The Long (LONG) Walk

Challenge by: Dutch Tribegirl

Characters: Jack and Cloe

Disclaimer: Don't own anything

Rating: Up to PG 13 but doubt it big time

Words to include: tiger, stake, pudding and stroopwafels

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(Series 3)

Cloe had convinced Jack to follow her back to the Mall. She hoped she could convince him to stay but if not at least someone might see him- and try their hand at it.

The silence was beginning to annoy her so she took the time to make him talk.

"Hey Jack, I was thinking when we get to the Mall. We can strip your hair black, and keep it orange still- that way you'll like a tiger," Cloe said to him eagerly.

Jack paled and turned around, "No way! No, no, no. Scientists do not dye hair," he protested.

Cloe giggled, "But Ellie would love it," she said.

"Really?" he said suddenly like it bad idea to a great idea.

"No, not really," Cloe confessed stifling a laugh.

"Oh," he grew quiet again as they started to walk.

Another few minutes went by, causing Cloe to think again.

"Hey Jack- I was thinking…"

"About?"

"Stroopwafels and pudding," Cloe said to him.

"Stroopwafels?" Jack repeated lamely.

"Yea, you know- don't you know?" she asked.

"No…"

"Oh, you mean you don't know Dutch?" Cloe asked him.

Jack looked at her, "No, why should- would I know Dutch?" Jack said.

"Wow, I know something that the oh so genius Jack doesn't!" Cloe exclaimed happily.

Jack felt himself turn pink- getting outsmarted by a kid was kinda embarrassing tom him.

"Yea, well- who would have a any use for it anyway? It's like we're gonna be able to travel to Holland or anything," he mumbled.

Cloe laughed and started to skip off.

She had done something few could ever claim, stumped to great Jack, local genius of sector 10, and first person to discover the Mall.

However, back was that uncomfortable silence that was slowly driving her mad- she had to do something.

"Jack, I want to skate back to the Mall," she announced.

"What?"

"I want to skate back. Let's see if we can get skateboards or something. It would make the trip go faster," Cloe told him.

"No, Cloe, that's okay- really… how about we just keep walking?" he suggested.

"Why, don't you want to get there faster, don't you want to see Ellie?" she pressed.

Jack felt his mouth go dry- he loved Ellie he really did, but he no interest in seeing her- not with Luke. No- for once in his life- he did want to get back to the Mall.

"I'd rather just walk," he repeated.

Cloe sighed, "All right, fine, we'll walk but it'll take all day- and just you know… I have lots of material to share to make this go by even longer," she stated.

"Longer! Cloe…"

Cloe started to hum as they continued walking- clearly her intention came clear. It was to drive Jack out of his mind.

"Okay, Cloe, you can stop this at any point," Jack said finally.

"What do you mean?" Cloe asked innocently.

"Driving me insane, you can stop at any time," he told her.

"But Jack- I would never…"

"Cloe!"

"Okay well, it's just that you were so quiet and you seemed so tense about the Mall…" Cloe began.

"Not that I don't appreciate it, but can we just get there please?" Jack begged.

"Yea, yea, I hear ya. I can't wait to get back and see everyone else. Think they missed us?" Cloe said.

"I'm sure they did".

"Great, so hey Jack- you wanna learn Dutch?"

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The end

Total words: 704

A/N: Different than my normal style but still that same playful normalcy to it! Kinda amusing too. That was a fun challenge thankies very much.