Another drabble. 'Cause that's what I do. This is set just a short while after S3.
He had been hoping the break room would be empty. But as he pushed open the door, he was immediately greeted by the sight of Chloe O'Brian sitting on the couch and watching TV while she munched on Wheat Thins. Her eyes casually flicked to the door to see who had come in, but she froze in surprise when she saw Jack standing there. Swallowing what was in her mouth, she gave him a nervous smile.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey."
Awkward silence descended as they ran out of things to say to each other. Chloe tried to go back to her show, but she couldn't relax with him just standing there. Finally, she turned to look at him again.
"What are you doing here so late? It's almost one in the morning."
"I could ask the same thing of you," he replied, giving her a small smile.
She gave him a pointed look, telling him that she expected an answer. Eventually he shrugged, moving to the fridge.
"Had some paperwork to do. Not ready to go home yet. You?"
"I just finished my work. Wanted to unwind a little before leaving." She paused, biting her lip. "I'm glad you're back," she said quietly, staring at the television screen.
Jack looked at her thoughtfully as he closed the refrigerator door. Walking over to her, he a took a seat next to her on the couch.
"So what are we watching?" he asked casually.
"American Gladiators," she answered, refusing to look at him. Jack raised his eyebrows. "It's the only thing on," she said defensively.
They sat quietly then, watching as men with grotesque muscles beat the crap out of scrawny business accountants. Chloe tried to focus on the show and not on her racing heartbeat or sweaty palms. She waited for Jack to get up and leave, but he only seemed to make himself more comfortable, as though he were settling in for a while.
"I'm the one who turned you in," she finally blurted, closing her eyes and silently cursing herself for her lack of tact.
"I know," Jack said, looking over at her with a smile.
She was thrown off by his reaction. "You're not mad?"
He shook his head. "I was a heroin addict, Chloe. I needed to be caught. It made me get clean."
She frowned, seeming to process his answer to find the truth in it. Eventually she nodded, reaching back into her box of Wheat Thins. "Then I'm glad I caught you." She saw his smirk out of the corner of her eye and turned to look at him again. It was then that she noticed what he was eating.
"Those are your chocolate bars in the fridge?" she asked, frowning at him again.
He nodded. "It's the only thing that helps."
"That helps what?"
He looked at her seriously. "My cravings. Every time I want a hit, I just eat some chocolate. Calms me down again."
Chloe chuckled and turned back to the TV. "Jack Bauer has chocolate cravings."
He scowled at her, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I have heroin cravings. The chocolate is just a substitute."
"Chocolate cravings too woman-like for you to admit to?"
Jack nodded. "Heroin is much more manly," he said in mock seriousness.
They continued to watch the show in companionable silence. Jack rested his feet on the coffee table in front of them and leaned his head back. Soon after, he was fast asleep, chocolate bar still clutched in his hand. Chloe smiled at him before returning her focus to the TV, but then nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt his head resting on her shoulder. She turned again to look at him and saw that he was still sleeping, but with some of the tension lines gone from his face. Shifting a little closer so that he would be more comfortable, Chloe dropped a light kiss to his temple before once again turning her attention to the television.
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