Disclaimer: I do not own 24 or any of its characters… though I would really like to.
AN: Personally I don't think there are enough fan fictions dedicated to Tony and Michelle's trials AFTER leaving CTU together at the end of season 4. I believe the two characters were completely devoted to each other and loved each other more than life itself but their had to be a time when they had to feel awkward and had to deal with everything that happened between them so I wrote this story. It surrounds the first couple of days after they leave CTU and how I believe their conversations and emotions went concerning there time apart. I will base the first couple of problems obviously off of the small amount of information we got from Jack when he explained Tony's situation to Audrey.
P.S. I refuse to believe season 5 happened, the writers of the season premier need to be hunted down and damaged.
ON WITH THE STORY!!
Dealing With the Issues
The ride back to Michelle's apartment was quiet and slightly awkward. Michelle and Tony were both in slightly low spirits because of how the day had unraveled and ended.
The day had been hell and to the couple the only good thing about the day had been getting each other back; but they had many issues to work out and neither knew where to begin.
Tony drove Michelle's Lexus toward her home after she had given him the address. He wasn't surprised when he realized the apartment she was living in was in the same complex as the one she was living in before she moved in with him.
They drove in silence both thinking their individual thoughts, scared that if they said anything they would ruin what they had just gotten back. The only thing that held any warmth between the two was their hands united on the center compartment. Tony was using his thumb to draw small circles on the back of her hand. She was slightly soothed by the motion.
Michelle was thinking to herself about everything that had happened to them over the past two years. It had been really rough after Tony got back from prison. He was changed, distant and cold. But now he was Tony again and they could move on and just put the past behind them right? The only other thing on her mind was the woman that had called to talk to him while they were working. Who was she, and how deeply involved were the two of them?
Tony's thoughts were similar. He was extremely happy to have her back, but as much as he just wanted to let everything that happened between them stay in the past it ate away at him not understanding why she had left in the first place. Jen was on his mind to. She had helped him out a lot and now he was just going to forget all about her. He would have to make time to explain everything to her in person, hopefully she would understand.
They arrived at the apartment and the two made there way to the third floor. They got to the door and Tony moved aside to let Michelle unlock the door. When he stepped in to his slight surprise he felt relieved. All of living room furniture was arranged in Michelle's small living room, it was slightly cluttered but it was Michelle.
The colors of the walls were bright which gave the apartment a happy feeling. Tony's favorite part about the whole thing was that it smelled like her. He loved it and a smile spread across his face.
His thoughts were broken into by the sound of her voice.
"I know it's not much but uh it works I guess."
"It's great."
He walked up next to her and looked at her.
"It's very you."
She smiled at him.
"Well if it wasn't I probably wouldn't be very happy with it."
"Probably not."
He looked around some more at the apartment taking in small details. He noticed the walls and many tables around the areas visible to him had many pictures on the duo. He was slightly taken aback. Tony didn't understand why she would surround herself with pictures of them when she walked away from her marriage.
"Feel free to look around. I'm gunna go change out of this suit before it drives me crazy. The kitchen is through there and the bathroom is down the hall to the left."
She pointed him in the direction of the designated areas and then walked down the hall to what he assumed was her room. When he heard the door shut he let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
He walked into the living room. All of their furniture was there just like he remembered it. Tony hadn't realized she had kept the furnishings from their home. She had bought more side tables and a new TV.
He walked over to the wall closest to the door and looked at some of the pictures. There were a few with Michelle and her brother and his family and there were some of the two of them from their honeymoon. He smiled at the memories the pictures brought back. They were so happy. Where had they gone wrong? He continued his way through the living room into the kitchen.
Tony wasn't surprised when he opened a cabinet and found only two boxes of cereal and snacks. He opened the fridge and laughed at how sparse its contents were and that most were take out containers. The freezer was the only thing actually holding any food. Microwave dinners mostly.
He shook his head, same old Michelle, eating like crap to ensure she didn't burn down her home.
"Don't shake your head at my kitchen Almeida, not all of us can be gourmet chefs."
He turned around to see Michelle leaning against the door frame in sweats and a tank top, her hair was down and the curls were coming back full force. Tony could barely believe he was actually with her.
"Well you don't have to be a gourmet chef to cook simple meals."
"The art of cooking eludes me, and I like having an apartment. I would be really upset if I killed it with the toaster."
He laughed lightly.
"Yeah I think that could be potentially upsetting."
She merely nodded.
He looked at her and started scratching his face. She obviously understood where his thinking process just went and started to bite her lip.
"So what's the next step?"
He looked up at her when she asked the question.
"That's up to you. You tell me what you want to do and I'll do it."
"Alright well I guess we need to discuss everything and figure out where we want to go from here."
"I agree, but before we do this I need you to know that no matter what gets said, I love you and I don't want to be with out you for another second. I can't survive without you and quite frankly I don't want to."
"I love you too Tony and nothing that gets said is going to change where we are right now. We just need to talk about everything. I think part of what killed us was not talking about it and I am not about to let that happen again."
"Alright well then lead the way."
"Um did you want to change or anything first I still have some of your clothes and I think there's some sweats and stuff in what I have."
"Sounds great."
"The bedroom is down the hall your stuff is in the first drawer on the right."
"Okay I'll be out in a sec."
"I will be in the living room."
He nodded at her and made his way down the hall.
Michelle took a deep breathe and let it out slowly then turned and went into the living room. She smiled slightly to herself. He's back and he still loves me. Her small smile suddenly lit up her entire face and she flopped down on the sofa.
Tony opened the drawer in the bedroom and looked at all the clothes he had been missing. He pulled out a pair of sweats and a black t-shirt and quickly changed. When he pulled the shirt over his head he noticed it smelled faintly of Michelle.
"She's been wearing my clothes."
He smiled to himself and made his way to the living room where he found her on the sofa.
"So" he looked at her slightly nervous, "where do we start?"
She kept her eyes down on the sofa and didn't meet his face.
"I'm not entirely sure. But I think the first thing we need to settle is what happened to us. Maybe if we settle that there won't be any more tension."
"Okay well since you are the one the left I think it's only fair you start."
Michelle took a deep breath and looked up at him.
"Fine I'll start."
An: So I wasn't originally going to end it here I was going to go through their entire conversation but its reallllly late and I think it would be best if that particular highlight got its own chapter. Hope you liked the first chapter and I PROMISE THIS WILL BE A GOOD T&M FANFICTION. Tony and Michelle belong together the end I will not write them any other way. So don't judge this too early. They are together in this chapter and will remain that way for the rest of the story and will be happy. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! If ppl don't review I probably won't write the story very well because I will be discouraged. There is no reason for 50 hits and 2 reviews! Thanks for reading!!
violetXice
