This story is getting better and better.

Can't wait for more.

my, my...the elves seemed to have a rough holiday if all the
people they are trying to help with are ending up in the ER....

I wonder if Jack will ask Sue the questions while she's soaking in
a bubble bath? I'm sure Dewberry will be thrilled!!

I hope Sue answers...

Maybe we could have an elf party at the ER!!

Jack seems to be doing a good job of staying around Sue on his own! Although Dewberry is there to step in if need be!!

I hope Sue tells Jack the WHOLE story!! You know how they are!!!

Rosa, this story just keeps getting better and better!! Loving it!!

Joy

I can feel why Jack wants to spend some more time with Sue, but all this time and not talking about what happend?! I'm with Lucy on this! Then again...it might all be in the plans Dewberry has in store for them...

Thanks for the replies. . But you know how they are sometimes communicating with each other. Sorry can't get the colours to work or the smileys other than a happy one or sad. let me try It's a shame but I can't get the rest to work.
So Dewberry will be in black but I guess that is okay.

I can assure you the story moves forward a bit more quickly soon.




Part 10

Jack made himself comfortable in an armchair sipping from the mug of hot coffee that Lucy had made especially for him. Sue reappeared and sat with her leg propped up in a suitable manner. She had been thinking of what and how much she was going to tell Jack and Lucy of her encounter that afternoon.

“What’s wrong with Levi?” said Lucy “He’s very unsettled tonight”

“He’s been like that all day” said Sue shaking her head perplexed “I hope he’s okay”

“I hope he doesn’t have to go on anymore new tablets, you remember what happened last time” Lucy said warily

“I’m sure you slept like a baby” said Jack his mouth forming a grin at the corner.

“I thought you stayed to ask Sue about this afternoon” Lucy told him to get the conversation back on track and away from her.

“So” said Jack looking at Sue “Was it a lunch date that went wrong or is he a new snitch?”

“Neither” Sue replied looking from Jack to Lucy then realising she would have to expand as neither were happy with the reply as they looked at her expectantly. “He was someone I knew from high school…….And he rang yesterday and asked if I could help him”

“Ah” said Lucy the light bulb flashing in her head “He was the call you had after our shopping spree last night”

“Yes. He took me by surprise”

“When did you last see him, previous to today?” asked Jack

“Not since high school” Sue told him they only needed to know the bare facts not the other facts and after all that was the truth.

“Hmm. And you met him why?” Jack continued needing to thread it all together and fast for his own piece of mind let alone Sue’s safety.

“He said he wanted my help he knew I worked for the FBI. He said he was in some kind of trouble that he had thought to be innocent was actually illegal you know the rest. I didn’t find out any more than that about what he had been doing or how he knew how to contact me” she said with a sigh and he could see that pushing her tonight for explanations was not the answer.

Dewberry sat on the back of the armchair above Jack’s shoulder thinking that maybe she should weave a spell to make Levi settle down the last thing she wanted was to be noticed she checked her control unit to make sure she was still in invisible mode and sighed with relief when she saw that she was. Well she admitted she was a little disappointed that Sue didn’t confide in Jack or her best friend about Brian Lockyear but there was still time. Dewberry not being able to see Levi leant back, and back a bit further until finally she somersaulted backwards off the sofa landing on the floor with a thud.

“Did you just hear something Lucy?” said Jack “Like someone fell off the back of this chair” and he looked around puzzled.

Sue and Lucy shared a worried look. “How long have you been awake Jack?” Sue asked

“What?” Jack asked mystified “Since six this morning. Luce I swear it sounded like ….Oh never mind”

“It was probably Levi, he’s still restless” said Lucy giving him a strange look nonetheless.

Dewberry rubbed her backside carefully that had hurt, she peered round the side of the sofa to come face to face with Levi “Whoa Doggie, doggie, doggie, doggie, good doggie” said Dewberry backing up and slipping out of sight of Levi, she was going to have to get over her fear of dogs as she felt that Levi might have to assist her in this mission. She had never met a couple who were so slow at admitting their feeling before in her life.

Yes Dewberry, you will need all thhe help you can get ... even Levi.

I hope Jack will get Sue to open up!

Great posts! Poor Dewberry and Levi, he can't understand why he can sense her and she's scared of him, although he's a very friendly dog!

I'm looking forward to your next post!

Take care,

Sairs

yes, I do think Dewberry should have a little chat with Levi...
you know, so he could help her...after all, he's Levi the wonder dog!!

Yes Dewberry I think Levi would be a great assistant! Keep up the great work Rosa!

Dewberry, talk to Levi, make him your partner

Sue, trust your friends

Yeah, all of us rooting them on for three years couldn't get them to move forward!!!

Joy

Go Levi! I can tell you now that Levi is a very good assistant if I say so myself... Great Job!

Now there's a matchmaking super duo -- levi and an elf! This is so much fun!

kav

Hi thank you for the feedback I seem to have to use of smileys and stuff today. Don't ask me what happened with it yesterday.

I was just shocked out of my skin when my next door neighbour started up his drill into our adjoining wall, so engrossed was I in fan fic land.

Part 11

Jack insisted that he stop by on his way to work to pick up Sue while Lucy took Levi for his morning walk.

Dewberry couldn’t be more pleased she rubbed her hands in anticipation, jumping up and down on the spot and she wouldn’t have to ride to the office with Levi who was still regarding her suspiciously.

They sat in the parking garage and Jack killed the engine, turned to Sue and said with compassion in his eyes “Are you okay?”

“Yes, it doesn’t hurt that badly the pain medication is working well”

“I didn’t mean that…Well I did but I meant, I know yesterday shook you up, that a reappearance of an old friend can be surprising sometimes, good sometimes but not in this case”

“I’m okay Jack” Sue softly insisted with more conviction than she felt especially when Jack rested his hand on her arm and he looked at her, really looked at her as if he could see into her heart.

“Okay” he said nodding not completely satisfied but it would do for now.

Dewberry could hardly stand the electric tension these two created in the car and she covered her ears with her hands and shook. When Jack opened the door she leapt out and then staggered for a bit. Jack and Sue were something. Dewberry followed close behind watching as Jack rested a hand on Sue’s lower back as she hobbled to the elevator.

“Not a bad start to the day” she thought “Although they have to do something and soon about all that chemistry before my head explodes with the strain of it all”

Poor little elf! Jack and Sue ought to come with a warning!

Luckily for us our heads already exploded, so we can take more in...<wink>

Thank you for the comments

A little bit more for you all.

Part 12

“We have the number plate, it was registered to a Mavis Griffiths who is seventy eight lives in Fairfax, Virginia” Tara told the team who were assembled in the bullpen.

“Not stolen?” asked Jack

“No, forged maybe but her car does match that of a witnesses description” Tara informed him

“Mavis doesn’t seem to me to be someone who would go speeding round in a car shooting at people” commented Bobby

“No but you and I are going to check it out” Jack told him

“I would like to go” Sue said hesitantly knowing Jack would probably say no.

“No, you have to rest up your foot remember?” he predictably told her then added “Levi I trust you to make sure she does as she is told. You too” he said pointing at the rest of the team in turn.

“Me too” piped up Dewberry but nobody heard her. Then she had a sudden thought that perhaps she should go with Jack to this Mavis’s house. She hopped from one foot to the other saying “Sue, Jack, Sue, Jack” as she tried to decide. “No I have to stay with Sue after all she is my responsibility and looked what happened yesterday and imagine how it would have turned out if I hadn’t been there”.

Dewberry watched Levi who was watching her but by now as Levi had gotten used to Dewberry being around and as she didn’t smell like a rabbit he wasn’t interested.

Ooh, my mom's side of the family lives in Fairfax! Sorry, sudden outburst...


Anywayz...I'm glad Levi is comfortable with Dewberry...


Great job, Rosa! Can't wait for more!!!

chemistry is a dangerous thing...it will explode one day
do I see a case developing?? and where is Brian??

Who would have thought the assignment could be hazardous to Dewberry's health as well !?!

Now Sue, I hope you listen and quietly stay where you were told to stay ...

Well Dewberry just see what you can do about that chemistry. I sure wouldn't want your head to explode. That could get messy...

So Dewberry doesn't smell like a rabbit, eh?

Poor Dewberry, if it's not the tension of being close to Levi it's the chemistry between Sue and Jack! Let's hope she gets some results fast before she suffers a melt down!

Take care,

Sairs

Dewberry my girl...hang in there!

Great job!

Marvelous job! Very well done! I cannot wait for more! This is a seriously cute story and I really like where it is going!

Dewberry and Levi together- as cohorts... too good to mention.....


poor dewberry, their love is so strong that the poor elf is sick with it, he's lovesick......

Thank you for all the great feedback. lilsmoochiegirl: I just looked online at a map and chose Fairfax that way. I have been to DC but only stayed a day as I was touring. I spent 16 days travelling and stopping off at places we flew to Montreal Canada and flew back from some airport near DC can't remember now as it was about 6 years ago



Part 13

Jack was miles away in his thoughts, wondering about Sue and this Brian guy, he knew without asking that there was more to this than she was letting on. And what happened yesterday was surely only the tip of the iceberg. He had been so worried when he realised she was missing and even more so when he had found her, it had taken every bit of his self control to remain calm and composed when what he really wanted to do was first take her in his arms and tell her how he felt and secondly punching this guy Brian in the face would at least make him feel better, however was not to way to proceed. Neither was declaring his feelings for her for that matter.

“Jack, Jack!” Bobby shouted getting his attention

“What?” Jack said

“Light’s have changed” Bobby said indicating the traffic lights which were now green.

^^^^^

They rang the door three times before Mavis Griffiths made it to the door with her cane and she was reluctant to let them in despite their ID.

“You never know how you can trust” she said firmly and they glanced at each other rolling their eyes for patience. “Even ID can be fake”

“If it makes you better you can call the bureau, get our ID confirmed” Bobby suggested thinking she was one tough old bird.

They stood in the freezing cold waiting while she dialled the number and finally she let them into her house.

It was cluttered with all manner of paraphernalia regarding cats, the real thing, ornaments, pictures, fake cats that looked real, cushions, curtain patterns, you name it, it was adorned with a cat. Feeling kind of uneasy with all the cats’ eyes staring back at them they sat on the seats offered to them and drank coffee out of mugs decorated with cats.

“So how can I help you two young men then?” she asked

“We are looking for a car” explained Jack and went on to describe the car

“Oh yes that sounds like mine” she said

“Do you know your car is now?” asked Jack

“Yes my grandson has borrowed it for a while” she told them amiably “Has he done something?”

“We just need to ask him some questions” said Bobby

“What is his name?” Jack asked

“Eric Griffiths”

“We’ll need an address too” said Jack giving Bobby a satisfied discreet nod with the information they had gathered.

^^^^^


It was no surprise to either of them that they found nobody home at the Eric Griffith’s apartment in a run down part of the city.

“Now what?” said Bobby frustrated

“We’ll come back later, he may have a job and be working” he said

“Or he may not” said Bobby

“Yeah” said Jack wanting to get back to the bullpen to check on Sue.

^^^^^

Sue was sitting at her desk trying to concentrate but it was not easy today events of the previous day were plaguing her mind as she relived everything in her head which was beginning to ache from the tension.
^^^^^

Dewberry watched Sue concerned wondering if she needed to weave her magic as she sat on the edge of the desk swinging her legs. Jack was still out of the office, Dewberry was just thinking that she ought to go and find him when he came walking in with Bobby behind him and Dewberry let out a sigh of relief, but not for long he looked stressed too. She definitely had to work some magic and now. She waved her arm in little bitty circles Sue’s blackberry went off.

Wanna read about the magic!

Yeah, Dewberry, I think Jack and Sue need a little break from the case...

Go Dewberry....

Thanks everyone here's a little more

Part 14

Sue seeing that it was Brian once more snatched a look at the rest of the team, Jack was sitting at his desk rubbing his temples, Bobby was joking with Tara at Myles’s expense and Lucy and D were out the room.

“I need to see you” came up on the small screen

“I can’t” she replied

“I really need to see you Sue; you’re the only one who can help me. I haven’t got much time they’re on to me. I got away yesterday but I think they’re going to catch up with me again”

Dewberry flew across to Jack and started to tap him on the shoulder causing him to look up and in Sue’s direction.

He studied her features for a moment puzzled, concerned, stood and went over to her desk; she briefly looked up and indicated for him to read with her.

Signing he told her to ask Brian where they could meet and a time, when that was agreed Brian hung up.

Jack looked at Sue and said “This time we do it my way okay?” and she nodded. “You look pale are you alright?”

She nodded again and he rested his hand on her shoulder where it lingered longer than necessary as their gaze fixated on each other saying more than words could convey.

“Jack” said D coming in and breaking the moment, “Got a call on your Lawrence Logan case, you’ll need to get down to the morgue, they think they have found one of his business associates”

Jack looked at Sue and smiled before saying “Bobby, let’s go”

“I’m here” he replied

“Sue” Jack said raising his hand to get her attention “We’ll discuss the meeting and how we’re going to play it when I get back” and she nodded for the third time.

^^^^^

Dewberry was happy that had panned out well an she clapped her hands pleased with herself as she skipped back across the floor narrowly being missed by Myles as he walked past.

I hope Sue listens.......

Way to go Dewberry! Let's hope Sue doesn't hobble off to meet him on her own!

Take care,

Sairs

She have to ....

I sincerely hope Sue will keep her promise to Jack to play it his way this time... But I still don't know wether to want Brian to be safe, or to have him arrested for.......well, for anything you can come up with. For scaring the living daylights out of Sue (and Jack for that matter!) for starters!!!!

Do you want me to update now if you are worried not that the next part will really help much?

But I have just finished my 4th assignment in a writing course and feel like the weight has been lifted off my shoulders having said that assigment 5 has come in but it took me 8 weeks to do assigment 4 I was soooo stuck, trouble is I am having to write non fiction.

Sue will listen ...right Rosa???

Tell you what I'll update once more tonight. Whilst I am sitting here struggling to write a later chapter I know what I want to say but sometimes I get stuck I think it's because I have done enough writing for one day tbh.

Thanks for feedback.

Part 15

That evening Jack sat in front of the television looking at it but not watching it, for his thoughts were on Sue and this Brian guy, something didn’t add up that was for sure there was something about it all that she wasn’t telling him and he had no idea why. Of course he supposed he could have dated her but he also knew she hadn’t dated that much especially in high school, maybe she had and not talked about it. That could be it, perhaps he mother forbade it and it was a secret romance. “Hold it there Jack this is sounding like a soap opera” he thought. So what then, what was it? The mystery was not going to beat him he had to get to the bottom of this. The phone began to ring and he reluctantly picked up the handset.

“Hudson” he said more sharply than he intended

“Jack” said the voice on the other end “Everything okay mate?”

“Bobby, yeah, it’s been a long day. What’s up?”

“The car, Mavis’s car has just been found in the Potomac”

“Bodies?”

“Not so far. I’m at the scene”

“ Why didn’t you call me earlier?”

“I did you didn’t reply. I even left a voice mail”

“Did you?”

“What’s up Jack?”

“Ummm….”

“You should talk mate bottling things up isn’t good for the soul”

“You want me to come down there?”

“No, unless you want to come down”

“Yeah I think I do, I need to see this car for myself”

^^^^^

Sue being in pain but not admitting it to anyone least of all herself went to bed early while Lucy walked Levi. Sleep came quickly but it was not restful as dreams plagued her.

^^^^^

Dewberry wished she could do something to help, but she also knew that Sue had to go through these emotions to come through the other side. She blew one magic kiss which fell like baby stars and glitter over Sue’s head to keep her safe, then Dewberry was gone, she had to see Jack.

^^^^^

Jack was standing next to Bobby the cold air zipped straight through him despite being wrapped up for the adverse weather conditions. Jack had been down there for an hour and there was no sign of bodies.

“You should go home” Jack told Bobby wearily “There’s no point both of us having a sleepless night”

“Why don’t you go home?”

“No I can’t sleep too much going on”

“You need to sleep Jack; you’ll be ratty as hell tomorrow if you don’t”

“Stay out my way then. Go, I’ve got this, sorry you couldn’t get hold of me earlier”

“No worries” Bobby replied turning to go but twisted back to say “You sure about this Jack?”

“Yes just go”

Jack walked over to the police officer and began to make small talk, while they waited for the recovery team to declare they would restart their search in the morning at dawn.

^^^^^

Dewberry sat on his shoulder, quite a nice place to be even if she did say so herself, someone had to watch out for him and today that person was Dewberry.

^^^^^

Sue was dreaming she was at the Christmas ball although it wasn’t in DC it was in Hawaii, why Hawaii was anyone guess. Jack kept morphing into Brian which wasn’t good especially when a laughing sneering Brian turned into Jack’s face and then back again. Not just Jack and Brian everyone seemed to be staring at her, did she have something on her face? Was her dress ripped? Jack looked at her with his deep brown eyes and asked her to dance but she tripped over and then everyone was laughing and jeering and suddenly she woke up. Disorientated at first she soon pulled herself together as she switched on the light. Shaken from the images which had been so real in her head she picked up her cane and hobbled to the kitchen to make a hot chocolate.

Dewberry you lucky wee thing.....sitting on jack's shoulder...

and Hot chocolate solves most dilemmas....

That was an awkward dream

I love Levi coming to the conclusion that he doesn't have to worry about Dewberry because she doesn't smell like a bunny! (can you tell I had some catching up to do? that was way back).

I'm glad Dewberry is dividing her time between our fav couple. She seems quite a handy little elf.

kav

Thank you for the feedback.

Here is the next part and it's quite long sorry if it's too long and you think I should have divided it in half.

Part 16

Jack did get some sleep he had been so exhausted when he got home that he had slept on the sofa and woke up suddenly realising he had over slept when his phone rang.

“Sue” he croaked out

“Are you alright you said you would pick me up this morning, Lucy’s left already”

“I…I had a late night I overslept look I’ll be there soon”

“I can get a cab”

“No I’ll be there” he said and bolted to the shower.

^^^^^

When Jack woke up Dewberry realised she hadn’t made it back to Sue’s well there was no point now as Jack was going to collect her anyway. She checked her control unit to make sure that she hadn’t been called in for her mistake but no messages were flashing and she breathed out a sigh of relief.

^^^^^

Sue, Jack noted was looking as sleep deprived as he felt.

“Are you okay?” Sue asked him he turned to find her watching him closely

“Yes I had to go out, the car; Mavis’s car was pulled out the Potomac last night”

“Oh” she said in a small voice

“Are you okay with the meeting with Brian today?” he asked trying to prompt her to talk about it.

“Yes” she said and he noticed how her she held her hands tightly in her lap, he reached across and covered then with one of his and brushed the pad of his thumb across her knuckles sending waves of electricity through her body.

So much so Dewberry nearly fell off Sue’s shoulder with the impact.

The ringing of Jack’s cell made him remove his hand and flip the phone open “Hudson”

“Are you coming to work today?” asked Tara “It’s just D wants to know”

“Yeah I’m running late, just about to leave Sue’s now” and he started the engine to prove the point

^^^^^

The team sat in the bullpen as everyone updated on their latest news.

“Eric Griffiths” started Tara displaying a mug shot picture on the screen “Has been previously arrested for petty crimes and suspected of drug pushing but it was never proven. He flits from one job to another he is currently supposed to be working in an convenience store but the owner said he hasn’t shown for the last week”

“Bobby” said Jack indicating that he should go next

“We’re still waiting for a warrant for Eric Griffith’s apartment. Still no body from the Potomac it could be that he or she bailed and got away or there are..”

“Dead and the body is yet to surface” supplied Myles

“And Mr Lockyear?”

Lucy shrugged as she said “From Sue’s description we have located two possible men of that name, right age, birth location etc”

“I remember” said Sue “There were two of them”

“What at the park?” Jack asked bewildered

“No, in Ohio. The Brian I went to school with had a cousin of the same name, apparently it was a family name and every eldest grandson in each family unit was named Brian”

“Odd and confusing” commented Myles

“Well the Brian we are looking forward to meet later must be one or the other Lucy as much information on both please” Jack said then added “Are we clear on what our position’s are?” he looked round the room at the nodding team.

^^^^^

Sue sat on the bench Brian was late and she looked around. Myles was sitting on a bench opposite, his head buried in a newspaper. D was posing as a vagabond kipping on another bench and Jack was jogging round in a large circle, while Tara and Bobby sat in the surveillance van.

^^^^^

This time Dewberry was keeping control of the situation despite the fact that Jack thought he was the one in control. She sat on the bench next to Sue ready to weave some magic if necessary.

^^^^^

Brian was twenty minutes or so late he looked like he had had a bad time with a bruise that went from his right eye to his jaw and he was limping slightly.

“It’s not as bad as it looks” he told her off her worried expression. “Thank you for agreeing to meet me. What happened to you?”

“Oh it’s nothing” said Sue brushing off her ankle injury “So what do you need to tell me”

“It’s not safe, not here; we need to meet somewhere else”

“I can’t meet you somewhere else,”

He nodded and said “I guess not.”

“Who’s after you?” she asked getting to the point knowing everyone was watching her and listening in to their conversation.

Brian scanned the area several times as though he was expecting whoever it was to jump out of the bushes or something. “One of the guys is called Eric Griffiths but he works for someone else and I don’t know what his name is”

“Was he the man who starting shooting?”

“He was driving there was another man and a woman”

“Do you know their names?”

He shrugged and replied “Spike and Leila”

“No last names?”

“No”

“So how did you get involved with them?”

He paused looking around again and said “I feel as if everyone is watching me”

Sue bit back the answer that there were at least five people watching his every move and said “How did you get involved?”

^^^^^

Jack tied his running shoe for the umpteenth time wishing he could just go in and arrest the man but there wasn’t much point for now, he stretched and began to do some stretching exercises instead.

^^^^^

“I had a run of bad luck I need some money my job didn’t pay enough and my debt was growing, I thought I could handle it but it began to consume my life, my monthly payment was bigger than my salary and I was falling deeper and deeper into a hole”

“Go on” Sue said

“I heard of a…” he stopped and shut his eyes knowing that this would be his downfall. “a guy who wanted someone to carry goods for him across the country, by car, he thought by air was too risky I suppose I didn’t think to ask I was so desperate. It seemed okay things boxes of I didn’t know what was in them they just read fragile on the side”

“How many times did you do this?”

“A dozen”

“What happened to make them come after you and what was this guy’s name?”

“He called himself Mr Lee, he was from China”

“Would you be able to identify him?”

“Yes”

“So what went wrong?”

“One day one of the boxes split open, it was an extremely wet day and my car leaked when I picked one up the contents fell out. That’s when I knew I was in deeper than I ever dreamt”

“You know you’re going to have to come in with me. I can’t ask you all the questions we need to know and you’ll need to see the pictures to identify Mr Lee if we have a Mr Lee on our records and Eric Griffiths too. You can get up with me now and or I will have to call on my colleagues”

“They’re watching me, you, us aren’t they?” he asked nervously

And Sue nodded “Yes”

“That’s why you said we had to talk now”

“Yes”

Brian ran a hand over his face, knowing that he didn’t have any choice but had he really expected one when he had taken the risk and contacted her?

^^^^^

Dewberry flitted up to sit on Sue’s shoulder as she scanned round at Jack, Bobby and D who were still poised in their positions. She couldn’t see Myles face but D was looking the part while Jack couldn’t quite hide his fear and ready to pounce if Brian put one foot in Sue’s direction.

I'm enjoying this story tremendously!

Please do post again soon...

Great stuff!


gracie

oh the tension.....

Tell me my bad feeling is just a cold or something...
Great post, Rosa, Brian certainly got his hands full

I can't wait for more! Marvellous job!

Thanks for the feedback another long post sorry. What bad feeling Bell?

Part 17

Brian sat in the interrogation room opposite Jack with Bobby standing in the corner of the room and Sue and D watching from behind the glass.

“You need to talk to us, we know that you know things, we heard you in the park” Jack said beginning to get exasperated, partly from lack of sleep and wishing he had taken Bobby up on the offer of going home and leaving him at the scene of the sunken car.

“I will only talk to Sue” he said

“This is not helping mate” Bobby told Brian, but Brian crossed his arms defensively across his chest and eventually Jack walked out the room and Bobby followed.

“Let me talk with him” Sue said as the four of them converged in the corridor “You can both be there too” she added pleading at Jack with her eyes

Jack sighed, he knew she was right; he would open up to her so he nodded and said “Okay”

They re-entered the room and sat around the table with Brian.

Dewberry was also now in the room and warmed her bottom by sitting on the radiator getting a good view of all concerned.

“You need to tell us everything you know if you want us to help you” Sue said to Brian encouragingly as Jack wondered why it sounded better when she said it than when he did. “What did you find in the boxes?”

Brian looked at the three agents assessing the situation, he wasn’t surprised to be sitting here and to be honest he was safer here than out on the streets although the glare in Agent Hudson’s eyes was a more than a little unnerving. Something in the way he looked at him told Brian; well actually Brian was not sure what it exactly told him other than to watch himself closely.

“Firearms” he said eventually “Then I opened a few more and found that they were all the same, when I delivered them I had to leave them in a designated place at a certain time. I told the man about my car leaking and that was why a few were opened. I said I hadn’t looked inside though. He hit me for the pleasure, I thought that was it my life was ending but I was okay.”

“You didn’t think to go to the police then?” asked Bobby “Didn’t you think it was odd”

“I did think about it, but I couldn’t afford it my ex-wife kept nagging me for her money each month and on top of my debts I couldn’t let the run go as it was the best paid job I did”

“Did you do it as well as your regular job?” asked Bobby

“Yes I would do the run on a weekend, usually once a fortnight when I didn’t have Charlie come stay with me”

“Who’s Charlie?” asked Sue guessing it was perhaps his son but needing confirmation just the same

“My son. He’s four. I continued because I didn’t have a choice. A few runs later and I had to take Charlie along with me as my ex-wife wanted a romantic weekend away with her boyfriend”

Jack, Bobby and Sue looked at each other alarmed at this piece of information and Brian looked suitable ashamed.

“What are you doing dragging your child into it?” Jack said angrily and Bobby put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

“I know I know I shouldn’t have done that I know that now, that is when it all fell to pieces. Charlie opened a box, he was just curious; it appeared I was still carrying the firearms. He told his mother, she yelled at me so much for being an irresponsible parent. I kept him hidden during the exchange I wouldn’t hurt him I love him”

“Do you?” said Bobby bluntly and Brian looked to the table

“I knew then…”

“Excuse me for interrupting but you need to look up I have to see your lips” said Sue to Brian’s bowed head,

He looked up straight into her eyes and said “Sorry I forgot”

“Its okay” she said to him

“Maureen my ex wife said I couldn’t see Charlie again unless I went to the cops, but on the way I got stopped by Eric Griffiths who gave me a warning that I couldn’t stop what I had started. That was three months ago, since then I lost my job I was made redundant, then I was kicked out my apartment, I haven’t seen Charlie in all that time. I haven’t tried to either I’m a failure as a Dad I guess. I went back to my hometown spent some time with some old school friends just told them I was visiting except one guy and I told him I was in some kind of trouble and didn’t know what to do and he told me about you. Sue”

^^^^^

Dewberry thought that yesterday had been difficult, today was even worse it was time to take a break from this, a time for some magic moments. The team were back in the bullpen Jack was trying hard to stay awake as he ploughed through some paperwork and Sue was staring at the screen but only reliving the conversation from the interrogation whilst fighting off the need to sleep. Dewberry waved her hand around and a shimmer of fairy dust sprinkled down on their heads and she smiled.

^^^^^

“Hey” said Bobby standing up and walking into the middle of the room “Hey Tara! Lucy! Myles! You got to see this” he added with a laugh

“What is so important we need to stop what we are doing?” asked Myles coming over nonetheless “Oh” he added nodding at Bobby “I see what you mean”

Tara giggled beside him “Maybe a walk in the fresh air is the answer”

“Isn’t it cute” said Lucy “It’s just a shame they’re not sitting side by side, it would have made a great picture to taunt then with”

“Or bribe them with” suggested Myles “But I think you’re right they need some fresh air”

“Sue can’t walk far” Tara pointed out

“I’m sure with Jack by her side she can make it to the coffee shop on the corner we could all do with a doughnut or cake” said Lucy with a grin.

“Levi!” called Bobby “Get Sue” and as Levi complied with Bobby’s command Myles woke up Jack.

“What?” asked Jack

“You’re sleeping on the job” said Myles

“No, no I was ….” And he trailed off as Tara said

“You’re not the only one it seems” and she pointed to Sue who rubbed her eyes to waken herself up.

“If I didn’t know better I would ask if you had spent the evening together yesterday” said Lucy “But as I know Sue was at home and Bobby was with you that can’t be the case”

Jack gave the team a glare as Myles said “We thought that although it was peaceful watching you both enjoy forty winks during working hours it might be more beneficial to us all if you both stepped out to buy some cakes to keep us going”

^^^^^

The made slow progress down the sidewalk and Jack held on to Sue’s elbow with his gloved hand as Dewberry thought she should have remembered to bring her coat with her, she had been so delighted with her assignment that she had left it behind in the North Pole.

“I’m sorry” Sue said to Jack

“For what?” he replied

“Sleeping in the middle of the day”

“You weren’t the only one it seems”

“You were working though; I haven’t got a good excuse”

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“No I kept dreaming” Sue told him and he looked at her intently

They were so busy looking at each other they missed the kerb despite Levi’s warning and as they stumbled, Jack righted them as Sue winced with the pain of jarring her foot. They stood close together and when a car honked his horn Jack moved them back onto the kerb and loosened the grip he had around her waist.

“Sorry” he signed and she smiled and Dewberry wondered if they needed extra power magic to help them as normal strength wasn’t having much effect.

She was not to know how their hearts were beating rapidly at the nearness of each other they had just experienced or how Jack had had to fight his instincts to keep the moment innocent and simple.

Go for it Jack go for it....

love the Bullpen banter....very in character

Jack! instincts are good! use them for heavens sake...

Rosa...nothing bad, it was just my little virus... (looks in the mirror 'Bell, stop
giving them ideas...')

I agree