Here's the first part of my challenge answer. I hope you enjoy.

Rebecca


“Myles, I cannot believe you, you act as though you don’t care at all about us. Really! We raised you and you should show a little more respect for us.”

The doorbell rings. Myles heads down the elegant wooden staircase to answer it, wondering who would be arriving this early. The servants for the evening haven’t begun setting out the delicacies they had chosen although as he looked around at the entrance and grand ballroom, the decorations were breathtaking. He opens the door and smiles as Lucy, Sue, and Troy come in. “You have outdone yourself” Lucy says with a smile. Sue just looks around taking in the vases of roses in every direction, the sparkling of hearts throughout the rooms, and laughs at the change in atmosphere that comes from the soft glow of red bulbs.

Elizabeth watches from the top of the stairs as Myles greets his guests and then smiles that her back-up plan had worked. She descends the staircase with the dignity her position has taught her and comes over to join them. After throwing a look of disdain at Lucy and Troy, she grabs Sue’s arm and leads her into a side room. “Sue I am so glad you got here. Myles didn’t have the forethought to invite someone to greet guests with him. Now would you be a dear and give us a hand?” Elizabeth cooed.

“I guess so,” Sue answered, a bit confused about being the first ones here and that she was being asked to join the receiving line, since she wouldn’t know anyone but the team.

Laying her hand on Sue’s arm Elizabeth continued. “You look gorgeous tonight dear. That dress becomes you so. I knew from the team picture I had seen that you were a beauty, but seeing you here, in such a becoming outfit, you’ll take the breath of every man here away.” She looked Sue over carefully noting the way the soft velvet dress hugged her figure until it widened just above her knees. The intricate gold cross necklace that lay on her neck seemed to enhance her innocent look, and the rubies shining from the center of the gold hearts dangling from her ears gave additional sparkle to her hair. Elizabeth took Sue’s hand in her own and looking down, noticed that she only wore a small gold watch. She would need something more, but what? Ah, a ring to match those earrings. “Now my dear, to thank you for your help this evening I must do something special for you.” Smiling once again, “I know. I have a ring that matches those earrings and you simply must wear it tonight. It will complete your outfit.”

“I couldn’t.”

“I insist. You are wonderful, but your left hand and arm are bare. Allow me to do this, please? As soon as Myles comes over, I’ll just run up and get it.”

“Thank you, I guess.”

While Elizabeth had pulled Sue aside, Myles was busy trying to apologize to Lucy and Troy for his mother’s behavior. “The food will be brought out soon. I’m a little surprised you are early, but come on in and enjoy your evening,” he added.

“I misplaced my invitation, but I am sure that Sue’s said 19:30” Lucy replied.

“Well, enjoy yourselves, I’m going to go try to free Sue from the evil clutches of my mother.” Lucy and Troy headed in and found a spot to sit down and talk. There were elegant loveseats placed in corners of the room, as well as groups of chairs at the edges of the ballroom. As Lucy looked up, she saw a disco ball and other spotlights. There was a jazz band setting up in one corner of the room, and a pink champagne fountain. No doubt that the Lelands were going all out on this party.

As Myles walked over to join Sue, who was politely smiling at his mother and nodding her head in agreement to something, Elizabeth spoke up. “Myles, Sue has agreed to greet guests beside you in the receiving line. Isn’t that thoughtful of her, filling in at the last minute?”

“Mother, you didn’t.” Turning to Sue he added, “You don’t have to do this.”

“It’s okay; really. It will give me a chance to get names when I can more easily see everyone.”

Phillip came down a few minutes later, dressed to the nines in a tux with tails, complete with a red cumberbund and bowtie. Elizabeth followed him down and stopped quickly to slip the ring onto Sue’s hand before the four of them formed a receiving line as people began arriving. Elizabeth was first, followed by Phillip, then Myles and finally Sue. Myles ignored his parents while trying to help Sue get the names right and feel somewhat comfortable. In the back of his mind he wondered why Sue’s invitation read an earlier time, but he decided that it didn’t matter anymore.

Meanwhile, as Sue and Myles graciously greeted guests, Myles saw a genuine smile light up her face as first Demetrious and Donna arrived, and a little while later Bobby came in notably without Darcy. Sue gave him a quick hug as if to say, it’s okay. A little while later Tara came in, her face showing a surprised expression at finding Sue in the receiving line. Myles looked Tara over and asked her, “Save me a dance won’t you?”

“Only if Sue doesn’t mind,” came her quick retort.

Sue laughed and answered “Of course not.”

By 20:45, most people had arrived, but there was still no sign of Jack. Not paying any attention to his parents and instead concentrating on making sure Sue caught each name and connection, he didn’t realize that Elizabeth had been getting more outrageous with her comments about Sue. When the first group arrived, including most of the team, she was just a close friend of Myles. But it quickly moved to his girlfriend, and now he was getting a congratulations every so often.

Ted Garrett walked in with his wife a few minutes later and whispered that they needed to be in his office by 7:00 am Monday. “New case?” asked Myles.
“No, just a discussion we need to have.”

Jack arrived at 8:55 alone. Jack had decided he wanted it to stay off with Allie but had not gotten up the courage to call Sue to see if she would attend with him, then he had one problem after another at his apartment and then traffic had been awful. He was greeted by Elizabeth’s joyous “Thank you so much for coming. It is lovely to see you. Make sure you meet Myles’ fiancée.”

Jack was flabbergasted when two people later he came face to face with Sue. “Um, Sue, Myles, do you have something to share?” He looked down and saw the ruby ring on Sue’s finger. Unusual, he thought. But then Sue was unique. He wondered how they had ever kept it secret and figured one of the reasons for the ruby was to keep it more secret.

Sue looked at him like he was crazy but Myles wondered at the pained expression on his face. “What do you think we would be telling you?”

“When you started dating, when’s the wedding, how come none of us knew?” Jack mumbled quickly.

“Jack, I thought you asked about a wedding,” said Sue. She was confused and had hoped he would like the dress. She bought it in hopes to be here with Jack or at least that he might enjoy seeing the beautiful dress on her here but no comment at all and he had barely even glanced at her. She certainly noticed the way his tux fit. It was so easy to enjoy a man in a tux. She wondered why they didn’t wear them more often. She presumed it was because they didn’t know how it turned the woman around them in puddles of mush. Just as well. After all, she did have to keep up the appearance of friendship only even if that wasn’t the longing of her heart.

“Well, I thought you would at least say something to me.” he replied, obviously hurt by whatever he thought.

Sue looked back and forth between Myles and Jack, having taken a step back from the line when Jack came through. Jack was looking at Myles with daggers in his eyes and Myles looked like Jack had his head on backwards. “Jack, what’s wrong?”

Jack calmed a bit and put went stone-faced, “Nothing, I will see you later. You need to get back to your well-wishers.” Jack moved away, heading to where he saw Bobby and D.

Both confused, Myles motioned to Sue to go after Jack. He could see the pain in her eyes caused by his comments. He wondered what had happened to Jack. He usually kept anything painful from Sue, but to cause her pain was unlike him. Sue left. He turned to his mother and said, “I am going to mingle. You can greet anyone else without me.” Myles stalked away from his parents, but then noticed Tara and chuckled a bit. Only Tara would think of dying her hair red for a Valentine’s Ball. The one descent thing about this is that I at least get to spend the evening with he, since she doesn’t have a date. That red leather skirt is just, well, positively delightful! I can’t wait to hold her close. He strolled over to where the girls were talking.

Sue started to follow Jack across the room but was stopped by Tara, Donna, and Lucy for a little gabbing. Before she could catch Jack, they were discussing the attire throughout the room. No one could believe that a Senator’s wife had squeezed herself into the dress that one of them had on. Some of the ladies were wearing ball gowns and others seemed to have pulled something out of a teenage daughter’s closet. Politely chatting with them she was distracted by Jack’s obvious anger, and hurt that he hadn’t even commented on the dress she had picked out to wear just for him. While the soft red dress that hugged her figure looked nice on her, it was Jack’s appreciation of it, not those of the many men in the line, that she wanted.

As Sue chatted with the girls, Jack was fuming to Bobby and D. “How could he do this to her? We can’t lose her? It’s not right”

“Jack, mate what are you talking about?”

“Sue and Myles!”

“Well, while it is nice of her to help him out, I don’t understand what you are so upset about.”

“Help him out? They’re engaged of course she’s with him,” growled Jack.

“Engaged?” questioned Bobby and D together.

“That’s what his mother said, and they didn’t deny it.” Bobby took hold of Jack and motioned to D to go find out what was happening while he calmed Jack down. They headed out of the party area towards Myles’ living room.

D saw Donna and the ladies and headed off to find out what was happening. He didn’t want his team coming apart at the seams.

As D rushed over Sue watched Jack and Bobby leave. “Sue, do you have something I need to know?” he asked as he arrived at the group.

“No. What’s Jack so upset about?”

“You don’t know?”

“Obviously not. But would you please enlighten me?”

“He is not too pleased about your engagement. Come to think of it, it strikes me as awfully odd too.”

“I am not engaged! Why does Jack think I am and who does he think I am engaged too?”

“Myles!”

Sue rushed off in the direction of Jack and Bobby to clear up this mess just as Myles made it over to the group.

“Did I hear you say that Jack thinks Sue and I are engaged?” he asked as he arrived. D nodded. “Mother. It must have been something she said. I am going to kill her.” He stalked off towards his parents. Thoughts of Tara in his arms forgotten as he was once again reminded of just how self serving Phillip and Elizabeth could be.

Here's the rest of the story. I hope you enjoy it. I'ld like to give a specail thanks to Jill for beta reading the story for me.

Rebecca


Myles stormed back to the door and grabbed his mother. He yanked her out of line as he whispered “How could you?”

“What are you upset about?”

“Excuse me; YOU want to know what I am upset about after you created a fiancé for me? That would be it, now not only are my friends upset but I am being called into the director’s office Monday morning. I suggest you start letting people know you were wrong and you owe Sue an apology.”

“Myles, I can’t help what people think.”

“You told them Sue was my fiancé, its not like they interpreted it wrong but they were deliberately mislead. You created this mess and you need to begin fixing it. You can change what you told them, so you better start now or I’ll interrupt the band to do it myself.”

“I was only doing it for your own good!” Elizabeth shrieked forgetting about everyone else in the room.

“No, you were making up lies to make yourself feel better about the fact that your children aren’t married or doing what you want them to do. You have to cease your nonsense!” Myles shouted back.

They noticed a hush throughout the room, the only sound that was heard was the soft beat of the band and everyone was staring. “For those of you who don’t already know, Sue and I are just friends and are not looking at dating ever. I suggest you go back to enjoying yourselves.” Myles stated after looking out over the crowd who was gazing at them with gaping mouths. He then turned and headed over to Tara, and pulled her into his arms and onto the dance floor.

While Myles held his head high, Elizabeth looked out and realized her dreams of being a senator’s wife were disappearing into thin air and she stormed up the stairs, hair tossing and heels clicking as she moved swiftly and angrily while the room watched, unable to take their eyes of the train wreck before returning to their previous activities.

People stared as Myles drew Tara towards him and moved with the music. He looked down at her and smiled, “Thank you,” he whispered.

Tara smiled and asked “for what?”

“Coming, dancing with me, being you,” he answered.

Later, neither would even know what they had laughed about on the dance floor, only holding to the knowledge that underneath the friendship they had formed at work was a spark that could easily be ignited when the time was right. Tonight was not the time for them, their time would come, and they would need to work out many things because they knew that once they took this step, they could never return it would forever change their lives. They spent the evening together, yet in the company of friends that had not yet recognized what both Tara and Myles finally had, they belonged together.

************************************

Meanwhile, Sue walked into the dimly lit living room and took in the scene before her. Jack and Bobby were talking on the couch. Jack’s shoulders were slouched, his head was down. It was obvious he was upset; of course if the situation had been reversed and she suddenly found Jack engaged to someone she considered a friend, she wasn’t sure how well she would react. Bobby heard her enter and looked up. He motioned her over. “So Sheila, care to explain what happened?”

“I’m not really sure, so I don’t know where to begin but I need to start by saying that I am not engaged to anyone.”

That one phrase changed Jack’s demeanor. He sat up straighter and looked at Sue, really looked at her. She smiled at him and he felt his breath catch as he drank in her beauty. Sue met his eyes after he looked her up and down. Jack smiled at her saying, “You look ravishing tonight.”

Sue blushed a bright red as Bobby escaped from the room, realizing his presence wasn’t necessary any longer. Jack stood and wrapped Sue in his arms, hugging her against his chest as she willing molded herself to him. Sue looked up at Jack as he asked “Won’t you be my Valentine?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Still able to hear the band softly Jack began to twirl Sue around the room rejoicing that she was in his arms and all was right with the world for the first time in months. Within a few steps their lips met and their bodies slowed as they began to explore each other’s mouth. Jack’s right hand wandered up and down Sue’s back while his left reached to caress her neck. Sue pulled him closer devouring him as her hands began to play with the hair on his neck. As the song came to an end, Jack stopped the dance and the bubble they had been locked in together seemed to pop. Realizing the depth of the feelings that had been unleashed and wondering about the consequences, they pulled away from one another.

Jack heard a small clap and looked to see Lucy and Troy standing at the door. Lucy grinned from ear to ear as Troy held up the camera he must have used on them, at least if the smile on his face was any indication.

Sue looked in the same direction and gave them an innocent smile. “Let’s go join the party.”

They returned to the ballroom as the crowd broke into whispers about all that had happened; Myles fight with Elizabeth, his jump from Sue to the woman on the dance floor, and the way Sue had run from the room only to return with another man. The team huddled together and talked with one another, bringing Anne into their mist as they warded off the remarks designed to verbally attack some team members.

Elizabeth returned to the party, ready to fight tooth and nail for what she wanted. Descending the stairs with an air of confidence, her make-up reapplied, Elizabeth found Phillip and they began making the rounds trying to downplay all that had happened. Time and again Elizabeth found herself lamenting with one woman or another about wayward children and how hard one worked to raise them.

The moment that did Elizabeth in was not something anyone had planned but a simple statement from Sue as she was grilled about the evening. Not realizing Elizabeth was behind her Sue was talking with a man who had congratulated earlier, thinking she and Myles were engaged. He asked her about it a couple of times and she decided to explain. “Well sir, I don’t really understand. All I can guess is that Elizabeth is slightly delusional, I mean she knew Myles was a friend and nothing more but decided it would play better for her son to be engaged. I mean it is after all, only her son that invited Anne, her daughter, a mother too embarrassed to be seen with her own daughter. Anne is a lovely woman, who just got a little caught up in impressing her parents.” Now for most people this explanation would be just fine, but for this man the man who was known for pushing family values to the forefront it was just too much. He was going to fight to keep this family out of Washington and his lobby had the power to do it.

Elizabeth herself completed the undoing. She tapped Sue’s shoulder the moment Sue’s mouth closed. Sue whirled around and saw Elizabeth. “You little tramp, you come to this party, filled with people above your walk in life, flirt with them and then after I gave you special privileges you have the nerve to say such a thing about me.” If Jack hadn’t caught her arm she would have smacked Sue across the face but instead she turned once again into the face of a very angry Myles who with Bobby’s help picked her up and tossed her right out the front door and into a bank of snow.

The party continued around them but for the team it was a time of friendship with each other instead of a time for couples to fall in love; each had their moments but tonight was more about the group than any individual, they had worked together to defeat the common enemy. The team would one day look back at this party as the catalyst for change in their lives; while their working relationships would change the family bond that formed as they stood firm against Elizabeth together bound them together.

That’s not to say that Sue and Jack didn’t dance together because they toured the floor together many a song. For Sue the night was magical a time to enjoy Jack without having to deal with the problems work would bring and for Jack a moment in time which during the rough times he knew lay ahead, this night would be a memory to look back upon and know that no matter what lay in the future Sue belonged to him alone.

Great job! It fits right in!

Happy Valentine's

Amazing that Jack realized what he is missing whne he thinks another man has it!!!

Mrs Leland

glad myles and sue set everyone straight
aww myles and tara dancing...heh i could see her dying her hair red just for valentines. glad jack was also set straight and danced with sue plus some sweet
ugh elizabeth is delusional.
glad the team came together and the tough night made their relationship as a family/team stronger. its one of the reasons they're the best...cuz they're more than a team...they're family.
so cute
hmm lucy/troy pairing could be interesting.