Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters related to 24.

A/N: I'm back! LOL! Finally moved in with Internet! I was jumping for joy this afternoon, and I loved having all the reviews to read:D It made my day! I wrote two chapters during the week but I'm still editing and stuff so the other should be up Sunday night or Monday. I really HOPE this chapter seems realistic and meets your expectations. I know it's something a lot of people have their own ideas about so I hope it doesn't disappoint…and I hope I managed to stay true to their characters because that's what I was particularly trying to emphasize in this chapter. Please review! I REALLY want to know what everyone thinks of this one, good or bad! Thanks so much!

Chapter Six – Resolution

"What the hell is going on here? " Jack did not raise his voice, but there was a fierce intensity associate with each word.

Tony and Michelle quickly broke away from each other, but Tony was obviously angry.

"God damn it Jack! Learn how to knock!"

"What the hell are you two doing?" Jack was starting to yell now.

It was then that Ryan walked into Tony's office.

"Is there a problem here?" he looked at Jack, and then Tony, respectively. Jack's fists were clenched and Tony's brow was fixated into a scowl. Tony immediately looked at Jack, when Ryan asked the question, almost daring him to respond, as Tony suspected he would feel obliged to.

"No," Jack said, relaxing his hands. "No problem."

"Good." Ryan finally acknowledged the fact that Michelle was in the room. She was standing beside Tony's desk, looking more nervous than anything else.

"Michelle," Ryan continued. "I need the location of the files you found."

"11b, volume 5." She regurgitated robotically.

"Thank you." Ryan's eyes traveled between Tony and Jack again.

"Whatever the problem is, I want it settled in the next ten minutes. I'm not sticking around to baby-sit you two everyday…"

And with those words still ringing in everyone's ears, Ryan Chappelle marched out of the room.

The tension could've been cut with a knife. It was Jack who finally broke the silence, continuing as though Ryan had not interrupted them.

"What the hell are you thinking here Tony?" Jack lectured as he crossed the room in a few quick strides. As they stared each other down, Tony knew that there was no point in denying it. Jack had figured out what was going on already.

"After everything that's happened…" Jack's eyes quickly shifted to Michelle. "After Nina…"

"Michelle, leave." Tony ordered, refusing to argue about the differences between Michelle and Nina right in front of her.

"But…" Michelle tried, Tony cut her off.

"Leave! That's an order." He snapped.

Michelle's back stiffed and she clucked her tongue before answering. "Fine." She stalked proudly out of the room without so much as a second glance at either of them. The door slammed, signaling her exit.

"Smooth Jack…" Tony stated flatly. "Really…classy…"

"What did you expect me to do Tony? How do you expect me to react when I walk into your office and find the two of you – "

"Hugging? Because you're right, God forbid I show emotion here…" Tony shouted, exasperated.

"That's not the point and you know it."

There was another deathly silence.

"So you've been seeing each other." Jack finally declared, he need not question it anymore.

"Yeah." Tony stated, standing up a little straighter. He refused to be intimidated by Jack, not about this.

"How long?"

"Friday, but it all started the day of the bomb."

"You know what I really don't get it Tony… did you not go through enough the first time?"

"Michelle's not Nina." He felt Jack's insinuations did not merit more of a response than this…yet.

"Nina wasn't Nina until we found out what she was capable of. Nina was someone we all trusted and would never have believed she could turn traitor..."

"Especially you, right Jack?"

"What?"

"Nina was someone we all trusted…especially you."

"Yes I trusted her too…"

"No, Jack, you trusted her more than you trusted anyone …and now, because she screwed you over you're not willing to accept that not everyone is going to turn out to be like Nina."

"She screwed you over too Tony." Jack reminded him.

"Yeah, and I know that. And it's humiliating and throws everything you want to believe in out the window…But god damn it Jack! At least I know that you can't let Nina stop you from getting close to anyone ever again."

"Well then you're just being selfish. There's a reason it's against protocol now Tony! You're willing to put the safety of this whole office in jeopardy because of some little…"

"Don't say it…" Tony warned. "Don't you dare say it Jack."

Neither seemed to want to be the first to break eye contact. Jack finally collapsed against the couch.

"How do you know you can trust her Tony?"

Tony sighed and fell back in his own chair. "I don't….But I do. There aren't any guarantees about this. You know that as well as I do, but I'm not going to let Nina dictate my life forever…"

The words seemed to strike a cord with Jack. His face fell into his hands. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"I really don't care."

Jack looked up at Tony. He had not said the words to be rude, but to make his position clear. There was no lead way in this decision. For once Jack wouldn't be able to persuade someone into something. Jack could accept it, or use it against him, but Tony would be unrelenting either way.

"Look Jack." Tony finally spoke after a long pause. "I respect your opinion, I do. And I know that dealing with what Nina did is about a million times harder for you than it was for me. But whether I want something to happen with Michelle is not your decision to make…This isn't between you and me, or you and Nina, or even me and Nina, it's between Michelle and me. And I'm not you, and Michelle's not her…"

"Tony this is not about you not being able to decisions in your own life. By dating someone in this office, regardless of who they are, you're compromising your objectivity in any situation…You're compromising this office more than you could possibly realize! And I'm sorry but I just can't allow it."

"So why didn't you tell Chappelle?" Tony spat.

"Because I don't want either of you to hurt your careers over this, especially when nothing's really happened…"

"You don't know that."

Jack watched Tony glance down into the bullpen, and followed his eyes to Michelle carefully.

"You slept with her didn't you?"

"How is that any of your business?" Tony spoke, his eyes unmoving.

"I need to know how deep you're in this thing…"

"Too deep to end it just because you ask me to..." Tony still had not looked at Jack. He waited a few seconds, letting the words sink in before continuing. "And just so you know, it's not because we slept together…"

"Do you love her?" Jack's words gnawed at Tony's mind. "Tony!" Jack tried to get his attention again. "Do you love her?" he emphasized each word.

"It's only been three days..." Tony told him, caught off guard.

"That wasn't what I asked."

Tony bit his lip. "Maybe…I don't know…it's just different from anything else...better…" His eyes were back on Michelle, who was sitting at her station again.

Jack gripped the chair tightly. "Fine. I won't tell Chappelle anything yet. But I still don't like this."

"Thank you."

He quickly scribbled down a name on a piece of paper. "Here, this is what I came here for. Get Michelle to dig up everything you can on this name Everett gave us, cross-reference it with everyone I've worked with, see what she comes up with."

"Fine."

"Thanks."

Jack turned and made his way towards the door. He stopped, to face Tony again before leaving.

"Oh and Tony…"

"Yeah?"

"For the record…If it was me I'd be doing the same thing you are..."

"I know."

It was around lunchtime that Tony finally got to talk to Michelle about the conversation he'd had with Jack. Chappelle had left for Division an hour earlier and Jack had locked himself in his office, refusing to be bothered by anyone, unless absolutely necessary. Considering their last conversation, Tony couldn't have been more relieved. Michelle had been avoiding him, preferring to deal with Chappelle, or even Jack, all morning. He wasn't the biggest fan of Michelle being mad at him, the days seemed unbearable enough when they couldn't talk, let alone when she was chose not to talk to him.

A small grin parted his lips when he watched Michelle key in an override for Jason. She let out a small laugh at something he'd said, but Tony had no idea what, all he heard was her laugh echo through the unusually silent building. Michelle her palms on the skirt she was wearing and made her way back over to her station. It was then that Tony decided to dial her extension.

"Dessler." She sounded a little more relaxed now.

"Hey, it's me."

Michelle's voice became unusually harsh at this. "What do you need Tony?"

Tony sighed audibly into the receiver. "I need to talk to you."

"Well I'm busy; I'm in the middle of something for Chappelle."

Michelle felt Tony's eyes pouring into the back of her neck and she couldn't help but turn around and look at him. He met her eyes with a silent desperation that she'd grown quite accustomed to reading by now.

"You're a horrible liar Michelle."

Michelle sighed, knowing there was no way out of this. "Well I'm just about to go take a break then. I haven't eaten anything all day…If it doesn't turn you into some horrible person you might consider joining me…"

"Break room in 5 minutes?"

"Fine."

Michelle was already sitting at the table, nursing a rather large bottle of water, when Tony walked in.

"I thought you were hungry."

Michelle shrugged. "I guess I changed my mind."

Tony sat down in the chair beside her. She refused to take her eyes of the bottle in front of her.

"Michelle…" Tony began, inching a little more closely to her. "Look at me."

She did not. Michelle, more than anything, didn't want Tony to see the tears forming in her eyes. She'd already fallen apart in front of him once, and as far as she was concerned, that was one time too many. Especially, since, in this case, Tony was, more or less the cause of the tears.

"Michelle…" Tony reached out to cup her chin.

Michelle leaned away. "You'd better not let anyone catch you doing that…" she told him coldly.

Tony ignored her protests and forced her to look at him. His hand wandered to her cheek and rubbed it gently.

At his touch Michelle felt herself want to pretend the conversation he'd had with Jack was completely irrelevant for both of them. But she couldn't. She knew exactly what the conversation had been about and it made everything seem so different now. It was now, more than ever, apparent how she would never be able to do this without getting compared to Nina.

"So Jack knows…" Tony told her.

"Obviously."

"And he told me he didn't think it was a smart thing to be doing and he didn't approve…"

"Right…" Michelle gave only short answers; it was the safer bet considering she was losing a piece of her heart with each word spoken.

"I told him I didn't care if he thought it was a good idea or not…"

Michelle eyed him skeptically. "Why would you say that?"

"Michelle I know it hasn't been that long, but c'mon! I'd have to be crazy to end this just because Jack told me he didn't think it was a good idea. I don't care what he thinks…at least not about this…"

Michelle cringed. By "about this" Tony had meant "about you".

"I know you were worried about what would happen when we got back to work. I was too. But I really don't care anymore. I don't care if Division doesn't like it or if it's considered improper "protocol"," he paused for effect, "I care about you…"

"You were right when you said it's only been a little while Tony. I can't expect you to jeopardize your job for me…" Her lower lip was quivering.

Tony saw how close to tears she was.

"Can we please go up to my office?"

"Alright."

Michelle had been acutely aware of every move she made on the way up to Tony's office. It felt like all eyes were on her, but for some reason she didn't care. Maybe it was because in her mind, people finding out there was something between them seemed so insignificant now. Her only concern was that they might have to end it, before it even really got off the ground, and that would as good as kill her at this point. Let them stare…she told herself. There might not be anything to stare at much longer anyway.

Tony pointed to the couch and Michelle sat down.

"Why is it so hard for you to believe that I would put you before this job?"

"It's only been three days Tony. This job has been your whole life…I could never ask you to do that. If we don't work out…"

Tony placed his finger on her lips again. God, he really needed to stop doing that.

"We can't think about that. They can't fire us just because we're dating. And we always knew that people would find out eventually, it was just a little sooner than we thought. As long as Chappelle's still in the dark we have nothing to worry about. We just have to prove to everyone that it doesn't affect our work. If anything, it makes us better at it. Trust me…"

Michelle nodded, and then fell into deep thought. Tony did not disturb her. Finally she came out of her daydream.

"Do you trust me?"

Tony's neck snapped back. "What?"

"After Nina…do you trust me?"

Tony bit his lower lip, slipping into his own reverie.

"Yes, I do. I can't seem to not trust you…"

Michelle smiled, still not looking convinced. "Okay…"

Tony leaned in and met his lips with hers. "We'd better get back to work."

Michelle nodded. "Alright."

"Are we still gonna do something tonight?"

"I can't. I promised Danny I'd visit him…"

"Alright um…what about tomorrow?"

"I'll see."

"C'mon sweetheart you're killing me here." he nudged her gently in the side, relieved he was no longer concerned if anyone should see them interacting a bit more intimately than usual.

Michelle felt her lips twist, despite her attempts to contain them.

"Okay…tomorrow then…"

"Good."

Michelle was sitting alongside Danny on the couch in his home. She was tracing the rim of her coffee mug with a finger absentmindedly. They had barely spoken since she'd stepped inside. Danny had given her a hug and began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Danny! Danny what's wrong?" Michelle had shaken him gently.

"Nothing." He told her bitterly. "It's just…I was supposed to see the kids tomorrow…and now Kathleen won't let me…she found out that I went to see you and…"

"And that you had to be sedated because of how you acted."

"Yeah."

Michelle had said nothing else until he'd handed her the coffee.

"I'm sure you'll get to see them again soon." She tried.

Danny shrugged. "I guess." He then added, "It might help if you stopped by tomorrow. So I'm not alone…"

"Oh…um…" she grabbed his hand. "I'm sorry. I have plans."

"You can't cancel them for me?" he pulled away.

"I did already today…I can't do that again.

"Can't or won't?"

"Stop it Danny. I can't come running every time you snap your fingers…"

"What's so important that you'd abandon me?"

"Don't try and guilt me into this. I'm entitled to my own life; so I'm sorry if I can't be with you 24/7."

"I want to know what's so important Michelle!"

Michelle sighed; Danny would be relentless until she told him what was going on. "I have a date Danny."

"With who?" His eyes narrowed. Michelle did not speak. "With who Michelle!" he ordered.

"Tony…from work."

Danny's mouth hung open slightly. "The guy who had me drugged?"

"The guy who had you sedated because you were attacking personnel…"

"You're dating him?"

"Yes." Michelle reached out her hand again and patted his knee. "And I'm happy."

"It's always about your job isn't it? Sleeping with the boss must make it that much easier."

"It's not like that. I'm not like that."

"Yeah whatever…" Danny stood up and started to walk out of the room. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed. You can let yourself out." He made his way towards the bedroom, sulking the entire time.

Michelle fell back on her bed. Her night with Danny had turned into less than an hour of sheer torture. When had everything changed so much with him? When had he stopped understanding that she was entitled to be happy and have a life? Her cell phone on her nightstand rang a few minutes later.

"Dessler."

"Hey." Michelle's heart skipped a few beats.

"Hi." Tony could hear the smile in her voice.

"I'm sorry. I know you're with your brother, but I can't find part of the transcript for the interrogation of Everett, and Division wants me to send it out tonight. Do you know where it's filed?"

"Oh…no. I mean no I'm not with Danny anymore…There should be a softcopy in one of the volumes on the server though…"

"What happened?"

Michelle sat up in her bed. "What?"

"What happened with Danny?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it. Listen, if you want I can come down and find it for you…"

"Nah, you don't have to. Just tell me where it is."

"No no, it's fine. I'm not entirely sure where it was saved. I'll come down."

The eagerness in Michelle's voice told Tony it was better to just concede. "Alright thanks."

"I'll see you in twenty minutes."

Michelle walked briskly through the CTU parking lot, confused as to why there were barely any cars there today. Terrorists waited for no one, not even if all their night staff simultaneously wanted a day off. Something was odd about this.

Michelle hurried into the bullpen and was even more surprised when she saw that it was empty. The light in Tony's office was on, so she made her way upstairs.

"Where is everyone?" she asked, making her way to his desk.

"Hammond called. Division decided that since the immediate threat had passed, now would be a good time to evaluate construction. He moved everyone to Division earlier so they could work from there for tonight. The engineers left a little while ago…"

"So why are you here?"

"One perk about being director…I don't always have to listen to them…Plus I figured I'd get more work done alone…"

"Then there's no one here?"

Tony shook his head. "No."

"I see."

He held out a hand. "C'mere." He pulled Michelle more closely to him. "What happened with Danny?"

"It's a long story."

"We've got all night."

Michelle closed her eyes and leaned into Tony's chest. "He knows about us. I told him…" She bundled herself further into his embrace. "And he's not happy about it."

Tony sighed. Michelle broke away and sat down on the couch, head in her hands.

"Damn it! Why does this have to be so hard? It shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks, but every time we turn around someone's telling us we shouldn't be doing this."

Tony looked at her sadly. "I think I'd be more worried if this was easy…"

Michelle looked up and sniffled a little. Tony continued. "If it was easy then we wouldn't realize how big of a deal this is, or how much we both want it to happen…" he sat down beside her and lifted a hand out of her lap. He pressed the palms of their hands together, and lined up each finger with Michelle's before wrapping the tips around hers and squeezing comfortingly.

"Promise me something."

Michelle's ears perked up.

"Promise me that if this doesn't work out, it won't be because of anyone but us…because one or both of us don't want it anymore. Not because of what someone else says."

Michelle chewed her cheek a little. Tony leaned in and cupped his lips gently around hers. Michelle finally allowed her body to relax, after the day they'd both had.

"Tomorrow…I was thinking that maybe I'd make dinner." Michelle ventured giggling a little when Tony's teeth found her neck. "Since I kind of owe you a couple of meals anyway…"

"Mhm…" he leaned in to kiss her again and spoke with his lips gently brushing hers. "It's a date."