As promised, here is the first part of the prequel to the season 8 story I am writing. I am hoping it will help put my season 8 into context and help address the criticism I've gotten from some readers that Jack is being too nice to Tony after everything Tony did. I hope this helps to explain Jack's feelings about the Tony situation in a way I felt the writers failed to do in the season 7 finale.

I do not plan on including any season 8 spoilers in the prequel, and will warn you if that changes. So even if you are not reading my season 8 because of minor spoilers you can still read this…and I think it works as a standalone story too.

This part takes place about a week after season 7. There will probably be 4-5 parts in total. Enjoy and please review…it keeps me motivated to keep writing! And feel free to be honest…I appreciate honest criticism.

Jack is laying in a hospital bed a week after his surgery. Kim is by his side, showing him pictures on her laptop.

"Steven and I spent some time scanning all my old paper photos too," she explains. "Pretty much every picture I ever had is in here. Here's Teri when she first came home from the hospital," she says, zooming in on one image. Jack smiles sadly, hating the fact that he missed the first year of his granddaughter's life.

Kim's phone rings. "Hey, shouldn't you be in the air already?" she asks.

"The flight was delayed, but I think we're about to take off," Steven says on the other end.

"Argh," she groans. "Did they say what time you'll be getting in?"

"They said around 7, assuming there are no further delays," Steven answers.

"Alright. I'll keep checking on your flight so I know what time to pick you up. How's Teri?"

"She's sleeping right now, thank goodness," Steven says. "Fingers crossed that she'll stay that way."

"Yeah."

"Hey, they just made the announcement to turn our cell phones off, so I better go," Steven says.

"Alright. I'll see you in a few hours. I love you both. I can't wait to see you," Kim says with a smile.

"Love you too."

She hangs up and turns back to Jack. "They'll be here in a few hours," she says excitedly. Jack grunts in acknowledgment but doesn't really seem to be listening.

"Daddy, are you okay?" she asks worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, sweetheart. My mind was somewhere else for a minute."

Kim sits back down next to him and notices that he is staring at a picture from Tony and Michelle's wedding on her laptop. She sighs, understanding why he was a million miles away.

"I still can't believe what happened to Tony," she says.

"Yeah," Jack says softly, clearly anguished by the whole thing.

"When Agent Walker called me at the airport and told me that Tony sent people to try to kidnap me I couldn't believe it. I mean, Tony used to go out of his way to protect me…that year when you were in Mexico with the Salazars he was almost like a surrogate father to me."

"Yeah," Jack laments. "For what it's worth, I don't think he planned for his operatives to kidnap you. He told them not to hurt you unless they had to to get me to cooperate…at least, that's what he told me after I broke him out of custody."

"Do you know why he was doing it? I mean, why would he get involved with the same kind of terrorists he spent his whole career fighting against?"

Jack sighs. "The man who orchestrated the attacks last week is the same man who was behind Michelle's death. Tony spent years working his way up in his group in order to get the chance to kill the man responsible for Michelle's murder."

Kim nods, looking like it makes more sense to her now.

"So he wasn't really working for them? He was just trying to infiltrate their group?" she asks hopefully.

"Technically, I guess," Jack answers. "But he killed innocent people in the process. I guess that raises the question, at what point do you go so far in fighting these people that you become just like them? It's a fine line, and I don't deny that I've crossed it a few times."

"You still feel sorry for him in spite of what he did to you, don't you?" Kim asks.

Jack sighs heavily. "I don't want to," he admits. "He killed innocent people and he betrayed me personally. But as much as I don't want to admit it, I understand what drove him there…" he says softly, his voice showing emotion.

"Me too," Kim admits. "I mean, after Mom died, I was so angry…for a while all I could think about was how much I wanted Nina dead. And if you'd told me that it wouldn't make me feel much better I wouldn't have believed you…I guess I had to learn that for myself."

"Yeah," Jack says softly, acknowledging that he feels the same way.

"But at least we had each other…I mean, I know I pushed you away, but at least you were still there…Tony didn't have anyone."

Jack shakes his head sadly. "I just wish I knew he was still alive," he laments. "You're probably right that he had to learn for himself, but I can't help but wonder if I could have helped him."

"Well, maybe you still can," Kim suggests.

Jack looks up, surprised. "How?" he asks softly. "How can I help him when he won't even try to help himself? Chloe said she's pretty sure he was recording phone conversations that could be used to convict some of the people behind last week's attacks, but he won't even talk to anyone about cutting a deal. He knows he could be facing the death penalty and he doesn't care…frankly, I think he finds it to be a relief. It's like he's just given up…"

"Well, maybe you could talk to him," Kim says. "Maybe he'll listen to you."

Jack shakes his head. "I'm the one who stopped him from achieving what he'd been working for for the past five years. He probably hates me as much as he hates the man who killed Michelle. He wouldn't listen to me."

"You don't know that," Kim insists. She takes a deep breath before continuing. "Look, when you faked your death and Tony called to tell me you were dead…I was angry. When you worked at CTU I was prepared to get that call but I thought you had left all that behind, and the day Tony called I wasn't prepared for it. I was angry with you for going out of your way to put yourself in danger when you were supposed to have moved on…I know it sounds so stupid now…"

"No, sweetheart, it doesn't," Jack says soothingly, holding her hand.

Kim takes a deep breath and regains her composure. "Anyway, Tony understood how I was feeling. He told me that it made him sick watching you throw everything away when you had finally gotten your life back together, but deep down he knew you were doing the right thing. He said you always did the right thing, and that's what made him resent you sometimes because it made him feel inadequate. But he admitted that deep down, he just wished he could be half the man you are."

"He said that?" Jack asks, surprised.

"Yeah. I guess it's one of those things he could never admit to your face, but I know he feels that way."

"That was a long time ago, sweetheart," Jack says softly.

"Yeah, it was. And obviously he's changed. But I bet deep down there's a part of him that still admires you, even if he won't admit it to himself. If there's anyone he'll listen to, it's you. And if he really has information that could save lots of lives, isn't it worth a try?" she asks.

Jack doesn't answer, but Kim can tell he's thinking about what she said.

"Maybe," he says softly after a minute. "Listen, sweetheart, I should probably get a little bit of rest before Steven and Teri get here."

"Okay, I'll get out of your way then," Kim agrees. "I want you to be nice and perky when you meet your granddaughter," she says with a smile.

"I can't wait," Jack says. Kim leans over and gives him a kiss on the forehead. "I love you," she says.

"I love you so much," Jack says softly, his voice choking up a little.

After Kim leaves, he sighs heavily, thinking about what she said. Part of him feels more content and complete than he's felt in years, having her back in his life. He's excited to meet his son-in-law and granddaughter in a few hours, and he is anxious to move on with his life and put the past behind him. But deep down, he knows Kim is right. As much as he doesn't want to see Tony again, he knows he'll drive himself crazy unless he does. Part of him wants to just let Tony get what he deserves and not worry about it, but he knows that with all the history between them he can't just walk away.