Author's Note: Jass wrote the first half, I just finished it off.
Five minutes passed, and no one spoke. Fauve seemed content to sit there and flip through an old magazine waiting for one of them to break the idea, but neither did. Chloe was alternating between checking her watch and trying to doze, but every time she got close to falling asleep, Fauve would pinch her and earn a smack on the shoulder. Jack was watching the two friends, trying to find someway to get out of this.
Twenty minutes later, with no change, Fauve tossed her magazine into Chloe's lap and stood, announcing, "I'm going to the bathroom," before disappearing down the isle. As soon as she was out of ear shot, Chloe leaned over to Jack.
"Okay, I say we hit her over the head with a frying pan and run."
He gave her an amused look. "Chloe, there are two problems with that."
"What?"
"One: We're in an airplane. Where would we run?" she gave him a sour look. "Two: I don't know about you, but I left my frying pan at home."
Chloe crossed her arms and shook her head. "She drives me insane sometimes."
Jack nodded his head, before casting a glance back down the isle to make sure the petite Hawaiian was still occupied. "She... might have a point, though." Chloe sent him a somewhat startled look.
"What?"
"She's right." he sighed, softly, and watched Chloe go from irritated to uncomfortable. "We never really talk."
Chloe thought about it-seriously thought about it- for just a moment, before shaking her head. "No, you're wrong." She was wringing her hands, fidgeting slightly. He wanted to interject, but the crazy shrink had opened his eyes: he and Chloe did have some issues they needed to work through. She had something to say, and he was going to let her say it.
She forced her hands to stop moving and gave him a soft look. "Fauve needs to understand that sometimes words don't mean much. Actions are more powerful..." she paused, collected her thoughts, and then continued, "The relationship that we have-" again, the motion between herself and him, "-doesn't need to be talked about."
He reached across the isle, then, and grabbed her hand, briefly, and she gave him a small smile.
"Well," a cheerful voice announced from behind them, and instantly they pulled apart. "This is at least a start." Fauve plopped down in her seat and gave them a nod. "A very good start." Jack found himself mimicking Chloe's glare. "Has anyone ever told you you're incorrigible?"
Chloe snorted, "Only every time she sticks her nose in my life," she told Jack. "Which is pretty frequently."
Unfazed by the pointed accusation, Fauve picked up the magazine again. "And it usually turns out pretty well," she calmly informed Chloe.
Chloe and Jack looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "Move over," Jack gruffly ordered Fauve. The guy he was sitting next to was shaking the whole damn seat and it was starting to annoy him. It had nothing to do with the fact he wanted to be closer to Chloe.