Chapter 48: The Visitors, Part 2

"You might be a redneck if you've been too drunk to fish." -- Jeff Foxworthy

"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted." – John Lennon


Sydney looked down at Vaughn, "Well, that went well…I left him completely stumped."

Vaughn chuckled, "Good…"

She picked up the pillows and put them behind Vaughn, elevating him again, knowing he would be more comfortable that way. She was quite busy pampering, fussing because she couldn't get the pillow to stay where she wanted it. He was smiling at her fussiness.

"Sydney?"

"Yeah?"

"A thought just occurred to me…"

Sydney sat down, thinking that it was something bad…something involving torture. "What's that?" she asked tentatively.

"How have you and how are you going to stay with me for an indefinite amount of time with the CIA being ok with it? I mean, Tom mentioned something to me that the CIA had covered most of my medical expenses because they deemed this incident a work-related injury. And short-term disability was started from day one for me, but how are they letting you off? You can't have that much vacation or PTO can you? I want to help…if I'm gonna be living here for now…"

She let out the breath she'd been holding, thankful that he hadn't been thinking about what was done to him, and also smiling because he was concerned about her money situation. Her hand cupped his cheek. "Vaughn…you are so sweet. I don't need money, you don't need to like pay rent or something. You're covered with the short-term disability, and I'm on an extended leave of absence. My dad worked it out with Kendall, dad probably threatened to leak some big secret or something, but I'm in the clear for as long as you need me, and I still get a paycheck – it's like family leave…which normally isn't paid unless an agent dies in the field – then the family gets money monthly."

"Yeah, I know…"

She winced inwardly, stupidly forgetting that Vaughn had probably been through this already when his father was killed.

"It's like a pension…"

"Right…so I get that anyway…we're good…no need to worry…plus, my dad and I already discussed maybe doing some work at home later when you're better…who knows, maybe you can do some too…"

"Good…yeah…that'd be nice…" Vaughn said happily, his mind eased.

Sydney was just about to suggest that they watch TV or a movie until Tom called back, when the doorbell rang. She looked to Vaughn, as if asking him if he knew whom it was. "Don't look at me," he said. "I didn't invite anyone over."

She smiled as she got up and went to the door. She opened the door slightly and Eric smiled at her through the crack.

"Morning!" he said cheerily.

"Oh God! Help us all…" she said as she moved and allowed him to enter. He was carrying a box with him, filled with contents she knew she probably didn't want to see.

"Vaughn, the dog watcher's here."

She could here Vaughn laughing from the couch.

Eric turned to her, "That hurts Syd…really…" She knew from the smile on his face though, that it really didn't.

He moved past her and went into the living room where Vaughn way lying on the couch.

"Hey Mikey! How're you feelin? I brought some stuff to cheer you up…" he smiled at Vaughn.

Vaughn rolled his eyes and looked to Sydney.

"I'm getting out of here before he even takes one item out of that box…" She kissed Vaughn and disappeared into the bedroom.

Eric smiled widely at him, looking very pleased with himself, "See…just gotta know what to say…and then the boys can play," he winked at Vaughn.

"Oh God Eric…it's no wonder women run from you on sight…"

"Hey…that hurts…don't think just cause you got a few bruises that I won't kick your ass, alright? You want to see what I got or not?" He smiled at Vaughn.

"Yeah, let's see whatcha got Eric."

"Ok, that's what I like to hear!" He dove into the box.

Sydney busied herself changing the bed linens and straightening the bedroom up. It had gotten quite cluttered over the last few days, when she'd throw stuff wherever it happened to land. Once she was finished, she was left with a strange feeling. She had no idea what to do…Vaughn didn't need her at the moment, and the boys were occupied…hmm…she thought…what on earth to do with herself! She smiled and went into the bathroom. She ran the water, added bubbles, and waited until the tub was full. She eased herself down into the bath. Ahhh…she thought…She relaxed in the tub for about a half hour, then got out and got ready again for the day. She came out of the bedroom to see that Eric had popped in a hockey tape and he and Vaughn were currently arguing over some call the referee had made. She smiled as she watched them from the hallway for a few minutes, it was like the old Vaughn…just chillin' with Eric.

"He did not just call a penalty on #12!" Eric said.

"He totally checked 25, what're you blind? Excellent call."

"Excellent my ass, he obviously has it out for my boys."

"Your boys suck Eric, otherwise they wouldn't have to resort to checking."

"Watch it mister, I can still kick your ass!"

"Yeah, even in my weakened state Eric, you couldn't touch me."

Eric looked over at him, "Wanna bet?"

Sydney stepped out form the hallway, "My money's on Vaughn."

He smiled delighted that Sydney had chosen that moment to enter. "Thank you Sydney," he said.

"You can't be serious Syd…I could totally kick his ass…"

"You and what army Eric?" she challenged.

"Ok, ganging up on me…not fun…don't like you guys anymore," he said as he pouted and looked back at the screen.

Sydney leaned down and kissed Vaughn. She said in a hushed tone so Eric couldn't hear, even though the TV was probably loud enough to drown it out anyway, plus he kept yelling at the screen. "Is it ok if I go to the store, pick up a few things and leave you with Eric?"

He smiled at her, "Sure, go ahead…"

"K, you're sure?"

"Yeah, Syd. I can take care of myself for a few hours."

Eric piped up, "Don't worry mom, I'll baby-sit Mikey for you while you're out. Will you bring me a toy though?"

Sydney smacked him on the top of the head, "Ow!"

"I'm sure you're mother would have done that too, Eric," she said as she kissed Vaughn again. "I'll bring you a present though." Vaughn smiled.

"How come I don't get a present?" Eric asked exasperatedly.

"Because you haven't been a good boy…"

"But mom…" he whined.

She turned serious for a minute, "Eric, I have my phone if you need to call for anything. If he has a muscle spasm, the morphine is in the bedroom on the nightstand. Only give him one shot. He's good otherwise. If Tom calls, tell him I can call him back or he can give directions to Vaughn, K?"

Eric looked at her seriously, "I've got it covered, Syd. Have fun."

"And Eric?"

"Yeah?"

"NO beer, NO corn nuts, NO junk food, NO porn…"

"Aw Syd, you just totally threw out like 98 of the box of goodies here."

"I know!" she said.

"Vaughn, honey, I trust that you'll be a good boy and not let Eric pressure you into delving into the abyss of muck where Eric resides."

"I promise, I'll be good," he said as he held up a familiar gesture, "Scout's honor…Bye Syd," Vaughn said.

"Bye sweetie, see you in a bit…Eric you hurt him and I'll kill you…I'm gonna take the dog for a quick walk before I go…I swear if Will didn't walk him, he'd probably be as fat as he was when Eric brought him over…" She said in passing as she blew Vaughn a kiss and walked out.

Eric turned to Vaughn, "Hmm…no confidence in me…your girlfriend's kinda bossy…"

"That's what I like and you need all the bossing you can get Eric," Vaughn said smiling.

Once outside, she stopped and leaned on the door, Donovan looking at her curiously. That was harder than she though it would be. She just left Vaughn alone with Eric. It wasn't that she didn't trust Eric, she was sure everything would be fine, but it was the first time she had left Vaughn alone in over two weeks. It felt strange not to either take him with her or just not go. The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day outside. She decided she would try to stop worrying. Vaughn was an adult, he would be ok…she walked Donovan around the neighborhood and then she got in the car, dog in tow, and drove off.

Vaughn actually had to admit, it was nice just to chill with Eric. He loved Sydney, and he seriously didn't know what he would do without her. The thought of her leaving him terrified him, but he also knew it was something they both needed to do. Eric had just put in a Kings game that he had missed, and was coming back to sit down.

"Eric?"

"Yeah Mike," Eric looked at him.

"Thanks…"

"For what?"

"Coming over…"

"Sure…"

"Sydney needed to get away…so thanks for that too…"

"What do you mean?"

"She hasn't gone anywhere in over two weeks…"

"Neither have you…"

"Yeah…but it's different, so thanks for staying so she could go for a while…"

"Sure…you bet…I missed you…" Eric added while he turned back to the TV as the game popped up on screen.

Vaughn looked at Eric's profile, he had just admitted an actual feeling, which wasn't something he did very often, and especially not between guy friends. He smiled, "I missed you too…"

Eric looked back at Vaughn and returned the smile. "I was really worried that I wouldn't ever see you again…I thought they'd kill you before we ever got near you…"

"Me too…"

"Really?"

"Yeah," Vaughn said truthfully.

"Can I ask you something Mike?"

"Sure…"

"You don't have to answer it if you don't want to, but…what was it like?"

"The torture?"

"Yeah."

Vaughn thought a minute, "I don't know how to describe it to you…it was awful…horrible…just about any bad word you can come up with…think about it, and then multiply it like a hundred times."

"Really?" Eric asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," Vaughn replied in a soft tone.

Eric didn't care for the way that Vaughn's eyes seemed to distance themselves, and he thought for a moment that he had really screwed up, but Vaughn looked back at him, and the look dissipated.

"You ok?" Eric asked.

"Yeah…I'm alright…I'd be insane without Sydney…"

"She's great Vaughn."

"I know…I'd be insane without you too…"

"Nah, you'd be fine."

"No Eric, I mean it. You took Donovan, you're here…you're a great friend…my best actually."

Eric was slightly chocked up and kept his eyes fixed on the screen for a few minutes. Neither one of them really had any clue what was taking place on the ice. Eric finally looked back at Vaughn. He grabbed Vaughn's hand in a fist hug and squeezed gently. No more words were needed between the two.

They both returned to the game, and tried to decipher what was happening.

"Did you see that?" Eric asked in an irate tone.

"Yeah, what the hell was that…No, no, no! Damn…is this the one they lost?"

"I can't remember, I wasn't really into them when I taped them…I had other things on my mind," Eric offered as he looked to Vaughn again. Vaughn smiled back.

"Hey Eric?"

"Yeah?"

"Will you do this again?"

"Of course…should we make it a weekly thing?"

"I'd like that."

"Ok, that settles it…" they watched in relative silence for a few more minutes before Eric asked, "You want a beer?"

Vaughn smiled, "Nope…"

"Right…gotta be good Eric, gotta be good…you want a Coke?"

"Nope…"

"Hmm…" Eric thought a moment, "You want some juice?"

"Sure…"

"Okay! HA! I got one! Be right back," he got up and bounded to the kitchen and came back with two full glasses of orange juice. He handed one to Vaughn and sipped the other one himself.

Vaughn smiled, "You can have a beer Eric…it won't bother me…"

"Nah…I'm good…" Eric smiled back at Vaughn and took another sip of the juice.