Jack's head rested in his hands. Something nagged at the back of his brain, but it stayed just out of grasp. He was in a foul mood, and he couldn't exactly put his finger on the reason. He had expected them to replace Tony at some point and had known his days as interim director were limited. Something about this new director wasn't right.

The news of his replacement shouldn't have been a shock, but for some unexplainable reason, it was. The arrival of Christine Henry from Dallas marked the official end of Tony's reign at CTU. Granted, Tony had been gone for four months now, but it had never seemed final till now.

So many changes in so little time. Chase was true to his word and left field ops for a desk job and Kim had moved in with him to help raise Angela. President Palmer was also true to his word and did not seek reelection. After Tony's arrest and subsequent pardon by the outgoing President, Michelle and Tony both left CTU for good. They wisely embraced their second chance together and chose safer professions in the private sector.

Even Jack himself had changed. He entered a methadone program and faced his drug addiction head on. With support from his friends and Kim, he was able to successfully overcome his problem and had been back at work full-time for almost three months.

The phone next to him rang, jolting him from his reverie. "CTU, Bauer."

"Jack, it's Chris, could you come by my office for a minute? I'd like to have that talk now."

Jack rubbed his eyes, "Sure. I'll be down in a minute."

He knocked lightly on her door, "Hey." He noticed that she had already made Tony's office her own with some personal photographs. With eyebrows raised, he asked, "Making yourself comfortable?"

"Yeah, have a seat." She pointed to a chair.

"I'd rather stand." She stood up and closed the door behind him and took up a stance in front of him.

"Ok Jack, let's just get this out in the open. I am not going to engage in some pissing contest with you. I've read your file, I know that you have had problems with authority in the past."

"I don't have a problem with authority, I have a problem with stupidity. There's a difference."

"Jack, I'm on your side, I am not here to baby-sit you. But you have to keep me in the loop. I do not like to be kept in the dark where my agents are concerned. I can't have you going off half-cocked and putting yourself and other agents at risk." She picked up his thick file and thumbed through it. "That's how people get killed, and I see you've got quite a body count going already."

He pointed at her, his tone defensive. "Everything that I have ever done on this job has been to protect this country as well as my family. "

She didn't flinch, but stood toe to toe with him. "And I'm here for the same reason. I don't care about covering my ass, let Hammond and Division handle that. There are terrorists out there and I want to stop them just as much as you do. But I can't do my job if you shut me out."

"Just let me do my job, and you do yours." Jack's words had lost their hard edge.

"I know your history at CTU, Jack. All of it. Drugs, severed limbs, prison riots, Nina, your wife, your daughter. Mason, Chappelle. Frankly, I don't know why you are even still here. You've given up a lot Jack. Some would say too much."

Jack studied the floor and said in an aggravated voice, "What's your point?" He would not discuss his painful history with her now.

"You're reckless, but you get results. I think we can work together, if you'll just give me a chance."

"Fine, but don't get in my way. In the field, I'm in command. Remember that."

"Deal. But here, I'm in command."

He turned to leave and opened the opaque glass door, "Is that all?"

"One more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Off the record." She glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "But if I were in your shoes, I would have blown Nina away a long time ago."

Jack gave her a short incredulous stare and walked out. He wasn't sure why he had gone in there with his claws out, but he didn't think it had anything to do with her being a woman. If she had been a man, he thought he would have given him the same attitude.

However, she had surprised him, especially with that last comment. He had expected a by-the-book bureaucrat like Chappelle and Hammond, but she seemed to be a straight shooter. It still remained to be proven, but he would give her a chance.