Decisions
Okay, this is my first fanfic, so don't kill me if it's horrible. This takes place post season three, when Tony has returned from jail. I don't own 24 or it's characters.
Michelle sighed as she drained the remaining alcohol from Tony's Cubs Mug into the sink. It was hard to believe that only one year previously she had seen him leave CTU, and leave her- forever. After Jack had somehow beaten the system and freed Tony from jail, she remembered being so overjoyed at the thought of being with him again without a glass wall separating them. They could be like they used to be: So spontaneous and in love. There was no one in the world but the two of them.
They had fallen for each other remarkably fast. Yet despite what her friends and all of the relationship television shows had advised her, she agreed to marry Tony without a second thought. It didn't worry her how quickly their relationship had fallen into place. The mere idea of always being with him! To eat dinner together every evening, and to go to sleep side by side every night, was more than she could bear. How could something that felt so right not work out? They would be with each other always, maybe have children- grow old together, watch their kids grow up. This, more than anything in the world, felt right to Michelle.
Somehow her expectations were not quite lived up to. Tony seemed distracted the day he was released. In the car ride back to their apartment, it was as if he was not really listening to her, he hardly looked at her. He responded only halfheartedly when she told him how much she loved him and had missed him. It seemed as though there was still a barrier between them. The fiery passion that was once sparked when they were together a year ago seemed to have gone out. Maybe all Tony needed was a few days to adjust back to normal life? After all, Michelle had no idea what he might have seen in the confines of the L.A. prison, as she had never been.
So, she did give him a few days. A few days became a few weeks, which then became months. Not only had Tony permanently distanced himself from Michelle, but he had taken up a new drinking addiction. He was never seen without a beer in hand. No matter what Michelle did, and no matter how she begged him to get help, he merely pushed her away and slammed the door. She could not remember how many times she had cried herself to sleep.
"Why?" she would plead with him. "Why do you need this? Why does this obsession satisfy you more than I can?"
"It takes away the pain," he responded, callously. Michelle never got another answer out of him.
After months of pain, sadness and regret, she had suddenly found herself changing emotion. How could he do this? Does he not love me anymore? After everything we've been through? He had gone to jail for her. Why was he acting like he didn't need her, or even want her for that matter? Without warning a white-hot anger took hold of Michelle, and she forcefully threw the mug onto the floor. Realizing what she had done, tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. She held them back. She had cried to much already.
Yet, miraculously, it had not broken. She got a grip on herself, and bent to pick it up.
She could answer none of these frustrating questions. Day after day they pounded at her mind, pleading for a solution that wasn't there. They were supposed to tell each other everything, they had both made a promise. Had Tony not meant what he said in his vows? She shook this idea out of her head. He had certainly meant what he said, at least, he had then. What had changed?
She was sure that if they just talked about it, he would return to the normal, loving Tony who had cared about her enough to put her life over the rest of the world. Still, no matter how Michelle had tried to open him up, he was only pushed farther away from her.
Michelle wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to last. Every step became more painful. But what was she supposed to do? Divorce him? Of course not. She couldn't do that to him. It wasn't an option.
She racked her brain for another solution: anything to ease her suffering. Nothing came. There must be a way to repair their damaged relationship. And then it hit her so suddenly the wind was knocked out of her body. Her face went icy, she felt as if all joy had gone from the world. It was the only way for them both to be happy again.
She glanced over at Tony, sprawled on the couch, openmouthed and drooling. She decided to tell him when he awoke.
