24.mad, JaxsLady, the nameless readers: Had you guys goin', huh? ; p Sorry about the long long wait and thanks so much for your patience. The starting of school a few weeks back and a case of writer's block (despite the fact I know what I want) has kept me away. I rewrote this chapter at least 4 times. Still not sure how pleased I am, but it's better than it was (I hope!).

Thank you, 24.mad and JxL for your great reviews! You guys rock! Now stick with me, mates, it's gonna get weird.

As always reviews are appreciated!

-.-.-.-.-.-

Truth of Existence

With a loud yawn Kiefer Sutherland strode towards his trailer and his bed. He had been up all night working. It was a night scene so the cast and crew had been up through the wee hours of the morning trying to wrap it up, despite the fact they'd shot most of it indoors.

What made the weariness worse was that he'd been tired before they started. He'd been sleeping, somewhat, but no matter what he always felt tired. The director and several fellow cast members had commented on it, but what could he do? Coffee got him through well enough, but once the caffeine wore off, he felt drained.

He just hoped it wouldn't show up on camera. Filming a show that's supposed to take place over the course of a single day over 10 ½ months left little room for looking different from one episode to another. Then again, after all the stress his character had been through, he supposed he was allowed to look a little worse for wear.

Kiefer sighed. Usually, after work, he liked to go out and have a good time, but tonight (and the last several nights)... well, it was late, he was too tired, and he wanted a good 5 or 6 hours of sleep before he had to go to a meeting.

He passed one of the security guards who patrolled the grounds, deciding that he did not envy her in the least. If his hours were bad, hers were worse. He gave a polite smile and began to pass her by when he noted the confused look on her face.

"Didn't you already get back tonight?" she asked.

Kiefer gave a small laugh. "No, not yet. Have a good night."

He waved and continued on his way through the decently lit isle. All was quiet. Eerily quiet. At least it would be eerie if he were awake enough to care. With the adrenaline from an action filled shoot-out scene and the caffeine from his latest cappuccino now depleted, he found that just keeping his eyes open was no easy task.

That is until he saw a shadow slide along the white trailer side across from his. A shadow that had no business being there in the dead of night with no owner in sight. Kiefer paused, wondering if he had in fact seen anything at all. He stood there for several long moments, eyes darting about until another yawn overcame him and ruined the mood.

Shaking his head, he stepped up to his door. As he fished in his pockets for his keys, he looked around absent-mindedly and that's when he saw the pale young man garbed all in black standing calmly behind him.

Kiefer started in surprise, first at the fact that the space the teenager now occupied had been empty a moment earlier and then again as impossible recognition overcame him. He turned completely to face the apparition- for surely he wasn't real, but before he could speak, the door behind him swung inward, a hand clapped over his mouth and the cold metal barrel of a pistol was pressed to his temple.

It was the latter that froze any reaction he might have had. And then a voice spoke quietly but gruffly in his ear.

"I don't want to hurt you, so just stay quiet."

The voice was his own. As he was pulled backwards into the trailer that he called 'home', his mind grasped for the only semi-logical explanation. The man behind him was his father- for they did sound alike- and this was some kind of practical joke. Then another of his own voice spoke.

"Don't hurt him."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Jack pulled the tense man back into the trailer, the gun still pressed to his temple. Jack had no intention of shooting, but he had to make sure the man was quiet. He also didn't want to take any chances. There'd already been one imposter that night and they were going to make sure this wasn't another one. No more lives were going to be lost on account of them not knowing what in the world was going on.

Jack shoved his captive somewhat roughly into a chair in the dining area, then backed away. Although he wanted to take the lead on this, if only to focus this man's possibly dangerous attention away from the others, Schreber had asked to be the one to question him. Since the psychiatrist seemed to have gained some sort of insight since their last meeting, Jack agreed without argument. He motioned to Schreber that it was all right to come a little closer and made eye contact with Mick who stood guard off to the other side.

Schreber stepped forward, his hands clasped nervously in front of him. "Sir, what is your- full name?"

Jack looked back to this new look alike and was surprised to see just how shocked he seemed. The man glanced from Jack to Schreber to Mick then back to Schreber where his stunned gaze remained fixed and his jaw slightly ajar. After several seconds of this stunned staring and noting that Schreber didn't look about to push, Jack decided he would.

"Your name," he demanded.

Now the new man focused on him. What was that in his eyes? He seemed more incredulous than anything, but maybe... was that recognition as well? Perhaps it was nothing more than recognizing his own face. Only one way to find out. Jack had done enough interrogations to know that this man was one the verge of talking.

Jack took a threatening step forward and, just as he'd hoped, the movement snapped the man out of his stupor.

"Kiefer Sutherland," he replied, sounding somewhat automatic.

Jack remained stoic. The response was expected and proved nothing. He waited for the doctor to continue.

"Is- that all?"

With effort the new guy pulled his gaze from Jack back to Schreber. He really did seem lost. Either he was truly clueless or he was a really good actor.

"W-what?"

"Your name. Is that your- full name?" Schreber asked kindly.

The man was breathing heavily until he caught sight of Jack's glare. Then he seemed to force himself to calm down and he shook his head negatively.

"No. It's uh-"

Jack saw Mick glancing his way, probably wondering the same thing he was: if the stranger knew whether or not there was any more to the name. If there was, Jack didn't know, and he was curious how Schreber had come by the knowledge.

"It's Kiefer William Fredrick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland," the stranger answered in a rush.

Jack blinked. Was he serious? Mick looked to Schreber with a laugh.

"He just made that all up, right?"

"No," Schreber replied, adjusting his glasses. "That is- correct."

"And you know this how?" Jack asked.

"I- will tell you, but there are- some other questions we- can ask- before we are sure this is, in fact, Mr. Sutherland-"

"This is crazy!"

Jack and the others turned back to the man in the chair who seemed suddenly uncomfortable with all the attention back on him again.

"What is going on?" he questioned in a shout.

Jack saw movement from his left and before he could react David was there, bent over the other man with one hand clamped over his face to keep his mouth shut.

"I'd be quiet if I were you," the teenager- or whatever he was- threatened before releasing him roughly.

"Get away from him, David," Mick snapped, whipping out his own weapon from beneath his denim jacket.

"Back off, Mickey," the bleach-blond shot back.

"Do as he says, David," Jack ordered. David turned an incredulous look on him.

"Did I ever give you the impression you were in charge?"

"Can we all just- calm down, please?" Schreber begged from the corner he'd backed away to.

"I've had it with you, creature," Mick sneered.

"Are you saying our deal's off then, psychic man?" David questioned heatedly. "Because I- Where the hell are you going?"

While they had been arguing, the new man had stood and started to make his way around the counter and into the kitchen area. He'd almost made it before David had spotted him. He looked at David's angered face, and then at all of their faces. For a moment everyone was still. Then the newcomer stepped up to Mick, who was now closest to him, then with almost Schreber-like hesitancy clapped Mick on the arm.

When his hand actually collided with Mick's arm he tensed visibly. Clearly he hadn't really thought that would happen.

"Holy sh... You're real."

David snorted. "Of course we're real."

"Mr. Sutherland," Schreber started, taking a few steps closer to the startled man, even as he took a few steps back. "Do you know who we are?"

The man looked them all over once more then gave a small shrug. "I guess so. It's just... I didn't think you would..." he faded off vaguely with a shake of his head.

"If you know, would you mind telling us?" Mick asked.

The man gave a half hearted chuckle, "Why? You don't know?"

"We know," David replied irritably, glancing toward the window. He'd done that several times now, the agent noted.

"And if you are- the man we have been looking for, he would know us- as well. Although he might- associate us with something... else."

Jack and the others glanced towards the psychiatrist. What was he getting at?

"You... came here looking for me?" the man asked, surprised. When Schreber nodded, Sutherland sighed and cast his gaze thoughtfully to the floor.

The longer this went on the more Jack and the other doppelgangers were forced to realize that Sutherland might not have the answers they were looking for. He was too genuinely surprised, too at a loss.

What Jack and the others couldn't know was just how much more shocked Sutherland should have been.

David looked about to speak when suddenly there was a rap on the door. Five heads shot up as a female voice called out.

"Mr. Sutherland, it's security, please open up."

-.-.-.-.-

Kiefer looked back at the others sharply. "What did you do?" he questioned in a hoarse whisper.

"Nothing," Mick answered, just as quietly.

Sutherland ran a hand through his short hair and started looked frantically about. He was glad then that the doppelgangers had earlier closed the blinds. "You have to get out of here," he told them.

"What?" Jack asked in surprise. "We're not going anywhere-"

"If they come in here and find you, who knows what will happen!" Sutherland said in a hiss. He turned away from the windows, too small for them to squeeze through.

"Why would anything happen? We all look alike. So what?" David quipped.

"Anything could happen. You are not supposed to be here- you shouldn't be here. ...And-and," Sutherland looked to Jack. "You. Jack Bauer, right? If they find a gun on you they are within their rights to confiscate it and possibly take you away. No weapons on the premises."

"Same goes for you," Kiefer continued, turning away from Jack who was taken off guard that Sutherland did in fact know him, to look at Mick. "They called you Mickey... and psychic. But that's not what you normally wear is it?"

"...Not really," Mick answered with a surprised laugh.

"...Well... You're looking pretty good," Sutherland replied, a look of recognition and curiosity on his face. "You're a detective then, right? You've got a gun too. And showing identification won't help. It might even make things worse. And as for you two... Look, can you just do as I ask? Please?" Sutherland begged as the knock sounded yet again. He spared a shout as he grabbed a chair. "Coming! Hold on!"

He placed the chair underneath a fire exit, a window that led straight to the roof. "Just climb to the roof and keep quiet."

Schreber was the first to verbally agree. "Yes. We will go. And after- they are gone, we will- discuss how it is that you- connect us."

Sutherland frowned at him as did Jack. The doctor certainly seemed to believe Sutherland knew something. And there was something else, Jack noted as Mick opened the window and began to lift himself up. Schreber seemed almost sad when he looked at Sutherland, but why?

Another knock. "Mr. Sutherland!"

"Sorry! I'm coming!" And with a last glance at his look alikes he hurried to answer the guard.

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I know I promised quicker updates last time and then this happened, so I'll not promise again. But I do seem to have gotten past that wall/block/whatever. The end is near!

PS: Mr. Sutherland, if you're for some reason reading this, I'm sorry! I hope I'm not butchering you too badly!