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The journey was quiet. Sophia stared out of the window.
"Why is Bill Buchanon here?" she asked. Rumours were rife in her world at Langley as to why some from Division had decided to hijack Los Angeles.
"Since the Marie Warner case, Bill wanted to periodically come down see how we're doing. He stays for maybe a week, bringing a team from division, people associated with Secretary of Defence, Manning, Stiles. It's a test really; to see how we cope, make sure we're up to scratch. He doesn't DO much. Just sits in his office watching everyone. Curtis and Edgar are good at what they do, and can be useful, but it's why Curtis was replaced in this little mission by you. To be honest it's a pain in everyone's ass, no one fully understands why he does it and we'd rather he wasn't there. Political crap if you ask me. " Jack explained rolling his eyes.
He obviously was not comfortable with people walking in to his office and taking over. She couldn't blame him really, especially with the tight-ass reputation that Bill had.
"Tony, is everything under control?" Jack asked through the speakerphone in his car. Sophia looked at him; he had changed since they'd first met. He'd become business-like, focused, edgier from a seemingly fair, thoughtful man. She didn't mind. Providing he could do his job.
"No sighting's of any suspicious activity, I'll keep you up to date with everything, don't worry about it." Tony's voice told them. A slight echo filling the car.
"Why don't I go in, pretend we bump into each other, get talking, that way she'll invite me to her room, I get the information necessary and bang we're gone," Sophia asked. It was a plan, the best they had, other than the crash in to the room, potentially get the wrong person, and petrify a person. Jack looked at her thinking of the possibilities, dangers, advantages. It was Michelle who interrupted his thought.
"Do it," she told them. Jack looked at the phone. Sophia watched him. She knew he was still wary about her. Sure, he knew she was amazing at what she did, but she was still a stranger to him.
"I'm going in to," Jack volunteered, "Chloe book us a room under the name Bauer."
"What? Jack don't you trust me?" Sophia asked. At that moment, Jack pulled the car to a stop at the back of a small car park under the hotel.
"It's not that, this groups dangerous," he told her leaning over and rummaging through his glove compartment. "I don't want us in danger. Together, we'll be fine."
She chuckled. She knew that wasn't the reason. From hearing about Jack Bauer, she knew he wanted in on the action. That was the reason.
"Besides, I want to be there, when this goes under," he told her, smiling and removing a small box. She watched him finger it gently, before he opened it and took out a diamond ring, and handed it to her. She took it.
"Wear it, it'll make the story more credible." He told her. He didn't know why he was talking to her like a junior officer, habit he guessed. She slid it on to her wedding finger and then got out of the car.
"Good taste." She commented.
She went to the boot, where Jack was, and he handed her an all too familiar earpiece. She slipped it in to her ear. Jack grabbed a small bag they pass off as an overnight bag, containing guns.
"Chloe are we on?" he asked aloud.
"Yes Jack, sorted." A voice crackled in their ears.
"We're on Tony," he told the air in front of him. Showtime. He held out his hand and she took it. It was warm and walked with him, to the lift that would take them in to the main hotel. They waited outside it for a minute and then got in and went up. The foyer, couldn't have been more different from the car park below. Entirely marble, it had a cooling affect on both of them. It felt clean and airy. They walked up to the reception desk. The receptionist, a round red-haired woman who from her name badge appeared to be called Neve, looked up at them as they approached. Sophia smiled widely and openly.
"Hi, I have a name booked under Bauer," Jack told Red. Sophia put her hands flat on the desk in front of them allowing her to see the beautiful diamond ring on her finger, as Jack's arm went around her waist. She watched Red flick through the computer database in front of her. It was a tense few minutes, as they both began to wonder whether Chloe, actually had got their names on the list. Red looked up and smiled widely back at them.
"Room 107, second floor." She told them, then picked up the phone talking ot someone animatedly.
"Thanks," Sophia replied kindly. They turned about to walk off when she called back to them, placing a hand over the bottom of the phone.
"I like your ring," Red had called. Sophia flashed a beautiful smile, and Jack actually got the beginnings of butterflies. He quickly shook the feeling. They took the stairs, allowing themselves to survey the hotel, noticing any escape routes.
"Jack, Sophia, she's in room 105." Tony's voice crackled in their ears. "Stop." They both halted in the stairway. "We have access to corridor CCTV. Someone keeps walking past that room every fifteen minutes. Could be nothing, just be aware. They're coming towards the stairs now." Sophia grabbed hold of Jack and kissed him as she heard the door at the top of their stairs open. They kissed until a slight cough from above them interrupted. A man, with dark hair was stood a few steps above them; they were blocking the path down.
"Sorry," Jack apologised, grabbing her hand again and pulling her to the side and upwards as she giggled, like a teenager, being caught with her first boyfriend. They reached the top of the stairs, and hit the corridor. Walking slowly, they went past room 105 and found theirs a few doors down. They entered and closed the door.
"Well that was fun." Jack quipped.
"Like you didn't enjoy it," Sophia replied. He gave her a sarcastic smile.
"Guys, someone's left the room, they're going downstairs and …" a slight pause as Tony waited to see where they were going. "They're going to the restaurant. Foyer CCTV confirms, it's Rachael."
"Let's go."
They walked down the hotel, hand in hand, to the restaurant. The smell of food hit them first. A warm, garlicky scent filled their noses, and she noticed that she was actually hungry. Jack's hand tightened on hers and she looked where he was looking. Rachael was sat in the corner of the room, on a single table. She was absentmindedly staring out in to space. Sophia went for it right there, which surprised Jack slightly. He thought she would be more reserved. She waved frantically in the air and Jack almost blushed, he could've sworn he saw Sophia's face turn a darker shade of pink. It was terribly embarrassing. Eventually Rachael noticed, and stood up.
"Chica!" she squealed across the room. They both screamed like children and Sophia went running over. Jack caught up with them, wondering what was going on. He hadn't experienced anything quite as outrageous, not even amongst Kim and her friends when they were younger. They hugged each other tightly.
"Oh my God, how are you?" Rachael asked, with a large smile across her face.
"I'm fine, how're you? You look amazing! Have you lost weight? Oh my God!" Sophia squealed back. The rest of the restaurant was staring at them. Jack stood behind Sophia, watching Rachael closely.
"I'm fine, Thank you, and Yes some…" Rachael laughed. "What is that?" she asked grabbing hold of Sophia's hand, looking at the sparkling rock.
"Ray-Ray, this is Jack, he's my fiancé!" she gushed, prompting more ecstatic squeals from 'Ray-ray'. Jack smiled and held out his hand and Rachael shook it enthusiastically.
"You wanna come sit with us?" he asked, "If you're not waiting for someone." Rachael thought for a moment.
"Sure, that'd be awesome!"
Their meal passed quickly, Rachael and Sophia, played catch up, Jack noticing all the little lies Sophia told to keep her cover. He watched her. She really was amazing at this. He almost started to believe that she was a University psychology lecturer, had known Jack for 5 years, engaged for 2. That Jack was a colleague at work. Then Rachael told them about her. She was in LA for a holiday; she knew no one out here and was just looking at the sights. Was single and happily so.
"What happened Sophie? I thought you'd joined Her Majesty's Secret Service?" Rachael asked at the end of their meal. Sophia never missed a beat and burst out laughing.
"Please…like I could wear those God-awful boots they make you wear. Besides I could not be sneaky, even if I tried. Who told you that?" Sophia asked, still giggling.
"Your mum," Rachael replied, giggling.
"Ray-Ray, my mother probably said that to make everyone think I'm dead…" she replied rolling her eyes. Jack noticed a slight bitterness about her tone.
"You're welcome to come back to our room if you want," asked told her, changing the subject. Rachael looked uncomfortable. Sophia looked at her expectantly. She suddenly smiled.
"Go on then chic!" she answered.
Tony's voice crackled in their ears. "Well done guys. Let's make this quick and pain free."
They walked back up to Jack and Sophia's room. It's fate, Rachael had squealed after she found out they were two doors down. Jack unlocked the door and let them in. Rachael entered first. Sophia felt the entire atmosphere in the room change. Jack felt it too. Rachael went to the bathroom to wash her hands. She'd been a while. Sophia lay on the bed, Jack sat in a chair opposite her, and both thinking about what they would potentially have to do. They slid there ear pieces out.
"I'm going calling Tony, I'll be back in 5minutes ok," he told her quietly. She nodded and watched him leave.
"Ray-Ray, are you ok?" she called into the bathroom, becoming the dizzy, brat of a child she was in university, yet again.
"I'm fine chica," came the reply. Sophia got up and walked to the window staring out in to the LA skyline. It was truly incredible. She heard the latch on the door to the bathroom, slide back,she started to turn around.
"Stop right there bitch." Rachael's voice ordered.