Author's Note: So sorry for not updating the story for awhile, but here you go :)
Your reviews are still very much appreciated!

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"The deal is off!" Ryan shouted on his cell phone. He was sitting in his car and driving through LA. Luckily it wasn't the time for the morning rush hour yet.

"What do you mean off? What's going on?" Lilah stopped at the glass window of the holding room where they kept the hostages.

"I should've killed Jack Bauer myself, but never mind. A change of plans, just make sure you're on the top of the building in an hour or so. I'll pick you up with the chopper."

"That's a lot of money you're throwing away Ryan! Our money!" Lilah shouted on the phone.

"There's not much to do, honey! The police has the guns now and I wouldn't want to see your pretty face behind bars." Ryan said conciliatingly.

"Ok, then. Just letting you know." Lilah took a look on the people inside the room. "What about the people we're holding here?"

"Leave 'em, kill 'em, just don't let them interfere." Ryan stated in a cold voice.

"And Chase, I'll get rid of him too?"

"We'll proceed just as we planned with him."

"I understand. Oh, and Jack Bauer's daughter and that Michelle Dessler have somehow managed not to get themselves killed, but I'll see that that changes soon."

"Son of a... Yeah, take care of them soon. I don't want anything, and I mean a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g messing this thing up, Ok?"

Lilah closed her cell and took a last look at the people in the room. They were leaning on the walls unknowing what was going to happen.

"I'll drop you off at your father's. Is that ok, Kate?" Jack addressed his words to the woman sitting in the backseat.

"No." Kate shook her head.

Jack turned his head from the driver's seat to see her. "I don't think you should be alone right now."

"I'm coming with you." Kate wasn't sure why she had to argue. She knew she'd be safer at home or at her father's place, but she didn't want to let go of Jack. She felt that if she didn't hold on to him, he would disappear again, and at the moment, she needed him to be there with her. She didn't want him to disappear.

Jack focused his eyes on the road. He wanted to protect her, keep her safe, why couldn't she just for once do as she is told. He sighed.

"Ok, you can come with us, but you have to stay in the car. Understood?"

Kate smiled but didn't reply.

Chase walked the stairs back. He had just escorted Kim back to the basement. He kept replaying the moment he and Kim had shared few minutes earlier. He'd held her in his arms and regretted everything he'd done.

"Chase! Come here!" Lilah called him.

Chase turned around and walked up the stairs to where Lilah was standing. He felt sicker and sicker with every step he took.

"I just got a call from Chappelle. The last deal is canceled, he'll be picking us up in an hour with a chopper."

Chase nodded without even thinking what could have gone wrong with the deal. "Fine."

"You don't seem that disappointed. You do understand that mean less money for you?" Lilah smirked knowing that she was getting on Chase's nerves. "Don't tell me, money doesn't matter to you anymore, you've decided to switch sides, again?" Her laughter echoed in the empty corridors.

"Shut up, ok?" Chase growled.

Lilah kept on smirking victoriously. "Thinking of getting back with your girlfriend, start a big happy family and..."

"I said SHUT UP!" He was getting truly agitated.

"...raise two kids and spend the money you've earned with such a hard work. You know, betraying the country and all, it's like a full time job for you, isn't it?"

Lilah had no time to react as Chase pushed her to the wall. After a surprised second she got in charge of the situation again. "Getting a bit emotional here, aren't we?"

Chase took a deep breath and finally let go of Lilah. He turned around if as to leave, but stopped when he heard a safety catch of a gun clicking and turned around. Lilah was holding her gun and pointing it towards Chase.

"You honestly thought I was going to let you risk this whole thing? That Ryan and I were simply going to let you ruin what we had started and collect your share of the money? Our money?" She laughed to emphasize Chase's stupidity. "I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't have what it takes to pull this thing through. I bet you were going to beg me to spare your future-wife-to-be from the miserable death that we have planned for her. But I'll tell you this, kid. It ain't gonna happen. After I've finished you, I'm going over to your girlfriend's..."

That was enough for Chase. It took no more than a split second to knock Lilah to the floor. She didn't have even time to finish her sentence and Chase totally caught her off guard. He leaned over her to take her gun and then dragged her unconscious body to the nearest room and locked the door behind him.

"He was conscious for a couple of minutes there, but he's getting weaker." Michelle said to Kim, who had been returned to the room unharmed. Kim nodded.

"I was so scared he was gonna hurt you." She continued.

"I don't think he would have... I mean, earlier, I honestly thought I was going to die in that trunk, but I don't think that anymore." Kim sighed. "It's like, a part of me even feels guilty for what has happened."

"Guilty? You shouldn't feel guilty for anything. He is the only one who is responsible for choices he made. There's always another way."

"Yeah, but I had no idea how he was feeling. I don't understand why I didn't notice it earlier."

"Kim, listen to me, there is always another way. He could've back out anytime, he could've said no anytime. But he didn't. It is not your fault."

Kim tried to hold back the tears and smiled. "I guess you're right..."