Tony was seated at a cold metal table, opposite Berg. In the corner of the room were Dean and Steven, seated on a couch.

"First off Tony, you should understand how lucky you are, that we are willing to do this the easy way. I understand that you are upset about Jack, so I will kindly take it upon myself to explain to you why we are doing it this way. If it were Jack sat her, he wouldn't talk, he would just sit here and let you get messed up; which isn't very nice. You have to admit Tony, he had it coming to him, he deserves everything he gets. Do you know how many people that man has hurt, never mind killed? He is going straight to hell, which is why we decided to let you hold all the cards. But if you do not co-operate - we will give him the cards Tony. And he will not co-operate, and you will finish up dead. Do we understand each other?"

Tony didn't know what to do. He couldn't just give up classified information, but he couldn't let Jack suffer because he wasn't willing to give up information. He didn't want to be put in this position, but he knew what Sal was saying was true.

"Where's Jack?"

"He is in the next room Tony. But we can bring him in here and show you how serious we are Tony."

"I will make you a deal. You release both Jack and Kate and I will tell you everything you need to know. After I receive confirmation from CTU they are free."

Dean stood up, happy everything was going smoothly. Tony thought he was saving Jack, instead he was playing straight into there hands.

"Tell yah what, seen as I'm feeling generous, we will release Jack for you."

"I'm afraid that's not good enough," replied Tony.

"Tony do not play games with me."

"Either you release both or I'll not tell you anything and neither will Jack then you will have no idea of our plans."

Dean radioed into Walker,

"Bring Kate Warner in here. Now."

Dean laughed whilst Tony wandered what was going on.

Walker entered the cell and roughly grabbed Kate from Jack, who was demanding to know what was happening. Pointing his gun at Kate to stop Jack, he told him to mind his own business, leaving him alone.

Kate was escorted into Tony's interrogation room. Dean looked to Tony and said:

"Last chance Tony. Jack only. We are serious."

Tony stared at Dean confident they would cave, but what happened next shocked him. Dean pulled out a silenced gun and before he realised what was happening Dean fired 2 silenced shots into her midsection. She fell to the floor, dead.

Tony tried to run at Dean but all of the guards held him down while he continued to try to lash out at Dean, full of rage and anger.

"Do you want me to put a bullet through Jack too?"

This stopped Tony's violence.

"By now Tony had realised that they were going to kill him, but if he made the deal Jack could live. He already owed Jack so much he decided it was what was best, he could finally repay Jack now from when he failed when Terri was killed.

"I want confirmation from Jack first."

"Good." Was all Dean said as the men left Tony alone in the room with Kate's lifeless body. He began to cry.

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Walker entered Jack's cell with Berg. Jack was sat on the end of the mattress.

"Where is Kate?" Jack demanded.

Berg pulled out his gun and pointed it at Jack.

"Shut up. Come with us."

Jack complied, he didn't have the energy to fight again. They began to lead him through the building, but stopped when they reached a heavily bolted door. From behind Berg pulled a blindfold over his eyes, slowing Jack down. They obviously didn't want Jack to know where they were located, but it didn't matter because he was wearing a locator. Thinking of this he began to smirk to himself. Once outside they reached there transportation. All three of them climbed into the back of a white van. As soon as all three were in the van sped off. Jack could see nothing and didn't know what was happening.

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CTU.

Michelle had briefed Chappelle on the message received, and a team compiled of 2 medical and a sharpshooter, excluding Michelle and Baker, were all to be on site. She headed over to Milo and Kim, instructing them to come up to Tony's office. Once all three were inside, she notified them of the drop off. Almost instantly Kim bombarded her with questions.

"I have no time to answer questions, Baker need me on site now, just wait here until it's gone down, okay?"

They both nodded, and Michelle left them alone, wandering what was really going to happen.

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In the parking lot it was getting very hectic. The sharp shooter was in place. The two medics were on standby. Michelle and Baker were trying to keep the area clear. Luckily for them, Chappelle was not interested in seeing it go down, he was 'busy' in the conference room. On the roadside outside the lot were Michelle and Baker, trying to look casual whilst they looked for Jack.

A white van approached, and Michelle noticed one of the back doors was open. The van began to speed up as it approached CTU.

"Get up," Sal ordered Jack, who did, confused with no idea what was happening. He felt himself being shoved, then felt sharp pains surge through his body as he collided hard with the concrete road. He hit the floor and began to roll from the force of the fall.

Baker and Michelle were in shock as they saw Jack thrown from the van - it certainly wan not what they had expected. Immediately they ran over to Jack, and saw him lying on his stomach. Michelle approached him first, and knelt down besides him, quickly pulling off the blindfold, careful not to tough the long hole that was clearly visible in his head. Together the two rolled him onto his back , calling his name. Jack could hear Michelle but the sun had momentarily blinded him, causing him to squeeze his eyes shut.

"Jack, it's Michelle, it's okay Jack."

He opened his eyes and looked up to se a blurry Michelle and Baker. He began to blink again, clearing away the fogginess. He was confused and couldn't understand what was happening. Baker managed to get his cuffs off, revealing deep red rings around each wrist.

" Wh..what happpend...why...how come I'm here?" he struggled to get his words out.

"Come on," said Baker, "we need to get you inside so the medic's can check you out. Judging by the look of you it will take some time."

Together they managed to get Jack on his feel and he hobbled into CTU, wincing in pain every step he took.

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Once inside he was ushered into an empty conference room and left alone with the doctors. 20 minutes later Robertson left the room and found Michelle sitting outside.

"How is he?" she asked worried.

"Not too good. He has a stab wound to the left arm, deep wound to the head, along with multiple bruising around the head, possible skull fracture. Injuries to the face, bruised cheekbone and a few stitches, and one hell of a shiner. Minor injuries to the back, possible fractured knee. Multiple broken ribs and extensive bruising to the ribs, with deep gravel graze, which I guess he acquired from getting out of the van." He stopped letting out a sigh.

"Oh my God, is he going to be okay, I mean, you can fix him, can't you?"

" He needs to go to the hospital. I have already told him this but he refused. Dr. Ball is still stitching up his head, he was up to 78 when I left." He smiled at his weak attempt of a joke. "My worry is his stab wound and his head. There is major bruising, already - this could get severely worse."

"Is it necessary he go to the hospital?"

"I'm not sure. But it is necessary he gets rest. That I am sure of."

" Okay, thank you Dr. Robertson. I'm going to send his daughter in."

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Michelle told Kim Jack was back and was in the conference room. Within a second she was stood outside, bracing herself. She had been told there were 2 doctors there, which suggested he was not going to be looking too well.

She flung the door open and saw Jack leaning on the table. He had no shirt on and a doctor was stitching his head up. He didn't hear her enter, so she watched the doctors try to sort him. It was a good job they were insured, or they would be bankrupt she thought to herself. She looked at him and could see a few grazes and bruises on his back. She could see a thick bandage around his arm. The doctor finished with the hole in his head.

"Dad." was all she said.

Jack spun around and saw Kim. She ran to him and flung her arms around him, thankful he was back and was alive. They pulled away and he asked her if she was okay. Kim began to laugh saying it was her supposed to be asking him. Jack laughed at that too, saying he was fine.

"You don't look fine Dad." Now facing him she could see the red cuts around his wrists, along with the grazes on his body. She could see most of the skin on his chest had changed colour due to heavy bruising. She looked at the bruises on his face and the black, blood shot eye. She was pretty sure he wasn't fine at all.

"Trust me I'm okay." As he said this he could feel himself going dizzy. Jack pulled on a white shirt that Baker had given him since his was ruined. He slowly began to button it up as the doctor began speaking to him.

"Mr. Bauer, given you present condition I think it best you go to the hospital." Jack began to shake his head. "Listen to me, your arm needs to be checked, and you have probably broke every rib. You need head scans."

"Head scans? Why?" Kim interrupted.

"There is severe bruising and a very deep wound, I feel you may have fractured your skull."

Kim looked at Jack. "Don't you think you should go Dad. This is serious."

"No what is serious is that TEARBACK are holding Tony and Kate but for some reason they let me go and I think it is very serious I fins out why, get them back, and my documents."

He grabbed the tubs of pills the doctors had gave him for the pain and pocketed them. He then bent down to the fridge and pulled out the bag of ice Baker had brought him with his shirt.

"Thanks." He said to the doctors. "Kim I'll be in my office."

Outside the conference room Michelle had been listening to what was happening. She wondered why Jack was being so stubborn when he needed medical attention.

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Inside his office Jack took a handful of the pills and slumped down on the couch. He was so tired. He gently placed the bag of ice against his throbbing head, he hoped the painkillers would soon kick in. He laid back his head and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

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Please R and R....