Disclaimer: I don't own 24, or its characters.

Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 1

The loud crying coming from the hall woke both Chloe and Jack from their slumber, and both looked at each other wearily. "Come on" Chloe said grumpily. "Let's go see what they need." She got dressed and slowly moved down the hall to the babies' room, and was instantly greeted by 3 bawling infants. Okay, which one first? She picked up Teri, and held her. "What's wrong, sweetheart? You hungry?" Chloe checked her diaper, and saw it was clean. "Come on, go back to sleep, honey." She lowered her robe to allow her to feed, rocking her daughter gently, humming to her softly.

Chloe looked over at her husband, who was changing David, comforting him. He's been so good with them. I don't think I could have done this without him. "That's my little man. Go back to sleep" Jack said quietly, putting David back in his crib. He ran his fingers through his hair, then turned to Edgar, who was fussing. "I think he's hungry."

"I'll take him." Chloe handed Teri to Jack and picked Edgar up, feeding him as well, while Jack set Teri down to sleep. Chloe yawned and Jack went over to her. "Thanks, Jack."

"What are you thanking me for? We're in this together, Chloe- the good and the bad."

"Right." Edgar soon hiccuped and Chloe set him down, sighing with relief as all 3 were now fast asleep. "Come on, Jack. Let's go back to sleep, while we still can."

"Sounds like a plan" he replied, leading Chloe down the hall and back into bed.

"I cannot wait until they sleep through the night" Chloe said wearily, turning to her husband. "Look, Jack, I know we said we'd try to do this on our own, but I think it's time we got some help, at least for a while. I love these children dearly, but with 3 of them, it's too much for us."

"Actually, I was thinking the same thing" Jack told her. "I thought it was hard enough with one child, but 3 at the same time? We'll start looking for a nanny tomorrow. I don't care what it costs."

"Good. Now, let's get some sleep."

2424242424

"Well, that went well" Chloe grumbled, tossing yet another rejected nanny application onto the large stack of applications.

"She was perfect, Chloe. Why'd you say no?"

"Oh, come on, Jack. She was flirting with you the entire time."

"She was not" Jack said hotly. "Come on, Chloe. Are you going to do that to every woman that we get a look at?"

"No. Just the ones who can't understand that you're off-limits."

"Chloe, are you jealous?"

She scoffed. "Of her? Hardly."

Jack looked at intently. "Then what's the problem?"

Chloe shook her head. "There's not a problem, Jack."

"Chloe... please. If something's bothering you, tell me."

Chloe looked down. "I guess... I still get insecure at times. Old habits and all that. All those years I spent being in love with you, and watching you hook up with other women, believing you didn't care about me, that kind of stuff doesn't just go away, Jack."

Jack lifted his wife's chin. "Chloe, listen to me. I love you more than anything. I would never, ever, betray the vows we took. Even if we weren't married, I'd feel the same way. You are the only one for me."

Chloe looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity in them. "I'm sorry, Jack. I didn't mean to make you think I didn't trust you, because I do."

"I know you do." He smiled and embraced Chloe. "Look, I'm sure we'll find someone that we both like. We just have to keep looking." He looked at his watch. "I'm going to go take a nap. The kids are asleep, so you shouldn't have any problems."

"All right." Jack went upstairs, and Chloe picked up the phone, waiting patiently for a response."

"Yeah?"

"Hey, Ty. It's Chloe."

"Hey, Chlo. What's up?"

"Not Jack" Chloe replied. "He's sleeping. So are the kids."

"So, how's the search going?" Tyler asked.

Chloe scowled. "Not well. Not one person we've looked at has been good enough for either me or Jack. It's so frustrating. All we want is what's best for these children, and we haven't found it yet."

"Well, if all else fails, Chase and I can watch them for a while if you really need some help."

"Thanks, Tyler, but I can't. We need someone that can be available 24 hours a day, and you two can't. Besides, you've already done so much for me, and I don't want to add to the debt I owe you."

Tyler sighed. "Chloe, how many times do I have to tell you? You don't owe me anything. You being able to walk again, and live your life, is all the payment I want. Now let's just drop it, all right? Please?"

"...Fine."

"Thanks." Tyler grinned. "I may have a solution to your problem."

"Really? What is it?"

"I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, and he told me he had moved to LA. He might be what you're looking for."

Chloe was skeptical. "How do you know this guy?"

"We worked together in the CIA. He was always talking about how much he loved kids."

"I don't know about this, Ty."

"Look, Chlo, all I'm asking is that you give him a chance" Tyler replied. "He's a good man. You know I would never put my niece and nephews in danger. I'll give you his number, and you and Jack can talk to him. Can you do that for me?"

I guess it couldn't hurt to at least give this guy a chance. And Tyler's done so much for me. "All right, Ty. Give me his number."

2424242424

The ringing of the doorbell caused Chloe to look up from her computer. "I'll get it, Jack."

"All right." Chloe slowly got up and walked to the door, opening it to reveal a tall, slender man. "Hi."

"Is this the Bauer residence?"

"Yeah, it is."

He stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm Brian. You called me the other day about looking for a nanny?"

Chloe shook his hand. "Oh, yeah. Come on in." She lead him into the living room. "Jack! He's here!"

Jack came down the stairs quickly. Brian greeted him with an firm shake of the hand. "Hello, sir."

"Hello. Why don't you sit down?"

The three of them sat, and Jack looked at him intently. Chloe shot a look at her husband, then turned to Brian. He shifted a bit under their gazes, but was otherwise unfazed. "Look, Mr. Bauer, Ms. O'Brian, I'm going to save all of us a lot of time and just get right to it. You want to know if I can handle 3 kids, right? Well, I can assure you that I am more than up to the task." He handed them some papers. "Here are my references."

Jack was taken aback by his straightforward manner, but recovered his composure, and glanced at the information Brian had given him. Well, so far, this guy seems like he's on the level. "Would you excuse us for a minute?" Brian nodded, and Jack led Chloe into the kitchen. "What do you think, Chloe?"

"I like him, Jack. And the background check I ran on him came up clean."

"You ran a background check?"

Chloe gave him a glare. "Of course I did. You think I'd run even the slightest risk of putting our children in danger? I checked everything- even the stuff that doesn't normally come up. Everything on there told me he was legit. The only question is: will he be good with the kids?" She grimaced suddenly and grabbed the closest chair, sitting down quickly.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. They just hurt. Ever since the kids were born, they've been hurting more." On Jack's concerned look, she scowled. "Jack, I'm fine. I can deal with a little pain."

She's not fine. They're bothering her more than she lets on. But now's not the time for that. "All right. You stay here. I'll go tell him he's got the job." Jack walked back into the living room, and Brian stood up to meet him. "Well, it looks like you've got the job. When can you start?"

Brian stopped and thought for a moment. "I can be ready to start in 3 days."

"Good." Jack smiled and shook his hand firmly. "Welcome to the family."