DISCLAIMER: I do not own 24 or any of the actors/characters used herein. (Although a sleepy Chase in only boxers would be a yummy thing to own. ;-p)

Prologue

Chase lie in bed and watched as Kim pulled her coat on over the sweatpants she was wearing. "Where are you going?" he asked a little bit groggily.
"I'm leaving Chase" she sighed but would not turn to face him. "Last night was a mistake. Everything has been a mistake." Chase felt his chest tighten. His breathing was labored and he used every tactic he ever learned to attempt to lower his heart rate.
"Why not, Kim?" he almost whispered.
She didn't answer and he began to feel the bile rising in his throat. His heart began to race despite his efforts and he spat out:
"What the hell are you afraid of?" Only then did she turn to face him, a lone tear making its way towards her chin. "I'm not afraid…" she trailed off and turned her attention back to gathering her things.

Chase rose from the bed and, despite herself, Kim felt anything but angry when she saw his well-muscled chest and long legs clad only in a pair of boxers. She started when he offered to help her, but managed a coherent refusal. Only when she realized that he had driven her to his place the night before did she accept a ride home.

Chase drove in silence, not wanting to say anything that he would regret. After all, it was her choice he kept reminding himself. She was the one who wanted a one night stand. Why are you so upset about it He shook his head and almost laughed at the stupidity of his logic. "Night of memories my ass" he muttered softly to himself.

Kim sat silently in the passenger seat, staring out the window. She knew that she had feelings for Chase, but he was an agent. Not only an agent, but she had heard rumors that he would be her dad's new partner. This relationship was doomed from the start. Well, she wasn't going to allow anyone to hurt her again. She had seen what her mother had gone through for years and determined that it would never happen to her. She sighed to herself. Chase was special, she realized that last night. He had put his life on the line and had killed to save his own life, but he was still gentle and loving. Underneath the rough agent lay a caring man. Kim knew this now. Now that it was too late.

"Just tell me one thing, okay?" Chase's voice broke the silence. "If you left your dad out of the picture, would you still be leaving?" Kim hesistated for a moment, wanting to tell the truth, but knowing what his response would be.
"I'm not sure" she whispered softly. The answer wasn't what he wanted, but he knew that it was the best he was going to get. "Goodbye, Kim" he said as he dropped her off in front of her dad's apartment complex. She didn't answer or even look at him for fear he would be able to see the pain in her face or the tears in her eyes.

Okay guys…this is going to be tough going. I am trying to go to school as well as work so I don't know how often I'll be able to work on this. I will, however, continue to work on this as long as you think it's worth it. So, you know the drill…R&R!!!