Chapter 1
"Agent Vaughn," Sydney's father acknowledges him by way of greeting.
"Jack," Vaughn returns with equal strength of voice and confidence. It's not long however before he feels his confidence draining.
Jack Bristow could be a very intimidating presence, "I realize that the reason I've called you here might seem rather unorthodox and even unethical, especially if Kendall or Devlin find why I've arranged this meeting. But I need to talk to you about something."
Becoming rather confused Jack concentrates his stare on the man in front of him. Both men meet stares as Vaughn continues.
"Over the last year and a half we've been working together we've seen eye to eye in certain issues and disagreed in others. We've worked alongside one another, and through our cases together, I feel we've built a healthy respect for one another's abilities as an agent. We've been forced into alliances and had to face disastrous consequences and ugly personal demons." Pausing for a brief moment he forges on, "Derevko's reappearance into both our lives has no doubt added a distinct degree of difficulty to each and every operation since her surrender. But even despite our differences, I think we can both agree that there has always been one unwavering source of strength in both our lives…one that has encouraged us to fight in this seemingly never-ending battle with SD-6 and the Alliance."
Nodding thoughtfully Jack finishes Vaughn's sentence effortlessly and with one simple word, "Sydney."
Vaughn nods agreement and smiles, "No matter our differences, the one thing we've always agreed on is our loyalty to her. And while in some instances we've measured our loyalty by different methods, the one person we've consistently fought to protect is Sydney. As your fellow agent you rely on her and trust her. As your daughter you love her and protect her. And what few people who've ever had the privilege to work with you learn is that the line separating those concerns and priorities is microscopically thin. I know I didn't appreciate the depth of your devotion to her until I witnessed it firsthand."
"Vaughn, I'm touched," Jack interrupts in a timely and irritated fashion. "And while I have my suspicions about where this is going, I have nothing to respond to until you tell me what I'm doing here. So please, if you will…cut to the chase?"
Frowning at Jack's terseness, Vaughn tells him quickly, "I'm love with your daughter."
Braving a quick look up at Jack to gauge his reaction he's startled by the change in his expression; and suddenly he feels empowered by it.
"I've fought my feelings until now for fear of being discovered by the CIA and being removed as her handler. Because, the fact is…I don't trust anyone else to be responsible for her safety. I've kept silent because despite my profession I've tried to live a normal life. But knowing your daughter has made any attempts at normalcy futile. And as I'm sure you can appreciate…the threats to our relationship extend much further than Kendall or Devlin or any CIA regulation."
The silence between the two men is deafening but also strangely comforting.
"I'm here asking your advice because I respect your judgment as an agent. That and I know that if there's one other person other than myself who would do anything to protect Sydney and see her happy, it's you."
As always, Jack Bristow is careful to guard his emotions. With even tempered thoughtfulness he absorbs what he's heard, all the while realizing that he'd already known what this young man just confessed.
He wasn't blind. He was aware of the intimate interaction this man shared with Sydney; he was reassured by it time and time again. He'd always taken comfort in the knowledge that his daughter had a friend in the man before him, someone with whom she could confide her feelings and thoughts…even if it had appeared a liability to their safety at one time or another.
"Agent Vaughn, I certainly make no claim to be a model father to my daughter. I've made numerous errors over the course of her life. I was never there for her the way that I should have been. And…the loss of her mother when she was just a young girl affected her deeply; especially since my…my work kept me away much of the time."
Shaking his head disappointingly Jack continues, "I fear that my absence created an environment where she felt vulnerable. It's out of that failure of mine as a parent that I push her so hard now that she's an adult."
Nodding his deep understanding, Vaughn continues to give Jack his fullest attention. He'd been Sydney's sounding board on several occasions. He liked to think that was because she trusted him implicitly and wanted to share her feelings with him.
"What I want most for my daughter is for her to be happy. I want her to be free of this life. I had hoped once that Danny could do that for her, but somehow I knew better. He didn't know her. He only knew the person she pretended everyday to be; he never knew my daughter the way she deserved."
Suddenly the sadness of these realizations hits Vaughn full-force. And finally he was beginning to understand what Jack was telling him. Sydney Bristow needed to feel real; she needed the security of feeling like a real woman in a real relationship. And instantly Vaughn wanted to be the one to give her that.
"Jack…there is nothing I wouldn't do to make Sydney happy…or to keep her safe," he interjects.
Nodding slightly Jack finishes his thoughts rather bluntly and honestly. "I cannot give you my blessing to do what I'm sure you're going to do anyway. Because I can't in good conscience condone such risky behavior when the price may be my daughter's life."
Vaughn looks stricken at this, "However I realize that my daughter is a grown woman, and her choices are her own. I cannot deny her the opportunity to live as much of a normal life as possible."
Disappointed that this isn't the reaction he'd been hoping for, Vaughn begins to speak up before being cut off, "I can certainly understand your concerns for…"
"I'm not finished." Jack says shortly. "While I can't imagine how such a relationship would work under our circumstances…I know you love Sydney for all the reasons that Danny couldn't. Despite the dangers involved you're determined to be with her. And I respect that. In fact I admire it."
Now Vaughn was truly shocked, "You're an honorable man Vaughn. And if there has to be someone to replace me as the man in my daughter's life…I'm glad it's you."
Flabbergasted, that was the only word to describe the way that Vaughn felt after hearing those words.
He almost didn't know what to do.
"Wow…" he had to pause to frame a coherent thought, "Jack, I'm…"
"Look let's not make a big production out of this alright? I don't want to hug or anything." This elicits a laugh from them both; although it was probably more the result of the nervous tension between them.
"I'm just letting you know where I stand since you seemed to want to know."
"I appreciate your honesty," Vaughn replies with a tight smile.
"Right. I need to get back to SD-6. Sloane has scheduled a mission debrief for 2:30. I'm sure Sydney will contact you later with the details."
"Right," Vaughn answers as Jack turns away and takes a few steps toward the fence. "Jack!" he calls at the last possible second.
As Jack Bristow turns to face him, a silent exchange passing between the two men.
Thank you…
…Break her heart and I'll break you!
Thoughts? Should I continue? Scrap it? Feed it to my puppy?
