Setting: Several weeks later
Personal and professional
Friday, 6:13pm
Leaning back, Tony admired his view… Michelle, who had changed her navy suit for jeans and a black tee-shirt, was in a shooting stance, her 45 mm aimed at the target. There was something incredibly sexy about the sight of a strong, confident woman with a semi-automatic.
Looking across at Tony out of the corner of her eye, Michelle noticed his wayward glance and commented, "Hey, keep your mind on the job."
"Sorry but I can think of one or two things I would rather be doing with my girlfriend on a Friday night," Tony replied with a suggestive smirk.
"Help me ace the firearms component of my annual fitness evaluation and I'll be extremely grateful," Michelle countered with an arched eyebrow. "Now, how's my stance?"
Returning his gaze to her stance and forcing himself to focus on her positioning, Tony quickly noted a couple of minor discrepancies. "OK, first split you weight over your feet evenly to allow yourself balance and to be ready to move in any given direction as the need arises."
"Now relax your shoulders a little," he continued as he stepped in behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders to make sure she wasn't tensed up. As he anticipated, as soon as Michelle relaxed her shoulders down, she also dropped her arms, so he now brought his right arm around and propped up her elbow to the appropriate level while his left hand rested on her shoulder making sure that she maintained the correct placement. "Remember to keep your gun up just below shoulder level to maximise stability and allow yourself to line up the front sight or you'll lose accuracy," he instructed.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Focused on correcting Michelle's technique, and enjoying her closeness, Tony had completely lost any perception of the surrounding environment and was startled to hear Jack's voice.
"Shooting," he quipped as he stepped away from Michelle and glanced across to see Jack and his new partner Chase, walking across the gun range.
"Your stance is good; try again," Tony added to Michelle, desperately trying to reinject some professionalism into the situation. To further avoid any awkward conversation, he kept his eyes on Michelle as she fired off a round.
"You're leaning forward a bit," Jack commented to Michelle before adding, "maybe you need a better teacher."
"Right now, I'm helping Michelle but next time I'll be happy to demonstrate that we Marines know how to shoot," Tony retaliated.
"Anytime," Jack answered calmly as he continued to the farthest booth to begin his practice session with Chase.
Twenty minutes later, Michelle was feeling more confident about her technique. After a brief good-night to Jack and Chase, Michelle and Tony left the range. Once out of earshot, Michelle commented, "So I guess we can assume that Chase knows we're dating."
"Either that, or he thinks I'm the world's sleaziest boss," Tony replied.
"Maybe you should make a couple of locker room comments and throw him off the track," Michelle joked.
"The last time I made a lewd comment about a girlfriend to my buddies, I was nineteen, and she dumped me less than twenty-four hours later… talk about instant karma."
"You believe in karma?" Michelle asked.
"I don't know. Sometimes. But it's a scary thought given what we do and the kinds of decisions we make in this job… I guess I'm in for a world of pain some time down the track."
"I believe that your destiny is something that you get to shape yourself and knowing you, you'll have no problems conquering any challenge that the world— or karma— throws at you," Michelle replied.
"I think I like your philosophy better; I might have to adopt it," Tony replied with a smile before turning the topic onto their plans for the rest of the evening.
…
Tuesday 11.42 am
"Jack… Jack, did you hear a word I just said?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, I think I've just figured out how they're exchanging information. We've been following the wrong people."
"I assume you're talking about the Uyghur Resistance Group. I'm still waiting for your field update on them for the weekly status report," Tony commented, trying to get Jack's focus back onto the issue at hand.
"I'm compiling it now; you'll have it in five minutes… I need to get surveillance teams on the wives— they're the missing link," Jack replied.
"You think the wives are involved in planning the op? There is no intel to suggest their involvement; in fact, all evidence indicates that those ladies are traditional Muslim housewives."
"Chatter clearly indicates that something big is imminent, but surveillance on the group leaders hasn't turned up any interactions over the past week. It's almost as if they realise they might be being watched and are using another form of communication. I think the wives are acting as blind conduits," Jack explained.
"So you want to set up surveillance on the wives?" Tony clarified, knowing from experience that it was best not to question, or try to fight, Jack's intuition. "Fine, I'll go co-ordinate setting up the new surveillance teams with Michelle and Chloe while you finish that update so we can get Ryan off our back to concentrate on this op," Tony added.
"Okay, set up in the conference room. I'll be down in five minutes."
...
2.33 pm
"CTU, Bauer"
"Jack, it's Chase. We got a problem."
"Tell me you haven't lost them."
"No. Three of the wives have converged. I've got the three surveillance teams working together to secure a perimeter about the meeting place…"
"Who do you have maintaining a visual on them?" Jack interrupted.
"That's the problem, Jack. They're in a women's-only gym. I walked in and told the staff that I was looking to buy a membership for my girlfriend and wanted a tour but they wouldn't let me up into the work-out area," Chase explained.
"Maintain a secure perimeter and try and get someone with a scope into a nearby building with a vantage point. I'll get someone over there ASAP," Jack instructed.
"Copy that," Chase confirmed.
Placing down the phone, Jack addressed Chloe, "Chloe, I going to need to set-up a new sub-directory for incoming surveillance data."
"I'll have to go over to IT and work directly from the mainframe, Jack" Chloe responded.
"Fine, do it," Jack commanded.
"What's going on Jack?" Tony asked.
Jack succinctly outlined the situation, before adding to Michelle, "I don't suppose you have any work-out clothes in your locker?"
"No way," Tony overrode before Michelle had a chance to answer.
"Tony, our intel suggests an attack is being staged for this week. We have the wives of three of the group leaders together in one location only fifteen minutes away from CTU. We need to get a female in there immediately. Michelle is up to speed with the operation, her latest fitness evaluation was within field op specs, not to mention that she's been in the field before. This is a simple surveillance job against three untrained, unarmed females with three back-up teams already in place," Jack outlined. As he emphasised the importance and urgency of the situation he kept his gaze on both Tony and Michelle. Tony's displeasure at the inevitable was evident from the set of his jaw and the anger in his eyes while Michelle had a calm but determined expression on her face.
Rising to her feet, Michelle broke the impasse, "Excuse us for a minute, Jack," she said, walking out of the room.
Rubbing his check, Tony glanced from Michelle's retreating figure to Jack before standing up with a sigh and following Michelle out of the room. Watching the two of them walk across the bullpen, Jack was sure of two things: Michelle would be back within five minutes ready for the op and Tony was going to be impossible until she was safely back at CTU.
Once they had cleared the bullpen and began walking down the deserted hallway towards the locker rooms, Michelle stopped and faced Tony. They hadn't exchanged a word since leaving the conference room, although Tony's frustration was palpable.
"I love you too, Tony but I'm a federal agent with a black belt in karate and I am fully trained to handle this sort of situation," Michelle commented.
"Well-trained agents bleed just as well as those who are poorly trained," Tony retorted sarcastically. "Look, I get that you have to do this… I even agree with your decision but I'll be dammed if I going to be happy about it and I certainly won't stop worrying about you the entire time that you're out there," Tony continued. "Now go get your gear so we can get this over with."
"Tony, if the situation was reversed, I'd feel the same way," Michelle replied, hoping to elevate some of the stress from the current situation.
"Maybe so, but you'd handle the situation with so much more poise and self-control," Tony commented with a slight smile.
Returning his smile and feeling calmer now that she was certain Tony was on-side, Michelle hurried down the hall to change into work-out clothes.
…
2.53pm
"We're about two minutes out now. I want a wire with GPS tracking for Michelle so we can follow the situation in real time," Jack instructed Chase over the phone.
Hanging up, Jack turned his attention to Michelle, "So you're clear on all the details."
"Yes, I can handle this Jack," Michelle responded confidently.
"You wouldn't be out here if I didn't believe that," Jack replied wirily. "Just remember, don't be a hero… trust me, that always ends in pain. If something goes wrong, give the distress signal and we'll be there in ASAP."
"Will do, Jack," Michelle agreed readily.
Several minutes later, she entered the work-out area, scanning the room for the three wives as she nonchalantly walked across it. She soon spotted the three of them, chatting together in the back corner of the room which had been designated as a stretching area. Given that the ladies had been there for about fifty minutes at this point it made sense that they should be almost finished their work-out. Michelle made her way over and selected a space nearby and began stretching herself. The women paid Michelle no attention, nor did they show any concern at her proximity… although this was probably due to the fact that they were conversing in what Michelle assumed to be Uyghur. Michelle focused on her stretching, making sure to stay off the women's radar. Her wire should be picking up the conversation for CTU to have translated.
Minutes later, the wives left the stretching area and made their way to the bank of lockers near the door. Finishing her current stretch, Michelle gave them a small head-start before following. Not having brought a bag with her, Michelle passed by the lockers and headed straight to the change room arriving before the ladies. She positioned herself in front of the mirrors restyling her hair so she could watch them while keeping her distance.
Ten minutes later the wives were back in street clothes and head scarfs. They had maintained a constant stream of conversation whilst changing but no physical exchange of any information had occurred. Michelle followed them out of the gym.
Upon exiting she immediately spotted Jack lolling against a light pole. He walked over and whispered, "Anything?"
Shaking her head, Michelle informed him that she had gained nothing more than the conversation he'd been following through the comm. unit. Jack nodded and replied, "Chase and Lee have resumed their tail; you can head back to CTU… hopefully something will come from either the recorded conversation or the continued surveillance."
"Fine," Michele agreed, happy enough to be out of the field without incident.
At that moment Jack's cell rang, "Yeah."
"Where?... Our ETA is five minutes," he replied before hanging up. "Looks like we still need your services; let's go."
"What's going on, Jack?" Michelle asked as they retraced their steps.
"The ladies just entered a beauty salon on Spring and Vine."
Getting on his comm. unit, Jack informed the surveillance teams and CTU of the latest development. Upon hearing that Michelle would be returning into the field, Tony's immediately voiced his concerns, "Jack, it's too risky to send Michelle back in. If they recognise her from the gym, it could alert them to our surveillance."
"We need to maintain constant surveillance and Michelle is the only option at this point… it's worth the risk," Jack replied.
"Which risk, Jack, the op. or her life?" Tony retaliated.
Standing outside the beauty salon, Jack looked directly at Michelle. Michelle quickly considered the two opinions: her reappearance at a second location significantly increased the chances of being spotted, but there was no point of running intermittent surveillance when another option was available. And right now, they needed some solid intel. Michelle nodded and made her way to the salon door.
Upon entering the front room, Michelle could see that the wives were not there … and as Chase and Lee had the entrance and exit covered, she walked confidently past the reception desk and towards the door at the end of the room. Walking down the hallway, Michelle spotted various doors, presumably leading to smaller, private treatment rooms. She considered her options; she could play lost and start opening doors but that would quickly draw attention to herself. Instead Michelle decided that the door at the end of the hall, which bore a 'Staff only' sign, was the most likely area for a rendezvous. Glancing behind her to confirm that she was indeed alone, she placed an ear on the door. Hearing no voices or any other sounds beyond it, she opened it and entered.
Before her was a staff room with a kitchenette, a table and a couch in the far corner of the room. The three wives were seated on the couch, currently in conversation with an unknown Middle Eastern man. The conversation stoped as soon as they spotted her. Plastering an embarrassed smile on her face, Michelle said, "Opps, I've gotten myself all mixed up; this isn't the way out." She then quickly turned and headed back out the door before the ladies could place her as being at the gym earlier.
As she walked down the hall towards the entrance she heard the door open behind her but forced herself to keep moving at a steady pace. Exiting the salon, she once again spotted Jack leaning casually against a pole idly waiting. Michelle filled him in on the situation. Once she'd finished, Jack quickly scanned the surrounding area before pulling out his comm. unit to fill in Chase and Lee and instruct them to get photos of all men leaving the premises. Next he made arrangements for surveillance on the women's contact. With all the plans in place, Jack turned to Michelle, "Look, I'm going to stay on-site. I'm sure Tony could use you both at CTU."
Michelle nodded in agreement, knowing that she had outlasted her usefulness and that Tony was probably going out of his mind back at CTU. Collecting the car keys from Jack, Michelle began her walk to the car.
She was only about a block away when she sensed a presence behind her. Glancing at her watch, Michelle muttered a couple of words, and picked up her pace as if just realising she was late for something. She immediately heard rapid foot steps behind her. Now, certain she was being followed, she reached for her cell while furtively glancing in the shop windows in the hope of catching a glance of her tail.
"CTU, Almeida."
"Tony, it's … ," Michelle began as a sedan suddenly pulled up to the curb alongside her, its rear door flew open at the same moment she felt her tail grab her from behind.
Dropping her phone, Michelle's instincts kicked in as she took a couple of steps towards the open car door. Expecting to encounter resistance as he dragged her into the awaiting car, her attacker was caught off guard. As he struggled to regain his balance, Michelle pivoted around releasing herself from his grasp and firmly connecting her elbow with his jaw. The now unconscious attacker collapsed into the open car.
By this time, two guys had exited the car and were approaching her in a V-shaped bidirectional attack. Knowing that she didn't want to be fighting both of them simultaneously, Michelle quickly cleared the distance between herself and the nearest assailant. Covering the last few meters with a flying side kick, Michelle caused her opponent to stumbling backwards, doubled over. She then brought the blade of her hand down in a karate chop to the exposed nerves of his neck, sending him down to his knees in pain. Knowing that she couldn't risk him recovering, Michelle lashed out with a kick that sent him crashing into the stationary car before hitting the ground unconscious.
Michelle then whirled around to face her final attacker who she could sense right behind her. Half-way through turning, she heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot, followed instantly by a sharp pain in her shoulder. She stumbled back slightly due to the combination of the pain and the momentum of the bullet. Gasping, she forced herself to regain her footing and face her attacker, who was standing gun pointed directly at her intently watching her every move. She slowly raised both hands up, palms forward giving her assailant the message that she was surrendering while allowing her hands to be in the best position for any further attacks. Unfortunately, the gunman was standing too far for her to safely attempt to disarm him without risking being shot and at this juncture she assumed that they wanted her alive… it certainly would make no sense to abduct her just to kill her.
Michelle could see her cell phone lying open on the ground and hoped that Tony had realised the situation and had already sent back-up. She was still wearing a wire, and although uncertain whether anyone was monitoring it, she addressed the gunman, "I'm a federal agent, put the gun away. We can work something out," she added, using the distress code.
"Push Eric into the car and get in after him," the gunmen ordered, inclining his head towards the first assailant Michelle had downed. Moving towards 'Eric', Michelle struggled to force his now semi-conscious body into the vehicle, wincing at the pain jolting through her body at the effort of shifting his dead weight with her injured shoulder. Despite the difficulty of the task, its accomplishment came quicker than Michelle would have liked and she found herself getting into the backseat of the car with no clear escape plan in mind.
The gunman moved around to the driver's seat, automatically locking the doors, before turning slightly and aiming the gun at Michelle.
"One false move and I'll shoot."
Michelle began to run scenarios through her mind as he put the car into drive. However, the car had only begun to pull away from the curb when two CTU vehicles suddenly blocked its path. Agents spilled out of the SUVs, guns aimed directly at the driver. Taking advantage of his distracted state, and eager to quickly end this without it becoming a hostage situation, Michelle lunged forward and launched a blow to the gunman's jaw. As his head snapped back against the seat, the gun clattered from his hand onto the floor. Now unarmed, he quickly conceded defeat.
Ten minutes later Michelle was sitting in the back seat trying to persuade Tony that she was fine. After personally dressing her shoulder wound, Jack had instructed Chase to drive her back to CTU where he would be in charge of the interrogations of the three suspects alongside Tony. Michelle had the feeling that Jack didn't think Tony would be calm enough to handle the interrogation of the guy who shot Michelle. And judging by the anxiousness in his voice during their phone conversation, in which he asked her three times if she was okay, Michelle thought Jack might just be right.
Hanging up, she noticed Chase eying her in the rear view mirror. Knowing that she had an audience, Michelle had kept her end of the call professional even though she knew that Chase knew something was going on between her and Tony.
"Given that you just held your own against three terrorists, you'd think Tony could stop treating you as if you're fragile."
"Tony's just afraid that he's going to end up doing all the paperwork solo," Michelle joked, trying to keep the mood light while avoiding a direct acknowledgment of their relationship. Chase smiled and took the hint, refraining from further comments.
Pulling into the parking lot, Michelle was unsurprised to find Tony waiting at the door. He immediately addressed Chase, "The suspects just arrived. The two who were rendered unconscious are currently in Medical being checked over. The third's been transferred to interrogation one. Adam's setting up to comm. and Chloe's putting together an interrogation package for you. I'll be monitoring. Everything should be ready in about five minutes."
"I'll go and check in with Chloe now," Chase responded, heading into the building.
With Chase gone, Tony stepped forward, engulfed Michelle in his arms and drew her into a kiss. "I love you," he whispered breathlessly in her ear as they broke apart.
"I love you too, Tony."
"How's the shoulder holding out?"
"It really doesn't hurt that much," Michelle insisted.
"It will once the adrenaline has worn off; you should head off to Medical to get it checked out properly."
Meeting her gaze, Tony continued softly, "You were incredible out there. But if you make me go through many more hours like that I'll have a coronary before I hit thirty-two."
"Well now that I can claim to have been shot in the line of duty, I think it's okay to retire back behind a desk," Michelle teased back, pleased to see that Tony was handling the situation better now that he has personally confirmed that she was safe.
"Go to Medical. Then if you're up to it, I could use you on the floor running surveillance with Gael," Tony commented, returning to his professional self.
Nodding, Michelle followed him back into CTU.
…
Friday 7.14 pm
"Hi honey, I'm home," Tony called out, as he let himself into Michelle's apartment. The large open-plan living area allowed Tony to greet Michelle, who was curled up on the couch with her laptop, as he veered across to the kitchen area to dump a bag of groceries and his mail on the island bar.
"Oh, good. I could use a welcome-home drink," Michelle teased back.
"Not with those painkillers. But I did pick up some fresh pasta and steaks for dinner."
"Sounds like a decent compromise."
Since escorting her home Tuesday evening, Tony had been ever-attentive and supporting. As he predicted, once the shock and initial swelling subsided, her shoulder was extremely painful and every small movement— breathing included— was a challenge. She'd been working from home for the last three days, a concession that was as much due to CTU's overwhelming workload as her ability to convince him that she couldn't stand doing nothing but watching TV. Not only did it keep her busy but it gave her a legitimate excuse to call and e-mail him throughout the day.
Given that her minimal culinary skills were severely hampered by her injury, Michelle remained on the couch completing her final task for the day while Tony set about making them dinner. Fifteen minutes later, she saved the compiled search results and shut down her laptop. Slowly easing herself off the couch, she made her way across the room to join Tony, who was leaning against the island bar reading this mail while periodically tending to one of the three pots and pans on the stove.
"Spent too much on extravagant gifts for me?" she inquired, noticing his displeasure at whatever he was currently reading.
"Is that meant to be a subtle hint?" he responded with a smirk.
"Well, I did see this gorgeous designer handbag… seriously, everything okay?"
"Yeah, my landlord just upped the rent for the third consecutive year," Tony replied with a sigh.
"Well there's an easy solution to that problem: move in with me," Michelle responded.
"Where did that come from?" Tony asked, looking up at her with a surprised look on his face.
"It is a logical solution to your problem, especially since we don't really live apart these days… and this way I have an in-house chef. Not to mention that I kind of like having you around," she concluded, as she stepped in close and placed her hands around his waist.
Smiling down at her, Tony replied, "It does make sense, your apartment is closer to work and it's nicer than mine. And I'm rather fond of its current occupant," he commented drawing her in for a kiss.
Coming up for air a couple of minutes later, Tony whispered in her ear, "How about I finish up dinner so we can eat and then have the rest of the evening to spend curled up on the couch?"
"Sounds like a plan," Michelle agreed, stepped back to allow him to return to cooking.