Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 05:05:54 UTC
Coming in from outside, her arms full of Tori's toys and other things they'd left outside, Jeannie casts a quick look over at Jack and Ryan talking over by the living room windows. They're talking quietly, their expressions serious, but not antagonistic. That's something at least she thinks, hoping that conversation is going well. She wants to like Jack; she does like him, from what little she knows about him so far. But she has to admit, the main reason she doesn't want to find fault with him is because Chris has been so distant, they don't need something else pushing them apart. Not just for Ryan's sake either; she and Chris had been friends before she met Ryan, and she misses that friendship.
Walking up the stairs to the second floor, she can hear Tori chattering on excitedly, hear Chris' occasional question or comment, when Tori lets her have a chance to get a word in edgewise. At least it looks like one conversation is going well, she thinks, smiling to herself
( ... )
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:46:28 UTC
This isn't entirely comforting--that's a lot of past baggage to bring to a relationship--but then if Chris seems to be all right with it, then there's not much she can say.
"So you, Jack, his daughter and his daughter's fiance all work at CTU? I didn't realize it was a family business," Jeannie says, her smile a little forced. She's had to hear Ryan's thoughts on Chris working at CTU again, and while she doesn't quite feel as strongly as him about it, it does worry her. Hearing that the man Chris...cared about also worked there as well as his family doesn't really help, either; she doesn't want to see Chris get hurt.
Re: Jeannie-Chris Conversationgeeky_agentFebruary 19 2007, 19:47:02 UTC
"Jack doesn't work at CTU anymore. He left a few months ago." For a second, Chris almost says that he left after his assignment was over but decides not to add any more details unless necessary. "He's working for a private security firm with a friend of ours."
Re: Jeannie-Chris Conversationgeeky_agentFebruary 19 2007, 19:50:25 UTC
"Yeah," she says somewhat lamely, wondering if she should have been more vague. "He's fine but it's just required some lifestyle changes. Like his diet. And his job."
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:51:04 UTC
"Do you have the same kind of stress in your work at CTU?" Jeannie asks, wondering if maybe it was the pressure getting to her that had made Chris so withdrawn. Then again maybe it was the secret boyfriend as well; wihtout Chris saying anything, it was hard to tell.
Re: Jeannie-Chris Conversationgeeky_agentFebruary 19 2007, 19:51:36 UTC
"Not exactly." Even though saying yes would help explain a lot of her past behavior, Chris didn't want them to worry about her anymore than they already did. "He was in field work. That's more demanding. Especially the last assignment."
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:53:47 UTC
"What was he doing?" Jeannie asks, not paying full attention to what she's saying, not realizing that Chris might not be able to answer that, as she's listening for Tori. She's been in the bathroom for a while, and she can hear the sound of water splashing.
"Tori, come on out, and there better not be a mess in there," Jeannie calls, and a moment later she hears the tap turn off.
Re: Jeannie-Chris Conversationgeeky_agentFebruary 19 2007, 19:54:35 UTC
"I'm not, Momma!" Comes a voice from the bathroom. A few minutes later, Tori wanders out, damps spots on the front of her shirt and the cuffs of her sleeves were wet as well. "I'm done."
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:55:15 UTC
Jeannie gives Chris a long-suffering but amused look and sighs as she pulls out a pair of light pyjamas. "Come on, my little mermaid, let's get you into your jammies."
Tori pouts, but obediently pulls off her t-shirt and jeans, and then dons the pyjamas as her mother folds the wet clothes over the back of a chair. Tori jumps into bed, bouncing on the mattress once before Jeannie's stern expression puts a stop to it. Jeannie wraps her daughter in a hug, kissing Tori's cheek. For all her preschooler rambunctiousness, Jeannie wouldn't trade Tori for the world.
"Night-night, sweetheart, I love you. Do you want me or your Auntie Chris to tuck you in?"
"Auntie Chris!" Tori squeals.
Jeannie looks over at Chris with a wry smile. "I guess I didn't even need to ask."
Re: Jeannie-Chris Conversationgeeky_agentFebruary 19 2007, 19:56:14 UTC
Chris looks down with a grin, ignoring the twinge of sadness and guilt that comes when she realizes how long it will be till she sees Tori after this trip.
"All right, Tori, c'mon," she says, pulling back the covers for her to lay down.
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:56:45 UTC
Tori obediently curls up, resting her head on the pillow and grinning sleepily up at her aunt. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, and we can play more?" she asks eagerly.
Jeannie tries to hide a grin. Looks like someone's going to be trying to hog Chris all weekend.
Re: Jeannie-Chris ConversationtheredshirtsFebruary 19 2007, 19:58:07 UTC
Jeannie turns out the light as they leave, closing the door behind her. Out in the hallway she can hear the murmur of voices from the living room, even if she can't make out what they're saying.
"I'm glad you and Jack came out to see us; Tori's missed you. We've all missed you," she says, softly. Then after a moment, she adds, "Why didn't you tell us about him before this?"
Walking up the stairs to the second floor, she can hear Tori chattering on excitedly, hear Chris' occasional question or comment, when Tori lets her have a chance to get a word in edgewise. At least it looks like one conversation is going well, she thinks, smiling to herself ( ... )
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"So you, Jack, his daughter and his daughter's fiance all work at CTU? I didn't realize it was a family business," Jeannie says, her smile a little forced. She's had to hear Ryan's thoughts on Chris working at CTU again, and while she doesn't quite feel as strongly as him about it, it does worry her. Hearing that the man Chris...cared about also worked there as well as his family doesn't really help, either; she doesn't want to see Chris get hurt.
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"He has a, uh, medical condition. Heart problem." It's the truth, which helps, but Chris wonders what if anything Jack told Ryan.
"Jack used to do field work. But after his last assignment, his doctor said he should find a less stressful line of work."
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"Tori, come on out, and there better not be a mess in there," Jeannie calls, and a moment later she hears the tap turn off.
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Chris looks over at Jeannie with a small smile.
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Tori pouts, but obediently pulls off her t-shirt and jeans, and then dons the pyjamas as her mother folds the wet clothes over the back of a chair. Tori jumps into bed, bouncing on the mattress once before Jeannie's stern expression puts a stop to it. Jeannie wraps her daughter in a hug, kissing Tori's cheek. For all her preschooler rambunctiousness, Jeannie wouldn't trade Tori for the world.
"Night-night, sweetheart, I love you. Do you want me or your Auntie Chris to tuck you in?"
"Auntie Chris!" Tori squeals.
Jeannie looks over at Chris with a wry smile. "I guess I didn't even need to ask."
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"All right, Tori, c'mon," she says, pulling back the covers for her to lay down.
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Jeannie tries to hide a grin. Looks like someone's going to be trying to hog Chris all weekend.
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Tori smiles at that, too tired to come up with more than, "Ok."
"Ok," Chris echoes, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you. Good night, Tori."
"Good night."
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"I'm glad you and Jack came out to see us; Tori's missed you. We've all missed you," she says, softly. Then after a moment, she adds, "Why didn't you tell us about him before this?"
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