Palmer walked down the hall way the entire world finding out about his wife and the entire incident with Millikin. He was about ready to go out of office, he wanted to fix everything before he left and this was his last issue. He walked into the hospital room Jack lay in. he looked at the man he had only seen a few times and could already tell he was in bad shape. Palmer looked at him not knowing exactly why he was in the hospital, but he didn't care Jack needed his help. "Jack."

Jack opened his eyes and looked at the President, he was embarrassed by his condition and hoped the President didn't know all of the story. "Mr. President what are you doing here?"

"Tony Almedia called me after they picked you up. I decided to fly out than to make sure everything was handled. Don't worry I will make sure everything is fixed for you. It is absolutely absurd they would try anything after all you have done for them, but I guess that's politics. It just took me to long to figure it out." Palmer said somewhat bitter, politics had ruined his life.

Jack said in a weak voice, "Thank you Mr. President."

"Soon it's just going to be David Palmer. I'm resigning. I'm sure you haven't heard of Sherry's death and the Millikin scandal, but I'm resigning. I was not even able to keep my ex-wife in check how can I expect to keep everything else in order. I am sorry for all the things I have ever asked you to do." Palmer thought about the ultimate request to kill Chappelle, "And I am sorry for your current condition. You are a great man Jack, and I hope to be able to have a drink with you one night after you get out, and possibly become great friends." Palmer patted Jack's shoulder, "I'll make sure your friends and family get to see you." Palmer left the room.

Jack lay amazed by all he had just heard. He could not believe it. And what was even more shocking was after all he had been through he could always boast he knew the President of the United States and was a good friend with him, he would never boast, but hey it wasn't something that happened every day.

A few minutes later Kim, Chase, Tony and Michelle entered the room. They all talked to Jack and tried to keep the weird vibe out of the room, most of them still in shock that Jack had become an addict. After awhile of an awkward silence there was a knock on the door. Carol walked in with Amber behind her. "Guess what I found out in the parking lot?" Amber said to Jack she knew he would remember her. She had run into Carol at the reception desk when they were both asking for Jack.

He looked up to see Carol. His face showed all the emotions at once sorrow for her seeing him like this, embarrassment for being in the situation, and happiness at seeing her. Kim looks at everyone and than says, "Why don't we all go grab something to eat and let these two talk." Kim knew her father needed to tell Carol what had happened all by himself.

Jack grabbed Kim's hand as she walked out of the room, "Wait a second." He said softly.

"What is it dad?" Kim said worried.

"Please do me a favor call Kate for me see if she is willing to come here. I doubt it but would you please try for me. They aren't going to let me have a phone any time soon." Jack said.

"Sure dad." Kim said somewhat sad that he would want Kate here, but Kate had helped him out before. Kim remembered seeing a part of her father from the past before he went to Mexico. It was just a glimpse of the man he use to be, but she knew Kate had a part in it.

Carol pulled a chair next to the bed and waited for Jack's explanation.

"Where do I began." Jack said almost to himself, but out loud.

"Why don't you tell me why you are in here?" Carol said.

"Before I went on my last mission I needed to establish a cover. It was more than that, but that was my main excuse, my main lie to myself. In reality I just didn't want to feel the pain anymore. I tried to move on and I tried to face everything, but I couldn't do it. I still thought of her every day, and waited for her to come home every night, it never happened. I was going undercover with a major drug cartel, at the time they weren't major, but they were rising in the ranks. So I decided as a part of my cover to use the drugs they sold. I had to be able to handle them, and I needed to get away from the pain, it was so easy than to choose. So I started to use heroin." Jack said looking in his sisters eyes seeing the shock in them first and than the sadness.

"Why didn't you call and talk to me Jack? I somehow could of helped. You didn't' have to resort to this."

"I know that now. But than it seemed like a good idea, but all bad ideas were a good idea once." Jack croaked.

"Who is that woman Amber?" Carol said trying to give her brother a break.

"She was someone who helped me last week."

"You tried to do this all on your own didn't you? God men are so stupid sometimes. What is going on with you and Kate?"

"I don't know. I'm sure she's mad at me. I called her or she came over I'm not sure how it happened before I went missing. I just left her that night. I had to be on my own and I had to do the majority if not all of this on my own. It was my problem not theirs."

"Jack just because something is your problem doesn't mean you should deal with it alone. Family is suppose to be there to help you, so you don't have to deal with it alone. That's what we are here for. If Kate doesn't come don't be surprised, but if you love her. And I think you do, once you get out of her go buy a dozen roses, some nice music and go beg her to take your sorry ars back."

"Do you think she will?"

"If she's stupid enough too. And you have to cope with Teri's death. Just because you love someone else doesn't mean your betraying Teri. She didn't want to see you like this Jack. She would of wanted you to move on."

"I know." Jack said weakly. His sister was having no mercy on him, which he didn't expect from her. She always came in and kicked his butt to get him to do what he had to do, and he never resented it.

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