DC, Jack working at DoD, week 1: Thursday
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Audrey had taken a few days off. Monday to Wednesday. It wasn't like her, not really, but she had convinced herself it was necessary. She was exhausted after the weekend in San Francisco with Paul—a trip that had been equal parts business for him and an attempt at normalcy for her. The private jet he'd rented had left late on Sunday afternoon, and by the time they'd landed in D.C., it had been well past midnight. There hadn't been enough time to sleep, let alone gather herself for Monday morning at the office.
That excuse was enough to justify skipping Monday, but not Tuesday or Wednesday. Those, she told herself, were earned. She had put in countless hours of overtime recently, and there was nothing on her schedule so urgent it couldn't wait. But deep down, she knew the truth: she wasn't ready to face Jack yet.
Jack had started at the Pentagon on Monday. Her father had casually mentioned it just days before, as if it were no more significant than the weather. Five days after accepting the job, he'd moved his life across the country and stepped into her world. The thought of him arriving, setting up his new office, walking the same halls she'd walked for years—it was overwhelming in a way she couldn't quite explain.
And so she had stayed home.
Her trip to San Francisco had been a convenient distraction. For a few days, she had managed to push thoughts of Jack to the back of her mind. Sightseeing with Paul, attending his business dinners, and even the occasional stolen moment of genuine connection between them—it had all helped to dull the edges of her unease. Even the presence of her Secret Service detail hadn't dampened Paul's mood. He hadn't questioned why they were there—not really. She'd given him a vague explanation, something about her heightened security clearance now requiring constant protection. And miraculously, he hadn't pressed for details. If anything, he seemed to enjoy it.
In San Francisco, as they drove around the city in his rented car, the black SUV carrying Agents Garret and Callahan had followed close behind. Paul had smiled more than once, visibly pleased by the sight. To him, it must have felt like an affirmation of his importance, a subtle reminder of the circles he moved in. Audrey couldn't decide if she found it amusing or exhausting. She supposed it was both.
But back in D.C., the presence of her detail wasn't so easy to ignore. Staying home meant they were always there—watching, waiting, hovering just out of view. She didn't feel free to go for a run, to visit her favorite cafes, or to do anything that might draw attention to herself. Garret and Callahan had driven her to the grocery store on Tuesday, but even that felt stifling. Being out with them was a reminder of the constant surveillance, the invisible threat she hadn't shared with Paul—or with anyone, really.
The truth about the CIA's discovery still hung over her like a shadow, but she had learned to live with it. To compartmentalize. But during those three days at home, it felt impossible to ignore.
By Tuesday afternoon, she couldn't take it anymore and asked the agents to drive her to Paul's house—the sprawling property they still technically shared, though she hadn't lived there in months. The house was empty, cold. But the grand piano in the living room called to her, a reminder of a different time. She spent hours playing, letting the music drown out her thoughts. It was almost enough to make her forget. Almost.
Wednesday morning came with the same sense of restlessness. She spent the night there and woke up in the too-large bed she and Paul had once shared, feeling lonelier than ever. By noon, she gave in and opened her laptop, telling herself she'd just check her email.
It took less than two minutes for her heart to stop.
An email from Jack.
The subject line was simple, innocuous. Just a message asking if she had time on Thursday to discuss a project that had been assigned to him. It was professional, casual—nothing more. But seeing his name in her inbox was a jolt she wasn't prepared for.
She stared at it for longer than she should have, her emotions tangled in a way that felt almost juvenile. He was just a colleague now, wasn't he? Someone she should have helped secure a job (but didn't), someone who had promised he wouldn't make things weird. But seeing his name, reading the words he'd written, sent a ripple of unease through her. It was already weird.
His email signature read Office of the Secretary of Defense, and it almost made her laugh. Not exactly a job title. Her own signature, Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, felt more substantial, more earned. She shook her head at the thought. It didn't matter. The titles didn't matter. But the fact that Jack was here, in her world, very much did.
She closed her laptop without replying. Not today. Today, she would pretend the email didn't exist.
But by Thursday morning, there was no more avoiding it. Audrey arrived at the office early—earlier than she had in months. It wasn't deliberate, she told herself. Just a coincidence. But as she walked through the near-empty halls, the truth pressed against her: she wanted to be here first. To establish some sense of control before the day unfolded.
She dropped her bag in her office but couldn't resist walking down the hall. Past her father's office. Past the rows of other offices. Until she reached the door that now bore a nameplate she'd been avoiding all week.
Jack Bauer.
The sight of it made her stomach twist. She hesitated outside the door, then knocked softly, even though she knew no one would be inside. She turned the handle, and the door opened easily.
The office was empty. Sparsely furnished, the desk bare save for a telephone and nothing else. The cupboards revealed nothing but space. It felt almost unsettling in its newness, but even more knowing who would settle into it.
She closed the door quietly and returned to her own office, her heart racing in a way she couldn't quite justify.
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Audrey had barely settled back into her office when the knock came at her door. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Was it him? She hadn't seen Jack yet, and the anticipation—mixed with a strange sense of dread—had been gnawing at her all morning.
"Come in," she called, straightening in her chair, forcing a calm she didn't feel.
The door opened, and Audrey's tension dissolved into irritation. It wasn't Jack. It was Janice.
"Morning, Audrey," Janice greeted, stepping in with a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Audrey masked her annoyance, offering a polite nod. "Janice. Something I can help you with?"
"Not really," Janice replied breezily, her heels clicking as she moved further into the room. "Just the briefing notes for today.", she sighed, handing Audrey a few papers. "Have you already met our… new advisor?"
Audrey stiffened, her grip tightening slightly on the pen she'd been holding. "Jack Bauer? Not yet."
Janice lingered near the desk, dropping a thin stack of briefing notes onto it with practiced indifference. Audrey picked up the notes, her gaze briefly scanning the top sheet before glancing back at her colleague. She kept her voice measured. "He'll bring a lot of experience."
"Yeah, sure," Janice said, her tone dismissive, her smile widening as she leaned slightly against the edge of Audrey's desk. "And I've heard the stories. Cordilla virus crisis, heroin addiction… all that drama. He's got quite the résumé. I heard he was even involved in the Mojave nuke three years ago."
Audrey's stomach churned at Janice's words. The offhand way she referenced Jack's darkest moments felt like a slap. Still, Audrey kept her composure, refusing to let her colleague see the anger simmering beneath her calm exterior. She pretended she was already reading the briefing notes Janice had brought. "This job here is different," she said firmly, trying to deflect. And finally she looked up from the papers, feigning disinterest in Jack's past.
"Is it?" Janice tilted her head, her expression turning coy. She leant over the desk, bending down a little, lowering her voice, as she said "I've got to admit, he does clean up nicely for a guy with that kind of past, don't you think?"
Audrey's patience was wearing thin. Her jaw tightened, but she forced herself to remain professional. "What are you trying to tell me with that, Janice?" she asked, her tone sharper now, her gaze unwavering.
Janice smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Well, you gotta stick with Paul, but don't worry, Audrey. By the end of next week, I'll let you know how he is in bed."
Audrey froze, stunned by the audacity of the comment. Before she could formulate a response, Janice had already turned on her heel and strode out of the office, leaving a trail of self-satisfaction in her wake.
For a long moment, Audrey sat still, her mind racing. The air felt heavier now, the unease creeping over her like a shadow. Janice's words had been meant to provoke, to unsettle, and they had succeeded—though perhaps not in the way Janice intended. Audrey wasn't worried about Janice's petty provocations. What disturbed her was how deeply those words struck a nerve.
She leaned back in her chair, staring at the closed door, willing herself to shake off the unease. But it lingered, gnawing at her, a reminder of the precarious balance she was trying to maintain. Her world felt like it was tilting, ever so slightly, and she wasn't sure how to steady it.
With a frustrated sigh, Audrey turned her attention back to the briefing notes, forcing herself to focus. But even as she tried to dive back into work, Janice's smirk and the cruel insinuations behind her words lingered in her mind.
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Audrey sat in her chair, sifting through the briefing notes, when the faintest shadow passed her frosted glass door. She looked up instinctively, her heart skipping a beat. The figure was barely distinguishable, blurred through the frosted glass, but she didn't need to see the details. She knew it was him.
Jack.
Her stomach twisted. He didn't even pause. No greeting, no acknowledgment—just a quiet step past her office and onward to his own. She clenched her pen tighter than necessary and told herself it was fine. He was being professional, that was all. It was what they had agreed upon, wasn't it? He was playing his part, being the colleague who didn't know her. Who hadn't been her lifeline on countless late-night calls. Who didn't know about her heartbreaks and losses—about her miscarriages, about Paul, about her quiet misery under the Secret Service's watchful eye.
No, he wasn't Jack, the man who probably knew her better than anyone. He was Mr. Bauer, just another advisor to the Secretary of Defense.
Her gaze lingered on the door before she shook herself free of the thought. She glanced at her laptop, at the email she had ignored since yesterday, and made her decision. She opened it and typed a brief reply, offering him a time: 9:30 to 11:00. That would give her another hour to prepare herself—for what, she wasn't entirely sure.
At exactly 9:30, a sharp knock jolted her from her focus. She looked at the clock, pleased by his punctuality, even as her pulse quickened. "Come in," she said, smoothing her blouse instinctively.
The door opened, and there he was.
Jack stepped inside, dressed impeccably in a black suit paired with a light blue shirt and a striped green and dark grey tie. He carried himself with an air of quiet confidence, but there was something in his expression—calm, steady—that made Audrey's stomach flip.
"Good morning," he said, his tone even but warm.
"Morning," she replied, gesturing to the chair opposite her desk. "Please, have a seat."
He did, leaning back slightly but keeping his posture attentive.
"How are you settling in?", she quickly asked.
"Not bad," Jack replied, his voice casual. "Still getting the lay of the land, but it's coming together."
She nodded, relieved by the normalcy of the exchange. "Good. If you need anything—logistics, contacts, anything at all—let me know. It's a lot to take in at first."
"Thanks," he said. "I appreciate it."
A beat of silence. Then, Jack tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "How were your days in San Francisco?"
The question caught her completely off guard. Her heart stumbled, and her carefully constructed calm cracked ever so slightly. "What?" she asked, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.
"Janice mentioned it," Jack said lightly. "She said you and Paul spent the weekend there."
Audrey's stomach sank, and a bitter jolt of anger shot through her. Of course, Janice. That woman. That bitch. Of all the things to mention to Jack, why that?
She managed a faint smile, though it felt forced. "My weekend was okay."
Jack's eyes lingered on her for a moment, and she could tell he'd noticed her discomfort. But to his credit, he didn't push. Instead, he nodded and shifted the conversation effortlessly. "Good to hear."
Relief washed over her, though the mention of Paul still sat like a weight in her chest. She was grateful Jack didn't pry further, didn't ask the questions she wasn't ready to answer. But a part of her hated that Janice had planted that seed. Now he knew. Sooner or later, he would have found out about Paul anyway—about the reconciliation. Perhaps it was better this way. She wouldn't have had the courage to tell him herself.
Jack leaned forward slightly, pulling her thoughts back to the moment. "I wanted to ask you about the project they gave to me. The cross-agency job credit matrix."
Audrey blinked, momentarily thrown by the shift. Then, she couldn't help herself. She laughed.
Jack raised an eyebrow, amused but curious. "What's funny?"
"Oh, nothing," she said, still smiling. "It's just… that's a project that's been passed around for years. Nobody wants to touch it. It's like the Pentagon's version of a hot potato."
"Sounds fun," Jack said dryly, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face.
Audrey leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "It's a monstrous piece of work. You're digging through training matrices from every agency, every branch of the military, comparing them, and working out the differences. Congress has been expecting a report on it for, oh, about three years now."
Jack's smile widened slightly. "I guess they decided it was time to pass the curse to me."
"Of course they did," she said. "Marc Landow assigned it to you, right?"
"Yeah," Jack confirmed. "He seemed… enthusiastic."
"Marc's Janice's closest ally," Audrey explained. "If anyone wanted to hand you a nightmare on your first week, it's him."
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I'm not gonna chicken out of this. I'll figure it out."
Audrey watched him for a moment, her smile softening. He was serious. He wasn't intimidated, not even by this mess of a project. If anyone could get it done, she realized, it was Jack. She took her time and told him about the challenges and the possible traps he had to look out for. And after an hour, she just said "Good luck," her tone warmer now. "You're going to need it."
Jack stood, buttoning his jacket as he did. "Thanks," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile. "I'll let you know how it goes."
As he left her office, Audrey found herself smiling too. For the first time in days, the weight in her chest felt a little lighter. Jack was here, and the world hadn't fallen apart. Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.
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The tea kitchen was quiet, the hum of the refrigerator filling the silence as Audrey poured hot water into her cup. She leaned against the counter, cradling her tea and letting the aroma of chamomile wash over her. It was Friday afternoon. Most of the office had already cleared out for the weekend, the usual bustle replaced by a calm that felt almost eerie.
The sound of the door opening made her look up, and her heart gave a small, involuntary jolt when she saw Jack step inside. He paused briefly, his eyes scanning the room before they landed on her.
"Hey," he said, offering a faint smile as he headed toward the coffee machine.
"Hey," she replied, returning the smile. "How's it going?"
Jack poured himself a cup of coffee, taking a moment before answering. "Good. I guess. Slowly. The project's… interesting."
Audrey raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"
Jack chuckled softly, leaning against the counter opposite her. "Let's just say the Navy training matrices are a whole other beast. They're completely different from the other branches. Comparing them is like trying to make sense of two languages that don't share an alphabet."
Audrey laughed, shaking her head. "That bad?"
He nodded, sipping his coffee. "Worse. But I'll figure it out. I'm not gonna ask Marc for his help."
"I didn't think you would," she said with a small smile. "You'll make it."
Jack looked at her, his gaze steady but warm, and for a moment, the conversation felt natural. Easy.
"What about you?" he asked, setting his coffee down. "How's your week been?"
Audrey hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "It's been fine," she said carefully. "Quiet. Uneventful"
Jack tilted his head slightly, studying her. "Good.", he said, hinting at the elephant in the room. "Uneventful sounds good."
She nodded, a true smile on her face. "Yes." She had feared the worst. But the world was still standing. Turning as always. And so far, him being here hadn't completely uprooted her life. Yet.
"And you?" she asked, shifting the focus back to him. "How are you settling in? Adjusting to Washington life?"
Jack exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "It's… a work in progress. I'm still in a hotel for now, but I'm looking at apartments this weekend. Hopefully, I'll find something decent."
Audrey sipped her tea, nodding thoughtfully. "How's the search going so far?"
"Not bad," he said. "I've been looking after work all week. Some decent places, but nothing that really feels right yet. We'll see."
She found herself smiling again, surprised at how easily the conversation flowed. Maybe, she thought, they really could do this—be colleagues, keep things professional. For the first time in days, the tension she'd been carrying began to ease.
But then, she glanced toward the door, her smile fading slightly as her other thoughts crept back in. Most of the office was empty now, but she still looked around, ensuring they were alone.
"Jack," she began hesitantly, her voice quieter now. "I wanted to talk to you about Janice."
Jack straightened slightly, his expression sharpening. "What about her?"
Audrey hesitated, searching for the right words. "She's…" She trailed off, frustrated by her inability to articulate it without sounding crude.
Jack's lips twitched in a faint smile. "She's seen us working together on the budget and assumes I'm your ally. She's testing me," he said, his tone calm but deliberate. "Flirting, making comments. It's not just idle behavior—it's calculated. She wants to see if I'll bite, if I can be pulled into her orbit."
Audrey blinked, surprised by how quickly he'd already cut to the heart of it. Relief swept through her—she didn't have to explain. "You're sure?"
Jack nodded. "She's part of the old administration, right? Still loyal to them?"
Audrey sighed, rubbing her temple. "Yes. She's been a thorn in my side since day one."
Jack leaned against the counter, his arms crossing as he considered his next words. "She's trying to gauge whose side I'm on. If I can be turned. And I've been thinking… maybe I should let her think I'm considering it."
Audrey's eyes narrowed slightly. "What!?"
Jack shrugged lightly. "Think about it. If she believes I'm open to her advances, she'll trust me more. And we'll see what she's up to."
Audrey's stomach churned. "Jack… what exactly are you suggesting?"
"I'm saying I could go along with her flirting. Play into it. See how far she's willing to go to pull me in."
She stared at him, trying to process his words. "You can't be serious."
He gave her a small, reassuring smile, the kind that softened the edge of his words. "I'm not saying I'll marry her. But if it gets us closer to understanding her and the people she's aligned with, it might be worth considering."
Audrey shook her head, her voice firm but laced with concern. "Jack… This is not the CIA."
"But it's DoD. This isn't the first time I've had to gain someone's trust by playing their game," he said evenly. "It's not about me, Audrey—it's about you and Heller. If Janice is part of something bigger, we should know."
Audrey's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to breathe deeply. "The decision is up to you," she said finally. "You're the one who has to handle it."
Jack's expression softened. "I'll be careful. I'll do just enough to keep her guessing. But I won't take it further."
Audrey exhaled, relief washing over her. "Good. Because, Jack… Janice is a bitch. And she's already been making condescending comments about you—to me. Don't let her get to you."
Jack smirked faintly, his confidence unwavering. "She won't. Trust me."
Audrey met his gaze, her concern still evident. "Just… be careful."
"Always," he said simply, his tone steady.
He picked up his coffee and stepped toward the door, pausing briefly to glance back at her. "Have a nice weekend.", he said, casually. Audrey could see he really meant it – even if he suspected she might spend her weekend with Paul.
"You, too."
When he left, Audrey stayed behind, her thoughts swirling. She trusted Jack, but the situation with Janice felt volatile, unpredictable. And as much as she wanted to believe everything would stay professional between them, a part of her couldn't shake the unease.
She finished her tea slowly, staring at the empty doorway. The weekend was just beginning, but her mind was already heavy with the possibilities of what next week might bring.
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