Thanks for all of the reviews - you are all the best. I am so sorry it has been so long since I updated. I was starting to think I'd never get this chapter finished, I struggled with it so much. Anyways, it's not the best but at least I've finally done a little more. Hope you think it is ok.

I don't own 24, if I did there would have been a 'Tony/Michelle' side movie made by now.

The next day found Tony and Michelle by her father's bedside again. John had been awake for hours in the early morning but had fallen asleep not long before they had arrived. Michelle had been sitting patiently holding her dad's hand whilst Tony quietly read parts of the newspaper to her.

Michelle was only half listening to what he was reading. Her mind continued to drift between worry for her father and Tony. They still hadn't had any kind of 'real' conversation about what was happening between them. Last night had been the most amazing night, after dinner Tony had pulled her into his arms and they had drifted off to sleep watching TV. Waking up next to Tony was incredible, something she hoped she would be able to do a lot more often. She wanted to ask Tony what he was thinking but nerves made her continually let every opportunity pass by.

"Michelle?"

She turned around to see her father looking at her with wide eyes. "Dad, oh…dad, it is so good to see you awake!"

"Thank you for coming out sweetie. I hope it didn't cause too much trouble with work."

Michelle leaned over her dad and hugged him tightly. "Of course I'd be here." As she finished hugging her dad she rested her hand on Tony's shoulder. "Dad I want you to meet Tony."

John's eyes widen and he stuck his hand out.

Tony stood and accepted his hand. "It's nice to meet you sir, I only wish it was under better circumstances."

"I'll have to agree with you on that one…"

Michelle stood. "Dad, can I get you anything? I should probably let the nurse know you are awake."

Before she had a chance to take even a step Tony jumped up. "Hey, I'll go….want some water John?"

"Actually, that would be good, thanks Tony."

Once Tony had left the room it only took a second for John to jump in. "So sweetheart…who is Tony?" He smirked.

"Almeida, Tony Almeida."

John laughed. "I didn't ask for his last name Chelle."

Michelle had to chuckle at herself for being so lost all over the place that she had completely missed her father's point. "Umm yeah…he is pretty special to me Dad."

"Well anyone could have figured that out from the way you go all goo goo eyed at him."

Michelle pushed her Dad's arm and blushed dramatically. "Dad, I do not…"

"Don't worry sweetheart he was looking at you like that too."

"Really?" Michelle forced herself to try and regain some of her composure before Tony came back in. "You know, he wouldn't let me fly out here alone – said he wanted to be here for me if I needed him."

John took his daughters hand. "Now that's the kind of thing a father likes to hear."

Tony waltzed back in with a nurse in tow. He handed John a glass of water before taking a seat. He and Michelle sat in silence as the nurse checked John over.

Once the nurse had left the room again John spoke up. "So Tony, are you with CTU as well?"

"Yes sir."

When Michelle realized Tony wasn't going to say it himself she spoke up. "Tony just made director of CTU dad."

Tony sunk his head shyly but then John's voice demanded his gaze. "Well that is fantastic. Congratulations Tony."

The 3 of them sat chatting for an hour before the nurse came in and suggested that Tony and Michelle let her father rest some more. They told him they would be back in later on and then began to make their way out of the hospital.

Once inside the privacy of their hotel room Michelle wrapped her arms around Tony's waist. "My dad loved you…"

He snaked his arm around her slim shoulders. "I doubt he would if he knew what I got up to with his gorgeous daughter last night." Tony smirked proudly.

Michelle's jaw dropped open in shock but she quickly closed it and tried to keep her cool. "Oh really?...and what would that have been? I remember a nice dinner and some TV…"

Tony nibbled on her ear. "Are you suggesting I remind you?"

As his hand trailed from her cheek down to her neck Michelle blushed. She racked her mind for a witty comeback but she had nothing. All she could concentrate on was the feel of Tony's touch. His eyebrows rose at her, as if he was asking her again. Finally she spoke. "Are you suggesting a repeat performance?"

Tony laughed. "Well it certainly was a performance I wouldn't mind repeating!"

Michelle laughed along with him for a moment and then they both stood there in silence. They both had so much to say and they knew they were scooting around the discussion by making jokes. Tony wondered why he was finding it so hard to just let go and tell her everything that he was feeling. How much in love he had fallen with her, how much he needed her and wanted her.

Finally, "Michelle, do we need to talk?"

"About what?"

"Us. The last couple days. Everything basically."

Tony had given her an opening. A clear shot to let him know how she was feeling but yet she still felt hesitant to take it. "I don't know, you know I appreciate you being here with me now, right?"

Tony took her hand and led her to the bed where they both took a seat. "I want to be here. What about last night and the other night at my house…"

"When you were drunk…"

Tony smiled slightly. "Yeah, I guess I was. I mean…are you glad you saw me at the bar Chelle?"

"Of course I am, although I do wonder if that hadn't happened if 'we' would have happened."

She had caught him a little off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I just….it's just…if I hadn't gone to the bar that night, would I have just seen you back at work another day and everything gone back to normal or would you have made a move?"

"So you think all of this is simply the result of me getting pissed the other night?"

Michelle dropped Tony's hand. "No, that's not what I said…"

"Sounds like you are questioning whether or not this is what I want."

"Forget it Tony, I didn't mean it like that."

Tony stood up and slowly paced the room. "So what exactly did you mean?"

Michelle was so relieved to hear her phone ringing. She knew she had managed to insult Tony, she certainly didn't mean for things to go this way. She flipped open her phone and took the call.

Tony was surprised how defensive he had become so quickly. As she talked on the phone he tried to take a minute to figure out why. It didn't take long for Michelle's concerned voice to snap him back into reality. She was arguing now with someone and getting visibly upset as each minute passed. Tony found himself edging towards her and gently tracing his hand up and down her back. She slammed her phone shut and threw it across the room.

"What's going on Michelle? Who was that?"

Her voice raised, "my stupid fu..." she caught herself and took a deep breath before starting again. "My brother. It was my brother. He is here…well at the hospital…and he says that Dad has to…"

He held her arm. "Your dad has to what?"

"Tony he has to have the bypass surgery."

Tony was shocked. "But he was ok just like an hour ago."

Michelle pulled back. "He was wasn't he! Why would this be happening? I have to go to the hospital…"

"Ok." Tony grabbed his wallet and Michelle's phone from across the room and then led her out of the door. He didn't know what to say, he just knew he had to be everything she needed. As they walked down the hall he wrapped his arm around her, pressed a firm kiss to her temple and mumbled, "I'm so sorry."

At the hospital Michelle and Tony listened as the doctor explained the procedure. John had quickly become unstable and they felt it was smart to perform a double bypass whilst he still had the strength to handle it. Danny spent the entire time sitting on the other side of the room eyeing Tony off, obviously more distracted by his presence then the situation at hand. Michelle consented to the surgery as her father was sedated and stepped out to the station to sign the paper work.

Danny made his way to Tony. "You're from CTU."

Tony nodded his head. "Yes."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for Michelle."

"I wasn't aware she was seeing anyone. Besides I'm here now…"

Tony was trying to patient with Danny simply because it was Michelle's brother and he didn't want to upset her further. He faced him and spoke with a firm but gentle tone. "That's great, it is good you are here but I want to be here for Michelle as well."

Danny backed off. The look in Tony's eye and the tone of his voice was enough to warm him not to cause anymore trouble. He simply nodded his head and took a step back.

When Michelle came back into the room Danny started up with her straight away. "Why did you sign the forms Michelle? He would have been ok you know."

"Danny, I'm following what the doctors say ok? They know best."

They argued for a few minutes as Michelle tried to make Danny understand the situation. Tony was furious at Danny for adding to the drama but kept his thoughts to himself. Eventually her brother stormed out of the room. Michelle turned to Tony and shook her head. "Sorry you had to see that."

"That's ok, I don't understand why he is set on giving everyone such a hard time."

"That's Danny for you – nothing is ever simple or easy and he has a problem with just about every decision I ever make."

"Don't let him get to you Chelle, you have enough on your plate at the moment. You made the right decision with your dad – you know that."

Michelle nodded her head and reached her hand up to Tony's chest. "Thanks Tony." She gripped his shirt and put her other hand on his shoulder. "Ummm….about before. I know I upset you, I didn't mean too."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about what you said Chelle."

Michelle leaned her head against his chest. "I'm sorry."

Tony began to stroke her hair and Michelle sighed in relief. He kissed the top of her head. "Maybe I haven't been clear enough about my feelings. There was so much going on between us that was 'unspoken' about for so long and then in just a matter of days everything has moved so quickly."

"I think that's what I was trying to get at before Tony."

Tony pulled his body back enough that he would be able to look into her eyes. She slipped her arms inside his jacket around his waist and he used one hand to cup her face and the other to wrap around her neck. "I'm sorry it took all of those horrible events to bring us together Chelle. When I see what we have now I regret how much time I've wasted not being with you."

"Let's not even worry about that Tony. Lets just concentrate on now and how amazing the last couple days together have been."

A small smile crept across his face. "You think it has been amazing?"

Michelle blushed a little. "Well…" she stopped at first hesitant at how much to offer but then decided he was more than worth putting herself out there for. "Yes, better than amazing….incredible. Even with all the other shit going on, when you look at me the way you do Tony, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world."

She stopped him dead in his tracks. He could barely put a coherent thought together, never mind a sentence. Just like that it felt as though the world had been lifted off his shoulders, as if that was all he needed to hear. He wondered how he would ever be able to come up with anything that would mean as much to her as that just did to him….then without even another thought the answer dropped out of his mouth. "I love you."