Jack had a searing stitch in his side when he finally made it back to the old barn. Panting and out of breath he tucked the cell phone in his back pocket before hurriedly climbing in through the window and checking for Nina. He expected her to be as he had left her, or hiding and waiting to take advantage of him. He knew she hadn't ran, she had nothing to gain from it.
The haystack he had dumped her on was empty except for a dribble of blood. For a moment he thought she had gone until he remembered cuffing her hands together as he saw a slight glimmer of light in the darkness. After taking a step closer he could make out her body on the floor, hidden beneath the hay. Her arm was still awkwardly cuffed and she was still unconscious, or at least she seemed that way. Not wasting a moment Jack climbed back outside, not wanting to be near Nina when he made the call, knowing that when push came to shove she would oppose him to save herself, like she would anybody if she herself was at risk.
He sighed and crouched down, leaning his back against the wall he found almost comfort as his stomach muscles relaxed slightly. As he absently stared at the bloodied bandage wrapped around his throbbing hand he wondered if he was making the right call.
He stood up and started pacing again. He had to do it. His mission plan right from the start had been to stop this virus from getting out, he couldn't go back without it, not after everything Tony and Gael had sacrificed for this to work. Not after everything I have sacrificed, he silently added as an afterthought as a new tremble shook through his hands while he determinedly keyed in the numbers and listened with baited breath as his only contact number began to ring.
"Hello," the voice answered casually, and Jack felt his heart skip a beat. He didn't recognise the voice but it didn't matter, it would work anyway.
"Get me Salazar," Jack said calmly, and he heard the voice mumbling in the background and then a sudden sensation of fear seemed to float over him, distracting him as he realised that Salazar was with this man, already at their safe house in Mexico, they had already evaded the authorities. Jack knew their was no end to the law enforcement officers here who could have helped him, Salazar had money which provided endless bribes when necessary. Jack was certain he had been given help to escape the chaos they had both been at the centre of.
"Who is this?" A sharp voice suddenly demanded and Jack jumped as he was startled by his voice.
He kept his voice level and passive as he finally spoke. "Ramon its me."
There was silence for a moment before laughter erupted. "Jack Bauer? I don't believe it!" He said, almost cheerfully.
"I have a problem," Jack said, wasting no time, knowing Ramon needed to think he was dependant on him, on his drugs and desperate for his help. Even though they both knew it was the last thing the drug lord would offer him when they met again.
"You most certainly do," Ramon said idly.
"Those men were not there for me, unless it was the arrest me with you," Jack said, anger in his voice as he remembered the agents who, like him, had failed to secure the virus.
"You played me Jack! I already have men out looking for you and when they find you Jack, I promise-"
"I'll leave the cell phone on so you can trace the call and bring me in, Ramon."
"And why would you do that?" Ramon asked suspiciously.
"Because you can give me something I need, and I have something you may want."
"I don't know if I want to set myself up for another trap Jack, maybe I don't want to see you."
"Please," Jack said, trying to sound desperate and panicked, "I have US forces searching for my arrest, I need your help Ramon, I want a fair chance at making a break for it."
"Who says I want to even see you alive after Hectors death-"
"Hector has nothing to do with this," Jack snapped, suddenly furious as the image of Claudia came to mind, he willed it away but he couldn't, "you killed your brother, I didn't," he yelled.
"So what makes you think you can trust me?" Salazar asked, clearly enjoying this conversation with Jack.
"I don't trust you, just like you don't trust me. But I have Nina Myers, I'm sure she can get you lots of information and lots more money. She betrayed you too Ramon. In return I want a little cash and I don't want to run while looking over my shoulder with every step I take in case your men are after me. I want a clean slate Ramon," he said edgily, wondering how the man would react, hoping he couldn't see through his lies.
"Interesting Jack," Ramon drawled almost sleepily, "my men are tracing the call now. I will order them to bring you to me alive. Then we can discuss a possibly to the problems you and I both have."
Jack swallowed, hating how Ramon set the offer up, staying in control. But it didn't matter, he just needed to see Salazar, hopefully things would go well from there. Jack knew he was being naïve to think so but he needed to cling onto some hope of cleaning up the mess he made, no matter how false it was.
He shook his head slightly and shrugged his shoulders in exhaustion. "See you soon," Jack said bluntly, before ending the call but keeping the cell on. He sat back down on the ground and fought to keep his eyes open, before opening up the cell and dialling in another number. As he called Chase's private line he somehow knew this conversation would be even harder than the previous one as he tried to think of what he could possibly say.