PREVIOUS WEEK (immediately after Day 8)
Allison Taylor had a few hours left before she was remanding herself into custody. She wanted to make the time she had left in office matter. After hanging up with Chloe O'Brian once again, she had a way to do that.
"Tim?" She called into the office.
"Yes ma'am?" He couldn't look her in the eye any more, or form the words 'Madame President'. It probably would feel worse if he did.
"I need to speak with Dalia Hassan before she leaves. I know she'll be… hesitant to see me, but it is a matter of the utmost importance."
Tim looked up at the President, shocked at the thought of putting those two women in the same room, but turned to follow her orders without interjecting.
A short while later, Tim returned with President Hassan and her head of security, Naji Amar. Allison waved Tim out and asked her guests to sit down, not entirely thrown by Dalia wanting a witness around the soon to be former President. After a slight hesitation, Dalia sat stiffly in the chair across from the American woman's desk. Her head of security followed suit after a motion from her.
To start, Allison Taylor showed President Hassan the video Jack made for Kim, confessing that this was the catalyst for her pulling from the agreement and finally announcing the truth. The video would go straight to Kim Bauer after Dalia saw it. Allison informed her of Jack and Dana's full roles in the day's events. She admitted to letting Jack go, and told Dalia that he had taken the mole prisoner.
Allison Taylor had proven to Dalia that she couldn't be trusted, but she believed what she was saying now. She had seen Agent Bauer at work protecting her husband, and she could easily believe that he would fight for what he believed to be right. After hearing of the massacre in the Russian Ambassador's office, she was surprised that he was willing to take a prisoner, but the video to his daughter showed a softer side to him.
"President Hassan, if you are amenable to it, I'd like to ask for your assistance on Jack's behalf."
Allison didn't let Dalia get a word in edgewise. "I don't know the details, but if you are willing to help Jack, I would ask you to please contact this woman."
Allison passed over a note with Chloe O'Brian's contact information and stood. After starting to speak, she changed her mind and simply said, "Thank you," before walking out of the room, leaving a slightly bewildered Dalia Hassan.
When Allison Taylor gave Dalia the option to assist Jack, she knew it was not a choice at all. She had to do something to repay the kindness that man had shown in protecting her and her family. She got a hold of Chloe and asked how she could help, offering the resources of her country. Chloe explained that a ship would be pulling into Ecuador in a week, and gave her the details of the plan. Jack and Dana should be the last ones off the ship. Jack would be prepared to transfer the prisoner into IRK custody. After confirming her involvement, Chloe prepared to hang up, but stopped herself.
"President Hassan? Please make sure Jack's okay." Her voice threatened to break, but she kept herself under control. They hung up and Chloe erased all evidence of the conversation.
PRESENT DAY
Six men advanced on them, carrying semi-automatic weapons. Dana turned to Jack, eyes wide, ready to follow his lead as they escaped. But Jack wasn't looking for an escape; he was looking straight at the men who had surrounded them. One of them stepped forward and moved to grab Dana, but Jack stopped him.
"We had a deal." He said to her as he reached in his pocket for the key to the handcuffs. He undid her restraints and nodded at the Middle-Eastern man who had approached her.
"What the hell is going on here? Jack, you said I could go."
Jack would agree not to kill Dana, but simply letting her run free offended every one of his sensibilities.
"I said you're not my business anymore. Look at the bright side- the Russians won't get to you now." Dana was quickly led away, but was still within earshot when another man got out of a large stretch limousine half-hidden next to the SUVs and approached Jack.
"Agent Bauer, on behalf of the IRK I would like to thank you for your actions in protecting the Hassan family and bringing this conspiracy to light."
Dana's shock turned to anguish as she realized her moment of freedom had turned into the prelude to a lifetime of imprisonment in a foreign country that likely blamed her for the death of their leader.
Jack nodded and shook the IRK head of security's hand as he watched Dana be put into the transport. His full attention returned to the man in front of him, who was extending a pair of envelopes to him. The scrawl on the large, bulky envelope revealed it to be from Chloe, and a cursory pat-down suggested it had stacks of cash and a cell phone in addition to the aliases she had set up for him.
The second was a small letter-sized envelope on a stiff, rich-smelling paper. IRK Presidential stationary.
"We would like to invite you to join us as we ride to the airport, to give you an opportunity to read this letter from our President." After Jack's nod, Naji escorted him to the limo. After a week living in a steel box, unable to shave or clean himself beyond a sponge bath, Jack felt the grime on his skin more acutely as he entered the air conditioning of the limousine. As they started to move, Naji pulled the lid off of a tray that had been sitting on a stand in the center of the limo. It overflowed with fresh pomegranate seeds, dates, hummus and lavash bread, and an array of cucumbers and tomatoes all piled decoratively on the tray. After a week of beef jerky and potato chips, this was paradise. Naji reached under the tablecloth and pulled out a glass carafe filled with cold water, pouring them each a glass before returning it to the refrigerated compartment.
Naji sat in silence, occasionally sampling some food. It was a long ride to the airport, but Naji preferred Jack's silence to the vindictive rants a few members of his security team had made on the way up. He made sure that those were not the men assigned to the prisoner's transport. As angry as they all were, it would be disastrous if the prisoner didn't make it back to the IRK for questioning and imprisonment.
Jack ate and drank briefly, savoring every rich bite, before turning his attention to the letter before him.
"Mr. Bauer,
Allison Taylor and others have informed me of your role in uncovering those responsible for the attacks on my husband and his peace. Already, you had my family's gratitude for protecting us to the best of your abilities, but now my people owe you their thanks as well.
Above all, I must extend my condolences at the loss of Ms. Walker. My daughter and I will not forget the comfort and protection she provided in our time of crisis.
I understand that in trying to uncover the truth you have been put in a difficult situation. I wish you to know that as long as those friendly to the Hassan name are in power, you shall have asylum in the Islamic Republic of Kamistan. Please say the word, and my head of security will escort you to one of our Presidential Palaces, where we have a suite of rooms prepared for you.
Ms. O'Brian informed me that you have family in the United States. If you wish, I can arrange for them to meet you here for any amount of time. We are in your debt, Mr. Bauer, and I wish to repay you in full for fighting for justice.
I sincerely hope to see you again.
Dalia Hassan"
Jack stared at the letter after he had finished reading it. He fixated on the part about Renee for two minutes before folding it up and placing it back in the envelope. He stared out the window, debating his next move. He needed to get information back to Chloe about the Russians' training camp, but any further action was beyond him right now. On top of everything, he was still in need of medical attention. As an international fugitive, he wouldn't be able to get nearly the quality of care anywhere else that he would under the President's protection in the IRK.
He had to admit, the thought of living the next few years in peace with his family was appealing. It would be awful to uproot them out of the country, but if Chloe had done her job right, they had already been relocated and renamed last week. The decision would ultimately be up to them, but Jack decided to give them the option.
Naji had been looking expectantly at him since he'd folded the letter, but still didn't say a word. Jack met his gaze and nodded slightly.
"I think I'd like to accompany you."
Naji nodded deeply. "President Hassan will be pleased to see you, Mr. Bauer."
Jack pulled the Illinois driver's license Jim had gotten him out.
"Actually, I think I'm Ed Brennan now."
Naji smiled slightly and raised his eyebrows.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Bauer. Your arrival will be kept quiet, and should your presence in our country be made known, foreign nations will be informed that any action taken against you on IRK soil will be considered an act of war."
Jack would have protested about others being put in danger for him, but the thought of protection and security enticed him. He could keep under the radar in the IRK to keep his family safe.
He was getting on that plane and starting his new life.
FIN