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Disclaimer: I don't own Alias.
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Previously on Why Can't I?
"There is a chance, Michael. But she may not be bad. She may have been manipulated or something. There is an explanation as to why she's there."
"Ok, so what's going on now?" Michael asked Jack. "What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to go undercover at the library."
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Chapter Eleven
"You want me to go undercover?" Michael asked in disbelief. "I've never been on a undercover mission like this before! I mean, Sloane's number seven on the most wanted list of people and I'm only a junior agent! Why me?"
"The agency believes in you, son. Don't you want to do it?" Jack asked.
"Yeah! Of course I do! It's just," Vaughn hesitated, "it's a big thing."
"It is, but I think you're capable of doing it. You do realise that this mission will be a deep cover operation, so if there's anything you require and can't live without for a couple of weeks, months or even years, right now is the time to tell me what you would like."
"Years? Do you think it will really be that long?" Michael asked, doubtful about that length of time.
"You can never predict how long a mission may last. Rule 147 under section 22B of the ASIS handbook states: do not-"
"-predict the length of a mission. Yeah I know that, but don't I just need to run in to the library and take Sydney and it's all over?"
"No. That has to be the least of your worries, Michael. Sloane is priority at the moment. He is whom you want, but you can't rush things like this. Your mission will be to acquire a job at the library under the guise that you are a university student struggling to pay your fees." Jack lifted a large metal suitcase from beside his chair onto his lap. "This job will give you and the agency more access to the computer system than the bug you planted before."
"But what will we do about Sydney? I mean, just by getting access to the computers won't catch Sloane or rescue Sydney for us!"
"You're right, it won't. But it will get us on the inside so we can discover more about what Sloane's up to. And by having you working there, we'll learn more."
"Like what?" Vaughn asked Jack. "Who works there and the floor-plan?"
"Exactly!" Jack said with enthusiasm. "It might not seem much to you Michael, but by having you there, we can find out a lot more than what we know right now…"
"But that doesn't fix the Sydney situation," Vaughn said exasperated.
"Michael, come on. You need to stop thinking about that. Sloane's the priority. We don't know enoughto extract her at the moment," Jack said, his voice void of emotion.
"Don't know enough about her? She's your daughter! You know her!"
"I've already told you this Vaughn, there are procedures-"
"But-"
"But nothing, Agent Vaughn. Remember guideline 56A," Jack pointedly said.
"How can you not bring personal matters into the field, Jack? I just don't understand."
"You soon will, trust me. But first thing's first, is there anything you would like during this mission?"
"Yeah," Vaughn said slowly. "Is it possible for Rex to come over? I mean, I don't want him to forget me…"
-flashback-
"Are you sure it's still ok for me to keep Rex Mr Bristow?" Vaughn asked, patting the dog.
Mr Bristow looked down at where Vaughn was sitting, the dog in his lap fast asleep. "Well, I was going to give him to the RSPCA but personally, I prefer the idea of giving him to someone who I know is going to take good care of him. I think he's taken a shine to you, boy."
"Thanks Mr Bristow! And do you really think so?" Michael tried to look at the dog without shifting too much and disturbing it. "He really is a good dog."
"Sydney thought so too." Hearing his owner's name, Rex quickly sat upalert in Vaughn's lap and lookedat Jack. Shaking his head sadly, Jack continued. "I don't know what Rex is going to do without her…"
"Jack!" Mrs Vaughn appeared carrying a tray into the room. "Don't ever let me hear you speak like that again! We need to be strong at a time and you being so negative is definitely not helping the matter. Sydney's out there somewhere and we're going to find her!"
"Yes," Jack said meekly. "She's out there, and we have to find her. We just have to."
"Come on Michael," Jack said, standing up out of his seat. "It's time to go back to the safe house and there should be a team ready to prepare you for tomorrow."
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"Were these pants really necessary?" Vaughn whispered discreetly into his hidden microphone.
His earpiece sounded with static and then the unmistakeable voice of Jack Bristow spoke. "Yes, you're a poor Uni student, Agent Vaughn. Play the part!"
Rolling his eyes, Vaughn continued walking towards the door of the library. To play the part of the poor Uni student, the agency had employed a hairdresser and stylist to redo his look… for the worse. His naturally sandy brown-blond hair had been made to look un-natural with the roots being dyed a substantially darker brown. He had been forbidden to shave and as a result, three-day growth stubble had appeared on his face.
He had to laugh at the circumstances under which he'd been given his new wardrobe.
"What size do you usually take, Agent Vaughn?" the stylist had asked.
"Uh, usually a medium I think," he'd replied.
And to think he was now wearing a small pair of jeans and an extra small shirt. His whole new wardrobe ranged between the two sizes, and of course, there was also that extra large flannelette shirt for when it became cold. Any average person would be under the impression that he was just your 'average Joe'.
Walking through the automatic doors, Vaughn walked straight to the front desk and attempted to flatten his messy hair.
"Uh, excuse me?" he said to the lady at the desk.
"Oh hello, are you back again?" The lady at the desk turned towards him and recognised him from the other day.
"Yes, I am. But this time, I was just wondering whether you had any jobs available?"
"Were you?" the lady asked, her voice full of surprise. "I'll just go check with my supervisor and see if anything is available. Wait right there thank-you."
"Actually, I've got my resume if you would like it." Michael pulled out a crumpled envelope from his bag and tried to smooth it out. "Here it is."
"Thank-you… Desmond," the lady said, reading the name from the front of the envelope. "I'll be right back."
Vaughn smiled at the lady and watched her retreating back. "Desmond Hunt, Desmond Hunt." He mentally rehearsed his new name.
"Desmond?" The lady was back with an older woman – obviously her supervisor. "Mr Hunt, my name is Tracey and this is Emily, my supervisor. If you'll just follow us into this room, we'd like to have a little talk with you."
Looking over the counter into the room which Tracey indicated too, Vaughn caught a glimpse of something that made his blood run cold.
"Is it alright if I uh, have a quick bathroom break before we start?" Vaughn forced a little smile.
"That's fine, dear," Emily said. "Just come in when you've finished, we'll be waiting."
"Thank-you," Vaughn said, walking away towards the men's room.
Entering the room, Michael dropped his bag onto the floor and slammed his hands on the wall.
"Jack? What do I do? Did you see what I saw you?"
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A/N: Thanks for all the positive feedback!
vaugh is hot: thanks for ya review!
Rachelle: Cheers for your reply mate, I'm glad you liked the chapter!
dandan: I did what you said! I posted it at AA :) Thanks for the advice mate – you're a champ!
Tinkerbell821: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm stoked you like it!
Next Chapter:What did Vaughn see?