Title: Close to Perfect 1/?
Author: Lady Taevyn
Rating: PG
Summary: Chloe realizes that Jack has gotten under her skin. Post day 3, so it's still early in their knowing each other.
Disclaimer: The characters in this story aren't mine, thank god. I'd have totally had them having sex in their second scene together if they were. No infringement intended, I'll put them back just the way I found them.
Chloe was at a loss. Jack was crowding her at her work station again, and she didn't even feel a panic attack starting; normally she'd be half way through one by now. For some inexplicable reason she was actually the opposite, she was absolutely calm. Generally for a person to get as close to Chloe as Jack was right now they had to know her really well. In all honesty the only people that got this close to her were her parents, Chase, and Morris. It may seem pathetic to most people but to Chloe this was practically perfection; like being curled up on a cold rainy day with a good book and a warm drink. As he straightened to walk away Jack's arm brushed against her back and Chloe had to stop herself from whining at the loss of his warmth. Instead she fell back to her comfort zone, sarcasm.
"You know, most people prefer some personal space." The remark was aimed at his back as he retreated; she almost hoped he hadn't heard it. No such luck. He just shot what she would call a knowing smile over his shoulder as he walked to the steps. It was almost as if he could tell he was wearing her down, she was pathetic she wouldn't last two minutes in an interrogation. When her desk phone rang a few seconds later she answered it wearily.
"I like your personal space," he said in that smooth velvet voice that Chloe had termed his 'seduction voice'. Seriously, he could probably talk a nun out of her habit with that tone. Chloe sputtered for a second, totally out of her element. She heard him chuckle and that was her undoing. She wouldn't be any good for the rest of the day. Thankfully as she hung up the phone and looked at the clock on her computer it was 5:45, she could leave in 15 minutes. If she thought she would get away easily Chloe was sorely mistaken. With just five minutes left till she could shut down her station her phone rang once again. She was tempted to ignore it, almost certain as she was that it was Jack. Sadly that wasn't an option.
"O'Brien." She answered coldly, not really sure why.
"Come up to my office after you shut your station down for the night." It wasn't so much an order as a whispered request. He had hung up before she could even think to formulate a response; that above all else infuriated her. Nobody hangs up on Chloe O'Brien, and here mister 'Velvet voice' had done it twice in as many minutes. She was of half a mind to ignore his 'request' but something deep inside wouldn't let her. 'It's your damned sex drive', she told herself, angry at her loss of control when it came to Jack Bauer. After shutting her computer down and locking her desk drawers Chloe took her time walking across the floor and up the steps. She was going to draw this out as long as possible. He motioned her in through the glass walls before she had the chance to knock. He was on his cell phone so she sat quietly biding her time.
"Thanks Emma, I owe you one." Jack ended the conversation and snapped his phone shut, his mind already working on how to get the woman in front of him to agree to accompany him to dinner.
"What do you want Jack, it's been a long day and I just want to have it over with." Chloe asked folding her arms in front of her, as much out of need for self assurance as to keep from twisting her hands.
"There's no need to get defensive, I just wanted to take you out to dinner. You work hard, and should be appreciated for it." His response disarmed her. How could she turn down the offer without coming across as completely heartless? She couldn't, easy as that. Damnit, there was no way to get out of this.
"Ok, but do I have time to go home and change at least?" She knew her tone was begrudging but couldn't be bothered to change it.
"Yes, but wear something nice, not casual. I'll pick you up in an hour; that'll give you enough time, right?" He was all sugary sweetness now. Chloe still wasn't sure what was going on. This could easily be as he said an appreciative thank you for all the hard work she does, but he could just as easily turn it into a date. As she stood to leave the office Jack took it one step further and winked at her. 'What the hell did that mean?' She thought to herself taking the steps quickly wanting to distance herself from him before she gave in and asked out loud.