Jack closed the door behind him and slid down against it, cradling his head in his hands. Oh god, what was he doing? An amazing woman was on the other side of the door and he was hiding in here. Why? Because he was afraid he could lose her again? Because he was too scared to love again?

He hadn't felt this much for anyone in a long time. With Kate, it had become difficult and strained pretty quickly, he used the undercover operation as a means to end it, but it was over long before then. And Claudia was merely a distraction in his chaotic life in Mexico. He was sorry about what she went through and had cared for her, but what he felt for her was strictly physical, there was no love.

Sam was a completely different story. He was instantly attracted to her on an emotional as well as physical level and that attraction had intensified each day as he got to know her. It had almost killed him when he watched her fighting for her life in that operating room, and he just couldn't lose another person that he loved. It was better this way, staying detached, keeping his distance. He would take care of her until she was better and they caught Salazar, then he would have to let her go. He just hoped he could.

He had to get out of here before said something to hurt her, or even worse, fell in love with her. He pulled out his phone and dialed.

"CTU Edmunds."

"Chase, it's Jack. I need you to come sit with Sam for me."

"Yeah, sure, give me about twenty minutes." He paused, then asked, "Is everything all right Jack?"

"It's fine, I just need to take care of some things and I don't want to leave her alone. Ok?"

"Sure Jack. I'll be right there."

"Hey, did you do me that favor that I asked for?"

"Yeah, I just got it back from tech a little while ago. I'll bring it with me. I hope you won't need it though."

"Yeah, me too." He hung up and sat heavily on the bed, fighting a lifetime of memories full of guilt and regret. For some reason the happy memories were harder to pull up than the ones he would rather forget. No, those stayed with him. Maybe that's why the pleasant memory of rubbing Teri's feet had overwhelmed him with emotion, it was so unexpected.

A half hour later, Sam was dozing on the couch, when there was a knock at the door. It hurt to get up, so she yelled, "Jack?" Although she wasn't even sure if he was still here.

He walked out of the bedroom and went straight for the door as if he was expecting someone. "Chase?"

"Yeah Jack, it's me."

Jack opened the door and let him in, "Thanks for coming. I'll be back as soon as I can." He turned and gave Sam a longing look, then walked out the door.

Chase turned to Sam, who looked as irritated as Jack did. "What's his problem?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Don't ask me. That man is the most hardheaded, stubborn, confusing person I have ever known. It's like he's two different people. Sometimes he's this caring, sweet, generous man, but then he shuts off, and he's like that." She pointed at the closed door. "A hard, cold, unfeeling...agent. I don't know which one the real Jack is." She brought her knees up slowly, rested her head on them and sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be saying this. I just don't have anyone else to talk to."

Chase sat down next to her, "It's ok. Look, I know Jack can be difficult. But he's had a really hard time lately." He took an object out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Oh, before I forget, here's your watch." Before she could ask, he explained, "Jack asked me to have it fixed for you. It was broken when your place was ransacked."

She took it and strapped it to her arm, "Thanks. That was nice of you. I haven't even had a chance to go over there. All my plants are probably dead."

Chase shook his head smiled at her, "Uh, I don't think they survived, sorry. At least you didn't have any pets."

"No, I never got around to it. They require too much commitment and I never know when I am going to be home. Or maybe kidnapped. Well, that's only happened the one time, but you never know." Chase chuckled, but noticed that Sam didn't laugh with him.

"Sam, what is it?"

"I realize that I don't know you very well, and you can tell me to mind my own business, but can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"What happened with Jack's last girlfriend--was her name Kelly?"

"Kate. Hard to say, Jack doesn't share very much. I think she wanted more than he could give her and he used his job as an excuse to get out. I don't think things were very good a long time, but he didn't want to hurt her."

"Yes, I've noticed he's got his own notion of what is right for everyone else but himself. It's like he doesn't think he deserves happiness."

"Noticed that, have you?"

She laughed lightly since it still hurt, "Yeah." She picked at the edge of the couch cushion, she felt stupid for talking to Chase about Jack. It felt like she was back in middle school asking his best friend if he liked her. She should be talking to Jack about this, but he had fled before she could. He didn't make anything easy.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I've only known him for a year and a half, but I never saw him look at Kate the way he looks at you."

Sam's head jerked up and searched his eyes. It was difficult to gauge if he was telling the truth or just humoring her. "You don't have to say that for my benefit. I'm a big girl, I can handle the truth."

Chase pondered a moment before continuing. He wasn't sure how much he should say, he didn't want Jack to accuse him of interfering with his life. In the end, he figured if he just told Sam the truth, he couldn't be faulted for that. "I'm not just saying that. Sam, he barely left that hospital the whole time you were there. He wouldn't even let them stitch up his cuts until you were out of surgery. I've never seen him like that, he was scared to death that you weren't going to make it. Now, I think he feels that if he keeps his distance from you, you won't get hurt again."

"But that's ridiculous. I'm an agent. I could have gotten shot on the Salazar case even if he hadn't been involved."

"I know that and you know that, but it doesn't matter to Jack. The fact is that he feels responsible."

"So what should I do?"

"I really don't know. But if you feel the same way about him that he does about you, and I think that you do, then you have to talk to him about it."

"Thanks Chase, I think I do too. Lord knows I've tried not to feel this way, but I do."

"And don't let him put you off with his job excuses. Do you want me to hold him down for you?"

Sam giggled, "I'll keep your offer in mind, it might come to that." She glanced at Chase, "You know, Kim is a very lucky woman. I hope she knows that."

He grinned at her, "Yeah, I think she does. I'm lucky too, but it hasn't been easy dating Jack Bauer's daughter."

Sam laughed again, she was really beginning to like Chase. "I can imagine."