| �Vaughn.� She said, shaking him gently. She knew she couldn�t drag him out, she was too exhausted and her hand was shattered. �Vaughn....come on...Vaughn.� She pleaded quietly. Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open slightly. His mouth opened, yet nothing came out for a moment. She could tell he was trying to talk but couldn�t, because he was so dehydrated. Finally, a quiet, raspy voice emerged. �S....Sydney?� He asked, his vision only provided a slight, blurry outline of a small frame bent over him. �We have to go.� She told him urgently, as she looked around quickly, then back to him. �Sydney.� A female voice rang out. Sydney spun around, to see her mother standing in the doorway several feet away, with a knife in her hand. Sydney rose slowly to her feet and faced her mother. The two looked at each other for several moments. Suddenly, before Sydney could react, her mothers hand lifted and shot forward, as the knife was released from her hand. Sydney�s breathing stopped in that split second. She turned her head slowly. Perhaps no more than two inches from her head, the knife was planted into the wall. Sydney stared at it with wide eyes for several moments. Her head turned slowly back towards where her mother had stood, though when she did, the doorway was empty. She remained staring into it for several seconds, before she finally began to breath again. She slowly lifted her hand up to the knife, and let it slide gently from its slit in the wall. She held it in her hand, and just stared at it for several moments, before turning back to Vaughn. She knelt back down beside him. �Come on.� She said as she started to pull on him. �Sydney!� Vaughn�s voice said suddenly, fearfully. His eyes were looking past her head. She paused, suddenly realizing. Then, in one smooth motion, Sydney swiftly turned about, releasing the knife from her hand. It hit the guard square in the chest, before he pulled the trigger. He looked at her for a moment, eyes wide, and he fell to the floor. She walked over to him and picked up the handgun which lay by his side. She stood and turned to walk back to Vaughn. Suddenly, she heard the cocking of a gun. In an instant, she spun around, gun raised, ready for another guard. The tips of the two guns stared at each other, merely inches apart. The two gun-holders froze. Sydney�s eyes went wide. �Dixon!?� ~~~~~~~~~~~ PART 8 �Sydney....put the gun down.� He told her calmly. �Dixon....what are you doing here?!� She started but was cut off. �...Sydney. Put. The gun. Down.� He instructed carefully. Sydney looked at him for several moments, finally, she relaxed a bit, realizing he wasn�t going to budge, and spoke calmly. �Okay....� She began to slowly lean down, gun lowering towards the ground. �....okay.� She said again, quietly, showing him her submission as the gun finally touched the floor and she began to lift her hand back, and began to raise up slowly. Suddenly, she reached her hand up and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm and spinning around him, pulling his arm around his back sharply. In doing so, she also slipped the gun from his hand into hers in one quick motion. Once the gun was in her hand, she shoved him forward and away from her, now pointing the gun at him. Dixon turned back towards her slowly and had a look on his face of half anger, half betrayal. He raised his hands. �What�s going on here Sydney? You told me...� But Sydney cut him off. �I know what I told you.� She breathed heavily several times before continuing. �And I�m telling you again. I am not betraying my country....I�m not...� �...then what the hell are you doing Sydney? What is all this? What are you doing here in Taipei!?� He demanded. �Dixon!� Sydney yelled to try to shut him up. �Listen to me....I need your help. I need you...to trust me.� She told him. �That man back there.....he needs help.....I have to get him out of here....I.....� She told him quickly, but noticed his behavior. Dixon began shaking his head. �Dixon look at me.� He continued to look down. �Look at me!� She demanded loudly and desperately. He finally looked up at her slowly. �I swear to you....I swear that I would never betray you....what you stand for....our counrty. What I am doing here...now....we NEED to get out of here.� She insisted, glancing a quick glance towards Vaughn. Dixon too glanced towards him. Sydney saw this. �That man...he�s hurt....even if you don�t trust me....trust that he needs help....Dixon....please.� Her last word was stated with a look of total honesty and desperation. Dixon looked back at Vaughn, then again to Sydney and her eyes. He had no idea what all of this was about. He had no idea why she was doing that night he followed her to the bay.....he had no idea why she identified herself as �freelancer� as he lay dying....he had no idea what she was doing now. All he knew was that for nearly seven years he had trusted Sydney with his life. And...she had trusted him. Whatever was going on here....no matter how wrong he felt it was for Sydney to be here, their history....Sydney herself....she was loving and kind and gentle....and, though he had no idea what was going on or why....deep down he knew she wasn�t capable of harming anyone innocent....of betraying her counrty. Finally, Dixon nodded slightly and lowered his hands. Sydney watched him do this and nodded in return. She slowly brought the gun back behind her and tucked it away. The two stood still and looked at eachother for several moments. Dixon moved first, walking around her and over to the man she said needed help. When he looked at him, though he didn�t know who he was....or why he was here...and quite honestly....he didn�t care. All he knew was that he had been severly beaten and required medical attention. Sydney went over and knelt down next to Dixon. She looked at him as he looked Vaughn over. They two started to lift Vaughn. Dixon pulled Vaughn�s arm up and around his neck, and held onto Vaughn around his waist. Sydney took did the same on his other side. �No.� Dixon said. �I have him...you walk ahead....in case there�s anymore guards.� He instructed. Sydney looked at him. �Okay.� She said letting go of Vaughn. ~~~~~~~~~~ The three had gotten all the way out of the building without any more confontation. After much walking, they reached the SUV Dixon had driven. By the time they arrived, Vaughn had passed out. Dixon carefully placed Vaughn into the back seat and closed the door. He then walked around the vehicle and joined Sydney who was waiting. She looked at him. �What were you doing here?� She said quietly. He sighed. �When your father told me you were in an accident....I was worried....I went to see you....your friend told me you had gone on another trip....said your father didn�t know about it either....After what happened at the bay....� He trailed off, not needing to say more. Sydney looked down. Dixon paused. �You�re turn.� He said after several seconds, looking at her accusingly, awaiting an answer. Sydney spoke after hesitation. �Not here...not now.� She said quietly. Dixon began to nod, smiling slightly, thinking �of course�. �I�m sorry.� She told him, reaching out to touch his arm. �Don�t.� He said sharply, lifting his hand. �Just....just get in the car.� He told her quietly, stepping around her and opening the door, getting into the driver�s seat. Sydney remained standing there. She folded her arms in a way one does when they are cold. She closed her eyes and sighed. Finally, she re-opened them and let her arms drop back down to her sides. She took one step forward, before hearing a shot fire. She stood still for a moment, kind of....out of it...as if she wasn�t sure if she had actually heard anything. Her brow furrowed, confused as she felt strangely calm. She was aware of someone yelling her name, and then she thought she saw a gun out of the corner of her eye pointing forward....she heard another loud noise....sounding...familiar....she she followed the direction the gun pointed to out ahead of her and saw a single guard fall to the ground, a gun flying from his hand as he did. Suddenly, she realized what had happened. She looked down and touched her stomach with her good hand. As she lifted it up slowly, she saw the dark red dripping from her fingertips. She felt as though the world around her began to melt together. The last thing she felt was a set of hands catching her as she felt her body begin to fall. A muffled voice yelled her name....then....there was darkness. ~~~~~~~~ PART 9 Jack stood by the door as he watched the figure which lay in the hospital bed. Suddenly, the person awoke, took a few moments to realize where they were, and then spotted him. �W....what happened....where�s Sydney?� Vaughn asked worried as he looked into the cold eyes of Jack Bristow. �What�d the last thing you remember?� Jack asked flatly. Vaughn shifted his yes a it, trying to remember, though all he could really think about was the soreness he felt throughout his entire body. �Um....I remember...seeing her....and....there was someone.....Dixon....� When he said Dixon he shook his head slightly. �What are going to do about Di....� But he was cut off before he could finish. �Dixon aided Sydney in reovering you. He follwed her back to Taipei because of his suspicion.� �Wait....back to Taipei?� �Yes....the people who were holding you transported both of you to Sydney, Australia....Sydney escaped. She retuned briefly to Los Angeles to recover...� �Recover?� Vaughn asked suddenly, concerned. �Yes her escape.....took some work.� He replied simply. Vaughn looked back down. �I gave her instructions to remain there....I told her the extraction team would find you. When they arrived in Sydney they found nothing. Somehow Sydney knew they�d taken you back to Taipei and immediately went looking for you without anyone�s knowledge.� Vaughn looked troubled by this. �Well....she found me...so...where is she now?� He now asked. Jack stood briefly still, before speaking. When she and Dixon were leaving the compound....a guard took them by suprise.� Vaughn�s eyes began to look worried. �Sydney took a bullet to the abdomen. She in this hospital now.� He told him with anger in his voice. Vaugh�s breath caught in his throat. �W...is she going to be alright?� He asked after several moments. Jack glared at him. �No. No, she may recover from this but afterwards she won�t be alright.� Vaughn looked at him confused. �None of this would have happened if she hadn�t gone back for you.� Jack said bitterly, before he quickly turned and exited the room. Vaughn lay in the bed and stared out in front of him. ~~~~~~~~~ �First your telling me Sydney was in anaccidet...now your teling me she was just shot?� Sloane asked calmly, yet accusingly. �As you know....Sydney has been trying....she�s been trying to located her mother. She had a tip that she might be in Taipei. Turns out she was wrong, but while she was there, she was shot by a security guard on her way out.� �Is that so?� Sloane said quietly. �Yes.� A voice came from the doorway behind Jack. Sloane looked up to see Dixon now standing next to Jack. �Agent Dixon?� Sloane said curious. Jack looked at Dixon, suprised. Dixon glanced at Jack, then back to Sloane. �Yes....she....asked me to give a hand in Taipei....at first I wasn�t sure...but eventually I decide she might need my help so I went along with her.� He paused. �On our way out....this guard came out of nowhere....before I knew it....I was holding Sydney in my arms....� He trailed off and looked down. Sloane took all of this in for several moments. �How is she?� He finally asked. Jack glanced at Dixon. �The doctor�s say she should recover. But....she�ll need time.� Sloane nodded. �Yes....I�m sure she will.� He said before continuing. �Let me know when she�s feeling better....I�d like to see her.� He told Jack. Jack nodded slowly. �Yes....of course.� He responded quietly. Sloane watched closely as the two men exited his office. ~~~~~~~ Vaughn proceeded down the hallway slowly, his body still very weak. He sat in a wheelchair and rolled along until he reached the door. He reached forward and opened it, slowly pushing it open and wheeling it quietly. The room was dim, light barely escaping in through the closed blinds to the right. He saw her. She lay there, unconscious. He slowly wheeled over to her, stopping when he reached the side of her bed. He sat there and watched her. He saw the cuts and bruises all on her face....he noticed her left hand wa completely wrapped...and, on her stomach, he saw a small lump.....it was where the gauze lay under her gown. He looked down, guilt coming over him. He blamed himself. If he hadn�t hesitated....she wouldn�t have been captured in the first place. In trying to save him....to break the window, she left herself unguarded....then, when she was finally able to escape....she came back....injured....just to save try to save his life once more. She didn�t deserve to be the one laying there, a hole in her stomach....he did. As much as he longed to protect her....he knew his being near her was what had gotten her here....what might get her here again. He looked back up at her.....waited, then slowly reached his hand up and placed it on her�s. He watched her face as he began to speak. �Sydney....Sydney I�m so sorry......� He looked down briefly before returning his eyes back to her. �You shouldn�t be here....like this....not....not for me.� He shook his head. Then, he stopped at looked at her with eyes filled with the knowledge of what he had to do. �Wh....when you wake up....I probably won�t see you.....� His thumb brushed lightly over her hand. �I�m resigning....as your handler.� He said quietly. He sat still for several moments, as if hoping for a response, but he knew he�d get none. Finally, he removed his hand from hers, slowly turned his chair, and wheeled out of the room, quietly letting the door close behind him. ~~~~~~~~~ Will walked down the long white hallway. He wasn�t sure what he was going to see. He stared at the floor as he walked along. Part of him wanted to go in and tell her how much he hated this. How much he wished she could stop doing this....how much he cared for her and just wanted her suffering to end. Finally, he arrived at his destination and slowly entered. Sydney lay in the bed. She was awake. At first his eyes were filled with sadness and anger at the sight of her, but he forced himself to put on a happy front.....for her. He certainly didn�t want her worrying about him worrying about her. He closed the door behind him and walked over to her bedside, smiling. �Hey Syd.� He said quietly. �Hey.� She said weakly, now holding his hand. �Your face...� She whispered, eyes looking worried. �You�re one to talk.� He replied smiling. Sydney smiled slightly, then whinced from the pain the slight laughter caused her. �You ok?� He asked quickly, noticing her discomfort. �Yeah....yeah I�m fine.� She told him softly. �Good.� He replied, rubbing her hand. �Oh...hey, don�t worry about Francie...I told her that you called me to check on me and said your trip was going to last longer than you thought.� Sydney swollwed. �Thanks.� She told him genuinely. �Yeah.� He responded vaguely, as he was too busy staring at her, as if he took his eyes off of her, something bad might happen. She picked up on this. �Will....I�m fine...really.� She told him quietly, but with much assurance. He nodded slightly before responding. �I know....I know...I just....� He shook his head, forcing himself not to tell her how worried he was and how he wished she would just end this. �Oh...� He said, changing the subject, and clearing his throat to regain his composure. �Hey...you uh...your dad gave this to me as he was leaving...he said that you had it on you when you got here.� He said, gently holding it near her good hand. She looked at him curiously and then at the box. She took it from him and looked at it, not yet openeing it. �Well....I should probably get going....I promised Francie that she could come over and make a bigh deal outta me....ya know...cook me dinner and pamper me....I should probably get home and put on a pair of sweats and try to work on my �pathetic� face.� He told her laughing slightly. She smiled.... �that�s Francie�, she thought. �I�ll see you later.� He told her. �Yeah.� She repsonded weakly. He bent down and kissed her forehead. �I love you Syd.� He told her softly as he pulled away. �I love you too Will.� She responded, giving him her best �I�ll be ok� look. He smiled slightly at her, then turned around and left. She lay there for several moments, looking at the box in he hand. Slowly, she managed to push herslef up into a sitting position. She was worried about breaking stitches becuase of the emense pain she felt when she moved. She breathed heavily for several moments, trying to recover from the pain she felt all over her body, but mostly from the injury to her stomach. Finally, she looked down and slowly opened the box. Inside, it held a knife. It was the knife her mother had thrown....the knife she had thrown. She had forgotten about tucking it away as they were leaving. She raised it up to look at it better, and let it turn around slowly in her hand. She admired the beauty of the intricate design on the handle. She held it up slightly. The beams of light from the now open window reflected off of the sharp, steel blade. Sydney felt oddly like this was where it belonged....in her hand. Finally, she placed it back into its box and lay it onto the table next to her. She looked at it for a moment, before sliding back down into a laying position. Sydney pulled the covers up higher on her, and closed her eyes. As she lay there, she felt as though something was different....as though...something had changed....as though alot had changed. She wasn�t allowed to ponder on this any further, for within mere minutes, she slowly drifted off....rest finally being allowed her for the first time. THE END |
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