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jack/chloe: #001: Beginnings
Set in between Day 2 and Day 3
A grin crept onto his face when he heard her curse softly when she rummaged her bag for her keys as every evening. Then the door was being pushed open resolutely and there was the familiar clink when her bag and keys landed on the small glass table in the hallway. Two thuds- her shoes. The clatter of the hangers when she deposited her coat. When he then strained his ears he could hear her steps on the wooden floor approaching the living room. When she rounded the corner he would turn to greet her.
“Hi Chlo.”
“Hi.” She sighed and unceremoniously flopped down onto the couch next to him.
A minute passed before he noted her unusual silence. He turned to look at her and caught her staring out of the window, lost in thoughts, her lower lip between her teeth.
“You alright?” he asked tentatively, gently touching her shoulder.
She snapped out of her thoughts and turned towards him. Sighing again she shrugged.
“My car broke down.”
“Again” he groaned, picturing himself spending another weekend sticky and oily and in vain trying to figure out where the numerous nuts belonged he had managed to remove in the process of “fixing” Chloe’s stubborn car.
“So you had to take the bus?”
She shook her head. “Jack gave me a lift.”
“Jack Bauer- never off duty, knight in shining armour at your service” Chase teased.
Chloe glared at him.
“Come on, Chlo, I’m just joking. That was nice of him.”
She didn’t answer, her gaze once more returning to the window.
Chase looked at her for a moment, then asked again:
“So, what’s bothering you?”
She sighed yet another time.
“It’s Jack” she said, starting to tug at the brim of the cushion next to her.
Chase switched off the TV, inquiring:
“He’s giving you a hard time, isn’t he?”
She nodded, but stopped halfway through the movement and shrugged.
“What happened, Chlo?” he prodded gently. “Did he say anything that upset you?”
She bit on her lower lip again, continuously attacking the cushion.
“I… um… I don’t know…” she said feebly.
“You don’t know what?”
“I don’t know if I’m upset. I just don’t get it.”
Chase had to bite back a smile. He should have known. Things logic didn’t apply to would always stay an enigma for his best friend.
“So what did he do?” he asked to get her to talk.
“He… um…” She paused and swallowed. Her voice was barely audible when she said: “Actually he asked me out.”
"What?" Chase blurted out.
"I don't get it either.” Chloe exclaimed, frowning. “I mean, what did I do?"
Chase couldn’t but laugh.
“It’s not funny!”
“Of course it is, sweetheart.”
She glared at him.
He smiled at her, prying the cushion from her hands and taking them into his.
“You didn’t do anything, I guess you just charmed him.”
“I didn’t!” she said, a hint of panic in her voice.
“Well, why would he ask you out then?” Chase retorted.
“Because he’s weird?” Chloe suggested hopefully.
Chase chuckled. “He definitely is. But I’ve known him for a while, he’s not asking out every woman that crosses his path. He really must like you.”
Chloe dived head first into the cushions and hid her face.
“Stop it, you’re freaking me out!” she whined, covering her ears with her hands.
Chase dug her out, smoothing down her unruly hair.
"Well, then say no, I guess."
She looked at him if he was three years old and not on the bright side.
"Say no? To Jack? He'd probably fire me."
Chase sighed.
"He wouldn’t. You can't date him because you're afraid of him."
"I'm not” she said defensively, adding with a smirk: “I don’t have to. It's not me who's sleeping with his daughter."
Chase winced. “I’m just waiting for the opportune moment to tell him.”
“And that would be? When he’s in a coma?” she said teasingly.
He groaned, then quickly changed the subject:
"So you said yes."
She shrugged again, then nodded.
He whistled in mock impression: “Chloe!”
She took good aim and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Actually I kind of like him" she said, glaring at him.
He lifted his hands in surrender.
“I didn’t say you shouldn’t.”
“But you think it’s weird?” she asked, the familiar insecurity creeping into her voice.
“Oh my god, what if he didn’t mean it? What if…”
He stopped her immediately, once more taking her hands and drawing her into his arm.
“Of course he did. You’re a genius and you’re funny and gorgeous. And I don’t want to hear any protest” he added, silencing her effectively.
“Thanks” she whispered against his chest.
He dropped a kiss to her forehead.
"Actually I think I might have flirted with him" she said, her lower lip between her teeth.
At the sight of Chase's grin she added quickly: "But just a tiny bit, no need to bring out the big guns."
"Well, you could have said no" Chase said . "And you still can. Depends on what you want."
She sighed. "I don't know. I'm not sure what I want. “Do you think it’s a bad idea?” she asked quietly.
He sighed, absent-mindedly playing with a strand of her hair.
“I don’t know either, Chlo. Jack is special. In some bad ways, but also in many good ones. If you want to date him, do it. Just keep in mind that it’s probably not going to be a walk in the park.”
“I know. But I’ve some baggage, too. Plus” she sat up, grinning at him, “he’s really hot!”
awwwwwnn I want more ! more !
ppms! ;)
I can't wait!