title: separated
author: callisto24
fandoms: 24, Numb3rs
characters: Bill, Jack, Ian Edgerton, Chloe, Morris...
category: drama, m/m slash, crossover, AU
theme: sometimes Bill’s point of view, Jack meets Agent Edgerton during the events of season6, spoilers for season6
rating: NC-17
disclaimer: nothing belongs to me, no money made..

 
Placed during Season6.
* * * * *

 
He had to keep it secret. A man in his position wasn ‘t allowed to feel this way.
People were used to him staying cool in each situation, he was expected to deal with..., to manage the most impossible situations without losing control. He was really good in this, in staying calm, in keeping balance no matter if the world comes tumbling down around him. He was able to put up the necessary distance, to lock emotions which threatened to become noticeable away until he would be allowed to handle them, which happened usually in the same reserved manner he showed during each imaginable situation his fate deciced to throw him in. Not even the nervegas attack had been enough to increase his heartbeat, no threatening of his own life could do it. The grieving about Michelles death hadn ‘ t interfered his work though he had loved her once, neither had the shock about Tony’s or Edgar’s end, or the dying of the amounts of people he ‘ d relied on, who had demonstrated to him that there existed a chance to live as a normal breathing, feeling , human being and work as an agent at the same time. He had never been able to believe this, at least not for himself.
To hide his emotions meant to hide them completely, allowing no exception. Nobody knew what he carried inside. Not even Karen. Their relationship worked perfectly, because they lived seperated lives, each of them in another state, in another part of the country. Bill loved her, like a man of his age and in his profession could love a woman, in a rational, reasonable way. They belonged together... provided each other with the sense of family, thankful for the love they shared in the rare moments their work left them, thankful to be able to understand their reciprocate needs. His life had been like he had wished it to be, far away from the dreams and hopes he had carried as a young man, but satisfying enough to be content. Until everything changed, again during few hours. God knew he had enough reasons to break down under the pressure of these days. The attacks. The sick deal with Fayed, Jack ‘ s return and his own role in it.
It had been enough to make him hate himself.
But he had always been proud about his ability to function like he was expected to do and it wasn ‘ t deceiving him this time. His responsibilities guided him into the right direction, made him move where he was supposed to move. The pale faces around him told better than words about the shock the detonation had caused. He felt it himself especially with the thought of the teams they had lost.
But the reason why he felt close to a break down, why he was afraid each moment that his body would start to tremble and give away his fear, was hidden deep inside his mind, buried there for years, buried from the first moment on he had seen him, he had looked into these eyes, he had discovered the burden this man had been forced to bear. When he knew him in China it had been worse, the guilt had been harder to endure than during the time he had supposed him dead. Maybe because he had never really believed into Jack dying, not when the circumstances fit in so perfectly. He hadn ‘ t been that surprised with Jack ‘ s return though he had been astonished about the slight tingle in his guts whenever Jack had approached him this day. The events of the situation had demanded his full attention, there had been no room for wonder or anger. Nevertheless he had wished to be a part of this conspiration, to be trusted by this man.
Bill had watched him with Audrey, had seen how torn he was inside, how much her behaviour had hurt him, how he craved for her forgiveness and it ate him up inside though he would never admit the reasons why he felt this way. His hair had been cut short, shorter than he had ever seen it, even on his army photos. It had lost its golden shine, the boyish innocence he had noticed while studying the pictures of him together with Teri and his daughter. How much time had past since these days, how much had he been forced to go through. Bill remembered his own time in Washington, his climbing up the career ladder, his interest for the events in L.A. which led to the decision to join Division. Had it been already then, that he had felt the pull towards a fate which moved out of his own hands? During this day he had watched him, each move had burnt itself into his memory, the way his clear eyes stared into his, finding their way right to his soul, causing it to shiver until he had to drop his gaze. The sun playing with the blond strands, stroking the face which had gained tone from the physical work outside. He swallowed thinking about the hard muscles playing under the fabric of his shirt. He found himself hypnotized by the sight of Jack changing clothes, slipping in and out of his flak jacket, always in motion, always in a hurry, always acting fast. And the thought that they all relied on his skills, depended on his intuition, aroused him. A sensation which scared and surprised him at the same time. It was the first time he allowed himself to recognize this feeling. * * * * *

 
Only few hours had passed by, few hours which changed Bill’s point of view basically, which catapulted Jack back into his destination. And when finally the threat was over, when they started to relax, when he honestly began to consider the existence of a possibility to work with Jack, when he had smiled at Karen delighted with the prospect of a brighter future, then he’d received the call telling him about Jack’s vanishing and everything broke down again. No rest, no peace, no relief, no time to mourn their losses.
The search had started at once, hectically, frantically, without a concept visible.
Audrey was devastated, Chloe clearly angry, the questions were thrown at him like arrows hurting him more than he would admit. How was he supposed to know what Jack would be able to do the country’s, to Palmer’s reputation under pressure? Besides he certainly didn‘t care after all he had learned during the past day about the nasty failures in highest government positions. But the priorities were clear, were confirmed to him from above without a second of delay.
The damage had to be limited, nothing could be more important than keeping the silence at any costs, even when they finally got the confirmation about what had happened to Jack. The urge, the tormenting feeling that he had to act, that Jack needed him gnawed permanently at his insides, an everlasting pain offering no way to escape. Of course he hadn’t talked about his doubts, had kept them inside as he was used to while he constantly was running against the walls of bureaucracy and the political barriers building up sooner than he could pull them down. Karen’s friendship had given him strength these days.
What they had shared, the loyality he sensed in her, the wordless understanding of his useless efforts had touched him deeply and it had finally been easy to accept her approach. It had also been easy to let her leave for Washington, he had seen the chance given unexpectedly, the chance to influence people in most responsible positions. But he never had been able to imagine the speed things changed finally.
After nearly 20 months of uncertainty facts became clear surprisingly fast. The shameless demand of a single terrorist had been enough to allow politicians to move the mountains they hadn’t been able to face before. And they made it Bill’s task, he had to sell this unacceptable deal to a man, they had let down not for the first time. And he fulfilled his duty like he did everything he was expected to.
Bill watched Curtis, found him on the edge fumbling with his weapon, ready to force Jack, if he would show any sign of refusal, but the unease clearly written in his face. Intentionally Bill had hidden his own inner conflict as far as possible, well-knowing that there was no other way and desperately trying not to make things harder for Jack. Yet nothing had prepared him for the coming events, for the hollow face, the void in the former clear eyes, the bowed body giving away nothing else than submission and obedience. Though he felt like a judge condemning consciously an innocent person to death, he suffered more from the sudden realization that not only Jack welcomed the situation, but just it might turn out to be the best solution available. That Jack maybe knew that he neither would nor could be of any use in this fight anymore and that he preferred to end it this way. And though nausea had made each step an effort, though his stomach felt like cut by countless knives, though his heart ached in a way his cardiologist would have considered a possibility, he had done what had to be done, had sold Jack, sold a part of himself in exchange for their last hope, a loose chance he would never have relied on if the circumstances hadn’t been that horrible.
 
Without looking back he had walked away from the place where Jack had remained handcuffed, motionless, his head bent down, accepting whatever he might have to endure. And when Jack had been carried away, when Bill had returned to CTU a part of him died inside with the thought of Jack being murdered cold-blooded, of his last moments in the captivity of people who hated him enough to betray their own folks just to get their personel revenge on him. And he felt like shit knowing that it should be a man like him, the person who at that time had made the decisions, had ordered Jack to interrogate Fayed’s brother, the person who had carried the responsibilities then, their fury should be directed on. Sick inside he returned to CTU pushing forcefully each thought distracting him from their current aim back into a place where it couldn’t touch him. But he wasn’t able to prevent the short flashbacks shaking him during the rare moments when his thoughts weren’t bound completely by his task. A glimpse on Jack’s hands when he had left the plane.
The shock caused by his first appearance which turned to anger when he noticed the damage done, when he captured the questioning glance Jack threw into Cheng’s direction, the silent plea for permission when Bill had insisted on removing the cuffs. He knew Cheng and the chinese culture well enough to respect him as an horourable man captured in his own beliefs and traditions trying to act for the sake of his country. Bill understood the anger about the unacceptable intrusion of the embassy. Usually he would consider it himself a crime which deserved no excuse. He prefered not to imagine how his government would react if the roles were changed. But they weren’t. Cheng had acted like he was expected to, had taken advantage of the situation just as he would have done. Without the slightest doubt Bill would have ordered each kind of ‘special treatment’ on a prisoner who would keep him in the dark, who would keep his mouth shut though he knew about a traitor in Bill’s rows. It would have been his duty as well as it has been Cheng’s to find out everything possible, to take each chance to make his witness talk. His means might have been different but not so much he would like to convince himself. Cultural differences in the conception of the human-rights-term would lead people in his part of the world to act more secretly but the consequences remained similar anyway. Each time he had ordered torture in his past, he had signed his acceptance he had given up his own humanity a little bit more and sometimes he wished there would exist a possibility to gain it back. He remembered the shudder running down his spine with the sudden sight on Jack’s pale back when he had undressed in the middle of the abandoned warehouse soon after he had agreed to the exchange. He seemed unaware of the fact that several people watched him, had to watch each movement he made taking care that their valuable trading subject wouldn’t slip away or even transform itself into a dead body worthless for any deal because he chosed to take his own life instead of enduring more than he’d already endured. Jack had cleaned himself up silently, cut his hair and beard step by step changing into the person Bill remembered. But yet he wasn’t the same, probably would never be again.
Not only the scars on his body, not his hands shivering slightly, not the avoiding of any eye contact transmitted the impression. His whole shape seemed slumped down, awfully skinny, his shoulders slack, the former strength gone forever. His movements slow, deliberately and Bill wondered if Jack had recognized them as the last moments of his life or if the past months had taken away the ability - the necessity to rush things. It had been almost unbearable to see him that close yet that far gone and even more worse to watch the other men staring at the exposed figure in front of them. Jack had shown no feeling of shame, no emotion at all when he had been forced to prepare himself without the favor of any privacy. Probably he was accustomed to the exposition but it still hurt to see him act like this, obedient, quiet, doing what he had been asked to do. But they had no choice, none of them had.
And so Bill had waited at last, waited for Fayed’s call, waited for the final affirmation and for the reward he had promised them. * * * * *

 
But Fayed had made them wait in vain, never had intended to play fair. And once again it had taken one special man to find out the truth. One man already broken, abandoned, rejected, this man who had made his way through hell and back only to be tortured, mistrusted and left alone again. This one man whose death Bill couldn’t stand but whose life he couldn’t cope with either.
But he survived, lived, discovered in hours what he hadn’t seen for weeks.
The doubts meeting Jack’s judgement were understandable yet unforgivable at least from Bill’s point of view.
Though still shocked, still fighting with his own disbelief he carefully strived to give the outward impression of the required self-assurance, the certainty his co-workers needed to see in him in order to be able to deal with the demands of the situation. Again he forced the tremors shaking him back into his subconsciousness, the bewilderment, but mostly the sudden unexpected delight he desperately tried to ignore, but couldn’t. Jack was here... finally, alive and on his side and Bill sweared to himself that he wouldn’t regret it. Time rushed while his heart jumped in his chest, the constant subtone of deep relief hammering an unusual fast rhythm through his body. He stayed focused, it was his job to combine the different threads or to untie the presented knots until the danger would be banned. It wasn’t the moment for sounding the depth of his emotions, it was the time for quick, rational acting and he was up to it. Until the events started to come thick and fast, until the incredible became reality.
He never had guessed a reason to doubt Curtis’ loyalty, the man had been a rock from the start. But everybody had a breaking point and the underestimation of the traumatizing effects caused by each war experience had always created the worst imaginable consequences. He hadn’t seen it for the first time and he wouldn’t see it for the last. The strongest man could lose his grip on reality in a second, could betray his own conviction when a situation called him back into a life where justice and honour had remained hollow words, where surviving had been the only goal left. These wounds were too deep, they could be painted and hidden, but their existence couldn’t be denied. Maybe... if Curtis had never seen Assad again, he could have lived his life as he was supposed too. But the confrontation had scratched the surface long enough to free the still bleeding injury, had hurt him until his instincts had taken over. And Jack had to pull the consequences. Thrown into another nightmare without having had the time to wake up from the last, his training, his professionalism had taken the lead, had ruled his movements, had threatened, had warned, had pulled the trigger at last when no alternative appeared. Bill could feel what Jack must feel though he only heard the husky reports from the agent witnessing the killing. He sensed the pain, he too had lost a friend, a friend he’d known for years and though Curtis might not have been that close to Jack there were countless things connecting them besides the situations they had managed side to side. He had hit him good, a perfect shot, even after months without any practise.
Bill could tell how the gun must have seemed to develop a life of its own, how the brain must have shout out its commands while the heart screamed, begged for mercy, begged for a chance to get out of this impossibility. But there had been no way out for him, Jack had murdered a friend, had done it fast and safe, providing him with the mercy of a short death. And then Jack was gone and Bill listened to the confused explanations, ordered the necessary treatments, barked his demands to bring Assad without any delay to him, and yet could think of nothing else than the weight his fate had thrown on Jack again like it had no other aim than increasing the amount of anguish the man had to suffer from. And when he finally reached him it was worse. But the worst of all was that he understood, that he wished him to stop, that he wanted him to leave it all behind, to stay away from the people who used him, who would never recognize what he did, who would never thank him for his sacrifices, who would demand more and more each single day without giving an explanation, without giving him a reason or a single hint that they would understand what he had done his whole life. No matter how much Bill craved for Jack’s presence in this struggle, how much he craved for him to stand up with him, to support him and to be supported, he had to let him go, to give him this break, even if it might be too late. Only minutes had to pass to show him how late it really was. What everybody had resisted to imagine since the days of Hiroshima and Nagasaki had happened in his town, on the day Jack had returned. And now he was gone, away, separated from him by the chaos ruling the streets, by the panic turning normal people into ticking time bombs, unforeseeable and explosive, by a catastrophe America hadn’t experienced until this day. And while everybody in CTU stared on the monitors trying to understand what happened during this moment, Bill’s thoughts were with Jack who had broken their connection, who had build up this front by making clear that his decision was final, that their separation inevitable. And the fear grew, his fear that he really wouldn’t come back, that he had lost him, that Jack would walk the way voluntarily Bill knew his teams had taken. Alone, unreachable in the distance, far away from him, Jack fought the pain, far away from the tiny little chance Bill had always carried inside for the last years, the little chance that Jack would learn one day, one very special day about his hidden feelings, that Bill would despite each resistance find the strength to talk, if not with words than maybe in another way, a way which couldn’t be misunderstood. * * * * * *

 
There was no way to escape the radiation. The invisible poison would take its toll sooner or later.
Jack stared into the sky fascinated and disgusted at the same time by the unique sight. He had never really expected to see that, had hoped intensely that he would never have to watch it. But it had happened and he was stunned about the feelings rushing through him again and again. Feelings he had considered dead only a few minutes ago when the death of one man killed by his own hands had filled his senses painfully. The scaring beauty of the drama taking place in front of his eyes had pulled him on his feet without himself noticing it. Slowly he staggered forwards, his eyes banned by the gigantic play darkening the blue sky. These blue eyes which still burnt with the tears he’d shed for Curtis only a moment ago. For Curtis and for himself and what he had been forced to do. His eyelids sank down, but he still saw the blinding light inspite his attempts to calm his nerves by searching for darkness, tried to stand still, to feel the vibrations in the former solid earth, to listen to the unbearable noise caused by the detonation which still rang in his ears, mercilessly and inevitably, without the possibility to escape from it. The radiation might be close, but not close enough to do any harm in this part of the town. Yet people tried to get away, fought their way through the chaos as soon as the realization of what had happened hit them. And the dreadful cloud still remained in the air frozen like a picture, like a reminder on the consequences human actions could cause everywhere, each day. Jack fought the urge to approach it, strangely attracted by the sight, by the knowledge what would wait for him. It would be so easy to go there, to allow Fayed to finish his job. He would find nothing there what he hadn’t seen before, no cruelty, no horror he hadn’t gone through or created himself. And the thought of the innocent people, women and children, facing their own painful death, remembered him that he still had feelings, that he still was human. It would be easy to go there, to offer support and to wait for the end the way Mason had done ages ago. He stumbled and searched for support on the nearby young tree. The sounds seemed to grow louder, shook him inside, brought him back to reality. Suddenly he was able to hear the voices around him, the screams and shouts which weren’t ending. He opened his eyes again and shook his sight clear. He still was alive. The world around him had received a blow beyond anyones imagination but the sun still was shining not caring about the events taking place on a small, distant planet. One person removed from the blurred background, a young man begging for help ignored by the people around him, who were captured in their own living nightmare. There was no excuse for him anymore.
He had to finish what he had begun.
* * * * *

 
Bill functioned automatically. This was a case of emergency. He couldn’t afford to fail, couldn’t allow a single weakness. They had probed this case, from his first day in this work on he had known what to do. But he couldn’t prevent his thoughts to run around, to leave this place and his duties in order to search for the one person he cared for more than he could admit. And for the first time in years he sent a prayer to the skies above, hoping, longing for a sign of life created by this man.
 
And it came. Bill suppressed the smile of relief trying to spread on his lips with the sound of the husky voice penetrating his ears. He still heard it when the car which should pick Jack up was on its way, when he was busy tracing connections, following leads in order to avoid further crimes. It had sounded firmer now, more determined than before, closer to the familiar voice he remembered and he had missed. And the blood throbbed in his veins with the thought of seeing him again in here, in the middle of CTU where his picture had burnt itself into each corner where each shadow seemed to hide his shape, each room breathed his memory. He had never been able to avoid turning around in a haste when his eyes had caught the glimpse of a short figure moving fast, vanishing through a door, rushing down a street. Only a moment of shining blond, a sparkle of blue... gone as soon as Bill had been able to look closely. A simple delusion built up by his mind but sometimes real enough to drive him crazy. Though his mind had told him about the impossibility of his perception, his body had reacted with a mind of its own, raising his heartbeat, following each single illusion at least with his eyes wide open in an unusual glance. Karen once had asked him when she had noticed his head spinning around, his gaze searching the crowd for a man who still held his attention in a tight grip. His disappointment must have been too obvious while the blue-green eyes of a stranger asked unspoken questions. “Do you know him?” she had asked taking his arm.
“No!” He had swallowed the gulp and shaken his head. “Just thought I would... .”
She had nodded understanding as always and added a phrase which shook him inside.
“From the distance he had looked like Jack Bauer,” she had mentioned and emitted a sigh.
“I wonder how he is now... wish we could do more... .”
She had silenced lost in her own thoughts while he had looked down, taken her hand into his and squeezed it assuringly. “We will...,” he had mumbled low and more to himself than to her. “He will be back one day.” But he hadn’t believed it.
Things usually weren’t working out so smoothly and deep inside he had accepted the possibility that his life would end without him ever learning the truth about Jack’s fate. That nobody would ever know which nameless grave contained the bones of a man who at least should have been allowed to rest in peace at the side of his wife as it had been his wish. * * * * *

 
He walked inside the building like he’d never been away.
Seeing him between the field agents, appearing even smaller and thinner with the tall, heavy-armed men around him made Bill’s stomach flutter and he couldn’t tell if the reason was excitement or worry. Jack had told him that he wasn ‘t up to the task and Bill could sense the truth behind these words though he seemed to slip naturally back into the role of a team-leader taking over command without any visible hesitation, giving short, husky orders, his innated authority leaving no doubt about the position he’d been thrown in without volunteering. Bill wondered if he was the only one who noticed the fragility behind the rough shell, who was able to recognize how easy the hard wall he’d built up for self-protection could be shattered.
 
“Jack - good to see you!”
He smiled warmly and offered his hand. Jack took it reluctantly all too aware of the strange glances around them. Bill had noticed him before dropping his gaze when people began to stare at him.
Few of them knew him from earlier. The staff usually changed quickly but there had been no way to prevent the rumours from spreading, the stories circling around for years topped by todays events. Bill couldn’t deny the fact that most people gave an impression of awkwardness, were feeling clearly uncomfortable avoiding Jack’s eyes just as he avoided theirs. It had never been a secret that Curtis was very popular among the agents and Bill prefered not to imagine how many of his co-workers who had shared his opinion wouldn’t be able to forgive Jack, at least not that soon. He still held Jack’s hand in a tight grip when the confused eyes directed on him told him louder than the momentary silence that the instant threatened to extend in an unusual way. Quickly he let go feeling almost painfully the sudden pulling back, the hurried hiding of the damaged fingers behind his back. He tried to give an assuring smile but failed with the testing stare of this cool probing eyes. And yet he wasn’t able to retreat, not anymore. As if to prove his realization he carefully laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder and pushed him to the nearby office. ‘Just a minute’ he signalled to Chloe and closed the door behind them. His hand still prickled from the touch, the light fabric of the shirt not having been able to prevent the illusion of sensing hard muscles beneath bare skin. “What is it, Bill?”
Jack took the seat to which Bill had pointed him, leant back immediately, closing his eyes for a moment. He looked tired and vulnerable, completely exhausted, but Bill knew from experience how fast he could return into action when needed. “Jack!”
He suddenly felt ashamed. Truth was that this wasn’t the time to talk about personal stuff, to deal with matters of conscience. Bill rubbed his forehead, sensed a headache approach and started to wonder if this could turn out to be the situation he had feared secretely, the situation he wouldn’t be able to handle. Jack was still sitting in front of him without giving away a single emotion, without moving, his eyes still closed. Obviously he used a technique allowing him to relax, to gather strength in the spare minutes offered to him unexpectedly. Bill couldn’t help but admire the sight. His eyes followed the outlines of the body resting on the chair, the way the head had fallen back, the sunlight setting golden accents into the dark blond, the tender shadows created on the pale skin by the unusual length of the lashes, the delicious curves the expressive mouth showed when it wasn’t forced to react to the cruelties of life. Bill felt like a voyeur taking advantage of the other man’s worked-out state, when he went on with his silent scrutiny of the limp body presenting to him unexpectedly. One jeans-clad leg had come up, found a place supported by the other knee while his left hand lay on the thigh and his right seemed to protect the flat stomach. Jack appeared so young to Bill, young and somehow innocent. He couldn’t remember having felt about him that way before and it startled him to wonder suddenly about the reasons why he once had chosen this path, what possibilities he might had given away in his youth. And he recognized how little he knew about the man’s past, how much his vision depended on the few hours they’d spent working together, how the picture of a self-assured field agent capable of making decisions concerning life and death in a split second had ruled his imagination during the past years. But what did he really know about the lean shape relaxing in a complete defenceless posture in his office waiting patiently for the next task he would take into his responsibility. Bill wished he could bring him away, could provide him with peace, could make his wounds heal, could simply take him into his arms and protect him like a father wished to protect his son from the brutalities of this world. He shook his head confused about the kind of thoughts running through his mind, still strangely attracted by the way the chest moved under the bright shirt in a slow, regular way heaving and lowering like Jack might have fallen asleep. The unusual colour emphasizing the strangeness of the situation, giving him the impression of softness confused Bill more than he would admit. His wandering gaze concentrated at last on the contours of the slender waist fascinated by the sight of the motionless fingers resting unconsciously near the groin. Bill flushed when Jack stirred, when the blue eyes flew open in shock boring into his own as soon as he had managed to remove them from their former object of attention. Only moments could have past but Bill felt like having spent an eternity in this room together with this man from whom he knew he couldn’t hide his feelings much longer. Wrinkling his brow Jack stared at him neither demanding an explanation nor giving away his own thoughts. “Anything new about Fayed?” he asked finally his voice sounding rough again like it had been when he had spoken the first sentences to him after long months of silence. Bill shook his head, ran his hand through the white strands in order to distract from the amounts of blood still heating his features. “No, Jack. It’s something different I wanted to talk about.”
“Do you really think this is the time and the place for a conversation of this kind?”
Bill squirmed under the stare unable to read the other man’s thoughts, to get a grip on the intentions behind his words. He responded directly to the cool gaze and let out a deep breath. “What do you think I want to talk about?” he asked straightening.
To his surprise Jack looked away immediately, seemed to become smaller, to lose height in less than a second. The blond shrugged casually.
“Whatever you want to say or know about the past months, I guess it can wait.”
Bill’s eyes widened and shut in relief.
“No Jack.” He answered. “It’s not my business, you don’t have to tell me anything about it as long as we wouldn’t need it for the current situation. And I don’t think it would be necessary.” “Well...” Jack’s eyes still studied the floor. “I’m not interested in any kind of declarations. Would you please come to the point so that I can do what has to be done as long as I’m still able to.” Bill ached to touch him again, to pull him closer, embrace him tight enough to drive away the open pain emanating from the lonely figure he looked down on. He felt hurt by the way Jack talked, the coldness covering the fragments of his soul. “That’s just what I’ve... .”
The door flew open and Morris rushed in. “Bill, we’ve found the connection. It’s... .”
He stopped noticing Jack, paused to regard him uncomfortably.
“We’re not sure what to make of this informations...,” he started to babble. “But seems to be the only lead we have and chances are... .” “Talk, Morris... now!”
The agent threw another gaze to the quiet man in the chair.
“We have a lead to Phillip Bauer,” he added at last looking back to Bill who quickly searched for a change in Jack’s expression. He wasn’t deceived. A shadow flew over the pale face and the lips were pressed together shortly before Jack regained control. He glanced back at him coldly. “I’m handling this,” he decided. “We should use any chance.”
Bill nodded slowly. They both had chosen this life. Together, corresponding in their convictions, in their intentions they had agreed long times ago that sometimes the path offered to them allowed no choice. * * * * *

 
The night had already covered the city with its velvety darkness when his teams finally returned. Bill watched them on the monitors, the cars arriving, the men barking orders, leaving the vehicles, pushing suspects and criminals forwards, directing them quickly to the interrogation sections. The last man to climb out of the SUV was Jack, exhaustion obvious in his features and his posture. He followed a tall, slim shape wearing distinctive features in his nearly angry face. From the pictures he had seen Bill recognized him als Jack’s father and wondered shortly about the noticeable difference in their appearances. They still weren’t sure about the role Phillip Bauer had played concerning today’s events but momentarily they existed no proof that he might be anything more than another victim of the circumstances and Bill hoped for Jack’s sake, that it would remain that way. A dark-haired lean figure joined the two men after he had locked the car. Flak jacket and familiar clothes identified him as an L.A. agent. “Who is it?” Bill asked Nadja who was watching the arrival next to him.
“Agent Edgerton,” she answered shortly. “FBI. His team had joined ours two hours ago.”
She shrugged. “In fact they had been there before us, following some leads to the Bauer enterprise for days.” “And they never considered it a necessity to inform us?”
Nadja glanced at him. “You know how these things work. We hadn’t supposed a connection between Fayed and Grezenko, neither had they.” “You’re right.” Bill sighed. “You care about this?”
“Sure. I’m already receiving the files on my computer. We’ll know soon everything the FBI had found out.” Bill nodded and gave her a small smile before he stepped out of his office.
“Mr. Bauer?” He studied the man in front of him, noticed the waves of refusal emanating from the long shape and found himself startled by the idea of how it has to be to grow up with a father like him. Phillip Bauer took his offered hand and squeezed it while he bent his head quickly.
“I wouldn’t say it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Buchanan, but I understand your efforts to bring clearness into this whole mess.” “We need to ask you some questions, but mainly we think that you are safest in here, Mr. Bauer. It’s necessary to remove each suspicion of another possible danger before we should let you leave.” The tall man sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his eyes wandering around nervously.
“I guess the danger is banned now,” he stated dryly throwing a hard glance into Jack’s direction.
“I know you must be still in shock after what happened but I promise... .”
“You have no idea!” Phillip interrupted him sharply. “And I would prefer not to talk about it know.”
“Sure.” Bill’s eyes followed the older man’s gaze and came to rest on the same place like his one. For a moment they both watched silently the blond man transmitting informations to Chloe who typed them into her station quickly. Agent Edgerton waited patiently next to him throwing in a note from time to time. Suddenly he leant forward pointing on something on the screen, supporting himself by clutching on the smaller man’s shoulder. Both men watched the slender, brown fingers lingering on the smaller man’s body. They laid there just for an instant, not long enough to become awkward, but too long to remain unnoticed. With a snort Phillip Bauer turned away asking Bill impatiently where he was supposed to stay for the next hours. Bill removed his sight hastily and led Jack’s father to an abandoned room before he headed back for Chloe’s place.
“Agent Edgerton. Would you fill me in the situation?”
Black eyes scrutinized him coldly.
“Sure,” he answered at last. “We had followed the traces Grezenko had left for two weeks suspecting that they would lead us to one of the major enterprises in this area. Our suspicions were not confirmed earlier than you found out about the involvement of Fayed.” Bill responded to the cool stare by slowly raising an eyebrow. “Well, I hope we’ll be able to work together from now on.”
“Already on it,” Edgerton mentioned dropping his gaze to the computer Chloe was still working on.
“Jack!” Bill waved him aside. “Anything new about your father’s part in this?”
Jack shook his head. “Not since the last call I gave you.”
Absent-mindly Bill rubbed his temple considering his next words.
“I would suggest you to try everything in case you’d believe in a chance that he’s still hiding information.”
Jack swallowed dryly avoiding his gaze.
“I’m sorry, Bill, don’t think that I could be a help in this.”
“Nobody here knows him like you.”
Jack smirked bitterly. “I won’t rely on my knowledge on this man.”
“Ok.” Bill sighed. “I know it must be hard for you both. Just think about it.”
“I haven’t seen these people for years, in fact I had left them in my youth. There is probably nothing they would tell me voluntarily, especially not my father... after all that happened today... .” He paused directing his gaze out of the window where blackness swallowed the surroundings, where the world seemed darker than during any other night and Bill wondered if it was the lack of moonlight or the stars hiding behind a film of misty clouds what made everything appear sythetic, lifeless, a dead, man-made trap no one of them was able to escape. He watched the other man staring blindly into the night, lost in thoughts, in memories Bill had no access to. And again he longed to touch him, to assure him that he was on his side, that he would always be no matter what has happened today or a long time ago in the past, no matter what would happen, what still would lie in front of them. Instead he gently tapped Jack on his shoulder without being able to break his stasis and left him alone with his thoughts intending to give him the time he needed. Deep inside he knew that Jack would try it, that he would overcome the resistance buried inside of him and try like he always did. Bill’s eyes locked with Edgerton’s and his hand throbbed painfully seeming to remember the place it had been a second before, the place where Bill believed it to belong. * * * * *

 
Jack stepped outside, onto the flat roof longing for the cool night breeze to calm down the turmoil shaking him inside. He winced when he heard an unexpected move, feeling the need to be alone for a moment. Over a year he had spent most of his time on his own and suddenly he felt uncomfortable with the amounts of people who demanded non-stop more than he could give. Above all to see his father again had shattered him in a way he hadn’t expected. He shoved the thoughts away and concentrated on the night. A smile spread on his lips while he enjoyed the sight of the free sky though inspite of a roaring plane in the distance nothing seemed to exist there but pure, grey darkness. The noise of the day had faded away but it wasn’t quiet. He had forgotten the sounds a city made during the night, forgotton how loud it could be, how restless life appeared. In China the never-ending silence had made him scream, the lack of another living being tortured him more than he would admit. But now he sensed the difference in scaring clearness, the boiling crowd beneath him, the smell of exhaust fumes, the sounds of cars mixed up with the flashing electric lights, created an atmosphere near explosion. With all this life around him another man shouldn’t be able to disturb him.

 
Out of the corners of his eyes he watched the tall shape leaning against the wall. Jack couldn’t remember anyone despite himself having used this place regularly in order to clear his mind or to enjoy the night air. Obviously Agend Edgerton shared the same preference and Jack wasn’t sure if he should appreciate or dislike the fact. None of them talked for a moment, each one lost in his own thoughts until the dark-haired moved again turning to Jack. “Cigarette?” He offered him the package and Jack accepted gratefully. After Edgerton had provided him with fire they fell back into silence, smoking wordlessly. Jack allowed the smoke to fill his lungs closing his eyes while he relaxed with the feeling. Sensing his exhaustion he slid down along the wall until he sat on the floor with his knees pulled up keeping the cigarette in his mouth. A minute later he heard the other man sitting down next to him, a small sigh escaping his lips. “Long day!” Edgerton mentioned and rubbed his knee.
“Mmm,” Jack agreed not really in the mood for talking.
“Call me Ian,” the dark-haired went on. “I’ve been asked to stay in your department for a while. Suddenly cooperation is the magic word.” Jack couldn’t prevent a grin.
“That’s okay. I’m Jack.”
Ian nodded. “I know. So... what happened to your hand?”
Jack startled and quickly pulled his hand out of the other man’s sight.
“You come to the point without delay,” he said quietly.
“Life’s too short in our profession for long detours.”

 
Jack smirked again. “I’ve spent a longer vacation in China during the past months.”
“Okay.” Edgerton waited a while before he went on.
“Then it’s right that you returned this morning?”
“Right.”
“I guess a drink would be welcome too.”
Jack looked at him curiously meeting the black sparkling eyes shortly.
“A smoke is fine. Thanks man.”
The dark gaze glistened in amusement.
“The mess is not over yet. Nobody knows what the night still keeps for us.”
“Yes.” Jack agreed watching the smoke curl up and vanish with a sudden breeze.
“We have no proof but my orders are to keep an eye on Phillip Bauer. He’s either innocent or acting very clever. How’s your relationship with him?” Jack shook his head in disbelief.
“You’re getting very personal, Ian.”
“Sorry, Jack. Thought I’d lay the position I represent in this case better open.”
Jack ran a hand through his hair still not accustomed to the length and started to wonder why he felt no resistance to answer his question. Maybe it wasn’t bad to express his feelings in words, at least a part of them, before he would return to Bill. “No relationship.” He said at last. “I haven’t seen my family for nearly ten years and even then it had been nothing but a faked condolence. I don’t know anything about my father’s life or business, hadn’t known anything about my brother. We walk on different paths for more than 20 years now.” Ian regarded him carefully. “It’s the way it works with families. Made similar experiences myself. Parents are as difficult to understand as children are. Sometimes it’s useless to try.” Silence sank down between them again and Jack felt strangely comfortable in the presence of the other man facing the night, quietly sharing a moment of peace before they would return to the battles waiting for them. * * * * *

 
“Jack! He said he wants to talk to you!”
Bill waved him in. “Some family business. Don’t think it would help us but maybe he knows something without being aware of it. We have a new lead to Fayed and I want you to need a look on it at first. Maybe you remember a name or a connection.”
 
Phillip Bauer showed up in the entrance of the office they had at last offered him to stay in. One of his men worked on a notebook, a bodyguard stood beside the open door.
“Believe me. I wouldn’t bother you if I had the choice,” Phillip adressed Jack sharply before he let him in.” Jack said nothing waiting for the other man to continue.
* * * * *

 
Bill watched them from outside. Jack’s slim body slipping soundlessly into the room gave him the impression of a frightened child ducking down to avoid a danger. He dropped his gaze and took in a deep breath. His imagination was playing tricks on him. The last day had been hard for all of them. Agent Edgerton approached him from a side and Bill noticed suddenly that he walked the same way Jack had turned up before. “I would recommend to record Mr.Bauers conversations in here,” Ian mentioned to Bill.
“You know we haven’t permission.” Bill shook his head. “He has his lawyer with him and certainly wouldn’t be stupid enough to make a fault.” “And he knows that we are thinking this way.” Edgerton threw him a glance before his eyes returned to the office where Jack waited motionless while his father spoke into his headset not hiding his anger about the situation or his son’ s part in it. * * * * *

 
“Well, Jack.” Phillip took off the headset. “I wouldn’t bother you if Graem hadn’t convinced me that you were dead... or... at least at good as dead.” “What do you want, dad?”
“Anton had prepared these documents. I need you to sign them.”
“What are they for?”
“Now - cause your brother is dead, I think you’d agree that Marylin and Josh should be protected from any kind of financial problems.” “So?”
“I know you had given up demands when you ran away but I need to be sure that you wouldn’t decide to claim a piece of the cake. Though after what you’ve done today I certainly expect you to go without.” He raised his hands warding off.
“Don’t speak, Jack... I don’t want to hear your excuses. Not now! Certainly not from you.”
Phillip turned his back to Jack.
“Where shall I sign?”
Phillip nodded to Anton who handed Jack a few papers.
“Make sure you’re informed about all the consequences. This is final.”
“Don’t worry, dad. You won’t have any troubles with me.”
Jack’s voice sounded hoarse but clear while he quickly signed the documents.
“Yeah - I’ve heard that before!” Phillip stared at him coldly.
With a last glance to the lawyer Jack turned to leave.
He startled, froze in motion when his father’s voice called him back.
“You brought this on yourself, son. I’ve given you each chance to return.”
Jack stood still hesitating, stayed in his place avoiding the older man’s gaze while he waited for him to continue.
“I thought your marriage would bring you to your senses but you failed again. I hope your wife had looked for a distraction somewhere else like you had done.” The words quivered in the air when Jack finally succeeded to speak them loud.
“Don’t you dare to speak of Teri. You have no right to... .”
“Oh, sorry, Jack! Forgot she’s meant to be the love of your life.”
Phillip raised his eyebrows using a mocking tone.
“You have no idea what you have done to me. What it means for a man in my position to be confronted with this kind of... sick behaviour.” Jack winced, a small movement, barely noticeable before he took a quick step to the door.
“What Jack? Wanna run again?”
“Don’t think that you will discuss this here. It isn’t the time... .”
“The right time will never come. And when we are through with this I hope I’ll never have to see you again.”
“Fine!” Jack turned at last, fixed his gaze on the taller man. “Anything else you want to tell me... dad?”
Phillip breathed heavily, managed to suppress his rage.
“I insist on the truth, I don’t want you to change your mind and mix up the facts. Don’t need this.”
“I have no problems with the truth.”
“So we agree that you had left home on your own free will. You know that my door had been open for you all the time. In fact I had hoped a wife and a kid would turn you to normal again... .Obviously I’d been wrong...” “Calm down, dad. I’ve no intention to embarrass you. You’d better care about your own business...”
Phillip stepped closer, looked down on Jack open fury visible in his face.
“I don’t need these old stories... .”
“Neither do I.”
Jack made a move trying to retreat but Phillip grabbed his arm.
“I want you to make clear in front of my lawyer that I hadn’t kicked you out. You had always remained my son though I had often wished there was a way to change that.” Jack pulled away straightening.
“I know... I’m sorry about everything and I’m really sorry about what happened to Graem today... . You... you won’t have to deal with me again... .” “I was disgusted, Jack. I still am with the thought of you... but I always knew my duties... . I had hopes that military service would turn you into a man, that a child though I doubt it’s yours would make a difference but your lifestyle if it can be called like that became worse each year. I don’t know, Graem didn’t... none of us was able to understand your actions. It hadn’t been enough to endanger the reputation of our family, you played with the welfare of our country... ” Jack took another step back.
“I never planned to harm somebody, not you, not your family, not our country. When you had screamed at me that you hated my guts and never wanted to see me again the situation left no open questions to me. If it wasn’t for the connection between you and Grezenko I’d stayed away from you and Graem for the rest of my life, and that’s what I intend to do now.” Phillip trembled in anger. “Don’t give me that shit... you know what you’ve done and that it’s wrong, that it always will be no matter what some liberals may think. There is a reason for the way we live our lifes. It’s based in nature and in the bible... and I will never accept a son of mine to... .” “I know, dad. You don’t have to... . Just leave me alone.”
Jack’s husky voice cracked when he finally approached the exit of the room.
“How could I?” Phillip barked close to lose his temper with the sight of his son’s low retreat. “How do you suppose me to react when I have to hear this rumours from my friends, when Graem comes up... came up with stories of you and your collegue. You have to admit that you are a disgrace to every person connected with you... I will never... .” “You’ve made your point clear.” Jack interrupted him quietly. “The conversation is over.” He left the room, headed for the hallway. As soon as he was out of sight he slammed his fist against the wall violently. A sob escaped his lips and a haze threatened to blind his sight when he hit the wall again and again relieved to feel a pain he could reason. * * * * *

 
“Don’t!”
Strong hands caught his fingers in motion, held them tight.
“Don’t,” the soft voice repeated and Jack noticed the blood dripping from his knuckles.
“I’m sorry,” he croaked not aware of himself responding and looked up in wonder.
The eyes that looked back at him were dark as night. They smiled at him, a golden glimmer glittering in their depths while his hands were immobilized firmly. “They aren’t worth the pain.”
“Who?” Jack whispered confused suddenly aware of the impression he would give hurting himself by smashing the wall for no visible reason. * * * * *

 
Bill took off the headphones. His mouth went dry and his fingers trembled when he deleted the record. No way that he would allow this to remain on tape though he still wasn’t sure if he eventually had interpreted the conversation wrong. But anyway - the hate radiating from Phillip Bauer’s words and behaviour still shook him inside. He remembered his own father, distant, reserved, a highly decorated member of the army who accepted no opinion besides his own, politically, morally or privately. Nevertheless Bill supposed that he had never made him feel more rejected than the average son usually did who failed to step into his fathers footsteps like his old man had expected. Jack’s situation seemed different.
Bill couldn’t get rid of the image which just had bared to him, the picture of two worlds colliding, leaving one of them defeated, hurt and irreparably destructed at last. Only a man possessing Jack’s strength and bravery would be able to leave a history like this behind and concentrate on moving on. The openly stated refusal by Jack’s own father must have been and remained an unbearable hard blow and Bill wasn’t sure if it was possible to overcome a comparable cruelty exploiting such a vulnerable aspect of a human mind, no matter what age a man would reach himself.
 
He left his office in a hurry, driven by instinct, headed for the doorway he suspected Jack had crossed. And then Bill saw him, face to face with Agent Edgerton who held his wrist looking down on the smaller man in a mixture of worry and care. Bill’s heart stopped beating for a moment when he caught involuntary this brief moment of unintended intimacy. He urged the arising uneasiness back into subconsciousness calling himself back to his duties when he audibly cleared his throat. Noticed Agent Edgerton’s reluctant but immediate backing off as soon as he had made his presence known.
 
“Jack!” Bill called him trying to sound casual. “Need to talk.”
Without an answer Jack slid away from the dark-haired agent whose mysterious gaze clung on the smaller shape as long as he remained visible to him. With a sigh Ian finally stroke his hair back and returned to the place he had left without thinking about when he had seen the blond departing with that unreadable expression on his face after a clearly unpleasant confrontation. He still was convinced of Phillip Bauers involvement, more than before. Left to do was only to find the proof. * * * * *

 
“Morris is close to localize Grezenko’s whereabouts. All we need is confirmation before I’ll send a team there. We’re confident that he’ll give us Fayed without making difficulties. I would like you to go with the men.” “Why me, again?” Jack rubbed his forehead and sank on the next chair. “You have people here who are doing better.” Bill moved a step closer, leant against the desk.
“We’ve received a horrible blow today. You know that. Besides... .”
Bill hesitated for a moment. “I want to preserve the possibility to bring your father’s name in. Just in case... !” He paused, his gaze leaving the room, searching Phillip Bauer who appeared to be in the middle of a dispute between his lawyer and an invisible interlocutor.” “You’re bugging his calls.”
It wasn’t a question, more kind of a statement, but Bill answered yet.
“He isn’t officially a suspect, only here for protection.”
“I know.”
“Jack!” Bill took in a deep breath. Ice blue eyes met his hiding each emotion like Bill had expected. “You maybe won’t have a problem if we were able to nail your father on committing a conscious crime against the country. I... It seems you’re not so close... .” “What makes you think this way?”
Jack removed his gaze from the other man’s sight, still feeling the bright grey eyes studying the parts of his soul he never had wished to bring to light again.
 
Both silenced, no answer necessary between them.
Bill tried to think about words helping them to relax the situation, to change it into a more comfortable one. He wasn’t able to find them, they stuck in his throat while his attention circled around another secret he had learned only moments ago.
 
“Who...?” The sound escaped him before he could stop it, cursing himself the same moment he had pronounced the question. At least Jack’s gaze returned to him, surprised, more confused, not sure what he was asked about after this period of silence. His mouth opened and closed without speaking while his eyes bored into Bill’s. What he found there wasn’t curiosity but the simple attempt to understand. “Bill... .” He shook his head avoiding the eyes directed on him. “I don’t want to... .”

 
Bill suddenly bent forward reaching for Jack’s hand as if he had noticed its injuries just in this moment. “We’ll fix this.” He said and turned to the sink while he opened the nearby drawers pulling some clean bandages out. “You can use the place here.”
“Thanks Bill,” Jack mumbled clearly embarrassed by the obviously forgotten incident.
Watching the smaller man for a moment Bill wondered about the medical treatment he might have received during the past months when he observed the tenderness Jack showed while dealing with the sterile material.
 
“I... I only wonder about... .” Bill broke up, still uncomfortable with the topic but determined to go on. “I cared for Michelle once. I never stopped doing so until... .”
Jack’s eyes darkened before he answered without looking up from his task.
“She never knew. Tony would never had hurt her.”
He turned back to the older man.
“I won’t expect you to understand and I won’t defend myself... or Tony.”
A bitter smile appeared loop-sided and vanished nearly in the same moment.

 
“Would never do anything to degrade what we had shared.”

 
He stared down on his dressed wound, seeming lost, speaking more to himself.
“Nearly funny the effort my family had put in finding out about me after all those years. They really must hate me... .” The last words were spoken low, Bill guessed them more than he understood their meaning.

 
“Jack, ... I want you to know... .”
But Jack had already directed his attention outside of the room noticing Morris walking towards them. “It’s okay, Bill. I can do it. I’m going with the team when needed.”
* * * * *

 
“Got him!”
Morris grabbed his phone and informed Bill.
“I’ll send you the plan showing the area we suspect him to stay. He has been careful. We couldn’t figure out any exact coordinates. I recommend Agent Edgerton to stick with the teams. Without his help in we hadn’t come that far.” Bill nodded reluctantly.
The head of field ops already was instructing Jack, teaching him about the changes taken place during the past years. Bill watched them with mixed feelings swirling around in his head.
Jack seemed extremely concentrated,his attention keen, his body strained. Absent-mindly he fumbled on his bandage while listening. Sometimes he gave a sign of understanding, assuring the man that he was able to follow him. Bill couldn’t avoid the thought that this assurance was necessary because he looked horrible. Though he had thought it should be impossible Jack was even paler than before. Bill doubted that he would make it much longer without a long rest and he wished, that he would be able to grant him only an hour to sleep and eat, to regain at least a part of his strength. But he couldn’t. They had to follow the trace as long as it remained warm and it would be negligent to throw away any imaginable chance of gaining influence over Grezenko. Another problem consisted in the number of men they had lost this morning while tracking the bomb. Bill was forced to use any help he could get and on Jack he relied completely no matter in which bad shape he might be. He should be glad about Edgerton joining them, tried to be, but a strange feeling kept him from doing so. There existed no reason for mistrust but Bill couldn’t help but feeling betrayed. Maybe he interpreted the mood between his people in a wrong way. Everyone still in shock, still struggling to cope with the former events while feeling the pressure, the need to act immediately , to avoid further catastrophes, they moved close to the edge. No wonder that the suddenly returned Jack and the usually not so appreciated FBI interference took its toll. Maybe it was nothing but stupid, childish jealousy. Bill decided that it was time to face the annoying demon gnawing carefully inside of him. The day certainly had demanded more from him than he had been prepared to offer, but a reaction like this on the pure presence of a man who was only there to help them, seemed ridiculous. Unfortunately he couldn’t deny the obvious and irritating closeness between the two men, the tall, dark sniper, cool and under control, up to each situation and the pale blond who hadn’t had the time yet to become aware of the injuries in- and outside his mind and body, these months in prison and this day on top had left. Enough to bring down a man with a less traumatic past, but still he stood on his feet ready to meet the challenge. Bill again rubbed his temple.
He should be glad that Jack had someone on his side, someone he seemed to trust, he got along with, someone he was able to work together like he had done with... . Bill tried to force the swirling thoughts out of his head. Whatever Jack had shared with Tony, it wasn’t his business, never would be. But the unidentifiable ache in his stomach remained, refused to leave him. Instead it reached out wrapped its cold fingers around his heart sending slight waves of nausea down to his guts. “ * * * * *

 
“We receive more than five different signals,” Jack stated regarding the monitor.
“Just like we do,” Morris murmured and adressed Bill. “I had hoped they were able to exclude most of them by approaching the aim.” Bill shook his head staring at the blinking points in front of him.
“Seems like Grezenko had intended to leave wrong marks. He expected someone to come for him. We have to find out if he feared us or... .” Bill paused ordering his thoughts. Strange enough for a man like him to cooperate with an extremist like Fayed, his hiding in this area created still more holes in the puzzle. “Jack!” He bent forward. “You have to do find out what he knows. Right now he’s our only lead.” “I know.”
Jack cut the connection leaning backwards. He opened his eyes feeling Edgerton’s stare on his face. “What?” He barked, exhaustion causing him to loose his temper.
“Guess we should stay reachable for your boss. I don’t want him to become more angry towards me than he already is.” Ian switched on the device again. “Just in case... .”
“I’m always reachable, you know that,” Jack mumbled. “And I’m pretty sure that Bill has no problems with FBI interference.” “No.” Ian stayed quiet before he added: “I would suppose it’s more personal.”
“Huh?” Jack captured a twinkle in the black eyes but the handsome features of the other man returned to seriousness at once. “We’re nearly there, Agent Bauer.” The metallic voice of the driver entered the closed backside of the vehicle. “Where should we gather.” “Nowhere!” Jack answered immediately. “We have to circle the area at first and spread out at last. I can’t think of a way to find out which trace would lead us to Grezenko.” He looked at Edgerton. “Or what does the tracking specialist think?”
Ian smirked. “We have no choice. Just need to act fast and carefully.”
“Did you hear that Bill?” Jack asked. “Any results from the other team?”
“No. Fayed seemed to be vanished from earth. Anything you want to ask Gem?”
Jack made a face.
“Our head of field might have problems on his own. Just inform him how we are acting.”
“No fake signals recognizable?”
“Not one.” Edgerton answered. He has probably distributed his men regularly in different buildings. We need to check each building simultaneously at the best.” “Alright. Do it!”
Bill watched Chloe supervising the satellites. “You are helping Morris here as long as Gem comes along without your assistance. We have not enough men to cover the whole place and can’t afford to loose a suspect.” His head hurt awfully and he finally went for an aspirin. Maybe he should concentrate more on Fayed’s actions. If Grezenko had developed this kind of paranoia he probably had less influence than they had expected. They had to find out who really was in charge. * * * * *

 
“I figured out two places where I would suppose the guy to hide.” Edgerton extended the plan between the agents. “Assuming that most signals are created mainly for diversion, it would make the most sense for him to stay in this basement or in the neighbour building, first floor.” “Okay. We part. Within ten minutes everybody should be in place waiting for my sign. Any questions? Then go!” Jack adressed Edgerton. “First floor would be more likely than the basement.”
“Not in this case. Grezenko has a history of cellar command headquarters. He probably feels safer there. I’m checking this out.” Jack looked at two of the remaining men. “You join Agent Edgerton. The others are coming with me.” Without another word they divided heading into different directions. Another game had begun. * * * * *

 
Soundlessly they moved forward using the advantages of the night.
Finally Jack reached the suspected floor waving his men to follow him. Nothing could be heard, no voice, no sound though the signal blinked without a break. Jack started to doubt Grezenko would have chosen this place but he heightened his care when approaching the door. He looked on his watch. Only few seconds left before he would activate the walkie-talkie and command his people to enter. His breathing came quickly. At least he could rely on the power of adrenaline making him function no matter how tired he might have been. Holding eye-contact with the men behind him he activated his device.
An audible crackle could be heard.
“Dammit!” Jack cursed sensing a problem at once. “We’re going in... count to three... .”
A strangled cry was heard.
“Too late, American! One move and we’ll blow up the quarter.”
* * * * *

 
“Jack is closest to him,” Chloe stated. “Agent Edgerton next. The team on the right probably killed, at least disarmed, others in position.” “Do we have confirmation that he’s able to do what he threatens to.”
Chloe shrugged. “We have no reason to doubt his words.”
“All teams stop,” Bill commanded nervously. “Jack! What happened?”
“I’ll talk to him,” Jack answered huskily. “Do I have permission to negotiate?”
“Granted,” Bill sighed. “Do what you can!”

 
He turned to Morris. “I want permanent connections to the other teams. They should be ready to take over.” * * * * *

 
“Okay!” Jack shouted. “You’re in charge here. We won’t come in.”
“You better won’t, I swear,” the man barked.
“I need to know what you ‘re having with you.”
“Believe me, you’ll learn soon enough.”
Jack slowly let out his breath, allowed himself a moment of silence. They had to act carefully, take their time to avoid panic mistakes. “Grezenko?”
He decided to open up.
“We know that you aren’t behind this attacks. And we know that you’re not intending to die like this. This isn’t an acceptable solution for a man like you and I want to assure you that together we can find a better way.” He waited a moment to let the meaning of his words sink in.
“My name is Jack Bauer. I’m authorized to negotiate by the government. We are not after you. Right know everything leads us to the assumption that you’ve been fooled by Fayed. You have provided him with the material he needed and now he uses you as a scapegoat.” “Who is ‘us’, Mr. Bauer?”
“CTU, Los Angeles. Besides I have personal reasons to find Fayed and whoever might be behind him.” Silence spread between them while Jack paused again. The suppressed breathing of the agents were the only sounds audible until Grezenko finally spoke again. “You’re right. We’re trapped in here. It isn’t a honourable way to die but who can guarantee us that we aren’t fooled by you again. After all I’ve seen and heard I won’t be stupid enough to trust an american agency, no matter what name it carries right now.” “You’re playing Fayed’s game if you aren’t listening to me.”
“Better his than yours,” the other man hissed.
“Mr. Grezenko! My father is involved. Phillip Bauer. My brother had compromised his enterprise when he made the deals you know about. I need your help to prove his innocence. I promise you immunity from prosecution if you provide us with informations that allow us to stop the attacks.” The tension grew when again no sound could be heard.
Jack held his breath knowing that he had played his only chance.
“You’re Phillip Bauer’s son.”
“Yes.”
“Is he under suspect?”
Jack hesitated.
“Not yet.”
Another break followed suddenly interrupted by Grezenko’s determined voice.
“I’m talking with you... alone... without weapons... without wires.”
“Alright.”
* * * * *

 
“Jack, don’t!”
Bill leant forward, nearly screamed into the transmitter.
“You can’t give him this advantage.”
But Jack already sorted out his guns, got rid of the ammunition.
“I have no choice, Bill. You know that.”
“Jack.... damnit!”
Bill turned abruptly, stroke his hair back angrily. He couldn’t accept the risk though the agent was clearly right. Grezenko’s interest was money. He wouldn’t sacrifice himself if Jack could offer him another way. And he was able to sell him this possibility. Morris shook his head. There was no way to bug the place. Jack would be on his own.
Bill cursed again. All his senses told him they were making a mistake. There existed something between the lines they weren’t seeing yet, something to complete the picture.
 
“Give me the team leaders,” Bill ordered hoarsely. “I need to talk to Edgerton at first.” * * * * *

 
“I’m ready!”
Jack stood in front of the entrance, hands raised and spread. He nodded to his men who had drawn back into the distant corners. “Keep your hands up,” he was commanded before the door opened and violent arms forced him inside.” * * * * *

 
“He’s in.” The agent whispered. “What now, Mr. Buchanan?”
“Stay where you are and guard the exit. No matter what happens, they won’t get away.”
Bill changed the line. “Ian! You’ll go in now... .”
“But... .”
“Be fast! It depends on you.”
For a moment no answer was audible.
“Copy that,” the dark voice spoke at last.

 
The sniper leant against the wall and closed his eyes, concentrated on his task.
He knew what depended on him. He had to eliminate the terrorists hiding in the basement before they could connect with Grezenko. Jack’s life, probably the lives in this whole area were at the risk. No time to loose. * * * * *

 
Jack’s eyes widened. Right there in front of him the bomb was ticking. He could see at once how much destruction the detonation would cause. And he could sense the fear in the room, could see it in the eyes of the men staying at the walls. A single window was protected insufficiently by thin curtains and two further doors led to the next rooms. “Yeah, that’s it.”
Grezenko smirked but the smile stopped before it could reach his eyes.
“We hadn’t lied. What about you, Mr. Bauer?”
Jack directed his gaze on the heavy man who scratched his beard scrutinizing the agent.
“Spoke the truth, too. If you exonerate my father from the suspicions and help us against Fayed the government will grant you immunity.” “Tempting Jack, though I fear you’re not completely informed about the details.”
* * * * *

 
One of the silent men examined him quickly, then forced Jack on his knees, his arms still up, open and defenseless. “He’s clean.”
Grezenko nodded and took a step forward.
“Explain them to me!” Jack tried to keep the conversation going.
“You would like that, huh? Getting a bunch of information your government can deny before it becomes official.” “The government won’t deny what you will be able to proof.”
“Well, you have to say that, Mr. Agent,” Grezenko snorted. “But we both know better.”
He grabbed Jack’s hair and forced him to look at the bomb.
“Whatever will happen, how many people will be killed tonight and during the next years by side-effects, nobody would dare to doubt the reasons offered by politicians of each kind. And I swear we can consider it a certainty that the surprisingly new discovered islamic-russian cooperation will turn out to be a welcomed aim in the proclaimed war against terrorism.” He breathed heavily trembling in anger.
“Just as certain as it is that no white american would ever be accused of conspiring against your sacred world of freedom or the admirable population of the United States.” “It won’t... .”
“Shut up. People like you are the worst. You would do everything to protect your father, right? He’s rich, he’s white, he’s a businessman, he’s a reason for America’s economic growth. People like him will always be protected, be safe, no matter what trouble they cause.” “Are you ready?” Jack couldn’t help but snap. His day had been long enough. His nerves were stretched and his patience not capable anymore of enduring tirades like this, he only longed for an end no matter how it would turn out to be. “Whoever is guilty will be punished, and sooner or later we’ll find the people responsible.” “Like history proved.” Grezenko grinned angrily and pulled Jack’s head back violently before he let go. “But you are right, this leads us nowhere, nothing does.”
Jack gasped when he felt the grip loose and twisted his head to ease up the ache.
“I told you, the government offers you a deal. What we want is Fayed.”
“I won’t mind if you blame the bastard or torture him,... execute him, send him to hell... whatever. Will give you what your country needs right now, yet wouldn’t solve my problem.” “Then tell us about your problem.”
Grezenko bowed his head, a coughing shook his stocky shape. “That’s a good joke, boy. Even if you believed me, I would be dead, more dead than I’m already in here. Unfortunately not only me. My people at home would pay for my betrayal. I may not possess much honour anymore but I love my family and I want them to live, to build my country up again.” “You’ll be able to help them.”
Grezenko threw him an annoyed gaze.
“Save your breath. I know these set phrases.”
He turned away, stared at the bomb.
“I don’t want to die like that but our chances are equal zero.”

 
Jack let out his breath.
“So... what do you want.”
Grezenko smirked coldly.
“The only thing I really want is to get away from here... alive.”
Jack glanced at him.
“We can arrange that.”
“But you can’t arrange my safety.”
“Give us a chance to try.”
Grezenko regarded him awkwardly before he went on pronouncing his demands slowly.
“I want a helicopter, no pilot, no agent around. As soon as I’ll be in the air, I’ll tell you who’s behind the attack.” Jack looked down on the floor.
“That won’t be enough. You will be expected to give us something in return before you’ll get the possibility to escape.” “I’ll give you the bomb. You should be glad about the chance to keep it from exploding.”
* * * * *

 
“Basement secured!”
“How many?”
“Two men,” Ian answered. “One dead. No message transmitted. We’re checking the connections right now.”
 
Bill glanced at Morris.
“The other teams were also successful,” the analyst added.

 
“News from Jack...from Grezenko?” Edgerton corrected his fault.
“Not yet. Listen, Ian. If you’re ready down there send the suspect to CTU and join Jack’s team.” “Copy.”

 
Ian regarded the dead body slumped over the laptop, the blood-stain on his shirt still increasing. The man had given him no chance. The decision had fallen within the moment they had broken through the entrance, when the man had refused to step back from his device within less than a second. The familiar scent still emanating from the fired gun mixed with the smell of open injuries filled Ian’s nostrils, the destruction of human life never leaving him as cold as he wished it would do. Not hesitating any longer he heaved the dead body on the floor and started his search for digital traces.
* * * * *

 
“I need to contact CTU.”
“Don’t worry. They’ll contact us.”
Grezenko pointed to the table.
“Will be a question of time until you guys will find the line. I know how you work. My men outside of this rooms are probably dead, and if you wouldn’t expect information, I would face my ancestors right now.” “You still have the bomb. Nobody would take this risk.”
“That’s what I hope. Cuff him!” He drew Jack up and shoved him to the wall where one of his guys bound his wrists behind the back. Grezenko watched the monitors.
“No movements yet. I’m glad your people are careful. Would nearly reason the hopes for your survival.”
* * * * *

 
“We have a connection,” Chloe stated. “The codes Edgerton has sent from the basement fit. Remains the question what Grezenko has in his mind.”
 
“Here it is,” Morris opened up an arriving file and started the deciphering program. “These are his conditions. He expects us to rely on his promise.” “The bomb?” Bill asked walking towards the other man.
“If we fulfill his requirements at time we’ve got twenty minutes left to defuse the bomb.
Looks like,... yep...,” Morris nodded. “He attached the time course. We should answer him soon.”
Bill ruffled his hair without noticing. “I’m still not trusting the guy.”
He studied the message a second time and shook his head.
“Tell him we agree... and... and that I want to talk to Jack.”
* * * * *

 
Edgerton had followed the exchange on his monitor. He watched the orders going out. The bomb would be taken care of by a team of specialists. The demanded possibility to flee was on its way and as soon as he had found the right frequency he could hear Jack’s husky voice distorted by the transmitting. “No, Bill. I’ll play hostage so far. As soon as Grezenko will feel safe he’ll give me the names and I’ll send them to you. It’s the best shot we have...” Edgerton stared on the screen where now Bill’s words were shown in nervously moving curves. Made perfect sense. Grezenko would get away but keep his pride. At least, as far as his situation could be estimated from their point of view. But what if they missed a point? He closed his eyes and listened to the soundloss voice inside of him. It had warned him several times, prevented him more than once from committing a mistake which had led to irreparable consequences. The warning this time seemed clearer than he ever remembered.
He jumped up and left the cellar in a hurry.
* * * * *

 
“This is our chance. Let’s take it.”
Grezenko’s grin held a note of desperation. “Adjust the time period to twenty minutes from... now.”
“You said... .”
“Shut up, Bauer! I‘ve heard enough.”
One of the men shoved Jack forward, caused him to stumble and fall on his knees.
“Boss, what... ?”
“We‘re not waiting anymore. The game is over.”
“He said we had a chance... .”
“There’s always a chance.”
Grezenko pulled out a pistol from his back and shot before one of his people could react. With a yelp the man raised his hands as if he intended to stop the bullet, staggered backwards and fell hard on the ground panting. “What the hell?”
A second shot in the head ended his struggle.
“Anyone else has a question? What about you, Jack?”
Jack stared at him contemptuously before he spoke.
“I figure this is the end of our deal.”
“Damn right, man. If you had hoped to get out of this, you hoped in vain. And your people will remember their failure for a long time.” He pointed the weapon at Jack. “Our last adventure still lies in front of us. But I want to make sure that you will go to hell right now.” Grezenko crossed the room with hasty steps.
“You don’t want to negotiate? No begging for your life or for the lifes of the people living here?” Jack bent his head and waited.
Furiously, close to loose his patience the other man pushed him hard until he nearly lost his balance. Jack would have landed with his face on the floor if Grezenko hadn’t stopped his tumbling by kicking him upwards in time. He beat him again turning his frustration into anger.
“Blame your old man for the mess, the megalomaniac bastard... god knows what his plans are... .”
Grezenko’s gun touched Jack’s brow, forced him to bow his head back causing him to groan in pain.
“And while you’ll burn in the fires of damnation and wait for your father to join you just think about the reasons which brought you there.” “You’re making a mistake,” Jack hissed at last.
“No. You’ve made one. Welcome death now, Bauer!”
Jack closed his eyes taking in a last breath.
* * * * *

 
A bullet pierced the dirty glass, crossed the room with a whistle before it hit Grezenko’s forehead. Without making a sound he fell, hit deadly by one shot. Jack felt the weight of the body collapsing above him, pulling him down when it went to earth. Single cries were stifled, people tried desperately to escape.
Jack fought to come free, to get rid of what had been a tall man only a second ago. “Fuck,” he cursed when the body pinned him to the ground for an eternity as it seemed to him, the handcuffs immobilizing, the bloody mass nauseating him. Suddenly the weight was removed.
“Jack! You’re okay?” The familiar voice sounded worried.
“The bomb,” he managed to croak.
Rough steps were filling the sudden silence.
“Agent Edgerton?”
“Go for possible survivors. And send the bomb specialists in as soon as possible.”
Jack felt pulled on his feet.

 
“Bill, you hear me?”
“What happened, Edgerton. You blew the deal!”
“Priority is to enarm the nuke. We have not as much time as we were told.”
“I don’t see... .”
“Hurry!”
Ian uncuffed Jack quickly. Dark eyes studied his face carefully.
“Why... ,” Jack asked hoarsely when more shots could be heard from above while the sounds of another team announced the expected agents. The men rushed through the room hastily fixing their devices around the disastrous object.
“You... go!” One of the men ordered them harshly to leave. “We’ll be ready here in a few minutes, one way or the other... .”
“At least they keep their humour”, Ian mentioned while he tried to help Jack outside.”
“Easy buddy,” he said when Jack made efforts to get free from his grip. “No way the thing would explode with these guys nearby. And even if... I guess we’ll have no problems anymore in this case.”
 
“Why have you shot Grezenko?”
Ian looked into the stressed features, slightly flushed with suppressed anger.
“Couldn’t let him kill you.” He answered softly.
“We’ve got nothing now.”
“Don’t be a fool, Jack. The guy had nothing to give us, he never had planned to give us anything.”
“It’s just... .”
“Come on.” Ian watched the paleness return, the slim shape bowing forward, clutching his stomach, near throwing up.
He laid a stabilizing arm around the smaller man and drew Jack with him.
“We’ll clean you up a little bit at first.”
Edgerton helped Jack down the stairs stopping near a little sink in the corner of the hallway. He removed Jack’s jacket who hadn’t noticed before the blood covering it, wet some paper towels and gently wiped the other man’s face clean. There was no need to explain about the parts of the russian’s brain or blood sticking on Jack’s face, hair or clothes. They were both used to this. * * * * *

 
Carefully Ian went on trying to make the traces of his former actions vanish.
“It isn’t over yet,” Jack murmured absent-mindly.
“No, it isn’t.” Edgerton answered and spilled water over another paper towel in order to clean the scruffy hair. Soon the smaller man appeared ready to move on, but Ian couldn’t help but extending the moment. He stroke the stubbled cheek pretending to discover another place which had to be taken care of. Jack’s thoughts had drifted away, he seemed to dream with open eyes unconsciously leaning into the thouch of the other man. Ian’s heart stopped beating when he became aware of the nearly unnoticeable movement speaking of trust as well as of surrender.
He took in a sharp breath before he went on with his ministrations.
The sound woke Jack from the trance caused by his worn-out state.
Blue eyes were directed on the other man, filled with utter confusion.
“I wished... ,” he murmured. “I wished there would have been a way...”
“It’s not happening like this,” Ian whispered resting his palm against the other man’s face.
Obsidian eyes, deep like the darkest pools met searching brighter ones, locked firmly.
The faint light from the ceiling mixed with the shining of the few street lanterns penetrating the abandoned hallway through an open door, sufficient to accentuate the expressive but yet so different features of both men.
Eyes, black and blue widened with realization, turned their moves into slow motion when slowly the crystal-clear ones began to glisten with unexpected wetness, before the slim figure trembled slightly and hastily broke free, looked away almost frightened.
“No, Jack...”
Ian felt the loss of the touch and reached for the back-drawing man. Grabbing his arms firmly he searched for the blonds gaze again.
Jack’s eyes sank shut when he felt the dark stare concentrating on him, banning his thoughts.
And before either of them could refuse their lips touched in a desperate attempt to escape the nightmare they were stucked in, if only for a moment, to find comfort in the presence, in the warmth of another human body.
The shy kiss held nothing but tenderness and the innocent longing for contact.

 
But when their lips started moving against each others, when arms came up, encircled the slender waist of the taller agent, the fragile flame burning between them increased, flared up with each tightening of the grips, with the force their groins pressed together.

 
While Ian felt the other man sucking in each touch, demanding more by sliding his fingers along the flak jacket, searching for an entrance, for a piece of skin, he gave in to his desire, embracing Jack almost roughly as though to assure him that he wouldn’t let him down.
Mouths opened simultaneously, allowing tongues to meet, to dance, to explore.
Jack felt devoured, captured by emotions he had forgotten, he thought he had lost the ability to feel. He let loose, flying away, his body soaking up the unexpected donation it had been starving without.
And yet he stayed grounded, held firmly in place, connected to life and reality, more and stronger than he had felt the whole day.
Ian’s arms wandered up and down his back, stroke his shoulders firmly but lovingly, comforted him by showing true, careful admiration and silently burning desire at the same time.
They slid down his sides caressing the skin through the thin material of the shirt, Jack’s skin which hadn’t been touched during the last months except for the reason to create more pain than he had been able to imagine in his worst dreams.
Soft lips nibbled on his, nuzzled closer, moved around to give attention to each part of the mouth which reacted breathless, scared like being kissed for the very first time.
He moaned with the sensation when Ian finally broke the last weak resistance by sliding his left hand under Jack’s shirt, long fingers glided over the maltreated surface while the right hand got hold of his neck forcing him to surrender to the sweet tongue demanding final entrance.
Jack remained paralyzed, captured in the sensations, his nerves tingled, his blood screamed in suddenly awaking need. He barely noticed Ian turning them around until he leant against the wall, pulled the dark-haired closer until he found himself trapped between the building and the lean body pressing against his own. Edgerton’s tongue slid across his teeth caressing the wet cavern tenderly while the mouth, the mouth of a stranger still a minute ago, drank in Jack’s taste as though he would be dying of thirst, endlessly, insatiably, unable to get enough.
Feverly Jack fumbled with fasteners of the taller man’s jacket, ripping them open with shivering hands, gasping when Ian broke free for air only to return quickly to lick along his cheek until he found the smaller man’s ear. Jack’s knees became weak when the passion-rough mouth sucked on his lobe, moved to the tiny place of sensitive skin behind nobody had known about, nobody except of one man. Tears shot in his eyes violently when his legs gave in and he was held completely by the strength of the dark-haired who went on licking and sucking gripping him even harder than before, expressing his desire mercilessly with hands and lips. Jack clung to the dark shape covering him, making him invisible, vanishing in the shadows inviting them into the darkness of a corner. He barely noticed being shoved there, nothing important than the desperately missed feeling of hot skin, of vibrating lips on his longing body.
He groaned in protest when these fingers left him, opened his eyes shivering to watch Ian finally getting rid of his flak jacket, holding him upright by squeezing him against the hard wall, rubbing the hard bulge in his jeans against Jack’s growing erection. His hands trembled more than before when he helped the taller man to slip out of the disturbing material eager to remove the shirt next, to sense the naked skin at last. He searched the lips again while his fingertips slipped under the fabric, moved upwards featherly until they found the smooth, strong chest, built like a roman statue. His palms went around the nibbles which hardened instantly, the soft strokes causing a groan deep in Ian’s throat.
Mouths locked again exchanging sensations both of them had missed for too long.
Edgerton’s arms encircled the smaller body again, stroke pale skin, moved downwards to cup the jeans-clad buttocks eagerly, pressing them together, pulling Jack’s body towards his own until they wouldn’t be able to come any closer.
Jack gasped, lightnings flashed through his thighs, shook his pelvis violently, pushing against the hardness only separated from his own by the annoying material of the clothes.
Ian yelped unable to remain quiet. With amazing strength he pulled back, steadying Jack with one hand while the other one expertly flipped Jack’s pants open, quickly freed the straining member.
“Please,” Jack whimpered helplessly. He was beyond self-control, beyond each rational thought. Nothing counted but the touch, the building in his veins, the desire which had to be fulfilled before he would lose his mind.
“Please...,” he whispered again, trying to help the other man out of his pants as well, but failing when uncoordinated movements prevented him from reaching his aim.
Ians head lowered again to find the place he had noticed causing special sensations in the other man, and when his lips wandered over the soft skin, the whimper emanating from the lean figure he held tightly gripping his heart almost painfully, he freed his own erection without further delay.
Hot flesh slid against hot flesh, moved in unisono, built up their arousals, wildly, frantically, hips slamming together with growing powers until they both panted desperately searching for release.
“Give it to me... now,” Jack groaned hoarsely, the need to be taken, to be filled overwhelming, longing for a new pain to replace the everlasting pain inside. He reached up, enfolded his arms around the other man’s neck, feeled lifted, stripped from his jeans in a second. Without touching the floor again he was pressed against the wall, one leg moved easily over Edgertons shoulder. He clung to the other man who held him safely pressing his aching member against Jack’s willing puckering entrance. The second leg came up and Jack bit his lower lip to hold back a scream when the long shaft penetrated him in one hard stroke, nearly ripping him apart by the force of the entering.
“You okay?” Ian breathed, sweat building on his brow while he managed to hold back, slight worry spreading on his face.
“Don’t stop...,” Jack croaked, tightening his grip, drawing the other man closer to him, causing the rock-hard length to push even deeper inside of him. He gasped, the mixture of pain and pleasure driving him towards an invisible aim while his own hot penis was trapped in between their bodies. His back scrubbed against the stonewall when all he could feel existed in his groin, between his legs. They were both close to the edge, a few strokes would be enough.
Ian breathed heavily starting with some short prods driving his massive cock even deeper, sliding over the smaller man’s prostate.
“Yesssss,” Jack hissed pulling himself closer when the other man made an attempt to leave his body. Ian obeyed wordlessly, pulling back only shortly before he plunged in, driving his hard manhood against the sensitive spot again and again.
Jack’s body held him, demanded, wanted more with each small movement. Ian groaned in lust, he never had been held so tight, the grip around his penis driving him mad. His mouth opened when the world moved away, low but animal-like sounds filled the air around them, when Edgerton forced his size deeper and deeper, when Jack took him in, welcomed the force of his hot penis filling him completely. A strangled cry escaped his lips when his prostate was hit relentlessly. And with the pressure on his balls and his cock captured firmly between their hard bodies he exploded, spilling creamy fluid over the other mans chest and stomach. The sight of the enraptured expression on the handsome features sent an additional shiver through Edgertons body. Together with the contraction of muscels he couldn’t hold back any longer, buried one last time his whole length in the other man and came with never experienced power.
Jack felt the hot seed filling him up inside still shaking from the aftershocks of his own orgasm. The shaft finally went limp and Jack nearly sobbed when it slipped out of him easily, when his weird position was changed, his legs moved to the ground again. His whole body hurt and his feet weren’t able to bear his weight anymore, but it didn’t matter for Ian held him firmly, in a secure grip, embracing him tightly, kissing his throat in a gesture of thankfulness and devotion.
He rested his head against the taller man’s shoulder, listening to their heartbeats slowing down.
Suddenly a car could be heard from the outside.
Ian raised his head.
“Seems like they had managed to disarm the bomb,” he whispered huskily.
He left Jack for a moment gripping his jeans from the floor. When he noticed the smaller man staggering he quickly came up for support, helping him to slip into his trousers.
“It’s okay... I can manage...,” Jack mumbled reaching for his belt. “Take care of your own... .” He silenced watching Ian fixing his pants fast and dressing into his jacket covering the betraying stains on his shirt.
Edgerton met his eyes, stepped closer. “You’re hurt, Jack?”
“No.” The blond shook his head though he felt the warm, sticky fluid dripping down the insides of his legs not knowing if he sensed the seed of the other man or his own blood. Probably a mixture of both.
He raised his head again, found these dark eyes scrutinizing him, watching him carefully.
Ian reached out and cupped the other one’s cheek gently.
“We’ll go and I’ll take care of you.”
“No,” Jack avoided his gaze while he answered. “There will be nothing between us. We’re finished.”
Ian looked down on him. After a while he cleared his throat before speaking.
The vehicles arrived outside, sounds of men leaving them, boots crossing the place urged him to hurry.
“I understand,” he said in a rush. “But if you ever... I mean... .”
“Nobody will know about this,” Jack interrupted him hoarsely. “I rely on you to keep it a secret, things are difficult enough... .”
He met the dark stare filled with sorrow and regret and steeled himself inwardly against the emotions running over him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered and turned to the exit, just avoiding a slight stumbling when the weakness in his knees threatened to return.
“I can’t... .”
* * * * *

 
He slowly approached the door when the team stormed in.
“Agent Bauer?” The leader stopped.
“This floor is clear,” Jack answered firmly. “I suggest you to secure the remaining parts of the building. Agent Edgerton... we will return to CTU for a report.” “Mr. Buchanan is expecting you.”
Jack nodded and walked forwards. Outside of the building he stood still watching the movements around the cars, the men preparing their devices, seriously and concentrated, but obviously relieved that they had been able to reject another danger during this hellish day. He winced when a warm jacket was thrown around his shoulders. “Thought you might need that,” Ian mentioned, eyes dropping down to Jack’s belly where the wetness made him shiver in the cold night air.
 
“We’re here to bring you back to CTU,” another agent called to them. “Buchanan needs a new lead.” “Jack sighed before he climbed into the car. As usual he had managed to make things worse, to increase the trouble, to throw new complications into the mess. He didn’t dare to look at Ian when the other man settled beside him but he could feel the waves of deception and probably confusion sweeping over the tall figure. He still felt the pain though he couldn’t define which pain it was. He was too exhausted to care about the soreness, too tired to check which parts of his body hurt most. ‘Damnit,’ he cursed himself for his stupidity. Losing control was one thing, but losing it in a situation like this was inexcusable. He had no problems to face death, did that mean he craved for a small death equally, that he did everything to forget? He felt an inquiring gaze resting on his face and couldn’t help but meet it. The look on. Ian’s features seemed startled though he ironed his expression at once. Then Jack noticed the reason for his astonishment. He hadn’t been aware of the tears running down his cheeks again. Hastily he turned his face away, hiding whatever it was that wanted to break free.
* * * * *

 
“You alright, Jack?”
“Yes, thanks Bill.”
Jack spied through the glass window watched Agent Edgerton typing his report. The still glistening hair he obviously hadn’t been given the time to dry properly after the short shower contained silver accents, changing with each move. He liked this hair, it was dark like Tony’s had been, maybe a nuance darker without the curls he had loved so much. It was different, but yet familiar and Jack couldn’t remove his gaze from the sight.

 
Bill followed the view.
“I decided to hear your explanation at first, Jack. Agent Edgerton will have to answer more questions. He interfered without any backup.” “I know,” Jack sighed turning his head to concentrate on Bill. “But it worked out smoothly. Without his interference we’d have been too late to prevent the nuke from exploding. Grezenko... .” He ran his hand through his hair, hesitating. “Grezenko was afraid. He never intended to give us anything and he never had hopes to come out of this alive.”
“But,” Bill’s eyes shining grey in the electric light met Jack’s. “But there must have been something he had known, he would have given to you,... a suspect, a hint... .” Jack shook his head. His eyes flickered nervously and he directed them outside of the office, again searching for Edgerton without being aware of it.
“Nothing. He felt trapped, mentioned his family to be threatened... .”
“Nothing, Jack?”
Bill scrutinized him carefully. “He hadn’t spoken about Fayed, given away something unintended?”
“I’m sorry, Bill...”
Jack’s gaze became cool again, open blue eyes offered reliability, spoke of honesty and trustworthness.
Bill swallowed noisily, the sudden lump in his throat refusing to leave him.
“Well...,” he stroke his grey hair back dropping his gaze at last.
“You looked like a mess, Jack, when you returned. I suppose you’ll remember better in a while.., maybe after you’d caught some sleep.”
He struggled for words. “The whole day hadn’t been easy... for none of us... and in the moment I can’t see where we should go...”
Bill’s gaze wandered around the office, stopped when it found Edgerton, remained on the slim figure.
“He shouldn’t have done it,” he murmured. “If we’d only had the slightest chance...”
Buchanan let out his breath. “We have no idea what still is waiting for us out there.”
He looked back at Jack.
The man seemed to feel better now, at least a little bit. Yet it seemed frustrating to Bill to consider the lack of any helpful information, especially after the risk they all had taken. Maybe Jack really wasn’t the same anymore, maybe China had cost him too much, too much to remain helpful anymore. With a sigh Bill sat down and regarded the small shape directly opposite from him. A fruitless hope it might be to rely on Jack’s intuition. He noticed the new wrinkles, the worn-out expression, the fatigue dominating Jack’s features. Bill’s eyes came to rest on the single hand lying lazily on the table, the hand which wasn’t wearing explicit traces like the other one, but yet showed small scars on its surface. Bill felt the weakness inside him growing and before he knew what he was doing his own fingers covered Jack’s in a determined grip.
Blue eyes met his in astonishment and he couldn’t help but release a confirming smile.
“Glad to have you here again, Jack.”
The blond dropped his gaze strangely touched by the words. He slightly shook his head unsure about a response. At last they stayed like this for seconds until Bill gently drew his hand away watching the younger man, his heart filled with suddenly awakening care. * * * * *

 
He cleared his throat to hide the rush of emotions threatening to cause him to act carelessly.
“So you would support Edgerton’s decision.”
“You know how this works, Bill. There is not much time, the only chance is to react as fast and as deliberately as possible.”
Jack looked up again, his shown confidence appearing shaken for an instant before he let out a short breath.
“He shot Grezenko just in time to save my life. We’ll never know what would have happened if he hadn’t done it, but probably we would have wasted too much time to get a grip on the situation, to understand that he tricked us. He would have been capable of creating more confusion in order to prevent us from disarming the bomb... .” Bill removed his gaze from the sight of the small man who defended the actions of the other agent understanding very well that Jack probably would have done the same. And he asked himself how difficult it had to be to lead a life like that. To question everything, everywhere, to step over frontiers if necessary, to climb up and pull down the walls, a man like himself would never dare to pull into consideration, never dare to search for a justification of their existence. These walls might build up senseless and annoying barriers, restricting him, but they were giving support, direction, kept him on his way.
To ignore them would mean to suffer from permanent doubts, useless efforts and unbearable loneliness. Bill knew that he would never be able to cope constantly with cases of a borderline nature. A man like him needed rules and regulations he could move within and he believed strictly that no country, no tiny little part of a society would be able to function without. Without the ability to trust mankind would be lost, as lost as Jack looked now, no hold, no security, no sense of protection, even of an imaginary kind, left.
 
Bill’s eyes found Ian again who still bent over his keyboard fulfilling his task and he sensed the nagging of the small demon telling him that he would never be able to understand the attitude both agents shared. It wasn’t just the field work, the roots laid buried in the lives they had led, their fates which separated them from society, at least from the dominating part of it. Differences might have many sources, visible like Edgertons exotic features, invisible like the burden Jack might carry with him. And as much as both of them might have tried to integrate, to go with the flow, none had reached his aim, not as much as Bill had succeeded to and in moments like this it seemed to him that it had been worth the prize.
 
He swallowed dryly and turned back to Jack who had followed his gaze.

 
Ian froze. He seemed to notice the observation when he slowly leant back in his chair and looked through the room until his eyes met Jack’s. Bill couldn’t deny the stab he felt penetrating when their eyes locked, the slight sting in his heart, hurting him deeply.
 
“You might wonder where youre father is now.” Bill added, regretting his words at once.
The sad expression in Jack’s face when he directed his attention back to him told clearer than words that he would have prefered to leave this topic out of their conversation. Bill shifted uncomfortably wishing he wouldn’t be responsible for the sudden pain mirrored in the skinny shape when it seemed to shrink immediately.
 
“Where is he?” Jack asked, his voice sharper than before, pretending strength and determination. But Bill had no problems to see behind the facade, he had analyzed Jack’s behaviour long enough to recognize the storm taking place behind the quiet surface. He shook his head unsure about how to handle the conversation, unsure about the meaning of the events taken place. Suddenly the room seemed small, too small.
“He’s left.”
Jack gave away no reaction and Bill doubted that he had listened to him.
“He’s no suspect and declined to stay under protection any longer. But he agreed to remain in the city until the crisis will be over.” Jack nodded slowly, lost in thoughts.

 
“If you feel like talking... ,” Bill shrugged, tried to capture the blonds gaze. “You know we have specialists... or maybe you’d prefer to... .” Bills voice faded away when Jack’s eyes bored into his, flickered violet only for a second, giving away a flash of anger before they showed the familiar calmness again. “No, I’m fine.”
Bill held the stare, tried to speak when the words stuck in his throat.”

 
“No more questions?” Jack asked him finally, a husky sound escaping the curved lips, mesmerizing the older man who suddenly couldn’t keep his concentration on the issue. The electric light emphasized the whiteness of Jack’s face, the dark shadows under his eyes. Bill found himself lost in the sight, sensing the tension emanating from the man in front of him. “I’m here for you, Jack,” he said finally, leaning slightly forward, carefully, trying not to spook him, to assure him that he was on his side, always would be.
 
“Whatever it is... I’m listening.”
Bill hesitated, felt the need to avoid the awkward glance Jack threw at him while he pressed his lips together in defense. “I... I will arrange it, that you won ‘t have to deal with your jather... family more than necessary right now... .” “I’m able to handle it, whatever will be needed.”
Jack stared at him.
“Above all... it’s about my people... I’ll answer the questions he ... .” Jack stopped, shook his head to clear his thoughts, “...the accusations which will come up... and accept whatever I’ll have to.”
 
“Jack.... .” Bill startled when he noticed the eyes of his opposite shooting hot flames at him, not understanding the unexpected fury attacking him from nowhere. He gulped audibly, embarrassed by the strange sensations rushing over him. Jack’s nearly harsh denial disturbed Bill, shook his undefined wish to protect, to care... and made him sound rougher than he had intended.
 
“A father can make a powerful enemy, especially when he... .”
“The condemning fire in Jack’s eyes silenced him before he could go on.”
“This has nothing to do with the job... .”
“Everything has... . Jack... I only want you to know that I’m with you... on your side.”
“I know where you are... .”
Jack got up.
His eyes narrowed when Bill followed his exemple, wandered in patient languidness downwards, studying each part of the older man’s body until they rested on the perfidious bulge between his legs. “I know where you stand...,” Jack repeated looking up to Bill who felt his lips going dry.
“It’s not... ,” he searched for words, for a possibility to regain the remains of his control.
“Jack... !”
Bill took a step and grabbed the other man’s shoulder pretending not to notice his slight drawing backwards.
“It’s the truth! I’m on your side. You might think that you have no reason to trust me, but I promise you can.”
His grey stare caught the younger man’s, watched the suppressed anger dying slowly before it became substituted by scepticism turning into new confusion. Hastily Jack pulled back regaining quickly his former cool behaviour. But the moment had lasted long enough for Bill to discover a new disturbing emotion building up inside of him. He watched Jack turn and leave, fast, but not too fast to cause attention.

 
He made a beautiful sight, Bill found himself hypnotized by the long legs covered by tight jeans, moving elegantly not giving away the extent of their exhaustion. Bill’s thoughts followed them, couldn’t prevent his imagination from blooming, his desire from growing until he watched Jack nearly stop, slowing his movements, brushing unintentedly close along another lean body he passed on his way through the office.
 
Bill’s eyes shot upwards, watched dark hair flying when Ian’s head turned to nod at Jack, when smoothe, bronze hands clutched briefly on Jack’s hips while the two men took their ways into opposite directions. These hands left leaving nothing more than a blurred memory when they grabbed some papers, when Ian’s gaze locked with Bill’s ready to approach the head of CTU and to provide him with the answers he longed for. * * * * *

 
“Agent Edgerton, what can you tell me?”
Ian sat down spreading the files in front of him.
“There won’t arise any further problems for you, Mr. Buchanan,” he started. “I contacted our people in charge and received full back-up. FBI will take the responsibility.” “That’s good to hear, Agent Edgerton.”
Bill stared down on the slender figure.
The dark-haired answered his gaze determined.
“Our traces leading to Russia are ending with Grezenko. There remain the vague connections to the Bauer enterprises as well as the supposed cooperation with Fayed. I... .” He waited for a moment, took his time to consider his words. “I’m still thinking that we should look for american involvement. Neither Grezenko nor Fayed had the possibilities to become successful in their plans alone. In fact I doubt that it had been their idea to join forces. There must be more behind.” “Well!” Bill regarded the other man without an expression given away by his features. “Grezenko won’t be able to tell... .” “I know.” Ian shot back, meeting the unspoken challenge.
“There’s nothing we can do now about this and I won’t excuse my actions again. It’s all written down.” “And you think you’re through with it... that your people will save you from more consequences... .” Edgerton let out his breath slowly, trying to stay as relaxed as the situation allowed it.
“When you have problems with my person, Mr. Buchanan, I’m ready to leave. Agent Ebbs will be able to replace me at once.” Bill shook his head. “I only want to make sure that you are aware about the importance of your deeds. It could have gone awfully wrong because of your high-handedness, you shouldn’t forget about this.” Ian sighed not hiding his impatience.
“You honestly try to tell me this is about my stepping over the rules, Bill!”
Black shining eyes studied the older man’s movements, who winced unintendedly by the use of his first name. “It’s Phillip Bauer you’re talking about.”
“Right.”
Bill was eager to keep the lead, he wouldn’t the other man allow to set the rules.
“You know very well that we have no reasonable suspicions and therefore no rights in this department.” “Because of...?”
“Because I’ve received some calls, the first ones by Division, the last directly from Washington D.C.. The consensus is that we are ordered to concentrate on foreign influences in this case.” “And to skip leads which might harm the national values... . I see.”
“... but you won’t care?”
“What do you think?” Ian countered.
“Remember, I’ve warned you,” Bill stated. “This is more complex than you can imagine.”
“You mean... it’s more emotional than you like it... .”
Ian wasn’t able to stop the words streaming out of his mouth. With growing horror he noticed the strains of the night explode in a few phrases. “Don’t try to fool me, I can see what you’re thinking. It’s written in your face.”
Bill fought to keep his posture though his lips opened in sudden surprise and refused to shut for a second. In disbelief he stared at the dark-haired who obviously struggled himself to keep control. The undeniable tension filled the air with heavy mist, made it suddenly hard for both men to breathe. “Leave my office, Ian. Here’s no room for this kind of attitude.”
“I thought we were fighting the same battle, but obviously I’ve been wrong.”
Bill regarded the clenched fists of the younger man, the slight trembling of the slim body, when another accusation broke free. “You wouldn’t have come so far without a minimum of necessary collaboration... damned... you sacrificed Bauer without batting an eyelash...” “I’ve heard enough, Edgerton. You’re dismissed. I expect you to go.”
Bill couldn’t hide his anger anymore, the man obviously had worked on his own for too long. This place had no use for people like him, not in this situation. But the disturbing thoughts refused to leave him, ran through his mind, mixed and combined without a rest when he watched Ian leave using large furious steps heading for Chloe’s desk.
 
“What?” She asked annoyed when he stopped next to her.
“Where is Agent Bauer?”
“How should I know,” she snapped.
“He received a call,” Morris mentioned. “He wanted to be undisturbed and Nadja sent him downwards.” After a look on Ian’s curious face he added. “Has been private.”
Ian raised his eyebrows. “Any idea who had called?”
“I think his father... Jack appeared kind of surprised to hear from him.”
“So am I.” Edgerton rubbed his forehead shortly before he rushed for the exit.
* * * * *

 
Jack walked through the abandoned hallway.
“What do you want? Thought everything had been said.”
“Right.” Phillip Bauer’s voice answered after a moment of hesitation.
“I... I’m sorry, Jack. It all happened too fast this morning, I had no chance to accustom to the situation.” Jack sighed.
“What do you want from me?”
“You need to understand... the whole mess with Graem, his betrayal... the bomb... the worry...it had been too much. I didn’t know how to react when I met you... without being prepared...” “I don’t need an explanation... just tell me what you want.”
Silence stretched and Jack nearly started to hope that his father would end the conversation when suddenly he spoke again. All at once the sharp tone in his voice was gone and it strangely sounded softer than Jack ever could remember. “You don’t understand, son... . I’m sorry for what I said to you... It hadn’t been fair after all... and I... I regret it.” Again silence followed his words while Jack stopped, clutching the cell phone with both hands as if he feared to lose it. “I can’t believe you... Dad... I’m sorry... .”
“Jack....!”
Nothing was heard than Phillip’s laboured breathing.
“Jack... I’ve lost a son today and... and... .”
He hesitated, created a break which seemed to find no ending.
“I know that I’ve lost you long years ago... that I... I.... I couldn’t accept... .”
Jack reached out for the wall, supported himself with one hand while the other one still held the phone in a tight grip, tight enough to make his knuckles appear white where the bandage wasn’t covering them. He closed his eyes and listened into the void coming from the other end of the line.
Phillip’s words came slowly, pressed and barely connected, like they were the result of a stronger effort. “For a man of my age... in a responsible position... people are looking up to me... .”
Jack turned and leant against the wall when the silence returned.
“Dad... do you have anything to do with last day’s events... I need to know.”
Nothing was heard until Phillip finally answered low.
“I swear it... I told you the truth before. I would never be able to do anything like this... .” “I wish I could believe you...,” Jack whispered low, more to himself when he opened his eyes again.
“You’re not under suspicion if you want to know about the state of research,” he added louder. “And... and I can see no reason why this would change soon... , so there’s nothing to worry about.” “Jack.... . That’s not why I want to talk to you.”
“Then why... I can’t do anything in here... I... I’m probably finished now... .”
“Son... .” Phillip was clearly uncomfortable with the situation, Jack noticed it in each word, each sound which reached him.
“Listen Dad. If there’s nothing concrete we should end the conversation now... I’m not... .”

 
“No!” Phillip called determined, a kind of desperation underlining the urge in his voice.
“Jack... . I.... I want to speak to you... to clear things... I’ve waited for too long.”
“I don’t understand. There’s nothing left to clear between us.”
He had to wait again, concentrated on the grey pattern covering the floor, the electric devices fixed next to each door, the strange quietness typical for this time of the night, but unfamiliar after the noise of the past hours. “Please Jack, give me a chance... . Maybe we can find a sense in this mess, maybe I can learn to... it might be the last time we... .” Jack closed his eyes again. The corners of his mouth nearly showed the hint of a smile.
“... we will meet? Don’t make me laugh, Dad. I won’t buy your sentimentality.”
He hesitated for a moment but suddenly added:
“Grezenko mentioned you... .”

 
Again he had to wait patiently until his father spoke.
“Sure he did. It would work out perfectly for these terrorists if they could make us pursue our own people... .” “That’s not necessarily in their intention.”
Phillip sighed.
“Jack... I’m in the business for a long time. I worked with people all over the world, no matter how they call themselves.
There is no place for an intention of any kind or morale or politics when you are offering a convenient deal. You won’t believe how fast people are forgetting their aims... .” “What’s your point?”
“Point is...,” Phillip released the air from his lungs. “The point is that I want the chance to talk to you once more, even if it might be the last time. Can’t see it end this way... . Please Jack. Don’t you think you owe me that much?”
 
Jack slowly moved his head from one side to another, raising an arm to run his fingers through his hair.
But he couldn’t answer. Feelings of guilt and shame rushed over him too fast to recognize them, too hazily for him to discover what they caused.
“I owe you nothing... ,” Jack breathed at last staring blindly into a past he had buried for a lifetime.
Phillip took his time before he answered, allowed the seconds to stretch into unbearable lengths.

 
“I won’t give you more excuses, Jack. And I don’t expect them if you fear that. Just remember one thing...”
He stopped again, listened carefully for a sign of refusal.
Phillip smiled loop-sided when he played his last card.
“We are family, Jack, connected by blood. Whatever had happened or will happen in future you will always be my son... I will always stay your father. That’s all I need now... to look into your eyes and assure you about this.” “I’m...,” Jack’s voice barely could be heard.
“Don’t say it, Jack. I want to talk to you face to face. As much as we both might have wished it once, the bond inside a family can’t be broken. We will stay connected, maybe even when we will be dead.” * * * * *

 
Edgerton slowed his pace, finally stopped and cursed himself for his hurry.
He should have asked Nadja before running downstairs without having a plan in his mind. The building was too big, too dark and contained hundreds of hidden corners and rooms. He had no idea where to look first. Besides Ian had to admit that he neither had an idea why he felt the need to look for Jack again. The man had made himself clear enough and Ian usually was far too proud to impose himself on another person. But he was acting weird since hours, Ian couldn’t deny the facts.
A new influence had stepped into his life and he was reacting different from his familiar, mainly quiet behaviour.
 
Ian bent his head down and concentrated on his breath. He felt his heartbeat slow down while the former unnoticed sounds of his surroundings came stronger into his attention. The distant murmurs, the noises of the traffic around him and the inaudible calling which seemed to grow in its power the longer he remained still, listening. Once more he waited for the spirits to guide him.
* * * * *

 
Jack closed his cell phone. A bitter taste remained left in his mouth and he recognized its memory from decades ago, accompanying each thought reminding him of life with his father. He rubbed his forehead after he had stuffed the phone back into his jacket. Nothing would be better now than a proper sleep, each cell in his body craved for a rest, but yet it wasn’t the time. With a groan he started to move while his limbs kept on protesting.
Yet it wasn’t the exhaustion alone which slowed him down, another, unidentified force seemed to keep him in place, to stop him from leaving. He turned around without being aware of a reason for his motion and before he was able to see or hear the man approaching him, he knew in sudden certainty that Ian was looking for him. He groaned again, this time out of frustration. It would be useless to try to run, he was tired and if Edgerton wanted to find him, he would do, sooner or later, there was no doubt about it.
 
“Jack!” The voice wasn’t loud, the slim figure just showing up, not close enough to be recognized. But the blond needed no confirmation. Wiping his fingers unconsciously up and down his jeans like he would try to remove some sticking dirt he watched Ian coming nearer, using long and fast strides until he stood in front of him looking down on the inexplicably nervous feeling man.
 
“Something’s going on?” Jack asked hoarsely searching for an answer in the obsidian eyes hiding their emotions perfectly. Edgerton shook his head shortly considering his next words carefully.
“I looked for you. Had been worried when you vanished.”
“You don’t have to be.” A crooked smile contorted his features. “Just wanted to leave.”

 
“I know your father had called.”
“So?”
Ian watched the blank face matching his own in its lack of expression, at least of a readable one. If Jack decided to hide he would do it and Ian wouldn’t be able to change the situation.

 
“I’m going to call for a substitute as long as it’s quiet. My work is done here.”
He studied Jack carefully but couldn’t notice a reaction by the smaller man.
“Got to tell you that I will keep my eyes on your Dad. If you...,” he hesitated. “If you can think of anything concerning your recent conversation or during the time with Grezenko... I will consider it.” Jack nodded but refused to answer, so Ian went on.
“I suppose there is nothing you can tell me.”
Jack looked at him testing.
“Don’t know what you expect. He claims himself innocent. No reason for a doubt.”
Ian found the now cold blue eyes again.
“You believe him?”
Jack shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I. Above all we’re related.”
“Yes.” Ian remained staring down on him until Jack winced slightly under the scrutiny.
Finally Edgerton dropped his gaze. He stroke his hair back with one hand and left it on his neck massaging the hurting muscles between throat and shoulder.
 
“Let me tell you what I think.”
He waited a moment organizising his thoughts.
“I remember what you told me earlier, I won’t forget. But... .”
Ian searched for the blue stare again. “If you plan to confront your family for what reasons ever... I wouldn’t let you go on your own.” Jack shook his head angrily. But before he could respond, Ian spoke again.

 
“Official researches are taking different directions. When you are planning to ask for a permission I won’t pretend that you’ll have a chance. Buchanan is clear in his orders and he’s probably not finished with your debrief. If you want to leave, you will use my help.” “What a crap.” Jack barked huskily.
“You can’t tell me that you ‘ve got permission to go... that’s ridiculous. We’re both stuck in here.” Ian grinned mockingly. “You try to tell me that you care?”
“Idiot!”
Jack turned to go but felt shoved against the smooth wall by powerful hands.
“Maybe!” Ian whispered, leaning close. “But I won’t allow you to face this man alone. There is something around him that alarms me.” Jack pushed him back, a coughing shook him.
“What are you, a clairvoyant? Save me from this shit.”
“Ok.” Ian regarded him, returning to his former, calmer self. “But I’ll go with you.”
Jack reached for the wall to steady himself.
“You think you know what I plan to do, even if I haven’t a concrete idea myself.”
“You know..., you’re just not in the state. That’s why I’m coming with you.”

 
Annoyed Jack glanced up to him.
“You really are a pain in the ass.”
He sighed and met the dark eyes, allowing his exhaustion to be shown.
“Alright, Ian. Help me out of this place without being followed by dozens of ambitious agents and then you can leave the country or fly to Mars if you’d like.”
“I won’t mind if you’re coming with me.”
Jack’s head shot up and Ian stepped back raising both hands.
“Forget it man, hadn’t meant to say it. Just let’s go. The longer we’ll stay the bigger Buchanan’s chance to keep us in here will grow.” The blond rubbed his temples sensing the cold sweat forming there. Maybe it was the best he could do. His bandage seemed to be wet from sweat or blood or probably both and the wound beyond it pounded painfully remembering him on the morning, on the fact that Fayed was out there, maybe still looking for him. * * * * *

 

 
“What do you mean... gone...?” Bill barked. “He knew very well that we weren’t finished. Why should he... .” He paused and looked around.
“Anyone seen Agent Edgerton lately?”
Blank faces adressed him.
“An Agent Epps called in.” A voice mentioned from the background. “He will arrive in a few minutes... obviously he had been asked to jump in here.” “Fantastic!” Bill groaned and reached for his forehead. It started to ache again.
He had failed, the little trust that maybe had existed between Jack and him was destroyed and he hadn’t seen the possible consequences. His head pounded and Bill covered his eyes with one hand to receive a moment of soothing darkness. If he had taken the time to think, to imagine Jack’s situation, instead of running in his mind over and over through the same stupid emotions for the last hours... maybe he had gotten a clue on what Jack would be tempted to do. He shouldn’t wonder, that the man felt no bond to CTU, to the job or to himself anymore, all the less to him... anyhow he had sold him for information not even 24 hours ago.
 
“Alright,” Bill pulled himself together. Chances existed that Jack still would rest somewhere in the building. At any rate it wasn’t that easy to vanish from here without being noticed and God knew that the man needed a rest. Besides it should be clear for Jack that they hadn’t many options left.
The slightest possibility that Jack’s connection to Fayed could help them to find the guy would be reason enough to stay close. Jack had to know that, though he had spent the past month in a prison overseas. Bill gave his orders, catching a critical sight from Chloe who turned back to her keyboard as soon as she noticed his attention on her. “Great,” he thought sighing inwardly. Whatever might happen she would throw it at him and she would be right.
 
Reluctantly he remembered his argument with Agent Edgerton. Ian probably had gone on his own though it looked like he hadn’t informed anyone. This fault alone could broke the man’s neck. Bill felt his hearbeat fastening.
And if he hadn’t? If they had left together?
But for what purpose?.
His headache became worse, started to hurt terribly and Bill longed for another aspirin.
He had to stay rational. Jack would have no reason to go anywhere, except.... except he had decided to drop everything, if he had enough. And the truth was, Bill would understand him perfectly.
* * * * *

 
This was ridiculous.
Edgerton leant against the car and looked at the dark building.
Five minutes he had said. Five minutes to give the man a chance.
Ian shook his head. Whatever Jack might expect, to give Phillip Bauer a chance would turn out to be wishful thinking. People might change, but not like this. Not that fast, not that much. He had learned this often enough the hard way. His nerves screamed at him, warned him intensely, but he ignored them.
Five minutes would be fair and long enough for Jack to find out what this was about.
The place was strange, an empty building containing nothing but bureaus. Beyond an underground parking garage large enough to enclose the countless vehicles of the people arriving in this quarter each morning to fulfil their daily duties. ‘Why here?’ he had asked and Jack just had shrugged tiredly and nodded to the illuminated badge in front of them saying ‘Bauer Enterprises’. Still suffering from an awkward feeling Ian had understood that they dealt with a worcaholic who probably refused to go home, who spent his life where his job took place. Ian understood also, that his appearance together with Jack would prevent the older man from talking, would rather freak him out and destroy the last change for a communication between father and son. Ian stroke his hair back. Nevertheless he couldn’t believe that the old Bauer really planned to make his peace. He had seen him. This wasn’t a man who cared about spiritual balance, who wanted to bring his stuff in order. This was a man who pursued his aim at any costs. If he only knew which aim it could be!
He might judge him wrong but each cell in his body yelled at him, urged him to be careful, to watch out for a possible trap.
 
Five minutes..., and if Jack hadn’t shown up when they would be passed, then he would follow him and he wouldn’t hesitate to use each weapon he had brought in order to find out what was going on in there. As soon as Jack had been out of sight he had sent the adress to Don. The collegue would receive it with his arrival at CTU and he would know what to do. They had worked together long enough. He reconsidered for a moment their own arrival at this lonely part of the city.
Jack’s eyes had been fixed on the only brightened window in the fifth floor, glistening like betraying a fever or... more likely... by the effort to suppress a weak hope, which had to be deceived as they both knew. None of them had felt the necessity to talk during this last moments, Jack had gathered all his strength, left the car without paying further attention to Edgerton, because or maybe in spite of the FBI agent’s last attempt to make him consider his hopeless try.
 
Jack had withdrawn from him quicker than his exhausted constitution had seemed to allow it and Ians hand had touched the void, his words had fallen into nothingness. And nothing had been left to do than to watch the departing shape, small and vulnerable in the distance, hiding the effort it took to stay upright, to move forward not knowing what expected him. And Ian felt the same way, shaken by the uncertainty, the fear, the pressure.
He concentrated on the emotions he received and suddenly he saw the picture in perfect clearness, saw them facing the dangers together, knew that Jack had to see it, to feel it too, even if he fought it. A smile broke free when he stared at the entrance Jack had vanished behind a moment ago.
He wouldn’t leave him alone, not as long as he knew better. And Jack would understand, there couldn’t exist a single doubt anymore.
 
The bullet whizzed through the air, hit him before he became aware of it, before the tearing pain could make him scream. The second one grazed his head and his consciousness slipped away. A gurgling sound escaped his lips while he slowly slid down along the car, sinking into welcoming darkness.
 
* * * * *

 
“I’m glad you came, Jack.”
Jack covered his eyes with one hand to protect them from the lights blinding him when the door opposite the staircase opened. The dark, incredible haggard shadow seemed to be even taller than he had saved him in his memory since he had been a little boy searching for the love of a father who hadn’t given him anything but coldness and contempt. In his youth, when he had tried desperately to find a reason, an explanation, when he had feared that revealing the truth about his feelings would mean the end of the world, at least of his, would finally melt the ice between them, would replace it by the flames of devouring hatred, he had wondered then, if he felt attracted to other men just to compensate this lack of love. But soon he had stopped thinking about, it had led him nowhere, made no sense at all. He froze when the memories rushed over him, memories of his father showing up unexpectedly, standing in the doorframe like he did now, a dark emotionless shadow watching a boy’s endless efforts to fulfil his demands. It had played no role which task he had worked on, he never had been able to do enough, to work hard enough, to sacrifice enough for his father to accept him. On good days the long figure just had looked at him for a while, dropped a comment which had caused the tears to burn behind his eyes, though he had managed to hold them back, learned from experience that his father wasn’t tolerating a weakness like that. And during worse days Phillip had showed him his dissatisfaction by using his belt, giving him a taste of the reality he would have to face when grown up. Jack pushed the feelings back into the dusty dungeon, which he thought he had forgotten deep in the corners of his mind, in the place he had reserved for them and where he was able to close the door behind whenever necessary. He blinked against the light, waited for his eyes to accustom.

 
“You asked me to come!” he answered trying to suffocate the warning bells ringing in his ears. His childhood should be too far away to influence the present situation, he wouldn’t allow this to happen. “Thought you want me to meet upstairs,” he adressed his father.
The tall man glanced down on him.
“Changed my mind. Besides, we can’t stay in here any longer. I’m sorry, Jack, but there’s a car waiting for us. “I won’t go anyway, Dad. You persuaded me to come and I’m here. Tell me what you need to and I’ll go back” ”You haven’t told anyone where you went, have you?”
“Why would you be interested?”
Phillip smirked. “Means ‘no’, I guess. Glad you hadn’t lost your stubbornness.”
Jack’s head flipped around by the stifled sound of a shot.
“What the... .”
“Take him down.”
According to a sign from Phillip two heavy armed guards grabbed Jack and and immobilized him at once. “Sorry, son. You’re supposed to meet someone.”
A hint of regret flew over the older man’s features when he watched his men carrying the limp body downstairs, but vanished before it could be noticed. Raising his head he followed his son to the basement.
* * * * *

 
“What... where are we going...,” Jack groaned squirming in the tight grip.
He received no reaction.
Deeper into the earth they moved, crossing large parts of a huge cellar before they reached the garage. “Lights.” Phillip commanded shortly.
Jack saw at least five men including the two holding him, but could only guess the number of the men behind him.
 
The stonewalls became slightly illuminated as a result of Phillips command. Empty and abandoned the building was filled soon with the sounds of their steps and voices. Jack struggled to get free, but a blow on his head silenced him quickly.
“Behave, Jack!” His fathers voice gave away the tension he felt and which Jack noticed for the first time in its complete size.
 
Jack gave up fighting. Why should he try. There was nothing worth to continue the battle. He didn’t care what his father had in his mind, about his plans and reasons. It would make no difference and to be honest he wasn’t surprised. Things went this way, at least for him and he was ready to accept them. His head hurt and he felt blood dripping into his eye, but he was beyond giving attention to his physical constitution. The men pushed him forward roughly but he didn’t notice. Only one thought remained clear in his mind, his irresistable, seducing craving for an end of this day, this life.
 
* * * * *

 
Ian came to when waves of pain shot through him. He tried to move but the sudden ache immediately took his breath away. Desperately he regained control over the situation by recalling his position.
The car seemed to protect him, he lay close to the vehicle, cornered in between the street and the wheels. Obviously he couldn’t had been unconscious for a long time, probably only for a few seconds. Whoever was out there would still be waiting for him to show up.
He gritted his teeth and carefully rolled under the car, suppressing a groan. Fumbling for his weapon he asked himself why he hadn’t noticed the attacker earlier. He had been distracted, hadn’t lived in the moment, a fault he couldn’t forgive himself.
* * * * *

 
“Wise decision to leave your retreat, Fayed.”
Phillip Bauer raised his voice in order to make his words understandable from the distant end of the hall, where the men he had planned to meet gathered. “I already feared you would bury yourself in a hole and wait until the whole trouble will be forgotten.” “I’m no coward, Mr. Bauer. My people are used to stand up for their beliefs. It’s not a habit of mine to hide or make other people responsible for my faults. Might be the way you work.”
“Arrogant bastard,” Phillip hissed before he spoke loudly again.
“You’re right. Things hadn’t worked out as we had planned, but still it isn’t over yet. I know what you want and I promised you to fulfil your demands.” “There is nothing anymore I can do for you. If I try to detonate another nuke, if I only show up somewhere in your confounded country, I’ll be dead. You can’t think that there will be one place where you wouldn’t find my picture pinned on each tree.” “Thought you wouldn’t have any problems facing a risk including your own dead.”
“Be careful, Bauer. I might have less problems with it than you would have. After the mess today I would be really tempted to get rid of an insult to the human race like you are. A deed like this could easily save me my place in paradise.”
 
Phillip steamed. Angrily he gave his guards a sign who shoved Jack forward.
“Enough talking,” he growled.
“You wanted your revenge... you’ll get it.”
“And in exchange?”
“In exchange you tell me where you hide the nukes and I’ll save them for a better opportunity. After all they belong to me, I payed for them.” “I don’t care what you will do, but leave me out of your next deal. I’m sure you will find someone stupid enough to play the bad guy for your use, but I’m out. To change american business politics had never been the aim I’ve been fighting for.” “I always thought our interests would supplement perfectly, Fayed.”
Phillip slowly started to move forwards.
“Anyway, our points are clear... there is nothing to add. You’ll get my son and I’m helping you out of the country. But at first you tell me where I can find the bombs. I don’t want to be surprised by learning that my belongings are discovered in a South American war zone.” Fayed and his men approached them silently.
When they were able to see each others faces in the faint light, Fayed’s disgust became obvious.
“You guys really know about family,” he snorted, watching the blond agent hanging apathetic between the guards supporting him, the fresh wound still bleeding, the features indifferent and hollow. “One for one,and in the end we stay fair,” he mumbled and looked at his men who waited patiently for their orders.
“Take him... we shouldn’t waste our time.”
The heavy armed guards obeyed and pulled Jack out of the hold which had steadyed him before. He would have stumbled and fallen if they hadn’t grabbed him at once beginning to drag him to the other side.
Phillip nodded when his men stared at him questioning and slowly started to spread among their side of the garage.
“Alright,” he said, glancing at Fayed who waved his people to prepare their vehicles.
“Where are they?”
“Don’t worry. They are safe... as safe as stuff like this can be.”
“Don’t stress my patience,”Phillip threatened him, stepping closer slowly.
Fayed watched Jack being pushed forward into the direction of his car and turned back to the older man with a smile.
“Well,” he snorted and approached him from his side. “It’s time to say ‘Farewell’ then, isn’t it?. You will continue playing your games in your part of the world and I’ll look for a way to serve my issues more successful than I could do it here.” “As long as I can rely on your coming to action when we’ll need it... you’ll receive the money by a suisse account. The rest is up to you.” Fayed nodded.
“That’s the deal, will take a little longer, but in the end we’ll both get what we want.”
They met nearly face to face, studying their opposites carefully.
* * * * *

 
The pain made it difficult to concentrate, but Ian focused on a regular breathing, blocked his injuries out of his mind while he listened to the soft steps he knew which would come closer soon. He lifted his head though the hurting increased in order to receive a better picture.
Someone approached him from a sideway, out of the pitch-black darkness.
Ian’s breathing rattled, the man shooting at him had been a professional considering the distance and the darkness. If he had he been closer Ian would have bet that he had sensed him. It was pure luck that he was still alive. Soft steps came nearer. Ian’s hand holding the gun trembled and he forced himself to pull all his strength together to get through this. Just a little bit closer to make sure he’ll meet him even if his hand was shaking.
The attacker did him the favor. He slowly came nearer, obviously expecting a dead body. Faster than the man could react Edgerton turned on his side, baring himself to the environment and with an angry shout he fired. His insides seemed to tear apart like the ones of the man slipping down in front of him. Ian shot him again before he crawled out of his hideout. He felt dizzy and close to break down but there still was one thing he had to do. With the greatest effort he pulled himself up and managed to open the car slipping into the seat and reaching for the phone. He was connected at once.
“Need to talk to Buchanan,” he breathed. “Agent Edgerton. It’s important.”
* * * * *

 
“The nukes,” Phillip whispered barely able to hide his growing frustration.
“I’ll call you when we’re out of town.”
“Forget it!”
Phillip grabbed his wrist in an iron grip.
Immediately men on both sides raised their weapons, ready to fire with the slightest sign.
“Stop!” The older man called staring to the place where Jack had been moved.
“I want them now. Otherwise my son will stay with me.”
“That’s nice,” Fayed grinned. “The father comes through. Who would have expected that. But you forget that he’s already with us.”
 
Jack felt his companions freezing in the moment, turning around to listen to the dispute. He perceived his surroundings hazily, blurred behind a veil of thick fog, voices talking in the distance, becoming louder with the increasing rage he noticed all around. The men still held him tight and through the mist he discovered weapons, held by people who wouldn’t dare to refuse the order to shoot.
 
“You might think so,” he heard his father’s voice. “As long as he is here, more than five guns are only waiting for the order to be fired, to kill him fast... and you would agree that this is not the revenge you’d dreamt of, Fayed.” “You’re really sick, Bauer.” Fayed snorted. “It has been a fault to trust you. Grezenko had warned me... .” “Grezenko was an idiot. But don’t forget... I’ve plans for us. There will be attacks all over the world until people will listen. We’ll make history, my friend.” Fayed shook his head, looked around considering before he concentrated on Phillip again.

 
“I’ve written down the adress,” he growled at last. “The people there don’t know what they are storing. But they are instructed to protect it with their lifes, so you’d better tell them that you’re coming in my consent.” With a smirk he reached for his pocket... .
“Don’t panic...! I’m just looking for the paper.”
Phillip grinned back and came closer to receive the message.
“You see, we’re getting along great.”
He took the paper from Fayed’s hands and studied it attentively, his grin widened, before he looked back to the other man. “Nice place. You really know how to hide something. But so do I.”
He raised his head and looked around contently. “I think we’re ready now,” he mentioned.
* * * * *

 
“What is it, Edgerton?”
Bill needed to collect what had been left of his self-control to answer the call without screaming at the man. For the first time in his life he felt seduced to lash out at someone, to hurt him seriously. He bit his anger back and went on. “I wonder why you want to speak to me. You have to know that I’ll make you pay for your actions.”
No answer.
“Ian?”
When Bill had calmed down and become able to hear something else but the blood pounding in his ears, he noticed the laboured breaths coming from the other end of the line. “Dammit, what is it... talk!”
Ian coughed suddenly, still, unable to speak.
“Track the call,” Bill called out impatiently though he saw that Chloe was already busy doing so.
“Mr. Buchanan!” Agent Ebbs hurried to reach him. “Edgerton left an adress. He’s usually right, when he follows a lead. You should send a team there at once.” Bill nodded at him.
“You should go there, too... and hurry! He might be in trouble.”
Bill returned to the phone.
“Ian... we’ll localize you soon. Tell me, who you are after. I have to know what I’m dealing with.”
Edgerton finallyrecovered he succeeded in forming words.
“Bauer,” he breathed. “The bastard had set a trap for Jack.”

 
* * * * *

 
Fayed turned to Jack, a mocking grin on his face.
“Interesting experience to deal with your family,” he mentioned. “Expect a not so comfortable journey, Jack. But probably you’ll enjoy it more when you’ll start to imagine what will wait for you at the end.” Rough arms shoved him forward, brought him closer to the cars which looked like they were ready to start.

 
It happened out from nowhere.

 
Jack sensed them moving along the stoney walls, shapeless ghosts, hidden deep in the darkness, encircling the place, surrounding him. The threat was concrete, tangible, but invisible in the shadows, the quietness heavy like the paralyzing silence numbing all living beings before a thundersturm took place.
 
He barely noticed a change, a command, a reason telling him why suddenly hell broke loose.
Jack felt the grips holding him become strangely weak, while the exploding noise almost made his eardrums burst when he just wondered why he was sinking down to earth pulled violently by the men who had captured him. Awkwardly he noticed the astonished gaze of Fayed meeting his eyes, watched the man reaching for his throat spitting a wave of blood from his pain-distorted mouth before he crumpled down on the floor, his body ripped up, destroyed by bullets. The attack had come unexpected.
Taken by surprise Fayed’s men hadn’t been able to react in time, the salvo blew them away during an instant. They had no chance, Phillips snipers arrived from both sides, overwhelmed and caught them in the deadly crossfires. It lasted a few seconds before silence covered the situation just as suddenly as it had begun. Single groans could be heard, were ended abruptly by muffled shots. Quickly and expertedly the corpses were taken care of, nothing delayed the skilful actions.

 
Phillip barked orders, tried to make his people work faster, to remove traces quickly.
Holding his breath Jack sensed the dead men next to him being dragged away in a haste. His head swam and confusion left him in shock. He tried to get up but crumpled down painfully when he made efforts to support himself with his arm. Seeing himself bleeding there came as a bigger surprise for he hadn’t noticed the bullet stroking him. A movement of his right leg told him that at least one second bullet had hit him. Struggling though unsure about the reason for his battle he shifted in an attempt to change his position. “That’s right, son,” Phillip stated, looking down on him.
Jack panted, tried to keep himself upwards, refused to break down in front of his father, whose lips showed an evil smile. “I’ve been told you aren’t easy to kill.”
Phillip shook his head.
“Look at you. You’re bleeding all over, but still fighting. And what for...?”
He paused, while his men were working eagerly, then bent down to his son catching his eyes. “I would love to see you die here alone. It’s a shame that I can’t, that I still have to find a solution for your worthless existence, though each thought about your fate will be a wasted one.” Absent-mindly he scratched his chin.
“Unfortunately I can’t afford to leave a suspicion. Fayed had presented a danger for me and you are as well.” “Dad, ... you don’t have to... .” Jack croaked. “You... you saved my life by... .”
“By killing Fayed?” Phillip rubbed his forehead. “Sorry, son...! You can’t expect me to claim this as a deed of mine. The story has too many holes, the attention would be concentrated on me alone. I have to keep my name out of this at any circumstances.” He looked to the grey, dusty ceiling, sounded dreamily.
“But, I’m glad that I always can rely on you making things easier for me.
Nobody would dare to doubt the arrangement I’ll meet.
For example I could make it look like an agent going crazy, you have to admit that nobody would be surprised, if you were loosing it, committing suicide, shooting your partner,... boy friend... .”Phillips features distorted to an angry mask. “Don’t care how scum like you are calling yourselves... fact is... in the end nobody would wonder. And believe me... .” He bent a little closer... .”Believe me... no one would cry for two fucked-up agents, certainly not after digging a while in their pasts, revealing the dirty little secrets they share... .” Jack searched for his father’s eyes, nausea made him squirm when he received the naked hate burning in the older man’s face. “Wha... what have you done?”
“You shouldn’t care, Jack. But one thing for sure. You will join your lover in purgatory soon enough, I swear it.” Groaning Jack propped himself up though the pain rushed through his arms like electric blows. “I... hate you... go to hell... “
“Nice wish now... by my only living son.” Phillip grabbed his arm ignoring the painful groan and pulled Jack upwards. “You’ll travel with the dead,” he hissed shoving him to the approaching van which already had been filled with Fayed’s men. “We’ll stop outside and gather what had been left of your faithful friend.”
“I... I promise... ,”Jack whispered.
“Save your breath, son... .
Mourn your life if you feel like talking. Otherwise shut up.”

 
Jack felt pushed in between the bodies stacked closely in the darkness of the vehicle. The heavy doors closed and the car started to move slowly. Though he couldn’t see anything, Fayed’s dead eyes stared at him reproachfully..
* * * * *

 
Edgerton fought his pain and his exhaustion. He longed for a moment of rest, of peace, wished he never would have to move again.
But yet he wasn’t ready to give up, not on Jack.
With a sigh he grabbed for his weapon, examined it with shivering hands. It was empty.
He turned, groaning, when the ache shot from his lungs to his toes, nearly left him breathless.
But he managed to reach for the second gun which he knew had to be stored next to him.
His grip lost strength and the weapon slipped from his fingers, tumbled down into the darkness of the car.
He gasped, nearly lost consciousness, when he tried to bend down to find it.
But finally the gun stayed in his hold and he came up again, his body covered in sweat, trembling all over. He tried to push the door open, needed several attempts until it moved enough to provide him with the space he needed to slide through the opening. Ian struggled to force his feet to support him, to move forwards, but they weren’t obeying.
Slowly but inevitably he glided from his seat, barely able to stop his falling when he prevented a painful collision with the hard ground by bringing his arms in front of his face for protection. Head down he used them to crawl forwards, tried to involve his legs which still resisted, refused to work like he needed them to do.
One of his arms shook violently and he feared that it might be his own blood which he felt warm and wet pooling under his body.
When his legs had left the car he fell to one side breathing heavily, sincerely doubting that he could do anything to help Jack or himself.
Silently he started to pray, begged the spirits to provide him with strength.
* * * * *

 
Phillip threw a last glance over the place, before he climbed into the limousine waiting for him. As soon as he was in, his driver took up speed and passed the other vehicles, which already were on their way to the garage exit. He built up a connection to his guards outside.
“We’re coming. Haven’t heard from you. Everything alright?”
A husky voice answered.
“Problem, boss. Seems like the FBI-bastard had shot our man.”
“What the... ? Why haven’t you told me earlier?”
“We had no reason to believe that something went wrong. Stephens had never made a mistake before. I don’t know how...”
He tried to apologize.
“Stop your excuses. Is he dead now?”
“... Well,... at least he’s not moving, but Stephens...”
“Dammit,” Phillip cursed. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”
He looked up, noticed them approaching the exit.
“Dead or not, we’ll take care of him! Your job is to clean the place and remove the car. I don’t want to see any signs of what had happened today.”
“Sure, boss. I’m sorry.”
But Phillip had ended the conversation, leant back in his seat with a sigh, before he contacted his men in the van.
* * * * *

 
Will turned to his fellows.
“This job sucks,” he snorted. “I’m done working as a cleaner.”
“What is it?”
“Two more bodies at the end of the parking lot. Bauer made sure again that no one would talk.”
“The guy is crazy.”
“He has to be, that’s the reason for his success,” Will croaked.
“Anyway, take care that they are really dead. And he needs the badge or something as a proof for the FBI-man’s presence.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
They moved ahead in silence.
* * * * *

 
Bill went up and down restlessly.
This was the hardest part of it all, to wait for results without being able to do anything.
He was angry about himself, angry that he hadn’t been able to see it coming.
Frustrated he stopped his aimless walking, sat down in front of his monitor showing the recent informations about Phillip Bauer, Morris had sent to him from his station. There still was nothing, no hint, no reason for a suspicion. Either the man was extremely careful and good at hiding, or his innocence couldn’t be denied. Bill’s worry grew each second. What was this game about? And why had he been instructed again to send his teams after Fayed, and Fayed only. Maybe the terrorist was playing one of the major roles, but Bill couldn’t believe that he had been the leader of today’s events. Each trace leading to the countries Fayed or Grezenko had connections to, the governments, embassies... turned out to be build upon sandy ground. From all Bill had learned today it was obvious that the man was a terrorist for his own cause, working together with anyone who might promise him success. He was glad that Agent Ebbs had ignored their commands, stayed interested alone in bringing clarity into Edgerton’s fate. Obviously he relied completely on the man’s intuition, stating that he had never failed as long as they had worked together. If he was right, if Jack’s father really wanted to get rid of his son, to punish him for what he was, for his simple existence... . Bill had to admit that the thought scared him, but not enough to push it away as unlikely.
God knew that he had looked down into enough human depths to believe that nothing was impossible.
Nevertheless he couldn’t imagine why Jack hadn’t said a word, hadn’t uttered a suspicion. From all the people around he was the one who should have noticed something. There was only one conclusion. Either China had shaken him too much to rely on his senses anymore, or the closeness and the shared history had kept him blind for the obvious. Bill refused to believe that Jack would have protected his father consciously, he needed to find another explanation. Lost in thoughts he watched Chloe typing concentrated on her keyboard. If someone was able to find out about Bauer in the net, it would be her.

 
Damn... . His screen darkened suddenly... numbers and letters blinked, hushed over the monitor, vanished before it finally went black.
“What... ?”
Raising his head he noticed confused faces, helpless glances and astonished calls around the office.
Quickly he reached for the microphone. “Save your files, it’s an urgency. We’ve got a virus.”
The alarm rang noisily, caused the agents to work more feverishly trying to avoid the complete break-down of the systems.
Bill waved at Chloe who nodded at him working on her devices in a hurry, her fingers flying over the buttons, though Bill could tell it was too late. They only could hope to succeed in reinstalling their programs as fast as possible. * * * * *

 
“Guy is dead.” The man kicked Edgerton in his side gaining no response from the lifeless body.
“I wish he wouldn’t be, deserves to suffer for what he had done to Stephens.”
He opened the doors of the van, allowing the others to carry Stephens corpse inside.
“Your turn,” he ordered. “Too much blood around and I’ve left my gloves in the cabin.”
“You’re a pityful coward,” Will stated, his voice dripping in contempt. “Hurry up... I want to be out of town before the night will be over.” He raised one arm to greet the Bauer’s limousine crossing the place where they did their job. Phillips window had been scrolled down and the man stared at him scrutinizing. “You understand... not a single trace! Get rid of the bodies and then I expect you to create a believable scenario somewhere in the desert for these two agents. They shouldn’t be found before the sun had burnt away their flesh, leaving nothing but the blank bones. But in case they will be found sooner or later, it has to look like a private dispute. “I’m not new in this,” Will growled, but nodded politely.
“Sure, Sir,” he promised aloud, watching the elegant car passing him silently again, vanishing into the darkness. “I hate these posers,” he grumbled angrily.
“Are you ready now?” He screamed at his men, showing his rage finally.
The doors of the van shut loudly and relieved he gave the command to leave the place where still a few of his guys were busy removing each sign which still could tell a story. * * * * *

 
Ian slowly let out his breath. Carefully he allowed his senses to start their work again, ignoring the pain which returned at the same time. The scent of blood and death filled his nostrils and he remained motionless fighting the overwhelming gagging reflex. The vehicle moved quickly, though each curve, each bumpiness of the street sent shockwaves through his body. But despite the trouble he couldn’t deny the strong feeling of having reached his aim, of being closer to Jack again. Unable to speak he put out his invisible feelers towards any sign of life around him, knowing for sure that Jack couldn’t be dead. If he was, he would have felt it the moment it had happened, that much he relied on his senses.
 
“Edgerton!” The hoarse voice sounded weak but clear and Ian closed his eyes in relief. He couldn’t put up the strength to answer it but could tell by the scratching sounds drowned by the noises of the engine, that Jack had to be aware of the direction he had to move. A cold hand touched his, grabbed it firmly, searched for a pulse, not unsure, questioning, but confirming what its owner already knew. * * * * *

 
Edgerton pulled his strength together, squeezed Jack’s fingers slightly.
“Ian,” Jack whispered, understanding the gesture. He held the dark-haired’s hand tight, reassuring himself that he wasn’t the only person alive in this nightmare. Ian tried again to speak but only a husky sound escaped his lips.
Jack sensed his efforts and struggled to bring his ear closer to the other man’s mouth.
His lips nearly touching Jack’s lobe, Ian managed to breathe one word.
He was sure that Jack hadn’t been able to comprehend, but the slowly along his body downwards gliding fingers told him about the opposite. They slid over his tight jeans, passed his knees and finally approached the feet.
Ian tried to repeat what he had said, but Jack’s fingers already were testing his boot, slipped expertedly inside and found what he had been looking for. Edgerton hadn’t to say another word, without questioning Jack searched along the other calf until he found the knife which had been carefully fixed, hidden by cloths and shoes. In the darkness Jack examined the gun he had pulled out of the first boot, judged it small and effective, a chance for them. “The knife,” Ian finally groaned, raising his hand to receive the weapon.
Jack hesitated at first doubting that Ian would be able to use it, but quickly changed his mind. With a half-hearted smile, invisible in the blackness they were trapped in, he reached for Ian’s hand, opened the fist nearly tenderly to place the knife inside before he closed his fingers around it again. The careful movement stilled the pain Ian was feeling and even if he couldn’t tell if Jack’s care or the knowledge of being able to defend himself again, was the reason, he felt better immediately, stronger than a moment ago. His sight became clearer and he could make out different contures among the shadows, besides the overwhelming closeness to the other agent. “Jack?” he asked, not knowing what he wanted to say. But Jack seemed to understand wordlessly when he enclosed Ian’s hand again with his own fingers, holding it tight. Connected physically and emotionally they remained silent while the van carried its weight through the night. * * * * *

 
The lasting, unnerving silence proved that they had left the city.
The lack of traffic, the impression to move alone on an abandoned road leading to nowhere did nothing to comfort the two men on their ride. Dawn still seemed to be hours away when the van finally came to stop.
Jack pressed Ian’s fingers tightly, relieved when the responding grip told him that the FBI agent was conscious. His own body ached all over but he was beyond caring about his pain. Above all the end might be near.
 
Ian braced himself for the final fight.
They had to rely on the moment of surprise, their only chance to turn the wheels of fortune, and they both knew how low their chances where.
 
Important was only one thing, one thing alone.
They had to try, no matter what would happen... they had to fight.

 
No words were necessary between them, no exchange of looks, no reassuring signs.
Ian knew that Jack understood and that he shared his conviction.

 
In the shadows they waited for the inevitable, suddenly thankful for the lack of light.
The doors opened but the darkness remained impenetrable as before offering them at least an illusion of protection.
 
Muffled orders could be heard, strange sounds reached their ears when the sharp smell of gasoline replaced the exotic scent of the desert. “Hurry up,” Will commanded impatiently. “We have to make sure that nothing will be left when daylight hits.”

 
Jack tensed while the sounds came nearer.
“Make sure they are dead... I don’t need surprises... .”
A dark shape entered the van, followed closely by another one.
Jack held his breath determined to wait as long as possible.
“Fuck... I hate this...,” one of the men cursed.
“Get a grip, buddy. Better watch out for the agents... their journey hasn’t ended yet.”
“We should get rid of them together with the rest. You can’t tell me that anybody cares.”
“The boss says different... .”

 
They were inside the cabin grabbing the corpses in order to carry them outside. Jack felt the other men close. This moment he chose to shoot. Experience made him act without any hesitation.
The first bullet hit the man next to him who tumbled down immediately, dead at once not able to emit a single sound.
The light of the fire left no doubt about the direction the following shot had to follow.
The man had no time to understand what was going on before he fell down, hit deadly.

 
Jack had no idea how many guys still remained outside and he hadn’t much ammunition left.
Relying on his instincts and the sounds from the outside he aimed blindly and shot again, a scream telling him that he had been successful. Groaning he tried to move forwards, crawling to the exit, ready to face his fate.
“Seek cover, Jack!”
A cracking voice stopped him and he sensed Ian behind him aware of the danger.
“Stay here, I’ll get them,” Jack hissed, anger took over, rushed through his veins. No pain, no desperation, only pure fury made him bring up his last reserves. With a strangled cry he threw himself forwards obeying the instincts driving him, forcing him to act.
He couldn’t hold himself upwards, crushed down violently, rolling over the edge of the van, fell hard on the stoney ground.
From the corner of his eyes he still noticed two men stumbling. He tried to fire though the magazine was empty... no sounds emerged his weapon anymore, the battle was over. Inhuman sounds wanted to escape Jack’s lips when the disappearing rage made room for the pain, the harsh contact between his body and the ground had caused, but his fading strength only allowed a suppressed whimper.
 
* * * * *

 
A tall shape rised in front of him, radiating rage and anger.
“You are dead flesh,” the shadow hissed, directing a deadly weapon on Jack.
The blond let out his breath and lowered his head in surrender while he braced himself for the impact. A swishing sound approached his ears and he raised his eyes noticed a swirling knife cutting the air, landing securely in the chest above him. A single grunt was the only audible reaction before the man tumbled backwards, the gun slipping from his hands while he reached desperately for the sharp weapon fixed firmly in his body.
 
Jack watched him falling, crushing violently to the ground.
He tried to turn his head, to look after Ian, but the pain in his shoulder paralyzed his senses. And it still wasn’t over. Steps rushed closer, curses filled the night.
 
Ian had managed to draw himself to the edge, to rise high enough to be able to throw the knife.
 
He clutched at the frame, his eyes scrutinizing the surroundings.
A bullet met the van accompanied by a furious growl.
Will stormed forward, the FBI Agent clearly the aim for his revenge.
Ian tried to duck down but both knew that he couldn’t move fast enough to escape the other man’s fury. But they hadn’t thought of Jack.
With a howl he rolled aside and stretched his leg to block the other man’s way. Like expected Will stumbled and lost balance. As soon as he had hit the ground Jack manoevred his legs around Will’s neck and twisted violently. The ugly cracking sound told him that he had broken the taller man’s neck with the first try. Breathing hard he still held the limp body encircled, determined to exclude each possible risk. Adrenaline burnt in his blood and despite the ache Jack propped himself up.
Will was dead, no doubt about it.
Jack let loose and crawled over the cold ground to reach for the gun which lay abandoned in the dust. Sweaty fingers enclosed it, drew it nearer, suddenly trembling, but just in time to whirl around and pull the trigger. He fired twice, emptied the gun without aiming but miraculously the man sneaking around the corner of the van which had hidden him until this moment, was hit with the first shot. Jack pulled the trigger again and again, wildly trying to create the illusion of a fight, unable to notice the sudden quietness spreading over the scenery. The only sounds emerged from the slow burning fire already arranged to burn the dead and the useless clicking of his gun.
 
“Jack.... it’s over... .” Ian’s voice touched his senses, weak and hoarse, near the breaking point. Jack dropped the gun and turned, using his arms to crawl into the direction of the sound, using whatever had remained of the strength he once had owned, to move.
 
Ian had moved too, managed to leave the place he had been stucked in.
“They are dead. No one’s left,” he whispered. Black eyes met Jack’s, nearly invisible in the darkness but immensely intense in their power.
 
His legs couldn’t hold him and he sank down on his knees, reached out for Jack who came up to catch his weight. Arms encircled, aching bodies pressed together, proofs of the life they felt pulsating in their blood, sharing warmths and arising hope.
 
Ian held Jack tight who clung to him in a desperate attempt to reconnect. It hadn’t been the end, he still was alive and he wasn’t sure if he had to consider it a blessing, a further chance, or a curse. And besides the cruelties, the pain, his wish to escape there were these arms holding him upwards, tight, showing him clearer than words could do that he wasn’t alone anymore.
 
He pressed closer, burying his face into the other man’s chest ignoring the wetness, the blood and the injuries mixing with his own. They bore the pain together, endured what they had to, melted and became one while the night gave up its battle, surrendered to the day, died by allowing the first faint light to reach the place where they remained motionless, waiting for more to come.
 
* * * * *

 
Bill felt the loss. He couldn’t tell what had triggered the feeling, but suddenly he knew.
 
His eyes locked with Morris’ and he sensed the sudden understanding.
“Chloe! I need to talk to you,” he told her, ignoring the annoyed way she answered his look. “I’m still in the middle of ... .”
“Morris will take care of it.”
“What... I... .”
Bill accepted no further resistance leading her silently into his office.
“Chloe... you’re the best analyst in here. I can’t believe... .”
The woman rolled her eyes, stroke her hair back.
“I don’t think it’s the time for musings. I’ve got to work on reinstalling the programs... .”
“Yes... .” Bill paused. “I still can’t believe that the systems had gone down that fast. Impossible to create a damage like this without the help from inside.” “What do you want to say? That we’ve got a mole in here... again?” Bill glanced out of his office. He watched Morris working frantically on Chloe’s station.
Then he looked up and made a face, gesturing into Bill’s direction.

 
The older man sighed.
“Chloe... I don’t understand.”
She stared at him angrily.

 
“Why have you done this? What was the reason for your betrayal.”
She raised her chin.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“There is no other explanation for what happened today.”
Bill looked at her sadly.
“I only want to understand. Why now? For what reason?”
Chloe shook her head. Suddenly she seemed to catch a thougt, her eyes flashed for a short moment and she raised her chin.
With an expression nearly amused she spoke firmly.

 
“To give him time. There are still things out there he has to do.”
Bill’s eyes widened. “Who? Who are you talking about?”
But Chloe pressed her lips together answering the stare with now empty eyes.
“I’ve got it.” No one of them had noticed Morris approaching them, fresh prints in his hands.”
“Systems are working again?” Bill asked him hopefully.
“Not yet,” Morris answered throwing a condemning look at his ex-wife.
“But the mess had its origin in a device installed by Bauer enterprises. Means Phillip Bauer has his hands mangled in it.”
Bill ran a hand through his hair and shook his head in frustration, remembering Edgerton’s warnings.
“Can’t believe this.” He looked up finally, met Chloe’s gaze who stood frozen in place.
“Take her into custody,” he murmured, nearly astonished about the fact that the guards had heard him and reacted at once.
Left alone with Morris he emitted a sigh.
“We have to find a possibility to connect with Agent Ebbs. Right now he is our best chance.”
“I’ll do my best,” Morris nodded, opened his mouth again trying to say something, but stopped himself from talking in time.
When he was gone Bill sank on a chair and stared out of the window.
He had failed, had met decisions, that had been wrong.
But the worst thing was, he knew he would do it again the same way.
It wasn’t his way to question, to rebel, to overcome barriers and now it was his turn to accept this. Again he ran a hand through his grey hair, feeling the headache arise again.

 
“Mr. Buchanan!”
Nadja smiled at him relieved. “We’ve got Agent Ebbs in the line. Seems like he has found Edgerton.” * * * * *

 
Ebbs had been forced to decide. No proof, only hints had shown him his way. It had been a game. He hadn’t known, if they had chosen the right paths. At last he had followed the clearer trace, sent a second team into the other direction.
He had relied on his luck, his ability to act quickly, to follow his senses for there was nothing left beside the amazingly clean place where he supposed Ian’s car had been. Without any contact to CTU he had to work with the little FBI support he could get on such a day, feverishly trying to connect the agencies again. When they had left the city, followed the cars into the desert, he had known that it wasn’t Phillip Bauer he was behind. And he hadn’t much hopes that they would see the guy again too soon.
 
When he saw the fire in the distance he feared they were coming too late.

 
He drove nearer to the place not expecting to be overwhelmed in such an enourmous way by the relief washing over him when he saw Ian and Jack alive. If the situation had been different, he might had wondered about the two men lying in each others arms, limbs entangled, impossible for him to tell where one body started or the other one ended. What Ebbs found around them was scaring, disastrous, breathed destruction and violence.
Yet he couldn’t avoid the smile spreading over his face the moment he saw Edgerton stirring, when he noticed the agent’s attempts to break free from the hold he was captured in for what reason ever. But Jack seemed oblivious to the change of events, keeping Ian in his embrace until he was forced to lose it. Ebb’s smile faded quickly when he checked on the men’s wounds.
Decisions had to be made again and Don had seen no other way than transporting the men back to the city fast in order to provide them with medical attention as far as this would be possible after the events of this day. As if his pleas had been heard, he suddenly had CTU in the line again, eager to hear about his results, insisting that he had to bring the survivors to its medical department. * * * * *

 
When Ebbs returned to his search he wasn’t surprised to find whatever had remained of a trace being turned cold and useless. He went on with his work but his experience told him that a man like Phillip Bauer would possess thousands of possibilities to flee from the country especially in times like these. “One day,” he swore to himself. “One day a single mistake of you will break your neck.”
Confident, convinced of the correctness of his statement he threw a glance into the sky where in spite of everything that had happened the sun began to rise as if nothing unusual had happened. * * * * *

 
“What... ?”
Jack shook off the dizziness, tried to focus.
Blurring memories told him of their return to CTU, of urgent hands gripping for him, pulling him away from Edgerton’s side, ripping his clothes apart, cleaning and taking care of his wounds. Needles came into his sight, promises of release from the pain accompanied the different treatments, the burning and aching in his body until he had slipped into unconsciousness. “What’s with... ?”
He tried to speak but his throat felt desert-dry and a slight cough shook him making him wince with the effort. “Easy Jack.”
Soothing words reached his ears, wetness touched his lips, calmed down his chokings.
A few blinks with his eyes finally cleared his sight and he recognized the familiar features bending over him. “You will be alright, Jack. A little rest and you’ll be fine.”
Bill smiled down on him before he set the cup aside.
“I... I have to get up... .” Jack twisted, suppressed the groan which wanted to escape him with the motion. “Take it slow. No need to hurry.” Bill grabbed his arm ready to support him and carefully Jack sat up waiting for the giddiness to fade away. “Ian?” he managed to breath, recognizing the slight squirming of Bill’s shape.
“He will be alright, too. Don’t worry.” Bill answered after a second of hesitation.
“They brought him out of surgery when I came here.”
A questioning glance made him add: “He’s fine Jack, already asked me about you.”
He swallowed dryly.
“You might see him soon, I promise.”
“Yeah?”
Jack looked up at the older man hopefully and the sight nearly broke Bill’s heart, hadn’t he known already, hadn’t he known from the start. “Yeah.” He nodded and gently rubbed Jack’s uninjured shoulder, providing him with another smile. Jack sucked in the assurance and Bill could tell that the last hours had demanded everything of him, that he would need some time and help to return to his self as far as this would ever be possible. He gulped audibly and lowered his eyes. They found Jack’s hand resting on the covers and Bill tenderly took it in his own. Grey eyes met blue ones, filled with sorrow and confusion.

 
“Jack,” he started, not knowing how to go on.
“Soon you will have to tell us what happened. We need the details. But right now it’s more important for you to regain your strength. There is only one thing I want to say, before I’ll let you recover.” He took in a breath, noticed the alarmed expression, the nervous twitching of the corners of this beautiful mouth. “I... I want you to know that you can come to me... always... any time... any way... and I’ll be there for you.” Bill added his second hand holding Jack’s tightly between his fingers, warming them with his own, relaxing when he sensed the younger man adjusting to the touch in spite of his former reservations. “Now that I know your past ... it is... I would... .”
Bill lost track of his words drowning in these eyes of blue once more, but pulling himself together with final determination. He had to make sure that he would be understood, that the offer he made, would be received in the right way. He straightened his back, added a further pressure on the still freezing fingers in his hands. “It might sound stupid, Jack. But I wish that you can trust me... me and Karen.”
Jack looked at him in wonder.
“I want to see you as a part of my family, would like you will choose me in case you need someone... someone like... .” Bill silenced, suddenly feeling incredible ridiculous. But the conclusion he had discovered after these long hours he couldn’t keep inside. Life was too short, too hard to let chances pass, even if he would find himself in danger to be laughed at, to be rejected or worse. But Jack took the ball from his hands, his eyes met the older man’s ones in an expression nearly delighted. “...Like a father,” the younger man managed to whisper, disbelief written in his face.
Bill let out a deep breath.
“Like that.”
His gaze found the hand he still was holding firmly and he enjoyed the warmth arising beyond its damaged skin. “Think about it, Jack. I really want to be there for you whenever you are searching for a hold, I owe you that much... in fact, we owe you more than this.” Amazingly relieved that he had said it, that he had managed to put it in words, he got up, his eyes and fingers still connected with Jack. “And now I will arrange it that you’ll be able to share a room with Agent Edgerton for the remaining time you both will have to stay here. I guess you two might find something to talk about.” “I’m... .”
Jack silenced, staring at the rising man in pure astonishment.
“It’s okay, Jack... we have a life to talk about this... . A life from now on.”
Bill carefully placed Jack’s hands on the white sheets before he turned around with a twinkle in his eyes, finding Karen standing silently in the doorframe. Her shining smile filled his heart with joy. Yet he would have to talk to her too and it wouldn’t be easy.
But now he knew that it wasn’t fair to keep his feelings secret anymore, not after he had promised to be with her forever. For the last time he took in the sight of the blond man before he left to greet the woman he shared his life with.