Thanks to everyone that read and ex special thanks to reviews cause I hate reviewing myself sometimes. I got some response, not a lot but I don't care really because I like this story so far. I haven't yet not finished a story (though I've only written one LoL shh) and I'm not going to start now.
Jack was at the house where he was to exchange Audrey with the list of undercover agents to give to Cheng. Of course he had no intention of giving it to him, but he still needed Audrey to be safe. She had already done so much for him, and he couldn't let her down. The c4 was already in the wall and the button was in his pocket. He still had a few seconds to collect himself. He wondered if he could handle seeing what they did to her without killing Cheng and his men right there. But she'd still be in danger and then he'd have no way of saving her. He had to keep his emotions tucked in even after the long day he had had.
Audrey sat in the back of the car with duct tape on her mouth and rope around her hands. No matter how many times they would rap that rope around her hands it still hurt every time. But today she was too concerned with Jack. What would he think when he saw her? What would he say? She wondered how he would be after so many months in prison. She shuddered at the thought of what they did to him, and remembered all of her many nightmares where she was too late to stop their punishments and he was dead. The last time she saw him still haunted her. She should've stopped him from leaving; the whole situation at that point was wrong and she remembered it being like a horror movie. She couldn't find him, and she felt like if she hadn't of waited so long that maybe she could've stopped them from taking him. Then there was the time in prison where she thought she had seen him, but before she had time to go to the bars of her small cell he was already gone. Her headaches started now with flashbacks of being in prison and she shook her head trying to will them away until the car stopped in front of a worn down old house. She wondered if they were just going to get rid of her here when they opened the door and pulled her out. This "must be it" she thought because all Cheng's men were getting out too.
Jack heard the doors opening and slamming shut and suddenly his chest felt as if it was going to explode. He sucked in a big breathe of air waiting for them to come through the door, as he prepared for the worst. But all that came in was Cheng. "Where's Audrey" he said harshly as he stepped towards Cheng fists clenched. "She'll be right in Mr. Bauer, but I just wanted to make sure you held up your side of the bargain" "not until I see her" responded Jack. Cheng waved his men in and behind them was Audrey.
As she walked in their eyes connected and she wanted to run to him but knew it would be a bad idea. Jack nearly ran to her; the love of his life and the girl of his dreams was standing in front of him and yet he couldn't touch her. His eyes took in her small frame with a baggy men's shirt on and jeans, her tangled hair, and how weak she looked. He also noticed how tight the rope was, and all the cuts and bruises that he could see, because he knew there were more and his hand twitched for his gun he was so mad. "Take the duct tape off her mouth" he snarled. "As you wish" said Cheng, but Jack caught the look of terror in her eyes and stopped him "let me do it" he said a little softer. Cheng regarded him for a moment before nodding.
Audrey walked slowly towards him, still in shock that he was really here, that they were here together. As she moved she never took her eyes off him until she was right in front of him. He looked all right for the most part on the outside but when she looked into his eyes she could see the pain and despair lying there. Jack reached his hand out to touch her face, but Audrey was unable to control the flinch and silently cursed herself. Jack looked at her worried "Hey it's me, just me I won't hurt you" she nodded her head and this time when he reached out to touch her she didn't flinch. The familiar felling of his rough hands on her cheek made her instinctively close her eyes and lean in to his touch. He smiled at the familiar sight and moved his hand down to rip the duct tape off. He leaned his forehead against hers as he traced her bottom lip with his thumb. A small smile played on her lips "Jack" she whispered loving the feeling of finally being with him.
But their reunion was cut short by Cheng's voice. "That's enough let's move on" Jack moved in front of her but kept his hand on her arm to make sure she was still there and not a figure of his imagination. "First I want Audrey unharmed, you're going to let her walk down to the bridge out of the range of the snipers" He held her arm a little tighter at the thought of what he had to do. "Not until I see the list" fine Jack said holding up the list. Audrey realized what he was giving up to Cheng "Jack no, you can't give him that it will compromise everything" her voice she realized came out harsher and quieter than normal from not speaking so much in so long but he heard her all the same. "I know what I'm doing" was all he said until she recognized that tone and what it might mean. There was no way he was going to hand that list over to them even if she was safe. "Do we have a deal?" he asked looking straight at Cheng who nodded.
Jack turned to Audrey as a tear ran down her face. He wiped it away quickly before leaning in to brush her lips, unsure whether or not to continue, until he felt her pull him towards her. He leaned in and kissed her, and it was everything that he had dreamt and thought of while in prison. It was a short kiss but passionate all the same. He rested his forehead against hers again while she still had her eyes closed as another few tears fell. "Shh" he whispered kissing those tears away gingerly. "I love you with my whole heart, I always will." He said making small circles with his thumb. "I love you too" she whispered back. "Now listen to me, there's a cab behind the bridge that will take you to CTU, your father's waiting there" she nodded, knowing that there was no way to change his mind.
Jack placed his hand on the small of her back leading her towards the door. He nodded to her to walk out the door while he still held her hand and she had no choice but to go. He looked to the floor then back up to her as she turned around, the last time they would ever see each other. Once she was past the bridge Jack handed Cheng the list but as he did he heard a bullet rip through the air and immediately thought of Audrey but one of Cheng's men fell. Jack was confused as he looked around, before 8 agents started advancing.
Audrey heard the shot and turned around screaming his name. She ran back to the building but saw a CTU agent start moving from the bushes. Cheng's men got behind one of the cars and a gunfight broke out. From where she was she couldn't tell where Jack was and moved to get closer but a hand grabbed her. She jumped and recoiled but when she turned she saw it was a CTU agent. "I'm sorry miss Raines but I have to get you away from here" "no where's Jack?" she asked him "I'm not sure" was all he said before pulling her towards a car. But a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks "Audrey get down" but she felt stuck until Jack saw the sniper aiming for her and ran to her. He grabbed her down behind one of the cars just as a bullet ripped through his vest knocking him out for a few seconds. Audrey watched in horror of how he hadn't moved and screamed his name. To her surprise he got up and took a deep breath. Retrieving his gun he ran back to where Audrey was, shooting the sniper at the same time.
He ducked as the other Agent was killed, and more bullets went over head. "Are you all right?" she asked still shocked that he seemed fine. He took in her scarred look "I'll be fine" he said before cutting the rope off of her wrists. His anger was renewed at how deep those cuts went and he gave her his spare gun. "You remember how to use this right?" he asked through gritted teeth angry as hell at them for doing that to her. She nodded "Ok stay down for now."
He stood up again taking out two of Cheng's men but Audrey noticed a figure limping a ways out. As he walked towards one of the street lights and she noticed who it was, Cheng. She stood up a little against the car and aimed it at him. There was no way she could let him go; she just hoped that she wouldn't miss. Steadying her hands as much as she could she pulled the trigger. Her eyes slammed shut as the barrel shot up and as she slid down the side of the car she thought she heard a yell but she wasn't sure. It got Jacks attention though as he looked behind him seeing Cheng holding his leg, he shot him quickly square in the chest and watched him as he fell. He started to where the figure lay of a man who had tortured not only him, but Audrey and wished he could've put him through all the pain they went through. His trance was broken by the sound of her yelling and holding her head in her hands. He knelt beside her "Audrey, what's wrong, Audrey" he called to her. But she barely heard him as memories of a warehouse years ago flooded her memory, Jack had given her a gun as they hid behind a metal tool box. Once they were both out of bullets they knelt there, jack grabbed a piece of metal. Then her mind flashed to a different place, Christopher Henderson staring at her. Her father could be dead, and the man responsible was in front of her. The gun Jack had given her in her hand.
She finally felt his hand on her shoulder and was pulled out of her memories. Once he saw that she seemed to be ok he stood up again and helped to take out the rest of Cheng's men. Once he was sure that she was safe he sat down next to her, his head against the car. She reached for his hand noticing the burn marks that covered it and closed her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
Well I know it's long and I was going to split it up but I figured the more the better. Most of the chapters should be maybe a little shorter but not much, I was just in a mood to write and good things come when that happens. Hoped you liked it, and figured out what scenes I was referring to with Audrey's flashbacks. Reviews are always welcome and the next chapter should be out in a few days.