As "unconventional" as the three part ending was, they were all great. The first one... I died along with Jack, I think. Well done. The second... not nearly as painful, but definitely effective. And this one... the happy ending that I needed after all that! LOL! This was a sweet ending. I really enjoyed it. Thanks!

Wow. That killed me. I honestly don't think there are any other words that need to be said. Wow.

Finally, a happy ending! I loved all three endings. Please write more Jack and Audrey stuff soon!

The first thing I was reminded of is how good you are at crafting storylines. I thought this concept/resolution was great:

“Basically, they'll make Charles Logan take the fall. At the moment that seems appropriate... President Gardner thinks he can get the Chinese to agree that Logan stepping down and being prosecuted for crimes against the US today is enough punishment. He’ll threaten to take away their most favored nation status if they don't agree.”

It's such a natural resolution. God forbid the 24 writers should come up with something so tidy: simply hanging it all on Logan (who's going down anyway), which makes perfect and believable sense, both logically and politically, and which also frees Jack up to move on to an entirely new storyline, fresh and independent of the previous season's. No loose ends; no dangling Behrooz's. Just a clean cut from Season Five. Cassar & Co. should take a lesson.

This was the next thing that stopped me: "...when Audrey began to see deep into Jack during the last terrorist attack, that she didn’t like what she saw. During the ensuing 18 months while she believed that he was dead, she was able to soften and rationalize and justify all she had seen. She had come to the point where she believed that she could live with all of that if she could just have Jack back again. Now that she knew he was alive, she had forgotten those things that she didn’t like about Jack. He was her hero and heroes are easy to love."

An excellent way of transitioning Audrey from the woman who dumped Jack to the woman who's now in love and devoted to him again, in accordance with the show's storyline. But it was also a sharp reminder of why I never warmed to Audrey in the first place, or could buy Jack's wanting to spend his life with. Particularly when I read this line: "Jim just hoped that he was wrong; that this wasn’t idol worship, but rather a truly deep and loving relationship..."

Not even Audrey's own father trusts her feelings, suspecting that she may only be intoxicated by Jack's heroics and fearing that's likely the case, though hoping he turns out to be wrong. The "trust" factor is why I've never been able to accept these two as an item again, with Jack believing she'll be there for him this time around, after she'd already failed the push-comes-to-shove test the first time out. Jack, with 18 months (?) to mull things over, and a legitimate stand-by-her-man girlfriend to compare her with, *had* to have caught a clue that it wasn't in Audrey's essential character to see beyond, much less accept, things in life that "she didn't like." Taking the bad with the good, or making SACRIFICES (heaven forbid) for the man she professes to love, are foreign concepts to her.

Here you encapsulated it perfectly: "Any happiness or enthusiasm that Audrey might have felt about Jack’s new job faded after the first couple of missions. That was all the longer it took for her to realize that **she didn’t like** [emphasis added] coming home to an empty house every night."

Then this passage, which nearly tossed me out of my seat: "She was about to go through the door when she stopped for a second, pulled off her engagement ring and set it on a table near the door. With that, she was off to meet Janice and the other girls."

ROFL. Good ole Aud. Poster girl for the me-myself-and-I generation. They say opposites attract, but not when two people are this dramatically opposite in nature: Jack, the guy who's consistently willing to give his all — his very life — for his fellow countrymen, 99.9% of whom are complete strangers; and Audrey, the type who's willing to give her consent to go for Italian instead of Chinese — even though *she doesn't like* Italian food nearly as much — and can be counted on to end the relationship if Jack pushes for Italian too often.

So my favorite thing about the second ending was how perfectly you portrayed Audrey, revisiting past problems and basic character issues, then graduating her to a new-n-improved, lived-and-learned status, only to have her revert right back to the Audrey she always was, dumping him, once again, only metaphorically this time, by removing of her engagement ring the second she tires of Jack's new job. "Supportive" is not Audrey Raines's middle name.

Treatment #3... %-D

First of all, let me start by saying that I love the concept of different endings. It's a fantastic idea that I've never seen implemented on the board before. (Perhaps it has been, in a story I never got a chance to read; lord knows my reading time is disgustingly limited. But whether original or borrowed, I love the format and plan to rip it off sometime in the future. Bwahaha.)

I wanted to read through all three before commenting, because I wanted to see if one of them emerged as a favorite, or if I enjoyed them all for different reasons. Lo and behold, I did enjoy them all, and for all different reasons, but one of them did, indeed, stand out for me. But I think I'll wait to the end of all three reviews before I tell ya which.%-D

Ending #1: Beautifully and sensitively written (as always), and with your signature classic lines that always stop the show for me, e.g., "Just as abruptly the wind was gone, just like Jack"; "Sometimes dying is far easier than living," just to highlight my two favorites.

What intrigued me most about this chapter is that I suddenly realized, when presented with a multiple choice, that I personally don't see Jack dying at this point in his life, and in fact, I hope that the writers/producers don't end the series that way. Rather, Jack strikes me as the guy who out-lives everybody (including Kim), existing comfortably in his later years on his fed pension, in relative solitude, 'til eventually croaking at a ripe, but tragically lonely, old age, with no one there for him but a kindly neighbor who brings dinner to his house every night, finding 365 different ways of insisting that she's made too much. I don't see him going out in the middle of it all, even in a heroic blaze of glory. I've never really had occasion to think about it before, but that's where I found myself coming out in the end. So the thing I enjoyed the very most about this first ending was that it made me think down the road about Jack's ultimate demise, which was an interesting journey. It was also interesting to discover how much I knew about his character, since T&M are my primaries, and Jack has always been a secondary figure to me.

I also really liked that you invested time in fleshing out Jim's relationship with Audrey, his impressions of her and Jack as a couple, his fears about the relationship in general, his personal sentiments toward Jack, and even his own old-fashioned views (which I like) on premarital sex, etc. Like Bill, he's a really sound, solid character who's relatively undeveloped and grossly under-used in the show (those writers are such putzes), and an exploratory of his character and relationships injected fresh perspective and dimension to the story, I thought.

Finally, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll note, once again, that you have a true talent for capturing a character in dialogue, allowing the reader to visualize the scene and hear the voice like the TV was on. It was like Heller was in the room.

Ah, but was Ending #1 my favorite treatment of the three? On to the next... %-D

"How could Jack Bauer, super agent, who could strangle a man with his bare hands or break his neck if he had to, use those same hands to show such love? Hands that just hours earlier had clutched a knife and slit the throat of a hostile now caressed her tenderly. Lips that had shouted out orders and directives now kissed her with unabashed passion. It was so incongruous, yet, as she had come to learn, that was Jack. So brutal and hateful to those who dared strike a blow against the people and the country that Jack loved, while at the same time, so loving and kind and fiercely loyal to those who cared for him and helped him in his pursuit."

I think that's the best description and understanding of Jack's character that I've ever seen written on the boards. Your ability to zero in on the heart of a character is laudible, to say the very least. Here's another line that I thought gave a powerhouse summation of the core of Jack's character: "Eventually Jack called room service and ordered breakfast. It was such a simple act, yet it amazed Audrey. She couldn’t understand how Jack could act so normally, eat breakfast, take a shower, shave, when his whole life was going to change in a matter of hours."

Fabulous love scenes, too. So passionate, sensual, and delicately put. This was a great line that I thought encapsulated them perfectly: "It was a partnership at times with control being shared, while at other times it became a game where control was wrested by one or the other." I got such a clear picture of how they interacted sexually from just that one line alone.

I thought the writing throughout this entire chapter was incredibly poetic, JsG ("The day passed at the pace of a glacier" serving as just one small example), and your descriptions of places and events and flashbacks (like Audrey's hike through the Grand Canyon) were really sharp and crisp. So many intensely emotional exchanges, too, e.g., Jack and Audrey's goodbyes. My writer's side feasted on so many beautifully woven sentences and poignant characterizations. I feel like you spent a lot of time of this chapter.

Only one small problem I had: I don't see Jack or Heller staying at a Hilton. These two, without question, are Four Seasons men. Plus, the luscious pictures you painted of Jack and Audrey making love deserve an upgrade to the Four Seasons. The Hilton just doesn't do justice to moments like that. %-D

Aw, I’m glad you included a happy ending. I had a lot of fun reading this chapter. You always have such great ideas- like the agent relocation program in this ending. Even in reality I think that such a program would be very useful. I enjoyed all the tricks and complications required to make Jack and Audrey disappear. You sound like a real pro at this thing! I also found the interaction between Audrey and her father to be realistic and touching. There were a lot of emotions involved for both of them, and I think you hit the right note on all of them. And the idea of Jack and Audrey having four daughters made me giggle. This ending was really sweet and lovely, and I’m glad you saved it for last.

I loved reading this story and will try to read some of your other stories soon. I really liked your use of multiple alternate endings. Each one was satisfying in its own way. (I’m so glad I’m not the only one who still remembers the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books! I loved them, even though my own adventure almost always resulted in a horrifying death.)

I hope you’re enjoying your break from writing! I’ll be back to read more soon!

Oh my God, I LOVED this ending! It was so utterly tragic and so beautifully written! I love how you can write these endings that have such different results and have such different themes and make them sound equally plausible. It kind of reminds me of those old “Choose Your Own Adventure” books where a single decision could determine whether you inherit a mansion or get devoured by piranhas. But I digress.

But the events of these endings are more than just plausible; they are absolutely brimming with life and emotion. Your depiction of Jack and Audrey from their joyful reunion to their eventual realization that it will not work out between them is SO well-done. You did such a great job sowing the seeds of doubt of their compatibility and then bringing them all to fruit. But what makes it so tragic is that they truly love each other in spite of how different they are. I just cannot describe enough how beautiful your writing is- it is just luminous. I loved the final paragraph so much! I think I just might clip it and read it again whenever I feel sad.

One more ending to go! I might just pause for a moment and savor this ending a bit before going on to the next one. And I always feel sad at the conclusion of one of your stories (even though they have happy endings) since I just love being completely caught up in them! But I can never stay away for too long, and I’ll be back soon for the final chapter!

Oh, this ending was so sad but so beautiful. I thought that Jack’s fate- not being able to return to Audrey even if he was not turned over to the Chinese- was very realistic, and I like that you confronted that possibility in one of your endings. But I’m glad that Jack, Audrey, and little John were together even if only briefly. That scene in the hospital was really heartbreakingly beautiful. It was so intensely happy but full of impending regret. And it’s great to see Jack being ever-resourceful but also overprotective. Your description of the moment the picture was taken was so lovely!

I also found Jack’s death in this chapter a very realistic end for him. But what I really loved was how you described what Jack felt in accepting that fate through what Bill said and through Jack’s letter. It just rang so true for me.

Once again, you’ve done a great job with the characters. I really love the almost soulful depth you’ve given Audrey, and Jim as the understanding father is wonderful to see. I really enjoyed seeing them and John as a family together. It was a great idea not only to show them coping with personal tragedy but also dealing with mundane things like taking the dog for a W-A-L-K.

On to the next ending!

This was another wonderful chapter! That love scene was hot! Hmm sexy Jack... Well back to the story, I enjoyed how you delved deeper into Audrey’s character through her memories of her youth and her family. Her musings on faith and fate were beautifully written and added so much emotional depth to her character. I loved how you made use of those quiet moments to develop Audrey’s character. The conversations with Jack, Bill, and her father were also very well-done. Her parting from Jack was really beautifully and tastefully written. It was genuinely affecting without being over the top emotional. And once again, you’ve made great use of Bill. You’ve really nailed his combination of quiet compassion and honesty.

I’m really enjoying this story so far! I love how the vivid introspective moments contrast with the harsh reality that Jack and Audrey have to face. I’m looking forward to reading the endings you created. I hope that whatever happens Jack and Audrey find some peace and contentment. I’ll be back soon to read more!

This was such a beautiful chapter. I only wish it actually ended this way for Jack and Audrey. Not only because it allows them some measure of happiness for the moment at least, but also because it might have been interesting to deal with the Chinese situation in a way other than a shock! twist! cliffhanger! But I suppose the 24 format wouldn’t really allow for that. And that’s what fanfiction is for!

Anyway, your characterization of Audrey is so incredibly vivid. Her feelings on returning to CTU and how she came to understand Jack’s world by becoming involved in it were so remarkably well-written and completely true to the show. I think you tapped exactly what made Audrey a much more likeable and sympathetic character this season. I also loved what you’ve done with Jack. His grief at what he had lost that day was quite moving. You’ve also done a great job with Bill: his character and dialogue are completely spot-on. Maybe you should write a story about him! Heehee.

I liked how you balanced Jack and Audrey’s relief and happiness at having survived the day and being together again with their apprehension at what will come next. It had a very realistic feeling as well as some beautiful imagery. Jack making an effort to remember Audrey’s touch and Audrey holding Jack despite her exhaustion until he fell asleep were simply wonderful moments. I just love how you include these simple, silent moments. They add so much emotional depth to the story.

Off to the next chapter!

man thats sad i was almost ready to cry wale reading the 2nd ending i really think thay are compatable thats why i started my own J/A story

good job on the writing though

beauteful story i liked the 3rd ending best

this story inspired me to write my own jack&audrey story

I like ending 3 the best!! Great job!

HAHA Love the humor in your third ending of Audrey and Jack being unable to have a boy!

I really like the thought of them being under Aliases, living happy lives. God knows Jack needs a happy ending sometime!

I'm really glad you told me about this story, because I really enjoyed it!