Oh Sydney, you haven't seen anything yet. Wait till you take a drive in a car or turn on the TV set. And I can guarantee you have a heck of a time understanding what the internet is.
I can that happening on some TV show.
It was all funny.
Vaughn having to figure out how to get her out of all those clothes.
Sydney waking up and seeing him in boxers.
Meeting Donovan and not knowing what he is.
The alarm clock, refrigerator, the cell phone and the bathroom.
She has no idea what else is in store for her.
That's what she gets for being nosey and following him.
Can't wait to see how everyone reacts to her at the CIA.
I can that happening on some TV show.
It was all funny.
Vaughn having to figure out how to get her out of all those clothes.
Sydney waking up and seeing him in boxers.
Meeting Donovan and not knowing what he is.
The alarm clock, refrigerator, the cell phone and the bathroom.
She has no idea what else is in store for her.
That's what she gets for being nosey and following him.
Can't wait to see how everyone reacts to her at the CIA.
Chapter 5
While Sydney was in the bathroom, Michael changed quickly and waited for her to come out. She came out about ten minutes after she went in looking very distressed and uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?” Michael asked her.
“I cannot go out looking like this. What will people think?” She asked nervously.
“Well first, no one will see you and second, you look pretty much normal, well except for your hair,” he said.
“What about it?” She asked as her hand shot up to feel it.
“Women don’t wear their hair like that... they wear it down or in a pony tail or something.” He said.
Her face hardened. “Wearing your hair down is inappropriate.”
“Whatever.” Michael rolled his eyes. Thankfully the doorbell rang at that moment. “Great that’s my partner Eric here to pick us up.”
“I cannot be seen by another man like this,” she said.
“I know, I’m sorry just please, we have to go.” He sighed.
“How do we get there? Walk?” she asked.
“No. Drive,” he said absentmindedly.
“Drive? Like a coach?” She asked.
“No, a car,” he sighed. “Here these shoes will work.” He said as he handed her a pair of Nikes.
“These are strange.” She examined them.
“What else is new?” Michael grunted as he walked to the door and let his friend in.
“How is she?” Eric asked.
“Scared, confused, and annoying,” Michael responded.
“Gotcha.” Eric sighed. “Whoa, what’d you do to her?” He laughed as he saw Sydney stumble from the bedroom as she put on Michael’s oversized shoes.
“What? It’s not like I keep women’s clothes on hand.” He sighed.
“Ok good point. Hi, I’m Eric Weiss.” Eric said as he extended his hand. Sydney didn’t shake it; she just looked at him and folded her arms protectively over her chest. “Okay then...,” Weiss sighed. “What’s her name?” He asked Michael.
“Sydney.” Michael told him. “Come on,” he said to Sydney. She walked slowly towards him and through the door he had just opened for her but then stopped dead.
“What is this?” She gasped.
“This is where I live.” He explained. Then he looked over at her and saw her smiling for the first time that morning. “What?”
“There are trees and grass,” she said.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “Come on.” He said as he gently took her hand and pulled her towards the waiting car. She didn’t budge. “What?” he asked again, more impatiently this time.
“What’s that?” she asked as she pointed towards the black sedan in the driveway.
“That’s the car.” He told her. She looked even more confused. “It’s like... a coach that doesn’t need horses.” He explained. He saw Eric rolling his eyes and gave him a ‘well, this isn’t easy’ look. “It’s safe I promise,” Michael said as he walked over and opened the door for her.
“What do I do?” she asked curiously as she looked inside.
“Just sit down.” Michael explained. Sydney slid cautiously into the seat and ran her hands over the leather interior. Michael ducked his head inside the car and reached for her seatbelt. She jumped, but didn’t say anything. He snapped her seat belt tight and then pulled his head out of the car. “There you go.” He smiled as he shut the door and walked around to the passenger side as Eric climbed into the driver’s seat.
Once they were in and buckled up, Eric turned the key and the engine roared to life; Sydney screamed. Michael turned around and looked at her. “It’s ok, that’s what it’s supposed to do.” Sydney nodded cautiously but he could see her wringing her hands as Eric backed out of the driveway. Michael turned back to Eric. “Did you tell Devlin about her?”
“Yep, he’s royally pissed at you,” Eric said.
“Great.” Michael groaned. He heard Sydney screech slightly as a speeding 18 wheeler passed them in the opposite direction. He glanced back at her and she looked pale. “Perhaps you should close your eyes.” She nodded wearily as she covered her face with her hands. In a moment they heard her sobbing softly. Eric and Michael exchanged sympathetic glances.
“Poor girl,” Eric sighed.
“Yeah I know,” Michael said quietly.
Half an hour later, they parked in the CIA parking garage. “You can open your eyes now,” Michael said as he opened her door and unbuckled her seat belt. “Here.” He said as he handed her a tissue.
“Thank you.” She sniffed as she slid out of the car. Then she looked around and looked even more shocked. “Where are we?”
“Parking garage,” Eric told her. Realizing that meant nothing he just mumbled “Never mind,” and they walked towards the elevator. The doors slid open and Michael and Eric stepped inside but Sydney was left frozen. They exchanged glances as they stepped back out and pulled her into the elevator with them. She looked horrified as the doors closed. When the elevator jolted upwards she screamed and grabbed a hold of Michael’s arm.
“It’s ok,” he said quietly as he rubbed her hand softly. Once the elevator stopped they stepped out and Sydney looked back cautiously.
“What was that?”
“Elevator,” Eric said.
“Elegator?” She asked.
“No, elevator,” Michael said.
“I don’t like those,” She said timidly.
Eric and Michael took Sydney into the CIA headquarters and stopped at their lockers so they could drop off their weapons since they were not allowed inside the rotunda. “What’s that?” Sydney asked in a horrified manor.
“Gun... like shotgun only smaller.” Michael explained.
“Oh.... why do you hide them in your shirt?” Sydney asked.
“Because people don’t walk around displaying weapons anymore,” Michael said. “Besides, it’s illegal.”
“It’s illegal to have a gun?” she asked.
“With the exception of law enforcement people, it’s illegal to carry weapons in the open without a permit, yes,” Michael said.
“Oh...,” she sighed.
“This isn’t the wild west.” Eric laughed. “We’re not savages.”
“I’m not a savage.” She defended.
“No, I didn’t mean... whatever.” He sighed as they began walking down the hall. As they did Sydney looked around.
“What are those?” She asked as she pointed upwards.
“Lights,” Michael said.
“Are they candles?”
“No, we have electricity...,” he said. “Never mind....,” he sighed, not being in the mood to explain it to her. Once they entered the rotunda and Sydney caught a glimpse of all the computer monitors her eyes widened even further.
“Agent Vaughn.” Devlin barked.
“Yes sir,” Michael said quickly.
“You’ve got a hell of a lot of explaining to do,” Devlin said.
“Yes sir,” Michael sighed.
“Is this her?” he asked.
“Yes sir,” Michael said once again.
“What on earth is she wearing?” Devlin asked.
“My clothes... her dress got... messed up,” Michael said.
“Fine. Come with me, all three of you,” Devlin said. Michael, Eric and Sydney followed him to a conference room where they all sat down. “Explain Agent Vaughn.”
“Ok well I wasn’t able to find any caves sir, I mean I searched for them all day but I couldn’t find any. So then I found out where the ocean was by asking Miss Bristow and then, I borrowed a horse, rode there and jumped off the cliff. Next think I know I’m landing on the pier and she’s right behind me.” Michael explained. Devlin looked at him suspiciously and then turned his glance to Sydney.
“And you?”
Sydney froze up and glanced over to Michael who nodded encouragingly. “After Mr. Vaughn left my house I followed him....”
“Wait, left your house?!” Devlin shouted at Vaughn.
“Shh don’t interrupt her,” Michael said quickly.
“I.... I followed him. I snuck out, took my father’s horse and followed him. When he stopped at the ocean, I fell back and watched him. But then he jumped off the cliff and I was quite upset. I ran over to the edge but that’s all I remember. I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
“Well, Miss Bristow we are going to try to get you home.” Devlin told her. “Marshall told me that the vortex will open again next Wednesday.”
“You mean almost a week?!” Michael gasped.
“Yes. And she is not your responsibility.”
“ME?!” Michael gasped.
“Yes. She is your assignment Agent Vaughn; try not to screw this up,” Devlin said before storming from the conference room.