The ride to CTU was painfully slow, but Jack Bauer didn't have the will power to manoeuvre through traffic. He made his way through the building with tall strides, aware that every pair of eyes would be on him now his addiction was out in the open. People glanced at him over there computer monitors as he passed, trying to watch him inconspicuously but failing, he knew what they were doing. He was sweating again but wouldn't give his viewers the satisfaction of seeing him do something, anything, which would provoke suspicion; even something as innocent as rubbing his face.
He scanned the room for Brad and noticed that Michelle wasn't on the floor, her terminal was going unused. He assumed she was with Tony or at the clinic, but it still seemed odd to him, seeing her terminal empty like that; he didn't think he had ever seen it so bare before.
Hammond left the briefing room and headed right over to Jack who stood prone in the centre of the main building, lost in thought as his eyes wavered over Michelle's desk. He was completely oblivious to the activity around him, and for a split second Brad wondered if he was high. He didn't entertain the thought for long, Jack wouldn't get high on the job, he would never put public safety at risk, not even for his drug addiction. Brad reached out to him and watched as Jack snapped out of his daze instantly, he wasn't high.
"They brought me over to interrogate the couriers Brad, but Johnson and Melrose are already in with them," he stated, not bothering with the formalities of a greeting. He was annoyed as he was wasting his time doing nothing when he could be with his daughter at the hospital.
"I know there was a mix up, I'm sorry. Listen, I need one minute to check something with Chloé, then we can talk. Why don't you go wait in your office and I'll get over as soon as I can?" His tone was friendly and made Jack suspicious, but he didn't have the strength to question it.
"Sure," he muttered, wondering if the tale about interrogating the couriers had been a play to make him come back all along. It didn't matter, he was here now, might as well get the inevitable over with. He felt Brad pat his shoulder in appreciation for his co-operation before he rushed away. He made his way over to the Field Operations sector but stopped short of the stairs which would take him to his office. He glanced over his shoulder at Michelle's workstation again and sighed, feeling his shoulders slump in defeat; it represented the start of the change which was to come.
He made it up to his office undisturbed, now the threat was over the majority of the field teams had been sent home to rest, after pulling double shifts it was unnecessary to keep them working any longer. He closed the glass door behind him and studied the office, knowing it had been searched when his addiction was revealed. It still looked the same, everything was as he left it, just a few key things would have been taken; like his drug kit, for example.
His eyes scanned the two piece couch and he wanted nothing more then to collapse on it, but instead he made his way over to the water fountain in the corner by his locker. He poured himself a plastic cup of cold water and gulped it down thirstily; before pouring himself a second, third and fourth. The cold liquid felt heavenly as it made its way down his scratchy dry throat. He grudgingly left the fountain and took a seat on the corner couch as Brad made his way into the room. He made himself comfortable opposite him but Jack didn't meet his eyes.
Hammond sensed his discomfort with the conversation which was going to come and realised he would have to start the ball rolling.
"What happens now Jack? The threat is over and there is no national crisis demanding our immediate attention."
"I'm going to get clean Brad," he snapped, cutting to the chase - he knew exactly where Brad was taking this.
"Have you thought about how you're going to do this?" His tone was gentle and Jack wondered if Brad was being nice because he wanted something from him. There was no other reason, Jack was certain of it. Brad didn't care about him or his health, he was probably trying to get everything squared away so he could go back to Division.
"I'll do it alone. I've already been tampering off." He was staring at his hands now, picking at his nails. It didn't matter, the reddening face told Brad all he needed to know. He stretched over the coffee table separating them and placed a hand on Jacks arm, forcing him to look up at him.
"You can't do it that way, its not safe. But we can get you into a programme Jack, in any of the top centres across the country. We can get you in tomorrow, tonight even... But you can not do this on your own, you just can't." His voice was filled with exasperation - he didn't think Jack was even listening to him, and he was certain he wouldn't accept the help his employers wanted to provide. Brad tried hard to conceal his surprise when Jack finally spoke, his voice was timid as he wasn't sure if he was making the right decision. But it was also etched with something else, Brad noticed, was it acceptance?
"I know... I know." He looked so vulnerable, Brad thought he might cry. But Jack surprised him again by pulling himself together as fast as he had started to fall apart.
"I appreciate this Brad, but I can't talk about it right now. I need to know what's going on with Tony." Jack noticed the shift in Brad immediately. His eyes turned cold and he started to look around the office for a distraction, as Jack had done minutes ago. "Brad?"
"He is being transferred to the hospital for observation. Once the medical is complete he will be transported to federal holding."
Jacks eyes started to close and he felt no need to stop them. "You can not prosecute him for this Brad, we got Saunders because of him; we couldn't have stopped the virus if he hadn't done what he did!"
Brad said nothing but the look of disgust on his face told Jack he didn't agree with his take on Tony's actions.
"Damn it Brad, this isn't right!"
"Calm down Jack, okay - there are lost of subjective factors involved which the lawyers can take advantage of, all right?" He realised in that moment that he couldn't tell Jack of his own fate; he would have to wait until he was in a more stable state of mind. The news would be a blow to him, but he too had a chance of fighting the charges the government were going to throw at him, he had David Palmer on his side. Brad felt that Tony had brought everything on himself, but Jack didn't deserve to be prosecuted too - his actions had been on the right side of the line the entire time. He felt guilt seep into his mind as Jack had no idea what would be thrown at him once he was clean, he didn't deserve it.
Jack began to fidget again, he was still sweating too, Brad noticed. His hair was damp and making his neck itch, he rubbed at it roughly while cursing under his breath, knowing things would only get worse. When he saw concern in Brads eyes he realised he needed to start talking again; he was a junkie and didn't deserve anyone's pity.
"When should I do my debrief?" I assume it will differ to the normal procedure given the sting operation carried out by Gael, Tony and myself?"
Brad had to give him credit, he was going a fine job of directing the attention from himself. He was trying to hide the cracks but Brad knew it would do him no good in the long run. "We'll worry about that later, I'm more concerned with securing you a place in a centre. I can have Chloé find you a suitable place but I need to know, today or tomorrow? How long have you been running in empty, is it worth getting you in tonight so you don't have to start from scratch again?"
Jack didn't respond, he knew what he wanted to say but he couldn't make himself form the words out loud. Brad sensed this, "Talk to me Jack."
Jack looked up slowly and for the second time during this conversation Brad was struck with how vulnerable Jack looked, liked he was scared and lost but too afraid to ask for help.
"I stayed clean all day, but if I'm going to do this, its got to be tomorrow, so I can take one more hit."
Brad's head snapped up, pity and disbelief splattered across his face. 'How had he managed to fall so low?'
"Jack, that's not exactly ethical, I'm trying to help you, not-"
"I know that Brad, but if this is going to work I need to do this my way. Nobody had to know."
"I don't know Jack, if you are so determined to quit then you wouldn't need one last fix."
"I do need one more fix, so it can be the start of the end. Just one more, so I can have a good rest and be ready to fight this thing head on." Brad noticed how he had perked up and was more animated now. He did need this, he realised, feeling slightly defeated.
"Well where are-"
"Right here," he stated bluntly.
"What? No way Jack, I can't allow this!"
"I've don't it here plenty of times before. I have the goods hidden here too, a backup I know forensics wont have found. I can sleep right here and when I wake up I'll leave for a centre right away. If I go home... I may not come back Brad - that's what scares me. So please... just leave me here."
"I'm not leaving you anywhere Jack, where's the stuff hidden?"
Jack leant back into the couch with relief, he didn't have to argue anymore and he didn't have to go home. He wanted this nightmare to be over. He knew that this one last fix was an unneeded detour but unless he did it this way he would always wonder about that one last fix. This way it really would be over, for good.
He looked up as Brad sat next to him, placing the small black pouch down on the glass table before them. It had been well hidden and illustrated to Brad just how deep into this thing he was. He dimmed the windows with the remote as Jack's trembling hand emptied the contents out on his lap. Brad looked away, he couldn't watch this. He told Jack he would be back in five and patted his shoulder heavily, hoping to give him some reassurance. Jack didn't acknowledge him, he was captivated by the vial before him. Brad closed the door heavily knowing nobody would enter it, he was upset to see how easily Jack was controlled by such filth. He felt ill from the scene and was glad he had left; he couldn't watch Jack inject himself with poison.
His laptop was tucked under his arm as he returned to the office, he would work while keeping an eye on Jack. He had informed Chloé of what he needed her to do, and chuckled to himself again as he recalled her response.
"It's not exactly part of my job description sir, but as its for Jack I'll get right on it. I'll keep my mouth shut too, Jack doesn't need his dirty habit made any more public than it already is, I'm sure."
He pushed through the door and closed it behind him, before looking over at Jack. He had slid to the floor and kicked the coffee table over. Brad felt his stomach drop at the sight before him, his sleeve was still rolled up and he was crying, sobbing into his arms which he had buried his head in, his body shook from the effort.
Brad didn't know what to do, he had never seen Jack display weakness or emotion before. He quickly moved over and shifted the coffee table out of the way. He knelt down before Jack and grabbed his forearms, calling Jacks name over and over until the tears stopped as he realised he wasn't alone. Brad hauled him up on the couch and Jack lay across it, shielding his face from view. Brad moved away, understanding his need to be alone.
He filled a cup with cool water from the fountain and made his way over to Jack. He looked up at him with unfocused eyes, and gladly took the cup from him. He tipped it up, pouring the liquid over his hair and face, relishing in the comfort it gave him. Brad smiled at the action while picking up the empty syringe and the rest of the kit, before tossing them into the bin. When he finished he checked over Jack again and saw he was sleeping. He pulled his suit jacket of and folded it up neatly. He gently raised Jack's head up from the couch and placed the material beneath it as a pillow.
That done he gathered his laptop from the floor, he had dropped it in panic when he had seen Jack on the floor. He sat down opposite Jack on the couch, glancing over the screen every ten minutes or so. In his drug induced sleep he had rolled over onto his side and curled up slightly so his face was in view. Brad felt himself smile again as he realised it was the first time he had seen Jack calm; the sweat and water not taking away the innocent quality to his sleeping form. He shook his head knowing the image wouldn't last long, by this time tomorrow he would be back in hell. He sighed as he clumsily pushed himself up from the couch - he needed to get a cup of coffee - it was going to be a long night.