4.00pm, plane crash site, south of Visalia, California
As Jack woke up, pain ran through his body and he groaned loudly. Attempting to stand up, he noticed a stick stuck into his leg and gritted his teeth before pulling it out with one quick movement. Looking around him, he saw nothing but carnage – bits of the plane were everywhere, and it was only by chance that he managed to see one of the FBI agents, who was laid on the ground and bleeding heavily. Rushing over to him, he tried to see how he could help the agent.
"Myers...," the agent spoke weakly, and Jack nodded. The search and rescue team would be here soon, and he needed to find Nina quickly. Searching through the immediate area, he found no sign of her, until he looked down a small hill and noticed a small figure partly hidden under one of the plane seats. Running down to her, he got Nina out of the chair, before lying her on her back and beginning to perform CPR on her, even though he wanted nothing more than to watch her slowly die. Knowing that that would end any realistic chances of them stopping the nuke, he continued until he felt her begin to breath by herself. Quickly moving from over her to let her breath, he watched as she coughed a few times, and when she noticed that he had saved her, she turned away from him, as if she didn't want him to know that she was grateful.
4.05pm, car crash site, west of Los Banos, California
Alex's cell phone was ringing, but Michelle was concerned as he wasn't picking up. Luckily for him, the ringing alerted a local who had been walking alongside the road, and who was now running towards the crashed vehicle.
"Hello?," the man asked as he picked up the phone, and a surprised Michelle wondered who it was.
"Who is this? Where is the person that the phone belongs to?," Michelle asked, as her concern grew.
"My name is Marshall Webb, ma'am. I found this phone ringing in a car that's crashed into a tree. There's four people unconscious in there, ma'am, so if you don't mind I would like to call 911 and get them some medical help," Marshall replied.
"Look, can you stay with the car until the ambulance gets there, and tell them that the driver is Alex Myers, a CTU agent, and that none of the people inside must be brought back to Los Angeles, they have to go to San Jose," Michelle informed him.
"Sure, ma'am," Marshall spoke, and he leaned on the tree trunk and called 911.
4.10pm, plane crash site, south of Visalia, California
As Jack guided a now handcuffed Nina through the wreckage, they noticed soldiers close to the injured FBI agent that Jack had found moments before. Watching with curiosity, they were shocked when the soldiers shot the agent dead, and Jack instinctively pulled himself and Nina down to the ground, and seconds later a soldier came close to where they were. Shooting him with a flare gun that he had found within the wreckage, the soldier screamed as the red smoke engulfed his body. Their cover blown, the pair ran for cover, and Jack knew that they would have to fight the soldiers.
"You need to cooperate fully with me now, Nina, or we're both dead. You understand?," Jack told her, more concerned than angry. Instructing her to find a place from where she could spot the soldiers, he gave her the ammunition for the machine gun that Jack had taken from the soldier he had shot with the flare gun.
4.15pm, car crash site, west of Los Banos, California
Marshall looked up as the ambulance came speeding towards the car. Looking into the vehicle, he noticed that Alex was slowly waking up. Walking around to the driver's window, he looked at the younger man.
"Hey, you Alex Myers? Your friend called asking about you. The ambulance is here now, and she said to tell them about you being a CTU agent and not to send any of you back to Los Angeles," Marshall informed him. Looking up at the grey haired and blue eyed Marshall, Alex was trying to recall where he was.
"What? Where am I?," Alex asked, his voice croaky.
"You've been in a car crash, and you were on your way to San Jose," Marshall told him, and Alex suddenly remembered. Trying to turn around to check on Kim, he groaned as he moved, and Marshall looked even more concerned.
"Try not to move," Marshall told him as the paramedics rushed towards the car. One was a tall man with auburn hair, brown eyes and a tanned complexion, whilst the other was a woman of average height, with blonde hair and grey eyes.
"The driver is a CTU agent, his name is Alex Myers. They need to be taken to San Jose, or somewhere nearby," Marshall informed the paramedics as Alex managed to slowly get out of the car, before falling to the ground. Thanking Marshall as he helped Alex get up, he turned around and saw Megan looking worried, before opening the door and lifting the girl out of the car. Luckily, she had suffered no injuries, and they were soon joined by Kim, who had a bleeding gash on her forehead.
"Kim, you should sit down, you're bleeding," Alex told her, helping her to sit down at the edge of the driver's seat, before the male paramedic came to look at her injuries. Kim looked up at him.
"So are you," Kim told him, and Alex looked at his reflection in the car window. Noticing a cut close to his eye, he touched it gently. Looking into the car, he noticed Miguel was squashed into his seat, and was not responding to the paramedic's attempts to wake him up.
4.25pm, plane crash site, south of Visalia, California
Jack had managed to eliminate most of the soldiers, and as Nina passed him what he thought was the last magazine of ammunition, he clicked it in and took out the last couple of soldiers. Overhead, he saw the search and rescue helicopter circling them, and as he dropped the automatic weapon he had been using, he took out an handgun, prepared to deal with any more soldiers who might be hiding. What he didn't realise was that Nina had kept a magazine for herself, and had managed to grab the gun. It was only when Nina clicked the safety off that he realised.
"Stop right there, Jack," Nina ordered him. He had been close to killing her numerous times that day, and she was now convinced that he would chase after her once she was in exile. Jack dropped his gun and placed his hands at the back of his head, wondering whether it was right to blame himself for this situation.
"Hey, drop the gun! It's over!," one of the tac team that had come in the helicopter shouted at Nina, but she ignored the command.
"She's our only hope of stopping the nuke!," Jack shouted, and the tac team realised that Nina was in control.
"I want to speak with President Palmer!," Nina demanded. She knew that she had to make sure that getting rid of Jack was nice and legitimate, so as not to ruin her pardon.
4.30pm, car crash site, west of Los Banos, California
As Miguel was placed into the ambulance on the stretcher, Alex, Kim and Megan joined him in the back of the ambulance, where there was room for the three to sit. Having taken everything out of his car, Alex had called CTU San Jose, who would take the car into their possession until Alex could retrieve it. Looking over at Kim, who was holding Miguel's hand tightly, he hoped that Miguel would pull through.
"Kim, maybe we should call your aunt, tell her about the accident so she knows where you are?." Alex suggested to her, hoping to take her mind off of the horrible injuries Miguel was suffering from. Nodding, Kim sat down and pulled out her cell phone.
4.35pm, Northwest Region Operations Complex, Oregon
"David, we've got a problem with Nina Myers. She's got Jack Bauer hostage and she's demanding to speak with you," Mike Novick informed the President, who looked shocked at the news.
"What does she want? We already pardoned her," Palmer asked, but Novick jut shrugged.
"I have no idea, but I think you need to speak to her. She's got information we need if we want to stop this bomb," Novick replied, and as Palmer nodded in agreement, Novick pressed a button on the telephone.
"Ms Myers, the President is on the line," Mike Novick informed her, and Nina knew exactly what she needed to say, and exactly what needed to be done to ensure her future safety.
"Ms Myers, we've already given you a pardon. What else do you want?," Palmer asked her, trying to keep his voice calm and cool. It was useless to be angry towards a terrorist who had all the power in the situation. Clearing her throat, Nina thought one last time of how to word her demand, before speaking.
"I want to be pardoned in advance. For the murder of Jack Bauer," Nina spoke, her eyes trained on the back of Jack's head. Palmer looked at Novick with horror. Jack, who was not surprised at all by the demand, decided to speak up.
"Mr President, it's Jack. Look, I think you need to accept her demands. I'm not worth the lives of millions of innocents. Just make sure that my daughter is safe," Jack spoke, and Palmer could feel his eyes welling up.
"Jack, I don't know what to say, except I'm sorry. I'm sorry it's come to this, and I promise you that your daughter will be safe," Palmer replied. Clearing his throat, he knew that he could buy time for Jack by giving Nina a condition.
"Ms Myers? We'll grant you your pardon, on the following conditions – that you tell us where Syed Ali is, and that you wait until we have the nuclear bomb secured. Then, and only then, can you carry out the murder of Jack Bauer," Palmer told her.
"That's fine with me," Nina replied.
4.40pm, ambulance, Gilroy, California
As the ambulance travelled through the Northern Californian city of Gilroy, Kim held Megan in her arms and Alex looked aimlessly out of the one way window of the ambulance doors. His head felt light, and he was sure that his injuries were probably worse than they looked, and decided to see the medics at CTU San Jose once he got there. They had arranged for Kim's Aunt Carol to meet them at the hospital, and then Carol would take Alex to CTUSJ.
4.45pm, road, San Jose, California
Carol was already on her way to the hospital, and as her little red Volkswagen Beetle travelled through the city, she kept the radio on for any news from Los Angeles. Alex had assured her that CTU were close to stopping the threat, and that it was very unlikely that the plot would succeed, but even his assurances did not stop her from worrying. She not not been told of the extent of Miguel's injuries, although she did know that Alex and Kim had minor cuts and bruises, whilst Megan had escaped from the crash unharmed.
4.50pm, plane crash site, south of Visalia, California
Nina had given CTU the location of Syed Ali, and now everyone was simply waiting for the moment when Nina could kill Jack and once and for all guarantee her safety. He, however, had other plans, and as he noticed where the tac team were, he stood up. Nina, who was keeping a close eye on him, warned him to sit back down.
"Do it or I'll shoot you!," Nina warned, her voice menacing.
"That would void your deal, Nina, and you'll be put straight back into prison," Jack replied, and he took a few steps forward.
"So? At least you'll be dead!," Nina spoke as she too took a few steps forward, coming out of the little alcove she had been sheltering in. One of the tac team members took their chance and shot her in her hand, sending her crashing to the floor. She attempted to grab her gun again, but was stopped. Dragged back up to her feet and handcuffed regardless of the bleeding wound in her hand, she glared at Jack as he approached her. Standing close to her, he whispered in her ear with a menacing tone.
"I'll never let you rest, and I'll never stop hunting you down, Nina," Jack told her, before walking away from her. Turning around to face the direction he had gone, Nina looked shocked at the statement, and realised that she had missed probably her best chance to rid herself of Jack Bauer.