A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy!
February 2005
Audrey and Jack sat through their briefing at work with Secretary Heller, people filtering out as they got any feedback they needed to move forward with their work. Jack and Audrey stayed until they were the last two people to remain with Heller.
"Was I too hard on Kevin?" Heller asked, sighing as he relaxed and sat down. Heller had just scolded the last employee to leave, something that he didn't do often.
Audrey rolled her eyes. "He'll be fine. I think you could have been harder on him, considering he messed up about six months work of negotiations."
Heller nodded at Audrey's assessment. "Alright, what have we got this week?"
"Well, I was thinking I could help with the Kevin situation. Reestablish connections with the defense contractor that he offended and see what it would take to get them back on board. The president of the company left me a voicemail this morning to try to set up a meeting with you tomorrow," Audrey explained. "But, you have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs and the President tomorrow morning. And, we have a policy meeting with Senator Williams tomorrow afternoon."
Jack noticed that Heller looked at Audrey, not seeming at all happy about what she had said. Heller didn't usually look disappointed about meetings and looked like he had a lot to say but instead stayed quiet. Jack looked to Audrey who seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her father.
"Fine," Heller finally said. "You'll come with us to the meeting in the morning and set up your meeting in the afternoon. Jack and I will meet with Williams in the afternoon."
Heller stood and headed for the door before turning back. "Make sure to prepare Jack for the meeting."
Audrey nodded and Heller left.
"Did he seem okay to you?" Jack asked as they collected their belongings to head back to their offices.
Audrey shrugged. "Yeah, just seemed stressed."
Jack could tell she was lying but didn't press her for more details. Audrey spent the rest of the day making sure Jack was prepared for the meeting with Senator Williams. Jack was confused as to why they wouldn't find a way to rearrange the schedule so Audrey could be at the policy meeting. She was the expert on policy and knew these things much better than he did. He felt confident that he could do an adequate job but it felt strange that Audrey wouldn't be there to help him through it. They made a persuasive team at these types of meetings.
The next day, Audrey, Jack, and Heller went to their morning meeting before splitting up. Heller and Jack got inside the limo with security detail and headed to their next meeting. Heller asked Jack to refresh his memory of the policy on the drive over and felt confident that Jack knew what he was talking about.
Jack still felt like Heller was particularly tense today and wasn't sure if it was about their previous meeting, their next meeting, or Audrey's meeting that he was unenthused about. Audrey had not offered any more insight about it last night at home, insisting that her father was just stressed lately.
"Sorry if I seem a little on edge," Heller apologized to Jack. "I may disagree with quite a few senators but there are only a handful that I despise. Williams is one of them."
"Isn't he a Republican?" Jack asked, thinking that Heller and Williams should get along decently well.
"It's a personal dislike not a political one," Heller clarified. "He is a little too far to the right for me though. He will try to tip the policy to favor the views of the Republicans but it will never gain Democratic support with the types of changes he suggests."
Jack nodded, preparing himself to reason with Williams over the potential suggestions he might have. He wished Audrey were here, not looking forward to sitting in a meeting where the parties did not like each other and where Audrey's expertise would be more beneficial.
When they arrived at Senator Williams Office, Jack was surprised when Williams greeted them.
"Jim!" Williams greeted, extending his hand and flashing a smile. "Good to see you. It's been too long."
Jack had not been expecting such a warm greeting considering Heller's clear dislike for Williams. Jack looked at Heller who introduced him to Senator Williams, his face expressionless.
"Nice to meet you, Jack," Williams said, shaking his hand. Jack responded that it was nice to meet him too, greeting him with his title. "No need to be so formal. You can call me Andrew."
They sat down to discuss the policy and Jack wondered why Heller disliked Senator Williams so much. He seemed friendly and not as formal as some of the older senators they often met with. Heller tended to like people with more personality, so Jack was surprised that Williams was on Heller's short list.
Williams politely listened to what Jack had to say, interrupting now and then for clarification questions, and then offered his opinions on the matter. Heller let Jack do all of the talking and Jack explained the need to make the policy bipartisan in order to gain support. Eventually Williams sighed in defeat but understood the politics of it. Overall, Jack had to say that the entire meeting was one of the easier meetings he'd been a part of.
"Well, Jim, why don't you give me a call when things have been finalized and I'll take another look," Williams suggested.
"I'll have Jack give you a call," Heller told him. "He's going to be your contact at DOD."
Williams smirked, in what Jack would say almost seemed like an overly proud of himself manner, then looked at Jack. "Well, then let's go get your contact info into our system with Laura."
Heller went back to the car, saying a very brief, formal goodbye to Senator Williams while Jack followed Andrew out of his office to his secretary, Laura, who looked more like an intern than a secretary. Jack concluded that she could not possibly be older than Kim.
"Hey, Laura," Williams started, placing his hand on her back and leaning down to look closer at the computer which made it more like he was putting his arm around her shoulders. Jack looked at them suspiciously but found that his concern went unnoticed as both parties were focused on the screen as Williams told her that they needed to add him as a contact.
"I already set up a contact log," Laura announced, pulling it up on her computer. She looked up at Jack. "I will just need your phone number and email address."
Jack provided her with his information and Laura handed him Senator Williams' business card.
"As you can see, Laura is quite the catch. She can read my mind before I even have the thought myself."
Jack looked to Laura who blushed and smiled at the compliment and Jack tried to hide his cringing, thinking that Williams really wasn't talking to him at all, but really just trying to compliment Laura.
Jack said goodbye to the Senator and made his way back to the limo. Jack felt his anger growing as he walked back, thinking that he had figured this out. Williams had to be the guy that had hurt Audrey and manipulated Heller out of the House Armed Forces Committee. That's why Heller hated him, why Audrey hadn't come with them to the meeting, and why Williams seemed to have an inappropriate interaction with his secretary who was young enough to be his daughter. Jack wished he had known this before going in there and being nice to the guy, but then realized that this was exactly why Audrey hadn't told him who it was. Because someone needed to keep up a positive working relationship with Williams. Jack got into the limo and didn't speak, trying to hold back his anger.
When Jack arrived at Audrey's that evening, he let himself in, as Audrey had called to say that she had just left her meeting and would be stopping back at her office before coming home. Jack had stopped on the way home, getting takeout from one of Audrey's favorite restaurants and flowers. He set up the table with their food and candles, and put the flowers into a vase to surprise her when she came home. Jack was just pouring her a glass of wine that he knew she loved to have with this meal when Audrey arrived home.
"Wow," Audrey said, surprised by the set up Jack had put together. "What did I do to deserve this?"
Jack greeted her with a kiss. Audrey smiled as they pulled apart.
"Okay, but really, what's all this for?"
"I just wanted to do this for you," Jack insisted.
"Thank you," Audrey said, kissing him to show her appreciation.
They sat down to eat. Audrey told Jack more about her meeting and then asked about his meeting.
"We got through it," Jack responded. "Thank you for not telling me."
Audrey smirked, realizing that he had, in fact, figured out that Williams had been her ex. "You're welcome."
"I'm not so sure the meeting would have gone as smoothly if I had figured it out ahead of time," Jack admitted. "I really hate that he took advantage of you."
Audrey shrugged, trying not to think too hard about how she had felt back then. "I mean, I should have known better. I was naive to think that every man who showed interest in me actually cared about me. I knew he and my father had disagreements and I should have been more skeptical about his motives."
"He was your superior and he manipulated you. That's on him. Not you," Jack assured her, sensing that she often put the blame on herself for this rather than on Williams.
Audrey shrugged, knowing rationally that he was right but still believing that the whole situation, her heartbreak and her father leaving the House Armed Forces Committee, was still primarily her fault.
"How exactly did he convince your father to step down?" Jack questioned. "I mean, you didn't do anything wrong."
Audrey bit her lip. "In the political realm, reputation matters and people like him enough to believe whatever he says. So, if he says I'm a whore sleeping my way to the top to try to push my father's political views, then that's what people will believe. Essentially, he told my father that that would be the narrative if he didn't step down. My father didn't hesitate. Just resigned right away, called me and told me to quit because I had no idea that this was happening, and we never spoke of it again."
"What did you do after you left that job?" Jack asked her, sensing that she wanted to move on from the topic.
"Dad got a job at Anderson Aerospace and I followed him. I've worked with my dad ever since," Audrey explained. "I know a lot of people think I work with him as a security net or that I'm not competent enough to work elsewhere. And, at first, it was just because I didn't want another boss like Williams and because I felt completely worthless. But, even after I regained my confidence, I decided that I wanted to stay with my dad. He's amazing at what he does and I admire him."
"Yeah, he's a good man. And, I can tell he enjoys working with you too."
Audrey smiled and nodded. "I think he'll run for president one day."
Jack nodded, having always thought that Heller would make a good president. He was fair but didn't let others push him around. He listened to the advice of others and made reasonable decisions. Not to mention that he certainly had the country's best interests at heart.
"I think he'd be a great president," Jack told her. "Wouldn't surprise me at all."
"Do you think our offices in the White House would be close together?" Audrey asked.
"Our offices?" Jack asked. "You're assuming that I would be coming?"
"You wouldn't want to?"
"I wouldn't be opposed. But, that would be up to your father, not to me," Jack explained, not wanting to presume that Heller would ask him to be on his staff.
"Jack, my father greatly values your opinion. I think you are his favorite employee that he's ever had. Besides me, of course."
Jack scratched his head at the compliment, not used to the praise. "Well, I'm not so sure that'd be a great idea, given my history. The media would love to pick apart the fact that your father brought a drug addict into the White House."
Audrey looked at him sympathetically. "You don't give yourself any credit, Jack. You're so much more than that. You've saved so many lives, made sacrifices for the country. That's what the people will see."
Jack shrugged and Audrey smiled at how incredibly humble he could be. He had no idea just how amazing he was which just made her fall for him even harder.
Jack rubbed his fingertips together nervously as he waited for Audrey in a car outside the hotel. He smiled as she approached, thinking that she looked incredibly beautiful and that she had probably spent forever trying to figure out what outfit would make her look the most likable, not that Kim would care about that.
"Hey," Audrey greeted, exhaling as if she had been holding her breath with nerves, as she climbed inside.
"Hey," Jack greeted, leaning across the car to kiss her.
Audrey kissed him but pulled away quicker than Jack would have liked. "You're going to mess up my makeup."
"I don't care," Jack said, going in for another kiss. Audrey obliged with another quick peck but insisted that her lips couldn't look swollen when she met Kim.
"Are you nervous?" Jack asked and Audrey nodded. "Don't be. She's going to like you. I promise."
Jack pulled out of the parking spot, thinking to himself that he was probably even more nervous than Audrey was. This was a huge step for him. He wanted Kim to like Audrey. He couldn't imagine she wouldn't, but also wasn't sure how he would even be able to date someone that he knew Kim didn't like.
When they arrived at Kim's, Jack and Audrey made their way to the door, giving each other one last encouraging glance before going inside. Kim opened the door for them and hugged her dad before being introduced to Audrey. Kim introduced Audrey to Chase and Angela, Angela more concerned about whether she could have the dessert that Kim had made for them yet.
Any nervousness Jack felt was put to rest when he saw Audrey and Kim interacting. They seemed to know exactly what to talk about to keep the conversation alive and interesting. They talked and played with Angela before having dinner. Kim and Audrey took their glasses of wine out to the back porch while Jack and Chase cleaned up dinner.
"I'm really happy that my dad found you," Kim told Audrey. Audrey listened intently as Kim continued. "I'm sure this whole relationship thing has seemed really normal for you but it's not like that for my dad. He hasn't been serious with anyone since my mom died and, even with my mom, he didn't get to have just a normal life with her. His job took a lot from him and it's like there was always this wall where he couldn't share what was on his mind because it was classified or maybe because he just thought it was too intense for us to handle. It's strange to see him so relaxed, so happy. He deserves it."
Audrey nodded. "He does. And, trust me, I don't take it for granted. I've never felt so strongly for anyone before."
Kim looked at her suspiciously. "Are you in love with him?"
Audrey unintentionally smiled but forced it away and glanced at Kim. "We haven't expressed that yet, no."
"But, you do. Don't you?" Kim asked.
Audrey nodded, admitting it for the first time. "Yeah, I think I do."
Kim smiled, happy for her father. "Just tread carefully. Move too fast and you'll spook him."
Audrey laughed. "Yeah. I will."
The sliding door to the porch opened and Jack and Chase walked through.
"What are we talking about out here?" Jack asked, moving to stand next to Audrey and hoping that they were still having good conversations.
"Oh, just about Los Angeles," Kim lied.
Jack looked at Audrey, knowing Kim was lying, but Audrey just smiled and nodded in agreement.
At the end of the night, Jack and Audrey drove back to the hotel, both of them feeling more confident in their relationship after such a great night.
Jack watched as Heller checked his watch in the lobby of the hotel. They were sitting in the lounge waiting for Audrey so they could leave for a benefit dinner.
"Did you enjoy your time in Los Angeles, Jack?" Heller asked. "Did you get a chance to visit your daughter?"
"Yes, sir," Jack answered. They continued to make small talk, but Jack could tell that Heller was becoming impatient.
"I don't understand how it can take women so long to get ready," Heller said, baffled at the thought. "All she had to do was put on a dress."
"It's a mystery that no man has figured out yet," Jack agreed. However, his voice trailed off as Audrey walked out of the elevator towards them, stunned by her. Her champagne colored dress with a hint of sparkle hugged her body tightly all the way to the floor and Jack's eyes got stuck looking at the sexy slit up the side that showed off her leg and he forced himself to look away before Heller noticed him staring. He diverted his eyes for only a moment before looking back at her and noticing how her hair fell in perfect waves across her back, which was bare, the dress scooping low in the back.
"Jack," she whispered, getting him out of his thoughts. She smiled, knowing that he had been admiring her appearance. He looked into her eyes questioningly and then to the side where Heller was already walking away from them.
"Oh," Jack whispered, realizing that they were supposed to be following him to the limo. "Right. Come on."
Jack placed his hand on the small of her back for a quick moment to get them moving and then removed it before Heller could take notice.
At the benefit dinner, Jack, Audrey, and Heller ended up being split in many directions. Jack much preferred staying together with Audrey at these events, finding that she was much better at making conversation with the political figures here than he was. Jack was at his point of exhaustion when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey Jack."
Jack turned around, wondering who here would know him. "Michelle? Wow, it's good to see you."
Michelle gave Jack a hug. From across the room, Audrey lost focus in her conversation, seeing Jack hug a woman that she didn't know. She was curious who this woman could be and why she was friendly enough with Jack to share a hug. Jack wasn't exactly the hugging type of guy.
"You too, Jack," Michelle agreed. "And, in a suit. That's different."
"Yeah," Jack agreed with a laugh. "But, it's good. I like my new job."
"It's pretty fancy. Special Advisor to the Secretary of Defense. You've really moved up the political ladder."
Jack scratched his head, not wanting to talk about himself any more. "What about you? How are you? How's Tony?"
He watched Michelle's face drop momentarily but then regain composure. "I work for Division now. But, Tony and I aren't together any more. Divorced."
"I'm sorry," Jack apologized, not expecting that.
"It's okay," Michelle assured him, although her face said otherwise. "He wasn't the same after prison. He couldn't find a job and started drinking. He wouldn't let me help him. Wouldn't let me in. I tried, but I couldn't do it anymore."
"That's too bad," Jack replied. He wasn't sure what else to say but Audrey came over stopping him from having to think of something.
"Hey," Audrey greeted, placing her hand on Jack's arm briefly. Michelle smiled at Audrey, trying to hide her surprise at Jack dating Secretary Heller's daughter. Michelle recognized that, despite no one else in the room probably noticing the gesture at all, Audrey's subtle touch of Jack's arm was meant to tell Michelle that Jack was taken.
"Audrey, this is Michelle Dessler. We used to work together at CTU," Jack introduced.
"Hi. Audrey Raines," Audrey greeted, shaking hands with Michelle. Jack had told her about Michelle and Tony's situation. How Tony had committed treason to save Michelle and had to serve time in prison, but much less than expected because of the testimony of President Palmer and Jack.
"Nice to meet you," Michelle said. She knew of Audrey but had never met her before. She only knew that she was Secretary Heller's daughter and worked side-by-side with him.
The three of them made small talk until Audrey was beckoned by her father. She apologized and told Michelle it was nice meeting her, liking that she finally got to meet someone from Jack's past, as it was not usual for him to know someone at these events that she didn't know too.
"She seems great," Michelle told Jack. "How long have you two been seeing each other?"
"How did you know?" Jack asked, surprised that Michelle had picked up on it, and slightly worried that maybe they were being too obvious. Not that Jack cared. He had no problem with the idea of others knowing about their relationship but would certainly want to tell Heller before anyone else.
Michelle chuckled. "She was obviously a little concerned about our conversation before she knew who I was and made sure I knew that you were taken."
"Oh," Jack stated, not realizing this had happened at all.
"It's a good thing," Michelle assured him. "She clearly cares for you."
Jack glanced across the room at Audrey and smiled, feeling the same for her. Michelle and Jack said their goodbyes and parted ways.
When they got back to the hotel, Jack and Audrey performed their usual ritual of pretending to go their separate ways for Heller's sake before Jack circled back to Audrey's room.
Jack found Audrey in front of the floor-length mirror of the room, taking off her heels and jewelry, struggling to unhook her necklace from behind her neck. Jack approached her and Audrey smiled at him through the reflection of the mirror as he closed the distance between them.
"Can I help?" he asked, brushing her hair to the side to reveal the clasp of the necklace.
"Please," Audrey agreed, holding her hair while Jack unhooked the clasp. She put the necklace on the table beside them with the other jewelry she had taken off. Jack continued to stand behind her, trailing kisses down the back of her neck and tracing the straps of her dress all the way down her exposed back, giving her chills.
"You look beautiful," Jack told her, realizing that he hadn't had a chance to tell her that tonight.
"Thank you," Audrey said, reaching back to touch his cheek while he continued kissing her neck, feeling the stubble that had grown since he shaved this morning.
Jack slowly pushed on the straps of her dress, exposing her shoulders, the dress threatening to fall off her. Audrey turned in his arms, meeting him for a slow, passionate kiss. Jack used one hand to continue pushing the dress down while his other hand found the slit in the skirt of her dress, touching the smooth skin of her thigh.
Audrey melted into his kiss and started to undo the buttons of his shirt. Audrey was still in awe of how Jack managed to give her different feelings every time they had sex. Sometimes it was like this, gentle, slow, loving. Other times, fast, passionate, lustful. Sometimes comfortable, just sort of falling into it while lying in bed together. Every type made her fall deeper for him but it was this soft, intentional type of sex that made her have to fight the urge to tell him that she was falling for him.
Soon they had made their way to the bed, leaving a trail of clothing behind them.
In the morning, Audrey helped Jack pack his things for the flight home, as she was staying behind for another day due to a few more meetings and a Heritage Foundation dinner while Jack and Heller met with a defense contractor in Boston. The dinner made Audrey miss Jack terribly. She had what felt like a hundred conversations that were exactly the same, asking about when her father would be back in Los Angeles next for a meeting. She would give the same answer each time and felt like she should have just worn a sign with the information, as it would have been a lot easier. She could already tell that their trip to LA in April would be packed full with meetings.
Audrey wasn't sure what had happened between the Heritage Foundation dinner and the next morning when she flew home, but she felt terrible. Her throat was scratchy, she was exhausted, and she could barely breathe through her nose.
She slept for the entire plane ride and, when she landed in Washington, met up with her father and Jack who had arrived back from Boston only shortly before herself. As soon as she climbed into the car, Heller noticed that his daughter was sick. Growing up, Audrey had always tried to hide being sick from him, as she never wanted to miss a day of school and nothing had changed when she started work. She would insist on pushing through whatever sickness she had. Luckily he had become an expert on sensing when she was sick.
"You're sick?" he asked as she got situated in the car. Jack looked at Audrey not having noticed anything unusual to indicate that she might be sick. She looked like she always did.
"No," Audrey whispered, her hoarse voice betraying her. Heller looked at her skeptically. "Just a little. I'll be fine."
Heller hit the button that controlled the window to the driver and the window rolled down.
"Hank, stop at Audrey's apartment first please," Heller instructed the driver.
"No, I'm fine," Audrey protested feebly, knowing that he was going to make her take the rest of the day off. "It's Friday so it's only one day of working sick. And, it's half over so I'll be fine."
"You're going to go home and rest," Heller insisted. Audrey was too tired to argue and instead let herself slouch down in the seat to be comfortable. She didn't realize she had half fallen asleep until Heller tapped her shoulder to let her know that they were pulling up to her apartment. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want me to come in with you?"
Audrey looked at him skeptically. "No, I'm good. I don't need to be tucked in. I'm not seven."
She just hoped that her father wouldn't push about coming inside, thinking it would be a terrible way to find out that she and Jack were dating. His things were in her apartment which would not go unnoticed. Luckily, Heller dropped it and Audrey went inside, crawling right into bed.
In the car, Heller and Jack were on their way back to the office.
"This might sound crazy but I miss taking care of my daughter when she's sick," Heller commented. "I never thought I'd say that considering how much I hated to see her sick growing up, but I miss when I could call off work and spend the day with her. We used to watch game shows on TV, I'd make her soup, and she'd fall asleep on the couch next to me. Anyway, she'd probably be mortified to know that I was telling you this. She's all grown up now. It goes too fast."
Jack nodded in understanding. "I wish I had more days like that with Kim when she was growing up. My wife was always the one to stay home to take care of Kim when she was sick."
"You were busy protecting your country," Heller replied, trying to make Jack feel less guilty.
Jack shrugged. He knew that his job had been important. But, had it been worth all the time he had missed with his family? You always assume there's more time to spend with them. But, you never know how long they will be around. He imagined that he would have been in a much different place after Teri died if he had had no regrets about the amount of time he spent with her. That regret and guilt ate away at him. Still did, although he had learned to deal with it.
He pushed those thoughts away. All he could do was try not to make the same mistakes again. As soon as the work day ended, Jack left and picked up soup from a restaurant and went home. He wasn't sure when he had stopped thinking of it as Audrey's home and started thinking of it as his home too, but it was a nice feeling. He felt completely comfortable there.
Jack went inside quietly, not wanting to wake Audrey if she was sleeping. He found her sleeping on the couch, the TV on in the background. She looked peaceful but pale, a trash can full of tissues on the ground beside her.
"Hey," she greeted, waking up and trying to sit up a little.
"Hey," Jack responded. "I brought you some soup if you're hungry."
Audrey smiled, thinking it was sweet that he thought of that for her. "Yeah. Thank you."
Audrey ate her soup and Jack spent the night caring for her despite her desperate attempts for him to distance himself so that he wouldn't get sick. Jack just wanted to be by her side, making sure not to take any moment of time he had with her for granted.