WE'VE GOT GAS

Let me start off by saying how much I liked this past episode. You gotta love an episode with mild torture. I do have a big problem with one of the plot points, which I'll get to later. I love it though that most key points are resolved quickly this season, with a new set cropping up. By no means does any of this mean that I love this show any less, because I don't.

When we last left our trusted crew they had just figured out that Cummings was up to no good. Jack wants to go in and kick some ass, but McGill is worried about their credibility for calling out the Chief of Staff. Jack suggests going to Mike Novick, since he can be trusted. McGill is still a bit worried and Jack says that he'll go himself to meet Novick, that way CTU doesn't have to claim any responsibility. McGill agrees and tells Audrey to get him squared away. While they're together Audrey confesses she's been cold to him. She still can't believe he's there with her, alive.

Audrey and Jack , ick

Cummings on the other hand, is hoping Jack's dead now. Nathanson is questioning him and says that the nerve gas is on it's way to the port. How right he is, the yellow tie man and his accomplice, Shaeffer, are driving the shipment to the port.

The Secret Service is still looking for the wack job we call the first lady. Logan's pissed she hasn't been found yet. He tells them to look for the crazy lady running around in her robe. She shouldn't be that hard to find. Here's hoping the Secret Service finds her before the press does. To make Logan feel better, Mike shows him a nice home movie, him and his kids at Christmas. Actually, it's a terrorist video, obtained through unknown means, showing the effects of the nerve gas. Mike explains that this batch of nerve gas is ten times worse. Why the terrorists didn't send that demo I don't know. Anyway, Mike gets a text message from Jack... "MN, IMHO WC's FUBAR. LMAO, CUL8R. THX, JB".

What it actually says is that they need to talk on a secure line and to tell no one. Cummings sees that Mike has gotten a message and is curious. Mike leaves and calls Jack. Jack tells him that he has information on the nerve gas, but Mike can't tell Logan. Mike's a bit skeeved by this and is hesitant to meet with Jack. Jack says that it has to do with Cummings. Mike agrees and tells Jack to meet him outside of the ranch.

When Jack is leaving CTU he runs into Diane. She wonders if he's coming home with them and he says no, that he has to see the crisis through. Diane's no dummy and asks him if he's still in love with Audrey. He says he loves a woman who can talk without moving her mouth. Jack does admit that he doesn't know how Audrey feels.

Cummings and Nathanson are listening to Jack's call with Novick, apparently he didn't call on a secure line. Anyway, Nathanson is pissed that Jack's still alive and wants Cummings to kill him when he gets there. Also at the compound, Agent Pierce, Aaron, finally finds Martha hiding out in the stables. Apparently she likes all kinds of jackasses. She pleads with him not to turn her in, saying that she thinks someone in the administration is trying to set her up. For a second there it looks like he's going to help her, or at least believes her. But then some other agents walk in and take Martha back to the house.

At the dock, Shaeffer is inside of the freight container messing with the nerve gas. I'm thinking he's gonna start melting, but he doesn't, he synchs some sort of timer with the handheld remote detonator. At least that's what it looks like it is. When he comes out the yellow tie man is suspicious. Shaeffer hands him the timer and walks away.

At CTU Diane and Audrey come face to face. Diane back hands her and they start roll down the steps in a flurry of punches. Diane can take her. Instead of that male fantasy, Diane just confronts her about her feelings for Jack. She tells Audrey what Jack said about still being in love with her and asks that if she doesn't still love him, to let him go. Audrey is surprised and immediately calls Jack. She squeals on Diane, saying she knows that he still loves her. Audrey also wants to know if he's coming back to her. Here we go again, this woman just doesn't get what it takes to be involved with a super agent. Send that sh** over to me.

Aaron tells Logan that they found Martha and starts to talk a bit about her accusations. Unfortunately Cummings walks in and Aaron leaves. Logan's having second thoughts about sending Martha away to Vermont to the looney bin but Cummings insists that it's the best thing to do. Cummings also tells Logan that Jack Bauer is on his way to the ranch. He says that Jack is going to tell them that he, Cummings, helped the terrorists get the nerve gas. Logan is surprised when Cummings confesses that he helped leak the whereabouts of the nerve gas to the terrorists. Logan is furious and yells at Cummings that he's a traitor. Cummings reassures him that he's not a traitor, that he's a patriot. Um, okay. He claims that he only let the separatists think they were going to get the nerve gas to use against the Russians. What he did is called a reverse gainer triple lindy and when the terrorists get the nerve gas to their base camp, he's going to set it off prematurely, killing all of them. That, in turn, will "prove" that Central Asia has weapons of mass destruction, and will be a reason to send more military to that area, to increase the flow of oil. Do ya get it? THIS is the reason he killed Palmer, the one true President of the United States, because of wanting FRAKIN' oil!!!! I'm pissed. Logan eventually figures out that that's what this means, that this turd had Palmer killed but Cummings is able to convince the weak minded Logan that not only was this okay, but that it's too late for it to be stopped. He says that the man who he had working inside went dark, and he doesn't know where he, or the canisters are. I mean, I do feel a bit sorry for Logan, since Cummings did just blind side him, and he doesn't really have anything he can do, but he's a tool.

Jack meeting up with Mike

Jack finally makes it to the ranch to meet Mike and as they begin to talk, Jack's sonic ears pick up the sound of helicopters. He accuses Mike of setting him up and as the cars come pulling up with the helicopter overhead, Mike swears he never told a soul. As the Secret Service arrest Jack, Mike tries to talk them out of it, saying that he invited Jack there for a tour of the compound and tea with the First Lady. They don't believe him. Of course Jack doesn't have the chance to let Mike in on the whole Walt Cummings being a traitor thing. Timing is everything. Cummings tells Logan that Jack was the one who was going to leaking sensitive information to Mike and since it makes sense that other CTU members would know this as well, he's afraid his involvement will be found out. Logan wants a guarantee that the canisters will be destroyed before they get to Russia. Cummings tells him that if wants him to take a sh** in a box and label it guarantee he'll do that, he has the time, but a guarantee is only as good as the man who makes it, so frankly, there ain't no guarantee. Cummings demands CTU be taken off the investigation and because weak ass Logan doesn't know what to do, he agrees to it. Palmer would never have let that happen. NEVER!

Martha gets back to her room and tries to get in touch with Logan, but he's ignoring her. He's too busy kissing Cumming's ass. When the Secret Service escort Jack back to the compound, Aaron sees this and is curious. He asks one of the other men who ordered Jack's arrest and he tells him Cummings. Aaron's eyebrow lifts and he spidey sense goes off. Somethin' ain't right.

Back at CTU, everyone is confused when they're told they're off the case. McGill says he tried to call but Logan's not taking his calls. Jack and Mike are both unreachable, so of course Buchanan thinks something's up. He wants to disregard the order to stop the investigation which doesn't sit well with McGill. Buchanan suggests that maybe that's because McGill is a little bitch from District who doesn't know what the hell he's doing. McGill asks to speak to Buchanan outside and he jumps on his leg and starts humping it. Buchanan apologizes for what he said, but says that it is kinda the truth. He tells McGill that he needs to be a little faster on the uptake and that they have to do everything possible to stop the threat. McGill finally agrees to do what Buchanan suggested and disregard the order from the White House, then he yells, "I'm telling mom" and runs upstairs.

Martha meanwhile is taking a walk down looney memory lane. As Evelyn packs, Martha remembers the better years, when she didn't have a straight jacket hanging up in her closet and Logan trusted her, believed her. She wishes for those days.

Aaron

Aaron goes into the room where Jack's being held. Jack tells him about someone in the administration helping the terrorists. He says that it's Cummings, and that Cummings was the one who ordered Palmer's assassination. He knows that Aaron was a friend of Palmer's, and knows that he cared for him. Aaron admits that the First Lady is also on the whole, mole in the administration bandwagon. He doesn't tell Jack that she's certifiable, but regardless, Jack begs him for his help. Aaron goes out to another agent and tells him that Jack escaped, and to run and tell everyone.

An eye for an eye

Back with Logan and Cummings, Cummings is pissed because he finds out that CTU is still working on the nerve gas investigation. He wants Logan to call them directly. Before he can, Aaron comes in with Jack behind him. Jack immediately confronts Cummings and accuses him of being a traitor. He starts kicking h is ass actually. Logan asks Aaron to stop them, but he says that he's doing his job, protecting the President (gag). Jack tells Logan everything he knows about Cummings up until now, and Logan surprises him by admitting that he knows it all. In a great moment, Jack pulls a knife on Cummings and puts it up to his eye ball. He says he's going to cut out each one of his eyes, and then his nose, and then his lips, and then his arms and legs, but he's going to let him keep his ears so that whenever someone walks by him they'll say, "Good God what is that thing" and it will all echo in her perfect ears. Cummings ain't no dummy and realizes Jack's not bluffing. He admits that the gas is in Long Beach, about to be shipped out. Jack gets CTU on the phone and puts Logan on speaker. He tells the gang about where the nerve gas in and Logan tells them that they're still on the case.

Jack and Aaron both place their badges and guns on the counter and Jack tells Logan that they're both prepared to turn themselves into authorities. Logan orders Aaron to pick his badge and gun back up and order Cummings out of his sight. Logan tries to explain to Jack that he was coerced and that Cummings had lied to him, saying it was too late. Jack and Logan share a moment when they realize that Jack being alive is another problem they don't need. Jack promises that all he wanted to do was find out who killed Palmer and that as soon as the terrorist threat is over, he'll disappear again. Logan hesitates but then agrees with that plan. The two men shake hands and the President thanks him.

Martha makes her way to the awaiting car to take her to Vermont. The Secret Service stops them before they drive off and Logan runs up, pulling her out. He apologizes for being a tool and not believing her. She's reassured finally that she's not crazy and that Cummings was working against Logan. Before he goes he tries to kiss her and she pulls away. Smart move.

At CTU Chloe and Edgar use their nerd skills to find out which container the shipment is in. They send Jack a picture of the yellow tie man and they identify him as Ivan Erwich. Erwich used to be a chemical engineer until he went all separatist.

This is during the 3 seconds Logan wasn't a tool

The S.W.A.T. team finds the container and raids it. The feed is going both to CTU and to Logan and Jack. When they get into the container all they find are empty boxes. You can tell the canisters were in there and taken out. Also in there is Shaeffer, dead. Jack calls for Cummings to be brought in and he sees Shaeffer's body and says that he was the person they had on the inside. As he's standing there, Cummings' cell phone rings from what he recognizes as Schaeffer's number. Of course it can't be Schaeffer though since they're staring at his dead body. It's Erwich who tells everyone, via speaker phone, that Schaeffer confessed to everything. Cummings tries to tell Erwich that this wasn't Logan's idea, and to not blame him for what happened. Erwich's not hearing it and tells them that "Your country is about to pay a very steep price." Muuwaahhhh!