Tochelle: beginnings

(This is the collaboration story of Anna Raby and ciaosushi)

Takes place a week or two after the second season. A Tochelle "beginning". Please review, good or bad, we really want to know what people think! When their names are in bold, it means that it is switching the POV. We don't own 24.. Since obviously, if we did, it'd be called 'Tony-Four'. ;)

Tony had closed his eyes, attempting to empty his mind of the past week's events and fall asleep. He spent the night tossing and turning in his bed, with horribly vivid memories racing through his mind. So much had happened in just one day- the deaths of his coworkers and friends that he had, with work, become close to. Poor Paula, who had been on the job for hardly a few days. And George Mason- who had been the director of CTU for quite a while. Not having him and the other victims of the explosion around had virtually destroyed his sense of security. Their losses were a constant reminder of how close he, and the entire city had come to their end- And Michelle's end.

He grinned into his pillow. At least some good had come out of that day. Thinking of Michelle and 'their encounter', as he had valiantly entitled it, had been all that had got him through the rough work hours in the past few days. Whenever he recalled her approaching him so daringly in the dark hallway, his heart flew up into his throat, and, for a small moment, he was happy. For the first time in a long while, a woman had made him completely, and utterly, content.

Tony had made a promise to himself that he would work up the guts to ask her out on a much owed dinner and movie as soon as the aftermath from Tuesday had settled down. It didn't seem right to act so rashly at this difficult time in both of their lives. He occasionally found himself hoping this aftermath would last a little while longer…

Usually it wasn't a huge deal for him to walk up to girls and have a conversation. In that area, at least, he was confident. But with this woman…

She was different. As soon as he had met her, he had known this. Just her gaze was enough to melt his heart and cause little droplets of sweat to creep from his hairline. And Tony was never a sweaty kind of guy.

The sharp, shrill ring of the telephone adjacent to his bed rudely interrupted his train of thought. Grunting, Tony looked at his watch. 3:30 in the morning? What kind of person would call him at such a time?

He sighed, deciding it had to be important. He didn't have a choice but to answer it. After groping blindly for the phone, he brought it to his ear. "Yeah?" Tony groaned in a throaty voice.

Michelle had been up far past her usual bedtime, debating fiercely in her mind whether to call him or not. It had been almost a week since that day. The day that kept her tossing in her sheets every night, shivering with fear of memories that were still much too fresh. This past week she had never felt so helpless and alone in her life. All she wanted was for someone to hold her, tell her everything was all right- that she was safe. She needed someone… no, not just someone. She wanted him to comfort her until she dozed off in peaceful slumber.

But that wasn't possible, as she had repeated to herself time and time again. Michelle was convinced that he was probably fast asleep, and that he wouldn't want to be bothered with her stupid, selfish problems. But gradually, she realized that she would never sleep another day in her life if she didn't go for it. This was what her friends had always encouraged her to do: Take Risks.

This was a desperate situation. She needed him.

Trembling, she slowly removed the phone from its cradle, and pressed four. (Yes, he was on speed dial. She couldn't help herself.)

Michelle's heart raced as the phone rang a couple of times, and then, miraculously, his deep, sexy, yet slightly groggy voice answered.

"Yeah?"

Tony paused, waiting for a reply. For a moment, there was nothing but complete silence. He waited for what felt like a whole minute. Then a small, quivering voice whispered, "Tony?"

The moment she uttered his name he knew it was her. It seemed impossible, but he would recognize that sweet, melodic tone of hers anywhere.

Tony's instinctive anger of being disturbed immediately left him, replaced by that familiar feeling of his heart rising up through his chest and lifting him several inches off the ground.

"Michelle? Wh- what's the matter? Is everything all right?"

Michelle was shocked that he had actually answered her. He didn't seem angry at all- actually, he seemed concerned about her.

She spent a moment preparing to hold back her pain, and explain her feelings rationally to Tony, but as soon as she spoke a word, everything poured out of her. Michelle completely broke down in hysterical sobs that racked her body. She just couldn't take it any longer. Tears streamed down her face, and finally, she let her emotions flow freely.

"Tony, I just… I'm not sure if I can handle this," she managed to choke through tears.

With careful tenderness in his voice, he tried to comfort her. "Shh… Michelle don't worry, I'm here. It'll be ok."

She felt so embarrassed, what must he think of her? How could she make herself look so vulnerable? Yet at the same time, it felt wonderful to hear his voice. With every soft, delicate word he spoke, a small weight was lifted from her chest.

"I feel so alone, Tony. I didn't know who else to call, I'm so sorry, I just-"

"Michelle, listen. There is no need to apologize. What happened last week, well, let's just say I know exactly how you are feeling. I am going through the same thing. Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to, ya know?"

"Yes, exactly," she whispered, her sobs beginning to subside.

Tony hated to hear Michelle cry. He felt as though it was his responsibility to help heal her wounded soul. He wanted to protect her. This was not the first time he had gone through this difficult process. It was one of the repercussions of a job at CTU.

In a wild moment of discovery, he took a deep breath and ventured, "Michelle?"

"Yes, Tony?"

"Do you want me to… come over, to… Ya know, keep you company?"

The moment he said it he wished he hadn't. I'm an idiot, he thought to himself, what am I doing? It's almost 4 in the morning!

But as he considered what he had offered, he realized that she really needed it, and so did she. He just had to pray that she wasn't offended by his rash offer.

Michelle's heart thumped and pounded in her chest again. Tony? At her house? She had to admit the thought excited her, but was it taking things too fast?

No, she firmly decided. She needed this. She needed him.

"Yes, Tony, I really... I think that would help."

"So… uh, I guess I'll be over in a couple minutes. It's the blue one down the street, right?"

"Yes, that's it… And Tony?"

"mm?"

"Thanks." A smile spread crept along her tear-streaked face.

"Of course. I'll see you soon, Michelle."

With that, she heard the click of his phone turning off. As she slid her phone into it's cradle, she brushed her tears away with the back of her other hand. There was no need to cry. Everything is going to be okay. Tony is coming.

Michelle bit her lip, holding back a familiar girlish excitement that sent a tingle through her body. It was really happening.

To be continued…