"Eye of the Beholder" was a oneshot, but I think this story's going to have more than 1 chapter.
A Million Years
Chapter 1- Lost and Found
I've just been called back to CTU after just sitting down on a bench. Morris is here and he seems concerned, but I know he's just trying to end the day with sex.
"What's the matter, babe?" Morris asks.
"First of all, don't call me babe, and second of all, none of your business." I feel my pocket for the picture of Edgar and a tear forms in my eye, but I blink it away.
"Where are you going?" he asks, watching me stand up.
"Back to CTU."
"Can I drive you?"
"Morris! Forget it, I'm not taking you back!"
"Yeah I know," he smirks, "I'm just trying to be a gentleman."
"As hard as you may try, being a gentleman won't earn you any points,"
"Whatever," Morris sighs, "have a nice life,"
I roll my eyes and hail a cab. I direct the cab driver to take me to CTU, and he does.
"Did you hear about the president?" he asks me.
"Which one, Logan?"
"Yeah. It just said on the news that he was responsible for, uh, Palmer's death,"
"Well you know what? Without my help, no one would've known about that. Also, I've had a rough day and I don't really want to talk!"
"Geez, lady, take it easy."
I mumble a few curses and bow my head.
"Here you are," the cab driver murmurs.
I get out and pay him. Wow, I haven't been here for so long, I think sarcastically.
The gate guard nods his head in my direction and I show him my security clearance. He nods again and I roll my eyes. I do that a lot.
The elevator sounds off a PING and just like that, I'm back in the bullpen.
Bill runs up to me with his awkward/funny/really stupid run and pants when he reaches me.
"Chloe, thank God you're here!" He says in between pants.
I hold myself from laughing and raise an eyebrow. "What's the matter?"
"Audrey just got back, and she said that a call came in for Jack. When she went to check on him, he was gone."
My sarcastic expression changed to fear.
I haven't told anyone, not even my mother, but I'm secretly, well, in love with Jack. I don't tell anyone, and hide my feelings for him because a) he's with Audrey and b) he's way out of my league. Earlier today, everyone saw what my "league" is, Spencer. Pretty sad.
Jack's tough on the outside, and the inside, but I've seen short moments of his softer, more sensitive moments.
The CTU Christmas party, for instance, he asked me to dance. I didn't tell him, but it was the happiest moment of my life. Another example, Tony's trial. Jack had small tears in his eyes. It was rare to ever see Jack Bauer in a soft/vulnerable stage, and I'm lucky I'm one of the few people who've seen that side of him.
But now he's gone, and no one knows where he is.
"Any suspects?" I ask, taking deep breaths.
"Audrey said that the man who'd told Jack about the phone call was Chinese, so I'm guessing the Chinese government is our biggest bet."
I nod, breath more heavily. "Because he killed their consulate,"
Bill nods, glancing over at Audrey, who was sitting at Edgar's station. Anger. Audrey has no right to sit in Edgar's seat. Only Edgar can sit in Edgar's seat, no one else. And now he's dead, so there's no possible way that that seat is going to get any use anymore.
"We need you to pull up some satellite images of the harbor. We're betting that if the Chinese are taking Jack somewhere, it's China, and the best way to get there without really being noticed is by boat."
I nod again and go to my station.
"Chloe, please help me find Jack. I need him!"
I roll my eyes. "Audrey, we're gonna find him. And we're not only helping you, we're helping everyone who cares about him."
"But I'm the only one who really counts, and it's not like you care about Jack as more than just someone from work."
"I am one of the people who knew that he wasn't really dead. And you know why I'm one of those people, do ya, Audrey?"
Audrey glares at me and shakes her head.
"Because he trusts me. And I trust him. He trusts me because he cares about me. And I care about him, okay?"
"Just stop being such a know-it-all and start helping me find my lover!"
I huff and turn to my computer. Audrey is such a controlling, Jack-hogging bitch.
I just feel like slapping her right now, because she's being so perfect and innocent, all dressed up in her original Calvin Klein suit (or whatever designer she wears), courtesy of "daddy".
I'm working on the satellite photos, when Bill walks up to Audrey. She immediately starts flirting with him, which seems to work, because Bill flirts as well. He puts his arm around her shoulder and cups her cheek with his free hand. He manages to whisper that it'll be okay, and I feel like gagging.
Dear God, if Jack can hear me, AUDREY IS FLIRTING WITH BILL, I pray.
"Bill, I've got the satellite pictures," I say, purposely interrupting his "moment" with Audrey.
"Good, good. Check for any boat that was headed toward China,"
"I did. Two boats are headed there. One cruise ship, and one cargo ship."
"Check the cargo ship,"
He turns his attention back to Audrey.
"Chloe's gonna find Jack, don't worry."
She starts to fake-whimper and nods.
I'd really love to kick her to the floor and slap her and burn all her clothes. But I, being Chloe O'Brian, have more self-control than that.
I try looking at the cargo ship's security footage, but it's password protected. Edgar was great at cracking passwords, and I just wish he could be here now to help us find Jack.
"Bill," I say, clearing my throat, "if you're not too busy…we need a password to get into the security footage."
Bill gives Audrey one last lingering look, and then turns to me.
"Try anything to do with the consulate," he orders.
"Great idea," I say, sarcastically, rolling my eyes once again.
"You know Chloe, this isn't all about you. If you wanna save Jack, you should probably stop being so sarcastic all the time," Audrey pipes in.
Dear God almighty, please, just kill her! A building could fall on her; her plane could crash, ANYTHING!
I try every single name in the Chinese government, and finally, crack the code.
The security footage only shows a little bit of whats happening in the bottom room. Four Chinese men beating up some bloody white guy. I zoom in on the white guy and notice that it's Jack.