Chapter 10
Jack took the keys out of the ignition and got out of the car. Looking around he was satisfied. This place would do it.
He slammed his own door shut and went to open the back door, not exactly cautiously, and Nina's hands were still tied to the handle. She was pulled off her seat and halfway out of the car, and she groaned in pain.
Good, he thought and freed one of her wrists, allowing her to pull her hands and the chain away from the door, stand up and carefully finger her arm. Only now he wondered if it could be possible that the pain killers she had gotten earlier already weren't having any effect, anymore, but the thought came a second too late and just as he looked up into her face, she smashed her left elbow against his chest.
Her blow hit him exactly at his solar plexus and the pain was literally breath-taking. But still being weak and under medication, she didn't do as much damage as she could have done. Taking a step backwards to keep his balance, he managed to grab her neck, and when he stood firm again he flung her around and shoved her up against the car. Her arm being crushed between her own weight and the metal, she cried out in pain for real this time.
"Nice try," he growled, getting his breath back, and pulled his gun to bury it deep into her neck.
It had been the second time today that she had attacked him and this time he hadn't even turned his back on her. He couldn't remember her ever fighting him physically before, knowing she didn't stand a chance against him. Not until today. She really had to be desperate.
"You thought you could knock me out?" he hissed into her ear but she didn't react. Feeling the anger boiling up inside him, he forced her to turn around and face him, laying his hand around her throat and keeping the gun close to her face.
We've been here before, it struck him and the memories threatened to wash over him and take him away. The garage. CTU. Teri. But he couldn't afford that now so he pulled her away from the car and flung her around, still holding her close and at gunpoint, still forcing her to look at him.
But even that was a familiar feeling. Even here he had been before. The same day, an eternity, a lifetime earlier, the first time he had ordered her out of a car to shoot her. Pretend to shoot her. He couldn't escape from the memories.
He felt his muscles tense, close to cramping, and something inside him was so close to burst, to implode, to tear him apart. He had been in that place way too many times. Clenching his teeth so hard that he was afraid his jaw might crack, he let go off her and pushed her away. And she stumbled backwards and staggered, a bit surprised by the sudden release. But she didn't fall.
Get yourself together. Stick to the plan.
Their eyes locked and he had seen that look before, not too long ago when he had been right on top of her, the barrel of his gun pressed against her chin. And he remembered why he had brought her here.
Taking a deep breath he lowered the gun a bit and reached into his pocket.
"Here," he muttered, tossing her cell phone at her. "Call your client."
It had to be the last thing she had expected him to do and she just stood and stared, baffled and trying to figure out what was going on.
Feeling the tension release, Jack put the gun down and turned away. He just needed to move, to get some air, to find something he could focus on. But there was nohing else.
He took a few steps, giving her the time to figure it out, and when he looked at her again she had understood.
"Jack," she started, eyeing him inquiringly. But he couldn't deal with her now. It was just too much.
"Nina," he retorted, knowing the despair was obvious in his voice. "Just...", he pointed with the gun at her cell, "just make the call."
And to his surprise she didn't object, just looked at him a moment longer before she cast her eyes down and with a sigh flipped the cell open. He knew he should wonder why, assume that she was already thinking about how to turn the situation, make it work to her advantage. But he was just so tired.
He stopped and leaned back against the car, watching her dialing and bringing the device to her ear. How he wanted to close his eyes for a moment and just lie down. Just rest. Just a moment.
"It's me," he heard her voice and tried to stay focused. He had to make sure she wasn't gonna pull anything.
"We got a problem."
Just a little one, he thought sarcastically.
"The auctioneer tried to rip us off," she explained, perfectly calm but still looking down. "Yes. He showed it to me, I verified it, but once I had transferred the money, he tried to kill me."
Not exactly how it happened. But he understood why she wasn't keen on explaining how she could have missed the swap. If she wanted her client not to take it out on her, she had to keep some facts from him. And in the long run of course it didn't matter. All that counted was to get a location on Amador. If she could, very well. If she had to lie to get it, who cared.
"I got away but he still has the virus. Yes, and the money."
Jack could only imagine what was being said at the other end of the line and Nina's expression didn't reveal much. But he could tell she was worried by the way she slightly frowned.
"I can still get it," she stated, not sounding nearly as desperate as he had when he had told the same to Ramon and Hector. "All I need is a little time. And some information."
Sure, what do you need. It couldn't be that easy. But apparently it was.
"He will have his escape route and transportation well arranged but it should still be possible for you to track him down."
Why? Jack wondered. Who the hell was she talking to?
"Because you know who he's usually working for."
Who?
"Exactly. Now, I bet with that information it won't be too hard for you to find out where he's traveling from or traveling to."
Again, he couldn't but be the least bit fascinated. There she was, explaining to her client that she had lost his money and couldn't deliver what she had been hired for, basically begging him for help. Still, she didn't sound like she was begging - for a chance to safe her skin or for anything at all.
"Yes," she affirmed with a slight nod. "No. I can still get there in time."
He suddenly felt too weak to stay on his feet and let himself slide down and rest against the back wheel of the car. Noticing the movement, she cast a quick glance at him while listening to what her client had to say.
Somehow she had managed to keep it all strictly about business, a failed deal that she had an equivalent alternative to. Thereby playing down that she had let it fail in the first place. She knew how to negotiate, he thought, not for the first time.
"Yes. I will." And with that she hung up.
"He's gonna get back to me," she said, clapping the phone shut and looking at him.
"When?"
"As soon as he's got something."
"He better gets something fast."
"He will," she said, sounding very sure of it.
He glared at her but after a moment felt too weak even for that so he lowered his gaze and let it go.
Still standing some fifteen feet away from him, she seemed a little insecure about what to do, looking around to check their surroundings.
"We can't stay here. It's not safe."
"It's as good as anywhere," he growled, knowing of course that she was right, but he just needed a moment. And to increase his irritation, she seemed to understand that too. She didn't object.
She moved and he immediately raised the gun, but she didn't seem impressed anymore, giving him a somewhat contemptuous look. She kept walking, slowly though, and under his watchful eye, and with the gun following her moves, she went to the front wheel and sat down against it as well, resting her cuffed hands in her lap. She seemed tired and in pain again, and following his instincts he lowered the gun once again. She didn't make the impression that she was up for any more fighting, at least for now.
For a moment they just sat in silence, their legs stretched out, their backs leaning against the car, and she seemed just as inclined to close her eyes for a while. She did eventually.
She can afford it. She's got nothing to lose right now. But you do, he urged himself. He knew it was his addiction again, taking its toll on him, threatening to let him turn weak and careless. And as soon as he did, she would be there. He had to stay focused.
"So, how long, Jack?" she sighed.
"How long what?"
"How long have you had that little problem?"
He should have known she would figure it out. It had to be way too obvious by now.
"How long have you been back in business?" he hissed back, not willing to discuss his addiction with her. And he got his point across. She shrugged and let it go.
-x-
Nina sighed and closed her eyes again. He didn't wanna talk and neither did she really. But rather sooner than later they would have to. Again everything had changed within seconds and now there was a chance again. A small one, not leaving her a lot of options but it was still a chance. She had some air and was safe for at least another couple of minutes. Until the next round would start.
She glanced over at Jack, still a bit baffled at how weak he let her see him. The expression in his eyes only a minute ago, before he had suddenly let go of her. Something had been different. She just couldn't really figure out what.
Ever since that day, every time he had looked at her, there had been this devouring hate in his eyes, a level of anger and despise that seemed to be beyond words or language. And, of course, all that had still been there now but for a moment she had thought to see the glimpse of something she hadn't seen for such a long time. Not since that day. Not since he had found out. Pain, she thought. There was pain in his eyes. But that wasn't it, the pain had been there ever since, building a solid foundation for every other emotion in him.
Disbelief. That was what she had seen. Or thought she'd seen. Disbelief and shock. Back then it had been at the realization that she was the one working against him, helping to get him killed, to get his family killed. She of all people. His flunky. His lapdog. Poor Jack. It had probably saved her life back then and now he seemed shocked and perplexed at the realization that he wasn't going to kill her. Again.
Why is that, Jack? she wondered. What made you change your mind all of a sudden? Or had this whole trip from the airfield been a stunt? In that case she had underestimated him. Cause if that was the truth then he had understood something she had given up hope he ever would.
But it didn't matter now. Now, he had - for what reason ever - brought them both back into the game. She had information - or would have it in a matter of minutes - that he needed. Of course, that had already been the case before they had gotten into the car but he hadn't seemed to care earlier, ready to kill her nevertheless. Had that just been an act? Had he been bluffing her? Judging by his latest actions he probably had, as little as she liked the thought. But on the other hand...he had been so convincing. And she knew he just wasn't a good player when things got that personal. He was brilliant as long as it was just a job and she could imagine how he had fooled the Salazars. But he had never been able to keep the act together when things got personal. Today in the church had just proved that again. Maybe he had really planned this little ride to get her to make that call and help him but a part of him had just been very willing to forget about that plan and had probably wanted to bring her out here to kill her all along. Which had led him to a battle he had fought before.
For now he had decided to let her live. But what would happen next? Would he just do the same thing all over again? Let her choose between telling him or not with the gun against her head, knowing he was gonna shoot her anyway? Or would he make an offer now? If he had really brought her here because he had understood the position she was in... But once he had his information, he didn't have to care about her position anymore. And maybe he was sure he could get that information without offering anything. Maybe he would remember how good it had felt to see her wince and writhe with pain while he had worked on her arm, practicing upon her injury. And maybe this time he was sure they wouldn't get interrupted.
Maybe things hadn't changed after all. She needed to find out.
"Jack," she started, not sure exactly how to proceed. But she didn't get a chance anyway.
"We have to go," he exclaimed, rising to his feet, and she got up as well.
He glared at her and then at the cell phone that was still in her hands, and she tossed it back to him.
"Get in the car," he ordered, flipping it open.
"What are you gonna tell them?" she asked but he barely looked at her.
"I don't know," he said. "Just get in the car."
She knew she couldn't just let things get even more out of her hand than they already were but something in his voice, something in the way he said it - there was no sense in pushing him now. Or maybe she was just turning weak as well.
She shook her head. This was insane.
-x-
His door swung open and Tony looked up to see Michelle walking in. She looked tired and worried, and for a second he felt the urge to get up and just take her into his arms. She must have been through hell when I was shot.
"Anything on Jack?" he asked, knowing it would have to wait.
"We found the driver," she replied but he could tell by her face that it didn't help them. "Apparently Jack dropped him off after a couple of miles, and he was on his way back when one of our teams picked him up."
"Did he know where Jack was heading?"
"No. Just that he was driving off-road and without lights."
"So that doesn't get us anywhere."
"No. We got the units on-site combing the area, but if he's driving around in the dark - it's the needle in the haystack. We still haven't got any satellite footage."
"Great," Tony muttered.
"I still can't believe he did that." Michelle shook her head.
"Can you blame him?"
"No. I can't blame him for seeking revenge for the murder of his wife, but if there's any chance that Nina Myers has information that can help us get that virus, then -"
"I know," Tony interjected, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I know, okay. It's just...I guess he's been in that situation too many times now. And quite frankly: I can understand him. I don't say he's doing right, and I'll personally kick his ass once he gets back, but...I can understand him."
He really could and a part of him was even thinking that he would have done the same if Nina had...
He sighed. If he had only seen earlier who she really was. What she was. After all these years the thought still kept coming back to him from time to time. It was like a nasty wound that had never healed properly and every time he thought it had, she came back into his life. One way or another, in form of a case, file or report, something they had been working on and that needed to be reviewed now, bringing back all those memories he thought he had stashed away. And now, for the second time, she had reentered his life in person.
He was just wondering if there wasn't a part of him that was relieved at the idea that she would be gone for good now, when the phone rang.
"Almeida."
"Tony, it's me."
"Jack," he sighed, quickly glancing up to Michelle who was still standing in front of his desk. He knew he should say something...appropriate now, yell at him or threaten to get his ass fired, but he couldn't think of anything that would make sense. He put the phone on speaker, maybe just to buy himself a little time.
"Where are you?"
"I'm still in the area."
"Are you..." Tony laid his head in his hands. He didn't know how to phrase it. "Is it over?"
"No," Jack answered to his surprise, and Tony was thrown.
"What about Nina?" he asked.
"She's still alive," Jack stated, and Tony wasn't sure how to interpret the still. Looking up to Michelle, again, he found her staring back at him, obviously just as confused.
"Listen, Tony, I'm sorry but I didn't have a choice," Jack explained, speaking quickly, as if he was in a hurry. "I need Nina to get me a location on Amador, and we wouldn't have gotten her to cooperate if I had brought her in."
"Why not?"
"Because to get that information, she has to get her client involved. And she knows that there's no way for her to do that at CTU without having us tracking the guy down."
"So?" Tony wondered, not seeing the problem. "She never had a problem with selling out."
"She seems much too convinced that she's gonna end up dead this time if she does."
"We have our ways to make her cooperate, Jack, you know that."
"It would take too long and she's got nothing to lose. She knows the best deal she could get would still send her back to prison and for some reason she seems more willing to die than going back there."
Once again Tony looked up at Michelle. What is going on? he signaled with a gesture. "What makes you think that?"
"Tony, just trust me, I know it." And after a moment he added: "I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't convinced that it's the only way."
Tony sighed. I know. He couldn't even imagine how much it had cost Jack.
"So what now? I don't get it. Why should she cooperate with you? She knows you want her dead. You put a gun at her head - that won't encourage her to give her last trump away."
"I don't know how," Jack admitted, "but I'll find a way."
Tony shook his head. This could only lead into disaster. He had known it the moment he had learnt that Nina was involved.
"I know you're uncomfortable with this, Tony -"
"Uncomfortable? That's an understatement, Jack."
"It's the best shot we got," Jack tried to convince him, ignoring his protest. "You gotta trust me."
Tony leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, knowing he didn't really have a choice anyway.
"I gotta go, Tony. I can only ask you to trust me. And get the delta units off my back. If I want Nina to do anything, I can't have any CTU jacket around."
Scratching his chin, Tony glanced at Michelle but she neither encouraged him nor did she object.
"I'll see what I can do," he growled. "How can we reach you?"
"I'll reach you," Jack answered and was gone.
