Had he ever reached such a level? All the literal torture he'd endured, all the bullet wounds and scars he'd collected. None of that was equivalent to this, was it?
This was some mind-game that he hated playing. He'd thrown all his cards down to the table, helpless. She held the dice, which, knowing her, had seven sides.
She cheated on just about everything. Even him, come to think of it.
Jack ran a hand through his hair, parting it in both directions at once. She was looking at him, typically.
This was certainly the lowest his life had reached, thus far. He was doomed to suffer afterward. But, at this moment, he admitted to enjoying it. This was the first and only time in his life that he'd ever confess anything to a tormentor.
The game then reached beyond the mind, and crawled into his actions. One of his hands, pulled by some instinct, reached for her forearm, and grasped it tightly.
Jack pulled her face close to his, until his warm, though trembling breath wandered down her neck.
"Nina..." he began, his voice low.
A sly smile painted her face. She did love it when he said her name. A name so filthy and undeserving, it was unworthy of crossing anyone's lips. But when he, the immortal, unsurpassed, sinless Jack Bauer said it, in such a beautiful way, Nina had to be pleased.
A stiff, cold breeze fought through the cell's window.
A holding cell? In CTU's equivalent of a basement?
Jack was absolutely out of his mind. So was Nina, but she was often rewarded for such behavior.
Should a co-worker stumble upon this... well, Jack didn't think his actions through.
That's what she loved him for.
Jack gazed into her grey eyes. They shined like metal, and focused only on him.
Mesmerized, he leaned forward. She met him with a harsh kiss…
Jack pulled her closer, which was barely possible. She folded her head over his shoulder.
A hollow knock came from the cell door. Unlike most in the building, it was opaque.
"Damn it." Echoed from both of them as they drifted apart.
"Jack?" The voice rang form the other side of the door.
It was Tony. Basically, the worst possible person to join the situation.
Nina rolled her eyes. She was shoved into the corner, as far from the door and Tony as possible. Jack opened the door. His hands rushed to remove every hint of lipstick he could recall.
"What?" He wouldn't make up a story unless he absolutely needed to. Tony didn't have time to ask questions.
"The Alpha Team is leaving in five minutes. You're needed."
Jack shoved out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Nina shivered in the room, alone. A single tear rolled from each of her eyes, meeting at her chin, and leaping to the floor.