The following takes place between 2 am and 3 am

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

Car Ride
Lisa is staring straight ahead, through the front windshield, and barely notices the silence that has overtaken the car. All she knows for certain is that Michael, a man she barely knew, is dead and that she and Jack's only child are being driven around in the dark by two terrorists who will stop at nothing to get what they want. She would give anything to turn back time, fix a few things, take back words spoken, speak words never said. Of all things she has fought for in her life, there is something she has never had - a life. This is it, she tells herself, survive this day and you get out for good.

The stars are bright tonight. Kim can see them clearly through the open window she broke out earlier. The chilly night air rushing in through the window makes the hairs on her arms stand up, and she's starting to feel stiff. She squirms in her seat, closer to Lisa, asking herself how much longer this ride is going to take. Her arms are starting to hurt from being twisted in a somewhat awkward position and her ankle, now cooling down again is constantly reminding her of her injury. Why is she being taken again? Why do these things always happen to her? Her dad must be worried sick about her now. But as much as she misses her mother, she is glad she's not here. Her mom couldn't take this again. Kim can't help but think back to how this started. If only she had decided to just not go with Tammy, she could be home now and doing the normal things she always did. She'd fight with her dad, he'd go to his bedroom, she to hers. They'd slam the doors and not talk to eachother for a while. At least they were together. But now... would she ever see him again? They only had each other and she had promised to take care of him. Kim focuses on a single, bright star and whispers a rhyme she memorized as a child. Starlight, Star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.

CTU
Jack hangs up the office phone after George's phonecall ended. "Good. You bought us time... They'll wait now." But someone brought Kim in danger by letting the mission continue and he knows it wasn't George. "Tony, did you order the mission to continue after George asked them to stand down?", he questions him.

Tony is shocked by Jack's question. "I've barely had contact with George today and I certainly wouldn't have gone over his orders even if I disagreed with him. But..." he asks the question that they are both now thinking, "who would have done it? Catherine hasn't been able to access her system. I don't believe Andre would have. And Michelle is on our side. You know she..." Tony trails off in thought before adding, "Let me make a call."

He turns from Jack to talk to Michelle. "Hey, a while ago George sent orders to have the Miramar mission leaders stand down but they've been overturned. Can you do a check to see if anyone has overridden them?"

"No need, Tony, I did it." She knows the consequences it might have but there's no use denying. "Tony, let me speak to Jack." Wordlessly, the phone is handed over.

"Michelle?"

"Look Jack, I ordered the mission to proceed."

"WHAT!"

"The team had called in to confirm George's order and I knew he was being blackmailed and that he wouldn't have given the order under normal circumstances. Jack, you would have made the same call. The mission is too important. I know I broke protocol-"

"Michelle, Michael just got killed because of what you did! And these people are now holding Kim and Lisa."

"Wha- How did they get to them!"

"I dunno. But right now, it is important that we make them believe we're co-operating. That is the only way I'm ever gonna see my daughter again. Do you understand me?"

"Okay. What do you want me to do?"

Jack glances at Catherine. "I'm going to have Catherine make a call that everything is as they want it to be. I need you to make it look like it is."
"Make the field op's and you invisible?"

"Yes."

"You got it."

Jack hangs up and turns to Tony. "You're following the SSBNs. Hack into the system at the Miramar and get everything you find to the field team. They need to know what they're going up against. There is no time for me to get to San Diego before it's too late."

"You like giving orders, don't you Jack?" Catherine has finally found the courage to speak.

Jack points a finger at Catherine. "Don't try me, Catherine. You're going to do what I tell you to. Otherwise you're going to jail for treason. How does a life behind bars sound to you? Like fun?"

Not really. "No. I was just wondering what it is you're going to do?"

Jack gives her a look for just a second. "I'm gonna get my family back."

car
The car stops in front of a large complex. John gets out and is greeted by some guys who are waiting for them. Bill waits until Kim and Lisa, drowsy as they are, are pulled out of the car and carried toward the building, and then moves the car to a garage.

Kim doesn't struggle much with her ankle swelling rapidly but Lisa does her best to pay attention to their surroundings. Trees, hills, maybe the valley. She can't be certain in the dark. Her legs hurt from the ties around them and the beating she gave to the car seat.

How Jack or George or anyone will find them is a question she can't even begin to answer.

CTU

Tony intercepts Miramar traffic and reroutes the information to Agent Baker. He picks up schematics and previous traffic as well. Something's been up for several hours now.

George's office

George glares at Catherine, "You've committed more than one federal crime and you're going to have to get used to the idea of spending a life behind bars. You think those guys you've been helping are going to bail you out? They won't! Your only hope is that Lisa and Kim come out of this alive and that you don't have their lives on your hands as well!"

He now addresses Jack with a forcefullness he hasn't had in a very long time. "Get out there and do what you have to do. You'll have the full cooperation of this office. Bring them back alive."

"Thank you George." But first, he needs to find them.

Jack calls security to bring Catherine to a holding room and watch her. To George: "If they call you again, just keep them busy, okay? I'm going down to the office. I'll have Catherine call them later, hopefully they still think she's not been exposed. George, the President needs to be informed. These people are after a nuclear submarine with warheads that can be equipped to carry anything, including a virus. I don't have to tell you what kind of a threat that would pose to our country or any other country in this world."

"No..." George nods wearily. "I'll update the President."

Jack heads downstairs to see if Tony's got anything yet. As he is passing Michelle, she tries to apologize "Jack-" but he interrupts her. "We need to focus now. Are you in contact with the team on site?"

"Yes, half of the men are retreating to show our co-operation. The other half are staying behind and awaiting your orders."

"Has anyone contacted the Navy yet?"

"I don't know."

"Find out!"

Jack walks up to Andre and gives him the location on the 210. "This is where Lisa picked up Kim. Find her last location and follow her on satellite, CalTrans, whatever you can use, do it. Tell me where they are now."

Andre types in the coordinates Jack gives him then sends Lisa's cell number to the tracing system. The cell immediately begins returning results.

Finally, Jack is at Tony's desk. "The SSBNs must be located near or at Miramar. Let's check all locations that are well enough hidden to allow for a continuation of the project. We can't allow the Petrovs to get to them."

"Jack, I've gotten about as deep into Miramar's system as I can without giving us away." Tony goes ahead and begins the search because he is well aware Jack isn't going to take no for an answer. And then his search hits upon something... "Two decommissioned ports at the south end of the base have been reactivated not too long ago. I can't find record of their use but," Tony brings up satellite reconnassience photos, "These were taken two days ago. There is wave movement indicative of something below the surface."

"That must be it. Good work. See if you can find any evidence of radioactivity around that area." If he does, the teams are screwed, Jack's thinking.

"Jack, I traced Lisa to a grocery store where surveillance cameras show Kim leaving with her five minutes later. " Andre continues to filter through the results. "The store is off the 210, two miles from the Canyon exit. The last call Lisa made was five minutes later within three miles of that same location."

Michelle: "Andre, that's not good enough, we know that much already. We know where she was, find out where she IS. Trace the sats, communication, speeding cameras along the road, just find them!".

Jack walks over to Michelle. "Put me through to Baker." Michelle hands him the radio. "Channel one."

"Thanks. Tom, it's Jack. Do you copy?"

"Loud and clear, Jack."

"There is a strong possibility that at least one SSBN is on site. There is no way to tell if it's carrying nuclear warheads, but for now, we have to assume that for a fact."

"Copy that, Jack. We'll be careful. Where?"

"The south end of the base. Two decomissioned ports that have been reactivated. We're checking for radioactivity in the area now. Stand down until you hear from us."

"Understood. Over."

Michelle takes the radio back. "Jack, the kidnappers' demands have been met. The teams on site should be clear. As far as their other demand is concerned, you've left. I've manipulated sat feed of you leaving the building and uploaded them. It isn't perfect, but should be good enough for them to fall for it if they have access to the systems."

"Okay. We're just gonna have to take that chance. I'll have Catherine call them now."

The building
Kim and Lisa are carried, their arms and legs still tied up, inside a vast hall, which is dark, apart from a patch in the middle. The spotlight on the ceiling is directed at a pole in the center of the room. They are placed on the floor within the illuminated area. Lisa's phone is found and taken off her. Then they are tied up to the pole, back to back, and John leaves.

Both wait in the dark for a moment before testing their new surroundings. Kim strains to make out Lisa's place behind her. "They took the phone?"

"Kim, don't give up on me," Lisa's voice is calm and reassuring, "We have to play by their rules right now. I want you to do what they ask. Don't struggle against these people unless what they want is going to put you in danger, okay?"

"Okay." She would have to trust her as her dad would, she had no choice in the matter anyway.

"How's your ankle?"

Kim shifts a little, pain shoots through her leg. "Sore. It's swelling again. I can feel the pressure against the ropes."

Lisa dares to take a chance. If there is a light on them, someone somewhere is watching. "Hello?" She calls out but receives back the echo of her voice. She tries again. "We could really use something to drink. Just a couple glasses of water, one for each of us."

"What now?" Kim whispers softly.

"We wait and see if anyone responds."

CTU
Tony fights roadblocks set up by Navy Intelligence as he goes forward on his quest. He has managed to locate names of officers in charge of the decommissioned ports and has downloaded their medical records.

"Jack, the latest officer in charge of one port was recently released from duty due to medical reasons. The report cites flu-like symptoms, headaches, nausea, vomiting." He grimaces as he concludes, "Radiation poisoning. Classic signs. I can dig further but the two officers before him also were released due to medical reasons."

Jack looks up. Radiation poisoning? Not only were these people working on a forbidden project, but they weren't taking the necessary precautions, too.

"Tony, get through to Baker. Tell him you've confirmed the radioactivity. They can't risk going in. Send a HAZMAT unit within a couple of miles of the compound. I'm going to see Catherine."

CTU

"Okay, Michelle," Andre sends images to her system so she'll be informed, "we've got Lisa's car taking the 210 until the exit ramp that would lead back into Pasadena. She doesn't go to Pasadena. Instead she turns around and heads back to CTU via State Route 42. It's a shortcut that will help her avoid traffic. And avoid main satellite transmission. Her car is completely gone from the radar after she gets 50 feet onto 42."

George's Office
This was going to be one of the toughest calls he had ever made and he hopes it goes as smoothly as possible. George dials the President directly to inform him of the current situation.

"Sir, I'm sorry you weren't brought up to speed earlier but we've been very busy just trying to keep a handle on things." George takes a deep breath, "We now currently have an agent and Jack Bauer's daughter being used as hostages and negotiating tools by terrorists who are seeking to keep us out of Miramar Naval Station for an unknown reason that has to do with today's assassination of The Attorney General. One of our employees has been taken into custody for her part in the conspiracy. The terrorists have made two demands. One, get Jack Bauer off the case. That I can do easily. The second demand is not so easy to meet. They want the Miramar mission ended or Agent Lisa Elliott and Kim Bauer are killed."

"Mr. Mason, Jack Bauer informed me on the events of the day. An hour ago, he said his daughter was safe. Now you're telling me these people have been able to get to her again?"

George confirms that. Palmer can't believe it. Jack must be going crazy with fear. But as much as he owes Jack, there is only one right thing to do. "Mr. Mason, I understand you are being blackmailed? I am certain that you are well aware of our policy. We do not negotiate with terrorists. You cannot give in to their demands."

George cringes at the phrase Palmer uses. He knows they can't negotiate but... "Sir, when the Drazens demanded we trade Bauer for Alexis Drazen, you saw that as permissable, yet that was negotiating with terrorists." He lets this sink in for a moment. "Lisa Elliott is a personal friend, Mr. President. Kim Bauer is Jack's daughter. I believe negotiating is the only chance we have given the circumstances of the situation. The decisions tonight have been made partly on emotion and partly on strategy. But we've been focused. We will remain focused, even through negotiation."

CTU holding room
Jack walks in and sends the guard to wait outside. He holds a phone to Catherine.

"I want you to call Petrov and tell them everything's okay."

Catherine eyes him, but doesn't reach for the phone. "You know Jack, I've been thinking... Life behind bars isn't really what I've aimed for. Treason? No fun." She shakes her head as she speaks. "So, you see, I want a pardon before I do anything. From the President."

"There's no time for that."

"Then I guess we both lose."

Jack crouches in front of her, so that their eyes are at the same level. "Catherine, right now, only a few people know about this. I can handle George. And Tony and Michelle won't be a problem. I can help you get out of this. Make the call."

"No."

"Catherine, please."

"No, Jack. No."

"Catherine, why are you doing this? These people are about to steal a nuclear submarine, they can arm the warheads with whatever they want. Take a virus, if they launched it, it would kill everyone in a 100 mile radius. I can't believe you're willing to let all those people die, just for the money."

"It's not about money."

"Then what is it about?"

Catherine glares at him and pauses. "My father, Jack."

the building where Kim and Lisa are
Several minutes later, someone walks in, holding two bottles of water. "There." He tosses the bottles to them and grins, because they're tied up and can't reach for it.

He turns to leave, still laughing to himself, but stops. "Ah, damn it..." He goes over to each of them and holds the bottle for them to drink. When they're done, he gets up again and begins to walk away, without a word.

CTU holding room
Jack is astonished. "Your father?"

"Brian O'Neill. You blew the whistle on him two years ago, you sent him to jail! You betrayed your own people, Jack, I don't see how what I'm doing is any different."

"That's what this is all about? You hate me for putting your father in jail..." Jack can't believe this. Why do things always get personal around this office?

"My father was a good man, Jack. Now he's dead. He killed himself. Slit his wrists in prison."

"There is no doubt in my mind that he was. But he sold out. He compromised. "

Catherine stares at him, saying nothing.

"Catherine, your father was corrupt. He deserved what he got-"

"-and you'd do it again, right?", she interrupts, her stare challenging.

Jack gets up, holding her stare as he does so. "Yes. I would."

"Then this conversation is over." Catherine leans back in the chair and stares at the wall.

Jack glares at her in disbelief. He begins to realize he's not going to get through to her anytime soon.

Miramar
A series of explosions tears the night sky apart. It is as if the night had turned into day.

Baker gets on the radio immediately, but it isn't working. "Dammit!" The blast must be interfering with the signal. What's going on here?

CTU
Tony has just gotten off the phone with the HAZMAT team when the radio traffic at Miramar begins to run wild. Quickly he grabs the headset to listen but is shocked at what he hears. "MICHELLE!" Tony tosses her a headset, "Channel 3. Explosions at Miramar. Monitor while I try to get through to Baker, okay?" But he can't. The signal is flat. "Tell me this is a nightmare," he groans.

Andre has news of his own. Browsing through recent reports from the sheriff's department outside of Pasadena, he stumbles across a car crash near to where he lost track of Lisa. They have deputies on the scene of the crash with unknown injuries because the driver and passenger are both gone. "Tony," Andre doesn't care what he's interrupting, "Deputies found Lisa's car."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, the license checks back to CTU and her badge was found on the floorboards. No one was inside but they can tell it was forced off the road."

"Okay..." Tony glances to the area where Jack is, "I'll let him know. At least it's a start."

The building
"Wait!" Lisa struggles to lift herself as far off the ground as she can. This man has come this far, she is not about to let him go. "Hey, what's your name? Mine's Lisa. I just want to thank you for the water. We really appreciate it."

Kim quickly chimes in and follows Lisa's lead. "Yeah, thank you."

"I have one more favor to ask..." Lisa sees there is interest in the man's eyes. "Her ankle," she motions with her head towards Kim but isn't going to volunteer Kim's name, "she hurt it earlier today. Could you loosen the ties around her legs so she can move and her ankle won't swell?" Lisa smiles as politely and sincerely as she can. "It was really nice of you to bring the water."

"No, Ma'm, can't do that..." The man turns around but doesn't approach them. "I'm sorry. I have my orders."

But then, he looks around, there's no-one there. "I could take a look at it if you like. Maybe bring some ice or something..."

Palmer/George call
"I understand that, Mr. Mason." Palmer reflects a little before replying further. He knows Jack would do anything to protect his family, and having to go through this twice in such a short time won't help convince him to follow protocol.

"Mr. Mason, what are you doing to pinpoint Ms Elliott's and Miss Bauer's location? This negotiation can only be acceptable if it leads us to the people who are behind all this. Is Jack Bauer still on the case?"

"We're doing what we can. I've got agents scanning satellite transmissions and cell phone feeds to trace their movements after Kim was picked up. Bauer is still on the case but the men involved believe he's off, that's what they've been told."

The fact that Palmer seems to be coming aboard floods George with relief. It's always good to have the President behind you.

"Alright. Proceed as planned. Keep me informed. I want an update every 30 minutes at least. Tell Bauer he has my full support."

"Thank you, Mr. President." George ends the call.

CTU holding room
Jack is still glaring at Catherine, his hand on his chin. Personal. When things get personal, there's only one thing that he can do.

"Catherine, I don't care what reasons you had to do what you did, but that's my daughter out there, and you should know me well enough to know I will do anything to get to her before these people can hurt her. So I'll ask you one last time: Make the call."

"NO!"

"Fine." Jack draws his gun, pulling the slide back, and places it to her forehead as he takes the safety off, staring coldly into her eyes. "Make - the call."

Catherine's heart is pumping fast, she's trying to stay calm. Her reason tells her that Jack can't kill her, not within the CTU walls. But then again, with Jack, you never know. She's getting nervous and breathing fast.

She finally gives in and grabs the phone. "Fine, Jack. Alright."

"Thank you." Jack says, moving to her side, the gun at her temple now. "Don't screw up."

Miramar / CTU
Baker is still trying to reach CTU. Jack said not to move, but now there's been an explosion, things will be moving fast.

Michelle is trying every channel, even SatCom. She gets a signal, though it is disturbed and cracking. "Baker? Baker do you copy?"

"...chelle... losion... attack..."

"Tony, I got something! Baker, we know about the explosions, are you alright?"

Baker also hears only snatches of what she's saying, but the alright bit comes through clearly. "Yes, we are. Are we still dark? Repeat, are we still dark?"

Dark? They should be. If they haven't moved. "Yes. Stay where you are. Wait for Jack's orders. Repeat, wait for Jack's orders. Confirm."

"Copy that. Waiting for Jack's orders. Over."

Michelle looks at Tony, he doesn't seem to agree completely. "We have to wait for Jack. It's his daughter out there. He said to stand down until he says otherwise..."

Baker gets off the radio. Hopefully Michelle is right to wait. Though he's questioning her decision... He's going to follow the order he's been given.

CTU holding room / Miramar
Catherine is holding the phone to her ear. "Nick isn't picking up."

"Try again!"

"Jack, he isn't picking up. There's no use."

"Dammit!" With his free hand, Jack pulls out his cell and calls Michelle, not moving from where he is and not taking the gun away from Catherine's head. "Michelle, what's going on at Miramar?"

"There's been an explosion. Baker's team is waiting for you."

"I'll be right out." Jack hangs up. To Catherine: "Do you have any other numbers you can reach anyone else?"

"No."

"I don't believe you."

"I don't Jack! I DON'T!", she protests, now close to tears.

There's no time for this. They're going to have to find another way to contact these people. "Fine."

Jack holsters his gun again and leaves the room, sending the guard back inside. He runs over to Tony and Michelle.

Miramar
Nick had turned off his phone, with what they're about to do, it's not the time to chat. His men are in position, about to strike. They all watch as panic ensues within the compound. The charges had blown up the ammo stocks and the airfield.

Nick gets on the radio with Karen. "How are things at your end?"

"Perfect. They're dispatching most of the staff to the Northern end of the compound, to the area of the explosion. It should be easy to get to the south end."

"That's good. We're moving in now."

He motions to his men to begin moving forward. The gate is almost unguarded now, two shots from the hiding and they are safe to draw near it. It takes just a few seconds to break it open. One by one, the men enter the premises unnoticed.

CTU main office
As Jack approaches Tony, there's a ringing of a cell phone nearby. They look around. It's Catherine's.

02:59:57 --- 02:59:58 --- 02:59:59 --- 03:00:00