Tony had heard Jack's footsteps echoing through the corridors. He was sitting on the ground and leaning to the wall and just staring at the blank wall. Jack had sat next to him but said nothing. Tony knew Jack was busy and he needed to be elsewhere at the moment, yet he still had managed to find the time to look for him and sit next to him. He also knew Jack needed him to be at CTU, working, as always. He needed to focus on the task at hand, but he just couldn't find himself to stand up and act like nothing had happened. Although it was the style in CTU. Just forget for a moment and move on. Think about it later, think about it on your own time. This was the country's time he was wasting.
"Tony..." Jack began. He could hardly find any words, there was no words for situations like these. He of all people knew that. "I know this is painful for you, but as the head of this operation, I need to know if you're fit to work."
Tony was quiet for a while but then turned his head towards Jack and looked straight in his eyes. "If I'm not what will do you about it. Send me home?"
Jack sighed. "Tony, come on. I know what you're going through..."
"Jack, don't. "Tony interrupted him.
Jack usually took no orders from other people, but this time he closed his mouth.
"I know you mean well, Jack. But I just can't see the point anymore..."
"Do it for her, Tony. We need.. I need you to get your mind on this for her."
Kim walked towards her car. She wasn't really a fan of Chloe's but she knew that they'd need her. She acknowledged the fact that Chloe was way more experienced than she was and together they could handle things better. She took the car keys from her purse and unlocked the car.
"Kim!" She heard Chase shouting. She recognized his voice before turning around and seeing him. He was at the other end of the hall and started running towards Kim. "He'd better apologize for his actions", Kim thought and waited by the car.
"What?" Kim asked looking fed up when Chase came closer.
"You're going to pick up Chloe?"
Kim looked at Chase, he probably didn't even care that he'd hurt her feelings.
"Yeah, I don't see how this concerns you though. " She wasn't going to play this game anymore. "And by the way, my dad wanted to see you in his office."
Kim turned to the car and opened the door. She didn't understand him at the moment, and to be honest, she wasn't going to try either. Atleast not now.
"I saw Jack and he said we can handle things without Chloe, there's no need for you to leave now!"
Kim turned around with a doubting look, which alarmed Chase. He was nervous, he seriously was, she could see that.
"I just talked to my dad and that's not what he said... And you're smart enough to know that we do need her here. What's going on, Chase?"
"Don't go Kim. You can't go."
Chase's face was completely expressionless. He scared Kim.
"I don't know what's wrong with you. And frankly, I couldn't care less!" She yelled at him. "I'm leaving and there's nothing you can do about it!"
She turned again towards the car and was about to get in. Chase took a quick look over the empty parking hall and in a short second he made a decision. He stopped thinking and buried his emotions somewhere deep. There was too much at stake here. He grapped his girlfriend's arm, twitched it back and pushed her head sharply to the car door.
Kim had no time to react. She felt Chase grabbing her arm just before her head hit the car. She couldn't see anything for a while. She tried to fumble away but Chase had a firm grip on her arm. He pushed her to the ground and she could feel the cold ground under her face.
"Chase...?" Kim tried to cry but she hardly could make a hearable sound. She coughed dust from the ground.
Without saying a word Chase took his gun from its holster and pointed it at Kim. Kim felt the cold barrel on her neck and started shaking. This was Chase, this was someone she loved.
"Get up!" Chase said without a trace of hesitation in his voice. "Give me the car keyes."
Kim was scared and her hands were shaking. The keys had dropped on the ground and she bent down to pick them up. She turned around to hand them to Chase but he pushed the barrel on her neck so she'd keep her face towards the car. He took the keys and led Kim to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
"Get in."
"What? Chase, what are you doing? Why are you doing this?"
"I don't wanna tell you twice: get in the trunk. Please, Kim, just do it." For a second Kim could hear a caring tone in his voice but he shook it soon off.
She climbed to the trunk and curled up so she wouldn't get hit by the door Chase slammed shut. The trunk was pitch black, she couldn't see a thing.
Chase sat on the ground. "What have I done?"
"The files have been deleted, but let's see if I can retrieve something from the hard disk."
Jack and Tony watched as one of the staff members still working at IT at this time of night sat in front of Chloe's computer.
"Well, here's something." Both of the men leaned to see what was on the screen.
"A few e-mails, a report for Division..." Jack listed. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
"What's that?" Tony pointed one file.
"Wait a second..." the computer analysist typed something on the keyboard. "It seems to be a log file for a company called Warner International Corporation."
Tony gave Jack a brief look: "The Warner's still freelancing for CIA?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Can you open it."
"No, whatever it was it's gone."
"Ok, thanks. See if you find anything else." Jack pulled Tony aside. "What do you reckon?"
"It's there for a reasion, that's for sure."
"Yeah.. I think it's worth a look. I'm gonna go over there to check the files from their computers. I have a strong feeling about this."
"At this hour? Who you're gonna reach?" Tony asked.
Jack gave him an explaining look: "I'll just have to make some phonecalls."
"Ok." Tony understood. "I'm going with you."
"What? No, you're staying here... "Jack started.
"No, I can't stay here." Tony replied firmly. "Besides you can't handle everything by yourself."
"Neither can you.." Jack said. He looked at Tony who had managed to pull himself together. He wasn't all comfortable with the idea of leaving Chase alone but he reckoned he'd manage with Kim and Chloe here. What's the worst thing that could happen? "Ok, but we'll have to leave now. I'll call Chase from the car."
Jack rushed to his office to get his coat while Tony headed towards his. His coat was still lieing on the floor where he had thrown it. He didn't switch the lights on instead took a deep breath, walked stoutly to the coat and grabbed it.
"I left my car on the street." Jack said as they walked down the stairs to the elevators.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's note: ...And they lived happily ever after, the end. No, just kidding :D
Thanks for the reviews, it's great to know that someone is ACTUALLY reading this. I'm gonna have to take a short break from writing, though, I've got my graduation this weekend and I'm out of town taking entrance exams next week but I'll promise I'll get back to this story probably next weekend at the latest!