The Following Takes Place Between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm
Jack Bauer knew what had to be done. They had to stop somewhere where they could take a breather, but Jack wanted to make sure they weren't being followed.
"What are we going to do?" Tony said. "If they catch up to us we don't have enough ammunition."
"We need to get back to CTU," Jack answered. "Michelle may have a lead."
"You didn't have anything after you left?"
"No. Damn this is going to be a long day."
"Has there been any new developments since I went home?"
"A video came from one of the terrorists," Jack answered as he looked at the mirror. Clear. "They said that there is going to be a terrorist attack in the next 24 hours. They are going to hit here in California by setting off an infection."
"You can get to CTU in time?"
"I can try."
"The assassination attempt on Tony Almeida failed," Brian Nathans said as he walked out of Tony's house.
"Why?" the voice of Mitch Alvair asked.
"Some sort of backup came and got him out of here."
"Jack Bauer."
"The CTU agent?"
"That's him. What kills me is I don't know how he could have figured out that Almeida knew something so quickly."
"Maybe it was a mistake."
"Looking at Bauer's records, he doesn't make mistakes. Take them out. Both of them. If they survive your ass is on the line."
"Yes, sir."
Nathans hung up the phone and looked at his men and nodded to the team leader. The leader yelled for the men to get into the van. Nathans looked at his watch. It was 11:04.
Michelle Dessler sat down. She had been standing for four minutes and was trying not to start yelling at Chloe to hurry up. Chase walked over.
"I think I have a hit," he said as Michelle looked at him.
"This person was tied to the assassination?"
"I think so."
"You need to know so before I can tell Jack."
"I am pretty sure."
"I need you to be certain."
"Are you cracking under the stress that Tony may be dead?"
"I know he is alive."
"If you are cracking I will have to have invoke section 112."
"I am fine!"
Chase looked at her then to Chloe. Chloe looked up at him. They eyes met with concern for a moment then Chase walked away.
"Are you sure you are fine?" Chloe asked looking back at her screen.
"Yes," Michelle replied looking at the floor. "I am fine."
The phone rang and Chloe answered it saying, "O'Brian."
"Chloe," Jack said on the other end. "It is Jack. Do you have any new leads?"
"Chase may have one, but he isn't sure."
"Is Tony alright?" Michelle asked as she cut in.
"I'm fine," Tony replied on the other end.
"Ask Chase what the lead is," Jack said.
"I'll call you back," Chloe said as she hung up the phone. "I'll be right back, Michelle." She started towards Chase's office and walked in. "What is the lead?"
"A cook," Chase said from behind his computer. "His name is Fernando Rodriguez. Was working at the place for a week."
"Only a week?"
"That is what it says."
"Thanks."
Chloe walked back into her office and dialed Jack's number as Michelle said," What is the lead?"
"A cook who has been working there for only a week."
"Bauer," Jack said answering the phone.
"The lead is a cook named Fernando Rodriguez," Chloe said.
"Thanks," Jack said as he hung up the phone.
"Now what?" Michelle asked.
"We need to find out where the video came from," Chloe replied sitting down. She looked at the clock. It was 11:10.
"Can we reach Jack yet?" David Palmer asked sitting in his office on Air Force One. Wayne was sitting across from him.
"I haven't checked," Wayne started. "But I believe that Dessler is still in charge."
"I want to speak to Jack as soon as he gets back to CTU."
"Okay."
"Have you spoken to Mike Novick?"
"No."
"I haven't been notified that he and Sherry have been arrested yet."
"Don't you think you are being rather hard on this?"
"No I don't. You don't stand behind me on this?"
"Arresting them before you are sure of their intentions. Yes, I think you are being unreasonable about this."
"What would you do
if your ex wife and former Chief of Staff were plotting to make a
vote occur that would get you out of office! What would you
do?"
"I'd be reasonable."
"And show sympathy?"
"Yes."
"Sherry has been nothing but trouble ever since I divorced her."
"Because you divorced her!"
"And now all she does is try to get back at me!"
"Because you haven't shown her any sympathy!"
"She has tried to destroy me! What would you do?"
Wayne stood up and walked towards the door. He turned around and replied, "This is why she is doing this to you." He walked out shutting the door behind him.
The car stopped at the red light. Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida looked at each other with an awkward silence. The silence was then broken.
"We are heading to the retreat," Jack said as the car starting moving again.
"You really think this guy is involved?" Tony asked.
"I can't take any chances."
"I think Michelle is worried about me."
"She will be fine." Jack looks at the mirror to see if they are being followed. "This guy is suspicious. I need to find out if he was involved. If we don't and he was involved it would be like shooting the governor ourselves."
Another silence takes over in the car as Jack's cell phone rings. Jack answers it saying, "This is Bauer."
"Hello, Mr. Bauer," a voice on the other end says. "I suspect that Tony Almeida is with you in your car."
Jack looks around and then answers, "Are you the pain in the ass that tried to kill Tony?"
"Who is it Jack?" Tony asked.
"I here Almeida's voice," the voice continued. "It is a mistake going to follow the lead on Fernando Rodriguez."
"Who are you?" Jack asked.
"Your worst enemy."
The voice hangs up and Jack continues to look around outside before saying, "Someone is on to us. We are being followed."
"By who?" Tony asked looking at the clock. 11:19.
"Your assassins."
Mike Novick and Sherry Palmer walked back into Mike's office. Sherry shut the door behind them locking it. Mike turned to look at her as he sat down.
"I can't believe David is going through with arresting us," he said as she looked at him.
"You wouldn't?" she asked.
"No, I wouldn't."
"I don't believe you."
"You never do."
There is a knock at the door before Mike's secretary, Janet, said, "There are some secret service agents here. What is going on, Mike?"
Sherry looked at Mike as he looked back at her before saying, "Now what do we do?"
Chloe O'Brian typed at her computer feverishly trying to find out where the video had come from. Michelle had gone to get them coffee. The phone rang.
"O'Brian," Chloe said putting it on speakerphone.
"I need your help," Jack said on the other end.
"What is it?"
"The people who tried to kill Tony know where we are going and why we are going where we are going."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"What do you need?"
"I need you to scan my car for any bugs."
"What street are you on?"
"The street right before the Governor's retreat."
"Hold on."
Chloe opened a new window on her computer and typed in the street address as Michelle entered the room.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Tony and Jack are being followed," Chloe answered as she pulled up Jack's car and began searching for bugging the schematic. "Jack, there aren't any."
"Thanks anyway," Jack said hanging up.
"Are they in trouble?"
"Yeah," Chloe said looking at the clock. It was 11:26. Jack was right about one thing, Chloe thought. This is going to be a long day.
David Palmer entered into the situation room on Air Force One. Wayne was sitting alone with his back facing the entrance David took to come in.
"What is it, David?" Wayne asked.
"Has CTU contacted you with a new lead?" David asked.
"No."
"What is the matter?"
"Secret Service has just arrested Mike Novick." Wayne got up and looked at David. "There is still time to fix the mistake you are making."
"Was Sherry there?"
Wayne sat back down and looked away saying, "She was with Mike Novick, but she escaped out the window. They are looking for her now."
"How long till we get to Washington?"
"About two hours."
"Thanks."
David exited into the hall passing Aaron Pierce who started to walk with David as he said, "I know it is none of my business sir, but I think after the time I served you I know when you are upset. So what is the matter, sir?"
"Nothing that you need to worry about," David said as he entered his office slamming the door right in front of Aaron's face.
Jack Bauer parked up in front of Governor Walker's retreat. They had just passed security. It was 11:32.
"Let's do this quick," Jack said. "They said he is in the kitchen."
"Well he is a cook," Tony joked.
"This is no time for jokes, Tony."
They walked up to the main building complex where Governor Walker's office and bedroom was. Security stopped them.
"Who are you?" Agent Joseph Chapman asked.
"CTU agents Bauer and Almeida," Jack answered. "We were cleared through the front gate."
"I will need to check with them before letting you in," Chapman said.
"Then please hurry," Jack said. "We have a suspect still in the facility."
"Who?"
"Fernando Rodriguez," Tony answered. "A cook who starting working here a week ago. That is why we are suspicious."
"This should take a few minutes," Joey said as he dialed a phone number for the front gate. Jack pulled Tony away.
"We don't have time for this," Jack said as he took out his gun.
"You don't mean…" Tony stopped himself.
"I'm not going to kill him. I'm going to knock him out." Jack walked over and hit Joey over the head with the gun. He dragged the body over by the garbage can. "Let's go."
Milo Pressman looked up at Chloe's office. He had been dating her for a little bit, but had soon enough given up on her. Chase walked over.
"I need you to run the name Vincent Dekelli on how long he has worked here," Chase said looking at Milo.
"You think he has something to do with what will happen today?" Milo asked.
"He may. Please run it."
"Of course.
Michelle walked over and said, "Chloe is still working on finding where the video came from. She is getting closer. What are you doing here, Chase?"
"I'm running something by for him," Milo answered.
"I think Chase can answer for himself," Michelle replied.
"That is what he is doing," Chase said looking at Michelle. Their eyes locked. "Just take it easy."
"Don't second guess me," Michelle said as she walked away. Chase stared at her in amazement.
"What was that about?" Milo asked.
Chase looked at him, "She is worried about Tony."
Jack Bauer and Tony Almeida made their way into the main building complex using Joey's keycard. They were now in one of the main halls that would lead them to the dining room, which was right next to the kitchen. Jack looked at his watch. It was 11:39.
"How long before they find that guy's body?" Tony asked.
"Not much security force in that area," Jack answered. "Probably not until after we have Rodriguez."
They entered the dining room and opened the door to the kitchen, which only three cooks were in. One looked at them as they entered.
"We are looking for Fernando Rodriguez," Tony said. "Is he here." Tony spotted a cook that looked nervous and was sweating. "You."
The cook ran and Jack and Tony took off after him. The cook pushed another one into a hot stove. The other cook screamed as his back hit the stove.
"Rodriguez!" Jack yelled as they chased him out into the garden, which was filled with a hedge maze and many exotic plants. "Stop or we will shoot!"
Jack took out his gun and so did Tony. They split up as Jack went left and Tony went right. Jack found Rodriguez first.
"Stop!" he shouted.
Rodriguez ran, but was stopped by Tony who had cut him off and was aiming the gun at his head.
"You have nowhere to go now," Tony said.
Jack grabbed Rodriguez's arm and then said, "You're coming with us."
An alarm sounded. It was a deafening alarm that was wired to go through the entire complex included speakers in the garden that usually played music.
"They found the guard!" Tony shouted above the alarm.
"Come on!" Jack shouted back as he pulled Rodriguez towards the gardener's shack as Tony followed close behind.
7