She knew it was going to be a bad night as soon as he pulled into the driveway. Angry rock music spilled out of the car's open windows, the bass causing the car to shake. For a moment Chloe contemplated sneaking around the back and leaving before he got inside. But as the knob on the front door turned, she knew that it was too late.
The smell of alcohol rolled off of him in waves, almost strong enough to knock Chloe over. She held her ground, not letting her fear or frustration show on her face, knowing that that would only fuel him on.
"Chloe, love!" Morris said loudly when he saw her standing there.
"You're drunk," she said bluntly, crossing her arms.
"And you're actually away from your computer!" he replied expansively. "What ever could the joyous occasion be?"
"Just go to bed, Morris."
"But this is the first time in almost three weeks that I've seen my girlfriend! I wouldn't want to waste the precious time we have together – who knows how long you'll lock yourself away this time?"
"You know that what I'm doing is important, Morris."
"Of course, love. It's the most important thing in the world – Jack Bauer! None us can rest while our poor tragic hero is trapped in lands unknown!"
Chloe clenched her fists. "Don't."
"Don't? Don't what?"
"Don't you dare belittle what he's going through."
"And what exactly is he going through, Chloe? You don't even know where he is! For all we know, he's sitting on a little island somewhere, sipping daiquiris and fucking beautiful –"
She wasn't even aware that she had walked up to him until her hand lashed out and struck his cheek. Morris' head snapped to the side, his eyes widening at the fact that she had actually slapped him. Bringing his gaze back to hers, he snarled with rage and grabbed her by the throat, backing her up until she slammed into the wall.
"It's been six months, Chloe. Six months. And all you've done is sit at that damn computer, looking for your precious Jack. He's gone, and he's not coming back. If the Chinese haven't killed him already, they will soon. And even if you could find him, it wouldn't change anything – he still wouldn't love you." He saw her eyes widen at his words and he laughed cruelly. "That's right, love. I know all about your little crush on Bauer."
He stepped away then, moving down the hall to her office. She heard him opening a drawer and then slamming it shut before coming back into the living room. Getting back in her face, he held up a picture.
"Did you think I didn't know about this? I've seen you, late at night when you think I'm asleep. You pull this out and you stare at it for hours. It's really the most pathetic think I've ever seen. What was this? Some office party? Meaningless to him, and yet you carry it around like some declaration of love." Raising his other hand, Morris ripped the picture down the center, letting the pieces fall to the floor. "Pathetic," he repeated.
Moving away from her, he walked down the hall and into their bedroom, where she knew he would pass out almost instantly. Struggling to hold back her tears, Chloe sank to her knees, gently picking up the pieces of the torn picture. A voice inside her head told her that Morris was right, that she would never find Jack, and that even if she did, he would just go back to Audrey and leave her behind again.
But another voice spoke up then, louder than the first. It told her simply that it didn't matter – she had to do whatever she could to find him, and then let him go wherever he wanted. Whether or not he had any feelings for her didn't change the fact that he needed her, that she had to save him.
Her resolve strengthening, Chloe pushed herself up from the floor, letting her gaze travel around the apartment. By morning she would have all her stuff packed and be gone – and she would find Jack, even if it took her last breath to do it. He needed her, and that was all that mattered.