Finality - 24 Flash Fic - All audiences

Here's another one of my flash fics.

With this one, I broke one of my rules for writing 24 Fan Fiction. I will leave you to discover which one.

If you would like to read more, there is another story that starts off with this, but it *is* a flash fic of its own, it has existed as such and will continue to do so.

Enjoy .... if you can.

Finality.

Jack pulled to the curb and cast a long look at the dark building.

He knew he had no way out.

He had to do this.

He couldn’t let her down.

He still wasn’t sure his heart was actually beating, but he was moving, so it had to be.

Hearing her after thinking she had been killed had knocked him off his feet. It was the last voice he expected to hear.

His heart had kicked into overdrive and part of his brain had screamed to stop imagining things, but then Cheng came on the line and told him to call back on a secure line in ten minutes, stating a number. Jack still didn’t know how he had managed to even understand the number, let alone remember it long enough to call back.

Cheng’s instructions were simple.

Be at this address in thirty minutes or she dies.

‘For real this time.’

He wouldn’t let her down, had to get her out of there.

No matter what.

Whatever Cheng wanted from him, he’d give it, if only they let Audrey go.

If he wanted to take him back to China and torture the living hell out of him some more, Jack would go willingly.

He wouldn’t let her down.

Couldn’t.

Not again.

Not her.

He got out of the car and closed the door.

With one last sigh, he headed towards the building, keeping his eyes on the darkness ahead.

Nothing moved, noting stirred, not a sound was heard.

Yet they were there.

Waiting for him.

And so was she.

He prayed to god he would be able to get her out of harm’s way.

He wouldn’t forgive himself if something happened to her.

He couldn’t lose her.

Not again.

If he lost her a third time, that would be it.

Three times a charm.

He drew his weapon as he reached the building and pressed his back against the wall, listening intently but hearing nothing. He tried the door and slipped inside, staying close to the wall, letting his eyes adapt to the darkness. They were in the basement and Jack located the stairs leading down, taking them very slowly, gun aimed into the darkness. There was some light at the bottom of the stairs, but not much. It originated from soft glowing lamps in the middle of the room, cutting through the darkness around but not far enough to illuminate the entire room.

Jack spotted Cheng first.

Three goons with him.

And a shape huddled on the floor between them.

Cheng had his back turned, but when one of the goons warned him, he turned away from Audrey and looked at Jack.

“We were expecting you mister Bauer. Miss Raines was getting a little worried that you would not come.”

“Let her go Cheng, I’m here now.”

“Why don’t you join us mister Bauer. I’m sure miss Raines would like to see you again.”

Jack stepped forward, his gun trained on Cheng’s face.

“Did I not tell you to come unarmed mister Bauer?” Cheng asked angrily at the sight of it, “Or do you want miss Raines to get hurt?”

“Let her go. You don’t need her anymore.” Jack snarled in response, keeping his gun trained on Cheng.

“Oh but that is where you are wrong mister Bauer. We do need her.”

Cheng’s words hit home with Jack.

Of course they needed her.

To make sure he gave them the answers they were looking for.

They would use her against him now that the both of them were in their hands.

They would hurt her to make him talk.

And they would keep hurting her to convince him to keep talking.

Until he had nothing left to tell them.

He couldn’t do that to her.

He loved her too much to put her through that.

Even if he talked, they would still hurt her, to make sure he would stay docile.

Besides, what Cheng wanted from him, he couldn’t give.

The answers they were looking for, were not answers Jack was willing to give.

This time, there was no way out.

Nothing he could do to save the day.

Alone, facing four armed men who held the woman he loved at gunpoint, there was only one thing Jack could do.

“Put your gun down mister Bauer.” Cheng ordered dryly, “Or do you want miss Raines to get hurt?”

Jack’s gun moved off target, not entirely, but just enough to lead them to believe he was going to put the gun down and give up. It bought him a few seconds. His gaze shifted from Cheng to Audrey, his eyes filling with tears the moment he met hers.

“I love you Audrey.” he said softly.

She understood what he was about to do and her eyes widened.

“I’m sorry.” Jack whispered as a first tear fell from his eye.

He turned the gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Eyes widened in shock as his lifeless body crashed to the floor, gun clattering from his hand.

An agonizing scream ripping from her throat, Audrey plunged forward, reaching him seconds after his body hit the floor. Her scream died down into sobs when she saw the gaping hole and gushing blood.

Her world skidded to an end realizing he had done this to save her.

It had been the only way.

Cheng came up behind her, gun in hand, a disappointed look on his face.

Jack Bauer had outsmarted him … again.

This was the third time he slipped through his hands.

For good this time.

He raised his arm and pulled the trigger.

The bullet tore through Audrey’s skull and threw her down.

When her body hit Jack’s, his arm wrapped around her and for a  moment Cheng thought he survived, but when they checked for a pulse, they found none.

They were together again and he wouldn’t let go anymore.

United in death, nothing could do them part.

There would be …

No …

More …