A/N: Thanks for all the kind reviews - you guys are all champions! I'm really sorry I haven't updated for sooo long :(
Disclaimer: I don't own Alias...
Previously on Why Can't I
Vaughn woke with a start, taking a moment to realise where he was. Seeing the laptop had fallen to the floor, he lifted it back up and settled back down into the couch. He looked at the the empty blank screen, placed his hands on the keyboard and unenthusiastically began typing up vague details from yesterday's mission.
"You had a question Mr Vaughn?"
"Uh, yes thanks Captain. I was just wondering what time we're going to land. I'm meant to meet my mum and I should probably call and let her know the ETA," Vaughn said into the phone. Resting his head back into the plane seat, he glanced out the window into the sea of pinprick lights that sailed by so far below him. "She'd like to know that's all."
"I'm sorry Agent Vaughn, but we've just received a call from the Rotunda and we've been given orders to turn around and return to where we just took off."
"What! Since when!" Vaughn sat up onto the edge of his seat, and felt the plane room become increasingly claustrophobic. "Why aren't we goinghome?"
"You'll have to wait sorry sir, I've just been told to pass onto you that you are to wait onboard the plane till the agents arrive."
Vaughn could hear the confusion in the pilot's voice. "Alright then. Thank-you anyway."
"Sorry I couldn't be of more service to you andI hope your mother won't be too angry."
"Nah, she'll be right mate," Vaughn chuckled. "She'll get over it."
He placed the phone back onto the cradle and then wiped his forehead with his hand. Severely fatigued, he'd had trouble sleeping the last few daysdue to his current mission. Three days ago he had infiltrated the library, and he'd been ordered to remain at the safe house near-by toallow the team to have a source close-by if a take-down of the librarywas necessary. But nothing suspicioushad beenseen by the Rotunda with the surveillance material that Vaughn had planted, and as a result he'd been asked to return home, armed with the latest report - a report that would hopefully give them alead on the newest terrorist organisation.
Vaughn reached for the phone again,anddialleda number he knew-by-heart.
"Hello?"
"Hi mum," Vaughn said.
"Hey my-boy!" What's doing?"
"Not much at the moment," he said, looking around the room.
"Well then, what time are ya coming over?"
"Uh, about that…" Biting his lip, Vaughn mentally prepared for the dreaded question.
"Michael…" Mrs Vaughn said warningly. "What aren't you telling me?"
"I can't make it tonight that's all. Sorry," he said, apologetically.
"And why is that, may I ask?"
"You know I can't say why mum!"
"I know, I know. But you could at least make up some fabulous little white lie about some exotic location that I could only wish to go to for my birthday," Mrs Vaughn said to him, making him feel guiltier by the second.
"I'm sorry. There's just some things that I can't control that' all. And besides, someone wise once told me not to lie – she said it'd come back round and bite me in the bum. So, my lips are sealed."
"That's one wise person there, my boy."
"Yeah," Michael laughed out. "She is. Send all my wishes to everyone though, even Aunt Trish."
"Will do. You know, you're just like your father thinking of everyone else."
"Aw, shucks mum!"
"It's true. He'd be proud of you – I'm proud of you. Even though you're missing your mother's most important birthday dinner, I'm still proud of you."
"Ok mum," Vaughn said suspiciously. "I know what this is about."
"What? Can't a mother just compliment her son?"
"Why don't you tell me what's reallyon your mind?"
"Uh, I don't know what you'retalking about, Michael..."
"Oh mum!" Vaughn said, rolling his eyes. "I told you, I bought you a really nice present months ago. I'll send it to you if you really, really want it that bad."
"Oh I do! So it can be sent, can it? Does that mean it's money, or even better, some scratch-its?"
"Ok, I'm zipping my lips right now."
"And locking them?"
"And locking them," Michael repeated. "And throwing away the key."
"Well, make sure you throw it in my direction then."
"Rightio. Love you." Michael hung up the phone and caught sight of his reflection in the window. The smile on his face seemed to always appear after a conversation with his mother!
He reached into his inside blazer pocket and pulled out an envelope which he'd meant to post before boarding the plane. On the front he'd neatly (or as neatly as his left-handed printing could be) written his mum's address. Opening up the back, he pulled out two plane tickets – one for her and one for a friend. Chuckling, he stuffed them back into his pocket and reached to answer the ringing phone.
"Hello?"
"Mr Vaughn, prepare for landing," the pilot announced.
"Alright Captain. Anything else?"
"Yes, there's a call that has been placed through to you from the Rotunda regarding your instructions. It should be on line two…"
Vaughn sighed and glanced down at the flashing red light. "Ok then. Thanks."
Four hours later
Vaughn sat back into his chair, bored out of his brains. The movie on the screen played pointlessly, the book he'd attempted to read lay discarded on the floor and the pack of cards he'd begun to play solitaire with were scattered on the table before him. He looked out of the aeroplane window onto the airport tarmac and spied a set of oncoming lights. Figuring it was an agent from the Rotunda with news, Michael moved towards the plane door and waited as patiently as he possible could for it to open.
"Agent Vaughn?" A voice said, from the pitch blackness before Vaughn.
"Jack?" Michael squinted into the darkness before him. "Is that you?"
Rachelle - Your almighty Vampire: Thanks for all the reviews. You're so kind!
Sydney: Thank-you. I tried, I really did, to update asap.
Tinkerbell821: lol, next chapter I plan on writing more on Sydney. You'll have to see then!
Vaughnloveralwaysandforever: Thanks once again for reviewing! You're a champion.
28dOOMDoom28: yeah, the pov now is from an older Vaughn's. And there's going to be flashbacks. Most likely lots of them too :$ And that's awesome you love Cadbury! It's like, the best food ever!
dandan: You're forgiven! And no, I'm not posting this anywhere else. Should I? And with the dog, there's going to be more on him in the next chapter :D
bonnie: Thanks for the review mate! You live in Adelaide! That's so cool! I'm a Brisbane girl myself :P
haylee: lol good luck with the woot thing mate. And thanks for the words of encouragement. With Sydney, you'll have to read the next chapter to find out more!
A/N: Thanks once more to everyone who's reviewed. As I said last chapter, I'm not too sure when I'll get to update, but I promise you, I'll try my hardest to update asap. If you have any questions or anything you'd like to ask me about the story or just about anything in particular, feel free to. But till next chapter then, see ya all!