Chapter 26

Three weeks later…

Jack finally woke up around 10 a.m. He had a hangover, as the night before Bill had taken Marilyn, him and Chloe out to celebrate his last day of Jack working at CTU. Finally he could get away from all the memories that the place brought him. A week earlier he had sold his apartment and the majority of his belongings had gone into storage. He was now living with Marilyn; they were going to be a family together. However Jack had made it clear to Marilyn that he just wanted to remain friends, to reinforce his statement Jack had stayed in a separate room to Marilyn.

Each day Jack would wake up thinking of Audrey. His phone ringing distracted him from his thoughts.

"Hello?" Jack said gruffly down the phone.

"Jack, its James Heller here."

Jack froze, "Yes, Sir. Is everything all right?" He asked indicating to Audrey.

"Yes, Audrey is fine. She's back in D.C with me now, she's living with me currently-" Heller was interrupted by Audrey who Jack could hear clearly in the background.

"Dad!" her voice said "You've gotten me the wrong coffee again!"

Jack smiled, tears rushing to his eyes. That should be him with Audrey now. Instead he had listened to his brain and not followed his heart.

"Sir, I should be going." Jack said his voice nearly in a whisper. He couldn't stand to hear Audrey and not be able to hold her.

"Yes alright. I just wanted to tell you that I went to Audrey's apartment the other day and got rid of all the pictures and things that will remind her off you."

Jack's heart broke. "Right." he whimpered, "Wh…what did you do with them?"

"I put them in my attic. I've sent a parcel to your sister -in-law's house; it just has all you're belongings like pictures of your daughter and some old t-shirts of yours that she's kept." Heller paused, "Jack you don't have to do this. Why don't you come and at least see her?"

Jack shook his head. "No, Sir I have to go. Goodbye." and with that he snapped his phone shut and wondered downstairs for breakfast.

Townhouse: Washington D.C

"Who was that on the phone?" Audrey asked

"Oh…um no one."

Audrey looked up "Dad why are you being so cryptic? It was that man wasn't it?"

Heller shook his head instantly "No. What man?"

Audrey rolled her eyes, "The weird guy at the hospital. He was-"

"Audrey" Heller said sharply. "Do you even know-" he stopped there was no point in telling her, she wouldn't even remember. "It was Bob."

Audrey nodded her head, "Oh, what did he want?"

Heller shook his brain to think of anything. "He told me that your jobs free if you want it back."

Audrey immediately nodded her head "Of course I do. Now are you going to help me make this milkshake or am I going to have to make it myself?"

Heller laughed, his daughter was finally back.

---

Bauer's House - L.A

Jack had just finished his cornflakes when Marilyn came up behind him, slipping her arms around his neck.

"Hey" she said into his hair.

Jack smiled, although he felt uncomfortable with her gesture, a part of him liked the attention.

"Hey" he said back. "Have you recovered from last night then?"

Marilyn laughed "If you call having a headache recovering then yes I'm fine".

"Where's Josh?" Jack asked as he stood up and made his way into the sitting room.

"Getting ready to go out on a date."

"What at this time?" Jack said.

Marilyn playfully hit his arm, "Yes, I think he's a bit worried would you mind go talking to him."

Jack inwardly rolled his eyes, "Sure" he replied and headed up the stairs.

Jack knocked on Josh's door. "Josh?"

"Yeah, come in Jack."

As Jack entered the room, he was stunned at how clean it was.

"I hear you're going on a date?" Jack teased.

Josh blushed, "Mum told you?" Jack nodded. "I'm just so nervous, I mean she's the prettiest girl in whole of school."

Jack laughed, "I know what you mean."

Josh hesitated for a minute "Jack can I ask you something?"

Jack again nodded his head "Sure."

"On that day, who was that woman at the hotel?"

His breath caught in His throat. 'Audrey' he thought 'the woman that I love and always will love'.

"Her..her name was Audrey…Audrey Raines. Why?" Jack asked.

Josh shook his head, "I was just wondering. I thought I recognized her from your funeral. You know when we thought you were dead. I know this is going to sound rude.." Josh paused.

"Go on.." Jack urged.

"Did you love her?"

Jack was taken aback by his question and his shock must have been plastered on his face as Josh's cheeks suddenly reddened.

"Yes, I do love her. We met before I had to fake my death and …" his voice trailed off.

"So why aren't you with her if you still love her?"

Jack looked away, "It's complicated" was all he said.

Something in the way Jack had said it, made Josh annoyed, "Jack, what's so complicated, if you love her then be with her. There are no complications in love."

Jack looked at Josh astonished, "How do you know?" Jack paused taking control of his anger. He shook his head, "Come on you'll be late if you don't hurry".

Josh nodded sensing that he had just hit a nerve, he got of the bed and continued getting ready.

---

Three months later…

Washington D.C

Audrey made her way into her old apartment. Her father had offered to go with her but Audrey had said no. She needed to this by herself. Turning the key in the lock she entered the room.

She barely remembered it. The last thing she remembered was purchasing the apartment to get away from Paul. But now he was dead, she had no one to love. Her eyes swept across the living room, vague memories started to flutter back. There was a man, but that's all she saw. As quick as the memory had came it disappeared again. She gazed around; they were hardly any pictures on the walls. What had happened to her in those 6 years?

Moving over to the sofa she laid down, her eyes began to feel heavy and within minutes she was asleep. Slowly she began to dream…

She was walking up the stair to her apartment, her hand squeezed another hand. Whose hand was it? She thought. She was laughing at a joke that the man had just told her. She tried to get a look at the man's face but she couldn't see who it was.


"I've had a great night." the voice said.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked

"We both know what's going to happen if I come in." the voice replied, "Are you sure that's what you want?"

She nodded her head. Unlocking the door she led him into the room. As soon the door was closed the man brought her close. Again Audrey tried to look at the face, but the face was black. She could see the outline of his features but that was it. She leant in to kiss him. He kissed her back. She felt his hand in her hair, and the other up back. She moaned against him lips. He led her to the bedroom where they collapsed on the bed. He moved to kiss her neck, while un buttoning her shirt. He kissed her chest, and then moved down…

Audrey's eyes shot open. The room was now dark. How long had she been asleep for? But more importantly who was that man in her dream? Audrey shook her head, gathering herself together she made her way over to the kitchen to make some dinner.

Los Angeles

"Where's Uncle Jack?" Josh asked.

"Upstairs" Marilyn replied "He wasn't feeling well so he went to bed. Come on now dinner is ready."

--

Jack had fallen asleep upstairs. Like every other night Audrey haunted his dreams…

"Jack" her voice asked

Jack's head shot around and there was Audrey standing at his doorway.

"Audrey…" was all he could say. "You…you remember me?"

"I never forgot you." Audrey replied, tears now entering her eyes, "But you left me Jack. You left me to live with Marilyn and be apart of her family. You just gave up on us. Just because I didn't remember you."

"NO!" he protested, "That's not true. I left to protect you. Audrey now you can have a life."

Audrey's eyes stayed on his "A life without you is a life not worth living." and with that she was gone.

"Audrey come back" he howled "Please Audrey I want to spend the rest of my life with you." There was no response she was gone.

Jack awoke with a start. He always had the exact dream; every time he would wipe his eyes. Getting up from bed he wondered over into the bathroom.

"Get a grip of yourself Jack." he said to the mirror. He splashed water onto himself and hopped into the shower.

Pentagon- Washington D.C

Audrey sat at the desk with her father. She was tempted to tell him about the mysterious man in her dream but decided against it.

"Dad" she asked,

"Mmm" he father said.

"Did I ever interview that man about being your special assistant?"

Heller's face went white. "What are you talking about?"

Audrey lost eye contact with her father. "Don't worry" was all she said and they continued with their work in silence.

TBC.