Hey…sorry it's been a while. I've been busy and just had no inspiration. But I finally wrote this chapter! Thanks for all the reviews! Ignore anything that happens between Tony and Michelle past 7pm where Michelle first arrives (the 12th episode). I rewrote the whole chapter because I wasn't happy with the chapter I put up before this one (the original ch.2 if you read it) I didn't like where it was going.
Joe's Girl: Thanks for the review. I understand what you mean by it being out of character for Michelle and Tony, but well I guess I see Michelle and Tony being like that sometimes. And this chapter, I think they are back to there old selves again.
Disclaimer: I seem to have misplaced the paperwork saying I own 24.
"Okay Tony, I need to know what's happened in the last hour, specifically what CTU has been working on. Are there any new leads?"
Michelle stood beside where Tony was sitting.
"Well uh, we have no new leads as of yet, Edgar is working on putting together a folder on Marwan, and Curtis…"
Ring Ring
"Almeida. Yeah I'll send her over"
"Michelle that was Curtis, they need you over in tech 1, they think they may have found something"
"Okay" Michelle replied in barely a whisper. They were nervous and hostile around each other. They didn't know how to act with one another yet.
"Do you uh need my help?"
"No, we'll be fine. Just keep working on whatever needs to be done"
Tony watched as Michelle walked away. Man he missed her. He wanted to just grab her and kiss her. He knew he couldn't though. He had to get back to work. He needed to push the thoughts of Michelle out of his head. But how could he? He loved her, he wanted her back, but there was no way she would ever take him back.
Michelle's thoughts revolved around Tony on her way over to Tech 1. She needed to concentrate on the day's events but seeing Tony today was hard. He seemed to be doing fine without her. How did he get reinstated anyways? Why is he back at CTU? Shouldn't he be drunk right now? Maybe she should lower his security clearance; it can't be good that a normally drunken Tony is at CTU on the day of a crisis…can it?
Michelle finished up with Curtis and headed back to Tony's station. Of course he wasn't there. He's probably off getting drunk somewhere. Couldn't take being sober for so long...
She looked over towards Edgar's station and saw him hard at work with Edgar. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe he had changed his ways. Nah – Tony stop drinking? Please, he couldn't even do that when she threatened to leave. He couldn't even slow down his drinking. All she wanted was an improvement, maybe looking for a job once every week, 4 beers instead of 5 in a day. Coming home from the bar at 1am instead of 3am. She didn't ask for much. She just wanted a little bit more, she had pleaded with him, but he didn't care, so she left. He wouldn't...he couldn'tchange all of a sudden.
"Tony can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"I'm going to lower your security clearance to a level 2 instead of level 4."
"Why?"
"Because normally you arepassed outfrom drinking too much by now, and well…just because you got re-instated doesn't mean you get respect from me"
Tony couldn't believe his ears. He thought things were going fine for them. He thought he had proved himself to everybody today.
"If you don't want me here Michelle, just say it. I proved myself this morning, and I thought I had proved myself to you but apparently not."
"Tony…I do want you here, I'm glad to see you not drunk and taking some responsibility for the first time since well uh…"
"Exactly, I'm doing everything right…so what's wrong?"
"I don't think you're ready for that much responsibility yet"
"Michelle today has been an amazing eye opener for me. It reminded me how much I miss my job, my old life and you."
"You miss me?"
"How could I not Michelle?"
"You even notice I'm gone? Wait don't answer that. We shouldn't…we can't do this now. We're in the middle of a crisis and we're talking about missing each other"
"You miss me?"
"Yes, but that's beside the point. Can we talk about this later?"
"Yeah, you're right. You're always right" Tony whispered the last part as she walked away. She was always right. She was right the day of the bombing that there was something between them, an energy, a spark. She was right to ask him out, he had been to chicken to do that, she was right to kiss him the first time, she was even right to leave him. He wasn't a good husband. After he got out of jail, he dwelled on that day, he couldn't get a job so he just gave up and took up watching TV and drinking. He barely even noticed her after he got out of jail...
Ring Ring
"CTU – Dessler"
"How come I have access to level 4 security access? I thought you lowered me to a level 2"
"I was going to, but I changed my mind. I was being unfair to you. I wouldn't have lowered anyone else's. I only did it because I knew what you were like at home lately. You don't have any reason to be here today, but you are. You could have turned your back on jack and he and Audrey would have being killed. But you didn't. You helped out a friend in need. You've been nothing but a big help to everybody today, including me. I'm sorry for being unfair"
"You don't have to apologize Michelle. Last time you saw me I was in a drunken stupor watching TV, and I let you walk out of my life."
"Tony…"
"I know we are busy today, with Marwan and all, but I was wondering if maybe at the end of the day we could go out for coffee and talk about us"
"Tony I uh…"
"Never mind, don't answer that, it was a stupid thing for me to ask. I put you in an awkward position. I better uh go see if Curtis needs help with anything. Bye Michelle"
Tony…I would like that. Was that so hard? Why couldn'tI say that when he was on the phone? Now he's hurt. Why do I care he's hurt? He hurt me so much…but he's changed…and I don't like when he's hurt, it hurts me. I need to fix this and now.
Michelle headed downstairs. Tony was back at his desk. "Tony, do you have a minute?"
"Yeah, what is it Michelle?" Michelle looked into his eyes. She could see the hurt and disappointment.
"Before, on the phone, what I meant to say was uh…I would like that. I think we need to talk about us. If we should try again or forget about it and file for divorce. Think about what you want. We'll grab coffee when we are done here"
"I know what I want Chelle and you know it"
"I know. I uh...I have to go see if Edgar needs any help. Where's Chloe?"
"Driscoll suspended her for helping Jack when Jack was working against her orders"
"Can you get her back here now? Thanks"
Tony watched Michelle walk away. At first they had been awkward and cruel to each other. But now, now they were going to talk about there relationship. He was worried though…A relationship or divorce? It's simply not that simple. On one hand he still had a lot of problems but on the other hand he didn't want to divorce her. He couldn't, he loved her too much.
Chapter 3: Divorce? A relationship?
What do you want? Tell me in your reviews! Review please! Sorry I deleted the original chapter 2. I wasn't happy with it at all. Hope you like this one better. Please please please reviews. Reviews keep me going
