Jack knew that she would be pissed when she came to; not that he could blame her, it was a good job he enjoyed her feistiness. They were currently travelling in a civilian helicopter that Jack and Curtis commandeered. They were working below the radar of CTU although both Curtis and Bill had been aware of what Jack was doing; up to a point anyway. Jack didn't want anyone knowing where he was taking Chloe; it would be safer for all of them.

Chloe remained unconscious when they landed at their initial location; a safe house in a densely wooded area. Jack knew that all airports and ports would be heavily guarded within the hour so there was little hope of them getting out of the country without being detected. Bill had arranged for two undercover agents to act as decoy on an international flight to Eastern Europe in the hope that if they got through without being detected the authorities would eventually link them back to Jack and Chloe. That way Jack and Chloe would have a better chance of getting out of the country in a couple of days.

Jack lifted Chloe out of the helicopter and carried her into the house while Curtis carried the provisions he had earlier loaded on board. Jack gently lowered Chloe onto the couch in the living room then turned to Curtis to thank him for his help.

"Are you sure you're going to be able to handle her when she comes round?" Curtis asked with a smile. He wouldn't normally presume to ask Jack whether he could handle anything, but he secretly wondered if dealing with a disgruntled Chloe might be one of his toughest assignments yet. On second thoughts Chloe was disgruntled most of the time and that was bad enough, Curtis dreaded to think what she would be like after this.

Jack smiled at Curtis' question "I think I'm going to view it as a rather enjoyable challenge Curtis."

Curtis looked as though he thought Jack was crazy. His expression changing to one of unreserved wariness as Chloe groaned and shifted her position slightly. "Well I guess that's my cue to get out of here" he said.

Jack laughed at that "don't tell me you're scared of Chloe Curtis, she's harmless. You just have to get to know her properly."

"I think I'll leave that one up to you Jack, you're a braver man than I am" Curtis said with a smile as the two men shook hands. Jack thanked Curtis for his help and assured him he would make contact to let him and Bill know they were safely out of the country. As the taller man left, Jack smiled wryly to himself at the effect Chloe seemed to have on those around her.

Jack went into the kitchen and got an ice bag out of the freezer, returning to the couch where Chloe lay. He sat on the edge of the couch and leant over to place the ice on her jaw line where he had knocked her out. She pulled her head away from the iciness of his touch, still not quite awake but responding to the cold stimuli. Jack held her head gently while trying to process all she must have been through over the past few weeks. He knew that she would have felt betrayed and let down; that she would have thought no-one cared. He hadn't been able to get in touch sooner because from the moment he had found out she was going to be tried he'd been working on this plan to get her out. He knew that if he'd spoken to her during that time, he would find it difficult to keep his plans from her and if she had known she would have tried to dissuade him.

Chloe was awake; she just didn't want him to know yet. She knew that it was him sitting by her side, she recognised his touch. She was secretly pleased that he had broken her out; she just wasn't ready to tell him that yet. As well as being pleased however, she was also concerned. She was worried about what he had sacrificed to get her out, he didn't deserve any more upset in his life, and he should be allowed some peace, some time to be happy. She wondered how Audrey had reacted to this, if she knew that is. Chloe decided it was time he knew she was awake, not that she intended making it easy for him.

The first Jack knew that Chloe had come to was when he found himself sprawled on the floor. She had used her body to buck against him and push him off the couch and he had been caught off guard. He looked at her with a wry expression, aware that a lesser man would be floored a second time at the daggers she shot from her eyes.

"You're awake" he said, turning towards her and reaching over to rest a calming hand on her arm.

She quickly slapped his arm away, saying "In case it has escaped your notice Jack I wasn't actually asleep, I was unconscious. A state that you put me in you bastard."

Much to Chloe's annoyance he chuckled, saying "you didn't exactly give me a choice Chloe, you weren't cooperating and we were both minutes away from getting arrested."

Chloe groaned as she tried to sit up, both her jaw and her neck aching. Jack moved toward her, holding his hands in a defensive gesture. "Just let me help you Chloe, you're gonna be aching for a while yet."

"Humph! And who's fault is that?" she asked while letting him guide her into a sitting position on the couch. He sat next to her and reached for the ice pack to again press it against her jaw. Chloe flinched a little but relaxed back on the couch, deciding that she didn't have the energy to fight him any longer.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"I don't know, I guess food isn't the first thing on my mind at the moment" she said in response.

"We have steaks, I'm guessing that what you've had in the last few weeks has been barely palatable and you are looking a little thin" he said.

"Oh, way to turn a girls head Jack – if she won't come quietly knock her out, then insult the way she looks" she said rolling her eyes as though he was the most stupid man on the planet.

Jack moved in and leant his head against hers, brushing his lips to her temple then leaning down and whispering softly in her ear "god it's good to see you O'Brian, I've missed you."

Chloe felt tears spring to her eyes and, feeling exposed she buried her face in his neck. Jack wasn't stupid though, he knew Chloe must be feeling worn down, that she would be feeling emotionally vulnerable – a condition that wouldn't sit comfortably. Jack gathered her in his arms and held her tightly to him.

"Hey, it's ok. Don't hide from me Chloe, its ok".

They sat like that for several minutes until Chloe pulled back, blinking to clear the mist that was clouding her vision. She smiled at him "don't think this means I've forgiven you. I know you're good at turning most women to mush Jack Bauer but you will not succeed with me."

He smiled and gently brushed his lips against hers, creating a stunned expression on Chloe's face. "Good, the day you turn to mush is the day I get a desk job and stick with it. C'mon, let's go and get dinner."

"Actually, I'd quite like to get out of these clothes first. Is there anything I can change into?"

Jack pointed her in the direction of the bedroom and adjoining bathroom where she found a suitcase crammed full of everything she might need; and plenty that she might not, she thought as she pulled out a red laced nightgown. Chloe screwed up her face, wondering who on earth had got these clothes for her. Ignoring that question for the moment she plucked out a vest top and a pair of pyjama bottoms, showering quickly before she got changed.

When she walked out of the bedroom she found Jack in the kitchen preparing a salad for their meal. Chloe rolled her eyes wondering if there was anything this man couldn't do.

"Who packed the clothes Jack?" she asked.

He turned to her and said "actually, it was Kim".

"Kim? You mean you two have been in touch?"

"Yeah, we've managed to sort a few things out."

Chloe was happy for him, but also she was wondering why Jack was making himself a fugitive to help her when he had just been reunited with his only daughter. The other distant thought in her mind related to the fact that Kim had packed some pretty revealing outfits for her.

Jack noticed the range of expressions crossing her face and suspected she had a lot of questions to ask him. "Chloe, it's getting late. Let's just eat, enjoy your first night of freedom and sleep. We can talk tomorrow and I'll answer any questions you have then. We're going to be here for at least a couple of days with very little to do so we have plenty of time."

Chloe sighed deeply, forcing her body to relax a little and went to help him with the final preparations for dinner. They ate comfortably, chatting mainly about current affairs and items of news that had occurred during Chloe's period of incarceration. When they'd finished and worked together to clear up the kitchen Chloe stifled a yawn and stretched her still aching neck.

"You ready to sleep?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, I think I am" Chloe responded "where am I sleeping?"

"With me" Jack said; a bland expression on his face.

"Wh…what?" Chloe asked incredulously.

Jack laughed, enjoying the shocked expression on her face. "Relax Chloe, I'm not going to have my wicked way with you. It's just I want you close by. I'm sure we're safe up here and we have the added bonus of Curtis and Bill maintaining surveillance from a distance. But I want you with me in case we have to move quickly and the other bedrooms are upstairs, I thought we could share the downstairs room. It's plenty big enough and I can make a bed up on the floor."

Chloe shrugged in an attempt at indifference. The reality though was that she was feeling far from indifferent, particularly as following his words she now had images floating through her mind of what it would be like if Jack actually did have his wicked way with her. She felt herself colouring slightly so turned and headed for the bedroom.

She was just settling into bed when he came in. She turned onto her side away from him and closed her eyes, listening to the sound of him making up the bed on the floor then moving into the bathroom. When he returned a few minutes later Chloe felt the bed dip as he sat down; she turned towards him and found him looking down at her. She coloured up for the second time in a matter of minutes when she realised he was naked from the waist up. He leant in and gently kissed her on her head.

"'Night Chloe"

"Goodnight Jack"

Jack turned off the lights and settled down in his makeshift bed. Chloe stifled a smile as she heard him groan a couple of times, obviously trying to get comfortable. After about ten minutes of him moving around restlessly, interspersed with frequent groans of discomfort; Chloe could not suppress the laugh that escaped her lips.

"You laughing at me?" Jack asked irritably.

"Yes but don't worry; I won't make you suffer anymore." She pulled the bed covers aside, gesturing for him to climb into the bed "there's plenty of room in here for both of us."

Jack groaned one more time as he got up off the floor, climbing in beside her and lying on his back staring at the ceiling while Chloe rolled onto her side; her back facing him. "Does that mean I have to keep my distance? Because I'm warning you Chloe, I tend to get pretty restless and move around a lot when I sleep. I just wanted to warn you that I might not be able to help coming over onto your side of the bed."

Chloe sighed. "Well, I guess if you can't help it then that's ok" she said with a small smile.

"Good," he said as he rolled over and reached out to drag her into his chest "go to sleep". Chloe relaxed into him and slept peacefully for the first time in weeks.