A THREAT FROM WITHIN

Two hours people!!! We were treated to two hours of the greatest show on television!!! After my knuckles pinked back up and my heart returned to a normal pace I realize how long it would take to write about these two hours. I don't care really, I love the show, but a lot happened. I swear, these people lead some exciting lives every year to eighteen months.

When we rejoin our favorite Counter Terrorist Agents, Bill's paying a visit to Tony. The doctor tells him that Tony's been awake for awhile and that he's asking for Michelle because he doesn't remember finding her body right before the blast. In true soap opera fashion the doctor tells Bill that they've kept it a secret that she's dead, in fear of upsetting Tony so much that his blood pressure escalates and he dies. When Bill goes to Tony's side and he asks about Michelle, Bill lies and says she'll be fine. Damn, I didn't realize the doctor wanted him to out and out lie. He could have just played dumb. Of course Tony wants to get word to her that he's okay.

At the motorcade attack site Martha's just amazed that her husband didn't stop this from happening. She is married to the guy, right? She confides in Aaron that Logan knew about this and did nothing to stop it. That would have been bad enough if she hadn't then blabbed that Logan actually gave the route to the terrorists. Ooops. Aaron's confused and not too happy about this as a helicopter lands to take them back to the compound.

Over with Bierko and his men, they're working on arming the canisters. They have a handy soldering iron which is good for just about any job. Being the nice guy Bierko is, he wants to make sure the canisters are left in a the most populated areas. Hey, when you go for it you may as well be balls out. Bierko talks to one of his men who's driving somewhere, Ostroff. Don't ask me how I know these people's names, I'm really good at Jeopardy! too. Anyway, Ostroff says that he's on his way to pick up the card key. Hmmm, I wonder what key he's talking about. Could it be the one McGill's crack head sister stole from him a few hours ago? Oh yeah, and that's the same one her disgusting boyfriend is using to cut his cocaine up with. Hey, at least it's being put to good use. Ostoff calls Jenny's boyfriend to confirm the key card exchange for money. Man, this guy is a real piece of sh**.

Logan, meanwhile, is talking to Mike, second guessing his decision to give the terrorists information and jeopardize his wife's life. Yeah, that would cause me a moment or two of concern as well.

"See, here's proof that Logan's a tool."

On his way from nearly getting blown up, Jack calls CTU to update them on his near death experience. In the explosion, the Omicron server was knocked out so they won't be able to get anything from it. Fortunately, Henderson's sending all of the information to another computer. Jack recognizes it as his home computer and heads off to intercept him and find the information. Bill wants to send back up but Jack thinks because Henderson thinks he's dead, the ambush angle will be better. Plus, since Henderson used to be CTU he knows all of their tactics. While Henderson is driving home he calls for some take out. Then he calls his bank and asks that his safety deposit box be ready for him.

Down in the CTU morgue Curtis is examining the bodies of the terrorists that attacked the motorcade and finds a ventilation system schematic. He calls Bill and they theorize that this will be the next target for the nerve gas. Also, conveniently on the paper is a time, 18:00. I had to do some quick math to realize this was 6:00 in normal people time. That's less then an hour so they don't have much time. Curtis sends the schematics to Chloe.


Not bad, not bad at all

In with Tony, he's getting a little suspicious when there's still no news on Michelle. You know, being he was once a super agent he knows when stuff's not right. In true Tony form he pulls the IV out and goes to the mirror. He pulls the bandage off of his face to reveal the burns. Quite frankly it's not as bad I thought it would be. He finds a computer and logs on. Why his passcode is still active I don't know. Cue Bill and the doctor. Before they can pull him away from the computer, up pops Michelle's file with a big DECESEASED banner across from it. Damn, with everything that's going on today it's nice they have times to update their files. Tony scans through the pictures of her dead body and nearly collapses.

Martha and Aaron finally get back to the compound and Logan approaches her tentatively. She kicks him in the balls and walks away. Not really, but damn that would be good. She's angry at him for not standing up to the terrorists. To be fair, they are scary. Suvarov questions Logan on what the hell happened. Logan tells him about the nerve gas threat and claims he just found out about it and says it's related to what happened at the airport earlier in the day. Suvarov says that they've been tracking terrorists and they'll lend as much information as needed to find the people who are responsible. Suvarov has also picked up that Martha was acting a bit strange when she got into the limo earlier. Logan does the crazy gesture and rolls his eyes. Suvarov didn't know Martha was one foot in the crazy grave.

In holding, McGill asks Bill if he can use the phone to call his sister. Bill wants to know what's so damn important but McGill doesn't tell him that the reason he needs to speak to her is because she's a stupid crack whore who has the key card. If only he does... Bill grants his wish and McGill calls Jenny. He begs for the key card back and insists she can charge up his credit cards. When they hang up Jenny wants to give the key card back, but her nasty ass boyfriend insists that he's getting $20,000 for the card so he won't give it back. Yeah, let's see how this plays out.

Meanwhile, Logan goes to see Martha. Evelyn's there to run interference and says that Martha doesn't want to see anyone. Logan insists that she wants to see him, but nope, she doesn't. He whimpers away, hurt.

Over at CTU, Edgar's found what he thinks is a blueprint that matches what was found in the terrorists pocket. It's a hospital which Bill quickly calls and orders an evacuation. Bierko's guy is already in the hospital dressed as an orderly. He takes the nerve gas canister and puts it under a gurney and starts wheeling it around the hospital. Not conspicuous or anything.

Jack finally makes it to the Henderson's and sneaks around back. He unlocks the gate with his knife and I realize how frakin' bad ass he is. I mean yeah, he didn't do anything that spectacular, but he's just so damn cool. Anyway, Jack sees Miriam, Mr. Henderson's wife and lets CTU know that Henderson's not there. Not sure how he realizes that just by seeing Miriam washing some dishes, but whatever, I've learned not to question anything Jack does.

In the CTU helicopter Curtis calls the hospital security guy. He tells him that it'll take an hour or more to get everyone evacuated. Wasn't he listening? It's going to go off in less than an hour. Curtis stresses that the guy needs to move a bit faster than that.

At the Henderson's, Jack surprises Miriam in the kitchen. This is doubly awkward because he didn't have a key and she thought he was dead. Miriam tells Jack that Henderson's not home and is confused by Jack pulling a gun on her. He asks where the computer is and habitually she looks towards the den. Jack tries to tell her everything that Henderson's done, like help the terrorists get the nerve gas, oh, and trying to KILL him. She doesn't believe it and seriously, he doesn't have time to explain it to her so they move to the den. Once at the computer Chloe tries to help him hack into it.

Okay this is awkward

Martha's still a bit shaken by her experience and she has Aaron brought in to see how he is. She thanks him for shooting the human flamethrower and in a tender moment, takes his hand. Of course this is when Mike walks in and sees this. Aaron leaves and Mike encourages Martha to go talk to Logan but she refuses. Outside the room Aaron tries to assure Mike that nothing happened but Mike's not happy about what he saw.

When Curtis arrives at the hospital the head security guy tells him that not everyone's going to be evacuated in time, especially the ICU patients, which include babies. Curtis has his team access the situation and come up the most likely target in the hospital. While this is going on, Bierko's man finally realizes something's going on. He calls Bierko who tells him that not matter what happens, to make sure the gas goes off. Bierko has his men pull up the schematics and find a good place to put the canister.

"Yes, yes, you're right, I'm a tool"

Finally, back at CTU, Audrey's able to deduce that the leader of the Russian terrorists is Bierko, thanks to the Russian government giving them info on him. They tell Logan who asks some dumbass question like, "Why aren't you finding him" or something they can't possibly answer.

Meanwhile, Miriam's still grating my nerves. She's still defending Robocop. She says that Jack was trying to set her husband up before and that's what he's doing now. Jack reminds her that he tried to KILL him not an hour before. Chloe tells Jack that she found some satellite phone numbers on the hard drive. Unfortunately she needs a password to get into it. How she even knew what kind of files it was, I don't know. I hate computers. Jack asks Miriam what the password is and she claims she doesn't know.

The head security guy at the hospital shows Curtis surveillance of the Russian orderly and says they don't know who this guy is. He hands Curtis a digital clipboard with the picture. What kind of frakin' hospital is this? Certainly isn't Kaiser. At CTU they run the orderly's picture with known Russian terrorists and match it. Curtis and the team run off to find the guy before he sets off the gas. Unfortunately the guy's already set up the canister. He sets the timer for ten minutes and leaves. He hears Curtis and his team and tries to get away. Luckily he won't have to off himself because Curtis takes care of him. They put on their masks and find the canister. Curtis calls the chemical response team to get down and check this bad boy out. Bill orders the entire downtown corridor evacuated. I don't know what exactly the "downtown corridor" is, but I'm sure it's a lot of people and can't be evacuated that quickly.


Ha! This is fraked up!

Chloe lets Jack know it'll take too long to crack the code and really needs the password. She also downloads him on what's going on with Curtis at the hospital. Just then Robocop comes home. Jack doesn't see him but Miriam does. Jack walks out of the room, still talking to Chloe as Henderson comes in. Our Jack won't be fooled by this mofo again and attacks him from behind. He makes him handcuff himself and sit next to Miriam on the couch. Henderson fakes not knowing about the nerve gas and Jack opens the briefcase he's carrying and dumps a whole bunch of cash on the table. Miriam's shocked and wants to know where the money came from. Henderson still plays dumb but says he was serving his country. Jack threatens to shoot him but Henderson of course, being a trained CTU agent, can take it. In one of the best moments of the night (the best/worst still to come) Jack shoots MIRIAM in the leg. Jack says that he shot her above the knee so she'll still be able to walk but the next shot won't be so loving. BAD ASS. Poor Miriam is even more hurt when Robocop looks at her and says he can't tell Jack anything. Jack's shocked, realizing Henderson's not going to give anything up and quickly calls for an ambulance for Miriam and tells CTU to get an interrogation room ready for Henderson. Oh yeah, CTU interrogations rock.

Run Curtis! Run!

One of the men at the hospital has finally searched the terrorist and found the timer, giving them just over a minute. Curtis asks the bomb squad guy if he can stop it and he looks at him like he's crazy. My roommate brings up a good point at the moment, why can't they put this thing into a big Hefty bag so when it opens it'll be contained. (The answer to that coming soon) Curtis makes a quick decision and picks the unstable canister up and runs through the hospital with it, to the tac unit truck where the chemical container is. I love Curtis! Luckily he gets it there and secured just as it goes off.

In the best "Thank the Lords of Kobol" moment in the season, Ostroff kills Jenny and her boyfriend and takes the keycard. I'm really not too upset about this, and quite frankly, I wish I could have done it. Why didn't he just give them the money? I guess because he's a terrorist.

People, we're only HALFWAY done!!! The second hour starts with Ostroff leaving Jenny's apartment with the keycard. Once in his van he reprograms it with his face instead of McGill's. What kind of software do you think that is?

Stay golden Ponyboy

Bill and Audrey are downloading Logan on the situation and tell him that their only lead is Henderson. (Insert stupid ass Logan question, "Why can't you make the sky green") Audrey looks outside of the room and notices that Kim Bauer has just walked in with C. Thomas Howell. Carrie, the tech McGill tried to fire before, tells Audrey that Kim is there with a guy named Barry. Carrie then runs up to Kim and says, "Hey, I saw your dad, he's looking great." Yeah, that would suck. Audrey calls Jack and tells him that Kim's there and he wants to wait to get there to tell him. Okay Jack, give the poor girl a heart attack why don't you. Audrey insists on telling her herself, seeing that she went through him walking in and scaring the shit of her already today. Henderson, who's in the back of Jack's car tells him that Kim was a mess after she thought he died and Chase left her. Yes! Chase left her, what a tool. He also says that he and Miriam were there for her through everything when he wasn't. Wait, so they all remained friends after Jack's family after Jack got him fired from CTU?

At CTU, Kim's a little skittish about being in the same building her parents died in. Um, hello! I'd insist on meeting at the Starbucks down the corner, but hey, that's just me. Audrey comes in and tries to break it to her softly that her father's still alive. Kim doesn't know what to say to that. Audrey explains that he was trying to keep her safe by not telling her.

Oh look, someone as clueless as Logan. Didn't think that was possible

In a "where the hell did he come from" moment (ha, I have a lot of these this episode) Vice President Gardner shows up at the compound. Mike's a little surprised to see him, seeing that he's just as useless as Logan. I think Logan asked him to be there so he didn't have to take the blame when things got fraked up. Gardner then comes up with the dumbest idea yet, he thinks they should declare martial law in Los Angeles. Yeah, that's good, scare the crap out of everyone. Mike is the only person thinking straight and doesn't think this is such a good idea, you know, since all that would do is freak everyone in the city out. Mike objects but Logan wants to go through with the plan so it looks like he's in control.

Jack's finally gotten back to CTU with Henderson who warns him that he doesn't want to know the things he knows and he loves his country. Jack sends him into holding with the guards. At the same time Ostroff has shown up to CTU and floats through. They don't even send his bags through a machine. I'd like to file a complaint with CTU security that they SUCK. I won't go into detail with how many lapses it's had in the past five seasons but if you've been watching, you know what I mean.

"Hi, remember me"

When Jack gets to Kim she's still in shock. Kim's not as happy to see him as I thought she'd be. She's a little ticked he didn't tell her he was alive. No one's told her yet that two of the four people who knew are now dead because of it. Barry puts in his two cents and Jack looks like he wants to slap him silly. I mean really, why is she with this old guy. Jack tells her that it was harder leaving her then it was when Teri died. Kim wants to leave but Jack begs her to stay so they can talk more.

Ostroff is wandering around CTU and finds an empty room with air ducts. Meanwhile, Tony's questioning Bill about Michelle's death. Of course Bill can't tell him anything because Tony doesn't work for CTU anymore. Tony thinks he gave enough to his country to have Bill tell him. Bill relents and tells him that it was a bigger plot, and that Chris Henderson was involved. Tony's stunned, since he remembers the guy as well. He begs Bill not to let Henderson cut a deal.

They're going to rebuild his body with robot parts

Audrey's figured out who Barry is, a shrink. She and Jack think this means she's under his care. Man, she must be fraked up if she travels with her shrink. In the interrogation room Henderson's been strapped down to a table and has IVs hooked up to him. Jack thinks Henderson will withstand lots of pain. Jack tries to get Henderson to give up whatever information he has, but since he's been trained in torture techniques he doesn't want to give it up. Jack orders more shots.

Mike decides to resort to asking Martha to help. Don't these people have any military advisors that travel around with them? Anyway, Martha's still too pissed to talk to him and Mike tells her how worried Logan was and that he prayed for his safety. Of course, he didn't do anything about it, but still. He tells Martha about Gardner's bright idea and she agrees to talk to him. She says something about Logan not being a pushover but that makes no sense, so I'll ignore it.

Meanwhile, Ostroff hacks into CTU's ventilation system and creates a small glitch. Carrie sees this and brings the information to Edgar. Edgar blows her off and tells her to check it out herself. As she walks away he immediately feels bad and calls after her but she just goes anyway.

Martha finds Logan outside and although you can tell he's still pissed off at him, she sucks it up and tells him that she still loves him and he has to get back to work. This seems to jolt him out a bit.

Carrie makes it into the ventilation room and checks around. She finds the canister and is shocked. She whips out her cell phone and dials someone. You know, all the craziness over the years at CTU they should have panic buttons in every room. Unfortunately she doesn't dial fast enough and Ostroff comes behind her and stabs her in the neck. Ouch. Ostroff sets the canister in the vent and sets the timer for fifteen minutes.

"Look ho, chill out, you could be dead now"

Kim approaches Chloe who I can tell is really trying to not be rude. Kim's upset when she finds out that Chloe also knew about Jack being alive and Chloe assures her that the only reason she knew is because she helped him cover it up. Finally, Chloe tells her to take a chill pill and that half the people who knew he was alive are dead and she would have been if Jack hadn't saved her.

Bill comes into McGill's holding cell and breaks it to him that he dumbass sister is dead. McGill, for whatever reason, is upset. Bill wants to know if she was into drugs or organized crime. Drugs, yes, but why would they think organized crime? Bill says they were shot execution style. McGill finally tells him that Jenny stole the key card earlier in the day and this causes Bill to jump into action. He calls Chloe and has her check to see if McGill's card has been used. She gives him lip but then learns that yes, it has been, less than an hour before. Bill orders an immediately lockdown.

With Henderson, he's still not talking and his vitals start to get critical because of all the juice they're giving him. The alarm starts going off and Bill tells Jack what's going on. He orders Henderson to be stabilized in the infirmary.

Everyone starts looking for Ostroff and Edgar finds him on the security cameras. He runs facial recognition on the guy and Jack goes to find him. Buchanan realizes that Carrie's missing and Edgar volunteers to go find her. Don't they need Edgar at this moment? Can't then send Joe from accounting? Anyway, he goes off.

Ostroff takes a guard hostage and tries to use his access to get him out, but since they're on lockdown he can't get out. He kills the guy and takes his walkie-talkie. Again, was that really necessary? Jack comes upon the dead guard and notices his walkie-talkie missing. He radios that the suspect is in the stairwell but gets Bill's attention on the security camera and does some sort of Secret Agent hand gesture. Ostroff's fooled and walks right into Jack's trap. They have a short shoot out and Ostroff is killed. Jack searches him and finds the timer. He also finds the CTU schematic of the ventilation system. They realize the nerve gas may be in the building and Bill orders everyone to be evacuated.

Edgar calls Chloe and she yells at him to get out of the building. He sees Carrie's body but doesn't see the canister before running out. The canister opens and gas starts rolling out into the ventilation system.

Audrey, Kim and Barry run out and see the people in the offices on the outside corridors start to collapse. Chloe's able to airlock some rooms and they hurry into the situation room as Jack shows up. Bill runs up to his office and Chloe starts sealing up the rooms. One of the techs doesn't make it into the room in time and bangs on it for them to let her in. Jack tells her to hurry and find another way out, but it's too late, she collapses.

Everyone trapped outside is either dead or dying and as the team in the situation room look on, Jack says, "Oh no". I'm seriously worried that it's Curtis or something who has now been locked out of the room, but thankfully it's not. It's Edgar. He sees the group in the situation room and is stunned. He calls to Chloe and then starts to collapse. Chloe watches as Edgar falls to the ground, and dies.

I know!!! Edgar dead! I certainly didn't see that one coming. I have to say, I shed a tear or two for this poor guy that's been a pain in the ass since his appearance last season. Rest in peace Edgar Stiles, RIP.