Local Midday News
"This morning, an armed robbery at a convenience store nearly turned into something far more serious.
Then, an unidentified man stepped in with remarkable speed and precision. Here's the security footage."
The footage began playing on the screen.
As the armed robber moved toward Tracy, the man suddenly grabbed a can from one of the shelves and threw it.
It struck the robber's arm hard enough to knock the pistol from his hand.
Before the robber could even react, the man was already on him. He closed the distance in an instant, disarmed him, and forced him to the ground.
The whole thing was over within seconds.
"Viewers have been calling the station throughout the afternoon, hoping to learn the identity of the man who stepped in."
The anchor continued speaking as the footage replayed.
"Police are still handling the case, but the Good Samaritan is already becoming the talk of the town."
Director Stephen Hopkins happened to catch the news segment that same afternoon.
Kiefer Sutherland had already been confirmed as the lead of 24, but several important roles were still waiting to be filled.
One of them immediately caught Hopkins's attention.
The character had originally been written as a CTU tech specialist whose involvement in the action would be fairly limited. As the story progressed, however, that was going to change. The character would eventually find himself involved in high-speed chases, shoot-outs, and close-quarters fights alongside Jack Bauer.
The man in the news footage had exactly the kind of presence Hopkins had been looking for.
Leon had the appearance of someone who could stand out on screen, but that wasn't what interested Hopkins most. It was the way he had reacted when the situation turned dangerous. There was no hesitation in his movements, and everything he did looked quick and deliberate.
Hopkins immediately wanted to know more about him.
"No problem. We'll see you tomorrow."
Tracy ended the call and finally let out the breath she had been holding.
Her eyes were bright with excitement as she turned toward Leon.
"Did you hear that? They saw the news!"
She couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"Director Hopkins himself wants to see you tomorrow. Your little act of heroism may have just gotten you another chance."
Leon smiled.
The opportunity had appeared so suddenly that even he hadn't expected it.
"Looks like all those fight classes weren't a waste of time after all," he said.
Tracy laughed, and some of the tension that had been hanging between them finally disappeared.
As Leon drove, Tracy sat quietly in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at him.
She was still relieved that they had both made it through what had happened earlier without getting hurt. Even so, the incident had left her more curious about Leon than ever.
He had the looks.
He had talent.
And now she had seen firsthand that he could handle himself when things went wrong.
There was obviously more to him than she had first assumed.
She couldn't help wondering how much else Leon was keeping to himself.
That evening, when Leon returned to his apartment, Rachel immediately rushed into his arms.
Her hands moved over his shoulders, back, and arms, checking him from one place to another as though she needed to make absolutely certain that he hadn't been hurt.
"Leon, are you hurt?"
Her voice shook as she spoke.
"Oh my God... I saw the news. You scared me to death."
Her eyes were still wet with tears, and her face had gone pale.
The television behind them was replaying the convenience-store footage.
Leon throwing the can.
The gun hitting the floor.
The robber being taken down.
Rachel had watched the footage several times already, and every time, her heart had raced. The moment she realized that the man on the screen was Leon, she had nearly stopped breathing.
"I'm fine, Rachel."
Leon smiled and let her continue checking him.
"See? I'm completely fine."
He gently rubbed her back as he spoke.
"It was just a robbery. Nothing happened."
Rachel didn't truly calm down until she was convinced that he wasn't hiding any injuries.
Only then did the fear that had been sitting heavily in her chest begin to fade.
She looked up at Leon's calm face, and the relief in her eyes slowly gave way to admiration and affection.
"Honey..."
Her voice became softer.
"You were incredible. You were so brave."
She rose onto her toes and kissed him.
Leon kissed her back, understanding the mixture of fear and emotion behind the kiss.
They eventually pulled apart when they both needed to catch their breath.
Rachel looked at him for a moment before asking in an almost casual tone,
"Was that beautiful woman your agent?"
Leon paused.
Had Rachel noticed something?
"Yes," he said. "She's my agent. Tracy Miller."
Rachel gave him a small smile.
She lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back at him.
"Leon, I don't mind."
Her voice was quiet.
"As long as you don't forget about me."
Leon stared at her, slightly surprised.
Rachel stepped closer and leaned toward his ear.
"If you ever decide to tell me something, just be honest with me."
She smiled, kissed his cheek, and then quickly walked away.
Leon watched her go.
After a moment, he shook his head with a helpless smile.
Women really could be difficult to understand.
That night, Rachel stayed close to him.
The events of the day had frightened her more than she wanted to admit, and simply having Leon beside her seemed to make her feel safer.
Leon understood how she felt.
He stayed with her and patiently helped her settle down until the fear gradually faded.
By the time they finally went to sleep, the tension that had followed them throughout the day was mostly gone.
The following morning, Leon and Tracy arrived at the 24 casting office on time.
Several staff members recognized Leon as soon as they entered the building.
Yesterday's news report had clearly made an impression.
People passing by looked at him with curiosity, while a few gave him small nods of recognition.
Tracy noticed the attention and smiled to herself.
It seemed that yesterday's unexpected incident was already starting to open some doors.
Director Stephen Hopkins personally handled Leon's audition.
The first part went smoothly. Leon read through the scene without any major problems, and Hopkins seemed satisfied.
Then the director decided to try something different.
He selected another scene that involved considerably more physical movement and close-quarters action.
For Leon, who had previously worked as a stunt performer, it wasn't particularly difficult.
He moved naturally, without making the actions look exaggerated. His timing was good, and he knew exactly how much force to put into each movement.
Most importantly, he didn't look like someone who had merely memorized a few fighting moves.
He looked like someone who actually knew how to fight.
Hopkins watched without interrupting.
By the time Leon finished the scene, the director's expression had changed noticeably.
"Excellent, Leon."
Hopkins stood up with a smile.
"You've got the presence for it, and you can handle the physical side of the role."
He considered the matter for a moment before continuing.
"I think we should make a few changes."
Leon and Tracy exchanged a glance.
Hopkins went on.
"The original role was relatively small, but I think we can do more with the character."
He looked directly at Leon.
"We're offering you a larger supporting role as a CTU field operative. It'll give you more screen time and put you directly into the action."
It was a considerable step up from the role Leon had originally auditioned for.
Instead of appearing as a minor terrorist character, he would now be part of CTU itself.
That meant more scenes, more action, and considerably more opportunities to make an impression.
Leon kept his excitement under control.
"Thank you, Director Hopkins."
He smiled.
"I'm honored to join the team."
Tracy immediately took the opportunity to bring up the one issue that could potentially cause trouble.
"Director Hopkins, thank you for giving Leon this opportunity."
She hesitated briefly.
"There is just one thing."
Leon already had a commitment to Ron Howard's A Beautiful Mind, which was scheduled to begin filming in ten weeks.
"We just hope there won't be any scheduling conflicts."
Stephen Hopkins raised an eyebrow.
"A Beautiful Mind?"
There was clear interest in his voice.
He looked at Leon and nodded.
"That's a great project. Congratulations."
Then he waved away the concern.
"Don't worry about the schedule. We can finish filming your part within five weeks."
"You'll have plenty of time."
With that, the problem was settled.
Leon had officially secured a major supporting role in 24.
It was his first real foothold in television, and it had come about in a way he never could have predicted.
Just one day earlier, he had been dealing with an armed robber at a convenience store.
Now, that same incident had unexpectedly opened another door in his acting career.
Leon couldn't help wondering just how much that single event was going to change his life.
If you enjoyed this chapter, add it to your library ❤️
Leave a Power Stone and a quick review if you can! ⭐