Chapter One (Day Three) + 2 weeks

Chapter Two + 1 week

Our Lady Queen Of Angels Church, Los Angeles

It was a sombre and reflective event, and Jack was sure that his friend would appreciate it all. He was one of the many attendees of Gael Ortega's funeral, taking place in an old Spanish church. The pews were full of Gael's family and friends as well as a small contingent from both CTU and Langley. Jack was one of those who spoke to the congregation, remembering his friend. He talked about the noble sacrifice at the hotel and thanked him for his selfless actions.

Gael's widow, Theresa, was another who spoke of him with fondness. The murder charge still hung over her head, but Jack was sure that the law would be lenient on her. Still, he couldn't help but feel guilty about the events of that chaotic day. Operation Nightfall had haunted him ever since his return from Kosovo. Exactly two years later, he would lose his wife. Not only that, but his life would never be the same again. He had always seen Stephen Saunders as a patriot, loyal to his country and her allies. At the time of the operation, he had been an upstanding and honourable man. Then his experiences in Serbia had corrupted him beyond all recognition. By the time of his final day, the Saunders Jack had known was long gone. He wondered whether Nina was the same. Had something corrupted her over time as well? Was the Nina he once knew - once loved - the real one or not?

Theresa had found it hard to stop crying all day. She had always known that Gael's job was dangerous, that one day he might not be coming home. Yet it still came as a shock to her, and she had lost control at CTU when she saw Saunders. She had never thought herself capable of killing another human being until that day.

Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles

One CTU employee who was not at the funeral was Michelle, who was instead visiting Tony. She was feeling apprehensive about seeing him for the first time since his arrest. As she sat down and stared through the plexiglass window, she wanted to cry but told herself to be strong. That strength faltered as she saw him for the first time in bright orange jail clothes. Then his face lit up at the sight of her, and a wide grin formed on her face.

Tony looked tired but his warm smile and expressive brown eyes were still there. Michelle knew then that they would get through this. Both of them lifted up their receivers almost in sync but for a moment neither spoke.

"How are you, Tony?" She asked. Not the best of questions to ask, but it was something. She hoped that he would be honest and not hide anything from her.

"As good as the circumstances allow," Tony replied with honesty.

"I've spoken to our lawyer. She says we have a good case, but it depends on the judge we get," Michelle spoke. She didn't know anyone who thought Tony deserved to spend any time behind bars for his actions. Of course, they wouldn't be the ones to decide his fate.

"I would make the same choice over and over again if I had to," Tony told her. He would do anything for her, he was sure of it.

Cafe, Munich, Germany

The Myers siblings were in a small cafe in the city centre. They were drinking coffee and talking about lighter subjects. Soon enough, things got weightier and the conversation turned to that awful day.

"If you had made it here, what would you have done?" Alex asked, having always wondered why it had to be Germany. What would have been waiting for her here?

"I've no idea. They told me to go to Frankfurt, I would have waited there for further instructions," Nina replied. Undercover work would no longer be an option, but she didn't like to waste time speculating. The past was the past, no point wondering about paths not taken.

"Were you working for Schulze back then?" Alex asked. He felt the need to look around at others. No such thing as being too careful in their situation. Of course, he had to be careful with what he asked her. He had the feeling that she still felt a little suspicious of his motives for helping her escape. This would, he hoped, fade with time.

"No, I only started working for him after I left North Africa," she replied. Both were being selective with their words, in case anyone was listening in. They had to assume at least someone knew they were in the city. It didn't have to be American intelligence, either. Plenty of others would have some interest in either her, him or both of them.

"There were times when I considered asking you for help," Nina continued, and Alex looked at her in surprise. He didn't know for sure whether he would have accepted or not, but he was glad he never had to make the choice.

"That would have been risky," he replied. She nodded, knowing the risks always outweighed the benefits. That made it unacceptable to her.

"I'm considering hiring someone for the agency," she told him, and for a moment Alex didn't understand. Then he realised.

"That could be risky as well," he told her. Especially as CTU's recruitment protocols were now much more stringent.

"Yes, but we need eyes and ears inside. Otherwise, we're too vulnerable," she told him. This was one time where the benefits outweighed the risks. She had contacts in many agencies, but CTU Los Angeles might as well be a total mystery to her at that moment in time. Somehow, she knew that they would be back in her life at some point.

"Looks like we need to set off soon," Nina continued as she glanced at her watch. Nodding, Alex finished his coffee and took another look around. No harm in being extra careful.

"My contacts say that the agency has no current intel," Nina told him before she too glanced around. In fact, CTU was still working on the assumption that they were in Brazil. She too finished off her coffee, before they both stood up.

St Mark's Lutheran Church, Los Angeles

Almost as soon as Gael's funeral ended, it was time for Jack and the CTU contingent to head to another one. That of Ryan Chappelle, another of the victims of that day. The CTU employees attending made up a bigger part of the congregation this time. His family were small in number, but they were all there. His wife Vicky and his three children Caitlin, Christine and Ryan junior. Jack looked over at them and felt a surge of guilt over his part in Chappelle's death. He had no choice, he knew that, but he would blame himself for eternity.

The church had been where Ryan and Vicky had married some years before. Both were from different parts of the country but had come to the city for different reasons. Ryan for his work and Vicky had once dreamed of becoming an actress. Her dreams had faded away by the time they married. Instead, she had become a real estate agent.

Every few moments, Jack would look over at Ryan's family as if to punish himself for his actions. CTU had given them few details about his death other than that it was because of his job. This meant that they had no idea of his involvement, but he still couldn't help but wonder if they knew.

As the funeral came to a close and the congregation filed out, Jack approached Vicky. She was a short, middle-aged woman with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Her children noticed him and decided to let them speak alone as they had done with other CTU employees.

"Hello Mrs Chappelle, I'm Jack Bauer," he spoke once he had reached her. The two shook hands before Vicky replied.

"Please, call me Vicky. I've heard of you, Jack, you worked with Ryan?" Vicky spoke. She had an accent that Jack couldn't exactly place as if she had moved around throughout her life.

"I did, for many years. I'm sorry for your loss," Jack spoke. He had an urge to tell her more, to ask for forgiveness.

"He loved his job, he couldn't talk much about it but he loved it," Vicky said. Jack knew all too well how secretive the job had to be at times. It had been one of the strains on his marriage, and one of the ways Nina had been able to manipulate him.

"He was good at it," Jack replied, and he was being honest. Sure, he was often annoyed at Ryan's insistence on doing things by the book, but that was how he operated. Someone had to, after all.

"They said he died a hero," Vicky spoke, and Jack nodded.

"He did, his death wasn't in vain," Jack replied. He wondered if he was trying to convince himself as well.

Ottersberg, Germany

Alex and Nina were now in the small village of Ottersberg, on the outskirts of Munich. Standing in the cool shade of an oak tree, they were waiting for one of Nina's contacts. Nothing too high-risk or complicated, they were exchanging cash for information. Nina carried a briefcase that she had a tight grip on, whilst Alex carried a laptop bag. Even so, they were both alert with concealed guns. Soon enough, a black BMW pulled up and Nina glanced at the lone occupant. The driver climbed out and made his way over to the siblings.

"Nina, this has to be quick," the man, blonde-haired with beady hazel eyes, told her. He had a heavy accent local to the area.

"That's fine with me, Jürgen," Nina replied. The information she was hoping to buy was not requested by her boss, but she knew it would be well-received by him. Victor loved it when his employees showed initiative. Of course, he would love the information even more.

"You have the money with you?" Jürgen asked as he looked around. There wasn't even any traffic, but he hated staying out in the open for long. Nina nodded and passed him the briefcase. He took a look inside and nodded, before handing her a flash drive. Alex handed her the laptop from the bag and she smiled as she examined the contents of the drive. Yes, Victor was going to love this.

"Always good doing business with you, Nina," Jürgen spoke before heading back to his car. As the siblings made their way back to their own car, they could hear sirens growing louder. Jürgen sped off in one direction, whilst the siblings ran into the woods nearby. Nina had suggested they park on the other side of the trees, and it looked as if she was right. They ran between ancient trees and over exposed roots as they heard the police cars speed past. Soon enough, they were driving back towards Munich and considering themselves very lucky.

"That was close," Nina muttered to herself as Alex drove them away from the scene. She would have to find out exactly how the Polizei knew of the meeting and whether Jürgen managed to get away or not.

"Think they were monitoring him?" Alex asked as if he had read her thoughts. Nina shrugged but it was possible. Preferable, even, so that it wasn't them who was being hunted down.

Churchyard, Los Angeles

The sky above him was a mixture of blues, pinks and oranges as the sun set. Jack was at a grave although the funeral had been several years ago now. Crouching down, he gazed at Teri's headstone for what seemed to be the first time in months. Tracing his finger over the words engraved in the stone, he allowed himself to cry. There he remained until the sun had vanished, leaving only the silver light of the moon and stars. Not once did he say anything until he was about to leave.

"I wanted to tell you so much about what has happened, but I can't," Jack whispered as he stood back up as if apologising to her. He wanted to tell her about everything. The mission in Mexico, Kim's relationship with Chase. Nina's return and escape. Alex's sudden betrayal. The fact that he had been using heroin to escape his reality even after he didn't need it for the mission anymore. Ever since Teri's murder, he had felt he was living in a nightmare that never seemed to end no matter what he did. He wouldn't wish this life on anyone, not even Nina. Then again, she had been the catalyst for everything. He considered this but still came to the same conclusion. No, he couldn't wish this life even on her.

"Goodbye, Teri. I love you," he spoke louder this time before he began walking away with fresh tears in his eyes. He made a promise as he walked away, to tell her something the next time he visited.