Jack's senses returned and he pulled away from her and broke the kiss. He averted his eyes and said softly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

Sam wasn't sure she could have stopped if he hadn't pulled back, it had been so long since she had been kissed like that. It stung her pride that he obviously regretted it. She sat up, held her head, and tried to get back into agent mode. "I need to call this in."

As she reached for her phone, Jack put his hand on hers. "No, wait. Think about it. They knew we were coming; someone set us up to be killed. If you call it in, they'll know it didn't happen. We need time to think this through."

"Ok, so what do you suggest?"

"Do you have any rope in your car?"

They tied up Juan and Filipe and hid them behind some bushes a block away. By the time someone finds them, they would be long gone. Sam looked at Jack, "Now what?"

He looked her square in the eyes. "We need to sit down and talk."

Sam nodded, "I need a drink, how about my apartment?"

"No, if they come looking for us, it's the first place they'd go."

"I know, I'm house-sitting for my aunt. She has a little house by the beach, and she's in Europe for a month. I also happen to know she has an excellent selection of booze."

She handed the keys to him, "You drive."

The drive was quiet, they didn't want to say anything to give them away just in case someone was listening. Jack parked two blocks over, he didn't want any GPS locators to give them away either. He wasn't sure if her Tahoe was equipped with them, but he had spent enough time as a rogue agent to be careful.

Sam walked in, turned on the lights and headed straight for the alcohol cabinet. She silently thanked her aunt for keeping it well stocked, and picked a large bottle of Jack Daniels and some glasses and sat on the couch. Jack sat next to her and poured their drinks.

She lifted her glass, "Here's to not getting killed. That's two times I've saved your ass now Bauer."

He raised his glass to hers and clinked them together. "Yeah, I owe you." He lifted the glass to his lips and downed the drink in one big swallow. Sam, not to be outdone, did the same. She refilled their glasses.

"You know, for as many stories as I've heard about the mighty Jack Bauer, you're not all that special," she lied straight to his face. There was something special about him, but she wasn't sure what it was just yet, and damned if she couldn't resist it. She did know she wanted to hurt him for rejecting her like that.

He frowned at her, "I know." He quickly changed the subject, "We need to talk about this Sam." Her heart skipped a beat as he said her name. His voice, combined with the warmth of the alcohol was turning her brain to jelly. She downed another shot of the amber liquid.

"We will. I just don't want to think about it for a minute." She leaned back and closed her eyes. "Tell me something, are you always so serious? You do know that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." She picked up his glass and handed it to him.

"We were set up tonight."

She sighed, "I know. I'm just having a hard time accepting it." She refilled her drink again and slammed it down. Jack still hadn't touched his second drink.

"So, tell me about this Gibson. He's the one that sent us over there tonight, right?"

"Yeah, but it couldn't have been him. He's strictly by-the-book. He probably makes his wife use a rulebook to have sex. Forget him, he's anal and annoying, but he's no killer."

"Did he assign you to lead the team?"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have trust issues?"

Jack gritted his teeth. "It comes with the territory."

"Oh, right, I forgot. What was her name? Nina Myers?" Sam looked over at Jack, who had closed his eyes and tightened his jaw. "Is it true you had an affair with her?"

Jack tried to control his anger, and said in an even voice, "Look, we need to figure out who wants us dead and off the investigation. Now, did Gibson assign you to lead the team?"

"Yeah. But I earned it Bauer." Sam's anger was building and the alcohol loosened her tongue, "I've worked my ass off for a lead assignment. I'm a damn good agent, and I can handle any investigation."

"Is that why you had to sleep with your old boss?"

She was taken back, and then her anger boiled over the top. She pointed at him and got up into his face and went in for the kill, "Does it torture you to know that you slept with the woman who killed your wife?" She regretted it the instant she said it. She had only meant to injure him, but she could see the pain she had clear as day on his face.

She backed down, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." Jack merely looked at the ground. She placed her hands on either side of his face and lifted his head to make his eyes meet hers. "Jack, I shouldn't have said that. It was cruel." With courage fueled by alcohol, she lifted her head towards his and kissed him gently on the lips.

He instantly responded and added fury to the kiss, sending shock waves all the way down to Sam's toes. He grasped at her and hugged her closer, their kisses turned passionate and their hands began to explore each other's body. He tugged at her shirt in a desperate attempt to get closer to her. She obliged and tore the shirt off over her head.