Carlos released Jack's wrists and Jack looked at his useless left hand. His fingers were splayed out at unnatural angles, there was blood across his knuckles and the pain that throbbed through the nerves in his arm was making him nauseous. He used his right hand to nurse his left arm and he took a step back to lean against the wall. The sudden cessation of violence had left him trembling slightly as the energy he had channelled into endurance now ebbed away. He felt exhausted, both psychologically and physically. But most of all, he felt angry; and his anger scared him.

It was natural, of course, that Jack should hate Ramon for what he had suffered. And Ramon would expect that. But the real Jack Bauer now hated Ramon Salazar with a vengeance that he knew he needed to control. He had sacrificed so much for this man and still he couldn't win his trust. Jack's eyes betrayed his rage and Ramon smiled at him, letting his eyes wander over Jack's injuries before speaking,

'Would you feel better if I let you hurt Carlos now?' He offered

Jack looked across at Carlos who looked startled by the suggestion. Jack turned back, shaking his head. He blinked and grimaced slightly as a new wave of pain emanated from his fingers and then he raised his eyes to stare directly at Ramon.

'It's you I want to kill right now' he growled in reply, immediately hoping he hadn't gone too far by revealing this truth.

He knew he needed to control himself before he lost any gains he may have made by enduring Ramon's test. He doubted if he could kill Ramon now anyway – even in a one on one fight, he would be severely handicapped by his injuries and Ramon was a handy fighter - his brutality often making up for his lack of technical expertise. Jack was weakened and frustrated by his physical condition; whereas Ramon, he could see, was in a good mood; feeling empowered by what he saw as a well-executed plan – with the perfect outcome – an employee he could trust. Jack knew he had said enough. A degree of bitterness would be expected and temporarily tolerated, but a repeated threat of vengeance might once again tip Ramon over the edge. Jack had to allow Ramon and Hector to take control if this test was going to work in his favour.

'Of course you do, Jack. Of course you do" Ramon replied, and he grinned and put his hand on Jack's shoulder in a show of understanding. Jack winced. Even the slightest movement seemed to aggravate the pain in his hand.

Jack looked at Ramon, his eyes softening now as he accepted what he had to do.

'Can I get my hand sorted, Ramon?' Jack asked quietly.

Ramon seemed delighted with the question and immediately turned to his brother,

'Have Claudia call the doctor over, Hector. Let's put Jack back together again – and get the man a drink. Come on Jack, you deserve to enjoy yourself this evening.'

Jack smiled weakly through the pain and allowed himself to be guided out of the barn by Ramon, who now had his arm around Jack's shoulders, careful to avoid the blood that was smeared across his torn clothing.

When they entered the kitchen of the ranch, Ramon indicated a stool for Jack to sit on, while he went to the fridge and pulled out three beers.

'The doctor will be here any minute' Claudia told him as he sat down. Jack nodded silently by way of reply and leant forward with both arms on the table. He rested his head on his right hand and closed his eyes, listening to his own breathing, wanting to transport himself into a peaceful place where he could recover without having to think about what the Salazar brothers had planned for him next.

Claudia looked at Ramon and Hector and asked,

'He's in a bad way and he's still bleeding. Do you want me to clean him up?'

'I suppose you might as well get started while we wait for the doctor' Ramon replied, taking the tops off the beers and handing one to his brother.

Hector took the beer. He didn't look interested in Jack's condition but he nodded his agreement anyway. Claudia turned back to the sink to find what she needed and Ramon put Jack's beer down in front of him. Jack looked up and nodded his thanks. He wasn't sure he could trust himself to speak to Ramon at the moment but he put the bottle to his lips and took a grateful swig, surprising himself by enjoying the feel of the liquid as it went down his throat,

Claudia started on the wound on his head, needing a lot of water before she could distinguish the cut from the dried blood matted in his hair. He winced occasionally as she rubbed too hard on the grazed and bruised skin which surrounded the cut The wound was still open so she placed some gauze against it to soak up the blood as it seeped out. She looked at the wounds on his chest and stomach.

'He'll have to take his shirt off and lie down for me to clean the rest of him,' she stated.

'We can all go in the other room' Hector said. Jack stood up using the table to support him and pulled off what was left of his shirt. Claudia took it from him, her eyes seeming to burn into his, and tossed it into the bin. He held his left hand close to his body and walked a little unsteadily into the adjoining room, carrying the beer which Ramon had given him. Claudia pointed at the sofa and he put the beer on the table and lay down, trying in vain to find a comfortable position for his hand, and noticing at once a television now showing a still and deserted barn. He turned his head away from the screen angrily imagining the pleasure the brothers would have derived from watching him suffer.

Claudia knelt down by his side and began to wash his body. The cuts were clean and she tried to avoid them and just wash away the blood that covered the surrounding areas. He realised quite soon that he was, despite the pain, aroused by the tenderness of her touch. He just hoped she would realise that it was this that caused him to complain gruffly,

'Leave me alone can't you? Don't you think I've been through enough?'

His outburst surprised Hector, who immediately stood up as if to protect Claudia. Claudia looked at Jack strangely but backed off. She looked into his eyes for an explanation and saw nothing but tenderness and desire. Her eyes travelled down his body and then back up to meet his eyes again. He nodded imperceptibly, sure now that she knew why he had spoken out.