A/N Welcome! This is my 3rd advancement into the world of 24 fan fiction, and I've got so many ideas floating around that I decided just to go for it.

This was going to be my version of Day 8, but I decided against it. It's just a random story!

For the record, there will be Day 7 spoilers up to and including episode 14 (9pm-10pm). Please remember, if you are leaving any comments, that the UK are a week behind the USA, so avoid any recent spoilers so as not to ruin it for me if you can! EDIT: Seen episode 7-18? My story will ignore everything that happened there!

I've decided not to do the 'hour per chapter' thing, as much as it is realistic to the show. The pacing wouldn't be quite right. I hope you don't mind!

All characters etc belong to Fox. British drama pales into insignificance in comparison.

Day 7 ending summary

Jack, Tony, Chloe, Renee, etc all successfully halt the bio-threat posed by Hodges and his men. Larry Moss, remorseful for how he treated Jack, manages to cut a deal for Jack and Tony - they are to be released but not given immunity. Effectively, they are fugitives but will, under the radar, be allowed to live 'normal' lives, meaning there is no police manhunt for them.

This story takes place approximately 6 weeks after the end of Day 7.

"It's another glorious summer day here in D.C. as the warm weather current drifts over from the west-coast. Expect clear skies until mid-afternoon, when a band of cloud will begin to cover much of Washington state, the possibility of light showers by early evening. Temperatures in the region of 35 degrees Celsius, that's 100 degrees Fahren-"

Tony Almeida shut off the engine of his car, the radio stopping abruptly mid-weather forecast. He clicked off his seatbelt and opened the door, slamming it shut as he absent-mindedly surveyed the surrounding area behind large black sunglasses.

Washington D.C. was busy again. It was to be expected with weather like this; already the kids were out in force, creating a wall of innocent chatter and laughter blocking out the sound of rush-hour traffic. Tony ran a hand through his now longer hair and brushed his fingers over his clean-shaven chin. He looked around him again before spotting a small blue Citroen pull up at the south end of the car park. He chuckled to himself as he headed slowly across the hot tarmac.

Stepping out of the blue Citroen was a slightly-overweight, stubble ridden Englishman by the name of Morris O'Brian. He was waving his hands adamantly, seemingly deep in argument with his brunette wife, Chloe O'Brian, as she emerged from the passenger seat. Tony approached cautiously, but with amusement, as the pair locked the Citroen and continued to argue. Morris did like his European cars.

"Where's Prescott?" Tony interrupted, earning a small scowl from Chloe but a relieved smile from Morris, "I thought you were bringing him?"

"He's not very well," Chloe piped up, still looking in a terrible mood, "Morris fed him something he shouldn't have, we left him with his childminder at home."

Morris retorted in argument as Tony lifted an eyebrow with a smile. The pair continued to bicker as Tony silently led them towards the small, family-run café that had become a staple meeting spot for the old friends.

They turned the corner of the small Washington park, the small café in sight. Tony scanned the tables outside the café, all being served by young women in black outfits. The tables were occupied by businessmen reading papers and drinking coffee or young mums trying to keep their toddlers in check. On one table right in front of the door, however, Tony spotted who he was looking for.

Jack Bauer was leaning forward slightly over what looked like a small glass of cranberry juice. His large brown sunglasses covered his eyes, but his forehead was crinkled into a small frown as he clasped his fingers together in front of him. He took a small sip of his juice before continuing to stare over at the park full of children.

Jack was still trying to come to terms with everything that had happened 6 weeks ago, as well as the years before that. He had taken Bill Buchanan's death very hard, blaming himself for not making the decision to blow the C4 sooner. He had not spoken to Kim since returning from China, as far as she was concerned, he was being held in a prison thousands of miles away. He detested living the semi-secretive, semi-normal life he and Tony had to live, haunted by the memories that plagued him and unable to adapt to a regular lifestyle. That is part of the reason Tony, Chloe and Morris decided to make their Friday morning visits to this café a regular occasion; hopefully it would allow all of them to try and get back to normal.

Jack looked up and around him as the trio were approaching, catching Tony's gaze from across the way. He smiled slightly and lifted a hand into a lazy wave. Tony smiled back and continued to head towards the white patio table, leaving Chloe and Morris arguing slightly further behind.

Tony approached the café.

Jack stood to greet them.

And then…

A large flash of white light blinded all who were there, and a deafening screech filled the air. Tony was blown backwards upwards of 50 feet by a pulse of heat as the café exploded in a ball of orange and red flames. His head collided with the pavement violently, sending a stinging pain echoing through his body.

His ears were ringing and everything was hurting, but Tony's instincts took over as he rolled onto his front. He reached up with a tentative hand to fling away his now-broken sunglasses and slowly pushed himself to his feet. He staggered forwards slightly, trying to regain his balance, away of a steady stream of blood dripping down his left cheek. He squinted through his blurred vision; people were screaming and running for help. He spotted Chloe and Morris pushing themselves to their feet, mentally relieved that they were far enough behind him so as to escape the blast.

This thought stopped Tony in his tracks.

"Jack…"

The ex-CTU agent turned slowly on the spot to gaze at the café. A large black cloud of smoke billowed from the large fire that had erupted from the main building. People were strewn all across the floor; Tony flinched as he saw an empty pram just to his right. Right in front of him, however, was something Tony wished he didn't have to see.

Jack was lying face down on the tarmac, one hand resting beside his head. It looked as if he was sleeping, but the large red-stained singed clothing that stuck to his back suggested otherwise.

"Jack…no…" Tony ran to his friend's side and pressed two fingers to his neck. Nothing. "Shit…"

Tony turned Jack over onto his back quickly, double taking when he saw the open eyes of his best friend, and began to administer CPR in an attempt to resuscitate him.

"Jack, you son of a bitch…"

Tony continued to pound at Jack's chest, taking a second to give him some breaths. He had done this before. Last time Jack woke.

He continued relentlessly.

Unaware of the shots being fired from the rooftops surrounding the café.

Chloe screamed as the gunshot ripped through the air. People were running in chaos anywhere they could, and Chloe felt it was in her best interests to do the same. She stopped, however, when she saw Tony giving CPR to Jack Bauer. Her heart sunk and her eyes flooded with tears before another gunshot rang out through the air. She ducked, ignoring cries from her husband to escape the scene. Looking up, she caught the glimmer of a rifle scope in the morning sun. Then another. And another. They were picking off people one by one. It was only a matter of time until they were next.

"Chloe! Where are you going?" Morris grabbed her arm as she tried to run.

"I have to get Tony," she shrugged him off and sprinted across the tarmac, hands over her head. Closing in on Tony, she spotted a small red laser sight focused on her former-colleague's temple.

"Tony, look out!"

She grabbed her friend's arm and pulled him onto her as she fell onto her back. A shot rang out and a cry echoed from Tony's throat. The bullet had caught him in the arm.

"Tony, we have to move…" Chloe got to her feet and tried to pull her friend up, but Tony was resisting.

"Jack…"

"Tony, we can come back for Jack!" She shouted, well aware of the small window they had to escape. It took around 10 seconds to reload a high calibre rifle such as this. She managed to get him to move as she sprinted across towards the next block, pushing her way through the crowds and into a small alley by the side of a restaurant.

Tony pulled on her grip once more, obviously weak from the blast and from the shot, "Chloe, let me go! There is still time to-"

"He's gone, Tony!" She bellowed at the top of her voice, a stream of tears now cascading down her cheeks.

Tony turned abruptly towards her, their eyes meeting. He looked confused but Chloe could not mistake that look of despair in his blue eyes, as they themselves began to become cloudy with tears.