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20th-Sep-2007 02:49 pm - Fighting for Salvation (20)

Okay, guys, since I gave you such a SHORT chapter last time, I decided to update quickly. So here is chapter 20. The next chapter will mark the beginning of S2...and just to warn you, as the seasons go on, this story will move further and further away from cannon with plots and pairings. Hope you'll stick with me, though!

"How can they not want to negotiate?" Michelle finally asked. "How can they not want anything?"

"They do want something," Tony muttered. "But they've already got it."

"And what's that?"

"Our attention."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means," George told her. "That they are going to shoot every single person in that church."

"But Ava wouldn't let that happen," she objected.

"What is she going to do?" Tony asked. "She doesn't have a weapon on her. She refuses to carry them into a house of God."

"Not even her off-duty weapon?"

"Nope."

"You know her, Tony," Mason said. "She won't just lie down and take this. She'll fight. And she'll probably die doing it."

"Tony!"

The agent turned in surprise when he heard his name called by a familiar voice. His eyes widened when he saw a bearded Jack striding across the room toward him, anger and fear evident in his expression.

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "I just saw the video on the news – Ava is in that church!"

"We know Jack, and we can handle it," Mason interrupted.

"We'll get her back, Jack," Tony said quietly.

"How? Are they negotiating?"

"No."

"Then how do you propose to get her back?"

Tony frowned as he pondered Jack's question, his worry for Ava weighing heavily on him. Michelle watched the three men nervously, trying to decide if she should say anything. She was still new to CTU, and she wasn't exactly sure where she stood with Mason. But she knew that Tony would give her idea a fair listening, so she decided to speak up.

"We know for a fact that they're not going to negotiate, right?" she asked. They nodded. "Then what do we have to lose?"

"What are you suggesting?" Mason asked.

"We send a team in. Hard and fast. If they're already set on killing all of the hostages, then we can't do anything more to endanger them. Plus," she added. "We have an agent inside. She can catch them unawares while they're focusing on our team."

"That's assuming that she's still alive at that point," Mason muttered. Tony opened his mouth object, and the director held up his hand to stop him. "I hope she is too, Tony. But if she decides to fight too early or if they just choose to shoot her in the head, there's nothing much we can do." He took a deep breath. "Okay. We'll send a team in."

"I'm going," Tony said immediately.

"You're not a field agent."

"I don't care."

"He's going," Jack said suddenly. "And so am I."

Mason sighed in frustration. "Bauer, you're not even an agent anymore."

"Look, George. We're going, regardless. You can either have us going in with one of your teams, or on our own. Your choice."

He stared at them for a moment, one hand on his hip. "Fine," he huffed. "But if either of you gets killed or gets in trouble, it's not my problem."

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"You sure you're ready for this?" Tony asked quietly as he and Jack suited up.

"I have to be. I can't lose her too, Tony."

"I know."

Jack looked at him for a moment. "You really care about her don't you?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You should tell her." Tony shook his head and Jack sighed in frustration. "Why not?"

"It wouldn't work."

"That's bullshit."

"I'm too old for her."

"That's even bigger bullshit. What is there…seven years between you? That's nothing."

"She doesn't feel that way about me. I'm barely even sure of what I feel."

Jack nodded, understanding both Tony's reluctance and indecision. "Just don't wait too long, Tony. You'll regret it."

"Yeah, but for now, I just have to focus on getting her back."

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The gunmen were systematic. They spread out among the parishioners, ignoring their screams and pleas for mercy as they coldly fired two bullets into each person's chest. The screams grew louder. Some people tried to resist – but their captors either overpowered them or shot them as they stood. It seemed as though there were no way for them to be stopped.

"Oh God…we're going to die, aren't we?" Jen whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"It's certainly looking that way," Ava answered.

Jen turned to look at her friend in shock.

"That wasn't exactly the reassuring answer I was looking for. And how the hell can you be so calm?"

Ava shrugged. "Crying isn't going to save anyone."

"Sometimes I wonder if you're a robot, you know that?"

She sighed. "You know me. I'll freak out about it later and breakdown – if there is a later," she mumbled. "Look, I've got a plan."

"Do you happen to have a gun to go with it?"

"No."

"Then what could you possibly do?"

"Guns are not the answer to everything. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure they're the source of a lot of the questions. This one, for instance." She paused. "They said they're going to shoot all of us. No questions asked, right?"

"Right."

"So what do we have to lose?"

"What are you saying?"

"We get up. We fight. We don't take this shit from anybody – especially not some masked gunmen who are willing to throw their lives away for some shadowy man behind the curtain."

"So that's it…we just fight? See how many we can take down with us?"

"Well, personally, I will not go gentle into that good night."

Jen stared at her. "You're going to quote Dylan Thomas to make me throw my life away?"

Ava gave her a sad smile, but there was determination glinting in her blue eyes.

"'Rage, rage against the dying of the light,'" she whispered.

"Amen to that," Jen muttered. "So…are we counting to three or something? How exactly do we initiate this last stand thing?"

Ava looked up to see one of the gunmen aiming his gun at the chest of a little boy no older than six.

"Three," she whispered.

Without looking back, she catapulted herself up from the floor, driving her shoulders into the gunman. He fell back with a grunt, the gun clattering from his fingers. Ava wasted no time knocking him out with a few well-aimed punches and then moved on to the next man, who had begun moving towards her when he heard the commotion.

Jen was only a couple of seconds behind her. She quashed the fears that had settled in the pit of her stomach, making her feel ill. Figuring that the adrenaline would make it go away, at least for the time being, she launched herself at the nearest of their captors, throwing him to the ground. Before she could knock him out, though, he flipped her over so that he was on top of her, his hands clamping around her throat. Her arms flailed around as she tried to find something to strike him with. Finally, her hand rested on an object, and she immediately swung her arm, slamming him in the end with it. He fell to the side just enough to loosen his grip, and Jen crashed her fist into his face, causing him to lose consciousness.

She sat up, her eyes roving around the sanctuary. People all around her were fighting back now. It seemed that all they had needed was to see someone else taking a stand – then their courage and will to live returned to them and they took things into their own hands. They weren't winning, but they had halted the merciless executions. Now when somebody got shot, it was because they were fighting, daring to rebel against the fate the gunmen had tried to shove down their throats.

Ava was in the thick of it. Their captors had almost immediately assessed her as the biggest threat and attacked her. She fought them with everything she had, ignoring the faint ache in her left shoulder. She had only recently been able to use it at full capacity again, and her body wasn't thrilled with the prospect of further injury. But she kicked, punched and bit her way through her opponents, refusing to let herself slow. She knew that her life – and those of the people around her – depended on her ability to take out as many of the bastards as she possibly could.

Jen disposed of another gunman, hitting him with one of the heavy chairs that rested on the altar. She heard his skull cracked and she looked at the chair appraisingly – the blow had had absolutely no effect on the hard wood. Turning, she prepared to find someone else to fight, but found herself staring down the muzzle of a semi-automatic rifle.

A sound roared in her ears, fighting for dominance with the pounding of her heart. Then the face in front of her burst into nothingness and the body slumped to the ground, its finger still on the trigger. Breathing heavily and suddenly shaking, Jen turned to find the shooter, and she almost cried in relief when she saw Jack Bauer moving through the room, his gun systematically taking out their captors.

She watched with overwhelming gratefulness as a CTU team swept into the cathedral, weapons at the ready. Already short in numbers from the fight with the parishioners, the gunmen stood no chance against the government agents. Regardless, they fought back, forcing the CTU team to kill them in order to stop them. Finally, there was only the lead gunman left. They had him surrounded, and it was obvious that there was no where for him to go. Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes and raised a pistol to his head, firing a single shot.

Ava looked at the man now lying crumpled on the floor, a wave of nausea crashing over her. She just couldn't fathom how somebody could be willing to kill themselves for a cause that wasn't theirs, but belonged to someone whose only goal was power and terror. Sickened, she turned away and found her gaze resting on Tony. Giving her a relieved smile, he walked over to her, embracing her and holding her tightly. Ava returned the hug, closing her eyes and letting the relief wash over her as she realized that she was alive, despite the death sentence that had been clamped down on the sanctuary. Eventually, they pulled back.

"What is it with you and random gunfire?"

Ava rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't exactly call that random."

"True." He looked down. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks to you."

"You seemed to handling yourself pretty well from where I was standing."

She shook her head, her face growing serious. "They were gaining the upper hand. I'm not sure I would have lasted much longer." She paused. "And if you guys hadn't come in when you did, I'd be short a best friend right now. So…thank you."

Tony gave her a small smile. "You're welcome. I'm just glad you didn't get shot this time."

"Me too." She looked around the room as the CTU team worked to clean up the bodies. "So do we have a lead on this guy?"

He sighed. "None."

Ava looked at him in sharply. "None? How can that be?"

"He left no tracks. All his men are dead. They accomplished what they set out to do – they took control of a situation and we had no power to stop them."

"But you did stop them. You saved us."

"But we have no idea who he is. And no way to anticipate or stop the next attack."

"You think there will be more?"

He shrugged. "Do you really think someone like that can just let things lie after tasting that kind of power?"

"I hate people," Ava muttered.

"Actually, I think you have the opposite problem. You love them too much."

"Impossible," she said. "You can never love too much."

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"Final count, thirty one dead," Mason announced as Tony, Ava and Michelle walked into his office.

"Bastards," Michelle muttered. "Who goes into a church and opens fire?"

"A nut job," he answered.

Ava shook her head. "Evil."

They stood in silence for a minute, absorbing what she had said. The atmosphere grew darker as they pondered, but then George broke the spell.

"We've done everything we can to try and find this guy."

"And?" Ava asked.

Michelle answered. "Nothing. He left absolutely no trace. Nothing in the feed or transmission to give any hints of his identity. The shooters have all been identified as former convicts from all around the world. We're digging into their pasts to find out where they could have crossed paths with this guy. But there's no paper trail. They were paid a great deal of money, but so far, we haven't been able to trace it." She paused. "In fact, we can't even be sure that the person behind this is a man. We're completely in the dark."

"You're not actually suggesting that a woman could be behind this?" Tony asked, disbelief in his voice.

Michelle raised her eyebrow at him. "You're not actually suggesting that a woman COULDN'T be behind this, are you?"

He shrugged uncomfortably. "No, but…I heard what that guy…person…said on the video. I just can't believe that a woman would be that cold and merciless when it comes to the deaths of others."

"What about Nina Myers?"

Tony winced and Ava closed her eyes at the impact of Michelle's words. The analyst realized what she said and her eyes widened.

"I am so sorry. That just slipped out. I didn't think about it first."

Ava gave her a small smile.

"It's okay. We know you didn't mean anything by it." She took a deep breath and then changed the subject, the pain on Tony's face like a knife in her heart. "So," she turned to Mason. "What's the next step? How do we find this guy?"

Any hope that she had died as George shrugged.

"We wait."

"You're kidding, right? Please oh please tell me you're kidding."

"What do we have to go on? What leads can we possibly follow?"

"There's got to be something," Tony interjected.

Michelle shook her head. "I really wish there was. But we've got nothing."

"So we just wait?"

"You said it yourself, Tony," Ava said quietly. "Once somebody like that tastes that kind of power…do you really think they'll just sit back and retire? He'll strike again. And we have no way to be ready to it."

Tags:fandom: 24, series: fighting for salvation
Music:The Siren by Nightwish

19th-Sep-2007 12:04 pm - Fighting for Salvation (19)

Okay, I realize that this is like, the shortest chapter I have ever written. But it was necessary to up the tension. Hopefully it won't be too long before the next chapter gets posted as well. Enjoy!

"Everyone to the ground!" one of the men roared, firing off a couple shots into the air.

The parishioners fell to the floor as one, some screaming, some crying. Ava glanced over at Jen, reassuring herself that her friend was still okay. Jen gave her a small nod, despite the fear looming in her eyes. Looking around, Ava tried to count how many gunmen there were, but all she could really tell from her position was that there were more than seven. She silently cursed the fact that she didn't have any weapons on her – she never brought her gun to church. Something about the very idea was repugnant to her.

A movement to her right caught Ava's attention, and she turned her head. One of the older priests was moving down the aisle toward the gunman who had spoken. She could see that his hands shook, but he kept his face passive as he approached them.

"Please, gentlemen," he said quietly. "Why don't you just tell us what you want. There's no reason for any violence."

Without any hesitation, the gunman lifted his weapon and shot the priest in the head. As the old man crumpled to the ground, the screams in the cathedral rose to a higher pitch. Their captor turned to look at his hostages.

"We're here to deliver a message," he declared loudly.

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"Tony!" Mason bellowed as he barreled out of his office and down the stairs. "Turn on CNN. NOW!"

Frowning, Tony did as his boss asked. As the news came onto the screen, he found himself watching a reporting standing outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles.

"For those of you who have just joined us, I'm standing in from of St. Patrick's Cathedral. There have been reports of multiple gunshots from inside, and the doors are barred. We have also heard screaming, presumably from the hostages inside. Law enforcement officers are trying to negotiate with the gunmen, but so far have not had any luck. But a source in the police department tells me that CTU – the Counter Terrorist Unit – has been called in."

"Oh my God."

Tony turned to see Michelle Dessler standing beside him, a hand over her mouth as she watched the TV screen. She had joined CTU shortly after the attempts on President Palmer, replacing Nina. So far she was working out well, quickly befriending both Ava and Tony.

"What?" he asked, seeing worry etched across her features.

She opened her mouth to answer when Mason stepped in.

"They're releasing a video," he told them.

"A video of what?"

"I'm guessing their demands. They won't give it to authorities. They're sending a video feed through the news network."

"How the hell are they doing that?"

"Beats me. But apparently these guys are more sophisticated than your usual hired gunmen."

The two men quieted as the picture on the screen changed. A figure hidden in darkness faced the camera, the shadows obscuring their face so that an I.D. was impossible. When they began to speak, it was obvious that they were using a voice changer to mask their identity even further.

"You are probably expecting me to lay out my demands here, so that we can negotiate and you can save the lives of the hostages inside of St. Patrick's. But I am here to inform you that I have no demands. I do not want anything from you. There is nothing you can give me that would make me change my mind about what I'm about to do. This is about power, plain and simple. I have it. You don't. I can do anything at anytime, and there is nothing that you can do to stop me. These people inside of St. Patrick's will die – everyone single one of them. No negotiating or threatening will change that fact. My men have no concern for their own lives – their only mission is to prove to you that you are utterly powerless."

The shadowy figure disappeared, and the inside of the cathedral became visible. Tony realized that they were looking at a live feed now. Mason yelled into the phone beside him before slamming it back down into its cradle.

"Who was that?"

"The network. They're trying to figure out where the video is coming from, but somebody is overriding their systems. I think we've just been introduced to a major player."

One of the gunmen appeared on the screen, his black mask making it impossible to know who he was. Bending down, he dragged a young woman up off the floor, holding her in front of him so that everyone watching could get a good look at her face. She was sobbing, her body quaking with fear as her captor held her in place.

"This is only the beginning," he growled.

Bringing up his weapon, he shot her in the temple.

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"Oh shit," Tony cursed, moving closer to the big screen so that he could get a better look.

"That's what I was about to tell you," Michelle said quietly. "She was supposed to sing during the service."

"What?" Mason demanded. "What are you talking about?"

Tony closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. Lifting a finger he pointed to two figures on the floor of the cathedral, their eyes wide as they watched the scene around them unfold.

"Ava and Jen. They're there. In the cathedral."

Tags:fandom: 24, series: fighting for salvation
Music:Sweet Surrender by Sarah McLachlan

15th-Sep-2007 10:17 pm - Fighting for Salvation (18)

Here's chapter 18. The song is "There Will Come A Day" by Faith Hill.

Evanescence rang through the house as Ava and Jen worked in the kitchen. They had decided that a time of baking and eating like pigs was definitely in order, and had set aside an entire weekend devoted to that. They had movie and TV on DVD marathons planned that would let them zone out, laugh, and basically just ignore the world around them for two solid days.

Jen watched her friend out of the corner of her eye as she stirred the brownie mix. Ava had been quieter than usual, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Her wounds were healing nicely – she could use her left arm without wincing, and most of the bruises had faded. But something was obviously still troubling her, and Jen was determined to find out what it was.

"Alright," she finally said. "Spill it."

Ava looked at her in confusion.

"Spill what?"

"Whatever's bothering you."

"I'm fine."

"Liar."

"Nag."

"Brat."

"Bitch."

"Hag."

"Whore."

"Slut."

"Floozy."

"Tart."

"Strumpet."

"Bastard bitch of Barney."

"Illegitimate Teletubby."

"Britney-loving prostitot."

"Tone-deaf mer-slut."

Jen stopped at that one, shock and admiration on her face.

"I'm impressed."

Ava smiled. "It's not mine."

"You're allowed to steal in the name game. Who came up with that?"

"Andrea. We were online. After I called her a bottle-blonde band whore."

"You guys have all the fun without me."

"Not our fault you're never online."

"True," Jen conceded. Her smile faded as she looked at Ava more intently. "Seriously, though. What's the matter?"

Ava sighed. "My dad called."

"What the hell did he want?"

"I told you about what he said to Tony, right?"

"On the day the shit hit the fan? Yeah. You said Tony handled it pretty well."

"He handled it really well. Anyway, apparently Dad wants to talk it out."

"Your phrase or his?"

"His."

Jen stopped stirring the brownie mix and turned to her friend. Giving her a gentle look, she spoke with a firm voice.

"You know he's not going to apologize, right?"

Ava nodded, her gaze focused on the cookie dough she was putting onto the cookie sheet.

"He's only going to make you feel worse," Jen continued. "He's going to tell you exactly why he thinks he's right and point out everywhere in your life where he thinks you could be doing better. It's going to end with you crying, and him telling you that you have no right to cry because he's just being honest with you and trying to help you."

The tears were stinging Ava's eyes even as she lifted her gaze to her friend's. Biting her bottom lip, she nodded.

"I know. But I still have to go."

"Why?"

"Because it could be different this time."

Jen sighed. "I get it, but I wish you wouldn't go. Where are you meeting him?"

"Café Blair. We're having lunch on Monday."

"I'm going to be there, too."

Ava frowned. "Why?"

"So that I can kick his ass when he starts yelling at you."

"You really hate him, don't you?"

Jen took Ava's face in her hands so that she couldn't look away.

"You are a beautiful, smart, kind, wonderful person, and I hate the man who has made you doubt that time and again." She wiped away the tear that slid down her friend's cheek. "Now get baking. I want chocolate chip cookies, dammit."

They both smiled and returned to their baking.

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She had only been sitting there for three minutes, and already Ava wanted to leave. Trying to look comfortable, she glanced around the outdoor café, wondering if anyone else could tell how badly she wanted to get out of there. Her eyes rested briefly on Jen, who was sitting across the patio, her nose in a book. But Ava knew that her friend was watching them like a hawk from behind her sunglasses.

“It’s good to see you,” her father said, pulling her out of her thoughts. “I hardly ever see you anymore.”

Ava looked across the table at her dad. He sat there, in jeans and a t-shirt, a New York Yankees hat stuffed onto his head. His moustache and sideburns were starting to show gray, and she knew that under the cap, he was starting to lose his hair. Red shaded his round cheeks, and Ava found herself wondering if he had had anything to drink before their lunch.

Shaking her head, she tried to focus on what he was saying.

“I’ve been busy,” she answered evasively.

“It’s almost as though you’ve been avoiding me.”

She sighed, suddenly realizing that this whole thing had been a catastrophic idea. He was gunning for a fight, and he wouldn’t let it drop until he got it – or until he broke her and she walked away.

“That’s because I have been,” she finally declared.

“Excuse me?”

“Would you rather I lied to you?” Ava asked, staring at her food and picking at it with her fork.

“I’d like to know why you wouldn’t want to see me.”

“It might be because you always find a way to belittle me every single time we speak.”

“I’m just trying to help.”

“By making me feel like shit?”
“Don’t you use that language with me, young lady,” he snapped, slamming his fist down on the table. The glassware trembled.

“I’m old enough to swear now, Dad.”

“Not when you’re talking to me.”

“Why did you call me?” she asked, changing tack. “Why did you want to meet with me?”

“I want to know who that man was.”

“Who?”

“The one I talked to on the phone. The spic.”

Ava pointed at her father with her fork.

“DON’T use those words around me. ESPECIALLY when you are talking about one of my friends.”

“Are you sleeping with him?”

“Excuse me?” she exclaimed, her voice rising. People were starting to look at them.

“Let me put it in language you’ll understand. How long have you been fucking him?”

“That’s it!” Ava yelled, standing up and throwing her utensil onto her plate loudly. “I could take it when you were just badmouthing me. But I will not sit here quietly while you insult people I care about!”

Her dad stood, leaning over the table. “How you can you betray me like this?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know how I feel about people like that.”

“Like what?”

“Spics. Niggers. Are you getting back at me by letting a dirty rat like that touch you?”

Her hand lashed out before she could stop it. The slap was loud and sharp, and his face turned a deep shade of purple as his anger boiled over. His right arm pulled back slightly and she saw his hand ball into a fist. She steeled herself for the blow she knew was coming.

And then Jen was there, stepping between them. With a hard shove, she pushed against Ava’s father and sent him back a few steps.

“Don’t you even THINK of laying a hand on her!” she bellowed, not caring that everyone was staring at them. “I have sat back and kept quiet long enough. This is OVER!”

“Oh?” he sneered at her. “And what are you going to do about it?”

Jen crossed her arms and smiled at him tauntingly. “Go ahead. Hit her. I’ll have the cops here so fast –“

“You think I’m afraid of a simple assault charge?”

“Try assaulting a federal agent. Because that’s what your daughter is. Forget the police. I’ll call CTU, and you’ll have a squad of agents on your ass, cuffing you and dragging you out of here in front of all these people. How do you think mommy and daddy will feel about that? Will they come to your rescue like they always do?”

“You little bitch –“

“Go to hell, Jim,” she spat, turning her back on him.

Without another word, she grabbed Ava’s arm and dragged her away from the café.

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That Thursday, Tony showed up for their weekly hang-out. He brought a bottle of Peachtree schnapps after noticing that Ava had been almost out last time he was there. Not bothering to knock, he walked right into the kitchen, surprised when he saw her pulling a tray of cookies out of the oven. When she saw him, she gave him a small smile.

“Hey.”

“Hey. You’re baking?”

Ava shrugged. “Didn’t really have anything else to do.”

Tony looked pointedly at her as he set down the bottle he was carrying. “Ava, I’ve known you long enough to know that baking by yourself is not a good sign. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well I do.”

Ignoring her glare of protest, Tony turned the oven off and took her gently by the elbow, leading her through the dining room and into the living room. They sat down on the couch, Ava staring at her hands clasped in her lap. Tony watched her for a minute and then broke the silence.

“Talk to me,” he said gently.

“I met with my dead this week,” she murmured, not meeting his gaze.

Tony’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did it go?”

“Awful.”

“What happened?”

“He saw I was betraying him.”

Tony frowned. “How?”

Ava fell silent again, her eyes fixed on the floor. She mentally kicked herself for telling him anything – her problems with her father were constant and frustrating. She didn’t want to get used to unloading it on Tony. And she definitely didn’t want to tell him what her father had called him. Tony seemed to read her mind, though, and he put a finger under her chin to gently make her face him.

“I won’t be offended,” he promised. “And I don’t blame you for his opinions.”

She took a deep breath. “He asked me how I could let…someone like you…touch me.”

“Someone like me? You mean Hispanic?”

“Non-white,” Ava corrected.

Tony smiled at her. “Your dad’s an idiot, Ava. Don’t let him drag you down.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have agreed to meet with him in the first place. It goes the same way every time. He tells me how much I’m screwing up my life, I get upset, and then he tells me I’m being immature or irrational for getting upset.”

“Then you won’t go see him again. From what Jen has told me, you’ve given him enough chances. Just step back and wait for him to decide that he’s made a mistake.”

Ava frowned. “Jen talked to you about my dad?”

He nodded. “I asked her about him once while you were in the hospital. I wanted to know if he was that awful all the time.”

She looked down at the floor again. “I hit him.”

“What?”

“We were standing and yelling at each other, and I just couldn’t take it anymore. He called you a horrible name and I just snapped. I slapped him.”

“What did he do?”

“He was about to hit me back.”

She felt Tony’s entire body tense next to her. “Did he?”

“No. Jen got there in time. She stepped between us and shoved him back. Then she warned him that if he hit me, he’d be assaulting a federal agent and CTU would take him in.”

“We’d kick his ass, too,” he told her, chuckling lightly. Reaching his arm around her, he pulled her against his side. “How about we make dinner and then watch a movie? Your pick.”

“Something action-y.”

“That doesn’t exactly narrow it down.”

Ava thought for a moment. “Die Hard.”

Tony laughed. “Die Hard it is then.”

She smiled at him. “Yippie kai-yay, motherfucker.”

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The apartment was dark when Ava let herself in. Kicking the door shut behind her, she moved into the kitchen, setting down the covered platter she was carrying. She turned on the lights and then ventured into the living room.

“Jack?”

He was sitting on the couch, staring into the shadows. His beard was longer, hanging about an inch below his chin. Ava had tried to get him to shave, but he just wouldn’t be bothered with it – shaving was a trivial concern compared to the grief and guilt he was carrying.

She walked across the room, standing in front of him until he finally registered her presence. His blue eyes met hers, but there was nothing behind them.

“What do you want?” he asked quietly.

“Haven’t heard from you in over a week. Thought I’d check up on you.

He nodded, but didn’t answer her unspoken question. She decided to try another route.

“I brought dinner. Spaghetti. Mimi’s recipe.” No response. Ava sighed. “Come on, Jack. You have to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

The growl from his stomach betrayed him.

“Liar.”

She grabbed one of his hands and pulled him up from the couch. Without a word, she led him back into the kitchen, pushing him into one of the chairs at the small table. Then she turned to the platter she had brought in, and as she pulled off the plastic wrap, Jack saw steam rush up at her.

“It’s still hot,” he commented.

Ava nodded. “I cooked it and covered it and came right over. It never tastes quite as good if you have to reheat it in the microwave.”

She pulled down two plates from a cabinet and put a generous portion on each. Then she poured them each a glass of milk and set the table, taking a seat across from Jack.

“Eat,” she ordered, digging into her own food.

He acquiesced and they ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. Ava smiled as she watched Jack devour what she had put in front of him – he obviously hadn’t eaten in awhile. Wordlessly, she stood up and refilled their plates and glasses.

“How’s Kim?” he asked suddenly, halfway through his second helpings.

“She’s good,” Ava answered around a mouthful of food. “She has a new boyfriend.”

Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Who is he?”

“His name’s Miguel.”

“Have you met him?”

Ava nodded.

“Please tell me he’s better than the last one.”

She smiled. “Much. I like him. I think he’s good for her.”

Jack nodded slowly. “Good. So…she’s happy?”

“Yeah, Jack,” she said softly. “As happy as she can be right now.”

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Ava nearly poked her eye out with her eye liner pencil when her cell phone rang. Whispering a curse, she answered it.

“Connelly.”

“Do you always answer your phone in such a business-like manner?” Jen asked.

“Well, work always manages to call me in at the most inconvenient times. And since this would be very inconvenient, I was expecting them.”

“Why inconvenient? Do you have plans?”

“Yeah, actually I do.”

“I’m hurt. I thought you didn’t have a social life outside of me.”

“Ha ha,” she said sarcastically. “I’m about to leave for Mass.”

“On a Saturday night?”

“Yeah. I’m…I’m singing.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you get weird when it comes to the religion thing. I didn’t want you to feel obligated to go or anything.”

“Which church?”

“St. Patrick’s.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

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Jen smiled as she watched her friend step nervously to the microphone. Despite her beautiful voice, Ava was always nervous when it came to singing in front of others. She had a deep-seated fear that she wasn’t good enough, that people were only placating her when they told her how wonderful she was.

It bothered her that her friend hadn’t told her about her date to sing in church. She knew that she wasn’t always the most open when it came to religion and faith, but she hoped that Ava knew that she would want to be there for her regardless. But they could discuss that later. Jen quieted her thoughts as Ava began to sing.

It's not easy trying to understand
How the world can be so cold, stealing the souls of man
Cloudy skies rain down on all your dreams
You wrestle with the fear and doubt
Sometimes it's hard but you gotta believe

There's a better place, where our Father waits
And every tear He'll wipe away
The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong
Hold on to your faith

There will come a day, there will come a day
Wars are raging, lives are scattered
Innocence is lost, and hopes are shattered
The old are forgotten, the children are forsaken
In this world we're living in
Is there anything sacred?

There will come a day, there will come a day
The song will ring out, down those golden streets
The voices of earth with the angels will sing
Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace
In the glory of His amazing grace
Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace
In the glory of His amazing grace
There will come a day, there will come a day
Oooh there will come a day
I know there's coming a day, coming a day

As the last note faded, Jen found that her eyes had closed during the performance. The words sunk into her subconscious, and she found herself suddenly wondering if maybe Ava was on to something.

The young woman was nearly back to her seat next to Jen, when a sudden noise caught her attention. Her eyes snapped to the double doors leading outside just as they crashed open and men in black clothing came pouring in.

The parishioners were in such a state of shock that for a crucial minute they just sat there, slack-jawed. Ava’s eyes roamed around the cathedral, looking for some kind of explanation as to what was going on. Then shots were fired and a woman began screaming.

Tags:fandom: 24, series: fighting for salvation
Music:X-Files

12th-Sep-2007 03:34 pm - Fighting for Salvation (17)

And now I present to you Chapter 17...sorry it took so long to get out. This chapter takes place right after the events of Season 1.

Chapter 17

The constant beeping and the feel of her hand were the only things that kept him sane. He rubbed his thumb along her knuckles, focusing his gaze on her skin. She had been asleep for two days now, and with each passing hour, the worry in his gut dug deeper, roiling his insides and making him sick.

His back ached and one foot was asleep, but he refused to move. Aside from bathroom breaks, he never left her side. He dozed fitfully for a few hours here and there, his head resting back against the chair or on the side of her hospital bed. But she just continued sleeping, the rise and fall of her chest steady and constant – his only source of hope.

He let his eyes roam across the bed and rest on her other hand. Two nights ago, her best friend had come in and gently opened her palm, laying a silver rosary there. Then she had closed her fingers over it. It had been years since he had last prayed, but he found himself reaching over and holding her other hand as well, his head bowing as he closed his eyes.

"Dear God," he whispered. "I know you have no reason to listen to any request from me. But she loves you and has been faithful to you. Please heal her. Don't let her die like this. She deserves better. Let her wake up, God. Please. Let her wake up…"

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It was the beeping that finally woke up her up. She frowned and winced at the same time – the noise was piercing at first and she just wanted it to go away. It occurred to her that she didn't know where she was or what was going on, and the only way to find out was to open her eyes.

She did it slowly, afraid that light would blind her or give her an awful headache. But the room around her was dark, and she found it easy to slide her eyelids up, blinking a lot as her eyes adjusted to seeing things again.

"Ava?"

She slid her gaze to her left and saw Jen sitting next to her bed. At the sight of her best friend, she tried to smile, but her lips were dry and they cracked open painfully.

"Hey," she croaked.

Jen smiled. "It's about time you woke up."

"Where am I?" Ava asked, her voice gaining more strength as she used it.

"The hospital."

"Nina tried to kill me…" she explained, her memory slowly coming back to her. Her brain jolted as it all washed over her, and she sat up quickly, ignoring the protest of her joints. "Nina!" she exclaimed. "She's evil! She's the mole –"

Jen rested a gentle hand on her uninjured shoulder and tried to push her back down onto the bed.

"We already know about Nina. She's been arrested."

Ava lay back down slowly, her mind struggling to catch up.

"How long have I been here?" she finally asked.

Jen paused slightly. "Two days."

Ava groaned. "You're kidding me."

"No. You lost a lot of blood. Not surprising that your body decided it needed a rest."

She nodded. "So they caught Nina in time? The Drazens were stopped? Everyone's okay?" She saw Jen wince slightly, though her best friend tried to keep her face stoic. "What?" she demanded. "What happened.?"

Jen sighed and took a seat on the edge of the bed, holding Ava's hand in hers. "Not everyone is alright," she said quietly. "Nina killed a few people when she tried to escape."

"Who?"

"A couple of guards."

"There's something else. There's something you're not telling me."

She took a deep breath.

"Teri."

Nausea crashed over Ava in waves as her mouth went bone dry.

"What?" she whispered.

There were tears in Jen's eyes as she explained, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "After she finished with you, she tried to make her getaway. Teri found her – she probably wanted more answers about Kim and Jack. Nina shot her."

Ava put a hand over her eyes, trying to block out Jen's words. Teri…the woman had become something of a mother to her in the past few months, something that she had desperately needed. They had talked about everything, Teri taking a genuine interest in Ava's life. The news of her death crushed her nearly as much as her mother's had. Suddenly, there was no oxygen in the room. She took gasping breaths, trying to bring air into her lungs. But her shoulders started to shake, and ragged cries escaped her mouth. She couldn't stop the tears that flooded her eyes, and soon she was sobbing.

Then arms enveloped her, and Jen was there. She rocked her friend back and forth, whispering whatever words of comfort she could find.

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An hour later, Ava's tears had subsided. Her face was pale and drawn, her eyes bloodshot. Jen had again taken her seat in the chair by the bed, but she kept her grasp on one of her friend's hands, gently rubbing her thumb back and forth over her knuckles.

"Has he been here?" Ava finally asked.

"Who?"

"Jack."

Jen shook her head. "No. Nobody but Kim has seen him. She visited you a couple times."

"Really?"

She smiled. "You're her friend, Ava. She wanted to make sure you were alright."

"How is she?"

Jen shrugged. "She's trying. That's more than some people." She paused. "She doesn't blame you."

Ava ignored the comment, looking away. "So…you've been here for two days? Waiting for me to wake up?"

"Actually…no."

She looked back at her and frowned. "No?"

"I would have, but…you had another visitor."

Her confusion grew. "Who?"

Jen smiled. "Tony."

"What?"

"He's the one that found you. He rode in the ambulance with you and then sat in the waiting room while the doctors put you back together."

"Really?"

She nodded. "And that's not all."

"It's not?"

"Nope. He sat by your side for two days; he only got up to go to the bathroom. I brought him food and made sure that he ate, but he refused to leave you."

She looked around. "Then where is he now?"

"He left when you started to wake up."

"Why?"

Jen sighed. "He told me about the argument you guys had. Right before your fight with Nina. He feels guilty. He knows he let himself be manipulated."

Ava tried to shrug, but her shoulder quickly reminded her that it was done putting up with her and her unwillingness to sit still.

"He shouldn't be too hard on himself. Boys are stupid."

Jen grinned. "Throw rocks at them."

Ava smiled slightly as her eyes fluttered closed. "I'm tired," she whispered.

"Then sleep," Jen urged, reaching up to gently stroke her forehead. "Sleep."

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When Ava next opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Jack in her room. He stood with his back to her, his gaze focused at something outside of the window. Looking at his profile, she could see the pain in his eyes, and the weary slump in his shoulders. Stubble was poking out all along his chin, and he looked as though he had slept in the clothes in he was wearing.

"Jack?"

He turned at the sound of her voice, and the grief etched on his face, caused tears to spring into her eyes. She saw the corners of his mouth twitch, as though he were trying to smile, but he eventually gave up when it just wouldn't come.

"How are you?" he finally asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Sore. Tired. Restless. You?"

He shrugged. "I've been better."

The tears came again, and this time she couldn’t keep them at bay. They rolled down her cheeks as she took in a shaky breath.

"I am so sorry, Jack," she said brokenly. "Please…I know what you lost. I tried, I swear…"

His face took on a look of shock as he moved to her side and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, concerned at her sudden tears.

"Nina…I tried to beat her Jack. I just couldn't…I didn't have the strength…my body just wouldn't keep going. I am so sorry…"she sobbed.

He turned to sit shoulder to shoulder with her on the bed, pulling her toward him and holding her against his chest. Running his fingers through her dark hair, he rocked her gently.

"No, Ava," he whispered. "This wasn't your fault. I don't blame you."

"But if I had stopped her –"

"That doesn't matter. You had serious injuries from earlier in the day – which you got searching for and protecting my family. Your body just couldn't take anymore. It's not your fault."

"It feels like it is."

He closed his eyes. "A lot of us blame ourselves, Ava. I know Tony blames himself for not seeing it, for defending her. I blame myself for trusting her. George does too. But if we let the guilt overcome us, we'll drown."

She sniffed and looked up at him. "That doesn't stop you."

"From what?"

"From blaming yourself. You're punishing yourself. I can see it in your eyes."

He shrugged. "I bear the most guilt. Whether I deserve it or not is another question. But it won't just go away overnight."

"I know. I just want you to know that I'm here. That I won't let you drown."

He managed a small smile at that. "Thank you." He paused. "I have two favors to ask of you."

"Anything," she said, laying her head back down against his chest.

"Keep an eye on Kim."

"What do you mean?"

Jack sighed. "She won't talk to me…about Teri. I can feel her pulling away. Will you take care of her?"

"Of course. And the second favor?"

He swallowed hard. "Will you…" his voice broke and he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "Will you sing at the funeral?"

Ava sat up, looking at him in shock.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Teri always…she loved your voice. And she thought of you like a daughter. It would mean a lot…to me, to her…"

"Of course, Jack. Did you have a specific song?"

He nodded again, clearing his throat as the emotion threatened to choke him. "The one that always made her cry when you sang it. She said it was the most beautiful and tragic thing she had ever heard. Do you remember?"

Ava nodded, her own tears falling. "Yeah, Jack," she whispered. "I remember."

She laid her head back down against him, and they held each other while they cried.

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Ava was already dressed when Jen walked into the room. She was dressed in all black, her hair pulled into a low ponytail. Her makeup was minimal, the bruises still visible on her face and arms. She looked up when Jen entered, her face a mask of pain and weariness.

"Did you sign all your forms?" Jen asked.

She nodded. "I'm officially released."

"About time. What kind of restrictions did that put on you?"

"I'm supposed to rest for a couple weeks. I'm not allowed back at the gym for a month. I'm supposed to stay out of the field for a month as well, but I talked them down to three weeks."

"You that anxious to back to work?"

Ava shrugged, wincing when pain jabbed through her left shoulder. "I need something to do. Otherwise I'll wallow."

"And we can't have that." Jen paused. "You ready?"

"Yeah."

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It was raining, and Ava found that fitting. Teri had always enjoyed the rain, saying that it was a nice break from the heat of the sun. The family and close friends stood under a tarp by the graveside, but there were numerous people standing outside of it as well. Teri Bauer had been well-liked and loved by many, and they had all come to pay their respects. Ava's eyes roamed over the crowd, and she spotted Tony standing near the back. He had no umbrella, and the rain soaked his shirt, but he didn't seem to care. The pain in his eyes was different from Jack's, but it was no less potent.

She listened to the words of the pastor and tried to take hope from them. She believed in Heaven, and she prayed with all her heart that Teri was there now, in the peace of God. Her hand clutched around the rosary in her pocket as she prayed – not the Hail Marys and Our Fathers, but a personal prayer, into which she tried to pour all the anger and guilt and pain that filled her.

It was over all too soon. The pastor ended his message, and men from the cemetery moved in to lower the casket. That was Ava's cue. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears that were already spilling out over her cheeks as she opened her mouth to sing.

There's no time for us.
There's no place for us.
What is this thing that builds our dreams,
Yet slips away from us?

Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Ooh.

There's no chance for us.
It's all decided for us.
This world has only one sweet moment,
Set aside for us.

Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Ooh.

Who dares to love forever?
Oh, when love must die?

Then touch my tears with your lips.
Touch my world with your fingertips.

And we can have forever!
And we can love forever!
Forever is our today.

She heard Jen's voice rise to meet hers in perfect harmony as they sang the chorus for the last time. The tears were falling all around them, and Ava imagined that she could hear them hitting the ground, mingled with the rain.

Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Forever is our today.

Who waits forever anyway?

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The gathering at the Bauer house after the funeral was a quiet affair. People milled around uncertainly and talked in hushed tones. They huddled together, as though realizing that they were there on borrowed time, and they craved the feel of other human beings.

Ava stuck it out as long as she could