Five Things Jack Bauer Doesn't Know
Title: Five Things Jack Bauer Doesn't Know About The Longest Day of His Life
Rating: PG-13 for language and violence
Word Count: 2489
Spoilers: Heavy for 24's first season
Summary: Five things that happened on the day of the California Presidential primary Jack doesn't know about, that might have changed him if he did.
Author's Notes: While Jack undoubtedly bears the highest cost of the events of 24, it's no secret that what happens has affected other people and that there are always other things going on. When I first started writing for him, one of the things I did was to create a timeline of that day that showed what happened to all the other characters involved. This piece is a reflection of that. It's small scenes I wanted to fit into his last prompt, but couldn't quite manage without the prompt becoming even longer than it already was. Times here are approximate, as some of the transcripts I used don't show the times for each segment.
one: enemies he made before turned out to be something else in the end
4:53:57 A.M.
"Hey, Jack. Put Penticoff in the car."
Jack grimaces at the mere sound of George Mason's voice. All he ever associates it with is useless bullshit. The orders that are stupid to be followed, the innuendoes about his former relationship with Nina Myers. There's no love lost between the two men. Jack would like to slug him, but he knows that would only make this worse.
So he says, "That's pretty quick work, George, you track me on an uplink?"
"I'm taking you in, Jack."
Jack shakes his head. "He had evidence on the Palmer hit," he says. That's when he opens the trunk of the car to show Mason the dead body therein, the plastic-wrapped mutilated corpse missing pretty much every vital piece necessary for any sort of forensic recovery. These people are professionals.
Mason makes a face, and his stomach is half turning. "Who's this?" he asks.
"I don't know yet."
The sickness on Mason's face turns to sarcasm and disbelief, and he almost sort of rolls his eyes, deepening the scowl on Jack's face. "You're having quite a night here, aren't you, Jack. Why don't you tell me what the hell is going on? Unless you want me to throw you back to the cops, they're ready for you."
Jack decides To hell with this, and decides to come out and say the truth. "There are people in the Agency supporting the Palmer hit. That's why Walsh and Baylor were killed tonight. They found out about it. Truth is, I thought you were a part of it. I'm sorry if I was wrong."
It's as close as Jack will ever get to offering Mason an apology for anything. He watches Mason's face again. There is the barest flicker behind the bureaucrat's blue eyes. Mason has never been the most stand-up guy in the world. Jack hardly knows him. But there is something there, that realizes they are both in an impossible situation. There is some sense that they are both men just trying to get through the night.
If Jack knew he'd later count on Mason to rescue his own ass from the Drazens, to help him catch Nina, he'd start laughing. But for now, he's just grateful when Mason nods slightly. The two men have an understanding.
"So what's next?"
====
two: the friends he lost managed to lose themselves
9:02:22 A.M.
"Everyone...I'm sorry to tell you that Jamey Farrell tried to commit suicide a few minutes ago. Fortunately, she's still alive and they're doing everything they can to keep her that way. We still have reason to believe that Senator Palmer's life is still in danger, which means we all have to get back to work now."
Jordan Spencer slammed his hand down on his desk. Standing a few feet away, Jennifer Hall opened her mouth, and shut it again. Their expressions of confusion, disgust and concern were mirrored on the faces of their colleagues as Nina broke the impossible news.
Who needed to know why she'd done it? Rumors of a mole had circulated for some time now. It was either that, or she'd broken under the stress of the day. The why was bullshit. It had happened, and Jordan and Jennifer were probably the two people who knew her best. Jordan had been with Jack, sitting in the room, when they'd interviewed her and agreed to hire her. Jen had worked with her, and they'd had a drink, now and then.
They exchanged a look.
Brian Holt would no doubt be wherever she was, trying to save her life. That was his job. As two of CTU's seasoned operatives, they couldn't do anything but stand there and deal with the news.
"This is goddamn ridiculous," Jordan muttered under his breath.
Jennifer settled her hand on his shoulder, and nodded slightly. "Guess Steve's premonition of doom was right on the money," she murmured. Jordan looked at her, and nodded slightly. She read the look in his eyes. "Yeah, I knew her better, but I didn't know this," she continued, shaking her head.
He looked at his screen. "Someone will have to take over her projects," he said, as if this was nothing but a cold. "Nina's probably got Milo all over it. We'll have to assign someone to handle any communications stuff."
"I'm sure they'll take care of it." Jennifer looked past him out at the bullpen. "God, damn," she muttered to herself. Jamey had been someone that she had thought of as a friend and a colleague. Maybe they weren't best buddies, but she had liked the younger woman. She wanted better than this for Jamey and for her son.
In twelve minutes, Brian would call up from the clinic to tell Tony that Jamey had expired.
Jordan left a dent in the surface of his desk.
Jennifer slumped in her chair, feeling her heart climb into her throat. She covered her eyes with her hand, so no one would have to see her cry for a colleague that she had known her whole career.
She noticed nothing but Jordan settling his hand on her shoulder while she grieved.
====
three: the one person he's never forgiven helped save his family
12:16:28 P.M.
"Alberta, it's Jack. There's been a complication."
"I'm listening." Alberta Green, acting head of CTU Los Angeles, balances the phone on her shoulder. With her other hand, she beckons at the agent sitting silently at the workstation only a few feet away.
Normally one of the most loudmouthed people in the room, Jake Hannigan was hellbent on doing his job, and the fact that it was proving difficult was starting to piss him off. He'd been assigned by Alberta to supervise tactical on the recovery of Jack's family, and he was going to get it absolutely perfect. It didn't matter if he and Jack didn't get along, this was Jack's family they were talking about.
Adjusting the earpiece in his left ear, not giving a damn that he looked like hell -- the sleeves on his black button-down were shoved up past his elbows and his collar was undone, his eyes looking angrier by the second -- he shoved himself up out of his chair and came to stand beside Alberta.
"Yeah."
She nodded at the phone, to indicate all he needed to know. Jack was on the line, still talking: "Teri and Kim are not where they're supposed to be. I've gotta go back and find them."
Jake swore under his breath. Alberta shot him a look, but instead she said, "I need to tell the incoming team where to pick you up."
"Fine, tell them at an abandoned water tower, north area of the compound. Check your satellite photos. Alberta...if I'm not back when the team arrives they'll find a kid in here. His name is Rick, he's wounded."
"Who is he?"
"He's someone who helped us get out of there."
"Three tactical units are on their way," she said, and Jake settled his hands on his hips, wanting to know what the hell was going on. He had the units in the field already, advancing on Jack's location. He needed to be back at his desk, giving them directions, not standing here. He was chomping at the bit to go. What happened to these people mattered to him. It had always been that way. Petty grievances were bullshit at the end of the day, and they would never stop him from doing what was morally right.
That was probably the only reason that Jack hadn't bounced him yet.
Alberta hung up on Jack after telling him that they were ten minutes out, and then she looked back at Hannigan. "Abandoned water tower, north area of the compound. Jack's wife and daughter have gotten lost. He's going back for them. There's also a fourth, wounded, some kid who'll be at the pickup point."
"Damn it." Hannigan swore again.
"Adjust your plans accordingly. Do whatever you have to do, to get the teams there on time. Warn them to prepare for injuries." She looked at him. "I trust you have this under control."
"It's fine." He brushed her off without a second thought, walking back to his desk and sitting ramrod straight in his chair. The tactical team chatter was still in his ear, and the three screens in front of him showed an overview of the area. "All teams, this is CTU. The pickup point is going to be an abandoned water tour in the north area of the compound. You're looking for four people now. The Bauers and a fourth male, wounded, so prepare for injuries. Let me know when you have a visual."
He didn't wait for the tactical team leaders to confirm what he'd just said. He should've been on one of those copters, himself, but it had been Alberta who had told him to stay and run the point. He wasn't even team lead, but he was the best that they had. It didn't matter. If Jack saw him on the ground, he'd probably be less than thrilled.
Jake reached for the stress reliever on his desk, and gave it a firm squeeze. His eyes were stormy. He was worried about them. Jack could handle himself, but his wife and two kids were out there. And God knew what they were up against. It would be his job to help and save their lives. He was not going to let them die.
"How's it looking?"
He glanced up and at the worried expression of Jennifer Hall, who was looking over his shoulder at the monitors. "It's fine," he muttered noncommittally, dismissing his girlfriend almost instantly.
She looked in his eyes, and saw the look on his face. "We'll find them, Jake," she said quietly. "You're good at this. You're gonna bring them home."
"I know," he said, but his voice was quiet. This meant something to him. Not that he'd ever tell her, or Jack, or anyone. It was just too fucking complicated.
====
four: the golden boy still thinks he lost his halo in the blood
4:40:05 P.M.
Get me some towels from the bathroom! Nina, call in a medevac. We're losing him! We cannot let him die! Dammit!"
Brian Holt was the medical officer on call that day. He was the one on the floor trying to save Alexis Drazen's life. It seemed like a stupid thing to do, save the life of a terrorist, but Brian never questioned Jack's orders. There were a whole lot of people who knew a whole lot more about the big picture than Brian Holt.
He just was there, on the floor in the puddle of blood, trying not to slip and trying to find some way to save the man he'd been asked to save. After all, he was the golden boy. That was what he was supposed to do.
They called him that for many reasons. His boy-next-door good looks. His always even temperament. The fact remained that Jack had taken a chance on Brian, the emergency medicine specialist out of UCLA. He'd plucked Brian out from Harbor as soon as Brian had become an actual doctor. Brian had never served a day in the 'real world' of medicine beyond what had been required in his residency. He'd been Jack Bauer's chief medical officer, even though he was fresh meat. He'd been spending the last two years making sure that Jack's risk paid off.
Jack was on the phone with Mason, and turned to look at him. Brian held up one hand, the one not covered in blood, and shook his head slightly. Jack got the message. "They’re giving him a fifty-fifty shot, but even if he comes through, they don't know how long it’s gonna be till he talks."
Brian didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Sometimes, he wished he did, if only so he knew why he was saving the lives of people that had killed other people.
He did the best he could. They loaded Alexis Drazen into an ambulance, and Brian went with them. Jack was busy switching shirts with Jake Hannigan and getting ready to go to some sort of meeting that Alexis had been supposed to make. To Brian, it was all a foreign language. All he knew were things like bodies in trunks that had been delivered to him and a terrorist bleeding out on a stretcher.
He had no idea that keeping Alexis Drazen alive would be their one bargaining chip for later. How much what little he could do in that hospital room changed the outcome of the day.
Brian Holt was just a doctor. Having to save a terrorist, and later losing the life of a woman who was loved by the man he was indebted to for the rest of his life...what he was asked to do that day would make him rethink how golden he really was.
====
five: the one man he respects more than anyone can never look him in the eye again
11:50:25 P.M.
"Teri, I told you, everybody's fine. Now go in there and celebrate. Relax."
Mark Holden kept his face completely blank, though inside, he was laughing just a little. George Mason really was complete crap at reassuring anyone. He saw Teri Bauer thought so too, and he followed her out as she left Jack's -- temporarily Mason's -- office.
"He does that to everyone," the former Secret Service man felt obligated to say. He'd known Teri for a number of years now, and he had a great amount of respect for her, the same as he did for her husband. It seemed flippant not to say anything about Mason's unintended snub.
She laughed softly. "Yeah, I can tell," she said. The two of them walked down the flight of stairs that led them back to the bullpen floor, and that was when Teri turned to face him. "I'm gonna go find Nina," she continued, "would you keep an eye on Kim for me?"
"Sure," he said, with a nod. "We'll be back in the conference room." A small smile. "Don't take too long, Jack could be back any minute."
Teri smiled back at him before she turned and walked away. Mark thought nothing of it as he crossed the hall and went into the conference room to sit with Kim Bauer, and wait for the arrival of her father. He had no idea that Nina Myers was the mole. No idea that he was letting Teri walk into her own death.
He knows that there's no way he could've known. But he still maintains that it is still in his job description to protect people. That he should have known that Teri Bauer might still have been at risk, after everything she had been through. That he should have stayed with her up until Jack came to get her.
He didn't. And he took every single word Jack said about his agents not doing enough to protect his family on the chin, but every single one -- said in anger or not over the next few weeks -- still made him feel horrible.
Mark sat in the conference room with Kim and shot the shit about Southern California weather.
To this day, whenever the subject of that fateful evening comes up, Agent Holden still has a hard time looking his boss and friend in the eye.
Rating: PG-13 for language and violence
Word Count: 2489
Spoilers: Heavy for 24's first season
Summary: Five things that happened on the day of the California Presidential primary Jack doesn't know about, that might have changed him if he did.
Author's Notes: While Jack undoubtedly bears the highest cost of the events of 24, it's no secret that what happens has affected other people and that there are always other things going on. When I first started writing for him, one of the things I did was to create a timeline of that day that showed what happened to all the other characters involved. This piece is a reflection of that. It's small scenes I wanted to fit into his last prompt, but couldn't quite manage without the prompt becoming even longer than it already was. Times here are approximate, as some of the transcripts I used don't show the times for each segment.
one: enemies he made before turned out to be something else in the end
4:53:57 A.M.
"Hey, Jack. Put Penticoff in the car."
Jack grimaces at the mere sound of George Mason's voice. All he ever associates it with is useless bullshit. The orders that are stupid to be followed, the innuendoes about his former relationship with Nina Myers. There's no love lost between the two men. Jack would like to slug him, but he knows that would only make this worse.
So he says, "That's pretty quick work, George, you track me on an uplink?"
"I'm taking you in, Jack."
Jack shakes his head. "He had evidence on the Palmer hit," he says. That's when he opens the trunk of the car to show Mason the dead body therein, the plastic-wrapped mutilated corpse missing pretty much every vital piece necessary for any sort of forensic recovery. These people are professionals.
Mason makes a face, and his stomach is half turning. "Who's this?" he asks.
"I don't know yet."
The sickness on Mason's face turns to sarcasm and disbelief, and he almost sort of rolls his eyes, deepening the scowl on Jack's face. "You're having quite a night here, aren't you, Jack. Why don't you tell me what the hell is going on? Unless you want me to throw you back to the cops, they're ready for you."
Jack decides To hell with this, and decides to come out and say the truth. "There are people in the Agency supporting the Palmer hit. That's why Walsh and Baylor were killed tonight. They found out about it. Truth is, I thought you were a part of it. I'm sorry if I was wrong."
It's as close as Jack will ever get to offering Mason an apology for anything. He watches Mason's face again. There is the barest flicker behind the bureaucrat's blue eyes. Mason has never been the most stand-up guy in the world. Jack hardly knows him. But there is something there, that realizes they are both in an impossible situation. There is some sense that they are both men just trying to get through the night.
If Jack knew he'd later count on Mason to rescue his own ass from the Drazens, to help him catch Nina, he'd start laughing. But for now, he's just grateful when Mason nods slightly. The two men have an understanding.
"So what's next?"
====
two: the friends he lost managed to lose themselves
9:02:22 A.M.
"Everyone...I'm sorry to tell you that Jamey Farrell tried to commit suicide a few minutes ago. Fortunately, she's still alive and they're doing everything they can to keep her that way. We still have reason to believe that Senator Palmer's life is still in danger, which means we all have to get back to work now."
Jordan Spencer slammed his hand down on his desk. Standing a few feet away, Jennifer Hall opened her mouth, and shut it again. Their expressions of confusion, disgust and concern were mirrored on the faces of their colleagues as Nina broke the impossible news.
Who needed to know why she'd done it? Rumors of a mole had circulated for some time now. It was either that, or she'd broken under the stress of the day. The why was bullshit. It had happened, and Jordan and Jennifer were probably the two people who knew her best. Jordan had been with Jack, sitting in the room, when they'd interviewed her and agreed to hire her. Jen had worked with her, and they'd had a drink, now and then.
They exchanged a look.
Brian Holt would no doubt be wherever she was, trying to save her life. That was his job. As two of CTU's seasoned operatives, they couldn't do anything but stand there and deal with the news.
"This is goddamn ridiculous," Jordan muttered under his breath.
Jennifer settled her hand on his shoulder, and nodded slightly. "Guess Steve's premonition of doom was right on the money," she murmured. Jordan looked at her, and nodded slightly. She read the look in his eyes. "Yeah, I knew her better, but I didn't know this," she continued, shaking her head.
He looked at his screen. "Someone will have to take over her projects," he said, as if this was nothing but a cold. "Nina's probably got Milo all over it. We'll have to assign someone to handle any communications stuff."
"I'm sure they'll take care of it." Jennifer looked past him out at the bullpen. "God, damn," she muttered to herself. Jamey had been someone that she had thought of as a friend and a colleague. Maybe they weren't best buddies, but she had liked the younger woman. She wanted better than this for Jamey and for her son.
In twelve minutes, Brian would call up from the clinic to tell Tony that Jamey had expired.
Jordan left a dent in the surface of his desk.
Jennifer slumped in her chair, feeling her heart climb into her throat. She covered her eyes with her hand, so no one would have to see her cry for a colleague that she had known her whole career.
She noticed nothing but Jordan settling his hand on her shoulder while she grieved.
====
three: the one person he's never forgiven helped save his family
12:16:28 P.M.
"Alberta, it's Jack. There's been a complication."
"I'm listening." Alberta Green, acting head of CTU Los Angeles, balances the phone on her shoulder. With her other hand, she beckons at the agent sitting silently at the workstation only a few feet away.
Normally one of the most loudmouthed people in the room, Jake Hannigan was hellbent on doing his job, and the fact that it was proving difficult was starting to piss him off. He'd been assigned by Alberta to supervise tactical on the recovery of Jack's family, and he was going to get it absolutely perfect. It didn't matter if he and Jack didn't get along, this was Jack's family they were talking about.
Adjusting the earpiece in his left ear, not giving a damn that he looked like hell -- the sleeves on his black button-down were shoved up past his elbows and his collar was undone, his eyes looking angrier by the second -- he shoved himself up out of his chair and came to stand beside Alberta.
"Yeah."
She nodded at the phone, to indicate all he needed to know. Jack was on the line, still talking: "Teri and Kim are not where they're supposed to be. I've gotta go back and find them."
Jake swore under his breath. Alberta shot him a look, but instead she said, "I need to tell the incoming team where to pick you up."
"Fine, tell them at an abandoned water tower, north area of the compound. Check your satellite photos. Alberta...if I'm not back when the team arrives they'll find a kid in here. His name is Rick, he's wounded."
"Who is he?"
"He's someone who helped us get out of there."
"Three tactical units are on their way," she said, and Jake settled his hands on his hips, wanting to know what the hell was going on. He had the units in the field already, advancing on Jack's location. He needed to be back at his desk, giving them directions, not standing here. He was chomping at the bit to go. What happened to these people mattered to him. It had always been that way. Petty grievances were bullshit at the end of the day, and they would never stop him from doing what was morally right.
That was probably the only reason that Jack hadn't bounced him yet.
Alberta hung up on Jack after telling him that they were ten minutes out, and then she looked back at Hannigan. "Abandoned water tower, north area of the compound. Jack's wife and daughter have gotten lost. He's going back for them. There's also a fourth, wounded, some kid who'll be at the pickup point."
"Damn it." Hannigan swore again.
"Adjust your plans accordingly. Do whatever you have to do, to get the teams there on time. Warn them to prepare for injuries." She looked at him. "I trust you have this under control."
"It's fine." He brushed her off without a second thought, walking back to his desk and sitting ramrod straight in his chair. The tactical team chatter was still in his ear, and the three screens in front of him showed an overview of the area. "All teams, this is CTU. The pickup point is going to be an abandoned water tour in the north area of the compound. You're looking for four people now. The Bauers and a fourth male, wounded, so prepare for injuries. Let me know when you have a visual."
He didn't wait for the tactical team leaders to confirm what he'd just said. He should've been on one of those copters, himself, but it had been Alberta who had told him to stay and run the point. He wasn't even team lead, but he was the best that they had. It didn't matter. If Jack saw him on the ground, he'd probably be less than thrilled.
Jake reached for the stress reliever on his desk, and gave it a firm squeeze. His eyes were stormy. He was worried about them. Jack could handle himself, but his wife and two kids were out there. And God knew what they were up against. It would be his job to help and save their lives. He was not going to let them die.
"How's it looking?"
He glanced up and at the worried expression of Jennifer Hall, who was looking over his shoulder at the monitors. "It's fine," he muttered noncommittally, dismissing his girlfriend almost instantly.
She looked in his eyes, and saw the look on his face. "We'll find them, Jake," she said quietly. "You're good at this. You're gonna bring them home."
"I know," he said, but his voice was quiet. This meant something to him. Not that he'd ever tell her, or Jack, or anyone. It was just too fucking complicated.
====
four: the golden boy still thinks he lost his halo in the blood
4:40:05 P.M.
Get me some towels from the bathroom! Nina, call in a medevac. We're losing him! We cannot let him die! Dammit!"
Brian Holt was the medical officer on call that day. He was the one on the floor trying to save Alexis Drazen's life. It seemed like a stupid thing to do, save the life of a terrorist, but Brian never questioned Jack's orders. There were a whole lot of people who knew a whole lot more about the big picture than Brian Holt.
He just was there, on the floor in the puddle of blood, trying not to slip and trying to find some way to save the man he'd been asked to save. After all, he was the golden boy. That was what he was supposed to do.
They called him that for many reasons. His boy-next-door good looks. His always even temperament. The fact remained that Jack had taken a chance on Brian, the emergency medicine specialist out of UCLA. He'd plucked Brian out from Harbor as soon as Brian had become an actual doctor. Brian had never served a day in the 'real world' of medicine beyond what had been required in his residency. He'd been Jack Bauer's chief medical officer, even though he was fresh meat. He'd been spending the last two years making sure that Jack's risk paid off.
Jack was on the phone with Mason, and turned to look at him. Brian held up one hand, the one not covered in blood, and shook his head slightly. Jack got the message. "They’re giving him a fifty-fifty shot, but even if he comes through, they don't know how long it’s gonna be till he talks."
Brian didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Sometimes, he wished he did, if only so he knew why he was saving the lives of people that had killed other people.
He did the best he could. They loaded Alexis Drazen into an ambulance, and Brian went with them. Jack was busy switching shirts with Jake Hannigan and getting ready to go to some sort of meeting that Alexis had been supposed to make. To Brian, it was all a foreign language. All he knew were things like bodies in trunks that had been delivered to him and a terrorist bleeding out on a stretcher.
He had no idea that keeping Alexis Drazen alive would be their one bargaining chip for later. How much what little he could do in that hospital room changed the outcome of the day.
Brian Holt was just a doctor. Having to save a terrorist, and later losing the life of a woman who was loved by the man he was indebted to for the rest of his life...what he was asked to do that day would make him rethink how golden he really was.
====
five: the one man he respects more than anyone can never look him in the eye again
11:50:25 P.M.
"Teri, I told you, everybody's fine. Now go in there and celebrate. Relax."
Mark Holden kept his face completely blank, though inside, he was laughing just a little. George Mason really was complete crap at reassuring anyone. He saw Teri Bauer thought so too, and he followed her out as she left Jack's -- temporarily Mason's -- office.
"He does that to everyone," the former Secret Service man felt obligated to say. He'd known Teri for a number of years now, and he had a great amount of respect for her, the same as he did for her husband. It seemed flippant not to say anything about Mason's unintended snub.
She laughed softly. "Yeah, I can tell," she said. The two of them walked down the flight of stairs that led them back to the bullpen floor, and that was when Teri turned to face him. "I'm gonna go find Nina," she continued, "would you keep an eye on Kim for me?"
"Sure," he said, with a nod. "We'll be back in the conference room." A small smile. "Don't take too long, Jack could be back any minute."
Teri smiled back at him before she turned and walked away. Mark thought nothing of it as he crossed the hall and went into the conference room to sit with Kim Bauer, and wait for the arrival of her father. He had no idea that Nina Myers was the mole. No idea that he was letting Teri walk into her own death.
He knows that there's no way he could've known. But he still maintains that it is still in his job description to protect people. That he should have known that Teri Bauer might still have been at risk, after everything she had been through. That he should have stayed with her up until Jack came to get her.
He didn't. And he took every single word Jack said about his agents not doing enough to protect his family on the chin, but every single one -- said in anger or not over the next few weeks -- still made him feel horrible.
Mark sat in the conference room with Kim and shot the shit about Southern California weather.
To this day, whenever the subject of that fateful evening comes up, Agent Holden still has a hard time looking his boss and friend in the eye.