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Three Weeks Later

Chapter 3

Michelle picked up her phone. "Hello?"

After a brief silence she heard an answer. "Hi, Michelle? It's Kim Bauer. I though since you've been working so hard, you need to enjoy your night off. My friend Nikki and I are heading out. Do you want to come?"

Michelle hesitated, almost refusing Kim's offer. *But then she reasoned I would be turning down a chance to forget about this whole mess between Tony and me for a while.* "Sure, I'd love to."

"Great!" Kim sounded genuinely happy, so Michelle was sure her dad hadn't put her up to it. "We'll be there in about twenty minutes."

"Okay. `Bye."

"'Bye."

She set the phone down and proceeded to her bedroom. One thing was for sure, she couldn't look like she had just come from the office. She found a pair of tan pants that she had only worn once since she bought them and a turquoise print top with a high waist and long, flowing sleeves. She made sure her hair was in some semblance of order and applied some lip gloss. Then she went back to the living room to remove the tequila and shot glass from sight.

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Kim and Nikki both walked up to Michelle's door. When Michelle answered, Kim was shocked by the transformation. She had only seen Michelle in very professional clothing, but the outfit she had one now worked like magic to make her look radiant. Looking beyond the clothing, though, Kim saw the sadness in Michelle's eyes. It was there constantly, Kim knew, especially when Michelle would stop by to check on Jack on the way home from work. Somehow now it seemed more intense than usual.

Michelle and Kim had become friendly in the weeks following Jack's hospitalization. Michelle stopped by to visit and bring messages from co-workers at CTU. When Kate was there, Michelle was often pressed to stay for dinner and drinks. Kate seemed to be able to bring Michelle out of her doldrums for a while and Kim was inspired to bring her out of them permanently. Namely, by making sure that Tony Almeida finally took the notice of Michelle Kim knew the older woman craved. She knew that that would take time, so, in the meantime, Kim decided to help keep Michelle from getting too depressed.

Michelle, likewise, had been impressed with Jack's daughter. Kim had matured a lot over the past three weeks. She was blossoming into a well-rounded young woman with a will of iron, not unlike her father's. Michelle loved spending time with Jack and Kate and Kim. Not only did it keep her from returning home to an empty house and bed, but it helped keep her focus away from Tony.

The three women piled into Kate's Camaro and took off towards a local college hangout. Michelle felt a little uncomfortable since she was much older than most of the young people who frequented the pizza parlor, but Kim and Nikki reassured her that she would blend in perfectly. Kim switched on the radio and they made their way across town.

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Kate sat facing Jack on the couch. The TV was on but neither one of them was paying attention to what was flashing across the screen. They had spent a few nights like this, just talking and sharing thoughts and feelings. Kate felt much closer to Jack than she had ever dreamt possible a few short weeks ago. They had been sitting in silence for a few moments when Jack reached over and took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. She looked into his eyes and smiled softly, leaning forward to lightly brush his lips with her own. Jack reached out with his other arm and pulled her closer to him on the sofa. He smiled back at her and reclaimed her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with his hair. Jack reached up and cradled her cheek in his palm, softly kissing from her mouth to the collar of her shirt and back. Kate sighed. She had never been so happy. She had never felt so safe as when she was cradled in Jack Bauer's arms.

Jack enjoyed the feeling of Kate in his arms. As he kissed her neck, she placed butterfly kisses on his forehead, along his hairline. He knew he loved her, that he had never felt so strongly about any woman aside from Terri. At the thought of his dead wife, Jack stiffened suddenly. Kate sensed his change in mood and pulled away.

"Jack, are you okay?" Kate was worried. "Is it your heart?" She lay her right palm lightly against his chest.

Jack attempted a smile. "No, my heart is fine."

Kate looked at him and knew. "It's Terri, isn't it?" Jack had finally told Kate about Terri and Nina. Kate knew that he would never forget about either women.

Jack just nodded.

Kate positioned herself so that she was sitting with her head on his shoulder and one arm wrapped around his waist. The other hand rested on Jack's knee. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Jack kissed her forehead. "It's not your fault."

They sat there for a while, both lost in thought. Jack marveled at how Kate never pushed him away, never gave up when his thoughts of Terri interfered with their intimate times together. Kate, in turn, thought about the man who was holding her. There were times when it was hard to love him, knowing his past and the hurdles he still had until he was able to completely open his heart to her. After all, Nina had betrayed him in the most horrific sense of the word. As she tilted her head to inhale the scent of his cologne, she knew she would never leave. Jack Bauer was just too good to give up on.

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Tony entered the pizza parlor and made his way directly to the counter. After paying for his pizza, the teenage girl behind the counter told him there was still a fifteen minute wait. Searching for a place to sit and wait, he saw Kim Bauer sitting at a table with a dark haired woman with her back to him. Kim saw him and smiled. He made his way over to their table and asked Kim how her dad was doing.

"He's great. He and Kate are enjoying some time together." She smirked.

Tony smiled back, "I'm glad he's doing better."

"Oh, this is my friend Nikki. Nikki, this is Tony Almeida. He works at CTU."

Nikki smiled at Tony, "hi."

"Nice to meet you." Tony looked at the chair across from where he stood. There was a salad and a coke waiting there. "Are you girls here alone?"

Kim gave her friend a seething look and answered quickly, "we're here with Michelle."

At the mention of her name, Tony's eyes went nearly black. "Michelle Dessler?" He had to be sure. The change in his demeanor was not lost on Kim.

"Yah." Kim grinned like everything was normal.

*Well it is to her* Tony reprimanded himself. *Kim doesn't have a clue what you did to Michelle. She probably would have spit on you just now if she did.*

"Well, um, I'd better get going." Tony had almost turned to leave when Michelle walked up. She looked at him and he felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. She looked stunning. But the pain in her eyes did not go unnoticed. "Hi Michelle."

Michelle saw Tony and felt like a knife was being stabbed through her heart again and again. "Tony," she acknowledged.

"Well, I'd better go get my pizza and head home." Tony started to back away. "See you on Monday, Michelle?"

Michelle looked at her plate and nodded.

"'Bye Tony" Kim said

"Yah, `bye. Nice meeting you." Nikki followed suite.

Michelle followed Tony with her eyes until he left the restaurant.

Kim noticed the tension between Michelle and Tony and decided that she had better not try to throw them at one another. There was something between them that only the two of them could work out.

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