Somewhere Warm (Part II)

            "The Bahamas?" Chloe asked as they stood in line to board the plane.

            Jack nodded. "At first I was thinking Fiji, but I didn't want to get any closer to China than I had to."

            "You're taking me to the Bahamas?" she asked again.

            "Paradise Island, to be exact," he stated, as he snaked his left arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

            Chloe's eyes widened and she turned to look at Jack as he struggled to keep his face passive and serious as he stared ahead. She was suddenly having trouble breathing. The thought of being with Jack in the Bahamas – with the sun and the beach and the water and the bathing suits and the heat – was causing her to have some pretty intense fantasies right then and there. She tried to stop them, but the feel of his arm around her waist, with this fingers lightly grazing her skin was distracting her from the task.

            "Hey," he said quietly, giving her a quick squeeze. "You okay?"

            "Yeah, I'm fine." She managed to snap with some of her usual viciousness. He was so close that she could smell him – and Jack Bauer smelled amazing. She found herself moving a little closer to him, relaxing into him.

            Just then, the line began moving as the passengers boarded the plane. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief as she extricated herself from Jack's hold and moved ahead of him to give her ticket and board the plane.

 

***

 

            "Relax, Chloe," Jack said as the plane ascended into the air. His eyes were closed, his head leaning against the seat, but he could tell that she was tense.

            "I'm fine."

            Jack chuckled. "You're not fine. You're sitting there, stiff as a board. Just tell me what's bothering you."

            "Nothing."

            Jack sighed. She wasn't going to make this easy for him. He opened his eyes and looked at her, saw how nervous she was as she absently rubbed her hands again. Jack wouldn’t admit it, but he was scared to death. He wasn't sure if she was uncomfortable because she didn't want to be close to him or if it was because she felt the same way he did. Hesitating a couple of times, Jack finally reached out and took her hand with his, entwining their fingers. Chloe turned to look at him, but he had already closed his eyes again.

            "Relax, Chloe."

 

***

 

            When they stepped out of the airport, they were greeted instantly by the tropical heat and blazing sun. Jack hailed a taxi as Chloe slipped on her sunglasses and they put their bags in the trunk of the car. When Jack told the cabbie where to take them, Chloe interrupted.

            "We're staying at the Atlantis?"

            "Yes."

            "Jack, that's a five-star hotel."

            "Yes."

            Chloe, slightly perturbed as Jack's responses, suddenly rested on another thought.

            "Do we have separate rooms?"

            Jack bit his lip before answering. "I don't know."

            "What do you mean, Jack? You have to tell them how many rooms you want when you make reservations."

            "I didn't make the reservations."

            "Then who did?"

            "Milo."

            "Oh, God," she moaned.

 

***

 

            "Hi. Reservation for Jack Bauer," he told the receptionist at the hotel.

            The woman smiled at him as she looked him up in the computer. When the file appeared, her face lit up as she looked at him and Chloe.

            "Mr. and Mrs. Bauer! Welcome to the Atlantis. And congratulations on your wedding!"

            Chloe tried hard not to faint or choke or do anything embarrassing like that. But there was a distinct lack of oxygen going to her brain as she processed the woman's greeting.

            "Huh?" Jack asked, trying to mask his astonishment.

            "Here are your room keys. Matthias will bring your bags up to the Honeymoon Suite for you."

            Jack made a quick decision. He could either debate his marital status with the receptionist, or he could just play along. He chose the latter, hoping that Chloe wouldn't kill him.

            "Thank you," he said. Then he turned to Chloe, draping an arm around her waist and steering her toward the elevators. "C'mon sweetheart."

 

***

 

            When they were in the elevator, Chloe jerked away from him.

            "Married?" she screeched.

            "I told you I didn't make the reservations."

            "The Honeymoon Suite?"

            "Blame Milo."

            "I plan on shooting him," she huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

            "Come on, Chloe. It's not that bad. I'll sleep on the floor if you want."

            Chloe frowned and moved closer to him again. "No. That's not fair. I'm sure the bed's big enough."

            Jack tried to hide his smile. "Are you suggesting we sleep together?"

            "Well I'm not taking the floor. And I'm not letting you sleep there. So yeah. I am."

            Jack leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Good," he whispered as the elevator doors slid open.