Prompt: Rain
Chase was borrowing Chloe's car that day and CTU was about to close. It was pouring rain outside and Chloe had nothing but a loose long-sleeved shirt, work pants and high heels. She stared out from the window with her head rested against it and wondered if she should just convince whoever was left to let her borrow a CTU van for the night.
"Chloe. I thought you'd be home by now."
Chloe jumped and turned around, startled by the sudden appearance of her boss, Jack Bauer. Chloe couldn't even say a word at this; Jack must have scared them away, too. She brought herself to say something anyway.
"Hi, Jack." She didn't know what to exactly ay. "I… Chase is borrowing my car, and I was just wondering how I would get home without getting soaked."
"I can walk you home." Jack offered, a small grin playing on his face, "I walked this morning to CTU, too. I can't say that was the best decision of my life."
"Yeah, we live in the same apartment. That's a good idea." Chloe pressed her lips together and nodded in agreement.
Jack opened the door and held it for Chloe. He smiled at her, and she smiled at him. It seemed fake, because Chloe never smiled much when she was at work… even if it was the place where she was accepted the most.
Outside, it was pouring rain, and it was ricocheting off the ground and into the air a bit, and then hitting the ground hard and either seeping into the wet dirt or streaming to the sewers.
Chloe, still protected by CTU's roof, felt something warm on her back and shoulders. She looked to see Jack's coat wrapped around her. Chloe took it in her fingers and wrapped herself even tighter in it, savoring the heat.
"Thanks. What about you?"
"You're welcome. I'm fine."
They began to walk at the same pace in the rain. Jack seemed to take no effect from it. As a matter of fact, he looked as though he were enjoying the cold. Chloe, however, was hunched over and trying to preserve her own body heat.
"Do you want to talk about something?" Chloe asked.
"I didn't know you were into small talk." Jack chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Not really. I just didn't want to be… you know, rude. I've been trying to improve myself." Chloe sniffled.
"Improving? You're just fine."
"Personality disorder." she mumbled.
"I don't know who's wanting you to change, Chloe, but I think that you're just fine. As a matter of fact, you've got a good sense of humor from it."
"My doctor doesn't think so."
"Your doctor doesn't work with you daily."
"Thanks, Jack."
All of a sudden, the rain was no longer falling over Chloe's head. She looked up and saw the roof of her apartment above her and the door was straight ahead. She took Jack's coat off awkwardly and handed it to him.
"Here. I'm sorry I put you through this trouble. It won't happen again."
"It wasn't trouble. It was nice." Jack replied. "Thanks, Chloe. I'll see you at CTU tomorrow." He smiled.
Chloe smiled back. They walked into the heat-filled lobby and shook hands, like many other co-workers did, and parted ways.
