Writers Note: This is where the story gets a little confusing. Most of this story is told in Lucy's POV but there are times when it will change to Renee's, Jack's or other chapters so you guys can experience all of their emotions. I'll try my best to make it easy to follow but if it ever gets confusing, let me know. Also, there might be some confusion between the two Teri's. When my story says "Teri" its talking about Jack's deceased wife. "Little Teri" is his granddaughter. I hope it's easy to follow. Enjoy guys!

Chapter 7 - Until the End

Mood: "Surround me, it's easy, to fall apart completely. I feel you creeping up again"

Bauer Estate

2009

I rocked Mackenzie back and forth in the rocking chair, gazing around the massive princess themed bedroom, amazed that a house could be so beautiful.

Apparently, Jack took ownership of his brother Graem's estate after his nephew and sister-in-law moved to Michigan. I didn't understand how Jack lived in this place alone before Renee moved in.

I was still getting used to those two being a couple. Their relationship was unlike any other I've witnessed. I've seen them argue over what to make for dinner and then laugh about it for the next three days.

I was touched by how much love and support they both showed me and Mackenzie the moment we entered the house. Jack constantly came in to check on me, making sure I was okay and assuring me he would keep us all safe. Mackenzie had Renee wrapped around her finger. Anything she wanted Renee would give her, which drove me crazy, but it's hard to turn that child's puppy dog face down.

I lay Mackenzie in her new big girl bed and pulled the covers over her as I slowly rubbed small circles over her back like her mother used to do. It had been 4 months since Sarah died, and Mackenzie was finally beginning to understand that her mother wasn't coming back. There were still times when the little girl would run to the front door, hoping it was Sarah coming to get her, then disappointedly walk back to whatever she was doing when it wasn't.

Little Teri had fallen asleep the second she hit the pillow. She would visit us every weekend so Kim and Steven could have some alone time and both kids would play until it was time for bed.

Mackenzie shared a room with Teri because her room was under renovations and would be used for another purpose if Renee's speculations were correct. This didn't bother either one of them at all.

I cleaned up the cups and plates from the tea party they had that afternoon and figured I'd go downstairs and get a bite to eat. I was hoping to catch a movie on TV, when I heard the voices.

Jack was talking to Kim and Steven about pick up plans for Teri, while Renee skimmed through a wedding planner magazine and occasionally leaned over to show Jack an article when a phone rang on the kitchen table.

Not sure if it was hers or Jack's, Renee got up to check.

"Hey, your cells ringing," she told him, tossing it into Jack's lap.

He wrote down the time Kim said she would be coming and said his goodbyes as the caller ID flashed the name Chloe O'Brian.

Renee sat back down and continued to flip through the magazine as Jack took the call. When she heard a change in a tone, she looked up, curious.

"Dammit!" Jack shouted as he hung up and threw the phone across the room, making it land on the arm chair.

Renee watched as Jack paced back and forth, his hands on his temples.

"What?" she asked, concerned.

Jack continued to pace as Renee placed the magazine on the coffee table and walked over to him.

"How in the hell…" he stopped, turning to face her and gathered his thoughts. "Who would break Tony out of jail?" he continued. "How the hell could that happen?"

Renee pondered why anyone would want Tony broken out as Jack vented his anger over the development when it hit her.

"Jack," she whispered, her breath caught in her throat. She collapsed onto the floor.

"Renee!" he yelled, holding her as she lay shaking in his arms.

"It's him," she quivered. "Oh my god…"

"Renee, please, tell me."

"It's Wilson," she mouthed, the realization paralyzing her. "Alan Wilson. He got off free a-after I almost killed him. He's come back." She sank into her hands, shaking as she thought about that night.

They heard a crack on the stairs and learned they were not alone.

"Lucy?" Jack called.

"Hi, Jack." she replied, making her way down and turning to see Renee quivering on the floor.

"R-Renee? What's going on?" she panicked.

Renee froze. What do we tell her? She's far too young for this, especially after all she's been through, she thought, composing herself as best she could before turning to face her niece.

"Um, it's just a little thing. Jack may be gone for awhile. There's something he needs to take care of."

Lucy could sense that this was more than just a little thing.

"There's something you're not telling me," she stated in a knowing voice. "What does Jack need to do?"

Jack stood up and walked towards Lucy. Renee fell onto the couch exhausted. She glanced at the magazine lying on the floor, wondering why her life was so messed up, how she always seemed to mess things up.

"Lucy, I've been called in," Jack told her as Renee looked over to see her reaction.

Lucy stood silently, trying to figure out what Jack meant. She still didn't know the whole extent of Jack's job. Renee had quit field work. When needed, she would volunteer to work alongside Jack at CTU. Most of the time, Jack made her promise to stay home.

Lucy looked from Jack to Renee. Their facial expressions were what gave the seriousness of the situation away. Tears formed behind Lucy's eyes. "I'm scared," she admitted, falling to the floor. She put her face in her hands and cried.

Renee rushed over to her, holding her in her arms. "Lucy, it's okay. It's all going to be okay," she said, sweetly. "Now, what are your doing out of bed?"

Lucy looked up and sniffled. "I, uh, got Mackenzie to sleep and came down for a snack when I heard you two talking," she explained. "Why won't you tell me what's going on?" she begged, tears slipping away again. She suddenly became more frightened than ever. "Oh, god," she said, traumatized.

"Is he back?"

Jack's fatherly instincts kicked in as he jumped to hold Lucy.

"Lucy," he started, holding both her and Renee. "I promised you he wouldn't hurt you again. When I make a promise I never break it."

But to Lucy, those words meant he was back. She was terrified. She began to shake in Jack's arms, unable to control her sobs.

"Lucy" he whispered. "I swear, he's not coming back. What's going on has nothing to do with you, but with me.

"What if you get killed? I-I…" Lucy was finally beginning to start over. After four months, the nightmares had stopped and she was beginning to feel a part of this family. They reminded her a lot of her parents. The thought of losing either of them made her completely terrified. She let go of Jack, looking both of them in the eye.

"You're all I have. I can't lose you." She paused, taking a deep breath to control her sobs. "Jack, can't someone else handle this?"

How many times had he heard that line from Kim? It broke his heart to see what this was doing to her, but he knew he had to.

"No honey, it's something only I can do."

She began to understand that there was no way of changing his mind. She looked at him, studying his face and let out a long sigh. "How long will you be gone?"

"As long as it takes to catch them, sweetheart. Then I'll be home."

Renee watched the scene unfold in front her, and it warmed her heart. She knew Jack was seeing Lucy as another daughter, and it made her smile.

Although Lucy wasn't happy at all about letting him go without knowing what was really going on, she figured she didn't have a choice. "When are you going?"

Renee walked over and held Lucy and Jack's hands. Jack looked at both of them before answering.

"As soon as I can get a flight, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

Lucy knew she had no other choice but to agree, even if she had a sick feeling that this wasn't going to turn out well. She threw her arms around Jack, cuddling him like her father used to do to her. "Come home soon," she pleaded.

"Of course, sweetie," he said, giving her one last squeeze and left to go pack. He hated leaving them, but he knew it had to be done.

Lucy, seeing Jack leave, headed to her room down the hall. Renee watched as the sad girl walked away, wondering if there was anything she could tell her to make this better. She began to pace when it hit her.

There was one thing they had in common, though it's not the best thing to have in common, that they never finished talking about.

"Lucy, honey," she called, as she walked into the room. "Can we talk?"

Lucy looked up startled, her eyes bloodshot from crying. "About what?" she muttered.

"Well…" Renee tried to find the right words. "About what happened. We never got the chance to finish our talk. You know I've had the same thing happen to me more than once. With the same guy." She felt the tears start to build up. "I know the feeling that comes with it. I also know it helps to talk about it."

Lucy looked up at Renee, scared of what might come out of this conversation. She shut her laptop and opened her mouth to say something but closed it, letting her head fall into her hands as she started to cry.

Renee came over and wrapped her arms around Lucy, letting her cry, knowing it was something that she needed to do.

Lucy dug her face into Renee's shoulder blade, thinking of all the things she'd lost over the years. Renee's warm arms around her made her miss her mother. Her hugs used to make all of Lucy's problems go away.

Finally, when she calmed down, she pulled away from Renee, meeting her loving gaze.

This was the first time Lucy got a real good look at Renee. She noticed that she had her grandmother's green-blue eyes, and light toned skin. Renee's roots were growing out, and Lucy noticed they were the same color as her father's.

"You look like your mom," Lucy said, instantly wishing she could take the statement back.

Renee's heart stopped. She knew nothing of her mother, but somehow knowing that she looked like her made her feel closer to her.

"You have no idea what that means to me," she said, teary eyed.

Lucy turned her head, looking away from Renee, and let out a deep shy.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?" she said, closing her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Oh, about my experience," Renee continued. "The first time was for a mission. I was undercover trying to bust open a Russian terrorist cell. His name was…" she choked on the thought of his name. "Vladimir" she croaked, tears slipping away, soaking her face.

Lucy was scared. Not because she thought Renee was crazy or because he might come back, but because she was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

She looked down, seeing Renee's hand leaned against the bed and held on to it.

"You know there's no wrong way to say it. You could never say anything wrong," Renee said, reading her mind.

"What exactly happened between you two?"

Renee sighed, thinking of the numerous things Vlad had done to her. "The FBI only knew about him abusing me. They thought he tried to come onto me but failed when I fought him off. But the truth is, I didn't fight him off. No one knows that, not even Jack, and you have to keep it that way." She explained. The last thing she needed was Jack's pity all over again.

Lucy was speechless. She couldn't believe what Renee had just told her, or why she would even tell her such a private thing; especially if she hadn't told Jack.

"I-I don't know what to say." She paused. "I'm so sorry, Renee."

"You don't have to say anything. I know you're wondering why I'm telling you this. It's because I want you to know that it's not the end. You can overcome it. Believe me, I went through a rough patch," she confessed, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her suicide marks. "But I got through it. I had someone by my side who helped me and cared for me." She smiled.

"Jack," Lucy responded.

"Jack," Renee agreed. "And you have all of us here for you," she added and grabbed Lucy to smother her with a playful hug.

Jack walked in the room, unaware of the conversation he was interrupting. "Oh. Hey, you two," he greeted in that soft voice Renee had fallen in love with.

He looked at the two girls, startled to see that they had been crying. Renee walked over to him. "Hey, we were just talking about stuff. It's okay, I promise."

He looked into her eyes, knowing she was lying. He turned to face Lucy.

Lucy wiped the rest of her tears away from her face. "Yeah, Jack. We're fine." she got up off the bed and headed to Renee, placing her left arm around her back. "Just girl talk," she added.

Renee put her arm around Lucy, giving her a wink before looking at Jack.

"Yeah, you know. Boys and stuff," she kid.

He could tell by their uncharacteristically giddy behavior that there was something they were hiding from him, but decided not to pry.

"Was there something you wanted?" Lucy jumped in.

He hated what he had to tell them. He looked at both girls, the woman he couldn't live without and the girl who had become much of a daughter. He didn't know how to tell them that the situation had become more critical than he had ever thought it could.

"I came here because I need to tell Renee something. You don't have to worry, Lucy. It's just about my plans," he lied.

Renee leaned down and kissed the top of Lucy's head, motioning for her to get some sleep and stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

"Renee, listen," Jack flung her around and frantically spat out what was happening. "Alan Wilson is not after Tony. He's after you. Suvarov is back…"

Writers Note: Uh-oh… :P Thanks for all the reviews! See you in chapter 8!