-1Chapter 5
Audrey was being escorted to the medical unit. She had seen Jack for the first time in what seemed like years. She knew it must have broken his heart when he had thought she hadn't recognised him-but she had. All she wanted to say to him was that she loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She couldn't say those things though, because of what the damn Chinese had done to her. The thought of Cheng made her feel sick. She remembered going into China, looking for Jack. She had come close and that's when the Chinese had raided her house and killed almost everyone apart from her and a few others. There were many nights where Audrey would lay awake, thinking about the past. Those late meetings she and Jack had where instead of getting on with the work, Jack would end up distracting her by kissing her neck. She had terribly missed the warmth and security of being in his arms. The thoughts now brought tears over her dull eyes. It was then when she heard a thump and something smashing in the other room. Audrey was now sitting up in the medical bed to see what the noise was. Petrified that Cheng and his men had come for her, she started shaking. However it was not until the figure had walked in the room did she see who it was. It was Jack.
--
Jack had managed to get away by asking one of the guards to get him a drink of water and then knocking them out one by one when they had un cuffed him. He had taken their guns and passes. Jack ran into the medical room.
"What have you done to her!" he shouted.
"Nothing, not yet anyway, the Chinese have injected her with various substances, which stops her from talking and sends her into shock. I know you, you're Jack Bauer. I read about you in her file. You shouldn't be here, all you will do is make her upset." the Doctor answered.
"Shut up!" Jack spat. "Next time I want your opinion I will ask for it."
With that Jack went over and punched him, knocking him out for a few seconds.
"Hey Audrey, I need you to come with me, it's alright, trust me sweetheart." Jack said softly.
--
She knew Jack would come for her and she knew he stilled loved her. It made her heart break when he had to reassure her by saying 'trust me'. Of course she trusted him. So without hesitating, she followed him through CTU.
--
"Doyle where the hell is that alarm coming from" Nadia yelled.
"Take on guess" replied Doyle sarcastically. "The Medical Unit where Audrey was being held."
"Damn it" Nadia retorted. "Order a lock down on the whole of CTU. I' am not letting Jack escape with her."
"Well none if this would have happened if you had let Jack speak with Audrey." Doyle mumbled under his breath.
Nadia threw him an angry look. Just as she was about to answer his snarl remark, Morris yelled.
"I've got a visual on Jack. He is heading down to the lower levels, but with the lock down he can only access two rooms."
--
In the basements of CTU, Jack was running with Audrey in one hand and holding a gun in the other. With alarms ringing all around them, he entered a room. Jack let Audrey go; she walked over to the walls for comfort. With his gun Jack tore the entrance pad off, so that no one could enter the room. He then went over to Audrey, gathering her into his arms, they sat on the floor. The distant look on Audrey's face was still there.
"Audrey, sweetheart, I know this is hard for you, but I need you to thing back to when Cheng had you. He was within an hour of that motel. Can you remember if you went up any back streets or if you saw any sign? Anything that will help us to find Cheng. I want him to pay for what he has done to you."
There was no answer. So Jack tried another approach.
"It's me Jack, I know you can recognize me I see it in your eyes. I need you to remember who you are."
Audrey's eyes looked at him.
"Your name is Audrey Louise Raines; your father was the Secretary of Defence, James Heller. You were born in New York and there you are known as Audrey Heller. Your mother, Alicia, died when you were nine."
There was still no response from Audrey. She wasn't even looking at him now.
Jack smiled, "Do you remember our first ever weekend we had together, all those years ago now."
This got her attention. For a slight second, Jack swore that swore that he saw a glimpse of delight or even an attempt smile flutter across her face.
"Do you remember we took that long weekend in June to go somewhere, where your father didn't know anyone. We went to New Jersey, where no one would know who we were. Remember that evening where we took a long walk across the beach."
Laughing he said "you tried to take a photo of the sunset, but I wouldn't let you, cause I kept kissing your neck."
All these memories flooding back brought tears to Jack's eyes. To prevent them from falling he had to swallow hard. Looking into her eyes, noticing that the distant look she had early was replaced by loving soft eyes, with tears gathering in them.
"Please Audrey, give me some sign that you know what I'm saying."
Her eyes darted around in nervousness at the sound of his sudden raised voice.
"I'm sorry" he said gently, knowing that he had scared her.
"God I've missed you so much." he whispered to her tenderly as he moved a strand of hair from her face and then wrapped his arms around her.
--
She had heard every word of what Jack had just said. She remembered their first weekend together. The night she had tried to take a picture, but he hadn't allowed her to. He was too interested in kissing her neck than looking at the scenery. She recalled telling him to admire the beautiful view and he had replied mischievously, I already am, while kissing her. She wanted to tell him what she remembered but couldn't get the words out. He was holding her now. The two were swaying from side to side. It was the words that followed that had caught her off guard.
"I love you with all my heart Audrey, never forget that. I'll protect you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life." he stifled out.
God she wanted to reply to him, to tell him she felt the same and again she couldn't she tried and tried but nothing came out. Instead she moved her hand down into his and squeezed it.
--
This had surprised Jack. She had known what he was saying, she just couldn't respond. He hugged her tighter, never wanting to let go. Forcing back the tears, which had reappeared.
Sparks flew from the door. Jack knew that their time together was up. He didn't want to let her go back to them. Reluctantly, he pulled away and said to her.
"You're going to be taken away from me now for a while. But I swear I will never stop loving you and I will find you and help you."
With that the metal door came crashing down. Jack stepped in front of Audrey with his gun drawn, as the CTU agents and security guards came flooding into the room….
TO BE CONTINUED….