Bruised

A/N: So…this is me making up for taking so long with the last chapter. Thank you sososo much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and I really hope you enjoy this one. Thanks again guys!

Chapter Three – Savior

There is no reconciliation that will put me in my place

And there is no time like the present to drink these draining seconds.

But seldom do these words ring true

When I'm constantly failing you

Walls that we just can't break through

Until we disappear

So tell me now,

If this ain't love the how do we get out…?

- Savior by Rise Against

They parted ways just after they reached the far side of the shed. Jack moved ahead with Bill to one door, while the rest of them crept around to the other side.

"Alright Jack…" Rick hissed into his walkie-talkie as he too approached their door. "Ready when you are."

Jack knew there was a very real possibility they would trigger the alarm this time too. The new codes he'd been fed could have been faulty or there could have been a new trick to entering them. They were taking a risk, but then so was Cheng. He was assuming no one would think they would keep their star prisoner so far away from the safety of the encampment. It wasn't a very logical move. Cheng thought Jack would expect him to have Alex kept close to the security of the compound. Cheng obviously didn't know Jack very well.

Simultaneously the codes were inputted and both the hydraulic doors to the small building swung open.

"Everyone knows where they're going?" Jack checked and Rick confirmed, grabbing Michelle and moving left as Tony and Chase went right.

Rick kept Michelle within arm's length as they slipped down one corridor. Every time they came to a door he held her back, ordering her to cover him as he kicked the door open and swept the room. All of them held only old military equipment and old computers. Michelle observed Rick carefully; he said very little to her but whenever he moved to a new door he inhaled deeply as if preparing himself for what he might see on the other side of the wall.

As the corridor came to an end and they were no closer to seeing any indication of the reason they were there Michelle started to get nervous. If Alex was being kept at the center of the encampment they were going to have a much tougher time staying undetected and god only knew what Cheng would do to Alex if he saw their little search and rescue party coming after her.

Bill was getting frustrated, anyone could see that. With each empty room they passed and the complete silence of the walkie-talkie he was wondering if maybe they weren't going to find her at all. Maybe Cheng wasn't even keeping her here anymore or maybe she was…

Alex shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be giving up her freedom – her life – for something she didn't do. Alex wouldn't be there if it wasn't for… If he hadn't been involved in the situation Alex wouldn't have jumped at the chance to sign the confession. She wouldn't have gone running to her father the second his life was threatened. No matter what she said about protecting Claire, she did what she did because she knew in the eyes of everyone else Rick was expendable. Rick would be a simple, albeit, tragic casualty of the circumstances and she wasn't willing to let that happen… And now while Rick walked around bitter about her leaving (and getting more bitter with each passing day) Alex was fighting to stay alive.

Another empty room made Bill curse under his breath behind Jack. She had to be here. Somewhere.

There was no indication of Alex anywhere in their part of the building and with every second that passed without word from the others Tony grew increasingly worried. He also watched Chase grow increasingly worried and was starting to wonder what exactly had gone down in London. If Jack knew he wasn't talking to anyone, not even him.

Chase swore when they reached the end of the corridor and found yet another empty room. The panic that simultaneously filled Tony was put on the backburner as he watched Chase's face change yet again. Tony was definitely missing something here.

And then Tony saw it – another door hidden behind the back of the stairwell. He slipped around cautiously, Chase right behind him with his weapon poised as Tony kicked open the door. It didn't take much force and Tony lifted his flashlight to eyelevel, peering down into the darkness.

Stairs.

"Jack it's me." Tony picked up his walkie-talkie. "Did you know this thing has another level?"

"What?"

"There's a lower level. You can barely see anything down there."

"Alright what's your location?"

"End of the east corridor. If Cheng was keeping her this far away from the center of the compound throwing her in the basement would make a rescue a lot harder…especially if there's only one way out."

"Alright…move in, but be careful. Bill and I will come cover you. Radio if you find anything."

"Michelle and I are done. We'll meet you there too." Rick's voice echoed sporadically.

"Copy. We're moving in."

It was dark and smelled musty from the dampness of the location. There was no small amount of light emanating from overhead, or from any windows. Twice Tony stepped in something and twice he didn't want to know what it was. Ever. Cautiously they crept around the perimeter of the basement. The first door was a bust and Tony was really starting to wonder if they were going to have to do this all over again somewhere that required a lot more stealth. Maybe he could convince Michelle and Bill to go back and wait by the truck. They would need to be quick and he needed Michelle to not be here. He felt guilty worrying about her when he knew she was fine and had no idea what kind of state Alex would be in if – when – they found her. But he couldn't help it. He really just needed Michelle to be safe if his head was going to be in this completely…

His reverie was interrupted when they opened a second door. Something was different. Chase sensed it too because before they'd even lifted their flashlights they both held their breath, listening to hear if they were imagining things or not.

Breathing. Slow, raspy, stilted breathing.

Tony swung his flashlight up immediately and Chase was halfway across the room by the time he'd registered whose body it was that was dangling from the rafters like dead cattle. Tony groped for his radio, yelling at everyone that they'd found her and felt his way along the sides of the walls, finding a switch and bathing the room in harsh, yellow lighting just as Chase reached her. Tony ran to join him, finding his switchblade in his back pocket as Chase pulled the jacket from his shoulders and wrapped it around her shivering form. She wore black underwear and a black tank top, her blond hair hung straggly down her back and she had abrasions in some form on every inch of visible skin. Bile pooled in Tony's throat as he approached her, the sour stench of the room overwhelming him. Like vomit mixed with something else.

"Pulse?" Tony checked anxiously, sliding a hand around her frozen skin and feeling the base of her neck. Relief overwhelmed him. It was horribly faint but it was there. She was breathing, however strained, and she had a pulse.

Chase's arms slid beneath her, easing the pressure off her shoulders. They looked swollen but neither seemed dislocated. That was lucky. Who knew how long she'd been like this for. As soon as Chase relieved some of the pain she groaned loudly and her head fell back against his chest.

Tony moved around to see her face just as her eyelids peeled back and pale blue eyes stared at him. That wasn't right; her eyes weren't supposed to be that lackluster. Chase whispered quietly for her to "just relax" as her eyes finally found focus.

"Tony…" her voice was soft and squeaky. He reached out a hand to cup her cheek.

"Hey kiddo…Chase's got you…We're gonna get you down, alright?"

Her eyes watered and she bit her bloody lip as Chase lifted her a little higher. She could do nothing more than whimper as the blood started to flow back to her shoulders while Tony flipped open his knife and moved in to slice the ropes.

Rick found them first, skidding to a halt when he reached the lit room. His heart almost stopped when he saw her just as Tony was finishing off the ropes. He darted across the room, unable to process what any of it might mean in that moment; not wanting to think about what her condition might be or whether or not she would even recognize any of them. He needed to see her and touch her and…

Chase's knees bent a little under her dead weight as she fell on him completely and he backed up while Tony glanced around quickly for her clothes.

"Al…" Rick had crossed the distance and pulled her face into his hands, only to find her eyes closed again. There was a large scrape across her cheek that had crusted with blood and a bump on her forehead. His stomach threatened to betray him and his vision started to blur as he pulled her drooping head into his hands and pushed matted hair behind her ears, her skin icy to touch… They had to get her out. Now.

"Here…give her to me…" Rick ordered softly, not bothering to check the look he received from Chase and somehow managing to keep his voice steady. Chase handed her over without much hesitation and Rick scooped her up in his arms, her whole body convulsing against the sudden, overwhelming heat he provided.

"Rick…" she breathed against his neck, teeth chattering violently. He shuddered too at both the way she sounded when she spoke and the way she knew it was him instinctively.

"Hey…" his lips grazed her forehead and he stroked her body gently. She weighed barely anything, not that she'd been anywhere close to heavy before, but now she was just skin and bones and a few major organs. Even through Chase's jacket she felt too angular against him. He tightened his hold on her.

"We're gonna get you out of here." He promised softly as Bill finally reached them. Jack was hollering directions at everyone, but Rick couldn't really hear them and frankly he didn't care at this point. He had the only thing he'd come here for. He'd get her out one way or another.

Bill stretched out a hand, smoothing her hair back as his face contorted painfully. He didn't look at Rick.

"Aly it's me…"

She did nothing more than nod a little in response, trying to bury herself in Rick. Jack appeared with a handful of clothes that Michelle had thought to bring last minute and reluctantly Rick eased her to her feet. She swayed a little and dropped her head forward against his shoulder as Bill and Chase pulled on a pair of jeans that were way too big on her now. Rick pushed the jacket from her shoulders (Chase would need it once they got outside) and reluctantly handed Alex back for Chase to steady as he ripped his own jacket from his body and tugged his sweatshirt over his head and onto her, hoping that it combined with body heat would keep her warm. She had to be hypothermic. Her lips were practically blue.

His hands cupped her face and he pulled her forehead against his. She was still shivering and he slid a hand into her hair.

"You're gonna be okay…" he told her firmly. "You're gonna stay with me on this, alright? Just a few more minutes."

She chattered a 'kay against him, her breaths still uneven.

"Here…" Bill had reappeared with a blanket in his hands. Rick breathed the smallest sigh of relief. He'd kiss Michelle later for being the only one with enough common sense to bring something to cover her with.

"Chase, take Alex." Jack ordered suddenly. Rick turned to stare.

"I can take her."

"We need you to help get everyone out. Chase can carry her just as well as you can."

"Chase can shoot a gun too, Jack…"

"And if you can't be objective you're going to get half of us killed before we even get outside." Jack's eyes flitted briefly to the doorway that Tony was – albeit, reluctantly – covering with Michelle.

"Cheng probably knows we're here by now and I need you to shoot."

Jack was right; the two of them needed to be able to act unencumbered with the added weight of Alex now. As a group they'd be much slower and if they needed to engage he needed to be ready.

Rick released her to Chase, but not before pressing a quick kiss to her temple. In that moment he couldn't care about anything except that she was alive.

Jack led the way up the stairs with Bill and Chase right behind him. Michelle was directly in front of Rick and Tony was slightly to her left. It wasn't lost on her that she was being sandwiched in the middle with Chase while everyone else surrounding them…for protection she assumed. Michelle didn't have a good feeling about this.

The building was still quiet on the way out. The only sound Chase heard was their silent, hurried footsteps as they flew through the halls and Alex's labored breaths. Occasionally her eyes would open and once he felt her fingers tighten through his jacket. She still shivered and pressed closer to him as they got closer to the exit, as if feeling the wind they were about to be met with.

"Rick, get up here…" Jack's voice echoed hoarsely as soon as they reached the door. He motioned for Bill to step back.

"Tony watch from behind."

"Yeah…got it."

"Michelle?"

"I'm good."

"Chase stay behind me. Watch me in case anything changes. You might need to run with her..."

No one's face showed it, but a chill simultaneously ran through everyone at Jack's words. Tony bit his lip, casting a glance towards the front of the building before tugging Michelle towards him and bringing her palm to his lips for a quick second. She may not appear nervous to anyone else but he could tell her anxiety had just hit the roof. He squeezed her fingers gently and released her, stepping forward slightly and observing the space behind them.

What happened next happened quickly. Jack glanced at all of them before sliding the door open, gun poised as he scanned the open space. It was dark and they saw no one, but Jack still felt uneasy. Behind him he felt Rick step forward, his own weapon aimed in the same way as he too waited for someone to appear. So far nothing, but they felt too exposed.

It was about 100 yards to the edge of the encampment where their vehicle waited. On all sides trees surrounded them but Jack was wary to move them into the cover if he didn't have to. It would take longer, and there was a very good chance Cheng's men were waiting in there. If Jack was about to get ambushed he wanted to see where they were coming from. He didn't want to get backed into a corner. Not with six other people, one who could barely stand at this point.

They were had crossed half the distance when something felt wrong. The look exchanged between Jack and Rick was so quick that no one saw it, but they were both thinking the same thing. They were being watched. Tony, Michelle and Bill still hadn't stepped into the moonlight and a split-second before it was too late Rick dropped back practically throwing Michelle to the side and within crawling distance of the shrubbery and urging Bill and Tony to follow.

The lights hit them an instant after Tony disappeared and Rick squinted to see what was happening as he stepped towards Jack and Chase just as a vehicle came speeding around the corner, circling the three of them as a group of armed men jumped out and surrounded them.

"Jack Bauer." Cheng, the only man not dressed in military garb, stepped in front of them. "It's nice to see I've learned something about you over these last few months. The best way to catch Jack Bauer is to let him think he has you beat. Ms. Raines didn't seem to be enough to lure you, but it's nice to know someone was."

Jack kept his face neutral but both Rick and Chase saw his shoulders tense. Rick took a few tentative steps towards where Cheng stood just as Chase dropped Alex to her feet. She looked wobbly but her fist had clenched at her side. Without a word he pushed her behind him while Chase stepped behind her, shielding her as best they could from the soldiers.

Back in the trees Tony lay on his stomach beside Michelle. Bill was on the far side of her looking ghostly pale even in the darkness.

"We have to do something." He declared anxiously. Tony bit his lip, but nodded, checking his weapon.

"You guys go get the truck. We're gonna have to make a run for it."

"What are you gonna do?" Michelle's words were rife with anxiety.

"Don't worry about it."

"Tony…"

"Just do it, Michelle! Go with Bill."

"We're already outnumbered…" Bill reminded him reasonably, belying the panic he felt.

"Which is why we're going to have to run like hell once we get out. We have to be ready to go."

Michelle started to speak but he cut her off.

"I'll be right behind you. Go."

They both still looked hesitant and Tony sighed impatiently.

"Get the damn car or nobody's getting out of this thing." He tossed the keys in Bill's direction, his voice leaving no room for argument. Michelle shot him a fleeting look as she got to her knees, disappearing behind Bill into the darkness.

"It must be nice, Ms. Evans, to know some people will go to so many lengths to rescue you. It would really be a shame to let them all die, wouldn't it? Bauer will tell you I'm not an unreasonable man. Your friends may leave as soon as they surrender you back into our custody. Yourself and Mr. Bauer of course."

Rick took a step back, feeling her fingertips touch him.

"Tony…" she hissed, without noticeably moving her mouth.

"Hmm?"

"Tony…" her voice went up a decibel and Rick snuck a glance to the wooded area.

Rick bit his lip, moving his head just enough so she could see he'd heard him. Chase had stepped closer too, trying to hear what was being said. Rick on the other hand was trying to think about how to get word to Jack. It didn't look like he was going to have an opportunity; he'd just have to hope Jack would respond whenever Tony decided to make his move.

"Rick…" her voice strained. She was exhausted. "There are too many…I can shoot too…"

"You need to run like hell." Chase interjected softly. "That's it." He looked to see if they'd drawn attention yet. Cheng was still taunting Jack.

Her hand pressed lightly against the small of Rick's back, feeling the handgun tucked in his jeans. Her fingers slid beneath his clothing and wrapped around the weapon, breathing deeply.

"You got a little left for me?" Rick gulped, feeling her frozen fingertips against his warm skin. She was barely standing upright, but there was too much opposition to try and shoot their way out of it with everyone trying to protect her from gunfire. She was better off armed and making a break for it when she could.

"You're gonna get her killed - " Chase snapped.

"Shut up. I'm fine." Alex panted with as much bite as she could muster.

Her hand moved around Rick's waist and she pressed her face to his shoulder. He simply nodded, biting back the warning that was on his lips as Cheng's eyes turned to him again. Chase was impatient; he wouldn't indulge her for long and he'd get her out.

Tony found his semi and checked the area around him. He wouldn't have long before they figured out where the side attack was coming from. He only hoped Michelle and Bill would have managed to get to the car and get it started in the time they had.

"So Ms. Evans, Mr. Bauer…will you come quietly or will your friends have to suffer the consequences of your stubbornness?"

Alex stiffened, making it look like she was leaning on Rick for support. No one made any move to leave.

"Fine." Cheng waved his hand. "Take Evans and Bauer alive. Kill the others."

Machine gun fire startled everyone and half the commandoes turned to the forested area where the shots were coming from, guns aimed and some of them started to return fire. A lot happened in those few seconds. Jack leapt forward, elbowing the man nearest to him in the face and kneeing him hard until he dropped his weapon into Jack's waiting hand. Alex finally ripped the gun into plain sight, shooting the men directly in front of them while Rick spun around to take out those behind them that had moved towards his brother's hidden position and clearing a path for their retreat. One of the commandoes had already pulled Cheng into safety inside the first vehicle, getting him out of range before Chase could take him out. Another hummer filled with men sped into view, already starting to return fire just as Rick turned back around to see where they were.

"Tony, go!" Rick shouted, catching of a glimpse of his brother a few feet from where he stood.

"Meet us at the North end of the perimeter! We'll catch up!"

Tony's protests were cut off by the firefight and he could only oblige, disappearing back into the trees after firing off a few more rounds.

"Chase, get her out of here!" Rick yelled over the commotion seconds later. For a moment it seemed like Chase hadn't heard him until he lowered his weapon, his right hand jutting out and yanking Alex with him towards the trees. To the North he heard Jack's gunfire and figured he'd managed to find some sort of cover. Rick bolted to join him, barely missing getting nicked as he ducked to the ground behind the cover of one of the other vehicles the men had arrived him.

"They're gone…" Rick informed him, dropping to his stomach and peaking around one corner as Jack returned fire on the top. "I told Tony North side."

Jack simply grunted in response, knowing they were both wondering the same thing…what the odds were they'd last long enough for Tony to get them out.

Alex kept checking over her shoulder as Chase urged her along through the woods, his hand wrapped tightly around hers. Both her legs and lungs were burning and she felt like had there been less adrenaline in her system she would've been in more pain. At least she could still function like this.

Chase's grip tightened as he pulled her further into the darkness, maneuvering them through the thicket.

"There were too many…" she panted tiredly, her head spinning a little from exhaustion and her muscles starting to shake. She was moving too slow for Chase's liking and he kept urging her forward.

"We shouldn't have left." She protested.

"Rick told me to get you out. They're fine." Chase snarled. "And you would be too if he hadn't made you shoot."

She wanted to argue but her strength was too sapped. All she could focus on was moving forward and trying not to stumble as they pushed their way through towards the waiting vehicle, the sounds of gunfire growing faint behind them.

Once they hit open space Chase started to sprint.

"C'mon Al, you gotta move faster than this." He grunted, feeling her speed up a little behind him. Her face was ghostly white, almost translucent, and her hair was flying everywhere. She looked as if she'd already been dead in the ground when they found her. The only sound he could hear as they moved was his slightly labored breathing and her gasps for oxygen. She was fading fast. They shouldn't have wasted her energy on trying to shoot.

The car was already running and Tony sat waiting with one door open, looking a little worse for wear but nothing permanent. Chase dragged Alex towards the jeep, shooting a final glance behind him as Tony pulled her into the truck and she finally collapsed with a loud moan against him. Chase hopped up and the door swung shut.

"Bill, go!" Tony snapped. The wheels of the jeep squealed in the semi-frozen mud and they were moving. Michelle checked her rifle from the passenger seat and twisted around to the side door as they moved through the woods as quickly as possible. Tony stumbled a little as he slumped back onto a seat, wrapping an arm around Alex's waist and tilting her back against his side. His arm dug between her shoulder blades and his fingers curled against her abdomen. Alex squirmed, unable to control the convulsions of her body as Tony tried to smooth back her hair.

And then everything went black.

The sound of burning rubber filled the nostrils of everyone in the jeep as they came to an abrupt halt at the far end of the complex.

"Chase, door!" Tony ordered. Chase picked up his weapon and swung the door open, firing a few shoots as Michelle did the same from the passenger's seat just as Jack and Rick made a mad dash for them.

Chase pulled Jack in first, Rick spinning around at the last possible second to empty his magazine before grabbing Chase's proffered hand and climbing into the vehicle. By the time Jack shut the door again Bill had already set the car in motion and was speeding into the darkness.

Jack got to his feet, glancing through the backdoor to see if they were getting followed.

"We took out their tires." He explained. "We'll have about one minute on them. The rendezvous point for the chopper is Northwest. The vectors should already be in the GPS.

"How is - ?"

"She's fine, Bill. Tony's got her. We don't have time to switch out now. Just keep driving."

Bill breathed deeply and focused on the terrain in front of him, his worried eyes catching Michelle's but saying nothing.

"C'mon, Al, ya gotta wake up for me." Tony encouraged softly, shifting so he had more of a hold on her. Her eyes didn't open.

"Damn it…" Tony smacked her cheek, trying to startle her awake. She finally groaned again as Rick crept towards her.

"C'mon Al…" Tony repeated, checking her pulse for what felt like the fortieth time since she'd gotten into the car. "You can sleep in a bit. I need you awake right now…"

Chase snarled abruptly. "If you hadn't made her shoot she might not have killed herself from exhaustion trying to get out - "

"If she hadn't shot we'd all be dead right now…her included." Rick spun around.

"She might be dead anyway thanks to you…"

Rick's eyes flashed and he started to respond, chest puffed out in indignation, when he heard her shaky, barely audible voice.

"Play nice boys; no one's dead."

To everyone's surprise Jack actually let out a small chuckle, more out of relief in anything else. Alex, who had been unconscious a second before, still found it in her to be facetious.

Rick's anger dissipated as Chase and Jack shifted along the floor of the vehicle towards her as well. Tony's hand found her cheek, tilting her head back so she could see his face.

"You're stayin' awake for me?"

She nodded weakly, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"You're warm." She managed through chattered teeth, wondering if the all-consuming heat she'd relished in every time Rick had held her wasn't so much a marine-thing as it was an Almeida-thing. Tony chuckled too, tucking her against him as Chase picked up a blanket and tossed it their way.

"Ten miles to the rendezvous point." Bill called out from the front. "Any sign of them?"

Jack checked quickly and shook his head.

"No. So far so good."

Rick relaxed a little, reaching out to caress her arm and about to order his brother to hand her over when Bill spoke again:

"Tony, you've got her okay?"

Rick's jaw clenched and Tony exchanged a look with him, neither of them missing the intent in Bill's words. Tony shifted again and lifted Alex across his lap, pulling her more tightly into his body, her cold face pressed against his collar.

"Yeah…I got her."