Thank you all so much for your feedback. There is always nerves when I am posting a new fic, and your positive responses were such a relief!

agent belle: Well, it was great to here that I shocked you with the last sentence, becuase that was what I was hoping to do. I was a little worried that I was going to give it away during the chapter.

Em-958: My cliffhangers, hey? Well, I would not be paying proper homage to Alias without cliffhangers, would I? Oh, and yeah I have a few more chapters written and up my sleeve.

RoutineRiot: Sydney and Vaughn's relationship will play a big part in this, but not in the fluffy sense that comes across in my other fics.

Muddy Poodle: Thank you for those compliments. I have written 9 chapters already, and yes, I always like to have a few writtne before posting so that I can ensure regular updates.

o-see-no-evil-o: Good question, and it is answered in this chapter.

Chapter Two:
Dark Clouds

Back in Los Angeles, Vaughn was re-admitted to hospital as his wounds, courtesy of Katya Derevko, had worsened during his little unauthorized trip.

Dozing lightly, he started slightly when there was a knock on his room's door.

"Agent Vaughn?" An unfamiliar female doctor was standing in the doorway. "May I have a word?"

"What about?"

"I'm Dr Emery. I am currently attending to your wife—"

"Ex-wife," Vaughn cut in.

"Oh yes, my apologies," she stammered. She had been given a background on the woman she was treating and could have kicked herself for that slip of the tongue. "Well, I just thought that you would like to be informed on her condition."

"Is she dead?" Vaughn asked, his voice completely void of emotion.

Dr Emery blinked. "No," she replied. "She is in a coma though. And the chances of her coming out of it are difficult to determine."

"Well, good to know that there's a spot of sun on the horizon," Vaughn muttered. "Is that all?"

"Uh," the doctor cleared her throat. "No. There was one more matter that we need to discuss."

"What?"

"Agent Vaughn, were you aware that your wi- were you aware that Ms Reed is pregnant?"

'Hey Syd!" Weiss waved her over from one of the far pool tables. "Over here."

"Hey," Sydney approached, shrugging off her jacket. "I must say, brilliant idea. I'm due for a little escape."

"Well," Marshall gave a nonchalant shrug. "I am a genius."

"Yeah, but who was it that suggested tonight?" Weiss asked, and then turned to Sydney. 'Is Nadia coming?" he questioned her, almost a little too casually.

Sydney bit back a sly smile. "No. She had a report that she needed to complete. But she promised next time."

Weiss's shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "Oh…ok. Well, do you want to rack them up then?"

Sydney peered over her shoulder. "What about…he's not coming is he?"

"No," Weiss shook his head, leaning against the table. "I'm at a loss. What the hell are we supposed to do to help him?"

"I don't think that there is anything," Sydney replied. "He is about to become a father with a woman who betrayed him, and he in turn, tried to kill. All we can do is be there for him."

"Maybe Vaughn doesn't want anybody there," Marshall spoke up. "Maybe the support we're trying to give him is like a big, ugly reminder."

So what then?" Weiss said. "We back off completely and just allow him to struggle?"

"You know what?" Sydney said. "Sometimes, I think that he needs some big and ugly reminders."

Marshall blinked. "You do?"

"Yes. As awful and manipulative as Lauren was, he married her, and now there is an innocent baby in the equation. I know that it will be hard as hell, but Vaughn needs to take some responsibility. After all, regardless of the mother, this child will be his son or daughter."

"Oh god," Weiss's expression was almost stricken. "Please don't tell me that you actually said that to his face."

Sydney allowed herself a small laugh. "No. I don't actually go looking to have my head ripped off…but, if the time comes when I feel that I have no other choice to say it, then I will."

"Uh," Marshall, cleared his throat. "Do you think that…that he won't want to keep the baby?"

"I'm sure that he has considered that," Sydney said. "But, I think that even Vaughn himself is well aware that he is in no state to make such a decision."

"Do you think that he will ever be…in the right state of mind, that is," Marshall put forth.

"Who knows," Weiss shrugged. "Who knows?"

"Agent Vaughn, were you aware that your wi- were you aware that Ms Reed is pregnant?"

Vaughn stared at Dr Emery, momentarily stunned. "What?' he managed to stammer finally.

"She is pregnant. By my examinations, I would say that she is close to four months."

A loud ringing had started in Vaughn's ears. "And it's…"

"It's fine," Dr Emery said. "And even though Ms Reed is comatose, as long as she remains stable, it's my opinion that the baby will continue to grow normally." She paused, waiting for a response from Vaughn. When she received none, she continued. "I understand that this is a lot for you to take in. I'll let you know now that there will be plenty of support—"

"I want a paternity test," Vaughn cut in.

Dr Emery blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I want a paternity test," he repeated. "She wasn't exactly faithful and I want nothing to do with this situation if I don't have to."

"Ok, Agent Vaughn," Dr Emery said. "As you wish."

"Nadia," Sydney called out as she stepped through the front door. It was such a comfort to be able to come home to a friend, a sister, instead of an empty apartment. Especially now since she and Vaughn had been put on an indefinite hiatus. "You here?"

"Yeah," Nadia stepped out of her bedroom. "Did you have a good time?"

Sydney nodded, throwing her bag and jacket on the kitchen bench. "For the most part. There was kind of a dark cloud hanging around though."

"Vaughn?" Nadia probed gently.

Sydney raised an eyebrow. "That obvious, hey?"

"Well, the situation has kind of been the centre of attention ever since I joined the CIA," Nadia replied. "The centre of your attention, at least."

Sydney brought a hand up, massaging her temple. "Not quite."

"How are you holding up?"

'Me?" Sydney sounded surprised.

"Yes, you. Everybody has been so focused on Vaughn, but I can't imagine that this has been very easy for you."

Sydney sighed. "It kills me to see Vaughn so…so wretched. And I miss him- the Vaughn that he was three years ago. Last year there was a small part of me that held onto the hope that, one day, maybe things could go back to the way they were. I now know that will never happen."

"I've been talking to Eric," Nadia said. "Nobody doubts that Vaughn still loves you."

"I know, as I do him," Sydney replied. "But until he sorts himself out, nothing can happen."

"Hey man," Weiss walked into Vaughn's hospital room. "How are you doing?"

Vaughn just looked at him. "How do you think I am doing?" he muttered. "I didn't kill that bitch when I had the chance and now she is lying there, in a coma and pregnant."

Weiss's jaw dropped, as he comprehended Vaughn's final word. "What?"

"She's pregnant. Knocked up. With child…is there any other way that you would like me to put it?"

"But…but…but how could a baby have survived a shooting and surgery?"

"Like I have a clue," Vaughn practically spat. "Its mother is practically Satan, maybe that has something to do with it."

Weiss paused. "And the father? Is it…"

"I don't know," Vaughn replied. "I just hope to god that I'm not."

"Ok," Dixon stepped in front of Sydney and Vaughn in the conference room. "Echelon picked up transmission about a meet between members of the Alpiniste Faction and the Pfadfinder Division."

"Who?" Sydney asked. "I've never heard of them."

"Both are fairly small crime groups, neither making much of an impact," Dixon replied. "But there are rumours circulating that the two are looking to merge. This is what we believe this meet is about."

"So what do you want us to do?" Vaughn asked.

"Simple surveillance. I want images of all involved in the meet. If these guys are going to be rising up the criminal ranks, I want us to know exactly who the players are."

"Sounds easy enough," Sydney commented. "So where is this meet taking place?"

"A club in Rome," Dixon replied, handing both of them a folder. "Details are in there. Wheels up in two hours."

"Agent Vaughn," Dr Emery tapped lightly on the door, and then stepped into the room. "How are you feeling today?"

Vaughn was not in the mood for small talk, especially as he was well aware why she was really there. "Do you have the results?"

Dr Emery nodded. "Yes, and they were positive. You are the father of this baby, Agent Vaughn."

The flight, so far, had been silent. Placing her mission brief down, Sydney stood and walked across the aisle, seating herself besides Vaughn.

"So," she started. "What do you reckon about the op- could we do it with our eyes shut or what?"

"Hmm…" Vaughn sighed and then broke off into a large yawn.

Sydney's brow furrowed. "Vaughn, when was the last time you got a decent night's sleep?"

"Sydney, please don't. I am fine."

"Yeah, well, no offence, but you are kind of resembling the living dead."

That comment did what she had hoped to achieve, and elicited a small smile from Vaughn. "Nothing that a good shave won't fix," he said, rubbing his stubble.

"You wish."

"Enough about me," Vaughn said, picking up his folder. "As easy as this op is, let's run over this one more time."