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The following takes place between 5 AM and 6 AM.

FADE IN:

INT. HOTEL ROOM - ARLINGTON, VA

ON TELEVISION:

REPORTER

Well, it’s official. Audrey Heller Raines was sworn in as Secretary of Defense yesterday.

The television shows Audrey being sworn in, with Jack and their four-and-a-half year old son TONY standing next to her.

REPORTER

She’s been Acting Secretary since the sudden death of Secretary William Korman almost two months ago. She’s not only the first woman to hold the post but also the youngest in almost a century…why, it was only five years ago that her father, James Heller, was Secretary of Defense. Heller died of pancreatic cancer almost five years ago.

[Author’s Note: Audrey took Jack’s name when they got married but still goes by Audrey Raines professionally. Please don’t read anything into that - I just think it has a better ring to it.]

BACK TO SCENE

A Middle-Eastern man is watching intently.

REPORTER (O.C.)

Raines is scheduled to depart for her first official trip as Secretary of Defense this morning. She’ll be visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan. It’ll be interesting to see how she is received in Saudi Arabia, where women are barred from active participation in the government and the military.

The man types a message into his PDA.

ON SCREEN:

We see the message: “TARGET CONFIRMED”

The PDA beeps as he presses a button to send it.

INT. BATHROOM - CRYSTAL CITY, VA

Jack sneaks into the shower and startles Audrey by snaking his arms around her waste and pulling her toward him. After she recovers from her shock she turns her head around and smiles at him.

AUDREY

(smiling)

Hey you…what are you doing up?

JACK

Couldn’t fall back asleep. Come here.

He pulls her close and kisses her gently. She wraps her arm around his neck and kisses him back, getting him all soapy as she presses up against him.

JACK

So are you excited about your first official trip as Secretary of Defense?

AUDREY

I guess so…I mean, it’s not really my first trip…I’ve been acting Secretary for almost two months.

JACK

Yeah, but this is your first official trip.

Jack notices that she looks like something is troubling her.

JACK

What’s wrong?

AUDREY

Eh, it’s nothing. I’m just a little nervous, that’s all.

JACK

How come?

AUDREY

Come on, Jack. You saw how hard it was for Americans to accept the idea of a female SecDef…somehow I don’t think it’s going to go over too well in Saudi Arabia.

Jack suddenly looks concerned.

JACK

Is it a security risk?

AUDREY

No, no…don’t worry. I’m going to have plenty of Secret Service with me. I’m just worried about being taken seriously.

Jack still looks a little worried but lets it go.

JACK

Aww, come on. I’m sure you’ll win them over instantly with your charm.

AUDREY

What are you doing?

JACK

Just making sure you get extra clean.

AUDREY

No you’re not! You’re trying to get me all worked up so you can seduce me.

Jack leans in and whispers huskily in her ear.

JACK

Would that be such a bad thing?

Audrey groans, half amused and half annoyed.

AUDREY

Jack, I have to get ready.

JACK

I thought the plane wasn’t even going to be ready to take off until 6:30. Besides, it’s not like it’s going to leave without you.

AUDREY

That’s not the point…5…45…is the…arranged…meeting…time…

Jack chuckles, amused by her struggle to get the words out and keep control as he continues “washing” between her legs. He leans in and whispers with his mouth so close to her neck that she can feel him breathe as he talks.

JACK

Just say the word and I’ll stop.

He grins innocently, knowing she’s not going to have the will power to tell him to stop.

AUDREY

Is…Tony…still asleep?

JACK

Yeah. I just checked on him before I came in here.

Audrey groans defeatedly, knowing she’s going to lose this battle.

AUDREY

Come here.

She turns her head around and wraps her arm around his neck, kissing him hungrily. He grins triumphantly as he trails his lips along her cheek and down to her neck, making her moan softly. He reaches up and grabs the top of the shower door for support. She leans her head back against his chest and sighs contentedly as he gently presses her still-soapy body against the glass shower wall.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN - GEORGETOWN, DC

KIM BAUER is sitting in her friend STEVE JENKINS’ kitchen, drinking coffee and reading the paper. She has a forlorn look on her face as she flips to the second page and sees a picture of Jack, Audrey, and little Tony at Audrey’s swearing-in the day before. She looks up as Steve enters the kitchen.

KIM

Ugh, I didn’t mean to wake you…I’m still on London time.

STEVE

Nah, it’s cool. We should probably leave for the airport pretty soon anyway. Can I get you anything for breakfast?

KIM

Nah, I helped myself to a grapefruit…I hope that’s okay.

STEVE

Yeah, of course.

He comes around and looks over her shoulder.

STEVE

G-d, this must be weird for you.

KIM

Yeah. I mean, I didn’t even know I had a brother until a couple weeks ago.

STEVE

Have you ever thought about giving your dad a call?

KIM

Yeah, a few times, but I decided it wasn’t a good idea. He’s got a new life now, and a new family…I’m a part of the past he’s struggled to put behind him.

Steve opens his mouth to protest but decides it’s not his place.

KIM

You know, it’s weird. When my dad first introduced me to Audrey Raines, back before he had to disappear, I liked her. She seemed really sweet and I was really happy for him. But these past few weeks I’ve found myself irrationally resenting her. I think it started when I read about my dad rescued her and her father when they were abducted…for some reason that made me feel really bitter.

STEVE

You mean because he couldn’t save your mother?

KIM

Something like that, yeah.

She sighs and stares into space, trying to focus on another article in the paper.

CUT TO:

INT. DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS - PENTAGON - ARLINGTON, VA

CHLOE O’BRIEN enters DIA Director BILL BUCHANAN’S office.

BILL

Morning, Chloe. What have you got?

CHLOE

We just got the first status update from Bolling…mostly the usual…terrorist movement in Northern Falujah, large presence of insurgents gathering in southern Baghdad…but there was something else.

BILL

What is it?

CHLOE

NSA intercepted part of a phone call from a suspected Al-Queda cell in Saudi Arabia to someone staying at the Crystal City Sheraton last night. They’re still working on IDing the caller…the audio’s scrambled but they picked up the word “Baghaya,” which is Arabic for “dirty woman” or “adultress.”

BILL

What do you think that means? Is it a codeword for an undercover contact?

CHLOE

Yeah, it could be…but it could be something else.

BILL

What do you mean?

Bill looks concerned, like he has a sinking feeling he knows what she is going to say.

CHLOE

It’s probably nothing, but Audrey was still technically married when she and Jack started seeing each other…with all the publicity her trip and her confirmation have gotten I think the fact that whoever participated in this phone call is staying two minutes from National Airport when she’s scheduled to depart from there for Saudi Arabia in less than an hour seems kind of suspicious.

BILL

I suppose you could be right, but it’s a pretty big leap to conclusions.

CHLOE

I’m not drawing any conclusions…I just thought I should put it out there. Do you want me to call her?

BILL

No. She’s got enough to worry about. I’ll give Secret Service a heads up and make sure she has adequate security.

Chloe nods and walks away, looking a little disturbed.

FADE OUT.

05:09:57

COMMERCIAL BREAK