Chapter 3 is up! Please, PLEASE review, last time, a couple of you held out on me. Come on, this is my first fanfic, I need all the help I can get.

IMPORTANT: I'm not sure if any of you noticed, but in the first chapter I said the time to be about 1:15 A.M., but that has changed to go along with the story. The time is actually now 4:00 A.M. Sorry about that.

michelleandtony4ever: I like your idea and took it into consideration.

Amy: Well, I know that's probably true, the jacket being gone. But I just wanted something to represent Michelle's experience in the field, so I chose the jacket.

Chapter 3 – Danger Around the Corner

Michelle's POV

Bill had gotten Jack and me up to speed on how things were going to run; it was mainly going to be me in the field, and Jack would be there in case anything went wrong. I felt much safer knowing that Jack would be there if anything went wrong, because, knowing Jack, he'd come in there anyway even if he knew the virus was in the building. I also felt much better that the jacket I was wearing was different than the one I wore last time; I could tell, this one was smaller.

"Michelle!" Nicole Duncan called as I was about to exit CTU. I turned around.

"Before you leave, we need you to take a few tests."

"Why?" Jack asked, a little annoyed. "We don't have much time for that, for all we know, the virus could be released any minute now. We should hurry."

"Yes, I know," Nicole replied, "but there's something in your system that kept you immune from the virus. We need to find out what that is."

"You think you can use that to find a cure for the virus?" I asked.

"Well, it's a stretch, but it's the only chance we have if the virus is released, and we need to be prepared."

"Alright, but don't take long." Jack said. "We don't have much time."

Tony's POV

I walked out of CTU to where the teams and cars were parked. I scanned the place with my eyes and saw Jack leaning against an SUV, but no Michelle. A bunch of thoughts raced through my mind. I couldn't believe that she was doing this. I mean, it was her duty, but the last time she went out into the field, both of us were on an emotional rollercoaster. But I mean this isn't the same, is it? I mean, even though we're divorced, I don't hate her enough to want to see her get hurt. But that's not love, is it? It couldn't be…

"Where's Michelle? Why aren't you guys on your way?" I asked Jack.

"We will be, Michelle just needs to take a few tests so Nicole Duncan can try and use some of her DNA or blood to find a cure for the virus." He replied.

"Oh," I said, and I leaned against the SUV right next to Jack.

"So," Jack started after a pause, "how has your day been?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked as if he was crazy. What kind of question was that?

"I mean you and Michelle, I mean I know you guys didn't exactly end the marriage on a happy note, and it's probably hard for you to work with, especially when she's your boss. I was asking how you were holding up."

"O.K., I guess, but it's just…" I stopped myself there. There was NO way I was empting my heart out to Jack.

"Just what?" he asked. I know he only wanted to help, but I just hate it when he buts into my life. And the reason for that is that he's usually right, and I hate it when he's right.

"Well, it's just that she seems …different… colder."

"Well what do you expect Tony? I mean, like I said, you guys didn't exactly end things on a happy note, I mean, she's not going to be too happy to see you."

"I know, but it's not the way she's acting towards me, it's just… her eyes. They're not the same. It's like I'm looking into a complete stranger."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. It's been like that with me and Audrey ever since I tortured Paul."

"So how are things going with you guys?"

"Not too good…" he replied, looking down. I felt so bad for him; he has saved the world just about a million times and still can't find any luck with women. He lost Terri because of Nina, Kate because of his drug addiction, and it looks like Audrey is going to be on the list pretty soon because of Paul getting killed. But the irony of it all is that he lost them all because of his job, the job he was born to do, the job if he hadn't taken, we'd be all dead. After a minute he said, "But don't try and change the subject, Tony, I'm talking about you and Michelle." After a pause, he added, "she does care for you Tony."

I smiled a sarcastic smile and said, "Are we looking at the same Michelle, Jack? Because the one is see couldn't care any less for me. You're just saying that to make me feel better and quite frankly it's not working."

"I'm not," he replied, "I'm just saying…" and he trailed off.

"Just saying what?" I asked.

"Let me ask you this, were you and Michelle involved before I came back to CTU?"

"Well, no." I replied.

"Were you involved on the day of the nuclear bomb?"

"Not really, why?"

"But you still cared about each other?"

"Well, yeah."

"Well, remember when you got promoted to CTU director, and you had to be brought down from your little ego trip?"

I rolled my eyes at that. "Yeah, why?"

"Well, when Michelle was helping me behind your back, she seemed so tense. She felt awful about having to hide this from you, but she did what she had to do. Well, today when we were looking into the disappearance of the access codes, Bill made it clear to her that he only wanted high level agents in this case, no exceptions. And that's what she told me. But when she did, I saw that same look in her eyes, the same one when she and I were working against you."

"Well, Jack, we were married for three years, I mean the feelings you have for someone can't just disappear. It's the same way I wouldn't want her to get hurt on this mission, but let's face it, there's no future for us."

Jack simply shrugged. I could tell that he wasn't convinced. "Yeah, well, it's your life; I'm just trying to help."

I laughed at that turned myself to face him and asked, "Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, the last words I said to you before going to prison were horrible things about Terri, but you still came through for me. Why?"

Jack smiled, "I know you didn't mean it, and you didn't deserve going to prison, that's why."

After a pause I started, "Uh, Jack. I am sorry about what I said. The truth is I'm more responsible then you could ever be. I was at CTU at the time and…"

"Don't worry about it, Tony. What's in the past is in the past, and it's not your fault."

"Yeah, I just wanted to clear that with you before I asked you this next thing."

"What's that?"

"Take of Michelle for me. I mean I know you're going to start with the fact that I still love her, but the truth is I just don't want her to get hurt again. Just take care of her."

Jack smiled again and said, "You know you didn't even need to ask. Of course I will."

"Thanks Jack." My head turned when I saw Michelle walk up to us. She was in tight black pants and a snug leather jacket. Her hair was tied up in a high and tight ponytail leaving a single strand of straight hair dangling at the side of her face. It was much different than her low and loose ponytails and buns with her curly hair.

"Are we ready?" she asked.

"Yeah" I said, "Here's just some background information you should look into." And I handed her a manila folder.

"Thanks," she replied, looking it over. Then she said, "Let's go Jack." Jack got in the driver's seat waiting as Michelle grabbed her gun and put it in her holster. She took one last look at me and opened the door to the passenger seat.

"Hey, Michelle," I said casually.

She turned her head.

"Just, uh, be careful, alright." I said.

She simply nodded her head and let out a quiet, "Thanks." She got in the SUV, closed the door, and I watched as she drove away, hoping that she wouldn't get herself in another mess.

Michelle's POV

Most of the car ride to the Courier hotel was quiet. The only people in the car were Jack and me. The rest of the teams were in other cars. They wanted to make this seem casual and didn't want to draw attention to myself or Jack. Finally, Jack broke the silence.

"So, how are you holding up?" he asked.

"Alright, I guess." I replied. "A little nervous, that's all."

"That's natural, don't worry about it." He said. "So, how have you been holding up working with Tony?"

I knew exactly where he was going. "Don't start, Jack," I told him.

"I just want to know if you guys are o.k." he said.

"We're fine, Jack," I said through gritted teeth. Tony was the LAST thing I wanted to talk about.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'm sure, Jack, now if you don't mind, stop butting into my life!" I exclaimed. Jack simply nodded and turned his attention to the road.

After taking a deep breath and calming down I started quietly, "I'm sorry, that didn't come out right…"

"No, it's o.k., I understand. I just wanted to check that you were alright." He replied.

"Not really, Jack. I mean, ever since he got out of prison, he was… different …colder. And I know prison can do that to a man, but still, he wasn't getting anywhere at all. Not just in his career, or with his marriage, but in his life. He was sitting in the same spot, stationary, not moving in his life at all. And he knew it! But he was so convinced that this was the end, and felt so sorry for himself, that he didn't even care! And I couldn't stand to watch it anymore, especially knowing that I was the cause for that!" Now I was near tears, but I was able to hold them in. "So I left! Was that so wrong!" Of course, after a second I realized how I sounded, like one of those divorced women in Spanish soap operas who can't stop crying.

The look on Jack's face after I blurted that all out was priceless. He looked so dumbfounded and confused. I'm pretty sure he didn't know what to say at all. So I just kept on talking.

After taking another deep breath, I said quietly and calmly, "It's like he's a complete stranger to me. And I hate it. All of it. Seeing him here, and spending days apart. For the Tony I fell in love with hasn't returned for a year and a half, ever since his arrest." I took a deep sigh. Wow! Glad I got that off of my chest.

"Uh… Michelle," Jack started, "I'm not really good at these pep talks so I guess I'll just tell you my past experiences. When Terri died, I couldn't believe it. I kept thinking that it was all a bad dream and that I was going to wake up any second now. But as time passed on, I never woke up. Eventually, I realized that this was all reality, and there was no escape. I thought it was all over, Kim hated me, my wife was gone, so was my job, the only thing I knew. Well, all I knew was that I needed someone, even though I wasn't exactly the "most fun" to be around. But Kim moved on, which meant moving out on me. After President Palmer called me on the day of the nuclear bomb, I got my act together, Kim saw the Dad that she always knew once again, and she came back. I'm guessing that Tony was feeling the same way I was before I got my act together. And I couldn't blame Kim for leaving me, the same way he can't really blame you for leaving him. But you can't hold it against him forever. Some day he's gonna get his act back together, and I think that day is today. And when he's the same Tony again, I don't see why you can't get back together, but hey, that's just me."

Wow, that was a little more of Jack than you normally see. He actually has a soft side. "Thanks, Jack." I said; that's all I could say.

He simply nodded, saying, "Always happy to help." After that he changed the subject saying, "We're almost here. You ready?"

"Yeah. What time is it?"

"About 4:15, the recording said that by sunrise "CTU would've lost", which means we have till 6, maybe 6:30 until the virus is out and cannot be stopped."

"Yeah," I replied. I needed too push Tony off of my mind if I could successfully complete this mission.

Tony's POV

I was now sitting in Michelle's desk, my old desk. It actually felt good, being the boss again, even though it was only for a little while.

In the spare time I had ran all of today's events through my head, and it was hard to believe that all of them had had happened in one day. I couldn't believe it, this morning I was yelling at Jen, drinking beer, and watching Spanish soccer. Almost twenty-four hours later, I'm sitting in my ex-wife's office, my old office, and there's a national crisis in my hands.

I wanted to use that time to reflect on my thoughts, seeing as the only thoughts I've reflected on for a while are beer, Jen, television ...and beer. But as usual Edgar came rushing in at the wrong times and said, "Tony, Michelle and Jack have arrived at the Courier Hotel."

"Thanks," I replied to him and got out of "my" chair and headed downstairs to the main floor. I grabbed an earpiece and listened on.

Part of me was nervous that Michelle was in the field, after all I did throw away my lie to save hers and even though we're divorced, I'd hate to see her get hurt. The other part of me was saying that I should back off, she's not mine any more and I should let her live her own life. Right now, I wasn't quite sure what to think, I was falling for the woman who left me, walked out on me, kicked me while I was down after I threw everything away for her, betrayed me in every way possible and wants nothing to do with me. There was no hope for us, I said so myself, absolutely no hope at all…

Michelle's POV

I walked inside the Courier Hotel with Jack and walked up to the front desk saying to the young lady behind the counter, "Excuse me, Miss, we're looking for Charles Patterson, head of hotel security."

"One second," she replied, and picked up the phone.

While she was talking, I looked around the hotel and turned to Jack. "How do you think a run away fugitive could afford a five-start hotel like this?"

"Perhaps Marwan's pay could have gotten him this," he said.

"Why would Marwan pay him before the job was done?" I asked.

"Maybe he was paid to do something else before getting this offer." He said.

"But it must have been something pretty big," I said, "because he sure got a lot of money for it."

"Excuse me," I turned around to see a brown haired man in about his mid thirties standing there. "I'm Charles Patterson, please, follow me into my office."

So we did, Jack made sure that the door was locked and all surveillance was off inside his office before we started to talk.

"Mr. Patterson, I believe we spoke on the phone earlier," Jack said.

"Yes, and I believe you're Agent Bauer and Agent Dessler," he said, shaking our hands and sitting down. "Now tell me, what was such a matter of importance regarding our hotel that had to be brought to the attention of CTU agents, especially in the middle of night?"

"Well, Mr. Patterson," I started, "we believe a guest at your hotel may be involved in today's terrorist attacks. He's signed under the name Carter Jones."

"Today's attacks?" he asked in disbelief. "I assure you that we have a clean establishment…"

"I don't care," Jack said bluntly. "All we need to know is everything about the man named Carter Jones. And if you won't tell us, then we'll find out ourselves." He added threateningly.

"I understand," Patterson replied. He turned to his computer and typed in 'Carter Jones' and came up with all of his bills, check-ins and check-outs, at what times he was in his hotel, and what time he wasn't. He pulled up a copy of his ID as well.

"That's him," I said, remembering the picture of Marcus Smith I had seen earlier on the computer screen.

"Son of a bitch," Jack said, "he's scheduled to check-out in three hours!"

"Do you know of he's inside his room right now?" I asked.

He typed a little more and after reading his monitor screen, he said, "No, he left the hotel at about 2:30 this afternoon and hasn't returned since."

"You're sure he couldn't sneak in with out you knowing?" Jack asked.

"That's impossible," Patterson replied, "the only way to get to his room is to pass the front desk, and they have his key card. Without it, he can't go to his own room. And it says here that we still have his card at the front desk. And he couldn't climb up from the back, seeing as his room is on the 22nd floor."

"And the fire escape?" I asked.

"It breaks on the 16th floor, there's no possible way he could be in here." Patterson replied.

"Alright, then" Jack said. "Do you know where he could have gone?"

"Well, not really." Patterson replied.

"What about his bills?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" Patterson asked.

"Did he use cash or credit?" I asked.

"Credit," he replied. "Why?"

I hunched over the desk and typed a little bit on his keyboard and was able to come up with all of the expenses he made with his credit card.

"He had a lunch at the Rowtown Café on the 19th, he purchased a licensed gun at Stevenson Sports Shop on the 20th, and he had another dinner at Rosetta's Diner on the 23rd. Did you get that Tony?" I spoke into the earpiece.

"Yeah," he said. And I heard him telling Chloe to cross search all of those places and who else was there at the time.

"We're going to have to search his room," Jack said.

"I can give you the key," Patterson said as he walked out of his office to the front desk.

We took the key and went up to his room. Once we were right in front of it, Jack pulled out his gun and so did I.

He silently unlocked the door and whispered, "Stand back," as he kicked the door open and held out his gun. When seeing no one was inside, he put his gun down and beckoned for me to come in.

I was about to turn the lights on, but just as my hand touched the switch Jack grabbed it. "Don't turn the lights on, it may draw attention to us, after all, nobody's up this late at night. And Smith may have some men watching his room for any suspicious behavior."

"You're right," I said, and started to search the room. He had cleaned out most of it, considering that he was leaving as soon as the virus was released.

"Hey Michelle," Jack said, "look at this."

"What is it?" I asked, moving towards him. He gestured to an open laptop on the desk with documents and pictures of planes and airports saved and opened. After looking it over I realized that it was the L.A. airport.

"Jack, I think this is where they're going to release the virus…" but I couldn't even finish my sentence because I was interrupted by the glass in the window breaking and gunshots being fired.

I could here Tony yelling in the earpiece, "What's going on? Michele! Jack!" But soon the line went dead and I could feel Jack pull me down to the floor and under the desk. But the last thing I remember hearing is the last shot, which seemed to have come extremely close to us and Jack stumble backwards…

So, what do you think? Nothing much happened in this chapter; I just wanted to post something. So this time, PLEASE review. I do appreciate it. Thank you.