Jack and I seemed to be having a lot of covert conferences in his office. Given recent events, though, one was definitely called for.
"I think you need someone else on this, Jack."
"Brittany, like it or not, you became the leader, and you're a good one."
We glanced at each other uneasily, as we were facing a volatile unknown. When Kevin appeared with Michelle for their official debriefing of Michelle, I slipped out to where I had asked everyone else to gather. Leticia, Vaughn, Lex, Weiss, Steve, Chris and Michael were waiting dutifully by the stairs and Tony was also standing in on our meeting.
"So the security breach virus is definitely connected to the Code Five threat," he was echoing as I arrived and slipped between Lex and Weiss.
Vaughn nodded. "I want to know how they found us."
"We'll sweep the van for surveillance," Lex said.
I nodded agreeably. "Steve, Eric, help him out."
"Hold up here." Leticia paused. "If they're tracking Michael, it would have to be on him before he left the country, right?"
I looked across at Michael, who said he was working on that. I asked Tony to assist him. We needed to break this now. That said, what the hell were were supposed to do now?
"What's going on with Michelle?" Chris interrupted.
"She's asked for reassignment," Steve elaborated. "And the spider will be destroyed."
"We should send it to Langley," Lex suggested. "Maybe Joshua can find a preventative measure."
"I'll talk to Jack," Tony agreed. "Let's find this tracer, get a handle on things, and we'll go from there."
We separated and I headed back to my workstation with Lex and Weiss. It had been only a day since I'd actually sat down and worked but it felt longer. The CTU agent has a fast-paced world, and mine was even faster. "So I noticed you didn't smother him last night."
Weiss chuckled. "It crossed my mind."
We went back to work. I dropped into my chair, stole a glance at the autographed picture of Jack Davenport near my monitor, clipped on my headset and settled in. Weiss pulled up a chair, and together the three of us went to work. Around us the CTU bullpen was buzzing as well and not just on Michelle's effort. I marveled at how committed these agents could be and the things they could do; it's why I had become one of them in the first place. No matter what my feelings, I never doubted them. I knew it was hard sometimes…
*'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live*
Upstairs in Jack's office, Jack was interviewing Michelle one more time. Kevin was doing his usual thing, which was to stand in the corner, not say much, and observe everything. More than likely, what he came up with would determine Michelle's future with the Agency. But Michelle, by her attitude, seemed to know that despite her best intentions, she had made a wrong choice and she had lost. The pressure had beaten her for the final time.
*You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there*
Across town Michael was left dealing with his own thoughts, which were just as complicated as mine. The spot on the asphalt of the parking garage was still there. As he regarded it again, he felt the Code Five rather reminiscent of what he was going through: one moment it was there, the next moment it was gone. And no one knew quite what to do about it. There had to be an answer, but he had to face it before he could find it. He headed inside to begin that walk alone.
*Love is trusting, love is honest
Love is not a hand to hold you down
I don't know when I got bitter
But love is surely better when it's gone*
I couldn't begin to imagine what Weiss was going through. Since we'd met on our way to London, I had genuinely taken a liking to him; he was funny, compassionate, sensitive and determined. He was one of the guys I would've dated in school if I had been given the chance. In fact, he reminded me a lot of my deceased childhood friend John, only older, wiser, and definitely cuter. But both had the same fearless, everything-will-be-okay aura. Except everything wasn't okay. What was I supposed to say to him when I didn't even know what was happening to us?
*You wanted more
More than I could love
More than I could offer*
Sitting at my workstation I resolved to push all my personal issues – my relationship with Michael, my relationship with Weiss, my renewed insecurities about my future as a CTU agent – out of my head. Except I couldn't do that. My personal issues were part of the professional crisis. My love for Michael had been so strong and had slipped from him and now the Code Fives were using it against him, and that was what I had to fight. I knew I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him just because I was crazy enough to love him. I couldn't, I wouldn't, turn away now. No matter how hard it was or might be…
*You wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live*
I spun around in my chair and looked to Weiss, standing by the printer. "How's it coming?"
"As good as can be expected." He looked over his shoulder, then gestured with his chin; I followed his line of sight. Michael and Tony had returned and were heading in our direction. As agent's honor befitted, I stood as they approached.
"Did you find the tracer?"
"Yeah. It was in my jacket."
"And you destroyed it?"
A look passed between them and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
"You didn't destroy it?"
"No." Tony exhaled. "We need it."
"How the hell could you possibly need it?"
"It's part of our plan." Tony looked me right in the eyes, speaking with an incredible honesty as always. "It's our key to bringing the Code Fives to us."
I just stared, thinking I'd died and gone to hell.