Title: Life, unexpected.
Rating: T
Summary: Jack comes back.
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, etc. belong to Fox and 24, I'm just playing around.
Note: This is my first fanfic, please let me know what you think, good or bad, any criticism is helpful.
Chapter 1-
Chloe stirred as she heard her son call, "Mommy, Mom!", he called again. She sat up quickly, realizing the urgency in his voice.
"Jake? What's wrong, hun?" she asked, lifting him onto the couch with her.
"He's outside, Mommy." Jake replied, pointing at the window.
"Who, hun? Is it uncle Chase?" She asked, still half-asleep.
"No, it's him...from the picture." He paused, trying to remember his name "Jack?" he continued.
Confused, Chloe walked over to the window, still expecting to see Chase. Jake had, after all, made this mistake once or twice before with the mailman.
"Holy shit." She said. It was actually him. Time seemed to freeze as she looked through the window, not wanting to blink him away.
"You swore, Mommy" Jake said, with a scowl she had known all too well.
"Sorry, Jake. I know... I was just surprised."
"It's okay Mommy, I forgive you... Just DON'T do it again" he said smiling.
"Jake, honey. Can you go up stairs for a bit while I talk to Jack?"
Rolling his eyes, he walked up the stairs and into his room.
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Chloe opened the front door, looking at the man who was still lost in his thoughts, avoiding coming up to the door.
"You planning on coming in, or you just gonna stand out here all day?" Chloe asked, with a familiar tone that brought him from his little world.
He smiled, walking up to the door, to Chloe.
"Chloe, it's good to see you."
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"I uh... well... I came to see you. I got your address off Bill, I hope that's alright."
She smiled. "So, um. Do you want to come in?"
He laughed a little "Sure" he said, following her lead into her living room.
"So, what else did Bill tell you? Anything?" she said nervously, wanting to know how much explaining she had to do.
He studied her for a second before replying. "Nothing much, I just asked him how you were doing and he said he hadn't seen you in a while, since you left pretty much, but he gave me your address... is that alright" he asked.
"Yeah, I just...well, there's somethings I wasn't sure if you knew or not."
"Some things? Are you seeing someone?"
"No, it's just something that happened after you left, I couldn't tell you because you would blow your cover and I couldn't do that to you. I mean I heard you were back a few weeks ago, but I..." Chloe started crying a bit as she overwhelmed herself. "I'm so sorry, Jack" she tried to continue, stopped again by her crying and erratic breathing.
He slid closer to her and put his arm on her shoulder, unsure what to say.
"Chloe, what is it?" he asked concerned by her sudden crying.
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Just then, before she could calm herself enough to talk, footsteps came down the stairs. Both Jack and Chloe looked toward the stairs as the little boy spoke.
"Mommy... are you alright, why are you crying?" he said, offering a defensive look toward the man sitting beside her.
Chloe looked at Jack sitting somewhat stunned at the boy standing infront of him.
"Yes, hun" she sniffed "We were just talking, baby. Um why don't you come here for a second, I want you to meet someone." she said, looking back at Jack with a half-smile to show that this is why she was so emotional.
"Jack, this is Jake... my son. Jake, this is my old friend, Jack, from CTU." she said, not knowing what else to say.
The two new acquaintances looked each other over for a second before Jack reached out his hand with a smile.
"Well, hi there Jake. It's nice to meet you."
"Hi." Jake said, shaking the mans hand before shyly turning back to his mother. "Can I go back upstairs, Mommy?" he said as if no one else was in the room.
Chloe smiled, blushing a little, "Yeah, sure." she said as he quickly ran off.
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A moment passed by, neither knowing what to say. Jack then smiled at her and put his hand on hers, getting her attention.
"He seems a lot like you." he said, rubbing her arm. "He has that same nose... the same scowl..." he shifted closer, brushing her hair behind her ear, he then leaned in "...but those eyes." he whispered, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her eyes widened as she realized he knew. She turned her head to explain, but he stopped her with a kiss.
"Thought Jack would be too obvious?" he smiled, reassuring her again.
She put her head in her hands, beginning to cry again. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. I-I..." she stopped, partly not knowing what to say and partly not wanting to say anything.
"Hey, Chlo'. Shhh, it's ok." he rubbed her arm again "Jake's a great name, and he seems like a great kid."
"I wanted to tell you so bad... I didn't find out until a month or so after you left, I just told people it was some guy I was seeing. I mean, I keep to myself at work so not many people asked too many questions about the father or whatever. I mean, I would have told them it was you, but I didn't know what to do at first. I still don't know what I'm doing even now." she said.
Jack smiled again, "Calm down Chloe, I probably wouldn't have done any different in your position. Knowing me, I would have fucked things up, but you've managed to do so well."
She smiled and leaned in for a hug. "Thanks, Jack."
"So does anyone know about him though?" he asked.
"Do you mean that he exists, or that he's yours?"
"Either, both."
"Uh well, Not many people currently at CTU know, Tony and Michelle found out, well, Michelle found out and told Tony... and I had to tell Kim, eventually. Chase was mostly there for me during the pregnancy, I asked him to keep it secret until I knew what to do. I wanted to tell Kim sooner, but I didn't know how. I mean, 'Hi Kim, sorry your dad's gone for god knows how long, by the way, I'm having his baby.' it just doesn't sound right."
Jack laughed "I think it would have been just fine, Chlo'.", he said, rubbing her knee.
Rolling her eyes, "Yeah, sure, Jack."
"Well, how did you tell her? How did she take it?" he asked.
"Uh. Well, as good as can be expected, I guess. She was kind of surprised at first, but she seemed okay with it... though I'm not sure whether it was about him or us she was alright with, I mean I don't think I was her favorite person to begin with, but..." he cut her off again. She rolled her eyes, he seemed to like interrupting her train of thought, not that it made much sense anyway...
He smiled. "Chloe, she likes you just fine."
"Right. You of all people know I don't make a good first impression, or second, or third... I can't help that I'm not good with people."
"You're fine with me." he teased.
"Either way, I pretty much hid behind Chase when I told her, just in case. Not that she'd really do anything with me being pregnant and all..." she stopped herself.
"She was in the room with me, when I had him. She helped name him too. I mean, she liked my idea of Jake." she smiled shyly.
He smiled back warmly "I think it's a lovely name." he kissed her forehead and added "I'm glad she could be there for it. For you."
She felt him hesitate "What?" she frowned.
"Nothing. I just wish I could have been there for it. For everything." he gave her a half-smile, trying to reassure her.
She grabbed his hand "I wish you could have been there too. I was so worried, I mean, it wasn't like we were really dating or anything, and you were gone so suddenly. I... I hoped they were wrong" she began to sob again, the sudden rush of emotions was getting to her-shame, happiness, fear...you name it.
"Chlo', don't worry about it. I don't know how I could handle it either. I'm so sorry I left you, Chloe." he hugged her, holding tight as tears began to sting his eyes.
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Just then, a thumping came rolling down the stairs as Jake hopped down into the living room.
He stood in front of them for a second before looking to Chloe. "Mommy, I'm hungry." he said rubbing his arm shyly.
She smiled "Oh god. I'm sorry, Jake, I totally forgot about lunch." she gave him a silly smile "hang tight a sec while I make something?"
"Alright, ...I guess" he said rolling his eyes, speaking sarcastically.
Chloe rolled her eyes back and walked into the kitchen after giving Jack a nod that the conversation would continue upon her return.
Just like her, Jack thought to himself and smiled at the boy.
"So Jake, how old are ya, fifteen?" he smiled.
"Noooo, silly. I'm three, see? one, two, three." he said, counting his fingers for Jack.
"Wow, three? That's so cool."
"Yeah, it's pretty cool. You know what? I'm the top in my class and Billy says I'm the smartest person he knows...but he doesn't know that many people." he said smiling.
"Oh really? Good for you, I bet you get that from your mother. I'm pretty sure she was in the top of her class and she's the smartest person I know... well, maybe soon to be the second smartest." he smiled, giving the boy a nudge on the shoulder.
Jake giggled "No, I think mommy's the smartest in the whole world, she knows everything."
"She sure does, doesn't she?" he smiled.
"So, you into sports?" he asked Jake, wanting to know more about him. His son...
"Yeah, I'm on the Tee ball team and mom says she'll let me take skating lessons when the seasons over."
That's my boy, Jack thought and smiled.
"Cool. I used to love t-ball when I was younger. You know what though, I did it for the girls." he said jokingly.
"Eww!" he laughed and then leaned toward Jack, looking over his shoulder "There is this one girl, she's kinda fun..." he trailed off, innocently smiling.
Jack smiled as Chloe walked into the room, wondering how this boy, their son was so much like them both, without even knowing it.
"Here you go, hun, cucumber and peanut butter sandwich." she said, eying Jack and patting Jake on the head. "Honey, mind if we talk alone for a bit longer? I'll come get you in a bit, okay?"
Rolling his eyes, "Yes, momma." he started walking toward the stairs "Mom, can Jack stay for dinner?"
She laughed "Is food the only thing you think about?"
"No, I was just wondering." he gave a quick smile to Jack. "So, can he?"
"Jeez, you're persistent. It's fine with me, Jack?" she said looking over to him.
What-to hang out with the woman he loved and his son?, like you need to ask, he thought to himself. "Yeah, why not." he smiled.
"Cool." Jake said and quickly ran up stairs with his sandwich.
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"Peanut butter and cucumber?" Jack asked, cocking his eyebrow at her.
"His favourite, go figure. He definitely got some of your sense of taste. Yuck." she laughed. "The worst part is, he made me eat about a thousand of 'em when I was pregnant." she shivered playfully.
He laughed "I'm sorry, hun." he gave her a teasing smile.
Rolling her eyes-a trait which Jack noticed, was received by their son, Chloe smiled and said "Yeah right, you love my suffering."
"I do." he said simply.
"So." he said, hoping she would add to his incomplete thought.
"Do you want to tell him? I mean, later, like at dinner maybe. If...if you want to." she said nervously, not sure of a better way to ask.
He looked into her eyes, seeing her worry and frown. "Chloe," he began softly "I don't want you to ever think I wouldn't want to be a part of his life. He's my son, our son, Chloe." he held her hands in his and kissed them, keeping his eyes focused on hers. "I love you."
She started to sob again, unable to control her emotions "I'm sorry, Jack. I don't know what's wrong with me today."
He rubbed her shoulder "It's just a lot to take in. I mean, here I am after over three years, saying all this stuff to you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't be." she snapped, then lowered her voice "I mean, you didn't. I'm glad your here. I'm glad we've talked. It feels good."
"I'm glad it feels good. It feels good for me too." he said bringing her closer to him for a friendly hug.
"Want to go to the park?" she asked.
Confused, he replied "The park?"
"With Jake. I promised I'd take him to the park today, wanna come with?" she smiled at him innocently.
Nodding his head "I would be honoured, Chloe."
"Cool." she laughed, "I don't have to play football"
"Football? Nice, mommy." he smiled playfully.
"Don't get any ideas, Jackie. It's not tackle and I'm not playing" she said with a smile on her face.
"No fun." he crossed his arms over his chest, trying to mimic her scowl.
"God, you look just like him."
"I'll take that as a compliment, he's a cutie."
Rolling her eyes, yet again, she walked to the bottom of the stairs and called down Jake.
Jumping down the first few steps, he got down in seconds.
"What did I tell you about jumping down the stairs?" she said angrily.
"Sorry mom." he looked to the floor.
"That's better. Now get dressed and we'll go to the park, you and Jack can play football this time."
He looked at Jack and smiled, which Jack returned.
Sorry for the "24242424", I couldn't get the paragraph spacing to work on the site. This is my first fanfic, I will hopefully continue it for at least one more chapter. Tell me if you like it or not and hopefully why or why not.