Chapter 13:

Tony's head snapped up at the mention of his sister's name. He stared at Milo in disbelief: "That's not possible; my sister is in Law school. What the hell would she be doing in a med class?"

Mason turned to Milo in confusion and asked: "Is the identification accurate?"

"Very" Milo replied in the affirmative. At Mason's questioning look, he explained: "Baker managed to get a camera in. The feed is clear and chances for mistakes are non existent"

"But why would she be there?" Michelle reasoned: "Guys, you have to admit it. It's not making any sense". Even during saying that, Michelle couldn't get herself to believe that Milo was wrong. Sure, there was something wrong in the whole situation but it wasn't the fact that Amy Almeida was in this class.

A glance in Tony's direction told her that Tony had the same thought. The look of pain and fear in his eyes shook her to the core and she felt her voice catch in her throat.

Tony breathed in and out slowly trying to get his bearings. He had a lot of questions and there weren't any answers. The only thing that made sense was that Milo was wrong but Tony knew that wasn't the case. He looked at Mason to find him regarding him steadily and he understood. Mason was waiting for him to make a move to judge whether he can do his job or not.

Tony knew he couldn't break down now, even if Amy was actually there. He had to get a grip. For his country and for his sister but he needed to be sure that she was there: "Milo, I want to see the feed"

Milo nodded and moved to the computer. Seconds later, the live feed from UCLA came on .Milo enlarged the picture and Tony lowered his head when he spotted his sister. His expression was all the confirmation the others needed and Milo slipped out, saying he would inform Baker.

Mason sighed in frustration as he considered his options. He could send Tony home but they couldn't afford to lose him, especially during the first real task they had since the presidential elections. In the same time, he couldn't deal with his chief of staff having a melt down in the middle of an active protocol. He needed Tony to focus and he hoped that he would be able to do that. He exchanged a look with Michelle then opened his mouth to speak but Tony raised his head before he could get a word out.

Mason and Michelle took in Tony's face, with his set jaw and hardened eyes and knew he wasn't leaving. Mason cleared his throat: "Tony………"

"I'm fine" Tony's tone left no room for arguments: "I can do my job George. I'm not going to collapse on you. If I did, you can always send me home"

Mason thought for a moment then nodded: "Fair enough. Um, what's the status of our team?"

Tony scratched his face: "They've secured the perimeter and they are working on an assault plan"

Mason leaned back in his chair: "The terrorists will call any minute now then we have an hour before people start dying. Can they move in time?"

Tony flinched, unable to get over the idea of one of those kids dying every hour, afraid to even think about the possibility of his sister being among the fallen victims. He shook his head, refusing to go there and answered Mason: "They're doing their best. With the feed, our chances to get them are good"

"There's something I don't understand" Mason and Tony turned to Michelle as she continued: "They don't know we have surveillance. Why are they still wearing their masks?"

Mason shrugged, signaling he had no answer for that question while Tony swallowed with difficulty: "I certainly hope they wouldn't take them off"

Michelle turned to him sharply, not comprehending what he just said. She stared at him as he asked: "Do you really think they would let the hostages go if they saw their faces?"

Realization dawned on Michelle and she heaved a sigh, that meant that the only way for them to ID the terrorist was through their demands which didn't' comfort her much.

Milo rushed in suddenly: "We lost the feed. They discovered the camera and disconnected it. Baker is trying to get another one in"

"No" Tony exclaimed instantly: "For God's sake, tell him to stop. We don't' know anything about those people.Their reaction could be violent and we don't need any more victims" He turned to Mason and with a deep breath, he said: "We get that camera in; we could be singing the death warrant of more people. They're just a punch of kids George. It's a risk we shouldn't be willing to take"

"But……" Mason stopped when Elaine came on the intercom, informing him that one of the terrorists was on the phone for him.

The second Mason picked up, the terrorist started talking: "Mr. Mason, I've been informed that you're the one in charge so you better listen carefully. Two months ago, a woman called Angela Reichs and a man called Collin Cross were arrested. I want them released with full immunity. When I make sure that you did that, I'll let the hostages go. If you failed to follow my orders, then you better be ready to do a body count. And one more thing Mr. Mason, I don't appreciate people spying on me. You made me extremely angry that I was so close to starting a massacre. I won't tolerate that. If you didn't do as you were told in an hour, three young people are going to lose their lives and their blood would be on your hands"

The second the terrorist hung up, Milo got on the phone with Baker, telling him to abort. Mason stood up and faced them: "I want everything we have on Angela Reichs and Collin Cross and I mean everything. Tell me the second you get something. I've to update the president"

Michelle headed back to her station to look up Cross. The terrorist's last words to Mason were echoing in her head and she felt her chest tighten. Three people were going to die within an hour, three kids who had their whole lives ahead of them and those bastards were going to cut it short.

She ran her hand through her hair, urging herself to focus at the task at hand. A look in Tony's direction made her scold herself for letting her mind wander. He was engrossed in his work with the sole purpose of finding out why Angels Reichs and Collin Cross were important to these terrorists. He was the one with the tie to one of the hostages; he was the one whose emotions were supposed to be running high, making his mind run hundreds of scenarios, each worse than the other. But he held himself tall and pushed his fears and doubts to the back of his mind. He was doing everything in his power to prevent any more people from getting killed and she would be damned if she let him or them down.

Michelle dived in her work, checking out Cross. She was looking up his connections which led her to a maze. The guy worked for the CIA and he had connections with many high ranking agents. She was sifting through the list, trying to determine who would be able to help them when Cassie walked to her: "I just got off the phone with the forensic team. They found a print but it's only partial. They're trying to find a match"

Michelle nodded absently as she continued what she was doing. Cassie looked at her for a second then leaned in: "Milo debriefed me". Michelle turned to her and creased her brow: "About Amy"

Michelle averted her eyes and Cassie glanced at Tony: "How is he holding up?"

Michelle cringed when she remembered the look of pain on Tony's face. She couldn't imagine how he must be feeling and frankly, she didn't want to. There was no doubt in her mind that he was in agony, not knowing whether his sister would make it out alive or not. But he wasn't giving up. Not now, not ever.

She knew that she didn't need to answer Cassie's question. She knew Tony better than Michelle did and she had probably guessed how he was doing. But she did, to ease Cassie's mind and assure her that she didn't need to worry: "So far so good. But things aren't looking up and I don't know what will happen when……."

She trailed off, realizing that what she was saying wasn't exactly comforting but Cassie got the idea and finished for her: "When heads start rolling"

Michelle shook her head, trying to get rid of the mental image the words brought. Suddenly, she felt nauseated and the words on the screen blurred. She closed her eyes for a second then opened them, focusing on the screen. Almost immediately, she noticed something that caused her to mumble a low: "Oh my God"

Cassie stared at her in wonder and Michelle pointed her finger at what she found causing her to swear: "I can't believe that. How the hell no one noticed that 2 months ago?"

"Nobody was looking" Michelle offered and her eyes met Cassie's: "Mason isn't going to like this"

"Mason isn't the problem" Michelle followed Cassie's gaze to Mason's office where he was in deep conversation with Tony. She sent what she found to Mason's screen and stood with a sigh: "I better go brief them"

Mason and Tony were going through the information Tony got on Angels Reichs. She was a Chemical engineer with the CIA. She was fired a year ago after being accused of stealing toxic substances but it was never proved. She was working with Cross at the time and he was fired for insubordination a couple of weeks later. They worked in a weaponry company called Crane& Lister for the last year. Both were arrested 2 months ago while trying to smuggle those substances out of the country.

Mason was impressed with Tony; he was taking care of every single detail and wasn't losing it which really surprised Mason. Although Tony was very good at what he did and he was as collected and professional as the rest of his agents, he had a tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve. He wasn't the kind of person who could detach himself from what was happening around him, he could push it to the back of his mind but it would always be there, nagging him.

All that in addition to his sister's involvement left Mason unsure of Tony's reaction. He knew that there was no such thing as "a fully professional agent". The second the family became involved, all the professionalism went flying out of the window. Even Jack Bauer, who was the most detached agent he ever worked with, couldn't stay objective when his family's life was at stake.

But things were worse in Tony's condition. It was no secret that Tony was very close to his family. Mason had seen the prove when Tony's brother Bob was shot during a mission that involved both CTU and the Navy a couple of years ago. Nobody was able to calm Tony down and Jack had to forbid him from even observing the interrogation of the man who did it. Mason just hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with a rerun of that day.

Mason's computer made a peep, signaling the arrival of new Intel but Mason didn't turn. He was focused on Tony who handed him a file: "The problem is there is a personal vendetta behind that whole operation. Ralph was the prosecutor against Reichs and Cross. And the investigation that Reichs lost her job because of? It was triggered by Senator Fantau. Whatever the outcome of that mission George, Lucy and James aren't leaving that class room alive"

Michelle joined them at that point: "We've a problem". Mason nodded, signaling her to continue: "I was checking Cross' phone records and I found a connection between him and a CTU agent. They called each other a lot during the last year"

Mason waved his hand dismissively: "So? He was working for the CIA and CTU had several cases dealing with chemical substances. Plus, Crane& Lister has cooperated with us before. I don't know how they managed to get in but the point is that connection isn't strange"

"Correct" Michelle agreed: "But Crane& Lister worked with us before Cross joined it and there was absolutely no reason for the phone calls. Besides, the last one took place the day before he was arrested. Not just that but Both Cross and her stayed together in a hotel for a week about 6 months ago"

"Her?" Tony questioned and Michelle gulped. The moment she had been dreading since the start had arrived and she had no idea how to strike him with a blow like that. She opted to show him rather than tell him. She moved to Mason's computer and opened the Intel she sent. Beside her, she heard Mason curse. She straightened up and locked eyes with Tony who couldn't understand why she was stalling instead of just telling him. She turned the screen slowly towards him and watched as the color drained from his face.

Tony felt panic overwhelm him the second he read the name. As if the situation wasn't complicated enough, Nina Myers' name had to turn out in their investigation. He stood, unable to move with his lips slightly parted, searching for his voice. His eyes rested on Mason who was rubbing his face in frustration. He met Tony's eyes after a second and he noticed the gut wrenching pain and fear there. He knew he needed to talk to Tony as soon as possible so he turned to Michelle: "Look for any connection between Nina, Cross and any other acquaintance"

Michelle nodded and gave Tony a tight smile before leaving. Mason turned to Tony who all but fell on the nearest chair. He was at a loss at what to say to his top agent: "I'm sorry"

Tony didn't respond so Mason continued: "I know that this is too much to take so if you want to leave……"

Tony raised his hand, stopping him: "I'm not leaving" He managed to choke out and Mason regarded him sympathetically:" It won't accomplish anything. I'll just drive myself nuts and if anything happened to Amy, I would never forgive myself knowing that I could have prevented it"

Mason moved to Tony's side:" Alright, I'll allow you to go back to work but Tony, if you failed to do your job, you're stepping down. I hate to do this but innocent lives are at stake here"

Tony stood up abruptly, startling Mason then moved towards the door. He paused for a second and with a curt nod, declared his acceptance of Mason's terms. He knew that he didn't mean to put more pressure on him or upset him but he had work to do. He collapsed on a chair at his station and took a minute to get his emotions under control. A glance at his watch informed him that they had only 30 minutes before the dead line.

Tony swore as he checked his watch for what seemed like the millionth time today. They had a meeting with Mason in a couple of minutes and so far he didn't have any leads. He picked the briefing package Elaine gave him minutes before, hoping that it contained something new. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found confirmation that they found a match to the print that was in the library. He went through the package quickly saving that piece of information to the end. The second his eyes fell on the name, he sat straight in his chair. It just couldn't be. He read all the information they had on him and slumped back in his chair when he found that everything matched.

Tony pushed through the situation room, joining the others. The briefing went fairly quickly but it seemed to Mason that Tony was elsewhere: "Tony, everything okay?"

Tony swallowed hard:" It's about the guy we found his print in the library"

"Sam Carr?" Tony nodded, his face grim and Mason signaled him to continue: "I know him"

Mason took a sharp intake of breath as Tony continued: "We served together in the Marines. He quit about a month before I did. Last I heard, he joined the CIA"

"Why did he quit?" Michelle inquired then raised her brow at the look of sadness that appeared suddenly in Tony's eyes: "His girlfriend, Lily Hastings was in the Marines with us. We were on a mission and somebody tipped the hostiles. She took a bullet for him. She died before reaching the hospital"

"Another personal vendetta" muttered Mason then directed another question at Tony:" How well you know him?"

"You mean does he have a reason to hate me?" Tony countered and Mason shrugged:" No, George. We were friends. Look, I don't know what the hell is going on or why Sam is in there but this whole personal vendetta thing doesn't make any sense. Lily didn't die because we abandoned her or something; she died saving the person she loved so who is he avenging exactly and why wait all these years? This whole thing happened 7 years ago"

"Did you guys arrest the mole who sold you out?" Michelle asked and Tony shook his head:" Maybe he's angry because of that. He thinks that the government didn't care about Lily's death, not enough to try harder to find the one responsible anyway" She offered cautiously.

Tony didn't seem convinced, it was hard for him to believe that the same guy who spent 4 months in a coma for saving his life switched sides. He was about to shoot down Michelle's theory when Cassie's shaky voice interrupted them:" 10 minutes guys"

All of them turned to her, not knowing what she was talking about. She raised her left hand, tapping her watch and realization dawned on them. Milo's computer signaled the arrival of a new message. Tony jumped to his feet and moved to his side. All eyes were on them anticipating the worse:" It's a life video feed"

Cassie and Michelle were on their feet in a second, trying to trace it as Milo brought it on the screen. The image that greeted them made them all stop in their tracks. Three terrorists had 5 girls kneeling with their hands bound behind their backs. The girls' faces weren't evident but the tremors that went through the five bodies were clear.

"Why are there five of them?" Cassie exclaimed in panic:" They said three and we didn't do anything to anger them"

"They're not going to kill all of them" Mason answered:" Those sick bastards, they're toying with them"

The camera moved exposing faces one after another and nobody was able to form a coherent sentence at the fear and despair that were displayed on their faces. When the camera rested on the last one, Cassie gasped and Mason rose from his chair moving to Tony's side. All throats went dry upon realizing that the last girl was Amy Almeida.

Tony was in a daze, oblivious to the others' reaction. He could barely register that Cassie was clasping his hand tightly with her own. He was rooted to the spot, his eyes glued to the screen. Tears welled up in his eyes upon seeing the pure terror that was etched across Amy's face. His baby sister was facing death and he could only stand and watch.

He was suddenly aware of the attempts to make him move. Mason had his hand on his shoulder, trying to usher him outside. He didn't want him to see his sister's brain getting blown out in front of his eyes but Tony had another opinion. He resisted with all his might and gripped Mason's arm:" let me be" His voice cracked with emotion and Mason didn't know what to do to convince him to go.

One of the terrorists began talking, attracting Mason's attention:" We've given you a chance to save these young lives but you wasted it. Now, you get to see them die"

He nodded to one of his men who raised his gun and aimed it at the girl in front of him. Tony's body started trembling and his heart dropped when he saw the barrel of the gun pointed at his sister's head. He saw one of the terrorists whispering something to the one holding the gun. The sound of the gun getting readied was sickening as it echoed in the silent situation room. Tony saw the terrorist press the trigger and involuntarily closed his eyes, unable to bear seeing his sister die. Gasps from around him and hearing his sister's scream after the shot made him open his eyes. The sight that greeted him made him sick. He saw the three girls who were in the middle on the ground, blood pooling around them leaving Amy and another girl to break down.

The leader came on the screen again:" In another hour, we'll kill another hostage. You better do what we said before I lose my patience and start doubling the number of victims"

He disconnected the feed, leaving the room in a deadly silence. Most of the faces were pale after witnessing the execution. Tony's knees buckled from underneath him and he put his hand on the table to steady himself. He took long shaky breath, trying to calm down. His heart was racing and his stomach was in knots. Bile rose in his throat but he swallowed it down. He felt his chest tighten and he knew he needed to get out of the room. He freed his hand from Cassie's grasp and moved towards the door. Nobody tried to stop him, they all knew better than that but as he passed Mason, he felt his hand brush his shoulder in a sign of support. He made his way to an empty hallway, hearing Mason telling everyone to get back to work.