After passing through security Jack patted Chase on the arm, grabbing the agents attention. "I'm gonna go straight to my office-"
"Your hiding from Tony," Chase said, grinning as he watched Jack look for an excuse.
"I am not hiding," he said seriously, "I just need to think about tomorrow."
"Sure," Chase said, not convinced as he followed him through the centre of CTU and up the stairs to Field Operations, discussing the possible listening and visual devices they could use tomorrow, even though both men knew Jack wouldn't use any when undercover. The men seemed to have accepted him, but he still wouldn't take any risks.
Chase pushed through the dimmed door into Jacks office as Jack went to thank Chloe for helping them out. Chase stopped in his tracks when he flicked the lights on to see Tony sat behind Jacks desk.
"Shit Tony you almost gave me a heart attack," he snapped!
"I'm here to see Jack," Tony said moodily.
"Yeah well this is nothing to do with me, I'll give you some privacy," he said, heading for the door. The windows were still dark and dimmed.
"No way Chase, sit down," Tony ordered, "you're not running off to Jack to warn him. I'm sick of the games he keeps playing."
Chase looked at Tony, no longer humoured but angry. "Yeah how dare he go risking his life to save others," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at Tony.
"Shut up Chase," Tony spat, moments before Jack stalked into the room, stopping as Chase had once he noticed Tony in the room.
Pretending nothing was wrong Jack moved past Tony and started rummaging through his filing cabinet, pretending to be interested in the contents.
"You look good to say you had the flu this morning," Tony said quietly, tired of playing mind games.
"Yeah," Jack replied without looking up, "I had a quick recovery," he paused, before adding, "I think it might come back tomorrow though, so don't bank on me being here."
"You are not going." Tony said bluntly, not letting on that he knew what Jack was referring to.
"Tomorrow is technically my day off, Tony; so its none of your business what I do."
"Its my business when you do it using your authority from CTU Jack!"
"I'm just trying to save lives Tony, why is that such a problem for you?"
Chase looked down at his shoes wishing he were elsewhere.
"The problem is how you do it Jack! You don't tell me what's going on and that's setting a bad example to the other agents. Chase here went off like Rambo today - others are gonna start doing it too - I can't have agents out in the field acting on the own authority," he snapped, red in the face.
Jack stepped closer to him as a small smirk lit up his face. "Its not my fault you got promoted," he whispered threateningly, before stepping away. Tony looked down at the floor as Jack moved away and peeled his jacket off. Nobody spoke, the room was silent, until the shriek of a cell interrupted them. Shaking his head Jack grabbed his cell and waved it at Tony, "is it okay if I take this call sir," he mocked, making Chase chuckle although Tony's face stayed blank.
"Bauer," Jack grunted into the phone.
"Dad its me," Kim sobbed, "I think you need to come home."
"Why Kim what's wrong?"
"Ca- Casey just called she said the police w-we-were there," she gasped, frightened with worry.
"Why? What's happened," Jack said calmly, trying to hide his worry from the two men in the room.
"Mark went mad, that's all she said."
Closing his eyes Jack spoke, his voice rough and cold, it held no emotion. "I'm on my way."
Ending the call Jack grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and took off, almost running through the office.
"Jack!" Tony yelled after him, but it was no use, Jack never looked back as he hurried away, to what, they didn't know.