Chase felt the same as Tony. He was pleased when he heard that he was going to be doing something at last. Standing around miles from the action was not what he'd been trained for and not what he was good at. Tony had emphasised the need to stay out of the action – not to move without a direct order. But he understood the implications of going in. Hell, he'd worked with Jack often enough to know that Jack wouldn't thank him if he brought the whole operation down trying to save him. He'd seen Jack risk his own life to go back for men others might leave for dead. But he'd also seen Jack leave men behind if their rescue might jeopardize an entire operation.
'They're Special Forces, Chase – they've always known the risks. I would expect the same treatment. No one is more important than the mission. That's just the way it has to be'
Not that Jack didn't feel bad about it. Chase had watched him sitting awake most of one night after an operation where one man had been taken. He'd just stared out into the darkness, unwilling to talk about it. Jack knew only too well what awaited that soldier and knew that the chances of saving him diminished the longer he remained in enemy hands. But the mission came first. Five days later, when they'd achieved their objectives, Jack led Chase and a small rescue team back to the camp where he'd been taken. And they recovered the body. The soldier had used his cyanide capsule. Most of his bones were broken and, well, he'd had some horrible injuries. Jack carried the body back to the helicopter. He didn't say anything to any of them. What was there to say? They were all thinking the same thing – it could have been me.
So far, Chase had not worked undercover. He wondered what it would feel like. At first, he'd expected to get the Mexico job. But it was felt to be too sensitive for a first timer. And Ramon might think he was too young. Chase was younger than many of Ramon's men and Chapelle had argued that it would be difficult to get their respect. But Chase wondered now if perhaps Jack had been too good. He'd had the respect of Ramon's men almost from day one when he went in to buy the heroin. He wasn't carrying but he had easily disarmed a mugger with a knife who'd obviously mistaken Jack for an easy target. It was a simple enough move for a trained soldier, but it had looked good and Ramon's men were interested in him immediately. A heroin user with fighting skills was always going to be useful to Ramon. And since then there had been plenty of occasions for Jack to impress Ramon's men. After dinner they often issued drunken challenges, some of which the small team at CTU had watched Jack rise to. And the majority of Ramon's men seemed to like him for it. Hector seemed to like him too. He was a good fighter but he didn't talk about it. And he was on their side – that was enough for them. But it was too much for Ramon. He felt threatened by the respect which his men showed Jack. He paid Jack well and he was beginning to trust his judgement on tactical issues, but he couldn't trust him as a man – as a friend. Well now it was all or nothing, Chase thought, and typical of Ramon – a final test.