As Soft As Thunder
by kriz-te
Disclaimer: I didn't write the Alias characters all by myself. They are from the show.
Author's Note: This is a re-edited version of a story I started called I.C.E. I stopped writing it for a long time, and now I'm back to finish it. I just wanted to start from the beginning and straighten some things out.
So I hope anyone who reads it, will like it, and will please leave me some feedback!
Chapter One
An agent
Running for my life is something I have gotten used to. I wish that wasn’t so but...it couldn’t be helped. And now I find myself doing it once again. Stark white walls leave blurs in my vision and I try to go faster. I think I've left my pursuer behind but I'm not sure.
I hate high heels. They make so much noise when you're trying to be unheard. Why does wardrobe insist on these ridiculous outfits? They work when things are calm, but they are just not practical when crunch time comes. This tight red skirt is really hampering my strides. I’m tempted to just shed it, but that would take too long, plus I'd get a lecture from Sloane if I were show up for extraction half naked.
Finally! I see my break. A ladder to the restricted floor is in a niche on my right. I pull my hair sticks apart to get my lock picks and within seconds, I'm practically ripping the door open. Starting to climb, I remember another reason why I hate high heels. They have no grip at all.
Using my arms to leaver myself through the manhole, I swing up but slip and land flat on my back. Damn! I can hear the echo of his steps in the hall below through the floor. I was so sure he was farther behind. Well, there is no other place but here to make my stand. I maneuver my body around halfway behind and take careful aim through the manhole.
As I lie in wait my mind slips back to the day I got myself into this business. It was a regular boring day at the city library. I was behind the counter as usual when a sandy blond haired young man stepped up with some books.
I started to check them out and wasn’t paying attention to him but his words soon caught my attention.
“You know, I’ve been watching you for the past few months.”
So I know I’m not bad looking, and I love not being the stereotype librarian, but I was still never approached like this.
“You fit a certain profile almost perfectly.”
Now he was just being corny. I raised my eyebrows and simply replied, "Not interested.”
He chuckled a little. I found it an annoying sound.
“I'm sorry, you misunderstand me. I'm not trying to ask you out, I'm offering you another job. My employer has certain things he looks for in his employees. He asked me to check into you and I have. I’ve been watching you and I think you are almost a perfect match to what he needs. If this life gets to dull for you, give us a call.”
He sliped a business card face down on the counter as he lifted his books, gave me an amused smile and left. I picked up the card and again raised my eyebrows at the logo of the CIA.
Needless to say, I did call. And now I work for a man named Arvin Sloane. He can be very demanding and sometimes I really don’t like him all that well. But he picked me for a very specific reason, and I wouldn't change my mind. I guess he's not so bad after all; he did apologize for the fake CIA story right off.
Once I heard the truth about his operation, he told me I still had a choice if I would agree to training or not. But I’d already made up my mind I was in, I would never have this chance ever again, so I signed on.
After only 7 months of training in all manners of all things spy, Sloane arranged a meet and handed me my first mission.
I pulled the top sheet of paper out of the manila folder and started reading. I soon registered the jist of my orders, and I smiled because this gave me exactly what I wanted. Long term, deep-cover, and Michael Vaughn.
Now, as I wait for a body to appear through the opening, I smile to think that that day was the real beginning of my life. I wouldn't take anything back. Because I know that within the couple years, the running will be over for good.
~~~*~~~
Sydney
I sit across from the love of my life and I cannot absorb the words he just uttered.
“What?” I whisper brokenly.
“I’m so sorry. But you were gone for so long...you were dead. I looked..I promise I did. But you were gone...” He won’t raise his head to meet my eyes.
“You were gone,” he quietly states.
“For two years?”
He nods. “Almost.”
I stare at his ring. “Vaughn..”
He looks at me with an expression that breaks my heart even more. I must get this clarified as soon as possible.
“You're married?”
He looks absolutely miserable as he nods again. There is such a huge lump in my throat. It hurts really bad and the pressure behind my eyes is building so fast. I can barely get the next question out.
“Who?”
He leans forward, puts his head in his hands, and starts to say her name.
"Wait, don't," I suddenly don't want to know.
The sobs come unbidden. Vaughn just sits across from me as I struggle to get myself under-control. I try to remind myself there are other important things I need to find out but I cannot remember what they are. All I know right now is that the man that matters most to me is no longer mine.
by kriz-te
Disclaimer: I didn't write the Alias characters all by myself. They are from the show.
Author's Note: This is a re-edited version of a story I started called I.C.E. I stopped writing it for a long time, and now I'm back to finish it. I just wanted to start from the beginning and straighten some things out.
So I hope anyone who reads it, will like it, and will please leave me some feedback!
Chapter One
An agent
Running for my life is something I have gotten used to. I wish that wasn’t so but...it couldn’t be helped. And now I find myself doing it once again. Stark white walls leave blurs in my vision and I try to go faster. I think I've left my pursuer behind but I'm not sure.
I hate high heels. They make so much noise when you're trying to be unheard. Why does wardrobe insist on these ridiculous outfits? They work when things are calm, but they are just not practical when crunch time comes. This tight red skirt is really hampering my strides. I’m tempted to just shed it, but that would take too long, plus I'd get a lecture from Sloane if I were show up for extraction half naked.
Finally! I see my break. A ladder to the restricted floor is in a niche on my right. I pull my hair sticks apart to get my lock picks and within seconds, I'm practically ripping the door open. Starting to climb, I remember another reason why I hate high heels. They have no grip at all.
Using my arms to leaver myself through the manhole, I swing up but slip and land flat on my back. Damn! I can hear the echo of his steps in the hall below through the floor. I was so sure he was farther behind. Well, there is no other place but here to make my stand. I maneuver my body around halfway behind and take careful aim through the manhole.
As I lie in wait my mind slips back to the day I got myself into this business. It was a regular boring day at the city library. I was behind the counter as usual when a sandy blond haired young man stepped up with some books.
I started to check them out and wasn’t paying attention to him but his words soon caught my attention.
“You know, I’ve been watching you for the past few months.”
So I know I’m not bad looking, and I love not being the stereotype librarian, but I was still never approached like this.
“You fit a certain profile almost perfectly.”
Now he was just being corny. I raised my eyebrows and simply replied, "Not interested.”
He chuckled a little. I found it an annoying sound.
“I'm sorry, you misunderstand me. I'm not trying to ask you out, I'm offering you another job. My employer has certain things he looks for in his employees. He asked me to check into you and I have. I’ve been watching you and I think you are almost a perfect match to what he needs. If this life gets to dull for you, give us a call.”
He sliped a business card face down on the counter as he lifted his books, gave me an amused smile and left. I picked up the card and again raised my eyebrows at the logo of the CIA.
Needless to say, I did call. And now I work for a man named Arvin Sloane. He can be very demanding and sometimes I really don’t like him all that well. But he picked me for a very specific reason, and I wouldn't change my mind. I guess he's not so bad after all; he did apologize for the fake CIA story right off.
Once I heard the truth about his operation, he told me I still had a choice if I would agree to training or not. But I’d already made up my mind I was in, I would never have this chance ever again, so I signed on.
After only 7 months of training in all manners of all things spy, Sloane arranged a meet and handed me my first mission.
I pulled the top sheet of paper out of the manila folder and started reading. I soon registered the jist of my orders, and I smiled because this gave me exactly what I wanted. Long term, deep-cover, and Michael Vaughn.
Now, as I wait for a body to appear through the opening, I smile to think that that day was the real beginning of my life. I wouldn't take anything back. Because I know that within the couple years, the running will be over for good.
~~~*~~~
Sydney
I sit across from the love of my life and I cannot absorb the words he just uttered.
“What?” I whisper brokenly.
“I’m so sorry. But you were gone for so long...you were dead. I looked..I promise I did. But you were gone...” He won’t raise his head to meet my eyes.
“You were gone,” he quietly states.
“For two years?”
He nods. “Almost.”
I stare at his ring. “Vaughn..”
He looks at me with an expression that breaks my heart even more. I must get this clarified as soon as possible.
“You're married?”
He looks absolutely miserable as he nods again. There is such a huge lump in my throat. It hurts really bad and the pressure behind my eyes is building so fast. I can barely get the next question out.
“Who?”
He leans forward, puts his head in his hands, and starts to say her name.
"Wait, don't," I suddenly don't want to know.
The sobs come unbidden. Vaughn just sits across from me as I struggle to get myself under-control. I try to remind myself there are other important things I need to find out but I cannot remember what they are. All I know right now is that the man that matters most to me is no longer mine.