CTU Los Angeles, Los Angeles

"Nina, put the gun down! Don't think I won't shoot you!" Alex commanded, hoping more than anything that she would do as he asked. The situation was tense and he was contemplating the possibility of having to shoot her. Much to his and Kim's relief, Nina did what they hoped and dropped the gun before sinking to her knees. Relieved, Alex looked over at Kim and he could tell what she was thinking. Her eyes helped a lot with that.

"Kim, go back into CTU and let them know Nina's caught," Alex told her. She hesitated at first before soon leaving the siblings alone in the room. Returning his attention to Nina, he walked over and pulled her up by her arm. He knew that his next actions were going to change everything.

"Nina, you have to trust me," he told her. There was a growing sense of panic within himself that Jack was going to arrive in the room at any moment. Ushering her out into the corridor, he was unable to see it but her face showed what she was thinking. Shock as well as confusion at what her brother was doing.

"There's a new fire escape close by, it leads straight into the parking lot," he explained as they approached it. Moments later, they were in his car and he felt much calmer. The look of suspicion he noticed on Nina's face made him wonder if she believed it to be a trap.

Jack, Tony and Chappelle had now arrived in the room where Alex and Nina had been moments before. Expecting to find the pair, they found nobody. The only thing that seemed out of the ordinary was a gun lying on the floor, a standard-issue CTU firearm. Jack stared at the gun for a moment before he came to a worrying conclusion.

"She's taken him hostage," he stated before he began walking back to the bullpen. Whilst he knew that Alex was a capable agent, Nina was dangerous and he wasn't exempt.

"We can't focus on that right now," Tony spoke as he followed Jack, although he was still worried about Alex. He did hold out some hope that even Nina wouldn't kill her own brother. Then again, she had helped terrorists bomb the building with him inside once.

"Dad, what's happened? Where are they?" Kim asked as she saw her dad. At first, she had wanted Nina dead and was willing to do the deed herself, but now her feelings had changed. It wasn't that she wanted her free, but she could accept her being alive.

"I can't tell you, Kim. We need to look at the cameras to see where they've gone," Jack replied. He knew that the virus was the main priority, but this was something that required urgent action too.

"Where they've gone? Dad, does she have Alex?" Kim asked as she grew ever more anxious. She had become very close to Alex over the years and didn't want to lose someone else at the hands of Nina Myers. She, Jack and a few others filed into a conference room where Chloe was hard at work. She was busy accessing the needed camera footage that would reveal more.

"We need the footage for around two fifty-five," Chappelle told her as he wondered what they were about to see. He could only assume the same thing as everyone else, that Nina had tricked Alex. As soon as the footage began, all eyes were watching the screen as the events played out. They saw Nina messing with the control panel before Kim entered the room. Alex soon appeared before Kim left, then came the moment they were waiting for.

"Where is he taking her? Can we access the camera footage for that corridor?" Jack asked, his voice growing ever louder and angrier. There was a sense of confusion shared amongst the group but it was only for a short while before the truth came out. Alex had helped his sister escape.

"Dammit!" Jack yelled before he began rushing towards the door, his mind stuck on the Myers siblings. Tony was quick to grab him by his arm.

"Jack, we need to stop the virus right now, we can get them later!" He all but pleaded and for a moment, it looked like Jack was about to punch him before he managed to calm down.

"You're right, but as soon as the threat is over I'm going to hunt them both down!" Jack snarled. His fury was in stark contrast to the silent Kim. She was sat down in an almost catatonic state, unable to comprehend Alex helping Nina escape.

Alex's car, Los Angeles

Nina had managed to fall into a shallow sleep as Alex drove through the streets of the city. Waking up with a start, she felt panic as she tried to work out where she was before noticing her brother. Then it all came flooding back as she gazed at him and contemplated what he had done and why.

"Thank you," she spoke in a hoarse voice. She didn't know why he had helped her escape. The possibility of it being a trap was in her mind but she saw no reason for it. Looking out at the streets that had once been so familiar, a slight smile grew on her face.

Alex was contemplating what he had done as well as the possible consequences of his actions. Not only had he set free a dangerous terrorist and murderer, but he was now a fugitive. Knowing that he couldn't turn back now, he told himself to forget everything he was leaving behind. Things had changed and he wondered how much he himself would change too.

CTU Los Angeles, Los Angeles

Adam was busy sending out information on the Myers siblings to various agencies. Disturbed by the sudden treachery of Alex, he wanted to do all that he could to help find the pair. As he stared at the posters he had made, he could only wonder what had driven Alex to do such a thing. Looking around the office, he could tell that the mood was dark. The virus threat still loomed and it would be some time before people's minds would forget about Alex.

Kim was trying her best to focus only on her work, but it was proving almost impossible. Not only was her mother's killer on the loose, but once more someone she trusted had betrayed her. She looked over at Alex's empty workstation and wanted nothing more than to know why.

Alex's car, west of San Jacinto

The sun had now risen in a clear blue sky and Nina was once more asleep. They had left the city and were now driving through the desert with no real destination in mind. Alex knew that every law enforcement agency in the country would know about them now. Not wanting to go to prison for the rest of his life, he knew they had to be careful. Pulling over to the side of the road, he took a map out of the glove compartment and studied it. Tracing the route they had taken, he concluded that they were somewhere west of San Jacinto. Nudging Nina, he waited for her to wake up.

"We're somewhere west of San Jacinto, Nina. Do you have any idea where we can go from here?" Alex asked, hoping that the quick mind of his sister would soon have a plan.

"I thought I would still be in Mexico this morning. Let's go to Palm Springs, I know someone there who can help us," Nina replied, her thoughts all on getting away from Jack. She knew what it was like to be on the run, but she had concerns about Alex. He had sacrificed so much that morning for her, and she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. That was a surprise to her, as she would be the first to admit that she wasn't the most empathetic of people. Still, he was her brother and she knew it had been difficult for him after her arrest. Taking out the phone she had stolen from a guard, she forgot about CTU as she dialled the contact's number.

"Sure. How's the neck wound?" Alex asked. When he saw her force her head onto the needle, he had known how desperate she was to get out of there.

"Could be better," she replied as her hand touched her neck. Suicide was the last thing on her mind when she had forced the needle into her carotid but she had known it was a big risk. As they had rushed her into Medical she had waited for them to think she wasn't a danger. Then she had attacked, punching the closest doctor before grabbing a scalpel. With no hesitation, she had killed all but one of the medical staff and was soon running down the corridor.

Noticing a gas station, Alex decided it would be a good idea to get fuel as well as some food for the both of them. Walking inside, leaving Nina to rest in the car, he told himself to stay calm. He could only hope that nobody noticed her wound or the blood all over her arm and neck. Grabbing a few items, he was glad that it seemed to be only him and the store clerk around before his heart skipped a beat. A police officer had entered the store and as Alex approached the checkout, he tried his best to stay calm. It felt like an eternity had passed before he climbed back into the car. It dawned on him that his life was now very different. He could only wonder how long he would last in this new world.

As they arrived in Palm Springs, Nina directed Alex towards the home of her contact. Finding it, they parked nearby and sat in silence for a few minutes. Whilst it was now broad daylight, there were few other cars around and even fewer people.

"She's called Martina, she can get us fake documents as well as transport to São Paulo by this evening. Her work is quick and high-quality as well as costly, but worth it," Nina told Alex as they looked over at the house. Climbing out of the car and approaching, Alex noticed that the building didn't look like it was a home. Knocking on the door, they were soon greeted by the sight of Martina. In her forties, short and stocky with intense green eyes and red hair, she spoke in a thick Southern accent. She was quick to invite them in, although Nina noticed the look of suspicion she gave Alex.

Inside, the house was spartan. Alex could tell that it was a base more than a home, as he noticed the lack of any personal items. Martina disappeared into a back, leaving the two siblings alone. Moments later, she rushed back into the room brandishing a shotgun.

"What the hell, Nina?! Do you think I'm stupid or something? I know he's a fed!" Martina yelled, and Nina knew that she had to calm her down quick. She didn't have a gun, whilst Alex had left his in the car.

"Martina, I told you that he helped me escape. He's with me now," Nina replied. Alex could only wonder what that meant for his future before deciding to speak up.

"She's right, I'm a fugitive now and we need your help. You can trust me," he assured her. For what seemed like an eternity, she contemplated in silence before she lowered her gun.

"Ok, I'll believe that but you know I can't be getting reckless," she replied. Nina knew that she was one of her more paranoid contacts although it was understandable. Even she had her own suspicions about Alex, although they were diminishing as time went on.

"So, the usual price?" Nina spoke, wanting nothing more than to sort out the deal and get out of there.

"Yeah, usual price," Martina replied as she put the gun on a nearby table. Starting up a laptop, she began the process of helping Alex and Nina flee the country.

Hospital, Los Angeles

Jack was at the hospital, waiting for news on Chase. There was a good chance that the operation would be a success, but his days as a field agent were over. He couldn't help but notice how things had changed. The day before, he had been reluctant to let him go into the field in case Kim lost another loved one. Now he had ensured that Chase would never work in the field again. Jack knew that he wouldn't blame him, but he couldn't help feel as if he was yet another person he had failed.

"Agent Bauer, your daughter's here," a nurse informed him. He smiled as he saw a tearful Kim walk up to him before they embraced.

"Is it all over now, Dad?" Kim whispered as he stroked her hair.

"Yeah, it is," Jack replied as he fought back tears. He watched as she sat down with her eyes on the doors of the nearby operating theatre. He wondered where Alex and Nina were now. Whether there was some genetic predisposition in the Myers family to commit treason. He had been unable to settle on any particular motive for Alex to do what he had done. Immediately, he had believed that Nina had tricked Alex and that had stayed until he saw the truth. Then he had exploded with rage at the revelation as well as seeing Nina slip away once more.

He remembered the times when he could have killed her and the consequences of not doing so. If he had killed her at the construction site, Jamey and Teri would still be alive. If he had killed her in Visalia, she wouldn't have been there in Mexico. If he had killed her in Mexico, then she wouldn't have been back at CTU and Alex couldn't betray them all. He considered butterflies and hurricanes, and the winds that would be born of this flap of wings.

Martina's house, Palm Springs

The basement of Martina's house was far more homely than the rest of the building. The locks on the basement door told Alex that this was likely where she lived when in Palm Springs.

Both Alex and Nina had been able to have a shower whilst also making use of a first aid kit for Nina's self-inflicted injury.

"So what's the plan once we have the documents?" Alex asked as he finished dressing the angry red wound on his sister's neck. He was no medical expert but it would be enough for now.

"There's a private airfield not too far from here. I know someone who can get us into Mexico and from there, on to São Paulo," Nina replied.

"What's in São Paulo anyway?" Alex spoke. She had seemed determined to go there all morning.

"Someone I want you to meet," Nina replied and Alex wondered if it had anything to do with her bosses.

CTU Los Angeles, Los Angeles

Jack walked back into CTU, the voices of Alex and Nina talking in the back of his mind. Whatever they were saying had a mocking tone and he was glad he couldn't understand. As he tried to block them out, he wandered over to Chloe's workstation. She gave him a quick smile as he approached.

"How's Chase?" Chloe asked. The two had worked at CTU Washington together before transferring to LA.

"He's doing well. The operation was a success but it'll be a while before he has full use of his hand again," Jack replied. He noticed that the voices were all but gone now.

"Kim must be pretty upset?" Chloe spoke, although she had been so since the escape. Chase's injury was yet another reason for it.

"Yeah, she's there with him now," Jack said. He hated seeing his daughter so distraught. The day had been yet another harrowing and disturbing time for her.

Martina's house, Palm Springs

Now that Martina had finished their documents, they were keen to set off as soon as possible. Nina was transferring the money whilst Alex examined his fake passport. The document looked completely real and he was confident that it would do the job.

"As always, a pleasure working with you, Nina," Martina spoke as the two shook hands. She looked over at Alex and watched as he studied the passport.

"Life will be unrecognizable for you now, Alex. I hope things go well for you two," she told him. It had been a surprise to hear from Nina that her brother had helped her escape. She knew from experience what the first few months and years of being on the run were like.

"As long as we stick together, we should do well," Alex replied, although it sounded a little naive to him. Sure, him and Nina working together gave them a good chance of survival but he was new to this. He might even be a burden on her, rather than a reliable friend.

"We should go, the sooner the plane goes the better," Nina spoke, eager to get out of the country. She had no idea how CTU were doing with the virus threat and if it was over, Jack would want to start hunting them down.