His eyes stayed closed but he found it hard to stop himself from moving to a more comfortable position. To take his mind away from the pain he went through what he could remember before he had woken up. Nina and the plane going down were his last thoughts, everything was black after that. At least he had survived the crash, he knew how lucky he was for that alone - although he didn't feel particularly happy, the crash was supposed to be his get out clause, yet he was still here. Was someone trying to tell him something?
His mind wandered to Nina and his thoughts lingered on which he would prefer, the crash killing her or her survival like his. It would be good, knowing she had died without getting her pardon and he wasn't responsible, yet he knew he should hope she had survived as they needed her information. He tried to tell himself that was why he wanted to her alive, but he knew it was a lie - he would never be satisfied with her death unless it was by his own hand.
The thought of killing her lingered in his mind as he drifted away and suddenly he was in the CTU parking garage again, over a year ago. He could still feel the gun shaking in his hand as he pressed it into her face. He was furious, he thought he would throw up he was that angry, he still couldn't comprehend what she had done. But he hadn't killed her then, he would never forgive himself for that... But the next time he was given his chance, nobody would be able to talk him down, he was certain of it.
Nina leaned over as Jacks head bounced against the hard surface once more and she saw he was still out of it. She watched his face for a moment, he was clearly in pain, physical or emotional she didn't know. But if he was dreaming he would come around soon. She didn't know if that was good or bad. While he was out of it she could use him to her advantage, but if he was awake, then he could try to spring the tables on her.
A sudden thought hit her and it chilled her to the bone; they both needed each other if they were to survive this. She began to worry as this thought entered her mind, maybe he wouldn't want to play, maybe his death would be worth getting rid of her too. She felt her hands start to tremble but she shook away the fear, Jack could do what he wanted - she still had a few cards she could play with Mandras if she needed to save herself.
She looked around the land they were cutting through, the earth wasn't as bumpy now. She went to lean over the edge of the truck to see if they were on a tarmac road but Pezel started shouting at her to stay still, waving his gun at her in a threatening gesture. She stayed seated, her eyes now fixed on Pezel, he looked away first. She looked his down, he still had blood on him from earlier, he hadn't bothered to clean it up.
She thought about who the man he had found and killed could have been. When he had radioed Kalah she hadn't been able to hear much of what he was saying, except that the man was unrecognisable. He hadn't had a chance, whoever it had been, probably another fed too, she thought unconcerned. She had to laugh at the irony of it though. Out of everyone on the plane, at least 15 agents, only she and Jack had survived. Even more suspiciously they were the least wounded, sure something was wrong with Jack, but she was fine other than a few bruises. It was slightly creepy, how fate had thrown them together for the second time this day.
As the truck approached a barn she let these thoughts run around her mind, how very unsettling it was that only Jack and herself had been allowed to live. He probably didn't care if he had died or not, and she had no misconceptions about herself, if anyone deserved to die in that crash it was her. Surely there was some bigger reason they had both been saved? She crossed the thoughts out of her mind, they were unnecessary right now. As the barn doors were opened by somebody from the inside Nina realised that there was no real reason why it had to be them, it was a coincidence, nothing more. She had to focus on getting out of this situation, rather than analysing why she was in it at all.
The truck pulled to a stop inside and the doors were closed. It was dark now, a stark contrast to the bright sun she had been faced with throughout the ride. The tailgate was unfastened and Pezel grabbed the chain between the cuffs and dragged her to the end and then down to the ground. She stumbled at first but caught her footing. As she straightened up she saw the frame of somebody approaching her.
It was too dim to make out his features, but she could tell who it was by the walk. The tall confident stride, the way the arms were hung at his sides, as though he had jut come away from a heavy gym session. It was Mandras. She took a slight step back as her mind started to rush around with frantic emotions, explanations and tactics which would hopefully save her. He stood at arms length from her, a sick smile on his face. Nina held it, her expression calm, the trademark smirk on her face. On the outside he didn't faze her, on the inside, she was wondering if she would make it out this time.