There was a hushed debate taking place inside the brightly lit square room. Its occupants were clearly struggling to keep there voices down whilst disagreeing. There were a number of men in the room, all dressed differently. The majority were dressed in black swat gear, some still wore there face paint from the warehouse operation. Others dressed a little more smartly, but only one man wore a suit. Harry Dean sat behind his dark mahogany desk watching as the argument continued before him.

" Sir," said Sal, "If I may?" he paused, waiting for Deans to approve.

" Go on." was all he said.

" Why waste our resources on Almeida. He is a waste. Our aim was to stop the interception of the documents. We did that. I understand the two men have information, but we all know Bauer holds the most. He holds a higher position and is a friends of Palmer." he grinned. "That could help us. We have no use for Almeida."

This time a new man stepped forward, he wore a cream shirt and looked as though he was about to hit the town on a night out, except for the guns holstered under each arm.

" You are correct. Bauer has more information. But how do you suppose we extract that information from him - I don't suppose he will just tell us if we ask nicely. I am sure you are aware he has resisted torture before. He flatlined." He let that statement linger in the air for a moment before he continued, " Almeida however, will be easy to brake. Yes, I understand he knows less, but we will learn everything. With Bauer we will know nothing of CTU's plans, nothing. That is a risk we cannot take."

The arguing began to strike up again. Dean raised his hand, and silence enveloped them all as they instantly stopped. Every single person.

" For now, we keep them both, play them off each other, see how loyal they really are. Now go."

The room began to empty, however one man stayed behind.

" Steven." said Dean, placing a hand on his shoulder as he rose.

"Harry. If they don't talk - we will not break Bauer. He doesn't respond to anything thrown at him."

Dean began to laugh.

"My dear friend. Kate Warner will be here shortly. If he doesn't help his good friend Tony, he will help his girlfriend. I am sure of it."

The both began to laugh as they left the room. Dean turned away from his friend and began heading down a long corridor, entering another room, inside, sat Marie.

"Harry..."


"Not yet." he replied.

"Why?" she questioned.

" We will be interrogating him first - once were finished with him he's all yours."

" Fine, just don't kill him. I owe that bastard a bullet." she subconsciously rubbed her arm at the memory of him shooting her.

" I know....he will pay."

He pulled her into his arms and they began to kiss.

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" Okay, I understand. Walker out." Walker switched off his radio and, with Sal, entered Tonys cell.

" What can you tell me of Bauer?" he questioned instantly.

Tony stared on.

"You not talking to us huh? Gonna protect you buddy? Well, I gotta tell you Tony, I wouldn't loose any blood over that sack of s%*t."

"Jack hasn't told you anything," replied Tony, sounding bored.

" Bullshit. Don't be a fool, listen to me, if you don't co-operate you will suffer. We don't need both you and Bauer alive. The only reason I am telling you this is because, well hell, Bauers and arrogant son of a bi%tch, and I don't wanna see you killed for helping him, especially seen as he just sold you out." his tone was deadly serious.

" Come on Sal, I aint wasting my time here."

Once outside Tonys locked cell, Sal turned to Walker and asked,

" Should I tell my men to move him to the interrogation sector?"

"Nar, let him sweat it out for a while, lets have a little chat with Bauer."

"Yeah well I'm ready for him after the display he put on earlier. Almost damn near killed me." he ranted.

" Don't worry Sal, he aint going nowhere."

" Are we gonna take Bauer to the interrogation sector?" asked Sal eagerly.

" No. I'v been told he'll see a friend before he goes there."

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" Michelle," called Chappelle.

"Mr. Chappelle, have you been briefed yet?"

"Baker has updated me yes. Before we proceed should we go somewhere more private, not many people are aware of what's happening."

" Of course, the conference room is vacant."

They made there way across to the room. Kim spotted them and sneered at the sight of Chappelle, she turned to Milo and asked

" What the hell is he doing here?" she was not happy.

"He's probably been brought in to take control with Jack and Tony .... away" he finished, "He's not gonna do no harm."

" Yeah well he is the last person I trust here. He never helped Dad that day..." she paused, trying to reconstruct her sentence whilst thinking of possibly the most traumatic day of her life, "he has never took an action in favour of Dad. I can't see him being too helpfull."

"Kim, he is here to help."

" He is still trying to press charges against Dad for the accidental death of Alex Hewitt! Still! After everything he went through that day for this country, he is still trying to pull him down! And I'm just supposed to trust him?"

" Kim, look, he is here to help Jack. Leave it at that."

In the conference room, Michelle sipped on her 3rd cup of coffee for the hour.

" Have they made any demands?" Chappelle asked.

" No. They have made no contact."

He breathed a sign of relief, "Good, that saves us a hell of a lot of paperwork." He began to chuckle, but Michelle glared at him.

" I think your missing the point, sir."

" No I am not. Maybe the reason they have not made contact is because they escaped. Hell, I wouldn't bet against Jack getting them out, would you?" Michelle smiled at the thought of this reassurance, the thought that her husband and a great friend would not get hurt and would be back soon.

" So, seen as there's no contact, there's nothing we can do, so concentrate on your other priorities, just keep Milo working on the location."

" Yes sir."

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Jack had drifted off to sleep earlier. His minds logical thinking demanded he stay alert but his exhausted body refused to comply. He lay on his back with his head lagging to the left, facing the wall, his mouth slightly open. His hands rested together between the cuffs protectively over his chest, he was always expecting another heart attack, even subconsciously. His breathing heaved both his chest and arms up and down in rhythmic, heavy slumps.

The door clicked open and both men stepped forward, stopping to notice Jack was asleep. The door shut behind them but he still did not move. Walker approached and began to laugh as he leant over him. Suddenly Jack jumped up swinging his fists full strength into Walker's midsection, knocking him onto the floor and successfully winding him. Next he charged at Sal who was ready for it and swung him into the wall. Jack felt his back sting but didn't have time to feel the pain as Sal was heading towards him once again. As he approached Jack head butted him with all his might, hitting him square in the nose, knocking him out instantly. Jack headed towards the door, surprisingly finding it unlocked. He swung it open, and after taking one last look at Walker who was trying to compose himself, he began to run. The guards were confused and it took a moment to understand before they headed after him.

Jack ran down a corridor, and then another, having no idea were he was going. He could hear the guards behind him radioing people calling for help. He turned yet another corner and stopped dead in his tracks, a shocked expression on his face. Stood before him was Dean, holding a 9 mm to Kate Warner, his girlfriends head. Shocked at her presence he let his guard down.

"Kate," he whispered.

She looked as though she had mixed feelings, firstly a look of both upset and terror controlled her face, but then worry as she looked at Jack, who's shirt was covered in dried blood that looked to be coming from his arm.

It was then when the blow hit him from behind. He felt a sharp pain against his head and then realised he was on the floor. Momentarily confused he tried to get up but a blow to the back crushed him to the floor. The guards had caught up with him; as had Walker. There were five men altogether, not including Dean, who was still holding the now stunned Kate. The men stood unsure of how to proceed, until a slight nod from Dean said it all. Almost instantly Walker began to kick Jack repeatedly. The guards also joined in as they stamped and punched Jack. His back his head his hands his chest his legs. They attacked him and kept going.

Jacks cries of pain were muffled by the screams of Kate, pleading for them to stop. Tears wailed down her cheeks as she uncontrollably sobbed for him. Eventually they stopped, satisfied he had learnt his lesson. Two of the guards leant down to the beaten Jack and began to drag him by the arms into another cell. His immobile body left a large trail of blood. Walker took Kate off Dean and pushed her into the same cell, slamming the door shut, this time making sure he locked it after himself. Walker always learnt from his mistakes.

Kate ran over to Jack who lay unconscious in a heap on the floor.

" Jack," she cried. She knelt down next to him and slowly, carefully, rolled him gently onto his back. She was scared she would inflict further injury by touching him. She pulled her white sweater over her head and placed it is a pillow underneath his head. She softly stroked his hair with one hand, the other gently held his own bloody hand as the tears continued to flow.

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