The road to salvation is never easy…

Day six was over, disaster was averted, but it always had a personal cost...Jack stood silent, surveying the room. He never thought he would stand here, in this place again. He sighed as he realized what he'd always known. The people may change, but the place never will. It will take all you have and then this place will always take more…

Finding Salvation…

"…Red Leader
Sector 9 clear
I have the package"

Scanning the room he felt something was wrong. Then he saw them. Chloe and Morris were arguing in a darkened corner. He sighed as he remembered the past…the fights, the drinking, and the hidden bruises. Jack never could understand their relationship. They were both so different. It was a difference that sometimes brought out the worst in both of them. He had physically thrown Morris out the door warning him never to return. And now, because he needed help, the man wormed his way back into her life. He could see their anger escalating. Jack began a quick pace towards them; he knew he had to intervene.

As Jack drew closer he could hear Morris, "…live with it. Yes, I broke but at least I can admit to it. Yes, it was a mistake. I didn't have a choice now did I? I'll live with it the rest of my life. But you, my sweet will never be happy. Pine away, you'll never have it. Remember this is your choice; just admit what you really want and you know that it never was me. I never cheated like you. Bloody hell, Chloe, I was just your Friday-night-shag."

With that Chloe slapped his face. Morris stood stunned for a moment, his face reddening. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Jack's approach. Morris turned slightly towards him, his voice now a rather sarcastic tambour as he spoke again. "Ah, here's your knight now. Stick with him, love, but remember you won't live long."

"Morris," Jack interrupted, "that's enough. Please leave. Now!"

"Fine, I'll leave, but remember mate, this is your doing. This is your fault too. You are just blind as she." With that said Morris stormed away. Mumbling under his breath, "Why the hell did you ever come back?"

Jack made his way to Chloe, touching her arm he asked, "What happened?"

She stood silent, visibly shaken.

"Chloe, Please…"

"It's over Jack… I told him to leave."

"I'm sorry Chloe, I wan-"

"Jack its fine…I'll be fine. Please, please just go. I'm tired"

"Chloe…"

She glared at him, he knew that this was the wrong time…he shouldn't push it. She would just shut down. He really couldn't afford that right now. She was the only friend that he had left.

He reached up lightly brushed her face and gently kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry Chloe, we'll talk tomorrow."

XOXOXO

Jack entered the hotel room Bill had set up for him. He was ordered to stay there and sleep. He wasn't allowed to leave the room. He was only allowed to sleep…no TV, computer or phone calls. Jack had not fought him. He agreed this was for the best after the hell he'd been through. In reality Jack didn't know what else he could do. Someone would call for him in the morning and they would debrief him then.

As he sat on the bed Jack wondered what to do next. What was he to do with his life? He was going to have to make decisions for himself. He stood walked to the bathroom and turned on the light. He caught his reflection in the mirror. Jack scarcely recognized his own image. Removing his shirt he studied the patterns of scars. He touched them tentatively letting their reality seep in. After a long hot shower and with the memories of his reflection still haunting him he turned off the light.

He walked to the closet and found the bags that Bill said would be there. Chloe, against protocol saved them for him. She always knew he would be back. He saw the luggage he carried from DC, his briefcase, and his belongings he left at Diane's. He opened the suitcase. He felt he was pilfering the belongings of a stranger. He gathered a tee shirt and a pair of jeans. He thought he could almost smell Audrey's perfume. He cringed as he remembered. How could he be so stupid? He wondered how she always could appear the innocent. Jack realized that it was his heart that had blinded him.

His search continued. Focusing on the boxes, he found them…what he so longed to read again. He had kept some the letters, emails, and pictures that Chloe had sent him. He knew he should have destroyed them. He rationalized that maybe because they were so vague and untraceable he could keep just these few treasures. As he flipped though the pictures he stared at each in turn. Then, at the bottom on the small pile was an image that brought warmth to his heart. It was the picture of a petite blond woman. She was in profile, sitting on the edge of a fountain leaning back looking up at the sky. She wore a sad, sad smile. God, he thought, how he'd missed her. Sometimes he swore he heard her voice in his ear. She was his only friend, his lifeline. Jack settled back into his pillow. With thoughts of the picture in his mind he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

XOXOXO

Jack had finally relaxed, he was sleeping soundly. Suddenly a sound shot through his head, startling him. He thought he was still in China, he was disoriented. He calmed when he thought of Chloe. He swore he could hear her voice calling him. Gaining his senses he realized he was alone and the sound was just the telephone.

"Bauer."

"Jack it's Bill. Sorry to wake you, but we have a situation and we need you back here now."

"Bill, what's this about?"

"I can't tell you, this is an unsecured line. Please hurry! Chloe-" The phone line disconnected. Jack slipped into clothes, retrieved and checked his weapons, and locked the door behind him.

He stood at the door to CTU. He hesitated. Jack stood silent for a moment and closed his eyes taking a deep breath. Reflecting Jack realized that there was a time he thought he would never see this building again. He didn't want to open this door. He knew he had to. He fought the pain, the memories, and the horrors of all the days. Images of Teri, David, Michelle, Tony and even Edger flashed in his mind. He had hardly known Edgar but he remembered the look on her face as he felt the pain in her heart. How he wished that he could have done something. Helped him… saved him… all he wanted to do was take her pain. She was so brave that day. Her fingers found the way; her voice brought the answer... Her heart brought him comfort, the will to go on. He knew as long as she was there he would not be alone.

Though the sea of ringing phones and flashing screens he didn't notice the stares. His pace quickened as he heard the alarms. He faced what brought him here. He could see the fear in Chloe's eyes. She was the human shield. Jack drew his weapon; pointing it at the face of her captor.

"Morris, Drop the gun!"

"Awe…darling, your knight is here. Maybe he does care. Then again maybe not…So Jack who's it gonna be…you…. or MY loving wife here…"

"Morris, please stop…please, don't do this," she whispered.

"Don't do this? I'm not doing anything love, remember this is all on you. You made this decision. You chose to love a man who could never see you more than just a pawn in his sick little games. Go ahead Chloe; tell him how you pine for him. Tell him that you love him." With one arm securely around her he grabbed the woman tighter, pressing the gun harder against her head. "Tell him you would die for him."

"Morris, put down your weapon and let her go. You don't want to do this."

Oh, but I do Jack …It's either Chloe or you…since she won't say it, the choice is now yours…Who lives Jack: the beautiful Lady Chloe or Sir Lancelot the blind?" he sneered.

Jack realized what he was asking. He knew what Morris meant and what he had every intention of doing. He refused to be responsible for another death, especially not hers. "Chloe….please, don't hurt Chloe!" He made the only decision he could. With that said, in resolution Jack dropped to his knees and placed his own gun to his temple. He looked up. His eyes caught hers. He would have given anything to have one more moment with her.

Chloe stared into his eyes. Tears were streaming down her face. She couldn't let him do it. She tried to pull away from Morris, "Jack no!" she begged, "Please, No….I…I…I Love You Jack!"

With that Morris smirked. "See you in Hell…"

Two shots rang out.

Two bodies dropped to the floor.

Time stood still. He didn't know how long he held her. Chloe's voice rang in his ears. Jack once heard that the mind lives on even after death. He needed her to hear. As he rocked her lifeless body as he sobbed. "I'm sorry, so, so sorry, Chloe, I love you too…I love you."

XOXOXO

Jack walked the streets for hours into the night. He couldn't get her blood off his hands. He could still see her eyes. They penetrated his soul. In the wind he could hear her voice. Jack could almost taste her lips and smell the jasmine in her hair. When he thought the fates could not be crueler, there were more voices. With each of them he could feel every pain. Remember every face, hear every cry. Images of those he loved flashed in his mind… Tony, Michele, Curtis, David, Wayne, his daughter, and even Edgar were all added to Chloe. They were all dead. He had no one, he had nothing. No family. No friends. He was alone. His heart, mind, and soul were broken. He just wanted to be numb.

The room was dark, broken only by the flashes of light through the picture window. They seemed to mirror the whispers in his head. He had to end this. He had to stop them. His mind was swirling. He needed peace. With tear filled eyes he broke open the lock. He intended to drink every drop of those tiny bottles.

The tequila burned his throat. He felt the warmth seep into his soul. He remembered Tony. His voice was strong. Jack regretted not being there. He could only hold him in the aftermath. He pulled a bullet from its chamber setting it with the empty bottle. The rum was sweet as was the voice of Michelle…another regret to add. Her loss was senseless…it was all because of him. Another bottle, another bullet stood in line. The vodka was tasteless. It only burned. He thought of Audrey, but there was no voice. He felt his own anger rising…he was blind to her, she faked her death, and she was his brother's whore. This bottle would not stand with the others. Just as his broken hope, it was shattered.

The list continued - the bullets stood in line. This became his little army of regrets. Each bullet had a name, a story. He relived them all. Then he came to it, his next to last regret he named for Kim, his daughter. Because of China she blamed herself, she chose to join her mother…another voice, another bottle, another bullet.

Finally, he was at the last regret, the freshest in his mind. He drank his last drink. He stared at the last bullet. It had her name and she called to him. He kissed her namesake, and with it loaded Jack sat for a moment. He had his resolve. He stood and walked across the darkened room. Stroking his salvation he lay on the bed. He took a last look at her picture and promised, "See you soon, Chlo. Laissez ma douleur cesser pour toujours avec ma vie!" With that he raised his hand to his head.

The light was blinding. Sound ripped through him. His head lay on a soaked pillow.

So, "Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and you shall find.
Peace will, surely flood your soul,
And heal your troubled mind."