Hi everyone! Yes, there's a new chapter. There's also an NC-17 version that can be found in the S/V fic thread at SD-1.net
Enjoy!
Chapter 40 - "The Art of the Deal"
Sydney squinted as she read the numbers on the clock radio amidst the glare of the early morning sunlight streaming in through the blinds in Vaughn's room. She couldn't believe she was awake at 6:30, especially since she and Vaughn hadn't fallen asleep until well after 1 a.m. When she heard light scratching on his bedroom door, she turned her head to see if Vaughn was still sleeping, smiling at the contented expression on his face. She quickly decided not to wake him, and instead got out of bed, rummaging through her overnight bag until she found a pair of sweats.
She dressed quickly and slipped out into the hallway, petting Donovan while she urged him to be quiet and let Vaughn sleep. She couldn't help but laugh, though, as Donovan excitedly danced around her ankles when she got his leash and prepared to walk him. She walked him along the route Vaughn once told her he usually took, and she was amazed by how many joggers and walkers recognized Donovan and stopped to pet him and fuss over him along the way. Once again, the little dog made her laugh at the way he seemed to bask in all the attention.
"You're so vain, Donnie," she shook her head.
They finished up their walk, and once they returned to the condo, Donovan immediately took off running towards the kitchen. When she followed him, she found Vaughn in his pajama bottoms, sleepily rubbing his eyes as he turned on the coffeemaker.
"Hey," he smiled when he saw her. "You didn't have to take him out, I would have done it."
"I know, but you were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to wake you," she said as she kissed him lightly. "Besides, Donovan and I had a great time. He's quite the dog around town, huh?"
"Yeah, everyone in the neighborhood knows him, and he totally eats up the attention," Vaughn laughed. "I can't even imagine how much he enjoyed all the extra attention of being with a beautiful woman."
"Right, because I'm soooo sexy in my sweats and ponytail," she rolled her eyes. "Please, no one even noticed me. They were too busy cooing over Donovan, although Stacey and . . . Rachel -- is it? -- noticed me long enough to stop and ask where *you* were."
Vaughn shook his head and smiled. "They're just, uh, two of the friendlier women in the neighborhood."
"Funny, they weren't that friendly to me."
"Well, I'm sure they'll become more friendly once they start seeing you out more often."
"We'll see, but somehow, I doubt it," she replied, sounding unconvinced while Vaughn stretched and yawned next to her. "Tired?" she smirked.
"Yeah, I can't imagine why," he wryly answered pulling her into his arms, "but for the record, you can 'negotiate' with me any time you want to."
"I'll file that away for future reference, but that wasn't a negotiation last night. That was merely an exchange of first offers. We haven't even *begun* to negotiate yet."
"Really?" he laughed. "Why not? Wasn't my first offer good enough for you?"
"It was great, but that was just a jumping off point so I could see how, um, *flexible* you were willing to be."
"I thought I was pretty damned flexible last night."
"You were," she smiled, "but you can do better."
"You think so. Did I ever tell you that I do my best negotiating in the shower?" he asked as he pulled her sweatshirt over her head and tossed it onto the counter.
"No, you never told me that," she playfully responded.
"Why don't we go step into my office and I'll show you?"
"Deal," she agreed with a quick kiss on his lips. "I'll go start the water while you feed Donovan. And don't take forever, 'cause the clock is ticking."
"Like you won't wait," he scoffed as she left the room.
Sydney walked into the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as she could stand it, making the room quickly fill with steam as she stripped off her sweat pants and tank top and tossed them into the hamper in the corner. She climbed into the shower, smiling to herself as she realized how much of a thrill it gave her to do something as trivial and mundane as mixing her clothes in the laundry hamper with Vaughn's. It was such an insignificant thing, but after such unconventional start to their relationship, they found that the smallest hints of normalcy were what excited them the most these days. They had both grinned like idiots the night before when she placed her toothbrush in the toothbrush holder next to Vaughn's and he cleared out a whole side of his dresser for her things.
She wasn't sure how long the excitement of domestic tranquility would last, but she intended to enjoy it for as long as she could.
*****
"Okay, I'm ready," Sydney breathlessly exhaled as she breezed into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. "Sorry it took so long. Your hair dryer sucks."
"I've never had any problem with it."
"And your hair is what? An inch long? Of course you haven't had problems. I'm buying you a new one."
Vaughn smirked as he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "Are you going to replace my razor with a Lady Schick and redo the bathroom in pink and purple too?"
"Shut up, Vaughn," she laughed, playfully punching him in the stomach.
"Fine, just admit that my hair dryer wasn't the reason it took you so long to get ready."
"I'll do no such thing."
"You hate it when I'm right, don't you? It's okay, you were worth the wait."
"See, now you're just making me blush," she smiled. "But thank you, I'm glad you like the outfit."
"You look great, but something's missing."
"What?" she asked, self-consciously peeking inside her suit jacket to make sure she remembered to put her bra on.
"Not that," he laughed, leaning in to steal his own peek.
"Then what is it?"
Vaughn reached inside his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring. "This."
"How did you -- where did you get this?"
"I snagged it while I was snooping around in your bedroom last night."
"Oh. I had it in safe keeping since I couldn't -- "
"You don't have to explain," he assured her as he took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. "But this time, it doesn't come off, right?"
"Not a chance," she softly answered, as she looked down at her finger and the symbol of the new life they were about to embark on. "It feels so good to wear this again, but you realize the cat's gonna be out of the bag the minute we step into the ops center. Are you ready for that?"
"Definitely," he nodded. "I don't care who knows how much I love you."
"Even my dad?" she questioned as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Your dad already knows."
"Yeah, but hearing you tell him we're engaged and seeing the ring on my finger and being forced to accept it are two different things," she laughed. "I'm not sure he's ready for that."
"That's his problem," Vaughn murmured, while kissing her neck.
"No, it's gonna be *your* problem. I'm just saying, don't be surprised if you find transfer orders on your desk this afternoon assigning you to a post in Iceland."
"Syd," he said with mock hurt, "I think you underestimate how much your dad likes me now."
She pulled her head back and looked at him skeptically.
"Likes you?"
"*Tolerates* me."
"That's closer to the truth," she laughed as he made a face. "Aw, I'm kidding. I definitely think he likes you, and even if he doesn't, he won't be able to ignore how happy I am."
"Are you? I mean, I know you are about us, but we haven't really talked about anything else now that SD-6 is gone."
"What's to talk about?" she scrunched up her nose. "That nightmare is finally over. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "You've spent every day of the last two years, trying to put an end to SD-6 . . . it would be only natural if it felt a little anticlimactic now that a few days have passed."
"Wow," she breathed, disentangling herself from his embrace and turning her back to him as she nervously fiddled with her abandoned cup of coffee. "You're incredibly perceptive. *Too* perceptive, sometimes. Have I ever told you that?"
"Syd, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put a damper on your mood."
"You didn't, but you're right," she admitted, turning back to face him. "Knowing that I didn't have to wake up this morning and go to that building was great, and being able to spend the night here and have a normal morning and not be lying to anyone is the best feeling, but there's a part of me that feels . . . I don't even know how to describe it. I just feel kind of aimless and directionless, and I keep asking myself, 'what now'?
"I always thought that when SD-6 was gone, I would instantly know what I wanted to do with my life, and now I don't," she sighed.
"How long have you been feeling that way?" he asked with concern.
"Since we got back home yesterday morning. How did you pick up on it?"
"You seemed kind of quiet last night."
She raised an eyebrow and shot him a disbelieving look.
"Not then. *After* that," he smiled.
"I was gonna say," she laughed, before sighing again.
"Last night, I was laying there with you, thinking about how perfect everything was, but something still seemed wrong. And I knew it wasn't us, so I figured it had to do with the rest of my life."
"Syd, you know you don't have to have this all figured out right now," he soothed, taking her back into his arms. "You have all the time in the world to make decisions about the future."
"I know. I just always thought the decision would be obvious. From the day I started at SD-6, I thought that after a few years, I'd get over the adrenaline rush, and then settle down and be a teacher and a wife and a mother. And now I'm not sure that's what I want anymore -- the the teacher thing, I mean," she stammered.
"I know, Syd," he smiled.
"Two years ago, everything seemed so clear, and now, I can't imagine not working next to you and my dad every day. But after struggling so hard to get away from this life, it seems crazy that now I'm not sure I want to leave it. I don't know what to make of that."
"Then don't make anything of it, at least now," he suggested. "Listen, the change in your life is still really new and fresh, and it's going to take a while for you to settle into some sense of normalcy. So, for the time being, why don't you just shelve it? At least until we come back from vacation."
"Our vacation! I almost forgot about that," she grinned. "Wow, so all that time I would've spent worrying about my future? I'm going to spend imagining you in a Speedo instead."
"Yeah, you *will* be imagining it, because I would never be caught dead in a Speedo," he scoffed as he let her go and grabbed his jacket and keys from the kitchen table.
"Why not?" she teased, gathering her own belongings and following him to the front door. "You'd look good in a Speedo."
He shook his head as he held the door open for her. "Not gonna happen, Syd."
"That's what you say now, but I guess we'll have to negotiate it later, won't we?" she asked with a sultry kiss before sauntering out the door.
"That's what we do best," he grinned.
***** "Sydney."
She turned as soon as she heard the voice behind her and launched herself into Jack's arms.
"Dad," she breathed as she hugged him tightly. She was unbelievably relieved to see him again and know he was safe after his encounter with Sloane. After a few moments, she pulled back and held him at arms length, visually inspecting him. "Are you okay? Sloane didn't -- "
"No. Sloane didn't do anything to me," he assured her. "I'm fine, Sydney."
"Thank God. I rushed back to L.A. to make sure you were alright, only to learn you were at Langley."
"Yes. I wanted to be here when you returned, but the Director requested an in-person briefing about the status of the raid."
"Kendall told me," she nodded. I'm just glad you're back."
"I'm more glad that *you're* back, sweetheart. I didn't want to let on at the time and worry you, but I was really concerned about you, Vaughn and Elise. I had agents keeping an eye on you, but I knew what Sloane and the Alliance were capable of if they found out where you were."
"You had agents watching us? I should have known."
"I only did it for your safety -- "
"Dad, I know," she smiled. "You don't have to explain. And I'm okay. So is Vaughn, so is Elise. We're all great, thanks to you."
"And this chapter of our lives is finally over, thanks to *you.*"
"No, it wasn't just me," she shook her head.
"Sydney, I worked inside SD-6 for years before you learned the truth about the master you were serving. You did more damage in 2 years than I did in 12."
"But you were working alone then. If I'd been working alone, it would have taken me at least that long. Whatever success I had was only because I had you and Vaughn backing me up."
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Sydney. You're too modest for your own good," Jack smiled. "Speaking of Vaughn, where is he? I wanted to offer him my congratulations too."
"He's around here, but I'm not sure exactly where. I'm sure he'll appreciate that."
"I had my doubts about him when the two of you began working together, but I don't anymore, and he deserves praise for the role he played in the demise of SD-6. Now that it no longer exists, I assume the two of you are . . . taking advantage of your new-found freedom?"
"Wow, you almost said that without wincing, dad," she teased.
"Have the two of you discussed how you intend to go about making your colleagues aware of your relationship?"
"Well, we're not going to rent out a billboard or anything. I think we're assuming that people will find out eventually. The rumor mill around here is pretty active, and it's not like we were fooling anyone anyway. You and I both know there's not a single person here who didn't suspect we were involved the entire time we were working together."
"And they were right," he gently reminded her.
"But not until a few months ago. There have been whispers since the week after we met, but whatever," she shrugged before crossing her arms. "It's not like it matters now, because technically, Vaughn's not my handler anymore, he's just my colleague, right?"
"Colleague and fiancŽ," Jack corrected, as he noticed the ring on her left hand and lowered his voice. "Do you think it's wise to be wearing that so soon?"
She glanced at her hand and sighed. "I know what your concerns are dad, and I'm not saying they aren't valid, but Vaughn and I have been keeping this a secret for two months. We're both tired of hiding it, and there's no reason we should anymore. Our personal relationship isn't going to affect our professional relationship."
"That's untrue, and you know it, Sydney. Your personal relationship, even when it was purely platonic, has affected your professional partnership since the two of you began working together. I believe Vaughn's concern about that was precisely what compelled him to go to Langley, was it not?"
"That was only because he was concerned about compromising the SD-6 operation," she protested. "Obviously, that's not a concern anymore."
"The *SD-6* operation may no longer be a concern, Sydney, but there will be other missions, and once the bond between you and Vaughn has been further cemented, it's going to be even more difficult for the two of you to separate your personal and professional relationships."
"Dad -- "
"Even if *you* don't think it's going to be a problem, Sydney, your colleagues may perceive it that way. You need to be aware of that, that's all I'm trying to say." He gave her a slight smile to assure her that he wasn't purposely trying to give her a hard time.
"I'll keep what you said in mind," she said, returning his smile.
"That's all I'm asking."
"Can we change the subject now?"
"Gladly. What's wrong? You look troubled."
"Have you spoken with either Dixon or Marshall since the raid? I wanted to see them this afternoon once their debriefs are concluded, but I'm not sure how much they know about my role in all of this, and to tell the truth, I'm a little afraid of their reactions. Not Marshall's so much, but I can't imagine any way that Dixon *won't* feel like I've betrayed him, and I don't know if I can handle that."
"From what I know, Dixon and Marshall have both been told that there were CIA agents working inside SD-6, but that they're not privy to the identity of those agents, for the time being. So, whether you choose to make yourself known to them is your choice, Sydney."
"But it's not really a choice," she frowned. "It's not like I can keep this a secret forever. Once they're released from CIA custody, the truth is going to be obvious, and I think I owe it to them to be honest -- finally."
"Sydney, you don't owe anything to anyone. Not anymore. You've sacrificed enough."
"Dad," she shook her head, "Dixon and Marshall are my friends. I *do* owe them an explanation."
"I'm just concerned that if they react poorly to the news, you're going to blame yourself and internalize your guilt the way you do far too easily. I don't want to see you go through that. You were doing your job, Sydney, your duty as an agent of the United States. If Dixon and Marshall can't or don't understand that, it's not your fault."
"I know that," she quietly responded.
"Intellectually, you know that. Emotionally, I can already tell that you're struggling with it."
Sydney was about to answer him when she caught sight of Vaughn as he walked into the rotunda. She smiled as he walked up to her and her father.
"Hey. You okay?" he softly asked when he saw her anxious expression.
"I'm fine," she nodded.
"Vaughn," Jack interjected, "I know we spoke briefly during last night's videoconference, but I wanted to offer my congratulations in person. You should be proud of the work you did preparing for the raid. Our execution was sound, but the plan was flawless. I was impressed."
He offered his hand, and Sydney bit her lip to fight her smile as Vaughn shook it. She wondered how long it would be before they were watching football games and going on camping trips together.
"Thanks, Jack. That means a lot coming from you."
"Well, I hate to cut this short, but I have matters to attend to with Kendall. I was thinking, though, that we could all have dinner together sometime. Perhaps when your mother comes?" he asked, pretending not to notice the looks of mild surprise that passed between Sydney and Vaughn.
"Um, yeah, I'm sure she'd love that," Vaughn answered.
"Good. Then I'll call you to make arrangements when you return from your trip. Sydney, I'm glad you're back home. You too, Vaughn," he nodded before turning and leaving the two younger agents staring after him.
"Who was that?"
"The new, kinder, gentler Jack Bristow?" Sydney offered.
"I think the kinder, gentler Jack Bristow scares me more than the intimidating, scowling Jack Bristow I'm used to," Vaughn smiled before growing serious. "So is everything okay? The two of you seemed like you were pretty deep in conversation when I walked up on you."
"My dad just gave me a lot to think about, but everything's fine." She waiver her hand dismissively, eager to change the subject so she wouldn't have to discuss her lingering concerns about Dixon and Marshall. "Hey, do you want to get lunch?"
"I'd love to," he replied, looking at his watch, "but, I can't. I have an appointment in a few minutes."
"What kind of appointment?" she asked with a quizzical smile.
"Nothing important. Just work stuff. I'd offer to meet you somewhere, but I'm not sure how long this will take."
"It's fine, Vaughn. Maybe I'll ask Agent Miles to go to lunch, kind of as a 'thank you' for being such a good replacement handler while you were at Langley."
"I'm sure she'd like that."
"Yeah, I'm sure she would. And maybe at lunch, she can help me figure out why you're being so secretive."
"I'm not being secretive," he protested, though his body language said the opposite. "I'm just -- listen, I'll tell you all about it later, but if I don't hurry," he checked his watch again, "I'm going to be late. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Um, yeah. See you later," she said, more to herself than Vaughn when he rushed off without her, leaving her to wonder why he was being so evasive and what was going on.
TBC . . .
Enjoy!
Chapter 40 - "The Art of the Deal"
Sydney squinted as she read the numbers on the clock radio amidst the glare of the early morning sunlight streaming in through the blinds in Vaughn's room. She couldn't believe she was awake at 6:30, especially since she and Vaughn hadn't fallen asleep until well after 1 a.m. When she heard light scratching on his bedroom door, she turned her head to see if Vaughn was still sleeping, smiling at the contented expression on his face. She quickly decided not to wake him, and instead got out of bed, rummaging through her overnight bag until she found a pair of sweats.
She dressed quickly and slipped out into the hallway, petting Donovan while she urged him to be quiet and let Vaughn sleep. She couldn't help but laugh, though, as Donovan excitedly danced around her ankles when she got his leash and prepared to walk him. She walked him along the route Vaughn once told her he usually took, and she was amazed by how many joggers and walkers recognized Donovan and stopped to pet him and fuss over him along the way. Once again, the little dog made her laugh at the way he seemed to bask in all the attention.
"You're so vain, Donnie," she shook her head.
They finished up their walk, and once they returned to the condo, Donovan immediately took off running towards the kitchen. When she followed him, she found Vaughn in his pajama bottoms, sleepily rubbing his eyes as he turned on the coffeemaker.
"Hey," he smiled when he saw her. "You didn't have to take him out, I would have done it."
"I know, but you were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to wake you," she said as she kissed him lightly. "Besides, Donovan and I had a great time. He's quite the dog around town, huh?"
"Yeah, everyone in the neighborhood knows him, and he totally eats up the attention," Vaughn laughed. "I can't even imagine how much he enjoyed all the extra attention of being with a beautiful woman."
"Right, because I'm soooo sexy in my sweats and ponytail," she rolled her eyes. "Please, no one even noticed me. They were too busy cooing over Donovan, although Stacey and . . . Rachel -- is it? -- noticed me long enough to stop and ask where *you* were."
Vaughn shook his head and smiled. "They're just, uh, two of the friendlier women in the neighborhood."
"Funny, they weren't that friendly to me."
"Well, I'm sure they'll become more friendly once they start seeing you out more often."
"We'll see, but somehow, I doubt it," she replied, sounding unconvinced while Vaughn stretched and yawned next to her. "Tired?" she smirked.
"Yeah, I can't imagine why," he wryly answered pulling her into his arms, "but for the record, you can 'negotiate' with me any time you want to."
"I'll file that away for future reference, but that wasn't a negotiation last night. That was merely an exchange of first offers. We haven't even *begun* to negotiate yet."
"Really?" he laughed. "Why not? Wasn't my first offer good enough for you?"
"It was great, but that was just a jumping off point so I could see how, um, *flexible* you were willing to be."
"I thought I was pretty damned flexible last night."
"You were," she smiled, "but you can do better."
"You think so. Did I ever tell you that I do my best negotiating in the shower?" he asked as he pulled her sweatshirt over her head and tossed it onto the counter.
"No, you never told me that," she playfully responded.
"Why don't we go step into my office and I'll show you?"
"Deal," she agreed with a quick kiss on his lips. "I'll go start the water while you feed Donovan. And don't take forever, 'cause the clock is ticking."
"Like you won't wait," he scoffed as she left the room.
Sydney walked into the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as she could stand it, making the room quickly fill with steam as she stripped off her sweat pants and tank top and tossed them into the hamper in the corner. She climbed into the shower, smiling to herself as she realized how much of a thrill it gave her to do something as trivial and mundane as mixing her clothes in the laundry hamper with Vaughn's. It was such an insignificant thing, but after such unconventional start to their relationship, they found that the smallest hints of normalcy were what excited them the most these days. They had both grinned like idiots the night before when she placed her toothbrush in the toothbrush holder next to Vaughn's and he cleared out a whole side of his dresser for her things.
She wasn't sure how long the excitement of domestic tranquility would last, but she intended to enjoy it for as long as she could.
*****
"Okay, I'm ready," Sydney breathlessly exhaled as she breezed into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. "Sorry it took so long. Your hair dryer sucks."
"I've never had any problem with it."
"And your hair is what? An inch long? Of course you haven't had problems. I'm buying you a new one."
Vaughn smirked as he leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "Are you going to replace my razor with a Lady Schick and redo the bathroom in pink and purple too?"
"Shut up, Vaughn," she laughed, playfully punching him in the stomach.
"Fine, just admit that my hair dryer wasn't the reason it took you so long to get ready."
"I'll do no such thing."
"You hate it when I'm right, don't you? It's okay, you were worth the wait."
"See, now you're just making me blush," she smiled. "But thank you, I'm glad you like the outfit."
"You look great, but something's missing."
"What?" she asked, self-consciously peeking inside her suit jacket to make sure she remembered to put her bra on.
"Not that," he laughed, leaning in to steal his own peek.
"Then what is it?"
Vaughn reached inside his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring. "This."
"How did you -- where did you get this?"
"I snagged it while I was snooping around in your bedroom last night."
"Oh. I had it in safe keeping since I couldn't -- "
"You don't have to explain," he assured her as he took her left hand and slipped the ring onto her ring finger. "But this time, it doesn't come off, right?"
"Not a chance," she softly answered, as she looked down at her finger and the symbol of the new life they were about to embark on. "It feels so good to wear this again, but you realize the cat's gonna be out of the bag the minute we step into the ops center. Are you ready for that?"
"Definitely," he nodded. "I don't care who knows how much I love you."
"Even my dad?" she questioned as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Your dad already knows."
"Yeah, but hearing you tell him we're engaged and seeing the ring on my finger and being forced to accept it are two different things," she laughed. "I'm not sure he's ready for that."
"That's his problem," Vaughn murmured, while kissing her neck.
"No, it's gonna be *your* problem. I'm just saying, don't be surprised if you find transfer orders on your desk this afternoon assigning you to a post in Iceland."
"Syd," he said with mock hurt, "I think you underestimate how much your dad likes me now."
She pulled her head back and looked at him skeptically.
"Likes you?"
"*Tolerates* me."
"That's closer to the truth," she laughed as he made a face. "Aw, I'm kidding. I definitely think he likes you, and even if he doesn't, he won't be able to ignore how happy I am."
"Are you? I mean, I know you are about us, but we haven't really talked about anything else now that SD-6 is gone."
"What's to talk about?" she scrunched up her nose. "That nightmare is finally over. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "You've spent every day of the last two years, trying to put an end to SD-6 . . . it would be only natural if it felt a little anticlimactic now that a few days have passed."
"Wow," she breathed, disentangling herself from his embrace and turning her back to him as she nervously fiddled with her abandoned cup of coffee. "You're incredibly perceptive. *Too* perceptive, sometimes. Have I ever told you that?"
"Syd, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put a damper on your mood."
"You didn't, but you're right," she admitted, turning back to face him. "Knowing that I didn't have to wake up this morning and go to that building was great, and being able to spend the night here and have a normal morning and not be lying to anyone is the best feeling, but there's a part of me that feels . . . I don't even know how to describe it. I just feel kind of aimless and directionless, and I keep asking myself, 'what now'?
"I always thought that when SD-6 was gone, I would instantly know what I wanted to do with my life, and now I don't," she sighed.
"How long have you been feeling that way?" he asked with concern.
"Since we got back home yesterday morning. How did you pick up on it?"
"You seemed kind of quiet last night."
She raised an eyebrow and shot him a disbelieving look.
"Not then. *After* that," he smiled.
"I was gonna say," she laughed, before sighing again.
"Last night, I was laying there with you, thinking about how perfect everything was, but something still seemed wrong. And I knew it wasn't us, so I figured it had to do with the rest of my life."
"Syd, you know you don't have to have this all figured out right now," he soothed, taking her back into his arms. "You have all the time in the world to make decisions about the future."
"I know. I just always thought the decision would be obvious. From the day I started at SD-6, I thought that after a few years, I'd get over the adrenaline rush, and then settle down and be a teacher and a wife and a mother. And now I'm not sure that's what I want anymore -- the the teacher thing, I mean," she stammered.
"I know, Syd," he smiled.
"Two years ago, everything seemed so clear, and now, I can't imagine not working next to you and my dad every day. But after struggling so hard to get away from this life, it seems crazy that now I'm not sure I want to leave it. I don't know what to make of that."
"Then don't make anything of it, at least now," he suggested. "Listen, the change in your life is still really new and fresh, and it's going to take a while for you to settle into some sense of normalcy. So, for the time being, why don't you just shelve it? At least until we come back from vacation."
"Our vacation! I almost forgot about that," she grinned. "Wow, so all that time I would've spent worrying about my future? I'm going to spend imagining you in a Speedo instead."
"Yeah, you *will* be imagining it, because I would never be caught dead in a Speedo," he scoffed as he let her go and grabbed his jacket and keys from the kitchen table.
"Why not?" she teased, gathering her own belongings and following him to the front door. "You'd look good in a Speedo."
He shook his head as he held the door open for her. "Not gonna happen, Syd."
"That's what you say now, but I guess we'll have to negotiate it later, won't we?" she asked with a sultry kiss before sauntering out the door.
"That's what we do best," he grinned.
***** "Sydney."
She turned as soon as she heard the voice behind her and launched herself into Jack's arms.
"Dad," she breathed as she hugged him tightly. She was unbelievably relieved to see him again and know he was safe after his encounter with Sloane. After a few moments, she pulled back and held him at arms length, visually inspecting him. "Are you okay? Sloane didn't -- "
"No. Sloane didn't do anything to me," he assured her. "I'm fine, Sydney."
"Thank God. I rushed back to L.A. to make sure you were alright, only to learn you were at Langley."
"Yes. I wanted to be here when you returned, but the Director requested an in-person briefing about the status of the raid."
"Kendall told me," she nodded. I'm just glad you're back."
"I'm more glad that *you're* back, sweetheart. I didn't want to let on at the time and worry you, but I was really concerned about you, Vaughn and Elise. I had agents keeping an eye on you, but I knew what Sloane and the Alliance were capable of if they found out where you were."
"You had agents watching us? I should have known."
"I only did it for your safety -- "
"Dad, I know," she smiled. "You don't have to explain. And I'm okay. So is Vaughn, so is Elise. We're all great, thanks to you."
"And this chapter of our lives is finally over, thanks to *you.*"
"No, it wasn't just me," she shook her head.
"Sydney, I worked inside SD-6 for years before you learned the truth about the master you were serving. You did more damage in 2 years than I did in 12."
"But you were working alone then. If I'd been working alone, it would have taken me at least that long. Whatever success I had was only because I had you and Vaughn backing me up."
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Sydney. You're too modest for your own good," Jack smiled. "Speaking of Vaughn, where is he? I wanted to offer him my congratulations too."
"He's around here, but I'm not sure exactly where. I'm sure he'll appreciate that."
"I had my doubts about him when the two of you began working together, but I don't anymore, and he deserves praise for the role he played in the demise of SD-6. Now that it no longer exists, I assume the two of you are . . . taking advantage of your new-found freedom?"
"Wow, you almost said that without wincing, dad," she teased.
"Have the two of you discussed how you intend to go about making your colleagues aware of your relationship?"
"Well, we're not going to rent out a billboard or anything. I think we're assuming that people will find out eventually. The rumor mill around here is pretty active, and it's not like we were fooling anyone anyway. You and I both know there's not a single person here who didn't suspect we were involved the entire time we were working together."
"And they were right," he gently reminded her.
"But not until a few months ago. There have been whispers since the week after we met, but whatever," she shrugged before crossing her arms. "It's not like it matters now, because technically, Vaughn's not my handler anymore, he's just my colleague, right?"
"Colleague and fiancŽ," Jack corrected, as he noticed the ring on her left hand and lowered his voice. "Do you think it's wise to be wearing that so soon?"
She glanced at her hand and sighed. "I know what your concerns are dad, and I'm not saying they aren't valid, but Vaughn and I have been keeping this a secret for two months. We're both tired of hiding it, and there's no reason we should anymore. Our personal relationship isn't going to affect our professional relationship."
"That's untrue, and you know it, Sydney. Your personal relationship, even when it was purely platonic, has affected your professional partnership since the two of you began working together. I believe Vaughn's concern about that was precisely what compelled him to go to Langley, was it not?"
"That was only because he was concerned about compromising the SD-6 operation," she protested. "Obviously, that's not a concern anymore."
"The *SD-6* operation may no longer be a concern, Sydney, but there will be other missions, and once the bond between you and Vaughn has been further cemented, it's going to be even more difficult for the two of you to separate your personal and professional relationships."
"Dad -- "
"Even if *you* don't think it's going to be a problem, Sydney, your colleagues may perceive it that way. You need to be aware of that, that's all I'm trying to say." He gave her a slight smile to assure her that he wasn't purposely trying to give her a hard time.
"I'll keep what you said in mind," she said, returning his smile.
"That's all I'm asking."
"Can we change the subject now?"
"Gladly. What's wrong? You look troubled."
"Have you spoken with either Dixon or Marshall since the raid? I wanted to see them this afternoon once their debriefs are concluded, but I'm not sure how much they know about my role in all of this, and to tell the truth, I'm a little afraid of their reactions. Not Marshall's so much, but I can't imagine any way that Dixon *won't* feel like I've betrayed him, and I don't know if I can handle that."
"From what I know, Dixon and Marshall have both been told that there were CIA agents working inside SD-6, but that they're not privy to the identity of those agents, for the time being. So, whether you choose to make yourself known to them is your choice, Sydney."
"But it's not really a choice," she frowned. "It's not like I can keep this a secret forever. Once they're released from CIA custody, the truth is going to be obvious, and I think I owe it to them to be honest -- finally."
"Sydney, you don't owe anything to anyone. Not anymore. You've sacrificed enough."
"Dad," she shook her head, "Dixon and Marshall are my friends. I *do* owe them an explanation."
"I'm just concerned that if they react poorly to the news, you're going to blame yourself and internalize your guilt the way you do far too easily. I don't want to see you go through that. You were doing your job, Sydney, your duty as an agent of the United States. If Dixon and Marshall can't or don't understand that, it's not your fault."
"I know that," she quietly responded.
"Intellectually, you know that. Emotionally, I can already tell that you're struggling with it."
Sydney was about to answer him when she caught sight of Vaughn as he walked into the rotunda. She smiled as he walked up to her and her father.
"Hey. You okay?" he softly asked when he saw her anxious expression.
"I'm fine," she nodded.
"Vaughn," Jack interjected, "I know we spoke briefly during last night's videoconference, but I wanted to offer my congratulations in person. You should be proud of the work you did preparing for the raid. Our execution was sound, but the plan was flawless. I was impressed."
He offered his hand, and Sydney bit her lip to fight her smile as Vaughn shook it. She wondered how long it would be before they were watching football games and going on camping trips together.
"Thanks, Jack. That means a lot coming from you."
"Well, I hate to cut this short, but I have matters to attend to with Kendall. I was thinking, though, that we could all have dinner together sometime. Perhaps when your mother comes?" he asked, pretending not to notice the looks of mild surprise that passed between Sydney and Vaughn.
"Um, yeah, I'm sure she'd love that," Vaughn answered.
"Good. Then I'll call you to make arrangements when you return from your trip. Sydney, I'm glad you're back home. You too, Vaughn," he nodded before turning and leaving the two younger agents staring after him.
"Who was that?"
"The new, kinder, gentler Jack Bristow?" Sydney offered.
"I think the kinder, gentler Jack Bristow scares me more than the intimidating, scowling Jack Bristow I'm used to," Vaughn smiled before growing serious. "So is everything okay? The two of you seemed like you were pretty deep in conversation when I walked up on you."
"My dad just gave me a lot to think about, but everything's fine." She waiver her hand dismissively, eager to change the subject so she wouldn't have to discuss her lingering concerns about Dixon and Marshall. "Hey, do you want to get lunch?"
"I'd love to," he replied, looking at his watch, "but, I can't. I have an appointment in a few minutes."
"What kind of appointment?" she asked with a quizzical smile.
"Nothing important. Just work stuff. I'd offer to meet you somewhere, but I'm not sure how long this will take."
"It's fine, Vaughn. Maybe I'll ask Agent Miles to go to lunch, kind of as a 'thank you' for being such a good replacement handler while you were at Langley."
"I'm sure she'd like that."
"Yeah, I'm sure she would. And maybe at lunch, she can help me figure out why you're being so secretive."
"I'm not being secretive," he protested, though his body language said the opposite. "I'm just -- listen, I'll tell you all about it later, but if I don't hurry," he checked his watch again, "I'm going to be late. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Um, yeah. See you later," she said, more to herself than Vaughn when he rushed off without her, leaving her to wonder why he was being so evasive and what was going on.
TBC . . .