AUTHOR NOTE: AS Per usual I don't own any of the characters in this fic. Gabe came up with Kit so he has the credit for it. Lyrics featured are by TRAPT. And I know the title suck for the fic but if you haven't figured it out yet I suck at titles.
At lunch, Kim sat by Chase talking to him non-stop. Jack did not mind this because it gave him time to think. Kate had finally said the words he dreaded. He could not answer her back with the same because he knew that they could never really love again and he did not want to give her false hopes. He would not allow himself to love again. He did not want the pain of losing someone he loved again, and he would not put anyone in that position again. His job killed Terri and it was not going to get anyone else. The problem was what he was going to do next time she said those words. It would hurt her for him not to say anything back, and he did not want to hurt her feelings although he did not want to lie to her either.
Suddenly he heard someone calling for him. Returning back to the
now and away from his thoughts, he asked, "Uh, what were you saying?"
Kim smiled at him and said, "Thanks for joining us again. Chase was
asking about the time you were trying to teach me to drive and you sat in the passenger seat like a spaz. He did not believe me that the big bad Jack Bauer who looks terrorist in the face and laughs could not sit in a car with his daughter without freaking out."
Jack felt like he was in school again and the teacher was scolding
him for not paying attention. Jack smiled and answered, "You would have done the same thing. She takes after her mother who could not drive." After he said it, he could see the pain in Kim's eyes from the mentioning of her mother. Jack felt the same pain at the memory.
Noticing the difficulty, Chase asked, "Kim, what high school did you
go to?"
She slipped away from the memory and tried to move on telling Chase
all about high school. That was before everything when she was truly happy.
When they were finished eating lunch Jack paid the bill and walked
out to the parking lot where Kim and Chase were still talking . Jack took out his keys and gave them to Kim, "Drive safely and if you leave, put the keys under the door mat for me so I can get in. Kate might call. Just take a message and tell her I'll be home around six."
"Is it okay if Chase comes over for dinner? We were talking and he
has not have had a home-cooked meal in a long time. I figured since you always cook too much, you would not mind."
Jack was worried that his daughter might like Chase, but she was
happy at the moment. He could talk to Chase if he felt like they were going to be anything more than friends. "Sure, if he can survive my cooking." Jack said smiling at his daughter.
"See you later then, Chase." Kim said smiling at him. She thought
he was cute, really cute.
"Yeah, it was nice to meet you Kim." Chase said back.
"Bye, Dad." Kim said hopping into the SUV and driving off. Jack
watched her leave the parking lot before he got into Chase's car.
Chase turned the radio down when they got in. He had the rock
station Kim loved to listen to on. Jack had learned to block some of the
music out, but every now and then like the night before, the words caught his attention.
Something missing
Left behind
Search in circles
Every time I try
I've been here before
I've seen you before
I can't escape walking through these halls
Hard to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Only straight ahead move along
Like Clock work
I commit the crime
I pretend to be
Everything they like
It reminded him of his struggle to live life as people think he should. He was what he was because others expected it. Looking at himself, he was not sure who he was. Was he the caring father or the killing soldier? Could he be both?
He looked up he must had a funny look on his face because Chase was
looking at him. Trying to cover up his thoughts he asked, "Who is this on the radio?"
"Trapt I think. This usually isn't my type of music, but Kim turned
it on. She'd know better probably. Why? Did you find some new music you liked?" Chase asked because Kim had told him all about how much her father hated music from nowadays.
"They are not all that bad." Jack said thinking to himself they were
actually pretty damn good sounding.
Chase turned back to the thoughts he had. He had was contemplating
Jack. He had learned so much from the hour with Kim about Jack than he had learned from Jack in the past few months. Chase liked to have a
understanding of the people he worked with, and he could never figure Jack out. Today confused him even further. Jack had been so sweet and kind around Kim, but Chase knew of the things he had done before. There was a joke in Washington every time they had to interrogate someone or just get to someone quickly they would joke they needed the unbreakable and undefeatable Jack Bauer.
Chase broke from his thoughts as he parked his car in front of a run-down house. Both men got out of the truck and Chase locked the doors by his remote. Jack followed Chase into the crack house. Carefully, the two men walked through the place until Chase found the man he was looking for.
When the guy in ragged jeans and a ripped t-shirt saw Chase, he took off running towards the back of the house. Chase and Jack followed quickly behind with their guns drawn. They reached him just outside of the house, with Chase pouncing on him, taking the two to the ground. He pulled the man up by his t-shirt afraid it might rip as he pulled on it, "Ricky, why were you running from me? I only have a question to ask you."
"Fuck you, man. Let me go. I heard you ain't no cop anymore. You're with da government now."
"Ricky, I'm glad you're keeping tabs on me. I just need some information from you that's all."
"I ain't gonna tell you shit man."
"Yes, you are." Chase said determined to get the information from him.
Jack interrupted the two and said, "Rick tell me the answer to his questions and I'll give you twenty." Jack knew junkies and they would do anything for the next fix and the twenty was heading towards the next fix.
"Let's see the money, dude."
Jack pulled out his wallet and taking out a twenty he held it up for Ricky to see. "Here it is. Now answer his questions."
"What you want to know?" Ricky asked Chase.
"Who is working with the Salazars now? Who is the head of that gang?"
"Alex's gang. The Crypts I thinks. Now you gots your information can I has my money and go."
Jack looked at Chase who seemed like he had all the information he needed. Jack handed the man the twenty and said, "We never had this conversation."
"Yeah man. You thinks I want the peoples to know I was talking to the government? Shit, I'd be dead in a day."
Jack looked at Chase and said as if thinking aloud, "Now that we have the gang, I just need to hook up with them."
"It's going to be hard. They are almost all Mexicans and they don't trust us." Chase stated.
"Going undercover is always hard. It takes months just to establish a good cover that can be ripped apart in minutes. Let's get back to CTU. We both have to get out of their earlier than usual today." Jack said headingback towards the SUV.
Chase had wondered about Jack going undercover ever since he heard about it and he had the same question on his mind since then and finally figured he'd ask it. "Why are you going undercover with the Salazars, not me or Kit?" He was confused by the fact that almost every other boss at CTU was a paper pusher, they never actually went out on a mission. They never got their hands dirty, but Jack on the other hand would never allow others to get their hands dirty. At first, Chase thought it was just because Jack loved the action, but now he was sure it was something else. He thought maybe it was Jack thought no one else could do it besides himself.
"I'm not a paper pusher Chase. I never could be one. One thing I learned in the Army leading people was to never ask anyone else to do something you would not do yourself or you have not done yourself. The leader takes the most dangerous missions in hope of saving his men, and could never ask anyone to take this mission because even I am not sure it is executable. I can not send someone on a death mission, and I can't sit still for long. It felt like I have been out of action for a long time." Jack said trying to not sound arrogant.
He gave everyone all the reasons that would make sense to them. Truthfully, that was not why he was doing it. Life was getting too hard to live being himself, and when that happened, he always took the first chance he got to get his mind away from his life. It was his way of escaping, others started over, he went on missions. The thought of being someone else also appealed to him.
Chase drove back to CTU in silence trying to figure out the real
reason it was Jack and not him going. He knew the line Jack just fed him
was a load of bull crap, but he would not say that out loud.
**********************************************
The rest of the day was uneventful. Around five-thirty, Chase knocked on Jack's door and asked if he was ready to go. Jack grabbed the few papers he needed and put them in his briefcase. He dialed the number to Tony's office and told him he was going to head home for the night. Jack had never left before Tony, but he had promised Kate he would be home early and cook for them, and he had to cook now because Chase was coming over.
"Do you need to stop anywhere before you go home?" Chase asked as they walked out of CTU towards Chase's truck.
"Actually I need to pick up something to cook tonight, if you don't mind stopping off on the way?" Jack answered.
"Sure, no problem." Chase said hopping into his truck.
At the store, Jack picked out different vegetables and the chicken he
needed to cook stir-fry. He decided upon stir-fry because it was easy to
cook, and it was what he wanted. Chase followed behind him not having anything else to do.
When they reached Jack's apartment, Kim was sitting in the living
room watching a movie with Kate who had already arrived earlier in the day. Kim and
Kate got alone at times, and at other times Kim hated Kate; it all depended on the day. Today, Kim could tell Kate was hurting so she was being nice.
Kim smiled when her father and Chase walked in the door. "Hello
guys. How was work today? Chase, would you like a beer? I'm sure my dad has a few Budweisers left in the fridge. Did you pick up any beer at the store, dad?" Kim asked getting up.
"No, I didn't." Jack said following behind her into the kitchen with the groceries he picked up on the way home. "Why don't you and Chase go and pick up some beer and wine, if you don't mind, Chase?" Jack asked figuring it would give Kate sometime to talk to him.
"Sure, no problem." Chase said smiling.
Kim walked over to her father holding her hand out, "Money?"
Jack gave her his wallet and said, "Don't go crazy."
"Me, never." Kim said trying to put her angelic look on her face.
As soon as the door closed Kate walked into the kitchen and Jack hugged her. "I'd ask how your day was, but I already know it was horrible." Jack said pulling out of the embrace.
"What's for dinner?" Kate asked wondering why he had not answered her earlier when she said she loved him. He had to feel something for her by now, but why would he not say it? Did he really not feel anything? Could he just be staying with her because he did not want to hurt her feelings?
"Chicken stir-fry." Jack said trying to seem happy. He was scared she would ask about earlier or say the words again, and he did not have an answer for her.
"Sounds great. No one would ever believe that Jack Bauer super agent could cook as well as stop terrorists." Kate said. It had been a joke since the first time he cooked for her. Most men don't know how to cook or do not cook ever, and the stereotype was that most men in Jack's line of work could never cook. Jack could cook and enjoyed doing so most of the time.
"Why don't you go sit down and I'll bring you a beer. That's all we have in the fridge right now. Ever since Kim turned 21, the fridge has always stayed fully loaded with beer." Jack said hoping to postpone the inevitable questions from coming up. He could tell it was eating at Kate that he had not said he loved her back. But he did not know and he was sure he could never love. He held his dead wife in his arms and he knew his job led to her death. It was partially his fault when it came to Terri's death. If he had been a banker or anything other than what he was, he would never have been in the situation, and Terri would still be alive. His wife and unborn child were dead and it was his fault. He could not see another person he loved die again so he blocked out all of these emotions. He figured the best way to avoid the conversation was to tell her about the mission he was getting ready to undertake.
With that thought he said, "Kate, we need to talk." Looking down at the ground, he did not have the guts to look her in the eyes, he knew she would be hurt and pissed at him. He knew the main reason why he was going and not Chase or Kit. It was simply in his mind, things were getting too hard to live with in his life. Kate was getting too close, and Kim was trying too hard. He needed to escape and the best way to do it was the way he had done it for so long, take a mission. He would escape his current life to fake another one. He had no problems with faking life, even before Terri died. He would put on a show for others because that is what they expected. Ever since he was a little boy and his mother died, he put on the show. His father wanted him to be super macho man and that was what Jack tried to be. He hated to disappoint people.
Worried that he was going to break up with her Kate said, "What is it Jack?" She felt her legs weaken. What would she say if he said he did not want her anymore? She had only known him for a short time, but in that time, he became the person she woke up for every morning.
"In a few weeks I'm going to be going on a mission. I'm not sure how long it will last but most likely at least six months to a year. I won't be able to see you during that time." Jack was still looking down at the ground. He was afraid to see the pain in her eyes and afraid his eyes might show some sort of joy at the thought of escaping from it all.
"How long have you known this?" Kate asked confused and upset by what he had just told.
"A few weeks."
"Where are you going?"
"I can't tell you. Even I'm not real sure exactly where I'll end up at." He said knowing that he knew about where and he could tell her if he really wanted to.
"Why are you doing it and not someone else? Aren't you the director of field ops? I thought that was a desk job."
"It is and it isn't. Kate, who would I be to ask someone else to do this mission? Everyone else is busy with other things, and I know I can do it. I'm not sure about Chase or Kit being able to pull it off, but I know I can. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I did tell you. I could have just left and never told you." Jack said trying to reason with her, cringing at the last words as he knew they would piss Kate off.
There was silence for a moment. Kate looking at Jack who barely maintained eye contact with her. Kate was pissed at him and she decided to leave the room. Leave him standing in the kitchen looking out the window at the night sky. She sat on the couch and began to watch the movie again. She was too stunned to drive home, and did not want to leave. Even though he hurt her, a part of her still needed him, still wanted him. She thought she now understood what it was like for the women who went through abusive relationships. Not being able to leave the abuser because of your heart not wanting to break. She could not give up on him yet. He still needed more time, and she would give it to him.
Jack went to cooking. His mind was wandering from the mission details to the relationship with Kate. He hoped she would not wait for him during the time he was gone. He would tell her not to wait before he left. She was better off without him. She knew it and he knew that neither of them would look at each other in the eyes though.
Chase and Kim returned and could feel the tension in the air. Chase found his way to the kitchen with the bags of beer and wine. He pulled out the beer and wine and set it on the table. "You want me to open a beer for you, sir?" Chase asked grabbing out a beer from the case.
"Yeah. Call me Jack. I hate being called sir." Jack answered.
Chase handed him an open beer. Jack took a big gulp before setting the beer down on the counter. He was never much of a drinker, at least not anymore. When he was in the Army, he could out drink anyone. After he met Terri, he slowed down and eventually he stopped for the most part. He was starting to pick it up again, along with the other habits he needed to be successful while being undercover.
"So, you want help with anything?" Chase asked feeling useless.
"No, why don't you go take the girls some beer and relax? I got it." Jack said not looking up from the chicken he was frying.
"Sure." Chase said grabbing three beers walking out to the living room where Kim and Kate were watching Flatliners. Kate got the movie because she knew even if Jack had said he would watch anything with her she did not want to torture him at the time with another chick flick. They both agreed on the movie Flatliners because they both enjoyed it. Kate loved it because one of the characters reminded her of Jack. Nelson, she thought was his name tortured himself from a mistake from so many years ago, and thought he deserved to die because of it. At the end of the movie, he did die, and came back with the forgiveness he needed. She hoped Jack would end up like he did, and find the forgiveness he needed for Terri's death.
Jack called from the kitchen, "Dinner's done." Jack had already set the small table for four. He set the skillet with the stir fry already mixed in it. He opened the wind and poured everyone a glass. Kim served everyone some stir fry and the four sat eating and talking about everything, but with obvious tension between Jack and Kate. In the middle of dinner, Jack started to feel sick to his stomach and he knew it was withdrawal already. He was surprised by the strength of the drug he was now trying to become accustomed to. He had only used it once and he was already feeling mild withdrawal symptoms.
After they were done eating Kate helped Jack clear the table. Chase and Kim decided to head out and see the sneak preview of the new movie, Taking Lives. Kim had always been a fan of the killer in the movie and read the book already, which she spoke passionately to Chase. Chase watched her and thought how beautiful she was, but he knew any feelings he might have had to be put on the back burner because Jack would kill both of them if he thought they were even thinking about going out. He knew Jack enough to know that he would never want Kim to go out with anyone from CTU.
Jack and Kate did the dishes in silence. Finally feeling bad, Jack said, "I know you are mad and I'm sorry. I should not have waited so long to tell you and probably did it on a really crappy day. I am sorry Kate."
Not wanting to let go of Jack yet she said, "I understand. It doesn't mean I like it, but I understand." She waked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. He turned and kissed her passionately. She grabbed his hand and led him towards his bedroom.
Once in the bedroom, she began to unbutton his shirt. She wanted him fiercely. She loved him with her entire heart, and the thought of not having him hurt too much. She wanted to feel something other than the emptiness and he was it. Jack stopped her before she took his shirt off. He went and shut the door turning the light off before he joined her in the bed. His mind freaked at the thought of her seeing the track mark on his arm from the drug. After they were done making love, Kate fell asleep with Jack holding her.
After he was sure she was asleep, Jack dressed quietly and walked to the study. He locked the door behind him. He looked at the desk drawer contemplating if it was all really worth it. He knew that once he became addicted it would be hard to stop, but it was his job to get Ramon Salazar so they could get to his terrorist connections. Like the night before, he pulled the needle out of the black bag. Withdrawing some of the liquid into the needle, he expertly put the tourniquet around his arm and waited for the vein to pop outwards. Sticking the needle in, he thought about the big picture and pushed the plunger down allowing the drug into his system again. He closed his eyes at the sudden feeling of ecstasy.
His mind far away he heard Kim enter the house laughing, clearly drunk. She stumbled down the hallway noticing that Kate's purse was still on the counter she laughed again. Saying to herself aloud, "I guess he's spending the night." Jack heard the door to her room close and the music turn on at a quieter volume than it had the night before. Again he heard the song he heard in Chase's car. The words feeling so personal as if the person who wrote them looked into his soul and found them.
Something missing
Left behind
Search in circles
Every time I try
I've been here before
I've seen you before
I can't escape walking through these halls
Hard to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Only straight ahead move along
Like Clock work
I commit the crime
I pretend to be
Everything they like
Kate heard the music turn on and she woke up to find Jack missing from the bed. She got out of the bed and grabbed one of Jack's t-shirts putting it on to go look for him. She walked to the study, where she could see the light under the door. She went to open it and the door was locked. Jack never locked the door, she thought to herself. She knocked quietly. Jack's mind jumped back to reality. He was not sure if Kate would be able to tell he was high, but if he did not answer the door, she would become suspicious. He stumbled over to the door and opened it.
"I was worried. I woke up and you weren't there. What are you doing in the study with the door locked?" Kate inquired.
"Sorry. I had some work to get done and I didn't want Kim to bother me when she walked in." Jack said consciously trying not to slur any of the words. The drug was taking over his body and he just wanted to lay down and enjoy the feeling.
"Come back to bed." Kate said turning the light off in the study pulling Jack back to the bedroom by his hand. Jack undressed again and laid in the bed next to Kate. She rolled over and started to kiss him. She wanted him inside her again. She wanted the happiness it brought to be entwined with him.
She began to wonder as she was on top of him what he was doing in the study. She noticed that his eyes were glazed and he had trouble speaking, she figured he was a little drunk, but him locking the door was quite unusual. She let it go and enjoyed the moment.
In the morning Jack awoke late for work. He jumped out of the bed starling Kate as he rushed towards the shower. She followed behind him and his mind went into full panic mode. There was no way to hide the marks on his arm. She got into the shower with him and noticed the marks on his arm. Thinking about how he was last night, she asked, "What are those from?"
Jack thought quickly and said, "I had a blood test and had to get a shot for some disease before I head off on the mission. I think the shot was for hepatitis. Nothing to worry about, just precautions." He answered smiling to her trying to convince her nothing was wrong. He began to wash her back off. Finishing in a timely manner, they got out of the shower and dried off. The phone began to ring and Jack put the towel around his waist and walked out to answer it.
"Hello. Jack speaking."
"Jack, it's Kit. Is everything okay?" Kit asked being worried because Jack was running late.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm running late. My alarm clock broke. I should be in within the hour." Jack said looking down at the marks on his arm.
"Chappelle is heading in. I'll tell him you're out in the field. Hurry up though."
"Thanks Kit."
"No problem boss."
Jack hung the phone up and walked towards the bedroom where he picked out black slacks and a long sleeve shirt. Even though it was not cold out he had to hide the marks on his arm. He kissed Kate goodbye and told her to help herself and he would like to see her again tonight.
************************************
Tony waked over to Kit and asked, "Where is he?"
"Alarm clock broke." Kit said sarcastically. "By the sound of it, Kate was there." He smiled as he looked at Tony, both men knowing what he was alluding too.
"Oh. Can you do me a favor Kit? I was planning on heading out to pick something up, but since Chappelle has called this damn meeting, I cannot get it and I need it for tonight. Could you pick it up for me?" Tony asked looking nervous.
"Sure, where do you need me to go?"
"You can't tell anyone if they ask you went out in the field for something else."
"Sure what is all the secrecy about? Are you planning a hostile take over tonight." Kit said jokingly not knowing why Tony was being so secretive about an errand.
Tony wrote the address he need Kit to go to on a sheet of paper and handed the paper to Kit. Tony asked, "You know where that is?"
"Yeah." Before Kit thought about it he asked, "What are you getting from a jewelry store?" Finally thinking he said, "Sorry. Forget I even asked. Today does not seem to be my day. If you are still in the meeting when I get back, I'll have it in Jack's office. I'll be up there working on a few things."
"Thanks Kit. This stays between us right?"
"Sure thing Tony."
*******************************
Jack arrived at work just in time to get up to his office before Chappelle and his entourage walked in. Jack walked down the steps from his office and greeted Chappelle. Following Chappelle into the conference room Tony was already waiting in, Jack mind went back to this morning. He had thought Kate was suspicious of the marks on his arm and would ask more questions, maybe he should call it quits sooner than he had planned on.
It was unusual for the three to be having a meeting just by themselves, but they decided to keep the undercover operations a secret. Only a few people knew and those were the people who had to know: Kit, Michelle, Chase, and Chloe. Everyone else just knew that Jack and Kit were going out on a mission. The details were on a need to know and no one needed to know them, all they needed to know was to report to Tony while Jack was gone. Tony would run both departments in Jack's absences.
Chappelle started his questioning about the mission. "Why you, Jack? Why not Chase or someone else?"
"Chase is not ready for an operation of this scale." Jack said in a matter of fact way.
"Why not? He worked for CTU Washington before he came here doing things like this." Chappelle challenged him.
"No, he did not. He worked at CTU Washington, yes, but never anything like this. Do you know what it is like to have to keep a persona up everyday all day for a long time? The slightest misstep and you are dead. Not only do you have to do it great, you have to do it great all of the time, there is no downtime. He has never done that. I have. I can do it, and I choose myself to do it." Jack answered.
"Good enough. How are you getting in?" Chappelle inquired.
"I know the local gang that is currently working for the Salazars. I'll start out with them and work my way up."
"How?"
"The way I always do. By any means necessary and being a damn good worker for them."
"I'm not sure if that is enough Jack."
"I know you don't like me or Tony, and I already have the President's go ahead. The only reason why I called you in on this was because I knew you would want to be included so it did not look like I was going over your head."
"Thanks for being considerate." Chappelle said sarcastically. "I have no choice in the matter it seems, but if you screw up, it's all on you."
"Isn't it always? You already have your ass covered so don't worry." Jack answered without thinking about it. Jack was unable to hold his anger back for Chappelle. The man was a pencil dick paper pusher and nothing more. He had never once put his ass on the line and here he was questioning Jack's ability.
Tony jumped in knowing problems would only follow. "Is that all sir? We have a lot to get done and a short time to do it in."
"That's all for now. I want reports every week while they are out. I want to know all of the moves." Chappelle said standing and straightening his coat out. He walked out of the room and Tony sat down taking a deep breath.
"You okay today Jack? You were a little pissed with Chappelle."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm just tired of the man." Jack said getting himself under control again. "I better get to work. Sorry about being late."
"Jack, you work later than all of us. I think you're entitled to be late sometimes." Tony stated worrying about Jack.
Jack left the room and went to his office were Kit was sitting working on his computer. Jack noticed the agent and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I was checking the files I needed for my mission. I needed your clearance to get to some of them. You gave me the go ahead, remember?" Kit said worried that Jack forgot.
"Yeah. Sorry, I'm just out of it today." Jack said thinking about Kate again.
"No problem. I'm going to lunch, you want something?"
"No. I'm fine. Is it lunch time already?"
"Yeah."
"I better get some work done or I'll be here all night." Jack said looking at the pile of paper work on his desk.
"See you then." Kit said leaving the office looking for Tony so he could deliver the item he picked up for him.
Michelle walked up to Jack's office she had noticed how horrible he had looked the past few days and was worried about him. "Hey Jack, is everything okay with you?"
"Yeah. I'm just tired."
"How is Kate doing? I haven't seen her in awhile."
"She's fine."
"We should get together sometime. You, me, Tony and Kate. How about dinner tonight?"
"Um. How about tomorrow night? I'll probably be here late working and I know Kate is at her father's the day so she won't be in the mood."
"Sure. Tomorrow at seven. TGI Fridays?"
"Yeah sounds good." Jack said looking at the paper work.
***********************
Jack made a stop on the way home. He had to pick more of his secret pleasure up. He drove around for an hour before he went to the bar where he picked up his first few taste of the drug. When he walked in he was in full character, ready for anything. He was no longer Jack Bauer, but just the trustworthy Jack Woods. He smiled at the bartender who had been so nice the time before in helping him find the person he needed to buy from.
The bartender looked back to the room where Jack had gotten his stuff before. He took this as a sign to go ahead and go back. He found three guys sitting on a couch out of it in the back room. The guy he was looking for walked out of a door in the back of the room when he heard Jack enter. "Ah, my friend, you are back. How may I help you?"
"I need some more. Two hundred worth." Jack said looking the man in the eye.
"No problem. Let's see the money." The man answered.
Jack pulled out two crisp one hundred dollar bills. He was prepared for someone to try anything, but the men on the couch were out of it, and there was only his dealer standing in front of him. Jack handed the man the money and waited as the man walked to the back room again reemerging with the drugs Jack had just bought.
"Nice doing business with you. I would say 'come back soon,' but I know you will." The man said handing Jack the drugs.
Jack took the drugs from the man and turned around to walk out of the room when the man called out, "Are you a businessman of some sort?"
"No" Jack said walking towards the door.
The door opened and two huge guys walked in. These guys made Joe the "refrigerator" Perry look like Pee Wee Herman. Jack cursed silently to himself. "What's this?" Jack asked turning around to look at the dealer.
"Just some friends of mine. See, I've never heard of you or seen you before. You are not a businessman, so you say, so I figure you are a cop of some sort."
"I'm not a cop. If I were a cop I would have busted you last time. Now if you don't mind I have to get going. Work to do."
"Really. What sort of work?"
"Stuff."
"That's helpful."
The two men walked up on Jack. Jack tensed his body getting ready to fight the men. He knew he had no chance in hell of taking both of them, but at least he could put up a fight. The door opened again and in walked a man with a group of others.
"Carlos. What are you doing here?" The dealer asked.
Jack stood looking at one of the big men in the eyes. Showing no fear or anxiety. His eyes were dead.
"What's going on here? I came to pick up the payment for the month. Who is this man?" Carlos said pointing at Jack.
"A customer. We need some answers from him, but he isn't so willing to answer. We were just taking care of it." The dealer said with a little anxiety in his voice.
"Really. Get your answers." Carlos said walking over to the couch. The three guys sitting on it got up and left the room quickly.
Jack knew who Carlos was. He had studied the man for a few days now. Jack cursed to himself for being this stupid. He might just have compromised any chances he had with getting in with the Salazars coming here. He never expected to run into the leader of the Crypts there, but with his luck, it happened.
The two men approached Jack. One threw a punch that Jack ducked away from returning it with a punch into the guy's groin. The big guy fell towards the ground groaning in agony. Jack went to turn to face off with the other guy when he felt the man's fist connect with the back of his head. Jack flew forward his head bouncing off the wall from the force of the hit from the man. Jack was dazed trying to turn around but was met with the man's fist into the side of the head again. Jack fell to the ground dazed and confused. He was laying on the dirty floor trying to stay conscious. The dealer walked over to him and began to rummage through his pants pockets looking for ID, finding nothing but a twenty left on Jack. The man looked at the guy Jack had hit in the groin.
The man grabbed Jack by the hair pulling Jack up to a standing position. Jack gritted his teeth as the man pulled on his hair. The other big guy began to search Jack for a wire or anything that might point Jack out as being a police officer. When he was done he looked at the dealer waiting for his next command.
Jack's mind had cleared and he was ready to fight again. He waited for one of the men to turn around. As soon as the one looked at the dealer, Jack hit the other guy square in the gut with all of his strength. The man was not expecting the sudden movement from Jack with the hit knocking the wind out of him, giving Jack another chance to hit him. This time, Jack hit the man full force in the head sending the man unconscious to the floor. Jack's knuckle broke open from the force of the hit. Blood was seeping down his hand as the other man went to fight with Jack. This time Jack grabbed a free pull cue that was leaning against the wall. Taking it, he swung breaking the cue over the man's head. Jack grabbed the man's head by his hair and rammed the man's face into the wall. Knocking the man out, Jack allowed him to fall to the ground to join his unconscious friend. Out of breath and feeling the pain of the fight, Jack leaned against the wall.
The dealer pulled out a gun and had it pointed at Jack. Jack looked at him and just stared. "Who the fuck are you?" The dealer asked.
"Jack Wood. Now if you don't mind I'd like to leave." Jack said leaning against the wall breathing heavily.
The man on the couch asked, "Jack, what do you do for a living?"
"A lot of things. I move around a lot."
"What do you mostly do?" Carlos asked looking astonished that the stranger could take out two guys three times the size of himself.
"I work anything from protection, training, and product movement." Jack answered looking at the man. Maybe this would all work out for the best, this could be his way in. How in the hell would he explain it though?
"Where did you learn these skills?" Carlos asked.
"U.S. Army's Delta Force. Seven years before they busted me and kicked my sorry ass out." Jack answered now standing up on his own.
"You looking for work?" Carlos inquired.
"Depends on who's the employer? I'm tired of working for low-lives and trying to help their small business around. I'm not cheap." Jack answered coolly.
"I'm no small business and I certainty don't work for a small business. You know the Salazars? They are my bosses. They are the people you'd be working for." Carlos said trying to show off his importance.
"How much?" Jack answered back.
"Couple thousand for a few weeks. See where we go from there."
"Doing what?"
"Right now just product movement and possibly protection."
"Fine. I can give you a few weeks. I reserve the right to back out at any time and get paid for my time in."
"Fine with me. Just need your full name to do a background check on you and then it's all good."
"Jack Wood." Jack answered thinking if Michelle had all of his background information done.
"Where can I reach you at?"
"My cell phone 253-9589."
"I'll be in touch. I better not find out you are fucking with me, cuz I'll hunt you down and kill you."
"Fine with me. I got work to get done." Jack said walking out of the room. The bartender smiled at him as he walked by him. He felt like saying to him "Thanks for the heads up." But figured he was only doing his job. He walked out of the bar feeling good. Something was working out for the better at the moment. He knew though for every good thing there is an equal worse thing. He just waited for the worse thing to show itself. He smiled in his SUV tomorrow was Friday, which meant only one more day in the work week. He would refuse to go in on Saturday. He was going to be undercover soon, and he needed to say good bye to Kate and Kim.
When he pulled into his parking space he noticed Kate's car. He remembered he promised he would spend the night with her. He got out of his car, and walked to his apartment that seemed to have gotten smaller when Kim moved in. Kim had been tormenting him to move back into the house, but he could not bring himself to go there. There were so many memories in that house, so many things he had successfully blocked out, and going there would open the flood gate of memories. He had told Kim she was welcome to live there,
but she wanted to stay with him. After his heart attack a few years ago, Kim had been nothing but worried. She refused to leave his side the week he spent in the hospital. When he got out, she has already moved into his apartment, and Jack did not mind because he could see her more often. He missed her the year she was away, and he was happy to have her back again, even if he lost room in his apartment.
He walked into the house finding Kim and Kate watching Flatliners again. "Hey Dad." Kim said when she noticed him standing in the doorway.
Jack walked in taking his coat off. As soon as the two women could see his face the worried looks came on. Jack had not noticed that the side of his head had been bleeding from one of the hits he took.
"What happened to you?" Kate asked being worried.
"Nothing. Just fell. I didn't even notice it." Jack said lying because no one could really ever know how he got it. He still did not have a story as to how he ran into Carlos, the leader of the Crypts.
"What's for dinner?" Kim asked sitting on the couch.
"I don't know. I figured you would have gotten something already. If you want I can give you twenty to get a pizza or something." Jack said taking his coat off.
"Sure. I haven't had pizza in three days." Kim said sarcastically.
Kate interrupted them and said, "Well if you want, Jack we could go out to eat. I mean I have no food at my house."
"Whatever you want." Jack said without showing the anger he felt for no reason. He was just angry. It occurred sometimes these anger spouts that he could not explain.
"Actually I don't want to be a third wheel." Kim said knowing that he father was angry.
"How about Kim you take Jack's SUV and I'll drive him to work tomorrow." Kate said trying to find a happy medium, which was hard to do with the Bauers each was as stubborn as the other.
"Fine with me." Kim said as angry as her father had gotten. She knew why she was angry. She did not want her father with Kate. Kate was a nice person, but she wasn't her mother.
Jack stared at the wall. He really did not want Kim driving around in his car, and he knew he had some of his stash in there that she could possibly find. "Fine, but Kim. You have to drop the car off in the morning at work and I'll have someone drive you back. I need it for some field work I have to do, and no one else can drive me for it."
"Fine whatever. I need money though for supper." Kim said holding her hand out at her father.
Jack pulled out forty dollars and said, "Here. That should be more than enough." After Kim took the money Jack walked back to his room with Kate in tow.
"What's wrong Jack?" Kate asked sensing his anger.
"I'm just tired and hungry." Jack answered not knowing why he was pissed.
"How did you really get that cut?" Kate asked not believing his falling story.
"I fell. It's fine just a little scratch." Jack said wiping the blood away from the cut with his shirt sleeve.
"Fine. What do you want for dinner? I can call ahead and get the food to go." Kate said walking up to him.
"How about Chinese food?" Jack answered grabbing a shirt out of the closet.
"Sounds good." Kate said turning around dialing the number to the Chinese place they frequented.
While she was making the order Jack pulled out his newly bought product and stuck it under his clothes in the bag he packed them in. He finished packing some things and grabbed his leather jacket off the back of a chair in his room. He turned the light off as he left his room and walked to were Kate was standing. He hugged her from behind while she was on the phone. He began to slowly kiss the back of her neck and cheek softly.
When she got of the phone she asked, "What was that for?"
"My way of apologizing for being such a little shit earlier."
"My God, call the Pope, the world is coming to an end. Jack Bauer just admitted he was being an asshole." Kate said turning around to kiss him on the lips.
*******************************
After they ate dinner Jack and Kate laid on her couch. Jack was stretched out with his head on Kate's lap. She was gently stroking his head as they watched Flatliners finally together. Neither of them spoke during the movie, they both enjoyed it and had probably seen it between the two of them over a thousand times.
By the end of the movie Jack was almost asleep. The way Kate ran her hand through his hair calmed him. If he were a cat he would have been purring. Kate got up and Jack lay on his stomach. She returned a few minutes later with two beers in her hand. Jack went to roll over on to his back and sit up when Kate said, "Don't lay back on your stomach. I'll give you a back massage."
Jack sat up and she began to unbutton his shirt. He kissed her on the neck and laid back down as she slowly pushed him towards the couch. She rubbed his tense shoulders and moved down. He slowly relaxed almost to the point where he was going to fall asleep. Kate said jokingly, "Don't you fall asleep on me. I want my payment for this."
She finished and got off Jack. She looked at him and noticed the scars on his abdomen and chest. She did not know where they all were from, but the vast majority she knew where from the day they met. Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her towards her room.
As the night before, he snuck out of the room after she had fallen asleep and made sure to lock the bathroom door behind him. With his little bag, he expertly put the drug into his blood stream without hesitation or thought this time. When he was done he put everything back into the bag and joined Kate in bed. She never knew he was gone.
He awoke when the alarm clock went off. Kate rolled over and turned it off. She got out of bed and she walked naked to the bathroom to run the shower to get the warm water ready for her shower. Jack rolled out of bed and joined her in the bathroom. Kissing her from behind on the neck. She led him into the shower where the warm water greeted his throbbing head.
He arrived to work on time only getting a little smile from Chase and Kit who arrived about the same time as he did. Jack waited for Kate to leave before he walked up to the two young agents and asked them, "What was so funny, boys?"
"Nothing at all sir." Kit replied holding back a grin.
Chase could not help but to laugh. Kit joined him and Jack blushed as he walked away from them. He answered to their laughs, "You two are just hilarious. I wish I could be as funny as you."
Jack waited for his cell phone to ring. He wanted to escape from everything and he knew if he did not soon, he may not leave when the time came. He and Kate were going great together, but that has to end soon. She would say the words again and he would not answer back, and that would be the end.
Around noon, the phone finally rang. Jack answered it and a voice asked, "You still want a job?"
"Yeah." Jack answered coolly.
"We won't need help until a few weeks from now. Will you still be around?"
"If the money is good, I'll stick around."
"It's good. I'll call you again when we need you."
"I'll be waiting." Jack answered before the phone line went dead. He barely could contain himself. He felt like jumping up and screaming "hell yeah," but he didn't because he still had to figure out how to explain his meeting with Carlos.
With that thought Kim entered his office. She saw him smiling and said, "I see you are in a better mood than you were yesterday. Here is the car. Chase said he'd give me a ride home. I'm going to have lunch with him."
"Are you seeing him?" Jack asked trying not to show the panic or anger he felt.
"No, we are just friends. Don't worry dad." Kim said knowing her father never wanted her to date anyone from CTU or law enforcement for that matter.
"Ok. Have fun." Jack said going back to the paper work he had shuffled from one side of his desk to the other for the past few days. He was unable to focus on the small mundane details he needed to.
When Kim left, Tony walked up the steps to Jack's office with Kit. They entered Jack's office. Kit took his usual seat on the couch and Tony just stood leaning against Jack's desk. This was their version of coffee talk that a normal office might have. "We still on for tonight Jack?" Tony asked looking at him.
"Yeah. Kate is anxious to see Michelle again."
"Did we have a sleep over last night?" Kit asked smiling from the couch.
"That is none of your business. A gentlemen never kisses and tells." Jack answered smiling.
"Fine, whatever Jack. Oh yeah. Chase and I were looking to play some football tomorrow, but we can't find anyone else to play. Would you two old geezers be interested in playing?"
Jack responded, "I'm not that old you are just too young to know it yet. I'm in if Tony's in."
"Sure. Lets show these young people how to play football." Tony replied.
"Around noon at the park by Jack's house?"
Every one agreed and Tony left Jack's office to get back to work. Kit noticed that Kim and Chase left together and figured Jack already knew and would not enjoy the topic so he moved on to the next possible topic, "How are things going with the cover?"
"I already got into the Crypts. Couple of weeks I'm working with them."
"No way. How in the hell did you manage that?" Kit asked in surprise.
"Magic and talent. I got lucky." Jack said smiling.
"Fine, don't give me the details."
"How is your gig going?"
"I should be in within the end of next week."
"Good. Lets go get some lunch or something. I'm not going to be doing much of any work." Jack said pushing the papers aside again.
The rest of the day went like the morning. Jack did not get much work done and yet he was ready to leave early. He walked to his SUV saying good bye to Chase and telling Tony and Michelle he'll see them in a few hours. He drove to Kate's house. When he started the car he heard the familiar voice of the lead singer of Trapt. He then remembered Kim had the car earlier and she must have forgot to take her CD out. Jack flipped through the songs until he found the one that had called out to him before.
By the time he arrived to Kate's house, he was no more into the band than before. The lyrics to almost all of the songs called to him and explained how he felt.
Once he arrived, she was still not home so he grabbed her spear key out from a flower pot in the front. He unlocked the door and walked inside to her clean house. He strolled to her bedroom and grabbed some clothes he had brought over awhile ago. With the clothes, he walked into the bathroom and got into the shower.
In the middle of his shower he heard her front door open and Kate was talking to someone. He was not sure if it was her on her cell phone or if she had someone with her. The someone she was talking to had not spoken yet. Finally he heard the other person's voice and knew it was Kate's father, Bob Warner.
Jack quickly finished his shower and shaved. He was dressed and ready to deal with Bob who had not been to happy with Jack after the day he met Kate. The man blamed Jack for his daughter Marie, and hated him for seeing Kate. Jack walked out of the bathroom and found where Kate and Bob were sitting. Jack put on his best smile and said, "Hello Mr. Warner."
"Hello Jack. How are you today?"
"I can't complain sir." Jack said looking at Kate. "How about yourself?"
"I'm doing good."
"Sorry about letting myself in Kate. I didn't have time to go home so I figured I'd just stop here and I had a change of clothes in the car." Jack said lying because he was sure her father did not know about their little sleep over.
"That's fine Jack. What time was the dinner again?"
"Around seven."
"Ok. I'll be ready by then." Kate responded.
"I'll be outside. I leave you two alone then." Jack said walking to the sliding glass door.
When the door closed behind him he knew Bob would have questions about his presence in the house, and Kate would hear about it. Jack felt a little guilty for showing without letting Kate know, but she had never minded before. He waited until she walked out and hugged him from behind.
"How was work today?" He asked without turning around.
"A lot of fun. We almost lost a major deal."
"Sorry about being here."
"That's fine, Jack. He will just have to get use to it." Kate said as Jack turned around to kiss her.
After he finished kissing her he said, "You better get ready we have less than an hour till dinner."
"Then I better get away from you or we will never make it." Kate said smiling at Jack her eyes full of happiness.
Jack walked away and waited on the couch for her to come out dressed. For some reason the movie the General's Daughter came to mind. He had not watched it but once and read the book when he was off on the heart attack. He always wondered who killed or if it was suicide James Woods's character in the movie.
Kate walked out of her room and Jack thought to himself, "Damn she looks good." Instead of saying those words he said, "You look wonderful."
"Thank you. Lets go. I don't want to be late." Kate answered.
When he started the car again the CD played again. Kate asked, "Who is this?"
"Trapt. I think it's Kim's CD. It is not that bad actually."
Kate did not say anything to it. Jack was a man who loved music, and he usually hated modern music for him to like the band it must have something good in it. She listened to the sad lyrics as he drove towards the restaurant.
The dinner went well. No one discussed work or anything of that nature. The conversation stuck on what most normal people would talk about politics, movies, and funny events from the past.
The next morning, Jack woke up in Kate's apartment. His body hurt and ached the withdrawal systems kicking in. He crawled out of bed and threw up in the toilet. He made sure to lock the door again before he took out the drugs. He took the needle in his shaky hands and pushed the plunger down allowing the drugs into his blood. His cell phone rang as he was putting the paraphernalia back into his bag. "Yeah." He said answering the phone.
"Jack, it's Tony. Are you going to meet us today?"
"Yeah. I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Ok. See you then."
Jack cursed himself for forgetting about the game. He worried if he could drive let alone hide the fact that he was high from the guys. He had to take the chance so he kissed Kate goodbye and told her he'd meet her later. He ran out of the house and drove to the park. Once there he got out of the SUV and saw that Kit, Chase, and Tony were waiting all smiling again. Jack looked at Kit and Chase and said, "Damn, you guys need to get a life. Now are we going to play this game or are you going to set around and smile at me?"
"Lets go. I need to kick some old man ass anyways." Kit said smiling.
"We'll see who is an old man at the end of this game." Jack answered back.
By the end of the game the four men limped off to their cars. Jack and Tony won the game not allowing Chase and Kit to ever score. No one noticed that Jack's eyes were glossy and if they did they rode it off as his recovering from a hang over. No one asked any questions and thought anything was strange.