Title: Deleted Scenes

Summary: As the title suggests these are some 'deleted scenes' from Never Change Faces, my AU take on season 3.

Disclaimer: I don't own 24 or any of its characters, this is a work of fan fiction, I don't make any money with it. Original characters belong to me tough, so please ask for permission in case you want to borrow them. :-p

Author's note: Since there were so many questions left unanswered in NCF I decided to shed some light on at least some aspects, particularly with regard to the last chapters. You do not need to have read Interrogation Series (prequel to NCF) but it might help understanding what the whole deal with Nick and Phil is about. However, keep in mind that there's a time gap between each part.


A few hours prior to NCF…

Scene 1: Packing Light

Nick ran a hand through his hair, thinking once more that it would have been better to keep quiet. But, also once more, an inner voice instantly objected. Phil deserved to know that this was the last time they would ever see each other, and Nick needed to tell him why.

He looked up again. Phil still hadn't said a word. They had been sitting here for what seemed like hours and he had done all the talking while Phil had just listened in complete silence. Now, Nick had completely run out of things to say and was waiting for a reaction. Something more giving than his friend's face expression which had gone back and forth between complete shock and an incredulous frown while digesting what he was being told, without any comments, without asking a single question. Nick had tried to give all the answers though, explained as best as he could. How he had met Nina for the first time, what he had thought of her, how he had seen her again, some months later, how he had left Division. How he had kept running into her and how things had taken this weird turn. Phil already knew how he had helped her back then after the shooting at the hotel, so he tried to explain why he had done it instead. It had become harder to find words and sentences after that, the closer he had come to the more recent events. But he had managed somehow, and now it was done. He hadn't left out a thing. Not about Nina, not about himself. And all the while, Phil hadn't said a word. He didn't now either, but he gave Nick a long look and then suddenly got up from where he was sitting, an armchair in the middle of the living room, turned around and walked over to the window where he kept standing in silence for a long time. "When I asked you why I had to pull a bullet out of her leg, you told me it was better for me not to know. And when I asked you who she is, you gave me the same answer again."Because it was true, Nick thought but couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. "So what's changed? Why telling me now?" Nick lowered his gaze to the floor although Phil wasn't even looking at him, still peering out through the window. "Because I'm a selfish bastard." He was. Nothing had changed, of course. It would still be best for Phil not to know. "That you are," Phil agreed, his voice bearing a mix of anger and sadness. And again there was a heavy silence between them, lasting so long Nick started to wonder if his friend was maybe waiting for him to get up and leave. But apparently, he wasn't. "So what do you want me to say?" Phil asked, turning around and finally facing him again. "Do you expect me to give you my blessings, tell you how disgusted I am or just punch you in the face?" I don't know, Nick wanted to say, but knew that wasn't good enough. "All of it?" Yeah, that was much better.

He woke with a jolt when the driver hit the brakes. "Idiot!" he yelled at some unknown third party.

Nick rubbed his temple where it had collided with the window and noticed the brief glance the driver darted at him through the rearview mirror. No apology or sign of politeness followed though. Definitely back home.

He leaned forward to read the digital watch on the dashboard. Almost 7 p.m. That made it around 4 in the morning for him. No wonder he had dozed off. But he seemed to have woken up just in time.

"Here we are," the driver announced, stopping the car slightly gentler this time. Nick paid and grabbed his traveling bag, getting out of the car the same moment Phil came out of his house, a big smile on his face.

"Sorry, Phil, didn't think it was gonna get this late but my flight was delayed."

"Yeah, damn domestic flights. What else is new?" Phil remarked offhandedly, eyeing the single bag in Nick's hand. "Is that all?"

"Yeah, why?" Nick wondered confused.

"Nah, I thought you were just stopping by on your way to somewhere. Figured you were going on vacation which usually means more clothes, more bags…"

"I'm packing light," Nick explained relieved. "Better on the back."

"Alright, let's get in then. You look tired. Working too much?"

"Yeah. How's Eileen?" he countered, eager to change the subject. He wasn't used to lying to Phil and as tired as he was, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep his stories straight. Just don't mention coming straight from Africa, don't mention leaving forever and you'll be fine, he encouraged himself, following Phil inside who kept talking about Eileen calling from San Diego an hour ago where she was staying with her aunt who'd broken a leg and how the cast was killing her.

Nick suppressed a yawn. It would be hard to hide his jetlag but he couldn't let it show. At least not until he had decided whether he was going to tell Phil or not.

Almost 7 p.m. Nina had let on that the first part of the deal would go down tonight. She would call him when it was done. He could only hope everything would go as planned.