Disclaimer: I don't own 24. If I did then Jack and Chloe, well you all know the drill.

A/N: Okay, guys we've reached the end. Cinder-Chloe is finished. I want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed. The feedback on this story has been the best I've ever had and I am really sad to see it end. So, I've decided to write a sequel. For anyone who read the first chapter of "A Midnight Mess," I will be re-working it and making it the sequel to this story. So, look for the revised version in a few days.

Chapter 7

Chloe's first reaction to Jack kissing her was to jerk away in shock, but that never happened because Jack was holding her too tightly. He kept hold of her arms until she realized into the kiss.

Finally, he slid his arms around her waist, lifting her slightly and aligning their bodies from head to toe.

Chloe was sure she was going to die of shock—if she didn't die of pleasure first.

Then the need to breathe became too much and they has to separate.

As Chloe looked up she saw the one look she had never gotten from Jack Bauer before—pure lust. He leaned forward again, but this time she did pull back, "You—you kissed me," she said, and then cursed her self for sounding like a kid in junior high.

Jack just stood there, still staring at her unwaveringly, "Yes."

"But, but" she couldn't fin the words, "Why?'

Jack smiled patiently, "I would think that it's fairly obvious, Chloe. I've wanted to kiss you all night."

Chloe felt a sudden anger overcome her, for reasons she could never explain, and she began to ramble, "No, you...you got stuck taking me to this stupid party. You tricked me into going and then you ditched me for Audrey—everything thought you promise not to and …and...your supposed to be with Audrey having sex with her.---not kissing me." Chloe wasn't out of steam, but she was out of words. She couldn't believe she had even gotten those thoughts out. Later she would decide that her anger and stress had overcome her complete lack of social skills.

"Do you want me to be having sex with Audrey?" Jack asked.

The look she gave him was vicious, "Of course not Jack. Do you want me to be having sex with Spencer?" The moment she said it she felt like an idiot. What did he care who she had sex with.

But Jack's eyes turned gold with anger as he looked back at her door, then at her. He moved forward, "Did he hurt you? When U came in he…you were struggling."

Some of Chloe's anger evaporated at his obvious concern, "No, I don't know if he would actually have hurt me, but you got there before he had the chance."

Jack seemed to be somewhat calmed by her reassurance, but his eyes told her the subject was far from closed.

The silence was deafening for a long minute and then Jack came closer again, tilting her chin up.

"I'm sorry, Chloe. I should never have left with Audrey."

"I understand," she interrupted, "She was drunk and…"

"Don't make excuses for me," he almost yelled, fingers flexing on her arms where he now held her an inch from his body. "I promised tonight would be just you and me and I screwed up, Chloe. No excuses."

She felt herself nod and then, before she lost her nerve asked the question that had haunted her since the moment Audrey had said it. "Do you still love her?"

"No. I feel guilty because I hurt her so much and frankly, after tonight, I feel pity for the person she's become." He stopped for a moment and seemed to be fathering his thoughts. He moved away to sit a0on her coach and motioned for her to join him. After endless minutes he looked up at her, "Chloe, when I was in hiding, it was like I really was dead. I was stagnant, always running, but never moving, never living. Except when I talked to you. Once every month I had something to look forward to, something real. When you called me and said you were in trouble, all I could think about was getting to you. Nothing else mattered. But when we got to CTU and I talked to Audrey and she forgave me. I don't know, but for a moment I wanted to go back. Back before it all went wrong. Back to working for the DOD and being out o CTU. So, she asked and I told her that I loved her, but I was lying without even meaning to. I don't love Audrey and she doesn't love me. She loves the person I created when I was with her, the person I created for her. It wasn't real." Jack stopped now, reached out and pulled her so she was plastered against his side. "You were, the only thing that was real, Chloe."

He brought his face close to hers, "You still are." Barely got the statement out before she pressed her lips to his. This time the kiss went from sweet to hot in seconds and before she knew it she was on his lap struggling with their clothes, until he said, "Wait Chloe, we have to stop."

Her face was shocked and dejected. She made a move to get off of him, but he kept her close, "Just listen, Chloe. I want you. I want this, more than you probably know, but not like this."

"Like what?" she asked, now irritated y

"Chloe, we haven't even been out on a real date. I mean after Audrey and Spencer plotting against us and everything else that happened tonight, do your really want this to be the first night we make love."

She blushed slightly at that, because it conjured images of them really making love.

As much as she hate to admit it, he was right, "Tonight has been crazy. I mean, I don't even have a door." There enough her door was completely off the hinges.

Jack just smiled at her, "Well then I better stay the night until we get you a new door."

Chloe's smile could have lit up a stadium, "I would like that."

Both smiled as they went into got up to move into the bedroom, wanting nothing more to forget the craziness of the night and sleep peacefully in each other's arms.

"Wait, Chloe," Jack sopped at the door to her bedroom, "I need to ask you something."

"What is it Jack?" she asked, concerned by the seriousness of his voice.

"Will you go out with me tomorrow? No crazy exes, no work, just you and me."

He was so earnest; it warmed her to her soul. This was Jack, her kindred spirit, her other half, wanting nothing more than to take her on a date. If it was anymore more perfect he would have to be holding a glass slipper.

Smiling, she took his had, and deciding that fairytales weren't half bad after all said, "Yes."