It began raining outside, but Michelle didn't notice. She hadn't been paying attention to anything. Her date hadn't been entirely uneventful, but she really wasn't focused on Michael. She was thinking about Tony. She had never seen that look in his eyes. She curled up in a ball on the couch and cried.

She had been looking forward to seeing Tony non-professionally for once. She had been busy filling out reports and getting things back on track, so she hadn't really been too excited about getting a relationship started when CTU was on such rocky ground. Especially with the boss. She wasn't sure if that would change things, so she backed off. Maybe that had bothered Tony, but it didn't matter now anyway. She was working quite closely with him, filling two positions - her's and Tony's old job - so she guessed that he was just waiting until things were squared away and they would have some time off. But even after things were seemingly back to normal, he never made a move. She knew she could have, but she was the one who told him how she felt anyway. Maybe he was worried about getting hurt again. From the looks of things, he got hurt anyway.

Michelle got up and walked to the shower. Maybe that could clear her head.

That day was still vivid in her mind. It was a slow day at work, and she was checking over the reports that had been filed and finalized from the events on the day of the bomb - or as they had so eloquently named it - Death and detonation day, or Double-d-day. Michelle thought it was corny and a little disrespectful, but the name stuck. Soon she heard the phone ringing, so she answered as she normally had. "Dessler."

"Hey, it's me. I've gotta talk to you for a minute."

She headed up to his office with a skip in her step. He was finally going to ask her out.

She hopped into the shower. The water was warmer than she meant for it to be, but it didn't matter. Her mind was somewhere else.

A promotion. He had called her up there to tell her she had been promoted. Needless to say, she had been disappointed, but graciously accepted. The next few weeks were dull and unexciting. She avoided him at all costs, trying her hardest to delay the inevitable breakup speech he was sure to give her. 'Now that I'm CTU Director... I'm sorry Michelle... I didn't want this to happen..." She could hear the words in her head already. But still she had waited. Days would come and go, but he never said anything about "them". Finally, she decided to quit.

The hot water poured down her back, and it was almost impossible to determine the difference between the water and her tears. She had let him go, hadn't she? She scared him away.

She walked up the stairs to his office and handed him her resignation.
"Look, Tony," she began. "I have my reasons for leaving, but please, don't ask. I don't really want to talk about it."

"Okay," he had agreed, barely showing any remorse for her leaving. She was heartbroken.

Michelle stepped out of the shower, and dried herself off. She walked into her bedroom, pulling out some clean pajamas and getting dressed before sitting on the bed and picking up the phone.

On her last day she left a note.

'Tony,

I'm sorry I couldn't be what you needed. Good Luck.

Michelle'

She had almost written 'Love, Michelle' but had thought better of it. It would be too strange. He had been her boss, nothing more. She had fooled herself into believing that it was just a fantasy, and that she was nothing more to him than a loyal employee - expendable - just like everyone else.

Michelle dialed Tony's cell phone. He always had it on him, maybe he would answer.

Seeing the look on Tony's face when he came over, the tears in her eyes, had made her heart break all over again.

"Almedia." he answered. Michelle froze. What could she say? "Hello?" he asked, wondering if anyone was there.

She had loved him. She never told him, but she had loved him.

"Tony, it's Michelle. We need to talk."

A part of her still did.