DISCLAIMER: I don't own 24. If I did...ugh...let's not go there.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is nothing. Nothing but pure, pointless, angsty fluff. Enjoy. The first chapter is Kim's POV, the second is Jack's. This story is a free-floater. It could be after Season 1 or 2, but I think it fits better with Season 2.
RATED: G
ARCHIVES: Ask and ye shall receive.
ONE SIMPLE TOUCH - KIM'S POV
"Dad! I'm home!" Kim breezed through the door. "Hey, the movie was great, we have to..." She trailed off, noticing there was no response to her words. "Dad?" He *was* home, right? His SUV was in the driveway. Had he gone for a walk? No, the lights were on. Dad always turned the lights off when he left the house.
"In here, Kim," Her dad's voice came from the living room. He sounded strange, like his mind wasn't totally there.
Kim crossed the threshold from the kitchen to the living room. Her dad was sitting on the couch, staring vacantly ahead. His right arm rested on the armrest. The remote control was-as always-resting under his right hand. It was pointed to the TV, but the screen was blank. "Daddy?" Kim asked tentatively, sitting down next to him. "What's wrong?"
For a moment, Dad didn't respond. He looked sad. No, sad wasn't it. Kim ran all the adjectives she could think of through her mind: *Depressed. Upset. Tired. Introspective. Insecure. Lonely.*
*Yeah, that's it,* Kim thought as the last two crossed her brain. *Insecure and lonely.* But why? "Is it Mom?" Kim asked.
The answer was soft, not Dad's usual style. "No."
"What is it?" Kim inquired, moving closer. "Daddy? What's wrong?"
Dad drew in a breath, and let it out in a shaky sigh. "Kim, I..." His voice faltered.
Kim took her father's hand and leaned on his shoulder.
"I need a hug, honey," Dad said. Kim could hear his throat tightening with emotion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled as close to him as she could. Dad's arms tightened around Kim's back and he rested his cheek on her hair. Closing her eyes, Kim burrowed against Dad's chest and listened to his heartbeat. She could tell he was holding in tears. *What's wrong? Why is he so upset?* She thought worriedly. It wasn't like her dad to be emotional for no reason. But he wasn't telling her, so she didn't push. "I love you, Daddy," Kim whispered into Dad's T-shirt, hoping that would help a little.
Dad brought one hand up and cupped the back of Kim's head, drawing her in closer. "I love you too, baby," he choked out.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is nothing. Nothing but pure, pointless, angsty fluff. Enjoy. The first chapter is Kim's POV, the second is Jack's. This story is a free-floater. It could be after Season 1 or 2, but I think it fits better with Season 2.
RATED: G
ARCHIVES: Ask and ye shall receive.
ONE SIMPLE TOUCH - KIM'S POV
"Dad! I'm home!" Kim breezed through the door. "Hey, the movie was great, we have to..." She trailed off, noticing there was no response to her words. "Dad?" He *was* home, right? His SUV was in the driveway. Had he gone for a walk? No, the lights were on. Dad always turned the lights off when he left the house.
"In here, Kim," Her dad's voice came from the living room. He sounded strange, like his mind wasn't totally there.
Kim crossed the threshold from the kitchen to the living room. Her dad was sitting on the couch, staring vacantly ahead. His right arm rested on the armrest. The remote control was-as always-resting under his right hand. It was pointed to the TV, but the screen was blank. "Daddy?" Kim asked tentatively, sitting down next to him. "What's wrong?"
For a moment, Dad didn't respond. He looked sad. No, sad wasn't it. Kim ran all the adjectives she could think of through her mind: *Depressed. Upset. Tired. Introspective. Insecure. Lonely.*
*Yeah, that's it,* Kim thought as the last two crossed her brain. *Insecure and lonely.* But why? "Is it Mom?" Kim asked.
The answer was soft, not Dad's usual style. "No."
"What is it?" Kim inquired, moving closer. "Daddy? What's wrong?"
Dad drew in a breath, and let it out in a shaky sigh. "Kim, I..." His voice faltered.
Kim took her father's hand and leaned on his shoulder.
"I need a hug, honey," Dad said. Kim could hear his throat tightening with emotion. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled as close to him as she could. Dad's arms tightened around Kim's back and he rested his cheek on her hair. Closing her eyes, Kim burrowed against Dad's chest and listened to his heartbeat. She could tell he was holding in tears. *What's wrong? Why is he so upset?* She thought worriedly. It wasn't like her dad to be emotional for no reason. But he wasn't telling her, so she didn't push. "I love you, Daddy," Kim whispered into Dad's T-shirt, hoping that would help a little.
Dad brought one hand up and cupped the back of Kim's head, drawing her in closer. "I love you too, baby," he choked out.