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Tony was sat in the conference room, along with Chappelle and the two doctors. After fixing Tony up, Chappelle said that was all they were needed for. The doctors left and Chappelle asked Tony how he was feeling, and if he feels fit to continue working, especially under the circumstances, a friends under warrant and a problem with a terrorist cell. Tony said he was fine, and ready to continue work.
"Good. Now Baker is just finishing up his debrief. I want you to pull up everything we have on TEARBACK. I also want you to try find any connection between them and Jack."
This angered Tony because he saw Jack suffer there and knew Jack was working with no-one. What angered him more was that he new some important information about the president, and needed to speak to Baker urgently. Once again the president was ruining Jack's life. "Sir, do you honestly think there is a link with Jack and TEARBACK. Lets be realistic here. I was there and can give firsthand evidence that Jack was no way associated with anyone there, other than me!"
"Oh really Tony, then why the hell did they let Jack go earlier?" Chappelle said, thinking he had won Tony on this one, little did he know.
"I don't know. Why do you think they beat the shit out of him, and stabbed him?! I sure as hell don't think they are dumb enough to hurt there own friends Chappelle, do you?"
"Listen Tony. If you really think he isn't working against us, then find out how he was released earlier. And drop the smart ass act. Get the information, and look for a connection. Where is Kim Bauer, I need her to look open some files from division?"
"I sent her home Ryan."
"Do you want to tell me why the hell you are sending staff home when we are running short?" he yelled.
"She wasn't well enough to continue, she was upset and worried sick about her father. I think it is understandable under the circumstances." Tony defended.
"Fine. But as soon as we have Jack under arrest I want her back in." Chappelle stormed off, furious.
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Jack woke slowly, and looked around the room as his mind slowly played back the images of his memory as he tried to remember what had happened. He saw Palmer enter the room, and carefully, slowly pulled himself into a sitting position.
"How are you feeling Jack?"
"I'm fine sir. May I ask how I got here?" Said Jack, letting his confusion show.
"Of course. It is rather a long story. Earlier today I was contacted by an unnamed man, saying he held a Jack Bauer and Kate Warner in his possession."
At the very mention of Kate Jack sprang up saying he had to get her. Palmer reached out a hand to Jack's arm, slowly pulling him down, whilst shacking his head gravely.
"As proof of there determination she was assassinated. I'm sincerely sorry Jack." His words hit Jack hard and he slowly sat back down. His head began to cloud and his vision blurred. His mind raced and he couldn't face what he was hearing. He closed his eyes tightly, reminding himself he had to hold himself together while in the company of the president. He did promise himself he would kill every man involved he could find in the compound when he went back. They would all die.
"Yes sir." Was all Jack could muster to say.
"They demanded I pay a fee of money, and deliver it to them, where you were being held. I went against my advisers wishes, paid the ransom and brought you here."
Jack was shaking his head again in confusion, "When did this happen sir, I can not recall anything like that, remotely."
"You were out of it when I arrived, which is probably why."
"What do they want, I mean, have they made any other demands, I mean, they must have, they still have Tony Almeida, so..."
"I'm sorry, but I have to assume that he is also dead."
"No." Said Jack standing up. He walked across the room and grabbed his shirt off the desk and began to shrug it on, grimacing in pain as he did so.
"Jack you can not go back there. They are dead. There is nothing you can do. They will be dead long before we even get there."
"It doesn't make sense, none of it sir. If they wanted you to pay a sum of money for me, then why the hell did they release me the first time? It wouldn't have worked, they didn't plan on me coming back. And why would they just kill Tony if they knew there was a possibility they could also gain more money for Tony. Sir, it's illogical, there are too many holes."
Palmer was worrying, he hadn't intended Jack to piece things together or come to the conclusions he did so quickly. Also, he hadn't figured out those holes, but once faced with them, he realised just how big they were.
"Listen to me Jack. There is nothing there to go back for. Let it go. You are in no shape to do anything either."
"Fine, I shall contact CTU, they can send an assault team into there."
"No, Jack they wont. We both know it. Leave it, please."
Jack looked up to the president. Inside his head a light bulb began to shine.
"Sir, I have an idea. Logically, it doesn't make sense, that they let me go when they were planing a ransom, right, you agree, it doesn't make sense?"
"Yes I do."
"So whoever ordered them to take me back must be pulling the strings, they must be in a position to totally compromise them, or they hold a great deal of information not many people have access to. Am I right, I mean, its obvious, really. There must be a mole, or perhaps its just another member of their cell with power. But either way, it's pretty obvious to me, if I can find who gave the order to release me, we have the main go too guy. If we can take him down we can bring this whole thing down, on top that we can crack their whole organisation!" He was getting over excited at the thought of this. It was so simple, all he needed to do was find out the identity of the man who gave the order to release him.
"Okay Jack, say this works. After you have brought the cell down, then what?"
"I will bring the person responsible for the death of Tony and Kate to justice. The man who has been pulling the strings, the one who order my release" he said simply.
"What are you implying Jack?" Palmer questioned.
"I will not lie to you sir. I will kill him."
Palmer hung his head down, he was sweating unde the collar, with good reason. The man Jack intended to kill, was in fact, himself.