failegaidin | Birthday In Crisis

Hating her birthday wasn't anything new for Chloe. Her family had never made a big deal out of it, and she had kind of adopted their view of things. Some friends in college had tried to get her to celebrate once, but quickly gave up when they realized that she was miserable and intent on staying that way until the day was over. Now she didn't even tell people when it was, so that she could avoid the whole situation. Things just worked out better that way.

But this year was turning out to be the worst yet. She had been at CTU for over twenty hours now, not even noticing when the clock had struck midnight and announced her birthday. There were terrorists to find and assassinations to stop – someone had decided that taking out the entire White House cabinet was a good way to voice their opinions – and she hadn't even had time to breathe, nevermind acknowledge that another year was gone.

"I've lost him," Milo called from his station.

Chloe stood up and yelled at him in frustration. "What do you mean you lost him, Milo? How hard is it to track one guy?"

"It's not like I meant to lose him, Chloe."

"Yeah, well, this guy is gonna go kill the Chief of Staff or something, and now we don't know where he is!"

"I'll keep looking. We'll find him again. Don't worry."

"I worry," Chloe retorted.

Still standing, Chloe faced her computer again, scowling at it and hoping that maybe that would force some answers out of it. She had been trying for hours to decrypt a disk Jack had taken off someone, but it wasn't working and that made Chloe cranky.

Suddenly she saw a hand reach around from behind her and place a single red rose on her desk. Before she had time to turn around, there were lips on her neck, just below her left ear, and someone whispered, "Happy birthday."

Chloe froze at the voice, knowing instantly who it was. Turning around she saw Jack Bauer walking away from her. She looked down at the rose he had given her and she found herself inexplicably angry. Setting it back down on her desk, she rushed after Jack.

She caught up with him halfway down the hallway. Without a word she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into one of the holding rooms. He watched her in confusion as she shut the door and whirled on him.

"What the hell was that?" she yelled.

"What was what?" he asked.

"That. The rose. And the kiss. And the "happy birthday.""

"I just wanted to say happy birthday. The past few years I've either been busy faking my death or being tortured in a foreign country. I figured this year I'd at least say something. What's the big deal Chloe?"

"How did you even know it was my birthday? I don't tell anyone that."

"I know," he smirked. "But I have my ways."

"Yeah, well, just erase the date from your head."

"Why?"

"Because I don't acknowledge my birthday, that's why. So neither should you."

Jack laughed. "Chloe, I don't get it. Why are you so upset about this?"

"You don't understand anything," she grumbled. Then looking straight at him, she blurted out, "Please don't hate me for this."

"Hate you for what?" he asked.

His last word was cut off as Chloe grabbed his face and kissed him squarely on mouth. Jack's eyes widened in shock, but just as he recovered, Chloe pulled back and let go of him. They just stared at each other, both surprised by Chloe's actions. As Chloe decided that she should just walk out and try to retain some dignity, Jack pushed her back against the door and kissed her back.

Chloe gasped in surprise and Jack took the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth. She moaned as they explored each other's mouths, and Jack pushed himself even closer to her. His hands were under her top and roaming freely – up and down her spine, on her stomach, venturing up to her breasts. Chloe arched against him and ground her hips against his, eliciting a lusty groan from him.

"Oh God, Chloe, I love you," he said.

Both stopped suddenly, shocked by his admission. Jack was afraid that he had gone too far, that he had scared her away. Chloe searched his eyes, trying to determine if he was telling the truth or if he had just been caught up in the moment.

"Chloe, I –"

"Say it again," she interrupted.

"What?"

"If you meant it," she said quietly. "Say it again. Please."

At the look of desperation in her eyes, Jack swallowed his fear. "I love you," he repeated.

Chloe smiled and kissed him again, picking up right where they had left off. Both had completely forgotten that there was an outside world and their only concern was how close they could get to each other.

Suddenly Jack pulled away. "Wait," he gasped.

"What?" Chloe asked, afraid that he had changed his mind.

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Jack took her face in his hands and forced her to keep looking at him. "What about you?" he asked.

"What about me?" she asked.

"Do you love me?"

"Duh, Jack."

"Duh?"

"Yeah. You're an idiot if you haven't realized that I've been in love with you for years."

"Years?" he asked, surprise evident on his face.

"Oh my God, you are an idiot," she said, realizing that he really hadn't known.

"I need to hear you say it," he urged her.

"Say what?"

Jack sighed. "Chloe…"

"Oh. I love you. Sorry. My brain stopped working when you kissed me."

"Good to know that wasn't just me."

They moved closer to kiss again, when a pounding on the door interrupted them.

"Chloe! Are you in there?" Milo yelled.

Chloe sighed, straightening her hair and clothes before opening the door.

"What do you want, Milo?" she snapped.

"I found the guy again, and –" he stopped when he saw that Jack was in the room too, and that his face was flushed. He narrowed his eyes at Chloe. "What were you two doing in here?"

"Nothing."

"I think you two were making out."

"Mind your business, Milo."

"I think you were more than making out."

"Shut up, Milo."

"I think-"

"Look, Milo. You tell people about this, and I'll make sure that tape of you and Nadia in Tech 1 gets around."

"Me and…but we didn't…you know…" Milo floundered, desperately trying to save face.

"Neither did Jack and I. We didn't go any further than the two of you did. So I suggest that you mind your business." She turned to Jack, who was still standing behind her, blushing furiously. "And you. You're taking me to dinner tonight, right?" Dumbly, Jack nodded. "Good," she said. With that, she walked back to her station.

Jack stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, nodding at Milo.

"Milo."

"Jack."

The two men turned and walked in opposite directions.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sparky-girl82.livejournal.com

"Do you love me?"
"Duh, Jack."
"Duh?"
"Yeah. You're an idiot if you haven't realized that I've been in love with you for years."
"Years?" he asked, surprise evident on his face.
"Oh my God, you are an idiot," she said, realizing that he really hadn't known.
"I need to hear you say it," he urged her.
"Say what?"
Jack sighed. "Chloe…"
"Oh. I love you. Sorry. My brain stopped working when you kissed me."
"Good to know that wasn't just me."

Gah! You know exactly how to make my crappy day suddenly so much better! Not only do I get a continuation of another great story, I get this? (ok so I know it wasn't just for me, but hey, indulge me a bit!) Seriously though, totally loved that..and even got a hint of Nadia/Milo! :D I <3 you!

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Birthday In Crisis

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