A/N- You guys rock so much! Thanks for the reviews! And now…here comes the morning after. Usual disclaimers apply- the lyrics are from Fuel's "Shimmer."

Counting the Cost

~*~

Chapter Six

Killer from a Savior

~*~

A misty ambience hung heavily on the London streets the next morning. A slight rain was falling, and it looked like the clouds were not clearing. Thunder rumbled softly in the distance, and suddenly, Jack jerked awake.



He rolled over; tangled in the sheets and wondering why the hell he had no clothes on. Suddenly, the memories of last night hit him like a Mack Truck. Jack put his hands over his eyes, taking a deep breath.



Jack didn't feel regret, really- it had been incredible. More than incredible. Overwhelming, even. He had never, ever felt like that with any other woman, ever in his life. He sat up, looking around the room. She wasn't there.



He pulled on his boxers, walking towards the bathroom.



"Nina?" He knocked on the door; then opened it.



Nothing. Not even a towel was out of place.



All at once, a terrifying thought hit Jack. The antidote.



He turned towards the bedside table, his heart pounding in his throat. To his immense surprise, it was still there. It was right where she had left it, but this time with a small note folded beside it.



Jack was so overwhelmed with confliction that he almost couldn't sit down to read it. Why had she left? Why had she not taken the antidote? She was Nina- that was she did. Steal things. Ruin things. Confuse the HELL out of him.



Jack finally regained his composure; his head pounding slightly as he sat down and opened it. It was short, and written in her very distinctive, scrawling cursive.

Jack-

Who were we kidding? The antidote was all you really wanted. I actually do hope that Kim's okay, as little as you might believe that. Despite everything, despite the fact that I still don't understand what happened between us, I have to go. I can't tell you why, just trust me. Or don't. That's really your choice. I'll miss you, Jack. And for once, I am being honest.

-Nina

Jack put it down, looking out the rain-soaked window. He honestly could not define what emotion he was experiencing right now. Loss? Loneliness? Ambivalence? He had no idea.



All he knew was that he had to get back to Kim. Nina had kept her word. He had told her the truth, and she had gotten out of his life. Just as suddenly as last night had happened, she was gone.



He had to go back home to his daughter. Back to the life he once knew. But never, ever back to CTU. Jack quickly took a shower, packed his things, and walked out into the hallway. He looked at the room one last time, a room of beautiful nightmares soaked with both blinding passion and staggering confusion. With a deep, shaking breath, Jack closed the door on all of it, and walked away.

~*~



Kim woke up, her vision foggy and distorted. But her throat was not as constricted as before. Her skin didn't feel like it was on fire. And her father was standing right next to the bed, smiling at her.



"Hey, sweetheart." Jack said.



"Dad- no, the virus." Kim said, her voice ragged and hoarse.



"I got the antidote. They've just done the final tests. Sweetie, it worked. You're going to be fine."



"What about everyone else?" Kim asked, still taking in what her dad had just said.



"They're administering the antidote now. They'll be all right."



Kim almost started crying out of sheer relief. She wasn't going to die. She wasn't going to die. Her dad had saved her. She could go home. She could see Chase again. It was all going to be fine.



"Dad…thank you." She whispered sleepily, taking his offered hand.



Jack felt his throat constrict slightly as he watched her close her eyes, pressing his hand against her cheek as she smiled slightly.



"Dad?" She said drowsily, the pain medication still slurring her speech slightly.



"Yes, sweetheart?"



"How did you get the antidote?"



Jack looked at her still innocent face, and decided his decision to not tell her was the right one.



"I have contacts, Kim. I used them. That's not important right now- what's important is that you're tired and need some rest."



Kim nodded, easily placated. She started to nod off, still clutching Jack's hand tightly.



"I love you, Dad." She practically whispered, drifting into a peaceful sleep.



"I love you, too."

Jack sat on the bed beside her, and suddenly realized how exhausted he really was. Leaning his head against the wall, he found his eyelids slowly getting heavier until he was also in a deep, heavy sleep.

~*~



Suddenly, Jack awoke in the hotel room from London. Nina was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at him when he opened his eyes.



"Morning, Jack." She said casually, wearing a hotel bathrobe, her long dark hair messy and undone.



"Nina-you left." Jack looked at her, more confused than before.



"I left to get away from something that you can't ever get away from. You'd think I would have figured that out by now. But don't worry, Jack- we'll see each other again. Sooner than you might think."



"What do you mean?"



"Something I thought a "brilliant" guy like yourself would already know. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Irresponsibility breeds it antithesis. Not that I minded, but just consider this a warning. I'm not gone for good, Jack. This story's only beginning."



"Nina, please tell me what you're talking about."



Nina smiled somewhat sadly, her hand on his cheek. She kissed him then, a slow, intoxicating kiss. After a long, searing moment, she broke away from him suddenly, and went to walk away.



"Why are you leaving?" Jack couldn't help but ask.



"Because I have to. Oh, and Jack?"



"Yes?"



"Some deceptions can only last so long until they reach a point where the truth has to come out. Just a little information you should keep in mind."



And with that, she was gone.

~*~



Jack awoke with a start, still sitting on the hospital bed with Kim. So now he was dreaming about her. That's just fantastic.

~*~

She says that love is for fools who fall behind

And I'm somewhere in between

I never really know

A killer from a savior

'Til I break at the bend

It's too far away for me to hold

It's too far away...

~*~

A/N- Please review!