CTU—9 months after Jack is kidnapped
"I can't believe this," Chloe raved at them as she looked around the room, "That's it. You're just done looking for him. You've just decided Jack is dead, even though there is no Intel to support that."
"Chloe," Bill began, his voice soft, "We all want to find Jack; you know we do, but we have to be realistic. We have spent almost 9 months looking for him and we are no closer. We have no proof he is dead, but we also have no proof he is alive. We cannot spend any more money searching for one man."
Chloe huffed, because it was clear she was going to get nowhere in this room, "Fine. You do what you want, but I'm not stopping until I find Jack—ALIVE—and bring him home." She hurried out of the room, surprised when she heard footsteps behind her, but not surprised to see it was Audrey that trailed her. "I meant it," Chloe repeated, "Really, I will keep looking no matter what."
Audrey stopped, waited a beat and then, "Maybe they're right."
"What? How can you say that? You and Jack were..."
"Yeah we were on the verge of happily ever after, but…Chloe, let's be honest. The chances of Jack being alive are practically non-existent. We could search forever and find nothing." She took a deep breath, "And…"
"And…"
"I've…I've met someone else. He's not Jack, no one will ever be Jack, but he's sweet and kind and he makes me happy and well…"
"You want to get on with your life…you want to have a life again." Chloe knew the feeling intimately. She was never the life of the party kind of girl, but since Jack was gone, it was all business. How could she feel joy, feel any kind of peace when he was somewhere hurting—dying maybe?
"I know it sounds selfish, but Jack would want me to move on. And he would want you to move on too. He really cared for you Chloe and he owed you so much. He was so grateful for everything you did."
Chloe wanted to rail back at her for those words. Sure, Jack always, eventually showed gratitude for what she did. Even if he didn't say it, she felt it. But he wasn't grateful, he didn't owe her. They were friends—there were no debts between friends.
"I appreciate you want to move on Audrey, and maybe Jack would want me to do that, but I just can't. I have to try, I have to do everything I can to try and help him. Everything."
Audrey nodded, "Listen, I'm going back to Washington tonight, but if you get any leads or if I can help, I, uh," she choked up for a moment, "I still have hope you know, just…"
"I understand. I'll let you know if I find anything out."
Audrey nodded and turned to leave.
When she was gone Chloe made herself take five deep breaths. She was the only one left. The only one who believed Jack was alive. But she did still believe and she would still do whatever it took to get him back, whatever it took.
Somewhere in China
"What is the progress with Bauer?"
"Sir, nothing has changed. He continues to reject our conditioning program."
"Keep up the efforts. I want him under control."
"Yes sir."
As the younger soldier left, the older man turned away in frustration. It had been nine months and progress with Bauer was nearly non-existent. He had told them nothing about his country, despite months of torture. Then, when they started the program, he had resisted at every turn. If they didn't break him soon, they would have to get rid of him.
In the same building in China
Jack lay on the floor of his cell desperately trying to resist the images and memories trying to take root in his brain. He repeated the words that had become his mantra for the last few months, "My name is Jack Bauer. I work for the United States of America." He said it over and over and when it became nothing but words he sought out faces in his mind, people to remember. He tried to concentrate on the face of Terri, but it was hazy in his mind, so long since he'd seen it. He thought of his daughter, but her image came with regret and he needed peace. He tried in vain to bring Audrey's face to his mind, but it wouldn't stick. Finally, when he felt like giving up, a face flashed in his mind and held. "Chloe," he rasped, "Chloe."