Chapter 1

He could feel her hands at the back of his head and in his hair, running down his shoulders and trying to get to his back, hindered by the brittle wood of the chair, making their way up to his head again instead. For a moment she paused, her breath slightly unsteady, her forehead resting against his own. He glanced at her, finding her eyes closed. And swallowing hard, he made the world go black for himself as well. It was better not to see.

He could hear her breathing and sense that she was about to say something, and he instinctively sealed her lips with another kiss, wondering how long they had been doing this. It had to be minutes already now. Long, painful minutes and he couldn't but wonder: was she enjoying this? Minutes ago she had pressed the barrel of her gun against his forehead to shoot him. And he hadn't had any doubt she would. Instead here they were. Here he was. Kissing the murderer of his wife. Kissing the one person he...

He should have killed her. He should have shot her when he had had her at gunpoint. How many times. How many times did he have had a chance, how many times could she have died by his hands. Too many, definitely. He should have done it properly the first time and none of this...

He felt her withdrawing and finally they broke the kiss, staring at each other, catching their breath. Even looking at her felt like it was too much for him to do right now.

"I'm sorry, Jack", she merely whispered, and the look in her eyes made him believe that she was actually trying to apologize. Having no other option to shut her up, he pressed his lips on hers again. Trying to hide the boiling anger, the hate and the guilt that were eating him up, he kissed her even harder. Her 'sorry' was the last thing he wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry, Jack", she repeated, breaking the kiss again, and this time he recognized the tone of her voice and realized his mistake. Keeping her eyes closed for a little longer, a smile played around her lips, mocking him, laughing at him. She wasn't apologizing for anything.

"I wanted to believe you've changed," she stated, looking at him with what could only be scorn, "but I can feel it - you're lying."

Of course I'm lying!,his mind was shouting but once more he leaned forward in a desperate attempt to kiss her, completely out of alternatives, holding on to the last thing left to him. Kissing his wife's murderer.

But she pulled away.

"You haven't forgotten anything, have you," she said mockingly, squatting in front of him again. "You despise me. And you would do anything right now to get me to go along with your plan."

If my hands weren't tied to this chair I swear to God I would forget about the plan and kill you! he thought, knowing he couldn't, no matter how much he wanted to. Once again the stakes were too high.

"It's not true," he uttered instead, fully aware of just how desperate he sounded.

"It is true," she retorted and somewhere in the back of his head, he noted how she sounded angry at this. But the thought passed him in less than a second.

"I know you're still with CTU," she continued, snaking up his body again, bringing her face right in front of his. "So why would I let you set me up?"

Her look was piercing and for a moment it felt like she could see right through him, and into his heart and soul and everything that was left of him. He flinched and avoided her gaze, letting his eyes run around the room, scanning their environment for something, anything...a way out of this. He noticed the pile of rotten wood, remains of chairs or pews and became aware of the brittle material he was tied to. If he could only get out of these cuffs, if his hands were free...

-x-

She saw the despair in his eyes and pulled away from him. She knew she had pushed him to the edge, called his bluff and left him no way out. But what now? She needed time to think. But she didn't know exactly how much time she had.

Her hand resting on his knee again, she looked up to him. She knew CTU was involved but what she needed to know was how things were supposed to go down.

"You are after the virus. But not for the Salazars," she confronted him.

It had surprised her a bit that he had broken Ramon out and caused a riot on his way. At first. But then again she knew Jack. Everything to complete the mission. Whatever it took. Whoever was in charge at CTU or Division wouldn't be happy about it, but they would let it go if Jack got the right result.

But where was CTU?

"And who are you working for, Nina?" he asked, and she couldn't but smile at his weak attempt to shift attention from his assignment to hers. How stupid did he think she was.

"Based on the fact that you barged in here alone, I would assume you're on your own," she disregarded his remark. If he wanted the Salazars to believe he was with them, CTU had to keep a safe distance. And she knew Amador was indeed pretty thorough when it came to security issues so they couldn't be anywhere near. The only back-up Jack could possibly have was the Salazars' men. But why had he come for her alone then?

Maybe it hadn't been too smart to kill the last of her own men. Plus, he was a pretty proficient guy, she sighed inwardly. But unfortunately he had been loyal as well. He really would have called in so what choice did she have? She hadn't been willing to kill Jack. Not yet anyway. Not before she knew.

"So what's the plan, Jack?" she asked. "You convince me you really are with the Salazars and offer me more money if I help you getting the virus. And then?"

"Once they got the virus I'll make sure they pay us," he replied, his voice somewhat stronger now. "And then...", he hesitated, "then I'll try not to kill you."

She couldn't but laugh at this and got back to her feet. He really didn't give up and if she wouldn't know him as well as she did, she might have fallen for his well-declaimed lie.

"I really appreciate that, Jack, but you're missing the point." She resumed walking, putting her thoughts in order. "First of all, even if that was true, you know as well as I do that the Salazars would never let us live. Secondly," she finished her first length and turned around, "even if you had gone rogue and turned your back on CTU, you would never let these people walk away with a deadly virus in their hands."

Still walking, she gave him a quick glance, observing his reaction. The slight twitch and the way he cast his eyes down was enough for her. A tacit admission. Of course he wouldn't. No matter how disenchanted he could possibly have become with his life and CTU, he would never be like her. He would never just abandon his morals and beliefs. It was too much of what he was all about. Well, except for when it came to her.

Finishing another length, she waited a few seconds, curious if he would snatch at the opportunity she had just offered him, telling her he would try to secure the virus but still wanted to get away with the money. But he was too smart to go with what was so obviously the next best lie.

"So let's get back to reality, Jack," she continued. "CTU is somehow behind this but for the moment you're on your own." She stopped and turned around to him, folding her arms before her chest. "How do you wanna play this out?"

Facing her again, he looked somewhat more confident. But she knew it was rage his confidence was feeding on.

"First of all, just because you have no loyalties and kill everyone around you that doesn't mean everybody else is doing the same. Ramon trusts me."

"You mean he won't kill you?" she replied with a sneer.

"No, he won't," Jack stated and it actually seemed like he really believed it. She wondered what the connection between Jack and the Salazar brother really was. Obviously it went deeper than what she could see so far, but there was no time to elaborate on that now.

"And second of all?" she asked.

"Second of all, how do you wanna play this out?" Jack threw her own question back at her. "You kill me, and then? You think the Salazars will just let you walk out of here and make the deal with Amador?" He shook his head and it was his turn to sneer.

She examined him closely and had to admit he seemed very convincing. She couldn't tell for sure if he was playing or honest, only that he stood with his back against the wall. However, he had a point.

"They are out there?" she asked.

Jack nodded. "They are waiting."

"For what?"

"I told them I could convince you to help us."

"Us?" With a smile she turned around again and resumed walking once again. It was fascinating how committed he was to his cover. She was sure anybody else would have been convinced by his performance by now. But she wasn't just anybody.

"And if you can't", she hesitated to emphasize the word, "convince me?"

"Then you are of no use to them," he answered coldly.

Still walking to and fro, she bowed her head and stared at the ground.

-x-

He watched her parading back and forth, evaluating the situation. He was fully aware he had just confirmed CTU's involvement but there was no point in further denial. She knew it anyway, had probably never doubted it for a second. Once again she had seen right through him, like she usually did, and one of the things he hated himself the most for was that he had made himself so vulnerable to her. That he had allowed her to read him like she did. If he had only never trusted her. If he had just been able to see through her half as much.

He pushed the thoughts aside. He knew it didn't look good for him, but it sure as hell didn't look much better for her either and the thought comforted him.

"So it's really up to you now, Nina," he spoke up again. "How do you wanna play this out?"

She came to a halt and looked at him in a well-familiar manner. Her eyes focused and rational, businesslike and attentive, she observed him thoroughly before she lowered her gaze for a second. Opening her mouth just a little bit then, she looked up again and stepped closer. Maybe he didn't know what was going on inside her most of the time, but he surely was familiar with the way she moved, spoke, acted. And the familiarity appalled him.

Standing right in front of him now, she stared a while longer into his eyes before she closed her mouth and let her gaze wander off for another second.

"Alright, Jack, let's just assume for a second you really did convince me to help you. I'll transfer my buyer's funds and meet with Amador to pick up the virus. What about the Salazars and what about CTU?"

He had expected the question and thought about what to answer, but in the end he had only one option: staying as close to the truth as possible.

"The Salazars will let you live as long as they think you'll deliver the virus. Once you got it, CTU will take over."

She sneered. "See, and that's the problem. I'm dead meat if the Salazars get their hands on the virus. And I'm dead meat if my buyer finds out I screwed him over. And I'm no better off if CTU finds out I'm involved in this."

He knew remaining silent was an admission that CTU already knew she was in the picture, but what could he possibly tell her? And it didn't make a difference.

She smiled. "They already know. How did you contact them?"

Everything in him resisted but he knew if he wanted her to cooperate he would have to offer her an alternative. Something that was better than death.

"Does it matter? They know. But they also know that I'm trying to get you to help."

"Help the Salazars or help you?" she replied mockingly.

"I didn't have the time to define that," he retorted, suddenly becoming aware of Ramon again and wondering how much time they had left before he would lose patience. "Look, all they want, all I want is the virus and for that I need this deal to happen."

"Why can't they just take out Amador?" Nina suggested, reminding him once again that she really had no loyalties. If it wasn't for the danger to her life, she wouldn't hesitate one second to screw her client over either.

"Because we don't have a confirmed visual yet."

"Then how were you planning to contact them once you got it?"

"I'll find a way," he said determined but she looked at him skeptically and shook her head. It would take more to convince her but Jack knew he was running out of time.

"So let's say you do, and let's say CTU shows up in time to arrest the Salazars and Amador and secure the virus," she said to his surprise. "What happens to me?"

He stared at her for a long second and she returned his look effortless.

"As I said," he finally stated, trying not to show his emotions and how much strength it took him to control them. "I will try not to kill you."

Once more she laughed at him. "Sorry, Jack, but that's just not good enough. Even if you don't kill me - and I'm not convinced at all you won't try - CTU won't let me go and we both know what is waiting for me if I get arrested again."

"And what do you want me to do about that, Nina?" he hissed back. "It's not exactly my fault you violated your exile."

Still this mocking, superior smile on her face and he had to hold back not to tell her what he thought she deserved.

"No?" she sneered but shrugged it off. "You want something from me here. So I think you have to offer me something in return."

"What do you want?" he growled.

"Two things," she explained. "I want to know exactly what I'm getting myself into here. You fill me in on everything that's going on and that I need to know. And I mean everything. If I find out you screw with me..." She didn't complete the sentence but he understood.

If they were going through with this, she could sell him out to the Salazars at any point and he had no doubt she would if it would work to her advantage. Of course Ramon didn't trust him, and first Chase and then Nina - a simple accusation might be enough for him to decide that it was better to get rid off Jack and deal with her instead.

"And the second thing?"

"That shouldn't be too hard to figure out," she sneered. "I wanna walk free from this. I'll help you to set up the Salazars and I'll help you to get the virus. But I'll decide when to bring in CTU, and I'll disappear before they arrive. Without you following me."

Just say yes, a voice inside of him urged. Just say yes. You'll get your chance at her later. But he knew it wasn't that simple. He couldn't afford to lose perspective.

Her sudden willingness to help him, to help the same people she had so willingly sold out not too long ago had to make him suspicious. Why should she satisfy herself with walking free? She would still have her buyer coming after her and she surely wouldn't get paid. She couldn't assume the Salazars would give her anything before or after they had the virus. She had said so herself - they were going to kill her once they had what they wanted. So why was she offering this? Was she just trying to play him until she could strike a deal with the Salazars herself and get rid off him once and for all?

"Do we have a deal?" she asked and her expression, sure of victory and sublime, made him clench his teeth for a moment, trying not to lose his temper now.

"How about this," he countered. "You untie me before Ramon gets impatient and comes in here and we'll both live a while longer."

She smiled and shook her head. "Work with me here, Jack?" Not losing the superior, patronizing tone to her voice. "Cause right now it seems my best option is to get rid off you and make a deal with the Salazars on my own."

"Then why don't you?" he retorted, having just figured out the answer for himself. "Because you can't," he continued. "Because you know damn well that you need me to make it through this alive."

She didn't give herself away but he knew he had caught her. And she knew it too.

"You know you can't trust them any more than me and you're on your own now, without anyone to watch your back. What's gonna keep them from just forcing you to pick up the virus for them? And from killing you afterwards." He sneered satisfied, knowing he was as much or as little in control as she was. And he knew how much she hated not having control.

"Let's face it, Nina: I'm the only thing standing between you and a bullet to your head. You kill me - you might just shoot yourself as well."

-x-

She knew he was right. As much as she hated it - she knew he was right. She really needed him. And she felt like punching him.

Why do you have to keep coming back into my life and messing things up? Her plan had been so simple but then he had to show up and complicate things. Like three years ago.

What had she cared about Faheen and his bomb? True, they had had their moments. He had had this protective, tender manner that she was quite able to enjoy sometimes. Just like with Tony. The difference being that Faheen had known who she was. But in the end, of course, none of them had been a keeper. Tony being the decent and upright fellow he was, and Faheen - a fanatic madman willing to kill thousands of people for reasons that couldn't apply to any reasonable or rational thinking human being. Selling him out surely hadn't caused her sleepless nights, but it had never been part of the plan to kill him. It had been so easy to convince him and would have been as easy to make him tell her everything they needed to know right there and then. To stop Ali before everything got out of hand. But Jack had to go all cowboy and barge in with the cavalry. And assuring her all day she would be dead as soon as he didn't need her anymore - how could he expect her to tell him what she knew later on the plane? She hadn't wanted this bomb to go off any more than he had, but she hadn't had an imminent death wish either. Killing Faheen had been nothing but a necessity for her own survival.

Just like killing Jack. Not one second had she not been rational about that. But she had not only wanted to kill him, she had wanted him to know what she was going to do. She had wanted him to pay for all the troubles he had caused, all the humiliation and the threats, every time he had put his gun at her head or jerked her around. She had wanted payback for all the moments she had thought were going to be her very last.

But it had been stupid. Looking back now, she had practically encouraged him to try something, giving him so much time and limiting herself by agreeing not to take any action before the bomb was stopped. She could actually be grateful Palmer had still let her go and not just thrown her back into jail. Grateful? Considering how she had spent the last three years of her life, she wasn't sure about that.

She sighed and as simple as that, she wiped the thoughts away. She couldn't afford letting anger cloud her judgment. She wouldn't make the same mistake Jack constantly made. Maybe her original plan had gone to hell but she could still play this out and get what she had come for. She only had to play it right. Play him right. And if anyone knew how to do that, it was still her.

"Alright," she sighed and looked down at him. "But you're gonna have to take care of something while I'm picking up the virus."