Sorry about the wait...I've had a bit of writer's block and I'm trying to ease myself off the computer in preparation for my cruise. I'm leaving on Friday, so don't be alarmed if there's not another update until after Sept. 4th!
PART 17
The flight home was the worst 7 hours of Sydney's life. After hearing what Michael had said last night, she was on the brink of tears.
How could she have been so gullible? Why hadn't she figured it out yet? What was she going to do now?
Sitting next to Dixon brought her even more emotion. He had a wife and two kids at home.
He can't possibly know. The tears were burning her eyes. She couldn't spare one moment to tell her partner where she was going.
Locking the bathroom door, Sydney sat on the seat of the toilet and began to cry.
She didn't care that she was wrinkling her good suit. She didn't care that her mascara was running and making spots on the tan fabric.
All she cared about—her job, her friends, her life—were lies.
"Michael?" She had somehow dialed her cell phone and was wiping her eyes and nose.
"Sydney." His voice sounded worried.
"I can't do this. Seeing him go about his day, thinking he's doing the right thing…"
"Sydney, you can't tell him. First off, you're not officially on our side."
"On your side? Are you in a cab?"
"Sydney, I wasn't even supposed to tell you. Before last night I wasn't one hundred percent sure that you were unaware of what you really do." There was a long pause between the two.
"Michael?"
"Yes?"
"I want to be on your side. Officially."
* * * * *
Vaughn tucked his phone back in his coat pocket and walked to the customs area.
"Passport please." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his passport and ID badge.
"Agent Michael Vaughn, CIA." The woman inspected the badge and handed it back to him.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you." He walked 3 feet more to the metal detectors.
"Sir, please remove your belt and walk through." He walked through and beeped, giving the guard a reason for frisking him. She felt his holster and looked at him. He flashed his badge again.
"All right, sir." He put his belt back on and searched for his gate. He boarded the plane early and walked into business class.
"Vaughn! Where the hell were you last night? I waited in the hotel all night for you!" He pulled a book out of his carry-on and stuffed the bag in the overhead compartment.
"I had a run-in with Sydney." Kim sat down and looked at the seat in front of her.
"Damnit. I should've gotten her when I had the chance."
"You saw her in there? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was a little more concerned about getting out of there alive! She had a gun aimed right at me!" An older woman sitting across the aisle glanced at them.
"A paintball gun. No worries, ma'am." Vaughn smiled at the woman and stared back at Kim. "Would you mind talking a little quieter?"
"At least we got the…uh…"
"Trophy?"
"Yeah, we got the trophy! Yay!" Kim feigned cheering and leaned close to Vaughn's ear. "You need to tell me everything that happened with Sydney."
"We didn't do anything."
"I promise not to tell anyone." She sat back, but quickly leaned back in. "Except Eric."
"Ok, then I'm definitely not telling you."
"Vaughn, you never tell me anything! How do you expect us to work together when you won't tell me anything?"
"Fine," He closed his book and looked at Kim. "We talked."
"About what?"
"Are you really 25? Because I'm having this flashback to high school…"
"What did you talk about?" Vaughn sighed in defeat.
"I told her."
"You told her…"
"About us. What we do. What she doesn't do."
"Oh." Kim's eyes widened. "Ooh. Kendall is going to have your ass on a platter."
"Well, he didn't hear any of our conversation, thank God."
"Are you sure you just talked about work?"
"Kim, yes! So, maybe she was a little fragile and maybe she needed just a bit of comforting from me; I'm not made of stone!"
"That may be, but your brain isn't in your crotch either! You can't have a decent relationship with this woman, even if she was single! What's it going to take to get that through to you?"
"Kimberly Vanessa Turner, rest assured that I have everything under control."