Season 7 episode #6

The following takes place between 5:00am and 6:00am

Jack turned to Bill and Karen. “We better get a move on or else we’ll be late.”
“How did you…?” Karen still seemed to be in shock from Logan calling. “How did you know that he’d call you?”
“He screws around with terrorists and then tries to cut a deal. It benefits him both ways, that’s how Nina Myers worked.”
Bill winced at Nina’s name. “Jack, what do you think that Logan wants?”
“Probably immunity,” Karen interjected “he’d do anything to save his own ass.”
“Not necessarily. Maybe he wants us to do something for him.” Bill suggested. “But it may put us in serious danger so we have to make sure to be careful.”
“Maybe you two shouldn’t go with me.” Jack looked at his friends worriedly. “You may be getting into a situation that you can’t handle and I don’t want you killed.”
Karen smiled at Jack. “We appreciate the gesture, Jack but we want these missiles found as quickly and efficiently as you do.”
“The men who came up with the contingency of kidnapping Karen and Chloe’s boys need to pay.” Bill continued enthusiastically.
Jack nodded. “Okay.”

*****************

“Nicholas Henderson doesn’t appear to exist.” Doyle scooted back in the chair. “It says here that Christopher and Miriam Henderson had basically no family.”
“They had to!” Morris exclaimed. “That information was given by that man Schaeffer himself.”
“Unless he was lying,” Doyle added.
“He was about to die,” Morris said slowly “I doubt that he was thinking about playing games.”
“Maybe the files were corrupted,” Nadia suggested. “Can you get in there, Chloe?”
Chloe sighed. “Yes, if everyone leaves me alone.”
“Don’t take it to heart.” Morris clapped a hand on a stunned Doyle’s shoulder. “When she needs to really work she tells everyone to go away.”
Chloe muttered something under her breath as Morris walked Nadia and Doyle back to the living room.
Laura was still sitting on the couch, appearing to still be upset about her incident with Chloe.
Morris sat down next to her. “Are you alright?”
“Fantastic,” Laura said sarcastically.
“Look, I’m sorry that Chloe was talking to you like that but she’s a blunt person. She says what’s on her mind despite whether it’s rude. Some people see it as remarkable honesty while others view it as annoying and obnoxious.”
Laura glanced sideways at Morris. “I see it as annoying and obnoxious.”
Morris chuckled a little bit. “It kind of is, but that’s why I love her. She’s very…different.”
“I’ll say.” Laura rolled her eyes. “She needs to mind her own business.”
“That part of her comes from being extremely loyal to Jack. Those two have been friends for years and trust each other with their lives. It wouldn’t surprise me that Chloe is a little hostile that Jack has a relationship that she doesn’t know about.”
Laura stared at the floor. “She hasn’t even seen him in three years.”
“Yeah, but Chloe doesn’t change much. She wants to protect Jack whenever possible.”
“Well, yelling about a girlfriend that doesn’t exist doesn’t help matters much.” Laura sighed.
Morris looked at the ceiling uncomfortably. “Actually, she wasn’t lying.”
“What?!” Laura turned to Morris, her eyes wide. “What do you mean a girlfriend? He never told me about any girlfriend.”
Morris scratched his neck. “I don’t think Jack really wants to talk about it. It didn’t end…well.”
Laura breathed a sigh of relief. “You mean they aren’t dating anymore?”
“Well, they were. I think they were really in love with each other. But when Jack was captured by the Chinese, she went after him. They tortured her and when they got her back, her father told Jack to stay away because Jack was cursed.”
Laura gasped and put a hand to her mouth. “How awful!”
“Well, Jack said good-bye and started over. That’s where you came in, except I still think deep down that…he loves her.” Morris stood up abruptly. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
“No, no, it’s okay. I won’t tell him I know.” Laura put a hand on Morris’ arm. “He doesn’t need anymore pain today.”
Morris nodded. “Thank you.” He left the room and walked back to Chloe.
But Laura couldn’t help feeling a little betrayed. Jack had never told her that he was captured and tortured by the Chinese. That would explain the scars on his hands but…Laura realized how little she really knew about him. She wanted to let Jack know that she really cared about him and that he should get over his last girlfriend. After all, that girl had probably forgotten about him.

5:08:12 5:08:13 5:08:14 5:08:15
5:12:04 5:12:05 5:12:06 5:12:07

Jack hit the accelerator and drove through a red light. He spotted the mile marker ahead and swerved to avoid a truck going about fifty five miles.
“You know, Jack, if we get in a car accident than we won’t be able to get to Logan at all.” Bill held onto the armrest as Jack narrowly avoided another car.
“We wouldn’t get there in time…” Jack swerved onto the exit and pulled up into the neighborhood a minute or two later.
Karen pointed. “There’s the house with the lights on. But wouldn’t more people be getting up for work now? It’s early in the morning.”
“Not if Logan kept that from happening.” Jack checked his gun and got out of the car. He opened the trunk and got more ammo cartridges. After throwing them up to Karen and Bill he took the keys and stuck them underneath the trunk.
Bill and Karen got out and followed Jack up to the house. Jack put a finger to his lips and slowly turned the knob of the door. Bill shut it quietly as Jack jumped into the next room, which was empty.
“I’m in the kitchen!” Logan called.
Jack motioned to Bill who went around the opposite way. Jack hit the door open and pointed it at Logan.
Logan was sitting calmly with a cup of coffee. “Welcome. Please, sit. We have a lot to discuss.”
Jack looked at Logan. “We’re not putting down our defenses, let alone sit, until you tell us what you want.”
Logan glanced down at Bill and then Karen. “Ahhh, I see you two are still married. Bill, how can you stay married to Karen after what she did to you? Firing you without a second thought? Tsk. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Karen looked ready to cry, but Bill looked calmly at Logan before Karen could open her mouth. “We NEVER discuss that. Karen realized that she didn’t make the best choice, but it was all she could do for the time. I forgave her and know she still loves me.”
Logan shook his head. “It’s a pity that all couples can’t do the same, huh?” He seemed to trail off into la-la land.
Jack frowned and looked at Bill and Karen who seemed to share the same faces.
“Mr. Logan, what do you want?” Jack repeated through his teeth.
Logan looked up at Jack. “I will tell you everything I know about Nicholas Henderson, if you get Martha a presidential pardon.”
Jack leaned in. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you properly. Did you ask a pardon for the woman that nearly killed you?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Logan, you know that can’t happen.” Karen sounded a little shocked. “Your ex-wife pleaded insanity for attempted first degree murder charges. She’ll be in a state institution for the rest of her life.”
“I know, but I don’t think she really meant it.” Logan was staring off into space again. “Deep down, I think she knows that was the wrong thing to do. She deserves a second chance, just like you received Karen.”
Karen looked taken aback. But Jack intercepted. “You will tell us everything if we release her?”
Logan nodded. “That’s what I said.”
“Give us a second.” Jack walked out of the room and faced Karen and Bill. “We have to give it to him.”
“Jack, he’s going crazy!” Bill replied. “He wants to let her go? How do you know that he doesn’t have men ready to kill her?”
“We don’t know that!” Jack exclaimed. “But we need Henderson now! Its 8:15 D.C. time and that meeting with the Chinese is going down in less than two hours. The president very well may be in danger!”
“We have to give it to him, Bill” Karen put a hand on her husband’s shoulder. “It’s the only way.”
“I’m getting her now,” Jack punched the buttons in on his phone.

***************

“Any calls, Grace?” Julie reappeared in a black dress and was attempting to put on earrings.
“No, ma’am. But we should be hearing from Jack Bauer soon.”
“Okay.” Julie walked back into her office and saw Rob sitting at her desk appearing to be writing something.
“Rob?”
He looked up. “Oh, sorry, dear. I was just doodling.” He crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it in the trash can.
“Can you get the girls together and make sure the motorcade is still on course? I’m expecting an important phone call.”
Rob nodded, kissed his wife, and nearly ran into Marsha. “Mrs. President, its Jack Bauer for you. He said it’s very urgent.”
“Good. Tell Grace to patch me through and call Mike.”
Julie continued to try and put the earrings into her ears.
“Mrs. President, it’s Jack Bauer.”
“Yes, Jack. Have anything new?”
“In fact, ma’am, we do. Mr. Buchanan, Mrs. Hayes, and I have located Logan and he is very willing to give us everything he knows regarding Nicholas Henderson.”
“Excellent work!”
“However, there’s a catch. He won’t give us anything until he knows that Martha Logan has been pardoned.”
Julie dropped the earring she was holding. “What? You can’t honestly mean the woman that practically killed him!”
“I do.”
“Oh, Jack.” Julie put her head in her hands. “I can’t pardon that woman! She’s been diagnosed as insane and she could hurt more people.”
“Mrs. President, I don’t think we have a choice here.”
“Alright, hold one second.” Julie hit the button and turned to Marsha and Mike, who just walked in.
Mike looked sad and Marsha looked just as scared as Julie.
“We’d be endangering many lives,” Marsha reiterated.
“I know!” Julie yelled. “But how many more would be at stake if missiles are launched into L.A.?”
“May I?” Mike looked at Julie. “I have known Mrs. Logan for many, many years. Just four and a half years ago, I was talking to her in this very place and she was a little loony sometimes but very sane. It wasn’t until her husband was arrested that Aaron Pierce told me she was behaving insanely. She was institutionalized but released, again. Aaron said she was still almost normal; until Logan came to see her.”
“And?” Julie waved her hand impatiently.
“I think that if Mrs. Logan is released into Aaron Pierce’s custody she’ll be alright. Don’t mention her ex-husband. If she never sees or hears from him again then she won’t go crazy like last time.”
Julie turned back to Marsha who shrugged. “Ma’am, he has a point but I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Julie sighed. “We have no choice.” She hit the button on her receiver. “Mr. Bauer, tell him that his wish is granted. We’ll send the papers to your PDA to confirm. And under no circumstances is he to leave the house or contact Martha. He’s still under house arrest.” She turned off the intercom, grabbed her earrings, and abruptly left the room.

5:25:25 5:25:26 5:25:27 5:25:28
5:29:14 5:29:15 5:29:16 5:29:17

Martha Logan drummed her fingers on the table and rested her head on her hand. She was sooooo bored. All she was ever allowed to do was play games, watch the television, listen to a radio, and go for a walk a couple times a week and that was about it. She even ate by herself!! How did they expect her to go on like this? If Aaron hadn’t been so good to her she may have gone berserk just being in there. She sighed and slumped onto the table. She’d tried to explain over and over that she wasn’t thinking when she stabbed Charles. He was just being so obnoxious and she’d been losing sleep lately. Martha herself knew that she would never do something like that again; as long as Logan didn’t provoke her.
Suddenly, Martha heard the door opening and she saw Aaron walk in.
“Aaron!” She jumped up and hugged him. “I’m very glad to see you! Can we go for a walk today?”
“Whatever you want.” Aaron smiled at her warmly.
Martha smiled back. “I don’t think you know what this means to me. The people here…they stare at me because they know who I am…you’re the only person left who cares about me.” Martha’s smile melted into a hurt face.
Aaron frowned. “That’s not true. There are plenty of other people rooting for you to get better.”
Martha sighed. “But I’ll never get to leave this place. Please, Aaron, let’s take a walk. I really need the fresh air.”
Aaron nodded. “Let’s go.”
They held hands and walked out the doorway accompanied by a guard. Halfway down the hall, the guard motioned them to stop and hit his radio button. “Yeah. Uh-huh. What the hell? No!!! Why? Are you kidding me? Fine.” He glared at Martha and Aaron. “Follow me.”
Martha and Aaron looked at each other strangely, but followed. Something was going on.

*************

“Got it!” Everyone jumped up and ran into the other room when they heard Chloe’s excited voice. She pointed at the screen. “This man is good. He really covered his tracks. I had to use the encoded matrix and…”
“Darling,” Morris interrupted impatiently. “Just skip to the part that’s in English. We don’t all know what an encoded matrix is.”
“Fine.” Chloe hit a few keys. “Nicholas Henderson, 6”2, 150 pounds. He was born in Berlin, Germany and grew up with his parents in Shanghai, China. At the age of eighteen, he moved back to America with Christopher and Miriam. He was in a mysterious car accident at the age of 21, and his body was never recovered. He was presumed dead, but it’s obvious he’s escaped and gone undercover.”
“He was born in Germany and lived in China,” Laura commented. “Those two countries have to be connected somehow.”
“You don’t say” Chloe replied sarcastically.
“I think we better get this to Jack” Morris interrupted quickly. “The more information he has the more information Logan will have to give him.”
“I’ll grab the other laptop, and Nadia and I will start running his picture with any known aliases and contacts.” Doyle rushed into the other room. “Just in case Logan is lying.”

**********

Logan nodded. “Uh-huh? You sure? She’s safe? Okay, thank you.” He closed his phone.
“What do you want to know?” He looked at Jack.
“Everything.” Jack said. “From the beginning. Maybe you could also mention to me why I never knew that the Henderson’s had a son when I’ve known them for over twenty years.”
Suddenly, Jack’s cellphone rang.
“Bauer.”
“Jack, it’s Morris. We found a vague file on Henderson and are running it up with other faces and aliases. We thought we’d upload it to you.”
“Thank you. Download it now and I’ll get back to you.”
Jack looked down at his phone and then handed it to Bill and Karen to read. “Alright, Logan, we know that he was born in Germany and raised in China. Not only are the Chinese visiting the President today, but the server we found this morning was in German. You better start talking and fast.”
Logan nodded slowly. “Alright, this started about twenty years ago, when I first became a Senator. I was young, ambitious…and vulnerable. I first heard that the Germans were helping some terrorists from Bosnia and I was about to tell someone about it. But Christopher Henderson promised me money and a future if I chose to ignore it. So, I did. Pretty soon, he was sending me tasks to do from China and money was constantly being wired to me. This continued until I was assigned to assist some Bosnian terrorists in taking down David Palmer when he was running for president. I was in charge of getting Nina Myers out of the country, and that obviously never happened because she messed up. The Germans gave up on her when she was arrested and instead chose to go after Marilyn Bauer.”
“And?” Jack said through his teeth.
“They recruited both her and Graem. The two of them had a contingency plan in case something ever happened to one of them. In the meantime, Christopher had his son sent to China to teach him everything he knew. There, Nicholas met a woman named Mandy. She was being trained as well and the two were married. The Chinese then sent her to Germany on a mission and she was soon given the virus and told to kill Palmer.”
Jack sighed as he remembered al of this. “What else?”
“When the virus was given to Stephen Saunders by the Germans he was ready to attack America with it. Unfortunately, he was too vulnerable and gave in when you were gonna kill his daughter so they dropped him as well and turned back to Nicholas Henderson. Henderson worked directly with Cheng in China and the two countries soon formed a secret alliance off the radar. When the consulate was attacked by you, it was Henderson’s idea for them to go after you. When they didn’t get you, Nick turned to your father who tracked you down. He was the one that figured out you were alive. Phillip, in China, and Graem, in Germany helped secure the nerve gas from Russia and made the blame fall solely on them. Marilyn and Mandy covered for both of them and it appears as though neither of them ever made those trips.”
“What about Mandy working with Marwan?” Bill interjected.
Logan shrugged. “It was her idea of extra money. Nick was really mad that she did that because she was almost arrested and never got the money anyway.”
“And Miriam never knew about this?”
“Oh come on, Jack” Logan rolled his eyes. “Miriam is the most gullible woman on the planet. Chris and Nick could pull anything on her.”
“I still don’t understand why you’re telling us all of this. I haven’t heard anything about the missiles.” Karen put her hands on her hips.
Logan chuckled. “Karen, you were always so impatient. The reason why I’m telling you this is because you need all that information to understand Henderson, his wife, and why they are doing this.”
“So, why are they?”
Logan took a breath. “After the circuit board was destroyed, China blamed Germany because everything didn’t go as planned. China has threatened to attack Germany now, and it would reveal to both countries people the treachery inside their governments. So, Nick and Mandy agreed as a favor to Germany to take out the Chinese when they landed on our soil.”
Jack put his head in his hands. “And kill the president in the process.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Personally, I don’t think those two care as long as they let the Chinese know who’s in charge of the situation.”
Bill threw his hands in the air. “Where are they? When are they shooting off the missile?”
Logan looked at his watch. “They are setting it off in twenty minutes; I don’t know where.”
“What do you mean you don’t know where?” Jack grabbed the collar of Logan’s shirt. “You wasted fifteen minutes of our time. TELL US WHERE THE MISSILES ARE!!”
Logan looked at Jack coldly. “I don’t know. I was shut out of the loop when I was arrested. I know this because of my inside source.”
“And who would that be?”
“It’s no one you know.” Logan removed Jack’s hand. “You better start looking in the downtown area or you’ll be too late.”

5:41:23 5:41:24 5:41:25 5:41:26
5:45:24 5:45:25 5:45:26 5:45:27

Laura grabbed her cellphone when it started ringing. “This is Laura.”
“Laura, its Jack.
“What have you got?”
“Not only did Logan tell us how Germany and China are connected to this he told us that the missiles are set to go off somewhere downtown in twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes!” Laura screamed and stood up quickly.
“Yes, Laura. I need you to get Chloe and Morris to pull up the satellite in the downtown grid for any meadows or fields. Look for two or more people in one location as well as a large metal, possibly nuclear, object. Use heat sensors. And I need you to give Nadia and Doyle the name Mandy and have them crosscheck it with Nicholas Henderson and any other names we’ve got. We’re hitting the road. Get back to me quickly.”
Laura closed her phone and quickly barked out orders to everyone in the rooms.

***********

Mike Novick and Marsha Goren climbed into the limousine and faced Julie.
“We have your family in the motorcade behind us.” Marsha said. “And here’s the phone you can use when Bauer contacts us. I’ll have to say this again Mrs. President, we are in a dangerous situation.”
“I know,” Julie said frustration evident in her voice. “But this meeting has to continue or else this country will be a war with one of the most powerful nations in the world. And we have a great chance of losing.”
“If I may interject,” Mike put up his hand. “I think that there is a piece of the puzzle we are missing here. There is nothing you have done to anger these terrorists. We don’t even know for sure that they are aiming the missiles at you. What if they have another target?”
“Like what?” Julie interrupted. “There is no reason needed for them to attack me. I’m the president of the U.S. If they disagree with what I’m doing that is reason enough.”
Marsha sighed as the motorcade pulled into the street. “I think that we need to get all the information we can from Bauer. Maybe the Chinese will understand if we have to cancel this meeting.”
“They won’t, and we can’t” Julie said stubbornly. “Just call Bauer now. We won’t be at the rendezvous point for another forty five minutes anyway.”
Marsha quickly dialed Bauer’s number. “Please hold for the President.”
Julie took the phone. “Jack, do you have anything?”
“In fact, Mrs. President, we do. It turns out that Nicholas Henderson and a woman named Mandy are going to set of missiles at you within the hour.”
“What?!” Julie put a hand to her heart. “Can you stop them?”
“We are gonna try, but ma’am we have reason to believe the Chinese are the target and not you. It’s just a dangerous situation and you could be killed.”
“Jack, I can’t cancel that meeting, or there could be a war.”
“Mrs. President, if you are killed there will be a war anyway. These people are working for Germany and they are supposed to be our allies.”
Julie sighed. “Our motorcade is forty five minutes away. I expect results by then. Keep me posted.” Julie closed the phone and handed it back to a startled Marsha and frightened Mike.

5:51:06

Jack turned to Logan. “This is the number of my cellphone. If we call you and need more information, I expect you to pick up and give it to us. If not, I’ll have the President throw Mrs. Logan right back in jail.”
“Fine.” Logan grabbed the phone. “Good luck.”
Jack, Bill, and Karen ran out the door, jumped into the car, and started driving. Bill dialed Chloe’s cell.
“Chloe, do you have anything?”
“Yes. There appears to be a field about five minutes away from you with about eight people and a mass that looks like a large missile. The men appeared armed and can see you coming from a mile away.”
“Damn! Chloe, do Nadia and Doyle have any face matches?”
Bill heard the phone being handed off. “Bill, this is Nadia. We found this woman Mandy and she is indeed the woman who almost killed Palmer and Tony Almeida. She was granted immunity in exchange for the location of a terrorist named Habib Marwan. If she’s back in this country, then she’s already in violation.”
“Anything else?”
“Let’s see… Marilyn Bauer, Mitch Anderson, that Schaeffer fellow, Nicholas Henderson, Charles Logan, and…”
“And?” Bill nearly dropped the phone when Jack veered off an exit ramp and nearly smashed them into a pole.
“Mark Dern.”
Bill frowned. “Nadia, did you say Mark Dern?”
“Bill, I know, it’s the president’s brother. He’s apparently entwined into this too. How, I don’t know.”
“Alright, thanks Nadia.” Bill hung up. “Did you guys hear that?”
Jack’s mouth was set in a straight line. “He probably gave her up for a price. Maybe Nicholas Henderson isn’t the head honcho after all.”
“Jack, look!” Karen pointed at people and the missile in the distance.
Jack pulled over and parked behind a tree. He got out and opened the trunk. “Alright, there are 2 sniper rifles in here. Can you two aim?”
Karen looked at Jack. “Jack, I’ve shot a gun once. How do you expect me to handle a sniper?”
“Bill, you’ll need to show her or else this won’t work. I need everyone taken out except for Henderson and Mandy. We need to grab them and bring them in.”
Karen grabbed onto Bill’s arm. “Bill, I can’t do it! I’ll miss!”
Jack touched Karen on the shoulder. “You can do it. Take them out quickly and I’ll grab those two from behind.”
Jack left and rolled to a nearby patch of trees. He kept rolling until he was in hearing distance before holding up his hand.
“Two minutes until launch.” Jack heard a woman’s voice. “Nicky, we did it!”
Suddenly, Jack heard shots and three men dropped. Henderson and Mandy whirled around and drew their guns. Bill and Karen’s guns went off again and only one man was hit, another bullet missed.
Jack stood up, and quickly shot each of the men before turning to Mandy and Henderson. All three of them stared at each other.
“Drop it now, or I’ll kill you both.”
Bill and Karen came down the hill with their snipers raised.
“We have you overpowered and will kill you faster. Drop the guns now, and you won’t be killed.” Jack aimed at Mandy and cocked the gun.
She dropped it and Henderson slowly did the same. “Put your hands on your head and interlock your fingers.”
“You’re too late.” Suddenly, what sounded like a cannon erupted and Jack turned to see the missile take off in the air.
“How do you stop it?!” Bill screamed at them.
Henderson and Mandy just stared smugly at a shocked and scared Bill, Karen, and Jack.

**************

“Alright. I’ve downloaded everything to Jack.” Doyle came back in the room. “Did you, Chloe?”
She nodded. “Yes, and I’ve deleted everything from the computer. In case the government ever checks, they can’t know I was illegally hacking into files.”
Nadia sighed. “I say we all try and rest and wait for Jack’s call. He needs us on standby.”
Suddenly, there was a bang on the door. Everyone froze in the living room, all of them visible if someone were to enter.
Doyle slowly walked over to the door and peeked through the hole in the door. He whirled around. “It’s Marilyn and about five men. Everybody needs to get out of here NOW.”

5:59:57 5:59:58 5:59:59 6:00:00