Ten months later…

d2: + 15 months

d3: − 1 year, 9 months

Part V: Opportunities

Nina stirred, suddenly aware that she had been somewhere else for at least a full minute, staring at the empty coffee mug in front of her, completely lost in her thoughts. She heaved a mute sigh and looked around, making sure she hadn't missed anything. She couldn't afford to be that careless. Not here.

But everything seemed alright as she checked on the few tables and chairs that were occupied, quickly examining and memorizing faces. If she was being followed and they were stupid enough to get this close, she would notice. But they didn't have to be that close. That was the problem.

Her eyes hidden behind the sunglasses, she tilted her head back as if she was enjoying the rays of sun on her face, her gaze wandering over the old building, the windows within her field of vision. Nothing, of course. As if it would be that easy to spot them.

She knew she wasn't being paranoid, she had all reason to be careful and suspicious. But she was nervous - and that was what worried her. Being alarmed was good, even fear was fine, as long as it was in control, but being nervous was trouble. It made mistakes more likely and led to nothing but some sort of oversensitivity, sweaty hands and sudden moves giving too much away. She couldn't even remember the last time she had felt this way.

Sighing once more, she closed her eyes and tried to relax, find comfort in her surroundings. The weather was just like she had remembered it this time of the year. The sun was warm but not too warm, and the slight breeze kept the air mild and pleasant. She should have come back earlier. She would have. If it wasn't for… The little problem she had concerning her travel and residence restrictions.

Opening her eyes again, she reached out and took a sip of her coffee, watching a group of students gathering around a neighboring table. She wondered how it would be. To be a student again. Now. With a past short of most of her memories.

"Hello, Nina."

The voice startled her. She had neither seen nor heard him approaching. But it also made her relax as she knew he wouldn't be here if the place wasn't secure. You lost your touch, she scolded herself nevertheless.

"Hello," she replied, making a point of speaking before looking up to him, at least not showing that he had caught her off guard. And he held her gaze for a moment before he turned to look around.

"I understand why you wanted to meet here," he said, taking a seat at her table. "The place is…alive and dead at once." Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, taking their environment in. "You can almost feel the scent of history, of dusty wisdoms, of books so much older than any person alive or who has ever read them. Still, there's so much…life around here," he set out with a terse gesture towards the students, starting to crowd the place around and the lawn in front of them, the walls and stairs of the ancient masonry. "Old and new so close together."

Alive and dead at once. He couldn't have made a more apt remark, she had to give him that. But something in his words made her uncomfortable.

She noticed his eyes on her and met them, sure though that her face wasn't giving her away. She was back to her old self. No more nervousness, no more insecurity. It was like riding a bike. Maybe she had fallen off once and hesitated to get back on, but once she was it felt like she had never been walking.

"I was surprised when you called," he said. "Not because of the nature of your message but I would have expected you to get in touch a lot earlier."

"I had some things to take care of first," she kept her answer brief. She was sure he knew the details of how she had gotten out of prison and what conditions had been attached. And she wasn't keen on explaining why she had waited so long.

She felt confident enough to remove her glasses and he kept looking into her eyes as if he could find an answer in them, see if she was hiding anything. Are you setting me up? The question had to be on his mind.

"I assume you heard about Max?"

"Yes," she answered truthfully.

Again that scrutinizing look and she started to get annoyed. She hadn't even known Max had been the one behind it. Not that it would have changed anything. It wasn't her fault he had been brought down. And if I wanted to sell you out, I would have done it years ago, she thought but remained silent.

But maybe she should tell him. Maybe she should tell him how close she had been, back in that room, with the drugs running through her blood, circulating in her veins, and later the pain. But she didn't want to go back there and it wasn't like she had kept her mouth shut for his sake. Still, he could appreciate it a little more.

Her eyes seemed to have told him without words and he lowered his gaze, slightly nodding. He understood. And if he had really been worried she was going to turn him in, he wouldn't have showed up in the first place. But he was here.

"So, you want to get back in?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes," she said, no sign of hesitation in her voice, and again he nodded.

"Okay. I'll see what I can do. You've been exposed so undercover work is not an option anymore. But we'll find you something. Is your…status going to be a problem?"

"I'm here, am I not?" she replied, looking at him calmly. She had picked the place but it had been his demand to see her on US soil. Of course only to test if she would have a problem getting in and out of the country unnoticed. He had no use for someone who couldn't move freely.

"You sure are." He took a moment to examine her appearance more closely, as if he hadn't had the time before. "I'm glad you're back."

She hinted a sneer and turned her head away.

"You've got any plans before going back?" he asked.

"My transportation is arranged. I'm leaving as soon as we're done."

"So early? I thought you might want to pay L.A. a little visit?"

She frowned. "Why should I?"

"Just a thought. You must have some connection to the place?"

Again she sneered, more openly this time.

"Believe me, there's nothing worth going back there."

He seemed to examine her expression closely, and she knew this would be the moment to make her request. If she wanted to get rid off Jack once and for all.

Maintaining a calm expression, she reconsidered once again. But she had thought it through before. Asking him for help now would reveal a weakness, something he didn't appreciate. If he knew Jack was a potential problem, she could forget about her job ambitions. He wouldn't trust her with anything if he saw the slightest chance that CTU or Jack Bauer was on her heels. It would have to wait. Maybe later, when she had gained his trust or reestablished her other contacts. There would be other opportunities, better ones.

"Alright," he stated, obviously satisfied. He glanced at his wristwatch. "I've got some business to take care of but it was nice catching up. I know how to reach you, so – I'll be in touch."

She nodded, knowing of course he wouldn't make a move until he was absolutely sure no one had noticed her little trip and that there wouldn't be any repercussions.

"Sure."

He excused himself and left, and staring after him Nina sighed. Yeah, good to be back, she thought but couldn't detect a feeling that came along with it

Glancing at her wristwatch she noticed it was time for her as well, and collecting her sunglasses from the table she got up and left, quickly making her way past the buildings and leaving the campus.

¤¤¤

Nick pushed the door open and walked outside. Loosening his tie with his left hand while holding on to his briefcase with the other, he stopped after a few steps to take the scenery in front of the main building in. The sunlight, the mild breeze that made the treetops slightly sway, the murmuring of a thousand voices, the idea of a million thoughts filling the air. It still amazed him and sometimes hit him as if it hadn't really sunk in yet. He was really back.

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head, letting some sunrays play their game on his face. He couldn't make his mind up about whether it felt like yesterday or ten thousand years ago that he had been a student. But he remembered. The lectures, the seminars, the examinations. Hours in the library, nights spent with books instead of girls or friends, not all of them but many. Too many maybe but it had never felt like he was missing out on something. He had been focused, his mind set on reaching his goal, the school just a stop on his way towards higher grounds. Now he was here again, on the other side of the table as it happened to be the case, the other side of the classroom. And he wasn't on his way anywhere. The goals he had been striving for had lost their attraction, been reached, passed and abandoned. Now he was just exactly where he was, not set on moving on anymore. A bit older, a bit heavier.

"Nick?"

"Yes," he startled and turned around to where the voice had come from. It was Burton.

"I sneaked in today and listened to a part of your lecture, I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. I just hope I didn't make any bad jokes while you were there."

Burton stifled a laughter. "No, you didn't. In fact I was quite impressed," he said, his expression turning serious again. "But I'm afraid I have to notify you that we can't keep you as a guest lecturer any longer."

Nick lowered his gaze and ran his hand over his face.

"We think we have to make your teaching here a permanent installation," Burton continued in the same serious manner and it took Nick a moment to fully understand what the other one was telling him.

"You're offering me a full position?" he finally asked in surprise.

"I think that is what it comes down to."

Again Nick took his eyes off of Burton and let them travel over their surroundings. The buildings, the park, the students. Life was good here, wasn't it?

"Wow," was all he managed to say, knowing his voice didn't carry the excitement he should feel about the offer. If there was any goal he could still have, it would be this.

"No need to rush things, Nick, I know this comes unexpected."

"It surely does."

"You don't have to make your decision right away," Burton explained. "But the vacancy needs to be filled by the end of the term so we need an answer from you in due time."

"Of course," Nick nodded. "I understand."

"Good," Burton stated briefly and completely matter-of-fact. "If you'd excuse me now, I have an appointment in my office. I'll see you tomorrow, Nick."

"Sure."

Nick stared after Burton as he turned around and walked back inside and although the doors closed again behind him and blocked his sight, Nick could see him taking the stairs up to his office. Step by step.

"Wow," he repeated, mumbled to himself. And finally broke into a little smile. This was indeed unexpected. After he had quit his job for the government, he had just fumbled ahead for a while before running into Burton. He had brought him in at his old school, as a guest lecturer, literally saving him from wasting his days on doing nothing. And now he was offering him a full position. Well, not technically, it wasn't for him to decide. But Nick was sure that Burton had been the one to suggest him.

"Professor Sturges?" a young voice addressed him and he turned around one more time to recognize one of his students.

"Yes, Andrew?"

"You said we could have a talk about my final thesis?"

"Right," Nick remembered. "Why don't you come by at my office tomorrow afternoon."

"Sure."

"Good. I'll see you then."

Nick turned to walk over to where his car was parked when the young man addressed him once more, more insistently this time.

"Professor Sturges?"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if...," Andrew started, squirming under Nick's gaze. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask away."

"I heard you were working for the government? As some sort of profiler?"

Nick tried not to let it show but something within him tensed at the reminder of what he had left behind.

"Yes," he said. "Something like that."

"Well, I've been thinking, and…"

"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I have an appointment now," he cut him off, knowing already where he was going. "But come by my office tomorrow. We'll talk then."

"Sure," Andrew nodded and smiled a bit embarrassed before taking off.

Nick stared after him and took a deep breath. There was no appointment, of course, nowhere he had to be about now. He was free for the rest of the day.

He suddenly felt like sitting and walked over to the terrace, making himself comfortable at a table only occupied by an abandoned coffee mug from one of the automats. He noticed the fine trace of lipstick on it and cupping his hand around the bottom, he felt that it was still warm. Someone had been sitting at the exact same place not too long ago.

Andrew Wheeler. A good student. Ambitious, smart, diligent, his grades promising success whatever he chose to do. He reminds me of myself. Was that why his question had made him so uncomfortable? Was that why I couldn't look into his eyes? Why he had sent him away, buying himself some time to come up with an answer? He thought he knew what was going through Andrew's mind, he had been there himself. And he had found someone's advice as well. Thinking back now though, he wished he hadn't. As if that would have stopped me. No, it wouldn't have. But that was not the point. The point was Andrew Wheeler who wanted advice from him now. And he had no idea what to tell him.

Of course, he couldn't talk about what he had been doing for the government, what his job had been like and what it had left him with. But what 'could' he tell him then? That he should forget about it and find something else? That it wasn't what he imagined, that it wasn't what he wanted to get involved in? But who was he to make that judgment? Just because he hadn't been able to go through with it, did that mean no one else could or should either? But someone had to do it, didn't they? Someone had to do what was necessary.

He took his cigarettes out of his jacket and lit one, dropping the lighter onto the table and taking a deep drag. He thought of the papers he had to read until the end of the week, the article he had promised a colleague to co-write. I should have a work-out as well, he thought, his gaze falling on his well-shaped belly and the buttons of his pants which sat alarmingly tight. He had definitely gained some weight. Well, he was no student anymore. And no government agent either. He didn't have to bother keeping in shape.