Same Disclaimers Apply. A/N: Thanks for the review and please send more.
As I've said before I am an addict. I'll tell you this right now, the next
two chapters get VERY interesting. Hope you like this one though.
VAUGHN'S APARTMENT
Carrying a mug of tea, Vaughn entered his living room to find Sydney curled up on one end of the sofa.
"So, how are you really feeling?" Vaughn passed her the mug before sitting.
"Overwhelmed, confused and about five-hundred other things." Taking a small sip of teas, she continued. "I'm worried about Will and my father and I still haven't come to terms with Francie really being Allison." She sighs with exhaustion.
"Syd, it's likely that Francie is-" Vaughn creased his forehead in apology.
"Dead." Sydney cut him off. "I know Vaughn. I haven't come to terms with that either. I just-" She pauses. "I just want to forget about everything tonight." Leaning her head back against the couch, see closes her eyes.
"You've got to stay awake for a while longer, so why don't I put a movie on. We can relax and not think." Vaughn smiles warmly and strokes Sydney's cheek.
"Sounds wonderful." She moves to kiss him lightly. "I'm going to have a shower first. You find a movie and get us something to eat." Sydney smiled and left the room.
Bogotá, Colombia
Sloane reclined on a deck chair in front of a crystal blue pool. Birds chirped in the surrounding trees as the mid day sun beat harshly against the water and reflected against his sunglasses much as his mind reflected over the events of the past months.
He was startled to realize that events after Emily's death were a blur of guilt and fury. Losing sight of his patience and ingenuity had caused too many mistakes on Sloane's part. The Rambaldi machine was of no value with out the manuscripts that's disappearance coincided with Irina's.
The deceitful seductress had stuck again, leaving him bitter and eager for revenge. But Sloane decided retribution would have to wait in favor of completing his journey and unmasking Rambaldi's prophecies.
Sloane laughed aloud at the common bond he now shared with Jack Bristow. They had both been deceived by the same vindictive woman. However, his plight was less dramatic than Jack's had been; Jack had trusted Irina to never betray him years before while Sloane had merely trusted Irina to use good sense and not endanger her life by crossing him.
"Mr. Sloane, you asked to speak to me." Sloane glanced unimpressed at the middle aged man before him.
"Yes, I would like a status report on our Los Angeles prospects." Sloane took a slow drink from his Vodka Tonic.
"Mr. Bristow appears to be recovering quite well from our recent encounter with him. The younger Bristow had a run in with the double and ended up in the hospital with minor injuries. She was released into the care of Michael Vaughn and has not returned home since." The man stared intently at his boss.
"And the lovely Allison, what has become of her? Or more accurately her body?" Sloane seemed pleased that he deduced the killing of one of his operatives on his own.
The employee faltered at Sloane's obvious satisfaction but regained his footing quickly. "The CIA cleaned up the scene and took the body with them. Where it went from there is anyone's guess."
Sloane's eyes narrowed at the man. "I suppose it is a good thing I don't pay you to guess." His posture retained its relaxed demeanor.
"Yes Mr. Sloane." He paused. "Was there anything else you wished to speak to me about?" He tried not to fidget in his heavy suit under the heavy rays of sun.
"Keep me apprised of Irina Derevko's operations. If she reveals herself, I want to be informed right away." Sloane took another sip of his drink. "That will be all." The still of the trees and water returned with the man's exit, leaving Sloane with a self-serving smile.
HOSPITAL
The morning had come much too early for Sydney and Vaughn. They had spent most of the night awake due to Sydney's head injury and had arrived at the hospital at the beginning of visiting hours.
Will had been moved to his own room and was resting comfortably, according to the nursing staff. Vaughn told Sydney to go on into Will's room and he would join them in a while, understanding Sydney would need time to explain the previous night's events.
"Hey, I was wondering when you were going to stop by." Will said easily. He made no move to sit up but managed a smile at her.
"I was sent home to rest and couldn't return until visiting hours." Sydney smiled. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was gutted. I tell you I have a whole new sympathy for fish." Will kept a straight facing causing Sydney to release a laugh. "You got my message." He stated.
Sydney nodded her head. "Not before Allison could figure out I knew who she was. We fought; I shot her then blacked out. Vaughn came back to drop my wallet off and found you in the bathroom." Sydney grasped Will's hand reassuringly.
"Any other revelations while I was out?" Will remained light-hearted.
"Well, it's logical to assume Francie is no longer alive." Sydney's eyes cast toward the floor in sorrow.
"I know. I figured that one out when I found the pills." His voice took on a solemn tone.
"The house is a mess." Sydney effectively changed subjects.
"I can just imagine. You didn't stay there last night did you?" The concern was evident.
"No, I stay at Vaughn's. My father is still recovering so I didn't want to inconvenience him." Sydney sat gingerly on Will's bed, no longer holding his hand.
"Speaking of Vaughn, is he at work?" Will tried to look around Sydney. "I apparently own him a debt of gratitude."
"He wanted to give us some time to talk alone but he should be right outside." Sydney moved to get off the bed when the door to the room opened marginally. Vaughn knocked and announced his entry.
"Hey man, how are you holding up?" He asked Will.
"Pretty good, all things considered. I hear you saved my life." Will smiled at Vaughn's sudden embarrassment.
"Just remember that nest time the Kings are in the playoffs." Vaughn smiled back a Will.
"Oh, I brought you something to eat. I figured you deserved something better than hospital food." Vaughn held up a bag from a diner near by.
"Mo's breakfast special." Will widened his eyes. "My favorite. Thanks." He reached out eagerly for the bag.
"Just don't let the nurses know I smuggled it in." Sydney smiled at the camaraderie between two important people in her life.
"So what are you guys doing today?" Will seemed interested in getting off the topic of his injuries.
"We have a debrief at headquarters in thirty minutes and then we were supposed to spend the weekend in Santa Barbra but it doesn't look like that's happening." Sydney looked truly disappointed.
"What's stopping you?" Will furrowed his brow. Sydney opened her mouth with the obvious retort but was cut off by the bedridden man. "I'm not going anywhere for a while and I will have people with me mot of the day. You guys should go and enjoy your weekend; with your schedules you're likely never to see a free weekend again."
Sydney and Vaughn glanced at each other in question. Finally Vaughn turned back to Will, challenging him. "You're sure you'll be alright?" Lines appeared on his forehead.
"I'll be fine. And you'll only be a few hours away. It'll make me feel better knowing one of us is enjoying the outdoors this weekend." Will immersed himself in his food. "Don't you have a meeting at headquarters to get to?" He looked up at them.
Sydney looked at her watch. "Oh, yeah we do. We'll call you every day while were away and we'll leave the number we'll be staying at so you can reach us." Sydney said sternly.
"Yes Mom. I promise not to get the carpets dirty while you're gone." Will smirked petulantly.
Sydney leaned over and kissed Will's cheek. "Remember, no funny stuff." She moved away from him to allow Vaughn to shake Will's hand.
"Get better and don't be afraid to call." Vaughn reassured.
"Have fun you two!" Will called from his bed, to which he received no answer.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Irina's phone rang causing her to rush and pick it up. "Yes." She answered.
"Ms. Derevko its Darius." Irina sighed in relief that he had finally gotten an opportunity to call. The middle aged man had been sent to infiltrate Sloane's operations and had effectively been cut off from communication with his boss.
"Darius, it has been a while. You set up your cover very nicely." Irina commended.
"How are my wife and the kids?" Irina grinned at the first question the man had thought to ask. One of the reasons she had picked him to help her was is unwavering loyalty to his family.
"They are fine. Caroline has said that Martin made his varsity foot ball team at school. It is quite an accomplishment for a freshman." Irina was delighted to be bombarded by happiness, if only momentarily.
"He is a great kid." Darius returned. "Sloane has been keeping an eye on Jack and Sydney. He wants them monitored closely; he also wants you to be taken care of when found." Irina could hear the trepidation in his words.
"Good, watching Sydney and Jack will give you the perfect opportunity to ensure they are safe. As for me, I'm safe from Sloane for now." She didn't give him any more information.
"I don't have much time left. I'll call you at the next possible time." Darius hung up before Irina could confirm his actions.
Irina walked to the large window at the side of her house, pondering her employee's words. Sloane was after her head; he would do anything possible to get his revenge. It seemed Irina needed more protection that she had originally thought, for she was no longer alone in the battle...
Please Review (-;
******Didn't edit so I apologize for any errors.
VAUGHN'S APARTMENT
Carrying a mug of tea, Vaughn entered his living room to find Sydney curled up on one end of the sofa.
"So, how are you really feeling?" Vaughn passed her the mug before sitting.
"Overwhelmed, confused and about five-hundred other things." Taking a small sip of teas, she continued. "I'm worried about Will and my father and I still haven't come to terms with Francie really being Allison." She sighs with exhaustion.
"Syd, it's likely that Francie is-" Vaughn creased his forehead in apology.
"Dead." Sydney cut him off. "I know Vaughn. I haven't come to terms with that either. I just-" She pauses. "I just want to forget about everything tonight." Leaning her head back against the couch, see closes her eyes.
"You've got to stay awake for a while longer, so why don't I put a movie on. We can relax and not think." Vaughn smiles warmly and strokes Sydney's cheek.
"Sounds wonderful." She moves to kiss him lightly. "I'm going to have a shower first. You find a movie and get us something to eat." Sydney smiled and left the room.
Bogotá, Colombia
Sloane reclined on a deck chair in front of a crystal blue pool. Birds chirped in the surrounding trees as the mid day sun beat harshly against the water and reflected against his sunglasses much as his mind reflected over the events of the past months.
He was startled to realize that events after Emily's death were a blur of guilt and fury. Losing sight of his patience and ingenuity had caused too many mistakes on Sloane's part. The Rambaldi machine was of no value with out the manuscripts that's disappearance coincided with Irina's.
The deceitful seductress had stuck again, leaving him bitter and eager for revenge. But Sloane decided retribution would have to wait in favor of completing his journey and unmasking Rambaldi's prophecies.
Sloane laughed aloud at the common bond he now shared with Jack Bristow. They had both been deceived by the same vindictive woman. However, his plight was less dramatic than Jack's had been; Jack had trusted Irina to never betray him years before while Sloane had merely trusted Irina to use good sense and not endanger her life by crossing him.
"Mr. Sloane, you asked to speak to me." Sloane glanced unimpressed at the middle aged man before him.
"Yes, I would like a status report on our Los Angeles prospects." Sloane took a slow drink from his Vodka Tonic.
"Mr. Bristow appears to be recovering quite well from our recent encounter with him. The younger Bristow had a run in with the double and ended up in the hospital with minor injuries. She was released into the care of Michael Vaughn and has not returned home since." The man stared intently at his boss.
"And the lovely Allison, what has become of her? Or more accurately her body?" Sloane seemed pleased that he deduced the killing of one of his operatives on his own.
The employee faltered at Sloane's obvious satisfaction but regained his footing quickly. "The CIA cleaned up the scene and took the body with them. Where it went from there is anyone's guess."
Sloane's eyes narrowed at the man. "I suppose it is a good thing I don't pay you to guess." His posture retained its relaxed demeanor.
"Yes Mr. Sloane." He paused. "Was there anything else you wished to speak to me about?" He tried not to fidget in his heavy suit under the heavy rays of sun.
"Keep me apprised of Irina Derevko's operations. If she reveals herself, I want to be informed right away." Sloane took another sip of his drink. "That will be all." The still of the trees and water returned with the man's exit, leaving Sloane with a self-serving smile.
HOSPITAL
The morning had come much too early for Sydney and Vaughn. They had spent most of the night awake due to Sydney's head injury and had arrived at the hospital at the beginning of visiting hours.
Will had been moved to his own room and was resting comfortably, according to the nursing staff. Vaughn told Sydney to go on into Will's room and he would join them in a while, understanding Sydney would need time to explain the previous night's events.
"Hey, I was wondering when you were going to stop by." Will said easily. He made no move to sit up but managed a smile at her.
"I was sent home to rest and couldn't return until visiting hours." Sydney smiled. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was gutted. I tell you I have a whole new sympathy for fish." Will kept a straight facing causing Sydney to release a laugh. "You got my message." He stated.
Sydney nodded her head. "Not before Allison could figure out I knew who she was. We fought; I shot her then blacked out. Vaughn came back to drop my wallet off and found you in the bathroom." Sydney grasped Will's hand reassuringly.
"Any other revelations while I was out?" Will remained light-hearted.
"Well, it's logical to assume Francie is no longer alive." Sydney's eyes cast toward the floor in sorrow.
"I know. I figured that one out when I found the pills." His voice took on a solemn tone.
"The house is a mess." Sydney effectively changed subjects.
"I can just imagine. You didn't stay there last night did you?" The concern was evident.
"No, I stay at Vaughn's. My father is still recovering so I didn't want to inconvenience him." Sydney sat gingerly on Will's bed, no longer holding his hand.
"Speaking of Vaughn, is he at work?" Will tried to look around Sydney. "I apparently own him a debt of gratitude."
"He wanted to give us some time to talk alone but he should be right outside." Sydney moved to get off the bed when the door to the room opened marginally. Vaughn knocked and announced his entry.
"Hey man, how are you holding up?" He asked Will.
"Pretty good, all things considered. I hear you saved my life." Will smiled at Vaughn's sudden embarrassment.
"Just remember that nest time the Kings are in the playoffs." Vaughn smiled back a Will.
"Oh, I brought you something to eat. I figured you deserved something better than hospital food." Vaughn held up a bag from a diner near by.
"Mo's breakfast special." Will widened his eyes. "My favorite. Thanks." He reached out eagerly for the bag.
"Just don't let the nurses know I smuggled it in." Sydney smiled at the camaraderie between two important people in her life.
"So what are you guys doing today?" Will seemed interested in getting off the topic of his injuries.
"We have a debrief at headquarters in thirty minutes and then we were supposed to spend the weekend in Santa Barbra but it doesn't look like that's happening." Sydney looked truly disappointed.
"What's stopping you?" Will furrowed his brow. Sydney opened her mouth with the obvious retort but was cut off by the bedridden man. "I'm not going anywhere for a while and I will have people with me mot of the day. You guys should go and enjoy your weekend; with your schedules you're likely never to see a free weekend again."
Sydney and Vaughn glanced at each other in question. Finally Vaughn turned back to Will, challenging him. "You're sure you'll be alright?" Lines appeared on his forehead.
"I'll be fine. And you'll only be a few hours away. It'll make me feel better knowing one of us is enjoying the outdoors this weekend." Will immersed himself in his food. "Don't you have a meeting at headquarters to get to?" He looked up at them.
Sydney looked at her watch. "Oh, yeah we do. We'll call you every day while were away and we'll leave the number we'll be staying at so you can reach us." Sydney said sternly.
"Yes Mom. I promise not to get the carpets dirty while you're gone." Will smirked petulantly.
Sydney leaned over and kissed Will's cheek. "Remember, no funny stuff." She moved away from him to allow Vaughn to shake Will's hand.
"Get better and don't be afraid to call." Vaughn reassured.
"Have fun you two!" Will called from his bed, to which he received no answer.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Irina's phone rang causing her to rush and pick it up. "Yes." She answered.
"Ms. Derevko its Darius." Irina sighed in relief that he had finally gotten an opportunity to call. The middle aged man had been sent to infiltrate Sloane's operations and had effectively been cut off from communication with his boss.
"Darius, it has been a while. You set up your cover very nicely." Irina commended.
"How are my wife and the kids?" Irina grinned at the first question the man had thought to ask. One of the reasons she had picked him to help her was is unwavering loyalty to his family.
"They are fine. Caroline has said that Martin made his varsity foot ball team at school. It is quite an accomplishment for a freshman." Irina was delighted to be bombarded by happiness, if only momentarily.
"He is a great kid." Darius returned. "Sloane has been keeping an eye on Jack and Sydney. He wants them monitored closely; he also wants you to be taken care of when found." Irina could hear the trepidation in his words.
"Good, watching Sydney and Jack will give you the perfect opportunity to ensure they are safe. As for me, I'm safe from Sloane for now." She didn't give him any more information.
"I don't have much time left. I'll call you at the next possible time." Darius hung up before Irina could confirm his actions.
Irina walked to the large window at the side of her house, pondering her employee's words. Sloane was after her head; he would do anything possible to get his revenge. It seemed Irina needed more protection that she had originally thought, for she was no longer alone in the battle...
Please Review (-;
******Didn't edit so I apologize for any errors.