Chapter 12
6:00PM-7:00PM
Jack came over to Paul and me. "Curtis is going to take you both back to CTU."
"What about you?" I asked.
"I have to go to McLennan Forster," Jack said. I wished he didn't. If we could just go back to CTU and if we could talk about what happened earlier, things would be fine.
"Why there?" Paul asked.
"Turns out the man we're looking for works there," Jack said.
"You need to get into their computer system?" Paul asked.
"Yeah," Jack answered.
"Okay, I'll go with you," Paul said. Jack and I looked at him like he was nuts.
"Why?" Jack asked.
"My company sold them their IT system. I used to be a systems analyst and represented their databases and code of military security."
"McLennan Forster has personnel on board. They're going to help us get into his files," Jack said.
"Yeah, well, I can get you in backdoors that those people don't even know about," Paul said. Jack considered it. Please say no. I was already worried about just Jack going on another mission, but now Paul too. What if I lost them both?
"Fine you go with me," Jack said. "Audrey, I want you to stay with Curtis. I'll be on my cell. Let's go."
Jack left and Paul followed behind him. I followed Curtis to a car. I was worried about them. And, felt guilty for not knowing which one I was more worried about. It should be Jack. But, at least Jack had experience in the field unlike Paul.
"Are you okay, Ms. Raines?" Curtis asked as we pulled out onto the road.
"I'm fine," I said. "And, you can call me Audrey."
"Okay," Curtis said. "Are you sure you're okay, Audrey?"
"It's just been a crazy day," I said. "Are you okay? I mean just a little while ago you were taken captive by terrorists and escaped and still have the energy to drive us back to CTU."
"I'm fine," Curtis insisted. "Sometimes I forget that to people who aren't used to working in the field, don't understand that these kind of things happen all the time."
"All the time?" I asked, nervously. It reminded me that Jack and Paul were out right now, trying to find a terrorist. They could die even if it seemed like an easy mission.
"No," Curtis said, trying to make me feel better. "I meant-well- Jack will be fine."
"That certainly wasn't convincing," I said.
"Sorry," Curtis said. "But, Jack is a good field agent. He will be fine."
"But, Jack's not a field agent. He's not. He works behind a desk all day. He hasn't been in the field for a really long time," I said.
"Once a field agent always a field agent," Curtis said. "You don't forget a lot. Especially if you're good like Jack."
We got to CTU and I got out and went inside. I got a call from Jack.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey, it's me," Jack said. "Where are you?"
"Curtis and I just arrived at CTU," I said.
"Listen I want you to get a security detail and go back to the hotel and just get some rest," Jack said.
"Jack, I can't leave. Not now," I said. "My father still needs my help. Are you at McLennan Forster yet?"
"Almost," Jack said.
"Jack can you make me a promise?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way.
"What?" Jack asked.
"Take care of Paul," I said. Paul didn't have training in the field like Jack did. Jack didn't say anything for a minute. "He's not like you. Please, Jack, promise me you will look after him."
"Yeah I will," Jack said. I could tell that he was thinking about what this meant for us.
"Thank you," I said.
"Yeah okay. I'll talk to you later," Jack said.
"Alright bye," I said. I hung up. I sat down at a desk and started working. Jack had gotten the wrong idea about what I had said. I just knew it. Why hadn't I made it clear that I wanted Jack to protect Paul because he wouldn't be able to do it himself? Why hadn't I told him that it wasn't because I still had feelings for Paul? Maybe, because I do. What if I didn't say anything like that because I do still have feelings for Paul. Maybe I was wrong about wanting a divorce.
I tried to not think about it and instead got up to go find my father. I asked someone where I could find him and they pointed to a room. I went in.
"Dad, I just wanted to-" I started. I stopped when I saw him consoling Driscoll who was crying. "Oh, I'm sorry, I-I just wanted to let you know that I was back."
Hey gave me a silent 'I'll be there in a minute'. I left the room wondering what was going on.
My dad found me a couple minutes later. "Everything okay?"
"Fine," I said. "What's going on with Driscoll?"
"Her daughter just died about half and hour ago," he explained.
"Is she okay?" I asked.
"About okay as anyone can be after their child dies. She's stepping down and I put Tony Almeida in charge," he said.
"Good," I said.
"Everything went okay with Paul?" he asked.
"Um yeah," I said.
"I wish you could say that with a little more certainty," he said.
"I just want today to be over," I said. He came closer to me and hugged me.
"I know, sweetheart," he said. "It will be soon, I'm sure."
"Good," I said. I smiled at him to tell him I was okay and he left to get back to work.
"Promise me that today is never going to end," I said.
"I promise," Paul said. We had spent all day together. No phone calls from work. No interruptions. Just perfection.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," I said. Paul kissed me.
"Promise me that you'll always love me," he said.
"Of course," I said. Why wouldn't I?
"Say 'I promise'," he said.
I smiled. "I promise."
"Good," Paul said.
"Was there a reason for that?" I asked.
"I got promoted," he said, happily.
"Paul, that's great!" I said. What did that have to do with anything? Then, I put it together. We already spent little time together. "Oh. You're going to have to work more."
"Yes," he said. "And, travel more. But, the pay is so much better, Audrey."
"Can't you just turn it down?" I asked.
"Like I said, it's good money. And, it's a huge step in my career," Paul said. "But, you promised you'll always love me."
"Yeah," I said sadly.
"Don't say it like that, love," he said.
I smiled. "We'll be fine. We'll figure it out. I'll always love you."
