AN: So here's the next chapter. I must say I am quite pleased with how this one turned out I liked it a lot. A HUUUGE THANK YOU TO KATE MY BETA READER FOR THIS CHAPTER!! You are AMAZING! Also a big thanks to all my reviewers it is GREATLY appreciated. Well I hope you enjoy this one leave me a review and let me know what you think!

violetXice

"I want to figure out what to do about Jen, I can't just forget about her for days. She deserves to know what's going on and the sooner everything gets resolved the better it'll be for everyone."

"I agree. Now we just have to decide how to handle it."

Tony looked at Michelle for a long time, just studying her face and hair. She looked exhausted but still amazingly beautiful. Her curls were coming back full force. He reached out and wrapped one around his finger and smiled at the softness. Michelle visually relaxed with the simple gesture and Tony smiled lightly.

"You really wanna do this with me, 'Chelle?"

Michelle inhaled slowly and reached up, firmly taking the hand Tony had wrapped in her curls.

"We don't do anything alone anymore. Not even this. You need me to be there for you and I'm going to be. I don't care how weird it makes me feel, I'm going to help you. You're not alone."

"Okay, well I know you're tired and I'm beat, but I don't think I can sleep knowing she is probably waiting for me to show up. Especially since I pretty much hung up on her when she called and I wasn't very informative when I left yesterday morning."

"Alright, so we freshen up and go over there and deal with this. I'm fine with that. Just means that when we go to sleep today or tonight, there are no lose ends. Nothing we have to worry about when we get up in the morning. Take care of it and get it done."

Tony choked out a small laugh.

"Yes Ma'am."

He faked a little salute and gave her a goofy look.

"Very funny Almeida, but I'm serious. I just want to get this done with. I know that sounds a little harsh, but the sooner we take care of the issue the sooner it goes away, and if I am going to get through this rationally then I am going to have to approach it like just another day in the office. I have to put away the woman and be the agent, for the last time."

"What ever helps you through it is fine by me, just try to keep in mind we are dealing with a young, irrational woman with a short temper. I'm pretty sure just seeing you might set her off considering how angry she was when you answered the phone at CTU."

Michelle smiled a little.

"Well I guess she is just going to have to deal with it."

Tony laughed openly.

"Alright lets get ready to go then. I don't suppose you have anything for me to wear that isn't sweat pants?"

Michelle got up from the couch and started walking toward her room. Tony followed her.

"I am pretty sure there are some pants in the top drawer go ahead and look I'm going to go ahead and get some stuff out for me and shower, you can take one after me if you want."

Tony walked to the dresser from where he had been leaning in the door way. Being in the bedroom and going through the dresser like he had been there all along felt odd, alien. He was almost unsure of how to act.

Michelle, sensing his unease, walked up to him slowly while his back was turned. She reached her arms around him middle and rested her upper body and face on his back and closed her eyes.

Tony stiffened at first but slowly relaxed, her weight against him felt so right and the sensation he felt at the intimacy made him smile. He closed his eyes and relaxed completely and gently laid his hands on her folded arms.

The two stayed in the position for a few minutes before Michelle lightly kissed his shoulder and slowly pulled away. She turned gathered her clothes and went to take her shower.

After hearing the water start and Michelle climb in, Tony sat down on the corner of the bed and let one tear slide from his eye. He let out a shuddery breath and laid back. Slowly, a smile crept across his face. He was extremely happy and he couldn't imagine ever being without Michelle again. He closed his eyes after a few minutes with the smile still on his face. He drifted to sleep quickly, and woke to Michelle softly and gently stroking his cheek.

"Hi sleepy head. You sure you're up to this?"

Groggily, Tony sat up and shook the sleep from his head.

"Ready or not, it's got to be done."

Tony leaned toward Michelle and enveloped her in a tight hug. After kissing the top of her head he got up and walked toward the bathroom.

"I'll go ahead and shower. Do you want to get something to eat before we head over to Jen's?"

Michelle thought about it for a minute and then shook her head.

"Uh no, I think I just want to stop and grab some coffee. I don't really feel like eating."

"Sounds good. I won't be long. Don't fall asleep."

He shot her a cheeky grin.

"I am not as weak as some people."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Get in the shower."

"Yes Ma'am.

He went into the bathroom and shut the door. Michelle heard the water start and then Tony get in the shower.

She stared at her hands for a minute and then walked over to her nightstand. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a small, simple bag with a drawstring. She opened the bag and emptied its contents into her hand. Two simple silver bands dropped into her hand. She chose one of the rings and put it on her left hands ring finger. She then quickly but quietly slipped into the bathroom and placed the second ring on top of Tony's set of clean clothes and then quickly left the bathroom.

When Tony exited the shower and looked over at his clothes he saw the ring. Slowly he reached for it and lifted it in his right hand. He fingered the smooth silver ring, testing the smoothness of the thing. He pulled his hand away and stared at the ring for a long moment before sliding the band on to his wedding finger, smiling all the while.

He found Michelle in the living room slipping on a pair of tasteful heels; no doubt a pair bought for work. Tony took a minute to look at what she was wearing. She wasn't kidding about putting away the woman and bringing out the agent.

She was wearing a pair of black slacks with a white tank top that had lace along the bottom hem. Over the tank she wore a tasteful business jacket that had a v-neck with two buttons down the front. The jacket stopped at her waist overlapping the top of her slacks. The lace from the tank top continued and inch further. She finished the outfit with a pair of simple black heels.

Tony smiled a little at her.

"Ya know we are just going to talk to Jen, there's really no reason for all the formal clothes."

Michelle stopped putting on her shoe and thought for a second. She looked down at herself and glanced up at Tony.

"I told you I didn't think I could do this without getting emotions in the way, so I guess this was just another way of shutting them off."

Tony walked over, sat down next to her on the couch and took her hand in his.

"Michelle, I understand you want to do this with me, but if it's going to be this hard for you I don't think I can let you do it. I mean knowing that its going to be difficult for you makes it just that much harder for me."

Michelle gave his hand a squeeze and stood up. She looked at him for a second and then started making her way back to her room.

Tony raised his eyebrow quizzically.

"Um, where are you going?"

Michelle turned around and gave him a funny look.

"To change. I'm going Tony, I'm going to do this for you. If you don't want me to hide behind my clothes and my job skills, okay. Just make sure you can handle whatever comes at you."

Tony sighed deeply.

"I can handle anything you dish out."

"HA, sure you can."

With that she turned and went into her room. When she came out again she was in jeans, the same white tank top but without the jacket and heeled boots that went up her calves.

"Better?"

"Much."

"Good are you ready to go?"

It was Michelle's turn to inspect Tony. He was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a snug black shirt that had the Cubs emblem on the left side of his chest. He looked completely normal.

"Just couldn't stand it, could you Tony? You had to wear the Cubs shirt."

"Hey, this is my favorite shirt and I've missed it quite a bit, and yes I am ready to go."

Michelle laughed at him a little and walked to the front door. "After you."

She opened the door and stepped to the side allowing him passage. He walked through the door and waited for her in the hall.

She locked the door and turned to face him, then leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips.

"I hope the Cubs shirt isn't the only thing you missed."

She brushed passed him dropping the keys in his hand.

Tony stood staring that the door to the apartment for a few seconds. Talking to Jen in front of Michelle was going to be harder than he thought. He just hoped it was easier on Michelle than she thought it was going to be.

He turned and followed Michelle out of the building. He unlocked the car with the remote and climbed in the driver's side after opening her door for her.

He sat staring through the windshield for a few minutes seemingly lost in his thoughts. Michelle looked over and tapped him on the arm. He didn't budge.

"Tony?"

She still got no answer so she reached over and grabbed the hand closest to her and squeezed it gently.

"Tony?"

She said his name a bit more firmly and he jerked out of his stupor. He looked over at her and squeezed her hand in response.

"I'm sorry, I am still adjusting and this just feels strange. Not a bad strange, just like I'm learning all over again, and I don't want to mess it up. I can't mess it up."

Michelle took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

"Look I know it's a little…uneasy right now but we can deal with that and in no time everything will be natural again. We just have to get used to being together again. It'll take sometime but with a little patience we will pull right through it. You won't mess anything up, there isn't anything to mess up. It just takes time, that's all. "

"Yeah…time."

He started the car after a glance in Michelle's direction.

"So when did you switch to the Lexus?"

"Well, you took the Cherokee, and I decided I didn't want the truck, and I got a good deal on it, so I traded in the truck and got it. If you don't like it we can get something else; it doesn't really matter to me."

Tony laughed a little.

"Well this is really only my second time driving it so I don't think I can pass judgment quite yet and besides, that I still have the Cherokee."

"That thing still runs?" Michelle asked, looked at him in disbelief.

"Well it has a few issues getting started sometimes but otherwise it is in perfect working condition."

"Sure, whatever you say, but I think I prefer my Lexus; it's a much smoother ride."

"Well, maybe we'll trade it in for a new Cherokee."

Tony gave her an all too knowing look.

"Over my dead body, Almeida. You wanna trade in the Lexus that's fine, but it better be a damn good vehicle you're trading it for, not another run down Cherokee."

"Hey, who says it'll be run down? For this thing I bet we can get a brand new one. They are pretty nice vehicles, you know."

"I'm sorry, but my taste in vehicles seems to be a bit more sophisticated than a Jeep."

Tony laughed again and looked over at her.

"Yeah you seem to like going broke over a fancy looking car."

Michelle held up her pointer finger and turned in her seat toward Tony.

"First of all, I am not going broke over the car. Like I said, I got a good deal on it. Second, it's my car so when I say no Jeep I mean no Jeep. Got it mister?"

She playfully narrowed her eyes at him.

Tony laughed loudly.

"Okay, okay I get it. No Jeep."

Michelle smiled broadly and turned back in her seat.

"So what would you consider trading it for?"

Michelle had a pensive look on her face for a few seconds.

"I was actually thinking I might trade it in for a car. Probably a Volvo, the 2009 s80 is really nice."

Tony looked over at her.

"And again with the cars that you go broke over."

"Well I made quite a raise as Associate Director at Division and then as Director at CTU, so I'm not too worried about it. I've already paid off the Lexus, so the trade in value should be pretty significant."

"That's good. Did you still want to get coffee?"

"Uh, no, don't worry about it. Unless you want some?"

"I'm fine, actually. The closer we get to Jen's the more nervous I get. I don't even know what to say to her."

Michelle turned back to him.

"Well I guess you just tell her the truth and let her know that this is the best thing for you."

Tony thought about what she said for a second.

"I just don't think Jen is going to be satisfied with that explanation."

"Well, Tony, she doesn't have much choice. This isn't changing; I'm not letting you go for her."

Tony squeezed her hand.

"Of course not 'Chelle, that's never going to happen."

"Yeah, not again."

They drove in silence for a few more minutes before pulling into a small neighborhood. Michelle quickly picked out Tony's Jeep and studied the small house.

It wasn't like him at all. The house didn't look very well kept and the grass needed to be mowed. Michelle looked down at her hands, starting to feel nervous about the whole situation.

Tony parked the car behind the Jeep and turned off the engine.

He looked over at Michelle who was still staring at her hands.

"You alright?'

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just nerves."

She turned her face to him and gave him a weak smile.

Tony returned it.

"You sure you wanna do this? I mean, you can stay out here if you want."

"I'm fine, Tony. Let's just get this over with."

Tony nodded his head in response and got out of the car. He quickly walked around to the other side and opened Michelle's door.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

He turned and looked at the house as he shut the door. In the window facing the street he could see Jen looking at them, and she didn't look pleased.

He took his time walking through the yard.

"Uh, watch where you step. The neighbor's dog likes to use our yard."

Michelle nodded and looked toward the window to see a very upset looking young woman staring at her. Michelle didn't drop her gaze but tried to give her a sincere look. The woman disappeared from the window.

"She doesn't look to happy to see us."

Tony glanced back up at the window.

"Yeah, I told you she would probably be pissed when she saw you."

"Fun."

"Oh yeah, loads."

They reached the porch and the front door opened.

Jen looked less than thrilled to see Michelle.

"Who the hell is this, Tony?"

"Look, I'd rather not do this on the porch, let's just talk inside. Okay?"

"I don't want her in here Tony."

Tony sighed.

"Jen, just step aside and let us through."

She stared at him for a minute and then gave Michelle a hard look.

"You're Michelle Dessler aren't you?"

Michelle looked at her for a second and then said in a confident voice, "Yes I am. Please, let's just go inside and talk. There is no reason to stand out here and do this."

"What exactly is this?"

"Let us in and we can talk about it."

"Tony doesn't need permission to come in. He lives here."

Michelle let out an exasperated breath and her tone got a little harsh.

"Well, if he lives here, then why are you standing between him and the door?"

"I'm standing between you and the door."

"That seems a bit pointless. If someone who lives here invites me in, who are you to argue with them?"

Jen looked between them for a minute then turned and walked through the door leaving it open for them to follow.

The two shared a weary look and then followed her through into the living room.

Jen was waiting for them on the couch staring at the TV.

Tony walked over and turned it off with the remote, then sat facing her on the coffee table.

Michelle took a seat on the love seat on the other side of the room.

"Okay, Tony, you brought her here so start talking."

"Jen, I really don't know where to start."

Jen looked at him, her face stony.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

Tony looked down at his hands for a second and then met her gaze.

"Yes I am."

"For her?"

Michelle shifted uncomfortably.

"Yes."

Jen laughed bitterly.

"Well that's ironic. She left you when you needed her the most, dumped you like a bad disease and you found me. I helped you through everything. I was there for you. Gave you a home, bought you anything you needed and now your leaving me for her."

She said her like it was a dirty word. Something foul tasting.

"Jen listen to me, everything I told you about Michelle, everything I have ever said about her was wrong. I said it because I was hurt, but I deserved what she did to me. It was my fault, not hers."

Jen laughed again.

"Is that what she brain washed you into thinking? She spends a few hours with you and she has your whole would turned upside down. She's messed you up. Turned herself into the victim."

Michelle took in a sharp breath.

"Look Jen, I don't know what Tony has told you about what happened between us, but I'm pretty sure you don't have all the facts," Michelle said calmly.

"I don't care what you think. You have no right to be here. You left him when he needed you and…"

"Jen that's enough, that's not what happened," Tony interceded.

"That's what she says. Not you. You have been here for half a year and all you can do is drink and talk about how she ruined your life. She shows up and suddenly everything is changed and you're walking out on me," Jen replied angrily.

"You're right. I haven't done anything but sit around and waste time and space, but today I had the chance to be again. I got to be the agent that I missed so much and Michelle was a big part of that. And during the few short hours I was with her today I realized something, I love her more than anything in this world, and without her I might as well be dead. I don't want to live like this anymore. I want to be me again, and I want to do that with her."

"So what you just throw me to the side and forget about me? I was the one that was there for you, not her."

"You think I don't know what you have done for me? I do. You think I like that I'm leaving you like this? 'Cause I hate it. I really do, but this is the only option for me. Michelle is the best thing for me. She is my life, my reason to live, and if you want the best for me you will understand that."

Jen looked between Tony and Michelle.

"I don't think I can accept that Tony."

Michelle stood up and walked over to Tony and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Give us a minute Tony."

"Michelle, I…"

"Please, it won't take long."

Tony looked up at her face, seeing she looked completely sincere.

He nodded his head and stood up to leave.

"Tch, you are unbelievable. She says jump and you jump. Its pathetic."

Tony started to say something but Michelle quickly cut him off.

She stepped in front of him blocking his view from Jen.

"Just step out, okay? She's just trying to get a rise out of you."

He looked at her warily.

"Fine. I'll be right outside."

Michelle nodded at him and watched as he stepped out of the house.

She turned back to Jen and took Tony's vacated position on the table.

"Since we weren't properly introduced," she held out her hand to Jen. "I'm Michelle Dessler."

Jen just stared at her. Michelle dropped her hand.

"Look, I realize this is hard for you."

Jen huffed at her comment.

"Do you care about Tony, Jen?"

"Of course I do."

"And you want what's best for him right?"

"Look, save the 'and that's me' crap for someone else. He started going through a hard time and wasn't the perfect little golden boy you wanted him to be, so you dropped him like a bad habit."

"That's not true. Tony has never been a golden boy, and you're wrong about him listening to me the way you think he does. He respects my opinion and he was obviously not getting through to you so he let me try. For someone you say you care about, you don't respect him too much do you? I didn't drop him like a bad habit, I tried to help him but it just got to hard. It was like I wasn't even there. He just kept pushing me away."

"Yeah well maybe he was happier that way."

Michelle sighed.

"That's what I thought to. That is why I left. I thought that was what he wanted. When I told him I was leaving he didn't even acknowledge that I even said anything. I thought he didn't care. I hoped that if I left he would get better and be himself again, but I was wrong. He just found another way to get what he wanted and that was through you."

"That's not true!"

Michelle waited for her to process everything.

Jen studied the floor and then whispered, "Tony loves me…"

Michelle moved from the coffee table to sit next to Jen on the couch.

"Jen, I think Tony truly wanted to love you, but he can't. He loves me, and I love him. We belong together."

Michelle scooted closer to Jen who had started to cry and put her arm over Jen's shoulders.

"There is no way I can ever repay you for taking care of him for me. I am glad you were there for him when I couldn't be. You helped bring him back to me. But this isn't what he needs any more. He needs to come home now. Tony needs me. It's my turn to take care of him."

Jen nodded her head.

"So is this it? You two walk out my front door and I never see him again?"

"That would be horribly unfair, and I don't think he would ever do that to you. You will always be welcome in our home and we will always be there if you need something. We both owe you so much."

"You think that makes it better? Just saying you owe me?"

"Of course not, but this is what has to happen. You have to help this happen. You have to let him go."

"And if I can't?"

Michelle squeezed her shoulders lightly.

"You have to. He needs you too. We will do everything in our power to help you but this has to happen."

Jen nodded her head.

"Okay. But Michelle? You better take care of him this time."

Michelle laughed lightly.

"Believe me, I will. I never want to be without him again. It nearly destroyed me. You think you're okay with him coming back in?"

Jen took a deep unsteady breath.

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna go get him."

Michelle stood and started walking toward the front door.

"Michelle?"

"Yeah?"

Michelle stopped and turned to look at her.

"You're as beautiful as he made you sound."

Michelle smiled at the woman, nodded her head, and started back toward the door.

She walked out onto the porch and found Tony sitting on the top step. She sat down next to him.

He turned to face her.

"Well?"

Michelle gave him a small smile.

"She's a little upset but she understands what has to happen and she is going to do her best to get through it. She's okay."

"You didn't hurt her did ya?"

Michelle laughed.

"Of course not. C'mon, let's go back inside. We still have to decide what to do from here. About your things and, you know, helping Jen stay on her feet."

"Yeah."

She started to get up but Tony took hold of her arm.

She looked down at him.

He looked torn for a second as a few emotions played over his features.

His eyes met hers.

"Thank you. I couldn't have done this without you."

Michelle covered the hand grasping her arm with her free hand and smiled.

"I love you Tony, you don't have to do anything without me."

She squeezed his hand lightly and walked into the house.

Tony wiped a tear from his eye and followed behind her.

AN: So there you have it. Just a few insider notes to what I was thinking when I wrote this chapter and why I did it the way I did.

When I first saw Jen on the show my immediate thought was that she was an overall Bitchy kinda person and she pretty much stayed that way in my thoughts each time we saw her, so I wanted to try and keep her character like that in the story. But when it came to what Tony needed I thought it would be nice if she softened up a bit so that's how I wrote her. Secondly I could not remember what Tony was driving when he showed up to save Jack and Audrey but I was almost positive it was a blue Jeep Cherokee so that's how I wrote that and I wanted to let the two characters kinda stray from the whole situation at least while they were driving. Just to show that they weren't consumed by the whole issue.

Well I hope you enjoyed it!! Please Review. D

violetXice