Alex was running, she could hear Damian's footsteps behind her, he was running after her, and it seemed that no matter how fast she was running he was always closely following her. She is so preoccupied with outrunning him that she didn't realize there was a short ditch. She lost her footing and went down, she fell on her front barely managing to put her hands in front of her to protect her face. She bit her lip hard to stop the yelp of pain front leaving her mouth. "Fuck" she cursed turning around she sat down and wiped the dust from her hands. "Fuck it all" she curses again, there's a strong pain bringing tears in her eyes from her leg she's sure that she twisted her ankle, the pain tells her as much. The sound of his voice is close enough to make her gasp, she searches around for the gun that she dropped during the fall and grasps it tight.

"Come out come out wherever you are!"

Kendra waited for Tom to get up and slowly walk to the couch on the opposite side of the bed. His walking was weird; it seemed that he was still a little drunk after all. Kendra wished with all her might that he wouldn't be needed and made a mental note to push Emily to start looking for a VP as soon as possible. Tom might not be ready to trust someone else with the burden but he might need it.

"I'm not doing ok." She's not surprised by this, although the admission from his own lips does take her breath away. She could see how not well he is but she never thought that she would live to see the day where he would admit it himself.

"I can see that." She walks to his side and sits down softly, his hand is looking for hers, the feel of his skin, a little too hot to touch, on hers almost scared her. She can sense there's some kind of battle inside him, something that she doesn't know is making him look increasingly scared of his own shadow.

"I'm seeing her in my sleep; she blames me for what happen." He keeps his head down it's almost as if he's ashamed to look up.

"Alex wouldn't blame you, she loved you so much." Tom chuckles, tears start filling his eyes again, but he bites his lip trying to stop them. Kendra's words spin in his head, he knows what she means, he knows, deep down, that Alex wouldn't blame him, that the shadow that visits him almost every night tormenting him wasn't real but he can't help the guilt and the anger that comes after her visits.

"I know. Deep down I do, but I can't stop the guilt Kendra, the guilt," he stops himself, admitting to her the truth was something that he wasn't sure he was ready for.

"Turns to rage" she states simply, Tom nodes but refuses to raise his head.

"It does." He says burring his face in his hands. "I'm losing myself. I'm not this man and it scares me." His voice was muffled, but Kendra could hear every single of his emotions in his words. "I'm becoming someone I never wanted to be."

Alex doesn't know how she found herself pinned to the gold ground Damian kicked the gun away from her hands. She could still see it close enough to feel hope, but his hand was holding her wrists tightly above her head. His eyes were wondering she could feel his eyes wondering.

"You thought you could get away from me?" his mouth is so close to her face, it's making her sick she could smell his aftershave, it was making her sicker and sicker and his hand traveling down her torso wasn't helping, she tried to get away from his hands, tried to move her legs but he just griped her arms tighter and used his knees to stop her from moving. "Stop fighting!" he was now lying almost completely on top of her now, Alex bit her lip trying to stop the tears as she felt her wrists bruising, but she wasn't going to let him see her break down.

"You are a brave one aren't you?" she defiantly kept her mouth shut, refusing to even turn her head away, she could see the anger in his eyes growing, she was glad about it, she knew he would kill her in the end but she wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"Talk to me!" it takes everything in her not to cry out when his hand makes contact with her cheek, the inside of her cheek is bleeding from biting the inside of her cheek, her cheek is already feeling on fire and she is sure it won't be long before it starts swelling.

"Fine, I'll talk then." He sits up a bit, enough for her to see his face while he speaks to her, it's still too close for her, and his breath makes her stomach turn. The ground is wet beneath her and her shirt is soaking by now but she still doesn't feel cold, she can guess that it's the adrenaline in her blood that prevents her to feel cold or fear right now.

"You know why I'm here." He smiles, his eyes shining, the craziness in them that makes her blood freeze. "I'll finish the job Alexandra"

"Don't call me that!" she spats angrily. She spits his face which makes him even angrier with her, he slaps her again and Alex can feel her face throbbing. He wipes his face with his sleeve and Alex finds the opportunity to try and get away from him.

"Wow you're feisty how Tom Kirkman did handled you?" she clenches her jaw she knows he's trying to rile her up using Tom's name, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction but her anger was boiling. She was surprised she never had felt like that but the smug smile on his face was driving her mental. "Or better yet satisfy you?" the smile on his face, the sardonic smile broke her.

"Don't you dare talk about him!" she screamed at him.

"Oh don't worry, when I'm done with you I'll send him over sweetheart." The image of Tom's dead body invaded her head, she didn't want to think about it, but he was there, dead, bleeding on the floor. "And don't worry I'll make sure to take my time and take pictures."

She doesn't know where she got the strength but she managed to push him back they fought for a bit, Alex was desperate to get to the gun but she was just a few inches away from it. She was so close to grabbing it but he caught her. he grabbed her hair, Alex yelped, he pulled her back, his hand on her neck, she was trying to pull his hand away but he would only tighten his grip.

"You know what I did to Chuck Russnik, stop fighting or this will be you or better your precious Tom" Alex froze; it was insane, just mentioning Tom's name was enough to make her stop fighting. She realized, finally realized why she spent five months alone in Alaska, why she did everything Hannah told her to, even if she knew better, it was Tom, it was the idea of Tom being hurt, killed. "Good girl!" this was the first time she felt the tears falling from her eyes, he finally removed his hand from her neck and Alex started gasping.

"I will be slow, I'll start by cutting open your skin, nothing deep, but did you know that dirt on an open wound causes pain? They say that it heals but the healing hurts and takes time, by then you'll be dead, so you will only feel the burning pain." The hand that was on her neck moved to her chin, the other hand holding a blade slowly running it down her body. "Then I'll change blades and start cutting nerve points like the shoulders, and then I'll move to your stomach, thigh, arm. You'll be begging me to die by then. I won't kill you thought, oh no. No, I'll take my time, I'll break your fingers slowly one by one, and then move to your toes, and then arms" he moved the blade to her legs, the knife cutting her pants the cold blade touching her skin made her twitch. "Legs" as he slowly ran the blade against her ribs she saw the sadism in his eyes rising. "Ribs"

"Until I finally bash your scull in" he was so invested in tormenting her that he didn't notice that she had moved her legs between his, the gun was close enough she could almost touch it. Taking a deep breath she knees him on the groin as hard as she can. He groans and doubles over, she moves fast and gets the gun her hands are shaking as she points the gun and pulls the trigger. The noise is deafening and she closes her eyes, his lifeless body fell on her, the blood from the two wounds, one on the abdomen and the other on the head, seeping out and staining her clothes further.

He was finally dead, she was able to finally breathe free, she pushed him away from her, for the first time in months finally able to smile.

Hannah helped Alex up and helped her back in the cabin, the agents had taken over the scene, removing Damian's lifeless body, hiding him under a sheet as if that would erase the damage his mere existence created. Alex was shaking the whole way back, she hadn't spoken a word, her arms tightly wrapped around herself. Hannah looked at the woman walking by her side, she was merely leading her with her hand on her back, not that she needed it apparently, but she couldn't stop looking at her, she was shaken obviously and Hannah couldn't stop but feel guilty over it. If it wasn't for her…

Callie was waiting for them in the cabin, she had brought along another woman, a blonde medium height woman, "Hey Hanns, this is Beatrice, we call her Tris, she's a close friend. A doctor." Alex looked at them both, "What doctor?" she asks; this is the first time she spoke since she pulled the trigger, her own voice sounded weird to her ears. "She's a neurologist and a recently board certificated general surgeon." Alex nodes and walks to the two women "I'm gonna call John" Hannah says. Alex seems to want to say something but she stops herself and just nodes, Hannah is happy, she knows what she's gonna ask, she would ask to call the president but that would be probably the worse idea.

She walks to the back porch and sits down on the wooden swing there's a soft breeze and she closes her eyes she can't believe that it's actually over, Damian is finally dead, she never thought this day would come. She knows she will have to face the music eventually but for now she just wants to breathe free for the first time in months. Hannah dials John's number.

"Hey John it's over, she's safe." She doesn't let him talk but she hears his sign of relieve

"Oh thank god, when you guys are back." She hears his voice; it's almost giddy for the first time in a long time. It's like his voice changed, she had almost forgot how he sounded when he was relieved and happy.

"We're flying tomorrow. She's a bit in shock. I have a friend here from Anchorage she's the doctor that's been taking care of her since the accident."

"You'll be tomorrow in D.C.?" Hannah looks at her watch they are not gonna be in D.C. until at least tomorrow night. She realizes that she needs to get tickets and form a plan for Alex to travel in D.C. without being recognized.

"I'll send the jet." His offer surprises her, that's an option she never thought she had.

"What?"

"She can't fly economy, or even commercial at all, I'll send the jet when you were going to land any way?" he takes her by surprise; these are all thoughts that went through her mind as well. She looks at her phone for a moment checking flights, the soonest they could leave and land was 10 p.m.

"10p.m."

"You'll land at 9 p.m. and without the risk of the president learning his wife is alive from the news." She smiles, he really had thought about everything.

"John"

"No need to thank me, the jet will be there in about 8 to 9 hours."

"Thank you." She says, he doesn't respond but just hanged up the phone. Hannah closed her eyes and leaned back at the swing.

She was in for a fight, she knew that, Alex wasn't going to be happy having to wait so long to get back to D.C. but she took a deep breath and walked in the room.

"John's sending the jet, we'll leave tomorrow."

"Why wait?" Alex gets up from the couch and walks to her, she seems to be better than before, she stopped shaking but she was still limping. There was a fight coming her way she knew that, no matter how much she wanted to avoid it there was no way out for her anymore.

"Alex it's already late, you're injured and Callie won't let you leave before the morning." She realizes that trying to reason with her was futile, she knew the logical thing was to wait, she wasn't in a condition to travel at them moment, but she's not thinking with her brain right now. She's just letting emotion overtake her, Hannah does what she never thought she would do she just pleads. "Please just wait"

"I want to see Tom! I want to talk to him!" Hannah closes her eyes as if that way she will be able to avoid the image of Alex's broken face, she knows the feeling, she understands that all Alex wants is to tell the truth to the president. Thinking about it though she knows one thing, there's no way Tom Kirkman will hear those news over the phone and, one believe them and two not get on air force one to anchorage immediately.

"Just call him!"

"I know." Hannah whispers, she doesn't really know but she can imagine, she is in a similar situation for months now. Wanting to talk to Chuck, a small voice in her head tells her that at least she could see and talk to him regardless of him answering. "I know but you can't you need to take care of yourself now. Please just rest and let Callie take care of you, we're living as soon as she clears you."

"Sir Director Forstell is on the line for you." Tom looks up from the papers on his desk and sees Wyatt standing there, the young man looked fidgety, he wonders, did he cause it? Was he so scared looking because of his behavior? He knew he was. It was another avalanche of guilt and pain hitting him, he had changed so much, Kendra was right, he had let this go too far. He smiles softly to the young man who seems even more surprised by this and losses his step a bit.

"Thank you Wyatt" Wyatt nodes and leaves the room, Tom looks at the phone which starts ringing wondering if he can just ignore it, ignore him.

Taking a deep breath he picks up the phone.

"Director."

"Mr. President, I would like to have a meeting with you sir tonight around 9p.m." Forstell's voice was urgent, he sounded like he wasn't leaving him any space to say no, defiantly though Tom said, "I'll see if I can"

"Make sure you do sir." He tried to be respectful, that's why he added the 'sir' in the end but Tom knew better, this wasn't the voice of someone who is really asking for a meeting, this is someone who demands it. The headache and the general hangover is making him bold.

"What are you talking about Forstell?"

"We need to have the meeting today."Tom is intrigued, although he would do anything to avoid meeting John Forstell, his tone was enough to make him curious, the one think Cornelius told him over and over again, hammering in his brain is that when in office people ask for meetings, no one demands anything. The only one who's of a higher authority than him are the American people. So now having the director of FBI more or less demanding a meeting from him was puzzling him.

"Fine." He slams the phone down, doesn't wait or care about John's answer, what is there to care about, the annoying man is probably throwing a party in his office, having force the president of the united states to take a meeting with him he really didn't want to. The bottle stacked away in his private office is almost calling him, it's tempting but he promised Kendra he wasn't going to drink the day away, not again, today he promised her he was going to be present, he was going back to actually running the country.

They were at the airport earlier than the airplane but Alex couldn't wait any longer in the cabin. Hannah understood, the quite of the woods was amazing but after almost five months of it she was longing for noise and people. Her blonde hair safely hidden under a dark wig and with a long coat and big sunglasses hiding her true identity she was looking at the people coming and going in the terminal, getting on their flights talking on the phone. Hannah noticed how she was clutching her new phone tightly, she still couldn't call, but the was the last thing on her mind, Chuck had transferred all of her photos and videos from her old device to this new one, pictures of her family were the only refuge she had.

They settled in their seats, Alex sitting in front of her, she was mindlessly starring at her phone. "Got any good pictures of the president in there?" Callie asks, Alex's smile widens further.

"Well a few." Hannah looks at her, her eyes wondering what the mischievous smile was about.

"Show us!" Callie was far too exited but Hannah was thankful for her friend. Alex puts the phone on the table, the face of the president flipping the bird to the camera filling the screen.

"Are those tattoos on his arms?" Hannah asks.

"Hannah are you shitting me? You noticed the tattoos? What about those guns!"

The drive to the white house was less pleasant than the flight to D.C. Alex threw the wig in the garbage as soon as they entered the plane and refused categorically to put it on again, John was waiting for them on the tarmac in Quantico, "Hey" Hannah smiles, the bruise on his cheek is fading slowly, it looks more yellow around the edges and thankfully his eye isn't swollen shut.

All but Callie get in the same SUV as John driving silently to the white house. Alex was looking at the lights passing them by, she seemed to be uncomfortable and not one person in the car could blame her, she almost died in a car similar to this.

They get to the gate and Alex leans down, a sign of relief leaves all of them as the guard lets them in. Mike is waiting for them as promised in the west wing parking lot. Hannah smiles and gets out, the man wraps his arms around her in a hug that surprises her.

"Hannah!"

"Hey Mike!" she tells him pulling away from him a little, she sees his eyes focusing on Alex just getting up in the backseat of the car.

"Is she?" she puts her hand over his mouth and whispers,

"Shhh. Get in the car." She pushes him inside and gets in after him, Mike is squeezed in the middle of the seat. He studies the woman next to him in shock.

"Mrs. Kirkman?" his voice quivers a bit as he says her name it's like he had forgotten how to say it. Alex smiles and takes one of his hands in hers.

"Hey Mike." Mike uses his free hand to wipe a single tear that escaped his lids. The warmth of her hands on his was all the proof he needed that she was really there, she was real not just a fragment of his imagination.

"How?" he asks, his eyes traveling away from Alex for the first time to John and Hannah.

"When the accident happened, I warned Alex before, she was alive as you know, I had a couple of friends staff the ambulance that was send, we," Hannah got a bit chocked, she didn't know how to describe what she did, but Alex jumped in quite fast.

"They saved me."

"Why not let us know!" Mike turns his head back to Alex. His voice shaking as he outers the words he didn't want to believe but knew to be true. "The president is losing his mind!"

"I know! But Damian was not going to stop until he killed them both, you knew that, I told you that!" Alex looks at Hannah she took control of the conversation once again but her head was stuck in the words Mike said few moments ago, what did he mean by 'The president is losing his mind'? was Tom alright? Was it Tom who wasn't well or the president?

"Tom isn't well?" she asks, Mike kept talking with Hannah, she didn't pay much attention to what they were talking about, it didn't interest her at all after all. "Mike talk to me!" she grips his arm with her hand, her nails digging into his sleeve but he seemed to be preoccupied with his conversation with Hannah.

"Is Damian dead now?" he ask, not really noticing Alex's nails digging into his sleeve.

"Yes"

"MIKE!"Alex's scream made them stop, she had lost her temper, having them all ignore her too preoccupied with their own things not caring to answer her question, was driving her up the wall.

"Mrs. Kirkman." Mike looks almost ashamed; Alex is slowly removing her hand from his arm.

"How is he?" she asks calmly this time.

"He's not well, he's stuck in the anger stage mixed with depression and," Mike's eyes fill with tears again, Alex bites her lower lip, this doesn't sound like Tom, but then again she never really lived a big loss with him, the bigger one during their time together was when she lost her father and then he let her mourn never really breaking down himself. "I don't know" three words so small but just filled with regret and defeat all the way.

"I should have called him Hannah I told you I should!" Alex wasn't mad at Hannah,, she was disappointed in herself not pushing harder, if Tom wasn't well then she should have told him, nothing he would have done could be harder or worse than the condition he is in now.

"He wouldn't answer, he probably wouldn't answer yesterday." Mike looks down, his eyes stuck on his and Alex's hand on her lap, he wasn't sure how and if he should tell her the truth, maybe he wasn't the right person to do that. This was an issue the president, Tom would have to solve with his wife on their own.

"Why?" she uses her free hand to raise his head, her eyes looking straight into his and he found himself unable to lie to her.

"He spent the whole day hammered!" he told her whispering, he was ashamed to admit this to her, he hoped she wouldn't ask any further questions although he knew she would.

"Tom?" her hand falls from his chin and she runs her fingers through her hair "He never drinks more than a glass or two."

"Well that changed."Mike says under his breath, he wasn't silent enough thought because she heard him, her hand gripping his tightened, her face slowly froze into an unreadable expression.

"You have your chitchat later; I need to see Tom, and now!"

John walked in from the front door while Mike led Hannah and Alex to the rose garden.

"Sir Director Forstell is outside." John gets a glimpse of the president, his glasses low on his nose as he's reading from the papers in front of him, ink from his pen staining his hands as he carelessly took notes.

"Let him in Wyatt, and Wyatt go home and rest." John was as shocked as the kid with the smile on the president's face.

"Thank you sir." John walks in the oval, the kid closing the door behind him, for a moment the president ignores him, still writing down some notes.

"Director, what a not lovely surprise to see your face." John chuckles, his sense of humor is still there, although a little bit darker than it used to be.

"Trust me sir I enjoy it less." The president leaves the pen on his desk, john can't help but notice the rhinestones on the top of it, he was sure this wasn't the president's pen but he chose not to say anything else.

"Does it hurt?"he asks him when he's within arm's length.

"Will it make you feel better if I say yes?" the president shrugs, making John smile sadly, "It hurts like hell." His eyes narrowed, as a small sad smile formed on his lips.

"Good." He walks to the couch and sits down,, he signs to the other man to take a seat with a move of his arm,

"Why are you here?" he asks him as soon as John settles down.

"In the past few months since December 25th to be exact, Agent Wells and I have been deceiving you on a very sensitive matter, two to be exact." John sees the change in the president's expression it's subtle at first.

"What are you talking about?" he asks, his hands curled into firsts.

"Sir, Mrs. Kirkman is alive." He stands up and signs Mike, Hannah and Alex to enter the room, the president loses his step looking shocked at the third person entering the room, her face so familiar and yet he felt like it was a lifetime ago since he saw her.

"Tom!"

"Alex."

A/N: Thank you for reading guys please let me know what you think about this chapter. Here's a small sneak peek from chapter 11.

Sneak Peek:

"Alex" he says her name again, it's like he can't believe it, which truthfully he can't

"Tom!" she walks closer, a smile forming on her face, he doesn't seem to notice the bruises on her cheek, for a moment he's too mesmerized by her mere existence in the room.

"How?"