Decisions suck. Especially tough, life-changing ones like this.

Love or a profitable career…? Or him, he's an option too.

I've got a little time to think it over, but probably not enough.

***

He started it. Yes, definitely his fault.

Tony. I walk in to work with him one morning and the whole office is freaked out. People need lives.

That doesn't mean I spent the night with him (though I did) Maybe we carpooled, his car broke down, we had breakfast together. Plenty of sensible options.

I love him, though dating around the office has its problems.

The main problem is that I've been offered a sum of money that I don't feel like passing up. How do I get it? By becoming a traitor to him. Terrible.

The other problem is that I love someone else too.

I started it that time.

Jack, he's worked with me forever. His wife has some problems. I offered him my help.

Then he takes me on vacation with him, without his wife. Fun, fun.

I'd hate to turn against them both, but I'd say I could use the money right now.

So today, I get to make a decision. As of now, I'm on everybody's side.
I'm helping Tony at CTU, and shuttling Jack's wife around, and keeping up my contact with the Drazen's operation.

Tony waves his hand in front of my face. There we go, I was dosing off again. Wonderful way to keep my cover.

"Nina, what's up?"

Why does he smile at me? Oh yes, I'm falling for him again.

Now Jack walks over, onto CTU LA's main floor.

"Anything new?" he smiles too, despite the situation. Great.

The two men glare at each other, then look back at me.

I shake my head at them both and walk away.

"Oh, Jack… Teri's on the phone." I say as I leave.

He comes up (very closely, I might add) behind me. He presses a button on the desk phone and speaks to her.

"What?" is the first thing he says to the phone.
"Jack? What's wrong? You don't sound right."

Of course he doesn't. What's right about having an affair with his co-worker? Especially when she's a future terrorist?

"I'm fine. How's Kim?"

"Coping. The safe-house needs some new wallpaper though."

I told you, she's got issues. Wallpaper, on a safe-house? Really, who cares?

I walk over to Tony.

"What was that about?" he glares at Jack as he addresses me. Ah, I've turned two alliances against each other, always a perk.

I toss my shoulders in some rushed sort of shrug.

Jack comes back over now.
"Nina, can I talk to you?"

He pulls me aside, which upsets Tony, and takes me down one of the cement corridors.

"Look, about Teri…"

I nod.

"I know she's been through some terrible things today, and I, I…"

He doesn't know what to say? That doesn't normally happen until after I've kissed him.

"I hate to ask you another favor, but could you bring her back into CTU? I'd feel better if she was here."

"Me personally?"

He nodded.

"And you could talk to her; you guys don't exactly get along."

Really?!? Is that because I'm having an affair with her husband? As smart as he is, he doesn't get this.

"Sure, should I leave now?"

Again, he nods.

We depart, and I take the long way. Tony doesn't need to see me with him.

***

I knock at the safe-house door.

I regret walking through a mass of thorns and shrubs to get to the door. Really, I don't want to see her. Or Kim.

Kim shouldn't exist.

No one answers.

"CTU, Agent Myers." I call out, blowing whatever cover I had. I regret that too.

Watch, this is when some rouge jumps out of nowhere and shoots me.

Or not, Teri inches the door open.

"Oh, Nina?"

"Yah, Jack told me to pick you guys up. He wants you back at CTU as soon as possible."

Teri looks over her shoulder and calls for Kim.

Within a minute, they both follow me to the CTU van I've arrived in. I now become a chauffer, opening the back door for Kim and the passenger door for Teri.

Silence, the entire car ride. I can't complain.

I escort them back into CTU. Jack is waiting at the main floor.

I'm so terrible... The first person he greets is me.

Then Kim, with a hug and kiss, then Teri, with one less heartfelt.

I smirk to myself.

Tony comes over now, and greets Teri and Kim, then me.

Then Jack and Tony leave for the Holding Rooms, to question someone, I don't remember the name.

I take Teri and Kim to what we call the waiting room. It's on the tier between Holding and the locker rooms. Beds fold down from the walls, and I tell the girls this before I leave.

As soon as I'm back on the Main Floor, my desk phone rings.
I answer, and it's Teri. How petty.

She wants to see me, and I have no choice but to oblige.

I go back down the hallway to the waiting area.

She's rolling her eyes, over and over.

"Nina, can I talk to you."

Stupid. Why else would she have asked me here?

I nod, slowly.

"I want you to leave my husband alone."

I don't answer her, there's nothing to say really.

Kim nods in approval.

"You're a bitch, Nina." Teri tells me, though I was already quite aware of this fact.

My cell phone rings. It's one of Drazen's men.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call." I tell Teri and leave.

They're asking about my loyalties again, and if I plan on following through on this mission. Really, I don't have an answer yet, but I don't express this.

As soon as I hang up, Tony calls.

Well, I'm certainly popular.

He and Jack have finished questioning whoever it was, and are returning to me for new information.

Oh yes, I need to get that prisoner out of here. Somehow…Teri could help me with that.

Currently, I'm leaning toward Tony again, as he's promised me a few things over the phone. I assume Jack wasn't in the room when the call was made.

If we get through today (and I'm not a terrorist) he's taking me to some hotel in Vegas for the weekend. How thoughtful. I make a mental tally of this.

Terrorists: several million dollars and safety

Jack: divorcing Teri, a family

Tony: fun-filled weekend in Vegas

Now we're about even.

Teri calls again. Oh, now she's threatening to kill me. That's nice.

I return to my station, and check the newest info sent to my server.

A message from Drazen's secure line, he's offered me a million dollars more to make a decision by the end of the day. That sounds great right about now.

Tony comes up to me.

"Nina, do yourself a favor and stay away from Jack."

"Jealous, are we?" Not the best thing I could've said.

"No, actually. He's married, and I wouldn't want Teri on edge right now."

"And why not?" He knows how much I dislike her. Even before she and Jack married, I didn't like her. That was just the ultimate turning point.

"She's pregnant, Nina."

Now that sucks. In my backwards world, this is an opportune time to scold Jack.

"Thank you Tony, I'll keep that in mind."

I try to walk away, but he stretches out one of his strong arms and catches me around the waist.

"Really Nina, leave her and Jack alone."

"I wasn't planning anything."

I turn and give him my trademark seductive smile. He lets me go, giving me a mirrored smile in return.

Now is when I begin my planning. How clever, I can get my way without lying to Tony.

I'm not the ruthless woman that would think of killing Teri Bauer.

No, I'm the ruthless woman that would let her live, so she could suffer, watching my life with Jack from afar.

To Be Continued…