Chapter 107: The Central Non-Intelligence Agency

"The human race is faced with a cruel choice: work or daytime television." – Unknown

"We can lick gravity, but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming." – Wernher von Braun


By the time they had finished with the bath and the haircut and the rest of their morning routine, it was time for lunch. Sydney made a quick, simple lunch and they decided to sit down and do some work after.

They had eaten lunch on the couch, and they decided to stay there to do the work. Sydney brought the laptop out and handed it to Vaughn, who logged into the CIA mainframe.

Sydney grabbed the files and set the pile on the coffee table, picking one up and handing one to Vaughn as well.

They began reading, Sydney taking notes on a notepad while Vaughn pecked away on the keyboard one handed.

Once Sydney finished, she handed the notes to Vaughn, who transcribed them into the computer as she went on to the next.

"What happened to that Vespertini one?" Vaughn asked, looking at the coffee table.

"I kept it out, here it is," Sydney said, handing it to Vaughn, "Did you remember anything yet?"

"No...but I still think it's familiar. I'll do some digging," he said as she nodded and went back to her own file.

Vaughn was concentrating very hard, trying to come up with where or why he knew that name. He just started to do the search when the phone rang.

Sydney got up to answer, "Hello..."

"Hey Syd!" the voice said.

"Hi!" Sydney said smiling at Vaughn. He didn't know who it was but Sydney added, "I'm good...yeah...he's doing well too...sure, just a second."

She handed the phone to Vaughn, who looked at her with a questioning stare, but she just shook her head and made him take the phone.

"Hello?" he said.

"MIKEY! HOW'RE YOU DOING!"

"Jesus!" Vaughn said, moving his ear away from the receiver, "Eric...what the hell are you yelling for?"

"Well, for one, I was excited to talk to you...haven't in a while, sorry...been busy...and the other reason is because..." he broke off, "-n the ca-"

"What?" Vaughn asked.

"IN THE CAR!" Eric yelled.

Vaughn moved the phone away again, "Ok! You were breaking up...where are you?"

"IN THE CAR!" Eric yelled.

"Yeah doofus, you said that – WHERE?"

"OH! I'M ON MY WAY BACK TO OPS...HAD A ROAD TRIP...LITTLE FACT FINDER..."

"Anything interesting?"

"NAH JUST ROUTINE. WHAT YOU BEEN UP TO? HOW YA DOIN?"

"I'm ok Eric...not much...just hanging out with Syd..."

"WILL TOLD ME YOU HAD A FEW BAD NIGHTS – WHAT HAPPENED?"

"Pain...that's about it...infected wound."

"WHAT?"

"INFECTED WOUND AND PAIN ERIC!" Vaughn yelled.

Sydney started to giggle.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL MIKE!" Eric said, causing even Vaughn to laugh.

"So you just checking up or what?"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TONIGHT?"

"Uh..." he looked at Syd, "Eric wants to know what we're doing tonight..."

"Just dinner with Will and Francie – he's welcome to join us."

"Just dinner with Will and Francie – you can come too if you want Eric."

"YOU DOIN' ANYTHING EARLIER – THIS AFTERNOON?"

"Do we have plans this afternoon?" Vaughn asked Sydney.

She smiled, "No honey..."

"No," Vaughn said.

"GOOD! I'M TAKING OFF OF WORK...COMING OVER...GOT SOMETHING FOR YA...THEN I'LL STAY FOR CHOW."

"Ok Eric...when you gonna be here?"

"UH – BOUT AN HOUR..."

"Ok, see you then..."

"K, BUDDY!"

Vaughn handed the phone back to Sydney, "Eric's coming over in an hour...said he's bringing something, then he's gonna stay for dinner..."

"Sounds good honey." Sydney said putting the phone back in the cradle, "You wanna work yet for a while or you wanna take a break?"

"No, let's work...I was gonna see if I could find anything on that Vespertini guy..."

"Ok," Sydney said as she sat down next to him again, grabbing another folder.

She just sat and got comfortable when the phone rang again, "s..." she said.

Vaughn smiled at her as she got up.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hey Syd..."

"HI! I was gonna call you later..."

"You were?"

"Yeah," Sydney said looking over at Vaughn who turned to see who it was. She smiled, "Yeah Tom, I'm glad you called."

"Why? Something wrong?"

"No...well, I don't think so, I was just gonna call to make sure."

"Ok, what's up?"

"The wound...the infected one..."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I mean it looks sorta better...but it's really not good yet."

"It's improving though?"

"Well...I mean there doesn't seem to be as much ooze and stuff, and it's not bleeding, but it's still infected."

"Ok...well, I called to set up a time for a check-up anyway. I was thinking tomorrow..."

"Uh, well...Vaughn's got therapy tomorrow...I don't know if it's such a–"

"Thursday then," Tom said, asking no questions and cutting her off.

Sydney smiled, "That sounds good Tom...thanks...what time?"

"Uh...morning ok?"

"Sure."

"11:00?"

"We'll be here..."

"Ok," Tom said with a chuckle, "Put Mike on..."

"Sure," Sydney said handing the phone to Vaughn.

He once again took the phone, "Hey..." he said.

"Hey yourself...how ya doin?"

"Good...surprisingly..."

"Glad to hear it...wound's not good yet though, huh?"

"No...not really..."

"Does it hurt?"

"Yeah," Vaughn said, glad that Sydney couldn't hear what they were talking about.

"How bad?"

"Uh..." Vaughn said looking to see if Sydney was listening, but he couldn't tell.

"Syd right there?"

"Yeah," Vaughn said smiling.

"K...let's go this route – is it really bad?"

"Sometimes..."

"Hmm...well we probably are gonna have to start you on antibiotics then..."

"Mmm...ok...yeah...it's better now that we keep the pressure off of it...it doesn't stick at least."

"Well that's a relief."

"Yeah, you're telling me..."

"Otherwise though, you're doing ok?"

"Yeah, I'm good..." Vaughn said smiling.

"Good Mike, I'm glad to hear that..."

"Me too...Thanks Tom..."

"You bet, see you Thursday."

"Ok, bye Tom."

"Bye Mike."

Vaughn handed the phone back to Sydney again who dutifully put it back in the cradle again.

"Tom's coming over Thursday at 11:00 to check you and the wound..." Sydney said.

"Yeah, he said he probably gonna give me an antibiotic..."

"Yeah, that's a good idea..." Sydney stopped thinking, "Oh s...that's when your mom is coming over..."

"Well, maybe she'll come over in the afternoon..."

"Yeah...well...it'd be better...she probably doesn't need to see infected wounds..."

"No, let's try and spare her..."

Sydney sat down again and picked up the file she'd been trying to get through. She got settled, sitting closer to Vaughn and started to read. He put Vespertini's name in as a search, and the phone rang.

"GOD DAMN IT!" Sydney said, getting up again from the couch.

"HELLO!" Sydney said.

"Hello? Sydney?"

Aw f! Sydney thought, "OH! HI! Amélie! I'm sorry...I didn't think it was going to be you."

Vaughn snorted and she sent him a look to shut him up.

He continued to smile though and giggle as Sydney backpedaled.

"Is everything alright dear? Did I call at a bad time?"

"NO, no...I'm sorry...what can I do for you?"

"I was just calling to see if Thursday was still a good day for me to visit."

"Yeah, that'll be fine...Tom is coming over in the morning, but the afternoon is all free..."

"Excellent. I didn't wake anyone today, did I?"

"No," Sydney said chuckling, watching Vaughn still shaking his head and giggling.

"Is Michael available?"

"Sure, here he is," Sydney said handing him the phone.

"Hi mom!" he said, sounding like the little boy he always was when his mother was around.

"Hello Michel...how are you feeling? Better I hope?"

"Yeah..."

"Good..."

"You're coming on Thursday?"

"Yes, is that alright with you?"

"Sure!" he said, making Sydney giggle this time. This time he shot her the glaring look, which just made her giggle more.

"Yeah, it'll be great to see you too mom...yup, I love you too...I'll tell her...k, bye," he ended the conversation, handing Sydney the phone, "She says goodbye..."

Sydney sat down on the couch, leaving the phone on the coffee table this time in anticipation of the next call. Of course – then the phone didn't ring.