THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN 9AM AND 10AM.
Ann walked into Erin's office. She had woken up moments ago to find Jack gone and Charlie still not in her arms. Erin looked up from her desk.
Erin-What is it?
Ann-I was just wondering if you knew where Jack is?
Erin-He told me he was going to pick up Charlie, didn't you know that?
Ann-You mean he's in on the mission?
Erin-No, Charlie escaped and called Jack from a gas station. He left to pick her up and take her here.
Ann felt a wave of relief wash over her. Her baby was safe. Everything was going to be fine. It didn't matter what happened next, as long as Charlie was safe. Then Morris walked in.
Charlie woke lying on the floor of a dark room. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she lifted her aching head. Only to see Jack bound to a chair. She let out a gasp of shock only to be nudged in the head by what could only be a gun. Jack looked down at Charlie and then at one of their captors.
Jack-You leave her alone.
Carcon let out a laugh at Jack's demand, but motioned Bromms to lower his gun.
Jack-take her out of here, she doesn't need to see this.
Carcon-You may not think so, but I find it important that she sees what will happen to her if neither of you talk.
Jack looked at him with anger and shock.
Jack-If you touch her…
Carcon-Give it up Jack, I'm the one in control here, not you.
Charlie looked up at Jack, she wanted to be strong for him. She wanted to look into eyes and reassure him during the torture. But she knew that he didn't want her to see something so inhuman happen to him and frankly, neither did she. Charlie didn't fear the gun that was pointed at her. Without hesitation, she picked herself up and walked to the other side of a wall in the room and covered her ears, though she doubted that would do much.
Ann-How can not know where they are!?
Morris-I was watching Jack and Charlie from a satellite when they were both captured, I was following the van when I lost the signal.
Erin-And how the hell did that happen?
Morris-I have no idea.
Jack's screams rang in Charlie's ears. She hated hearing them but decided to use the noise to her advantage. Being as quiet as possible, she pulled the cell phone from her pocket she looked around the wall to give Jack a signal but nearly fainted at what she saw: her hero, covered in blood and struggling to breathe. Carcon said something to Jack but neither Charlie or Jack heard. Jack was watching Charlie signaling him about calling someone. Carcon saw Jack's eyes move. He turned, but not in time to see Charlie's signal, she had replaced it with a half-forced-half-not look of horror before returning behind the wall. She waited for Jack's half-forced-half-not extra loud scream to dial her mom's cell phone. She held the speaker tight to her ear to prevent sound from escaping. The phone rang a few times before Ann answered.
Ann-Hello?
Charlie-Mom! They're not listening but I need to be quiet and quick.
Ann's eyes filled with tears at the sound of her daughter's voice. She wanted to tell her how much she loved her and how she longed to hold her in her arms and keep her safe but understood how urgent Charlie sounded.
Ann-Honey, where are you?
Charlie-I don't know. Look, I got away about and hour ago, but, before I escaped, I set the code they need to set the bombs off, I'm the only one who knows it. They kidnapped me and Jack. Mom, they're torturing him, they think he knows.
Ann began to say something but the noise had died down and Charlie quickly hung up.
Ann-Charlie?! Charlie!?
Ann's eye's filled with panic and tears. She looked at Erin.
Ann-They're going to kill her! She's all I have!
Erin saw her begin to break and acting like a fellow mother, she had been one, once, gathered the shaking Ann in her arms.
Erin-Shhh, she'll be fine. She escaped once, she can do it again.
Ann continued to cry and Erin continued to hold her.
Carcon-You've been through enough, just tell us those 5 numbers, and this will all be over.
Jack looked at him with disgust. Carcon motioned to Bromms who tazored Jack again. Jack cried out in pain, shaking Charlie. She burst out from behind the wall screaming.
Charlie-Please! Leave him alone! He doesn't know anything!
Carcon paid no notice to Charlie's outburst. But his back stiffened. She was getting to him.
Charlie-Why would I tell him?! I would only be putting him in danger! You must understand that!
And then Charlie realized what they were really doing.
Charlie-O my God. You know he doesn't know.
Carcon turned around and looked her square in the eye. This kid was smart.
Charlie-You're using him to get to me. Because you can't touch me. I mean, you could torture me, but you won't, you're too much of a coward.
Carcon looked at her with hatred. She was calling him a coward! The nerve of that girl! Especially with a past like hers. He wasn't going to take this.
Carcon-You're one to call me a coward. Remind me, why wasn't Patrick found guilty?
Charlie's eyes filled with fear.
Charlie-Don't you dare talk about him. Not in front of Jack…
Carcon-I doubt you've even told Jack about him!
Charlie-Stop it.
Carcon-Or little Suzy Silverman.
Charlie-You leave her out of this!
Carcon- You killed her Charlie! She was 4 years old!
Charlie-It wasn't my fault…
Jack looked at Charlie in shock. There was no way Charlie could have killed a child!
Jack-What happened to Suzy Silverman?
Carcon grinned and turned towards Jack but Charlie grabbed his arm. And looked into his eyes, searching for a scrap of humanity. Carcon tried to look away but there was something intriguing about Charlie's eyes. They were filled with desperation and regret.
Charlie-You have no idea what I've been through, please don't do this.
Carcon knew about Charlie's manipulative mother. And he wondered if she had rubbed off on Charlie. If she had, Charlie had learned much, because Carcon stopped talking.
Jack-What the hell's going on.
Charlie stared at her feet and slowly lifted her head.
Charlie-Suzy was one of my mom's missing kids. She died while Mom was celebrating my birthday.
Jack didn't know why Charlie would blame herself for something like that, or why she had been too ashamed to tell him. But it was obviously important to her. So Jack nodded his head in understanding. Charlie quickly walked back behind the wall. She hated lying, especially to Jack.
Tom Lennox walked into the president's office.
Tom-President Hayes, we just received an update on the bomb situation.
President Karen Hayes looked up.
Pres. Hayes-What did they say?
Tom-You know about the girl they were holding. Well, she escaped, but not before setting a code the terrorists need in order to set off the bombs. Her godfather picked her up and was driving her to ctu when they were kidnapped again. They're currently being tortured for the code.
Hayes-Has the girl given it up yet?
Tom-We doubt it.
Hayes-What do you suggest we do?
Tom-You know we can't find 2 lives more important than hundreds.
Karen knew what they had to do, and it made her sick.
Karen-Has ctu found their location yet?
Tom-No.
Karen-When they do, sign a missile order for the location.
Tom-alright
Tom was about to walk out the room when Karen stopped him.
Karen-I want to send that child's family my personal condolences.
Tom-alright.
Karen-And have you identified the second hostage?
Tom hesitated before answering.
Tom-Jack Bauer.
Tom then left the room. Away from a shocked Karen.
Carcon and Bromms had left the room. Charlie rushed to Jack, guilt building up inside her, making her sick. Charlie wrapped her arms around him.
Charlie-Jackie! I'm so sorry! None of this would have happened if I hadn't set the code!
Jack-Charlie! You're saving lives by not giving in.
Then, under his breath, he whispered.
Jack-Get out of here.
Charlie-No! I'm staying with you.
Jack-You're the only one who knows the code, without you, they have nothing…
Charlie-They'll have no reason to keep you alive!
Jack-Charlie, I can get through this, you need to go, now.
Charlie opened her mouth to protest but Jack stopped her…
Jack-Think about your mom. If we both die, she'll have no one.
Charlie saw her mom, remembering that night 9 years ago. She saw her mother, covered in blood, tears streaming down her cheeks, her loud, heavy sobs. Charlie wouldn't let that happen again, she couldn't. Charlie quickly began to untie Jack from the chair.
Charlie-You're coming with me.
Jack-No, I'm not.
Charlie-I'm not debating this, either you come with me or I don't go anywhere.
Jack let out a silent laugh, and, limping a bit, he pulled himself out of the chair, and grabbed his gun that was sitting on the table. One deep breathe later, they were through the door and in the van. Jack felt relief overcome him as he drove his Charlie away from danger. But deep down, Charlie knew that it was only a matter of time before Jack saw the real her, the her she was so ashamed of, the her that was the truth.
Morris ran into Erin's office.
Morris-I found them!
Erin-Where?
Morris-An abandoned motel a few miles outside of LA.
There was a silence. As good as the news was, there was the subtle feeling of dread in the air. Erin looked over Morris' shoulder to the situation room, where Ann sat.
Erin-Make sure Ann doesn't hear anything until I've had a chance to talk to her.
Erin watched as Ann gave a slight jump before picking up her cell phone.
Ann-Hello?
Jack-Ann, it's Jack we got out. Me and Charlie, we're fine.
Ann let out a sigh of relief.
Ann-Can I talk to her?
Jack-Of coarse.
There was a brief pause.
Charlie-Mom?
Tears began to roll down Ann's cheeks as she let out laugh of relief.
Ann-Charlie? Are you okay?
Charlie-Ya, I'm fine.
Ann-Thank God. It's over sweetie, you're safe now. I love you so much.
Charlie could feel tears trying to get out, she couldn't cry, she didn't do that anymore.
Charlie-I love you too. I'll see you soon, okay?
Ann-Ok baby. Bye.
Charlie-Bye Mom.
Ann hung up the phone as Erin walked in to tell Ann about the sacrifice her daughter was about to make. Ann started laughing through her tears.
Ann-That was Charlie, her and Jack escaped they're on their way here!
The look of dread on Erin's face lifted, surprise followed.
Erin-That's great news. I have to go make a quick call.
Erin ran out to call off the missile order. Ann watched, wondering why Erin had come in, she watched Erin rush to Morris' desk.
Erin-Call off the missile!
Morris-Didn't that order come from the Whitehouse?
Erin-Yes, but Jack and Charlie escaped. The best thing to do is send a field team over, arrest anyone there, and get what we can out of them.
Bromms-What do we do now?
Carcon-No doubt Raett made a backup system.
Bromms-Yes, but how will we get that out of him? If he learns we lost the girl, he'll kill us.
Carcon picked up his cell phone and called Dreidet.
Dreidet-Hello?
Carcon-It's me.
Dreidet-Where the hell are you? We've been waiting here for almost an hour.
Carcon-Is Raett listening?
Dreidet-No.
Carcon-We lost the girl.
Dreidet-You what?!
Carcon-She set the code we need to set the bombs off too. I'm sure Raett made a back up system, you need to find out how it works, I'm sending Broms over with the bomb. Make sure doesn't learn about the escape.
With that, Carcon hung up.
A woman walked up to Ann.
Woman-Ms. Terat?
Ann-Yes?
Woman-Your daughter just arrived.
Ann-What? Is she alright?
Woman-Yes, She's in medical right now.
Ann-Can I see her?
Woman-Of course.
Charlie was sitting on a hospital bed when a woman entered the room.
Woman-Charlie?
Charlie-Ya?
Woman-Your mother's here to see you.
Ann rushed into the room. Charlie, overcome with delight, jumped into her arms. Charlie wrapped her arms around her mother, feeling a sense of safety and protection.
Ann-I was scared I'd never see you again.
Charlie-I thought I'd never get out.
Ann-It's all over now sweetheart, you're safe.
Feeling of dread in Charlie's stomach grew. She pulled away from her mom and looked at the nurse.
Charlie-Could we have a sec?
The doctor nodded and left the room. Charlie sat on the bed and looked into her mom's eyes.
Charlie-The people that took me, Raett was working with them.
Ann-What?
Charlie-He built the bombs. I think he wanted to trade them for me.
Ann-O my God. Did he see you?
Charlie-I don't think so. It's just, hearing his voice, I thought about Sasha, and that night.
Ann-Are you ok?
Charlie-No, when I was there, just the thought of him, being in the same place as him, I wanted to kill myself, just so I didn't have to face him.
They knew everything about us. Mom, Jack's gonna figure it out.
Jack was approached by Erin.
Erin-Jack, a woman came over from DOD. She needs to interview you and Charlie. Could you go talk to her?
Jack-Sure.
Erin-Great. She's in station 9.
Jack walked towards the station but stopped in shock as the woman turned around. She looked up into his eyes, and he found himself looking into the beautiful eyes of Audrey Raines.
10:00