Author's note: Introducing an original character, Paul, in this chapter. He has borrowed looks and first name from British actor Paul Bettany! (Thanks to Karin, my lovely sister!)

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Things Have Changed

Chapter Five
Worlds Apart
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Getting the waitress' attention Jack ordered them another bottle of wine. She was still holding his hand and he smiled now.

"I had you pretty good for awhile there Nina, didn't I?" he said jokingly but she was serious.

"I never thought you would turn against your country…" There was a silence and then she added: "back then..." She sighed. "I knew you were with CTU - I just didn't know how far you were willing to go..."

"It all depends on the objective, right Nina?" he said in a bitter tone and she knew he was thinking of what she had told him in that room. What she had told him had changed everything, hadn't it? Or had he already been aware of the truth?

He closed his eyes. "Only one good thing in Mexico…" he said quietly, "besides stopping the virus..."

She knew what he meant.

"I managed to get her out safely. I didn't get her killed."

Claudia.

He rarely talked about her now. She remembered when she had met them. Of course she hadn't known it was Claudia until he had told her the following January.

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An airport in South America. The odds that they would bump into each other were so small they had just stared at each other. Not until their respective company had started to shift nervously over the uneasy silence had they said hello.

No introductions - they didn't even know what name the other was using now - just a quick exchange of impersonal phrases like, "Nice to see you!" and "I hope you are doing well!" she didn't really remember, and then they both had planes to catch. Of course he had caught a glimpse of her wedding ring and he had asked her about it when they got to Santa Barbara, even though she had taken it off before she came.

Yes, the man she had travelled with was her husband, she had answered and when he asked about if she loved him she had thrown herself down on the bed and sighed.

"What difference does it make?" She had no intention or desire to discuss her marriage with Jack but he was staring at her, demanding an answer. So she gave him what she could without really lying: She cared about him but they had not married for love.

"For what then?"

"Citizenship", she had said and stared back at him. "Who was the woman?"

He looked down. "Claudia", he said.

She had been shocked. Here she had thought she was his only link to his past, that she was the only one who knew all about him. What did he need her for now? Claudia never hurt him and Nina knew how much he had cared for her while he had been undercover.

He had seen her worry and told her it was over. It had been a mistake but Claudia had been in trouble and he had helped her out and somehow the lure of having someone who knew him close had been too strong. But Claudia had never known him, that was the problem, and she had ended it, frustrated over not being able to give him what he needed and that he never could give her what she wanted.

"I need this, Nina", he had said softly when Nina didn't seem convinced. "No one knows me like you…"

He had kissed her passionately and she realized the idea of her being married had made him jealous. Their lovemaking that night had resembled the passion and urgency from their affair, and had left her feeling guilty.
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Paul. Why hadn't she admitted that she loved him? Why had she lied to Jack?

Of course, she had lied to Paul too. She had kept her rendezvous with Jack a secret for many years. Only three years earlier had she finally decided he deserved to know.

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She had been sitting in the dark on the veranda when he surprised her by placing a hand on her shoulder.

If it had been years ago she would probably have been scared and then been ready to defend herself but now she didn't mind the surprise - she was happy he had come back earlier than planned. She tilted her head and rested her cheek against his hand before she looked up at him.

He was looking at the glass in her hand and she gave him a weary smile.

"Do you want me to make you one?"

"No", he leaned forward and kissed her. "You are leaving for the States tomorrow?"

It was more of a statement than a question and she nodded. He must have seen her packed bag.

"When will you tell me about it? Where do you go? Who do you see?"

"Paul, please..."

"Tell me, Nina... who is he?"

She looked up and his hurt expression made her grab his hand.

"I deserve to know, Nina... What if something happens?"

She looked at him silently for a long time and then she nodded. After all these years he did have a right to know...

"I'm meeting Jack Bauer..." She saw the surprise and shock in his face. He knew all to well who Jack Bauer was and what had happened between them in the past.

"Don't ask me to explain it, Paul... because I can't..."

"But how can he? After... everything?"

He couldn't even say it... No matter how much Paul loved her he still wasn't able to fully understand this side of her - the ruthless side that would do anything to protect herself. She figured it scared him at the same time as he was impressed. But she was convinced he would do the same thing if he was in a similar situation... and she would certainly make the same choice all over again. Or were they both going soft? Maybe she had changed?

"How can you take such a huge risk? How can you trust him enough to meet him? What if he decides to finally kill you? Or turn you in?"

"He won't..."

"How can you be so certain?"

She couldn't explain so she said nothing. After what had happened between her and Jack in Jakarta she knew he wouldn't kill her. In a way he needed her more than ever.

"What if I asked you not to go...?"

"Don't ask me that..." There was a plea in her voice and she hoped he would understand. This thing she wouldn't do for him, she couldn't give up Jack...

"It's not because I'm jealous Nina. I'm worried about you..."

"Paul..." she got up and cradled his face in her hands. "You don't have to worry about me, you know that... I'll come back to you - I always will!"

She had kissed him softly and felt him relaxing as his arms moved around her.
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Their dessert came in and her thoughts of Paul were interrupted. Just as well, she thought. I don't want to think about him now…

They tasted the cake in silence, both really too full to eat much of it and after a few bites the plates were set aside and he filled their glasses again.

"I can't believe we were able to survive it all", she said wanting to put an end to the gloomy and dismal atmosphere talking about Mexico had led to.

"We're survivors", he stated and raised his glass.

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