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Chapter Eleven:
Past, Present and Future

"Well, we know that we need to get access to a Covenant facility of some sort. One where we can gain access to their computer systems, and track their communications and what not."

"And you think that you can get a location from someone." Sydney said. "Who?"

Dixon cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "We can only get that information from somebody who is…or was, within the Covenant." He paused. "Now as you are fully aware, we currently have a Covenant agent in our custody."

Sydney felt Vaughn tense up beside her and instinctively placed a hand on his thigh.

Dixon went on. "Since her capture, Ms Reed had refused to co-operate. However, on this occasion she has complied with our requests- on one condition."

"What condition?" Vaughn managed to ask.

"That she will only deal with one person. She has made it quite clear that she will only reveal the whereabouts to this person. She will only speak to you, Vaughn."

Vaughn did not visibly respond to this revelation. He sat dead still, almost as if he were in some kind of a trance. He could feel Sydney's hand squeezing his thigh, but couldn't even look at her.

Six years. Six years spent ridding his life of everything Lauren and now this?

"Dixon, it's me. I'm at the Naval Hospital. There's a sniper. Lazarey's been shot; he's dead. Get me a team out here now!" The agents, who were already with Sydney, scattered, in the slim chance that they might actually catch somebody in the act. Sydney waited back as the doctors worked furiously on Lazarey, but it was all in vain. The man did not stand a chance.

xxxxx

"Excuse me, Agent Bristow."

Sydney looked towards the approaching agent. "Yes?"

"We, uh, managed to acquire somebody in the building over there. They were carrying a weapon and we believe them to be the guilty party."

"Where are they?"

"We have them secured in a van."

"Take me to them."

"Agent Bristow, perhaps you should let somebody else talk to them."

Frustrated, Sydney pushed past him and walked outside. "Which van?" she demanded of the agents standing outside.

Silently one of them stepped forward and opened the back of the nearest van. Sydney climbed into it, and with her eyes still adjusting to darkness she began to speak.

"My name is Agent Bristow—"

"I know your name, Sydney."

Sydney froze slowly she rose her head until she was looking directly into the eyes of the wife of the man she loved.

"Lauren?" she breathed. "You're Covenant?"

Lauren ignored the statement. "You look upset, Sydney. Why?"

"Excuse me?" Sydney knew that she was probably being drawn into a little mind game of Lauren's, but at this point she really didn't care.

"I thought that you would ecstatic to see me finally go down." She gave Sydney a smile that chilled her to the bone. "Because then you'd finally have a chance to sink your claws into my husband."

Sydney's heart skipped a beat. Vaughn. This would devastate…destroy him. Growing up in a house with Jack Bristow, Sydney knew first hand how something like this could change a person.

"All this time?" Sydney said. "All this time you've been working with them?" She almost spat the last word out.

Lauren just stared at her, expressionless.

"And Vaughn?" Sydney braved the question. "When you married him. Was it because you really wanted to, or because…"

Lauren laughed, a cruel and cold laugh. "You're a smart girl, Sydney. What do you think?"

Sydney looked at Vaughn and then turned back to Dixon. "No. You cannot be serious. Are you really going to force Vaughn to face that woman?"

"No," Dixon replied. "We are got going to force Vaughn to do anything. The decision is entirely up to him."

"Some decision." Sydney snorted. "That you would even bring—"

"Syd." Vaughn spoke up, cutting her off. "We shouldn't dismiss this straightaway."

Sydney stared at him, incredulous. "What?"

Dixon cleared his throat as he stood up. "Maybe I should give you two a chance to talk." He walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.

"You cannot seriously be considering this, Vaughn." Sydney said.

"I am." Vaughn replied, firmly. "This may be our only shot at finding Ana."

"Don't do this for me, Vaughn. You don't have to do this. They'll be other ways. We'll find other ways." Her voice was pleading. "You don't have to do this."

Vaughn grabbed her hands and leaned forward. "I know that I don't, but I'm going to anyway."

Sydney's jaw dropped slightly. "Vaughn, are you sure?" she whispered. "I don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I'm not going to be." Vaughn said, bluntly. "There is nothing that Lauren can say or do that will hurt me. She means absolutely nothing to me anymore."

"But are you sure?" Sydney asked again. "I mean, really sure?"

Vaughn nodded as he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. When their lips separated Vaughn didn't move back, instead resting his forehead against Sydney's. "I am sure."

Sydney hurried into the JTF, her eyes scanning the room. There was no sign of him anywhere. Spotting Weiss at his desk, she strode over.

"Where is Vaughn?" she asked, frantically.

Weiss looked up. "Huh?"

"Vaughn." She resisted the urge to grab him by the shoulders and shake him violently. "Where is he?"

"Oh. He just got called into Dixon's office."

"Oh god." Sydney slumped against his desk.

Weiss sat forward, concerned. "Syd, what is it? What is going on?"

Sydney glanced towards Dixon's office, wondering if she should say anything. Was she permitted to? Was it her place to?

"Sydney." Weiss's voice grabbed her attention. "Tell me."

Sydney looked at him. Stuff it. Weiss was Vaughn's best friend. He needed to know.

"You heard about Lazarey and the sniper and all of that?" she started.

Weiss nodded. "Yeah."

"Did you hear that the sniper was caught?"

"Yeah."

"Well," Sydney drew in a deep breath. "It was somebody we know."

xxxxx

"Take a seat, Agent Vaughn."

Vaughn sat, feeling uneasy. He knew that something had to be. The vague nature of this meeting, the look on Dixon's face and the presence of Barnett in the room did little to calm his nerves.

"What is this?" Vaughn asked, shifting his gaze between Dixon and Barnett.

Dixon cleared his throat. "There is no easy way for me to say this…"

"To say what?" Vaughn's stomach felt as if it were filled with concrete.

"I'm sure that you are aware that the CIA apprehended a Covenant agent at the Naval Hospital earlier today."

Vaughn nodded. "Yes, but what does that have to do with me?"

"The person apprehended," Dixon started. "It was Lauren."

Vaughn stared at him for a second before letting out a short laugh. "Excuse me?"

"Vaughn, Lauren works for the Covenant."

"No." Vaughn shook his head. "No. You're wrong. There's been a mistake."

Dixon shook his head sadly. "She was apprehended in the vicinity of the hospital, with a weapon in her possession."

There was a loud ringing forming in Vaughn's ears. He was hearing Dixon's words, but not comprehending them. The air in the office felt thick, like he was inhaling cotton wool and Vaughn knew that he had to get out of there.

Loosening his tie, Vaughn stood up abruptly. "Excuse me." He strode purposefully to the door.

"Vaughn." Dixon made to follow him, but Barnett stopped him.

"Let him go," she said, wisely. "He needs time to process."

Vaughn was walking through the JTF, headed towards the bathroom when Jack stopped him. "Vaughn. Can I have a word?"

Vaughn nodded and the two men stepped off to the side, out of earshot from everybody else. "What is it?"

"I heard that you agreed to see Lauren."

Vaughn snorted softly. "I take it that the grapevine around this place is still as efficient as ever."

Jack's sober expression did not change. "When?"

"Dixon is clearing it with security now. As soon as that's done, I'll be escorted to her cell."

"Will Sydney be going with you?" Jack asked.

"No. I couldn't put her through that. She doesn't need any extra stress at the moment."

Jack nodded. "Look, I just wanted to say that I understand how hard it is to do what you are about to do. Just stay strong and don't let her get to you." Jack paused, trying to find his next words. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…ahem…"

"Jack." Vaughn cut in. "I know…and thanks."

He was drunk. He knew it and didn't care. How could he care about anything else besides the fact that his wife was an enemy of the Unites States? The fact that she had married him for an assignment and used him. The fact that she was part of the organization that had robbed him of the love of his life.

He couldn't believe how stupid he had been. That he had fell so easily for her charms. Believed the lies she whispered into his ear. Accepted her caresses as signs of true love.

Taking one last mouthful from the bottle in his hand, he threw it against the wall. The bottle shattered into pieces. Entirely appropriate, he thought. Shattered just the way his life had done.

Taking one last glance around the house that had been built upon lies, he struck a match. He watched it, flickering, for a second before dropping it onto the couch.

As he walked out, there was no looking back.

Vaughn walked silently, a step behind the agent who was escorting him. Stopping briefly to confer with the guard, Vaughn took a deep breath. The last time he had seen Lauren everything had been normal. They were just any other married couple.

He had refused to see her after her arrest. Six years and not one exchange between the two…until now.

They were moving again. Step after step, getting closer to their destination. With each step, Vaughn filled himself with more and more resolve and determination. He would speak to her only about the information they needed. No getting suckered into any mind games that she might want to play.

The agent stopped and so did Vaughn. Turning, he looked into the cell.