Jack paced the halls as he and Bill anxiously awaited word from the doctor.

"I still don't get why I can't sit and wait with Chloe."

Bill sighed as he repeated once again, "Jack, the doctor is with her right now. He needs to check her out. Also, she might be confused as to why her husband is not wearing a wedding ring."

Jack glared back at the older man, but said nothing because he knew Bill was right and also that Bill was just as worried about Chloe as he was. Well, nearly as worried.

But he couldn't just pace in silence so he asked again, "So tell me again what happened when she woke up."

Bill sighed again, "I told you several times already, Jack." As Jack's glare increased in intensity he continued, "She woke up, asked where she was. I told her. Then she asked if her husband was all right. I was stunned, obviously, and I thought she was just confused. And then she said that she needed to see her husband, Jack. I asked Jack who? She gave me that look she usually saves for incompetent idiots and then she said that her husband, Jack Bauer, was with her when the warehouse blew up and that she was afraid you were hurt. She didn't seem to remember that you were with her when she woke up the first time. I told her you were fine and that you'd be there soon."

Bill was saved from further questioning as the doctor emerged from Chloe's room.

"What's going on?" Jack asked before the doctor could say a word.

"Why don't we take a seat?" he said and led them to the nearby waiting room.

Once everyone was seated Jack repeated his question.

The doctor looked over at him and smiled, "Luckily there were no major injuries during the explosion. Ms. O'Brien suffered a few bruised ribs. It appears that she may have tried to escape her kidnappers and was hit or kicked a few times. She has several other bruises besides that. She also has a concussion from the explosion. Other then that there are no other physical problems."

"I don't understand," Jack said, "If there's nothing major wrong, why does she think she's my wife."

The doctor shrugged his shoulder, "We aren't really sure. It's not a physical head injury causing the amnesia, so we believe it is psychological."

"So she's just making it up?" Bill asked.

"Oh, no," the doctor assured quickly, "She truly believes that she and Mr. Bauer are married. From what you've told me about the day it seems that Ms. O'Brien suffered serious physical, emotional and psychological stress. She was betrayed by a man she was involved with, chased, almost killed and finally kidnapped and very nearly blown up. It seems to me that due to the enormous level of stress she has simply pushed those memories out and created a safe environment for herself."

"As Jack's wife?" Bill questioned, sounding none too happy about this particular diagnosis.

"Yes, generally in these situations patients cling on to something constant and familiar in their life. Someone who makes them feel safe. I can only assume that Chloe altered her memories of her life and the day in her mind to protect herself from the truth."

"Well, how do we fix it?" Bill asked, cutting Jack off from asking and getting glared at in the process.

"There's nothing medical that we can do. Ms. O'Brien can start therapy, but really the best medicine is rest and time. Her memory should come back normally once her mind and body are stronger and can handle the stress of the truth."

"What do we do until then?" Jack asked

"Well, I wouldn't advise telling her the truth until she's had a few days to rest. Then, we'll tell her the truth and help her deal with it."

"Won't that be traumatic? I mean, wouldn't it be better for her to remember on her own?"

"Well, it would be, but that would involve more lying to her. When she is ready to leave tomorrow, she'll want to know why you aren't taking her. She'll question why you aren't living together. It would mean figuring out a lot of ways to hide the truth."

"But remembering on her own, that is what is best for her, psychologically?" Jack presses the doctor for the truth.

"Yes, it would be."

"Then that's what will do."

"I don't understand," the doctor replied.

"Until Chloe remembers the truth, she and I are married."