Disclaimer: I don't own 24...obviously, because if I did Tony and Michelle would have been together from the beginning and would still be ALIVE!

Author's Note: Sorry if this is a little repetitive of some of the other stuff on this site...I've been reading T/M stuff and really wanted to write my own. I'm new at this and want to know how it is, so please review...constructive criticism would be appreciated!

"Dessler."

"Hey. Can I see you in my office?" Michelle turned in her chair to look up at Tony, who she had been dating for two years.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a sec. You want me to bring you that new protocol, right?" she asked coyly, knowing perfectly well he wasn't interested in that. She bit her lip and twirled a lock of curly hair around her finger.

"Mmhmm...that's what I want," he said, blacking out the office windows. She laughed and hung up. Picking up a useless folder so she could at least pretend to have business there, she walked up the stairs and entered his office.

"Tony?" He wasn't at his desk.

"Hey, sweetheart." He swooped out from behind the door and grabbed her around the waist, laughing as he spun her around to kiss her. She let herself enjoy it, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her tongue across his lips. "I was thinking..." he said, "how much I like it when you wear that skirt."

"I know," she laughed, "you picked it out for me this morning." The pair had spent the night together like they did every night - the only reason they still had separate apartments was because someone at CTU would notice if they had the same address.

"You have a point. How 'bout we stay at my place tonight, and you pack another skirt like that so you can wear it tomorrow?"

"I don't know...it seems to make it harder for you to keep your hands off me," she replied with a smile.

"Chelle...no matter what you're wearing, whenever I'm near you at work it just drives me crazy that I have to keep my distance. I know it would cause problems if Division found out about us, but it's so hard to act like we're just coworkers and I'm not counting down the minutes till I can get you home."

"I know, Tony...but it makes sneaking away like this all the more exciting," she said, flirting. "You know, it's hard for me to concentrate on work when I can feel you looking at me, wanting me...it makes me wish we could just stay up here all day." She leaned in and kissed him, running her fingers through his hair. "Chelle..." he groaned."You're so addicting." He moved toward the couch and lowered her onto it, then climbed on top of her, pressing them closer together. "I just can't get enough..." Neither heard the door open.

"What the hell?!" Jack looked shocked, but not angry.

Tony cursed. "Don't you knock?" he asked, jumping off Michelle and running his fingers through his hair. She stood and quickly tried to straighten out her clothes.

"I didn't think there would really be any reason to...but I guess I was wrong!" He still didn't sound angry...uncertain, yes, maybe even amused? "Tony...you know the rules about relationships in the workplace."

"Yeah, that's why we've kept it a secret, and we certainly haven't let it interfere with our work!" His eyes warned Jack not to go there now, not to bring up Nina in front of Michelle.

"Alright..." Jack got the message. "It's really none of my business, I won't mention it to Chappell. And next time...be a little more careful."

"Thanks, Jack." Tony knew they would talk more about it later, when they were alone. The two men had formed a bond years ago, when they had both loved and been betrayed by the same woman. Michelle was obviously nothing like Nina, but Jack knew the scars from the past would still influence any relationship Tony had with someone from the office.

Jack opened the door to leave, then turned around. "Tony, Michelle...I'm glad you're together. It's about time." With that, he left the two alone.

Michelle let out the breath she had been holding, and started to laugh. "Wow! That could have been a lot worse, if it had been Chappell!"

Tony was relieved - he hadn't been sure if she would be OK with Jack knowing about them. The last thing either of them wanted was for anyone to think Michelle was getting special treatment from him, or that he was taking advantage of his position as her boss. "I think I almost would have preferred Chappell over Chloe, think how awkward that would have been!"

Imagining that scene, Michelle had to smile. "I like Chloe, even if she does have the social skills of a six year old."

"So do I, but she can sure make things uncomfortable...maybe I should try to keep my hands off you for a couple hours till we can go home," he said reluctantly.

"Good idea," she agreed. "Getting caught once is enough for today!"

"I don't know...it might be worth it," he said, closing the distance between them to kiss her again. She slipped her tongue into his mouth before pulling away, purposefully driving him crazy. "Chelle..." he growled.

She laughed. "Two hours. Then we can leave...are we still planning on going to dinner tonight?"

"In public?" he said, obviously not liking the idea. "How about I keep you in my apartment all night...I'll cook."

"Now that's an idea I like. I'll be there around six."

She left, and Tony tried to concentrate on finishing up the report he was working on. He was so in love with her it scared him sometimes. The first time he laid eyes on her he decided she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and as he got to know her, he felt himself falling hard. For a year he told himself they could never be more than friends, because they worked together. Nina had shown him firsthand why office relationships were such a bad idea. Plus, he and Michelle had become good friends, and he didn't want to mess that up. So as much as he wanted to tell her how much he cared for her, he settled for lunches grabbed between meetings at work, talking over coffee in the break room, and occasionally driving together to work-related events. Then, in the middle of a crisis, she had basically asked him out - stuttering, blushing, and adorable. He had told her that they would get dinner and a movie when the day was over, and still managed to keep some type of hold on his emotions. That went out the window later that day when she KISSED him. At first, he hadn't known if it was because she was upset and vulnerable, but when she apologized, he just had to stop her by kissing her back. They pretended it hadn't happened till the day from hell was over, and the next night they had dinner and watched a movie at Tony's...and stayed there for almost all of the 3 days off they had been given.

Tony was distracted from his thoughts by a knock at the door. Jack's head poked inside. "Not interrupting anything, am I?" he joked. "Seriously, though, sorry about earlier. I was just shocked - I mean, I knew you and Michelle are crazy about each other, I just didn't know you both knew it too. How long have you been dating?"

"Two years...since the day of the nuke," Tony admitted.

"Wow, I have to give you credit for being able to keep it a secret that long! Is it serious?" The two men didn't usually have serious conversations, but they were comfortable enough with each other that Tony answered the question.

"I'm in love with her, Jack. Everything about her is so perfect, I just can't imagine ever being without her. We've pretty much been living together for a while now, but we keep our separate apartments so CTU doesn't find out."

"You know I'm happy for you, Tony, and I really think you two can handle working together and being in a relationship. I know you're waiting for me to bring up Nina, but we both know Michelle is nothing like her. I've trusted Michelle with my life countless times, and I want you to be happy together."

"Thanks, Jack. It means a lot." Tony really was glad to have Jack's agreement on this. He did love Michelle and knew she would never betray him, CTU, or the country, but Nina had left scars on his trust. To be involved like that with her, then find out she was using him...it wasn't a feeling he would ever forget, and he knew Jack understood that better than anyone. After all, Nina had done more than use him, she had killed his wife - whom Jack had cheated on with her. To know that Jack could see the differences between Nina and Michelle too was another step towards putting Tony's fears to rest.

"So I take it you and Michelle are getting together tonight?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, we're having dinner at my place."

"I'll let you finish up here then, I'm sure you're dying to get to that," he said smirk.

"Bye, Jack. And thanks."