A/N: This chapter continues exactly where we left off back in chapter four (4) with Michelle talking to her friend Tracy at the mall. Thanks for your patience, I know it's been a while so you might have to re-read that chapter first before coming back to this one.

I wrote this chapter very fast so I might need to re-edit within the next couple of days. But I'm excited to share it, so I decided to post it anyway.

Back to the real time format

We Are the Lucky Ones

9:30 am.

Once again, her cell phone rang just when Michelle was getting to the good parts of her story with Tony: their honeymoon and the following three years which had been the happiest of her life.

It was Tony again, "Are you still there?" his voice sounded rushed, his breathing heavy as though he'd been running in a marathon and was struggling to catch his breath.

"I'm still here...Still at Jamba Juice..."

"I'm coming to get you right now..."

"W-hat? No, that's not necessary. We're thinking of doing some window shopping...and then,"

"Michelle...I need to come and get you..." he interrupted in an urgent tone which sent alarm bells throughout Michellle's body. "Just stay put all right?...It's really important. I'll come and get you. " Tony was trying his best to sound calm, he did not want to alarm Michelle to the point of panic.

Michelle turned her body slightly away from Tracy, gripping the mouth piece of her phone. there was a sharp intake of breath on her end of the line. "I...wh-What about Tracy?"

Tony clearing his throat and took a deep breath. He needed for His response to sound natural. He just couldn't come out and flat out tell her that he almost got killed by a car bomb trying to get to his car a few minutes ago. "She can go home. Tell her that I will be picking you up." He would explain everything once he got there. Still, he needed for Michelle to understand the urgency of the situation. Sensing the hesitation in her voice he whispered the 'safe' word "Ontario". If there was ever any trouble a fallout from their association to Jack Bauer and CTU, they had decided a long time ago that they would head out to Ontario International Airport. Ontario was about 56 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). In an emergency situation, their safest best to was avoid the hustle and bustle of LAX.

"Ah...ah?" Michelle hesitated. After a moment, she mentally kicked herself for hesitating, it was as though she had completely forgotten her training at CTU. But this had been so unexpected, she wasn't really thinking...

"On second thought, Michelle...you've got to get Tracy to go...before I get there. She can't suspect...do you understand?"

Michelle stole a glance at her friend. "Ah...yes, I understand."

"Michelle, I love you...be careful, all right?"

"I love you too, Tony," She ended the call with apprehension. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to her friend. "Sorry about that..."

Tracy was now holding Mary Ann on her lap, her head resting on her shoulder. The young toddler was fast asleep. "She didn't sleep much last night," Tracy explained. She studied Michelle for a long moment with evident concern. "Chelle...is everything alright?"

Michelle looked away. There was this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach she was afraid she might get sick. She knew now beyond a shadow of a doubt that something serious was going on. Mentally, she had prepared herself for this day yet emotionally she was surprised by the strong emotional response.

She didn't want to even think about leaving behind the life they had build...

She couldn't afford to fall apart now. She had to be strong now...for Tony and their unborn baby.

"Tony..." she cleared her throat to escape the haze of her troubled thoughts. "Tony is on his way over, we need to meet a new client pronto." She hated lying but she had no choice. Tony had made it clear that she needed to get Tracy to leave before he got there to avoid any suspicions.

"Oh...well, I can take you..."

"No, no...he's on his way already..." Michelle gave her a small smile. "In fact, he should be here any minute now..." With some relief, she now realized that her queasiness had subsided some.

Tracy smiled warmly. "Tony is such a wonderful husband. " she paused. She cocked her head just so as if she was just entertaining a thought for the first time. "Say...I never asked you...Did Lilia ever re-marry or have any children of her own?

"Yes...she re-married...and adopted a child, I think..." she played with her wedding ring in an attempt to calm her nerves. "She went back to Canada...the guy she married was her ex-husband, I believe."

Tracy shook her head in amusement. "Ah...that's something I would never do...marry the same guy twice. Once I think is enough for me. I mean, seriously," she hesitated a moment. "Of course, you and Tony are obviously the exception...but for the rest of us ordinary folk... the thing to consider is that we already know what we're getting into the second time around. At least with a new guy the irritating stuff is still blissfully hidden."

Michelle couldn't help but smile at , she and Tony had been very lucky indeed. Nearly every morning when she woke up she said a quiet prayer of thanks for having Tony in each and every single way*

Indeed they were the lucky ones.

"I need to use the restroom" Michelle said her gaze darting from her watch over to the ladies room just a few steps away. She was hoping that Tracy would take this as a cue that it was time for her to be on her way.

Tracy shifted her position and in almost one single motion managed to get her child back in her stroller (which was now conveniently reclined all the way back) with incredible ease. It always amazed Michelle how her friend always managed to do this without waking her child.

"Well...maybe I can still go to Macy's and shop around while Mary Ann is still in La-la land, " Tracy's smiled. "I heard there is a 60% off everything sale going on."

Great! Michelle gave Tracy a quick hug good-bye and in a flash was inside the ladies room, breathing a sigh of relief. She was finally all alone with her thoughts as there was no one else in the restroom. And as it turned out, her stomach was fine now. Although, it was her heart that was giving her trouble now; it was pounding so fast that she felt it would just explode into a million pieces.

While she'd been with Tracy she had not allowed herself to think. But now she couldn't run from the fear that was threatening to take over any rational thought. Looking at her cell phone she wondered what was taking Tony so long to get there.

She went over to the sink and splashed cold water on her face.

She needed to remain calm and think.

If the Chinese had somehow found out of their involvement in Jack's disappearance, at this point she could expect pretty much anything. Any person she encountered: man, woman or child could be the enemy.

It almost felt safer to stay in the restroom forever.

Dammit, Tony! Where are you? Why aren't you here yet?

The time on her cell phone read 9:53 am. Had it been nearly 20 minutes since she had talked to Tony...already?

The mall was only ten minutes away from their home... He must have left right away... In fact, I think I heard some wind noise in the background during that call...like he was driving already. Michelle frantically searched her mind. Dammit, dammit, I should have asked!

Then, she did what she should have done in the very beginning: she dialed Tony's number.

He should have been here 8 or 9 minutes ago. No big deal, really, another voice inside her countered. Maybe he just had trouble finding a parking spot. Oh, don't be silly Michelle...Tony would double park if it was necessary rather than keep you waiting, the nasty unfriendly voice inside her head reminded her.

The call went to voice mail.

A/N:

* from song Lucky by Bif Naked

Dear readers: we are so close to the end of this story. I've been busy writing other stories, but I will come back and finish this one. Please take the time to make a comment or two. This lets me know you're interested and encourages me to continue... So, even it it has been forever since I've updated, I will still read and respond to all messages regarding this story. Thank you.