Bruised
A/N: Sooooooo...it's been a while. I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but hopefully I'll get a few bites! I'm super nervous about it either way. Actiony chapters give me a really hard time and I hope I didn't disappoint with this one.
What can I say, life got in the way. A few things have changed. This is now the *second* last chapter (not including epilogue). I reworked the end a little bit and it got too long.
I really hope those of you who are reading like it. This story's still kinda my baby and I just can't not see it through. Thank you so so much for reading. : )
Enjoy!
Chapter Fifteen - Behind Closed Doors
Although we have no obligation
To stay alive
On broken backs we beg for mercy, we will survive
(Break out)
I won't be left here
Behind closed doors.
- Behind Closed Doors by Rise Against
"Hi."
"H-hi…" Jack Bauer crouched in front of the 2 year old with soft blonde waves. She was dressed to play, jeans and sneakers and a baby blue t-shirt that made her strikingly blue eyes pop. Full, pink lips pursed inches from his face and she didn't flinch when he leaned closer. She just stared right at him with apple cheeks and a thoughtful look on her face. Her mother kept her hand on her shoulder, watching him with wary eyes.
Jack cleared his throat. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
"I Aly. I two." She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. Jack looked up at her mother and bit his lip.
"She's beautiful."
"She is." Diana Evans (which still didn't roll off his tongue as well as Diana Buchanan) smiled a little.
"I pway on da side."
Jack smiled a little. "I saw you, Aly."
"I-I-I umm...I pway on da siiiiiiing too."
Diana rubbed her head a little. "Do you want your snack, honey?"
"No. I pway more. Wanna waaaaaatch?" she looked right at Jack before scrambling off into the playground. Diana stayed standing, watching her baby carefully as she climbed up and down the slide made for toddlers. She squealed delightedly, hands in the sky, each time she came over the little bump.
Jack felt his heart swell a little as he watched her play. She was perfect.
"You shouldn't be here, Jack." Diana's firm words interrupted his thoughts. He bit his lip
"I couldn't not see her."
"And if he finds out...if Teri finds out…"
"Teri already suspects it."
Diana turned and stared at him, fiercely blue eyes ablaze. "She what?"
"Teri and I might be having problems, but she pays attention to what's happening in her marriage."
"Yes, Saint Teri, exposing the world's extramarital affairs through her own passiveness."
"Don't talk about her like that…"
"Then don't talk about him. He thinks he's her father; he loves her like he is and he takes care of us. He chooses not to see what was right in front of him because it would hurt too much. Saying I started sleeping with you because Ben ignores me is a damn copout, Jack. We both know why we did it and it wasn't one sided," she growled with enough bite to rattle him straight to his bones. Her unabashedly acid tongue was one of the reasons he was drawn to her...it was one of the reasons he always had been.
"But if you can't admit it…"
"I love you, Dee."
She sniffed a little and dabbed her eyes. "I know."
Jack hung his head a little, fingers brushing her arm.
"He's in San Francisco?"
"Until Monday."
"Can I see you?" the words barely passed his lips but she knew what he was asking. Dee nodded.
"Come over tonight after Marta goes home. I'll give her the weekend off."
"But Aly...will be there."
Diana's eyes locked on the child and she nodded carefully.
"There's a lot of you in her," she breathed. "I thought you might want to get to know your daughter, Bauer."
Jack's eyes glazed over a little and he swallowed. He would.
"W-was that...?" Eva's tanned complexion had drained of color and she stared between Hammond and Alex looking horrified. Alex ignored the deadening weight that had settled in the pit of her stomach, staring directly at Hammond.
"That's Cheng," she told him hoarsely. "He found me. Rick said..."
"I'm not interested in what Almeida said to you, Evans," Hammond declared bitterly. "If Cheng's people were moving on CTU we would've known - "
"We did know. Rick told me. Bill probably found out from - "
"There's no way armed militants would make their way into CTU without me knowing."
"Well they have, so you might wanna get somebody on that, Brad!" Her cheeks had flushed with color and her throat was tight. The barrage of gunshots had faded, but she still heard the occasional round being fired. If Cheng had made it to the bullpen...everyone was in there. Rick, Bill, Claire, Chase, Tony, Michelle...Michelle who was...
"Then what do you suggest Evans?" Hammond's icy words interrupted her thoughts as Eva continued to look sick with terror. Alex gulped hard as a fresh wave of bullets started echoing down the hallway. Yeah, security was stopping that...She heard them getting closer. They would be at Holding in no time...
"Brad, uncuff me," she shifted anxiously in her seat, eyes pleading with him for the first time in her entire career. "Uncuff me and I'll... I can figure something out.
"Well that's convenient, isn't it? The only option you see is get yourself released from custo - "
"Brad do not fuck with me right now! How many people are in that room right now that have nothing to do with this? Just uncuff me and when it's all over I'll come quietly."
Hammond ignored her, standing up to check the window and door, trying to see what was going on. Alex bit back frustrated tears, stealing a glance at her other companion.
"Eva..." she hissed under her breath. "Eva, you have to believe me. Those men have been interrogating me for the last six months. This isn't some sort way to get him to release me. I am telling you this is real..."
Eva's eyes widened and she glanced quickly at Hammond.
"We have security...field ops..."
"And Cheng knows about all of that, I promise you. He'll make sure they're out of the picture..." she gulped hard. "Whether you believe that I'm innocent or not..."
"Rick would - "
"Rick is going to die if we don't do something," Alex growled, eyes focused intently on Eva. The sounds of the guns were getting louder. They were almost on them.
"He's head of CTU. When they're done with him they will kill him. You wanna save him...you have to uncuff me."
"But - "
"Eva, we don't have time for this. Everyone in there is in danger right now and - "
"I don't have the keys..." more machine gun fire practically shook the walls of the room. This was it.
"Brad! They're here; this is your last chance..." Hammond remained by the door, shooting an unimpressed glance back at them. Alex sensed the bubbling anxiety within him though. The room was rife with tension and whatever happened now would be on him…
What killed her was that she could save them. If somebody would give her a goddamn gun and throw her a fucking bone she could get them out of the room. She could give them a fighting shot to end this…
And she wasn't losing any of them. Not her uncle or her sister or…
She wasn't losing him like this. Not like this. Not again.
"What do we do?" Eva asked desperately. Alex head was spinning a little from a combination of adrenaline and exhaustion. Her body shook a little and her palms felt clammy.
"Just do what I say," Alex whispered, finding it in her voice to be calm. Eva was the only potential ally she had right now. Eva had to keep it together.
"Brad..."
"That's enough from you Evans. Your ploy won't work."
Alex shook her head, rising from her chair just as there was a break in the rounds of bullets.
"You're a fucking moron, Brad..."
A storm of bullets flew through the door of Holding a second after Alex had kicked the table on it's side and yanked Eva down behind it with her free hand. Eva's shriek resonated around the room just as Hammond's body slumped dead by their exit as soon as the door was breached. The sound of a combat boot colliding with the door startled both women and Alex poked her head around the corner just as more bullets ricocheted along the far wall. Eva made a noise somewhere between a squeak and a whimper and pressed closer to Alex.
"I need to get the keys!" Alex shouted over the commotion. Eva nodded, clearly overwhelmed with terror, but understanding.
"I'm chained to this thing! I can't do it myself! If you stay low they won't be able to hit you from that angle!"
"What if the door opens!"
"If the door opens now we're screwed anyway! We're unarmed and they have machine guns!"
Again, Eva nodded and squeezed her eyes shut quickly.
"Okay...okay...I can grab them..."
"Go!"
Eva exploded from their hiding place, practically tripping over herself as she tried to move as quickly as humanly possibly to Hammond's bullet riddled corpse. Alex stuck her head out again, trying to gauge how much time they had left. It was impossible to tell. The doors were bullet proof, but enough of anything would break them eventually. Hell, the glass was supposed to be bullet proof but she had a feeling if he could've Brad Hammond would've told her otherwise…
Thirty seconds later Eva came careening back around the table, fighting to keep her hands steady as she tried to fit the key into the lock.
"Here, here," Alex stuck out her free hand. "I'll do it."
Her own steady hand completed the task in seconds and then she was free. Eva handed her Hammond's discarded weapon not an instant too soon. The door flung open just as Alex clicked off the safety and Eva cried out in desperation. Alex shoved her down hard to the ground as she peered around the edge of the table and started to return fire.
The first two men that burst into Holding were covered in Kevlar and Alex struggled to find weakness in their gear she could use to her advantage. Two bullets a piece, striking just south of their arm pit seemed to do the trick because the men dropped almost instantly. Alex exhaled, diving into the fray and tucking an extra pistol into the waistband of her jeans and going for the man's machine gun.
"Take his pistol," she indicated to Eva. The other woman looked bewildered as Alex poked her head out the door and tried to gauge the position of the rest of their attackers. So far the corridor was quiet, but she knew that wouldn't be the case for long. Behind her Eva still hadn't moved.
"Eva…" Alex snapped. "You have weapons training. Take the pistol."
"I can't..." she whimpered. Alex shook her head.
"You can. You have to."
"But I - "
"Take the pistol," Alex's eyes narrowed and Eva managed a nervous nod, taking the other victim's pistol and following her out into the corridor.
"NOBODY MOVES!" The man dressed in full body armor fired a few rounds into the air and half the bullpen whimpered. Michelle felt Tony's dread without even having seen his face (he'd shoved her behind him instantly, shielding her from the view of Cheng's men as best he could). Fear clouded her senses and she felt almost crippled by it, never having been more relieved he was anywhere with her before. This was different than it had been for the last two weeks. This time, they were like rats in a cage. There was nowhere to run.
To her left Claire looked almost green, clutching at Bill's arm and holding on for dear life. The instant Rick had called out a warning, Bill had dashed to her side, easing her behind him and promising her everything would be fine. Her worried hiss, filled with urgency, had made Michelle's blood run cold. She'd been thinking along the same lines. What about Alex?
More gunshots and commands to shut up caused cries to erupt from the rest of the room. Tony hadn't moved in minutes, his muscle taut with tension and his breathing slow and even. She saw him exchange a look with Rick but couldn't quite place it. There were only two people at CTU (two people that mattered anyway) that were unaccounted for. Jack had disappeared almost fifteen minutes ago and Alex...Alex was far too vulnerable for Michelle's liking.
"Alright," the exceptionally large man stepped forward, surveying the cowering personnel.
"Everybody on their knees."
Most everyone was on shaky legs as they dropped slowly to the ground. Tony seemed reluctant, but her hand found his, urging him to behave. They weren't the targets this time. As far as these people knew, they were nobodies. If they kept their heads down everything would work out. It had to.
The nervous fingers brushing across her abdomen were her own, she realized after a moment . Oh god, everything had to be fine.
"Who's in charge here?" The man in the center of the room glanced around expectantly.
In the middle of the room she heard Rick's steady voice and pressed a face into Tony's shoulder quickly as he rose to his feet again to face the man. Tony's grip on her hand tightened and she bit back a whimper. This couldn't happen.
Bill hissed something from behind, but Rick ignored him, staring the taller man down and somehow seeming in control of the situation even if he wasn't the one with the gun. There was a trace of arrogance on his features, but for the most part he just looked mild, neutral. Just how he always did in a way that Tony never quite seemed to manage...she'd always kind of admired that about him.
"Where's Evans?"
He shook his head softly. "I don't know."
The man removed a pistol and tilted Rick's chin upwards with it.
"I don't believe you."
Rick shook his head calmly. "She was taken into custody hours ago," he fibbed easily. "I have no idea where she is. They probably took her off the premises by now."
"Well, let's just see what the boys bring in, shall we?"
"You're wasting your time."
"We'll see about that."
Less than ten very tense minutes later, grunts and growls could be heard coming from the corridor. Rick looked up just in time to see Jack getting dragged in on his knees. His nose was bleeding, as was his forehead, and he looked a little dazed.
"Mr. Bauer," the large man in the center indicated towards a place on the floor with his gun. "How nice of you to grace us with your presence.
Jack said nothing, eyes on the ground. The man sighed.
"Where's Evans, Bauer?"
Jack said nothing. The man's foot collided with his gut and Jack doubled over, spitting blood onto the floor.
"Where...is...Evans…"
Again, Jack said nothing. The man's weapon raised, seemingly at Jack, before he spun around and pointed it at the rest of them. Rick tensed as he surveyed them carefully, wondering who he would…
"The little one," he indicated to Claire. "Bring her to me."
"Over my de - " Bill started to growl.
The man rolled his eyes. "You say that like it's a threat."
Claire whimpered, face in Bill's shoulder, and his grip on her tightened.
"Look, there's no need for that," Rick interrupted calmly. "You have a bone to pick with somebody you can deal with me. Leave everyone else out of it."
"Where's Evans then, Mr. Almeida?"
"I don't know."
"Fine," his eyes shifted to Claire again. "Bring her for - "
"You son of a bitch!" Alex's angry yells cut him off. She struggled pointlessly, three large commandos surrounding her. One held her feet and the other two her arms. Rick's heart sank. Looking no worse than she had when he'd left her, Alex was half led, half-carried to the middle of the bullpen. Her knee collided with one hostile's stomach, causing him to double over and distracting them from Claire. Bill looked eager to leap forward and say something or do something, but before he could Alex was shoved to the ground. Rifles pointed at her from all angles and she slumped back on the floor. Rick watched her fight to keep the emotion from her face, but she faltered when she locked eyes with him. They needed a play. She needed him to make a play for…
"Something you'd like to share with the class, Evans?"
"That the first chance I get I'm breaking every bone in your body until you beg me to make it stop," she growled with far more bravado than he knew she felt. He could see it behind her eyes. She was terrified.
Fong grinned maliciously, raking his eyes over her body.
"That is a bold statement from somebody flat on their back, wouldn't you say Evans? I'm surprised you can even walk anymo - "
"Leave her," Jack spoke hoarsely before Rick could lunge at Fong's throat for even thinking...for even looking at her like….fuck…
"What was that Bauer?"
"I said leave her," Jack's words found their bite. "You have me. Leave her."
"She knows too much."
"She knows less than you think."
"Cheng requested her specifically, Bauer. You we're to kill, her we keep to play with."
Alex's eyes found Rick's for just long enough to relay her message. They told him to be cool. It was going to go down like this anyway and she was pleading for him to be cool.
"If I had more time Evans, we might even play with you right here in front of everyone. It's far too amusing to see you riled u - "
"Fong!" Jack called hoarsely. "Let them go. Let her go. You have me. I'll tell you what you need to know."
Fong's eyes raked over Jack and then did the same for Alex.
"No."
Alex swore and slumped back, chancing the briefest of glances at the rest of them before shutting her eyes.
"Now," Fong moved away from Alex and walked towards the group of people. His eyes searched the crowd carefully before coming to land on…
He came to stand directly in front of Michelle. Alex snapped upright and stared at them, shouting something on deaf ears. Rick spun around in horror and Tony immediately shoved her behind him and glared.
"Ms. Dessler, we require your assistance locating something on the server. Please come with us."
"Go to hell."
Fong snorted, ignoring Tony.
"Ms. Dessler…"
"No," her voice was slightly uneven, but her answer was definitive. "Locate it yourself. I'm not helping you."
Fong sighed, crooking a finger at his men. Two hurried over. Tony's fists balled. Fong sighed again, motioning to the men at Tony.
"Remove him. Put him somewhere I don't have to look at hi - "
"No, no, no, it's fine, it's fine!" Michelle protested quickly. "I'll help you, I'll help you. It's fine."
Fong looked her up and down, smirked.
"You will indeed, Ms. Dessler, but your husband's going to get in the way I think."
Tony struggled against them.
"Get the hell off me!"
Lazily, Fong pulled out his weapon, aiming it at Michelle.
"Mr. Almeida, go quietly please. I do not wish to hurt your wife. She's one of few valuable assets we've acquired."
Tony's face went pale and he slumped against the men holding him. The colors drained from Michelle's cheeks. Fong looked between them and then glanced around the room.
"And while we're at it, take him as well. He's getting on my nerves."
Before anyone had time to blink, two men grabbed Jack, another two with guns on him, and dragged him off behind Tony.
"Now that Ms. Dessler's going to help us get what we need, you can take Evans out to transport."
Everyone spun around as Cheng strolled through the bullpen lazily, casting a glance at Alex and waving his hand at her.
"Dessler goes to IT," he eyes traveled over to Rick and he took and step forward. A small silver pistol was placed under Rick's chin.
A man nudged his rifle against the small of Michelle's back and lifted her head up.
"I won't be able to crack the firewall alone. I need another set of hands."
Cheng looked at Fong. Fong nodded, crossing the room to where Claire and Bill stood. He ripped Claire from Bill's protective grip and Alex went pale.
"HEY!" Bill snarled to no avail. Alex chirped up.
"Hey asshole, pick on somebody your own size!"
"Shut her up," Fong growled, dragging Claire forward as Bill yelled over him. Claire was shoved towards Michelle.
"There's your extra set of hands. I suggest you use them wisely.
Alex struggled furiously against the men restraining her.
"SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS! LET HER GO - !" The butt of someone's rifle collided with the back of her head and she dropped to her knees. Rick jolted forward, but Cheng placed the same sleek silver pistol against his temple. Alex curled in a ball, feeling blood on the back of her scalp. She squeaked softly, catching Bill's eye from the floor and shaking her head. He'd been about to run to her, but that was pointless too.
A minute later, Cheng spoke again.
"Put Evans in transport. Now."
"You son of a - "
"Do we have a problem, Mr. Almeida?"
"You have Bauer. You don't need…"
"Oh, but you're wrong. I do. You should be grateful," he cast a glance on Alex. "It's the only reason she's still alive. Get her out of here."
Alex choked down the bile in the back of her throat, shooting a fleeting glance in Rick's direction as two men wrapped their hands around her arms and she was dragged out of sight.
"Michelle," Claire squeaked softly, eyes wide with horror as they followed the man down the corridor. Michelle indicated the direction to IT, squeezing Claire's shoulder and murmuring soft words of assurance. Claire shook her head vigorously, getting Michelle's eyes.
"I have...training…" Michelle barely heard what she was saying, but nodded quickly before the man turned around. Claire would've received weapons training. Claire knew they had to...make a play.
Michelle knew she had to make a play. Now she just had to figure out how.
Michelle nudged Claire to the workstation directly across from her, leaving her own back to the guard for the room. He stood directly over her shoulder, watching as she booted up the computer.
"I have to hack in," she explained simply. "I don't have access anymore. Claire, what level clearance do you have?"
"T-two," Claire locked eyes with her, looking expectant. "I have...level two."
Michelle nodded, keying away at nothing and keeping her eyes fixated on the screen. Claire did the same, fingers flying across the keys only milliseconds behind Michelle's.
Rick groaned softly when a foot collided with his rib cage. He wasn't sure what the point of beating him right now was. It was probably just for sport. The guy wasn't saying anything, but growled and spit and occasionally looked to his companion. Rick grunted when he was struck again, curling into the fetal position. He had no idea where Tony or Jack or anyone was for that matter. For now, all he knew was that his legs and wrists were bound and two men with machine gun guarded the only way out of the room he was in. They'd dragged him there right after Al had been taken away...
And they weren't taking her back. He knew that. Even if it killed him, they were getting her back.
Michelle glanced across the console at Claire's concentrated face. Claire kept sneaking glances at her too, waiting for a signal. Directly behind her the guard waited, his own eyes locked on the screen. Michelle chanced a meeting of Claire's eyes and gave her nothing more than a curt nod. Claire nodded back. It was now or never.
"Claire, I'm about to get us into the server. Do exactly what I say when we're online."
"S-sure, Michelle."
Michelle shifted a little in her chair, changing her body position and checking behind her. She had one shot, she better make it good.
It happened fast. Michelle shouted for Claire to get down and drove her elbow into the gut of her assailant. He doubled over, giving her just enough time to snatch at the handgun tucked in the holster against his waist. He dove into the pistol unknowingly as he tried to restrain her, just as Michelle pulled back on the trigger.
Claire popped up immediately, watching the blood stain form on the man's shirt. She leapt into action quickly, helping Michelle shove him to the floor.
"Michelle! Are you oka…"
"Check if he has another handgun."
Claire nodded and went to work, cheeks flushed with a mix of adrenaline and panic.
"What now?" she panted as she found a handgun and checked the clip. "There are too many. I have weapons training but…I've never done this...I don't know what to do...what do we do..."
"Claire, Claire," Michelle soothed her gently. "You're right; there are too many. We need..."
"They're taking her to the parking garage. Aly. I saw them." Claire looked at her anxiously. "Aly would…"
Michelle followed her train of thought, but her eyes showed her worry.
"Claire, if we make a play for Alex and she's already in a car or on a chopper or…"
"We blow it..." Claire nodded. "Okay okay, you go to everyone else and I'll go to her."
"What? Claire - "
"We need help and they're transitioning her. She's probably going to be the easiest person to grab. And then if it blows our cover you're already in position to…"
Claire looked incredibly pale, but her words were firm. Michelle hesitated just a second, feeling as though Alex was looking back at her now. Claire knew what she needed to do and Claire would do it.
"I have weapons training, Michelle. Rick taught me. I'll be… I'll be okay. He says I'm a good shot…" she laughed nervously. Michelle touched her arm.
"Claire…"
"We...if we wait too long to get her she could be gone. I can't…we can't lose her again."
"Okay, okay, you're right," Michelle squeezed her arm. "Stay hidden unless you absolutely can't help it and shoot to kill. Okay?"
"O-okay."
Michelle shut her eyes for a second as 21-year-old Claire Evans checked her gun a second and third time before shuffling down the hall as quickly as she dared. Michelle sighed, wanting to go for Tony or Rick or Jack but knowing her play had to be the bullpen. They'd free others and get some help and then she'd find the rest of them.
One thing was for certain though...she wasn't leaving without Tony.