Kim tore her eyes from her computer screen when she noticed Jack walk through security, "Dad? What are you doing here?"
Jack met her in the middle of the CTU floor and hugged her tightly. "Hey sweetheart, how you doing?"
"I'm fine, Angela hasn't been sleeping well, she's teething." She pulled back and searched his face. "All right, what's wrong?"
He averted his eyes, "Nothing. Everything's fine."
"Dad? Is it Sam, is she ok?"
"No, she's fine. I just need to do a little work. Chase is staying with her. I'm going up to my office."
Kim nodded at him, "Yeah, ok. I'm working with Chloe on some new information we got from the Feds on Salazar. I'll send it to your screen."
"Ok, thanks honey." Jack turned and walked up the stairs and Kim stared after him, instinctively knowing that something was bothering him. She would talk to him later, right now her first priority was finding Salazar. So far, he had managed to elude detection. Not one legitimate sighting had been made since the shootout with Jack and Sam, and Kim was hoping this new intel could point them in the right direction. She was worried that he would continue to come after her dad and Sam until he killed them. She wouldn't let that happen.
Kim stood up to hand a file over the cube to Adam, when she glanced up at her dad's office. Jack was still in the same position he had been the last several times she had checked on him over the past hour. He was leaning forward in his chair, chin in his hands, staring through the glass down at the CTU floor. His face was blank. After the phone call she just had from Chase, it didn't take a genius to figure out what was wrong.
She told Chloe she was taking a short break and climbed the short flight of stairs to his office. "Dad? Can I talk to you?"
Jack jerked up as Kim broke the silence that had surrounded him. He offered his daughter a genuine smile. "Sure honey, what's on your mind?"
"Well, actually, it's what's on your mind."
"What are you talking about?"
Kim stood in front of her dad and put her hands on her hips. "I've looked up here four times in the last hour, and you haven't moved. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Jack moved papers around on his desk in an effort to avoid looking her in the eye.
"Dad. You can talk to me." She pulled a chair from in front of his desk and sat down facing him. "Did something happen between you and Sam?"
Jack looked up, "What makes you say that?"
"Well one, because Chase called and said that Sam is a mess—"
Jack cut her off, "What do you mean, is she ok?"
"She's fine, physically. But according to Chase, you've really confused her."
Jack nodded and said softly, "And what was two?"
"You never left her side when she was in the hospital, she is practically living with you and now you're hiding here when you don't need to be."
He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. "I'm interviewing Gibson tomorrow, I needed to prepare." The excuse didn't even sound plausible to his own ears, he knew it wouldn't fool Kim. He couldn't lie to her, and she obviously knew he hadn't done any work since he arrived.
"Dad, you could have prepared at home. Sam probably could have even helped you, he was her boss after all."
"It's complicated, honey. I can't explain it to you ok."
"What's complicated? I know you are crazy about her and she obviously feels the same way. You have a lot in common and neither of you are married." She took his hands in hers, "I just want you to be happy Dad."
"I know sweetheart. But you of all people should know that this job has ruined every relationship I have ever had."
Kim shook her head. "No, I don't buy it. You can't use your job as an excuse this time. She's an agent too and she knows the dangers. She is putting herself at risk, you aren't. You just have to accept it and work on it. I know what happened with mom really hurt you, but you have to keep living. And love and loss is a part of living." She choked back a tear when she looked in his face, but she kept going, trying to get her point into his thick head. She put her hands on either side of his face for emphasis, "I know you're falling in love with Sam. Don't fight it and just take a risk. You deserve happiness Dad, but you won't get it if you don't even try."
Jack was stunned by her perception of the situation, but it was tough to take, especially from his little girl. "But with Kate—"
"No, Sam is not Kate. You can't judge her on how your relationship with Kate ended. Just give it a chance. Now, I'm going to send you that data and I want you to at least think about what I said. Ok?" He nodded as she stood up and pushed her chair back, then went back over and embraced Jack, "I love you Dad."
"I love you too sweetheart. Thanks." He went back to shuffling papers on his desk.
Kim opened the door to the office and stopped in the doorway, "Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I really like Sam. She's pretty cool." Then she turned and left. Jack smiled after her. This was a turning of the tides, his daughter offering him advice on love. He thought Teri would probably be laughing at him right now if she knew.
Sam was already in bed by the time he got home and relieved Chase. Jack was poised to defend remarks from Chase, but the boy just gave him a knowing look and left. He went and checked on Sam, who was fast asleep on her back and snoring lightly. He chuckled and pulled the covers up over her then found some blankets for the couch. He tried to stretch out, but the couch was about a foot too short. He ended up hanging his feet off the end rather uncomfortably, but it was better than curling up.
He closed his eyes, but sleep was out of the question. Kim's words ran over and over through his mind, like a song you can't get out of your head once you hear it. "Love and loss is a part of living. I know you're falling in love with Sam. Don't fight it and just take a risk."
Falling asleep in Jack's bed had been very disconcerting for Sam. She could smell his distinct masculine scent on the pillow, but he wasn't in the room with her. She felt the emptiness from the other side of the bed and longed for his arms to safely envelope her. Sam woke up with a start when she realized that she had only been dreaming that Jack was holding her. She stumbled around in the dark to use the bathroom, but she wasn't used to the layout yet and kicked the dresser. She swore under her breath, "Son of a bitch!" She bit her finger to keep from crying out.
The clock told her it was after two am, but she had never heard Jack come in. She slowly shuffled out into the living room and found him in the most awkward position on the couch, his calves and feet hanging off the end. He looked uncomfortable and his face didn't even look peaceful. She went over to him and touched him gently on the shoulder, "Jack?"
He sat upright and nearly knocked her over, "What? What is it?"
Sam grabbed onto his arm to stay upright, but didn't let go. "Come on."
"What?"
"Jack, you obviously don't fit on the couch. Just come on." She stood up slowly and groaned with the effort. "I trust you and I just can't let you sleep here."
Jack rubbed his back and looked down at the alternative, "Yeah, ok." He smiled and pointed at her, "But you snore."
She sulked, "I do not and I get the right side. Now help me into bed."
He picked her up and carried her back into the bedroom and set her gently on the bed as Sam giggled. "I just meant to help me walk, you didn't have to carry me again."
He got into bed facing her and leaned over to kiss her cheek, "Good night Samantha. And thanks."
She reached over and took her hand in his and closed her eyes, "Night Bauer."