failegaidin

So here is chapter 2. Hope you enjoy.

"I have a problem."

Nadia looked up from her computer to find a very agitated Chloe standing next to her.

"I know. And we're still working on it, remember?"

Chloe shook her head. "No. I have another problem."

Nadia stood up slowly. "Another problem?"

"A bigger problem."

Nadia's eyes widened. "Okay…"

"Jack knows," she blurted.

"What do you mean?"

"He knows. About the baby."

"How did he find out?"

Chloe looked down at the ground, her fidgeting more evident. "I told him."

"You what?"

"I didn't mean to."

"Then why did you?"

"He trapped me in Tech 1, and then he cornered me and backed me up against the door, and…" Chloe's blush crept up her neck.

Nadia sighed. "Does he know how you're getting the baby?"

"No."

"So he doesn't know everything, then."

"No, but he's going to."

"Why?"

Chloe took a deep breath. "Because I promised him that if he really wanted to know I would come up to his office after work and explain it."

Nadia shook her head as a smile grew on her face. "You really got yourself in a jam, Chloe."

The other woman looked at her in anguish. "What am I going to do?"

"You could lie to him."

Chloe shook her head. "I can't lie to Jack."

"It's not like he really has the right to know-"

"No, Nadia. I mean physically. I can't do it. He'll see right through me."

She shrugged. "Then tell him the truth."

"What if he thinks it's stupid? What if he thinks I'm desperate?"

"Do you really think Jack would look down on you because you want a baby and because you're smart enough to realize that Morris would suck as a father?"

"No," she muttered.

"Then tell him. And besides," she added. "He might be able to help you pick a donor. He is a guy, after all. And he's a father."

***

As Nadia watched Chloe getting her things together, she made her way over to Milo's station. Sitting on the edge of his desk, she bent down to whisper in his ear.

"I need your help."

"With what?" he asked warily, knowing that he was still in trouble for helping Jack.

"I want to hear Jack and Chloe's conversation in his office."

"How do you even know she's going up there?"

"I just do. Open up the security feeds."

"Nadia, I am not eavesdropping on Jack and Chloe!"

"Why the hell not?"

"Because they can both kick my ass, that's why!"

Nadia glared at him. "You owe me."

"What?"

"You kissed another woman this week. You. Owe. Me."

"It was Chloe!"

"Milo…."

Milo raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. But when they come to kill me, I'm using you as my human shield.

***

Chloe's stomach was a jumbled mess of nerves as she realized that her shift was over. She took her time shutting down her station and gathering her things, trying desperately to find some way out of going to Jack's office. She entertained the thought of just making a run for it, but she knew that eventually Jack would track her down and make her keep her promise. Sighing, she knew that she had wasted enough time. He was expecting her, and the quicker she went up there, the sooner it would be over.

The steps up to his office had never seemed so large. Her knees wobbled slightly, and she cursed her body for its weakness. She told herself that she shouldn't be nervous about telling Jack – that he was her friend and that he would understand. But for some reason, the thought of telling him that she was having a baby…unsettled her. Chloe took a deep breath when she reached the door, then raised her hand and knocked. She heard Jack's muffled voice invite her in, and she opened the door, willing the butterflies in her stomach to take a rest.

She stopped in the doorway, her mouth dropping open at the sight before her. Jack had cleared off his desk and moved it to the middle of the office, covering it with a tablecloth. He had ordered Chinese, and he was in the process of putting it on their paper plates when he looked up and smiled at her.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hi," she whispered, shock evident in her voice.

Jack smiled shyly at the dinner setup. "I thought we could have dinner…I know it's not much, but…you and I never really get to do the friend thing, so I thought…"

"Thank you," she said, her smile matching his.

She set the files on the floor by the table and sat down, Jack taking his seat across from her. They looked at each other awkwardly for a few minutes before they started eating, each trying to figure out how to broach the subject.

"Well?" Jack asked, finally breaking the silence.

Chloe frowned. "You're really going to make me tell you, aren't you?"

He looked down, suddenly absorbed in what was on his plate. "Chloe…you don't have to. I know I've been a pain in the ass for the past week. But if it's something…personal," he bit out the word, a look of pain on his face. "…then you don't have to tell me."

Chloe sighed. "Jack, it's not that I don't want to tell you…I'm just…I'm afraid of what you'll think."

Jack's head snapped back up. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Your opinion matters to me…"

His eyes fell back to his plate. "Chloe, if you and Morris want to start a family together, that's fine. I mean, it's great. It's your life and you should-"

"Jack," she interrupted sharply.

He looked up at her again. "What?"

"I'm not having a baby with Morris."

Confusion clouded his face. "But…I thought…you said…"

"Just because I want a baby doesn't mean my scum ball of an ex-husband has to be the father."

"Then…who?"

Chloe frowned, her eyes locked on her food as she avoided the gaze. "That's the problem…I don't know."

"I don't get it."

She sighed, realizing that she couldn't put him off anymore. "I'm getting older. I want a baby. I don't have anybody in my life right now to be the father. So…" she bit her lip and then spat the words out as quickly as she could. "I'm going to use artificial insemination."

When Jack didn't say anything after a few moments, Chloe slowly brought her eyes up to his. She was surprised to see a huge grin plastered on his face.

"Chloe, that's great."

She frowned. "Really?"

"Yes. Were you really afraid of what I would think."

Chloe nodded. "I was afraid you might think it was stupid. Or that I'm really really desperate. Which, I guess I am, but…"

Jack reached over and took her hand. "Chloe, I think this is great. I'm happy for you," he smiled ruefully. "And I'm glad you're not having a baby with Morris."

Distracted by his hand on hers, she asked, "Why?"

Jack rubbed his thumb gently along her knuckles and watched their hands. "Because I don't think he's good for you. He's not good enough for you, either. And if you had a baby together…you'd be bound to him."

Chloe felt a blush creep up her neck at his words and touch. "Thanks, Jack. For taking this so well."

He smiled shyly at her and pulled his hand away, afraid that his touch was making her uncomfortable. "So that's what you and Nadia have been up to? Trying to pick a donor?"

Chloe frowned, trying to hide her disappointment when he moved his hand. "Yes. Nobody really jumps out…"

Jack looked at the files on the floor next to her. "Are those the profiles?" Chloe nodded. "You want some help going through them?"

She looked up at him in surprise. "Are you sure?"

Jack laughed. "Maybe a guy's perspective can help. I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Too late. The whole situation is uncomfortable." She paused a moment. "But I'd love the help."

Jack stood up and walked over to her, bending down to pick up the files. Extending his hand to her, he led her over to the couch. They sat next to each other and began perusing the profiles.

***

Two hours later they were no closer to finding a good match. Chloe threw another file into the "No way" pile on the floor, and slumped back into the couch. Jack watched her from the corner of his eye, while he put the file he was holding onto their very small "Maybe" pile.

"They all suck," Chloe huffed as Jack leaned back next to her.

"Not all of them…some might be okay."

Chloe put a hand defensively on her stomach. "My baby deserves better than 'okay'."

Jack turned to look at her. "You deserve better than okay, too."

"Thanks," she said quietly.

They sat there quietly for a few moments before Jack turned to her again. "So what are you looking for?"

"Well…I don't really care what he does for a living. That's not that important. I don’t need him to be a genius either." She shrugged. "The problem with these profiles is that they don't tell me anything important. I want someone who's loyal, and kind. Someone gentle, but who can be strong enough to take care of the people he loves. I want someone I would get along with…someone I could trust."

Jack looked down at his hands nervously. "So…a friend?"

Chloe shrugged. "Yeah. But I guess I'm asking for too much."
"No you're not. Chloe," he took a deep breath, still keeping his eyes downcast. "What about me?"

She looked at him sharply, but he wouldn't meet her gaze. "What?" she squeaked.

"Well…I mean…" Taking a deep breath he looked up at her suddenly. "Why the hell not, Chloe? I know I might not be your first choice, but…then you'd know exactly where your baby came from. I'd be around if you ever needed anything. You wouldn't have to tell the baby I was the father, but I could at least see them…check up on them. I could help you take care of them."

Chloe stared at him in shock. She had never once expected Jack Bauer to offer to be the father of her baby. They just sat there, staring at each other, both trying to read the other.

"You'd really want to do that?" she whispered.

He took a moment to think before nodding. "I want to help you. And…I want to be a part of your baby's life, regardless. You're my best friend, Chloe. I'd only be involved as much as you want me too. It's all up to you."

She frowned. "This isn't going to be weird, is it?"

Jack laughed. "A little bit. But if you want to do this all on your own, you can. At least let me help out with this part.

Looking down, Chloe nervously rubbed at her fingers. She had hated every one of the profiles, and the truth was, Jack was the only man she really wanted to have a baby with.

"Okay," she whispered, looking up at him again with a small smile. "Okay."

Chapter 3