Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with 24.

Summary: See Chapter #1

Author's notes:

1. The majority of this story is written without knowing spoilers dealing with season #7

2. ""= Dialogue ''= thoughts

3. C.O.S: Change of Scenery

4.888888888888888: change of character

5. Bold= flashback, italics= phone conversation

6. Spoiler Alert: References to seasons #5, and 6

Rebirth: Chapter #15

"China has very long memories." The comment echoed in his head, a phrase that wouldn't leave him, just as the sinister voice that said it. He stood there in an unknown waiting room waiting for some unknown person to invite him into their office and give him his next instructions. He smiled to himself aware of how mysterious it sounded, knowing that usually he would be the one tailing the guy to a mysterious office, instead of inside it.

He felt compelled to be there. The phrase made him obey; he was powerless to do anything except what he was instructed to. And once he'd done that, he wouldn't remember. It was that lost time that left him confused when Leanne found him at BXJ and he'd finally snapped out of it. He didn't remember what happened at the meeting with the Chinese delegation- only that he had sat down across from Cheng and Cheng had said: "China has very long memories." He walked out, and the next thing he remembered he was holding some guy by the neck, beating him to a bloody pulp. He was fortunate Leanne stopped him.

He remembered Chloe, and Morris sharing their theory about mind control. He found himself agreeing with it. For most of his time in prison, he was kept in a fairly weak condition; his injuries not allowed time to heal. Mentally, he was tough enough to withstand torture without giving up secrets. But isolation took its toll. Yes, mind control was definitely plausible; the only thing that explained losing time, and beating up an innocent person. "China has very long memories," must be the turn-on phrase. What was the turn-off?

"Mr. Bauer, you may step into the office." The receptionist held the door open and beckoned him inside.

Tony sat on a bench in a bus shelter across the street watching the building. He'd tailed Jack a half hour without being noticed to a non-descript warehouse in one of the industrial areas. He still had no idea what was going on- there were no clues other than the working theory Audrey came up with about mind-control. But even if that was true, Tony knew they would have to wait until Jack actually did something; they couldn't arrest an innocent man even if he was a military-trained ex intelligence officer who may be part of a plot against the United States.

He realized too, that he was the perfect person to follow Jack. He thought like Jack did, and after years of working together they knew each other's moves. Plus the element of surprise didn't hurt; except for Audrey and Jack everyone he knew thought he was dead. A flicker of movement caught his eye, and he looked up in time to see two men get in a car, that exited a hidden side driveway. He caught a glimpse of a partial plate number, and recalling a phone booth a couple blocks back, walked in the direction he came.

He picked up the phone and dialed the cell-phone number:

"Tony?" Audrey asked to confirm his identity

"Yeah, it's me. Listen, I've been following Jack for the last half-hour. We ended up at a warehouse near the river. He came out with a second man and got in a car. They drove off, but I did get a partial plate and a physical description of the car. It's a silver Mercedes, 4-door with tinted windows. License Plate: 7-Gordon-Alpha."

"Okay. I'll get Chloe to run it. Listen I think we're reaching the point where we need to take this operation legitimate and get official backing." Tony was silent for a second, she continued:

"If Jack is a threat, we're going to need help. I have a meeting with CTU New York tonight.

"I understand. It's probably better if we take it legit- we'll need the manpower if the Chinese are involved."

I'll keep your name out of it for the element of surprise- you think like Jack, and if we're going to stop this, we need someone like that."

"I'll find you if I discover anything else." Tony hung up the phone.

Erin Driscoll greeted her in the lobby of CTU New York: "Audrey Heller-Raines."

"Erin Driscoll." Audrey greeted the woman following her formality. Erin led the way to her office, and motioned Audrey to take the chair sitting in front of the desk. Audrey sat, holding her face expressionless, and waiting for Erin to make the first move.

Erin made small talk: "How's your father?"

"He's good." Audrey answered.

"How are you?"

"Better. I'm enjoying my job at the United Nations very much." Audrey sighed. She didn't like the woman very much, and could tell under the veneer of civility Erin felt the same way about her. There was a long pause, which, Erin broke:

"You need me to do you a favour." It came as a statement instead of a question.

"I have reason to suspect a threat to the United States. I need resources to confirm it, and being New York CTU you were the obvious choice." Audrey supplied.

"And your father couldn't have had people…" Erin began.

"My father is Vice President of the United States, it's likely best that he isn't involved with a theory. If it's false, it could cause a lot of trouble for him."

Erin eyed her suspiciously. Her explanation made sense. The problem was there'd been no unusual activity in the last while, other than Jack Bauer's remarkable reappearance.

"Does this have anything to do with Jack?" Erin asked.

"Jack…" Audrey tried acting clueless.

"Yeah Jack Bauer. We've had reports he'd been released from Chinese custody, and is living in New York. I knew the bastard wasn't dead." Erin replied. Audrey swallowed eager to have the meeting over:

"We think Jack may be the victim of a Chinese mind control program, and the Chinese have activated him. We can't arrest him, because we don't have any proof such a plot even exists."

"I think I see the problem. Now how can I help solve it?" Erin asked.

"I need people to help me track leads, and look into proving this program even exists. I know I need an iron-clad case if I am taking anything to the my father or the President." Audrey answered.

"24 hour surveillance?" Erin asked.

"No. Enough people surrounding him know what's going on. It's better if we kept this semi-official." Erin raised an eyebrow.

"Okay. I can spare 5 people, but you have to run it out of this office, is that a problem?" Erin challenged.

"No, provided they can run the operation unchallenged. I'll send someone over beginning tomorrow." Audrey answered with her own condition.

"Agreed. Will that be all?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Erin rose from behind her desk and led the way out to the lobby. Audrey left without ceremony. She counted it as a small victory she didn't have to give up Tony, and smiled to herself because she already knew whom she'd pick to head up the operation… Chloe.

C.O.S: Logan's Ranch

Charles Logan paced the length of the ranch's great room. He considered the actions he'd just set in motion with his interrogation at CTU. He'd just destroyed a 20-year friendship; the man had supported him in his presidential bid. He'd backed him on his plan to get oil, the sentox scheme, betraying him now felt disloyal. But the man had offered up his own son as a human weapon. It was his idea to approach the Chinese, his idea to supply them with the mind-control drug. After all the despicable things Charles Logan had done, he couldn't bring himself to help Phillip Bauer.

If anything he felt driven to stop him. With that in mind he picked up the phone, and dialed Christopher Henderson. He picked up on the second ring:

"Yes?"

"Christopher. I have another job for you."

"What is it?"

"I want you to kill Phillip Bauer." Silence reigned. Henderson considered his options. Phillip Bauer was a high-risk target, and he was had personal issues with the man. Henderson always made it a point to stay away from anything involving his own personal issues- when he had to kill someone he needed to remain aloof and be able to see it as a job. Besides, Logan was no longer in the position to protect him, so he'd be assuming all the risk. And he didn't know what he'd get in return.

"I can't do it Charles. Almedia caught up with me in Toronto.

"Almedia's alive?" Logan asked, surprise colouring his tone.

"Yeah. He nearly killed me. I creatively persuaded him not to."

All Logan could say was: "I see."

"I have to go. I'll be in touch." Without waiting Henderson hung up. Logan resumed pacing, pondering the latest development.

A living Tony Almedia presented a new complication. Another person who knows what he did, another person with an axe to grind. A disillusioned ex government agent was a wild card at best, or a new enemy at worst.

Finally he slumped into his chair; he'd set events in motion. He would live with the consequences, and in the end be a better man- a redeemed man because of it. And she would see that, and maybe someday return to him.

C.O.S.: New York

Kim started when she heard the door open.

"Dad is that you?" She called. No response came, she moved out of her home office and into the main hallway, in time to see Jack move into the living room.

"Dad." She repeated the call, as he robotically sat on the couch. Kim moved to sit beside him. She noticed his glassy eyes and grasped his shoulder in an attempt to get him to look at her:

"Jack snap out of it." He didn't respond. She sat there holding his hand in silence waiting; figuring he just needed to know she was there.

"Kim?" Jack asked.

"Yeah daddy."

"How did I get here?" Jack replied.

"You walked in the door around 10 minutes ago. I called your name, but you never responded." Kim looked at him concerned.

Jack rubbed his hands over his face: "I must be losing more time."

And that's where this installment ends. Say did anyone see that season #7 finale? I loved it, and it gave me ideas for more fanfics.

Happy Reading!

-AB