Countdown

Episode Number: 2.20

Original Air Date: April 27, 2003

Summary:
We begin at Diane's funeral. Vaughn sees Dixon taking pills, but doesn't say anything until he and Syd get home and change. She tells Vaughn not to worry. She's known Dixon forever and knows he's just grieving. It's probably nothing to worry about. But Vaughn isn't convinced. He asks Doctor Barnett to give him a psychological evaluation. Sydney is angry with Vaughn, but understands he's only thinking of her- if Dixon can't handle his job it could put her in jeopardy.

Barnett eventually asks to speak to Sydney on Dixon's behalf. She believes Dixon is okay, despite having caught him lying. She also finds that lied on his drug test: an action that could have him arrested or at least fired. She make him promise her that he'll be okay. He does.

Meanwhile, we meet Kerry, a new CIA agent and Marshall's new crush. She informs the crew that Rambaldi drew a sketch of a man that is alive today, and that his DNA is the key to the last piece of the Rambaldi puzzle: an apocolyptic event that will unfold in 48 hours.

We see Sloane taking what looks like a spiritual journey after saying goodbye to Sark. He's climbing through Nepal to reach a man who lives high in the mountains.

Dixon and Syd go on a mission to get more information on the Rambaldi event. Dixon flips out and begins to really pound a suspect. He wants to know where Sloane is. Sydney finally realizes that maybe Dixon won't be okay. She tells him that because she lied for him, she is in danger of being in real trouble if he does do something stupid. Not that that is her main concern, but he needs to promise her that he'll take some time to cope. Dixon is more depressed than anyone could imagine. He drives to a bridge and is about to jump off. Carl Lumbly rocks.

Later, Jack says that Dixon is late for work but he comes in a few minutes later. He tells Sydney what he'd almost done, but it was the thought of his children that kept him from jumping. He thanks her for the faith she has in him and promises to begin moving on with his life, for his children if nothing else. Syd is teary and they have a touching moment.

Syd and Dixon go after a lead and the man refuses to talk. So Dixon threatens to detonate a bomb, saying he has nothing to live for anyway. Sydney thinks he's finally lost it. The guy talks and the timer runs out on the bomb. We see this was just a scare tactic Dixon used to get the man to talk. Sydney is proud and is finally sure he really will be okay.

Sloane finally reaches his destination and meets a monk, at the exact time he's meant to according to the prophecy. He gives Sloane a scroll to read, detailing the final prophecy of Rambaldi. This is the same monk that sent Sloane out on this Rambaldi mission over 30 years ago. Sloane reads the scroll and the 48 hour time limit is up. The monk tells Sloane that his journey has just begun.