Jack awoke when he felt someone slightly nudging him. He open his eyes groggily and looked up at Ramon Salazar. It took a few seconds for his drug induced sleep deprived mind to register who it was. Jack sat up quickly and looked at Ramon. Groggily he asked,
"Yes sir?"
"We are about to land." Ramon stated.
"Ok." Jack sat up and stretched. His arm ached as he stretched it.
"I wanted to talk to you too." Ramon said a few seconds later letting Jack's mind get back to the real world.
"About what?" Jack asked.
"I want you to train some of the men. I am going to give you a team of five men and you are responsible to train them in everything you know."
His mind clear now, "Sure no problem."
"Let's go take our seats." Ramon said patting Jack on the back making sure to stir clear of the "scratch" on his arm.
Jack followed Ramon out of the room taking the empty seat next to Thomas who glared at Jack not happy with the man success.
The plane landed and Jack carried Sergio off for Claudia. He gently placed Seri go in the back of one of the waiting SUV's. Claudia thanked him and took her seat next to Hector. Jack sat in the passenger seat and Ramon choose to drive them to the compound.
On the way there Jack glanced at the rearview mirror to look into the back and he saw Claudia asleep. Her head resting on Hectors shoulder. She looked beautiful asleep. He quickly took the thought out of his mind. He thought to himself, Are you crazy. Looking at her that way could land you into some major trouble. You have enough to hide so drop the feeling you are feeling.
When they reached the compound Jack got out of the SUV. Hector moved slowly as not to wake Claudia. Hector asked, "Jack can you take her inside so we don't have to wake her. Ramon and I need to talk with some of the men about the post tonight and call in the Columbia crew."
"Yeah no problem Hector." Jack said grabbing Claudia who was sound asleep. He took her gently in his arms and walked into the house following Pedro who carried Sergio.
They both walked up the steps, Jacks arm burning in pain as he carried Claudia's dead weight. He reached the top and looked left than right not sure which way to go.
"Hector and Claudia's room is the last room on the left." Pedro said.
Jack carried her down to the room thankful the door was open he laid her on the bed gently. As he did so she opened her eyes. Seeing him stand over her she felt a home in a way. She smiled at him, and he smiled back kindly. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you. Hector wanted me to bring you up here." Jack said.
"Thanks. You should have woken me. You don't need to be carrying me around with your arm." Claudia said setting up awake now.
"I better get back downstairs." Jack said the thoughts running through his mind again, not allowing him to block her face out.
He was outside when Ramon walked up to him and said, "These three men are the people who have some experience with sniper rifles. Give them a quick lesson than you will take up the post for the main entrance."
Jack went through all the basics of the sniper rifle with Hector and Ramon watching him. He ignored them and showed each man what they absolutely needed to know. He ended with, "Any questions?"
No one seemed to have any.
"If you come up with a problem at any entrance radio me and I can be there within ten minutes." Jack said. He knew he was capable of running to the spots, and if they were too far off Ramon had stationed a car at the front entrance so all he had to do was get to that and find his way around the foreign compound.
With that Claudia walked outside with four thermos. She handed one to each man. She had decided after she woke up to make the men who had been working all day coffee to help them stay warm and awake through the long twelve hour shift.
Jack thanked her and hurriedly walked to his post. The night air was damp which made it seem cold as he sweated running to his post. He found a spot that was not to damp and set himself down on his stomach. Aiming his sniper rifle with a night vision scope at the road. He had his radio ready to tell the men at the post of incoming traffic. The shift was long and boring. Nothing was coming, it was quiet. It seemed like it took forever for the sun to rise in the sky. When it did Jack began to contemplate what day was it? Had it only been a few weeks since he started undercover? God he was already forgetting time, how in the hell would he make it longer.
The radio crackled, "I have an incoming car on the south entrance."
Jack quickly switched his scope and looked at his entrance to make sure nothing was coming.
"Never mind it turned around." The voice came over again.
It was now six in the morning and Jack's eyes felt heavy. The tedious work was not helping. He stood up for a second to stretch and than went right back down. Nothing changed. He laid on the hard ground his body acting from lack of movement. It almost took him back to the time he had spent in foreign lands quietly moving through the woods, jungles, tundra, and deserts of the third world fighting the enemies. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard foot steps behind him he reached for his side arm and turned around to see Hector coming to him. Jack said into the radio, "I'm off for a second.
Hector is here." He wanted the other man posted to the entrance to know he had to watch.
"What's up?" Jack asked stretching his sore body. He was not sure if it was just soreness from lying on the hard ground, or if he was jonesen for his next high. He doubted it was the second because he had no other symptoms.
"Your shift is over. The other man can handle it." Hector said.
"I thought it was twelve hour shifts." Jack knew the men were already pissed from his so called showboating earlier, and getting off early would not help him.
"You've been working longer than most of them. All of the men that came down from Mexico who were on first shift are being relieved. Ramon wanted me to get you and bring you up to the house for some breakfast than Claudia will get you a room to sleep in."
Jack followed Hector to the car he had parked on the road not to far. Hector asked about the night and Jack told him nothing happened it was all quiet. When they got to the house Hector led Jack through the house to the dinning room where Ramon and Claudia already occupied waiting for the two to get back to eat. Jack sat in an empty chair and waited for everyone else to eat before he started, an old habit he had. They ate in silence until Ramon asked, "How did last night go?"
Jack informed him that nothing happened. He went on to say, "I'm not sure if that's good or not."
"Why do you say that?" Ramon asked not sure why he had seen some bad in a quiet night.
"Well I'm guessing Timothy is not stupid. He knows where your at most likely. He could have men posted off in the distance and they could be watching where are post are."
"So what do you recommend?" Ramon asked not wanting problems. He wanted to know the problem and than a solution.
"You should have men driving around the compound. Two or three teams of two with irregular schedule of coverage around the compound for at least three miles out." Jack answered without hesitation
Ramon was impressed that he had a solution. Thomas usually gave him the problem and never the solution. That was one thing about Jack he liked, for every problem there was a solution. The man seemed to be able to think for himself. "I don't think it is absolutely necessary at the moment. I'll keep it in mind."
Jack ate his eggs. He was starving and he could not remember the last time he actually sat down and ate a meal.
"I'm going for a run after breakfast." Claudia told Hector.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea." Hector said. "Not alone."
"Than who is going to run with me and keep up?" Claudia asked not willing to give up her running because Ramon and Hector were being stupid.
"I don't know. Maybe you should stop running for awhile." Ramon answered her cutting Hector off before he could say it himself.
"I will. If you don't mind. I need to run." Jack said.
"Are you sure you haven't slept in how long?" Claudia asked not sure if the man could keep up with her.
"Yeah. I can handle it if you can." Jack said teasingly.
"Ok old man." Claudia teased.
After they finished Claudia showed Jack to the room they had already put his duffle bag in. Jack changed into his running clothes and waited downstairs for Claudia to join him. She came down the steps and he thought to himself, she even looks good in junky clothes as she had wore a old pair of shorts and a stained tank top.
"You ready for this? If it gets to hard let me know and I'll slow a little." Claudia said.
"Bring it. I use to run with a hundred pound pack on my back for miles on end. I think I can handle it." Jack stated.
They walked out of the house and once they reached the bottom of the steps of the porch Claudia took off running. Jack followed behind catching up in no time. He slowed a little to watch her as she ran. He enjoyed the view her long legs moving. He caught up and passed her a little to prove a point. They ran around the entire compound and in the last mile Claudia said, "Raise you to the house."
"Hope you can keep up." Jack said getting ready to take off at a nice pace to put himself in the lead. He took off faster than she had expected.
Jack looked back when the house came into view. Claudia was about ten feet behind him.
He laughed aloud yelling back, "I'm not even at my top speed yet."
He pushed himself farther and faster than he usually did, his body screaming at him for the abuse it was taking from lack of sleep, lying on the hard ground, and now running at top speeds. Jack reached the house with Claudia close behind. Both of them out of breath. Claudia sat down and Jack said, "Don't sit you'll cramp up." Jack helped her stand and they both walked into the house panting.
Hector walked down the stairs and looked at the two thinking they were crazy. There was no reason to run now a days. That was what cars were for. "Have a nice run?" He asked Claudia.
Out of breath she said, "Yeah. He out ran me most of the way." She laughed looking at Jack.
"We'll Ramon and I are going out for awhile. Some stuff in town will you be fine here?"
"Sure. I was going to cook some. I know we have cooks for that, but I miss actually cooking."
"Do whatever. Jack get some sleep and get your arm checked out again it's bleeding." Hector said looking at somewhat pissed off at how chummy Jack and Claudia had been.
Jack looked down at his arm and said, "Sure." Jack walked up the steps to the room Claudia had shown him earlier. He walked into the bathroom that was his own personal bathroom. He turned the shower on and started to undress. He did not bother to close the bathroom door not expecting anyone to enter. He got into the warm shower and felt his aching muscles relax some. He heard a knock on the door and froze for a second.
"Just me" Claudia said opening the door to the bedroom. She noticed the steam coming out of the bathroom and turned red for a second. She said, "I brought you some towels. I'll just set them on the bed."
Jack said from the shower, "Thanks."
Claudia left the room closing the door behind her. When Jack finished his shower he got out and grabbed a towel off the bed. He dried off looking at himself in the mirror. He looked horrible. The bags under his eyes were huge and it looked like he had two black eyes from the dark circles. He was bruised up still from the fight and his arm had a dull ache to it. He got dressed and walked downstairs trying to find Claudia.
He found her in the kitchen wearing a white apron and new clothes. Her hair still wet from a shower. She smiled at him and said, "You should be sleeping. You look like hell."
"Thanks for the compliment." Jack quipped. "I was just looking for some gauze to rebandage my arm"
"Sit here I'll be back with some in a minute." Claudia said. She left the room and found the gauze and antiseptic crème she had brought with her from Mexico. She walked back into the room to find Jack sitting in the chair his eyes drooping some he was almost asleep. She walked over to him with the gauze and the antiseptic crème. Jack stood up and she told him, "Sit down I'll do it for you." She gently put the crème on his arm and than gently wrapped it for him. "You better get some sleep now." She said coldly trying not to show any feelings for him. She knew whatever she felt was crazy. If Hector was even somewhat suspicious they would both be dead.
"Thanks." Jack said standing up. His aching body carried him back to the room. He pushed the door closed behind him, but it did not close all of the way it was still open an inch. He laid on the bed and fell asleep quickly, his body to tired to allow his mind to function. He was haunted by nightmares. IN every dream he died, this was not unusual for him. In every dream he dreamed with himself in it he died. He would run from the people, they changed from time to time, and towards the end he would just stop. Giving up and let them kill him without a fight, sometimes he though maybe it was what he really wanted to do in real life, just give up. In the end nothing matters, so why bother?
Claudia walked into the room. The door was not all the way close and she could hear sounds coming from the room. It sounded like someone was crying or at least suffering in some way. She saw Jack tossing and turning about the bed, soaked in sweat. She watched in fascination and finally put her hand on his shoulder to shake him awake.
He felt a hand lie gently on his shoulder. He jumped awake grabbing the arm and twisting it. He heard someone scream in pain and he let go. "I'm so sorry Claudia are you ok?" He said worried.
"Ouch. You almost broke my arm."
"I'm so sorry." Jack said with a worried look on his face.
"It's fine." She said thinking he looked horrible with concern. "Are you ok? You looked like you were having a nightmare."
When she said nightmare it took him back to the dream where Teri and Gains were together chasing after him. They were both clearly dead, but they wanted him to join them. Teri had told him she had been so lonely and needed him. That was when thousands of hands started grabbing him pulling him to the ground. Claudia woke him than. "Yeah I'm fine." He said still breathing heavy knowing he would not sleep again after that. "What time is it?"
"Around three in the afternoon you've been out for awhile." Claudia informed him.
Jack heard the front door open. He quickly got out of bed and said, "Why didn't you wake me earlier?" Confused to why he had slept so long wondering if there had been a call he missed or something.
Claudia looked at him hurt, but before she could say anything Hector and Ramon were outside the door looking in through the open door. Hector looked on suspicious, "What's this?" He asked with the anger in his voice.
Claudia looked at him defiantly. She was tired of him being jealous every time she talked to a man. They both knew she was not stupid enough to cheat on him even though they both knew he had on her multiple times.
Jack was scared, but did not show it. Standing next to the bed in his boxers and a wife beater he said, "She was just waking me up."
Hector flew across the room at Jack pushing him hard against a dresser. Jack clenched his teeth as his back connected with the dresser. He wanted to fight back, but he knew that would be singing his own death warrant. Hector threw two hard punches at Jack connecting with Jacks face splitting the cut above his eye open.
Ramon walked into the room and grabbed Hectors hand again before he could hit Jack who just stood leaning against the dresser. Jack did not expect what happened next nor was he ready for it. Though Ramon had Hectors hand Hector manage to move forward towards Jack and than with full force knee Jack in the groin. Jack fell to the ground with a groan as pain shout through his body from being kneed hard in the groin. Jack lay on the ground trying to breath as Hector bent down and grabbed a fist full of Jack's hair, pulling Jack's head up saying, "Don't you ever think about it she's mine." Hector let go and grabbed Jack's arms and started to pull Jack's dead weight out of the room. When he got to the steps he pulled Jack down a few steps and than let his body fall the rest of the way to the bottom. Meeting Jack's crumpled body at the bottom, Jack tried to stand up but was meant with a hard punch into his stomach. Hector pulled Jack the rest of the way out of the house pushing his body over the small ledge of the porch. Jack landed on the ground with a groan.
Hector walked to were Jack now lay on his back on the dirt covered ground. Jack went to sit up again when Hector placed his heavy foot on Jack's chest pushing him back to the ground. Hector moved his foot forward so that it came to rest on Jack's neck. Hector entertained the thought of pushing all of his weight down so that he would snap the mans trachea and watch him die slowly as he suffocated to death. He applied pressure so that Jack could not breath. Jack could see the look in his eyes and decided to take action finally. Jack grabbed Hectors leg that rested on the ground and reached up hitting behind his kneecap hard enough to cause Hector leg to buckle. This took Hector to the ground. Both men stood up at the same time , Hector pulled a gun out and pressed it hard against Jack's forehead. Jack stood still looking in Hectors eyes, both men eyes full of hatred for one another.
Ramon stepped in pushing Hectors arm to the ground, so that the gun would be lowered from Jack's forehead. "Jack go for a walk now. We'll talk later after everyone has calmed down." Ramon ordered.
Jack walked away angry and ready to kill someone. He could hear Ramon saying, "Hector your crazy. There is no way they were together. You know that. Look at Claudia, she would never do that to you. And I doubt he's stupid, and certainly not crazy enough to sleep with her. Just ask her."
Jack continued until he reached the other side of the ranch. He leaned against a big structure breathing deeply trying to calm himself down. His anger raged in him and the only thing he could do to release was to throw a hard punch at the wall causing pain to irrupt in his hand as he had split his knuckle open. He leaned his head against the wall and kept breathing deeply trying to clear the anger away. He heard someone approaching and turned to see Ramon.
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Kit awoke alone in his apartment. He thought for a moment that nothing had actually happen and it was all a dream, but the reality of the trouble he was in hit him. He got out of bed and stretched as the sun poured into his room from the window. It looked nice outside, but it was another day he would not get to enjoy. He had to go into CTU again and finish his debrief, and paperwork. He was hoping to get back to Nina tonight.
After a quick shower, shave, and dressing Kit left his house to his car. He drove to CTU trying to block out all of the panic he felt about the adventure he was about to embark on. He no longer would be a good guy after today. Just by associating himself with Nina, as he had, he turned sides. Some might say it would not be a huge surprise, but he was sure it would shock Jack if he ever found out. Shock him to the point that he would come after him. Kit knew that Nina wanted him to confront Jack now, but that would not work. Either way it would be a death sentence. Kit respected Jack and the thought of killing him made Kit feel horrible, and he was sure if it came to that in the end he would have a dilemma. He walked into CTU and said good morning to everyone as he walked up to Jack's office.
Kit collapsed into Jack's chair and looked at the framed picture on the desk. It was of Kim and Jack. They both looked so happy. Kit looked down to the main floor of CTU to see Kim arriving with Chase not to far behind. Kit perked up a little looking down. He knew Chase was a good guy and he knew Chase liked Kim. They had something going on Kit could tell by looking. He laughed to himself as he thought about how Jack would react to his daughter falling in love with a Field Op's agent. Than the sudden reality hit him again, if he killed Jack he would hurt Kim. Kim was like a little sister to him and he could not do that to her, but he could not stop loving Nina. Life was funny because he loved the enemy of the man he respected, and in the end he knew he had to choose. Who he choose would say something of his character, but that would come later. He had work to get done before he thought about that. Jack always told him to keep the mission in mind, and block everything else out. Take it one thing at a time, looking to far ahead and you might miss something in the present that makes the future null.
What was the present problem? Getting out of CTU without making to much waves, so any suspicions will be dropped. Kit walked down to the main floor and saw Michelle sitting at her desk she smiled at him. He walked over to her and noticed the ring on her finger. Had he only picked that up month ago? "Congratulations." He said with a smile.
"Huh?" Michelle said confused she had not told anyone yet. Tony had just proposed last night and they spent the night at his house. She hadn't even called her mother yet. She was dreading that phone call. Her parents were not to thrilled with her choice of a man. It wasn't they hated Tony, they liked him he was decent, but they did not like his line of work. But Michelle and Tony both discussed it and decided they would push through it together. They loved each other and that was all it meant. "How did you know?" Michelle asked wondering.
"The ring. I just noticed it." Kit smiled at her, a fake smile.
"Oh." Michelle said feeling stupid. "Thank you. He just asked me last night after dinner at his house."
"That's nice. I'm going to miss your wedding. I'm sorry. I'm heading out to find myself or something like that after today. All of my work is done, all I have to is brief Tony and I'm gone. Congratulations and good luck." Kit said walking away as he saw Tony up in his office. Kit wanted to get out of CTU as quick as possible. He felt like the character in the an Edgar Allen Poe story. His guilt consuming him and ringing in his ears. He had to escape before he had to lie anymore. He needed to escape, to get away from it all.
Everything was closing in on him suddenly. He walked out of CTU to the memorial plaque outside from the bombing. He sat there looking at it remembering all of the friends he had lost that day. He hated himself because he was not only betraying himself, but them for love.
Love what was that really? A four letter word, that people have assigned so much meaning to. Was it love or lust? Was there even a difference between the two? He knew, though, if he did not follow through with his feelings he would regret it every day of his life. He did not want to live to be like Jack and others he knew. With regrets haunting him. He had not regretted anything yet in life, and so why try starting now. With that he got back up and went inside to debrief.
He lied to Tony and hoped Tony was fool enough to believe his lies. Finally around six he got to leave for good. He said goodbye to some people, and promised to come back some time though he knew he would break that promise. He walked out of CTU with his head high. He was meant by Chase who stood by his car.
"Want to go to dinner with Kim, one of her friends, and myself? Before you leave and all?" Chase asked leaning against Kit's car.
"I really wanted to get on the road."
"You have to eat. Come one what is a few hours to say goodbye to a friend?"
"Two hours than I'm out of here."
"Got a hot date?" Chase asked jokingly. Chase already knew the answer. Kit thought he was sly, but Chase knew he was not going to find himself. That was a big load of crap. Kit was running to Nina. Chase knew Kit liked Nina a lot, and always had. Kit had told him all about Nina hundreds of times. Chase knew he had no reason to judge him. Kit did not break the law by running off with Nina. She was no longer a wanted fugitive and CTU had no proof she was involved in the little blotched operation the other day. Chase knew Kit could think with his own brain and did not need him meddling.
"Jack's gonna kill you." Kit said breaking the silence between him and Chase.
"Why?"
"You like Kim. You two are seeing each other aren't you?"
"NO!" Chase lied.
"Lying piece of shit. I know you are. Just be careful cuz he will kill you. She is his baby. Nothing and no one means more to him than that girl."
"I know. We are going to keep it from him when he gets back. If we are still together and serious in a few months to a year, than we'll tell him." Chase said looking at his feet admitting to Kit his relationship.
"Do you love her?" Kit asked knowing the feeling of doing something you knew would get you in trouble but your heart told you to do it any way.
"I think so. She is kind of air headish some times, but it is all an act. She is just so interesting, and kind. She is so sweet."
"What happen to you and that other woman?"
"She disappeared one night. Not sure what happen their."
"Her loss. Let's go get something to eat. The girls are meeting us there I assume."
"Yeah." Chase got into Kit's car. He knew he was going home with Kim tonight. He was scared even though he knew Jack would not be home, but the thought of sleeping with Kim in Jack's house scared him.
"Where we going?"
"Frothe. Kim's friend dad owns it." Chase said blankly lost in h is thoughts. He came back and thought about Kit. "So where are you and Nina running off to?"
"What?" Kit acted shocked.
"Come on I told you the truth. Now tell me the truth."
"I can't. When Jack gets back he'll be after us." Kit said in a solemn voice.
"Not if he doesn't know."
"He'll find out. He's been looking for her on the side. Almost found her before he left for the undercover operation. Funny how life is. If he would of found her before hand I would have assisted him in killing her, but know I would fight him to protect her."
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that. Better not tell me where you two are off too. I don't want to know or have him thinking I know. He'll have more than enough reasons to skin me alive if he finds out about Kim."