Only You

Chapter One

She lost it. She could not believe that she just lost it. She looked down at the floor around her and began to circle her desk several times and then got down on her hands and knees and crawled in the cubby of her desk believing she would find her precious heirloom.

Sydney Bristow never lost a thing in her life. She would misplace them, yes and she couldn't speak in behalf of her missing socks from the dryer. But never did she loose one of her mother's belongings. Sydney almost threw a tantrum as she looked for the rhinestone flower hair pin. She had a picture of it as well, her mother sitting in a snowy park in West Virginia, holding onto her father's arm with her thick black hair being parted by the flower hair pin. The same pin that was combed into her hair that very morning. It was almost heartbreaking to know it was just gone. Sydney shook her head, no, she'll see it again, she promised herself.

Frowning, Sydney stood up and answered the ringing telephone that's she had been ignoring for past five minutes.

"Hello? Julian Lazerey's office." Sydney answered. Sydney began to nod, "Yes sir, I'll get that right to you."

Sydney put the telephone back on the cradle and found a past receipt and put it in the envelope and sent it to mail room.

On her way back she walked right into a moving figure, trying to walk past her in a hurried pace. It almost caught her off balance and she began to wobble on the heel of her shoes. As she fell back Sydney felt a pair of large hands catch her by the forearms and pulled her from her slanted fall.

"There you go," a voice brought her into focus and she looked up to the man who saved her from making a complete fool out of herself. At first she was upset, but then she quickly forgave him when he saw how green his eyes were.

"Wow, I'm really sorry. I wasn't looking." He tried to excuse himself. "I'm Michael Vaughn. I just transfered here, my partner is Marcus Dixon."

Sydney bit her lip from forgiving him, still somewhat annoyed. "I know Mr. Dixon, very nice man." Sydney smiled as she put a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Who's your partner?" Michael asked. He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair, "What I mean is, are you a field agent?"

"No, I'm not." Sydney shook her head. Vaughn lowered his gaze and she quickly corrected herself. "Well, not yet. I'm in the pre-training program." Sydney falsely told him.

"Oh, I had to do freakin' three years in the mailing room before they had space to take me into the program."

Sydney almost let a laugh escape. "Three years? Really? I guess I have a while to go then." She teased.

"You didn't tell me your name..." Vaughn smiled.

"Sydney."

"Like the city."

Sydney smiled embarrassed and slightly annoyed, lookin at her shoes and nodded. "Yes, like the city."

"Well, I have to go see the grim reaper." Vaughn gave a small chuckle as he nodded her head pass her. Sydney snapped her head around and saw Mr. Sloane in his office with two other men. She realized Vaughn meant him.

"He's not all that bad." Sydney told him, remembering receiving a potted plant from him and his wife, Emily, for Christmas present. She still had the plant on her desk and it just started to bloom. "It's just tricky to get on his good side."

Vaughn showed a toothy grin when he passed her by and she returned to her desk.

"Sydney, I need to see you." The intercom went off. Sydney took her notepad and took another look around the desk for the hairpin and then gave up as she went into her boss's office. When she entered the office she observed her familiar surroundings. There was a small liquor cabinet in the corner covered by neat piles of paper, organized by her. His computer on the desk with sets of new paper and trivial clutter. There was two picture frames, one that was empty (and secretly wished it was a frame that will one day hold her picture) and the other of the witch (and secretly wished to destroyed).

She saw him, wearing his suit nicely pressed and tailored pacing around his office.

Sydney looked down at her payless shoes and her Chanel knock-off tweed black suit and prayed for cleavage. She pressed her arms on her side and did the best she could but she made a mental note of getting a Wonderbra on her next shopping trip.

Sydney sat down in one of the chairs and watched him think. She remembered the first day she came into SD-6 during her tour. Wilson was her recruiter who showed her the steps into becoming a field agent. New recruits are required to work within Credit Dauphine up to three years, doing paperwork, working in finances, even work at the front desk for civilian bank and savings. However, being as bright as she was, she was put into a special program called advance placement. Sydney would learn from the best by being their best. Secretarial work wasn't the first thing she had in mind, until she was introduced to Julian Lazerey. Childishly, Sydney admired him in every aspect. He was a very respectable senior agent and very bright indeed. The first day she probably knew she was in love with him was the day she saw a worn copy of "Eugene Onegin" on his desk, the same novel she was reading at that time.

She probably would have had him if it wasn't for the witch.

"I have a trip to Kuwait in three days. Normal business meeting." Sark spoke.

"Will you need the Kevlar body vest and a semi-automatic?" Sydney smiled.

A laugh came out of Sark. "A Beretta would do nicely."

Sark took a look from the mirror and towards Sydney. The first time he saw Sydney she was wearing a casual shirt and slacks, ever since then she had been wearing the same casual wear but that day she wore something more secretarial. Nice little thoughts went into his head about her pencil skirt and tweed blazer, cute little pair. Sark watched her cross her gorgeous, lengthy legs. What he loved most of all about was her hair. God, was it beautiful. Soft curls one day and straight the next. He adored the chestnut color and amber glow in the sun. He use to watch her play with her hair and when she tries to push it aside, annoyed.

"I need my suit picked up from the dry cleaners for the gala."

"I'll do that at lunch." And he loved when she went up and above for him. "Would you like me to pick up something from lunch?"

"No," Sark came around the desk and went into his trouser pocket. There was one truth between them that existed, that they could never be together. Sydney watched him as he leaned back against his desk and take out a velvet square jewelry box. Sydney's heart stopped, no, she shook herself, this can't be.

Sark opened the box and showed Sydney the large carat diamond ring. "Oh my god."

Sark snapped it closed and put it in his pocket. "I'm having dinner with Lauren before the gala. I'm going to propose to her."

"You're...propose...to Lauren?" Sydney puckered her lips together and nodded. "That's the ring to do it with." She spoke silently.

She couldn't help feel regret. Bloody gorgeous ring that was the size of a throwing stone. Sydney was in complete disarray. He was going to propose to Lauren, he was going to marry someone else. All the months of she obsessed over him for a worthless cause. Francie had told her so and warned her not to get too involved, and of course she didn't listen. Not one piece of information did she take.

"You don't think it's too..."

"Big?" Sydney finished. "Yes, it's a knocker. But knowing Lauren, it's perfect."

"But you?"

So, she did have a opinion?

"I have a fear of drowning, that thing would take me to the bottom." Sydney laughed it off, making herself feel better for such an awkward situation. "No, seriously? Um...I rather have something a little more delicate and simple. Marriage isn't a materialistic value and if you're really happy, you don't need to flaunt it so."

Sydney bit her lip and looked down at her shoes, shaking her head in regret. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Sark didn't allow her to apologize. "No, I think that's nice. Nice and simple."

Yes, simple. Sydney thought. Was that all Sark thought she was, a simple little secretary who picked up his dry cleaning when he wanted her to? Sydney knew almost everything about him, even things he probably didn't know himself. Sydney didn't have an expensive car or travel first class (all the time) and she certainly didn't possess a wardrobe full of high fashion designers, but she was infatuated with him besides those things. She was amazed from his success, culture, and that he was one of the youngest senior agents in SD-6.

"So, will I see you at he gala tonight?" He asked.

Sydney eyes lit up and nodded. "I'm taking my roommate Francie as my guest. She's been getting ready all afternoon."

She remembered asking Francie to the dinner two weeks ago and she couldn't hold back her excitement. She raved on how exciting and romantic it would be dancing and having a five course meal by candlelight. Sydney told her to hold it back and not get too excited. There were going to be a lot of rich, old snobs and only a few of her friends. Francie just ran to the beauty salon, excited to be served at a beautiful business dinner instead of serving it.

Sydney looked down at her blank notebook and began tapping her pen. "So, a Berreta, Kevlar, stainless steel suitcase?"

"Yes, along with a digital code lock." He decided.

"When will you leave?"

"The fifth."

"I'll call to schedule to flight to Kuwait and hotel room. How long will you be expected to stay?"

"Three nights, possibly." Sark squinted her eyes and looked at the blank notepad. "Aren't you suppose to be writing this down?"

"It's up here." Sydney took her pen and tapped the side of her head. "Wouldn't be training as an agent if I couldn't take a few mental notes."

Sydney went out for her lunch break and grabbed Sark's suit from the dry cleaners. She put his bill in petty cash and grabbed a sandwich from the Italian deli on the street and put it on her credit card. When she got back into her car she starred at her credit card and her name at the bottom of it; Sydney A. Bristow. She admired how far she had come with the job and decided not to be guilty for leaving school. She graduated with a degree in Literature and Education and she should of been proud of that accomplishment. Sydney should of even felt more proud that she was one out of twenty-one trainees at that time to be put in advance placement. In only a few short months she would have her own office, with a partner, have access to arms, meet her handler more often, and even go through intensive training. But there was a hole inside, a feeling of emptiness and she didn't know what was missing and until then she was going to continue to feel lost.

Sydney returned to SD-6 and went through the office, suit in hand, and hung it up behind Sark's desk as he was shifting through paperwork. Sydney took his blueberry out of her pocket and gave it to Sark.

"I sent the papers to Kenneth now that he's back to work and he promised me he'll have it ready by tomorrow." Sydney told him. She saw Sark completely engulfed in intelligence papers and contact sheets and felt for how hard he truly worked. She catered to him, filling the empty glass of water, picking it up and moving to the pitcher sitting on top of his liquor cabinet. Sydney returned it to his desk. Sark would have said thanks if he wasn't trying to figure out how Sydney got the order to speed up. Usually it took a week to clear personal request to the company armory because they worked on processing missions equipment first.

"How did you manage that, Miss Bristow?" Sark looked up from his paperwork and watched her flip her hair off her shoulder.

Sark was going to find out from Kenneth any other way, so she confessed. "I gave him ballet tickets."

Sark smiled unbelievably. "To see the American Ballet Theater? For the ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream?"

"The same."

"I gave those tickets to you, for you to go." Sark pointed out.

"And the only good that came out of Lauren being sent to a conference in San Francisco was allowing Kenneth and his wife, which he never sees much now, a nice romantic night out without the kids. I'm wasn't missing much, I was Heremia three years ago in my college production." Sydney winked as she put her hands on his desk and lowered. "Plus, it puts your order on express." She walked out of the office leaving Sark to his paperwork.

She's so unselfish, Sark thought. I can't wait to see her tonight.

He took the velvet box out of his pocket again and cracked it open, moving the box back and forth in the light to see the brilliant diamond shine. He knew in his heart that the ring didn't belong to Lauren, but his heart would cause his death if he listened to it. Like any good agent he followed his brain and everything he was ever trained to do in that line of work, even if he was lacking in the affairs of love.

"Mr. Lazerey..." Sydney's voice trailed on the intercom and Lauren bursted through the door in her own self-obsessed attitude. But, apparently, he loved it.

"Darling," She purred as she sat down on the desk next to him. "My mother and father just told me that they can't come tonight, but they'll be there Monday night for dinner."

"I'm sorry, love. I'll have to miss it. Prompt trip to the Middle East, can't you possibly reschedule?"

"Reschedule? Yes, of course." Lauren crossly said. "Some other time then."

Sark began to get back to his papers and began to put them in the in and out box. "Don't you have a secretary to do all that?"

Sark looked up. Lauren was an amazing woman. She came from good money and breeding, she was given the best education in London, and she was beautiful. Lauren was brilliant too and caused a little trepidation on her behalf, but it wasn't like Sark couldn't control a woman like her. It was quite easy, she could be easily distracted with something and might not trust herself completely. What you saw was what you got from Lauren, however, it was women like Sydney that caused more than trepidation, she made Sark wonder in amazement. Looking at Lauren anyone could see she came from a powerful family and was never denied a thing, with Sydney no one could guess that she was certainly not the girl next door nor she came from the two most powerful and skilled agents in intelligence history.

"Sydney does a lot for me, least I could do is organize a few papers."

"Sydney?" Lauren scoffed. "She gets your dry cleaning," she pointed to the suit hanging up in the corner of the office. "And runs papers to Sloane."

I question why the hell is such a plain girl doing in advance placement. Lauren thought bitterly.

"Did you do that years ago for your father?"

"I wasn't a secretary. When I was in advance placement I was actually shadowing an agent, not running to the mailroom and xerox machine." Lauren rolled her eyes.

Lauren was waiting for a reply, possibly a smart retort about the girl that annoyed her much. Instead Sark looked passed her and his blue eyes shinned. "Miss Bristow."

Lauren turned around and flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and saw Sydney enter the doorway with files in hand. Lauren's red lips parted and she looked away from her, not sure if she was embarrassed or secretly laughing. Sydney knew girls like her in boarding school, when body issues were as common as a Louis Vuitton bag and riding boots. Or possibly worse, the girls in college that stole her ballet shoes or soaked them in water in jealousy of receiving the main role. Everyone was criticizing her, her father, Sloane, and even Sark's soon to be fiancee.

"Mr. Sloane wanted to give these to you for tonight." She gave Sark an envelope of two identification passes and nodded.

"Why did you interrupt?" Lauren questioned.

Sydney moved her head towards where she was sitting. "You knocked the phone off the hook."

Sark looked behind where Lauren was sitting and saw the phone laying besides the cradle. Lauren rolled her eyes and became annoyed by Sydney.

"I have to pick up my dress from Rodeo. They just fitted it," she only spoke of her schedule only to display her taste for high fashion. "It's the one you liked so much." She flirted. Lauren looked behind and worked her eyes up and down Sydney, looking at her black heels and matching vintage suit.

Lauren couldn't help but smile. "Sydney..." she hopped off the desk and walked around. "What a lovely suit, is that Chanel?"

Sydney blushed. She was caught, wasn't she? Even during boarding schools everyone knew her Prada bag was fake, but no one ever confronted her about it because everyone's little black backpack was a fake. However this was different, this woman would eat her alive by desecrating her prized and highly expensive fashion designers. But she wouldn't be a good spy if she allowed to be discovered of this secret, would she?

What if she wants to see the tag? Oh god.

"No. Ann Taylor." Sydney confessed. Lauren eyebrows raised and started to nip at invisible lint on Sydney's collar.

"Nice suit though," She sighed. "But I despise polyester blends."

Lauren turned her back to Sydney and looked back at her lover. "Goodbye darling, I'll see you at home, alright?" Lauren picked up her bag and left.

Sark opened his mouth, getting ready to apologize for Lauren's character but Sydney stopped him by looking at her watch.

"I have to start to get going. Francie's probably waiting for me, wondering where I am."

Sydney looked into his blue eyes, full of what she guess was remorse but she couldn't quite tell, they were always hollow and dark since the first day she met him.