Chapter Text
They knew this day would come.
When they agreed to fake Jack’s death, the four of them knew that there was always a chance somebody would figure it out.
So they each had a task, a responsibility, to ensure their lives wouldn’t be impacted.
Chloe O’Brian, as one would expect, managed the technological side. She kept working at CTU, always keeping an eye on the files she so carefully fabricated. If anybody breached the encryption, and realised that reports of the death of Jack Bauer were faked, she would be the first to know. From there, it would be her job to tell the others.
David Palmer, since he still held significant political influence, despite no longer residing in the Oval Office, was in the riskiest position. He had to keep his distance, because if anybody found out a former president was part of a scandal like this, it would not only reflect poorly on him, but also the government. So he took care of the emotional side and wrote a sincere letter to Jack Bauer’s only child, Kimberly. A visit would have been more meaningful, but would have only attracted unwanted attention. He wished there was more he could do.
Michelle Dessler and Tony Almeida were no longer working at CTU, so their jobs weren’t exactly at stake, but their livelihoods were. They could easily be arrested or sought after by the Chinese government, should someone find out they were involved. So they planned an escape route. Michelle used her computer skills to forge a lifetime of tax records and other documents. Tony used some of his old field ops contacts to arrange a private plane, passports, and cash. Should someone discover Jack Bauer was alive, they would assume the identities of Carissa Williams and Daniel Martinez, and get desk jobs in Canada. They’d tell their families it was to do with an old CTU enemy who’d resurfaced, and not to ask questions, but just know that they loved them and might not ever see them again.
And as for Jack Bauer? If somebody discovered he was alive, there was only one thing he could do.
Keep running and don’t look back.