to a complicit Chinese national, Lee Jong, hiding at his nation's consulate in Los Angeles. When negotiations break down, Jack leads a clandestine raid against the Chinese consulate and kidnaps Jong. Poorly placed shots by Chinese guards kill the Chinese consul and injure Jong. Paul Raines dies in surgery when Jack insists that saving Lee Jong is a priority. This destroys his relationship with Audrey Raines. The nuclear missile is subsequently launched and CTU begins a last-ditch effort to discover its trajectory and intercept it. As Jack closes in on Marwan and the missile's location, Chinese agents find proof that Jack Bauer invaded their territory. To prevent American secrets from falling into Chinese hands, government officials propose that Jack be conveniently killed. In a reversal of the events of Day 1, David Palmer warns Bauer of the attempt on his life, shortly after the nuclear missile is shot out of the sky. In response, Bauer fakes his own death with the help of Tony Almeida, Michelle Dessler and Chloe O'Brian. When Bauer is safely outside CTU, he says a final goodbye to his friend and president David Palmer. He then leaves his old life behind and disappears into the sunrise. Characters When the season began, every character from the first three seasons was absent except for Jack Bauer, President Keeler (Palmer's Republican opponent in season 3), and Chloe O'Brian. However, as the season went on several characters returned, including Tony Almeida, Michelle Dessler, Mike Novick, David Palmer, Aaron Pierce, and Mandy, the assassin from seasons 1 and 2. To make room for these characters, other characters left. Alberta Watson left after 12 episodes, Lana Parrilla—upgraded from recurring to the main cast in episode 7—was gone by episode 13 and William Devane left after episode 14 making one brief appearance afterwards. Also, Roger Cross was upgraded from recurring to main cast in episode 14, making him the only other actor along with Parrilla to be upgraded to main cast mid-season in the history of the series. As a result, season 4 featured more cast changes than any previous season. Starring Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer (24 episodes) Kim Raver as Audrey Raines (24 episodes) Alberta Watson as Erin Driscoll (12 episodes) Lana Parrilla as Sarah Gavin (12 episodes) Roger Cross as Curtis Manning (22 episodes) William Devane as Secretary of Defense James Heller (15 episodes) Special guest stars Carlos Bernard as