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Sorry that this took so long to update, it's just that I've been having major computer troubles. Anyway, enough excuses and on with the chapter! !

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Chapter Fourteen: A Presidential matter

Jack stood staring at the two people in the hospital beds before him, watching the heart monitors beat rhythmically. Whilst Michelle looked calm and peaceful, Tony looked restless even in sleep.

Jack shuddered, remembering when, only an hour ago, he had smashed open the doors into CTU once they had been given the news that the gas inside had cleared, and had found both of them unconscious on the cold floor.

They had been through so much today; they didn't deserve any more catastrophes… or trips to the hospital. He couldn't imagine what they were feeling. Michelle was obviously distressed, for the man whom she had spent the past few years of her life with couldn't even recall his parent's names. That wasn't his fault, and she didn't blame him. It's wasn't as if he asked for memory loss. Tony however was extremely confused, as anyone would be in his situation.

"Mr Bauer?" a voice interrupted his thoughts "David Palmer is here to see you."

Jack nodded, his full attention still focused on the sleeping figures on the beds in front of him. A minute later, he heard someone open the door.

"It's good to see you Jack." A familiar, deep, kind voice said.

At last, Jack turned around.

"It's good to see you too Mr President."

David smiled "I'm not president anymore Jack. No need with the formalities."

Jack returned to observing the life support system's progress before asking "What can I help you with, sir?"

The atmosphere became more serious as he began to explain.

"We have a situation concerning Ayesha Bertino."

Jack looked up immediately, waiting for him to continue.

"Her brother, Darren Bertino, demands that we release her from custody…" There was a pause, in which he knew his next sentence wouldn't contain good news "or he'll detonate several nuclear devices that will destroy at least a quarter of the country."

"Dammit…" he muttered under his breath, pacing the room. They had been through situations like this before, but this was Ayesha Bertino, an insane, mass murdering psychopath. What ever she wanted, no matter how impossible, she would get her way. Darren was the same in almost every way. He had no regard for human life… apart from his sister's. Jack knew from reading his file on the CTU database that he was also a high functioning sociopath and had been arrested once, yet was never convicted.

As he reeled the information through his mind, trying to find a solution, David had noticed something Jack hadn't.

"Jack." He notified him, gesturing with his hand towards one of the life support monitors. Michelle's heart beat had sped up, and they both looked towards her bed.

After a moment, her eyes fluttered open, taking a moment to focus on her surroundings. Her first words were no surprise to Jack.

"Where… Where's Tony?"

Taking a seat beside her, he answered calmly. "He's just over there." he motioned over to the other bed. She tried to sit up slightly, propped up against her pillow.

"Is he alright?"

Jack hesitated. He didn't want to lie, but it seemed the only logical answer.

"Yeah, he's going to be fine."

It was then that Michelle noticed the other person in the room.

"Mr President…" she said, not knowing what else to say.

David smiled kindly and shook her hand warmly.

"Mrs Dessler, I hope you and your husband recover fully. If you need anything just let me know."

Surprised and slightly confused as to why the former President of the United States was in her room, her eyes started to close and within minutes she was asleep once again.

The conversation turned serious once again.

"What do your advisors recommend President Logan doing about the situation?" Jack inquired, pacing the room yet again.

"Logan is panicking, thinking about giving in to his demands."

"No." Jack refused "He can't do that. Bertino is too dangerous to be let out into society."

All of a sudden, the door burst open to reveal a figure, who immediately rushed into the room like a multi-coloured whirlwind.

"Oh my gosh!" the woman exclaimed, coming to a stop next to Tony's bed.

Sensing that he should leave, David quickly exited the room through the door that lead to the hallway beyond.

The newcomer was a little shorter than average height, but she made up for it with her long dark hair and loud voice.

Once over the suddenness of her appearance, Jack spoke.

"Do you have authorisation to be in here?"

Rising to her maximum height, which wasn't a considerable difference, she said angrily "What the hell do you mean? Don't tell me that I don't have a 'right' to be here! He's my brother for crying out loud!"

There was silence for a moment whilst her emotional outburst settled.

"You're his sister?"

She nodded furiously, then picked up the clipboard containing all of the medical information. Her eyes, which were beginning to brim with tears, scanned the paper.

It was obvious that she and Tony were related. They had the same colour hair, same tanned complexion and identical brown eyes that always hid so much emotion.

"The doctor's know he's allergic to penicillin don't they?"

Jack nodded. How was he going to tell her about her brother's memory loss?

"Miss Almeida-"

"Lisa." She corrected, still examining the clipboard.

"Lisa," he continued "There's something you need to know-"

Jack was interrupted yet again, not by her this time, but by an exclamation of pain from beside them.

"Tony!" Lisa gasped, hurrying to his side, flapping her hands nervously like a bird taking flight for the first time.

Sighing, Jack wished more than anything that he would vanish from the room and not witness what would surely be an upsetting scene.

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