"President Heller has underestimated us," Cheng said. "He's going to attempt to rescue Mr. Bauer. We must execute him now. Maybe he can't be broken. But he can still die."

"You've already taken this too far, Cheng," Kim said. "Your grudge against this man is going to put us at war with the United States!"

"It's a fight we are prepared for," Cheng told him. "And one we can win." He went to unlock the door to Jack's cell. Kim drew his gun and aimed it at the back of Cheng's head.

"I'm sorry, Cheng. But someone has to stop you."

While there was activity between Cheng Zhi and Kim Tangshen inside, there was a lot more brewing outside. President Heller's rescue team had arrived at Taiping Prison.

"Two guards in the tower," Curtis announced.

"I got 'em," Chase said. With two shots, the guards in the watchtower fell over dead. Chase smiled.

"Like clockwork," he quipped.

"Good shooting," Curtis said. "Let's move in."

"Go ahead, Kim," Cheng said. "Pull the trigger. Kill me, and die a traitor's death like your friend Hong Wai."

"You're wrong, Cheng. I used to think you of as a patriot. But you've become a terrorist yourself."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of rapid gunfire outside. Cheng Zhi's security force were being exterminated quickly, just as President Heller had ordered.

The firefight had distracted Kim long enough for Cheng to remove his own weapon from its holster and fire one bullet into Kim Tangshen's head. The alarm sounded.

Cheng looked into Jack's cell. The prisoner was asleep, or had likely passed out from the pain. Cheng unlocked the cell door and walked in.

"Jack Bauer!" Curtis didn't speak Chinese, but he was certain every guard in Taiping Prison knew who Jack Bauer was, such as the one he was currently holding at gunpoint. "Show us where he is!" The guard nodded frantically and motioned for Curtis to follow him. Curtis never took his gun away from the guard.

"Curtis, it's Gonzales," said a voice over Curtis' earpiece. "We've cleared the exterior and secured transportation back to the rendezvous."

"Copy that," Curtis replied. "Chase and I'll have Jack shortly."

The guard led Curtis and Chase down a dimly lit hallway. Chase backpedaled behind them, keeping an eye open for any more of Cheng's men.

Cheng stood over the unconscious Jack Bauer and eyed him with utter contempt.

"Look at you, Mr. Bauer," Cheng said. "I've left you a beaten shell of the man you once were. As much as I've enjoyed your company over the last thirteen months, the time has come for you to pay the ultimate penalty for your crime." Cheng removed his firearm and aimed it at Jack's head.

"Goodbye, Mr. Bauer. I'll be sure to let your beloved Audrey know where I bury your rotting corpse."

Audrey. The mention of her name awoke something in Jack Bauer. A fire that Jack thought he didn't have anymore. For the first time in thirteen months, Jack felt alive. He wasn't going to die here at Cheng Zhi's hand. He was going to go home. Make things right with Kim. Start the life he had wanted with Audrey. No, Cheng. You failed. You haven't broken me.

Jack's eyes opened. Cheng was stunned. Seeing Jack conscious and with a fury in his eyes caused him to lower his firearm and take a step back. Jack stood and charged at his captor. Cheng re-aimed his gun at the prisoner in a vain attempt at self-defense. Jack Bauer had had enough. No more torture. No more taunts. He was going to get some payback.

Jack took Cheng by the wrist and snapped it as hard as he could. Cheng howled in pain, his weapon dropping to the floor. It felt like his arm had been broken. It had been. Cheng suddenly realized how dangerous an enemy Jack Bauer was. With one quick movement of his hand, he had broken his arm.

Jack held on to Cheng by the wrist with his right hand and used his left hand to punch Cheng square in the mouth. Cheng could feel three of his back teeth get knocked loose. Jack let go of his arm and watch Cheng stumble back. He didn't give him a chance to regain his composure.

Jack punched Cheng three more times in succession and watched as he collapsed on his stomach to the floor of the dirty prison cell. Jack used his foot to turn Cheng on his back. The Chinese man was somehow still conscious. Good, Jack thought. I want that maggot to see what I do to him next.

"I've…broken you," Cheng said through his bloodied lips. "You're not…the man…you were." Jack saw Cheng's gun lying on the ground. He picked it up and stood over Cheng.

"No, Cheng," Jack said, aiming the gun at Cheng's heart. "You're the one who's been broken." Jack fired off three shots. Cheng Zhi's eyes closed. Jack lowered the gun. He would have loved to put every bullet into Cheng, but he knew he couldn't waste time. He had to get out of Taiping Prison.

The guard stopped at the open door to Jack Bauer's cell. He was confused as to why the cell was opened. He looked inside and when he saw why and how, he mumbled something in Mandarin.

His mumblings got the attention of Jack Bauer. Jack turned towards the guard and fired three more shots. Each one hit the guard, who fell to the ground dead. Curtis and Chase each took position on opposite sides of the cell.

"Jack!" Curtis called. "Jack, it's Curtis!"

Jack was in shock. Curtis was here? Was this another of Cheng Zhi's tricks?

"Curtis?" he asked. Curtis nodded to Chase. Chase nodded back and they both walked into Jack's cell. Jack thought for a moment that thirteen months of torture had damaged his brain. My friends are here? It can't be.

"Hey, Jack," Curtis said with a small smile. "It's all right. We're getting you out of here." He and Chase hurried over to their surprised friend and escorted him out of the cell. The sight of Chase surprised Jack even more.

"Hi, Jack," Chase said. "I like the beard."

"Chase," Jack said, still trying to comprehend what was going on. "How did you…"

"President Heller sent us," Curtis interrupted, wanting to get to the rendezvous as fast as possible. "It's all right, Jack. You're going home."

President Heller? Jack decided to have this whole situation sorted out for him later. His friends had come to save him. Chase took a quick glance back inside the cell. He saw the motionless form of a Chinese man. He got a good enough look to identify him as Cheng Zhi.

"Curtis," he said. "That's Cheng Zhi in there. Looks like Jack had a little of the old Bauer magic in him."

"Good," Curtis agreed. "Now let's get the hell out of here." He spoke into the earpiece as they made their way out. "Gonzales, do you copy?"

"Go ahead," Gonzales said.

"We have Nighthawk," Curtis said. "The target's been eliminated. We're on our way to you right now."

"Copy that," Gonzales replied. "We're ready for you."

Agent Gonzales and his team managed to secure two jeeps for the drive to the awaiting Black Hawk. Chase and Curtis took care of a handful of more guards before reaching the jeeps.

"All right, let's go!" Curtis ordered. The American strike force was halfway to the Black Hawk when they saw another jeep, with five of Cheng's men inside, in pursuit.

"The Chinese are persistent," Chase quipped. He signaled to Agent Gonzales in the other jeep. Gonzales nodded. They fired off several rounds of shots. Three of the Chinese guards were hit, one of whom was driving the jeep. He slumped over, causing the jeep to lose control and flip over three times before exploding.

Chase flashed a thumbs up to Gonzales and turned to Curtis.

"Should be a nice Sunday drive from here," he said with a grin. Curtis suppressed a laugh. Chase always found a way to crack jokes in the middle of a tense situation.

"Aaron, come in," Curtis said.

"Go ahead, Curtis," Aaron Pierce answered.

"Get ready for takeoff," Curtis told him. "We're less than two mics away."

"Copy," Aaron replied. The Black Hawk's propeller blades were already spinning when the strike team arrived. Jack was the first one on board, promptly followed by Curtis and the others. The helicopter lifted off the ground and headed for their destination, the United States Embassy in Taiwan, the final stop before returning to America.

"It's good to see you, Jack," Curtis said. "It's going to be all right."

"Thank you, Curtis," Jack said to his friend. "Thank you all. I'll never forget what you've done for me today."

"You don't need to thank us, Jack," Curtis told him. "You've saved all of our butts on more than one occasion."

"Audrey," Jack said. "She knows?"

Curtis nodded. "She's going to be waiting for you, Jack."

"And my daughter?" Jack asked. He sounded hopeful but clearly sad. The last time he had spoken to Kim was several hours before Cheng Zhi had abducted him. She had blown him off. She said she could never be close to him again.

"I don't know, Jack," Curtis replied. Jack sighed and sadly nodded his head. He understood Kim's anger, but he realized he was being given another chance at life. He was determined not to blow it. He made a silent promise to win back Kim's trust.

"Hey, Jack," Chase said. "I know I hurt Kim. I'm sorry for doing that."

"It's never too late to have a second chance, Chase," Jack said. "I'm living proof of that." Jack leaned his head back and shut his eyes, relieved that his ordeal was over and he had a chance to get his life back.

THE WHITE HOUSE

President James Heller made a phone call that relieved and excited him.

"Mission accomplished, sweetheart," he said to his daughter. "Jack's coming home."

"Oh, Dad," Audrey Raines replied, tears of joy running down her face. "Dad, thank you. Thank you."

"It's all right. They'll be here sometime tomorrow."

"Okay. I love you, Dad."

Heller smiled. "I love you, too, Audrey."

TAIPING PRISON

Cheng Zhi's eyes fluttered open. He couldn't move his right arm. Damn you, Bauer. He groaned as he used his left hand to help himself sit up. He touched his chest and said a quick prayer of thanks that he had worn a Kevlar vest today. Then his thoughts of gratitude quickly turned to thoughts of vengeance.

"It's not over, Mr. Bauer," he said aloud to no one. "It will never be over until one of us is dead."