Disclaimer: I do not own Alias or any of it's characters or themes. This story is intended for my own amusement and no financial gain is involved.

Summary: This is set sometime in the future. I've started writing it after episode 5.13 and I don't think it contradicts the series up to that point. Depending on where the final episodes go it may be set after the series ends or it may be AU after 5.13. As far as pairings and plot go, I'm not real sure where I'm headed. Only 2 things I know for sure and that is that everyone loves Sydney and Vaughn is dead.

The next weeks were a nightmare. Sydney was taken to a private facility where she was between the OR and the ICU for weeks. Sydney needed extensive surgeries to repair the damage that had been done. And the doctors had a hard time stabilizing her. She wasn't fighting, and for a while things didn't look too good. Sark spent the time Sydney was in surgery in an observation room, otherwise he was at her side. He didn't waste his breath talking to her when he knew his was a voice she would rather not hear. He just kept an eye on her vitals and tried to make sure she was comfortable. Then, finally, she took a turn for the better. Her condition stabilized and remained that way for several days. Scans and x-rays showed that she was healing and more surgery would not likely be required. And the doctors predicted recovery. So Sark left instructions for Sydney's care and discharge. She was to be released to one of Sark's staff once she was fully recovered. And then Sark left. And as he left the hospital, Julian Sark prayed to a God he had once forsaken that she might be safe from danger.

Sydney spent a total of 12 weeks in a coma. The time was a mixture of memories and nightmares, and she couldn't always tell which was which. Were her parents executed as traitors of the United States? Had her mother betrayed her father? Had Sloane's betrayal led to Nadia's death? And that of her baby? Had Anna killed Vaughn? Did Weiss leave? Sydney's mind spun a tale of the past months that she could hardly believe, and yet she knew it was all true. Slowly the events came back to her in more detail, and eventually in chronological order: Nadia's coma, Vaughn's assassination, Weiss's abandonment, Nadia's awakening, Sloane's betrayal, Nadia's death, Vaughn's death, her mother's betrayal of her father and their execution, the loss of her baby, and the mission in the warehouse. And then Sydney awoke.

Her first few days awake were a blur. She was unsure of what had happened and where she was, even if she was really alive. The doctors and nurses were all very patient with her, but all they could tell her about was her injuries. They had no idea how she had gotten there or what had happened to her. All anyone seemed to know was that she was to recover completely at their facility and then be released to a woman named Caroline McCree.

Sydney was frustrated with her situation, but the more she tried to remember, the more bizarre it all seemed. She knew her memories were true, but they were a little much to handle all at once so she tried to sort through them.

She started with Vaughn. They had finally managed to put the past behind them and move on. Then there was the car crash. And Vaughn was taken away and suspected of being a double agent. He contacted her and when they met she learned about Vaughn's true identity and Prophet 5. It was soon after that she learned of their impending parenthood. Then Vaughn was shot and she and her father had staged his death and hidden him away safely. And then Vaughn was taken from her again by Anna, his time forever.

And there was Nadia. She had remained in a coma for a long while after the mission in Russia. Sloane had worked hard to find a cure for her, ultimately betraying them all. But it had been of no use. Nadia had awoken only to be betrayed by her father, and killed. And Sloane's betrayal had also cost Sydney her child. Sloane had been the one to steal Isabelle for Prophet 5.

Not knowing that Isabelle's abduction had anything to do with Prophet 5, Jack had contacted Irina for help. In an effort to aid Irina in their search for Isabelle, Jack turned over a number of sensitive US intelligence documents. When the intelligence leak and his work with Irina were discovered, Jack was followed to a meeting with Irina and both were taken into custody. They were executed as traitors of the US government inside a week.

And Weiss had left for Capitol Hill. And Sydney had been all alone. She remembered feeling helpless and needing to do something. So she had gone back to work, hoping for an escape.

Dixon had seriously questioned her return to active duty after only one month's leave. But she had passed all the psych evaluations, and he knew that throwing herself into her work would give Sydney a release. He picked her new team and gave instructions that they watch her for any signs that she might need to slow down. And 16 missions had gone by with Sydney on point and not one sign of trouble. So everyone had started to relax. Mission 17 had put Sydney alone in the abandoned warehouse. But how had she gotten to this hospital?

On her fourth day awake, she had a visitor, the mysterious Caroline McCree. Ms. McCree was able to tell Sydney that she had been brought to the hospital by her employer who wished to remain anonymous. She also explained to Sydney that the warehouse from her meeting had been incinerated shortly after she had left. The CIA had declared her dead, again. There had been a funeral and it was well attended. Ms. McCree gave Sydney a letter from her anonymous employer, told Sydney that the hospital would contact her when Sydney was ready to be discharged, and she left.

Sydney opened the letter curiously. Who on earth could be looking out for her now? A friend? Or a foe?

Miss Bristow,

I know this must all seem a bit strange. Or perhaps not, given the circles we move in. Upon your discharge you will be given $1,000,000 in unmarked bills as well as several identities. Please take this gift and use it to start a new life. Whatever life you wish. Everyone thinks you are dead, and so you are finally free.

S.

Sydney had no idea who could have sent the letter, or the money. And she wasn't sure she wanted to know.