W/N - Not everything will line up exactly on time, but I try.

The following takes place between 2p.m. and 3p.m.

2:00:06…07…08

CTU Headquarters

Michelle Dessler's expression was blank, but she shook in horror as more calls came over the radio, announcing the battle at the airport. Her knees became weak and she began to slide toward the floor.

No…no…not again. I can't take this again. Not Tony.

The pop and buzz of gunfire could be heard clearly over the radio static, but Michelle had tuned everything out. Her head swam with worry and she only vaguely felt a helping hand assist her to a seat.

"Michelle…Michelle, are you okay?"

It was Bill Buchanan.

Michelle gasped as if she had just surfaced for air and her eyes locked onto Bill's. "Tell me he's still alive, Bill," she said, grasping his sleeves and digging her fingers into his arm. "I can't go through this again…I can't."

She saw Bill gulp hard and look away and the bottom fell out from her stomach.

2:04:58…59…00

The Airport

Chloe threw herself down on the seat as muzzle flashes lit up in front of her and her windshield shattered into a million pieces, hurling bits of glass everywhere. Chloe heard a shrill scream and realized that it was her. The hood of the car popped up and slammed into the cabin as bullets riddled the vehicle.

I'm gonna die! I'm gonna die in this f'd up place!

Then, she heard a hammering sound and a scream in a deeper voice. Something bounced off the roof of the car, denting it deeply and then flew off the back. The sound of gunfire lessened for a moment until she could hear men rushing toward the car.

Someone's opening the door. Oh God!

Opening her eyes for the first time, she reached out to grab the man, hoping to surprise him…hoping to save herself.

"Chloe! Thank God you're okay. What the heck were you thinking?"

It was Curtis.

"Curtis…give me a freaking cigarette," she said in a shaky voice as Curtis pulled her from the wrecked car. Several terrorists lay scattered about, crushed by Chloe's reckless charge.

Curtis pulled a thin stick from his pocket and handed it to Chloe. He flicked his lighter and she took a deep drag before letting out the smoke. "You saved us, you know," he said solemnly, but she didn't respond. "I thought you didn't smoke," he added.

"I don't," she said, annoyed at the question. Then, she took another breath. "Tony…?"

"He's okay. Just a bullet through the shoulder. Ambulance is taking him back to CTU now."

Chloe took another drag and then flicked the half smoked cigarette onto the body of one of the terrorists.

2:11:31…32…33

The Warehouse

Jack Bauer released the hair of the helpless terrorist and sheathed his razor-sharp dagger. The tension in his face was obvious as his jaw was taut and his muscles tightly flexed. He wiped the sweat that had beaded under his nose. "I need to get to China Town. I need a car," he demanded of an officer.

The officer shook his head. "These are LAPD vehicles. We're pretty strapped ourselves."

Jack was about to protest when a car drove up and a pretty lady with ebony hair stepped out. She was smartly dressed in a business suit and her jacket caught the breeze for a moment, revealing a badge on her belt and a .45 pistol in a holster. Recognition flooded into his eyes and he reached for his weapon, which was now reloaded.

"Mandy! Officer, grab her!"

The woman held up her hands to show her lack of hostility and stepped back. "Wait! I take it you're Jack Bauer. I'm not Mandy. My name is Claire MacGregor…I'm a new agent at CTU. I was recruited because I look like Mandy. It's part of a sting operation against Marwan's faction. Here…here are my credentials."

Jack seized the wallet with a healthy dose of skepticism and looked over the picture and seal. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.

"Michelle…this is Jack. You don't sound so good. I know I'm breaking the no contact protocol, but I've been drug back in by Cheng. I'll explain later, but he has Audrey and I'm going after Cheng…."

"I can't wait for backup. He's got her in China Town. One of his men…told me. Also, I've got a woman here, who looks exactly like Mandy, but she says she's an agent working a special operation…. She's who she says she is…good," he said and clicked the phone shut.

He looked over at the woman and relaxed with a long exhale. "You showed up at the right time, Claire. We need to go to China Town."

Mandy returned a cold gaze at Jack and nodded. "Hop in. I'll drive."

2:30:11…12…13