Author's Note: My first foray into 24 fandom. I'm nervous...as I usually am when diving into new fandoms. SO be kind...?
This fic, if you couldn't tell by the title, is based on the super-amazing scene during season 5's 4 AM-5 AM with Aaron Pierce and President Logan. More of a drabble than a oneshot, but eh. I know I can't do it justice, so this is what I got. I'll be the first to admit, I know that most of the dialogue isn't accurate. I can't remember the exact details of the scene that well, but I have it to the best of my memory. I think that's the harshest criticism I have against myself, but I don't want to wait until that episode comes on TV again (should be about 6 weeks or so when it does). I'll probably edit it when the episode comes on and I have a chance to analyze the scene's dialogue more correctly. Anyways. Enough of me trying to protect myself from flames...
And I don't own, make profit, or do anything else of that nature off of anything 24 related. Not at all. Though I do wish I could own Pierce...and Almeida...and Mason and Chappelle (groan, I know, but honestly!) Trust me. If I had my way, as much as I love season 5, it woulda gone differently.
Oh yeah...just a warning...I'm a major Aaron Pierce fangirl XD
-Nth Degree

A scoff. "I thought I had your loyalty."

The bloody figure gave a glare of death at the man who just talked, even though his eyes still showed calm. "My loyalty lies with this country," he spat, blood freely flowing down his cheek, "My loyalty lies with this country."

The other man wiped a hand against his brow as he quietly stared down the vengeful look. A small fear was forming at the back of his mind, but he quickly put it out of his mind. He didn't have the time to feel fear.

The bloody man looked ready to lunge at the other, clean kept man, only being kept in reality by the gun in the hand belonging to the guard standing vigilant by the door. He still kept his eyes upon the well-kept man, and ignored the trickling blood, leaving a wake of crimson red, contrasting to the pale flesh of his cheek and the gold of his hair.

"Aaron," the well-kept man quietly said, staring intently. "I assure you, I can get you any position you want," It was a desperate offer, he knew, but yet he couldn't help but give it. "Except for the White House, of course," he quickly added, letting out the slightest hint of a laugh.

Aaron sneered, a very different sight since his face was usually a scene of serene and determined neutrality, causing more blood to fall, soaking his shirt collar, "Never."

The other man slightly frowned, hiding his fear. This wasn't going to come crashing down around him, and he would do everything in his power to prevent it coming out and being exposed. There would be nothing that would stop him.

He scowled as Aaron's resistance. He obviously didn't see that the country was being helped! If he did, he would realize that if he said anything, it would make the situation become a lot worse for the country. If coercing couldn't silence him, he had to be silenced by another way…

The death of an insect like Aaron Pierce wouldn't matter.

"You are a traitor to this country, and my loyalty lies with it. Not with you, Mr. President."

President Charles Logan scowled again, as he leaned back and smoothed the wrinkles in his suit. Someone had told him that Aaron's loyalty lay with David Palmer, not with him. He didn't want to kill Aaron, but he didn't have much choice in the matter, if he wouldn't cooperate. He needed allies, not people who would soon betray him. Luckily, he had Mike Novick. And had drugged the First Lady into silence.

The bloody figure in front of him was staring at him defiantly and proudly. To his dying breath, he would save the country from people like the President. No matter how his blood was spilt, or how much of it left his body, he would only bleed for the country, and not for arrogant pieces of slime like Logan. David Palmer was dead because of this man. David Palmer - a true friend, not one of those superficial ones.

"I had no choice, Aaron."

Aaron frowned and shifted in his position slightly.

"I swear, I can get you anything, Aaron," Logan was going to play his hand - he had no other choice. "Are my terms acceptable?"

"There is nothing that you have said or done that is acceptable to me in the least." Aaron said, his voice seething with anger.

President Logan rolled his eyes as he rubbed his brow again. Aaron was becoming quite annoying – he was so righteous and full of sound and fury, and the worst part about it was that he knew the truth about all of it. He had figured it out – if he had figured it out, than others could figure it out. And then it would be a cascade reaction…he'd be furious…Graham would be furious.

"You're a traitor to your country and a disgrace to your office," he continued, spitting blood from his mouth and watching it drip down his chin, "and it's my duty to see that you're brought to justice for what you've done."

He stopped and glared at Logan, his eyes full of a certain sorrow and disappointment. He moved his head to the side, and blinked once. "Is there anything else…Charles?"

Logan's mouth opened slightly in shock.

Charles. That son of a bitch...

The President glared at the defiant Secret Service agent in front of him, trying to keep his anger in check. Pierce was a worm. He moved backwards in his chair and then stood up, straightening his suit. He stretched his neck from side to side and pursed his lips. He walked away, his fists clenched with anger. And when he gave the order to the guard by the door, he didn't feel anything.

He didn't care anymore – he wasn't the traitor, Pierce was. And he would do anything to protect himself from all the traitors in the United States that wouldn't understand him.

Anything to protect him – it wasn't his fault, but no one else would see it like that.

His wife didn't see it like that.

Aaron didn't see it like that.

And most troubling of all, there were others, powerful others, that didn't see it like that: Jack Bauer was one of them.