Disclaimer: Last time I checked with the purple monkey, I only owned him. Nothing else.

A/N: And here is hour two of the worst day of Derek Venturi's life - are you ready for a shock?

Previously on LWD/24: (imagine the beeping sound)

Marti bounced out of the door behind her, dragging her suitcase. "C'mon Case! I am so excited about seeing Derek. It's been years!"

"Case, I wanted to talk to you about our…well, about our relationship."

"Alright, Venturi, but I need the rest of this list done no later than 7:50. We have to email a copy to the Secret Service agents before the President is in the air."

"Agent Venturi, this is Philips. There are two young ladies here looking for you, and they appear to have had a long trip. They will be waiting down here for you."

Casey and Marti shared a look that Derek couldn't read. "Do you think you could take a coffee break and come talk with us for a while?" Casey questioned seriously. "It's kind of important."

8:00am-9:00am- Denver, Colorado – the day of the Presidential campaign visit

Casey, Derek, and Marti walked down to the Starbucks on the 16th Street Mall, arm in arm in arm. They chatted about superficial things, with Derek occasionally getting lost in the fact that the same woman he had been dreaming about for months was finally right next to him. When they walked into Starbucks, Derek immediately steered them to a table and said, "Case, you want a mocha, right? And Marti, a hot chocolate?" Both the girls looked at him and started to giggle hysterically.

Casey took pity on his puzzled face and gasped, "I think Marti and I would both like Peppermint Mochas…" As she trailed off and continued to giggle, Derek gave her a look and started to the counter. Both girls dissolved into fits of laughter. When Derek had left, Marti composed herself enough to gasp out, "Hot chocolate? Does he think I'm six or something?"

After a minute or so, both girls calmed down enough to look around at the other patrons in the restaurant and noticed their taxi driver muttering fiercely into his cell phone. Seeing that Derek was just stepping up to order, Casey decided to step over to the driver and let him in on the situation. As she was coming up behind him, the driver was finishing up the tail end of his conversation.

"Yeah, I'll be ready." Pause. "I know what I'm doing, ok? I'm not exactly an amateur. The girls need to be dropped off and then…" he trailed off, listening. "Look, I already verified it with Susan. Yeah, yeah. Talk to you soon."

"Hey!" Casey said, seeming to startle the man.

"Wha-oh it's you. Are you ready to leave?"

Casey shrugged. "Not quite yet. How about around 8:20? Is that ok? You aren't supposed to get off anytime soon, right?"

"Uh, no. 8:20 sounds great. I'll meet you right outside the building I dropped you off at."

Casey grinned. "Fabulous!" After exchanging a few more words of small talk, Casey headed back to the table, almost colliding with Derek and the drinks on the way.

"Woah, careful there, Klutzilla!" he said in a teasing way. Casey responded by hitting him on the arm and flouncing back to her sit by Marti. Derek followed, laughing.

After everyone was settled with their drinks, Derek leaned back and threw his arm around Casey's shoulders. "Alright, I know this is serious. What's going on?"

Marti and Casey exchanged glances again before Casey spoke up. "Wee-ell, there are a few things going on at home that we thought you should know about. We also thought that we would give you a heads up, given that Edwin and Lizzie are due to arrive in five hours and will bombard you with the whole long story again."

As Derek continued to look at Casey quizzically, her cheeks started to heat up. "See," she rushed on, "it isn't that no one wanted to tell you, just that no one wanted to tell you over the phone. And this is the first time all of us could get away to come visit you and…" Derek held up his hand to interrupt her.

"How about we cut to the chase and you tell me the news?"

"Ok, here goes." Casey gulped. "LizzieandEdwinaregettingmarriedinFebruary!" She finished with a triumphant grin and took a large mouthful of her drink. At Derek's continued look of puzzlement, Marti took pity on him and enunciated the words clearly. "Lizzie and Edwin are getting married in February."

Derek sat straight up and almost spat his coffee out. "What?!"

Casey just looked at him. She knew he had his suspicions about Lizzie and Edwin's relationship, so he couldn't have been that surprised.

"February? When-how did this happen?"

"Well," Marti began, "when Lizzie and Casey and Nora moved in, Lizzie and Edwin became friends. And as they got older, their friendship naturally progressed…"

Derek stopped her with a laugh. "Alright, alright, I know how it happened. What I meant was how the engagement happened? And when did it happen? And most of all, why wasn't I told before now?"

Casey broke in. "The engagement only happened two months ago. You weren't told before now because Lizzie and Edwin wanted to tell you in person, and today is the first time all of us could get off work at the same time, cause there was no way I was letting someone in our family come see you unless I got to come too." With that, she leaned over and gave him what started out as a peck on the lips and turned into a full-blown lip lock. Marti cleared her throat a few times before she got the two lovers' attention.

"So, I see you've gotten over your aversion to PDA?" she said dryly.

Derek looked at her. "After not seeing this amazing woman for thirteen months, I think a little PDA is acceptable, don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Can we get back to the conversation before I have to go puke from all this lovey-dovey-ness?"

"Where was I?" Casey asked. "Oh, yeah, our trip here. So Lizzie, Edwin, Marti, and myself decided that we would all come out to see you, and that's when they would break the news. But as the time got closer, Marti and I started to worry about what you would do to Edwin if he told you without any advance notice. So we decided to fly out first, tell you the news, and then let Lizzie and Edwin talk to you after you calmed down. Which," she said with a quizzical look on her face, "you don't seem to need to do."

Derek leaned back in his chair again. "Well, I knew it was only a matter of time. Edwin has liked Lizzie since they were thirteen. Since they were eighteen, he hasn't mentioned another girl in his life. So I just assumed…"

Casey looked put out. "Are you telling me I got up at 1 o'clock this morning to get a flight here to see you, and I didn't need to? The things I go through for this family," she grumbled, pouting.

Derek kissed her again. "Yeah, but you gave me the best surprise of my life, and if you had waited until this afternoon, I probably wouldn't have been able to talk to you until tomorrow. The President is coming to Denver today, and I will be needed all afternoon and evening."

"Well I'm glad we came then," Casey cooed, perking up.

Derek looked at his watch. "Alright girls, we have to head back. It's 8:15, and Jackson, my boss, will kill me if I'm not back on time. He's already stressed to the max with the President's visit."

The three got up and walked out the door, laughing and talking. Diego Baylon, Casey's taxi driver watched them go and then got back on his cell phone.

"Avila," a voice barked.

"It's Diego. I have news about the Pawns. It seems that they have a connection to Target Three as well, a connection that we can definitely employ as distraction while we set up our package delivery."

"You know what to do, Diego." The cell phone cut out and Diego closed it, getting up and walking out of Starbucks.

8:19am – Colorado CTU office

Derek walked into his boss's office exactly one minute before he was supposed to be there. Jackson glanced up at him, looked at the chair in front of his desk and back down at the paper he was reading. Derek took the cue and sat down in the chair.

"Nice visit, Venturi?" Jackson growled when he was done reading.

"Yeah, great visit. My sister and stepsister, Casey."

At the mention of Casey's name, Jackson perked up. "The Casey? Casey McDonald?"

Derek smiled inwardly. "Yes, the Casey McDonald. She came to break the news that my brother and her sister are getting married in February. Incidentally," he added casually, "they, Lizzie and Edwin that is, are coming to visit this afternoon as well."

Jackson groaned. "They don't expect a security detail, do they? We can't afford to spare any agents today."

Derek laughed. "I doubt they even considered it a possibility."

Jackson breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope the governor doesn't know they're coming," he grumbled. "He'll want a detail on them."

Derek smirked. "Casey was planning on heading to his house before she and Marti check in at the hotel."

Jackson groaned again. "You hate me, don't you?"

"I guess it's what happens when you hire the stepbrother of the governor's daughters." Derek laughed at the expression on Jackson's face. "Don't worry," he assured his frantic-looking boss. "Even if Governor McDonald wants to put a security detail on his daughters, Lizzie and Casey will refuse and tell him so. They aren't ones to hide their opinions," Derek finished wryly.

Jackson laughed. "My wife's the exact same way, Venturi. So let's get down to business," he abruptly changed gears. "I emailed the list with your recommendations and Pearson's plans to the Secret Service, and so far they have had no problems with it. The President's flight will take off within the hour and is supposed to land at DIA before noon. His first stop will be the UCD/CCA/Metro campus to speak at the student body Rally on the Green. After that he will head to the Brown Palace Hotel to check in to his room, and then to the Broker for his dinner with Governor McDonald, after which he and the governor head to the Convention Center for their evening speaking engagements. That covers today, right?"

"Right, boss."

"Ok, Pearson has Reynolds's team and Davis's team on the Convention Center. They have cleared out all personnel and are stationing agents at every entrance in preparation for the crowds that will begin arriving around the same time as the President's flight. Gypsom's team has the Broker for tonight – they will go over the building after the lunch rush. Bolton and Grayson's teams are at the Brown Palace preparing the secure floor for the Presidential suite. What have I missed?"

"What about the student rally? That's our biggest security problem."

"Ah yes. I put Pearson and his five best agents as well as their teams on security there, as well as DPD patrols with dogs and the campus's private security force. They have already been through the campus twice before today – hopefully, everything will go smoothly. With the added Secret Service agents, I assumed fifty-six agents, fifty police and whatever security detail the campus has, plus numerous police dogs should be enough to control the situation."

"Sounds great, Jackson. What do you need me to do?"

"Governor McDonald has, surprise surprise, requested you to head up the team of agents around him. I told him you would be delighted to, and he expects you at the Capitol Building by 9am. I'm sending Dawson, Burg, Michaels, Jenson, Wilson, Taylor, Allen, King, Lopez, and Scott with you. They are awaiting your briefing in Conference A. You will be on secure channel 3, along with the other team leaders. I will be on channel 4, and your team members will be on channel 1 sub 6. The rest of the information is with your team."

Derek saluted. "Thank you, sir!"

Jackson growled. "Shove the sass, Venturi. Just do your job." And with that, he dismissed Derek.

8:29am – Governor's Office, Capitol Building, Downtown Denver

Dennis McDonald looked up at his secretary. "Sir, there are two young ladies here to see you. One insists that she is related to you, and Security has cleared her, but she refuses to give me her name. Says she's already told three people and she's not going to tell another soul until she sees you." The look of utter terror on the poor woman's face made Dennis want to laugh.

"What does she look like?" he asked kindly.

"Brown hair, blue eyes, and a very commanding voice," the woman replied timidly. Inwardly, Dennis sighed. He was going to have to talk to Rachel about hiring a new secretary, preferable one who wasn't scared of her own shadow, or more importantly, his shadow.

"Send them in, Kira. I'm sure they are fine if they cleared Security."

"Yes sir."

Dennis sat back in his chair and waited. Two seconds later a tall brunette with a chip on her shoulder and a scowl on her face walked through the door followed closely by another tall brunette, this one younger and perkier. He smiled broadly.

"Casey, sweetie! How are you? I didn't know you were coming to Denver today! How's life? Is Lizzie well? How is your mother?"

If it was possible, Casey's scowl got even bigger. "That…mess…out there is ridiculous, Dad! I showed Security the card you gave me and we still had our purses checked and metal wands and were almost interrogated. And then that woman out there wanted me to again go through the whole I'm-here-to-surprise-my-dad spiel again and I found it utterly ridiculous!"

Dennis noticed that Casey's compatriot was trying extremely hard to stifle her giggles, and wasn't succeeding. He almost wanted to join her in laughing, but felt it would be unfair to Casey.

"Now sweetie, they are just trying to do their jobs. How long were you out there waiting?"

At this Casey flushed. "I don't think that's really important," she grumbled. At this, the other girl completely lost it and sank down into a chair, laughing. Casey glared at her.

"It was…let's see, nine minutes?"

At that, Dennis began to chuckle until it became a full blown laugh. This set the younger one off again until both of them were gasping for breath. Casey stood straight and tall and tried to burn a hole in the wall with her eyes.

"It's not that funny. It's just been a long day! And I am still paying the taxi driver to wait!"

Dennis managed to bring his laughter under control. "I'm sorry Casey. Please have a seat. I can send one of my assistants to pay your taxi driver and send him off if you would like?"

"No, it's fine. We can't stay that long anyways. I just wanted to let you know that Marti and I," she motioned to the younger girl who was still giggling, "are here and Lizzie and Edwin will be arriving later today. Lizzie has some exciting news she wants to share with you."

At the mention of Marti's name, a lightbulb had gone on in Dennis's head. So this was Derek's sister, he thought, admiring the young woman. The last time he had seen her, she was still in the dress-up stage of life. "So Marti, is it? It's been a long time since I last saw you. Derek talks about you all the time though."

Casey harrumphed. "Derek mentioned that he sees you a lot. Why?" she said, suspiciously.

Dennis sat back in his chair. "Well, because I like Derek. I invite him over for dinner a lot, and we eat and watch hockey games together and talk." Especially about you, he thought. "I also have requested that he be the head of any CTU team that is working with me and my staff."

Casey looked abashed. "Oh. I guess that's good."

Marti was finally able to get her giggles under control and she looked at her watch. "Don't mean to be a party pooper or anything like that, but if we want to check in and snooze before we have to go pick up Lizzie and Edwin, we should get going. Plus, it might take us, oh I don't know, three minutes to get through Security?" And with that witty remark, she dissolved into giggles again.

Casey gritted her teeth and turned back to her dad. "So, can we get together for lunch or dinner sometime this week? Lizzie really needs to talk to you, and it would be nice to sit down and talk without needing to be molested by Security officers."

Dennis paged his secretary, who scurried into the office. "Yes, sir?

"Kira, can you please check my schedule and clear a lunch or dinner date for my daughters sometime in the next two days?" The woman nodded. "Alright then. Casey, give Kira your cell phone number and she will call you when she has arranged it." He got up from his chair and walked around the desk to give his oldest daughter a hug and a kiss. "It was good to see you, sweetie. Drop by again later!"

"Ok, bye Dad!"

"Bye, Governor McDonald!"

"Goodbye, Marti!"

Dennis watched Casey and Marti walk out of the office and went back to his desk to sit down. He noticed Kira still standing there, waiting quietly.

"Yes, Kira?"

"Agent Venturi from CTU called, sir. He requested a briefing session with you at 9:20. Since your first minute is not until 10 today, I scheduled it for the conference room."

"Thank you, Kira. Let me know when Venturi arrives, will you? I have some exciting news for him."

8:42 am – Outside the Capitol Building

Marti and Casey shivered and stamped their feet as they waited for their taxi to pull up. "Who would have thought that December in Colorado would be colder than December in Canada?" Marti muttered to Casey.

"I don't think it's actually colder. I think it's the wind. I've heard it's a killer here in Colorado."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. It's cold, that's all I know."

Marti was cut off as the taxi pulled up in front of them. She and Casey clambered into the backseat, grateful for the warmth of the car.

"Where to now, ladies?" The taxi driver had perked up noticeably since being given coffee, Casey noticed. She removed her gloves and rubbed her hand together as she responded. "The Red Lion Hotel, please."

"Right away!" The taxi driver pulled away from the Capitol Building and began to head toward I-25 as Marti laid her head on Casey's shoulder and Casey put her i-pod headphones on.

8:45am – CTU Headquarters, Conference A

Derek looked around at his ten agents. "Everybody clear on the procedures today?" At the nods around the table he continued. "Alright, everybody set your cell channels to 1sub 6. The governor is expecting us by 9 sharp, but I figured we could leave a little early and you could begin coordinating with the governor's security detail. I want everyone out in the cars in three minutes, capiesh?" Secretly Derek was hoping to catch Casey and Marti before they left the governor's office, even though he knew it was a slim hope. Especially today he doubted Dennis McDonald would have a lot of time to spare for his daughter.

As his agents were filing out of the conference room, a slight built, five foot tall woman was trying to squeeze her way in to see Derek.

"Venturi, I have something I need to show you." Abbie Hayes worried her top lip as she waved a bunch of papers in Derek's direction. "This isn't something major, at least not yet, so I didn't want to bring it to Jackson's attention, especially today, but someone needs to see it." Derek motioned for the information analyst to continue.

"Last night, while I was running a basic security function, I found a line of code that shouldn't have been there. I've spent all morning running through code specs and have found 257 more instances of a random line of code in a place it shouldn't have been. Normally, this wouldn't mean much, and maybe it still doesn't, but every random piece of code I found was in a security or confidential program or document. I'm putting them all together, seeing if I can find a common thread, but so far nothing. The thing is, if there was a random line of code in every single security and confidentiality program we run, there would be enough code to create another program. If it turns out that these codes are actually a Trojan, I want to make sure I'm not the only one who knows."

Derek had a blank look on his face as he looked at the papers Abbie shoved under his nose. "Abbie, I don't really understand this. What exactly is the problem?"

Abbie bit her lip. "I'm not…sure, exactly. Maybe nothing. But when I put the codes that I fond together, they started to piece together like an old worm software we used to use to infiltrate computers. I haven't found enough code to prove it, but it could mean that we have a leak in our system."

Derek looked up at Jackson's office. He could see him on the phone, yelling at someone. "If there is the slightest possibility that we have a leak, you need to let Jackson know, Abbie. He's the one that can order District analysts here to find the bug."

Abbie nodded. "If you think I should, Venturi." She turned and walked out of the room, Derek following closely on her heels trying to get out to the cars with his agents before anyone else stopped him.

8:56am – Somewhere on I-25

Casey looked at the passing buildings and sighed. She hoped the driver hurried up and delivered them to the hotel. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep for a couple hours. As she watched the buildings go by, she noticed a building that said "Red Lion Hotel". After they passed the exit, she tapped the driver on the shoulder. "Excuse me, I think that was the hotel back there. The driver ignored her, so Casey tapped harder. "The hotel was back there. You need to get off the highway and go back." The driver continued to ignore her.

As they passed a few more exits, Casey started to get worried. "Why won't you turn around?" she finally yelled. The driver turned around and Casey stifled a terrified gasp. In his hand he held a small, but deadly looking gun. "Sit back and shut up, Ms. McDonald," he said coolly. "We were going for a little ride to visit a few of my friends." He turned back to watch the road and Casey's hand went immediately for her purse and the cell phone within it. Instantly the gun was pointed directly at her.

"No, no, Ms. McDonald. No need to call anyone just yet. Once we get to where we are going, then you will be able to call both your father and your CTU-agent boyfriend." Casey's hand kept edging towards her purse. If she could only get the cell phone in her hand, she could at least text someone. But then the gun swung and was pointed directly at Marti. The driver smiled coldly into the mirror. "I don't need her alive. I'd like to keep her that way, for more leverage, but I don't need her alive. One more twitch of that hand, Ms. McDonald, and the young lady will never wake up again."

Casey stifled a sob and tensed her hands up, not daring to move them at all. "Wh-why are you doing this?" she whispered.

The driver looked back at her and smiled evilly. "Revolution."

A/N: And the cliffhanger of 24!!! (aren't you happy I don't make you wait for a week like the producers of 24 do?) BTW, just for your reference, I made Dennis McDonald a US citizen, born and bred, which makes Casey and Lizzie half US citizen and half Canadian citizen. Hope that clears up any confusion.

Well, any confusion about that issue...