Sorry sorry I kept u waiting for so long! Hell of work... But here it is, enjoy ;)

Chapter 24

The elevator got fast to the lobby. Brooke was terribly nervous. She stepped out and her eyes sought for Jack. She couldn't see him. She jumped when Jack spoke behind her.

– Hey.

– Hi! –Brooke replied, high pitched and flushed.

– Did I scare you? I didn't mean to. –Jack told her, evidently nervous.

– No, I just… I didn't see you.

– You want a drink? –he asked her pointing to the bar, looking like he really needed one.

– Sure.

They went to the bar and took a table. Brooke ordered a Vodka Tonic and Jack asked for a Corona beer. Brooke didn't say a thing and only looked down, not knowing what to do, but she felt Jack's eyes fixated on her. Now, in front of her, he didn't know what to say. He was happy to see her. God, she's so beautiful, he thought. Seeing her was so revitalizing… It made him feel alive again.

The drinks finally arrived. They both took a long sip, trying to drown the tension. Brooke finally raised her eyes to meet his. Jack finally spoke and went right to the point.

– So…

– So…

– I've been calling you. –he told her.

– Have you? –Brooke replied, raising an eyebrow, knowing it was not true.

– I mean today. You didn't answer…

Brooke looked down, embarrassed. – I, um, don't have my cell phone here. I forgot it at home. –she lied.

– Right. Why you didn't tell me you were coming? –he asked, concerned.

Brooke threw him a questioning look. – Was I supposed to?

– I just don't know why you didn't let me know.

Brooke didn't understand. She looked at him and sighed. She just spoke her mind. – I'm sorry, I don't understand. As far as I can remember, you told me you needed to slow down, to think things over.

– Why you're here? –Jack asked her, like he wasn't paying attention to her words.

– I came for work.

­– Patrick knows?

– No. I didn't tell anybody.

– You're mad at me. That's why you didn't say you were coming.

– What are you talking about? Why should I be mad at you? –Brooke asked him, abashed.

– I know what I told you last time we met. I just wanted to be honest and…

Brooke cut him off. – Jack, I'm not reproaching you for anything. And I'm not mad at you. I didn't want you to know because… well, it's been only two weeks. I didn't want you to think I'm pushing you or anything. Besides, this was a 24 hour trip, so…

– I don't think you're pushing anything. –he assured her. – When you're leaving?

– Early in the morning.

– I see. –he said, looking down.

Now Brooke was the one staring at him. What he made her feel frightened her. It was overwhelming. She liked him so much… She couldn't understand why she felt that way around him. After all, she didn't know him much. Yet she knew he was caring, considered, committed and, above all, a great man, not to mention he was beautiful. She couldn't explain why she found all those qualities in him, she just knew.

After a minute Brooke was aware he wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. Therefore, she made the first move. – Jack… why you're here? –she asked softly.

He raised his eyes to meet hers. – I wanted to see you.

– Why?

Jack took a deep breath. He wasn't sure of what he was about to say, but he tried something he had learnt from Brooke herself. He tried to be transparent, maybe for the first time in a long time. He thought telling her how he felt and what his fears were would be the best thing to do at the moment. – I… um… listen… I want you to know that I didn't mean to hurt you. I like you a lot Brooke. I think you're beautiful and fantastic, I do, but liking you that much has been unexpected to me. After my wife died I never thought I could be with anyone else. It's been very tough for me… but then I met you and all of the sudden I was thinking of that possibility. And I just panicked. I'm not good at letting go… But the truth is I keep thinking about you and regretting pushing you away. I didn't like you not answering my calls this evening. But I don't want to be with you just because I'm lonely, 'cause you don't deserve that. You're flawless and I'm way far from being, I have a lot of baggage… It freaks me out, all of these.

Brooke was listening carefully to him. She understood right away what he meant and what he was feeling. – Maybe you're moving on, that's why you're scared. I know changes are scary... I'm not flawless, Jack. You just think that because you don't know me enough. I have million flaws and if you stick around, you'll soon find out, unfortunately for me… I like you too, very much. We get along and I think we can work things out. The question you should be asking is if you like me enough for giving it a shot or not. –she told him, looking deeply in his eyes.

Jack felt lost in her look. Brooke had this quality that made him feel everything was going to be fine. She brought calm to him. Above all, she made him feel hope. Seeing her beautiful face and her open heart washed away his doubts. He let his feelings decide. He felt warm inside and smiled openly at her. – What would be those flaws? 'Cause I can't find any, really. –he assured her.

Brooke sensed he was trying to lighten things up and smiled. She looked down, a little embarrassed. That was quite a question. – Um… let me see… well, I'm bossy, obsessive, impatient… I swear a lot… I'm loud, I talk too much, I always want to be right, so I don't accept my mistakes easily. I can be very bitchy when I'm having an anxiety attack, which happens often, and I'm world-famous for yelling at people. –she admitted, flushing. Then she thought for a second and told him giggling: – Okay, I just killed any chance of going out with you.

Jack burst out laughing. – I don't think you swear a lot. I've never heard you swearing, actually.

– You tell that to my mom…

– And… you're loud? –he asked her with an impish smile. Brooke got it and felt terribly embarrassed.

– No! Not that kind of loud, I mean I speak very loud and I'm noisy. –she corrected, her face flushing.

Jack couldn't help but laugh. – Just asking.

– I love to entertain you, but that's not funny at all. –she said, mischievously.

Finally, with the ice broken between them, they started talking like they used the weeks before. Brooke narrated with full details everything that went on during that time. For her surprise, Jack also shared with her his days at work and even mentioned Claire and Charlie. Time flew and Jack remembered he didn't even mention to his family where he would be going. He had to check on his kids. Besides, Brooke had a plane to catch early in the morning, she was also checking her watch.

– Wow! Is it that late? –she asked, surprised.

– I know. Time flies. –he replied.

– Yeah… I guess this is it, then…

– No, this is far from being it. –he affirmed, looking deeply at her.

– What you mean? –she asked, intrigued and smiling at the same time.

Jack took her hand from across the table and grabbed it softly. – I want to try, Brooke. I want to have you around. I'll do my best to make this work, I promise.

Brooke's eyes filled with joy. She felt nervous and just smiled. – Okay. I'll do my best too.

With that, Jack asked for the check. Once they left the bar, he walked Brooke to the elevator. Standing in front of her, he held her tight in a long embrace, which she corresponded. He could smell the scent of her shampoo in her still damped hair and feel the soft skin of her neck beside his cheek. Not letting her go, he looked from her eyes to her lips and kissed her softly. Brooke closed her eyes and kissed him back, shivering. Soon the kiss deepened and they were both eager for more. Brooke placed one hand on his chest and the other on the back of his head, and Jack took her from her waist and pulled her against his body. They had to break the kiss to breathe and Brooke giggled, nervous.

– I'd better go. –he told to her lips.

– Yeah, me too. I have to get up really early.

– I know. –he replied, finally letting her go and gently caressing her cheek. – Call me as soon as you land, okay? –he ordered her, in his classical protective tone.

– Okay. –she replied with a soft smile.

­– Have a good sleep, babe.

– You too. Night, Jack.

– Night, Brooke.

Then he walked away, left the hotel and went home. When he got there Margo was worried, since she had heard nothing from him the whole day. He told his mother he had a last minute emergency at the hospital and didn't have time to call. Margo thought he looked way too smiley to be coming out from the ER, but she was glad he was finally home. Jackie and Brett were already asleep, but still Jack went to each of their rooms and kissed them goodnight.

Meanwhile Brooke went to her room and Ilana was still awake, waiting for her. When she opened the door, Brooke jumped and hugged her and jolted her in excitement. Then she told her friend how things went with Jack, and Ilana felt happy for her.

That night, both Brooke and Jack fell asleep with a smile on their faces, happy. He thought of the taste of her kisses and she dreamt of his strong arms holding her. They both had a long, nice sleep, knowing they had found someone special again.