Author's Note; I have a few other Michelle & Tony stories, all much longer and happier. I have other couples as well, along with some action scenes, but I don't want to post them unless people like my ideas. So if the reviews come, I'll post soon! :)

A blinding light flashes into my eyes, and I squint, unable to take it. At first I am dazed, wondering where I am and how I got here, but then I realize: I'm supposed to be dead. The thoughts come rushing back to me, of Christopher Henderson stabbing me with the lethal injection, supposedly killing me almost instantly. How long had I been gone, and how did this happen? I dare to open my eyes and see a single face hovering over me; a man's face that I don't quite recognize. I can vaguely see him open his mouth, and the words seem loud in such a silent room. "Tony Almeida? My name is David Emerson." He says, and I don't recognize the name, from CTU or otherwise – CTU…I remember. My wife, Michelle, died today.

I take in a loud, gasping breath as I realize and go back to everything that happened. Seeing David Palmer's death on the news, having her insistent on going to help Bill and Jack, and worst of all…the explosion of her car, leading to her murder and my serious injuries. Michelle hadn't even stood a chance, as the cowards did something so weak as to attack her with a bomb. She had been so strong and independent; my girl was amazingly able to take care of herself. They hadn't let her do that, however, and it all grew worse. Then Bill had lied, stating that she was alive and well, but I'd known better. For a moment I was stunned, unable to even feel anything. My body felt so heavy, and the man, Emerson, continued to speak.

"I know you remember everything that happened today," He began, and I filled with rage. How dare this man I had never even met act as though he knew me all too well? I tried to land a punch at him, but I was too slow with all the weight upon me. "Don't even try; your body is still affected by the hyoscine-pentothal." Emerson paused, and silence entered the room again. What was this room? I couldn't even tell that much, I just knew I was hooked up to an IV that only a hospital could have. "The government is spitting on Michelle's grave, Tony."

I look up at him and my lip curls, a snarl that is supposedly one of my famous features. Again I wonder, how can I remember such little things if I was supposedly dead? "You can't say that, you don't know anything about me or my wife." I manage to get out, but it takes a lot of energy and I'm extremely thirsty.

"Charles Logan, the president, is behind all of the events occurring today." As the man says this, I try to hide my shock. That much I did not know. "He's responsible for your wife's death, and he'll get by with a slap on the wrist because he's so valuable." Another pause; I know he's right. "The honor in this country has gone; it passed by long ago. There's nothing left that's worth fighting for, except for the one remaining thing –" He leaned in. "You can avenge Michelle's death, get back at the people who kill your most prized possession."

I hated the way he put it, as if my perfect, kind wife was just a prize to look at it and put away whenever I pleased. Still, his words seemed true. I turned away, or at least attempted to, but my body was still so weak. He sighed softly, as if with a certain empathy for me, and began to walk away. Emerson stopped in the doorway and said one last thing. "Think about what I said, I know you'll come to agree."

And I did. The more I was left to think, the more pain I felt. Never again would I look into those big brown orbs that could get anything they wanted, just because she had that power over me. Never again would I touch her or kiss her, sending me into a heaven I didn't know existed. I thought back to the night before I lost her; the night before I lost everything.

"Do you remember that day?" She said with a laugh, and I kept gazing at her. I'd never seen something so beautiful, even if she had no make up on and her hair look like that of a wet dog's. Something as little as shampooing her hair or watching her sleep sent me into extreme joy, and I wondered how I managed to make someone as ideal as her want me. I loved everything about her, and that wet hair smelled so amazing. Or maybe it was just her skin, I honestly could never figure it out. Smiling at her, I melted at those puppy dog eyes. "Remember what day, sweetheart?"

Before letting her speak, I couldn't help but give her a soft peck on the lips. Such a little gesture, yet it made me weak at the knees like a little school boy. Feeling affectionate, I began to massage the feet the rested on my lap and she leaned back, getting comfortable. "Mmm," Michelle began before speaking again, closing her eyes. "The day we went to the carnival, and we rode that one ride and got stuck at the top"

Of course I remembered. She had wanted a day off so badly, and I took her to the fair to ride all sorts of rollercoaster's. And to get her a snow cone, because I knew how much she loved those. It seemed as though the entire day would've gone downhill once we rode and found ourselves stuck, but quite the opposite occurred. I couldn't fathom why she wanted to go on such an ugly thing, with the paint having faded and chipped in multiple places and the squeaking that every movement made. She just seemed so drawn to such a hideous attraction, and I couldn't resist any of her wishes. The ride started out boring and picked up speed, but just as we hit one of the big drops it stopped. No warnings or anything, our cart and all the others just came to a dead halt. The people below announced that it would be running within the hour, but we both knew that time would be tripled or more. Still, the day seemed to only get better from there. We sat and talked for hours, something we hadn't done in a while. All possible subjects came up, such as the old days at CTU, or what Jack, Bill, and Chloe might be up to now. Then, a subject I didn't think would come up, did just that. My wife looked up at me with a sheepish smile, as if embarrassed to ask her question. "We should think about, I don't know, having a baby." Her words rolled off her tongue, and I was mesmerized by the beautiful tone of her voice. I almost missed what she said, but at the last second I made out what she suggested.

The feeling I had then had only happened two others times. Our first wedding and our second wedding. Not only did I feel nothing but a strong, passionate love that would never go away – but I felt doubtless. I didn't even need to think twice about the decision, for I knew it was the right one. My thoughts went back to those two times that we stood at the alter, and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I still wondered how most grooms could get every word perfectly, whereas I was stammering because she made me so weak. I wrapped her in a hug, tears in my eyes, and said that it'd be great to try and make a family. I pulled away quickly and looked at her, my breath shallow as I was stunned by her tremendous beauty yet again. Both of us leaning in, we kissed for the longest time. Our tongues invaded each other's mouths, but it remained soft and gentle rather than urgent and rushed. I had all the time I needed with her, unless I screwed everything up again. That, however, was as likely as the two of us going back to CTU. I would never let Michelle go, no matter what happened. She was my everything, and nothing could take that away.

Only those were memories now, but part of those events still remained. I sat on the couch, still so in love with her as I had been those few months ago. My eyes couldn't avert from hers, and her words barely hit their mark as she said them now. "Tony, I'm pregnant." I smiled at her, cocking my head to the side. "What?" She gulped, saying it again. "We're going to have a…a baby." I realized what Michelle was saying, and my jaw dropped. No doubt, no disappointment, no bad feelings reached me. I pulled her into the same hug that I had that day at the carnival, holding her tight and never letting go. It wasn't just the two of us anymore, a third person stood between us – in her stomach, growing and preparing itself to be born. I pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her as if it were our last. She let out a squeal of surprise, as if she hadn't been expecting it, and I found that I couldn't control myself. Slowly but surely, I moved my lips away from her mouth and onto her neck, then down to her collarbone, leaving a light trail of saliva with every move. She began taking off my shirt, and I purred with satisfaction. This need that I felt, I had to be closer to her. As close as I could. I unbuttoned the front of her shirt, finding it unbelievably sexy that she was wearing something so easy to take off. As if this moment were expected, but that thought in itself was enough to get me exhilarated. No, I had to make this something unforgettable, as I always strived to do. She began taking off my pants, and I did the same to her. My boxers were suddenly at my ankles, and I looked down in shock at how she'd managed to do such a thing so quickly. "Oh, you naughty girl." I chuckled and moved lower, pulling down her lace panties and looking up to see her breathless, those puppy-dog eyes wide with unknowing. "Don't move." I instructed.

My kisses move further down; to her naval, and finally down to her lower stomach. She looks at me with a shy look and I smile teasingly. Rather than doing the expected, I take three fingers and slowly move them up, causing her to gasp in contentment. Those fingers of mine brush against her wall, stroking every little part to match her groans. My little games only go on a little farther before the act is done, and I'm overcome with that familiar feeling of excitement. However, as it always was and always would be, nothing mattered except for her happiness – what Michelle wanted. So as the moans and fast breaths escaped her lips, that was when I couldn't take it anymore and I pressed myself closer to her. She exhaled loudly as I pulled myself into her body, moving slow and passionately. One hand cupped her breast and the other her face, softly pushing a curl out of the way. She opened her mouth to speak, but I wouldn't let her. I kissed her urgently, as if I could never get enough of her, and after a little while I pulled away. She gasped for air and I felt it, coming closer and closer – until finally we'd both reached the highest peak, and I rolled over to embrace her in the more romantic way. The gorgeous thing let out a final breath of air and I wiped away a few beads of sweat, whispering in her ear as if someone else were listening in as well.

"Michelle Dessler Almeida," I began with nothing but a whisper. "You are mine to hold. I love you more than you could ever know, and nothing will take that away from me." She shakes her head instantly, speaking at the same level as I did. "Nothing." And she kisses me again, sending me into another world of eternal bliss. I didn't need anything else, I only needed her – but still, she found ways to make every day better than the last.

By now the tears were in my eyes, and I didn't even care of the humiliation of a guy like me crying. Especially since I remembered; my baby had always loved to see me cry. The vulnerability of such a thing, she couldn't help it and she'd wrap me in a tight hug for comfort. I waited for her to do just that, but where was she now? Murdered, gone, out of my life forever because of what they did. They'd get away with it, too. I'd seen and done the unthinkable, but my 'Chelle was so much more than anything in this world.

And the government took her away, President Logan and all of his accomplices. No, no one else would suffer the pain I had. I began considering all the awful things I would have to do in order to reach the people responsible, but I couldn't find myself caring. What would she think of me? I knew my wife, and she would never approve. I closed my eyes and shuddered, shaking my head. "I have to do this, Michelle." Looking up, I spoke to her as if she were there with me. "I can't let them get away with this, just know that I love you more than anything. Forgive me for all the things I do…I just can't forget." A final breath escaped me and I leaned back onto my pillow, trying to brace myself for what I was getting into. Her death had to be avenged, no matter the cost.
So as David Emerson walked in with an expressionless face, the question didn't even have to be asked. "I'll join you."