Chapter Twenty-One

Weiss had just gotten rid of Sark when his phone began to ring. He checked the caller-ID and saw that it was Vaughn.

"Hello?" Weiss spoke.

"Weiss? Hey. I'm calling about Sydney."

"What… is something wrong with her? Vaughn! Did something happen?"

"Well, nothing life-threatening. It's just that I'm really worried about her."

"Why, Vaughn? What happened after I left?"

"Sydney and I went to out beds and fell asleep. Or at least that's what I did. Sydney however, cried herself to sleep. And then this morning, when I got up, I heard her crying in bed again. Weiss, I'm worried about her. I think we should call Sark. Maybe with his resources, he could do something. She's miserable without him. I can't see her like this."

"Mike, I did something that I thought you wouldn't agree with, but I see that you will. I called him last night."

"Called who? Sark?"

"Yeah, he flew in late last night, and he just left my apartment. He's promised not to see her until he knows whether or not he can find something for her. He really loves her Vaughn. I've never seen anything like it, when I told him about her… it was just… sad."

"Do you think he'll have any luck?"

"I don't know. It isn't likely, but if anyone can find a cure, it's him."

"Oh my god. Weiss, Jack doesn't know. We have to get him here. He's her father, he needs to know about this!"

"You're right. But, we should ask Sydney about that first. We should really do what she wants from now on."

"Sure."

They ended their call, because Vaughn heard Sydney's door open. "Syd? Are you up?"

"Yeah" he heard her say quietly.

"Are you alright?" he asked when he saw her face. Here eyes were red and puffy from crying.

"I'll be fine. It was just different, being in that big bed without him next to me. I just miss him. Vaughn, I miss him so much."

Sydney broke down again and fell into his chest, crying harder than he had ever seen her. He just held her, stroking her back and feeling his shirt dampen from her tears.

"Syd, you miss him, that's understandable. But, you said that he loves you right? Don't you think he should be here, don't you think he should be the one comforting you right now?"

"No!" she yelled. "I don't want him to see me like this. He thinks that I'm strong, but I can't be strong any more."

"Alright Syd, I understand. What about your father?"

"Oh. Um… he doesn't know either. I should probably see him today, and tell him. I bet he's going to go out and see a million doctors and try to find a cure or something" she laughed.

"Yeah, that's something that he would do. That man doesn't give up. Syd, neither does Sark."

"Please don't bring him up right now, I can't think about him without breaking down."

"Of course. I'm sorry."

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Sydney picked up the phone and dialled a very familiar number, "Dad?"

"Sydney?" he answered quickly.

"Dad, hi. I'm in town and I was wondering if I could come over and see you soon."

"Of course, sweetheart. Is Julian with you?"

Sydney almost burst into tears when he said that, "Um… no, I'm alone."

"Well you can come over any time today. I have finally taken a piece of your advice and taken a day off."

She smiled "I'm glad to hear that dad."

"Well, I'll let you go. See you soon sweetheart."

"Yeah, bye dad."

"Bye"

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One Hour Later – Jack's Apartment

"Sydney! How are you? How's everything?" he asked.

"Dad, hi."

"Sydney? What's wrong?" he asked when he saw the lack of happiness in her face. "Why are you here without Sark?"

"I found something out the other day, dad. I'm here without him because… I left him, and everything in my life is just gone."

"Sydney, why… what's going on? Why did you leave him? I saw how much you cared for each other, I didn't like him, but I could see you loved him."

She smiled, "I never told him. Dad, there are two things I have never told him. I didn't tell him that I loved him, and I didn't tell him that I'm dying."

"Dying? Sydney what are you talking about?"

"I'm dying daddy. I have cancer" she said, and then broke into more sobs.

"Oh god." Jack whispered.

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Sydney stayed at her father's home that night. He just held her until she fell asleep.

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Four Days Later

Sydney had been staying with her father for four days and was much happier than she had been at Vaughn's. Even if there was nothing between them, it was still awkward. Her father was also better at comforting her.

Every day, they had gone to different doctors. All of them said the same things, "it's very advanced, there isn't anything we can do." But her father was not going to give up hope. That just wasn't a Jack Bristow thing to do. So Sydney went along with it.

On the fourth morning, Sydney woke up and threw up the remains of the previous night's dinner. She was not having a good morning. Her head was pounding, she woke up without Julian next to her, which made her cry a little still, and her stomach was in pain. She was feeling really weak today.

Her father was out talking to another doctor, thankfully without her, and she was home alone for the time being. Weiss was due over at any minute.

"Speak of the devil" she said when she heard a soft knock at the door.

"Hey Syd, how are you feeling today?" he asked sympathetically, seeing her pale complexion.

"Weak, tired, sad, sick. Just the usual, but ten times more this morning."

"Come here" he said, and enveloped her into his arms."

"Thanks."

"So, have you had any breakfast yet?"

"No, I don't feel like eating right now."

"Syd, you have to. You know that if your father was here, he'd force food down your throat. And he'd kill me if I didn't make you eat something."

"Fine. Just no eggs. The smell of them make me nauseous."

"No eggs coming right up."

Sydney went to the living room and sat on the sofa. Her head was spinning today. She couldn't shake off the dizziness.

"Chef Weiss has made you the most delicious pancakes in the entire world Syd. What would you like on them?" he heard no answer. "Syd, pancakes… syrup or blueberry sauce?"

Still no answer.

He put down the plate and walked to the living room where he saw Sydney lying on the floor. Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing. "Syd" he screamed, "Syd! Wake up!" he shook her lightly, checking her pupils. He got no response.

He called 911 and a few minutes later, they were off to the hospital in an ambulance.

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