(no subject)

[action_antihero]

Traffic is heavy heading into L.A.; even with everything that's been happening in the last couple weeks, there are enough people heading into work or otherwise to the downtown core to make traffic slow, if not quite the usual gridlock. Seated in the middle of the SUV, with agents in front of him and agents behind, Jack starts to get that familiar-skin-crawling feeling again, and he closes his eyes for much of the ride, leaning his head against the window.

It's a feeling that doesn't go away when they get to CTU, as they walk inside its familiar walls and for a moment it feels like the last couple years never happened, like he'd never been away. At least that's until he notices the stares of people working in the bullpen, the way everything seems to stop on sight of them.

He glances around for Kim, but doesn't spot her before he and Chris are led over to medical, where he finally lets go of Chris' hand and is led to a seat on one of the beds, where one of the doctors takes a look at his shoulder. Jack keeps his eyes firmly on the floor as he's given a local anasthetic and the wound is sewn up, glad that it's in his back so he doesn't have to watch.

He's just starting to pull a new shirt they'd given him over his head when a woman walks in--someone he doesn't recognise. He catches the look of surprise she gives his scars before he looks down, trying to put his left arm through the sleeve when his shoulder doesn't want to move. She stops and talks to Chris first for a few minutes, giving him a chance to pull on his shirt.

Comments

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"And I know that some leads aren't always dealt with best by locking that person in interrogation," Jack snaps back.

The mention of 2008, however, makes him stop. Part of him knows exactly what it must have been that Wayne Palmer said, but he doesn't want to believe it. He had to have known that it would come out somehow, even if most of the people who knew the truth wouldn't have told anyone.

"What did Palmer tell you, exactly?" Jack asks, warily.

[theredshirts.livejournal.com]

"He told us that Saunders had demanded that Ryan Chappelle be killed or else he would release more of the virus." After everything Jack's done and everything Bill knows him to be capable of, he still has trouble believing this. "And Wayne told us that you were the one his brother called to do it."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack walks over to the glass wall looking down at the bullpen, his back to Buchanan. Despite the renovations, Tony's office had looked a fair bit like this when Jack had had to tell him about Saunders' demands, and for the moment the memories are just a little too close for comfort.

I don't know what we're gonna do if we don't find Saunders before seven.

There was part of him that resented the fact that Palmer had asked him to do it--that wished it could have been anyone else's duty--but it's definitely not something he would have killed over.

"Who knows?" Jack asks, softly.

[theredshirts.livejournal.com]

"I haven't told anyone. Wayne Palmer asked that I didn't." He could understand why and it wasn't information anyone needed to know - not at the time, anyway.

And there are a lot of questions but only one he feels he has to ask. "Does Chris know?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack doesn't turn around as he nods. "Yeah, she does." At least Buchanan's the only one who knows so far; if it had become common knowledge with her co-workers...

[theredshirts.livejournal.com]

That hadn't been the answer he was expecting, not after they found out Jack and Chris weren't involved with the assassination.

Bill nods, unsure of what to say to that so he moves on to more pressing questions. "Do you have any idea who would target you and David Palmer?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack turns around, shaking his head. "No. The only people I can think of that might...they never knew about Palmer's involvement, and they were bought." If the Chinese had gone after Palmer... No, they wouldn't want to risk someone revealing the truth about that attack on their president months ago; that it had been an atack from within. It had to be someone else.

He meets Bill's eyes, determination filling him. He needs to know who did this; particularly when it's so personal. "I want in on the investigation, Bill."

[theredshirts.livejournal.com]

"You haven't done this in a long time, Jack," he says not unkindly, "You and Chris have been through an ordeal. Are you sure you don't want to go home and rest?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"No, I want to find the people who killed a friend of mine, and who tried to kill us," Jack says, not backing down. "It'll be off the record; I won't officially be working for CTU, and if I get in any trouble, you can disavow any knowledge of my actions."

[theredshirts.livejournal.com]

Bill frowns, not comfortable with this arrangement but he knows Jack isn't going to budge. "All right. Nadia can get you up-to-date on the investigation so far."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods, a little relieved, though he hadn't really given Bill much of a choice. If Bill had refused Jack would just have started investigating on his own; and would probably still ahve called Chris, Chloe, Kim and Chase for their help anyway.

"Thanks, Bill," he says, adding evenly, "Where's Kim?"

[agirllost]

After medical, all Kim wanted was to get cleaned up. They told her to go home, but for her it wasn't an option.

She was sure that all she needed was a shower and some time in front of the mirror with a concealer.

Before she leaves the locker room, Kim picks up the phone and dials Buchanan's office.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm on my way back to the floor, Mr. Buchanan." Kim's voice still sounds a little hoarse. Luckily, the pain killers have kicked in. "I'm sorry that I took so long." She's good at pretending that things didn't happen and all she wants to focus on now is getting in touch with her dad and Chris and finding out who killed Palmer.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack's ears perk up at hearing Kim's voice on the other end of the phone. Glancing out at the floor through the windows of Buchanan's office, he doesn't see her, and he doesn't really think before butting in, speaking before Bill has the chance to reply. "Kim? Where are you?"

[agirllost]

"Dad," she doesn't even try to keep the relief out of her voice. He's okay. She sends a silent prayer to whoever or whatever was watching over him this time. "I'm - I'll be at my station in a few moments," she doesn't know if she should wait for Buchanan to answer. After all, she's only somewhat sure she still has a job.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack doesn't wait to hear what Buchanan replies, if anything. He's already heading out of Bill's office and down the stairs, looking around for her.

[agirllost]

Kim exchanges a few words with Buchanan, enough for him to briefly apologize again and tell her that she's still needed. She walks out of the locker room and heads down the hall. However, before she can enter the bullpen, she sees her dad walking toward her.

For a few moments today, she thought she'd never see him again.

Her smile's a little wobbly as she walks over to him and lightly touches his hand. "Hey," she says, softly. "Are you really okay?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He gives her a weak smile, holding her hand for a moment before pulling her into a hug. "Yeah, Chris and I are both okay." After a moment, he pulls back, looking at her carefully. "Are you okay? What did they do to you?"

[agirllost]

He smells horrible, like he took a bath in gas, but she holds onto him anyway. She knows that people can see them, but at the moment she can't bring herself to care.

She doesn't have to say that she was worried or that she thought this time they'd really lost him, because it's in her reluctance to immediately let go or to try to keep up the lie that she's told everyone for a long time.

"I'm okay. I - I'm just really glad that you both are..." she glances away slightly, unable to pretend that she's completely fine. "They were just doing their job, Dad."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Her hair is damp, and he can see marks on her neck; marks that she's tried to cover up. "Are those bruises?" he asks, his expression darkening.

[agirllost]

"They'll heal," she raises her hand and touches her neck slightly. If she can show she's not upset, maybe he'll drop it. "It's not that bad. I'm okay, really."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack's jaw tightens, anger starting to simmer again, but he doesn't want to take it out on her. He takes a deep breath, pulling her back into a hug. "I'm just glad you're okay. You shouldn't have had to go through that for us."

[agirllost]

She breathes out against him, grateful that he's not acting all Mama bear protecting her cub about what happened. After all, she has to work with these people.

At his comment, she isn't sure what to say, but she knows she won't let him feel guilty. "You're my family. And you've been through a lot worse for me," she whispers. 'And I've been through worse,' she thinks but doesn't say.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Still," he says, holding her tightly, Thankfully the anaesthetic in his shoulder hasn't worn off, so he can move without wincing; she's worried about him enough for one day. "Thank you."

Another minute, then he lets go. "I should let you go; you've got work to do and I've got to be briefed on the Palmer investigation by Agent Yassir."

[agirllost]

She's silent, accepting the comfort and so grateful that he's made it back alive.

"You're welcome," she whispers, hoping that'll be the last time either of them mention it.

When he lets go, she looks up at him. "Buchanan's letting you stay?" It's irrational, but she's still sure that their chances for success have just gone up.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods. "It's completely unofficial and off the books. I think he realized if he didn't, I'd be working on it on my own, and I'd be taking up CTU resources anyway, calling you guys for help," he says, wryly.

[agirllost]

She tilts her head and looks up at him. "We're going to find out who really killed him, Dad, and they won't get away with it," her voice has a slight edge. She realizes that she can't show him her anger now.

"I need to get back to my station, but I'm...I feel better knowing you're involved."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"No, they won't," he says, in a tone that's rather similar to hers. "Thanks, sweetheart. I'm sure I'll see you later."

[agirllost]

She nods and touches his arm. "I love you and I'll see you later." She walks away, ignoring the looks of the people around them.