All things just keep getting worse.
OOC: Bendy-time. While I'm trying to incorporate real time into this storyline as much as possible, obvious out of character reasons prohibit me from doing it exactly that way. So assume this takes place sometime after 9:00 A.M. on Day 6.
Jack had taken it like a man. He'd gone downstairs and told his people that yes, Curtis Manning was dead, and yes, he'd shot him.
Now he can see the looks on his team's faces when they look at them. All are in disbelief. Some agree with him, and some don't. No one will ever question him out loud, of course; they know not to fuck with him, especially not on a bad day. But he can see the look in some of their eyes. Murderer. Traitor.
It tears him up inside, not what they think but what he thinks of himself.
The tension is so thick in the bullpen that no one is saying much and no one can look anyone in the eye. Bill Buchanan, the only person in the room who can be anywhere near impartial, just looks at Jack and says, "There was no other option," for about the fifth time.
"No, there wasn't," Jack replies.
Mark Holden clears his throat and Bauer's loyal number-three man says, "I think we just all need to take a moment, take a deep breath, get things back under control..."
He means well, but it's a case of wrong place, wrong time, wrong choice of words and one very pissed off senior officer.
"With all due respect, Mark," Jack retorts, giving him an even look, "when we have four more nuclear devices out there, don't talk to me about control."
It comes out sharper than it's meant to, and Mark looks startled. Jennifer Hall, sitting across the way and assigned by Bill to do data sorting work, jumps out of her chair, and snaps, "Leave him the hell alone, okay?"
Jack's eyes narrow and his tone is angry, not at her but at himself and everyone. However, she makes a convenient target on which to focus his self-loathing. "Like you have anything to talk about without Jake Hannigan to hide behind."
That stings. Coming from someone who's still a good friend, that stings a lot. And it's Bill who finally says, "That's enough," and glares at all of them like the next person to try something is going to get bounced. "Let's just get back to work."
Later, Jack will privately apologize to both of them for what he's just said.
But right now he hates himself, and he needs someone to take the anger out on before he decides he just can't do this anymore.
Jack had taken it like a man. He'd gone downstairs and told his people that yes, Curtis Manning was dead, and yes, he'd shot him.
Now he can see the looks on his team's faces when they look at them. All are in disbelief. Some agree with him, and some don't. No one will ever question him out loud, of course; they know not to fuck with him, especially not on a bad day. But he can see the look in some of their eyes. Murderer. Traitor.
It tears him up inside, not what they think but what he thinks of himself.
The tension is so thick in the bullpen that no one is saying much and no one can look anyone in the eye. Bill Buchanan, the only person in the room who can be anywhere near impartial, just looks at Jack and says, "There was no other option," for about the fifth time.
"No, there wasn't," Jack replies.
Mark Holden clears his throat and Bauer's loyal number-three man says, "I think we just all need to take a moment, take a deep breath, get things back under control..."
He means well, but it's a case of wrong place, wrong time, wrong choice of words and one very pissed off senior officer.
"With all due respect, Mark," Jack retorts, giving him an even look, "when we have four more nuclear devices out there, don't talk to me about control."
It comes out sharper than it's meant to, and Mark looks startled. Jennifer Hall, sitting across the way and assigned by Bill to do data sorting work, jumps out of her chair, and snaps, "Leave him the hell alone, okay?"
Jack's eyes narrow and his tone is angry, not at her but at himself and everyone. However, she makes a convenient target on which to focus his self-loathing. "Like you have anything to talk about without Jake Hannigan to hide behind."
That stings. Coming from someone who's still a good friend, that stings a lot. And it's Bill who finally says, "That's enough," and glares at all of them like the next person to try something is going to get bounced. "Let's just get back to work."
Later, Jack will privately apologize to both of them for what he's just said.
But right now he hates himself, and he needs someone to take the anger out on before he decides he just can't do this anymore.