Sorry sorry sorry for the delay. I've retyped this chapter so many times that I think I just need to post it and live with it. (Unless it's really bad because then I will have to sell my keyboard.)

"I'm sorry"

Audrey opened her mouth as if to say something only to close it again. Her mind spun with what this could mean, and how to respond.

"We should go"

Jack nodded and dropped her hand.

"I know"

"We'll talk later than?" Audrey asked when she saw how sad he now looked.

Jack nodded again knowing he should say something else before it's too late, but the words seemed to be stuck inside him.

Audrey turned to leave and paused, equally unsure about what she should tell him.

"I've missed you" Audrey said turning back "So much"

Jack grinned happily, before following her out the door. He grabbed her arm pulling her back and whispered in her ear. "Me too"

........................................................................................................................................................................

Once now in the car, Audrey and Renee sat quietly for the most part.

"Did you work with Jack at CTU?"

"No, we met in Washington. We worked together at DOD."

"So your father was the..."

"Secretary of Defense with the daughter who was captured by the Chinese, yes"

Renee glanced once again at Audrey's scarred wrists, and decided to change the subject.

"I never would have pictured Jack at DOD"

"...behind a desk in Washington, working with egocentric politicians, and corrupt lobbyists? Yeah I get that a lot."

"I take it you and Jack were close."

"How is that?"

"All day he's been going against authority, disobeying orders, and acting of his own accord."

Audrey smiled out the window.

"That honestly doesn't surprise me, you did read his file right?"

Renee ignored this and went on.

"Out of all the people who tried to get him to back down, including the President herself, you're the only one he seems to listen too."

"The thing about Jack is that he always seems to be right about situations, and once he's made up his mind there's no stopping him."

"Exactly, and still if I had told him to back off of Tony Jack wouldn't hesitate to push me aside."

Audrey stays quiet and Renee figures it out.

"I'm sorry I'm just trying to figure Jack out; understand why he puts everything on the line. I didn't mean to put you in an uncomfortable position."

"It's fine... we were together for six months before he was forced to fake his death. He came back the day president Palmer was shot and was then kidnapped by the Chinese. Today is the first time I've seen him in four years."

........................................................................................................................................................................

"Are you alright?" Tony asked glancing at Jack out of the corner of his eye.

"I'm fine"

"I know seeing Audrey again was hard for you"

Jack shook his head "You have no idea"

"That's just it Jack I do"

Jack didn't say anything and kept his eyes locked on the car in front of them.

"When you forced me back into CTU that day Audrey and her father were kidnapped I was in a bad place. Seeing Michelle again reminded me of what life use to be like, what it could have been. Just being around her tore me up because I knew the pain she'd been in was the same I felt."

Jack stopped him by turning his head towards him.

"The difference between us is that you left her once. I've left Audrey three times now. If it wasn't for me she would have never gone to China, and she wouldn't be in danger now."

"You didn't have a choice in leaving Audrey; you had to do it to keep her safe; I had a choice with Michelle. That's the difference"

Jack didn't respond and Tony felt horrible.

"Jack she went to China by her own accord. She is in danger now because I had to involve her in this. It's not your fault and she knows it. But in case you haven't guessed Heller never told Audrey what happened after China. All she remembers was that you were there in CTU and the next thing she knows you were gone. So if she has any resentment towards you, then it's because of Heller."

"She told you all this?"

"We talked a few times after I showed up one day when I saw Duma's men circling her house."

Tony noticed that Jack's whole mood had changed at the mention of Heller.

"Jack, what happened with Heller?"

"Tony please... not now."

"Alright"

Jack closed his eyes and sighed

"What did you tell her about where I'd gone?"

"I told her I didn't know what happened after she left CTU, but I told her where you were, sometimes what you were up too."

"You probably shouldn't have."

"She asked me Jack, It's not like I threw the information at her. She hasn't been having the easiest time without you, even after she had gotten better from china."

"What do you mean?"

"Well for one she has barely talked to her father after a fight they had a year or so ago."

"I take it the fight had something to do with me"

"Yeah"

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"We didn't get her sir."

"And why the hell not?"

"She was already gone when we got there. Bauer must have gotten to her first."

"Fine, meet them as they enter the FBI building but derail Bauer. If we are going to have any chance of getting her now we have to get Bauer to back off first or we'll never get her out of his sights"

"Yes sir, we're on our way"

"One last thing, watch Bauer he's more dangerous than we keep giving him credit for."

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