Title: Close to Perfect Ch. 2

Author: Lady Taevyn

Rating: PG

Summary: The evening goes from weird to surreal

A/N: Still not sure quite what to make of this. I'll get a handle on it soon though. Please let me know what you think. Many thanks to everyone who gave feedback for chapter 1. You guys make it easier to keep going.

Jack Bauer was nothing if not punctual. He was turning into Chloe's neighborhood with only minutes to spare. Finding her address he pulled into the driveway, cut the engine and just sat for a moment. He wondered where this evening was going to lead. Dinner had been a spur of the minute thought, and he was shocked when the hostess at Enotria had been able to guarantee him a table, he was afraid he had pushed it with the request for flowers the woman had taken it in stride though.

Chloe had heard the SUV pull into the driveway and was running around like the proverbial chicken with no head trying to finish getting ready. Leave it to Jack to be punctual to the second. She had looked through her closet three times before settling on the particular dress she was currently wearing, and was just about to change it when the doorbell rang.

"Just a minute," She called out knowing it would carry. She wasn't sure whether the wrap was too much and decided to scrap it hurrying out of the room as fast as her heels could carry her. Opening the door she stepped back in shock. The shade of his tie matched her midnight blue dress perfectly. They couldn't have planned it better.

"You look lovely Chloe." Jack managed after a full once over. "If you're ready we can go." He stepped to the side of the welcome mat as she checked the lock and closed the door. Conversation during the drive to the restaurant was almost nonexistent, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable as Chloe was afraid it would be. She was starting to think that this could turn out to be a nice evening.

Emma, it turned out, was the hostess at the restaurant Jack had chosen. Chloe had barely caught her name before Jack's hand was resting almost too comfortably at the small of her back leading her to their table. From the looks of it good seats were hard to come by here, so that's why he 'owed her one'; Chloe felt an odd twinge of something (she was refusing to call it jealousy) when he had said that on the phone and now that feeling faded just a bit. Her senses were reeling when they got to the table; fresh flowers had been set next to one of the plates. No one had ever gotten her flowers, not even Morris and they had been married. As they looked over the menu both were silent the undercurrent between them was strong. Jack had specifically asked that the flowers not be roses; that was a bold statement and he wasn't sure he was ready to make it just yet. When he saw the delicate orchids bundled together next to her plate he smiled to himself. They were perfect for her, as both were exotic and foreign to him.

"These flowers are beautiful Jack. My mom used to grow orchids when I was little. So they bring back good memories. Thank you." Chloe said quietly as she brought the blossoms to her face to take in their familiar fragrance. Jack stored that piece of information away in the file in his mind marked Chloe, he was certain it would come in handy at some point in time.

Chloe knew from experience (limited as it sadly was) that this was where the evening could and probably would go horribly bad. The empty space that should be filled with cute anecdotal stories from childhood would be filled with awkward silence. While she didn't have a bad childhood it wasn't really the greatest. Yes her mother was usually there for her and her sister their father was not. It wasn't something she liked talking about.

"I don't know why you asked me out, I'm not socially graceful, put me in front of a computer and I'm at home, but this," Chloe waved a hand at the low-lit surroundings, "I'm not comfortable." She felt she should at least let him know what he was in for, for the rest of the evening.

"I asked you out for a couple of reasons. I want to get to know you better, I think you deserve a night out, and I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you you're first week. I know it was a while ago, but I had to get myself figured out before involving someone else in my life." Jack got their waiter's attention.

"Did you need a refill?" The young man asked stepping up to the table.

"No, actually I was wondering if we could just get our dinners to go." Jack asked in a tone that didn't allow for questioning.

"Yes sir, of course, I'll bring your check as well?" He hoped he wouldn't lose his tip over this. Jack nodded and the waiter hurried off toward the kitchen.

"Jack you didn't have to…" She was cut off by a decisive wave of his hand.

"Chloe its fine, I didn't mean for you to be uncomfortable. We'll just figure something else out." He said not willing to have the evening end badly. Several minutes later they were leaving the restaurant. As Jack got into the drivers side of the SUV, after making sure Chloe was situated comfortably in the passengers seat she decided this evening had gone from weird to surreal. They were headed in the general direction of Chloe's house, she was worried she had said or done something wrong.

"Jack, I'm sorry this evening didn't go the way you wanted. I hope this isn't going to make things weird for us at work." Chloe asked rather unsure of herself.

"I wasn't quite ready to call it a night just yet. I figured you could change then we could head to my place eat there, and maybe watch a movie?" Chloe thought she sensed a note of desperation in Jack's voice. He really wanted to spend time with her.

"Oh, um, I mean sure that sounds like a good idea." She wanted to reassure him, let him know that she also wanted to spend time with him. She wondered belatedly if she had picked the socks and t-shirt up that had fallen out of the laundry basket in the living room. She didn't want to look sloppy in front of him. She would find out soon enough, they were pulling into her development, and would be at her house in a few seconds.

"Come in, I shouldn't take too long changing but the old lady next door gets suspicious if the Fed-Ex guy stays in front of a house for too long." She said as she slid out of the SUV. Jack laughed, a rich full laugh, as he shut the engine off. Chloe would have to make an effort to be funnier, as she realized she liked the sound. This was going to be an interesting evening.