Chapter 3

Jesse's café -

At 5:45, Tony Almeida was sitting at a table in Jesse's café waiting for Allie to show up.

He was already having a cup of coffee. Sitting there he looked very reserved and anxious. Passers by might wonder if he was day dreaming, but instead he was actually nervous. He didn't know what Allie was like outside of CTU, and she didn't know him outside of CTU either. His mind began thinking back to his first date with Michelle. He was quickly snapped out if it when the door to the café swung open and he saw Allie walking towards him. He smiled and got up from his seat.

"Hey." He said reaching her. They began to walk back to the table in the corner that Tony had picked out for them.

"Hey, you alright, you looked pretty deep in thought." Allie said sitting down.

"I was just thinking about the case, that's all." He said. Allie let out a small giggle. "What?" He asked her. He had no idea why she was laughing at him.

"Taking you're work home with you eh?" She said. She began to stand up. She noticed that his cup was almost empty. "Want a refill?" She asked. Tony looked in his cup and realized that she was right, he did need a refill.

"Yeah, but let me, please." He said standing up. Allie was very surprised. She wasn't used to having men, or anyone for that matter do things for her. Apparently chivalry was not yet dead. "What would you like?" Tony asked her.

"A mint tea please." She said sitting at the table. Tony nodded his head. "Thanks." Allie said as he was walking away. He turned around and gave her a grin. Allie was alone at the table for a few minutes. Tony came walking back with two cups in his hands. He set her tea down in front of her, and she began to blow on it, and stir the tea bag around. Tony sat down and immediately added sugar and cream, and stirred vigariously. "Interesting." Allie said taking a sip of her tea.

"What's interesting?" He asked looking up at her. He noticed that she had changed. She was more casual now, jeans, a red stripped shirt and flip flops.

"I sort of pictured you as a black coffee man." She said giving half a grin.

"Well, I used to be until..." He trailed off and looked down. Allie took a deep breath in. She reached across the table and put her hand on top of his. When he felt her touch he looked up.

"Did I saw something wrong?" Allie asked concerned.

"No, just bad memories." Tony said managing a smile. "Anyways..." Tony said. Allie still wanted an answer to the question she asked earlier in the day. She cleared her throat, and moved her hand from his, noticing that it lingered there a bit too long.

"So, what's going on with you and Michelle?" Allie asked taking another sip of her tea. Tony took a big breath in, and slowly let it out.

"Well," he started, "Things between Michelle and I are working themselves out. I think she is seeing someone, but she hasn't said anything." He said.

"Does that bother you?" Allie asked.

"I don't know, I mean the thought of her with someone else is sort of unnerving, but most of my instincts tell me to be happy for her. I'm trying to move on, and get on with my life, though it's not much of a life right now."

"What happened between you two, from what I heard you were really happy." Allie said.

"Well, I was in a federal prison for 6 months, and that was the most miserable time of my life. All I wanted to do was get out of there and be with her again. I don't know what happened when I did get out. I was given a full pardon from President Palmer, and - " He was interrupted.

"Wait, why were you in jail in the first place?" Allie asked.

"I committed treason." He said flatly. Allie could see him replaying events in his mind.

"Really? How?"

"It had to do with the virus. Michelle was kidnaped and in order to save her life, I had to break certain rules. I knew I would go to prison, but all the mattered was her life." Tony said. "Anyway, when I got out, I went into serious depression. I had a drinking problem. I would get drunk at 10 am, and sit on my ass and watch tv. I never even looked for a job. I just fell apart, and Michelle couldn't take it. I don't blame her of course." Tony said. He looked a little embarrassed telling Allie all this very personal information about his past, but if what he saw in the future was going to be possible, he had to tell her.

"Do you still have a drinking problem?" She asked sipping her tea.

"No. I haven't had a drop since I've been back at CTU, and that's been a little over 4 months now. I was re-instated there and have been director again for 2 months." He finished.

"Wow, you've had it pretty hard." Allie said. "When was the divorce final, if you don't mind me asking." She said glaring at him with those captivating blue eyes of hers.

"It was final 5 months ago, so when I came back to CTU, it was a little stressful, to say the least.

"So, what makes you think that she is seeing anyone else?" Allie said looking in her cup and noticing it was now empty.

"Little things, like today her not asking me for the CCB temps, she's been doing that a lot lately. Chloe came to me saying that she has been getting a lot of personal calls at work, plus, someone told me that they saw her walking and holding hands with some guy like a month ago." Tony said.

"Well, that'll do it I guess." Allie paused. "Is this upsetting you at all, cause we don't have to talk about it." Allie asked very concerned.

"No, it's fine. Our deal, remember." He said smiling.

"Yes, I won't forget, but why did I agree to that deal anyways, now I'll never have any mystery." She laughed. Tony showed slight amusement at her comment.

"Don't worry, you're plenty mysterious. Regarding our deal, I've had some big secrets kept from me at CTU, and I have kept some from people. It goes both ways, I just want you to trust me, and I want to trust you. Like I said, we've gotten really close at work, but that is at work. I'd like to get to know you outside of work if that's alright with you." Tony stated leaning on the table and waiting for a response.

"Oh, I think that'll be alright." Allie said desperately trying to hide her excitement, but failing miserably.

"Listen, there's something else you should know, and I am going to he completely honest with you." Tony said getting serious.

"Is it bad?" Allie asked nervously. Tony put his finger to his mouth to signal to her to be quiet and let him speak.

"I dated Nine Myers when she worked at CTU, and she ended up being a traitor. Then the bad ending with Michelle. I told myself when I was re-instated that was going to stay away completely from people at work, they were all off limits to me. Then you came, and changed my opinion." Tony said smiling.

"And how did I manage that?"

"Honestly, I don't know, a combination of many things really, but I do want to go very slow. Really get to know each other first. That was my big flaw with the other work relationships gone bad."

"I agree totally." Allie said. Neither could stop from smiling the rest of the night. When they were ready to leave, Tony said he would walk her to her car. As they were leaving the café, there was a lot of traffic. There were cars stuck at a red light for what looked like a good mile. Tony held the door open for her and she smiled and patted him on the stomach. They walked to her car, and before she got in, she turned to see him one last time before work the next morning.

"Well, thanks for one of the best nights I've had in a long time. It's been a while since I've had something to look forward to." Tony said.

"And what is that?" Allie said pretending to play dumb.

"Going to work tomorrow so I can see you." Tony said. He grabbed her hand and gently kissed it, and then let it go. Allie grinned all the way to her ears, as did Tony.

"Bye." She whispered sweetly. Tony watched her get into her car and drive off. After Allie drove off, she couldn't believe the night that had just happened. "Why would Michelle ever let a man like that go?" She said to herself still smiling.