Chapter 56: Dinner for Five

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." – Albert Camus

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." – Carl Jung


Sydney moved back out into the living room and checked on Vaughn. He was resting comfortably and she watched him for a few minutes. Then she got up and got her book, and sat back down in a chair across from Vaughn. She read for the next few hours, finishing her book just as Francie and Will walked in the door. She looked at her watch. It was almost 5:00.

She jumped up quickly and soundlessly bolted to the door, putting her finger to her mouth to tell her friends to be quiet. The dog moved to see the commotion but lay back down when he saw whom it was.

They quieted immediately and followed her into the kitchen.

"Sorry…I hate to tell you to be quiet in your own house, but Vaughn's sleeping."

"Nah! That's ok…don't worry about it. What did you do, wear him out?" Will asked with a
smile.

"No…we walked to the couch and it didn't go so well."

"Just the two of you?" Will asked surprised.

"Yeah…I shouldn't have let him do it. He already had a muscle spasm before that, it was pretty stupid."

"Is he ok?" Francie asked.

"Yeah, he says he is…he's slept most of the day…it was actually pretty scary…"

"Oh, Syd," Francie said hugging her friend. "You know you could have called one of us, we could have ran home quick."

"No, that's silly…Vaughn and I can handle it…it was just a little too soon I think. Even he admitted it…"

"Poor Mike," Will said, but it wasn't a statement of pity.

"At any rate, I called my dad to talk to him about work and he offered to bring dinner over."

"Your dad?" Francie and Will both said dumbfounded.

"Yeah…oh! I didn't get a chance to tell you guys. He came over the same day that Eric stopped by. Anyway, I was just as shocked as you were, but it only got stranger from there…he…he acted like a real dad. It was scary…he said that what happened to Vaughn made him realize how fragile things are…and everything he hasn't done or said, so he pretty much said it all then…and it was really nice."

"Wow…Syd that's great!" Will and Francie said in unison.

"Yeah, he was really great to Vaughn too."

"Good!" Francie added.

"So anyway, I'm supposed to call him when you guys got home to see what you wanted and then he'll pick it up."

"Great!" Francie said.

"First, I have to wake Vaughn up though and give him his pills. I think I'll let him decide what to get, is that ok? I don't want him to have anything like really spicy or anything…"

"Sure," Will said.

"That's fine," Francie agreed.

"Ok…I'll be back."

Sydney walked off to the living room and sat down on the couch next to Vaughn. He moved slightly but didn't wake. She laid her hand on his chest and moved it delicately. "Vaughn?" she said.

"Mmm…"

"Hey, sweetie you have to wake up now and take your pills…it's almost time for dinner."

He opened his eyes slowly and focused on Sydney. "Hey."

"Hi…here, take your pills," she said, lifting him up to take them. "How are you doin'?"

"I'm ok…"

"Good…my dad wants to bring dinner over again and he's gonna bring some work over too…what do you want him to bring?"

"I don't care…"

"Well…how about some non-spicy Chinese?"

"Ok."

"Ok…I'll call him and he'll bring it over. You sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, I'm just tired."

"Ok…rest some more then…"

He nodded as she moved off and went back into the kitchen. Will and Francie were still there, talking quietly.

"He agreed to Chinese, what do you guys want?"

Sydney called Jack who took the order and promised an arrival time shortly. The three friends sat in the kitchen and waited, leaving Vaughn to rest peacefully. When the doorbell rang, Sydney got up to answer and helped her father carry in the various boxes of food. They unpacked the stuff in the kitchen and then carried it into the living room. Vaughn had somehow managed to sleep through the doorbell and Sydney roused him gently again to eat.

She handed him his plate but he really didn't move to eat. Everyone else started digging in and Will and Francie actually had a conversation with Jack Bristow.

Sydney noticed that Vaughn wasn't eating. "Hey, you ok?" she asked him quiet enough so no one else would hear.

"Yeah…I'm just really tired Syd. I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok…" she hesitated, "Do you want me to help you tonight?"

He nodded, and Sydney knew he must have been feeling pretty crappy to have her help him. Her brow furrowed in concern, but she tried to stay balanced so Vaughn wouldn't suspect too much. She gave him a spoonful of rice and then took a bite of her own. Francie met her gaze and gave her a questioning look, but Sydney shook her head in an 'I'll tell you later' sort of way. Francie nodded her acceptance and went on conversing with Jack. Vaughn didn't eat much and Sydney's concern mounted.

Jack seemed to notice his daughter's concern and asked, "Is everything alright Sydney?"

She turned to her father, "Yeah, Vaughn's not feeling so well right now."

"That's unfortunate…" he moved over so he could see Vaughn.

Vaughn looked up at Jack, "Hey," he said weakly.

"Hello Michael. Not feeling so well?"

"No, not really…"

"Pity…Francie and Will were just telling me how well you beat my daughter yesterday playing a certain game of strategy…I was hoping we might have a go at it."

Vaughn smiled, "Yeah, I pretty much kicked her butt."

"Yes, he did," Sydney agreed smiling.

"Well," Jack said, "You think you feel well enough to play a game with the best game theorist around?"

"Yeah, I think I can do that."

Will ran off to get the game and Jack moved a kitchen chair over so he could be the same height as a reclining Vaughn on the couch. Sydney moved to sit in a chair next to Francie. Will brought the game in and Jack set it up. He held the board and would move it for Vaughn whenever it was his turn. The room fell into a deep concentration. Will and Francie and Sydney watched in silence as the two plotted and strategized their moves. When the first game was over, no one really knew who had won. Jack counted the pieces and smiled, "It's a draw…"

Vaughn smiled as well, "Well, I guess it's only fitting."

"Rematch?" Jack asked.

"Maybe another day…" Vaughn said weakly.

"Of course," Jack said understanding. He moved the chair back to the kitchen and Sydney sat down on the couch. Jack came back in and sat in the chair that Sydney had vacated exchanging glances with concerned Will and Francie.

Sydney put her hand on Vaughn's head. "I think you have a fever honey."

He nodded, "Feels like it too…"

"Let's get you to bed." Sydney looked to Will who jumped up and Jack got up too.

Sydney sat him up gently and then Jack moved to the spot that she usually took.

"It's ok dad, I can do it."

"Why don't you hang on to the oxygen so we don't have to unhook it."

Sydney did just that and they moved as a team into the bedroom and carefully lay Vaughn down in the bed. Once he was in the bed, they left momentarily, allowing Sydney to get him into pajamas and get him settled in the bed. She came out to find everyone standing in the hall, waiting expectantly, even Donovan, whose head was cocked to the side as if asking what was wrong with his master.

"He ok?" Will asked.

"I'm not sure…he's got a fever…I've got to get his medication, it's close enough to the time…" she moved to get the pills and Jack followed her while the other two stayed it the hall.

Jack asked, "Do you want me to stay?"

Sydney smiled, "No dad, it's ok…he'll be ok…it's just going to be a rough night. But I can handle it. Thanks for bringing dinner though, and for playing Othello with Vaughn. I'm sure he'd love it if you came over again when he's feeling better and played."

"I'll be sure to do that," Jack moved to hug his daughter, "I'll keep the work until we can discuss it another day. If you need anything, all you have to do is call, Sydney."

"I know dad, thanks."

They moved back to the hall and Will and Francie asked if there was anything they could do.

"No, I don't think so…like I was just telling my dad, it's just gonna be a rough night…but thanks for being here guys…"

"Sure."

"Well, Sydney I'll go then. Call me later when you get a chance and let me know how things are going, ok? Say goodbye to Vaughn for me…"

"Sure dad."

Jack kissed her on the cheek and said goodbye to Will and Francie and then left.

"Wow," Francie said, "it's kind of scary with your dad acting that way."

Sydney smiled, "I know…but it's nice."

"Yeah," she agreed smiling too. "You sure there's nothing we can do?"

"Could you get me a cold washcloth? That'd be a big help."

"Sure!" Francie went off to get one.

Will looked to Sydney, "You ok?"

"Yeah…I'm ok."

"Alright."

Francie came back and the three went into the room. Vaughn smiled when they entered. Sydney helped with the pills and Francie came over and put the cloth of Vaughn's head.

"Well…we're going to go to bed then…call us if you need anything."

"Ok," Sydney said.

"Goodnight," Will and Francie said as they shut the door, taking a rather pissed Donovan with them.