If it wasn't for the gun resting on Auda's left leg Michelle could almost fool herself into thinking this was a meal between co-workers. Michelle and Auda sat opposite each other on the floor next to the patio door. Spread between them
was two warm cans of soda, three snack size bags of various chips and a few candy bars.

Michelle half-heartedly ate a dorito as she looked over at her captor. She briefly wondered if Tony was driving everybody crazy organizing a search or if Carrie had convinced him that she had gone off to a shopping mall.

"How's your shoulder?"Yusuf asked quietly as he took a sip of cola. He had never intended her to be hurt. Hell he had never intended to hatch this crazy plot in the first place.

Michelle met his gaze. "It's better, thanks."

"So you're aware of what's going to happen."Yusuf began."I'm going to contact CTU in a few minutes."

Michelle's heart rate began to accelerate. She knew the procedure for handling a kidnap situation. If they backed Yusuf into a corner Michelle wasn't sure what he'd do.

"Are you going to kill me?"Michelle asked trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.

Auda began gathering empty wrappers. "It won't come to that."

"If it does?"Michelle persisted. The events of the day had her wanting to know her fate. If she knew maybe she could control it.

Yusuf stood gun in hand as he moved to where the kitchen was supposed to be. "I will do what I have to, to protect my country."

Michelle shivered and leaned back against the wall. She closed her eyes and tried to gather the little strength she had left.

*********

Tony and Jack left Auda's rental car in the capable hands of the LAPD and headed back to CTU. As Jack drove Tony stared out the front window in silence.

"Tony...."Jack began but Almedia cut him off.

"Don't say it Jack, just don't say it."Tony replied his voice hoarse both from weariness and from stress. "I never should have let her anywhere near Ali. She didn't have the experience.....I should've at least had somebody in there with her."

"We don't know if Auda thinks she knows something."Bauer replied as he made a right turn. "He could've just grabbed her because she was there or because of her close contact with you. Letting her interrogate Ali was the right
decision. You were short handed and she had the technical expertise if not the hands on experience."

"Maybe."Tony acknowledged not entirely convinced his gaze never waivering from the road ahead.

"All I was going to say was that I'm here if you need to talk to somebody."Jack continued quietly. "I know how relationships can be......tricky."

Tony dragged his gaze away from the window. "Michelle and I aren't in a relationship."

"Okay."

"We never had a chance to start one."Tony added a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Don't give up on her yet, Tony."Jack replied as he switched lanes to pass a slow moving car. "Michelle's smart, she'll find a way to....."

The ringing of Tony's cell phone cut off Jack's sentence. Tony straightened in his seat as he pulled the phone out of his pocket.

"Almedia."Tony greeted as he opened the phone.

"Mr. Almedia."

Tony instantly recognized Auda's voice and he sent a hand signal to Jack to call CTU and get a trace going. "Auda,  let Michelle go and we can talk."

"If you think I'll let my bargaining chip go that easily you're very mistaken."

Jack finished his call to CTU and nodded to Tony letting him know the tracer program was running.

Tony swallowed struggling to get moisture to his suddenly dry mouth. "How do I know she's still alive?"

Auda laughed bitterly. "You'll just have to take my word for it."

Tony shook his head. "That's not good enough. Unless I hear her voice right now you're not getting anything."

Yusuf looked over at Michelle before he motioned for her to stand. Michelle stood and walked over to him. Auda silently handed her the phone.

"Tony?"Michelle asked as she placed the phone to her ear.

"Michelle, are you alright?"Tony asked not bothering to hide his concern.

"Yes."

Tony hated hearing the fear in her voice. "I'll get you out of there, I promise."

"I...."Michelle began but Auda took the phone back.

"I've given you your proof."

"What do you want, Auda?"Tony demanded trying to make a mental count of how many seconds the call had been. Had it been long enough?

"I need....."

The connection was lost.

Tony cursed and slammed his phone shut. He looked over at Jack who had called CTU back and was talking to Carrie.

"Lost him."Tony reported angrily. "Did we get it?"

Jack shook his head. "No, the signal died."

"Damn."Almedia replied as he rested his face in his hands for a moment.

"Thanks Carrie."Jack said as he hung up his phone. "At least we know she's still in the area."

"Was he using her phone?"Tony asked as he leaned against the passenger door.

"They're working on it."Jack replied as he put his phone aside. "They couldn't get a lock on the number."

"If her battery's dead or the phone's damaged we're on his time table."Tony said frustration clearly in his voice. "We have to wait for him to contact us."

"It'll give us time to work out a plan, do some research. Try to predict what Auda wants and have it ready."

Tony nodded as he reopened his phone and hit speed dial. "Carrie, I need to know what land holdings if any Auda or his family have here."

"Right away."

"Thanks."Almedia acknowledged as he closed the phone.