It was getting dark when the two men returned, but they'd only been gone for an hour. Kim peered through the blinds in her bedroom and watched tensely as her boyfriend and father walked up the pebbled drive. She smiled slightly as Chase hovered behind Jack watching as he carefully moved over the uneven driveway leaning heavily against the crutches.
The window was open a crack, allowing her to hear a low chuckle as the two filtered into the house, she didn't know who it belonged to but didn't care, laughter was always a good sign. Movement was heard but Kim stalled some more, pottering around in her room and then checking on Angela who was sleeping before making her way down the stairs.
"Hey," Chase said quietly as he pulled out a chair for her at the pine kitchen table, "you're dads gone to bed."
"Is he okay?" The worry was clear even though she tried to hide it.
"Yeah, he only had a couple of beers but its been so long and he got real tired."
Kim nodded as she silently posed her next question. "Did he say anything?"
Chase nodded his head but became uncomfortable. "We talked, I think things will be better between us," he said, looking around the room, "at least I hope so," he added.
"What did he say?"
Chase paused a moment as he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't want to go into it," he said, "but we both said things that needed to be said."
Kim nodded, slightly annoyed that he wouldn't give her a detailed account although she understood why. She knew Chase's relationship with her father was one of pure trust and that he wouldn't want to upset Jack by telling his daughter something he may possibly not want her to know.
Chase nodded as he thought back to his conversation with Jack. At first he was hurt that Jack thought he'd think him a failure, a traitor even; because of his confession. When he had tried to explain to Jack his own thoughts on the confession Jack had shyly picked at the beer bottle label, saying nothing.
After fifteen minutes of silence Chase had grown irritated. "Listen Jack, I'm not going to try convince you of anything. Maybe you're just being stubborn and wont accept that we're proud you saved your own life and your daughters by signing the confession," he said, stressing each word.
With more silence Chase was annoyed, almost hurt. "Jack I thought our respect for each other was mutual," he said, letting his statement hang in the air.
He smiled as he remembered the way Jacks head had jerked up and he quickly reassured him that his belief was correct.
"If that's true then you'll take me at my word. Nobody hates you Jack, nobody's embarrassed or ashamed of what happened. Most men break within 24 hours of capture. You went through hell and it still took threats to Kim to make you talk. You survived Jack, that's all people will remember; that you pulled through and moved on with your life."
Jack had watched him with a curious eye before speaking quietly, "you can't speak for everybody, Chase," he almost whispered, the pain in his eyes hurting Chase as he watched.
"That is true," he said plainly as his hand tightened around the cool, wet beer bottle. "But I can speak for Kim and Heller and Sarah and Palmer and they all say the same; you're a hero-"
"Chase," Jack interrupted harshly, not liking the mans comment.
"I can speak for myself and you have to accept that Jack," he said sternly, "if you let the Chinese get you down now, then they've won. Its as simple as that." Finally meeting his eyes Jack reluctantly nodded, accepting his words.
Kim spoke again interrupting Chase's thoughts. "I'm going to go call Sarah," Kim said brightly, "check she's still coming tomorrow."
Leading her into the living room Chase smiled, realising just how well the night went.