The following occurs between Seasons 3 and 4 of "24":
Previously on '24':
Nine Months Earlier - Jack Bauer breaks down and cries in his car after the third longest day of his life, then he drives off.
Three Months After Season 3 - At CTU, Jack Bauer walks into the director's office. The new director, Erin Driscoll, is reading documents and sees Jack. Jack sits down while Driscoll mentions why he's here. Erin removes Jack from being head of Field Ops because his addiction to heroin showed a major weakness in Jack and Driscoll can't tolerate any weaknesses. As Jack is a little shocked, Driscoll recommends jobs that Jack can look for by someone. Jack walks to the door and says,"I can find my own ing job, Erin." Jack leaves with a half smile and with Driscoll speechless...
Six Months After Season Three - A man named Walter Freemor introduces Jack Bauer to Secretary of Defense James Heller and Audrey Raines. Audrey and Jack exchange glances, while Heller is impressed with Bauer's resume. Heller and Bauer talk about work in the Department of Defense, and Heller makes it a point to make that a new position has opened up. Jack glances back at Audrey as Heller and him leave to talk about the position.
Three Weeks before "Season 3.5" - A group of men wearing masks storm a military organization that seems to be a low level of guard. There are more men that the base can handle, and they storm the base, seeming to know every detail and every camera. An alarm sounds, but it is quickly shut off. A group of men enter and area. A man looks around and finds a box labeled RDX. He opens it up and calls them over to move it out.
The following takes place between 12:00am and 1:00am on the day of the Indianapolis 500.
Events occur in real time.
CTU Headquarters;Seattle, Washington. Local time 9:00pm. Ayrton Eugimo is sitting in a interrogation room, sweating. Eugimo is a brown skinned man, who has several scars and burns on his body, and he looks nearly dead. He doesn't blink, just stares and sweats, looking right at the glass. On the other side of the glass Agent Stephen Bristow, a man with a distinguished face and short blonde looks over a file. Next to him is the largely built, dark haired Matthew Franz. He glances over at Bristow.
"This is confirmed?" Bristow says, looking over the file.
"Fresh from the Los Angeles branch. LAPD found the bodies the hours ago," Agent Franz says. "Damn shame."
Bristow lets out a sigh, one that hangs in the air, and slowly walks into the interrogation room. He lays down a file in front of him and sits across from Eugimo. Ayrton just stares through him.
"Ayrton. I've got some bad news for you. Not only did your men leave you behind when they stole the T4..." Bristow says. "But they kidnapped your family to keep you from talking, didn't they? Well, I guess the figure it doesn't matter anymore. LAPD found your family dead in an apartment." Bristow threw down the file in front of Eugimo. Eugimo looks down at the file, but makes no facial expression
"You're people abandoned you, and killed your family, Ayrton! What more can they do to you? Kill you?" Bristow yells. "We know their plans are coming to a start, now tell me where! Tell me when. God damn it, Ayrton, they killed your family!"
Bristow looked down and sighs. He pulls out the next page of the file and flinches as he looks at it. He hands it over to Ayrton and lets him look at it for a second. Ayrton lets a tear roll down his cheek and looks up at Bristow.
"They raped your wife," Bristow says. "They mutilated their bodies."
"Indianapolis." Ayrton says, lowering his head.
"When, Ayrton?"
"Today." Ayrton says, crying. "Today."
Bristow walks out of the room, and Franz walks up to him. He puts his hand on his back.
"I need you to send out a class A alert," Bristow says. "And get the head of CTU Indianapolis on the line." As Franz walks off to the right, Bristow pulls out his cell phone.
"Get me the President!" Bristow shouts.
The Conrad (hotel);Indianapolis, Indiana. 12:05:34
There is a party going on, with several men in business suits. Jack Bauer is off to the side talking on the phone. On the other end is Audrey Raines.
"When am I going to see you again?" Audrey asked.
"I'll be back in town tomorrow. We can probably meet up then." Bauer says.
"Well, I should probably let you get back to the party. Dad's going to wonder who you're talking to. I love you, Jack."
"You too." Jack says, and hangs up. He walks back into a party and up to James Heller, who is talking with Andrew Catalon. Catalon is a dressed in a suit and looks about Jack's age.
"Jack! This is Andy Catalon, from the State Department. Andy, this is Jack Bauer."
"Jack Bauer, good to meet you." Catalon said. "So, you ever been to the 500 before? You're Heller's guest right?"
"No, I haven't," Bauer says, hardly listening.
"Riding in the pace car. Quite an experience." Catalon says.
"That name rings a bell, CTU agent, right? I used to do oversight for CTU, before I worked at the State Department." Catalon says. "You ever meet the guy who runs CTU here in Indianapolis? Crazy guy."
"I don't work for CTU anymore," Bauer says.
"Oh, sorry." Catalon said. "Well, if you get the change you should. He's an interesting fellow."
Catalon walks off to get another drink, and Jack looks at Heller.
Wilhoat Residence, Carmel, Indiana. 12:07:45
Thomas Wilhoat, a man near 33 years old is sleeping in a queen sized bed alone. There are dark curtains around all his windows and the apartment seems to be completely devoid of any decoration. His phone rings, and he grabs it from his bed and answers it.
"Wilhoat."
"Mr. Wilhoat, please hold for Agent Stephen Bristow of CTU."
Wilhoat scratches himself and sits up in his bed. His hair is a mess and he looks in shambles.
"Tom Wilhoat? This is agent..."
"I know who it is. Didn't anyone in my office tell you that I was sleeping early today so I could get in in time to prepare for the 500 today?"
"Mr. Wilhoat, this concerns the Indianapolis 500. A suspect just told us that the group that stole the RDX is planning an attack on Indianapolis today. We need you to report to your office now for briefing."
"Understood. Have you gotten to the President yet?"
"Not yet, he should be informed soon."
"Understood," Wilhoat said. "Thanks."
Wilhoat looks at the clock, it reads 12:10. He gets up and stretches, then turns on the shower. As he turns on his shower he pulls out his cellphone.
"Deimer, this is Wilhoat. We have a Code 3. Call in the needed staff. I'll be there in 15 minutes."
Camp David, Washington D.C.. 12:10:01
John Keeler and Kevin Keeler are sitting on a couch watching a late edition of a Sports wrap-up show and talking about a game when the Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce enters the room and addresses the President.
"Sir, Agent Stephen Bristow is on the phone for you."
"Stephen Bristow?" Keeler asks.
"The head of the Seattle branch of CTU, sir." Keeler pauses, before realizing in his head that the missing RDX was from a base near Seattle. He then takes the phone from Pierce.
"Sorry to disturb you so late Mr. President, but we just received some intel that suggests there will be a terrorist attack during the day today," Bristow says.
"all right," Keeler says. "I'll move to the war room. I expect a full briefing in 15 minutes. Where's the attack going to take place?"
"We believe it will be sometime today."
Keeler looks off into the distance.
"Sir?" Bristow asked after a long pause.
"Thank you, Agent Bristow. Prepare your briefing
Coca-Cola Lot outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 12:12:52
A group of men are in the back of an RV, loading the RDX into coolers.
12:13:24
Jack Bauer becomes the main focus as Jack's cellphone rings. He moves over a few feet to answer the phone.
"Bauer."
"Hello, Jack," the familiar voice of David Palmer came over the other line.
"Mr. President."
"Not anymore Jack. I just heard that you are in Indianapolis."
"Just for the day sir, I'm here with James Heller for the 500."
In the background Heller's cellphone rings, and he answers it.
"What a coincidence. I'm not sure you noticed, but the NCAA is having a ceremony on June 1st in Indianapolis and I am being entered into the hall of fame for my basketball days."
"Congratulations, sir." Jack says.
"Well, it'd be better if I were being honored for what I did off the court, but I suppose that's part of it. Anyway, I will be coming into town tomorrow, and I was wondering if you would care to meet up."
"It would be an honor sir."
"Good. I look foreword to it. We can work out the details in the morning."
Jack hangs up his phone and turns to see Heller do the same.
"Jack, we need to go up to my room. There's been a threat, and the President is going to brief me."
12:16:13...
At the Wilhoat residence, Tom is getting out of the shower and drying himself off when his cell phone rings.
"Wilhoat," he says, answering the phone.
"Mr. Wilhoat, please hold for the President."
"Tom Wilhoat?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Have you been briefed yet?"
"No, sir, I am still preparing to go into CTU. I was just about to leave."
"What? Why?"
"Sir, I was asleep when they called. I will be in with in the next few minutes."
"Be in by 12:30 local time, there will be an interagency briefing we need you at."
"I understand sir but..."
"There will be a police escort outside of your door. He'll take you to CTU." And with that, Keeler hung up. Wilhoat, who is brushing his teeth, looks out the window, to discover cop car, with lights on, waiting for him.
"Son of a bitch," Wilhoat said, grabbing his jacket and walking out the door.
12:18:24...12:18:25...12:18:26...
12:23:40...12:23:41...12:23:42...12:23:43...
Terrorists continue to load a cooler full of RDX, Keeler is with his staff setting up in a conference room, Tom Wilhoat is in the back of a cop car, Jack Bauer and James Heller are in an elevator.
Conference Room, The Conrad, Indianapolis.
Bauer, Heller, and several other men in suits enter a conference room that has a number of flat panel televisions on one side, hooked up to the top video conferencing equipment.
"What's our status?" Heller shouts as he enters the room.
"We'll but up with the President and the other cabinet members in a couple of minutes sir." Shirley, Heller's aide, says.
"Have we gotten preliminary information yet?" Heller asked.
"CTU reported in the threat minutes ago. We just got this from CTU Division in Seattle." said David Anderson, who sat down on the left side of Heller while Bauer sat to the right. "It outlines a threat to a mid-to-major American threat."
"What's the city?" Bauer asks. He watches Anderson gulp as he looks around.
"Initial reports suggest Indianapolis is the target." Anderson said.
"My God..." Heller said.
"The head of CTU Indianapolis is on his way into the office now and should be there soon."
12:25:23...
At the Coke lot the men are loading the coolers onto the back of a pickup truck. They put the last one on, and open it up. It is full of beer, which the men open and start drinking. The lead member (Jay Peters-the only white man in the group) phone rings.
"Yes?" he says. "It is done. It will be ready to go for tomorrow. You keep your end of the deal, and we are a go." He hangs up the phone and heads over to another one of the men and grabs a beer.
"Here's to the most memorable Indianapolis 500 ever tomorrow, boys."
12:26:45...
CTU Indianapolis.
Tom Wilhoat walks through the front door. A female techie named Amber Tunic looks up and sees him. She has long black hair and a Turkish skin tone. She looks grim as she walks up to him.
"Tom, what's going on? They've called in everyone. There's hardly enough stations to go around. Should I tell my family to get out of town."
"Amber, everything's fine. This is just a Code 3 threat. There is nothing to be worried about. We're just following protocol at this point." Wilhoat says. "Would you mind getting me a coke or something? I just woke up and I took Nyquil to get to sleep around seven tonight, so I feel like hell right now."
"Yeah, sure." she said, and walked off. As she does, Rachel Deimer walks up to him.
"Tom, they want you in the conference room now. This is something big." Deimer says.
"Who do they want in there?" Wilhoat asked.
"Just you and I," Deimer said.
"This day just keeps getting better. And I've been up," he said, and paused to check his watch, "not even half an hour now. you can tell it's going to be a good one."
They enter the conference room and close the door. The monitors on the walls come up--one with Keeler and the head of NSA Arther Rahrig, one with a large group of men (including Logan, the VP; and most of the cabinet and joint chiefs) Bristow and Franz at CTU Seattle, and Heller's group.
"Thank you for joining us on such short notice, Mr. Wilhoat." Rahrig said. "Please sit. What you are about to hear does not leave this room. About three weeks ago a group of terrorists known only as "The Movement" took, using lethal force, a military base that was a weapons stockpile in Central Washington. CTU Seattle arrived at the base to make a rescue, but were unable to save the lives of any of the military men. Minimal shift was on, and the cover story of a gas mane explosion was released to the families and the press. When CTU agents stormed the base they found a man--Ayrton Eugimo, there, still alive. Mr. Bristow."
"Thank you. Eugimo was held for three weeks and interrogated everyday, but didn't break until tonight when he found out that the men who hired him and held his family captive failed to hold up to their end of the deal and killed his wife and daughters. He told us they were planing an attack on Indianapolis, today."
"I'm sorry," Wilhoat interrupts, "What did they take from the base?"
"Excuse me?" Rahrig said.
"The base... they took something--that's why they were there. What did they take?"
"The entire supply of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, better known as T4 or RDX explosives."
"They stole all of it?" Keeler shouted.
"I'm afraid so, sir," Rahrig said.
"Well, we all know the likely target. Let's talk delivery," Wilhoat said.
"RDX can be mixed with many substances. It's the most powerful sub-atomic explosive we have. And, if they mixed it right and were able to put it into airtight containers, they would be undetectable to the dogs."
"Should we consider postponing the race?" Keeler asked.
"No, sir." Wilhoat said. "CTU Seattle, have your people get us a list of known contacts in the Indianapolis area, and we can cross reference them with recent movement. Right now they won't know that we're on to them, so they may be slightly off guard."
12:29:15...
At the coke lot the terrorists are all drinking beer and the cooler is empty. A drunk man walks up to them.
"Hey Pedro, can you help a brother out and give me a beer?"
"Yo, man. We all out too, bro." said one terrorist. Peters walks out of the RV and watches.
"You got a whole damn trunk full of beer, and you can't give me one lousy beer!" The drunk man then heads for the back of the truck. One or two of the terrorist try and stop them, but he pushes them off. One of the terrorists starts to reach for his gun, but suddenly Peters speaks.
"Sir, you don't want that beer, it's the crap we got for our girlfriends during the race. We plan on being plenty drunk by then. Here, I'll get you some good beer out of my personal fridge in the RV."
The terrorist stands with his hand on his gun, watching the drunk man and Peters. He walks over to Peters and comes inside the RV. He passes the gun which someone left out as Peters opens the fridge. He pulls out a beer to see the drunk man looking at the gun.
"Man, that's a beauty. I prefer to use it without the silencer myself. Can hear the gun better."
He takes the beer and leaves, Peters grabs the gun and puts it in the back of his pants.
12:31:52...12:31:53...12:31:54...
12:35:03...12:35:04...12:35:05...12:35:06...
Tom Wilhoat and Rachel Deimer walk onto the CTU Main Floor. Bobby Pent walks up to Tom as Rachel walks over to Amber.
"Amber, I want you to cross check our lists with a list of contacts coming in from LA and Seattle. Try and find an overlap." Rachel spoke, a look of certain intensity on her face. Wilhoat looks over a large screen as Bobby hands him a soda.
"Why don't you drink coffee?" Bobby said.
"My ex-wife drank coffee. I never liked the stuff, but she always made me drink it because she couldn't drink a whole pot. I despise coffee." Wilhoat says, walking over to a station. "Anything on the police scanners?"
"Nothing out of the usual," Bobby said. "There's been an increase of calls, but mostly drunk and disorderly, nothing that red flags for us."
"Keep looking." Wilhoat said. "But be ready to move, we want to get on this. I want these people in custody by the time the gates open to the public at 7 AM."
Tom walks off and Deimer looks up and walks up to him.
"Tom, are you ok?" Deimer asks.
"With what?" Tom rebukes.
"Everything." Deimer says, a worried smile coming across her face.
"Just worried, that's all." Tom says, looking back at her, a smile masking his true feelings.
"Worried about what Tom?" Deimer said.
"Everything." Tom said, shaking his head.
---
The Conrad.
"I just don't think it's a good idea," Heller says, looking at Jack Bauer.
"I can help them, sir. I can protect you." Jack rebukes, looking back at his boss.
"You were kicked out of CTU, and now you expect me to believe that you're going to walk right back in there and be able to assist them?"
"My beef is with the head of CTU Los Angeles, it was her decision. I have no problems with the Indianapolis office."
"Jack, you're too much like me. You're going to want to control everything. I can't have you disrupting their chain of command." Heller says, frowning.
"I will be there merely to advise them. You said yourself that this is a smaller city, and a pretty new office. I have tons of experience, you can't argue with that, sir."
"No, Jack, you can't. All right, you will be a liaison for me, personally. Don't go challenging orders or barking out instructions. Advise, help. But don't make this situation any worse than it already is, all right?"
"Understood."
12:39:21...
Jay Peters is pacing in the RV, he seems to be waiting for something. Suddenly, his cellphone rings.
"About time," Peters says.
"Patience is a virtue, Mr. Peters," says the man on the phone.
"When are they going to be here?" Peters asks.
"They are already on their way. They had to park a few blocks away, they should be there in five minutes." the man says.
"And they'll have the money?" Peters asks.
"They will have the first payment, yes."
"all right, how much of the stuff will they need?"
"Just enough to do the job."
----
Back at CTU Indianapolis, Amber is typing on a screen. Suddenly it flashes.
"Tom! We've got a match!" Amber says. "A Bryan Bulling. Address is on the screen now. It's in Clermont Heights. It's about 15 minutes out."
"Rachel! We've got a match. Get your team and move out!" Wilhoat shouts. "All teams prepare to support. I want reckon on the area in five minutes!"
"Understood," Amber says, "Bringing up the sats now."
"Mahoney, Richards, Buckley and Bobby, you're with me. Let's move!"
...12:41:36...
...12:46:49...12:46:50...12:46:51...12:46:52...
SPLIT SCREEN: (Deimer and Bobby in vans; Wilhoat looking over maps; Peters looking at an envelope of money; Amber on the phone.)
"Tom!" Amber shouts. "Sir, it's the Secretary of Defense, he wants to speak with you."
Wilhoat walks over and picks up the phone.
"Mr. Secretary."
"What's your status Tom?" Heller asks.
"We're getting ready to move in now, sir. Would you like a live feed?"
"No, that's all right. I've sent someone from my staff over to act as a liaison for me."
"Who is it sir?"
(long pause)
"Jack Bauer, Mr. Wilhoat."
"I understand," Wilhoat said, trying to cover his feelings.
"Listen, I know this isn't the best situation, however, I feel that Jack's expertise in this manner as well as his familiarity with CTU protocol makes him the perfect candidate to operate in this manner," Heller said.
"I understand sir. But you can understand my hesitation about welcoming someone who's used to be in control into an environment where he has none."
"Jack understands that."
"I hope so."
"Good luck, Mr. Wilhoat." Heller says, and hangs up the phone.
"What was that about?" Amber asks.
"Jack Bauer is coming here." Wilhoat said.
"Jack Bauer?" Amber asks, looking confused and concerned.
"I want his file on my desk in ten minutes. I want to know exactly who I am dealing with."
12:50:04...
And just then Jack Bauer walked through the front doors of CTU and looks around, nostalgia filling his mind. He shakes his head and looks around, walking up to Wilhoat.
"You must be Jack Bauer," Wilhoat says.
"Tom Wilhoat? I've heard a lot about you." Bauer says, extending his hand.
"Not as much as I've heard about you, Mr. Bauer." Wilhoat said, shaking his hand. "I understand you have a lot of experience at CTU, but left about nine months ago."
"Left is not exactly how I'd put it," Bauer says. "What's your status?"
"We've identified a link between Eugimo and Indianapolis, a Mr. Bryan Bulling. We're moving in to his house now. Our teams should be there in about eight minutes."
"Do you have a location where I can observe?"
"You can join me in the conference room if you like. We're about to uplink with the teams."
"That'd be fine."
"Amber, Wiltshire, let's set up in Conference Room A."
12:52:04...
Rahrig walks up to the President.
"Mr. President, CTU is preparing to raid the house of the connection they have with the terrorists. A Mr. Bryan Bulling of Indianapolis."
"Let me know about their progress, Arthur."
"Of course."
Keeler sits alone in the room, his head in his hands.
Clermont Heights - 12:52:49...
"We're in Clermont Heights now, Tom, we should be there soon." Deimer says.
"all right, Rachel. Keep this line open. You're on with myself, Amber, Wiltshire and Jack Bauer from the DoD."
"Understood. Amber, have you got a thermal scan of the house."
"Yes, but we can't confirm it's Bulling. It could be a house guest, his wife... anyone."
"Do we have Bulling's voice on record?"
"Let me check," Wiltshire says. "Yes, we do, right here. A phone call between him the IRS that was taped for 'better costumer service'"
Wilhoat smirked and then turns to Amber.
"Call him."
"What?"
"We're moving into position now."
"Call him, confirm that it's him. We might have to storm the house, and I'd rather not scare the living crap out of his maid if it's not him."
"What do I say?"
"Pretend you're a tele marketer."
"It's one in the morning!"
"I don't care what you say, dammit! Amber, just do it!" Wilhoat yelled.
"all right."
"Where do we stand, Deimer?"
"We've got lights in position, bringing up video now."
A video of a darkened house with a lit porch comes up
"You can go on my command."
"It's ringing!" Amber says, and the room goes quiet.
12:56:45...
(groggy voice) "Hello? Who in the hell is this?"
"Is this Bryan Bulling?" Amber asks.
"Who is asking? Who the hell is calling me at this time?"
"Sir, I am from the Society for Improved Living..."
"Do you realize what time it is..." (rant fades to background as Wilhoat looks over at Wiltshire, who looks at him.)
"It's a 95 match, sir. It's him."
"Sorry, sir." (CLICK).
"Deimer, you have a go, I repeat, this is a go!"
(Lights flashing on a house and a voice over the PA becomes a split screen that features Wilhoat, Amber, Wiltshire and Bauer watching, Keeler listening and watching, Bulling looking out his window and transitions to...)
Jay Peters phone rings, he answers it.
"Hello? Is it done?"
"Yes, it took us a little longer than we thought, but it's done."
"Good, complete the mission."
Back at the Bulling residence, the house has several spotlights on it and men with guns all around.
"Men are entering your house now, Mr. Bulling." Bobby yells over the loudspeaker.
Split screen featuring Deimer walking up to the main team and sending them in, as she prepares to go in after them.
"Put your hands on your head and go quietly. No one needs to be hurt!"
"Move in! Move in!" Deimer yelled.
As the team begins to move into the house suddenly a loud whirring noise is heard.
"What the?" Deimer yells.
Wilhoat and Jack look at the screen worried while Amber continues to type.
The house has a massive explosion, with fire coming out everywhere.
"My god..." Wilhoat says, watching the house go up in flames.
12:59:57...12:59:58...12:59:59...01:00:00