geeky_agent | (no subject)

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(no subject)

June 28th, 2011

Parking only put her a block away from the restaurant and she idly fanned herself with the flyer someone had just handed to her. Maybe she was getting used to the weather or maybe it's that the summers in NYC were hotter but the heat didn't seem so bad.

Out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of a man just a little taller than her, average build and dark blond hair and she feels her heart stop. Thrown off course, she cranes her neck and follows him a few steps. Chris is almost about to call out to him when he turns.

It's not him.

And she can't help but feel disappointed even though she's been through the similar several times in the past few days. Ever since that unexpected meeting, she can't help but hope she'll run into Jack again. Or that the door to Milliways would appear.

Sighing, she crosses the street and heads towards the restaurant.

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"I know that," she sighs. So many people had been surprised by her going back that sometimes Chris thought that might all have a point.

"A lot of people have said similar things and I understand what you're trying to say but I've given this a lot of thought. It makes sense."

In a quieter voice she adds, "When I spoke to Jack, he was a little surprised but he didn't think it was a bad idea." Though Chris had a feeling he was glad it was District and not CTU-LA.

"But I'm at District and will be there for a while," she continues, her voice louder, "If I wanted a change to one of the CTU branches, the New York one would be my first pick."

No, you only think you do.

But Michelle's unable to hide her surprise, her face going a little pale. "You've talked to him? He's contacted you?" She tries to keep her voice soft, but her fingers tense around the water glass.

Only the fact that she's trying to get pregnant keeps her from calling the waiter back over and ordering a glass of something alcoholic.

Chris was getting increasingly uncomfortable with this conversation.

She looks around, making sure a waiter isn't about to pounce before saying, "The bar dropped him off in LA and I ran into him."

Okay, that's not as bad, less chance of someone finding him.

The last time Michelle saw him, he was...not doing well.

"How is he?" She asks softly.

"He seemed to be doing all right," she says, her mouth curving into a smile. "It sounds like everyone at the bar is doing well too."

The waiter comes by, placing their orders in front of them. "Thanks," Chris says, glancing up at him.

She breathes a sigh of relief, "Thank God. When I saw him...it was bad."

She forks on some dressing and takes a bite of salad, relieved that everything's okay.

Chris furrows her brows. "What do you mean? What was wrong?"

If he didn't tell her, he must have his reasons. But he's not always the most forthcoming person.

"Ishamael had Kim and Nita...they're obviously back and okay, now."

Chris stares for a few moments, her mind almost refusing to comprehend that.

"He didn't...Are they, um. How are they?"

She puts down her fork. "Honestly? I don't know, you saw him after I did, so I just assumed that if he was okay, they're okay." She says not unkindly.

I hope. He might have not mentioned it for another reason entirely.

Her own salad is untouched as she thinks about their meeting, looking for any clues. "Well, he didn't seem too upset when I saw him."

"Then everyone has to be okay," she takes a sip of her diet coke. "Or maybe he was just happy to see you."

"I think you're right," she says with a nod. "About everyone being ok. I asked how people were doing and he said they were ok. He didn't mention anything more and I think he meant it."

"Did he talk about Toronto?"

"No?" Chris is now torn between being concerned for Jack and annoyed with him.

She pauses for a moment, thinking of the best way to put what happened into words. "I ran into him in the bar in mid-May and he was recovering from something that happened in Canada."

She's being vague on purpose, but she's also not very surprised that Jack wouldn't share this information.

Calmly, she asks, "What happened?" I can't believe Jack didn't mention anything! Why wouldn't he tell me?

"Wait," she adds, "this doesn't have anything to do with the attack that happened in Toronto, does it?"

"He thought that going after some people on his own was a good idea. It wasn't."

She takes a sip of her soda.

"It does. They had him for a few days."

Chris frowns. She had known he was hiding something when she brought up the attack in Toronto.

"How was when he came back to the bar?"

She rubs her forehead and sighs a little, "I only saw him a few days after it happened. He was hurt pretty badly."

Chris is silent for a few moments, finally whispering, "I didn't know."

She reaches out and touches her friend's hand. "I think we both know how good he is at not talking about things he doesn't want to remember."

She nods slowly. "You're right." And they weren't together, she couldn't expect Jack to tell her.

Didn't make her feel any better though.

Chris picks up her fork and pokes at her salad, silent for a few moments. Finally, she asks, "How's Tony doing?"

"I'm glad that he's okay," she takes another sip of her soda. "I wasn't sure if you two were still speaking."

A pause as she contemplates how many different ways she could put her foot in her mouth in one conversation.

"He's actually doing really well. If you ever get tired of District, we could always use a third partner."

Chris takes a sip of her ice tea and briefly wishes she had asked for something alcoholic.

Ignoring the first comment she smiles at the second. "Be careful. I might take you up on that."