A/N – Ok. i haven't abandoned this fic and i really apologize for taking so long. i've been trying to find time to write since i got back from vacation, but it was a bit hard to do with the holidays. Am so out of practice but hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: Characters are owned by 24
Lightning Does Strike Twice
Nadia examined herself in the mirror and self-consciously tugged at the opening of her blouse. It was a futile attempt. The sleeveless wrap around silk top slyly gaped open, flashing a little cleavage every now and then. If this were just a date with Mike, she would have thought nothing of it, but this was a covert operation with a team of field ops personnel. Unfortunately, with barely a day's notice, she hadn't had time to shop for a more suitable attire.
Why do the men have it so easy? She grimaced as she applied a final layer of cranberry lipstick. Her assistant had checked their files for sizes and arranged tux rentals to be delivered right on the premises. She glanced at her watch. The first team should have finished checking the site by now and the second team was due to arrive any moment.
After strapping on a pair of three and a half inch stilettos, Nadia left the ladies room and traversed the hallway leading to the field ops locker room. There should be at least one more occupant in there. He had insisted on riding with her to the fund-raiser; after all, keeping her safe was the only reason he was still in New York. She smiled as she heard a string of expletives echoing through the hall. Yep, Doyle was in there all right.
She stood by the doorway in silence and watched him struggle with his bowtie. He had his back towards her, and she couldn't help admiring his form even though she knew there was a bulletproof vest that added a little bulk underneath the white pintuck shirt. I knew he'd clean up well.
Sensing another's presence in the room, Doyle slowly turned around and stared at the petite figure leaning against the doorway watching him with much amusement. All of a sudden his fingers stopped fiddling with his bowtie and his hands fell to his side. As his eyes traveled up and down her body, there was a glint in them that was hard to read - a mix of appreciation and dismay.
Why do I feel like I just got hit by a ton of bricks? It's not like i didn't know she would be this stunning dressed up. Hell, she makes my knees go weak in a business suit. But is she really wearing that tonight? She's gonna be a distraction for the Field Ops team.
She saw his eyes linger dubiously on the neckline of her blouse.
"Well, are you done checking me out?" she teased.
"You look very nice, but..."
He turned a little red and looked away, a little embarrassed. Nadia found it endearing that he could still feel self-conscious with her even though they were already together. She walked up to him, took the offending bowtie from his hands, wrapped it around his neck, and adjusted it so it rested crisply against his white shirt. As she felt hands on her hips pulling her closer, she placed her palms flat on his chest and pushed him away gently. She shook her head and smiled regretfully even though her eyes twinkled with mischief.
"We'd better go. The men will be expecting us."
Bill absently gazed up at the fourty four foot ceiling with ornate mouldings as he waited in line for a drink. The ballroom at the Waldorf resembled a grand European opera house, with balconies lining the top half of the walls on three sides. He imagined it had seen its share of magnificent parties hosted by captains of industry of various eras. He turned his attention back to the people in the room as he heard a familiar laugh rise above the din. He watched his wife as she made her way through the crowd, stopping every now and then to greet colleagues and clients. Karen was a consummate networker. She knew everybody. Fortunately for BXJ, she was able to parlay her political connections into a growing network of business contacts. He looked with interest as she hugged a tall blonde dressed elegantly in a pale blue gown.
"Kate! How lovely to see you here. Come, you must meet my husband."
Bill smiled as he saw Karen heading towards him, beautiful blonde in tow.
"Bill, this is Kate Warner. Her father Bob is CEO of Warner Enterprises and is also a very good friend of mine. Kate, this is my husband, Bill Buchanan."
"Pleased to meet you, Bill." Kate smiled.
"Pleasure is mine." Bill responded in kind. She had a very gracious smile and he immediately warmed up to her.
"So, how is your father? I haven't spoken with him in ages." She turned to Bill to explain, "Bob and I go way back. My department used to issue the DOD clearances for his company."
"He's fine. He'll be visiting me soon. Can't stay away from his grandchildren for too long, you know." Kate turned to Bill and said, "I heard from Karen that you used to work for the government too."
"Yes. Until recently, I was Director of CTU LA."
"Oh." She paused for a moment, a slight furrow appeared between her brows. "I used to know someone who headed up Field Ops there." She said with a tinge of sadness.
"Speaking of BXJ, here comes our CEO now." Karen waved Jack over.
Jack made his way towards them, but stopped short at the sight of Kate. He instinctively took a step back as his eyes surveyed his options for escape; however, good manners prevailed. He mustered a strained smile and continued walking towards them.
Kate, on the other hand, froze and turned white as a sheet. Suddenly, it became an effort to maintain the smile she had on. He's alive.
"How are you, Kate? You look well." It was an understatement. She looked beautiful. She didn't seem to have aged since they last saw each other. Her pale blonde hair was loose around her shoulders. She wore a simply cut pale blue gown with thin beaded straps. Her only accessory was a pair of chandelier diamond earrings that shimmered as they caught the light.
"I'm fine, Jack. How have you been?" She regained her composure and gave him a faint smile. Jack had aged noticeably since she last saw him. His face was more angular and he seemed to be perpetually on edge. The only thing that remained the same was the soft velvety voice.
"You two know each other?" Bill asked.
"Yes, we met at CTU a few years back." Kate offered before Jack could reply.
"I didn't know you moved to New York." Jack said, desperately trying to think of neutral conversation.
"I came here a few years ago to work at an investment bank on Wall Street. I'm now co-CEO at Solera. " Kate replied.
Karen sensed the tension between the two and tried to ease it with small talk. Kate discreetly scanned the rest of the room for a good excuse to escape her present company.
"I'm sorry. You'll all have to excuse me. I see my husband waving to me from across the room." Kate turned to each of them and said, "Karen, it was great to see you. We should do lunch sometime. Bill, it was a pleasure to meet you. Jack, I'm glad you're well. I'll see you around."
Doyle & Nadia were at their designated stations, instinctively making a sweep of the room every now and then when a familiar voice chirped behind them.
"Hey you two...what are you both doing here?"
Both turned around to see Chloe waddling towards them, adeptly avoiding a collision with a waiter holding a tray full of champagne glasses. Morris, holding a glass of sparkling water on one hand, was not far behind her.
"We're here on business, I'm afraid." Nadia said quietly, knowing that Chloe would immediately understand what she meant.
"Oh..."
"Who was that woman with Karen, Bill and Jack?" Doyle interrupted curiously.
Chloe turned her head in the direction that Doyle was looking at and saw a blonde woman walking away from them.
"Oh my God! It's Kate Warner." Chloe swore under her breath. Tonight is gonna be really interesting.
"Who?" Nadia turned around to look at the woman that caught Doyle's interest.
"Jack dated her before he met Audrey."
"Jack left her for Audrey? " Mike said incredulously. The woman was stunning. He later realized it was unfair of him to compare the two, given Audrey's state when he first met her.
"No. He met Audrey way after he and Kate broke up."
"Why did they break up?" the ever-nosy Morris asked.
"He had a drug problem."
"WHAT?!" The three of them all turned to look at Chloe like she had two heads.
"Will you guys chill? He got it while he went undercover penetrating a drug ring in Mexico." Chloe mumbled in his defense. She realized that she had said way too much.
Kate closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. One hand was massaging the spot between her eyes while the other was on her side holding a piece of paper handed to her by a passing waiter.
Meet me by the third balcony on the east wall. I want to talk. Jack.
How could this be a good thing? She was still in shock at seeing Jack alive, especially since she had gone to his funeral a few years back. At the time, she still had not gotten over him, but the finality of his death was eventually what allowed her to move on.
She took a deep breath before turning around and peering hesitantly through the curtain. A lone figure was standing on the small balcony looking down at the crowd. He turned around when he sensed that he was not alone. For a moment, each one just stood where they were, waiting for the other to make the first move.
What was it about him that always seemed to fill a room? Jack was not a particularly large man, but he had a certain, what was the word, ... presence. And those eyes. Intense and probing one minute, soft and compassionate the next.
"Kate." He slowly took a step towards her, a hesitant half smile on his face. "I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable earlier this evening."
Kate snapped out of her reverie and met him halfway until they were face to face.
"No, it's not your fault. I just ... didn't expect to see you anymore." At his puzzled look, she continued. "I was at your funeral a few years ago."
"How did you find out?" His face registered surprise.
"Kim told me. We stayed in touch even after you and I broke up."
"Do you still talk to her?"
"No. The last time I did was shortly before I moved to New York. How is she?"
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to her in years. She doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore." Although his face did not show any emotion, Kate detected a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"She found out you were alive, didn't she?" Kate shook her head and chided him gently. "Was this another covert operation, Jack? How could you do that to her?"
"I had no choice, Kate. Certain factions at the White House wanted me dead. Tony, Michelle and Chloe helped me escape and stay under the radar for a while. Unfortunately, that meant no contact with Kim."
"She was beside herself with grief. She would come to my house often to talk." There was no need to mention that Kim helped her get over his death too.
"Thanks for being there for her, Kate." He said sincerely, but not without a tinge of sadness.
"Don't mention it. How are Tony and Michelle?" She had fond memories of the couple. She and Jack had attended their wedding. At least they ended up together, she thought wryly.
"They're dead." He said simply, looking away briefly.
"Oh my God … I'm so sorry, Jack." She closed her eyes and involuntarily shivered at the thought. It did not go unnoticed.
"You're cold. Here, wear this around you." He removed his jacket and put it around her shoulder. Kate may have been out of his thoughts for a while, but he remembered how her gentleness always brought out the protective side of him.
The gesture seemed to break the ice between them now. Memories of their first meeting flooded back to her. Kate had always appreciated that about him. Regardless of what he did for a living, he had always been such a gentleman towards her.
Jack returned to his perch, leaning on the intricately carved wrought iron railings and watching small herds of people as they fluidly weaved their way around the huge room. Kate followed his lead, and set her hands delicately down on the railings.
"How are you, Kate? Really."
She didn't have to look at him to know he was smiling now.
"Are you happy with Todd?"
"How did you know his name?" She didn't recall mentioning her husband. She turned around with a quizzical expression on her face, her back now resting on the railing.
"I read your wedding announcement ..."
Before Jack could finish his sentence, he felt the railing wobble and give way.
"Jack!" A startled Kate Warner screamed as she lost her footing and slid off the balcony. Jack's arm instantly shot out and reached for her hand. One hand desperately searched for something solid to hang on to for leverage while the other tried to pull her up.
"Kate! Hang on..."
A/N – Happy New Year everyone...remember to leave a review!
