milliways_bar | (no subject)

"Thank you," she says as she sits down next to Kim.

"So how long have you been here?"

"About a month. I got here before your dad, or my dad for that matter."

"Oh, that's a long time to be here. But at least you have people you know to keep you company. My dad tells me there's quite a few people here from CTU."

Kim nods. "Yeah, but not all of us are speaking to each other all the time. It's a little complicated." She smiles. "So what did you do in LA?"

Maybe my dad and Jack are fighting? Is that why he was so odd last night?

But that doesn't seem to fit. Jack didn't seem angry or annoyed at meeting her. He seemed almost frightened - for lack of a better word.

"I worked at Division. I started there in January."

Kim tries not to seem surprised. "Do you like it there?"

"No," she says flatly, "but it was the only place they could fit me in at LA so..."

Chris shrugs her shoulders.

"Probably a good idea not to work at CTU-LA. Bad things happen to people there."

I've noticed.

Chris nods and asks, "I don't think I asked this the first time we met or if I did I forgot, what year are you here from?"

"I'm from late 2008...um, a few months after your dad's death."

Careful not to call it a murder even though it was but she isn't sure what to actually refer to it as.

She nods trying not to let her change in demeanor show. Every mention of her father's death reminded her that this was temporary and that he wasn't going home.

"And your father? What year is he here from?" she asks, testing out one of her theories.

"He's from early 2010 I believe." Kim says carefully.

Hmmf. Chris had wondered if maybe Jack was from earlier - possibly still in the throws of his drug addiction. Or perhaps recently fired from CTU.

"It sounds like everyone in this small groups is from about the same time."

"Pretty much. I'm not sure if I asked, but when are you from?"

"September 18th, 2009. A few friends and I went out early for my birthday so that's why I was a few sheets to the wind when you first met me."

"Your birthday was on the 18th?" Kim says hopefully.

Chris looks down.

"No, it's the 20th."

Oh God. Kim blinks and reaches out and touches Chris's hand.

"I'm so sorry, Chris."

Chris gave a watery smile even as her throat tightened.

"It's ok," she says as she brushes a few of the tears with her hand.

"God, I wish I could move past the random crying part of this."

Kim could not imagine feeling worse, the truth spinning around her mind and she can't say it. Cannot say it.

"After my mom died...the random crying part never really goes away."

Chris takes some napkins. Slightly embarassed that she was crying in front of a stranger but she knew enough of Kim's background to know she could understand.

"I was afraid of that. When my mom died it was a little different. Not much. But we could prepare and say goodbte so it seemed like I got to the stage where I could talk or think about my mom without crying a lot quicker."

Kim forces back the tears.

"Yeah," she says in a strained voice. "I...I'm just so sorry about what happened to your dad."

She nods, drying her eyes and trying to regain some composure.

"Sorry 'bout that."

Kim smiles at her a little. "It's okay, this bar does weird things to emotions."

She takes a breath.

"Would you like something to eat?"

"No," she says with a shake of her head, "But some tea would be nice."