Here's the next chapter, thank you very much for the kind replies.


Chapter 5

Previously on Destined: He spoke into his comms unit: "The DNA's missing".

Jack heard Vaughn's disappointed sigh before he spoke. "That makes sense. Marshall's just been in contact with us, he said they've found satellite footage over that area. About twelve years ago a man entered those caves...but what's weird is that he didn't come out with the DNA."

"What do you mean? That it might just have been moved deeper inside the caves?" Jack said looking at Sydney still rooted to the spot.

"Maybe. You'll have to keep on moving further down to find out".

"Meet us at the entrance to the second cave."

That caught Sydney's attention, "Dad, what are you doing?"

Vaughn echoed Syd over the comms "What! Why?"

"Just do it Agent Vaughn!"

Syd looked at her father in shock. "Dad, why don't we just carry on ourselves? Why are we meeting Vaughn?"

Jack walked up to her, she was still clearly distressed, he could see it in her eyes, even if she wasn't going to admit it. He placed his right arm on the small of her back and guided her towards the way they came turning his torch back on as it got darker.

"I think you already know Sydney."

All he got in reply was a small smile from her.

'What's going on?' Vaughn thought as his mind raced with possibilities. 'Are they okay? Is Sydney hurt? Have they found the DNA? Are they aborting the mission? Why? If nothing else I hope Sydney's okay. God, I hope Sydney's okay.'

He grabbed a couple of things that he thought he might need: a radio, torch, map, blankets, some rope, food and other such essentials and quickly thrust them in the open rucksack.

As fast and as stealthily as he could Vaughn made his way towards the caves. He found the small entrance and scrambled through it. It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the light as he took the rucksack off his back to find his torch.

A couple of minutes later, torch in hand Vaughn was making his way down the tunnel into the second cave. His torch light bounced of the walls inside the eerie cavern looking for any signs of Jack and Sydney.

The tunnel eventually widened and he found himself in the entrance of the cave when he saw their silhouettes in the corner. Sydney was slumped up against the wall resting her head on her knees, Jack was hovering over her and looked up when he heard Vaughn enter.

The two men slowly walked towards each other until they were face to face in the middle of the entrance.

"What's going on?"

"I have an idea." Jack whispered so that he wouldn't disturb Sydney from her thoughts. Vaughn gave her a quick look, she was just sitting there staring blankly at the wall in front of her. Jack snapped him out of his reverie "You said that the footage showed that the man didn't come out with the DNA."

"Correct. Do you think it's still in here somewhere?"

"It's possible that it's just been moved further down so less people would stumble across it. Unfortunately we don't know how far it goes. But if he did move it, it's probably at the end."

"That makes sense. We need to tell Sloane our change of plans."

"Do you have a radio?"

"Yeah, right here." Vaughn said as he searched his backpack giving Sydney a worried glance when doing so. He handed the radio to Jack who tried for a signal.

"There's nothing. I'll go back up, tell base what's happening and stay on comms. You two continue and see if you can find it."

"Okay"

They both simultaneously looked at Sydney who hadn't moved a muscle.

Jack turned back to Vaughn. "She's been like that for a while, I think it's just hit her. She's scared, and she has a good reason to be. Take good care of her." And with that he walked over to Sydney and crouched in front of her. Jack knew Syd had probably heard everything but felt the need to tell her personally anyway. "Sydney, I'm going back up to get a signal. You and Vaughn are to continue and see if you can find the DNA. Okay? Are you up to it?"

Syd just nodded as she heard her father walk away before it occured to her to say something. "Dad?"

He turned around facing her. "Yeah?"

"I love you"

"I know sweetheart and everything will be okay. Vaughn's going to be with you and you'll find it."

"Thank You." She added in a whispered tone.

Jack moved past Vaughn, wishing him good luck as he disappeared into the darkness.

Sydney put her hands on the wall behind her and pulled herself up. Vaughn could see how pale she was and saw the pain in her eyes. He took a few tentative steps towards her before she ran into his arms. Her vanilla scent filled his mind as he held onto her, his arms securely wrapped around her waist.

"It's okay Syd. It's okay."

She could feel Vaughn's voice in her ear calming her as she clung onto him desperately. "I don't want to die."

"I won't let you Sydney." He said simply as all of the memories of those awful two years came flashing back to him. "Not again".

He gently rocked her back and forth until he was sure that they'd both calmed down enough to continue.


I hope you liked it! More soon!

- Katie xxx