Peace – Chapter 1

It was so hot that Jack could see the haze rising off the road in front of him. The acres of fruit fields stretched out into the distance, to be lost in the shimmering waves of heat. To the sides and behind, they stretched until they met the mountains that towered majestically, dominating the skyline and making Jack feel small and insignificant in his black SUV. The only sound from the outside was the buzzing of insects and the zip of his tyres on the road.

It was August, and one of the hottest summers on record. He was on hiatus from CTU, given time off to beat his addiction to the drug that had become his life in recent months. The Salazar operation was ten months in the past, the virus threat four months behind him. Jack shifted in his seat at the memory of what might have happened. If he'd failed that day, he wouldn't be here now. He'd been given a second chance, along with everyone else. But unlike everyone else, he'd been unable to take that chance as yet. There were too many ghosts, too many skeletons in the closet that he couldn't seem to face. But if he couldn't face them, he wouldn't make it. He knew that as surely as he knew his own name.

So he found himself on this blistering August day, driving through the Grapevine on I-5, away from LA. Looking for, what? Redemption? No, he was beyond redemption. He was looking for peace. And there was only one place left that he might find it.

He'd tried rehab. He'd tried so hard. But when it came down to it, the desire to live without heroin was no longer there. He'd come to rely on it to block out the memories, memories that stretched back twenty five years or more. He'd spent a month in the centre, one isolated man in the midst of a hundred broken souls. He'd hated every second, only stayed because it would be the one chance to save his reputation at CTU. He didn't know if he would go back to his job, it was there if he wanted it - they'd been very understanding actually. It all depended on the next couple of weeks.

Jack reached over and touched the gun on the seat next to him. The air conditioning made the metal cool to the brush of his fingertips. It was reassuring, having it with him. He always felt better when he had his closest ally by his side. Being without it was almost a betrayal of who he was.

The small metal box next to the gun glared up at him, mocking him, making him turn his head away. Ironic that he kept it so close, side by side with his best friend. But wasn't that the way of the world? Enemies and Allies, always close together in the swirl of life. They were like magnets with the same charge – put them too close and each repelled the other, but keep them on either side of you and they attracted more of their kind.

What had he been thinking about? Oh yes, rehab. The only thing that had got him through that wasted month was the thought of what he could get hold of the day he left. Yes, he'd had no intention of staying clean, not really. He went through the motions, told the busy and harried staff what they wanted to hear, pretended to face his demons – but he didn't face anything. He'd come to rely on those demons. They were the only thing left that gave him a place in the world.

He'd been pronounced 'clean.' They trusted that he'd stay that way; after all, he was Jack Bauer, the man of steel that could face down anything. He'd told them that he'd be fine and they believed him. He wasn't surprised. Wasn't he a master at keeping things from people? The day after his release he'd gone into CTU and asked to take an additional five months as a sabbatical from work, which they'd been only too happy to provide. 'Anything Jack, anything you want. Take as long as you need, your job will be here when you get back. Go enjoy yourself!' Why was Hammond kissing his butt? He didn't care. He was high when he'd spoken to him, not that Brad would know that.

Kim. He thought of Kim. Would she be alright? He might see her again, he might not. Who could say? Chase would take care of her though, he was a good kid. Thank God he got out while he could.

Jack saw the sign for his exit and took it. It wouldn't be long now...