The following occurs between the hours of 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

4:00

Everyone sat in Palmers room quietly. Everyone reflecting on some moment they had with Jack. Palmer reflected on the first time he meant Jack. He wanted to beat the man senseless as he thought about how Jack tried to kill him earlier. He did not know why at the moment, but it pissed him off. When he confronted Jack even though Jack was clearly pissed off he kept his cool and explained the situation to the senator respectfully. Jack never once showed him disrespect nor complained. Even after Palmers ex-wife put Jacks family in danger, and than later Jack in danger. Jack always was there to do what he needed. He was a loyal man and a great friend. Earlier that year Palmer tried to get Jack to settle for a desk job, but Jack refused. Jack told him he could never handle just a desk job. He had to have action and feel like he was doing something. He couldn't sit ideally by and follow the rules. In some ways Palmer understood him.

A doctor walked in and said, "I checked on Mr. Bauer. The surgeon has gotten the bleeding to stop; now they are trying to repair the damage. His vitals are stable right now. He is still in the dark though. We are not sure if he will pull through, but were not sure that he will die either. It is still fifty-fifty, but he seems to be a strong man and a fighter and that is good."

"Thank you doctor. Please let me know as soon a he is out of surgery. His daughter needs to see him as soon. The minute he is in the recovery room I want her there." Palmer said.

"No problem sir." The doctor said, knowing better than to argue with him.

4:10

Jack was still in surgery and the doctors were almost finished with repairing the neck wound damage. They had his shoulder wound sewed up and every other wound tended to. If he survived the night he would live. They were hopeful and everything was working out right.

4:15

The doctor who updated them earlier came into Palmers room again said, "Mr. Bauer should be out of surgery at any moment. The doctors need a few moments to tend to some of the minor wounds, like the cut to his head, and they need to CAT scan it to make sure the swelling is not to server. While they are cat scanning Mr. Bauer's daughter can sit in the room with the technicians. When he gets to his room two people can be in there at a time."

"Thank you doctor."

"No problem sir. I should let you know it is still a gamble, but if he survives tonight he'll survive." The doctor said as he turned to walk out of the room.

Tony took Michelle's cell phone and called his office. He knew Chappelle would be sitting in there now. After two rings Chappelle answered the phone, "Chappelle"

"Chappelle it is Tony. Jack made it out of surgery can you get two people down here to watch his room, just to be safe. I don't want Treadstone or anyone coming back to finish job."

"Sure Tony. How is the President?"

"He's fine. We are all in his room now waiting to be able to see Jack. They have a few things they had to do for him, but if he survives tonight he's should live."

"That's great news. I'll tell the people. By the way they found the missing tech guy, Dan."

"Where was he?"

"Dead outside of Jack's apartment."

"What?"

"I don't know what happened yet. When Jack wakes up question him about it. I don't think he did it, but I need to make sure."

Kim got up and walked to the nurse's station where she was escorted to the CAT scan room. When she saw her father she wanted to cry he looked so horrible. He was pale, paler than she'd ever seen him. His neck and shoulder were covered in bandages. And his chest was purple. She held back her tears and looked at him. She wanted to hold his hand so bad and tell him she was there and everything was going to be ok.

4:20

Chappelle called back on Michelle cell phone. "We have a possible lead on Treadstone. We have a mole inside one of the terrorist groups he has under his control. The mole said that he was on his way there. Somewhere in Germany, we stopped all planes heading in that direction and we believe we have his. The excuse we used to stop them was that the President Air Force One was flying and with the recent threat we didn't want any plane in the sky with it. So Treadstone should expect anything. I need Chase and either Kim or Michelle to come back. I want Chase to go up north with a team and capture Treadstone. I need Michelle or Kim to handle the communications and satellite projects." Chappelle told Tony.

Tony put his hand over the phone and said, "He needs Chase and Michelle to go back to CTU. He said Michelle or Kim, but I think . . ."

Michelle cut him off, "No problem. You are right she should be here for her father. Chase and I will handle it. You keep in contact with me about Jacks situation and I'll communicate it to Chase. That way no one is out of the loop. I wish Chase didn't have to go because Kim will need someone her to help her, but Kate you can do that right?"

"Yeah. I can help Kim out." Kate said.

"That's settled tell Chappelle I'm going to leave the phone with you and Chase and I should be at CTU within the hour."

Tony took his hand off the receiver of the phone and communicated the plans to Chappelle. "Who do you have coming over to watch Jack?"

"Actually the President already arranged for two of his secret service men to watch over Jack." Chappelle answered.

4:30

The doctors stood over the picture of Jacks CAT scan. One of them walked over to Kim and said, "He does not have any major damage to his head. Luckily he does not have a skull fracture. That man must have one hell of a hard head."

Trying to find the silver lining Kim said, "You don't even know."

The doctor smiled, he was happy to see this mans daughter dealing with the situation so well. Usually families fall apart in front of him. "We're going to take him to a post-op room in the Critical Condition wing. Why don't you go get some of those people waiting for him. We can make an exception this one time and allow everyone who can fit into the room for an hour. After that it is limited to two people."

"Thank you doctor. Thank you for everything."

"It's my job hon."

4:40

Treadstone calmly sat on his plane. He figured there was no way they could track him to this plane. He just had to wait out the president's plan flying over and than he was on his way to Germany and to safety. He sat and drank a stiff shot of whiskey. He only indulged himself with whiskey when he had just got out of an extremely stressful situation. Today qualified as an extremely stressful situation. He just got news on his cell phone that Jack Bauer survived surgery and if he survived the night he would live. On top of that problem two secret service agents were posted outside of his door, and the president arranged for only his doctors to have access to Jack. The only other people allowed in would be family and close friends. His other mole would not even go near that room. She refused to. Somehow Treadstone had to get to Jack Bauer. If he was able to kill him maybe the second wave would over look the fact that two of their own were killed if their enemy was killed. He called Nina's boss and said, "Not only did she help Bauer escape she's with him now."

"I don't know what she's up too. She's still close to Bauer if I can get into contact with her I'll see if she'll kill him, but I think I just lost one of my best agents because of you. I can't replace her she was to damn good."

"I'm sorry, but there isn't anything I can do. I am in the middle of trying to escape with my life right now." Treadstone said.

4:50

The President walked into Jacks room with Kim. Kim was holding her fathers hand and running her fingers through his hair. When the President looked at Jack he noticed that Jack was still pale. Jack had a peaceful look on his face. He was almost smiling. Palmer prayed that Jack would survive the night and recover from these injuries. He would order Jack to go on vacation outside of L.A. and California. Maybe even a trip to the white house. Palmer owed Jack a lot and nothing like a night in the white house, but knowing his luck that's when a full scale attack would occur. Jack was going on vacation and that is it. He would do whatever he had to so that Jack would take a few weeks break.

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