Ya one in a million cause you got that shotgun shine

[out_of_time]

WHO: Jack Bauer and OPEN
WHERE: NoHOPE
WHEN: Visiting hours, Saturday 10th through the week.
WARNINGS: Should be none.
SUMMARY: Jack has been incarcerated in the Import asylum after being apprehended by Wonder Woman. Visiting hours are open.
FORMAT: Whatever works.

Suicidal tendencies. Violent behaviour. Paranoid traits. Anger issues. Possible PTSD.

Jack had been caught again, but this time he wasn't going back to the Superjail as a convict. This time, it had been decided that he was sick, that he needed help. He was a psychiatric patient now. They were going to treat him.

Despite not having superpowers to speak of, Jack was kept under careful and delicate watch in his room. They had his file, they knew what he was capable of. Even his plastic utensils were scrutinized and accounted for after every meal. After Harvey Dent's suicide, even his clothing was treated with suspicion, in case his shirt became a makeshift noose or garrote. His room was locked, his window was bulletproof glass, and everything, everywhere was so damn white.

He cooperated with them, within reason. As far as he was concerned he wasn't sick- his behaviour in Venezuela had been the result of Vulcanus' damn virus. But these people were just doing their jobs, and he understood. He answered their questions. They talked a lot about his past, about his career, his experiences. He didn't let them get too close though. His family was off-limits, especially his wife.

He was anxious throughout though, tense, on-edge, and it was hard to hide. Always watching, looking for openings or threats. As far as Jack was concerned, he was running out of time. His capture and institutionalization couldn't have been kept secret, not for someone with as many warrants as Jack had. Soon the world would know that Jack Bauer was captive in NoHOPE. And there would be those who weren't content to leave him that way. Sooner or later, they would come.

The hospital had at least one advantage over Superjail, from Jack's perspective. It would be a little easier to escape.

Comments

[wild_roar]

"All right, maybe a little," Kotetsu admitted. He had had to turn to the internet when the network's corrupted archives failed him, just to learn that he was talking to the one-time captain and head of a number of important, life saving missions. "I have a lot of respect for law enforcement. Guys who go into the fray without any powers, risking their lives every single day to keep the peace, never knowing if that little domestic dispute or petty robbery is going to be the day they die. It's not like us heroes, with the bigger, flashier fighters."

That said, he gave a sigh. "So that's how it happened, huh? You just decided it wasn't going to be enough, going through normal channels?"

[out_of_time]

Jack smiled when Kotetsu said that. It was an almost full smile, even.

"I'm glad to hear that. I can tell you firsthand that it means a lot to the people behind the badges, knowing people like you respect them instead of looking down on them." He paused. "And for what it's worth, the C.P.D. would never have achieved half of what we did without people like you putting it on the line on your own initiative."

The smile went away. "But it was never enough. No matter what we did, people kept dying. I've seen things in this City... things I never wanted to face. Things I couldn't stop." He shook his head. "The only way I can live with myself after things like that is by being able to say I did everything I could. Everything, even outside the law."

Jack focused back on Kotetsu. "You have to understand, right? The normal channels aren't always enough. Otherwise people like you wouldn't need to go around under masks."

[wild_roar]

Kotetsu's eyes rolled up briefly as if he were trying to look at his own mask - a pointless endeavor. "Erm, well...the masks are more for protection and show than anything else. At least where I come from - Heroes are legal, we're licensed by the Justice Bureau and have our own set of rules to abide by." He scratched his cheek, just under the corner of the Wild Tiger mask. "We don't reveal our real names to the public for all kinds of reasons. I have a family, so I always figured it was safer for them that way."

He mulled it over for a moment, considering his own circumstances and a long litany of fines levied to his name and company, and had to add, "But I know what you mean about doing everything you can. I don't go outside the law, I won't kill suspects or anything, but a lot of times saving a life means having to throw a few things to the wind." He closed his eyes briefly. "But throwing all of it away? I'd be afraid of losing my humanity if I did. I don't want to become no better than the guys I'm arresting."

[out_of_time]

When Kotetsu said that, Jack made a noise that was half-chuckle, half-snort, bitter and cynical. "Trust me, becoming like the people we're up against is not something I'd worry about if I were you. I've seen gas attacks carried out for fun. I've seen the whole world almost end for one person's sick thrill. I saw a whole city burning..."

Jack trailed off, cutting himself back before he could go on a rant. "Anyway, that's just here. It was the same where I came from. If I told you everything, you'd understand just how far you really have to fall before you become like them."

[wild_roar]

Behind the mask, Kotetsu's brown eyes widened. He'd seen the world's largest city almost end for one person's sick thrill...but the whole world? Much bigger. Much worse.

"So where do you feel like you stand?" he wondered. "Still got further to fall?"

[out_of_time]

Jack looked away. "I've done things I have trouble justifying," he admitted. "I won't say I don't have any regrets. But I've never released a bioweapon, never tried to nuke innocent people. And if I ever do, I hope someone else is willing and able to put me down."

[wild_roar]

"Well...all things considered, I guess that's not so bad," Kotetsu mused, scratching under the edge of his cap. "Still, I can't help but feel a little bad for the circumstances, you know? Kind of a, 'there but for the grace' thing, or something."

He shrugged it off easily. "Don't mind me, I was just curious and wanted to know more. After the thing with the hostages, I was pretty surprised that you helped me out, and were gonna risk your life for me even though I was all powered up and everything. A villain doesn't do stuff like that."

[out_of_time]

"Don't be so sure about that," Jack said, because he just had to ruin good feelings. "There are plenty of people on the other side who would have treated that as an opportunity to gain your trust. I've had to deal with a lot of threats that do harm by looking good." Like Vulcanus itself.

He paused, tried to pick the thread of the talk back up. "But I'm glad you understand, at least."

[wild_roar]

Kotetsu's expression fell a little. "Oh. Well, yeah, I sort of do. At least now that I've heard your side of it. So - thanks, for what it's worth." He folded his arms over his chest. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still one of those big damn heroes, looking out for justice and all that. You seem like a decent guy, the kind I'd rather fight alongside than against, so I hope you don't put me in that position again." He snuck one finger up from beneath his arm to wag. "Next time we probably won't be interrupted by the phantom of my partner."

[out_of_time]

Jack grimaced again. "Well, considering how long I'm probably going to be here, I don't think you'll be in that position for quite a while."

[wild_roar]

"...yeah. Probably not." Kotetsu gave him a helpless sort of smile. "Hell of a raw deal, especially if you don't need to be here. But, hey." He tossed up a hand. "If you can still chat with people on the network, at least there's folks to keep you company. Give me a call sometime."

He could justify it to himself as rehabilitation. Yeah. He wasn't befriending a criminal, he was helping a guy who had fallen on hard times pick himself back up. Yeah, that was it. That was just and right.