A/N: The long awaited Chapter 8. I don't feel it lives up to the amount of time I've taken to post it, and it's a little short, but I guess you guys will be the best judges of that. Reviews are very much wanted and appreciated at the moment. Thankyou all for your support :)

Chapter 8

It was like the world was crashing down round her ears. Suddenly all she could hear was the rushing of her blood through her body, as her heart crept slowly, painfully up her throat and smashed to pieces on the ground in front of her. Michelle snapped her mouth shut as she tried to force herself not to cry, tried to force herself not to feel.

Tony was feeling equally reckless. Seeing her on his front door swept the effects of the alcohol away, and he was quickly realising what a prick he'd made of himself as he watched her lower lip wobble almost imperceptibly. Stepping up beside Jen, he cleared his throat.

"'Chelle?"

One word. One word was all it took for her to lose control, for the tears to come cascading down her cheeks, streaking her face with black mascara and misery. One word to send her stumbling down the front porch, and across the yard, not caring how many times she tripped, as long as she got away. Away from her, from him, from them.

"'Chelle, come back!"

Not even pausing to throw any shoes on, Tony bolted through the door, shoving Jen into the wall in his haste. His legs weren't what they used to be, and he struggled to catch up to Michelle as she sped towards her car.

"Michelle sweetheart, please!"

The familiar endearment only made her tears fall faster. She felt so betrayed. Michelle knew she had no right to feel that way, she was the one who'd left. And yet it still hurt that it seemed like he'd moved on. If she was the love of his life, like he'd always said, then how could he move on so quick? They'd promised to love and honour each other forever, for Christ's sake - how had they ended up like this?

Michelle Dessler stared into the mirror, and staring right back at her was someone beautiful, someone she never realised she could look like until today. Wisps of brunette hair fell softly in spirals, framing her nervous face. For once she'd managed to coax the rest of it into a neat chignon, and the little makeup she wore was flawless. As she lifted the gauzy white veil and let it fall over her eyes, she knew she was ready to do this.

The whole side of Tony's face was rubbed red raw, where he'd been running his fingers over it - a nervous tic he'd developed when he'd first started making the life changing decisions that came hand in hand with his position as director of CTU Los Angeles. Even the day he'd took over the job, the day George Mason martyred himself, the Warner family blew apart and Jack Bauer came back into the fold, hadn't been as nerve wracking today.

Tony sensed something was about to happen, the split second before the organ music began, and turned to watch his soon-to-be-wife glide up the aisle. As his eyes landed on her, the breath caught in his throat - it was cliché, but Michelle looked like an angel. She was so perfect that it brought tears to his eyes, tears that he only just got under control as she pulled up beside him, ready to begin the ceremony

Neither of the had thought that the heartfelt promise they'd made to love each other til death did they part would have been broken so completely after a few short years.

As Michelle reached the sidewalk, the heel of her shoe caught in a crack in the paving slab, and she crumpled to her knees. Sobbing wildly, she scrambled to gather together the spilled contents of her handbag, searching among them for her car keys. After a few seconds her hands closed over the leather tab, and she clutched it desperately, trying and failing to get to her feet. Suddenly a firm handed clamped down on her shoulder, and Tony pulled her roughly round to face him. They stared at each other for a few endless seconds. Michelle shut her eyes, and Tony's lips were on hers, his tongue flickering into her mouth. For a moment she was lost in the wonderful familiarity of the kiss, before the overpowering taste of spirits brought her to her senses.

Tony, surprised by the sudden force of Michelle's palms against his chest, sprawled onto his back in the muck, as he watched her disappear into the safety of her Mazda. Fury erupted within him at the thought of the indignity of the situation, and he sprang up, banging his fists against the closed window.

Just as suddenly as he'd jumped up, Tony stopped and stepped back. The absolute fear in her eyes shocked him to the core. He stood there wordlessly, just staring at her, horrified at his own behaviour. The neighbourhood was quiet at that time, and the roar of the Mazda's engine shook him, as Michelle peeled off down the street suddenly, foot firmly down on the gas pedal.

Walking dejectedly back through his front yard, Tony realised something. He held his chin a little higher, thinking it through. Entering the house, and moving slowly, mechanically, he began to gather up all the bottles of alcohol lying around, tossing them into the wastebasket as he went. He was in such a trance, he didn't even register the moment that Jen threw her house key at him and left, suitcases in tow, never to return.

Strange how a few key moments could sober someone up, make them realise what they'd lost, give them a new purpose in life. Besides ditching the booze, seeing Michelle had pushed Tony to make one more massive change in his life.

He was going to get her back. Whatever it took.

A/N: Let me know what you think, and if you have any ideas where you want it to go :) Reviews are like Disney movies and 24, they make me smile :)