The Life Endeavor Part 4
Within that week Josh had come to him with his thoughts about what should happen next. Josh wanted to start fresh. To be as far away from everything that both Phillip and Graem ever stood for. The business that Phillip killed for and the homes its tainted money brought were among its first casualties.
Kim got to know her younger cousin better as she stopped by the house to apprise them during dinner of her search for housing near CTU. However she had secret secondary criterion, its distance to Chloe’s newly purchased condo. Hoping that minor spatial arrangement would indeed urge them together.
Kim even went as far to call her father’s best friend to enlist her assistance to watch over Josh and Jack. A woman would need reinforcements when it came to two bachelors. She knew that two men couldn’t be trusted to eat; much less have edible food in the fridge. She had to disguise a giggle when her words worked. The agreement might have been nonchalant but Kim could discern the underlying greediness. To have a legitimate reason to visit the Bauer bachelor pad on a regular basis. If she only knew that she didn’t really need an excuse to be there. But Kim wasn’t going to take any chances in scaring her off. Not when things were going relatively nicely for her Dad.
So without her father noticing Kim had the men in her life moving into a modest home within a short drive to CTU and a brief walk to Chloe’s townhouse. The ploy worked beautifully. She was correct believing that neither her father nor the orphan boy he took in could cook. So Chloe made it part of her routine to drop by after work to make sure that they eat. Surprising all with her culinary skills. It had been a long time since Jack enjoyed a home cooked meal. Having a home prepared meal hadn’t been a priority since Teri died and Kim gone as well. The point became mute when the reason behind it all was gone; the joy he felt when he walked through their front door was absent. But now over time he felt that excitement at the thought of going home. CTU became a job again and not his life. Something he threw himself into, to escape his pain and remorse. No more was he the last to leave. He made sure whenever possible he left at a reasonable hour. Meaning, bar any national security crisis he was home before 7:30.
Jack’s life changed yet again when adopted Josh. But the one constant in Bauer’s life was change. But the one thing that would hopefully never change was Chloe’s presence in his life. For that he was forever grateful. Maybe at times he took her for granted at work and in his personal life. But he was never not happy to see her. But somewhere along the way he began to see her in a new light. Maybe it was because he finally slowed down enough to truly experience Chloe’s full effect. Before he always breezed in and out of her life usually demanding something from her. This time he stayed. He was a little afraid that she wouldn’t like him as much after being around him so much.
It was nice having Jack around on a more regular basis. Seeing him more than a few seconds here and there in a twenty-four hour period. Being able to relate to someone rather than a ‘safe’ computer. No one was ever hurt by a machine. Since Morris, Jack was the first person she wanted to risk her heart to. She trusted him completely; she knew that he would never willingly hurt her in any way. After what Morris did to her she thought she would never be able to rely on any man. Well, Jack wasn’t just any man. He was much more than the average man, not to mention sexier too!
Karen Hayes had been advisor to two Presidents and was proud of her legacy. But standing in a room where she was utterly helpless to ease the suffering of family and friends was what she despised the most. After all, she was a woman of action. Action would stop her mind from betraying her, thinking about what if it was Bill in Jack’s unfortunate shoes and her in Chloe’s bereft place. The scary thought shook her to her very core. She had thought love would never come her way then came along and made her fall in love in a way she thought only young people did. But now she couldn’t imagine living without her spouse and his now adult daughter. Living without her spouse was exactly what poor Chloe will have to learn how to do.
“He wasn’t doing anything dangerous. He was doing everything by the book.” He promised. “Cautious even.”
“I know. He promised he would be careful. That he would do everything in his power to come home to me and Wils.” She said through a stream of tears. Karen moved so that her son in law could share a moment with his stepmother. Hayes went to stand next to her own stepchild to offer her strength and comfort.
Josh kneeled in front of the sobbing petite blonde. He gently grabbed her thin shoulders to force her to look at him. When at last she had executed what he wished she hadn’t, the look of sheer rue was clear on her face. It took his breath away. He had a job to do; she needed to hear his father’s last words. He took a heartening breath. “Chloe, hear this if you never hear anything else I say, Dad adored you.” She only cried harder. “He wanted you to know that he was...grateful that you picked him.” She blinked in confusion. What did Jack mean ‘picked him’? Did he think there were a line of men knocking at her door? Yeah right! Oh sure she was CTU’s most eligible bachelorette. Not everyone can be blessed like Jack with good looks. She knew that many of their female co-workers found him attractive and would go out on a date with him in a New York minute. That the juiciest bit piece of gossip was why a ‘hottie’ like Jack Bauer would ever choose her. “He was...” He paused to find the correct word. “Worried that you never saw his love for what it was.” He smiled. “He married you, Chloe because he was IN love with you.” The grieving widow let her stepson’s words wash over her. “He didn’t want you to think he married as some...repayment of a debt of gratitude.”
“Believe him.” Clare said softly. Knowing it would be the only thing that would keep her friend sane the next few days.
Could her dreams have come true? Could Jack have been ‘madly in love’ with her as Josh said? She had married Jack with the knowledge that he did not love her in the same way that she loved him. Or did he? That had been okay with her, it was enough to spend the rest of her life with him. Maybe some people would say she settled but she didn’t think so. Her time as his wife was time well spent. Could she be that blind? She wanted to believe but...
“Chloe, it was plain to see that Jack adored you.” Karen pressed. Hoping that the younger woman would accept her words. She was telling the truth. She spoke often to her own spouse that it was nice that both Jack and Chloe found peace in each other. Chloe didn’t seem to be a person who could be calm without an outside factor much less be happy. Jack always seemed to be searching for his ever elusive missing piece.
Everyone was waiting for her answer. If she allowed herself this luxury it would make her life more bearable to live now that Jack was gone. If life could be endurable.
Clare looked down at one of her closest friends and wondered why it was so hard for her to accept Jack’s love. Wasn’t Wils a testament to their mutual love? Why can’t she see that? Not to mention Jack never shied away from telling his adoring wife that he loved her. The man would absolutely light up whenever she walked into a room he occupied. It just goes to prove how stubborn Chloe really was. Because everyone else saw Jack’s love. “Think of Wils, could he be that darn handsome if he was not made from love?”
Chloe finally relented. If it was Jack’s dying wish for her to feel loved why should she deny him this? It’s not as if she ever could withhold anything from him in life. Although it seemed odd to her. That the hero’s hero could love an unsophisticated computer geek like her. Okay, so maybe it was true after all they did make a baby together! Stranger things had happen before, right? Had she really known all along? And refused to even entertain the possibility Perhaps!
Karen’s soft voice broke through her hopeful deliberations. “If you will excuse me, I have a phone call to make.” It was a phone call she did not want to make but felt duty bound to do so. She dialed a number she knew well. She went to find a dark and secluded corner of the hallway.
“Hello.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. President.” She greeted as warmly as she could muster.
“Karen, I am simply a concerned citizen now, besides my family counts you as a friend. It’s high time you started calling me Wayne.” He could tell something was wrong by her overly controlled voice.
“Mr...Wayne...unfortunately I’m the bearer of bad new. I’m at CTU as we speak.” What terrorist group does Jack Bauer have to bring down today? How many times can this can this country be targeted? He knew the answer. He didn’t like it. He heard her take a deep breath before proceeding. “Jack Bauer was killed in the line of duty earlier today.”
“What?” He questioned in total disbelief. He hoped he head wrong. His legs wouldn’t hold him; he sank into a nearby chair.
“Jack and his tac team was ambushed. Thankfully he was their only casualty.”
He blinked. “Chloe?” He choked out.
She smiled appreciatively even though her former boss wouldn’t be able to see it. “Doing about as well as one can expect.” She knew he would nod his response. She knew him well from working closely with him for two terms.
“Is there anything Sandra or I can do, Karen?”
“No, not right now, sir. Chloe, Josh and Kim are still trying to wrap their brains around it. As you both remember.”
He did remember. “You nor Bill should not hesitate to call if there is anything I can do. I know I can speak for Sandra as well. When the funeral arrangements have been made please let us know.”
“Of course, Wayne.”
“First contact the Secret Service might be prudent.” He could not help the smile. “You know particular they can be.” She smiled.
“I do.”
“Give our best and prayers to Chloe and the children.” He requested.
“I will.”
“Tell Bill to find this son of a bitch and nail him good.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s already planning on it.” If she knew her beloved.
“Good! I’ll see you soon.” With that the difficult call ended.
The LA team was different than other CTUs. They took care of their own whereas from her experience with other ‘cities’ everyone seemed to be out for ‘number one’. There definitely wasn’t another Jack and Chloe. No one else could afford to be that loyal. After all O’Brian lost her job once under Erin Driscoll because of that loyalty. Karen met Driscoll once somewhere at a forgettable formal function before she met Bill. She seemed to be inflexible to be in counter-terrorism. Erin saw the world in black and white. Well, the world of terrorism was a grey area.
Sandra had heard the latter portion of her brother’s phone conversation with who she assumed to be Karen Hayes. “What is it, Wayne?” She asked alarmed from her post in the doorway. The former Commander in Chief was startled he hadn’t heard her come into his office.
The look of anger and pain only worried her further. “That was Karen.”
“National Security?”
“You could say that.” Without Jack Bauer to defend her America, was definitely vulnerable. “Jack Bauer was killed earlier today, San...”
“What? How?” She questioned with incredulity. This wasn’t happening, first David, now the man who avenged his untimely death. Was life this cruel?
“Ambushed.”
“Chloe? Josh and Kim?”
“Trying to cope.” He explained.
“When do we go?”
Wayne smiled. “As soon as I inform my detail.” She nodded.
“I’ll go pack.” With that she left. Jack Bauer was not only a friend of David’s but a connection to him for his siblings as well. Bauer saw past David’s presidency to see the man. That was why David valued the late CTU agent.
Karen had a feeling that the former President and his sister would arrive before the day was over. Wayne Palmer was never a waiting by the phone kind of a man. Nor was Sandra the type of a woman who would let friends go unconsoled. They had gotten to know each better that tense hour that Wayne was in limbo.