As Jack passed by the break room, he stopped to peer in the little window in the door. He saw Chloe and Nadia hunched over the table, multiple files spread out before them. Their faces were serious, and Jack was dying to know what they were talking about. But this wasn't the first time he had found them like this, and he had learned in the past week that it was best if he just minded his own business. Every time he approached them, the files were quickly shut and taken out of arm's reach, and he didn't even get a chance to ask what was going on.
He had tried to steal one of the files from Chloe's desk. Convincing Milo to distract Chloe in Tech 1, Jack had taken his lock pick set and tried to break into her drawers. He found a locked box in the bottom of one of the drawers, and he was determinedly trying to bypass the lock when a very angry Chloe cleared her throat behind him. Abandoning the drawer, he stood up slowly, avoiding her wrathful gaze.
"You sent Milo to distract me?"
"I just wanted to see-"
"Did you!?"
Jack nodded, looking down at the ground.
"So it's your fault he kissed me?"
His head shot up. "He kissed you!?"
Chloe turned her head to look behind him, and Jack's eyes followed hers. He saw Nadia grabbing Milo by the ear and dragging him off the floor, looking non too happy.
"See what you did?" she snapped.
"If you would just tell me what's in those files-"
"None of your business, Jack."
"But-"
"Go."
"Chloe-"
"Leave it, Jack. And take your lock picks with you."
But his curiosity was killing him, and it only got worse every time he saw the two women whispering conspiratorially. He tried eavesdropping too, but Bill had come looking for him and interrupted. The second time he tried, Chloe had opened a door right into his head, glaring at him when she realized what he was doing.
"God, Jack, Grow up," she hissed.
For the next two days, Jack had minded his business. When he saw Chloe and Nadia together, he simply turned around and walked the other way. He didn't ask them any questions, and in general he just avoided them. But inside, he was a wreck. Not knowing what they were talking about was eating at him every day. He wasn't sure why this was so important to him, but he knew that he didn't like Chloe keeping any secrets from him. Finally, he decided that he'd had enough.
Jack watched her from his office, waiting for her to leave her station. He knew that he wouldn't get anything out of her if they were in front of other people, but maybe if they were alone…He grinned when he saw her get up early in the afternoon and head to Tech 1. He waited a couple minutes, giving her enough time to get down there and become engrossed in whatever she had to do. Then he rose from his desk and casually followed her.
He slipped into the room quietly, locking the door behind him. Moving to a dark corner, he waited for her to complete her task. She was focused on the computer screen in front of her, and she hadn't noticed his entrance. Jack smiled as he watched her. It had been years since he'd gotten the chance to just…look at her. She was his best friend, but in the most unconventional way. He suddenly found himself wanting to know the little things about her…how she liked her coffee, what she was like when she woke up, what her favorite movie was. He was startled out of his thoughts as Chloe put the computer back and turned for the exit. Jack waited for her to get to the door and realize that it was locked. She frowned at it, knowing that she hadn't been the one to lock it. As she turned to look around the room suspiciously, Jack grabbed her by the hips and pushed her back up against the door.
"Jack," she gasped, shocked at his sudden proximity. Gathering her thoughts, she glared up at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Tell me, Chloe," he said, his voice low.
"Tell you what?" she snapped back.
"Those files. I want to know what's in those files. I want to know what you and Nadia have been whispering about for the past week."
'"I told you. It's none of your business."
"I want to know."
"I don't care!"
"You know I'll eventually find out, Chloe. I'll keep trying to break into your desk, and eavesdrop, and cornering you in small dark rooms." At that, Chloe blushed, reminded of how close his body was to hers. "So you might as well just tell me now and save us both the trouble."
Chloe looked down, biting her lip. When she brought her eyes back to his, they were full of worry and her face was serious. "Why do you care so much?"
Jack sighed, sobering his mood. "It's not just the curiosity, Chloe. You're my friend, and I get the feeling that this is important to you…and that makes me want to know. If it's important to you…that makes me care."
"I want to have a baby," she blurted.
Her statement caught Jack completely off-guard, and he stared at her in shock. "What?"
"You wanted to know what this is all about. I want a baby."
He shook his head. "I don't get it."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I knew you wouldn't."
He smiled at her. "Then explain it to me."
She looked at him seriously again. "You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll come by your office when my shift is over, okay? I'll explain it then."
"Promise?"
She sighed. "Yes, Jack. I promise. I'll tell you everything."
He nodded. "Good." Reaching over, he unlocked the door. Then he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Thank you."
Trying to control her body's responses, Chloe rolled her eyes at him and stalked back to her station.
Chapter 2![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
