Chapter 4

Jack checked on the blocked up window and found the wood to be as good as rotten. Everything around him seemed to be. Materials and people alike. Rotten to the skin.

Tearing down the nailed up beams, he heard someone moving behind him and with a look over his shoulder recognized Nina. Right on cue.

Casting her eyes round the shed, she took a seat, and although she seemed cool and composed, he could sense something was bothering her. He could tell by the way her lower jaw was just a little bit tensed, as if she was slightly clenching her teeth. Being the last person with any right to complain, he wondered if it really still upset her that he had tried to go behind her back. What did she expect him to do? Suddenly trust her? He threw the last beam to the ground and quickly peered outside, making sure they were the only ones already inside the building.

"You would have done the same thing if you were in my shoes," he growled over his shoulder. "I saw a chance to -"

"That's not what I'm worried about," she cut him short and he turned around to look at her. "You didn't even notice how close you were to blowing your cover, did you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You asked Hector if Gael hadn't told him that Chase was on his own," she explained, examining his reaction. And staring back at her it dawned on him that she was right. He had made a mistake. A deadly one if anyone had noticed.

"You told me the last thing you heard was Gael telling Hector he didn't know what Chase was doing down here."

"Yes," Jack confirmed with his voice going weak on him. "In the car before we went after you." Lowering his gaze and staring at the dusty ground to his feet, he couldn't believe he had brought himself so close to getting killed. And this time all without Nina's help.

He had heard Hector asking Gael about Chase, but since then he hadn't gotten any input on the issue from neither Ramon nor Hector. He wasn't supposed to know what Gael had told Hector later on. That Chase was a rogue agent as well and that CTU had no idea where he was. If Hector or Ramon would have realized what Nina had realized... He felt his stomach turn.

"What's wrong with you, Jack?" Nina asked, her voice bearing that inquiring intonation again. And jerking his head around he met her eyes for a second, recognizing the look that came along with the voice. As if he was some kind of research object that she was trying to analyze.

He flinched and turned away, walking over to the window again, trying not to let her see just how shocked he was in the face of his sloppiness. He already felt vulnerable enough as things were.

"I made a mistake, alright?" he hissed, trying to use his anger to pull himself together. "No one noticed." To his relief Ramon and Hector were still outside, briefing their men and urging them to quickly take their positions.

"That's not what I meant, Jack," Nina replied coldly. "You're soaked in sweat, your face is pale and your hands are shaking. Generally you don't look too good."

Knowing he was just stalling, he grabbed the pair of spyglasses and checked the surroundings within his field of vision. "I'm fine," he grumbled.

"No, you're not," she sighed. "Even someone who doesn't know you would notice."

He kept staring out into the darkness, knowing she wouldn't let this go.

"Jack?" she urged him and with one quick move he turned around.

"What do you want from me?"

"I wanna know what I'm dealing with," she retorted, raising her voice a little bit which automatically caused him to glance over his shoulder. "If we wanna make it through this alive," she continued more quiet but not less insistent, "we need each other. And I need to know you're up to this."

"You wanna know if you can trust me?" he sneered but was met with an equally mocking smile on her part.

"I wanna know if I can rely on you."

Expressing his contempt with a nasal sound, he once again changed position, turning his back on her. "Don't worry. I didn't even get you killed when I wanted to."

-x-

Nina smirked.

"And now you don't want to?"

He didn't reply and she hadn't expected him to. There was no point in asking him directly and bring everything up again. She needed confirmation on another issue to get her answer.

"Who was the woman?" she asked and although Jack didn't voice an answer this time either, he definitely reacted. His entire body seemed to tense and stiffen and she could practically hear anguish creeping down his spine. Just as she had earlier when Ramon had mentioned her name. Claudia. Telling Jack that she was dead. And already then Jack had hardly been able to disguise his feelings. She had to find out why.

"You didn't mention her."

She had known all along that there were things he had kept from her. She would have done the same in his shoes. And as for his attempt to contact CTU behind her back - she understood that too. Better than he thought actually. She was neither naive nor stupid, had been playing this game way longer than him. Demanding that he put all his cards on the table was part of the procedure, a negotiation move, a diplomatic convention. But that was really all it was. They both knew there was no way for him to let himself be at her mercy like that.

"Cause it has nothing to do with this," Jack growled menacing. "Leave it alone."

I wish I could, Jack, I really do. But not with the stakes being that high. I need to know.

"I understand she's...was Hector's girlfriend? What was she doing out there with Chase?" she asked but had hardly finished the sentence when Jack flew around and reached her with three swift steps.

She had been prepared for a strong reaction but recognizing the expression in his eyes, she flinched. She had seen it before and now it felt like she was reliving that moment. The moment right before he had crashed her chair into the wall and lifted her out of it with his hand around her throat, threatening to choke all life out of her.

But this time she wasn't in restraints and when his hand shot forward she managed to grab his wrist and stop him before his fingers could reach her throat. His face not too far away from hers, he raised his other hand, still clasping the spyglasses, and for a second she really thought he was going to smash them against her head. Luckily for her, he didn't.

"Jack!" she tried to get through to him, fortunately still aware enough to keep her voice down. If anyone would walk in on them like this - it wouldn't look good. The thought seemed to have crossed his mind as well, and still glaring at her with frightening intensity, he lowered his arm.

Breathing out in relief she tried to relax, realizing that he could probably see how shaken she was. For a moment she had really thought he would smash her head in and now the adrenaline and the shock made her shiver. Even that a familiar feeling. More flashbacks to the interrogation room. And just like then she expected to see those little signs of comfort and satisfaction in Jack's eyes. About once again having put her into place and seeing her scared. But they had never been there. Just anger. And hate.

And now, still cowering in a defensive posture and staring up to him, she just found him looking distraught and about as shaken as she was herself. She had deliberately provoked him, absolutely, but she had underestimated how easy it would be to tip him over the edge.

He kept staring back at her, breathing heavily, until he became aware of her hand still wrapped around his wrist and with a quick move withdrew his arm. A second later he took his eyes off of her and turned away.

There she had her answer. She couldn't tell if it was love or guilt that made Claudia's death bear down on him so heavily but either way - he had cared for her in some way and now he had lost her. And losing yet another woman he hasn't been able to protect might make his desire for revenge even more consuming.

Might? She had feared this since the moment she had seen Jack's reaction to the news. She hadn't been sure before, somehow hoping that there were other reasons. But now all her doubts seemed resolved. If there had ever been any chance at all that he would let it go, that he would let her go - after this there wasn't. Just now he had stopped himself, remembering that he still needed her. But she could feel it had been harder on him this time, even harder than ever before, if that was possible. She hadn't thought there was room for increase.

Neither had he probably, hence the distraction and shock in his expression. Peering hard at his shoulder region, she thought she could actually hear the whirring of tensed muscles and tendons and became aware of her own state again. She closed her mouth and swallowed, and lowering her gaze to the ground, she rolled her shoulders in their joints and straightened up. After all, this was nothing new to her. He had tried to kill her countless times and had been close to doing it at several occasions. In the end it had always been the fact that he still needed her that had stopped him, nothing more but nothing less. She had always been safe as long as she had something to offer, regardless of the intensity and degree of his longing for revenge. That hadn't changed. Being the only one who could get him the virus, she was safe for the moment. She just had to keep it that way. Or kill him. As simple as that. It was all still the same, nothing had changed.

Feeling her body relax, she leaned back a little and watched him peering out into the darkness again. She knew what she had to do and what she could do, depending on how things would turn out. The plans were laid out ready in her head. Right now, all she could do was wait and see.

-x-

Hector stared into the darkness and swallowed. This was no good.

"Ramon," he turned to his brother who stood three steps behind him, once again making sure that everyone was in position.

"Ramon, it still doesn't feel right. There could be an army out there hiding in the woods. Let us get out of here before it's too late."

"Get over it, Hector. We're going through with this now."

"You really wanna go back to prison, Ramon?" Hector replied heatedly. "I told you already, there are too many CTU people around. What are the chances they all turned on their country?"

"Don't be stupid, Hector. The woman was in prison and has been on the run for a long time. That would be one hell of a cover. And you know what Bauer did today. They couldn't have given consent to that."

"And Edmunds?" he insisted.

It was your men who let him escape," Ramon reminded him with a menacing glare. "And it was you who promised something we couldn't keep. Now I'm going to get us out of the mess you made."

"I made you a free man," Hector protested but Ramon cut him short.

"Bauer got me out of prison, not you."

Hector clenched his fists. Bauer. First he betrayed them, then he got Claudia killed, and now Ramon favored him above his own brother? He's dead, he yelled in his head. He's so dead!

"And now that I'm back you're gonna take my orders," Ramon continued. "Just like you always have."

I don't deserve this, Hector thought. He had always loved his brother and respected him and this was what he got in return?

"Ramon," he tried one last time but was once again cut short.

"No more talking, Hector. We're doing this deal now."

-x-

Jack watched the scene from his position by the window, careful though not to show his face. He only understood fragments of the dispute but it was clear the brothers were fighting, both looking angry and upset.

"If we're lucky they're gonna kill each other," he heard Nina's voice suddenly next to him. Focused on what was going on outside he hadn't noticed her approaching. Now he gave her a quick glare, not feeling up to any comment.

She was right though, he knew it. It would increase their chances enormously. CTU would stand down until they either got a confirmed visual or noticed Amador clearing the area, but Hector and Ramon wouldn't hang around and wait until then. They would kill Nina the second she had delivered the virus and as much as Jack hated it - he couldn't wait until they were finished with her if he didn't want to be next. He needed her help and even the two of them would still be outnumbered and stand small chances, if any. She was right - if Ramon and Hector decided to stab each other in the back, they would have much better chances.

Still the casualness of her statement, the intonation of her voice, the way she just analyzed it like a mathematical problem disgusted and appalled him. He knew he had killed a lot of people and he would have killed several more by the end of this day, but he never liked it. It was part of his job, part of the mission or the assignment, something that had to be done in order to prevent something a lot worse. But he had never taken any pleasure from killing. Deep down of course he knew she didn't either - but she just didn't seem to feel anything at it. And maybe that was the hardest to take in.

If she had turned out to be a psychopath or a sociopath or if she had followed any twisted ideology or fundamentalism. If she had any identifiable motivation, something that drove her no matter how sick or contemptible. But there was nothing. She didn't even seem to enjoy what she was going.

So why is she, he found himself wondering, much to his own surprise. It had to be the withdrawal symptoms. They made him weak and confused. It doesn't matter why she is doing anything. He had always been content with the explanation that she simply did it for the money. That she had sold her soul and had no heart. Why did he all of a sudden feel like that wasn't enough anymore? Bullshit, he thought. The only thing that did matter was what she had done, not why.

Once the Salazars were out of the way and the virus secured, they would have some time left before CTU would arrive to pick them up. Enough time to settle old scores. He would deal with her once this was over.

And with Claudia, it flashed through his mind. And the fact that he had failed her. Not now, he tried to push the thought back. He had to stay focused. He couldn't think of her now. He couldn't afford to think of her now. He was trained to keep focused and save everything else for later. For his downtime. But now he couldn't block them out. The thoughts that just kept running through his mind. Another thing the drugs, the withdrawal, did to him. He tried so hard but he couldn't shut them out. Not even the most scary and disturbing one.

When he had stood there with his hand in the air, ready to beat the life out of her, ready to let Nina pay for everything - he knew he hadn't hesitated because he still needed her. This time he hadn't spared her life because he had come to his senses in time and realized she was untouchable. It had been something else. Something he wasn't prepared for but knew it was true. And it scared and enraged him so much - he had only wanted to hit her even more. But he hadn't.

He shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to make it all stop. He knew it had just been a way for her to get the information she needed. She had said so herself: she needed to know where she had him and if he was fit to do what she expected of him. That was all she was concerned about and all that mattered to her. Feeling her gaze on him he kept his face from her a little longer. Don't worry, he thought. I'm fit enough to do what I have to do. And I'm more than fit to deal with you after that.

"Here we go," Nina stated and it took him a second to realize what she meant. Of course she wasn't referring to any of his thoughts but to Ramon. Still standing outside with Hector, he was glancing at his wristwatch now.

-x-

"It's time," Ramon said and turned around, walking over to the entrance. He noticed Hector staying behind, demonstrating he sulked, but he knew he would come following in a few seconds. He was starting to get seriously annoyed with his brother and once this was over they would have a good talk about his behavior today, but now Ramon had more important things to take care of than Hector's temper.

"It's time for you to go," he stated when he had found them inside.

Glancing at Jack who was standing by the window, he stepped closer to the woman. Sitting in front of him she just returned his gaze, not moving yet because she probably knew there was more to come. Well, she wasn't stupid, he had already noticed that. Then again she wasn't too smart either, otherwise she would have figured out that he wouldn't let her go later. Maybe he had overestimated her. It didn't matter.

"One of my men will accompany you," he explained diplomatically. "I wouldn't be comfortable letting you meet that auctioneer alone. Xavier will see to that you arrive back here safely."

Xavier, standing behind him, knew of course what his job was. And Ramon had no doubt he would follow his orders. If she tried anything, he would kill her. And if he failed there were others to take care of her.

"The rest of my men are in position too and will follow you at all times. There really is no reason to worry." He smiled. "You are absolutely safe with us."

"Good," she said and there wasn't any sign of sarcasm or disappointment in her voice. Then again, she couldn't be surprised he took precautions, probably recognized it as standard procedure. Very well.

"You got everything you need?" he asked and she nodded, lifting her briefcase to underpin the affirmation.

"Good luck," he said and stepped aside, leaving her to Xavier.

They walked outside and Ramon went over to Jack who seemed awfully tensed. Sweat was gathering on his forehead, and he seemed a bit shaky. He would look a lot worse soon. It's a shame, he thought. No man should be dying like this.

"You want something, Jack?" he offered, thinking a last act of generosity couldn't do any harm. But Jack declined the gesture, not knowing it was one.

"Later," he said, peering through the spyglasses. "When this is over and we have something to celebrate."

Ramon smiled. "Sure, Jack. Later." And patting him on the shoulder he walked back outside. He almost pitied him. The woman too. It was sad how money could blind the most capable people.