Jack zipped up his suitcase and took a last look around the room. He shouldered his bag and strode to the door that joined his room to the Senator's suite, giving it a light knock with the back of his hand.

"It's open," called the Senator. Jack entered to find Eilish standing in front of the window, looking out at the mountains. The sun on the snow was almost blinding.

"All set, Senator?"

She turned, smiling. "I'm ready if you are." She picked up her small carry-on bag. She'd decided to go back a day early, reasoning that she wouldn't be able to concentrate on the conference anyway. "The bellman is on his way up for my bags. You can leave yours for him too, if you like."

Jack shook his head. "No, thank you. I've got some work I want to do on the plane. I'd better keep it with me."

Eilish nodded. "You know what they say about all work and no play, Jack," she teased. She looked at him more closely. "Are you okay? I heard you had a bit of an adventure last night."

Jack gave a half smile. "Yeah. I'm fine. Clements, or rather Davidson, confessed to everything. I'll have a few things to clear up when I get back, but I think you can rest easy, now, Senator."

She looked pleased. "Thank you. I understand there was an RCMP officer involved yesterday as well. The same one from the pool? How is he doing?" She started to walk towards the door. Jack held it open for her.

"He'll be fine. The local hospital treats a lot of hypothermia cases. They knew what they were doing."

Marc's heart had stopped on the way to the hospital, but the "ski bum" doctor had turned out to be surprisingly competent.

"Don't worry," he'd reassured Jack. "When it comes to hypothermia, you're not dead until you're warm and dead." Jack had been relieved when Marc had revived, apparently with no long-term effects.

The Senator settled in to the back of the limo that would take them to the airport. Jack stowed his luggage in the trunk and joined her. The car was on the highway in no time, leaving the mountains behind for the rolling foothills and flatter country to the east.

Eilish gazed steadily across the limo at Jack, who was riding backwards. "So, what's next for you, Jack?"

He shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't about to discuss the details of his work with her unless she ordered him to. It was better to let people like Chappel handle the politicians. "Back to CTU tomorrow, Senator."

"You're Director of Field Operations, right?"

"Yes, Senator."

"That must be interesting."

He gave a rueful smile. "Yeah."

"Doesn't leave much time for a personal life, I'd imagine."

Jack looked out the window. The size of the sky up here always amazed him. "I do alright."

"Does your girlfriend mind you doing jobs like this?"

Jack shifted again. He didn't like where this was going. He had always tried to keep his work and personal life separate, and Teri's death had made that even more important to him. Frankly, it was none of the Senator's business. "You know how it is. What about you? What's next on your agenda?"

"I'm supposed to fly to Washington day after tomorrow." She must have sensed that he didn't want to talk, because she pulled a novel out of her bag. Jack followed her cue and took out his laptop. He could finally read the file Tony had sent him. He hadn't gotten around to it last night.

As he read through the file, he found the old anticipation building. Tony hadn't been kidding. This guy was a piece of work: drugs, guns, and possible links to terrorist cells of several different stripes. Taking him down would require at least one undercover operative, maybe more. Jack rubbed his neck as he thought about the logistics. Probably better to keep it to one to start. Less chance of being discovered. Now, as for getting in…

Jack pinched his nose between his eyes, closing them for a minute. Gun-runner would be too obvious, too easy to track. Posing as a terrorist would require too much set-up time and way too much money. No, better to start near the bottom. A disillusioned military man would have the skills the Salazars could use, and would probably advance rapidly. But why would someone like that choose the Salazars? Jack opened his eyes. A drug problem. Someone who would be in the hole to his suppliers, maybe need to work off a debt. But that would mean he'd have to start using.

Jack knew there were ways to fake drug use, or at least to appear to be using a lot more than you really were. He'd known guys in vice over at LAPD and they'd talked about it a few times. And of course they'd covered it in training when he'd started doing undercover work for Walsh a few years ago. But to be convincing, he'd have to use for real at least a few times. Which meant he'd have to use before he went under, so he would know how much he could handle. He looked at the file again. Weed wouldn't cut it with these guys. He'd have to do something harder. He'd have to stick a needle in his arm.

He glanced up to see Eilish peering at him over the top of her book. "You look worried," she commented. "Trouble?"

"I don't know yet," Jack answered truthfully. "Could be bad, but it might be okay. I'll have to think about it."

XXXXXXX

"Kate?" Jack called out as he dropped his bag inside the front door.

"I'm in the bedroom."

He started down the hallway, loosening his tie as he went. Kate was folding laundry on the bed, her back to the door. He walked over to her and buried his face in her neck. She tilted her head and let him nuzzle her for a bit before she turned and kissed him.

"You're home early."

"Mmm." He planted his lips on her forehead. No wrinkles there now. She was glad to have him home. "Yeah. We had a bit of excitement last night and the Senator decided to skip the conference after all."

She stepped back, holding him at arms length as she checked him for obvious signs of injury. "Excitement?" her forehead started to bunch up, then relaxed. "Never mind, I don't think I want to know." She leaned in to his chest. "You're home now."

"Miss me?" Jack teased. He'd only been gone a few days.

"Of course."

"Lots?" his hands started to move over her. Feeling her in his arms reminded him that he'd missed her more than he'd realized. Going undercover would mean leaving her for at least a couple of months. He wasn't sure he was ready for that rollercoaster again. They were at a good place right now, but their relationship was still pretty new. He didn't know if she would wait for him, or if it would even be fair to ask her to.

"Lots and lots." She reached a foot behind his leg, yanking it towards her suddenly as she pushed on his opposite shoulder. Caught off guard, he fell onto the bed and she fell on top of him, laughing.

"Been practising our taekwondo, have we?" Jack was amused.

"Mmm-hmm. I thought it might come in handy if I have to keep you here for a while."

"I know when I'm beat." He gave her a wicked grin. "I'll just have to let you have your way with me, I suppose."

Kate's hands were already undoing his belt. "Good."

- Fin -