Here it is the new chapter! This fic is going along swimmingly, in fact i keep on having random surges of ideas on differents endings. And of course I have to write each one down and its driving me nuts cuz I have so many great ways to continue this story, but I can't use them all!
I need to go to my quiet place!
Chapter Four: Sooner or Later it's Over
The pounding headache reassured Sydney that she was, in fact, not dead. She opened her eyes to the sterile white of a hospital room and the angry glare of her father.
"Hi Dad."
His expression softened, barely, concern flashing across his features, as Syd struggled to sit up, noting the white gauze around her wrists and the IV in her arm.
"Sydney."
"How did I get here, did the intruder call 911?"
"What intruder?"
"Before I passed out, someone was coming into my house, I assumed—it wasn't an intruder was it?"
She watched as her father seemed to have an internal battle over what he was going to say next.
"It was Vaughn, Syd. He found you and brought you here."
"Oh."
"What the hell do you think you are doing to yourself?"
"Dad…"
"They had to give you blood transfusions, they stitched up your wrists, they said you were extremely intoxicated, and they have found evidence that this is not the first time you have slit your wrists. What are you trying to do Sydney? Why do you want the world to lose you again? I can't lose you again Sydney."
"Daddy, I'm sorry." She began to cry tears that had been storing up in her for days. And suddenly her father was holding her as she cried, comforting her broken soul.
"It's just so hard Dad." She managed to gasp out between sobs. "I don't think I can do it anymore."
"Syd, I know it's hard. But you have to do it. You're a remarkably strong woman and you have to pull through. I can't bear the thought of losing you again, Syd. You have to be strong."
She stopped crying after awhile and her father pulled away, taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.
"Listen to me Syd. You can't be released from the hospital until you have twelve counseling sessions. I'm going to get Dr. Barnett brought in, but you are going to have to stay for at least twelve days."
"Okay. Dad you said Vaughn found me?"
"Yes. I don't know why he was at your apartment, but he was there. He drove you here, called me and had you admitted."
"He's still here isn't he?"
"How do you know that?"
"Dad, I know—knew him too well."
"Do you want to talk to him?"
"No. I'm a little tired, I just want to sleep."
"Okay."
She sunk back into the bed and Jack pulled the blanket up on her tucking her in like she was a child again. He kissed her on the cheek and turned out the lights as he left the room.
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Her headache had died down when she woke up, and Syd thankfully sighed in relief when she sat up and didn't get an instant rush of dizziness. The light streaming in the window told her it was day, but she couldn't figure out how late it was. As she turned her head to the night stand to grab the remote to the TV, she realized she wasn't alone in the room.
"Get out Vaughn."
"Syd." His eyes looked at her, full of hurt and worry.
"Vaughn, thanks for saving my life and all, but please get out."
"No" he snapped, grabbing her wrist lightly and turning it over, inspecting the gauze. "What were you thinking?"
"I think you already know the answer to that question, Vaughn." She said, pulling her wrist free. "What time is it?"
"It's 5:00 pm. You've been asleep for about 14 hours."
"You've been here the whole time?"
"Outside your room, once your father left I came in here."
"Don't you have a wife to go home to?"
"Syd."
"Don't Syd me. I don't want you here. You gave up on us. Go home to your wife. She's safe; she'll never end up in a hospital like this. That's what you want isn't it Vaughn? You want safe. You want the girl you can take him to your mother without having to do any awkward explanations. You want the girl who can give you the white picket fence and won't bring too many problems into a relationship because you have enough demons to deal with already."
"Stop attacking me Syd. I don't want safe, I never would have fallen in love with you in the first place if I wanted safe. Hell if I wanted safe I would have stayed with Alice wouldn't I? But no, I fell for you, hard. I feel for the unsafe option."
"Oh. So you only fell in love with me because I was dangerous?"
"Syd, that's not what I meant."
"Just leave."
"Please. I have been worried sick about you."
"Vaughn. Just leave me alone, please. I can't take you sitting here looking at me."
"I am not going to leave you here."
"Then just leave the room. Please. Just don't stay in here. We have to stop pretending everything can be okay, because it can't. We have to face the truth, Vaughn."
He looked like he was going to fight her, but he nodded and left. Relieved, Sydney grabbed the remote and flicked through the channels, looking for something distracting to watch. She passed up several legal dramas before coming across a horror movie remake. The lead actress was a spitting image of Lauren minus the cheesy accent and Syd felt a tiny guilty pleasure at watching as the woman was mercilessly butchered. The movie began to bore her after awhile and Sydney switched to a repeat of a hot medical show with more drama than her own life. Her father interrupted her viewing session when he appeared with some dinner for her. He had left the door open when he came in and Syd could see Vaughn sitting in a chair across the hallway. Jack made to close the door but Sydney shook her head. She wanted it open.
"I brought you some food, honey. I don't think hospital food is best for you right now."
"Thanks Dad."
"I also spoke with Dixon. He's going to get Dr. Barnett over here tomorrow. He hopes you get well soon. He—they think you should take some time off once you get out of the hospital."
"Are they firing me?"
"No. They just want you to get better Syd."
"Are you going to have dinner with me Dad?"
"Do you want me too?"
"I don't want to be alone."
Jack surveyed her, with all knowing eyes.
"Did something happen today while I was gone?"
"No."
"Syd—"
But they were interrupted by a loud commotion from the hall as a blonde came storming in front of Sydney's door glancing inside briefly before turning to the man sitting in the chair in the hall.
"YOU HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY?"
"Lauren, please don't scream. It's a hospital." Vaughn pleaded
"DON'T SCREAM? MY HUSBAND DOESN'T COME HOME ALL NIGHT AND ALL DAY. HE DOESN'T SHOW UP TO WORK AND I HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM SOME THIRD PARTY THAT HE'S AT THE HOSPITAL WITH HIS PRECIOUS SYDNEY BECAUSE SHE TRIED TO KILL HERSELF."
"Lauren shut up!"
"NO! I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF EVERYTHING BEING ABOUT SYDNEY. I AM YOUR WIFE!"
"Please, let's talk about this later." Vaughn said grabbing her arm.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME MICHAEL. I HAVE TRIED SO HARD TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME BUT YOU ARE STILL IN LOVE WITH HER AND I AM SO TIRED OF PLAYING SECOND CHAIR TO THAT WHORE."
"DO NOT CALL HER A WHORE LAUREN! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT HER THAT WAY."
"I'LL TALK ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO IS STEALING MY HUSBAND AWAY ANY WAY I WANT."
"No, none of this is Sydney's fault, the problems are purely ours."
"I SWEAR MICHAEL; IF YOU DO NOT GET IN THAT CAR WITH ME I AM GOING TO DIVORCE YOU!"
"FINE LAUREN, IT'S OVER!"
"What? No Michael, it's not, I was just kidding, I'm sorry, please, baby let's talk about it."
"It's over Lauren. We should stop pretending and just admit it." his words hit Sydney hard as she surveyed the scene. Everyone was pretending; she and Vaughn were pretending they didn't care for each other, Vaughn and Lauren were pretending they did care for each other.
"But I love you!" the tears started to well in her eyes, and Sydney, so well trained in reading people, knew she was lying.
"I'm sorry Lauren, I don't."
"I am not going to let you do this to me! You better hire yourself a good lawyer because I am going to take you to the cleaners!"
"I don't care. I'll be over later to get my stuff."
"FINE!" she took off her rings and threw them at Vaughn before turning to face Sydney inside the room.
"Looks like you've won, bitch." And then she left in a flurry of blonde hair, leaving several stunned nurses and patients in her wake.
Sydney momentarily caught Vaughn's eyes before turning to her father.
"I think you should shut the door."
Don't worry. Lauren isn't gone forever, she still has some very important things to do.
And also, just to make everyone a little edgy, someone will die eventually in this fic, actually two someones.