Author's note: I've found that with this chapter it's difficult to do prequels. I wanted Jack to get Renee a dog. Then I realized that they have no dog in Blessed. I reworked that fic and chapter one now contains a dog. Also, thanks to those who have read! And thanks to those reviewers!

Chapter Two
Family

Renee Walker was a sucker for surprises. She always had been and she guessed nothing could change that. She smiled at Jack as they watched the newest, furry, four-legged member of their family chase the tennis ball she had thrown. The bloodhound bounded happily after the ball, though he hadn't really gotten the 'bring it back' part of playing fetch.

Family. She liked the sound of that. It wasn't conventional by any means. However, they weren't the most conventional couple, either. Maybe it was the fact that it had been two and a half months since their first make-out session, and there had been nothing beyond that since. Maybe it was because they slept together, in the same bed, and nothing worthwhile ever happened. Maybe it was because he could say 'I love you' and she didn't even know what her feelings were telling her. Perhaps it was because they both have scars physical and emotional from jobs they'd like to forget.

"I love him," she said as she threw another ball for the puppy.

"Yeah, I know. That's the fifteenth time you've said it."

She smiled as she kneeled down in front of the dog and scratched him behind the ears. "What do you want to call him?" She asked, looking up at Jack.

"You should name him. Anything you like."

"Okay…how about Toby?"

"Toby sounds perfect."

"You're perfect, Jack," she said as she took his hand. He kneeled down beside her and she kissed him on the mouth.

"Hmm, you know I would have gotten him months ago if I'd known the reward for such work." Jack said as they pulled away.

"He is awfully cute. Kind of like you in that way." She told him.

"You think?" He asked.

She nodded. "Oh, yeah."

Jack smiled at her as she lay back on the grass, her red hair sprawled around her head. He picked up one of the discarded tennis balls and threw it for the puppy. Toby happily bounded after it.

Renee pulled him close until he was lying in the grass also, his elbow propped up and his head resting on his hand. He looked down at her.

"It's nice," she told him.

"What is?"

"This…us. The dog, Teri, Kim and Stephen. It's like-" she stopped talking and looked away.

"Like what?"

"Like a real family."

"I consider you to be my family, Renee. Don't forget that," he told her as he kissed her forehead.

She shook her head. She wouldn't forget. "I won't," she promised. "You're my family too, Jack." She said the words so quietly she wondered if she had said them aloud at all.

She knew she must have when he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was soft and sweet. She smiled at him as they pulled apart.

"I like that," she sighed.

"Me too," he told her as Toby trotted over and licked Renee's face. She laughed. Jack put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"You okay out here?" He asked.

"I'm fine. My allergies don't bother me when I actually remember to take my meds."

Jack smiled. He never ceased to amaze her. The caring side of Jack Bauer that was ever present now was almost overwhelming. Almost. She reminded herself. She loved getting lost in these small moments with him, when they were just Jack and Renee.

"I like these little moments. When it's just you, me and a quiet day. We're not worried about anything in particular. It's nice. Really, really nice."

He nodded. "It is nice."

"Yeah, retirement or whatever this is...it looks good on you, Jack," she told him, as she put her hand through his hair.

He chuckled. "You think?"

"I know," she gave a small smile. "What is it?" She asked as he cast his gaze downward.

"I keep on waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's not like this for me. I haven't been happy in a long time, Renee."

"But you're happy now."

"Of course, more than you could know."

"Then let's just be happy with the right now. It's really all we're promised."

"You're right. I guess I'm afraid it will all get taken away like it always has."

"It won't be. We're good here, Jack."

"We are."

"I wish we could stay like this forever."

"Me too, but I'm sure we're going to get hungry lying around out here. Plus, we have visitors today."

Renee sat up on her elbows. "We do?"

"Later this evening. I invited Kim and Teri over for dinner, Stephen has to work. I wanted them to meet the dog. Teri is going to love him."

"Jack, you should have told me. The house-" she said as she sat up and began to get up from the ground.

"The house is fine," he told her as he pulled her back down.

She was lost in his gaze. The house was fine. "It is fine. I'm sorry. Where were we?" she smiled and touched his face.

"We were just going in, I'll make us sandwiches, we'll watch that Bing Crosby movie you have saved, and Toby will forego his bed and cuddle with you on the couch," he said as he stood, pulling her up with him.

Renee smiled. Normal was nice. Normal was just what she needed. She wondered if she would ever feel normal all the time, as her life used to be. She wondered if there would be a time when she would no longer wake in the middle of the night after a nightmare. She wondered if there would be a time when she didn't feel the need to sit fully clothed and soak and wet in the bathtub.

She knew it could happen with Jack. It could, and she hoped it came soon. She was so tired of it all. Of the nightmares, of the depression, of the not feeling good enough. She knew she couldn't live forever like this, but it was as if she didn't know where to begin. She knew how all of this started, but she had no idea how to end it, how to stop it. Maybe it was time for her to talk to someone. Maybe. Probably.

They ate their turkey sandwiches and settled in for the movie, Toby lying in the crook of Renee's legs. Jack's arm wrapped around her when lunch was finished and her head rested on his chest. Normal really was just what she needed.

TBC in: Revelations