A/N: Hey guys. Thanks for all the support. I really struggled with the following chapters. I was blocked for a long time and finally wrote chapters 7-10 in about an hour and a half stretch one Thursday night. I wasn't going to make such a huge jump forward in time, but the more I thought about my characters, the more I came to understand that this was how I needed to end it. Besides, I've always been hugely obsessed with why Jack and Kate have nothing in season three (and what happened between Jack and Claudia). ;-p Thanks again for the patience and support. You have made this fic worth writing.

-Beth

Three Weeks Later

Chapter 7

*This takes place two years from Chapter 6*

Jack knew as he stood at the altar to the right of Tony Almeida that he had made the right decision. He knew it would be hard, but he was faced with the decision between the right that would tear him apart and sacrifice the trust of the woman he loved; or the lies that would eventually do the same. Even if they kept the truth from exposure for a short while. His eyes betrayed him and he caught himself searching the crowded church for Kate's blonde hair and intoxicating blue eyes. His nostrils flared as he sucked in air through his nose. *god, it's like I can smell her* A little under an hour later, the ceremony was over and the bridal party had finished pictures. Jack drove to the reception, fighting with his emotions. He could hear the romantic strains of a love song floating through the air before he opened the door. When he stepped inside and saw Tony leading Michelle onto the dance floor, oblivious to all but the look of complete and utter love and devotion written in every feature of her face. Jack's mouth got drier by the second. He made his way as nonchalantly as possible to the bar at the back of the room. He ordered a double scotch and smirked appreciatively as the liquid left a scorching path through his being. *Kind of like me* he thought self-deprecatingly. *I ruin everything I come in contact with.* He looked at the tumbler in his hand and thought back to that terrible day. He had just returned from CTU where he had received the orders from Tony. Tony seemed more distressed by the news than Jack had been. He had missed the undercover work, the testing of his skills, the flirting with death that had made up his work for CTU before Teri had died. A shudder went down his spine and he knew that Teri was no longer an excuse for him to hide behind. He had faced his feelings for Kate and given her what he was able to give of his heart. She had been completely patient. She waited for him to initiate their relationship, had waited for him to move past his grief at what he believed was his part in Teri's death, had waited for him to move revenge on Nina from the number one goal in his life. She encouraged him to stay in prime physical shape and be ready if and when the time came that he would have to repeat the events of that awful day. But covert operations she could not handle. He knew that, even if she refused to see it. His secret missions were what had ultimately torn his relationship with Teri apart.

He had spoken to Kim first. Kim was hurt; more by the fact that her father was once again sacrificing himself and his own personal happiness to answer the call of duty. She knew he couldn't ignore it, that the call was as dear and life-giving to him as the blood that flowed in his veins. So she told him that the decision was up to him, even though she knew his mind was already made up.

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Kim watched her father from across the room. She was taking a break after dancing with CTU's newest agent, Chase Edmunds. Chase was cute, and really nice, but she was preoccupied by the worried look on her father's face and by the look of sheer pain so evident on his features. She knew that breaking up with Kate was the second hardest thing her father had ever had to do. Second only to holding his dead wife in his arms, holding himself responsible for her death, and letting go of all the anger and hatred for himself. Kim felt a presence by her side and knew it was Chase. She wasn't sure yet if he was interested in her because he liked her or if he was using her as an excuse to get close to her father. She smiled silently. It had happened enough. She had a feeling that Chase was different from the snot-nosed punks who had simply tried to get in good with her so she would in turn recommend them for field duty with her father. She smiled again. If her dad had a clue what her relationships *if I can call them actual relationships* were like with those guys, he would have Tony fire them before killing them. *Dad is still really protective of me. The fact that I'm a grown woman hasn't changed that about him.*

"Penny for your thoughts?" Chase was very close, Kim could smell his aftershave and she realized she was heavily attracted to him.

"I was thinking about how soon I could get my dad out of here and not attract too much attention." Kim stated candidly.

"He looks like he's really torn up about something." Chase sat easily in the chair next to her, his catlike ease, even in a suit, started a warmth in the pit of her stomach that spread lower.

"Um, yeah…I guess…" Kim trailed off, cursing herself for her lack of attention.

Chase just smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling. "Girl problems?"

"Sort of." Kim looked at him, all of her earlier doubts rushing forward. He was the first agent whom she was actually attracted to. What if…?

Chase noticed the clouded look in her eyes and changed the subject. "I guess you get tired of agents asking about your dad, huh?"

Kim just grinned, "You might say that."

"Sorry. I've seen you with those other bastards and I know they must drive you crazy with their insane hero-worship of your father."

Kim looked at Chase with undisguised admiration. Maybe he was for real after all!

"I think you worry about him to much, Kim." The way he drawled her name made her tremble, the warmth in her body rising several degrees.

"You do?" She almost whispered

"He knows how to care for himself. I think he's one of those guys who will back off if you try to hold him too tightly."

Kim smiled up at him, covering her surprise at his wise words with a flirtatious remark. "So do you want to leave?"

Chase's eyes darkened and his smile was taut. She could sense, rather than see, the way his shoulders tensed under the perfect lines of his suit jacket. Then, in an instant, the tension was gone and his eyes joined his mouth in a friendly smile as he asked, "you want to come over to my place for a drink?"

Kim hesitated for a split second, but he noticed. "Nothing serious, unless it's what you want," he trailed off and when he spoke again, his voice was so low, she had to incline her head towards him to hear. "I just want to get to know you. Away from your father and all of CTU."

Kim reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it briefly and letting go. The brief contact scorched her skin, leaving her feeling as if her hand was forever branded by his.

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