Listen, I need some help. Where do you think Tony is? What is he doing? Give me some ideas, please!

I waited for about thirty minutes in the room after talking to Tony. He still wouldn't tell me where he was, and that worried me. My mind was in a raging turmoil of thoughts, from everything to the men I'd killed to the person who was coming to protect me to where the hell Tony Almeida was when I needed him. When his country needed him.

I had almost dozed when I heard a conversation outside, in the hallway. Curious, but mainly bored, I walked over to the door and listened to what sounded like two people talking outside.

"I don't know exactly what Chloe O'Brian is doing here, but I think we need to alert Dubaku to her presence. She's tracking someone and Jack Bauer is helping her. I'm pretty sure Renee and Larry are in on this too," a male voice said.

Damn! There went our covert operation. And who was going to alert Dubaku? I pressed my ear against the door harder, intent on hearing what else was being said.

"You're right, Sean. And we need to find out whom exactly Moss just gave clearance for. I saw that he's left a security pass for someone at the West Entrance. I'll try and find out who it is," a female voice insisted.

As soon as I heard them walking away, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Tony's number. It went straight to voicemail.

"Damnit!" I swore. "Tony, where the hell are you?" When the phone beeped, I left him an urgent message. "Tony, somebody inside the FBI building knows why Chloe is here. They also know that Buchanan is sending someone to protect me. I need your help! Where are you?"

I hung up with him, and then thought of the other people I could call. Jack Bauer's number didn't answer, and neither did Renee Walker. Finally, Bill Buchanan did.

"Mr. Buchanan, it's Elle Emerson," I announced. "I hate to be a problem, but the FBI is definitely compromised. I just overheard a conversation between two people saying they were going to alert Dubaku to Chloe being here. They also know that Larry Moss left a pass for someone to get in, which I'm guessing is the former CTU agent that Tony is sending over."

"Elle, where are you?" Mr. Buchanan wanted to know.

"I'm in a room at the FBI building. They put me here so no one would see me and ask who I was," I explained. "Do you know how soon Tony's guy will be here?"

"I just spoke with him. He should be there in a few minutes."

I breathed a ragged sigh of relief. I was exhausted and it seemed like a constant struggle to live.

"Elle, just let me know when he gets there, okay? You can call me back at this number for anything. Don't be scared. Everything's going to be fine. I promise."

"Sean, can I talk to you for a second?" Erika asked Sean Hillinger.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?" Sean wanted to know, never looking up from his computer screen.

"I just intercepted a call out of the building. It came from the cell phone of Elle Emerson."

"And who is she?"

"She's David Emerson's younger sister. According to our file, David Emerson has connections with terrorists, but we've never been able to apprehend him. What is his sister doing in this building?

"Elle Emerson? She's the one Dubaku held prisoner earlier, but she got away. Apparently, she and Tony Almeida are involved together. I bet he'd take it as a big favor if we turned her over to him," Sean said. "Do you know which room she's in?"

"Room 387, just down the hall. But you better hurry because who ever Larry Moss got clearance for just came into the building. I'm guessing he's here to protect her."

I was sitting on alert when someone knocked on the door of the room. Cautiously, I opened the door. It was a dark-headed young man who was smiling politely.

"Elle Emerson?" he asked. "I'm Sean Hillinger. I'm a former CTU agent. I'm working with Chloe O'Brian and Tony Almeida."

I looked at him suspiciously. "Do you have any proof of who you are?" I wanted to know, wary of anyone who might be trying to kill me.

"Yeah, sure." He pulled out his wallet and showed me his driver's license. His name was Sean Hillinger.

"Sorry," I apologized. "I've been through a lot lately."

"That's not a problem, Ms. Emerson. Would you mind coming with me? We're going to get you somewhere safer. The FBI has been compromised."

"I know!" I exclaimed, grabbing my jacket and following him. "I overheard a conversation between two people—a man and a woman—and they were talking about telling Dubaku that Chloe was here."

A strange expression passed over the man's face as he opened a door for me. "In here," he told me.

I walked into the room and just as I realized that this wasn't right, a strong arm encircled my neck and cut off my air supply.

A tall young man with a well-defined jawline knocked on the door of Room 387 and a blonde-haired young woman opened it.

"Yes?" she said demurely.

"I'm Chase Edmunds. I'm looking for Elle Emerson."

"I'm her," the woman replied.