Author: Freelancer Starbuck
Website: www.geocities.com/freelancer_starbuck
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Feedback: YEAH BABY!
Archiving: CD has permission, everyone please ask me first.
Rating: PG
Summary: Sydney gets some help from a friend.
The rain pounded on the roof of the house, a constant drumbeat from the rolling swirls of gray clouds above. Rumbles of thunder and slashes of vivid lightning punctuated the short, choppy sobs that ripped from Sydney's throat as she sat, curled in a ball, staring out at the dreary weather of the world. She rocked herself back and forth, doing her best to draw in deep breaths to stop her crying.
'Selfish coward,' she berated in her head, a sharp scowl coming on her face at her lack of control. 'What's wrong with you? You're pathetic.'
Her eyes closed as tears slipped down her cheeks, then opened. She surveyed the storm just outside her window through tearstained lashes and swiped at the moisture on her skin. Finally, in a moment of weakness, she reached for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Vaughn?" Her voice was wavering, hoarse from her breakdown.
"Syd? I'm coming over."
She replaced the receiver and told herself to hold on, just a bit longer.
***
Vaughn didn't bother to knock, pulling his keys from his pocket and picking out the one labeled Syd. The door burst open and he took the familiar steps two at a time.
He found her in much the same position as when she had called, her tears controlled for the time being. Her face was buried in her knees and she was shaking with the effort of control. She felt the bed sink with is weight and his strong arms enveloping her. His soothing voice whispered in her ear, bringing an element of peace into her world. When she had calmed down a bit more, her red-rimmed eyes looked up into his.
"Vaughn, what if I lose myself completely? What if I can't live a ordinary life anymore?" She battled the hot sting behind her eyes.
"Syd, you'll never lose yourself, and if you do, I'll remind you. I would be disappointed if you did live an ordinary life. You're anything but ordinary, Sydney," he whispered, smoothing sticky, errant strands of hair from her face and pressing his lips to her temple. A shadow of the strong, independent woman shone back from the void, tearstained eyes and she buried her face in his neck, drawing in his distinctive scent.
"Can we just stay like this for awhile?" she asked, pulling him down to lie beside her. "I need to feel something real."
"Anything for you."
They drifted off to sleep this way, Vaughn's arms tightening around her possessively as he watched over her.
***
As Sydney's eyes fluttered open, she felt the weight of Vaughn's arms draped over her lithe body. Blues, pinks, oranges, and yellows intermingled together to form an otherworldly twilight.
Vaughn shifted under her weight and she lifted her head to watch him sleep. A ghost of a smile touched his lips and she knew he was awake. His eyes didn't open as she laid her head back down, content to just stay in his arms. Or so she thought. A split second after she began to drift off again, her door banged open and Francie barged in.
"Syd?!"
Vaughn had bolted up at the sudden noise, taking Sydney on an unwilling trip off the bed. He fell on top of her, crushing her slightly but catching most of his weight on his arms. He rolled off quickly, a slight red tinge coming to his face.
"Francie, don't you knock?" Sydney was decidedly pissed off.
"I'm, uh, I'm sorry! I was gonna come tell you that dinner is ready, and I didn't know where you were, and-who is this?" Francie cut herself off.
"Oh, um, this is Michael Vaughn. We work together and we've become pretty close."
"I'm not even gonna ask. Come down when you're ready." Francie dismissed the scene with a wave of her hand and a chuckle.
Syd and Vaughn picked themselves off the floor. Vaughn drew her in for another hug, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. Then, leaning down slightly, he whispered in her ear.
"Let's go downstairs." The soft breeze of his breath on her neck caused pleasant tremors to run up her spine and she nodded. For a second more, they stood in a half embrace, breathing in each other's scents and watching the clouds gather on the horizon and the stars peek through the wisps that still remained. The storm had passed for now.