Jack sighed and looked out his office window at the few techs and agents below. It wasn't fair that any of them had to be here on New Year's Eve, but someone did. Terrorists didn't vacation so neither could CTU.

He glanced over at Chloe, working hard even with nothing going on. She always found something to update, something to do.

She needed a break, just because they couldn't be somewhere fun tonight, didn't mean they couldn't have a little fun.

He moved down to the floor, grabbing her arm, "Come with me."

"What?" she said, "What's going on?"

"Nothing much," he said, "I just ordered us some dinner, we can eat in my office, toast the new year."

"Jack we can't drink on duty."

"Sparkling cider," he promised, "Besides nothing has been going on for hours. We're due a break. I'm bored without you."

Chloe flushes at his words, but lets him pull her into his office. She smiles when she sees the blanket he's put on the floor, "The food should be here soon, so just relax until then."

And amazingly she does relax, laughing with him as they watch the crowd at Times Square on his small television. The food has just arrived when the phone rings.

"Hello," he says, still laughing over something she said. His smile drops quickly, "Hi Audrey, no, no I can't get out tonight. Well, I'm sorry too, but….Audrey we talked about this. You asked me to come with you to Washington on Christmas and I did, but that meant I had to work New Year's Eve. I don't care if I'm the boss…because I have to be fair; my men deserve to be with their families. Well fine then, just….I'm not going to argue with you, good bye Audrey." Jack slams down the phone and they're both quiet for a moment.

Chloe sighed and looked away, "You know Jack, I could cover for you, just…if you want to be with Audrey at midnight."

Jack sighed, getting up and moving back to the blanket, "You know what I want Chloe, I want to have a nice dinner with you, I want to relax and have fun and…I want to bring in the new year with the one person who doesn't ever expect anything of me. The one person I always enjoy being with."

Chloe smiled, "Is that…do you mean me?"

Jack smiled widely, "Yes Chloe that means you."

&&&&&&

"It's almost midnight," Chloe said shyly, her face turning red.

"Guess I'm going to need to find someone to kiss," he looked around the room, "Can you think of anyone?"

She smiled again and moved closer to him. Then his door opened.

"Jack," Audrey came in, seeing them and frowning, "What's going on here?"

"Nothing," Chloe said, standing up, "We were just having some dinner and I'm…leaving now," she said, and bolted from the room, almost knocking over Audrey as she did.

She grabbed her purse and ran, desperate to get to her car. By the time she got inside of it she couldn't hold the tears back. As she turned the car on she heard the countdown to midnight and began sobbing, thinking of how close she came to being with Jack at this moment.

The suddenly her door was pulled open. She gasped, striking out with her arm, only to have it grabbed, someone kissing her hand.

"Jack," she said, "What are you doing here?"

"Its ten seconds to midnight and my favorite person left me."

"Jack."

"I told you I wanted to start the New Year with you; well I want to spend every day after with you too."

"Oh Jack," she said, flying into his arms.

"I love you Chloe, Happy New Year," he whispered, pressing his lips to hers as the clock turned to midnight.