A/N: I'm so sorry that it took me so long to update. Finishing college, starting a new job, let's say that life's been pretty hectic these past few weeks. Anyway here's a new chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to 24, not more than I own the lyrics of Right here waiting from Richard Marx.

Dedicated to: HelloKitty87, Jessloz58 (we have to go out soon!), kiefer4ever (I now have 7 chapters planned + 3 one-shot fics, I hope you're happy!) , Admiral R.T., Slug's bay, AliciaFB, Fox light and Amy. You guys keep me going!

This takes place about a month after season 3.

Chapter 3: Right here waiting

Days were passing in a blur. The tangibility of his imprisonment hadn't sunk in yet. Escaping the reality was the way he had chosen to cope. Right from the start, he retreated in himself, talking to no one, barely answering to the guards. He had managed to put back in their place those who had looked for trouble with him and avoided those who tried to befriended him. He didn't want to have anything to do with them. His mind was completely shut from the outside world. He just didn't want to blend in a world he had always thought so little of. He was getting used to it his own way…

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

It was so unfair. He had to lay there, reminiscing all that had happened that day. The virus threath, the hotel, Saunders. Stephen Saunders, the man who destroyed everything. It was because of him if he was stuck in that dim cell, apart from the only person he loved. No, he thought, don't put the blame on him. You're the one responsible. You decided to betray everyone for her and gave in to his demands. Not that he would change anything if he had the chance. Michelle meant more than life herself to him. He wouldn't have been able to live if he had let Saunders's men touch her. The promise he made to his wife was more important than his job or anything else. So he did it. He let him escape for her sake. Now all he had to do was to get used to this new life of his. He didn't know if he ever could but that wasn't the worst part. It was Michelle's visit. She went to see him, right after his indictment and this day had been haunting him ever since. It was hard to say which look was the worst: the one she had on her face when she saw him in the parlor, so terrified and pained, or the betrayed one she gave him when he told her what he had to.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

"Don't come back Michelle. Ever. When I told you I could make it here, I forgot to mention that it was only possible if I don't have to see you through a thick window, hurting. It's what's best, for you and for me. I didn't save you so you could lead an empty life, longing for me. What I feel is irrelevant. Unlike me, you can move on and you must do so. I love you, but I can't let you hold on to me. Forget me, forget us." Tony had quickly get up and left the parlor, incapable of both seeing the tears rolling down his wife's face and letting her see the ones he was trying so hard to prevent from falling.He knew for sure that such a long sentence without seeing her would inevitably drive him insane but he couldn't make her go through this kind of suffering. What good would he had done if he let her throw away all her chances at happiness for him?

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now
Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy

"I won't be able to make it. You'll always be on my mind, reminding me how I failed you, how I should have never met you, for both our sake." he thought. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he had destroyed it. He felt a wave of guilt coming over him as he was thinking about that dreadful day. He didn't regret sacrifying his career and liberty, that wasn't the point. It was his whole behavior before she left CTU for the hotel that he was ashamed of. He can't believe he had been childish enough to be mad at her for so long, over something as little as a momentary (in a way justified) lack of faith in his capacities. After all, she was only being professional. He wished he hadn't been so hard on her. It seemed ridiculously small now, in the light of what happened after. He could never say I'm sorry enough for that. Compared to all the wonderful moments they shared, it was nothing.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

He had decided to hold on to his memories. "It's all I have left." he thought. Plus keeping his mind busy helped it there. Remembering the glances, all those shy yet flirty looks she would give him, almost from her first day. Their first date, clumsy and awkward. How he had spilled red wine all over the rug, the day he met her parents for the first time. The first time he had the chance to introduce her as his wife. All of these precious moments kept telling him that he had to believe. Somewhere in his mind the little, foolish bit of hope was very much alive. "We'll have moments like this again. I'll be with you again. If not in this life, then in the next."

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

A door shut loudly in the once quiet hallway, making Tony came back to reality, something he couldn't always avoid to do, however hard he tried. Looking at the dark ceiling, he felt the now familiar knot of anger building up in his stomach. "I shouldn't be here. They should have understand. No, they had to make an example out of me. Nobody even tried to help me. And they sure aren't trying to get me out now. Well, that should teach you to ever count on anyone. Now it's over, you're on your own. You can keep your memories, that's all you are now for the world. Bittersweet memories."