Hi Everybody and thanks for the reivews. You guys are great. Some of you have reviewed almost every chapter I have ever written. I can't believe how loyal you are! I noticed some new names among the reviews, too. So, to you new reviewers, thanks for joining in. I really appreciate all of you and your reviews really encourage me to keep writing.

Chapter 3

8:45am

"Michelle," Tony said pushing back his chair and standing.

"Hi, Tony," She said softly. "I just finished debriefing and I wanted to see you before I left."

"Umm… I'm glad you stopped by," He said haltingly. "You… you look great, Michelle. It looks like you've been working out."

"Yeah, I teach a karate class at the gym two nights a week. It keeps me in shape and I earn a little spending money," she whispered in response. There was an awkward pause. Neither of them knew what to say next.

"Are you still living on Overbrook Drive?" He was referring to the house they bought together just before they got married.

"Uh…no, I couldn't keep up the payments on my salary. Besides, it was too big for just me. And Wrigley, of course." Wrigley was Tony's cat. He found the stray orange tabby cat before he and Michelle started dating and named her after Wrigley Field, the baseball stadium where the Chicago Cubs play. Michelle had always tolerated Wrigley but wasn't really a cat person.

"You still have Wrigley?" He asked surprised.

"Yeah, she keeps me company. We have a little condo now over on Linwood."

"With what we had in savings I thought you would be able to keep the house."

"Half of that belonged to you, Tony. I withdrew it and sent it to your parents. I knew they could use the money and if they didn't, they could keep it in savings for you. You'll need that money some day."

"Thanks, Michelle. My parents never told me that."

"I asked them not to," Michelle told him.

"It was nice of you to think of my parents but I meant for you to have that money. That's why I had Todd draw up the divorce papers the way he did."

"I know, but I didn't feel right about it."

The two fell silent.

"Do you talk to your parents often?" She asked him.

"Every few weeks. They're okay. Dad's been having more chest pain lately. The doctor is doing more testing, but they think they'll have to operate."

"I'm sorry to hear that. When you talk to them, give them my best."

"I'll do that. They'll appreciate that, Michelle. They always liked you."

"Are you doing okay, Tony?" Michelle asked quietly.

Tony nodded and remained silent for a moment. "I get by. It's a day to day thing. If you think of it in terms of getting through each day you can tolerate it. If you think of it in terms of twenty years, you'll drive yourself crazy. I'm catching up on my reading."

"I'd like to come visit you sometime, but I want to know that you'll see me. I could bring you some books."

"No, Michelle. I told you before, I want you to live your life. I don't want you to waste it on me."

Michelle nodded. "If that's the way you want it, Tony, I'll honor your request. But if you ever want to see me, just let me know. Contact Todd, he knows how to get in touch with me."

"Okay."

"I guess I better go," She said awkwardly.

"Ya, you should get something to eat and get some rest."

"You know me; I can never sleep during the day no matter how tired I am."

"Take care of yourself, Michelle," Tony told her. He wanted to cross the room and take her in his arms. He wanted to kiss her and nuzzle her neck and bury his face in her thick brown curls but instead he stood firm and tried to smile at her.

"You, too," she said. They stood staring at each other for a few seconds before Michelle finally turned and left.

Tony watched as the door closed behind her. He reached in his pocket to touch their wedding rings. He wrapped the rings together in a napkin before he left the prison. He decided to take his off before coming to CTU. He didn't want to have to answer any questions if someone he knew noticed that he was still wearing his wedding ring. Without removing the napkin from his pocket, he opened it enough to touch the platinum bands. He remembered the day he slipped the ring on her finger. Her hand was so soft, just like it had been when he brushed against it a few hours ago.

Tony sat back down suddenly exhausted. He tried to read but found that he was too distracted. He never thought he would feel this way but at the moment he was ready to go back to prison. Prison was lonely and largely devoid of happiness, but CTU was full of memories. He needed to get away. At least in prison he didn't see Michelle everywhere he looked. She wasn't in his cell like she was in this holding room. Her scent didn't fill the air and the click of her heels didn't echo on the tile floor.

As if in answer to his silent prayer, he heard a card key swipe through the reader outside the door. He stood and picked up his newspapers and magazine and stepped toward the door as it opened. He held his hands in front of him ready for the security guard to place him in handcuffs.

"Mr. Almeida, I have instructions to take you to Ms. Driscoll's office," the security guard told him.

"Why? I don't think I need to be debriefed."

"I don't know, sir. I'm just following orders." He held the door open for Tony to exit.

"Don't you need to cuff me? I'm a federal prisoner."

"Yes, sir. I know that but I was told that it wasn't necessary."

Tony followed the security guard out of the holding cell and toward Erin's loft office. As he entered the office he saw Jack and Brad Hammond as well as Erin Driscoll standing near Erin's desk. Jack stood and came forward to greet him. Jack generally didn't smile much and when he did it was subdued, but at the moment he was smiling broadly.

"Tony," he said as he stepped toward him and the two shook hands.

"Jack," Tony responded. "You were incredible today. I thought we were going to lose you at least twice and you pulled it out. You've still got the old form."

"I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for you, Tony. That's why I wanted you here today. Your performance was outstanding and I want you to know that it didn't go unnoticed." Jack picked up several papers from the edge of Erin's desk and handed them to Tony. "I talked to the President earlier and he just faxed this to me. The originals will arrive tomorrow by courier service, but the faxed copy is legally binding in the interim."

"What is it? Some kind of commendation," Tony asked as he took the papers.

"Read it," Jack told him.

Tony read the document then looked up, first at Jack and then panned over toward Brad and Erin. "I must be reading this wrong. This looks like a pardon."

"That's right, Tony. It's an unconditional pardon from the President of the United States. Congratulations, Tony. You're a free man," Jack said unable to control his smile.

Driscoll and Hammond both added their congratulations pleasantly but less enthusiastically than Jack.

Tony stepped backward and dropped into the nearest chair. "This is a joke, right? This can't be happening."

"It's not a joke, Tony. It's real. You're free as of right now. You and your attorney have to take care of some paperwork over the next couple of days, but for all intents and purposes, you are free."

Tony sat in stunned silence. "I don't know what to say. Jack, I know you played a big part in this. I can't even begin to thank you. I was hoping to use today as leverage to negotiate a reduced sentence or maybe early parole, but I never dreamed of a pardon. Thank you, Jack."

"I didn't really do anything, Tony," Jack said trying to downplay his own role. "Your actions today spoke for themselves. When the President got the report he made the decision to grant the pardon." Jack pulled a cell phone from the holder on his belt. "Why don't you call Michelle?"

"Ummm…Michelle and I aren't together anymore, Jack," Tony said with his head angled down.

"I'm sorry, Tony. I didn't know. Why don't you call your parents?"

Tony nodded and dialed their Chicago number. He spoke with his parents who, as he expected, burst into joyful tears. Tony was their youngest and his imprisonment had broken her heart.

The conversation ended and he handed the phone back to Jack. "Why don't we go out for a celebratory lunch?" Jack suggested.

"Not with me dressed like this!" Tony said indicating the prison denims with his number stenciled on his back.

"Maybe we can find you some clothes. Everybody around here keeps extras in their locker. I'm sure somebody here has an extra set that would fit," Jack said.

"Actually," Erin interjected. "When security cleaned out your office, Tony, all of your personal effects including a couple changes of clothes were put in a box. We called Michelle, but she never picked it up. I'm sure the box is still back in the security office. The older guards weren't willing to dispose of your things." Erin called the security office and as she thought the box remained in one of the older guards lockers.

While he waited for security to bring the box to him, he called Todd Maver to bring him up to date on the developments. A call to the prison verified that the warden had received the papers from the President. They would arrange to have his cell cleaned out and Tony could pick up his belongings the next day when he and Todd came to complete the paperwork. By the time the phone calls were complete, Paul brought the box of his personal items to Driscoll's office. Among pictures from his desk and commendations that had hung on his wall and his cubs mug, he found a shaving kit, a pair of charcoal tweed pants, a black knit pullover and a black wool sport coat along with socks and shoes. Tony put everything into a gym bag that was also in the box and went to the locker room to wash up and change clothes.

It felt strange to put on clothes that weren't denim and dress shoes. He was amazed at how good it felt and without giving it another thought he took all of his prison clothes and threw them into the trash. He left the locker room feeling like a new person but he also knew that reentering society at large was not going to be as easy as changing clothes.

Tony and Jack went to lunch at a four-star restaurant. Jack ordered a bottle of good red wine to go with their steaks. They talked all through lunch discussing all that had happened since they last saw each other. Jack eventually turned the conversation to Michelle.

"I don't want to get too personal, Tony, but what happened between you and Michelle?"

"Nothing happened," Tony told him. "I just didn't want her to be tied to me for twenty years. I thought it was best if she had her freedom."

"Is that what she wanted?"

"No, but I told her that it was a favor to me so she signed the divorce papers."

"Have you seen her since then?" Jack asked.

"Not until today."

"How did that go?"

"A little awkward, but overall, it was okay."

"Tony, she's going to hear about the pardon tomorrow on the news. Don't you think you should tell her first? You know the news media is going to be all over her once this story breaks."

"I'll have my lawyer call her," Tony said.

"You guys were married, Tony. Don't you think you owe her the courtesy of telling her yourself?" Jack asked.

"She moved and I don't have a phone number or an address for her."

"Oh, come on, Tony! You can come up with a better excuse than that. She works for the FBI and I have enough contacts that we can get her address and phone number." Jack pulled out his phone and made a single phone call. By the time he hung up he had Michelle's new address and phone number written down on a cocktail napkin. He handed his phone and the napkin to Tony. "Call her."

Tony took the napkin but refused the phone. "I'll call her later tonight."

"What are you afraid of, Tony?"

"Jack, when I forced her to sign the divorce papers I told her that I wanted her to find someone else. It's been over a year. She could be involved in a new relationship. So what do I do if I call her and another man answers?"

"You say 'Could I speak with Michelle, please.' And then you tell her that you were pardoned. Tony, it's better to do that than have her hear it on the news tomorrow morning when she's lying in bed next to him. Besides, you're making an assumption that she has a new relationship. I think there's a good chance that she doesn't"

"I guess you're right. I'll call her tonight, I promise."

They finished their meal and the bottle of wine. Tony hadn't had alcohol in a year and a half so the wine made him feel a little light headed when he stood up. Jack smiled when he noticed that Tony put his hand on the table to steady himself. The two then went to the parking lot, climbed into the car and drove away.

They were on their way to Todd Maver's office. Tony and Todd had a few details to work out and then Todd was going to drop Tony off at a hotel for the night. They would meet again in the morning and drive to the prison together to officially sign all of the necessary papers. Jack drove while Tony silently stared out the window.

We're not too far from Linwood Avenue, are we?" He asked Jack.

"No, it's just a couple of blocks." Jack knew that 2745Linwood Avenue was Michelle's new address.

"Let's drive past. I want to see where she lives."

Jack turned at the next intersection, drove a couple of blocks then turned again. There was a large building on the left. Jack pulled up to the curb in front. Tony looked at the building, his eyes moving up and down and then back and forth across the front as if in hopes of seeing her.

"Why don't you go knock on her door?" Jack suggested. "You've got nothing to lose, Tony."

Tony closed his eyes for a second. His better judgment was gone and the slight buzz from the alcohol was talking. "I think I will," he said as he reached for the door handle.