She is speaking with her mother," Kendall answered, his tone warning Vaughn to stay away. "Just be ready to escort her to the airport."
When Kendall had stridden off, Vaughn slumped down into his desk chair, staring blankly at his computer screen.
How the hell was he going to say good-bye to Sydney?
They drove in silence. While they both had so much to say to each other, at this particular time, the silence spoke more than any words could.
Vaughn stopped the car, got out and then walked around to the passenger door, letting Sydney out. They stood inches apart- too scared to speak, too scared to touch.
"Promise me something." Sydney finally whispered.
"What."
"That you will tell Will and Francie as much as you can. Let them know how much I loved them and how much I'll miss them."
"I promise."
Sydney reached up to her neck and unclasped the silver chain that hung around it. "Please give this to Francie for me."
Vaughn took the necklace, nodding.
"And promise me that, if you can, you'll tell Dixon how sorry I am. Just tell him that he was my anchor." Sydney drew in a deep breath and wiped her eyes furiously, in an attempt to stop the tears.
"I promise."
"And promise me that you will bring those sons of bitches down, and destroy them." Sydney was breaking down completely now. She hated that she had been forced into a life of hiding, while others stayed to continue her fight. She had to escape while her father was forced to face the consequences.
It was rare occasion to see Sydney Bristow so visibly upset, and Vaughn did the only thing he could. Wrapping her instinctively into his arms, he whispered softly into her ear. "I promise, Syd."
Sydney pulled away from him and looked into those familiar green eyes. The eyes, that only three days ago, were staring intently into her own as Vaughn finally voiced the feelings that had been building up for so long.
"I'm gonna say something and it'll either be obvious to you or seem presumptuous. Either way, I've gotta say it. This isn't working.
"What?"
"I think you know what."
"I need you to tell me."
"You need me to tell you what? That when you're on operations I can't sleep at night? That when we're in debrief, I have to force myself to remember what the hell we're supposed to be reviewing when all I want to do is kiss you?
As Vaughn brought his hand up and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear Sydney was overcome. She couldn't run. There was too much to say and not enough time to say it. They had wasted those precious minutes in the car and now there was a plane waiting to whisk Sydney away to anonymity, away from those she loved…away from the possibility of a life with Vaughn.
"Vaughn- I…need to…can you…"
"Sydney, stop. You don't need to say a word." He leant down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I promise that as soon as this is over, I will come for you."
When Vaughn got home that night, he had another good-bye to say. Alice had packed her bags and was waiting by the front door.
"Don't even think about trying to stop me Michael," she said, standing up.
"I wasn't going to." Vaughn replied, wearily.
"It's been obvious for a long time that things are over- and I know there's someone else."
'Not anymore.' "Alice, we've been through this. I have never been with another woman during our relationship."
"And I believe you. But just because you haven't been with her, doesn't mean she isn't in there." Alice tapped the side of Vaughn's head, her expression softening. "Whoever she is, I sense she's special. I hope she makes you happy, Michael." She smiled wistfully and walked out the front door.
Later that night, with a beer in one hand and his father's watch in the other, Vaughn sat on his couch. He wondered, as he would every day for the next two years, where Sydney was and yearned desperately for the day when he could fulfil his promise.
PRESENT DAY
Michael Vaughn stood, observing the rubble that was before him. It was over. After years of work the Alliance was finally gone. He should have been celebrating, but all he could think about was the noticeable absence of the one person who so desperately wanted to be here.
"Mike." He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Eric Weiss standing beside him. "You don't need to be here. Go."
"What? Weiss, there is still so much to do."
"There is only one place where you should be right now. Go- I can cover for you."
Vaughn hesitated. For two years he'd been dreaming of this moment and now that it was here he didn't know how to react. Sydney's absence had only intensified his feelings over the years, but surely she would have moved on with her life. Surely she hadn't been clinging to the 'what if' as well?
"Mike, you promised and Sydney needs to know what has happened." Weiss's voice was insistent.
"Ok. I'll call you when I get there." Vaughn handed over his gun and strode out of the Credit Dauphine building without a backwards glance.
The only information that Vaughn had been given was Sydney's new name and that she now resided in a town called Tollston. He had no address, no phone number and didn't even know where she worked. However as he drove down the main street he soon realized it wouldn't take him long to find her. He knew exactly how these small towns worked.
He parked outside a café called May's and walked inside. He approached the middle-aged woman standing behind the counter. Given her nametag read 'May' he guessed that she was the proprietor.
"Excuse me."
"Good afternoon," she smiled brightly. "What would you like?"
"I'm actually looking for someone."
"Well, I know everybody, so you've come to the right place. Who are looking for?"
"Just an old friend, Audrey Seyton."
"Well I'll be damned." May said. "She does have a life outside this place."
"Pardon?"
"Well, you see, Audie is a little bit of a mystery to us folks. Don't know nothing about her, but you sir, can help us with that."
"Uh, I'd love to help, but first I just want to see Sy-Audrey."
May's head cocked slightly at Vaughn's near slip of the tongue. "What did you just say?"
"I said I want to see Audrey."
She eyes him suspiciously, but still answered. "She owns a little bookstore down the street. It's next door to the florist."
"Thank-you."
As he walked outside and headed down the street, Vaughn could hear his heart pounding. By the time he reached the bookstore his palms were sweaty. Opening the door he stepped inside. It was empty. He couldn't bring himself to actually call out Sydney's name, so instead he gazed around the small store. So this was how Sydney had been occupying her time these past two years. Somehow it didn't seem right.
Hearing footsteps he looked up. She hadn't changed. Sure her hair was a different colour, but her eyes and face were the same. It was Sydney.
"Good afternoon," she smiled. Oh god. Her smile. "Can I help you?" Vaughn was startled. How could she not recognise him? He went to step forward, but he suddenly saw her expression change. Her jaw dropped slightly and she seemed to freeze.
But then she finally spoke.
"What are you doing here?"