Chapter 15

1 week later…

Jack's eyes gradually began to flutter open, it was Saturday, he thought. The day he could relax and not have to worry about getting Audrey to her psychiatrist. Jack thought back to what Dr Adams had said about her condition,

"She's is doing remarkably well considering the state she was in only a week ago. However this could all change if she was to relapse."

Jack had asked him what could possibly make her to relapse and all Dr Adams had said was anything could trigger her to relapse.

Clearing his mind of the thoughts his eyes swept lazily around the room, he could tell that is was early morning as the sunlight shone through the partly closed blinds. Jack smiled as he looked down to Audrey, who was still currently asleep and nuzzled against his chest. Jack sighed; he still couldn't actually believe that this was all really happening. That he and Audrey could now really be together. Every morning Jack would wake up expecting to find that he had just been living a dream and was actually still in the hands of Cheng. However this was never the case and he was thankful for it.

Pulling the duvet back over them Jack pressed Audrey closer to his body, never wanting to let her go.

---

Audrey was still 'asleep' next to Jack; well that was what Jack thought anyway. In actual fact Audrey was too scared to open her eyes. She was terrified that if she did, Jack would disappear from her and their shot of happiness would be gone again. She was petrified that if she was to open her eyes, she would stare into the cold, dark eyes of Cheng not the loving, soft eyes that belonged to Jack.

There were many nights when Audrey would lie awake, her mind racing with her memories of China. She still strongly remembered the stench of her prison cell, which at first she had always nearly gagged at whenever she entered the room but over time she had grown accustomed the smell. She recalled the path that she had to take everyday, that lead from her cell to the torture room where Cheng would constantly ask her the same questions over and over again, "Does anyone else know of Mr Bauer's location?" or " Is your father aware of the nuclear weapons we are exporting out of this country?" Audrey would keep her mouth shut, she would switch of her brain and her mind would take her to the happy memories of her and Jack.

Whenever she didn't answer Cheng would shout to one of his men in Chinese, telling him to inject her with more of the chemicals that were already pumping through her veins. No matter how hard Cheng pushed her she never talked, she would always focus her mind on one man, the man she loved. The man who was now lying next to her planting soft kisses on her neck, trying to stir her from her slumber. It was then when Audrey realized that China was behind her now and that the only thing that mattered was Jack. Slowly she opened her eyes and stared into the sweet, blue eyes of Jack.

"Good Morning gorgeous," he cooed.

Audrey smiled, "Morning" she said as she lent forward and briefly kissed Jack on the lips.

"How about I go and make us some breakfast?" Jack asked.

Audrey nodded her head, as she lazily threw the covers off of her and bended down to pick up her nightdress. Throwing Jack his boxers she headed towards the door.

"Come on Bauer" she teased "I want a 5 star breakfast."

Jack laughed; he took Audrey's hand and headed down the hallway to the kitchen.

Audrey stepped into the kitchen, the cool tiles pressed against her feet as she padded over to the table.

"So what are you going to cook me?" she asked.

Jack looked smirked, "Well I was going to cook you some eggs and bacon if that's alright with her highness?" he teased.

Audrey laughed and nodded her head.

"I'll get to it then." Jack said moving over to the fridge and started to prepare their meal.

Audrey wondered into the sitting room and stared out of the window onto the road. Her fathers car was gone, and had been gone for the last week since he had been on a business trip in D.C. She looked at the spot he normally parked in and was surprised when another car was in his spot; it was a Silver sedan.

Audrey averted her gaze from the car and tried to look at something else but her eyes kept wondering back to the car. Why was she so interested in it? The question started to buzz around in her head; it was something about the car that just didn't seem right. Taking a step closer to the window she could just about make out the driver, he was Middle Eastern looking and from what she could tell he looked fairly young. 'He almost looked… No' Audrey scolded herself she wasn't going to let China effect her. Not now, never. So what if he looked like he was Chinese? He was probably just an innocent man waiting for his family or something. But there was still something about the whole situation that Audrey couldn't get her head around. It just didn't feel right. Jack's voice retrieved her from her thoughts.

"You okay?" he asked softly as he entered the room.

Audrey instantly wiped her mind of all her previous thoughts, it was time to be with Jack and she wouldn't let anything ruin that.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Audrey replied, "I'm just starving."

Jack chuckled, "I'm not surprised, and you haven't eaten in more than twelve hours. Come on I've got a banquet awaiting you." he joked causing Audrey to smile.

"Mmm, I'm not sure about a banquet but it does smell nice, whatever it is" Audrey muttered.

Taking Jack's hand she headed back into the kitchen where a delicious breakfast awaited her.

Audrey walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. For some bizarre reason she still couldn't get that damn car from her mind. She didn't know what was wrong but she just knew that it didn't belong there. Jack, noticing that Audrey was distant placed his hand over hers.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, staring deep into her eyes.

Audrey nodded "Yeah, I'm fine I'm just famished."

Jack laughed as he watched Audrey dig into her food. The rest of the meal was eaten in an uncomfortable silence. They both wanted to say something but neither knew what to say. Jack wanted to ask Audrey about China, but he didn't want her to think that he was pushing her, he just wanted to help. Breaking the silence Audrey spoke.

"That was delicious" she sighed, "You're not that good at making meals but I have to say, you're pretty damn good at making breakfast."

Jack smirked, "I'll take that as a compliment." he teased. Pausing Jack decided to ask her about China. "Audrey" he said calmly, waiting until she looked up to continue, "You seem really distant, are you sure you are okay?"

Audrey nodded "I already answered that Jack. Yes I'm fine."

Jack however continued. He knew something was bothering Audrey. She was doing a pretty good job of hiding it but he knew her too well.

"Is it about China?" he muttered in a low voice, almost a whisper.

Audrey's eyes turned dull, "NO! Why does everything have to do with China?" she retorted.

Jack was taken aback by her sudden out burst and it must have been written over his face as Audrey changed her tone of voice.

"Jack, look I know you care, its just…" her voice trailed off.

Jack took her gently by the shoulders and led her back into the sitting room.

"I know you may not want to talk about what happened. But I know it may help."

Audrey sighed again, but didn't say anything.

Bringing her closer to his chest, Jack spoke, "I'll tell you what I'll start, because I need to get this off my chest and talk to someone about it and then maybe you can. Is that okay."

Audrey stared up into his soft, blue eyes; she squeezed his hand, "Of course. I'm here for you."

Jack smiled as he brought up the memories that he had been trying so hard to forget.

Audrey sensing that Jack needed some encouragement raised her head and pressed a kiss to Jack's cheek.

Sipping in air, Jack finally had conjured up enough confidence to share his experience with Audrey.

"Well" he started, "At first Cheng and another General spent days debating what prison I should go to. In the end Cheng managed to persuade the General that I should go to the Nanjing Prison in Shanghai." Jack paused to pull Audrey closer to him, he needed to get this out despite how painful it was, and it would help. "The first few months they didn't do anything apart from leave me in my cell, the food was so awful that I refused to eat it, so Cheng ordered his men to force feed me. That was the turning point really" Jack stopped as the memories came flooding back to him, all those torture sessions that he had tried to forget.

Audrey squeezed his hand, "Go on" she urged him.

Taking a deep breath he continued….

----

Jack was sat in his damp cell, there was nothing there apart from a bed, toilet and a faucet. The only companion Jack had was the prison's rats which always came to pay him a visit searching for the food that Jack would always leave. The key opening in the door pulled him from his thoughts. Jack squinted up at the door, as the light came streaming in.

"Up now!" the Chinese guard yelled.

Not waiting for Jack to get up the guard moved over to him and dragged him roughly down the corridor to a new room, which Jack could only think would be his torture room.

"Ah Mr Bauer I'm glad you could join us" Cheng smirked.

Jack stared the evil man straight in the eyes, he hadn't uttered a word yet, and he wasn't about to. He would go to his 'safe place' in his mind like he had been trained to do. Somewhere in your mind where you are safe from everything. He remembered his trainer's words exactly.

"Your enemy may have your body. He may have broken your spirit. He may have taken your dignity. BUT the one thing that he can never take is your soul and that is what we call our safe place. It is a place you can retreat to, think of anyone, loved ones, memories etc and once you're in that place stay in it until you are released."

This was exactly what Jack was doing now. Except his safe place wasn't his family, it wasn't Kim, it wasn't even his friends. No, it was the one woman that could always make him smile, the one woman that was and would always be there for him. The one woman that he would probably never see again and that woman was Audrey.

Something hitting the table broke Jack free of all his thoughts.

"Mr Bauer! Are you even listening to me?"

Jack said nothing which answered Cheng's question.

"Now tell me the names of the Chinese Agents working in your country?"

Jack said nothing but glared at Cheng. Feeling threatened by the stare Cheng nodded.

"Very well Mr Bauer, we'll do it your way."

Cheng barked some orders in Chinese to the man, his torturer. The next thing Jack felt was a wave of electricity passing through is body making him squirm with pain.

"Are you going to tell me?" Cheng asked again. "No? Okay. Boost up the electricity and lets really give Mr Bauer a shock."

Once more Jack felt the pain race through his body, he held out for as long as he could but then fell unconscious.

---

"There were times when I just wanted to die and just leave it all behind. But

I didn't, I always thought of you. You were the only thing that got me through China."

Jack stopped and looked down to Audrey who now had a steady flow of tears down her face.

"Jack…" she croaked, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

"Hey" Jack cooed "What have you got to be sorry for?" he asked, kissing her forehead.

"You should have never gone through that, if anyone should be sorry it's me, I'm sorry for getting you involved."

"You didn't" Audrey said plainly "I chose to get involved with you. Jack I love you so damn much." she said pressing her lips to his and kissing him passionately.

Jack returned the kiss with just as much passion. When they both drew apart trying to catch their breaths, Jack looked deep into her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about China?"

Audrey nodded; "Yes" she said returning his gaze. Conjuring up all those memories she began to tell Jack what happened to her. He was the only man she trusted with her life. So of course she would share her experience in China with him.

Sighing she began to tell Jack of her horrific experience in China. She told of how Cheng use to slap her hard around the face, whenever she refused to answer one of his questions. She explained to him how she was especially terrified at night as she was always convinced that one of the guards would come to rape. When Jack frantically asked her if they had raped her, Audrey reassured him saying,

"No, no they would threaten me claiming that they would but Cheng never let his men touch me in that way."

Jack nodded his head in relief.

"Towards the end of the three months, whenever Cheng asked me if I knew any codes for the satellites, I didn't answer him, I…I… Just thought of you, I prayed that you were okay." Audrey paused, she was now crying, the dam that she had tried to hold in, was now broken. Jack brought his arm around to her waist and pulled her tightly to his chest.

"Shh. Its okay" he cooed drawing lazy patterns on her back until she quietened.

"After that Cheng would just inject me with anything he wanted to, sometimes he even played mind games, claiming that you were there."

"I probably was in the same prison as you just a different part." Jack replied, Audrey looked up her eyes etched with sorrow, "We were probably even on the same plane and didn't even notice it."

"I'm just glad that I have you now Jack. Promise me you'll never leave me again."

Jack hesitated, could he make such a promise to her? What if the only choice he had was to leave her? What then? He would have broken his word, the one thing he refused to ever do, especially with the people he loved. In actual fact there was no way to make that promise to her, because he didn't know what the future held for them, but he had to say something as now she was looking at him expectantly.

"I'll try not to." was all he said in the end.

Audrey knew what he meant by it. The sad truth of the matter was that they would never be able to say with a certainty that they were going to stay with each other forever. Sure they belonged together, but fate always seemed to intervene just as things were going okay for them. That's when the mysterious car came to her mind again, she was sure that it didn't belong there. Moving away from Jack she looked out of the window and sure enough the man in the silver sedan was still there.

Jack looked over to Audrey and saw the expression on her face.

"Audrey, what is it?"

Audrey shook her head, "I…I don't know."

Jack inched closer to her, slithering his arms around her waist.

"Tell me" he whispered.

Audrey leant back into his warm embrace, "It's probably nothing" she stated, "but that car down there parked in my father's spot just doesn't seem right. The guy driving it looks similar to the man that I saw on the beach last week. I don't know maybe I'm just being paranoid."

Jack looked at the car she was talking about, he too recognised the man in the car. He was the exact man that he had chased that day at the beach. Jack felt his stomach fold into a knot and he suddenly began to feel very nauseous, the Chinese were here to get him that was the first thing that had come inside his head. 'No' he thought 'You're just being paranoid'.

Jack gazed back at Audrey, "I'm sure its nothing. Don't worry about it" he claimed trying to get her to calm down.

But just like Audrey, he too was sure there was something unusual about that car

Pulling his attention from the car and back to Audrey, he now only noticed that she was shaking.

"Hey look I'm sure its nothing." Jack said trying desperately to sooth her. "Come on your dad is going to be here anytime soon. In fact look he is here now." he said pointing to the limo that had just pulled up outside the house.

Audrey watched as her father stepped from the limo and made his way onto the porch, knocking on the door. She smiled; trust her father to knock on the door of his own house.

"Come in" she said, her heart filled with joy as she ran into his arms.

Heller was taken aback by the sudden mood change Audrey was showing him, however he wasn't about to take it for granted so he happily wrapped his arms around his daughter, giving her a real hug, that he hadn't given her in ages.

Jack smiled as he watched the two embrace. He saw the glow in Heller's eyes reappear as Audrey had gone bounding into his arms. Giving the two their privacy Jack made his way into the kitchen.

Heller released his daughter, "So how are you doing?" he asked fearful of what the answer may be.

"Great" Audrey beamed.

Heller's smile broadened "I'm glad" That's when he saw the diamond bracelet on her wrist. "Where did you get that?" he asked indicating to the bracelet.

"Oh" Audrey said "Jack gave it to me last week."

Heller smiled again, he knew keeping Jack had been the right choice. Audrey was now getting better by the day; she was almost her old self again, almost.

"Let's go find him" Audrey said disrupting his line of thoughts. Heller nodded and moved into the kitchen where the saw Jack looking out he window.

"Hey" Audrey said as they entered the room.

Jack almost jumped; whatever he was looking at was now being blocked by his body.

"What are you doing" Audrey asked.

"Oh…um nothing I was just day dreaming that's all. Sir…I mean James can I get you anything to drink?"

Heller laughed, "I should be asking you that Jack." Heller turned to Audrey "Why don't you take a seat while Jack and I prepare you lunch."

Audrey happily nodded her head and headed towards the dinner table and Heller made his way over to Jack. Keeping his voice low enough so that only Jack could hear him he asked,

"Do you know that person in the car down there?"

Jack looked bewildered for a moment "What do you mean?"

Heller shook his head "Don't worry Jack im not going to do anything I was just asking as he seemed to know you."

Jack's heart stopped, "Wha…what do you mean?"

"Well" Heller said as he retrieved the bread from the cupboard "As I was getting out of the limo the man got out from the car and asked whether you lived here. I said yes and then asked him why and he seemed to be a bit uncomfortable with the question and mumbled that he knew you from a while ago."

Jack was silent.

"But what did strike me as odd was the fact that he didn't speak very good English."

"What language did he speak?" Jack asked already knowing what the answer would be.

"That's the thing I could have sworn he had a very strong Chinese accent and I didn't know you had any friends who were from that origin."

Jack looked Heller straight in the eye, "I don't"