Cheers Angeliena :)
Chloe happily sang along with the radio as she drove home from lunch with Helen. Her cell rang and she turned the radio down as she hit the button for the hands-free phone.
"Yeah?"
"God Chloe, I just got home. There's an agent here asking about Chase. He's wanted for attempted murder!"
"Helen, just wait. I'll call you right back."
Chloe pulled over to the side of the road and dialed Jack's number, getting voice mail. The same with Tony's number.
"Dessler, CTU."
"Michelle, it's Chloe, what's happened?"
"Chloe, thank God. Chase shot the SWAT Commander this morning then he tried to kill Jack. He's high on drugs, no one knows where he is or what he'll do next. Are you home? We sent a uniform to make sure you're okay."
"Michelle, where's Jack? I need to speak with him."
"He's still out at the site. He's really upset... Chase is armed… they have orders to shoot if necessary."
"Please tell Jack I need to speak with him. This is really urgent Michelle."
Chloe called Helen back but her call went straight to voice mail; she was probably screening her calls. "Helen, I don't know much, they say Chase is on drugs. If he tries to contact you tell him to stay away. They'll be watching you and they'll tap your phone. I'll call as soon as I hear anything."
Chloe arrived home to find a uniformed cop waiting for her. She allowed him to search her apartment and once he saw nothing was out of place it was easy to convince him to leave. She opened the French doors onto the roof garden, greeted Sam the cat, then made a quick trip to the local bank and grocery store. Returning home she wasn't surprised to find Chase there. She was surprised though to find him throwing up in the toilet.
Another message was left for Helen. "It's me, thanks again for the great day. That package we were talking about has arrived, it's safe... talk to you later, bye."
Chloe bustled around in the kitchen, putting her shopping away and wiping the already clean counters. Finally, with nothing more to occupy herself with she knocked at the open bathroom door. Not waiting for a response she entered to find Chase kneeling on the floor, shivering. "Jeeze you're freezing, what's happened?... Chase?"
He leant over and threw up again. It was just bile and she wondered if she should take him to the ER. But no, that wasn't possible. "Chase, I'll run you a warm bath, okay?"
He nodded slowly. "Sorry Chloe. I'll be okay in a moment, it doesn't last long."
She waited while the water level rose then turned off the bath taps; she didn't trust him to do it himself. "I'll be back soon, I'll get you some clean clothes."
Having four brothers, Chloe was an expert at sizes and it didn't take long to select jeans and a couple of shirts. Home again, she placed the bag inside the bathroom door and put some soup on the stove to heat. Switching on the TV, she flicked through a few channels before she found a news item on the day's shootings. Chloe couldn't believe what she was seeing; Jack's SUV being towed away, the windows shattered.
"I shot Jack?, whispered Chase from behind her, making her jump.
"You missed." She turned and looked at him, "Don't you remember?... what are you on Chase?, you're not well."
"I don't know, I just remember bits. It makes no sense... what have I done?"
"Peters was shot and is in critical condition. Then you tried to kill Jack."
He sat, shaking his head. "But why?"
Chloe sat and watched him for a moment, considering her options. He had stopped shivering but she was still concerned about the pallor of his skin. "Chase, you need some food in your stomach and then we'll sort out what to do. I'll get the soup."
By the time Chloe finished arranging bowls and cutlery, she found Chase had fallen asleep on the couch. She pulled a blanket over him, covered the soup, then went into her office to begin a computer search.
He panned across the SWAT compound, waiting for his chance. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when he saw the face of his intended victim at the open window. This was one kill he'd enjoy. He waited patiently until the target stepped toward the door. A clean shot to the heart was text book training and perfect justice. As Chase squeezed the trigger, he laughed to think that Commander Peters was now his.
Chase awoke with a groan. He couldn't believe it. He sat up slowly as Chloe came into the room.
"What's wrong, do you need to throw up?"
"I remember shooting Peters. Damnit Chloe, I did it!... I must have shot at Jack too."
"I'll get you a glass of water then you can tell me everything. Do you want something to eat?"
"No thanks, I can't eat, I still feel sick."
Chloe returned with water and they went through his day. Meeting Rick and Jack, the briefing, hiking through the desert, shooting Peters, it was all clear and straightforward. Then his memory fragmented. Just after the shooting he recalled a pain in his leg... being sick... talking with Jack on the phone... arriving at Chloe's. He couldn't fill the blanks. Chase went and threw up again while Chloe made up the sofa bed. Exhausted, he fell asleep almost immediately.
Chloe gave a smile of triumph as she checked the tape recorder. She had the whole conversation on tape. Now Jack would be forced to accept the truth.