Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction, hence by definition I do not own any of the 24 characters about which I am writing.
Setting: This scene is an alternative to Season 3, 2:55 to 3:00am. Therefore it takes place after the Tony's interrogation of Nina during which they trade personal attacks, with Nina ahead two points to one. Michelle is watching, still upset at Tony after their latest post-hospital argument. Richards is brought in to torture Nina, but she stabs herself in the neck with his needle and is sent to Medical.
A/N: This idea came to mind while originally watching this episode. Nina's death bothered me on two counts, it meant we never had a chance to see Michelle versus Nina, something I am about to remedy. Secondly it made Jack lower himself to cold-blooded revenge, which he admitted to Tony in Season 5, didn't ease his grief.
2:55 am. Nina is rushed to Medical after her "suicide attempt" and once apparently sedated Tony leaves Medical to inform Jack and Chappelle of the situation…
Barely three steps out of Medical, Tony is accosted by Adam with yet another complaint against Chloe. After 5 minutes of mediation, Tony recommences his path towards the Situation Room. Then he hears it, a muffled sound he can't quite place behind him. Turning around he glimpses her too late to react, Nina immediately presses a razor sharp scalpel blade against his throat. Allowing her arm to drape causally across his shoulder, Nina leans forward and with an amused tone whispers in his ear: "Why don't you and I go for a little walk together, Tony?"
"You're not going anywhere Nina, so why don't you just give up while you are ahead." Tony felt the bite of the blade as it dug into his throat and involuntarily flinched.
"You know exactly what I'm capable of Tony, so maybe you should think about the lucky Mrs Almeida before you do anything she'll regret" Nina stated in a dispassionate manner.
The memories of his last angry encounters with Michelle flashed into Tony's mind, he hadn't had the time to deal with their problems and he couldn't, he wouldn't, leave things like that. Tony began to walk slowly towards the bullpen.
At her station, Michelle frantically typed away on her keypad desperately searching for any thread on Nina's acquaintance with Alvers. Now that they know the degree of their relationship, Michelle was determined to ferret out the details if only to wipe that smirk from Nina's face. Frowning in concentration at the screen it took a few minutes for Michelle to realise that something was wrong. Looking up she felt her heart stop, there was Tony, her Tony, with his life once again in the calculating hands of Nina Myers. She had to do something, yesterday afternoon when he was shot at the mall she was helpless to assist but now she was ranking agent.
"Kim, initiate a lock-down and get security in here now!" she ordered while hastily walking towards Tony and Nina. That is when she saw it, Jack Bauer, slowly creeping out of the Situation Room gun drawn, eyes fixed on Nina and Tony.
Constantly surveying her surroundings, Nina spotted Jack shortly after Michelle did.
"Drop the gun Jack or Tony's dead"
"If you kill him I've have a clear shot Nina, I'm not going to miss from this distance" Jack responded staring right at Nina, as if to dare her to act.
Having initially frozen several feet away from the stand off, Michelle now spurred herself into action, angling in between Jack and his targets: "Put the gun away Jack, we need her alive".
Turning towards Nina, Michelle crossed her arms and established eye contact. She forced herself to continue in a calm, professional voice "The building is locked-down Nina, you will not be able to leave regardless of the number of people you are willing to kill. So stop wasting my time and give yourself up."
Returning Michelle's stare, Nina replied "I'm sorry, Miss…"
"Agent Dessler" Michelle replied while discretely ensuring her left hand was safely buried out of Nina's sight.
"Miss Dessler, let's get one thing straight, you are not currently in charge, I am"
"Actually Nina, I beg to differ" countered Michelle one eyebrow raised. She preceded to turn back towards Jack, ordering him: "Shoot Tony then take Nina down, just make sure she survives."
"Forgot it Michelle, find someone else to help you get that promotion" Jack responded stepping alongside Michelle while lowering his weapon. "If you are so sure you're in control, why don't you just handle this yourself?"
As Jack spoke, Michelle felt a weight settle at the small of her back; Jack had covertly slipped her his gun. In their semi-regular self-defence training sessions, Tony always told her that the most important thing was to move quickly and with commitment.
Returning her gaze to Nina, Michelle noted the amusement on her face as she watched their exchange. Allowing her anger to surface, Michelle stepped forward closing the gap between them and spat out "You've chosen the wrong person to pick a fight with Nina"
Nina's smirk widened, and as she opened her mouth to reply, Michelle took her opportunity. Quickly clearing the remaining space between them in a swift step, she deflected Nina's wrist, and the scalpel blade in it, with her right hand. Her left hand immediately followed securing Nina's wrist and twisting hard to force her to release the scalpel blade. While Nina's attention was directed at her wrist, Michelle lashed out with her right hand, using the blade of her palm to deliver a sharp blow to the delicate nerves of her neck. The force of the blow caused Nina's head to snap back sending her backwards into a workstation before sinking onto the floor. Removing the concealed weapon, Michelle levelled it at Nina's head. "You OK, Tony?"
"Yeah. Nice shot, sweetheart." Tony replied casting Michelle a sideways glance and half smile as he stepped alongside her.
A combination of relief for Tony's safety and pride at her ability to ensure it, brought a smile to Michelle's face for the first time in over 12 hours. Looking across at Tony out of the corner of her eye she responded light-heartedly, "Honey, you keep cooking and I'll keep saving your life."
Nina listened intently to the exchange, fixing her eyes on Michelle's wedding ring, now clearly visible on her left hand which was stabilising her right on the gun grip.
"Well, well… Mrs Almeida." Nina stated, slowly eyeing Michelle before turning her attention to Tony. " Still having trouble keeping your personal and professional lives separate, Tony?"
Ignoring Nina's comment, Tony turned towards Jack who had moved around to cover Michelle, back-up weapon in hand. "Jack, could you arrange for Patterson to come and escort Nina back to Holding Room 1.
As Jack headed off, Michelle fixed her gaze and gun onto Nina, carefully to maintain an impassive tone. "Nina, get up slowly and keep your hands where I can see them."
"It must be hard to earn your colleagues respect, sleeping with the boss" was Nina's only response.
Standing above Nina gun pointed straight at her head, Michelle placed a single shot millimetres from her target. Nina continued to focus on Michelle, unsure now whether it was a wise move to evoke her ire.
"Up now, Nina!" Michelle barked, in a no-nonsense tone.
Nina calmly raised her open hands in front of her and arose to her feet, positioning herself mid-way between Tony and Michelle thus allowing herself to maintain constant eye contact with them both. "I see you still like them feisty, Tony."
"Nina, the only thing you can say to interest me is the whereabouts of Alvers. And considering your love life currently involves a double crossing HIV positive associate, I wouldn't be offering relationship advice if I was you.'
Not bothering to even look at Nina's reaction to this statement, Tony turned towards Jack and Agent Patterson, who he had noted approaching in his peripheral vision. "Take Nina back to Holding Room 1 and make sure she is fully secured. Allow Medical to administer whatever treatment they can without the removal of her restraints."
Leaving Jack to supervise, Tony turned towards Michelle but before they could speak Chappelle approached. After a brief congratulatory comment to Michelle on her handling of the situation, he immediately requested that they both undergo full debriefs. Focusing on Tony, he further enquired "What do you plan to do with Nina now?"
Scratching his face while glancing over his shoulder at Nina, Tony responded "I'll let medical attend to her wound while I debrief and then I'll try talking to her again. Obviously Richards isn't the way to go."
"Let me have a go at her" Jack commented as he joined them.
Turning his attention to Jack, Tony replied "I don't know if that's a good idea, Jack."
"Nina never does anything unless it's in her best interests, and ensuring that I don't kill her is in her best interests" Jack rebutted.
Chappelle nodded "Jack may have a point Tony."
"Fine, but you're not going in there alone." Tony conceded. A half smirk crossed his face as he continued, "Maybe I should send Michelle in with you and see who kills her first."
A faint smile crossed Michelle's face and suddenly Tony stepped forward oblivious to the crowded bullpen and embraced her in a tight hug. Burying his face in her hair, he whispered into her ear, "About earlier, I am so sorry sweetheart", leaning back slightly to look straight into her eyes, he added "I love you, Michelle."
"I love you, Tony." Michelle responded softly as she briefly kissed him before the pair headed off for their debriefs leaving behind an embarrassed Chappelle. A slightly bemused Jack turned to accompany Agent Patterson and a shackled Nina Myers, displeased to both her situation and the couple in front of her, across to Holding.
3:00am