THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN 4AM AND 5AM
4:00- Charlie Terat ran through the dark neighborhood. Everyone one was still asleep. She so badly wanted to scream, but then they would find her. She had never been more terrified in her life, well, that wasnít exactly true. She ran to the nearest payphone and desperately punched in a number. She bit her tongue to prevent screaming PICK UP PICK UP!
Receiver-Missing Person Unit, Ann Terat speaking.
Charlie- Mom! I'm being chased!
Ann- Slow down sweetie, who's chasing you?
Charlie- I don't know they just burst into the house, they had guns, I got out but they're looking for me.
Ann- Oh god, okay get a taxi and come here right away, don't stop for anything, okay? Charlie? Charlie?
A hand closed over Charlie's mouth. She tried not to breath in the ether, but she could only hold her breathe for so long. She kicked and screamed until she finally lost consciousness.
4:05-Erin stood in front of her CTU staff, and prepared to give her speech.
Erin-Alright everyone, as you all know, about a month ago, the Whitehouse was warned that something is going to happen today. We're still not sure what city is being threatened, but it could easily be Los Angeles. If this threat is accurate, many, many people could die today. Today of all days, I will settle for nothing less than 110.
4:10-Dreidet approached Carcon
Dreidet- they should be here by now,
Carcon-You know what Patrick said, the girl is a fighter.
Dreidet- Yes, but she's a teenager against two grown men.
Carcon-theyíll get her here, besides all you should be worrying about is the bombs, when will they be ready
Dreidet-Patrick said a few more hours
Just then, a van entered the warehouse.
Commercial
4:24-Morris O'Brian ran up to Erin's office.
Erin-What is it Morris?
Morris-The Whitehouse just got another video from the terrorists.
Erin- Lets see it
Morris pressed a few buttons on Erin's computer and turned the monitor towards her. Erin listened to the terrorist before focusing on the movement in the background.
Erin- could you focus on the person in the background?
Morris pressed a few more keys.
Morris- Oh My God.
Erin and Morris stared at the face of a terrified teenage girl.
Morris-I'll id her and call her parents
Commercial
4:36-Erin's phone rang, she picked it up, it was Sally Brutton.
Erin-Ya
Sally-The girl's name is Charlie Terat, She's lived in LA since she was 10, her father died when she was 5, her mom works at the MPULA, that's ironic, anyway, she's waiting in the situation room.
Erin-Thanks Morris
Erin headed towards the situation room, where a blonde woman sat; it was obvious she'd been crying. Erin walked in.
Erin-You must be Ann Terat
Ann-Hi,
Erin- about 10 minutes ago we saw a video from a group of terrorists, we identified your daughter in the background, she's being held captive.
Erin paused; she knew this must be hard for Ann to hear.
Ann-It's weird, usually I'm the one talking to the parent. I don't know how I'm going to tell my boyfriend, he's practically her father.
Erin-Is he coming here?
Ann-Yes, he's on his way.
Erin-Alright, Have you recently noticed anyone following you or has Charlie been acting strangely?
Ann- No, 40 minutes ago she called me and said someone had burst into the house with a gun and was chasing her.
Erin-Okay, why do you think these people took your daughter? Do you have any enemies?
Ann opened her mouth, about to say something, but changed her mind and just shook her head.
Ann- No, no one would ever want to hurt Charlie; she's the sweetest kid in the world.
Ann's eyes changed as she looked out the window, she ran out of the room into a man's arms.
Erin looked at them, the man, who was no doubt Ann's boyfriend, turned around so she could see his face.
Erin-Youíve gotta be kidding me,
Erin said to herself.
Ann didn't notice that everyone in the building was staring at them, almost in shock. She just clung to Jack Bauer and cried.
Morris stared at Jack, what the hell was he doing here? Today of all days! He broke out of his daze and focused on what he was doing, he called Erin over to his workstation.
Erin-What is it Morris?
Morris-You see that van in the background of the video? Well I checked out the license plate. The owner is a Ron Jason.
Erin-I doubt he's involved with this, most likely it was stolen this morning and he hasn't woken up.
Morris that's just it, I called his neighbor who said he's never seen Jason in a dark blue van
Erin-Fine, I'll get Thommas to look into it.
Morris-What the hell is Jack Bauer doing here?
Erin-The girl on the video, Jack's with her mother.
Morris-Perfect.
Erin picked up Morris' phone
Erin-Ken, get down here
Moments later Ken Thommas, head of field ops, showed up.
Ken-What's up?
Erin-We've got an address you need to check out.
Ken-I'll get a team set up.
Erin walked over to Jack.
Erin-Jack, nice to see you again
Jack-You to Erin, how close are you to finding Charlie
Erin- We've got a suspect; I'm sending a team over to pick him up.
Jack-I want to go with them.
Erin-Jack don't make me remind you that right now, you're simply a visitor, not an agent
Jack-That's where you're wrong, I'm with the Missing Persons Unit, Charlie's a missing person which makes this both of our units' problem.
Erin was about to protest when Jack looked into her eyes.
Jack-Please Erin, let me do this.
Erin saw this wasn't an argument she was going to win
Erin-fine, You can get ready over there.
Jack turned and headed to where the rest of the team was getting ready. He didn't care what he had to do; he was going to Charlie back. He was going get the reason he woke up smiling every morning back. He patted his MPU badge. He was back in the game he'd tried so hard to get away from.
5:00