Kate friend Monica had long since left. She was alone again, in the silence of her house. The only noise present was the air conditioner and the stereo on in the back ground. Monica came well prepared with two six packs of Baccardi O3. Kate had drank most of the first six pack to herself leaving only two bottles left in the second. It was catching up to her as she listened to The Counting Crows sing about Mr. Jones. She was tired and mad. Jack had done it to her again. She had moved on and he came back to ruin whatever she had going. She tried to get away from him but she could not escape because every time she felt like she was away he came back. She had went back out while Monica was there and got the flowers out of the garbage. She read the card:

Dear Kate, I'm sorry. I know I am wrong for you. I'm sorry if I ever hurt you. Please forgive me. I'm trying to . . .

He didn't finish the card, but she was sure what he was trying to do, and that was make her crazy. She was drunk and wanted to tell him what was on her mind.

She dialed his cell phone number and got his voice mail, when she tried his home number she got his answering machine. She got off the couch and found her keys. She still had his house key. She would just go there and find him. He was probably sitting on the couch listening to the nasty voice mail she left him or the nasty message on the answering machine.

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Jack walked into his office and said, "I'm here." To Hammond who was sitting in Jack's desk chair studying a report.

"Sit." Hammond said in a cold voice.

"I thought you wanted me to interrogate one of the curriers?" Jack questioned.

"Sit." Hammond replied angry and ready to explode. "What were you thinking?"

"I don't understand." Jack answered confused. He thought, What have I done now?

"You are a junky." Hammond said staring at Jack.

Jack felt his anger rise, he was a junky, but he did it for his country, but he was sure what was coming next.

"You sat here in this office. How many time did you shoot up here, Jack?" Hammond said stressing the last part.

Jack did not answer he looked down at his feet to avoid making eye contact. He was not proud of himself, he knew what he had did, and why he really did it, but it was no ones business. In the end he got the job down and that is what CTU wanted, results. It didn't matter how you got them as long as you kept millions of people from dying that's all that mattered, but no one could see this.

"Your out Jack. Your finished. Pack your stuff and leave."

"What?" Jack said now looking up angrier than before.

"Your through. Das ist alles."

Jack wanted to scream at him, What the fu(k? I've sacrificed everything for this damn place and now your going to turn your back on me.

Hammond continued noticing the slight anger in Jack's face, "Your lucky the President stepped in on your behalf because otherwise you would be sitting next to Tony. I hope you screw up too because you deserve to sit next to Tony, with all you have done. You know how many lives you took away today with that little prison stunt, than the Delta team that got taken out, and the virus being let lose."

"I saved more lives than were lost. How many people do you think would have died if we did not get to Saunders in time? How many more would have died if I didn't even go undercover with the Salazar originally, or even found out about the virus? How many more would have been lost if . . ." Jack paused as a memory came back to him. Saunders had been gloating earlier today and said something to the effect that one day his country would turn on him and he would understand. Jack got up still quiet. He walked out of the office everyone in CTU heard their conversation, but said nothing. He noticed Michelle as he walked out of CTU. She looked at him with the "I'm sorry" look on her face. He didn't say anything he just walked out.

He reached his SUV and noticed that he had a message on his phone. He played the voice mail back and it was Kate.

"Jack you miserable a$$hole. Because your life sucks you have to drag everyone else down. Do you think I'm your doormat. Because it seems every time you have a bad day you come walking to me, and leave the next day. DO you know what you ruined today for me? Do you know anything? Do you care about anybody else but yourself you miserable pr!(K."

Jack was taken back by Kate's words, but he felt that they were true. He was a miserable a$$hole. The main reason why he didn't like Kim with Chase was because she would leave him, not just Chase being in field ops. He didn't do anything to help Michelle and Tony out either. He didn't even ask the President to pardon Tony. With that thought he dialed the Presidents number. He would do one right thing today if it was the last right thing he ever did.

After stating his name a hundred times he was patched through to the president. "Mr. President I have a favor to ask of you." Jack started.

"What is it Jack?" Palmer was worried because usually a call from Jack meant something bad was happening.

"Do you remember Tony Almeida?"

"Yes he's the director of CTU."

"Not anymore sir. He did something today to save his wife. They are charging him with treason. I was hoping you would pardon him. He's a good man who has done a lot for this country, and he doesn't deserve this." Jack said into the phone.

"I'll look into it Jack, but I've gotten myself in enough deep water today with the Sherry incident, than clearing up your troubles."

"If you have to sir I'll take the fall for whatever thing someone chooses today that I have done wrong. He doesn't deserve this." Jack said.

"I'll do it Jack." Palmer said knowing it meant a lot to Jack since he was willing to take the blame on.

"Thank you sir." Jack said as he hung the phone up. He put his head against his steering wheel blocking out the wave a nausea and stomach pain that over came him. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block it out.