A/N: For the record, I started out with the idea for this story, written in conjunction with a friend of mine, Maria Overlook. I sent her bits of the story, and asked her if she wanted to write the same events from Audrey's POV. She said yes, and from there on, she got some say in the scenes, and in what happened. I strongly recommend that you read both stories. (Hers is better, lol.) Anyways, thanks so much to my lovely reviewers, and read on.

I barely did anything in the next week. I couldn't sleep, and six of the next seven days, I awoke to a crick in my neck and to find my head on top of a pile of papers that I didn't need to finish. And then, after several days of finding me like this when he came in, Heller called me into his office. It was late, after eleven PM. Possibly Heller himself was about to leave. Nevertheless, I had no choice but to go, listen to him, and do exactly what he said.

Finally, after climbing a few staircases and taking that seemingly eternal walk towards the office, I arrived at the end of the hall. When I knocked, I heard a deep, gruff voice from within. "Come on in." I opened the door, and walked in. There was an empty armchair; Secretary Heller motioned for me to sit there. However, even seated, I was no more comfortable. "Mr. Bauer, you seem stressed lately…"

"You think so?" I asked, keeping my thoughts to myself. Why wouldn't I be stressed? My girlfriend, YOUR DAUGHTER, broke up with me, I've been working my ass off, and my life still doesn't have a purpose. However, I couldn't say this to the man, who was both my girlfriend's father, and my boss. Why hadn't Audrey told him that we broke up? "I've had a lot going on."

"I see… You shouldn't be in the office all night. It's not healthy. Now Jack," He almost seemed to stop for a moment and consider his actions. I could only focus on the fact that he called me Jack. The Secretary of Defense hadn't called me that since… Since he found out that I was going out with Audrey. Maybe he did know it was over. Or maybe he had finally accepted the fact that I was going out with his daughter. Except I wasn't anymore. I had to get that into my head, except I didn't want to. I wanted to still be with her. If only I hadn't put off asking her… Heller's voice called me back to reality. "Jack, I'm sending you home. I'm sure Audrey's worried about you."

"Right." I didn't mention that we had broken up, though maybe I should have. "Sure, I'll go home." But the problem was, I didn't even know where home was anymore. I had moved in with Audrey only weeks ago, and now she just abandoned me? I couldn't understand; I didn't understand. Why would she just stop loving me so suddenly? There was someone else… There had to be. I didn't wait for him to dismiss me to leave; I had to get home, and all the while, I was praying that I wouldn't see her.

To be honest, I didn't go straight home. I stopped by Patrick's first, had a few drinks. Okay, so maybe it was more than a few. By the end of the night, when it was about to close, I was feeling pretty good. I was thinking that it was all just one giant mistake, something that could be fixed with an apology, and with a rose. That was a mistake. I definitely wasn't thinking after 3 bottles of beer. I definitely shouldn't have driven anywhere. Nonetheless, it was after one o'clock when I finally climbed back into my SUV and drove back to the apartment I had shared for six months with Audrey. How I loved her. What had I done wrong? The question plagued me, and suddenly I felt depressed as I pulled up in front of the apartment complex, a large, clean looking brick building filled with modern-looking apartments, a gym, a swimming pool, and a multitude of other luxuries. Even if she didn't want me there, I had to get a few things before I left. After all, I couldn't have her discover… certain things.

After taking a deep breath that I let out with a sigh, I got out of my car and walked up towards the front door. The doorman recognized me and opened it. I gladly walked in and took my usual route towards our apartment. It was not long, not long at all that I found myself staring at the blank door that led to Audrey. Number 612. Was that all she was now, to me? A number? It was what I knew she had to become, if things were indeed over between us. "Audrey," I whispered, sorting through my keys for the one that would open the door. Fumbling, I had trouble getting it into the lock, and more difficulty opening the door. I thought for a split second that perhaps she had changed the locks as a way to deter me, but at last, the key turned in the lock, and the door opened to reveal a spotless, dark apartment. It was familiar to me even at night…

What wasn't familiar to me, however, was the pair of shoes that I tripped over, and fell flat on my face. I heard the door shut on it's own behind me, and when I came to my senses, I had a large sneaker, far too large to belong to Audrey. It didn't occur to me what this meant at first, only the fact that my head hurt. I cursed, probably louder than I should have, considering that Audrey would have been asleep by this time. I sat up, dropping the shoe, and sat there pondering the last week's events for what seemed like a long time. I found that I couldn't pick out any day from the rest; they just ran on and on, one into the next. I remember dreading seeing Audrey at work, but luckily, I think she avoided me, for fear that I would say something. A thought struck me: maybe she just didn't care anymore. Maybe she wanted this. Maybe she wanted me out of her life forever. Maybe she loved someone else.

Finally, I got up and walked towards the kitchen, still rather dazed. I had to stop once to grip the doorframe until my vision cleared. When it finally did, I saw a friend right before my eyes. At this point, I was beginning to think that I did have too much to drink. "Tony?" I asked, carefully keeping the volume of my voice in check. "What're you doing here?"

"Shh… Jack, you shouldn't be here." He sounded tired, and he reached for a nearby light switch. I was blinded by the sudden, intense light, and my eyes flickered involuntarily towards the bedroom door. It was open. "Go, before she finds you here. I'll find time for you to come get your stuff later."

I nodded. Tony understood what I was going through. "Okay, Tony. I have my cell."

"Jack, you're drunk." I was. I didn't know what I was saying, or doing. But the next things I heard wounded me, broke through the ecstasy the alcohol allowed me to feel.

"Tony, come back to bed…" Audrey's voice could be heard from the bedroom, and I jumped at the noise. The pain returned, more intensely than ever, and I heard her words echoing through my brain until I realized exactly what they meant. So this was… I couldn't believe that Tony would sleep with Audrey, knowing that he knew that Audrey and I were together. And even more, I couldn't believe that she would inflict such pain upon me. Did she really seek to destroy every good thing left in my life?

"Jack, I can explain." That was Tony again, but I didn't want to hear a word he had to say.

"There's nothing left to explain. I've got it all figured out, you fucking son of a bitch!" I threw a punch; it was easily deflected by the man. I, for once, was the one who was drunk, and Tony at least seemed to be completely sober. We fought, and I felt pain, in my nose, knowing that my face would be swollen tomorrow. And I would have to break the news to Heller. Trying to fight back, I found myself held by the collar to the wall. I watched Audrey out of the corner of my eye; she was crying. "Audrey…" I croaked, but I was quickly distracted by yet another blow to my face. "Tony, what the hell do you want?"

"I want you to keep your eyes off my girlfriend." He did not loosen his hold on my neck, and I was forced to meet his eyes for a moment.

"And if I don't?" He answered with another punch, and my head was forced to the side, blood, sweat, and tears mixing on my face. Through this, I saw Audrey move towards me once more.

"Tony, let him go," she said, and I distinctly remember sinking to the floor, in excruciating pain. Once there, I could barely breathe. I was choking on my own blood, which ran through my mouth and throat like water through a faucet. Finally, I spat it out, careful that none of it ever touched the tile floor of the kitchen. Audrey would have killed me if it had.

The only thing I was able to watch was her face, twisting with indecision as she stared down at me. "Audrey, I love you. Please, forgive me, forgive me… Whatever I did, please…" I was breathing heavily as I propped myself up on my elbows, trying to make her believe, even if it was only for a second, that I loved her. Because I did… I have since the day I met her, and I always will. "Audrey…"

"Jack," She said, and I watched as Tony slipped an arm around her bare shoulders. "Jack, you're drunk. If you were sober… then… then you wouldn't be saying this." My pain only increased as she glanced up at Tony behind her for comfort, smiling at him, a smile that she had offered me once. "I'm sorry… Just get your stuff and go." She turned away from me, pressing herself into Almeida's arms as I forced myself to stand and walked into the bedroom I used to share with her.

"Damn it." I cursed softly, as not to attract their attention as I went into our closet and pulled out my suitcase. There were so many reminders of us here, and I just wanted to throw myself across the bed and sob until no more tears would come. Except that made me sick because she had been there, only moments before, with my best friend. I felt myself getting angry, and I was beginning to think that maybe Audrey was right. Maybe she was safer with him.

Finally, after throwing a variety of pants, shirts, and other articles of clothing into the suitcase, I stopped my angry thoughts, if only for a moment. I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as I stood up and reached into my sock drawer. I had two things hidden there, both of which I never wanted her to find. However, I would only need one of these things, now that we were so obviously over…

My fingers somehow found the smaller box first. It was small, less than 2 inches cubed, and covered in royal blue velvet. I'd been hoarding it away for a few months now, working up the courage to ask her… I opened the box, taking one last look at the beauty that lay within. A ring, diamond set in gold, so carefully picked out… There were so many memories there… As I felt the pressure of tears behind my eyes, I closed the box again and set it on top of my dresser, reaching back into the dresser drawer for the other box.

I don't know why I kept it. I had defeated that addiction, and promised myself and my daughter that I would never take it up again. But, there are exceptions to anything, and it killed the pain, at least for a little while… I opened this box as well, just to make sure everything was still there. It was a box I hadn't touched in over a year… Why throw that all away? Because there was nothing left for me to lose… Everything was intact: the syringe, et cetera. My drug kit. I stuffed it into my pocket and went back into the kitchen.

I saw them again, and my pain redoubled. "Audrey, I'm sorry. I only wanted you to be happy." I watched her face, looking for any sign of change, but there was none. I left quickly, though not quickly enough to miss hearing the couple's cold laughter. I was crying, and she was laughing. Laughing at me.

My life was a mess, and there was no way for me to forget about all that had happened in the past few days, or weeks, or however long it had been. This was all my fault. It was all my fault that I couldn't be a better boyfriend, or whatever it was that she wanted me to be.

Finally, I found my way back into my black SUV, and collapsed against the seat. I was careful to close the door before pulling the silver box out of my pocket once more. "Damn it, Audrey! Look at what you've done! Look at what you've done to me!" I shouted to no one. No one was out there, no one was left… No one left who cared about me.

I opened the box once again, flipping on one of the lights in my car. I pulled a coiled up piece of rubber out and unrolled it, tying it tightly, violently around my elbow before reaching back into my silver drug kit. "Audrey…" The pain was fresh, and it came in the form of tears, to be numbed only by one thing. The drugs, again. I still had a few vials of Heroin, the sad remainders of my addiction.

It was her fault I was doing this, I thought, as I drew the syringe out of my box and stuck it into one of the full vials. I watched as the liquid was sucked into the syringe, and tested it carefully. A few drops of the liquid came out as I pressed on the end of the syringe again. "Damn it…" The word was whispered this time, as I held my right hand against my left forearm, the needle resting dangerously close to the vein. I breathed heavily, and moved forwards with this chosen course of action.

It stung as the needle entered my arm, it always had. Still, the high that I got from this always won out. Otherwise, I would have thrown this out. The truth was, I was protecting myself. I wanted to die right now, and go to hell. It was sure to be better than this life I'm forced to live. But the drug. The drug got rid of all of that. The drug made the pain stop. I remembered Audrey, and jerked the needle out of my arm. But it was too late now; I had given in. Already, I could feel the high approaching, the few minutes of indifference. I knew what I would do to myself. I would tear myself apart just to stay away from reality a little longer. Tony and I… This was what we had in common. And now I knew what he felt like, seeing Michelle everyday and never being able to say anything to her, never being able to associate with her. But still, why should I care about how Tony felt anymore? The fact remained that he had betrayed me.

I could feel the high now, it was upon me. I had to escape it, or I knew that all my work would be erased. I started my car, probably the stupidest thing I could have done at the time. I hit the gas pedal, and sped off towards nowhere. I drove for a long time, paying little mind to the traffic lights. After all, there was barely anyone on the streets on a Tuesday night, especially at 3 in the morning. I cursed loudly, and pulled over to the side of the road. I shouldn't have been driving. Who knew how many people I had killed? I certainly didn't. I was aware only of myself. Maybe that was what she didn't like about me. "Audrey," I murmured, and fell asleep in my car on the side of the road.

A/N: Review!