Something had to give

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters portrayed in this story.  Talk to ABC if you don't believe me.  They can give you a full list of who does.

Summery: Seven years of hell and something had to give.  S/V

Rating: currently a PG but may get up to R...who am I kidding will get up to R

AN: Ok.  Don't let this first part turn you off to the story. I was trying something new for this little prologue.  And though it maybe be depressing as all hell here it can only get better.  True I love my angst but I also believe in happy endings if that means anything.

Prologue

Why?...Because.

"Did you ever watch cartoons when you were a kid?"

Seven years of this hell and she still surprises him.

Grinning he answers her. "Yeah."

She smiles.  It's been too long, she realizes.  Too long since either one of them smiled.  His life, her life, though they were tied together, there was nothing they could do about it. 

She should be married with children; Francie was expecting her third.  Sydney's smile melts. 

Vaughn looks away.

"What's my counter mission?" she asks.

He answers her briefly.  The same old story.  Seven years worth.

She thought it would be done by now.  She thought that things would have changed.

They did change though.

"Be careful." he calls after her, more out of habit then concern.

At one time those words alone would have made her melt.  Not anymore.

There's no feeling to them, no thinly disguised concern.  They just are.

They both knew that at one time things would have to give.

Things gave all right.  Just not in the way they'd wanted them to.

Seven years and they just are.

There's no passion in her movements now, no fire in her attacks.  Mechanical, forced, trained.  No hope in her counter missions.  They just are.

There's no passion in his eyes, his words.  Mechanical, forced, trained.  No hope in her counter missions. They just are.

Will there be seven more years to follow?  Or more still.  It won't matter because there's no feeling in it now.

Yet still he watches her go and he can't help but hope she'll be ok and that she'll return to him.

He knows it's hopeless.  He knows he shouldn't even dream about holding her in his arms one day and kissing her.  He knows that it will never happen and to dream will only disappoint him in the end.  But still he watches her.

And she still thinks about that night on the pier when he had simply been there for her. 

She knows it will never happen again.  He doesn't touch her now.  He hasn't for years.  But she still remembers how it felt to be in his arms.  And she still wonders what it would be like to kiss him.

This time as she walks away, she stops, unlike so many times in the past, she turns to face him.

Her eyes meet his for the first time in months, years possibly.  So much distance.

"Why?" she questions.  He knows what she's asking.  Why should she be careful?  Why should she continue? Why did he tell her to be careful?  Why can't he look at her anymore?  Why is he even still there?

But mostly, why is he so far away from her now?

"Because." he answers.  Because she knows she has to.  Because SD-6 will be brought down.  Because habits die hard.  Because it hurts.  Because he can't leave. 

But mostly, because he loves her.

She doesn't understand.  She only nods and turns to go. 

They wonder if they will last another seven years.