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Jack opened his eyes slowly. His head throbbed uncontrollably. He could hear whispers from every direction. Suddenly, he was hit in the face with a quick splash of water. He jerked in surprise, his eyes snapping open. He was tied to a chair. All his equipment was gone, and he was surrounded by teenagers, one of which held a bottle of water. Another had a gun.

"I'd be careful with that." He simply stated to the boy with his pistol. The boy tilted his head in annoyance. He flipped the lever that released the cartridge of bullets, cocked it so the last bullet flew out, gripped the top and let the bottom of the gun slide to the floor as he removed the chamber from its resting place.

"Who are you?" The sarcastic boy from before asked.

"My name is Jack Bauer. I work for a company called CTU, a branch of the government. We've been following the terrorists that have taken your school hostage."

"Yeah right." The boy stood and walked over to Jack. Without warning, he delivered a quick punch to Jack's face. Jack felt something tear and the familiar sensation of blood running down his face from his temple. He looked up at the boy who showed his hand. "I guess this class ring is for more than just show." Smiling, the boy drew back again, but a new voice rang out.

"Jake! Stop it!" A girl hissed. She strode over to him and pushed him away.

"Get out of here Kris."

"Yeah, and where exactly would I go?" Silence. "Thought so. Why'd you hit him?"

"Because he's lying. He keeps saying 'I work for CTU.' I've never even heard of the place. Any one else ever heard of that branch?" He looked at his classmates. They all shook their heads.

Kris walked over to Jack. "Where's your identification?"

Jack breathed roughly, "Back left pocket."

Kris awkwardly reached into Jack's pant pocket and withdrew a wallet-looking object. She flipped it open and showed it to everyone. "Jack Bauer. CTU agent and special agent to the PRESIDENT!" She turned, "You know the President?"

"Yes. I know him. Will you please get me out of this now?" The boys who knocked him out sprang up from their seats and untied him. Jack slumped over slightly and touched his temple. Looking at his blood covered hand, he glared up at Jake.

"Sorry. I thought you were one of them. You won't kill me now, will you?"

Jack sighed, "No, I won't kill you. You thought you were protecting your friends, I admire your courage."

"Thanks."

"So, can someone tell me what's going on here? And you." Jack said pointing at the boy who dismantled his weapon, "Where'd you learn to handle a gun like that?"

"My dad is an FBI agent. He's taught me a thing or two. My name's Rick by the way."

"Okay Rick. You think you can put it back together and give it back to me?"

"Well, yeah but-"

"Do it. I need that if you all want to stay alive long enough to get through this day." He turned to Kris, "You seem to be the most powerful one here, in the leading sense. Tell me what's going on."

"Well, you heard what Jake said about them coming in pretending to be the FBI, they all look like that. It's really freaky. They come in here only from time to time to drop of another body. Yeah, they stash the bodies here. So far there's five teachers and three kids. All men. We knew them all."

"I'm sorry. We're trying to stop these guys, so you have to keep going."

"Um…the 6th floor is totally unoccupied. They got lost with all the doorways and turns. If you don't know the floor, you'll get lost. They definitely don't know it. We all know that floor, so if you'd like to move up there, it'd probably be safer."

"All right. You got that right. I just need to check the bodies quick, report to my people."

"Okay," Kris replied, her voice shaky.

"You don't have to come with me. You can stay here with your friends." Jack studied her carefully. She was terrified, as she should be. He couldn't stand it. All these kids could die with the blink of an eye, and he was in control on if it should happen or not.

"No, it's okay, " Kris said, breaking up his thoughts. "I'll go with you so I can tell you who they are."

"Okay. Come on." Jack walked behind the curtain where the boys had motioned him. The bodies were all on their stomachs. None were binded, but he could tell that the teachers were all younger males. He rolled one over.

"Mr. Tanner. Mr. Kosh. Mr. Lorway." Kris's eyes started to tear up, "Mr. Gale, and…"

The last one, made Kris burst into tears. But as Jack flipped him, the body let out a groan. Jack quickly flipped up the teacher's shirt. He was completely startled when he saw a bulletproof vest underneath. "Who is he?"

Kris had her back to them.

"KRIS! He's alive, I need to know who he is!"

Kris jumped. "He's alive? His name is Mr.-Mr.-"

"It's Justin." Jack looked down at the man who slowly opened his eyes. "Can you help me up man?"

Jack grabbed a hand and pulled him to a sitting position. "Justin.."

"Miller. I'm the soccer coach and fitness trainer."

"A bulletproof vest?"

"My team got it for me as a joke. There always seemed to kick one stray ball each practice at my chest. Always bullets of a kick, so what not better than a bulletproof vest? I heard gunshots upstairs from the gym. I threw it on and pulled a shirt over it. Then three guys came in, shot me and dragged me up here. That's all I remember."

"Okay. I need to contact my people, and we have to move these kids up to the sixth floor."

"Your people? Kids, as in more than Kris?"

"My name is Jack Bauer. I work for a branch of government know as CTU. Right now, there are over three dozen terrorists in this school. It is my job to locate them all, and get everyone out as quickly and as safely as possible. So far, it hasn't been going well." Jack reached into his pocket and came up empty. "Who has my phone?" Jake ran forward and handed him the phone. Dialing, Jack called the one person he could always trust.

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9:52…9…10…11…

"Hello?"

"Hey Tony it's Jack. Look I need you to do something for me."

"No offense Jack, but the last time I did anything for you, I was fired, my wife divorced me and I became an alcoholic."

"I know, but look Tony, I really need your help. I'm at a school right now 76th and Lincoln, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I need you to contact CTU and tell them that I have some kids with me. We're going to head to the 6th floor. Tell them-"

"JACK!" A frightened whisper hissed. Jack turned and saw Kris staring at the doors. A few of her classmates joined her and all looked very panicked.

"What?"

"I-I think they're coming."

Jack swore, "Hold on Tony. All right, we need to get out of sight. Everyone hide! Now!" The kids went into hiding places Jack didn't even know were there. Good, it would be harder to find them. Striding forward, he helped Kris with Miller. He just closed the cabinet door where the pair was hiding when the doors to the room slammed open. Jack grabbed his weapon, aimed and shot. He hit his target in the back of the first's head. It split easily and the man fell to the floor. He went to aim at the other, but his legs gave out as a bullet pierced his right calf. He went to shoot again, but felt a cold metal touch his temple.

Inside the cabinet, Miller held Kris firmly against him, a hand over her mouth. She shook with fear, her eyes wide.

"Do not move." The terrorist kneeled down and looked at Jack. He smiled and put all his pressure on the wound on Jack's leg. Jack howled in pain. "Who are you?" He asked. Jack glared at him but didn't say a word. The terrorist flipped Jack over and grabbed his ID out. "Jack Bauer, CTU. We didn't think you were going to come." The man looked up as two more terrorists came running in. "Move Jarid's body by the others. Kain, come hold his arms down." A younger killer stepped forward and pinned Jack down. The leader wrapped his hand around Jack's neck and increased the pressure. Jack struggled to get free, but it was impossible. Slowly, black dots began to appear as he gasped for air. Then the blackness overtook him and he faded into unconsciousness.

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