A/N: Quick note: Since I forgot to mention it in the beginning (this is my first fanfic…forgive me) I do not own 24 or any of the characters therein. *Although Chase would be a fun one to own….yummy* ;-p

Three Weeks Later

Chapter 8

Kim walked over to her father, breaking him out of his solitary reverie long enough to tell him she was leaving and, if she wasn't home, not to wait up for her. Then she fled into the parking lot where Chase was waiting next to his truck. She smiled shyly and slid into the passenger seat as he held the door for her. She glanced at him as he drove. Both were content to remain silent and contemplate what led them to where they are. Chase knows that if the night ends the way he wants it to, he can kiss any chance of Jack's approval goodbye. But, as he considered the consequences, he knew he wanted tonight to end tomorrow morning. He knew that if he bailed out know, Kim would shove him into a box among the other "Jack Bauer worshippers" she had gone out with time and again. He liked her. He had noticed her the first time he had seen her walk into CTU, laughing with her brunette friend over a comment that the agent she had been seeing at the time had made. They proceeded to rib Michelle about her engagement to Tony and vice versa, like they had known one another for a lifetime. Little had he known at the time that the events of that day were enough to fill a lifetime and through that adversity, their little family was formed. He watched her while she was there, noticing that when all eyes were directed elsewhere, her eyes held a haunted look that chilled him to his soul. Then there was the time she and her friend, Nikki, had gotten into trouble after a bar they were at was raided for drugs. She had called Tony, who sent Chase to pick her up from the local precinct. She looked like sex on heels. She wore a black skirt that hugged her figure from waist to six inches above her knees, with considerable slits on either side. She had on black, thigh-high stiletto boots with rhinestones around the top, and her hair was worn in a simple ponytail with a few tendrils escaping around her ears. Her makeup was minimal, glitter brushed at the outside edges of her eyes, giving her a faerie-like appearance. But what had been so firmly imprinted in Chase's memory was her top. It was the color of her eyes and was more like a thin piece of material than a top at all. From the front, it looked like a tube top that fitted tightly at the bust and more loosely around the stomach, with a slit reaching from the bottom of the shirt to just under her breasts, revealing a piercing in her naval. When she turned her back to him, he saw that the only thing holding her shirt to her body was a strap of material that tied across her upper back. He had also noticed the tribal tattoo that was displayed in the hollow of her back, just above her skirt. Chase had taken her arm and led her to his waiting truck. He cursed himself the moment they stepped outside. It had been unusually cold that night. He remembered offering her his jacket, and she refused it. He had only allowed himself to really look at her when she was seated next to him in his truck. She held her head high when she turned to look at him. The sheer hunger in her eyes and the sight of her nipples straining against the material of that shirt sent the blood rushing from his head. He had nearly had to physically restrain himself to keep from mauling her right there in his truck. After that night, he had paid closer attention when the guys around CTU started talking about her. And he hadn't liked what he heard. Most of the guys thought they could use Kim as a key to her father's good will. He hurt for her. Always looking for a chance to get close to her, Tony and Michelle's wedding had been an opportunity like he had never imagined.

He heard Kim asking him a question and returned to the present.

"Do you mind if we stop by my house so I can change clothes? I also need to get my bag so I can go to Nikki's tonight."

"Sure" he kept his voice even, hoping upon hope that Nikki's would be the last place she would be thinking about going tonight.

Chase pulled up in front of Jack's apartment and walked with Kim to the door. She motioned for him to follow her and he followed her into the apartment and down the hall to her room. Blushing, he realized his mistake and turned to go to the living room. Kim smiled at him. "Chase, you can wait in the living room, okay? There's coke in the 'fridge if you want one." He retreated to the living room and waited for the minutes to tick by like hours.

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Kim remembered the way Chase had looked at her the night he picked her up from jail. She had been forever getting into trouble back then, while her dad was working through his issues with Kate by his side and Kim had had to rely on her own strength to get through the pain. She reached for the outfit she hadn't worn since that night. After zipping the boots and cramming some pajamas, sweats and shoes for jogging, and a toothbrush in a small duffel bag, she shrugged on her overcoat and walked into the living room.

"Ready?" she asked Chase as he nearly vaulted from the couch where he had been sitting rigidly.

She smiled. "Sorry, I just don't want to spend a lot of time here at the moment. Dad has some stuff he needs to work through and I think it's better if I step out of the way."

"No problem. You know, if you ever need anything…" he trailed off.

"I always call Tony and Michelle." Kim said without thinking. Noticing the crestfallen look on his face, she amended quickly. "But since they'll be gone for a while, I'll give you a call." She reached out and grabbed his hand. This time, she did not let go until they had reached the truck and were on their way to his house.

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A/N: You know the drill…R&R