Chapter 5
"Push me higher, daddy! Higher!" the blonde haired, brown eyed five year old squealed. She was on a swing. It was in the park near her childhood home. Jack complied and she giggled merrily. "Higher daddy, higher!" she screamed. "Not too high, sweet." He replied. "Look daddy, I'm flying! I'm flying daddy!" She screamed. "Be careful, sweet." A female voice warned. Jack looked to his left and saw his wife there. She was laughing. She looked at him and said "Hold on Jack, they'll be here soon. Just hold on."
Jack felt wetness on his face and he was woken up from his dream. He was on his back and was blinded by light. He squinted up at the figure standing over him. It was Nina. "Wake up Jack." Slowly, he came to his senses and started to feel the pain. His body ached everywhere; his arms, his back, his groin, his head, his face, his legs, his chest. Everything hurt. "It hurts, doesn't it?" She continued. He stared at her, ignoring the blinding bright lights. She looked neither happy nor sad. He could not tell if she was enjoying this or not. She looked away from him and ordered to the men: "Get him on his feet, boys." Two men approached him and pulled him to his feet. He groaned in pain. They let go of him, thinking he could hold himself up, and he crashed to the floor. He screamed. The pain was enough to knock him out. He fought it and was once again pulled up to his feet. This time, they held him up. He was looking down and a hand grabbed him by his hair and forced him to look up. It was Nina's. She smiled at him and said: "Come on, Jack. We know you're still working for CTU. Just admit it and we'll end this. I promise." Jack stared at her for about 15 seconds; he saw something from the corner of his eye and he flinched. One of the men was getting ready to hit him again. Nina saw his reaction and smiled. Jack quickly replied: "I am not working for CTU!" She half-laughed and replied. "C'mon Jack, you know I don't believe you. You would never turn." She continued in a mocking voice "You're too… patriotic. You'll do anything for your country." He replied. "No, I won't. They asked too much. It cost me my wife's life. I am never ever returning to CTU. I will never serve America again." She stared at him hard, looking deep into his eyes. He did not blink and held her gaze. He knew he had them believing.
"I think I believe him." A voice in the back said. It was him, the leader. Nina turned around and said. "Sir, he's a good liar. He could be lying." The man approached them and said. "If he was lying, he'd have broken by now. He's taken more pain than I thought was possible." Jack felt hopeful. He had them convinced! He was almost giddy with happiness. He was in! He was in! "He could prove to be an asset to us. He knows a lot about CTU and the government…" The man stopped to think for a minute and continued. "He knows more than you, Nina. He could prove to be a more important asset to us." Jack looked at Nina and couldn't help but smile. She looked worried. The man saw Jack's look and smiled. He liked this; he could play them against each other. This would be fun. "Clean him up, heal his wounds, feed him and let his rest." He ordered the men. Nina looked incredulous: "So what, now he's one of us? We just let him walk around free? He's a government agent!" She screamed. "Don't let him go free. Put him in a room with some guards at the door." He looked at Jack and told him. "Let's just say, you've passed the first test, Jack."