The following takes place between midnight. and 1 a.m.

00:00:01 --- 00:00:02 --- 00:00:03 --- 00:00:04

yet another car

John is following the tracker on his panel. "Wait, she stopped. Turn left here. Stop." He glances up. A grocery store. He has a puzzled look on his face. "What the hell?..."

"Maybe she got hungry..."

"Or maybe she's screwing with us. She might have found the tracker."

But just then, he sees Lisa and Kim exit the store. "Wait..." He smirks. "We got 'em." John pulls out his phone while they watch the two women get in a car and drive off. They follow.

CTU

"Nick, I think they're on to me, they brought someone new in. Either to replace me or to monitor me. Both are not good."

"Find a way to stay in and keep Bauer out. That's all you need to do. And stop calling like this, they'll trace the call."

"Fine. But they're coming to Miramar."

"Doesn't matter. They'll be too late."

"Fine." Catherine hangs up and walks out of the bathroom.

George's office

George gets another phonecall from John. "Mr. Mason. Did you get rid of Bauer?"

George clears his throat to answer. "Yes... I would ask if my agent is still alive but I'm going to guess you'll just answer yes and not give me proof. So now I'd like to know why I just did what I did? Any little tid bit you'd like to throw my way?"

CTU

Tony sighs deeply. "I have no idea who's going to lead that mission. I can't. I don't know another competent agent who can. Unless Baker's available, but he'd have to be briefed and that would take time that we dont' have."

"Well, let's bring Baker in then. He's our best shot."

Tony nods. "Yeah." Another glance at George's office. He's on the phone. "Hey..." Tony gently pulls Michelle over to her desk, "Can we see who George is talking to? I know his line is secure but can we get by the security?"

"Sure." Michelle transfers the call and hands Tony a headset. "Our side is muted. You can listen in, they won't hear anything."

Jack's SUV

Operator: "Agent Bauer?"

"Yes, I'm here."

"You're on with the President."

"Thank you."

Mike Novick sits in the corner of the room while Palmer takes the call.

David Palmer: "Jack. It's been a while. How are you holding up?"

"Mr. President. I'm fine, thank you, Sir."

"Glad to hear that. How's your daughter?"

"Sir, that is one of the reasons I am calling. She got kidnapped earlier this morning, right after the assassination of AG Mills."

Jack walks him through the main events of the day and concludes with the lead they have on the Miramar Naval AF Base.

"Mr. President, these people have wanted me off the case all day today and a few minutes ago, George Mason threw me out of the CTU, apparently he had been ordered by Division to do so."

"And you don't believe it?"

"No, Sir. I don't. And I need your help to find out what really happened."

"You think Mason may have been blackmailed?" Palmer is certain he won't like the answer to his question.

"Yes, sir, I do. I have to get back inside CTU and keep working on the case. It is the only way to get to these people before it's too late and rescue my daughter."

Palmer mulls this over, but for just a second. The man saved his life, he owes him that much. "Alright Jack. I'll do what I can."

"Thank you Mr. President."

Palmer hangs up the phone and starts thinking of who to call next. Jack leans back in the car seat. If anyone can help him now, it's David Palmer.

CTU

With barely a move, Jennie manages to mirror Catherine's directories to her system. She continues to work on the back up assignment she was given as the information filters through.

Lisa's Car / Jack's SUV

"First things first, are you okay?", Lisa glances at Kim.

Kim smiles and rubs her ankle, "Overall, not too bad for everything that's happened today. Exactly how do you know my dad?"

"Work." Lisa leaves it at that and passes Kim her cell. "And I think he would like to hear from you. You can dial him directly."

"Thanks," Kim waits as the ringing continues until she hears the line picked up, "Dad? Daddy? It's me, I'm coming home. I'm so sorry for everything...and..." the tears held back earlier are flowing now. Lisa can hardly keep herself from crying. "Daddy, I love you. I just want to come home."

Relief. Plain relief and happiness is all he feels right now. Jack closes his eyes. Kim's safe and with Lisa.

"I love you too, sweetheart. It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be alright." He wishes he could just take her in his arms and hug her. "I thought I'd lost you... Thought I'd never see you again... I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"You've always been here. Um..." she looks over at Lisa briefly, "I'm going to let you talk to Lisa. I love you." Kim wipes her eyes after handing over the phone.

"Hey, she's fine. We're on a back road off the 210. I'm taking a shortcut, hopefully no one will locate us this way. Jack," Lisa sighs, "it's been a long day and things have happened..." Kim looks up to see Lisa glance briefly at her. "You deserve to be happy again, Jack."

Phonecall to George

"No." John chuckles. "Actually, fine. Keeping Jack off our toes was your first assignment. It proved you are ready to co-operate. Your second one will be to stop the mission your agency is about to send out."

"Now hold on a minute," George cannot believe this. It would never work. "Throwing out Jack Bauer, that I can do. Stopping a mission, I can't. It would throw up red flags everywhere. It's just not possible."

Tony nudges Michelle, "The mission. Someone wants George to stop it."

"George is being blackmailed? Well, that explains certain things.", Michelle is not pleased to hear all this. Not at all.

"I am sure you will find a way, Mr. Mason. You know what's at stake. This conversation is over." The line disconnects.

"The caller disconnected," Tony puts the headset away, and looks at Michelle "But he did say 'You know what's at stake'. Other than national security, what's at stake?"

"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."

Jack's SUV

Time to be happy.. "Yeah, well... Maybe." It's going to be hard to get there. The longer Kim was missing, the more Jack's thoughts revolved around that day several months ago when he almost lost everything he cared about. He is well aware that happiness isn't just around the corner. Not for him. Not for anyone.

"Lisa, thank you for finding her. I owe you everything today. Head straight back to CTU, okay?" His phone produces a beep. "Look, I gotta go, I have another call. Be careful."

Jack switches to the other call. "Bauer."

"Jack. It's David Palmer."

"Mr. President. Did you get the information?"

"Yes. I've had my people check it. George Mason never received a phone call from Division in the last hour. But he has been getting phonecalls from a scrambled cell phone. "Somewhere in California" was the best they were able to give me on a location. You could be right about him being blackmailed." Palmer pauses. "Jack. You're doing a great job, especially under the circumstances."

"Thank you sir."

"Any news about your daughter?"

"I just got a call from Kim Sir. She's alright."

"That's wonderful. I hope you get to see each other soon."

"Thank you Mr. President. I'll get in touch with you when the Miramar mission goes under way."

Jack hangs up and storms out of his vehicle and to the staircase. No guards in sight. He runs up the stairs and stops behind the back door to take a good look around the office. Jennie has arrived, Catherine is at her desk. If she is a mole, she has to keep thinking that he is not there. Jack calls up Jennie.

"Don't say anything, just listen. This is Jack Bauer. I need you to report to me on Catherine's actions and not to mention to anyone that you've talked to me. Understood?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'm back in the building. Keep an eye on her, she can't know I'm here."

"Understood."

"Thank you.." Then Jack dials Michelle's number. "It's Jack. I'm gonna need a diversion to get to George's office unnoticed, especially by Catherine or the cameras, can you do that?"

Michelle glances at Tony, he probably understands who she's on the phone with. "I can. I'll call you when it's safe to go."

"Alright." Jack hangs up and leans against a wall, making himself as thin as possible, to hide from everyone's view.

John's car

John is looking out of the window, thinking. Then he stares at Lisa's car, driving right in front of them for a while. "Seems like we're gonna need them anyway. Mason is stalling."

"Okay.", Bill nods.

The car speeds up and quickly gains on Lisa's car. It's a narrow backroad, no traffic. They're gonna try and push them off the street.

Lisa hears an engine somewhere close by and at the same time the sound is compounded by Kim's talking. "Tell me again how you know my dad?" It's an honest enough question that Kim thinks has an answer to it more than just dealing with work.

"I knew him years ago when he, George Mason, and I were really just beginning..." Lisa catches a glare in her rear view mirror that forces the caution light on in her mind. "Uhm, Kim... do me a favor and sit just a little lower in your seat."

"Someone's following us... aren't they?"

Lisa tries not to overreact as she swerves the car slightly, "We'll know in a minute."

CTU

Knowing where the security cameras are, Jack hides behind a pillar and waits for Michelle to call. Occasionally, he glances at the glass door separating him from the office and holds his key card ready in his hand.

Michelle freezes the security cameras in a back staircase no-one ever uses but that leads to the floor George's office is on. She sends a message to Jennie, instructing her to keep Catherine away for at least 10 minutes. Then she creates an error message and sends it to Catherine, which pops up on her screen a few seconds later.

Catherine is puzzled. "Michelle, I'm getting an error message on server six. I can't get through. What do I do?"

Michelle goes over to Catherine's desk and takes a look at the error message, like she doesn't know how it happened. "You need proper clearance for that sector, the IT must have forgotten to update your codes. You can go over and ask them to, but you'll need a higher-ranking agent to confirm that. Except I'm kinda busy right now... Jennie, why don't you go with Catherine?"

"No, that's alright, Michelle, I'll just work in a different sector.", Catherine dismisses the suggestion. She doesn't want to be thrown out of the room, for whatever reason, and she sure as hell doesn't want to go anywhere with Jennie.

"You need your codes up-to-date at all times. Don't argue with me. Go to the IT. It's an order."

"Fine." Catherine gets up and glares at Jennie. "You comin' or what?"

Jennie sighs, as if very annoyed to be sent to babysit Catherine, then joins her and heads out of the office with her.

Palmer

Palmer is now on the phone, talking with Brooks.

"Mr. President, if you think this threat is real, you have to take action against it.", the Sec Def advises.

"You're right, Stephen. But I don't have any particulars, I wouldn't know what to say to anyone. I have to wait until Bauer calls with more information."

"Then Bauer is still on the case?", Brooks gives Palmer a questioning look.

"Yes. He is."

CTU / George's office

Michelle watches as Catherine and Jennie walk away, then she gives Jack a call. "You're clear to go Jack. Use the back staircase, it's dark. So is George's office."

"Okay. Thanks."

Michelle takes Tony aside. "Jack is back in. Don't tell anyone."

Jack dashes off and climbs the stairs to George's floor. A quick glance down to Michelle through the separating glass, then he walks in and closes the door behind him. George is startled and wants to say something, but Jack doesn't allow it. "Shut up George."

Jack walks over to the windows and closes the blinds, then installs himself before George, and mounts the silencer onto his gun. "Sit."

George obeys unwillingly, then Jack sits down on a chair across from George and places the weapon on the desk in front of him.

"Tell me what's really going on here. I know you didn't talk to Hammond. Who are you working for?"

Lisa's Car
"She noticed us. Go ahead." John orders Bill.

The car accelerates and bumps into Lisa's car from behind. The vehicles stay attached as the driver steps on the gas even more and then tries to direct Lisa's car off the road.

Between Kim's screams and metal grinding, Lisa is losing control of the car. "Hold on! Just grab on to anything you can!" If she brakes, the sparks could start a fire and there is no way to tell if the fuel tank is damaged. "Call 911!"

Kim grabs for the phone, "It's just beeping!"

"Roll down the window!"

She does as told and still just beeping. No signal. Another jerk from behind and Kim loses the phone on the floorboard of the car.

The jerk has thrust Lisa's hands off the steering wheel, forcing the car onto an embankment. Both women are thrown forward, Kim's head hitting the dashboard, Lisa's hitting the steering wheel.

CTU - IT
Jennie rolls her eyes as she follows Catherine to IT. "You're gonna hafta get off your high horse. What bothers you about me anyway? We're just going to confirm your codes and that's it!"
She sarcastically smiles as she opens the IT door and lets Catherine past first. Can't let down the unfriendly front for a second.

"Heya, Rich, Cathy needs clearance codes updated for server six."

Rich glances up, "You got your passcode, Jennie?"

"Sure do," Jennie types it in, "How long's this gonna take?"

"No one knows until we see how far back we are on updates. We really should be doing this on a daily basis." Rich doesn't look at the women while speaking. He's too engrossed in his work. "Don't be afraid of IT. We're here to help you..."

Miramar

A Rear Admiral is quickly walking down the hall. He arrives at the door to the interrogation room and orders to the guard outside it. "Open up."

"Yes, Sir."

The door is opened and the RAdm walks in, interrupting the interrogating officer. "That's enough. I'll take it from here."

"Yes, Sir." The officer and the other soldier exit, leaving Karen and the RAdm alone. When the door is safely closed, he hands her a wet towel.

She cleans the blood off her face and gets up and says. "You're late."

00:59:57 --- 00:59:58 --- 00:59:59 --- 01:00:00