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This takes place about 2 weeks after the last part. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far.

INT. CTU - MICHELLE’S OFFICE

Michelle is finishing up some paperwork when her cell phone rings.

MICHELLE

Dessler.

TONY

Hey, it’s me.

She notices that his voice sounds slurred, and he sounds upset.

MICHELLE

Hey…are you okay?

TONY

Yeah, I’m okay.

MICHELLE

Honey, have you been drinking?

TONY

Yeah, um…look, I’m really sorry…I just…I was working on my application for a security clearance and I started having trouble and I kind of panicked…

MICHELLE

(Gently)

Section J?

TONY

Yeah. I’m sorry, Michelle…I don’t know what came over me…I just started freaking out, and I dealt with it the way I’ve been dealing with things for the past year. I thought I could just kick the habit but…look, if this changes things, I understand…I don’t want to put you through everything again.

MICHELLE

Tony, listen to me. It’s okay…I told you, I don’t expect things to magically be perfect overnight. I’ll be home in a little while…I’m almost done here. When I get home we can work on the application together if you’re up for it, or I’ll help you with it tomorrow if you don’t want to do it tonight. Can you…is it too much to ask that you try not to drink anymore before I get home?

TONY

Yeah, um, I’m actually not home. I’m at a bar…that’s why I called you. I’m just going to sleep in the car and come home tomorrow when I’m sober and I can drive. I just didn’t want you to worry.

MICHELLE

No. I’m coming to pick you up. Where are you?

(She plugs a tracer into

her phone, knowing that he is going to resist.)

TONY

No, you don’t need to pick me up…I don’t want you to see me like this.

MICHELLE

I’m not going to sleep tonight if I have to worry about you sleeping in your car in some bad neighborhood…come on, where are you?

TONY

I’m not telling you.

MICHELLE

Tony, come on. You and I both know I can easily find out where you are, so why don’t you save me the trouble of having to use government resources to find you and just tell me your location? (Her voice softens and becomes almost pleading) Please, sweetheart…just tell me where you are.

TONY

Alright. I’m on East Olympic, about a half a block west of Alameda.

MICHELLE

Okay. I’m going to finish up this report and I should be able to get out of here within a half hour…I’m going to call a taxi so we don’t have to leave your car downtown…can you give me a ride to work on Monday?

TONY

Yeah, alright.

MICHELLE

Are you in your car now?

TONY

Yeah.

MICHELLE

Alright. Just stay there…lock the door and listen to the radio or close your eyes, okay? I’ll be there as soon as I can. Can you do that for me?

TONY

Yeah. Yeah, I can do that.

MICHELLE

We’re gonna get through this, Tony…I promise.

TONY

Yeah…I know.

MICHELLE

Good. I’ll see you soon.

TONY

Yeah, see you soon.

MICHELLE

Tony?

TONY

Yeah?

MICHELLE

I love you.

TONY

I love you too.

INT. TONY’S CAR - ONE HOUR LATER

Michelle sees Tony sprawled out across the back seat with his eyes closed. She quietly opens the back door, climbs onto the floor next to him, and gently kisses his forehead as he opens his eyes.

TONY

Hey.

MICHELLE

Hey…are you okay?

TONY

Yeah, I’m alright…my head is throbbing and my stomach kind of hurts…I don’t know why…I only had like four beers, and I’ve had twice that many without being effected…ugh, I’m so sorry to put you through this…I hate having you see me like this again.

He sits up and pats the vacated part of the bench, motioning her to sit down. She sits on the bench and pulls his head back down into her lap, stroking his hair gently.

MICHELLE

There’s no need to apologize, Tony. I told you, it’s okay…I’m here for you…I’m proud of you for calling me and telling me where you were…you did the right thing.

TONY

Thanks.

MICHELLE

So you wanna talk about it?

TONY

Not really.

She sighs.

TONY

But I guess I kind of owe you that much, huh?

She doesn’t say anything.

TONY

Alright, here’s what happened: I was working on my application for a security clearance, and when I got to the part about prior criminal records, I started to panic. I’m not really sure why, since it was a simple question…all they asked for was a list of the offenses, I didn’t have to give any explanation or anything…but somehow I just couldn’t do it…all I had to do was type three stupid words but I couldn’t bring myself to do it…so I tried to skip it and go on, but then I started looking through the rest of the application, and I realized that my criminal record’s not the only thing that might stop me from getting a clearance…they want to know about my credit history and use of alcohol…Secretary Heller already talked to the adjudicator about my conviction, but I don’t think he knows that my credit’s a mess or about my drinking…and yes, I know how idiotic it was to come here and start drinking tonight…but I just…didn’t know what else to do. So then I was sitting at the bar, talking to the bartender and a couple other people I know,
and they asked why they hadn’t seen me for a while, and when I started telling them, it suddenly hit me: what the hell am I doing? Why the hell am I putting everything in jeopardy by drinking again? So I paid for my drinks and came out here and sat here for a while…I didn’t want to call you because I didn’t want you to know I’d been drinking, but I realized it would be worse if I disappeared all night and made you worry.

MICHELLE

You made the right choice, Tony. I’m proud of you.

Tony suddenly sits up and becomes angry.

TONY

Quit saying that, for pete’s sake. I appreciate your trying to be encouraging, but I don’t need you to patronize me.

MICHELLE

I’m not.

TONY

Then why the hell do you keep telling me you’re proud of me?
Look at me, Michelle. What the hell is there to be proud of?

MICHELLE

How can you say that, Tony? You’ve made so much progress and you have so much to be proud of…what you did tonight took courage. I know how hard it must have been for you to call me…and what I said about your drinking that day at CTU probably didn’t make it any easier.

Tony softens a little and gently places his hand on her arm.

TONY

Look, Michelle, it’s not your fault. You didn’t know what had happened that day, and you were right for being concerned about whether or not I was up for the job.

MICHELLE

That doesn’t make what I said okay. But the truth is, I didn’t say it because I didn’t think you could do your job. I always knew that if given the chance you’d rise to it. I said what I said because I was afraid -
afraid that if I let my guard down for even a second I would get hurt all over again. I’m so sorry, Tony…

Her voice gets softer as she fights back tears.

TONY

Don’t be. What you said that day was nothing compared to some of the things I said and did before you left. I hate myself for the way I treated you even more than I hate myself for betraying my country. After I got out of prison, I felt the same way you did when we first saw each other a few weeks ago…I was afraid to get close to you again…I guess I still am. I want to open up to you and I want to make this work but I’m so scared…

His voice trails off as he starts to cry. She squeezes his hand tightly.

TONY

Even now that everything seems to be falling into place, I’m afraid that it’s all just going to fall apart. I’m worried that I won’t get a security clearance and I won’t be able to take the job…I’m afraid of having to pass a lie detector test without revealing anything about Jack…I’m scared of going home and facing my family and my community…don’t ask me what I was thinking when I said we should visit my parents on the way to DC and get remarried in Chicago…but now that I already told them we can’t really change it.

His voice starts to crack as a lump forms in his throat.

TONY

I’m scared because I know that for the rest of my life, no matter what I accomplish or how much I do for this country, in the eyes of the law, I’m always going to be a traitor…but most of all, I’m scared of hurting you again…scared of driving you away….I’m sorry, Michelle…I’m so sorry…

His voice trails off as he starts to sob heavily. Michelle wraps her arms around him and pulls him towards her, kissing the top of his head and holding him tightly while he cries.

MICHELLE

Shhh…it’s okay…it’s going to be okay.

She continues to reassure him until the crying subsides. She wipes the tears from his eyes and repositions his upper body so she can look him in the eye.

MICHELLE

Tony, listen to me. It’s okay to be afraid…I am too. But I know that we can make this work.

TONY

How do you know that, huh? What makes you so sure?

MICHELLE

Because I love you, and I can’t…I can’t stand the thought of being without you again. You’re going to get the job, Tony, but if you can’t get a clearance, we’ll find you something else to do. I don’t care how long it takes. And your family loves you, Tony. When they hear about everything you did to help stop the terrorists I know they’ll be as proud of you as I am, and I don’t care what the law says. In my eyes, you’re always going to be a hero. You just have to learn to believe in yourself again.

TONY

And what if I can’t, Michelle? I can’t…I can’t stand the thought of dragging you through another emotional roller coaster.

MICHELLE

Being apart was an emotional roller coaster. I’d rather spend every night for the rest of my life like this than spend another night alone.
But every night’s not going to be like this. It’s going to get better, Tony.
We’ll get through this together. I don’t care how long it takes. Just, promise me that you won’t push me away again. I want you to promise that you’ll let me help you. Can you do that, sweetheart?

Tony hesitates for a minute before speaking softly, looking up at her with eyes that are fearful yet hopeful, reassuring yet pleading at the same time.

TONY

Yeah…I can do that.

She kisses him on the head and holds him tight for another minute. Finally, she leans down and kisses him on the lips and helps him get resituated in an upright position before opening the door and getting out of the backseat and into the front. From the driver’s seat, she reaches back with one arm and they share a small smile as he grips her hand with both of his.

MICHELLE

Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go home.

FADE OUT.