4 months after Season 3--
Chloe waited by the front door and fell in step next to Jack as he entered CTU and headed towards his office, "Jack, Hammond called. They've found a new director to replace Tony, starting today. Guess you're out as interim director."
Jack stopped and faced her, "I don't know anything about a new director." Chase overheard the conversation and joined them in the middle of the bullpen.
She handed him a thin folder. "This is all I have." She recited from memory. "Chris Henry. 48 years old, transferring from Dallas CTU as director for the past four years."
"Dallas? What the hell happens in Dallas?"
Chloe answered caustically, "How do I know, I don't live there."
Jack looked at the meager information the folder provided, closed it, then massaged the area between his eyes. "Great, another bureaucratic suit trying to climb the ladder. He's not going to know a terrorist from my grandmother."
Chloe added, "He's divorced and has a twenty five year old son, also a CTU analyst. He'll probably want my job."
Chase shared a smile with Chloe, then said, "Jack, go easy on this one, ok? They don't last long around here, especially with you around. I'm going to have to warn him not to go flying with you."
Jack gave him a long look, "Watch it kid, or I'll take off the other hand." Chase looked down at his braced hand and tried to move the fingers. Jack winced with regret at the last remark, "Sorry, how's the rehab going?"
"It's ok. And it's not your fault, Jack." Jack stared at the ground, then looked away, anywhere but at Chase. He still felt guilty for disfiguring the boy. Chase smiled wryly, then added, "I would have done the same thing to you."
Jack looked up and caught Chase's smile and almost smiled himself. "So when is this Henry scheduled to arrive?" He glanced at his watch.
"Any minute now. Hammond is personally escorting him to show him the ropes."
"Call me when he arrives." Jack turned to go up the stairs to Field Ops when someone called his name, "Jack!"
It was Hammond. A solemn looking short man in an ill-fitting cheap suit stood to his right, and a fairly attractive, taller mature blonde woman flanked his left. "Jack, I'd like you to meet Chris Henry."
Jack put his hand out to the man as the entourage approached. "Mr. Henry, good to meet you."
The woman stepped forward and put out her hand, "I'm Christine Henry. You must be Jack Bauer, I've heard a lot about you."
Jack quickly recovered from his blunder and shook her hand firmly. She was medium height, on the slender side with short cropped, no-nonsense dark blonde hair. She was attractive, with her intense blue eyes steeled on him. Jack got the feeling she was tougher than she looked.
"I wish I could say the same." Jack gave Hammond a cross look. He introduced Chloe and Chase, who both shook her hand.
She searched her mind, "Chloe O'Brien? You're the one who averted the disastrous worm set loose in the computer system by a former agent, right?" She gave Jack a sharp look. Apparently, she knew more than just what happened in Dallas.
Chloe looked pleased, at least someone appreciated her work, "Yes, that was me. You see I isolated—"
Hammond interjected, "Chris will be taking over Tony's position. She has complete authority here, Jack, so listen to her. I trust her and so should you."
Jack replied, not taking his eyes from hers, "Well, she has to earn it first."
Chris returned Jack's stare, an almost he-who-blinks-first-loses kind of look. Hammond put his hand on her back and said, "Chris, let me show you to your office and introduce you around."
She turned to leave and addressed Jack again, "We'll talk, soon." Then walked off quickly with Hammond and the unnamed suit in her wake.
Jack just stared after her. Chase grinned and said, "I guess you can disregard orders from a woman just as easily as you can a man. I guess that means you're back to field ops."
"Shut up, Chase. Get back to work." Jack stormed off and stomped up the stairs to his office.
Chloe frowned at Jack's back, "Well, I liked her."