Chapter 5- Concerning Partnerships.

"I've talked to Langley." Sloane said, breifing the room. "They've assessed the situation and they've decided to give us two more weeks to find Agent Vaughn."

"They've assessed the situation?" Sydney asked in a harsh tone. The other men and women in the room turned to stare in her direction.

Sloane took a moment before answering, he expected this reaction. "Based on the fact that as of right now we do not know where Agent Vaughn is and we have not heard anything from his captors we have been giving two weeks, or he is assumed dead." He replied softly. He folded his arms in his lap, prepared for the outlash to come.

"What do you mean we have no idea where he is? We've been talking to every last known Covenant affiliate we know for the past week! You mean to tell me that we have NO idea where he is?" Sydney spoke again, her tone as loud as Sloane had expected.

"We believe he may be somewhere in Spain. Sydney I've told you this as many times as I can, being irrational will not help anything. People are not talking, we can't find Caine. Langley was generous to give us two weeks. We have no indication that says Agent Vaughn is even alive." Sloane said, noticing his voice raising a little. He hated to tell this to Sydney, but she needed to know the truth. As much as she would have wanted the watered down version, she needed to know the truth.

Sydney folded her hands and rested her head in them. Weiss sat beside her and stroked her back, offering comfort.

Sloane breathed heavily shaking his head. "That's all I wanted to tell you. Continue what you are all doing, I will let everyone know immediately if something new comes up." Sloane said, giving a light smile before standing up from his chair and leaving the room. Other agents followed behind him including Jack and Weiss. Sydney remained seated, her head still in her hands. Nadia approached with a simpathetic expression on her face. She noticed the tears coming from Sydney's eyes and offered a hug to her sister.

"Two weeks is longer than you think." Nadia said.

"If they are anything like this past week it's going to feel like an eternity." Sydney said, gathering her composure. "What do you think?"

"What do you mean what do I think?"

"You know what I mean, do you think Vaughn is alive? Do you think we'll get him back?" Sydney said, now looking directly at her sister.

"Sydney, I don't know." Nadia said calmly, "Only time will tell now."

"That's what I'm worried about." Sydney said, standing from her seat. She gave her sister a smile, for now she would be alright. Sydney turned and left the room, heading back to her desk to continue what she had done all last week.

Things had died down, the first couple of days the phones were ringing off the hooks. People were running everywhere in an attempt to bring the agent back. Now, the agents sitting on stake outs had been reduced by a half. Phone calls were coming in less frequently and they had almost ran out of people to talk to.

All Sydney had to do during the day was think. They would not let her go on any missions, for emotional stablity reasons, although Sydney argued otherwise. She didn't want to go home, there was nothing there but memories and the feeling of being alone. So she spent her days sitting at her desk thinking, perhaps it was more destructive than good. The first few days she had thought about his return, then she began to think about what he was going through, now she thought about the fact that he could be dead. Sloane was right, there was no indication that he wasn't. All Sydney was left with was hope, and faith if you favored to use that strong of a word. She was struggling to hold on to both

0101010101010101011010100.

Thomas Caine sat in a small confined room with another man. The man was tall, black hair, and appeared to be of mixed hispanic descent. They had been sitting and discussing businness for the past hour now, the two were looking towards a partnership.

"I hear you have an agent in custody? I'm eager to hear about this." The dark haired man said, changing the subject of the conversation.

"Oh yes, I hope to gain a lot from him." Caine replied, a proud smile on his face. "I've had some trouble getting information from him. So far he hasn't divulged any."

"What do you mean? He hasn't divulged any information yet?" The dark haired man said, a confused look on his face. "How long has he been here?"

"A little over a week now I believe." Caine said, the smile dissapearing from his face.

"He has not said anything in two weeks?" The dark haired man asked.

"Oh he's said plenty." Caine said sarcastically, "He's insulted me many times. I just can't get any information out of him yet, I'm working on it."

"Mr. Caine you are hoping to build a terrorist organization and you can not get one agent to talk? I've met men in the past who could get information from people by looking at them." The man said, laughter almost in his tone

"This agent refuses to crack, I've had guards beat him senseless since he got here." Caine replied, "Mr. Cruz, are you doubting my abilties?"

"I'm only saying, if you are looking to control a group of rowdy, law breaking, bomb making terrorists, you have to be able to control one little CIA agent." Mr. Cruz said, inching himself closer to Caine.

Cruz spoke again in an almost friendly tone. "Look Tom, I have a reputation. I could go far, I'm not sure if a partnership with you would be the best thing for my career."

"Your career?" Caine said, his voice raising "I've offered you a partnership to begin a new terrorist organization, and you turn me down? What else are you going to do?"

"I don't know, but if I try and run a failed organization I will be laughed at. Unlike you, I held a high position in the Covenant" Cruz said, his tone lower.

Thomas Caine clearly took offense to the remark. "This is how you show gratitude for me giving you a chance? Unlike you Mr. Cruz I have begun my crusade to begin a new organization. I have an agent in custody, whether he is talking or not. Apparantly this meeting was a mistake."

"Clearly." Cruz said, getting up from his seat. "I'm sorry but I don't know my way to the door."

"Good luck finding it." Caine said, getting up and walking out the door. He headed down the hallway away from Cruz's sight.

01010110101010101011010101

Caine leaned against a wall for a moment, collecting his composure. After taking a series of deep breaths, he opened the door beside him and stepped into the room full of lounging men. The men sat around a table smoking and laughing. They quickly got quiet at the sound of Mr. Caine's entrance.

"Listen up." Caine said, and the men quickly did. "That Agent we have in custody, Mr. Vaughn. Do whatever you have to, I want him to crack. I'll give him another couple of days, if he hasn't disclosed what I want, I'll deal with him directly."

"So I take it your meeting with Mr. Cruz didn't go so well?" One of the men said.

"No, It didn't. Now I'm left without a prospect for a partner, I don't think I can just place an add in the yellow pages."

"I'm available." The man said again, a wide smile on his face.

Caine gave the man a look then turned and left the room.

Michael Vaughn was getting on his last nerve.