ladyofavalon77 | I LOVE (And dread!) Mondays!

Want to know why? I have too many shows that must be watched!! And then Dancing With the Stars will begin in March on Mondays. *cries* Why can't they put something on at any other time of the week like Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday? But nooooooooo they just HAVE to pick Mondays where all I watch is 24, Heroes, Prison Break, and CSI: Miami. I say we strike and make them move these shows to another day of the week!! So let it be written...so let it be done!

*giggles* Anyways, we were mad busy at work due to the fact that there are so few BSR's on the floor. Only the three of us because so many people are coming in for our great CD rates of 6.25% APY. Mostly old people who don't want to apply for credit cards but some are new members so that's one of the three we need! On the other good side, we just need to get some checking accounts and we'll have made 3 of our 3 goals. This will make Loleta soooooo happy so she won't get yelled at during the manager's meeting. I hope we can do it! Now on to the reviews! This might take up some space :)

Well, I wasn't a big Prison Break fan after I watched half way through the first season mainly because it's about guys...in a prison hehe. I like my guys in business suits and acting from positions of power. However!! I changed my mind the last few months when some LJ friends started raving about it, especially the Kellerman character so I figured I would give it a shot :) And guess what!! I'm SO glad I did. This show might not have romance but it has the BEST actors right now on TV. I mean you have Michael for brains, his brother for brawn, Kellerman for laughs, the president for elegance, and Sarah for depth. What more could you ask for? I was so happy to hear Patricia Wettig's voice talking to Kellerman at the end of the episode. I really thing they're going to bring her back from Brothers and Sisters and we can REALLY see what a great female actress can do :) I loved how they taped the news story to get the FBI agents thinking down the wrong paths and whose brilliant idea was that? Kellerman's of course!! He SO makes this show worth watching. Now I have to see if his real endgame was to use the brothers to find Sarah and then he can turn them ALL into the President and get his life back. He's crazy enough to go either way. Can't wait for next week's episode! This one was entitled "The Message."

Ok, time for notes on my real love of all time...unfortunately I think it's fading fast *cries*

I went into this episode of 24 (11:00-12:00 PM)REALLY REALLY wanting to like it. Thankfully there weren't that many episodes with Wayne in them so I didn't have to watch his emo self cry over the effects of a nuclear bomb on California. Anyways!! Did I say Karen ruled? I mean seriously she does!! The woman took on Tom Lennox without blinking and was ready to mop the floor with his sorry butt when *gasp* the idiot writers cut her off at the knees and have her give in to his petty blackmail. I mean it would have been bad if it had leaked out but still!! They had built Karen up only to tear her down. I swear this show is becoming quite bad at showing a strong upstanding woman (other than Michelle, Chloe is a computer geek and doesn't count). Sandra is just plain annoying and Karen was getting better and better until this little stunt. IDIOT WRITERS!! Only good news...she'll be back with Bill. I think the writers did that because the chemistry at CTU is terrible while all the good actors (excluding DB Woodside who sucks so bad I don't need to go into detail) are at the White House. Bringing her back there should hopefully improve that dynamic. Ok James Cromwell kicked butt as Jack's dad but Paul McCrane was even worse than last time. The guy cries like a girl, makes serious comments funny, and is way too off the cuff. No presence, no personality, and an odd sense of humor at the wrong time. BAD ACTING AND CASTING!! And why did they have to go with the cheesy "Dad and son captured together by evil brother" routine. *grimaces* Final note of humor...I want to know what happened in Palm Spring's. McCarthy's girlfriend keeps saying she NEVER wants to go back there so what happened??? Hehe, let's hope Walid survives, Sandra and Wayne die, while Karen and Bill live happily ever after :)

Then there was Heroes....just a lot of fluff really with no plot line but funny characters.

Ok, I know a lot of people have dropped 24 for Heroes but seriously...this show is as deep as cotton candy. The characters just sit around thinking about their powers and ways to use them. Hiro is the only one really having fun and what he says could only be pulled off in subtitles. How cool was it to see George Takai at the end and Hiro's face when he sees who has captured him. Awesome awesome moment :) I didn't like any of Niki's storyline UNTIL her husband came for her and tried to get her out of prison. It was quite poignant. Also it was nice to see the Invisible Man decide to help Peter control his powers. Hopefully it works and he can start absorbing others with ease. Sylar is now awake and ready to extract vengeance on HRG which I really wouldn't mind. I don't really like this guy or Claire. Now Claire's mother on the hand!! Dang, that woman is cool. Lighting up a cigarette with her fingers :) Claire should be so cool! Never liked cheerleaders anyway.

And finally...a rerun of CSI: Miami but I hadn't seen the full episode.

Supposedly, it's based on something real that happened to the actress who plays Natalia. Her sister was involved just like in the storyline. I of course didn't like the parts she was involved in but it was nice to see Horatio concerned about all these girls. Caleigh rocked my world when she confronted the vain reporter about reporting the news and not doing a piece just to show her pretty nose on screen. Ha! The girl is amazing!! I'm so glad I'm not trying to be famous. People sell so much for a bit of fame. It's sad really :( I hope that Eric is ok because last episode looked like he was leaving the lab forever...let's hope I'm wrong :)

Ok, another chapter of "If I Should Lose You" and I'm outta here. I still have two more entries to catch up on :D This one is Aaron centered. He finally makes his way into CTU and gets to interact with Bill, Chloe and the gang. As he watches a satellite replay of the motorcade attack, he has a number of regrets that he was unable to save her and vows to not give up until she is safe again. *dreamy sigh*

CHAPTER 5

Aaron had never stepped foot in CTU before today and he was impressed with the simple but professional layout. Their idea of security could use a little work when he noticed just one guard manning the front entrance beside a single X-Ray scanner. Of course, his trained eyes detected a number of hidden cameras throughout the hallway to make up for the lack of manpower. Nevertheless, he preferred human beings over electronic devices when it came to security. There was just no substituting for one’s gut instincts when you found yourself in a crisis situation. Computers were useful tools but they could only take you so far.
“Agent Aaron Pierce to see Bill Buchanan,” he announced quietly as he flashed his Secret Service credentials to the lone guard and his two fellow agents did the same. “Agents Samantha Williams and Owen Lane. They‘re here to assist in my investigation.”
“One moment, sir, while I make a call. Just need to double check this last minute addition to the roster.”
“Of course. We’ll wait.”
A few minutes on the phone and they were issued CTU badges before being waived through to the heart of the facility. Just as they emerged from the side hallway, he spotted a tall, distinguished man with silver hair and a ready smile come their way. Recognizing him from the profile he had studied on their way over, Aaron immediately extended his hand to the man he would be working with over the next few hours.
“Mr. Buchanan?”
“Yes. Agent Pierce, I believe?” he replied, at first startled with being recognized so quickly and then moving on to firmly shake the man’s hand as he turned to greet the other two Secret Service agents. “And you must be Agents Williams and Lane?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, if you follow me, I’ll set you up with work stations and introduce you to the rest of the team,” he explained, getting right to business and Aaron found himself taking an instant liking to the director of CTU. The man clearly knew how to cut through the bureaucratic tape and get right to the heart of the matter.
“Forensics are at the scene right now and we’re pulling up any satellite images we have of the area. Our first priority is finding the nerve gas but we still have diverted half of our resources to look into the First Lady’s abduction. We believe the incidents are closely connected.”
“Is that so?” Aaron remarked as they stopped at a row of empty cubicles and Buchanan pointed out two unmanned computers before turning back to the lead agent. “What leads you to suspect the connection between the two events?.”
“Well, our working theory at the moment is that the assassination of the Suvarovs was the primary objective. Mrs. Logan’s abduction was secondary and, in fact, a last minute change to the overall plans. We believe they were just taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity.”
An opportunity I should never have given them.
“We have come to that same conclusion. I was there when Mrs. Logan decided to accompany the Suvarovs. She was not a part of the original group scheduled to ride to the airport.”
Why didn’t I stop her…
“Well that confirms our analysis of the situation. I’ll pass your report on to our people,” Bill replied and then walked over to a bald, chubby curmudgeon manning one of the center computer stations. “Meanwhile, let me introduce you to Mr. Edgar Stiles. He’s running point for us on the First Lady abduction and has been screening all the satellite footage we have of the scene. If you need to contact anyone working on the case, get with him.”
“Mr. Buchanan, I think we have something,” Edgar announced abruptly, ignoring the visitors who had just arrived. “I’ve been going over the last few hours of footage and whoever planned this attack knew the locations of our satellites.”
“What do you mean, Edgar?” Buchanan questioned, walking over to the computer terminal he was at with Aaron close behind.
“You see here are the explosions when the motorcade was first hit. And here and here are the vehicles they used to get in and get out. There are no distinguishing marks on either one and the license plates have been covered up.”
“They knew we would review the footage…This clearly was thought out in advance.”
“Now you see someone fight back the first wave but then this second wave comes in. They spend a few minutes around the limousine before pulling someone out and heading back to the vehicles.”
I should have seen that second wave. Why didn’t I see it?
“That must have been the First Lady.”
And as Aaron watched the men take their hostage to the waiting van, he felt the pain in his heart return. He had not been there to save her. He had failed to protect her. He could only take comfort in the fact that she appeared to be unconscious as there was no struggle getting into the van.
If they physically harm her in any way, I will never forgive myself.
“Now for the next few minutes the vans head west, every now and then going down a side street to cover their tracks. The last time we have a visual is when they enter the shipyard area. For some reason, we do not have a satellite pointed in that direction so their current location is anybody‘s guess.”
“I know that area. My father used to work the docks,” Buchanan replied, studying the city map displayed on the computer screen. “It’s literally hundreds of square miles of old warehouses and abandoned buildings that would take months to search even if we sent in a team right now. These men are professionals. They knew what they were doing. Good work, Edgar, and keep me posted.”
“Mr. Stiles, would you be able to send those images to Agent Williams’ work station? I would like to examine them more closely,” Aaron requested, already thinking ahead to what the analysts at CTU might have missed.
“Sure, I’d be happy to,” Edgar replied with a modest shrug of his round shoulders before his chubby fingers flew over the keyboard to send the data to the other computer. “She should have the files in just a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” Agent Pierce responded gratefully before moving back to the temporary work area he and his team had been assigned. It wouldn’t hurt to examine the images himself in case CTU had missed a clue that only a trained Secret Service veteran of over twenty years would see. Looking over Agent Williams’ shoulder as she processed the raw data, Aaron examined each detail she brought up on her computer monitor but soon realized it was a hopeless cause. CTU had done their job well, they would have to find another way to approach this problem.
“Mr. Buchanan, I think we have a location on Christopher Henderson,” a female voice suddenly announced from the center of the room, her voice slightly caustic. Looking up, Aaron saw the head of CTU walk over to a young woman with shoulder length blonde hair and a perpetual scowl on her face as she stared at her computer screen in both consternation and triumph. The two exchanged a few terse words as Buchanan listened to something she was playing back for him and nodded his head a few times to confirm what she was telling him.
“We need to tell Jack. He’s still in the field.”
“Need to tell me what?” the low, gruff voice of Jack Bauer interceded as he seemed to appear out of thin air. “I just left Henderson’s. Have you deciphered the information I sent you from the phantom hard drive?”
“Not yet, Jack. We just received this transmission from Henderson’s cell phone. Voice print analysis says it’s a 99% match.”
His instincts telling him that the current commotion might be tied to Martha’s abduction, Aaron carefully made his way over to the surly young woman’s work station unnoticed until he was within earshot of the recording.
I know I said that the job was finished but unexpected complications are forcing me to enlist your expertise once more.
“Pier 41...isn’t that in the area where you couldn’t get satellite surveillance? Where the vans carrying the terrorists disappeared?” Chloe abruptly asked, glancing at both Bill Buchanan and Jack Bauer.
“Do an overlay of the blacked out area with the city map and highlight Pier 41,” Jack told her, his intense brown eyes searching for the connection even as he reached up to rub a worn hand over a chin that could use a good shave.
“Yes, you’re right, Chloe. Look it lies right at the edge of the satellite’s blind spot. Good work!” Bill praised her as he turned to Jack. “I suppose you want to investigate this, Jack.”
“Already done,” the former CTU agent replied grimly before turning to leave once more.
“Mr. Bauer,“ the quiet but determined voice of Aaron Pierce suddenly interrupted, stopping Jack Bauer in his tracks. “I would like to accompany you.”
Turning around to face this unexpected obstacle, Jack allowed his annoyance to show but felt it slowly disappear as he recognized the Secret Service Agent from David Palmer’s security detail. He couldn’t remember the man’s name but he had always liked his quiet, faithful character and reliable presence…until now. Jack didn’t want someone who would slow him down if certain, morally ambiguous decisions had to be made to ensure the retrieval of the nerve gas. That was his primary objective and he could not afford a single distraction. However, before he could try to dissuade him from coming, Bill Buchanan stepped in to counter the argument he knew would be forthcoming.
“Jack, you could use some backup. Agent Pierce is heading up the investigation into the First Lady’s kidnapping and has full White House support. We believe the two incidents are connected and this lead could provide new intelligence on both situations.”
“Fine,” Jack conceded, clearly not liking the idea of having to work with someone in the field but too pressed for time to argue. “However, I maintain supervisory authority in the field. You don’t move in until I say so. I understand your primary mission is to protect the First Lady but I need to make sure that the nerve gas is recovered first. Thousands of lives depend on securing those canisters and I won‘t let anything get in the way of that objective.”
“Understood,” Aaron replied without a fight, knowing the situation could change once they were out in the field. Bauer’s chief objective might be the recovery of the nerve gas but Agent Pierce‘s was to safeguard the First Lady of the United States. Mrs. Logan‘s well being was all that mattered to him and he would not let anything stand in the way of fulfilling his sworn duty to protect and serve.
I failed to protect her once. I won’t let that happen again.
“Chloe, I want you free to assist them with whatever technical support they require. Edgar can take over any tasks you’re working on now. And Jack…I want updates every fifteen minutes. I will have Curtis standing by to assist you if the situation changes. Let‘s get to work people.”
And with a nod at his two fellow agents, Aaron followed Jack Bauer out of CTU. As they drove out of the parking lot, he knew they were on the right track. Years of experience told him that. Unfortunately, his instincts were also telling him that they were running out of time. If he didn’t hurry…if they didn’t press forward…he was afraid of what they might find.
Hold on, Martha. I know you can do it. I’ve seen you fight incompetent doctors, battle periods of depression, and so much more. Just hold on. Because no matter where you are…no matter what I must do…I WILL find you…and bring you home.
Christopher…our contract is complete. We agreed we would not contact each other for at least two years so nothing could be traced back to us.
And I apologize. But I need this last mission to complete the original agreement I made with an associate. John…it requires two men and I need you to run ops. I wouldn’t ask you unless I needed you.
All right, Christopher. But this is the last time.
Don’t worry. If I have it my way, this will be the last time we work together for a long time to come. Now meet me outside Pier 41 at the docks. I can go over the plans with you there.
Fine. Pier 41 at the docks. See you there.

I knew it was going to be bad...just not this bad...