-1Chapter 10

Audrey awoke in Jack's arms the following morning. She felt his warm breath against her neck. She didn't dare move afraid that if she did Jack would disappear and she would find herself in China.

"You awake?" Jack muttered into her ear.

She nodded and turned around to face him.

"You no go Jack...Please..I'll be good" She said starting to cry.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere Audie, I promise. I'll stay with you forever."

Jack looked into her eyes, the eyes that were once so full of life but now there were dull and glazed with fear and confusion. He knew that it would take a long time before Audrey would get better and he was more than willing to wait for her. It was just Heller that stood in the way of that decision. He looked at his watch and it read 7:00. Jack knew Heller would not be up for another 2 hours at the most and he was glad as it gave him more time with Audrey. Jack faced Audrey again, who was now lost in her own thoughts.

"You okay?" he asked.

She didn't answer, then the next thing he knew was that Audrey was shaking. Jack instantly knew that she was thinking about China. He didn't even want to think what Cheng had put her through.

"Audrey" he said pulling her towards him "Your safe now. No one will ever hurt you again".

Audrey eventually stopped shaking in his arms and pulled back to look at Jack "You Promise?"

" I swear" Jack answered.

He cradled her face with his hand and smiled when she lent into it. Jack wanted so badly to kiss her, to show her how much he loved her to show her that she was safe. Jack slowly lent his head forwards and hesitated, just millimeters from her lips. He looked deep into her eyes and then returned his gaze back to her lips. Jack was deciding whether or not he should kiss her when she took him by surprise. Her lips were on his, and she was slowly, tenderly kissing him. It took a moment for Jack to recover but when he did he returned the kiss with just as much passion as she had.

The kiss continued for a while until the need for air became too strong. Jack took Audrey back into his arms, and she laid her head on his chest. They stayed like this for a while both of them thinking about the other. Audrey then moved her head back onto the pillow, facing Jack. Jack looked at her, realizing her gaze had moved from him onto something behind him. Jack followed her eye line until her came upon a photo of them both happily together. It was of them celebrating Audrey's birthday. Jack brought the photo to her.

"Do you remember that day?" he asked her.

She nodded and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Jack waited patiently until he finally heard her speak.

"B..best...day...o..of..life" She managed to say.

"Do you remember where i took you?"

She looked at him desperately trying to remember. She remembered a beach and Jack holding her but that was all. She started to cry. "I..i remember..bit..of" she couldn't manage to complete the sentence. Jack jumped in to help her.

"You remember bits of the day?" he asked. She nodded.

"Do you want me to tell you what happened?" She nodded again.

"Alright" he began to tell her the story..

-------
4 years ago...

Jack's phone rang. "Bauer" he said

"Jack its Audrey, where are you? I thought we were going out to dinner tonight?"

"Yeah Audrey we were. I'm sorry i can't make it."

He heard the disappointment in her voice.

"But Jack its my birthday, i thou..-Fine you know what it doesn't matter. I'll talk to you on Monday."

"Audrey" he exclaimed.

"What Jack?"

"I need you to go to my apartment and pick up my jacket for me. I'm going to Kim's this weekend. Would you do that for me?"

Audrey was about to protest but decided against it. "Fine Jack, is the key in the normal place?"

"Yeah, look i need to go. Bring the jacket to the office when you have got it. Bye."

Just like that the call ended. Audrey made her way down the stairs, dressed in some tight jeans and top. It was 1:00pm . She had asked her father for the day off as Jack had told her he was going to take her out for her birthday. Which was now obviously not going to happen. If he wanted to spend the weekend with his daughter, she could hardly blame him, they had only been dating for 2 months, she told herself that it was nothing serious. But deep down she knew that she was falling in love with Jack Bauer.

She made her way to his apartment. She eventually got there 10 minutes later, found the key and stepped inside. But when she did all the disappointment and anger she had for Jack was now replaced. She gazed around his apartment, which was filled with candles and had a banner across the wall reading ' HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY'.

She stepped in, forgetting to close the door behind her. On the table there was a letter, a leaflet of a hotel and two plane tickets. She read the letter.

Dear Audrey,

How could i forget your birthday? Instead of taking you out to dinner tonight i'm going to take you to Miami for the weekend. Hope you like your present.

Love Jack xx

Audrey smiled. She knew that he couldn't of forgotten her birthday, but where was the devil? Suddenly she felt arms wrapped around her waist. "Surprise" he whispered to her. She lent back into his embrace.

"You really did think i forgot your birthday didn't you" he teased.

She turned around to face him and smiled. Jack to the opportunity to kiss her. Audrey kissed him back wrapping her arms around his back, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart Jack's forehead rested on hers. He looked at her deep in the eyes and whispered the 3 words that he thought he would never say to a woman again.

"I love you"

Audrey pressed her lips against his again. " I love you to" she whispered.

Audrey was more in love with Jack than she had been with Paul. She couldn't describe it, Paul would have never of done this for her. She knew that this man standing in front of her was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

------

Audrey smiled as Jack was telling the story. She interrupted him half way through. Jack paused knowing that she wanted to say something and he was surprised at how clearly she had said it.

"It was the first time you said you loved me" She said proud of herself for remembering.

"Yeah" he said "and i still love you to this day".

Audrey snuggled in closer to Jack.

"Finish" she commanded. Jack smirked and continued..

----

Within the hour they were packed and at the airport, waiting for the flight. The plane eventually took off and in two hours they landed in Miami.

Audrey watched Jack as he tried to pull the luggage off of the belt and laughed when he managed to move it but then fell. Jack saw Audrey laugh and walked over to her.

"What have you got in this suitcase!? We're only going away for 2 days not a year!"

It caused Audrey to smile even more. "I know, I'm sure if we wait here a Strong man will come and help me." She winked at Jack.

"Oh, so you don't think i'm strong?" he asked gathering her into his arms. Not caring who was watching.

"Nope" she teased

"Well then" Jack started and then bent down to kiss her.

"But you are a damn fine kisser Jack" Audrey informed him and then laughed as he grinned.

"Come on lets get you to the hotel" Jack replied.

Thirty minutes later, they checked in to the hotel and were making their way up to the suite that Jack had booked for them. Opening the door Audrey gasped, "Oh my god Jack, its enormous".

"You like it then?"

"Do i like it? Jack i love it and i love you".

He gathered her into his arms and lent down to kiss her but was stopped by her hand.

"No, we have to get ready for dinner".

He pulled his best puppy face, hoping that it might work.

"Don't even try it Mr Bauer, I don't break easily." She exclaimed making her way towards her suitcase.

"Really" he said.

Audrey realized that what she had said would only spur him on more. She moaned when she felt him wrap his arms around her waist and as he started to kiss her neck. Knowing that she wasn't going to win. She turned around and kissed him, she slowly undid his buttons and pushed him onto the bed, where she straddled him. Just as things were about to heat up. Audrey got off Jack and enjoyed viewing his shocked face.

"Like i said Mr Bauer. I don't break that easily. Now up you get and get dressed while i go have a shower."

She saw his eyes light up and then she added "ALONE".

Forty minutes later, they were ready for dinner.

"Wow don't you look gorgeous" Jack exclaimed. She was wearing a tight long yellow dress, that showed her back and revealed a bit of her breath taking cleavage.

"Your not to bad yourself" she winked.

They made their way to the restaurant. After they were seated, Audrey looked at then menu and then the prices.

"Jack this is expensive, are you sure you want to eat here?"

Jack looked up "Nothing is too expensive as long as it pleases you."

"You always know what to say don't you wise guy".

Jack grinned and nodded then looked back at the menu.

"I think i'll go for the pasta".

Audrey looked up " I didn't know you liked pasta" He nodded. "Well then i will have the same."

After their meal Jack lead Audrey onto the beach. The beach was lit up by the moon and the stars. They walked to a private spot on the beach, where the waves were quietly lapping at the shore. Jack was standing behind Audrey with his arms wrapped around her waist.

"This has been the best birthday ever. Its perfect Jack, just perfect".

Jack brought her closer to him "Well i'm glad you enjoyed it."

----

Audrey was gazing up at Jack as he finished the story. She remembered the day now . She remembered the next two days were just as wonderful. She looked up at Jack.

"I love you so much" she said moving her head into the crook of his neck.

"I love you to sweetheart."

They stayed like this for a while, until Jack heard movement going about in the kitchen.

"How about we go have some breakfast". he asked her.

She nodded and got out of bed taking Jack's hand as they headed out towards the kitchen...

to be continued..