24: Fresh Start
Chapter 1: Encounter
Department of Defense, Washington DC
Jack Bauer adjusted his tie when he sat down at his desk. It was new and he wasn't used to it yet. He sighed and gave up on the tie. Taking it off, he pulled open a drawer and took another one out. It's been almost 6 months since he started working under Secretary of Defense James Keller as his Special Assistant. It's been very interesting and exciting. He's never worked for the government from this point of view. It was actually refreshing. Jack had developed a very strong and personal relationship with James Keller, and his daughter, Audrey Raines. Jack saw James more as a father figure then anything else, and he started to develop feelings for Audrey, but he never acted on it. He was content with where his life was.
Before he could open his briefcase, his phone rang. "Jack Bauer." he answered it.
"Jack?" her voice made him smile slightly. Her voice was soft and angelic. The sound of her really made him melt.
"Yeah?" Jack responded.
"Uh, hi. I was wondering if you could come by really quickly. I need some help on something." Audrey said.
"Okay, I'll be right there," Jack placed the head down and walked out of his office. Audrey's office wasn't very far from his, only two doors down actually. He entered it quietly and noticed she was on the phone again. She motioned him to sit in the chair opposite of him and continued her phone call.
"It's okay Marcy, I'll take care of it. You just get better. Oh, okay. I'll see you later today then." Putting the phone down she properly greeted Jack. "Hey."
"Hi, you said you needed help?"
"Yes, it turns out my dad's secretary has morning sickness."
"Oh, is she alright?"
"Yeah, she is. I just got off the phone with her. Anyways, she was supposed to check over all these in-voices, but I'm starting to fill overwhelmed. I wouldn't mind all the work however, I have a lunch date at 12:30, so I was wondering if you could help me."
"Sure, of course." Jack took one of the files and started going over it. "Who is your lunch date with?" He asked timidly.
"With an old friend from high school. She was dropping by to see her parents and decided to ring me up. So, yeah." She started organizing the rest of files on her desk.
"I see."
"Why so interested?" Jack looked up into her soft blue eyes. She smiled and he couldn't help but smile back.
"No reason, just curios, I guess." He continued to scan the files. They were there for quite sometime, shuffling through everything. Most of the invoices were standard, Jack thought, but some were pretty strange. He couldn't help chuckle at a few of them.
"How are things between you and Paul?" Jack asked, not realizing how rude and insensitive until after he finished the question.
"Excuse me?" Audrey responded as she looked up from her paper.
"Never mind, sorry I asked."
"No, it's okay. Well, I haven't spoken to him since I last saw him."
"Wasn't that 3 months ago?"
"Yeah, we got in a fight when he left again. I didn't bother calling him because I was just so angry and apparently he doesn't care anymore."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't be, Jack. This marriage has been over for some time. We just never admitted it to each other yet."
"Have you given up?"
"Not just yet. However, I'm not going to let it get in the way of being with other people…" her voice trailed off. Jack looked up and stared deeply into her eyes. It was an awkward moment for both of them. He knew he liked her, and in the past few months, she too seems to have developed feeling for him. He wanted to say something but he was just too nervous. After a few seconds, he gathered up his courage, but before he could say anything, Audrey's phone was ringing again. He cursed himself for not being aggressive enough.
"Hello?" she answered it cheerfully. "Oh, Saundra, you're here already? What time is it?" Audrey asked as she looked at her watch. "Wow, it's already 12:15. Okay, I'll see you soon."
"Your friend here?" Jack asked as he started to clean up the mess he had created at the top of her desk.
"Yeah. Thank you so much. I wouldn't have been able to finish all of these without your help." Audrey was fixing herself up and Jack couldn't help but watch her from the corner of his eye as he finished straightening everything.
"You're welcome. Happy to help." He stood and started for the door.
"Uh, Jack?" He turned around.
"You forgot your pen," she said as she held it up. Jack shrugged and walked back over to her. As he took his pen back, he could feel his band touching hers. It was weird. Neither of them would let go nor take the pen. It gave him a reason to have his skin touch hers. Sweat start to develop on his forehead. He could feel goose bumps on the back of his neck and on his forearm. Audrey smiled for a second and then finally let go of the pen. Jack still didn't have a firm grip on the pen and dropped it. He cursed himself again as he took the time to pick it up.
"Uh, thanks." Jack sighed as he went for the door.
"Wait, just one more thing."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Are you doing anything later tonight?"
"No, why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to go out for a few drinks."
"Oh…"
"You know what? Forgot about it. Don't know why I asked—"
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'd love to."
"Okay, I'll meet you in the lobby after all of this."
"Sounds good to me." Jack said as he left the room.
"Good…" Audrey muttered to herself. She smiled and inhaled slowly, closing her eyes. Sitting back down, she took the moment to imagine what would happen with her and Jack.
When Jack got back into his office, he quickly shut the door and yanked off his tie. What was he going to do? Where was he going to take her? Instead of further stressing about it, he tried to get his mind off it by working on other assignments that needed revising. He didn't expect he'd be doing so much writing.
His desk was quite disorganized, so he took this time to tidy up a bit. He didn't take much effort to keep his desk clean. Regardless of how messy his desk was, it was his and he loved it to the wood grains. He had a few desk products on his desk: a stapler, a tap dispenser, a penholder, and a nifty Chicago paperweight Tony had given him last month. Then at the edge of his desk was a picture of his daughter, Kim. Whenever he felt down or stressed out, he'd always look at her picture. She was still living in Los Angeles, with Chase and his daughter. He was ecstatic for them. They had managed to find happiness together and he didn't want them to lose it.
Then the sun started to set. Jack paused to watch the shadows created by the sunset cascade down his office. It was really a sight. His small office was created into something magnificent by the sunset. Then the ringing from his phone distracted him. Jack sighed and answered the phone.
"Jack Bauer." Marcy had returned and was told James needed to speak with him. Jack placed the headset down and left his office. When he came to James Heller's office, Marcy waved him in.
"Hello, Jack," James greeted him as he entered. "Please sit."
"What is it, sir?"
"I'll be giving a speech in a week about President Keeler's proposal."
"Is it about the increase of naval presence in the Yellow Sea?"
"Yes. Since the North Koreans have been moving much of their forces closer to the border, we hope to discourage them from making any attempts to attack."
"I understand."
"Okay, good. Well, I was wondering if you'd revise my speech for me."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"Yes. You know better then anyone the importance of a proposal like this. Can you do this for me?"
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, I'll need it back the first thing tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow, sir?"
"Yeah, because I'll be leaving for Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh, okay."
"Thanks again, Jack."
"Happy to help, sir." Jack took the speech and went back to his office. He would be working on this all night. Which meant, he would have to postpone his date with Audrey. Jack didn't want to, but he felt really honored that Secretary Heller would ask him to do such a task. After locking the door to his office he could see Audrey at the end of the hallway, waiting for him. Now how was he going to tell her?
To be continued...
