AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the first book in a multi-chapter series that will span all three seasons. The first book will detail the week preceding day one (or the first season) as seen through the eyes of eight characters - David Palmer, Ryan Chappelle, Sherry Palmer, Nina Myers, Tony Almeida, George Mason, Kim Bauer and Jack Bauer.

I will be basing my stories off facts given in the show and in the book, "Findings at CTU" by Marc Cerasini. These stories will be based in canon for the most part aside from some things I add to fill out the characters' backgrounds.

Biased, though I may be, but I feel the story is more coherent and more cohesive if all perspective.

Finally, I want to give a big thanks to my beta, Catch22Girl for being such a huge help to me.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters or "24".

Wednesday

February, 26, 2002

New York, New York

David stifled a yawn as he entered the penthouse suite. The scent of fresh coffee was in the air and the morning sunlight, filtered through the blinds, was casting stripes of golden color in the room. It was a little past 7 AM but his wife and several key staffers were already up and preparing for the day.

Mike Novick, nodding to whoever he was talking to on his cell phone, gave him a light tap on the arm with the thin stack of papers he held. He had a proud grin on his face as he handed David the papers and pointed towards the top. "Most recent polls," he whispered before walking off to continue his phone conversation.

David felt something akin to giddiness bubble up in him as he looked at the numbers, he was still trailing Hodges but he had closed the gap down to 2%. If everything went well this next week he could match and maybe even surpass Hodges' numbers come Super Tuesday.

They were always on the go, attending one function or another, traveling from one city to the next. These past few weeks, he had barely had time to sleep or eat. Moments like these, when he realized how close he was to achieving something that for so long seemed just out of his grasp, always left him a little lightheaded.

It had been a little more than two years ago when Sherry had first suggested that it might be time to run for President. It was something they had always talked about but at that time he hadn't felt ready. He had offered up a dozen reasons not to run - he was still too green, they didn't have enough money, there wasn't enough support - the list went on. The truth was he was scared and whatever excuse he could find he used.

David was still ashamed of that initial reticence. Not because he was scared but because he was a hypocrite. For so long, he had been told by other politicians, associates, prominent leaders of the Black community, even friends and family -- that he shouldn't expect too much. That he should be happy with what he had and that he shouldn't try to rock the boat so much. He had even been told -- on more than one occasion -- that by pushing for change, by being ambitious he was only hurting himself and putting his family at risk. He was jeopardizing the Democratic Party and only making things more difficult for fellow African-American politicians.
Naturally, when faced with such criticisms he had pointed out the flaws in their reasoning. He had called upon the words of one of his heroes and reminded them that the word "Wait...rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This 'Wait' has almost always meant 'Never."

Yet there he was using those same arguments and letting those same fears hold him back.

But even when he had been low on faith and his worries threatened to consume him he could count on Sherry to be his strength and courage. She had enough faith to carry him through that sea of doubt to firmer shores.

He had known Sherry since they were children -- they had grown up in the same neighborhood and attended the same schools. She had impressed him at a young age with her intelligence, strength, charm and beauty. And she had touched his heart with her unwavering belief in him. David always knew his family was a blessing from God but like many people he sometimes forgot to be grateful for those gifts and it was only in times of adversity that he was reminded.

They had all suffered through a terrible trial when his daughter Nicole was raped several years ago. It would have been easy for each of them to sink into their own mires of despair -- many families had been destroyed over less.

But, they hadn't. His daughter had impressed him with her perseverance and reminded him what true grace was. And Keith had been stalwart and been there for his sister after she confided in him about the attack. It was during his run for the Senate and he hadn't been home much, both of his children had initially tried to keep the truth from him and Sherry. They had both thought they had to carry their burdens in silence and he couldn't help but see that as a failure on his part.
Somehow they had pulled through and while they each bore the scars from that experience he knew they were a stronger family for it.

The spirit he saw in his children today were mirrors to the resoluteness of their grandparents and great-grandparents. Their family had no wealthy forebearers and when the Depression came it had only pushed them further into the cage of poverty. His parents had grown up in that cage and it was a struggle just to keep food on the table and clothes on their back. He himself had been working since the age of 13, as the eldest son it was his job to help support the family.

But despite whatever economic troubles they had faced his parents had always put him and his siblings first. They had always stressed the importance of education, hard work, character, family and faith in God. When his father had died he had almost quit high school to work full-time and support the family. It was his mother who had stopped him and told him that he couldn't carry that weight alone and reminded that as a family they were going to work through this hard time together.

It was such a stunningly simple idea and yet it was so easy to forget that.

Several months ago, he had watched the events of 9/11 unfold and bring forth a tide of horrible emotions in himself and those around him. He had been angry. Afraid. But worst of all he had felt helpless. It was his wife who had told him he had to run, that he couldn't wait any longer.

The fear was still there. He was afraid of all the things that could go wrong and he was even afraid of everything going right and him winning. Taking the reigns right now, having the power to affect the world, was a truly humbling thought.

But with his family beside him he knew he could face any challenges that came his way.