AN: this story resumes my other story 'Fallout'.

What previously happened: Major terrorist attacks took down the whole power grid in northern America. Several bombs were ignited and martial law was declared. Jack was on the run becuse of what he did at the end of Season 8, after Renee's death.
Chloe gave his location to president Taylor, in return for a pardon for her involvement.
Jack met Audrey again. But he left her because she got married in the meantime. Heller forced him to join the military again.

Enjoy!

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Application
Tuesday, 18th September, 2018
07:40am LT, Washington DC

The chief of the office of Military Intelligence took the file from his desk into his hands and flipped it open. He glanced at the woman across the table with some dissatisfaction. Since he had received her letter of application, he had meticulously checked her background, just to find out that she would be perfect for the job.

It was hard to find people with actual experience in the supervision of field activities and in the relevant protocols.

There hadn't been any photo attached to the application.

As he eyed her now, he had to admit that she didn't fit the picture that he had had in his mind as he had read her file. She was a tall blonde, wearing a designer suit and high heels. That was a sharp contrast to all others of this unit.

He read through her CV once more, briefly, to get the dates right. "I read here that you left the active service five years ago, Ms. Anderson?"

She nodded. "Yes. That's correct."

"I read your file…", he sighed, "… that you were abducted by Chinese Agents."

"That's correct.", she answered again, slightly starting to feel uncomfortable. "Is that of any matter for your decision?"

He thought for a moment, but then shook his head no. "No, Ms. Anderson. But I had some severe doubts if you were… up to this job, before this conversation."

She shifted in the chair and then crossed her legs again. "Do you still have doubts about it? This all is a very long time ago, Colonel Tusker. It's past. I'm well over it."

He put on a soft smile. "No, I don't have any doubts any more, Ms. Anderson. Please, accept my apologies." He cleared his throat. "But there's still one thing I'd like to discuss with you."

Audrey feared that it would be something unpleasant, too. "Go ahead, Sir."

He fought hard to find the right words. "Your father… is… the Secretary of Defense… is that right?", he began.

"Yes. I hope that does not influence your decision.", she said, "Neither in a positive nor in a negative way."

He was relieved to hear this. "No, Ms. Anderson. I was just… wondering why you chose to work this part of Military Intelligence. As I read in your file, you are qualified for higher tasks. You could have also chosen to work in the administration of Ministry."

"And now you are wondering why I prefer to apply to your department?", she cut in.

"Yes."

Audrey sighed. She leant forward to Colonel Tusker, to speak more silently. "Sir… I'm tired of being linked to my father. I have applied to work here because for once I don't want to hear the voices which keep telling that I had only received jobs because of my family relations. This department is far enough away so that nobody will see my relation to the Secretary of Defense at first sight." She took a deep breath, "And Sir – I would be very thankful if you could keep my family relations confidential, to both the people here and the Secretary."

Colonel Tusker watched her intensely. She made an honest expression to him. He could read people very well for normal. Reading her face showed him that she was honest about the connection to her father. This woman really wanted this job. She seemed like she didn't want to work in a position where people could blame her that she had only gotten the job because of being the Secretary's daughter.

"You know Ms. Anderson,", he began, "sooner or later the truth will come out. People will know someday."

She understood him perfectly. "I just hope that I can make it 'later' in this place.", she answered.

He smiled. "I'm sure you will.", he answered, signaling her that she'd get the job. "When can you start?"

"Right away."

He closed her file and put it onto a stack on his desk. Then he stood up and went around the desk. Audrey stood, too.

He approached her, impressed by her appearance. "Please be here tomorrow morning, 7am. Report in the human resources section and then you'll receive your keycard and the duty roster."

They shook hands. "I'll be there. Thank you for giving me the chance."

Audrey finally took her bag and turned to leave the office. Right as she was at the door, Tusker called her name again. "Ms. Anderson?"

She turned at the spot.

"You know, I would have given you this job anyway. No matter who your father might be.", he said.

She nodded her approval. "Thank you Sir. That means a lot to me.", she spoke and then left the room.

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Audrey went down the hallway with a small smile on her face. Actually she was much happier than just that, but she wanted to preserve her professional face. She had got the job.

As she went through the building, she looked to the offices and situation rooms to her left and right. This building reminded her of the old CTU Los Angeles very much. The walls were made of concrete and most of the doors made of glass. The main office of the Defense Intelligence Agency was located close to Washington DC, at Bolling Airfoce Base.

Her choice to work here had also been caused by it's location. Her dad was working within the pentagon. Most of the military agencies were located within the pentagon. The DIA at Bolling Airforce base was just out of the city and far away enough from the pentagon, so she wouldn't cross his ways accidentally.

For a second she stopped and had a look at a big metal picture of the seal of the Agency, which hung at the wall right next to the elevators. It featured a picture of the globe which was wrapped into satellite orbits. The challenge of the new job felt good. She had made the right decision to come back here.

Audrey stepped into the elevator. She hadn't been to DC for years. After her return from China she had first stayed with her father in his house. Somehow she had ended up in California. She had been back to DC for a couple of times to visit her cousin Monica, but the time span between the visits had become longer and longer. She was glad that Monica was still such a good friend. As she had arrived here, back in DC, two days ago, she had directly gone to see her. Actually she hadn't even known if Monica still lived in the same place, or if she was still single, but thank god she was. She had stayed with her ever since.

At the ground floor she got out along with a bunch of army officers. Half of the people employed here were members of the military, the other half were civilians. She strode through the main entrance hall and left the building to take a cab back to Monica's house.

This was the exact right place. If there was a chance to find Jack again, then she'd find him here, through the channels of the DIA. That was the only reason why she had come back to DC.

06:32pm LT, New York

The travel from Washington DC to New York had never been more complicated. The power grid was still down in the most parts of the country. The military was patrolling all the streets. Every few blocks within the city and every few miles out on the countryside had been checkpoints.

He wore his army uniform, which got him cleared through all the checkpoints, though these were his two days off. It was the first time in weeks that he was not on duty and he had decided to visit Chloe.

Carrying only the most important things in his backpack he strode down 6th street towards her and Morris' apartment. He hoped they hadn't moved in the meantime.

For a long time she had been the only person from his 'old' life whom he had been in contact with. The day when she had sold him out a month ago was the last time he had ever heard anything of her. He had tried to contact her several times within the past weeks, but the phone lines were still down. Not even a person like Chloe O Brian had managed to get back online.

Glad to be finally here Jack went up the stairs to her front door. He hoped she and her family were ok as he tried the doorbell. To his surprise it worked. They were one of the few households who still had electric power.

Nothing happened for the first minutes. He rang again.

Somebody moved inside the house, he heard.

Jack precautionally opened the hatch around the butt of the gun inside his belt holster. His hand lay at the gun as the door finally got opened.

The lock turned slowly. The front door opened for a gap, until the chain halted it promptly. A woman appeared at the gap.

As she saw him she nearly fainted.

"Chloe, are you alright?", Jack worriedly asked her.

Hurriedly she removed the door chain and came out. Franticly she threw her arms around him for an embrace. "Jack, I'm so sorry for everything."

He finally let go of the gun, as he saw Morris in the corridor behind her. They seemed to be okay.

She let go of him to look into his eyes.

Jack realized her odd view. "Chloe, what's up?", he asked her.

"Jack… I didn't want this to happen.", she stammered.

"What…? What didn't you want to happen?", he asked again.

"It was me who sold you out to Wellington and Taylor. I'm so sorry. I tried everything to find you again during the last weeks, but they cut off all my channels.", she apologized, knowing that no apology could ever make up for such a betrayal.

Jack sighed deeply. "Chloe, I don't blame you for anything.", he murmured. "I just came here to understand this all for once. Who was behind all this? Who forced you to sell me out to them?"

"I took you quite long to come here for that.", Morris cut in.

Jack looked up. His view went past Chloe, into the dark hallway where Morris stood. From here Jack couldn't see his right hand. It was hidden behind a nearby bureau. He guessed Morris had a weapon there.

"I had no chance to get here earlier.", he replied to Morris. Jack could see from here that Chloe's husband was still skeptical. He raised his hands for a small bit, to show Morris a conciliating gesture.

But the other one was still skeptical.

Morris now dared to move towards them.

Jack spotted the gun in his hand. He had been right with his guess.

Morris went up to Chloe and put his arms around her shoulders from behind.

"Morris…", she protested. She was sure by now that Jack hadn't come here to harm them in any way.

"Get back into the house, sweetheart.", he commanded her with a rough tone. He stood in front of her protectively.

Jack and he stood at an arm's length.

Morris eyed him from head to toe. "Quite a nice disguise, Jack.", he remarked, weaving at his military uniform.

"That's not a disguise.", Jack answered. "Look, Morris, I just came here to get some answers. I don't want to bother you both."

Morris grabbed the handle of the gun faster. Jack saw his fist clenching. He still tried to soothe the man opposite the stoop.

"Morris, I don't want anything else than to talk. I just need a few answers.", he repeated.

"No Jack, you don't understand.", Morris countered. "Simply your presence always endangers other people. I don't know where you came from Jack, but I want you to leave and never to return. Chloe, get into the house."

"Morris, no.", she protested.

He didn't listen to her. Instead he pushed her back into the apartment and slammed the door shut behind. Morris stayed at the outside with Jack.

"Jack, please leave.", he repeated. "It never stays at just a few answers. New questions will come up and then you just want her to find more answers through illegal channels. I don't want you to tear her into this any deeper. I know you."

Jack saw that Morris wanted to protect her because he really cared. He thought for a few moments but then turned around and strolled down the stairs again. Morris was right.

At the bottom of the stairs he stopped and turned back once more. Morris was still there.

Jack took a deep breath. The way here had been too long just to give up right now. "Morris, I want just one single answer- I just want to know who was behind this. We both know that she sold me out because somebody forced her to and I want to know the name of that person. That's it. No further question, no search for other answers."

"Jack, I don't know that name. Leave now, I beg you.", Morris snapped.

Jack stepped back. "Okay. But tell her I need the name. Just the name, nothing else.", Jack spoke and then went away.