Here is chapter 2. Let me know what you think. Thanks again to Tigerlily my beta she did a great job. This story would not be as good as it is without her help.
Chloe made breakfast for all of them. All three of them sat down at the table together. No one spoke – there was just the clicking of forks against the plates and the sound of chewing.
Morris studied Jack and Chloe separately. They didn't seem like they had feelings for each other, but Morris knew the truth. Chloe learned to hide it well over the years – she loved Jack Bauer but Chloe would always come back to him, she always did because she needed him to feel worthwhile. Her self-worth was tied to him, without him she was nothing and she knew it.
Suddenly Jack left the table and disappeared into the bathroom where the sounds of retching could be heard. Morris looked at Chloe, but she had already followed Jack into the bathroom.
He could hear their soft conversation, but not what was being said. He waited for them for them to come back out, but they stayed in there five, ten minutes and they had not returned.
Sighing heavily, Morris cleaned the plates, scraped the excess food into the garbage and loaded the dishwasher. Then he went down the hall. The bathroom was empty and he found them sitting on the floor of the bedroom that was now Jack's. Chloe was draped across his lap and her arms were around him while he spoke. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, his voice rising and falling, and Morris could only understand a few words: "Darkness… alone… pain… Chloe… light… falling."
Turning away from them, Morris walked away feeling like a voyeur. He had seen something very private. Morris decided that he could not begrudge Jack a few moments of comfort. The man had been through hell. He understood why Jack would turn to Chloe. What Jack went through the last twenty months was unimaginable. Morris's steps slowed, ashamed that he had not held out for a fraction of that time when Fayed had tortured him.
Another thing that he had failed and Jack Bauer succeeded. He walked down the hall, wondering if he could ever win against Jack Bauer. As long as there was that trust between them, Chloe would choose Jack, at least until he left her again. The two of them had such a strange relationship – she trusted Jack so explicitly that there was very little room to trust anyone else.
He sat down on the couch only to get up again. Pausing, he wrote Chloe a note and left. He would sleep better in his own bed. Now that Jack was here, was there even a place for him? Closing the door behind him, he hoped that he would not see Chloe's eyes full of love for Jack. Now all he had to do was think of a plan to come between them.
JC 24 JC
Chloe followed Jack into the bathroom, knowing he needed her. Her heart constricted as she watched him empty his stomach into the toilet. She should have realized that his stomach would not be ready for such rich food yet. He hadn't had anything to eat yesterday either. Jack probably hadn't had a decent meal in who knows how long. She should have started with something lighter for him than scrambled eggs and bacon, but her meal options were limited. She was a horrible cook. "Jack, are you all right? Do you need anything?"
"Water, please," he croaked, dropping down against the tub.
Chloe held out a cup and a cloth to wash his face. Jack lifted his hand to use the cloth but his hand trembled. Reaching out she took it from him and wiped away the remains of the incident. He sighed deeply at her touch, her kindness. It had been too long since anyone had shown him that. Next she brought the glass to his lips, her other hand to the back of his head, helping him drink the water. He drank all the water, her body pressed against his, offering him comfort and the presence of another person.
Once she was sure he was not going to throw up again, Chloe said, "Jack, let's get you into bed. It's been a long day."
She felt him nod and together they stood stumbling through the door into the adjoining bedroom. Part of the way their legs got snarled and they fell together in a heap.
Jack had managed to gain enough control of their descent that he was able to position himself on the bottom. He gave a grunt of pain as he hit the floor and Chloe landed on top. Neither of them moved, both of them enjoying the closeness for different reasons: Chloe because she loved Jack and Jack because he was able to hold another human close.
A thought came to him. "Chloe, is the baby all right?" His hand moved down to touch her still flat stomach.
Her eyes closed at his touch on her stomach. He was the first man to touch her there in that way since she had found out about the baby. Not even thinking, she reached down and covered his hand. "It's fine, Jack. I'm pregnant, not made of glass."
Her comment made him laugh. Surprised, she looked up and their eyes met. Something passed between them but both of them looked away before they could give a name to it.
Jack sat up and leaned against the bed, pulling Chloe up with him so she was seated across his lap. She knew that she should move but neither of them wanted to totally break the spell that they had created in the last few minutes.
"Talk me, Jack. What was it like?Tell me what you can. You need to tell someone." She reached up and touched his face gently. "Please let me help you."
At her kindness, tears began to fall. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, Jack began to talk. "It was the darkness. It was so heavy, it threatened to swallow me. I was all alone inside it. It was all I had – the darkness and the pain. Chloe, you bring me light, you stopped me from falling into the chasm that was there before me waiting to consume my soul. It was the thought that you were out there somewhere alive, living a new life that kept me from losing it all. You helped me stay strong.
"But I can't let you too close. I carry a curse, Chloe. Heller was right, you've seen what happens to people who get too close to me. They end up dead, Chloe, and I don't want that to happen to you."
His words were rushed and muffled as he spoke into her hair. Tightening her arms around him, she silently told him that she understood what he meant because he did the same for her. Her darkness wasn't as deep or encompassing, but knowing he was alive out there somewhere and could someday return to her had eased her darkness.
His sobbing calmed and she could tell that he was almost asleep. Shaking him gently, she said, "Jack, you need to get into bed. I didn't bring you all this way to let you sleep on the floor."
She slipped off his lap and out of his arms. Turning, Chloe offered her hand, helping him to his feet. Jack went from standing on his feet to dropping on the bed in one fluid motion. He immediately curled up into the fetal position. Reaching out, she pulled off his shoes. By the time she dropped the shoes on the floor he was asleep and she covered him with the blanket she had crocheted for him while he was gone in China. With every stitch she had kept her belief alive that he would come back to her. She knew that it was silly, but she had to do something those lonely nights or she would have gone insane.
With one last glance at the man, Chloe left the room, leaving him to sleep, hoping that his exhaustion would keep away the nightmares that were sure to come.
In the kitchen, she read Morris's note, grateful that he was gone. She had actually forgotten all about him. She wondered what he had seen and what would happen, but didn't really care. She allowed him to be there because she feared there would never be anyone else. He had broken up with her earlier today and was only hanging around because of the baby. He thought that it would be enough to tie her to Morris forever, and in a way it would, just not the way Morris hoped. She and Morris were over.
She looked around the room, wondering what still needed to be clean up. Nothing, Morris had cleaned up the food. Her gaze fell on the phone. She should call Kim – she needed to know about Jack.
Lifting the phone, she dialed the younger woman's number. It rang three times and then Kim's voice came over the line, "Hello, Chloe. How are you after what happened yesterday? Did you lose anyone you knew?"
Since Chloe had called Kim twenty months ago to tell her that Jack was gone again, this time not by his choice, they had become not friends, but acquaintances. Kim was someone who she could talk to about Jack and not worry about giving something away. They both understood the world that Chloe lived in. Kim's view was not as clear as Chloe's, but it was someone to talk to.
Chloe's emotions rushed back at the memory of Curtis and the man who had to shoot him today, Jack. Tears gathered in her eyes. "Yes, Curtis. He was shot by..." her voice trailed off. There was no use stalling now. "By your father." She swallowed. "He's back Kim."
"What, Dad 's back? China actually let him go? Where is he, Chloe? How do you know he's not gone again? That he hasn't just disappeared out of our lives?" Kim's voice was strained and Chloe knew that she was crying.
Knowing that Kim needed some reassurance, she walked down the hall to look at Jack for her. "He is here at my apartment. He's sleeping now, I am looking at him. Kim you know that I would not lie, not to you."
Sighing, Kim said, "I know that, Chloe. It was just a shock. I never thought they would let him go. What changed? A few days ago you told me that they denied even having him."
"The President made a deal; your father's life for the location of the terrorist responsible for the attacks. He was supposed to die yesterday, at the hands of the terrorist, a man named Fayed. They used him as a bargaining chip to stop the attacks. Your dad found out that Fayed lied and he escaped. He wants to see you Kim, but don't unless you are ready. Today was horrible, your grandfather was involved and he killed your uncle, made Jack think that he caused it. They arrange for China to know where he was. Your grandfather tried to kidnap Josh, and he died when Jack went in to get Josh. His own family sold him out. He is so close to breaking Kim."
"Tell him that I love him, but I can't see him, not yet. I'm not ready for it. I need to think about this. I don't want to cause him any more pain. Chloe, watch over him, keep him safe. Only you can do it, he needs you." Chloe had always wondered if Kim knew how she felt about Jack and now she knew for sure. Kim knew that Chloe loved her father and that was why she trusted him, or maybe she loved him because of the trust.
Kim spoke again, drawing Chloe out of her thoughts, "You need some sleep too. Love him, Chloe, he needs you. Tell him..." she paused, "Tell him I will see him soon. Just not yet."
Sighing heavily, Chloe said, "Yes, I will. He loves you too. I heard it when he spoke about you earlier." Chloe tried to fight the yawn that came. "I need to sleep now. I will call you later, probably tomorrow. If you need anything, just call and leave a message. I am shutting off the ringer. Kim, I will do whatever he will let me. Goodbye."
Kim's goodbye was soft and the two women hung up the phone.
24 JC 24
Jack slept until the next afternoon. When he woke it was dark and for just a moment he was back in China in his small dark cell. Then yesterday came rushing back and he was not sure which was worse. Curtis, Audrey, and the nukes he couldn't stop in time or what his father had done not only to Jack, but to those innocent people who had done nothing wrong.
After he laid there for a while, Chloe knocked on his door. "Can I come in, Jack?"
Taking a deep breath. "Yes." He was not sure he really wanted to see anyone. The weight of the day before still pressed against him chest.
Chloe entered the room with a tray bearing a bowl of soup and toast. "You need to eat something, Jack. You need to gain back some of that weight. You don't look healthy."
Laying the tray down in his lap, she waited for him to eat. He took a few bites, hoping that was all she needed to see before she would leave, but he was disappointed. She grabbed the chair and set it closer to the bed. "Eat, Jack. I am not leaving until everything is gone off that tray."
Resigned, he ate the rest of the meal and was surprised when he felt better. Chloe grabbed the tray and turned to leave but changed her mind. Turning back to him she said, "I talked to Kim."
Her eyes met his. "And...?" he asked.
"She isn't ready to see you. Jack, she just got her life back together. After China grabbed you she went to Chase and they reconciled. She just had a baby two months ago. They.." she paused trying to gain control of her emotions, "They named him Jack, after you."
In spite of his pain, he smiled at her words. There was hope and he grabbed on to it. "Jack… they named him Jack. Can you get me a picture?"
Smiling that smile, she answered, "I have some. I will get them for you. Kim told me to tell you that she loves you. She wants to see you, but Kim just wants a little time. She will call when she is ready."
After leaving the tray in the kitchen, Chloe grabbed the album Kim had given her when Kim and Chase asked her to be Jack's godmother. She gave it to Jack and left him alone with his grandson, hoping that it would give him a small measure of peace.
24 JC 24
At first Jack had only intended to stay a few days. It made sense. She had some of his things from before he faked his death. Kim had asked Chloe to help her clear out his apartment when he 'died.' Chloe had kept some of the things she thought he might want someday, and his clothes. But the right time to leave never came – he still could not make himself face the world outside her door.
Eventually, they fell into a sort of routine. Chloe would go to work and Jack would mope around the house. Most of his time was spent sleeping or just sitting on her balcony, staring at the word but having no desire to join it.
Each night, Chloe would cook dinner and force him to eat, because she knew he didn't eat unless she made him. Sometimes Morris joined them, but those meals were strained and uncomfortable for everyone.
For dinner one night Chloe had made chicken and rice. It was a night that Morris was not there. Jack lifted the first bite to his mouth. Everything went dark and he was back in that dark cell in China where he couldn't tell the difference between the maggots and the rice.
The fork and plate clattered against the floor and Jack moved away from the table and tried to control the wave of terror that washed over him, paralyzing him. The darkness threatened to consume him as he stared out the glass doors to the balcony. Opening the door, he walked out and stood by the railing, letting the cool air rush over him, reminding him that he was free and no longer in that cage. Jack decided it was the smell and texture of the rice that caused the reaction.
Behind him he felt her presence hovering near him, almost touching his back. Since he had come to live in her house, they never touched, at least not intentionally, not since that first night. They both seemed afraid of what might happen. Her nearness pushed back the blackness and he felt the grip of the panic lessen.
"Jack, are you all right?" He could hear the worry in her voice.
He leaned against the rail, ashamed at his reaction, "I will be. Sorry about the mess." His voice was husky.
Then he heard her sigh and there was a whisper of her fingers on his back. "Don't worry about it. I'll clean up." Chloe moved away but he knew that she was close and would be at his side if he needed her. Behind him he heard cupboard open and shut and the clink of dishes to remind him he was not alone.
Her footsteps returned slowly, so she didn't startle him. Pressing a cup into his hand, she watched him drank the glass of water in one gulp. This time she did not leave – instead she leaned against the railing beside him. She was close, but not close enough to crowd him. Her proximity helped him focus on the fact that when she was near, he was safe and he could feel himself relaxing. "If you need me, I'll be inside." She touched his cheek and left him alone with his thoughts.
Once the patio door shut, Jack let the tears flow. He should leave her, but he couldn't let her go, not yet.
A few minutes later he came back in to the table, the other meal was gone and replaced by peanut butter and jam sandwiches. He smiled as they sat down to eat again. Chloe took his hand and squeezed it, "Jack, it will get better. If you ever want talk, I'm here, because I was there, well, for most of it. Jack, I didn't see it the way you did, but I heard it all. I was there with you and I understand what you went through." She smiled crookedly and squeezed his hand again.
Jack nodded and left it at that. Maybe one day he could talk more about what had happened in China, but not now, not today. Jack studied Chloe. She knew who he was in a way that Audrey, Kate and even Teri never would. Most of all, she never pushed him to do something before he was ready.
This story is finished and if you want me to post it quickly you will have to review. I'm feeling a little devious so be warned.
