Number of times I deleted this chapter to rewrite it: 9
How many quotes I went through before picking the two I did: 20
Hour which I finally finished this chapter: 4 am on Tuesday morning
Finishing the chapter and finding out my internet will be down for two days: priceless
The only thing that is keeping this chapter from disco ending with a cheesy song and dance because I am simply blocked creatively is my friend Mary who has threaten to hit me several times over the head if I don't finish this chapter decently.
You see I'm having some problems with Love Heals. I want to write more, and I know I can write more, but as we speak my brain is officially dead on the subject. So updates will come slower and shorter but they will come…I swear to you they will come.
Where did I go wrong/I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness.- The Fray, "How To Save A Life"
I never knew/I never knew that everything was falling through./That everyone I knew was waiting on a queue/To turn and run when all I needed was the truth.- The Fray "Over My Head"
She followed her father to the door as Ameile, Irina and Vaughn remained in the living room. Sydney's mind raced with all the possibilities of who exactly was ringing the doorbell. Jack reached the door first and swung it open, revealing the identity of the mystery help. The familiar figure's face was contorted in shock; a look that Sydney assumed mirrored her own face.
"Syd!"
"Weiss!" she squealed in glee, throwing her arms around him.
"What are you doing here?" He asked pulling away and searching for some hint in her face. She just smiled and pulled him back into a hug.
"Jack, why didn't you tell me Sydney would be here?" Eric asked finally released from Syd's hug. "Wait, who's watching Isabelle?"
"Oh, don't worry. She's here too. In fact she's in bed right now."
"Okay this is getting weird what is going on?" he asked.
"You better come inside Agent Weiss, we can explain everything. Being out in the open isn't really safe right now." Jack replied shutting the door and leading the way back into the living room.
As they approached the room, Sydney wondered if she should prepare Eric for what was waiting for him. After all, it wasn't every day someone found out their best friend wasn't dead. And that shock couldn't be good for you. But she decided to say nothing, she knew Vaughn would prefer to explain everything himself in his own way. Syd was still musing when they entered the living room, causing her to bump in to a rapidly paling Weiss.
"I think I need to sit down." He said, his eyes flashing over the occupants of the room. He plopped onto a couch and Sydney laughed softly as he began to mumble and rub his eyes fiercely.
"I'll make you some tea." Ameile said, patting his head gently as she left the room.
"Thanks Ameile." He managed to choke out.
Sydney walked over and sat opposite from Weiss on another couch, pulling Vaughn down next to her. Irina and jack took seats as well as they gave him a few seconds to process this revelation.
"Don't worry, I fainted when I saw him.' Syd said, hoping to offer some comfort to her friend.
"Eric, are you okay?" Vaughn finally spoke, glancing worriedly at his one time best friend.
"Mike…wow…talk about surprises. But then again, if anyone could survive a barrage of bullets, it would be you…or Superman. But dude, what the hell have you been doing for the past six years?"
"Taking down Prophet Five with Jack and Irina. It was the only way. They wanted me gone and wouldn't stop trying to hurt me or anyone I loved until I was gone. And I couldn't but anyone in danger like that. I had to die."
"Wow. Well we've missed you a lot Mike. And I did amazing eulogy at your funeral. Ask Sydney."
"Yeah he did do a pretty good job—
They were interrupted when Ameile entered carrying a tray full of teacups. Sydney accepted her tea, smiling at Ameile and waited for the conversation to pick up again. She didn't really want to go into Vaughn's funeral. But there was a lull as they all sipped their tea. The silence continued and soon it became uncomfortable. She sifted in her seat and realized no one in the room was making eye contact. She looked to Vaughn next to her and he was concentrating on his tea cup, looking slightly upset. The mention of Vaughn's funeral had affected them all and Sydney felt the need to break the silence.
"So, how's life in Washington?" she decided to go with a safe question even though he had already answered her several days ago when they stood in the cemetery at Vaughn's grave.
"Fine. I'm risking my job being here, but hey what's a little unemployment between friends. God knows I've done it before." He replied. "What is going on exactly? Who are the bad guys this time?"
"We'll tell you when you get back. Right now I need you to drive over to this location and pick up the following operatives who will be waiting for you. Make sure you trust them completely." Jack said, passing over a stack of papers.
"You're not going to tell me what's this is about?" Weiss asked.
"Later." Jack answered. "Right now we need you to do this, explanations can wait."
He looked as though he might argue but then just nodded his head
"Well, I guess I should get going. It doesn't look to far away…I should be back with in two hours." Eric rose from his seat and left the room, and Syd could tell he was pissed off. She couldn't figure out why her father hadn't told Weiss anything and was about to voice her opinion when Ameile spoke up.
"If you don't need me anymore, I think I am going to get some sleep."
"I think that's a good idea Maman. I think we could all use some sleep." Vaughn replied, rising from the couch.
He looked expectantly back at her and she rose too. She was tired and the mission required them to be alert. Irina too headed for a bedroom, but Jack stayed in the living room. Syd looked at him expectantly until he responded that he wasn't tired. And so she headed for bed, anxious to catch a few hours of relief.
I will try so hard to update soon, but the way the next chapter is working out :shudders: it might be a week or so.