As always, I didn't, don't and never will own '24', Jack, Chloe, or anyone else who happens to be….not mine. I DO however own JJ. He's mine. Take THAT, '24' writers. Please review after reading, I like to see if I'm actually hitting the mark when it comes to my writing. Thanks, and happy reading!

-A

Chloe O'Brien sighed heavily as she stumbled through the door. Rain was pouring from the sky, her shoe had a broken heel, and she was weighed down with a week's worth of groceries that were threatening to break through the plastic bags at any moment. Her son, who she balanced in the crook of her arm, found the whole ordeal rather humorous. Chloe shot the toddler a look. "Its not funny, JJ." She mumbled as she maneuvered her way through the foyer, dumping the groceries in the floor and placing the boy in his playpen. She looked around the house. Other than the security lights, the house was dark. She stepped quietly down the still hallway and into the bedroom, hoping he was just in bed. No luck. The bed was made, his clean laundry still folded on his pillow, evidence that he still wasn't home from work. Shaking her head, she made her way back into the kitchen and started putting up the food. Six months ago she would have been worried sick at his absence. Now it was nothing new.

Almost two years had passed since Jack had reappeared in her life and their son had been born. The two had married shortly after, and moved into a smaller, more comfortable home farther from the city. She had to be fair, Jack was a wonderful father. From the day they brought their son Jack Jr, affectionately known as JJ, home from the hospital he had made the child his entire world. He was a regular Mr. Mom, changing diapers and feeding the preemie in the three hour intervals the doctor had required while Chloe recuperated. At first all had seemed well, but as time went on she found that their relationship had drifted. Jack had drifted. While Chloe had all but quit doing on-location work for CTU, just coming in once a week and doing the rest of her tasks from home, Jack had become more involved in his duties than he had ever been. Long hours in the office and days away from home were nothing unusual. In the past two months alone, Chloe could almost count how many times he had spent the night at home, and she could count how many times they had been together when he was, which was zero. She barely saw him, and when she did he was either too tired to carry on a conversation or too busy and irritable to be bothered. They had had some rather heated discussions about it on several occasions that usually ended with Jack shouting about how he was doing the best he could, and then shutting himself in his office while she stewed in the living room and watched Sesame Street with JJ.

Now she was sitting on the couch, flipping channels on the television and watching JJ toddle around on the floor and stick inedible objects in his mouth. She smiled wearily, reaching over to muss his sandy blonde hair. "Oh, you." She sighed as she placed him in her lap. "You look just like your daddy." JJ giggled and kicked playfully. "Da!" He squealed, anxiously looking at the front door. Chloe shook her head. "Nope, daddy's not here." She told him wearily. This didn't seem to phase the toddler, who had gotten down from Chloe's lap and was now entranced in the zoo animals that were on David Letterman. Stretching out on the couch, Chloe had almost dozed off when she felt a familiar vibration on her thigh. She picked up her phone and glanced at the display. One new voicemail. She bit her lip as she listened to the message.

"Chloe, its Jack. I won't be home tonight, I have to finish some things here at the office. Tell JJ goodnight for me, and I'll see you…soon." He paused as if he was ready to hang up, then cleared his throat. "Happy anniversary, Chloe." He said finally, followed by the click of the receiver ending the recording. She sighed, tossing the phone down on the couch cushion. "C'mon, JJ…" She whispered, picking the boy up. "You've stayed up too late already. Time for bed." He whined softly, rubbing his eyes sleepily. She carried him to the nursery, tucked him in, and turned out the light. As she headed to the empty bedroom, she glanced at the picture on the coffee table. She and Jack holding JJ the day they brought him home from the hospital. Everything was all smiles then. Now she felt lucky if he even kissed her good morning. As she laid her head on the pillow she could feel the burn of tears in her eyes.

"Happy anniversary…" She murmured quietly as she drifted off to sleep.