All of a sudden Michelle felt a hand on her shoulder and snapped out of her memory. She looked up and saw Jack and Audrey. She wiped a few stray tears away.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Yeah we're fine, the information we got was great and has given us a clue to where Marwan is," answered Jack. "Listen, we're gonna head back to CTU, Secretary Heller wants you to stay here and wait on Tony, see if when he wakes up if he knows anything else."
Michelle met with Jack's eyes and she flashed him a look of gratitude. As Jack and Audrey left, Michelle put her hand on Tony's cheek and stroked it. She could feel his stubble and it gave her goose bumps. She ran her fingers through his wavy locks of hair. As she did this memories of their wedding day came pouring into her thoughts.
It had been four months after had had proposed, one year to the day of the bomb. They both thought it would be fitting seeing how if not for that day they may have never found themselves together.
It was an outdoor wedding; Kate Warner had volunteered her father's house. Michelle and Kate had grown close over the last year. She and Jack had begun a relationship so the four of them spent quiet a few evenings together.
The wedding would be small; just a few close personal friends from CTU and what little family they both had.
Both of Michelle's parents had died when she was in college and Danny wasn't speaking to her. She had asked Jack to give her away; he had been such a friend and someone who she truly looked up to. Work had been her life before she had met Tony and had few friends. She had chosen Kate to be her maid of honor for she was one person who Michelle had really bonded with.
Tony had a small family as well. He had two brothers, Carlos and Bernard. Carlos was his role model but he hadn't talked to Bernard in years and when he attempted to contact him, he had no luck.
Two hours before the wedding Michelle was putting her dress on with Kate's help. It was a white strapless dress, simple yet elegant. The train was moderate in length that would drag behind her. She left her hair curly and only put part of it up because she knew how much Tony loved her curls. Her veil went in the part of her hair that was up and covered her face. She felt beautiful and she hoped Tony would think so as well.
She was so excited; she never thought this day would come and now it was here.
There was a knock at the door, Jack stuck his head through the door and peaked in. He walked in and looked at Michelle. He told her how beautiful she looked and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. He then grabbed Kate and gave her a kiss and told her how beautiful she was as well. He asked Michelle if she was ready; she smiled and took his arm as he offered it.
They walked out the porch where Carlos was waiting to escort Kate down the aisle before Michelle and Jack. Michelle had picked out a lavender color for Kate's dress and the bouquets were white and pink roses with lavender lilies in the mix.
Kate and Carlos made it down the aisle and it was now Michelle's turn. As all eyes looked her all she saw was Tony. He was smiling and had a look in his eyes that gave her even more certainty of this day. It seemed to take forever to reach him and when she finally did she let out a small sigh of relief.
He took her hand ever so gently and they turned to look at the minister. His words were a blur to her, all she could think of was that she was going to be married to Tony. When the time for the vows arrived she began to focus. They had decided to write their own and neither had heard the others yet.
Tony grabbed her hands and looked into her eyes. "Michelle, you are the love of my life. Never in my dreams could I have imagined finding someone like you and now that I have you there is nothing that could come that could end my love for you. I will protect you with all of my strength and I will never leave your side. I want to spend the rest of my life with you no matter what; you are my everything.
As he finished a tear rolled down Michelle's cheek. Michelle prepared to begin her vows. She took his hand and began to speak. "Tony, you are my rock and my strength. With you I see my future and know there is no one else. Know that I love you with all my heart and nothing could change that. I will be there for you whenever you need me and help you through anything that happens."
They stared at each other and saw the love that was present. The minister asked for the rings and as Tony placed the wedding band on her finger she felt like her future was sealed.
As she though about this she squeezed his hand. "Tony I'm sorry I didn't stay. You hurt me so badly when you shut me out. I wanted to help you and you wouldn't let me." She touched his chest and hated herself for breaking her vows, for leaving him in his time of need. She was exhausted and could barely keep her eyes open. Her eyes became heavy and her head slowly fell onto Tony's chest.