Chapter 11
This chapter picks up three weeks after we last saw everyone. Tony has returned to CTU and construction is under way. Both Chloe and Chase have been hired and Jack is back in action. Michelle is returning today from New Orleans where she has been helping out.
--CTU, 8:00 A.M.—
"Morning, Tony. How long have you been in?"
"7:30; preparing for an early meeting with Division. By the way, isn't Kim starting today?"
"Yes. She will be in around 9, is that ok?"
"Uh huh. Michelle is coming back today so I'll have her keep and eye on Kim, you know show her the ropes."
"Oh, she is? I thought she wasn't coming back for another few days."
"No, they finished up late last night and she called me at home..." Tony stopped his sentence, realizing he just gave away their relationship to Jack.
"She called you at home? Really?" Jack looked interested as he sat down on Tony's couch.
"Well, you know. Ummm...." Tony looked massively unsure of what to say.
"Tony. How long have you two been together?" Jack wasn't stupid and knew that look from past experience.
"About six months, right after what happened with the nuke and everything. Look, Jack, if you don't mind, don't tell anyone about us. Michelle is going to kill me that I even told you. We just wanted to keep it low key until we were more sure. Do you mind?"
"Oh, no, not at all. I know what it's like. So, how are you two doing?" Jack looked very intrigued.
"Jack, I am not talking about this with you."
"Oh, come on Tony. I need to live vicariously through you. Give me something to work with here." Before Tony can respond, his phone rings.
"You'll have to excuse me. CTU, Almeida."
"Tony, its Ryan. We are going have to do this meeting over the phone. I need to stay at Division. Is now ok?"
"Yea, sure."
(Jack whispering) "Will finish this later."
(Tony whispering) "You wish."
"Alright, Ryan, first up..."
--CTU, 9:00 AM—
"Ok, Ryan I get that, but in order for the upgrades to work we need to reconfigure." As Tony said this to Ryan, his attention was immediately lost when he saw Michelle come in. She was welcomed back by Jack.
"Tony, are you still with me?"
"Ryan, I'm here. Look I'm going to send these figures over to your office within the hour. Look them over, and call me back. I have to take care of something."
"Alright. Thanks Tony."
"Welcome, talk to you soon." Tony immediately hung up the phone and couldn't get out of his office and on to the floor any faster to see Michelle. Trying to find her, he saw Michelle, still with Jack, showing her around. He introduced her to Chase and Chloe, and showed her the progress on the construction, which was great since she hadn't been around in about a month.
"Wow, Jack, everything looks great. It looks completely different. By the way, have you seen Tony?" Jack smiled slyly at Michelle's question, but not enough to give any of his knowledge away.
"He was on with Chapelle about an hour ago, and is now right behind you."
"What?" Michelle looked both surprised and happy as she turned around.
"Hey Michelle, welcome back."
"Thanks Tony, nice to be back. Everything looks different."
"Well, guys, I have a briefing with Chase in a bout ten minutes so I will let Tony finish the tour." Walking away, he winked at Tony. Tony understood and nodded back in thanks.
"How was New Orleans?"
"Fine. How has L.A. been?"
"Ok. Before I forget, Chapelle sent something over while you were gone and he said it was crucial that we go over it together as soon as possible."
"Sure." Smiling, Michelle and Tony walked up to his office, still talking business as there were people from field-ops roaming around the new offices. When they finally reached the stairs, Tony opened the door to his office and escorted her in. He closed the blinds and the door and quickly moved towards Michelle.
"God, let me look at you. I feel like I haven't seen you in so long."
"I know what you mean. I missed you so much in New Orleans. There system was such a mess. I haven't worked so hard in such a short period since...." Before Michelle could finish, Tony grabbed her waist and began to kiss her passionately.
"Sorry, I have been waiting like three weeks to do that."
"I know what you mean." Michelle replied back as she began kissing Tony again. Michelle began to massage his neck as he ran his hands up and down her back and hips. Before they were really able to reconnect, however, there was a knocking on Tony's door. Michelle and Tony quickly split apart.
"Michelle, its Ryan Chapelle on line 3. He says it's urgent."
"Thanks David. OK, I better get that. Can I use your phone?"
"Of course."
"Ryan, its Michelle. What's up?"
"Hey Michelle. I need to meet with you as soon as possible to review the new protocols installed at CTU New Orleans. I'm going to be around at about 11. Is that ok?"
"Yes. I'll meet you here at 11. Thanks Ryan." Hanging up, Michelle looked over at Tony, absolutely dreading seeing Chapelle again.
"This will be great! Never stops I guess."
"Good point. You'll be fine. Lunch?"
"Of course. 12?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
"By the way, after you're done with Chapelle, could you help out Kim Bauer. She is starting today and I was hoping you could show her the ropes."
"Kim, today? Wow, uh sure. I'll find her later."
"Thank you. You are my savior."
"I know."
--CTU, 11:00—
Michelle was working at her desk, involved in whatever she was doing when she heard her name. Spinning around, she saw Ryan.
"Welcome back Michelle."
"Thanks Ryan. Are you ready?"
"Let's do it."
"Terrific." Rolling her eyes behind his back, she caught Tony smiling at her and mouthing good luck. She smiled back a 'thanks'. About thirty minutes later, Tony was briefing Michelle's group when she caught them arguing in the conference room.
"Ryan, it wasn't my job to choose their system for them. They called me in to help rebuild it. I was under the impression they had Division's okay. It's not my fault you don't like it. Their system is up and running, so deal with them for any changes."
"Michelle, I'm not blaming you, but you should have had the peace of mind to call me first and check. Ok, I have to go. Can we finish this later? I'll call New Orleans and we will sort this all out. Three o'clock?"
"Fine, Ryan. I'll come by your office around 3." Michelle replied to Ryan as she escorted him out of the office. Sitting down looking extremely frustrated, she kept herself from losing it right there. Tony watched what happened and went in to console his girlfriend. He found her leaning back in one of the chairs and began to massage her shoulders to relax her. Although startled, Michelle looked happy there was someone there for her.
"Are you alright sweetie?"
Michelle spun around to face him. "Do they still take manslaughter very seriously these days?" Michelle asked jokingly, getting a smile out of Tony. "Yea, I'll be fine. I don't know if I can do lunch today considering I will most likely be on the phone with New Orleans Director Roberts until my meeting. Can I come by your place tonight and maybe we can get dinner instead?" "Sure. Come over whenever you finish."
"Great." Standing up, Michelle was at about Tony's height as he sat on the table. "Do you know how amazing you are?"
"I get that a lot."
This chapter picks up three weeks after we last saw everyone. Tony has returned to CTU and construction is under way. Both Chloe and Chase have been hired and Jack is back in action. Michelle is returning today from New Orleans where she has been helping out.
--CTU, 8:00 A.M.—
"Morning, Tony. How long have you been in?"
"7:30; preparing for an early meeting with Division. By the way, isn't Kim starting today?"
"Yes. She will be in around 9, is that ok?"
"Uh huh. Michelle is coming back today so I'll have her keep and eye on Kim, you know show her the ropes."
"Oh, she is? I thought she wasn't coming back for another few days."
"No, they finished up late last night and she called me at home..." Tony stopped his sentence, realizing he just gave away their relationship to Jack.
"She called you at home? Really?" Jack looked interested as he sat down on Tony's couch.
"Well, you know. Ummm...." Tony looked massively unsure of what to say.
"Tony. How long have you two been together?" Jack wasn't stupid and knew that look from past experience.
"About six months, right after what happened with the nuke and everything. Look, Jack, if you don't mind, don't tell anyone about us. Michelle is going to kill me that I even told you. We just wanted to keep it low key until we were more sure. Do you mind?"
"Oh, no, not at all. I know what it's like. So, how are you two doing?" Jack looked very intrigued.
"Jack, I am not talking about this with you."
"Oh, come on Tony. I need to live vicariously through you. Give me something to work with here." Before Tony can respond, his phone rings.
"You'll have to excuse me. CTU, Almeida."
"Tony, its Ryan. We are going have to do this meeting over the phone. I need to stay at Division. Is now ok?"
"Yea, sure."
(Jack whispering) "Will finish this later."
(Tony whispering) "You wish."
"Alright, Ryan, first up..."
--CTU, 9:00 AM—
"Ok, Ryan I get that, but in order for the upgrades to work we need to reconfigure." As Tony said this to Ryan, his attention was immediately lost when he saw Michelle come in. She was welcomed back by Jack.
"Tony, are you still with me?"
"Ryan, I'm here. Look I'm going to send these figures over to your office within the hour. Look them over, and call me back. I have to take care of something."
"Alright. Thanks Tony."
"Welcome, talk to you soon." Tony immediately hung up the phone and couldn't get out of his office and on to the floor any faster to see Michelle. Trying to find her, he saw Michelle, still with Jack, showing her around. He introduced her to Chase and Chloe, and showed her the progress on the construction, which was great since she hadn't been around in about a month.
"Wow, Jack, everything looks great. It looks completely different. By the way, have you seen Tony?" Jack smiled slyly at Michelle's question, but not enough to give any of his knowledge away.
"He was on with Chapelle about an hour ago, and is now right behind you."
"What?" Michelle looked both surprised and happy as she turned around.
"Hey Michelle, welcome back."
"Thanks Tony, nice to be back. Everything looks different."
"Well, guys, I have a briefing with Chase in a bout ten minutes so I will let Tony finish the tour." Walking away, he winked at Tony. Tony understood and nodded back in thanks.
"How was New Orleans?"
"Fine. How has L.A. been?"
"Ok. Before I forget, Chapelle sent something over while you were gone and he said it was crucial that we go over it together as soon as possible."
"Sure." Smiling, Michelle and Tony walked up to his office, still talking business as there were people from field-ops roaming around the new offices. When they finally reached the stairs, Tony opened the door to his office and escorted her in. He closed the blinds and the door and quickly moved towards Michelle.
"God, let me look at you. I feel like I haven't seen you in so long."
"I know what you mean. I missed you so much in New Orleans. There system was such a mess. I haven't worked so hard in such a short period since...." Before Michelle could finish, Tony grabbed her waist and began to kiss her passionately.
"Sorry, I have been waiting like three weeks to do that."
"I know what you mean." Michelle replied back as she began kissing Tony again. Michelle began to massage his neck as he ran his hands up and down her back and hips. Before they were really able to reconnect, however, there was a knocking on Tony's door. Michelle and Tony quickly split apart.
"Michelle, its Ryan Chapelle on line 3. He says it's urgent."
"Thanks David. OK, I better get that. Can I use your phone?"
"Of course."
"Ryan, its Michelle. What's up?"
"Hey Michelle. I need to meet with you as soon as possible to review the new protocols installed at CTU New Orleans. I'm going to be around at about 11. Is that ok?"
"Yes. I'll meet you here at 11. Thanks Ryan." Hanging up, Michelle looked over at Tony, absolutely dreading seeing Chapelle again.
"This will be great! Never stops I guess."
"Good point. You'll be fine. Lunch?"
"Of course. 12?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
"By the way, after you're done with Chapelle, could you help out Kim Bauer. She is starting today and I was hoping you could show her the ropes."
"Kim, today? Wow, uh sure. I'll find her later."
"Thank you. You are my savior."
"I know."
--CTU, 11:00—
Michelle was working at her desk, involved in whatever she was doing when she heard her name. Spinning around, she saw Ryan.
"Welcome back Michelle."
"Thanks Ryan. Are you ready?"
"Let's do it."
"Terrific." Rolling her eyes behind his back, she caught Tony smiling at her and mouthing good luck. She smiled back a 'thanks'. About thirty minutes later, Tony was briefing Michelle's group when she caught them arguing in the conference room.
"Ryan, it wasn't my job to choose their system for them. They called me in to help rebuild it. I was under the impression they had Division's okay. It's not my fault you don't like it. Their system is up and running, so deal with them for any changes."
"Michelle, I'm not blaming you, but you should have had the peace of mind to call me first and check. Ok, I have to go. Can we finish this later? I'll call New Orleans and we will sort this all out. Three o'clock?"
"Fine, Ryan. I'll come by your office around 3." Michelle replied to Ryan as she escorted him out of the office. Sitting down looking extremely frustrated, she kept herself from losing it right there. Tony watched what happened and went in to console his girlfriend. He found her leaning back in one of the chairs and began to massage her shoulders to relax her. Although startled, Michelle looked happy there was someone there for her.
"Are you alright sweetie?"
Michelle spun around to face him. "Do they still take manslaughter very seriously these days?" Michelle asked jokingly, getting a smile out of Tony. "Yea, I'll be fine. I don't know if I can do lunch today considering I will most likely be on the phone with New Orleans Director Roberts until my meeting. Can I come by your place tonight and maybe we can get dinner instead?" "Sure. Come over whenever you finish."
"Great." Standing up, Michelle was at about Tony's height as he sat on the table. "Do you know how amazing you are?"
"I get that a lot."