Guardian Angel

Author: Janet (SkyGirl5)

Genre: S/V, AU

Summary: Now that her husband is gone, what will Sydney Bristow do? How will she move on?

Disclaimer: Sydney, Vaughn, etc are properties of JJ Abrams and ABC.

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Chapters 1-10 // Chapters 11 - 20 // Afterward 1 & 2

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Author's Note: Ok, here's the deal with the two afterwards. I had originally planned on using only the first one, but then I got the idea for the second and I wanted to use that too... so I wrote them both. Know that they are COMPLETELY independent of one another. Otherwise, enjoy.

Afterward

It’s been almost ten years since that day I brought Gabby home from the hospital. It’s been over ten years since the accident and I still miss Michael just the same as I always will miss him. I love him with all my heart and I will love him until the day I die. But, I did do as he asked. I moved on. Sort of anyway.

Gabby and me, we’re wonderful. I couldn’t love her anymore if I tried. Yes, the first few weeks were difficult. Especially since Gabby’s little cousin Megan was born eight days after her so the family had two screaming newborns. Though I must say I did fair better than Nadia since Megan had a particularly horrible case of colic. But Mom helped us both and somehow, we made it thought. Now Gabby and Megan are inseparable. They’re the best of friends which is completely adorable. Megan also has a younger brother, Michael, who Gabby and Megan both love to torment but, in the end they love him.

In this time Eric and Nadia encouraged me to go out on dates. Not right away of course but mostly when Gabby started kindergarten. I refused saying it was too soon. But then a few months ago Gabby said to me that it was ok if I liked other men besides Daddy because she didn’t want me to be alone. That broke my heart.

So reluctantly, I went out to a bar with a coworker and I met Christian, Chris for short. He’s two years older than me and he’s a widower. His wife died seven years ago so he completely understands everything about my situation. In fact, he more than understands since his wife was also killed by a drunk driver.

To me Chris looks very similar to Michael. Strange, I know, but he does. I mean, Chris has dark brown hair and his eyes are blue but everything else about him sort of reminds me of Michael. Nadia and Eric think I’m crazy. They say he looks nothing like Michael. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I only think he looks like Michael because I want him too.

I’ve known Chris for two months now. Up until tonight we’ve just been talking over the phone and we’ve hung out a few times. He even went with Gabby and me to a movie once. But we’ve just been strictly friends. Tonight is our first date date and I couldn’t be more terrified at all.

It’s been over fifteen years since I’ve had a first date and I didn’t remember being this nervous. I think one reason why I feel this way is because I fell like somehow, someway it’s cheating on Michael. I mean, technically I know it isn’t but I feel like I am. I keep reminding myself that this is what Michael wanted for me, but still, it’s difficult.

Gabby went to stay with Nadia and Eric tonight and Chris picked me up to take me out to dinner. Ok, it’s slightly awkward I admit but its going alright I suppose. He asks me to dance and I slowly get up and follow his leading arm. This restaurant is like a big old fashion converted barn or something with exposed wood floors and a huge brick fireplace in the center. The dance floor is set up around the fireplace and Chris takes me there.

His arms around my waist almost terrify me. It’s been so long since I’ve been close to someone I don’t even know how to act. And yet, at the same time I’m comforted by his warmth and strong arms. We whisper quietly about another rather unique couple on the dance floor and I almost burst out into loud giggles when this woman bumps into another couple and nearly sends them to the floor.

In my amusement, I fail to pay attention to what I’m doing and I step on the end of my skirt and I slip. Chris catches me and pulls me to my feet and just that quickly, we kiss. Its short, its brief, our lips are barely touching but its good. I don’t know if I should feel guilty or not for liking it but something about this kiss is familiar.

Chris pulls me close to him once more and whispers “I told you I’d find a way back.”

My heart literally stops. I just look at him and he looks at me. His eyes sparkle something... something green, something warm, something familiar. “Michael?” I breathe.

He just smiles.





Afterward 2

There are days when you are simply thankful to be alive. This can be triggered by any number of things. It can be a bright spring day where everything goes your way. It can be the day that the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with agrees to marry you. It can be the day of the birth of your first child or any of your children. It can be anything.

Its one of those days where you just want to get down on your knees, kiss the ground and then stand, raise your hands above your head and try to kiss the sky as well. Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme, but you get the idea.

Everything is fuzzy. I can hear faint sounds around me but none of them are clear, not yet. They’ve been getting progressively clearer for the past few minutes but still, it’s difficult. I’ve been stuck in this dream world so long it’s hard to pull myself out. I hear a soft hum of machines now. The gentle in and out of something. Maybe a door opening and closing, I’m not sure.

I’m slowly regaining my senses as well. Everything is warm on me except for my arms and face which are rather cold. But there is something in my left hand, yes, something warm. I open my eyes and I’m blinded by an overwhelming bright light. Quickly I shut my eyes but I try and open them again. As I blink things come into focus and I can tell that I’m staring up at a pure white ceiling. I try to move my head but something is blocking it. There’s something down my throat, I don’t know if I can move my head so I just move my eyes. And then, I see her.

I see my perfectly angelic Sydney sitting in a chair, her head resting in her hand as she sleeps. Her other hand is in mine, I can tell. My eyes are heavy but I fight to keep them open because I don’t know how long they’ve been closed. My whole body hurts. I how realize that my left hand, the one she is holding is in a cast all the way up past my elbow and to the middle of my bicep. I think my leg is in a cast too but I’m not sure.

I wonder how long Sydney’s been sitting there, watching over me like the angel that she is. I move my fingers gently against hers, trying to wake her. I am unsuccessful. I try again, this time I use what minimal strength I have to move my arm from my shoulder. This works and she stirs.

She yawns and sits up straight, stretching her back. I don’t know if she’s noticed that I’m looking at her but I cannot speak with whatever this is down my throat. I wiggle my fingers again and she looks down at them in a look of disbelief and shock. Then she looks up at me and we make eye contact and I see tears in her eyes.

“Michael.” She sighs. “Oh Michael thank god.” She says. She gets up and leans her face against mine, kissing my temples and above my eye. “Oh Michael I was so worried.” She cries.

Worried? Why was she worried? What happened to me?

“Michael can you understand me? I mean you can’t talk but ... but blink if you can understand me.” She says. I blink. “Ok good, I’m going to go get a doctor ok?” She smiles. I blink again and watch her go.

Sydney doesn’t return but I can see her hovering outside the door when a doctor comes inside. “You had us all worried Mr. Vaughn. Quite worried indeed.” He says. He shines a flashlight in my eyes and checks my pupils and then he checks the reflexes on my non broken limbs. He tells me how to take out my breathing tube and when he does it I cough and notice and immense pain in my ribs.

“Don’t try to talk, just sip this.” He says as he hands me a cup of water. “I’ll let your wife back in now.”

Sydney comes rushing in and hovers up near my head as she runs her fingers through my hair. “Hey baby, how are you?” She asks.

“I’ve been better.” I say hoarsely. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” She asks. I shake my head. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Um, buying ice cream... getting in my car... that’s it.” I sigh.

She nods sadly. “You were stopped at a red light. I drunk driver hit your door but someone there pulled you out before your car caught on fire. But you’ve been in a coma for over two weeks.” She says.

“Two weeks?” I gasp.

She nods. “They thought... they thought you might never wake up that your ... your brain was too damaged.” She sobs.

“Oh Syd... I’m sorry.” I sigh.

“No, it ok, I’m glad you’re ok.” She sighs as she kisses me gently. “You did have me worried there for a while.”

“I know I.... I’ve been having the strangest dream.” I say. And then I tell her all about it. The accident, her pregnancy, me visiting her, everything.

“Wow.” She sighs. “I just... wow.”

“I know, crazy huh?” I laugh slightly.

“Michael, I’m pregnant.” She says.

“What?” I gasp.

She nods. “I just found out today....”

“That’s amazing. Oh my god Syd I’m so happy!” I exclaim while laughing with pure joy.

“I know.” She smiles. “I guess... maybe part of you dreamt was right.”

“Except I’m not dead.” I say.

“Right, and I am very, very thankful about that. Thank you for coming back to me.” She sighs as she leans her forehead against mine.

“I’ll always come back Syd, always.”

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