Jack's optimistic mood along with Liz's lively banter had proven contagious at breakfast and it was a joy to see Kim smiling again. Liz left early for the gym and then work, and Jack hummed along to the radio as he commuted to CTU, the security vehicle still shadowing him.
Tonight Kim was planning a special dinner as it would be Liz's last night with them. Liz had been Kim's sounding board and support and Jack was very appreciative of all she had done. He must remember to pick up some flowers on the way home. Flowers for both Kim and Liz.
Tony had some good news to impart too. Several of the men at San Ynez had been identified from the information supplied by Chase. Three had outstanding warrants, four were wanted for parole violations and two were named suspects in a pedophile case . Still not quite enough for Chappelle to approve a raid on the heavily armed camp, but it was beginning to look more promising.
Then, mid morning, they caught their big break. Several weeks ago a motion-activated camera had been installed at the side road leading to the camp four miles away. The camera had recorded all vehicles coming and going and this morning the traffic was far heavier than usual. A white panel van had left shortly before 0600, a Hummer just after 0800 with three SUVs and a mini-van departing after 0930. Checking through the surveillance photos, it would seem there were fewer than 9 militia left at the camp. Surely even Chappelle would see reason?
An hour later and Jack was airborne, enroute to the camp. Ryan had been reluctant, it was near the end of the fiscal year and he was trying to balance his budget. Well damn his budget , thought Jack sourly, some things are more important than balanced books. They were attempting to prevent a major domestic terrorist plot, also find the madman who liked to torture and kill CTU agents, and he admitted to himself, he would rest easier once he knew Chase was okay. Chase had risked everything for Kim and now Jack felt responsible for his safety.
They stormed the compound and took the remaining militiamen by surprise, without firing a shot. The men were lined up, kneeling in a row, while the remaining barracks and huts searched. Finding no others, Jack paced in front of the men. "Who's in charge here?" he barked out.
Getting no response, he tried again, "Major Wayne?" he asked, knowing none of the men matched the description provided by Chase.
His patience gone, he pulled the closest man to his feet. Speaking quietly, he looked the man in the eye, "I'll ask this just one time so listen carefully, I want to know where Nick Green is."
The man looked straight ahead, not acknowledging Jack in any way, so Jack pulled his gun and shot him in the foot. Leaving the man writhing on the ground, Jack moved on to the next man, pulling him to his feet, "I'm not a patient person, now talk to me. Where's Green?"
The man didn't hesitate, "He's not here, he was killed this morning."
"Why?" Jack yelled.
The man quailed and stepped backwards, "The Major found out he was a Fed and was going to have him killed. Nick tried to run and was shot."
"How did he know Green's a Fed?"
"He has sources, he knows things. Last night he found out Nick was CTU and this morning he was waiting for someone to come collect him." Seeing the intense anger on Jack's face, he tried to step back, to protect his feet, as he stammered, "I don't know who was coming, only the Major knew."
Stepping closer, speaking almost kindly, Jack asked, "Where's the body?"
"The medic, Jonathan, he went to dump the body and he never came back. We thought he must have been arrested. The Major left and then most of the men bailed; we were about to leave when you arrived. That's all I know, honest."
Jack turned away, breathing deeply, trying to contain his anger. Baker approached, his face grim. "He was held in what's called the isolation hut last night. We have a photo of a white Ford van leaving here just on 0600. I've circulated the license plate, it shouldn't take too long to locate."
"Thanks Tom."
Chase had marked the hut on his map and Jack found it with ease, the door hanging open. Looking inside, his stomach lurched when he saw the floorboards removed, the gap not quite large enough. All that effort, the sheer bloody futility. Kim had spent some hours in this hut then was taken out, brutally raped and strangled near death but Chase had saved her. Jack felt as if he were going to throw up as an uneasy mixture of relief and guilt washed over him. Relief that the body they were trying to recover wasn't Kim. Guilt that if not for Kim, Chase would have got clean away.
Jack knew he was of no further use here. Not while feeling this way, wanting to hit someone, shoot someone, inflict some pain. Muttering to Baker, he took a CTU SUV and drove off, Baker having to quickly send a security car tearing after him. Making it to CTU in record time, Jack worked late into the afternoon, phoned Kim to say he'd be too late for dinner, then continued on into the night.
It was after 11pm when he finally made it to the safe house and he hoped Kim would be sound asleep, he couldn't face her tonight. He needed to be calm and relaxed when he told her about Edmunds' fate and at the moment he was anything but calm and relaxed. Stopping in the kitchen, he poured himself a whiskey and knocked it straight back before pouring another, his anger still roiling inside. The hall light came on and Liz appeared, barefoot and in jeans.
"Hi," she smiled. "I fell asleep while reading." Watching him down the drink, she asked, "Have you had any dinner? Kim cooked a lovely meal."
"No thanks," Jack said, pouring another, "I'm on this tonight."
Moving closer, Liz asked, "Is everything okay Jack? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"No, I can get drunk without any help, thank you."
"But it's more fun with a friend," she responded. Taking a glass from the cupboard, Liz took the bottle from his hand, poured herself a double and tossed it back, her eyes on Jack the entire time. Picking up the bottle again, she poured Jack another and then one for herself. Raising her glass she took a sip as she watched Jack knock his back. As he lowered his glass, Liz gently removed it from his hand and wrapped her warm fingers around his trembling hands.
"It's okay." she said, as she raised her hands and held his face for a moment before kissing him, her lips soft and welcoming, her teeth nibbling, her breath smokey from the whiskey. His hands reached to pull her body against his as he leaned back against the counter. Then, dropping his hands lower, he pulled her hips forward to meet his and they both groaned as they felt their bodies respond.
Jack pulled back and smiled, nodding towards the living room where one of the security team worked on a laptop. Taking her hand, he led her down the hall to his bedroom and opened the door.
Holding up a finger to indicate 'one second', Liz ducked into her room and soon returned with some foil packages in her hand. Kissing again, they moved over to Jack's bed.
