Bruised
A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed as always. I'm really sorry for the delay in this chapter…school got in the way. Here's chapter two!
Chapter Two – My Immortal
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone.
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
It's just too much that time cannot erase.
-My Immortal by Evanescence
He knew if this was going to work it had to be an ambush. She'd been evading him for way too long and she wasn't getting away with it anymore.
Without warning he snapped back the shower curtain, causing her to spin around to almost slip.
"Christ, you scared me…" she breathed as his arms slid around her and his lips pressed against hers, backing her against the tiles and circling her tongue with his. She'd been making excuses about avoiding a shower together for forever and he decided that no reason – no matter what it was – was an excuse not to get naked and soaking wet with him.
"Hi…" he spoke with his lips brushing against hers. She grinned, arms around his neck.
"Hi…" she softened slightly. "Maybe now isn't the best time…" she began warily as his lips moved across her jaw. He pulled back abruptly and stared.
"What's wrong, Al?" he drawled with a hint of impatience.
"Nothing…honestly…I've just got stuff to do today. There's not enough time to…"
"It's the first day we've had off together in months." He reminded her pointedly, remembering how excited he'd been knowing when he took her home from work and ravished her a few dozen times before bed they had an entire day to themselves to do it again…and again…and again.
She hesitated. "It's just uh…" she bit her lip. "I dunno…it's…I dunno…" she slumped her shoulders in defeat.
His eyes left hers and glanced down at her body, causing her to stiffen under his hands.
"I've seen you naked a hundred times." He reminded her.
"I know I just…" She averted his gaze and pushed a chunk of hair behind her ear. "I…bathroom lighting isn't exactly a girl's best friend." She blurted out quickly before she lost her nerve.
The statement was so uncharacteristic of her he had to bite back a laugh. Instead he sighed, running his hand along her hip and frowning when she tensed again an instant before his fingertips brushed against raised skin that wasn't as soft as the rest of her.
Her eyes were shut tightly as he caressed her side and studied the small scar. His brow creased.
"Takedown last week?" he asked, recalling the day she dashed after a suspect. He'd caught up just as the guy sliced her with a switchblade. In the end, it'd been nothing, but at the time he'd been ready to snap the guy's neck. Now she nodded in confirmation but she didn't look happy. She looked upset and – dare he say – embarrassed.
His hand moved across her abdomen and again he felt the texture of her skin change. This scar he'd noticed the first time he'd kissed his way down her body, but in the light of the bathroom it was longer and more jagged than he'd thought. This one she'd gotten in Russia, falling onto a bed of rocks as they'd stumbled through the woods in a mad dash, trying to hide from the people who'd ambushed then. She hadn't bled much this time, but the scrape had been apparent when she pulled off her shirt at the marine base the next morning.
"Don't…" she hissed, but her words were thick. His hand slid across her shoulder and yet again he felt more raised skin.
"What's that one from?"
"Dad when I was eleven." She answered. His head tilted and his lips brushed across the abrasion before dropping to his knees and doing the same to the mark on her abdomen.
"Rick…" tears welled in her eyes and she fought to keep them at bay, feeling like an idiot for getting so worked up over a few marks on her skin. She touched the top of his head. "Stop…"
He ignored her, smoothing his lips across her hip and moving down the front of her leg. His hands caressed the back of her thigh and looked up expectantly. Her jaw kinked to one side.
"Dad when I was thirteen." She snorted. "Threw a plate out of the dishwasher and I was in the way."
His throat tightened and anger welled within him. She shivered beneath his fingers as his lips continued to move down her body.
When he got her knee he found a small white scar and waited for her to speak.
Relief welled through him when she laughed lightly.
"Cut myself shaving because you were rushing me…"
He laughed too, pressing his face into her stomach and moving his hands up her back. She gasped a little when he reached the bottom of her shoulder blade and his brow creased, standing again and turning her around in his arms.
He teeth dug into his lip when he saw the black and blue bruise that was obviously still tender.
"Yesterday?"
Her head bobbed quickly and she spun around. Yesterday she'd been in the field without him and the suspect's rifled had jammed. She'd moved him to restrain him, but he'd gotten in a few good blows with the butt of the weapon when she did.
"There are more." She declared abruptly, not sure if she was talking about the types of scars one could or couldn't see. His chest constricted when he saw the pained expression on her face. She pursed her lips together as his thumb dragged across the inside of her left arm from the time her father showed up at CTU. It was almost invisible but he could still feel it beneath his fingertips every night.
"I guess Sheryl probably looked a little less beat up under fluorescent lights." She muttered wryly. A smile formed on his lips and he started to speak. He was cut off when she yelped as icy cold droplets started pelting them. His hand found hers, tugging her away from the wall of the shower and shielding her body with his.
"Happens sometimes. It'll come back in a minute." He explained easily, pulling her into him and closing his arms around her. Even under the stream of cold water he felt gloriously warm. She pressed closer instinctively and he grinned into her hair.
"So is this a marine-thing?" she bumped her cold nose into his collar. "Being able to stand freezing cold showers and still be warm." He laughed softly, pretending not to notice yet another scar in the small of her back. He wondered how he'd missed all of this before, considering it probably had something to do with the current slickness of her skin as much as the extra light.
"Mhmmm…" he tilted his head and kissed her cheek and then her neck. "Something like that."
"See now…what would you do without me?" he teased quietly after a minute of silence, rubbing his lips against her wet shoulder and tasting the sweetness of her skin.
"Right, because I've never had a shower run out of a hot water before in my life." She retorted sarcastically. He snickered and nipped at her collar.
"Well I mean…if you really want me to leave…" he breathed against her lips, grinning when she tightened her grip just as the water turned hot again.
"You don't have to." Her words turned insistent and the sarcasm returned. "I mean…you've seen most of my ugly side now anyway…"
She meant it as a joke, but she shuddered under his gaze as he kissed her, tugging on her lower lip.
"Well uh…as far as ugly sides go…I kinda love yours."
When the stinging of her eyes surprised her she had to look away. Her throat felt tight and she kissed him for a distraction. Her fingers pressed into his cheek as he moved deeper into her mouth.
"Huh…" she mumbled matter-of-factly before nibbling on his upper lip. He groaned and pressed her back against the tiles, hands roaming across her skin with more urgency this time.
"I guess that's all that matters then, isn't it?"
A blood curdling scream erupted from Alex's throat as she felt the searing coals press into her back. She buried her face into the cold ground, hoping to mute the sound she made when the coals were removed and the interrogator's thick fingers dug into the burns. She was starting to feel dizzy again. For the past month or so she hadn't been able to go ten minutes without getting the shakes. The lack of food and water were really starting to take their toll and her injuries weren't getting time they now needed to heal. She wondered how bad the infections were as the man's greasy fingers dug deeper into her wounds.
She groaned when a combat boot slammed against her, fighting the urge to curl up in the fetal position and beg them to make it stop. She didn't come this far to quit now. If she was wishing for death she would do so silently. They weren't getting her to beg.
Cheng looked bored today. He hadn't even spoken to her yet. She was surprised he still bothered to show up regularly. Surely he had better things to do?
The absence of pain made her glance up from the dirt. She was surrounded by three overly large men as Cheng watched her dirt covered face in disgust. It was freezing and the bare top half of her body was covered in mud. She was immune to the cold now. She was immune to almost everything they did to her…
One of the men moved to mumble something to Cheng. He glanced at her, a snarl forming on his lips, before turning back to the man and nodding as his hand motioned at her.
"String her up when you're finished."
The man's eyes glinted and Alex felt the wave of nausea rise in her stomach, knowing there was nothing to vomit up anyway. The man nodded to his colleagues and removed his jacket before hastily undoing his belt buckle as the other men grabbed her by the arms and flipped her onto her aching back. Cheng looked appalled as he turned around to make a phone call while the last few articles of clothing got ripped from her body. Alex swallowed hard, trying not to tense for what was coming…it only made it hurt more.
Almost everything.
"Jack…"
Jack Bauer spun around as the foursome approached them. Tony first, with Michelle in-step beside him. Bill looked a little anxious and Rick's mouth was set in a firm line. The ornately decorated hotel in Tokyo was their meeting place. He'd arrived there almost a day ahead of everyone and had been going over the schematics of the encampment again and again, trying to make sure he had all his bases covered. He had to get her out this time. The longer they waited the greater the odds that she would…
"Hey Tony…" they clasped hands briefly just as a sixth person came into view.
"Hey Chase…" Tony turned to him next, feeling the slackened grip of his right hand.
Jack quickly introduced Bill to Chase. Michelle looked wary and Rick looked confused as everyone exchanged greetings.
"I heard you guys might need a little help on this one." Chase shrugged casually, dropping Rick's hand. His eyes looked worried though. Rick kept glancing at Tony waiting for him to explain why Chase Edmunds had flown half-way around the world to help with a mission that might get him killed. Tony didn't offer him any sort of tell though.
"I have some contacts we can use once we pull her out…they're connected with the British government so we should be able to keep a low profile."
"We'll talk about it inside…" Jack inclined his head towards the door. "We've got all night…"
"It's still early…" Rick protested.
"We can't enter the encampment during the day; we have to go over the blueprints as well as figure out an approach. She's lasted this long, she can last one more night and pushing forward too soon could kill her before what they're doing does..."
Rick tensed and Michelle rubbed his back a few times wordlessly. Not for the first time since he'd stepped into the airport Rick was glad she was there…even if Tony wasn't.
"There are four buildings." Jack declared as he rolled the blueprints out on the coffee table of his hotel room. Bill was standing over his shoulder, Michelle had settled on the edge of the bed beside Chase and Tony sat on the floor at one end of the table across from Rick.
"Two of the buildings at the North and West corners contain computer infrastructure. One of them has an underground bunker with a high level of security required for entry. A third building in the South are living quarters. Cheng likes his people to keep their contact with the outside world as minimal as possible. They're mostly single men, all ex-military and none of the leave the encampment for weeks at a time…"
Michelle shifted a little on the edge of the bed and Jack spun to face her immediately.
"You sure you're up for this?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I'll be fine, Jack."
"This isn't just about being able to shoot a handgun, Michelle. A handgun won't do you any good against these guys and we need every man we can get…"
So Jack thought she was going to be dead weight.
"I'll take her through how to use a semi." Rick declared quietly but firmly, watching Michelle's cheeks flush in indignation. "It'll be enough."
Tony's jaw clenched, but to Rick's surprise he said nothing though. Jack's eyes moved between the both of them before he finally nodded.
"Fine. You two can be the first team for…"
"We're splitting up?" Tony spoke up, eyebrow raised.
"We have too much ground to cover to do this effectively as one big group. It'll be hard to stay under the radar that way."
"Then aren't Michelle and I - "
"The teams have to be balanced." Jack insisted. "Rick goes with Michelle, Tony you go with Chase and I'll go with Bill…"
Chase scowled, obviously resenting being considered one of the "weaker" players. Having only one good hand really got on his nerves sometimes.
"What about the fourth building?" Michelle interrupted quietly.
Jack leaned forward a little and pointed.
"East side. Some old building we believe they used for weapon storage. Last time I moved in they had her in the North building, the next time it was the West…"
He flinched a little and licked his chapped lips.
"Escape really isn't an issue here because Night Patrol covers the entire encampment from sunset to sunrise and they also have a watch tower. Plus, she would freeze to death in about an hour."
Rick shuddered internally, avoiding Bill's gaze.
"Our point of entry will be the storage shed. It's bigger than it sounds…about ten rooms with security units patrolling it sporadically. We move in and if she's not in there each group of us takes a different building. Everyone's on the same Comm. feed and we radio in as soon as we find her."
The unspoken words in that sentence were apparent to everyone in the room. We radio in as soon as we find her dead or alive.
"I wanted to ask Chloe for infrared scans but it would draw too much attention from DOD about what we were doing." Tony straightened a little and Rick's brow creased. DOD had no idea what they were doing. They were trying to get Alex back through political channels but it was taking too long.
At least, that's what Tony had told him.
"Chloe's not at CTU anymore anyway." Rick declared. Jack's head snapped back.
"What?"
"She had her baby. She's gone for at least another eight months."
Jack scowled, unable to believe he'd overlooked that. "Damnit. We needed her once we got out."
Rick stole a glance at Bill.
"Claire'll do whatever we need her to do." He declared simply. "Her clearance isn't as high but…"
"Her sister?" Jack frowned. "She's at CTU?"
"She's a level one analyst. She asked me for the job after…" he trailed off and lowered his eyes to the floor for a brief second. "Anyway, we can trust her…even if we can't tell her exactly what we're doing."
"Can she do what we need?"
"There are back channels she can use to get through the clearance limitations." Michelle explained. "I can talk her through it if she doesn't know how to do something. Claire's smart. She'll figure it out."
"And we can trust her?"
Rick inclined his head in the affirmative. He trusted Claire as much as anyone.
"Fine. Make her aware of the situation and have her on standby."
"I'll call her when we're done here."
Bill looked like he wanted to protest, but didn't. They needed someone inside CTU to get them access to things. Michelle would show Claire how to evade detection and when push came to shove, Karen was on their side. She'd smooth things over if Claire got caught.
And Claire would want to help him – no matter what he was doing – Claire was at CTU because she wanted to be there in case there was any chance her sister might reappear, if only for a moment. Claire wouldn't question him.
Alex's head dropped forward against her naked chest, her whole body covered in goose bumps and her arms feeling like they were about to be ripped from their sockets. Her arms were high over her head, tied at the wrists and hanging from the rafter in the freezing room. There was no heat, the only advantage to being in here was it cut the wind. Before they'd kept her inside one of the main buildings, but after Jack's second rescue attempt they'd moved her. Probably assuming Jack would never think they'd keep her so far away from the center of the encampment.
Alex was trying desperately to ignore the searing pain between her legs. It felt like she was burning from the inside out. Everyday since her arrival had been bad but sometimes they got really aggressive. She tried desperately to block out the images of them taking turns shoving inside her...coming inside her. The bile rose in her throat. It was a game to them, trying to see who would be the one to make her scream out in agony, protest or disgust. She never did though.
Alex felt groggy and lightheaded. She didn't feel hungry anymore. She'd stopped feeling hungry months ago. The days all bled into one now and she couldn't tell when she was supposed to eat. The dull ache was permanent and she learned to ignore it quickly. It was the least of her worries.
Her back hurt from the burns and her skin felt tight, like it was scabbing over. Her black underwear was back on to give her at least some modesty; they were covered in dirt and semen and her own blood, but it was better than nothing. She breathed and deeply a few times and closed her eyes.
Jack had gotten some information back to DOD. Not enough to incriminate but enough to get the ball rolling… So for the last six months Alex had wondered whether or not they would ever finally decide to cut their losses and just disappear off the face of the earth, either killing her or leaving her for dead. Death didn't seem like so much of a tragedy as it had before she'd left LA almost ten months ago; she had nothing waiting for her on the other side. She couldn't go back to her life and starting a new one seemed like such a daunting task. What was she supposed to do if she got out of this thing alive? Move from place to place like Jack did? Go back to London like Chase had suggested?
His parting words elicited the first semblance of a smile she'd displayed in weeks. Jack hadn't been around a lot and they'd spent every night for two and a half months in each other's and only each other's company. They were both lonely and hung up on other people (her mainly) and they'd bonded…
He told her to come back to London when it was over; he wanted her in London with him. He didn't know any better than to say exactly what he was thinking and he didn't know there was a very good chance she would completely freak out on him. Chase didn't know her like Rick did so he didn't know how difficult she could make something that probably could have been a pretty perfect solution. Chase didn't get it and in a way that was kind of liberating; he didn't know about her life and he didn't know about all her crap and her walls and her inherent need to push people away so he didn't know she was holding out on him. There was a host of things unknown between them that she could still hide behind and somehow that felt freeing now.
Rick she couldn't hide anything from. She was always exposed around him because he knew her better than anybody. Chase didn't know her like that…not even close; she hadn't collapsed in Chase's arms the first time she killed someone and dissolved into tears; she hadn't spent the night on the couch with him after her dad showed up at CTU and beat the shit out of her. Chase only knew what she chose to tell him and that meant if anything were – hypothetically – to happen between them it only had to go as deep as she wanted it to. None of this being unable to contain yourself or wanting them so badly it made you ache on every level. Chase gave her back some of the control she'd lost with Rick and that could be good. That could be what she needed if she survived this.
A searchlight shone through the small slit of a window and Alex shut her eyes to the brightness. They'd given it to her pretty badly today so they would probably leave her alone until morning. She could sleep a bit if she really tried.
Michelle looked away from the TV she hadn't really been watching when the door to her hotel room swung open. She smiled easily as Rick entered, kicking off his shoes and slumping onto the bed across from the one she was sitting on. They had gotten two rooms – Bill, Jack and Chase in one and Rick with Tony and Michelle in the other.
Michelle sat up a little when she saw him, offering a soft smile.
"Talk to Claire?"
"Yeah. She's gonna do what she can. We'll just have to be careful no one finds out. Eva's kinda a stickler for protocol."
Eva Jacobs had replaced Chloe when she went on mat leave. Michelle didn't know who she was but she did know that she'd asked Rick out four times in the last six months and four times he'd turned her down without a reason. Well, without giving her a reason.
"Where's Tony?"
"Talking to Jack. Bill said he was going to try and sleep a bit."
"Chase?"
Michelle shrugged offhandedly, rubbing her bare arms.
"Couldn't tell you."
Rick leaned back against the headboard and let his eyes close for a moment.
"It's weird he's here, right?"
"Jack thought we could use the help I guess."
Rick sat up again and shook his head.
"No I know but…it's gonna get pretty bad out there, and he has a kid. Seems like a big risk to take when you don't have to take it."
Michelle managed to keep her face neutral. Rick wasn't supposed to know that she and Tony had known where Alex was all along, or that she'd spent two and a half months in London.
"You're sure you're up for this?" Rick pressed warily. "I mean I know you wanna help and everything, Michelle but I'd kinda like to keep you around for a while longer…and I think Tony would too."
Michelle grinned, but nodded.
"I'll be alright. I have you covering my ass, don't I?"
Rick snorted. "That's true. It doesn't get any better than this."
Michelle laughed, finding her sweater and tugging it over her head before moving across the room to Rick's bed.
"How are you doing?"
He exhaled softly and shrugged.
"Every day for the last ten months I've been furious at her…she was everywhere…it was like she was haunting me or something and I wished she would just go away. She chose to leave and I was pissed off but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop thinking about her…" he hung his head a little bit. "And now I can't even remember why I was mad. I just miss her; I want see her and talk to her and the idea that she might…"
He trailed off, his throat constricting. Michelle squeezed his knee.
"We'll get her back." She told him gently. "They had to keep her alive to interrogate. We'll pull her out and it'll be okay."
Rick nodded solemnly, sliding an arm across Michelle's shoulders and tugging her against him.
"Hey…" Tony slid down the wall and settled beside Jack. He said he was keeping watch but Tony didn't believe him. He probably just wanted some quiet.
"Hey…" Jack lifted his head. "Everyone's in bed?"
Tony nodded wordlessly.
"How's Michelle doing?"
Tony rubbed the side of his face and shrugged.
"Alright I guess…hasn't said much about it."
"The goal is to get in and out undetected. With any luck, we won't have to engage them."
"Yeah…" Tony sighed. "Things don't usually work out like they're supposed to though, huh Jack?"
Jack laughed quietly.
"What are you doing out here anyway?"
Jack shrugged. "Thinking I guess…about Audrey."
Tony's muscles constricted.
"Yeah…"
"You know what she was like when she came back from..." Jack stated.
Tony gritted his teeth but said nothing.
"I'm just wondering if maybe I'd made contact with Karen earlier…Tony, we don't know what kind of a state she's going to in when we pull her out…or if she's even still alive …"
Tony waited a beat before asking the question that had been on his mind all afternoon.
"Why is Chase here, Jack?"
"I thought we could use the extra set of hands."
Tony raised an eyebrow and his jaw shifted to one side.
"Alright…whatever you say."
"Don't worry. It's not important."
"I'm just trying to gauge what we're dealing with here…and if you're holding out on me."
Jack said nothing. Tony sighed impatiently, slapping Jack on the back as he rose to his feet.
" Get some rest. I'll see ya in a bit."
They left early, Michelle soaking in the last little bit of summer weather she could. Jack had said the temperatures had been unseasonably cold for the last few weeks. She wasn't sure what unseasonably cold meant for Siberia but had a feeling she didn't want to find out.
They arrived back at the airport just after sunrise. Michelle, Tony, Bill and Chase surrendered their passports to Jack and Rick who went to work making flight arrangements. According to Jack, they needed to make their way towards the Russian border and then drive somehow the rest of the way. The camp was in the middle of Russo-Chinese wilderness and Jack apparently would be able to acquire a military transport vehicle to get them the rest of the way. She believed him; Jack kept the details to himself, but she doubted he would drag them all the way out there unless he knew had every kink worked out.
Michelle was in a daze when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned in time to see Tony slide into the chair beside her and ease her against him.
"How you doin'?"
She sighed. "I'm worried about her."
Tony grimaced. "Yeah…me too."
"Jack barely survived…Audrey's never going to be the same…"
"Alex is tough, Michelle. You know that as well as anyone. She's hanging in there…"
She sighed, tilting her head against his shoulder.
"How's Rick?"
"I dunno…he's not talking to me." Tony declared, his eyes shifting towards his brother. "Freaking out I guess. I would be."
"You think he'll be alright?" she twisted to study his face. Tony pressed his lips to her temple.
"How about you let me worry about him and you worry about you?"
Michelle angled her head towards him, her mouth lifting at the corners.
"You're not worrying about me enough for the both of us?"
Tony's face didn't mirror her subtle amusement. Instead he just nuzzled his nose into her curls.
"Don't do that to me again, sweetheart." His voice crackled slightly and her heart clenched. She didn't ask what he meant. She didn't need to.
It was three blissful minutes of silence before Jack appeared in front of them, declaring it was time to board. They were halfway to the gate when Michelle slid an arm around his hip, leaning over to kiss the base of his neck, as anxiety threatened to well up inside her.
Still, for the first time in the entire time they'd been together Michelle wasn't sick with worry at the prospect of her husband going into the field. This time, no matter what happened, she'd be there.
Night had fallen and Rick zipped up his ski-jacket, cutting the chill of the wind. Even in spring, it was cold at night, almost below freezing. Being on a plane for what felt like days hadn't helped either. Now they stood just outside the perimeter of the encampment, getting ready to move in.
Rick watched with a little anxiety as Michelle fumbled with the rifle in her hand. She wouldn't tell anyone, but she still didn't feel comfortable with it. It looked too big against her small frame and she wouldn't be used to the weight if she had to pull the trigger. Her shot could go wide very easily. A crash course before they got in the jeep wasn't much. As much as he wanted her there she'd be better off safe and sound at home…
But Michelle wanted to help and Rick could appreciate why. Michelle not only felt like she owed Alex, but she missed Alex. Sometimes he thought Michelle missed Alex as much as him. She seemed herself for the most part, but the not being able to get pregnant was getting to her. She missed having to someone to go out with that wasn't himself or Tony; someone who she could talk to about things he and Tony would never understand. They'd gotten used to having each other around before Alex disappeared and Michelle missed her friend.
Michelle was checking again to make sure she'd loaded the gun properly when Tony appeared. He'd barely left her side once since they arrived at the first airport, constantly reaching out to touch her in little ways…like he was afraid he might not get another chance to.
"You're good." Tony assured her quietly, taking the weapon from her hands and resting it against the wheel of the jeep. He glanced around briefly noting that everyone else was occupied with their own preparations. Michelle shivered a little as he stepped closer, running his hand along her arm.
"Do whatever Rick says…" he insisted quietly. "I don't care what's happening with everyone else…you don't worry about me…you don't worry about Alex…you help where you can and you take care of yourself. You hear me?"
She knew better than to argue.
"It'll be fine, sweetheart."
His face contorted into something painful and his hands came to her face, eyes burning a little in the corners. He pulled her mouth to his.
"I love you," he mumbled against her lips. "No matter what."
She swallowed the lump in her throat and ran her fingers through his hair.
"I love you too."
"Alright," Jack called over everyone. "We split up as soon as we reach the point of entry. Make sure you stay on the delta-five frequency. We're moving now…"