Chapter 4 – A very good morning.
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He woke up a few hours later, alone and covered by a blanket. He looked around and smiled realizing it hadn't been a dream.
He brushed down his hair with his hands to look presentable and walked down stairs and into the kitchen.
"Hi." Chloe said, handing him a cup of coffee "thought you could use it."
"Thanks. How'd you sleep?" he asked.
"Good. My neck is kind of stiff from sitting in Jake's room, though. I'll be fine though." she smiled.
Jack looked out into the living room "Jake up?" he asked, not seeing him.
"Are you kidding? Nothing gets that boy up before ten." she laughed
"Just like his mother" Jack teased.
"Hey! I'm up now aren't I?" she playfully pushed his shoulder.
"Yeah, who have thought Ms. Chloe would ever be up before me."
"I'd be able to more often if you ever slept more than an hour." she teased
"Touche, Chloe O'Brian." he said, winking at her.
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Jack looked around the living room as they walked to the couch. He looked at the pictures on the tables, how happy they looked.
"Don't Jack." Chloe said, noticing the look on his face.
Knowing he'd been caught he sighed "Why not? I should have been there for you."
She rolled her eyes at his stubbornness "Jack, you're right, you weren't there. It wasn't your fault though, I didn't give you a chance. I knew I could never make you choose between this mission and me. It wouldn't have been fair, Jack."
"but I should have-" he attempted to defend himself-or rather protest his defence, but Chloe cut him off.
"No but, Jack. You needed to do that, and plus, you had already gone by the time I found out, I couldn't just get you in the middle of it." She paused to give him a second to digest. "Just, don't be so hard on yourself." she added, taking his hands."I don't want to see that look in your eyes, Jack."
"You are here now. You can't change the past, you know that. I love you, and I know Jake loves you. Trust me."
She took a breath and lowered her voice "You don't need to make up for anything, you have nothing to be sorry for. Just be here now."
Jack nodded, resting his head on Chloe's shoulder. She was right, despite him still feeling guilt, he was here now and it felt right.
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"Shit" Chloe said, looking at the clock.
"What is it?" Jack said, pulling away from her.
Chloe looked at him "Oh. Nothing, Jake will be up soon. I should get his breakfast ready."
"Need any help?" he asked, with a hint of insecurity.
"Yep. No idea what I'm making yet, but I could always use your culinary expertise." she laughed.
He gave her a playful look before chasing her into the kitchen. "Got you!" he said, holding onto her.
She smiled "I'm glad you're back." she said, giving him a hug.
"Now let's cook." she said, slipping away from his grip.
Jack watched as Chloe rummaged through the cupboards for something to make."So what does he like?"
"Food or in general?" she asked, pulling out a box of pancake mix.
"Well, both." he said, reaching behind her for a bag of chocolate chips. "These?" he asked.
"Yep," she laughed " makes my cooking bearable."
"Aha, so you've been to cooking school." he joked, smirking at her
"No! I just ...googled some things." she said mumbling the last part.
"The great Chloe, googles things?" he said, acting shocked.
"You're an ass, Jack." she said, scowling at him, pretending not to like it.
"Ah, yes. Yes, I am, but you love my ass." he said shaking his butt at her.
"Very mature." she rolled her eyes.
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While Jack and Chloe were cooking, Jake had woken up and heard the noise from the kitchen. Curious as to what was going on, but not wanting to interrupt, he crept down the stairs to listen.
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"So, our boy has been good to you while I was gone?" he heard Jack say.
"Yeah, he's great." she paused "aside from those peanut butter and cucumber sandwiches... thank you very much."
"Hey, can't blame me for him having great taste." Jack said teasingly.
"Sure... hold on a sec." Chloe said.
---
Jake heard her head toward the door and stood up, pretending to be coming down
"Jake!..oh." she said, seeing him " Jake, food's ready." she said smiling.
"Ok, momma. I'll be down in a sec, ok?" ha said running to his room
"Sure." she said heading back in the kitchen.
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Chloe walked in smiling "And what's that smile for?" Jack asked.
"We've got a little spy on our hands." she said laughing.
"The stairs?" he said with a smirk.
She looked at him weird "because you've done that before, right?"
"Hey, I liked to be in the loop. Plus, I never trusted my father's friends not to."
"Great, looks like we have a miniature Jack Bauer on our hands." she said rolling her eyes.
"And that's a bad thing, why?" he said, nudging her arm.
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Just then, Jake walked in and sat down beside Jack.
"And how's the morning treating you?" Jack said, looking toward the boy.
"Good." he said as Chloe placed a plate of pancakes and a glass of milk in front of them both.
"Thanks, mom." he said, then looking to Jack, his eyes lit up a bit "...and dad."
This brought a big smile to Jack's face and sparked a light in his eyes as well. "No problem." he said, winking at Jake.
---
The rest of the meal was relatively quiet as the three of them ate and enjoyed each others company.
Jack and Jake were shoveing each other, playfully with their feet while they ate, laughing every few seconds.
"I'm glad you stayed." Jake said as Jack got up to bring his plate to the sink.
He smiled "So am I." he said, before glancing at the clock.
"Listen," he said to Jake "I have to leave in a minute to do some running around, but would you mind if I came back after?"
Jake smiled again "Ok. And then we can hang out and stuff, right?"
Jack laughed, putting his hand out for a five "deal" he said upon receiving the gesture.
"Okay, I'll see you guys in a bit." he said, smiling at Chloe as he left.
So, I finished chapter 4 already, but I posted chapter 3 late because I was sick yesterday. I doubt I'll get two chapters in a day again, but hope you like it!