To Make You Feel My Love
The sudden pounding on her door made Chloe bolt up from her bed. She glanced at the clock next to her and saw that it was almost three in the morning. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, she shuffled down her stairs to the front door and opened it, a nasty remark on the tip of her tongue.
The sight before her immediately erased whatever she had been going to say. It was pouring out, and a soaked Jack Bauer stood on her front step. He was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, and he just stood there, staring at her, letting the rain drench him through and through.
“Jack?”
He just continued to stare at her. Finally Chloe took his hand and dragged him into the house, shutting the door behind him. She waited for him to say or do something, but he just stared at her, as though he couldn’t believe that she was really there. She took his face in her hands and pulled him closer.
“Jack? You have to tell me what’s wrong.”
“You…you were dead,” he whispered.
“Dead? Jack, I’m right here…” she trailed off as a thought struck her. “Nightmares. You’re having nightmares.”
Jack nodded numbly, now staring at the floor. “You were dead,” he whispered again. “They took you and they…they hurt you, and…”
Chloe wrapped her arms around him and held him close. His arms tightened around her in desperation, soaking her clothes. She tried vainly to remember what you were supposed to say when comforting someone. But then she realized that she probably wouldn’t say it right anyway. So she just held him.
Eventually she pulled back. “Come on, Jack,” she said, taking him by the hand and leading him upstairs. “Let’s get you dry.”
***
An hour later they were curled up in Chloe’s bed. She sat up against the pillows and Jack rested his head in her lap. Chloe gently brushed her fingers through her hair and rubbed his arm with her other hand. Jack’s breathing slowed and evened out, and she was thankful that he was finally getting some rest.
Chloe wasn’t very good at saying the right thing. That was what people always told her. She was awkward and blunt. Right now, all she wanted to do was say the right thing to Jack, to comfort him. But everything that came to mind was either cheesy or abrasive. The only thing in her head that wasn’t either of those was a song. Something she had heard years ago. She bit her lip in nervous thought, wondering if he would wake up and wonder what the hell she was doing.
“Screw it,” she whispered. And then she started to softly sing.
When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
Jack fought the urge to snap his eyes open. The last thing he had expected to hear was Chloe singing to him. He didn’t recognize the song, but he focused on the words as she continued.
When evening shadows and stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
He had to concentrate to keep his breathing slow and steady. He didn’t want her to know that he was awake and listening – he was too afraid that she would stop. Her voice wasn’t amazing, but it was clear and sweet and made him feel…safe. She continued brushing her hands through his hair and rubbing his arm. Jack had never felt so comfortable.
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
Jack suddenly thought of Audrey and wondered if seeing him with her had hurt Chloe. He had never really questioned Chloe’s feelings – he had just accepted that she was his best friend and that she would always be there for him. But looking back…he saw something else. And he instantly regretted not seeing it before.
I'd go hungry I’d go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
He remembered all the times that Chloe had gotten in trouble for him. She had been disciplined, fired, arrested. But still she never hesitated to back him up, to do whatever it was he asked of her. He suddenly wondered how he had been so blind.
The storms are raging on a rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't see nothing like me yet
Jack wanted nothing more than to sit up and take her in his arms. To comfort her, to let her know how lucky he was to have her. But he knew that if he did that, she would instantly shut down. She could trust him in the field, with her life, her job. But Chloe O’Brian trusted no one with her heart.
I could make you happy make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love
Chloe’s voice broke a little as she sang the last part of the song. As she finished, she realized that every word of that song was true. She sniffled, wiping away a stray tear. At least she had finally said it, finally admitted how she felt about Jack Bauer. It didn’t matter that he had been asleep at the time.
***
One Month Later
Chloe sat at the table, sipping her drink and waiting for Jack to get back from the bathroom. Since that night he had shown up at her house, he had stayed with her. Most nights they fell asleep watching TV in her bed. Neither had said anything about that first night, and they quickly fell into a comfortable routine of living together.
Part of that routine was going to the local coffee shop on Thursday nights. They would sit at the table she occupied now, talking quietly or listening to the live music they had. Sometimes they just sat there, enjoying each other’s company.
Chloe sighed as she once again wondered how long this could really last. She loved living with Jack. She loved seeing him in a normal way – as something other than the superhero he played at work. But everyday she was afraid that she would wake up and find that he was gone – either back to Audrey or just…gone. She couldn’t breathe sometimes because of the fear. But he was still with her. And they kept going through their routine.
Music started on the stage, but Chloe’s gaze was focused on the drink in front of her. Lost in thought, she ran the past month through her head. Falling asleep next to Jack every night and waking up next to him every morning. Sometimes he would have dinner waiting for her when she got home from work. Other nights he would leave her a message to meet him somewhere. She smiled at the memories. She felt so…happy.
When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I would offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
Chloe’s head snapped up as she recognized the song, and her jaw dropped at the sight before her. Jack Bauer was up on stage, sitting on a stool, singing – and he was looking right at her. She was suddenly petrified – he obviously hadn’t been asleep that first night. Her lip trembled as she wondered if he was mocking her.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love
But he didn’t take his eyes of her. He just kept singing to her. She couldn’t believe it. Jack was singing to her. As her gaze locked with his, she realized that he wasn’t making fun of her. His eyes told her that he meant this – every word of it.
I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong
Chloe was having trouble breathing. Her brain kept trying to shut down, refusing to believe that this could possibly be happening. But still he held her gaze, and she felt herself melting. She wanted to cringe at the clichéd term, but it was true. She was actually melting.
I'd go hungry, I'd go blind for you
I'd go crawling down the aisle for you
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
She felt tears spilling down her face as Jack removed the microphone from the stand and walked towards her. By now, every eye in the room was on her, but she didn’t notice. All she saw was Jack. His voice had grown thick with the tears he was fighting to keep in, but still he sang.
The storms are raging on a rolling sea
Down the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
But you ain't seen nothing like me yet
He was getting closer. Chloe bit her lip, suddenly nervous. Part of her wanted to get up and run away, she was so afraid. But his eyes were boring into her, telling her to calm down, to trust him. Chloe O’Brian never trusted anybody with her heart. But when she saw Jack Bauer trusting her with his, she couldn’t turn away.
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy, make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love
As he finished the song he knelt in front of her and wiped the tears from her cheeks. The last note faded and he turned the microphone off, setting it down on the table. The room broke into applause as they just stared at one another.
“You weren’t asleep,” she whispered.
He smiled at that. “I wasn’t asleep.”
The next person had begun singing, and Jack stood, reaching his hand out to her. “Will you dance with me?”
She nodded and stood slowly, afraid that her legs wouldn’t hold her. Jack guided her out onto the floor and held her as closely as he could. They barely moved to the music, just holding each other, enjoying the fact that they didn’t have to hide anymore.
Chloe pulled back a little to look at him. “Jack, I…I…” She bit her lip, not knowing how to say it.
Jack leaned his forehead against hers. “Would it make it easier if I said it first?”
Chloe nodded.
“I love you,” he whispered, a small smile on his face.
Chloe smiled too, amazed at how easy it was now. “I love you too,” she whispered back just before she brought her lips to his.
The kiss started out sweet and slow, both smiling at how right it felt. But soon the kisses grew more passionate as they held on to each other as tightly as they could. They both forgot the coffee shop and the people around them. They were tired of worrying about other people. For now they were just concerned with each other.
Finally they broke apart, both breathing heavily. Chloe smiled as she realized that the song they had been dancing to was long over and other performers had come and gone.
Squeezing her hips gently, Jack whispered, “What do you say we go home now?”
“Home?” Chloe asked, thrilled at how the word sounded coming from him.
“Home,” he repeated, squeezing her again.
Chloe nodded and let him lead her outside.