Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your feedback.

smilez4eva: Yes, there will be S/V

Mizzle fo' Rizzle: Yes, Boyscout will be coming home with Sydney.

Disclaimer: The title of this chapter comes from the Kim Richey song, A Place Called Home (it was actually used in the episode Salvation, with the whole 'don't frost the pie' talk. Ahh, gotta love it). Anyway, just a note to say that I do not own it.

Chapter Five:
A Place Called Home?

"Vaughn! What are you doing here?" Will was so shocked to see Sydney's handler on the other side of the door that he didn't notice the distraught look on his face. "Come in."

"Is Francie here?" Vaughn asked, gazing around. So this is where Sydney had lived. Would she ever see this place again?

"No, she's at the restaurant. Why? What's wrong?"

"Can we sit down?" Vaughn asked, massaging his temple. Will nodded and led him to the couch.

"It's Sydney, isn't it?" Will asked, his stomach churning. There could only be one reason for Vaughn showing up at the apartment in broad daylight.

Vaughn nodded in confirmation. "She was sent on a mission last night, Will. This morning the CIA received news of her capture and…and…"

Will's face turned ashen. "Is she…"

Vaughn could only nod. He watched as Will buried his head in his hands. He had fought tooth and nail with Kendall, wanting to tell Will the truth, but the director had been adamant. To the world it had to appear that Sydney Bristow was dead.

"Will, about Francie," Vaughn started gently.

"I know." Will raised his head, his eyes red. "What do I tell her?"

"The CIA had staged a car accident."

"Vaughn, I don't know if I can lie to Francie. Why can't she know the truth?"

"We're under orders, Will."

"Then perhaps you should go." Will said, as he wiped his eyes furiously, trying to stop the tears. "I don't know when Francie is coming back and I don't think you should be here when she does."

Vaughn stood up, leaving a devastated Will on the couch.

xxxxx

"Francie."

"I can't talk Will. I have to get back to the restaurant." Francie flew past him and into her bedroom. Will followed her, his throat tight.

"Francie, please, we have to talk."

She stopped short and stared at him. "Well, that sounds ominous."

Will sat on her and patted the spot beside him. "Sit down."

"Will, what's going on?"

"It's Sydney."

"What about Sydney?" she asked in alarm.

Will took a deep breath. "There's been an accident."

Vaughn stared out of the window. The plane trip seemed to going on forever. Shifting slightly he moved his eyes to the sleeping form beside him.

He and Sydney had sat up all night, neither of them able to sleep. They had barely been in the air fifteen minutes before she had conked out.

"Excuse me sir." Vaughn turned his attention to the flight attendant. "Would you like a drink?"

He accepted the offer gratefully as the flight attendant pointed to Sydney.

"Would you like something for your girlfriend?"

"No, thank-you." Vaughn replied, not bothering to correct her.

There was a small memorial service. Will was the only one there who knew the truth…or so he thought. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Francie sobbing as she leant against a tree. Saying a quick good bye to Marcus Dixon, he headed over to her, in a vain attempt to console her.

xxxxx

The day after the memorial service Vaughn stopped by the apartment. Francie opened the door.

"Hello," he offered her his hand. "I'm Michael Vaughn. I worked with Sydney at the bank."

"I'm sorry, but did you say Michael?" Francie asked, stepping aside to let him walk inside.

"Yes, why?"

"No reason." Francie shook her head. So this was the guy that had Sydney blushing like a teenage schoolgirl.

"I don't meant to bother you, but I found this on Sydney's desk at work." Vaughn held up a fine, silver necklace. "I though that maybe you would want it. Sydney was always talking about you."

"Thank-you." Francie whispered as Vaughn placed the necklace in her hand. "She spoke about you too."

"Me?" Vaughn was genuinely surprised. "What did she say about me?"

"She told me that you went on a date."

Vaughn's throat constricted as he thought about that catastrophic night in Nice. It felt as if it had happened light years ago.

"Yeah, we did." A ghost of a smile crossed his face and Francie tried her best to return it.

"Thank-you for bringing this over Michael."

"You're welcome." Vaughn turned to leave, but Francie stopped him.

"I don't know if you want to hear this, but Sydney cared for you a great deal, Michael."

Vaughn nodded slightly. "I care for her too."

Francie never even noticed his use of a present tense.

"You ready for this, Syd?" Vaughn asked as he navigated her through the familiar streets of LA. "Or do you want to go to the operations centre first?"

Sydney shook her head violently. "No, I need to see Will and Francie. Then I can think about work and finding my father."

"Ok."

"Are they still living in the same apartment?" Sydney asked.

"Yeah."

Sydney suddenly felt apprehensive. The apartment would no longer feel like hers. It would be Will and Francie's. She had been right in thinking that when she got back it wouldn't feel like home.

"Syd, stop stressing."

"I'm not stressing."

"You're stressing."

"Who said I'm stressing?" Sydney looked at Vaughn, a smile on her lips.

"I say you're stressing." Vaughn smiled back as he pulled up outside the familiar apartment. Sydney could only stare out the window. She was back, so why didn't she feel more excited?

Vaughn entered the warehouse. Will's message had been frantic, insisting that they met as soon as possible. Seeing him up ahead, Vaughn spoke.

"OK, what's the emergency?"

"Is Sydney alive?" Will asked flatly and Vaughn stopped short in shock.

"What? What makes you think she is alive?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I've been hearing whispers. Sydney's name has popped up a few times. Why would people be talking about a dead agent? I want the truth Vaughn. Is she alive?"

Vaughn sighed, as he brought a hand to his neck, rubbing it. "Yes, Will. Sydney is alive."

"Then why the hell did you tell us she was dead?" Will demanded. "Why would you put Francie and I through hell if Sydney was really alive?"

"I was ordered to. Sydney and Jack were compromised- Sloane discovered that they were double agents. Sydney made the decision to go into protection. For her safety, and yours, the Alliance had to believe she was dead."

"So then why is her name coming up in conversation now after two years?"

"This stays here, ok.."

"I won't breathe a word."

"Things are happening Will. There is a possibility that, sooner than expected, Sydney may be able to come home."

Sydney walked up to the door, Vaughn a few steps behind her. She wished that he was walking beside her, holding her hand or something. She just wanted the comfort of his touch.

As they got closer to the door, Sydney began to feel more and more apprehensive. Would the door be unlocked? She no longer had a key. If it was open, could she just walk inside? Or maybe she should just knock. After all, it wasn't really her home anymore.

As she got closer, her steps seemed to slow. Would they be happy to see her? Or angry at what she had put them through. Again she wondered if she should knock.

However as she reached the front door it flew open, revealing a blubbering Francie.

"Syd!" she cried, throwing her arms open. Sydney gratefully collapsed into her best friends embrace, as she too began blubbering.

Sydney Bristow was back.

A/N: This is just a note in regards to Francie knowing about the date in Nice. I am aware that this did not actually occur in the show, but after watching one of the deleted scenes on the DVD, where Syd does tell Francie about it, I decided to include it in the chapter.