Just the though of him made her feel safe; her guardian. It wasn't that she was naive enough to think she could never be hurt with him around, but subconsciously as long as she was near him everything would be OK. He had such quiet strength, and she just soaked it in, growing braver by the second when he was on her side. The old Chloe O'Brian would never have the guts to break protocol, let alone the law, as many times as she had in the years since she met Jack. She learned by example what it was to put the country's well-being above her own; how to block out doubts, sorrow, and fear until the end of the day.
Never did she need that strength as much as the moments after her friend Edgar died a year ago. Others thought Lynn McGill or even Chloe saved the safe rooms with quick thinking and sacrifice, but she knew the only reason she was able to work instead of staring impassively into space or bawling her eyes out was Jack. The realization on Edgar's face as he saw others writhing in pain, the panic in his eyes as he scanned the bullpen, and the resignation that hit him when he saw the safe zones already sealed...those images would stay with her forever. She saw rather than heard him call her name as their eyes met, then he fell gasping to the ground. She stared helplessly long after he stopped moving, oblivious to the alarms sounding in the conference room. Then she felt his hand on her arm. "...Chloe!" That familiar insistent voice drew her out of her trance, but still she shook her head, telling him she would be of no help right now. "I need you, Chloe." She turned and looked into his intense blue eyes, and suddenly she could put everything on hold and do whatever he needed her to.
Those eyes were the reason she'd first taken notice of him during her CTU interview. After her good friend Chase began working there, he was convinced it was the perfect place for her too. Not eager for change, she was reluctant at first, but then agreed to try for the job. Entering the building for the interview, she was fascinated by the place. Computers everywhere -she had to admit using those advanced systems would be nice - and everyone seemed to be working busily.
"Hi, can I help you?" A professional-looking woman with reddish brown curls her greeted her inside the doors.
"I'm here for an interview with Chase Edmunds and Jack Bauer?"
"Oh, you must be Chloe O'Brian. I'm Michelle Dessler, Chief of Staff. I'll show you to Jack's office, right this way." Chloe followed her up the stairs and to a small empty room on the upper level. "Have a seat, I'll let Jack and Chase know you're here."
Only a few minutes passed before the door opened and Chloe's friend entered, followed by an older, slightly smaller man. She stood awkwardly as he introduced himself. "Chloe O'Brian? I'm Jack Bauer. This is Chase Edmunds, but I believe you two have already met." Chloe barely remembered to nod and shake his hand; she was so entranced with his bright blue eyes. She was slightly unnerved by the feeling that he could see right through her. Could he could tell how incredibly attracted she was to him?
At first she could tell he thought she was strange, maybe a little nuts - she was used to this, perfectly aware of her lacking social skills. But she sensed something from him that she got from very few people: respect. Yes, he acknowledged her exceptional computer skills and valued her opinions on technical matters, but more than that, he treated her like an actual person.Almost everyone she came in contact with seemed to think she was just an extension of her computer, a tool to get the machine to cooperate. Not Jack - he acted like she was almost normal, like every other CTU employee.
It meant more to her than he'd ever know, and it was what made the choice to turn him in for heroin use so difficult. At first she'd wanted to confront him about it, but she knew he'd just blow her off. The last thing she wanted to do was to anger the one person who treated her like a human, but ultimately she made the choice to put his well-being above her own need for his friendship. At that point, they weren't even really "friends" in a traditional sense, but they were starting to form a loyalty and trust that she gave up...for him.
The week till she was able to talk to him again was torture for Chloe, but after their brief encounter, she knew everything would be alright. In the years following, they regained the kind of "he called, she came" relationship they were both so comfortable with. She never though of it like that, she just knew that he would never ask her to do anything that wasn't important or worth whatever risk it would involve. This complete trust made them a seamless team, working together as one. Others at CTU wondered about their off-beat partnership, and if she was honest with herself, she had to admit she did too. Chloe knew she had a habit of over-analyzing things, and tried to get her brain to shut up on the subject of Jack Bauer.
Because if she thought about it, she might have to face the fact that she loved him, her guardian. She loved him, so she forced herself to keep a distance. The very protective nature that characterized him would kill him if they ever became more than friends. He worried about her enough, put his life on the line for her enough as it was. And there was the fact that even he couldn't save her from everything. If they were involved and something happened to her...he couldn't go through that again, not after Teri. So because she loved him, she would carry that very secret forever. She'd content herself with his presence across the bullpen. She glanced up and her eyes met his mysterious blue ones, breath catching in her throat. Trying to hide her emotions, she dropped her gaze back to the keyboard, secure knowing her guardian was nearby.
A/N: I think I liked the first chapter better than this one...review and let me know.