A/N: Next chapter's a wee bit short...this is probably the second or third to last chapter...
Chapter 8-Homecoming
It's been three years since Jack's been thrown in prison, and I want to be there for him when he gets out. Yes, I know he hit me, and I'm not becoming one of those women who thinks their abusive husbands will get better and won't do it again, but frankly, Jack isn't my husband.
It's strange, but I sort of miss him. I just realized it now (or really, last week), how lonely and miserable I am without him.
Sometimes I wonder how long Jack had been on heroin. If he was on heroin when he took me out, if he was on heroin when he proposed to Audrey, if the Chinese had given him heroin…
Actually, today's the day that Jack comes home from jail. His "homecoming" I believe is the term. I don't know what I'm going to do. Kim agreed to pick him up (yes, I had to talk to her) and drive him to his old apartment where he'll pick up his stuff, and then she'll drive him to my house. I'm hoping that he won't turn to drinking the way Tony did because I used to be able to see a future with, and maybe he's better now…
"Chloe!" Kim calls.
I hurry to the door, open it and smile when I see Jack. He looks bruised and beat up, he's very pale and his hair is short, like it was shaved off before and now is just starting to grow back.
"Take him…" Kim says and rolls her eyes. "Bye…"
I nod. "Hi."
"Hi,"
Jack pulls me into a hug. "I'm so sorry,"
I would've expected his reaction to the woman who told the police what he did and where he was.
"Uh…Jack…"
"I'm sorry…for everything…"
"Jack…"
"Chloe, I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you…"
"Jack, it's okay. You were doing heroin. You're not now."
"Of course! I never wanna go back there again. The really beat me up and taught me a lesson."
Well that's a lot coming from Jack Bauer, the toughest nail in the hardware store.
"Chloe, I love you."
"What? Are you…what?"
"I was doing drugs when I told you that I loved Audrey. I really didn't…I love you. I've always loved you."
It would've sounded sweeter if he hadn't told me the same thing so many years ago.
"Are you sure? Because the last time you told me that, you ran off with Audrey."
"Audrey's dead…"
"Yeah well what I mean is the last time you told me that, you ran off and got engaged to another woman."
"I'm so sorry…I don't know why I did that…I was stupid…on drugs…you know how it is…"
"Actually, Jack, I don't"
He laughs a cold, dry laugh. "Oh yeah, right. Sorry. But anyway, I love you. Please believe me when I tell you that."
"…"
"Chloe, while I was in there, I realized how much I love you. All those times you were by my side…and how do I repay you?"
"You save the world,"
"No…well, yeah, but…no. I kick you. I'm really sorry. I love you."
Okay…I never expected to hear Jack begging me to understand how much he loves me.
"Jack…I'm sure you're just…uh…I'm sure you just feel sorry for me…or something…"
"Oh my GOD Chloe! I'm telling you I love you, do you get it? I love you! I do you understand?"
I think for a moment, and nod my head and smile.