The Nomination:

Well, I'd really like to nominate the whole series, but I suppose that isn't legal. I love the journey Pam takes us on in this story. Jack and Sue married (so are Myles and Tara), facing real life issues with a strong undercurrent of love. It's about all those little things that you think aren't significant at the time but are what make up the most treasured memories when you look back on them. The case issues are tough life issues that stretch the reader's thinking and leaving us all feeling (hopefully) a little more grateful for what we have and a whole lot more compassion for those who don't.

Verse 1

Another turning point…

Jack Hudson had a cold. Not just any cold, but possibly the worst one in the world. He had left work early to drop off some papers and look for a snitch. Thinking the traffic would be better earlier was definitely not true. The cold DC rain was starting to change to snow and this did nothing to help his mood. He finally got out of the traffic, turned down a side street and headed for home. He turned to look at the seat next to him expecting a comment on being lost but it was, of course, empty. Jack sighed and found it hard to believe that after all this time he could still miss her this much. Feeling lousy, he continued home.

~ ~ ~

A fork stuck in the road…

She sat on the couch with a sleeping baby (finally) in her arms and a chattering toddler by her side. The dog was lying at her feet and the cat perched behind her trying to figure out how she could work herself onto the lap as well. It was four o’clock on a gray rainy afternoon. She squinted her eyes and thought hard had she even brushed her teeth today? She vaguely remembered doing something in the bathroom this morning before they headed to the doctor’s office. She grinned and thought “I used to be so put together.” Suddenly the child next to her sneezed, the baby startled and cried, the cat leapt for cover and the dog jumped up also. It was not pretty. “Quick let’s go wash your hands and face,” she said. While a logical idea for a grown up, the two year old protested fiercely. Putting the baby in her bed, before carrying the other one to the bathroom, she washed him up, kissed his head and set him back down. She went to get the baby, tripped over the dog and returned with a box of wipes to clean the coffee table in the living room. “This is what has become of my life,” she thought. As she walked into the living room, the door from the garage opened and in walked the rest of her life...dripping water all over the floor.

~ ~ ~

Time takes you by the wrist…

“You’re home early,” she said.

He grinned, shrugged slightly “Missed you today” he signed. Before he could get anymore out he was accosted by the two year old yelling “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy” followed by “Up, up, up”. He looked down into eyes as brown as his own, grinned and said “Okay, just let me take off my wet coat.”

“How did your coat get so wet?” she asked “You should put the convertible roof up when it rains,” she continued teasing.

He just looked at her and signed “garbage cans.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I forgot,” she apologized.

“Yeah and I think it was written somewhere in the marriage vows that you would be in charge of putting garbage cans away!” He teased back.

~ ~ ~

Directs you where to go…

Sue smiled her sweet smile. He picked up the little boy, leaned in to kiss his lovely wife and baby girl but sneezed instead. She handed him a tissue from her pocket, kissed his forehead and knew the real reason he had come home early. He took the tissue with a grateful smile, looked around and decided that the old cliché was true: there truly was no place like home.

Jack could not believe that they had been married almost 6 years. “Time does fly when you’re having fun,” he thought. Not that it had all been fun but he never in his life would he have dreamed he could be this content. Always a night owl, now if he stayed up past 10:00pm it was only because some little person needed him. Well, sometimes there was a big person that needed him (or if truth be told, he needed her). Jack was usually up at 6:00am to work out before the day began then busted his tail to try to be home for dinner. He hated the days when he left before the kids were up and came home after they were already in bed. In fact one night when he came home late he got Joshua up so he could play with him. He learned a hard lesson that night: you never wake a sleeping baby. After about an hour Jack was ready for bed. Joshua, however, had other ideas. Sue laughed and went to bed telling him “I told you so, good luck.” In the future when the urge struck him he just snuck into one of the bedrooms to watch his babies sleep. It was incredible that such a tiny being could make you want to be such a better person.

~ ~ ~

So make the best of this test…

The dog was barking and jumping on him. Why is it that this dog never quite got it straight in regards to whom needed the service? Not that Levi hadn’t let him know when the phone was ringing but he at least had figured out that barking would not help matters any. Levi... Jack’s thoughts trailed back to those horrible days when Levi had been sick and the decision they had had to make. It started right after they had bought the house and moved in. One day Levi’s foot was bleeding. Figuring he had cut it on something in the backyard they washed it up then called the vet. Levi still ran around, worked hard and was playful so the vet said not to worry. A few weeks later, it happened again at the office. Sue then noticed a lump on the back of his leg where his foot bent. She took Levi to the vet who said it was a small tumor and it should be removed. When she got the estimate of the bill, she about fainted. For some reason Sue had been hesitant to tell him, afraid he would say “NO WAY”.

Instead when she told him, his response was “This is our dog. He isn’t just some stray off the street. You need him. I don’t care how much it costs us.”

Sue cried.

Jack thought to himself “I love this woman and this dog, what did she think I would say?” So the Vet removed it and Levi limped around for a couple weeks enjoying the sympathy and extra donuts. The whole situation scared Sue a little more than she cared to admit. The test results came back saying it was cancerous and in about 35% of dogs they do spread. Levi acted fine though and the Vet thought that was a good sign. So life went on as usual for about six more months.

They celebrated their first wedding anniversary in July. Just a weekend away, nothing fancy, just them. It was a great break during a busy summer; a trip to the beach where the three of them ran and played and laughed. It is one of the most cherished memories for each of them. About a week later, Levi started coughing.

“Maybe he has kennel cough from one of the dogs we saw at the beach,” Sue said.

She made an appointment with the vet and started praying.

~ ~ ~

And don’t ask why…

The day of the vet appointment Jack was buried in paperwork and tried to opt out of the visit. The look on Sue’s face made him change his mind. He was a big chicken and he knew it. He was not hopeful that it was just Kennel cough but had kept his thoughts to himself. He unfortunately was right. The Vet said that other than keeping him comfortable there really wasn’t anything to do. Jack was a man of action. He knew they did chemotherapy on dogs and wanted to know all of his options. The Vet was patient, explaining that spreading to the lungs really left them no course of action.

“Chemo is not pretty for people and why put your dog through that when the result would be a miserable dog with very little chance of extending his life?” the Vet asked them.

Sue cried.

They went back to work. Jack however did not work. He looked up the top vet schools in the country, sent them the info and waited for a response. The response from all was the same. You can bring him here and we can try but things do not look favorable. He figured the driving time and distance. Colorado State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oregon State-there was probably something closer but these were the ones he knew about. He approached Sue with his plan at dinner that night. Her response surprised him.

“No,” she said.

“What?” Jack responded.

“I do not want to waste time driving him someplace so he will be more miserable I just want to love him while I have the chance,” Sue told him.

He was angry. This was not how it worked. Something is broken - you fix it, he thought. He pleaded his case more. She was firm “No” then she said “He is my dog and I get to make the decision”.

That hurt his feelings so he got up from the table and went downstairs to his office in the basement. He worked there until he knew Sue was asleep then he went to bed. The next morning, Sue would not talk to him or even look at him. Finally, Jack took a deep breath, touched Sue’s arm and said “I’m sorry I was angry. I know it is your decision. I just wanted to make sure you knew all the options”.

She smiled tenderly “I know and I appreciate it.” They left it at that, each heart hurting still, but at least hurting together.

~ ~ ~

It’s not a question…

Things were tense for the next few weeks. Levi, while still loving and trying to work, got weaker. One Tuesday morning he could not get up and go outside so Jack carried him. That was the fateful day. When it came right down to the voicing the actual decision it was Jack who called the vet. Sue couldn’t do it. He didn’t think he could either but he did it for her. They left for the vet. Jack carried Levi to the car and Sue rode in the backseat with Levi- talking to him all the way. The vet was understanding and compassionate. He let them stay with Levi until it was over. Jack didn't know until that moment what it was like to watch a heart break. He would have given his life to take away her pain. They left through the side door, his arm securely around her shoulders. Trying his best to offer comfort but knowing there was none. They went home. Sue did not want to go to work but thought he should go tell the team. He drove around for an hour to compose himself before he went to the office. They all knew when he walked in by himself. Lucy hugged him and asked about Sue. To this day he has no idea what he said or did for the next two days. Sue came back to work the next day. Tara and Lucy took her to lunch. No one actually said anything but there were pats on the back and chocolate on the desk.

Jack’s one saving grace was the fact that Sue’s mom upon learning the news from her sobbing daughter said “Well, that dog had a better life than some people I know. Be thankful for that.” Fortunately, that had sent his wife straight to his arms and he had to hang-up before he said something he regretted. Later when Sue was sleeping he called his own Mom to tell her. She was sympathetic but when he went on to complain about what Sue’s mom had said, his own mom’s only comment was “Parents are imperfect people too Jack and sometimes when our children are hurt we say things that don’t sound right. Get over it and be supportive to your wife.” So he had done that to the best of his ability. Jack wanted to talk about Levi, about her broken heart, about his own. Sue, however, had remained distant and somewhat lost.

Jack spent the next few evenings working around the house. He hooked up the light for the doorbell. It would be alright upstairs but what if Sue was in the basement? He would have to ask Bobby about how to make it work in the basement also. He researched other products for his home. This was his outlet of grief. He would make his wife safe and comfortable in her own home, whether she liked it or not! Sue didn’t particularly like it. She didn’t want lights -she wanted Levi. Sue went to bed each night stubbornly sleeping on her own side, but somewhere during the night ended up in his arms.

~ ~ ~

By Friday morning, the silence in the Bullpen was deafening even to Sue (how ironic she thought). She and Jack left to do a couple errands and have lunch Friday. They were walking down the street when a familiar voice stopped Jack in his tracks and a familiar dog stopped Sue in hers. It was Nikita and David. He smiled, spoke and signed “hello” then asked “Where’s Levi?” The look on Sue’s face made David regret the question as soon as it was out of his mouth. Sue turned and fled toward the car. Jack wanted to be angry but knew it was a question that would be asked often. Before Jack could explain, David apologized.

“The look on her face said it all Jack- I am so sorry- when?”

“Tuesday,” Jack responded.

“Is she doing okay?” David continued.

Jack just shrugged.

“I will let you go find her-tell her I am sorry” David gave Jack a small smile. Jack just nodded and turned to leave.

Not that she wants me right now. Everything I say or do seems to be the wrong and why doesn’t anyone ask if I am doing okay, he thought.

They headed back to the Bullpen after the encounter with David and Nikita. Lunch was the last thing either of them wanted now. The lively Bullpen banter of Friday afternoon was back in full swing until they walked in. Everyone then returned to work. Myles was finishing up some paperwork for a case he had worked on with Sue. He needed her opinion so he waved in her direction then absently said “Levi get Sue”. Jack froze hoping that somehow Sue had missed that. As usual though her timing was impeccable and she read every word. She looked at Myles who then realized what he had said.

With that he got up, went to her desk and said “Sue, I can not imagine what you are feeling. I miss him and I did not live with him or know him like you did. I said it out of habit please know that I would never say it to hurt your feelings.”

She smiled thru her tears and said “Thank you Myles for remembering how important he is to me”

~ ~ ~

Friday, after work and the Myles incident, Jack cleaned up the yard then mowed the grass. Jack loved mowing the lawn. It gave him a sense of belonging. After he was done he sat on the deck. Sue watched him through the window. She knew he had been trying his hardest to make her feel better. She also knew that despite all of her efforts to the contrary-he was the comfort she needed the most. She poured two glasses of ice water and went to join him. He smiled and accepted the water. Then signed “Isn’t it Friday, don’t I deserve something stronger?”

“Sorry” she replied, “I haven’t been to the grocery store” a shadow crossed her face.

Well that is great Jack, he thought, you are supposed to make her feel better.

“David sent me an e-mail” she began. Jack looked at her questioningly. “He wanted to know if I wanted to run away with him to some Caribbean Island,” she continued. Jack knew she was teasing but it still kind of hurt his feelings. “I said NO’ she assured him. “I am teasing” she assured him again.

“I know,” he signed and smiled a little.

“Actually he said when I was ready he would like me to pick out something from his nursery to plant in our yard in Levi’s honor. He said if I wasn’t ready until next spring that was okay too, standing offer” she explained. Jack’s stomach twisted.

How come this guy knows exactly what to do? I have been trying everything and nothing I have done has met with this much enthusiasm. This must be the worst of the “for better or worst” part. He did not say any of that but just nodded.

She hesitated then continued “I would like to go tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he signed.

“I will need your help, so you will go with me won’t you?” It was more of a request than a question.

He softened and smiled “You think I’m going to let you go to your ex-boyfriend’s nursery by yourself? I know how giddy plants and fresh dirt make you, of course I’m going!”

She smiled back and knew that things would be all right. Sometimes out of great pain also comes love if you let it. Despite all she had done to push him away while her heart was breaking, he, of course had not taken the hint and remained there-the love of her life.

~ ~ ~

But a lesson learned in time…

Life continues of course and heartbreaks begin to heal, especially those shared with the person you love. Jack had called the Service Dog organization because the vet told him too. He knew that Sue was not ready for another dog but he still wanted her name on the list. Jack wanted a dog. The only time in his life he had not had a dog was after college (he counted college because his parents had a dog while he was in college) while working at the FBI before meeting Sue. He knew that just having a pet dog wouldn’t work with their schedules. They had the cat, of course. Levi had brought her home one day not too long after they moved into the house. Jack knew that there were kittens around and was secretly happy when Levi claimed one as his own. Sue had tried to reason him and Levi out of it, but they didn’t listen. Josie was a funny cat but still she did not walk on a leash or play catch. She searched the house incessantly in the days after Levi died. It was horrible - she would wake Jack up crying then jump on Sue, waking her up too. Sue joked that maybe they could train her to be a hearing cat. Jack’s response was only if they wanted to get up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason.

One Saturday, Jack was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Sue was watching him without his knowledge. He picked up a scrap of lunchmeat and tossed it over his shoulder. A moment later she saw him flinch. He turned and started to bend down to pick up the meat when he caught her eye.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t know you were there,” he said straightening up, his eyes wide and worried. With that she walked over to him, wrapped her arms around him and burst into tears. Jack closed his eyes and sighed. He held on until his own tears were gone. Just as he was about to move so she could see him he heard a loud “thud”. Sue felt the vibration and turned. From out of nowhere the cat came flying into the kitchen and pounced on the lunchmeat. She wrestled it around on her back, and then just as suddenly as she had appeared, she left...prey in mouth. Sue and Jack looked at each other then burst out laughing.

“I guess you have a new lunch mate,” Sue said with a smile.

Jack just looked at her his eyes still sad. “I never meant...” he began.

“It’s okay. I do things like that all the time too,” she stopped him with a quick kiss.

“Do you want me to make you a sandwich?” he offered.

“Only if you promise not to throw it on the floor,” she answered.

~ ~ ~

It’s something unpredictable…

In November, the Service Dog organization called Jack with a request. They had a hearing dog that was grieving the loss of its owner and needed a place for it. Sue’s name came up because the dog would do best in a home with no other distractions and what better to heal a broken heart than a broken heart? Jack did not think she would go for it.
“Aren’t service dogs trained specific for a person?” he asked.

“Yes, but this one had not been with its owner long so it still has possibilities.”
The lady at the organization went on to explain, “Sue has enough experience with a service dog that she should not find it too hard to train this one in her own style. If she wants too she can bring the dog and work with us, but we don’t think she will need to do that.”

He told them he would talk to her but doubted she was ready yet.

~ ~ ~

Jack made his plan carefully. He knew he would have to play this exactly right so she wouldn’t be angry. He really wanted a dog but knew that ultimately this was her choice. So on Friday after work he took her to dinner at one of there favorite, but way out of the way, restaurants. Sue was happy but not surprised. He was still working his hardest to make her feel better. Checking out deaf events, and buying tickets to surprise her. They even went to a Poetry Reading. That was when she knew she should tell him that she was okay, but she liked watching him out of his element and she liked the attention too.

So halfway through the salad Jack mentioned the phone call that he had made after Levi died. Before she could tell him that it was not his place to do it, he explained why he had.

“The vet said to tell them what happened because they keep records on these things and I just didn’t want them asking you a lot of questions. When they asked if they should put your name on the waiting list I said yes because I know these things take time. You could always say no if you had changed your mind.” She smiled and realized that maybe it was his place after all.

When dinner came he told her the rest of the story.

“I’m not saying you have to do it but I had to tell you. I can’t make that kind of decision for you,” he argued.

Darn it, she thought, why does he always have to be so charming? She did not say much, just picked at her food.

He changed the subject. “What should we do this weekend?” he asked.

“You’ll jinx us, every time we make plans something happens,” Sue warned.

“I know,” he agreed half-heartedly.

The waiter hovered, worried because Sue was not eating. The owner came over “Is your food not to your liking? Should I make you something else?” he asked.

“No” she assured him “it is wonderful as always. Can I please take it home with me?”

“Of course,” he replied then went to wrap it up and bring dessert.

As they waited Sue looked at Jack and asked “What’s his name?”

“The owner, George, but you know that” he answered confused.

“No silly, the dog, what is the dog’s name?” she continued.

“Oh, I uh,” he tried to appear nonchalant.

She said “I know you Jack Hudson and I know you know the dog’s name!”

He blushed and said “Murphy and I think it is a female not male”.

“Murphy, funny name for a female” she lamented. He knew she was hooked now though.

“Hearing dogs can be very expensive,” Sue began.

Jack stopped her before she could say anymore.

“It is not about the money. It is about you and what you want, what you’re comfortable with,” he explained. “If you want a hearing dog because that is what makes you feel secure then that is what we will do. If you are not ready then that is okay as well. It is your choice and I will support your decision. I love you and I was just trying to help, not pressure,” Jack continued.

Sue smiled despite the tears running down her face.

The waiter brought the dessert and the bill. Sue looked up at Jack “Can we go see her tomorrow?” she asked eyeing his dessert.

“Yes, we can and no I am not sharing my Brownie Pie with you.” he answered, smiling. But he did because he had little resistance for Brownie Pie and even less for his lovely wife.

~ ~ ~

But in the end is right…

The visit with the dog was fine. She was a perfectly nice dog-smaller than Levi but cute and smart. Sue knew the minute she saw Jack’s reaction that to say no was to break his heart all over again. She said yes for him mostly, because she realized that through the whole ordeal neither she nor anyone else she knew had ever asked Jack if he was going to be okay.

Thus Murphy came to live with them. Definitely love at first site for Jack, probably third site for Sue, although the dog did kiss her that first day. She was a good dog, different from Levi, yet loyal and sweet. She worked well with Sue, but loved Jack. Sue’s thought how could you not love Jack?

Christmas morning that same year…they had stayed home because work had been overwhelming and they just needed a break together. After all the gifts were opened, Jack pulled out one that he had hidden under the tree. It said To Sue, From Murphy. The box was very heavy. She looked at him and he was holding his breath. So she opened the package to find a small sculpture of Levi.

“How...” she began but couldn’t finish because of the lump in her throat.

“I took a picture to Carol, your sculptor friend, and asked if she could do it,” he explained, coming to kneel beside her.

“Oh,” she gasped “it is the best gift I have ever received!” He smiled delighted that she loved the gift, delighted more that he finally felt he had done something right and delighted the most the she loved him. She smiled back at him and thought love really does endure all things if you open your heart and let it.

~ ~ ~

I hope you had the time of your life…

Lost for a moment Jack realized Sue was talking to him and the dog was still barking. He patted the dog so she would stop then looked at his wife.

“What?” he asked as Joshua snuggled into his shoulder.

“You feel warm are you sick too?” Sue repeated.

“I think a little, what did the doctor say?” He wanted to know.

“RSV” she signed.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“For you a really nasty cold, for the children a respiratory virus that sometimes it settles in the lungs. It can close the air passages but they have a fairly mild case.” She said it so casually like closed air passages were an every day occurrence.

“Shouldn’t we do something? Shouldn’t they go to the hospital? What if they stop breathing?” He had a feeling he was overreacting.

She explained further “No, the doctor said to monitor the baby especially at night, prop her up to sleep and let it run its course.” He started to interrupt but she held up her hand. “If there is a change the doctor said to call and he would see her immediately or just go to the Emergency Room.” Jack still wasn’t sure but let it go because he was suddenly exhausted and wanted to sit down. He took the baby from his wife in his other arm and headed for the couch.

Sue thought, for a man who can organize a world crisis in a matter of minutes why does a sick child make him panic?

~ ~ ~

There’s something unpredictable…

Jack’s alarm went off the next morning at 6am. He turned it off and rolled over. It had been a long night (or a short one depending on your perspective). Snuggling next to his wife he thought about being married and how he had come about that stroke of luck.

Jack and Bobby had been out of town for 10 days. It was the road trip to end all road trips. January, never a good time to drive anywhere for starters especially with a car heater that decided when it would work all on its own. Somehow Jack had only packed one boot. Bobby wanted to know how exactly that had happened and why was there a pair blue mittens much to small for him in his bag as well. Jack just glared at him and changed the radio station. Bobby changed it back. This was pretty much how things went the entire trip. No car charger for the cell phone, no map (not that they would actually use it anyway) and after all the effort to get to their location, no witness. Somehow the witness had managed to just leave. They stayed for a few days waiting to see if he could be found. Jack spent the time formulating a plan in his head. Bobby had a good idea as to what Jack was thinking, so he continued to give his friend a hard time. By the time D. called and made up some lame excuse so they could go back to DC, Bobby had Jack agreeing to so many stupid things that he knew Jack was not paying attention at all. Who would have thought that Colorado could be so flat, brown and windy? A glimpse at the Rockies to the west of Denver didn’t even make the trip worthwhile.

They had arrived home about 3:00pm on a Sunday afternoon. Jack called Sue and climbed into bed - tired but at least warm and no one was snoring. Sue came over about 6:00pm made him dinner, rubbed his back, acted sympathetic, told him she missed him and loved him then went home.

It figures, he thought, I wonder where my boot is and how come she didn’t ask about her mittens. Maybe someone else is keeping her hands warm. That thought sent him back to bed as he knew it was irrational and he was just tired.

~ ~ ~

A week later Jack and Sue were sitting in his apartment planning their Sunday afternoon, well he was planning she was fretting. She had been for the last week and he could take it no more.

“What is wrong?” He asked. “You have been moping around for the past week could you just tell me so I can apologize, fix it and move on?” He finished.

She just looked at him and said “I don’t think you will ever fix it. You are gone for 10 days you come home, whine about Bobby, how horrible everything was, yet I don’t think you actually missed me. You just missed what you have gotten used to.”

He had to get up and walk to the kitchen because it was all he could do to keep from laughing. If only she knew how much he had missed her. Jack was surprised that Bobby had shown that much restraint.

He sighed, returned to living room and said “I think I know what you want. Let’s go shopping and get it over with.” He needed shirts and she needed shoes.

“I don’t think you will ever know what I want,” she responded. Jack ducked into the closet to find his coat so she couldn’t see him grin.

At the mall, with every pair of shoes she tried on he teased her a little more “Are you sure this is what you want?” She knew he was teasing but was not in the mood to play along. Finally she found a pair she liked and he said “I don’t know if that’s what you want.” By now his eyes were sparkling and he was really grinning. She glared at him and stalked to the cash register, then came back without the shoes.

“I was just kidding. They’re your feet and remember the motto ‘life is short-buy the shoes’,” he laughed.

“I know,” she answered then said sheepishly “I left my checkbook at home.” This made him laugh harder and she glared more as he walked to the register to pay for her shoes.

~ ~ ~

But in the end is right…

After dinner, they were again sitting on the couch in his apartment. Out of the blue Jack asked the question. “Do you want to get married?”

Sue thought then answered “In general or to you?”

“Well... both I guess,” he replied.

Then “Yes and No” came the response. Jack was so taken a back. This was what he thought she wanted. He looked at her and she was crying.

“Come on I will take you home,” he signed quietly. She cried harder. He got up but she took his hand and pulled him back down.

“Sorry,” she signed.

“Its okay I just thought that was what you wanted and that was what would fix everything,” he explained.

“It is and it does but could you please ask me again?” Sue told him.

“Well I did make a plan while I was gone and I could put it in motion next weekend” Jack suggested brightening.

“Jack this is not a case. I am not a plan to be put in motion” she responded. “Just ask me now,” she cocked her head to the side and smiled despite the tears.

He was confused. He liked having a plan. It was a good plan, but he gave in. “Sue will you marry me?” he asked then signed.

She corrected his signing then said “YES!”

“Really?” He asked. She just looked at him. “Okay then since you didn’t let me use my plan you can’t tell anyone until I give you a ring,” he told her.

“That is not possible,” she responded.

“I’ll deny it all then,” Jack shot back, smiling.

“Okay, but a ring isn’t really that important,” Sue told him.

“It is if you work in our office,” Jack said wryly. “You will have it soon enough.”

~ ~ ~

I hope you had the time of your life…

The following Saturday morning, Sue felt her blackberry vibrate just as she was putting her coat on to meet Jack downstairs. She answered only to have Jack ask if Lucy was home.

“No she left to do some shopping with Tara,” Sue answered.

“Okay then I’m coming up for a minute before we head to the office,” he told her.

She put her coat down, unlocked the door and waited for him. He arrived a few minutes later carry a box, a big box. She raised her eyebrows and looked at him.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said handing it to her. She took the box. It was fairly heavy and that was a little disappointing.

“Open it,” he encouraged. So she set it down on the table, unwrapped it and took the cover off.

“Oh, a new bathrobe, that is very thoughtful,” she told him.

“Not what you were expecting?” Jack asked.

“I wasn’t really expecting anything but a velour bathrobe is a nice gift,” she was trying her best to sound positive.

“It is bright pink-kind of valentiney,” Jack explained.

“Did you just say valentiney?” Sue wanted to know.

Jack blushed “Well, yeah…”

“Not a phrase I ever thought I would hear coming out of your mouth,” Sue teased him. His face kind of took on this hurt expression so she leaned in closer and kissed him then said “That’s what I love about you always surprising me!”

“You should try it on to see if it fits,” Jack suggested.

“It will fit, you bought the right size,” Sue told him.

“Just try it to be sure,” he suggested again. Sue looked at him and signed “okay”. Then she took the robe out of the box. It really was heavy. As she put it on she noticed something in one of the pockets. It was a heart shaped tin; the type that usually holds candy. Sue smiled at him and opened it. This one held dog treats. She tried not to look disappointed.

Jack took one look at her and said “Levi want a cookie?” Levi trotted over and ran through all his tricks, Jack tossed him the treat. Sue started to take the robe off, but stopped when she noticed something in the other pocket. She pulled out of a bag of cookies from a bakery she and Lucy loved then looked at Jack questioningly.

“You once stood in front of me in your robe and offered me a cookie to go,” he reminded her. “What I really wanted was a cookie to stay.” He finished with a shy smile. She opened the bag and let out a huge squeal. He grinned now as she threw her arms around him.

“You tricked me!” She exclaimed.

“Just wanted to make sure that a ring was really what you wanted. Thought I would make you work for it a little,” he explained when he could loosen her grip enough to move so she could see him.

“Will you put it on me?” Sue wanted to know.

“I would be honored,” was Jack’s response.

“It is beautiful. I love how the diamond is set in the band not on top. It makes me more comfortable when I’m signing.” Sue was talking so fast now. “How did you know what size?”

Jack laughed and said “Slow down. I can barely keep up and you aren’t even signing. I’m glad you like it. Those were my thoughts also and I kind of borrowed one of your other rings...” He couldn’t stop smiling.

“So you are still going to marry me right?” Jack asked again.

Her response was more squealing and arms thrown around his neck. Then he felt the tears and moved to kiss her. After a few moments Jack leaned his forehead against hers and gently said “I love you.” Sue took a deep breath, tried to speak but could only nod. He wiped her tears, sighed and said “Back to reality. We have to go finish those files but we can go to the party tonight and share the news!”

“I love you too,” Sue said “Let’s go and get it done”

“I think you should leave the new bathrobe here,” Jack advised.

“Oops,” Sue blushed then went to put it in her room.

~ ~ ~

Sitting in the office later on that same Saturday morning, Jack was daydreaming when Sue hit him with a file.

“Jack pay attention!” She said. “We will never get this finished.”

They were going through files in the Bureau conference room, making sure all the i’s were dotted and t’s crossed.

He grinned at the paper he was holding then looked at Sue and said, “I know, I saw the shoes and I know you can’t wait to wear them to the party!” And I can’t wait to rub your feet when it’s over, he thought to himself.

“If you hadn’t gone out of town for two weeks we would be done with this project but now we are backlogged,” Sue complained.

“I think that ten day trip was very worthwhile even if it was for work. It made me very appreciative.” He glanced down at the ring on her finger. “That ring is very becoming on you,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her.

She wiggled but he caught her and kissed her anyway. With that the file fell to the floor and the contents spilled everywhere. “Now look what you have done!” She exclaimed. “We will never get to the party and we will never tell our friends our news.”

“Calm down, I will clean it up,” Jack laughed. He started picking up the papers, trying to put them in order as he was doing so. Suddenly he stopped, tapped Sue’s leg and said “Look at this” as he handed her a sheet of paper.

She took it and read it, then looked at him and grinned. “We better get to that party, maybe we aren’t the only ones with news.”

Jack raised his eyebrows at Sue and smiled. “I know that hand-writing. I would recognize it anywhere after all this time.” They quickly cleaned up and left to get ready for the party.

~ ~ ~

Jack declined Sue’s invitation to come in knowing there would be much shrieking upon Tara and Lucy spotting the ring. Sue was home for no less than two minutes before the girls noticed the ring and went ballistic. When did this happen? Working on files-yeah right! Both talked at once.

Sue smiled then said “Actually he asked me a week ago but since I didn’t let him use his ‘plan’ he told me I couldn’t tell until he gave me a ring.”

“And what a beautiful ring it is,” Lucy grinned at her friend. Sue smiled back then turned to Tara “Any news you would like to share with us?” Sue asked.

“Nope, nothing new with me,” came Tara’s all too quick response. Sue and Lucy eyed each other. “What was Jack’s big plan?” Tara wanted to know.

“I smell a cover-up,” Lucy observed.

“Me too,” Sue agreed.

“I think we should all get ready for the party, so we aren’t late,” Tara said simply.

“Are you taking Air again this year?” Sue giggled.

“Don’t start with that,” Lucy warned. While Sue filled them in on the whole story toes and fingers were painted, hair curled, make-up applied, dresses zipped and shoes put on with time to spare.

Jack came to pick Sue up just before Lucy and Tara left. “Congratulations!” Lucy said as she hugged him. “It is about time!”

He just shook his head and asked “Are you never satisfied?” but smiled also. Jack turned to Tara “What no red hair this year?” he asked grinning. “Where’s your date? Getting a head start to the car?” he continued.

Tara just glared at him, and said “A bathrobe was your big plan? Seems like you could have come up with something bigger-you had plenty of spare time on that road trip!” He looked at Tara, confused. “Tara I didn’t mean to…” Jack started to apologize as Sue entered the room.

Tara brushed him off “Don’t!” Then reached up to dab at her eyes.

Sue looked from Tara to Jack and back. Tara grabbed her coat and said “Tell Lucy I will meet her in the car.” She rushed out only to return a few moments later to say to Jack “I am really happy for you.”

“See you there-better hurry so we don’t spill your news!” Lucy said as she hurried out the door after Tara.

“What was that about?” Sue asked.

“I don’t know,” Jack answered thoughtfully. “I do know that you look wonderful. I like those shoes,” he commented raising his eyebrows and smiling. The fact that you will definitely need a foot rub when the evening is done makes then even better, his thoughts continued.

Jack helped Sue on with her coat and they were out the door next, leaving the radio and a small light on for Levi.

~ ~ ~

Upon arriving at the party, the first person Jack sought was Anne.

“I thought you might want to see this year’s shoes as well as the feet I get to rub for the rest of my life,” he told her. Sue watched confused. Anne looked at Sue’s feet then at her hand then she smiled and hugged them both!

The rest of the team was excited but not really surprised. Bobby just looked at Jack and grinned then bent to kiss Sue on the cheek and tell her “Good luck!” She smiled back and signed “Thank you”.

Myles watched rather quietly as others offered there congratulations. Jack looked at him, crossed his arms and said “Care to share?”

Myles shrugged “Nothing to share.”

Jack glanced across the room then looked at Myles and said “Buy the shoes Myles or at least help her retrieve them from Crash.” Myles just shot Jack a warning look as Sue approached, he then excused himself to attend to the rest of his guests.

Sue frowned at Jack “It is a Valentine’s Party quit making people crabby!”

He looked at her, leaned in to kiss her then said “Would you like to dance?”

Sue smiled and teased “Are they playing our song?”

Jack smiled back smugly and reminded her “Last year at this party you told me you would dance with me to any song.”

Sue blushed and said “I wasn’t lying either.” Then followed her new fiancé to the dance floor and lost herself in his arms.

~ ~ ~

Later that evening Sue caught up with Tara outside the ladies room.

“Tara, are you okay?” Sue asked softly.

Tara smiled and said “Yes, and I am sorry. I’m so happy for you.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Sue wanted to know.

“Not right now. I think it will work out. I just need to remember to be me, and quit trying to be someone I am not.” Tara explained.

“I think that you being you is what we love most about you,” Sue said then added “Did that make any sense?”

“To me it did,” Tara laughingly answered as she hugged her friend and took her hand to look closer at her ring.

~ ~ ~

Jack was dreaming. Ringing and singing what was going on? He struggled to wake up, rolled over opened his eyes and shot up in bed, his heart pounding. When he finally grasped what was happening he laid back down and said “Joshua, what are you doing? You scared me?” Then he rolled over to his side and was nose-to-nose with his two-year old.

“Daddy, phone singing” Joshua answered happily.

“Let Daddy see his phone” Jack said.

“No! Mine!” came the response.

“You can have it back, just let me see it for a minute,” Jack pleaded.

“No, Daddy phone sing. I call Bobby,” Joshua said.

“Okay you can call Bobby, let me help you,” Jack tried to reason with him as he lifted Josh up onto the bed.

“No do it myself!” Josh demanded. Jack sighed and thought you would think with all my training I would be able to retrieve a cell phone from a two-year old. They should teach that at Quantico.

“How about you hold the phone open so Daddy can see it?” He began again.

“No! Mine!” A very determined Joshua hid the phone behind his back.

“You must get this from your mother,” Jack sighed again.

“I saw that” Sue exclaimed. Jack groaned and looked at her then grinned. She was wearing her bright pink bathrobe, holding the baby and smiling at him.

She looks tired. I wonder if she slept much last night, he thought.

Sue handed him the baby then said to Joshua “Come on you need some clean pants mister.” She picked him up, whispered something in his ear and held out her hand. Joshua put the phone in it and grinned. Sue looked at Jack and tossed him the phone.

“How ...” he started but she just grinned and said “One of the many secrets of motherhood.” Jack laughed then propped the baby up against his knees so she was facing him. She was just starting to smile-real smiles and he was determined to get one from her this morning. She held his fingers and looked into his eyes. He gazed back remembering...

~ ~ ~

One day after a meeting Jack found himself not too far from home. “We’re going to get lunch, want to join us” Bobby asked.

Jack said “No, I don’t think so. I think I’m going to stop by the house and see my family.” Bobby was with Jason, a new team member whose company Jack could usually do without.

“How boring is that?” Jason responded.

“Suit yourself,” Bobby replied, giving Jack a strange look. Jack got in his car, and pulled away before anything else could be said. Upon arriving home, the dog promptly let Sue know Jack was home. She came out of the kitchen with a worried expression on her face.

“Why are you home? Is everything all right?” Sue asked.

“It’s fine. I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop in - see what was for lunch” Jack assured her.

“Oh” she was relieved “we had fish sticks”

“Hmmm, where’s Joshua?” he asked Naptime came the response as he bent to kiss his wife “Fish sticks?” he questioned as he kissed her again “maybe chocolate too?”

“Want me to make you some fish sticks?” Sue asked

“No, but maybe some chocolate” he said kissing her again. She smiled, ran her fingers through his hair, loosened his tie, and then played with the buttons on his shirt.

“Lunch, huh?” Sue said.

“Well, yeah, I didn’t want to go with Bobby and Jason. I would rather have lunch with you” he explained. She looked at him mischievously then starting walking backwards down the hall holding on to the ends of his tie. He waited, confused “You eat lunch in the bedroom these days?” He asked.

“You coming?” Sue responded. Jack thought you don’t have to ask me twice.

With Sue snuggled up in his arms, Jack thought, just when I think I know what marriage is all about something happens to change everything; today’s lunch for example. Next time some young guy at work pops off about how boring it would be to be married let alone date someone for more than two weeks I just might have to let them know just how boring lunch with your wife really is…on second thought maybe not. Sue would probably kill me if I tell anyone this story.

“What are you smiling about?” Sue asked.

“Oh, just you and this and how I’m going to have to have some really good excuse for the extra long lunch break when I didn’t actually eat any lunch,” he laughed.

“I have faith that you will come up with something other than the truth,” she said.

“We’ll see,” he replied still grinning. “Lunch could possibly be my new favorite meal” he teased.

Sue actually blushed and said “Well if we’re going to continue to be able afford lunch you better go back to work.”

~ ~ ~

About a month later Sue and Joshua came by the office, unexpectedly.

“Well, this is quite a surprise,” Bobby said getting up to hug Sue and Josh.

“Just came for lunch”, Sue said, laughing at the expression on Jack’s face. It was now a standing joke between the two of them.

He rolled his eyes and signed “don’t you dare tell”. She just smiled at him.

Bobby watched the two then said “Great we were all just heading out, come on then.” He started to take Josh from her. Josh however, reached for Daddy.

Jack smiled and said “Daddy’s boy!” Sue just laughed at Bobby’s hurt expression then turned to smile at Jack again.

Bobby said “Let’s go, I’m starving.”

At that point Myles who had been watching, stepped in “Maybe Sue would just like to have lunch with her family. Leave her alone so she can talk to Jack.”

Sue looked at him questioningly.

He shrugged “I have a wife and child that sometimes I like to have lunch with.”

Jack said quickly “We’ll catch up in minute.” The rest of the team left. Jack looked at Sue and said “Lunch?”

It was Sue’s turn to shrug still smiling. Then she pulled something from the diaper bag and said “Here I brought you a present.” She handed him the package. Jack shook it. It rattled. Joshua giggled.

“Open it” Sue signed, then took Josh back so he could.

Jack opened the wrapping paper, and then looked at her very confused. “Why do I need pre-natal vitamins?” he asked.

She simply replied “Lunch”.

Nine months later they had a baby girl. After all the fingers and toes were counted and mom and baby deemed healthy, the nurse walked in with lunch for Sue.

“What’s this?” Sue asked.

“Since the baby was born at noon I thought you might like some lunch,” the nurse explained.

Jack burst into laughter, kissed his new baby daughter and said “Timing is everything.” The nurse just gave them a strange look and walked out of the room.

Sue smiled and said “You’re right lunch is the best meal.”

~ ~ ~

The ringing (or singing as Josh referred to it) of his phone startled both Jack and the baby. He jumped and she cried “Oh, I’m sorry. Its okay” he soothed as he picked up his phone.

“Yeah” he answered.

“Hey, what’s wrong with your voice?” came the greeting from Bobby.

“I am bonding with my children through their colds,” Jack replied.

“Sounds like great fun. Why is the baby crying?” Bobby wanted to know.

“She knows it’s you,” Jack started.

“And she wants to talk to me does she?” Bobby finished.

“Not exactly,” Jack tried to continue.

Bobby cut him off again “Well that’s great since I’m on my way over to pick up the unfinished paperwork from yesterday. Be there in about 15 minutes-make some coffee will you?” Before Jack could answer Bobby hung up chuckling. Jack just looked at his baby girl and shook his head. She started to smile when the phone rang again and startled her. “What?” Jack answered.

D. said “Oooh long night with sick children?”

Jack said “Oh I thought you were Bobby”

“No, but he is on his way over. I figured since you were going to the doctor you should just take the whole day off.” D explained.

“I’m not going to the doctor,” Jack began.

“Sue said she made you an appointment when she called me this morning,” D. continued. “She said you were up most of the night and had a fever so she thought you should go get checked out and I agreed.” D. finished. Then again before Jack could say anything further D. ended the conversation with “Take it easy this weekend. I will see you Monday,” then hung up.

Jack just looked at the baby again and shook his head. “This is why I try not to oversleep” he explained then coughed. She coughed also. So he stood up and patted her on the back. With that she promptly threw up her breakfast down his shirt. The day just keeps getting better, he thought. He went to the baby’s room to get her changed. While she was lying on the changing table he stripped off his shirt and threw it in her hamper. At that moment the dog started barking then he heard Sue’s voice then Bobby’s. Sue came in the bedroom. He looked at her and said sheepishly “Did I mention Bobby is coming by to get some paperwork.”

She raised her eyebrows at him then said “You might want to put on a shirt. He brought someone with him.”

“Who?” Jack asked.

“I can’t remember her name,” Sue said. “What happened here?” Sue inquired.

“I coughed, baby coughed, I stood up, baby threw up down my shirt,” he explained.

“Welcome to my world” was Sue’s only response.

“At least she missed the bed this time,” Jack concluded. He handed Sue the baby and went to find a sweatshirt.

~ ~ ~

Upon entering the kitchen Jack recognized the young woman with Bobby but had no idea what her name was either. Joshua was sitting on Bobby’s lap eating a donut. Sue was holding the baby and starting to make coffee.

The young woman looked at Sue and said “Maybe I should make coffee and you should sit down.”

Jack looked at her narrowed his eyes then said thoughtfully, “I have had your coffee. We are very tired and we actually need to be able to drink it.”

She looked somewhat embarrassed but smiled all the same. Joshua got down and Bobby stood up to take the baby. “The lovely sheila wanted to talk with me earlier and her father wouldn’t let her. I will take her now,” he said.

“Be careful. She tends to cough hard then throw up,” Sue warned.

“Ah, what’s another Hudson throwing up on my shoes?” Bobby laughed. Sue just shook her head at him.

Jack said “Let’s just change the subject.” The young woman was about to ask something but stopped. She would get the details later. “Want a donut?” Bobby offered. Jack just shook his head no.

“You must be sick,” Bobby concluded.

“Apparently, I am. I have a doctor’s appointment for sometime today,” he said looking at Sue pointedly.

She just shrugged “Did I forget to mention...” she began.

“Anyway, I will get those papers you want so you can go back to work,” Jack hurried from the kitchen.

Bobby just looked at Sue grinned and said “Who filled Jack with crabby juice this morning?” Sue laughed then Joshua said “No apple juice.” This made them laugh harder.

“Did I tell you how lovely you are looking this morning? But maybe your hubby should spring for a new robe!” Bobby continued teasing. Sue just rolled her eyes and handed him some coffee. She then put the rest of the things on the table and turned to the young woman. “Do you want cream or sugar?” Sue asked her.

“Just a little sugar please,” was her answer. Jack came back at this point, set his briefcase on the table and unlocked it.

“You lock your briefcase at home?” the young woman queried.

“Well last time I didn’t I received some help with one of my reports,” Jack responded.

“Seems young Josh is quite the artist and colored pictures for all of us on his daddy’s reports,” Bobby explained further. “It was quite amusing as well as colorful. What was it Myles said ‘I didn’t know this case involved art fraud as well’. Jack did not find it to be so funny,” Bobby chuckled at the remembrance. Jack just frowned.

~ ~ ~

Pretty soon everyone was out the door and Jack turned to Sue. “Why did you make me a doctor’s appointment?” He wanted to know.

“Because you coughed all night long, you have a fever and you’re sick. The kids are already sick and don’t need anything else. Go get dressed you need to be there in a half hour.” she concluded.

Jack said “I’m going but not willingly because I am not really sick. It’s just a cold.”

“Fine” Sue answered, “this will only confirm that.” Jack got dressed and left. He came back about an hour later with two prescriptions. Sue said “Just a cold...” Jack responded glumly “and bronchitis and a sinus infection. You were right do you feel better?”

“Jack I didn’t want you to be sick. At least now you can get well. How come you didn’t get the prescriptions filled?” She asked.

“Too tired. I was hoping you would do it for me,” he looked at her with those brown eyes. She gave in.

“I’ll go when the children are napping” she agreed.

“Can I go lay down now” Jack asked.

Sue smiled “Yes, but don’t you want something to eat?” Jack just shook his head and walked toward the bedroom. Sue shook her own head and thought this is why men do not bear the children.

~ ~ ~

After Sue put everyone down for a nap she headed to the grocery store to have Jack’s prescriptions filled. She liked this pharmacy the best because one of the young assistants was learning sign language plus the pharmacist made an extra effort to know his clientele. She dropped off the prescriptions then went to pick up a few things. She was done with her shopping before the medicine was ready so she sat down to wait. She smiled as she thought back on what being Mrs. Jack Hudson was all about so far...

Working and being married went together well it had turned out. D had fought for the team to stay together despite the rule infractions and won. Of course, he in turn had to supervise them. The deal was office was office, home was home and the two will remain separate. No arguing, no discussion about marital problems in the office. That worked fairly well for Sue and Jack. For Myles and Tara it was a completely different story. The second day back from their honeymoon they walked into the bullpen arguing over the car radio. D. just looked at them went to his office and shut the door.

Jack liked working with Sue almost as much as he liked being married to her. He didn’t work nearly as close these days she usually went off with Bobby or Myles but it was still good. One day after work a couple of months into their marriage they got home later than usual. Sue said something about walking Levi.

Jack groaned “Right now, why do you have to go right now?”

“Because,” she pointed out “I didn’t walk him this afternoon at work”

“Why not?” Jack wanted to know.

“Because you made me wait for Bobby to go and talk to a snitch. I could have gone with someone else but you said no only Bobby or Myles,” Sue reminded him a little too quickly.

“Oh yeah” Jack said absently. He didn’t like her going off with anyone else. They had a new addition to the team but Jack was not about to trust him with his wife.

“I’m hungry just make dinner first” he pleaded.

With that she crossed her arms, stamped her pretty little foot, looked him straight in the eye and said “You are not the boss of me at home, Jack Hudson”

His first thought was I didn’t know I was actually the boss of you anywhere.

His second thought was how did I ever get so lucky as to marry this woman?

Unfortunately for him it was his third thought that he actually spoke out loud “Does this mean you aren’t making dinner?” She didn’t even grace that with a response just called the dog and left. He made dinner that night and for a few more nights after that.

~ ~ ~

Jack thought he had pretty well glossed over the argument at work. He figured they were covering fairly well. There was no way Jack was giving anyone any information which they could use against him. He knew the entire Bullpen was waiting for there first argument to spill into the office, so Jack took the high road and acted like nothing had happened. A couple days later right before lunch, Jack knew he was in trouble...

“Well boys where are we going for lunch?” D asked.

Jack made a suggested only to have Myles respond “Don’t be so bossy why do we always go where you want?”

Bobby chipped in with “Tired of your own cooking yet?”

Jack looked at Sue who pretended not to be following the conversation. She would not meet his eye and soon hurried out to meet Amanda at her school for lunch.

The guys left, against Jack’s better judgment he went with them. Settled into a booth, they nailed him.

“Okay Sparky tell us the truth,” Bobby pleaded.

Myles said “Yes, I would like to hear it first hand from you”

Jack looked at D. for support “You said the workplace is not the place to air your domestic squabbles so I don’t have to answer!”

D laughed and replied “Well, we are on lunch and not at the office so spill - we have been waiting for this!”

Jack just shook his head and asked how they knew.

Myles said “Well apparently the ladies we work with have long since had the rule that anything is fair game for conversation at lunch. Your wife told mine and she of course told me and I told the others.”

When the laughter subsided, Jack told them the story. Myles only response was “Wow, she actually thinks you’re the boss at work. Even my wife doesn’t think that about you. Maybe we should clear that up.”

~ ~ ~

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Sue refused to meet Jack’s eyes though, knowing that he had been grilled at lunch. Part of her felt bad, she knew he really did strive to keep their marriage safe from work worries. The other part of her thought ha, it is good for him to not be so perfect once in awhile. Being married does not mean giving up your friends. The drive home was fairly quiet. Jack was trying his hardest to remain stoic even though he was laughing on the inside. Jack opened the door, stepped aside for Levi and Sue, then followed them in. Sue closed the door and leaned against it. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows. He put his hands on the door over her shoulders and raised his own. Sue giggled and Jack went to kiss but she ducked and ran. She was laughing really hard by now. Jack stood across the room from her and pretended to be angry. It didn’t last long though. He said “I will get you for this” and approached her. She darted around the sofa. He went the opposite direction to catch her, so she switched directions. Finally after chasing her around a few times Jack jumped over the sofa and caught her. She struggled and laughed until they both fell onto the couch. He kissed her then and she asked “What are you making tonight for dinner?”

Someone touched her arm and she jumped. “Sorry,” the pharmacy assistant signed.

“Oh that is okay. I was just lost in thought,” Sue replied.

“Here are the prescriptions” the assistant handed the medicine to Sue then went on signing all the details she would need to know.

Sue signed “Thank you” then headed for the register to pay.

~ ~ ~

After she arrived home, she woke Jack up long enough to make him take his medicine then she settled down to play with Joshua and the baby. Sue thought about all the fears that had come along with creating then having children and smiled to herself. It really isn’t as hard as I made myself believe, she thought.

Sue was fretting. She knew it and Jack knew it. However, after almost 2 years of marriage he had finally figured out not to ask. Sue would tell him when she was ready. Most likely there would be some type of argument that he would not have a clue about. Then she would tell him what she wanted and he would agree. If Sue would just tell him in the first place it would be easier.

But whatever...

~ ~ ~

Sue was fretting because she was ready to have a baby and didn’t think Jack was. She supposed she should just ask him but that was well just not her style. Why do I have to spell out everything for him? She wondered. I have been commenting on babies and looking at things about babies. For some trained in surveillance he can really be clueless.

It all came to a head one evening when the kitchen was a disaster, the newspapers were strewn about the house and the laundry had over taken the laundry room. After dinner Jack said “I am going downstairs to get a head start on some work for tomorrow.”

Sue could not believe it. What happened to you cook, I’ll clean. She banged pots, stomped around cleaning the living room then went downstairs to start some laundry. Sue slammed the laundry room door as she went through it. Okay, Jack thought, I guess we will be having that discussion tonight. He turned off his computer and waited.

When she finally came back she just walked through the room as if he did not exist. He caught her hand and said “Do you want some help?”

“What do you think,” she signed. She could sign really fast when she was angry. He had kept up with his classes thankfully so he could follow along even if he still could not sign at her speed. He smiled and that made her madder.

Jack led her to the couch “You have been fretting for weeks, if you wanted more help around the house why didn’t you just say something?” he asked.

“That’s not it,” she insisted.

“Then what is it?” Jack prodded.

“How can we ever have a baby if I am the only one who does anything?” She stated.

“Are we having a baby, did I miss a memo?” He smiled.

“Well maybe someday but not as of now,” she answered.

“So are you telling me that you would like to start trying to have a baby?” Sue nodded. “Okay why didn’t you just say that?” Jack asked.

“I have been talking about babies and pointing out baby things. I thought you would get the hint,” she told him with a frown.

“Every time we go to the grocery store you talk about ice cream, but when I want to buy some you say ‘no’. Help me out a little here,” Jack told her.

“I guess I thought you would say you weren’t ready,” she admitted.

“Sue, if you don’t trust me enough to talk to me then how is this ever going to work?” Jack wanted to know.

She sighed then smiled “I want you to do the laundry too!”

Jack smiled back and said “First let’s work on that baby project.”

~ ~ ~

One day in February some months after the original baby discussion Sue left work early. She had to take the dog to the Vet for her physical. Jack said he would get a ride home with Bobby. Jack came in later than expected. Sue was waiting for him.

“I have a Valentine’s present for you. Do you want it early?” she asked.

“No, I am making plans for Valentine’s Day. I want it then,” he replied.

“Please I want to give it to you now,” she pleaded.

“No I won’t have a present to open when I put my plan into effect,” he countered.

“Well how about I give you this one now and if you don’t like it I can get you something else?” she asked.

“But my plan... oh all right,” he gave in. She stood there and smiled.

“Okay, I said,” Jack said again. Sue still just stood there and smiled.

“I don’t get it,” he said, “where is the present?” Again she smiled. This was becoming very frustrating. Then she signed something.

“Really?” He asked, a smile spreading slowly across his face.

“Yes, we’re going to have a baby!” Sue exclaimed.

“This is the best news ever, I think I have to alter my plan,” he said. Sue just shook her head and laughed.

Joshua brought her out of the daydream. He was trying to fit on her lap with a book, a blanket, a stuffed dog and an assortment of other things. She rearranged the baby and moved over some to let him squeeze in then opened Where the Wild Things Are and began to read.

~ ~ ~

Sunday morning Jack woke up to the sound of “Daddy, Daddy”. He rolled over to see Joshua standing at the other side of the bed. Jack grinned.

Joshua said “up, sleep with you” hopefully. Jack pulled him up and laid back down with Joshua cuddled in his arms. He could hear Sue singing to the baby “rocking, rolling riding, out along the bay, all bound for Morning Town many miles away”. He recognized the song as one she played occasionally on the piano. He had heard the CD at her parent’s house also during Christmas. It amazed him that she could sing it and play it to the correct tune without ever hearing it.

Joshua said “Daddy sing too.”

Jack just shook his head and said “I don’t know the words. You sing.” So Josh did his own little version of the song. It ended much louder than Sue’s and he and Jack both laughed. This made the dog bark then run to find Sue.

She came in the room with the baby and said “Joshua Samuel Hudson I told you not to bother Daddy.”

Joshua looked at Jack and said “Feel better?”

Jack said “Yes I do feel better and you aren’t bothering me.” He smiled at his wife who looked really tired.

She said “I am making pancakes come on.” Josh was off the bed in a flash - headed for the kitchen. Joshua Samuel Hudson, Jack smiled “same initials as me” he had told Sue “and my dad” he added. It made the perfect alternative in his mind rather than having a child named exactly the same and causing more confusion. When Sue was pregnant with Josh they had never really picked out a girl’s name. The topic had come up one evening after work. Their team and a couple other people they had worked with were all out for dinner following a particularly harrowing long case when the subject of baby names came up. Sue and Jack told them the story about the initials and everyone thought that was a good solution.

Then someone asked “Do you know for sure you are having a boy?” Jack and Sue exchanged embarrassed glances. They hadn’t wanted to know via an ultrasound somehow they just really felt it was a boy. So the next logical question was “what will you name it if it is a girl?” Jack and Sue just looked at each other.

“I guess we should take that into consideration,” said Jack.

Sue replied, innocently “I have always liked the name Allison.”

Bobby started laughing, Lucy looked horrified and Jack’s response was “Over my dead body!”

Bobby added “And your mother’s too, I would imagine.”

Sue said “What?”

Lucy said “Think about it.” Sue looked at Jack still confused.

“Oh no” he said “you should be able to figure this one out.”

Lucy fingered spelled “A-L-L-I-S-O-N” then said “What nickname do you think she would have?”

Sue then blushed and said “Oops, I guess that wouldn’t be a really wise choice.” Everyone on the team just laughed some more at that.

~ ~ ~

Jack headed to the kitchen for pancakes also. He couldn’t exactly remember when he had eaten last. Josh was sitting at the table. The baby was swinging and Sue was watching the pancakes. He walked over put his arms around her and kissed her neck. She said “You should go back to bed.”

He turned her around to face him and said “I’m actually hungry and I do feel better. Besides I think I’ve been asleep for almost 48 hours. Maybe you should go back to bed.”

She untangled herself then said “I can do this. I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”

Jack stepped back and tried a different approach. Moving between his wife and the counter he said “I’m sorry I wasn’t any help this weekend. I know you can do this. I’m not doubting that you can make pancakes or anything else for that matter but maybe you shouldn’t have to do it alone?”

Sue rolled her eyes “I am doubting that you can make pancakes” was her response.

He grinned and replied “Well I should learn sometime. So I will take over and you can go back to bed or go to church or just have a break. You deserve one.”

Sue faltered then said “No, the baby will need me so I can’t leave.”

“The baby will take a bottle if you aren’t here and she will be fine,” he reminded her. “I trying to help because I know you have had a long week.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes” he replied “I like being the daddy so let me do it please.” She smiled, kissed his cheek, handed him the spatula and headed for the shower.

Josh looked at him and said “Uh oh”

“Thanks for that vote of confidence,” his father responded.

Jack made breakfast. Sue took a shower, fed the baby and left for church. She did not doubt Jack’s abilities but the baby could be very finicky. After breakfast, Jack and Joshua rounded up the laundry and hauled it downstairs. The baby slept in her swing while the guys sorted and started the wash.

Jack looked at Josh and said “Explain to me how someone your size can make all this laundry?”

Josh looked back very seriously, shrugged, and said “Don’t know.”

They played the rest of the morning - running cars all over the house, looking at pictures of hockey players and making the baby smile (turns out Josh was really good at this!). Sue came home with lunch for them. After feeding the baby she cleaned the kitchen then went to round up the laundry. When she couldn’t find it she asked Jack. He shrugged, smiled and said “I remembered that conversation about me doing laundry and figured since the baby project was under control I should start on the laundry.”

Sue laughed and said “I was thinking about that conversation the other day too.”

Jack raised his eyebrows and said “oooh?”

“And it reminded me why I married you in the first place!” She finished with a smile.

~ ~ ~

After the kids went down for their naps Jack said to Sue “Come and take a nap with me.”

She just looked at him and said “I’m too tired to nap with you.”

“I’ll behave, I promise.” Jack looked at her with those brown eyes. She just raised her eyebrows at him. “Or not, if that is what you want,” Jack wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

“When is the last time you took a shower?” Sue asked.

“Umm, not sure,” Jack said playing with her hair.

“I’m thinking it was Thursday before work,” she stated, “so maybe you should take care of that because I am not so sure I want to sleep in the same bed with you.”

“Haven’t you been sleeping in the same bed with me?” Jack wanted to know.

“Not exactly,” Sue admitted. A shadow crossed Jack’s face and he stepped back. Sue sighed then quickly went on to explain “You have been so restless and you were talking in your sleep but I couldn’t figure out what you were saying. I tried rubbing your back but that only worked for a few minutes. I just couldn’t figure out how to comfort you so I slept on the day bed in the baby’s room”

“Oh,” Jack’s voice trailed off and he started to walk toward the bathroom. Sue caught his hand, pulled him back and said “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

She felt Jack sigh and saw the sadness in his face. “It will be okay. It has just been a really long, hard week. It will all work out,” she continued.

He sighed again and rested his forehead on hers. “I’m trying to just have faith,” he told her, glad she couldn’t hear the catch in his voice.

“I know” she answered placing her hand on his chest. “I wish I could tell you something that would comfort you more but I don’t know what it would be.” They both stood there for a moment lost in their thoughts.

“I changed the sheets on the bed,” Jack said.

“All the more reason for a shower,” she responded. “But I do kind of like this” she told him rubbing her hands over his cheeks.

He smiled slightly “Okay want to join me?” Jack asked.

She said “I already took a shower. I’m going to take a nap now in the clean sheets.”

Jack laughed and headed for the shower. When he was done he looked down and saw the cat’s foot sticking under the door. It was like Josie’s only little version of sign language letting you know that she wanted in. She liked to sit in the shower once the water was off, so he opened the door and let her in. As he did he noticed Sue sound asleep on his side of the bed. Putting on a clean pair of pajama pants and t-shirt he climbed into bed and gently moved her over. For some reason Sue always slept on his side if he wasn’t in bed with her. One day he had offered to trade her sides and she said “Then I would sleep over there if you were gone. I do it because it makes me feel closer to you.”

He drew his wife into his arms, sighed contentedly and relaxed. The saying about never waking a sleeping baby was very true (he had learned that the hard way) but never waking the sleeping mommy held even more truth and he was not about to try his luck there. Sue constantly amazed him. A long, hard week was the understatement of the year.

Verse 2

It’s something unpredictable…

Jack must have dozed off despite the almost 48 hours of constant sleep. He woke up just as the baby was starting to fuss. Jack quickly grabbed the dog before she could wake Sue. Then he closed the door to their room and went to pick up the baby. “Hey there little one,” he said softly. He was rewarded with a yawn and a smile. Picking her up he changed her diaper then grabbed a blanket and went to sit in the rocking chair with her. A long, hard week was the understatement of the year. The past three months had been horrible and with the exception of a new baby nothing had seemed to go right. Pressure at work had made for many late nights and early mornings. At one point he went for three days without seeing Joshua awake. The only reason he had seen the baby was due to her own scheduling. She seemed to know when Daddy would be home and decided at that point to get up and have a snack.

Jack had come home the previous Monday later than planned. When he walked through the door he expected his usual greeting of hugs and “uppy pease”. Instead he found a very tired toddler who was having a meltdown. Sue was trying to get Josh into the tub and he was not cooperating. On top of that the baby was screaming at the top of her lungs which in turn was making the dog run back and forth, barking non-stop.

Sue said “Bet you wish you had stayed at work.”

He kissed his wife, changed his clothes and waded into the fray. The meltdown went from screaming to crying to coughing.

Sue explained “I think they are both catching colds.” Jack just sighed and carried his very tired boy into the bedroom for bed. Once Josh was sleeping, Jack found Sue on the couch with the baby.

Handing him the baby who was content now, she said “I’ll get you some dinner if you want.” He just nodded his agreement took the baby in his arms and watched her sleep. Sue came back a few minutes later and traded him his plate for the baby. She then took the sleeping girl to her room and tucked her in. When she walked back out to the living room Jack was still sitting on the couch, his food untouched. She sat down next to him and waited. When he finally spoke nothing else could have surprised her more.

“I want to quit my job,” Jack told Sue. Sue didn’t move, didn’t speak, she was too stunned. “You read me right,” Jack continued.

“I don’t think anything else could have shocked me more,” she replied. “What is going on?”

“Everything and nothing. I let Bobby train Jason because I thought it would be good for both of them but it hasn’t been anything but a major pain,” Jack started. “Jason is so cocky and quick tempered. He has no instincts and no respect for anyone. Well you know that,” Jack finished.

“Yes, we both figured that out two years ago so why all of a sudden do you feel this way now?” Sue asked.

“Because now he is questioning my judgment with my superiors,” Jack went on. “Because I spent the three months of my brand new baby’s life working more hours than most people do in a year. Because I want to come home for dinner and see my children and my wife. Because when push comes to shove it is either me or Myles these days. I don’t know where Bobby’s head is and because of that I don’t trust him.” Jack stopped, not believing he had actually said it out loud. Sue put her arms around him and didn’t say anything. That is why I love this woman so much, Jack thought, because she knows when to talk and when to listen.

The baby coughed slightly bringing him out of his reverie so he patted her on the back and was rewarded with a huge burp. This made him laugh.

“Well I bet you feel better now,” he told her. She snuggled back next to him content again. A few minutes later Joshua came wandering out and climbed up in the rocking chair also, snuggling under Jack’s other arm. A long, hard week, Jack thought followed by some priceless and fleeting moments of sheer joy.

~ ~ ~

But in the end is right…

Sue woke from her nap feeling very refreshed. She picked up her Blackberry and noticed Tara had called. Tara wanted to know if she could help at all. Please call or e-mail the message ended. Tara thought Sue, what would I do without Tara. It is so nice to have someone who understands the hours, the loneliness and sometimes the sheer terror that this job entails as well as our husbands’ jobs. She and Tara had been through thick and thin together. Joy and heartbreak, pregnancy, just life, I guess thought Sue.

When Jack and Sue became pregnant the first time it was planned, anticipated and very joyful. Sue felt great. She wasn’t sick (well there was the incident with Bobby’s shoes) other than no chocolate and no salad for those first few months. In fact that was what gave the whole thing away. She smiled as she remembered. She, Tara and Lucy had gone to lunch at their favorite restaurant. The motto being “have a salad for lunch and a great chocolate dessert.” Sue had looked at the salad menu and promptly ordered a sandwich. The girls gave her a hard time but she passed it off as being really hungry, no time for breakfast. They believed that until it was time for dessert and Sue passed.

Tara exclaimed “We come here for the dessert. You found this place. What is wrong with you?”

Sue offered weakly “Too full from my sandwich?”

Lucy replied “I don’t buy that at all-something is going on.”

Sue denied and changed the subject. Upon arriving back at the Bullpen, Lucy and Tara accosted Jack with “You two had better start getting up earlier so there is time for breakfast.”

He replied absently “We always eat breakfast.” That only confirmed to Lucy and Tara what they suspected.

“Do you have coffee in the mornings? Sue certainly doesn’t seem to drink coffee at work anymore.” Tara asked.

Bobby said “Yeah why is that?”

“She wouldn’t eat dessert today either yet she was starving and had a sandwich instead of salad. She lives for dessert and coffee at this restaurant,” Tara continued.

Jack just went on working not really following the conversation.

“We should all go to Happy Hour tonight. It has been awhile since we did that,” Lucy tried a different approach.

“I don’t think Happy Hour is a good place for Sue,” Jack responded without thinking. Then he glanced up and knew he’d been had.

“Why would that be?” Myles asked.

Bobby laid out of the facts “No dessert, yet starving, no coffee, no Happy Hour and she fell asleep in the car the other afternoon. I might not be married but I can figure this out. So Sparky when will the blessed event take place?”

Jack just pursed his lips and tried to appear busy. Sue came into the Bullpen and said “Why are you all standing around staring at Jack?” Then added to Jack “Why do you look so guilty?”

Tara couldn’t stand it “You’re pregnant. We figured it out! When will this baby be arriving?” Sue looked at Jack who just gave her a half smile, raised his eyebrows and shrugged then at Tara and smiled “Yes, October.”

~ ~ ~

It was month or so later that Tara came to work feeling awful. She said “I have felt awful for the past month. First strep throat and now this. How come no one else has had this?”

Myles said “I think you just don’t eat healthy.”

Her response to that was “because everything healthy makes me feel this way.”

Sue cornered Tara later and said “Maybe you’re pregnant.”

Tara’s answer was “Ridiculous, I am still taking the pill, besides you’re pregnant and not nearly this sick.”

“Just a thought,” Sue offered, “everyone is different.”

The next day when it was time for lunch Tara caught Sue and convinced her to ride along to the drugstore.

“Tara, this is ridiculous. You’re a grown, married woman, I think you can do this on your own,” Sue insisted.

Tara begged “Please, it was your idea.” So they went to the drugstore, then did the pregnancy test in the ladies room back at the office. It was positive.

Tara looked at Sue “This is all your fault.”

“My fault,” Sue laughed, “I think you and Myles had something to do with it. Pregnancy is not contagious.”

“But I am not ready for this,” Tara wailed.

“I guess that is why God gives you a nine month notice,” Sue responded with a smile.

At home later that evening when Tara told him, Myles was overjoyed at the whole prospect. He did stop long enough in his celebratory monologue to ask “I thought you were still taking the pill, how did this happen?”

Tara replied “Apparently birth control pills and antibiotics are not a good combination, despite what the medical field has to say.”

Myles then started picking out names.

~ ~ ~

I hope you had the time of your life…

While Sue’s pregnancy had been easy, Tara’s had not. First morning sickness then light duty at five months because of some blood pressure problems. Myles wanted her to stay at home in bed until the baby was born.

Tara disagreed “I’ll be so bored. I can come to work and take rest breaks.”

The doctor agreed with Tara. The baby was due in December but the day Sue, Jack and baby Joshua had left the hospital Tara had given birth by emergency caesarean section to a baby girl. The baby was tiny and early. However, the hospital staff reassured them that because it was a girl, things looked better already. Pre-mature girls survive at a higher rate than boys. Tara was racked with guilt.

“I didn’t mean I wasn’t ready” she told Sue. “Now I feel like by saying that God is punishing me for not being overjoyed to begin with.”

“He isn’t,” Sue said. “Everyone reacts to surprises in a different way. God has perfect timing Tara you will see.”

Jack wasn’t nearly as optimistic as Sue and neither was Myles. Myles was at a loss. He spent his time helping Tara recover and looking at his baby. When he finally did have the chance to hold her he was so scared he didn’t even enjoy it. Every night after Tara went to sleep he wandered down to the chapel to think about things. One night he went early as Sue had come by and he felt that maybe Tara needed girl talk more than anything. As he entered he noticed Jack sitting in the back with Joshua. Myles came over and sat down.

Then he said “Come here often?”

“Probably not as much as I should” was Jack’s response. The two men sat in silence and watched the baby sleep.

Then Jack turned to Myles and said “I have never really thought of myself as a religious man. It isn’t that I don’t believe because I do...I just never realized how much until the past few weeks. Now every morning I find myself thanking God for what I have not just my family but my friends. I really think it’s all going to be all right. That Joshua and Bethany will grow up to be best friends and this will just be part of the scrapbook of our lives.”

Myles smiled and said “Thank you. I actually understand what you mean and for some reason today I felt the same.”

“Maybe it is lack of sleep,” Myles continued.

“I don’t think so,” Jack disagreed.

“Me neither. Come on I am going to hold my baby want to watch?” Myles asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” came the response.

~ ~ ~

Later that night when Sue got up to feed the baby, Jack followed her. She smiled and said “You should go back to bed, you have to go to work in the morning.” He shrugged and settled onto the couch next to her covering them both with a blanket. She looked at him, knowing something was bothering him and waited. It was then that he replayed the conversation he had with Myles in the Chapel.

He finished by saying “But you already know she’s going to be fine.”

Sue said “I don’t know that Jack I just have faith that it will all work out.”

Jack responded “You amaze me. Our friends’ world is crashing around them yet you know what to say, what to do and you have the faith that it will all be fine. I don’t know where you find that.”

Sue smiled gently and answered “I don’t always know what to say. I struggle with that every time I see Tara. So I just ask God to give me the guidance I need and to help me to comfort my friend. As for where it comes from, yes part of it is faith in God, but part of it comes from you.”

Jack looked at her in surprise “I don’t understand,” he said.

“You have always had faith in me that I could do anything, sometimes maybe too much faith as it has gotten me in trouble a time or two, but because you believe in me I am able to believe in myself,” Sue explained to him.

“I love you,” Jack said simply.

“I’m glad for that,” she smiled and leaned over to kiss him “As I love you too.”

Everything was all right in the end with the baby at least. She was home for Christmas but the doctor said no to Tara going back to work as Bethany’s immune system was not up to the rigors of daycare. Tara who never thought she would stay at home, stayed at home. The other piece of sad news was Tara’s chance of having another baby was about 5%. The doctor said he was surprised she had gotten pregnant in the first place. Tara’s response to that was typical Tara “Wow think of all the money we wasted on birth control.”

~ ~ ~

So take the photographs…

Sue realized she was lying on Jack’s pillows and therefore he must be up when the cat jumped up on the bed then jumped back down and went to the door. Sue sighed then crept quietly out of the bedroom to find Jack sitting in the rocking chair with both children. She silently opened the hall closet and found the camera. Before anyone could move she snapped a picture.

At the flash Jack opened one eye and asked “What are you doing?”

“Pictures for your mom,” Sue told him.

“Great,” Jack told her.

“She’ll love them,” Sue assured him, “besides I read that it’s important for your children to have pictures of every day life.”

“Well this pretty much sums it up these days,” Jack concluded.

Later that evening Jack’s phone rang, when he answered it he signed “M-Y-L-E-S”.

Sue smiled then her hand flew to her mouth “Oh no” she cried remembering Tara’s message. She quickly signed to Jack to have Myles let Tara know she would e-mail her later.

Jack smiled and signed “okay”. He finished up with Myles by reassuring him he would be at work tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

Monday morning rolled around bright and early. Jack got out of bed and headed for the shower. When he emerged Sue was awake. “Good morning,” she greeted him.

“Good morning to you too,” he said leanly down to kiss her. “You should go back to sleep until the baby wakes up,” he told her. She just smiled at him. After he was dressed he kissed her good-bye and left. A few moments later, however, he came back.

“I brought you your one cup of coffee for the day and the newspaper,” he said producing them with a flourish. Sue signed “thank you” and “I love you”. Jack signed “your welcome” and “I love you” back. Then he headed for work a little earlier than usual to see what he had missed. He was sitting at his desk drinking coffee and reading paperwork when D. came in, waved then asked “Feel better?”

“Yes” Jack replied.

“Good, I want you to meet Riley Marino. He’s our new tech guy.” D. made the introductions. Jack was startled but recovered quickly.

“I came by on Friday,” Riley said as he shook Jack’s hand, “But you were out. I did meet the others though.” Jack just nodded as he absorbed this new information. The rest of the team came in about then followed by Bobby’s new friend who immediately stopped in her tracks looked at Riley and said “Do you wear colored contacts?”

“No,” was his startled reply. The young woman thought wait until the girls get a look at him-jet black hair and eyes the color of emeralds not to mention the way he fills out that shirt. Jack Hudson is married and off limits but this shows promise - no ring either.

She quickly came to her senses when the topic turned to the weekend.

Jason asked “So what kind of exciting plans did you and the lovely Mrs. Hudson have for Valentine’s Day?”

Jack just looked around “What?”

The young woman who had been following Bobby said “Valentine’s Day, you know candy, hearts, flowers…” her voice trailed off.

Myles completed the thought “shoes”. Jack grinned at that suggestion only to be brought back to reality by the young woman’s voice “Please tell me you did not forget?”

“No,” Jack said slowly “I didn’t forget. I think I just slept through it. I was sick remember?”

Bobby quipped “And now you will be lonely too.” Myles opened his mouth thought better of it and shut it.

D. said “Get to work people.” So they did for the most part. Jack made his plan during lunch.

~ ~ ~

And still frames in your mind…

Sue set about cleaning up the house Monday morning. The gray skies had become sunny although still cold but she thought she should probably mop anyway. At least the weather is sunny today even if my attitude isn’t she thought. Mopping is the one thing I hate the most. It’s just an invitation to spill something or for the dog to walk in the mud. Her attitude made her laugh especially since this is the job she told Jack she wanted...

While Tara stayed home with Bethany, Sue returned to work just before Christmas. Both sets of grandparents had been to visit (at different times of course) so the new family of three decided to spend their first Christmas at home. Sue had been very nervous for her mother’s arrival as had Jack, but the visit had gone very well. Sue’s mom had been supportive and only offered advice when asked. Her mantra seemed to be “trust your instincts-you’ll know what to do”.

Joshua did not take kindly to being left at daycare during the day. Most evenings he thought he should stay up late and entertain his parents. After all, he could sleep during the day while they were at work. Many a fuzzy day followed. Myles’ had a baby who just plain had her days and nights confused. Bobby asked how this could be.

“It seems that in the hospital nursery, where my child spent the first 2 months of her life, they never turn the lights completely off. This causes much confusion as to when you should sleep. We are hoping that she will eventually figure it out,” Myles explained. He would have been sarcastic but it just took too much effort.

D. who was watching, remembering and trying not to laugh spoke up at that point. “I have a short out-of-town trip that needs to be made. Jack and Myles, you two need to handle it.” Jack caught Sue’s eye and a look of concern crossed her face. “Nothing major I just need a witness delivered. He is a slight flight risk and it will actually be easier to drive. Come to my office I will give you all the details.” D. finished up.

~ ~ ~

Later, Sue talked to Jack some more about it. She wasn’t too fond of being left on her own yet. He knew and understood but D. had been specific. Jack thought that was rather strange of him but could not ferret anymore information other than what he needed to know for the travel. Jack, Myles and the witness set off a day later. After a long day of driving they pulled into the hotel. Upon getting their room assignment, Jack and Myles both fell on their respective beds.

“Let’s order food to be delivered” Myles said.

“I am too tired. I just want to sleep” Jack replied. “We can sleep all night. No babies to wake us up. Ooo, I feel a little guilty about that,” Jack continued.

“Guilt is a useless emotion. Think of how much better we can serve our wives and children with a good night’s sleep,” Myles countered.

At that point the witness, Clark weighed in. “I’m hungry. I want to go out somewhere. I don’t even want to do this stupid witness thing. Maybe I’ll just walk out while the two of you are sleeping,” he threatened.

“Back to the real reason for our journey,” Jack stated tiredly.

“Look,” Myles explained, “we have brand new babies who don’t sleep and hormonal wives-don’t mess with us. I will personally handcuff you to that bed so I can get some sleep.”

“You can’t do that,” Clark shot back “it’s against my rights.”

Jack looked at Myles “He’s right you know.”

Myles said “Whose side are you on?”

Jack smiled “I have a better idea. First let’s eat then I’ll tell you my plan.”

They ordered pizza for dinner. As soon as everyone was finished Jack looked at Clark and said “Give me everything but your boxer shorts.”

“What? You can’t do that either,” he said.

“Yes, I can and I will,” Jack waited until Clark had stripped down to only his boxers. Then he stuffed everything in the guy’s duffle bag. Next he looked at Myles “Yours too”

Myles said “What? I can come and go as I please.”

“So can he in your clothes and shoes. Mine won’t fit him too small.” Jack pointed out. With that Myles went to the bathroom and put on his sweat pants and t-shirt. Jack just looked at him when he came out. “I will either wear them or sleep with them in my bed,” Myles insisted.

Jack rolled his eyes then changed into a pair of sweats then took everyone’s clothes and shoes (except for the pair he was wearing) out to the SUV. He locked the doors and set the alarm. When he came back in he put the keys under his pillow, looked at Myles, grinned and said “Good night!”

~ ~ ~

Sue thought a lot the two nights Jack was out of town. She came to the conclusion that she really wanted to quit her job and stay home. Well she really wanted to stay home and in order to do that she would have to quit her job. It seemed that every other week Joshua was sick with something. Once he had it then both she and Jack ended up with it. Plus she was always tired and never seemed to get anywhere on time anymore. The second day Jack was gone she was 45 minutes late for work. Jason, Bobby’s trainee, said “It must be nice to be sleeping with the boss, doesn’t matter if you are late again.” Sue read every word of it. Bobby watched her. He knew she was struggling but had no idea what to do to help. Before he could say anything Sue headed for Dimitrius’ office. He welcomed her in as usual. She began by apologizing for being late. D. waved it off “Been there, done that, have the spit-up stained shirts to prove it” was all he said. She looked into the eyes of her and Jack’s trusted friend and boss, took a deep breath then said “I want to quit my job.” D. was surprised but then not really. He knew that eventually he would lose the members of this team. He also knew with Tara staying home now, Sue wouldn’t be too far behind. He smiled and said “I think you should have this conversation with Jack before you have it with me.”

She said “Thank you. I will let you know the outcome.”

As she stood to leave D. asked “Would you still do some consulting work for us? Read tapes as needed?”

“I would like that,” she said.

Upon Jack and Myles’ return their first work related course of action was to thank D. for two solid, uninterrupted nights of sleep. He just laughed and said “Remember when you used to want to go out of town so you could play golf? Now it is a completely different story. See I do actually know what I’m doing.”

~ ~ ~

A couple nights after Jack’s return Sue approached him with the topic. She told him her reasons: Joshua always seemed sick; everyone was always tired; they spent their weekends trying to get caught up on laundry; what about stakeouts and long hours; and she really just liked the idea of being someone’s mom. Jack was slow to respond but agreed. He didn’t have much to say on the topic for some reason.

His only input was “We have plenty of people to help us when we can’t leave at the end of the day.”

Sue sighed and said “But that is asking a lot from people who are busy with their own lives as well. It is too confusing – who will pick up the baby tonight?”

The next day at work Jack called the team together and Sue told them. Myles said “Tara will be so happy to have someone to play with.” Bobby just gave her a smile and quick hug. D. nodded.

Before anyone could say anything else Jack said “Great, let’s get back to work,” and headed toward his desk.

Myles looked at Sue and said “You did tell him in advance didn’t you?”

“Yes but he hasn’t had a lot to say on the matter,” Sue just shrugged.

Bobby said “Well, I think that when Jack the team leader gets over the hurt feelings of his team members leaving then Jack the husband will be very happy about the situation.”

Sue looked at him “Really? Do you think that’s what is wrong?”

Bobby smiled “You were hand picked, and hand trained by him, of course that’s what is wrong.” Sue watched her husband thoughtfully from across the room.

~ ~ ~

Later that night after dinner Jack started to head for the basement to work but Sue stopped him. “You haven’t said more than five words all evening. I know this is bothering you. We need to talk about it.”

“No, if that is what you want then that is fine,” he assured her.

“Jack,” she said, “I know you and I know something is not right. Please tell me what it is?” She leaned forward to touch his arm. He jumped. She looked at him with hurt in her eyes.

“I can’t believe that you of all people would not be supportive. Every other decision I have made since I have known you has been supported by you. Do you think I can’t do this?” She cried. With that he took her hand and led her to the couch.

“I know you can do it. I just thought you liked your job,” he offered.

“I do like my job, but I think I will like this one better” she told him. “It isn’t like I just decided on a whim. I have thought about this since we brought Joshua home from the hospital. I know what I said before he was born but now that he is here it isn’t as easy to leave him as I thought. I even talked to my mom about it.” Jack raised his eyebrows at that. “Her only response was I should do what was right for us. The one time I actually want my mom to tell me what to do she doesn’t,” Sue complained. That made Jack smile and realize that she had been thinking this over for awhile.

“I was actually jealous that Tara didn’t have to make the decision-it was made for her.” Sue went on to explain “Some women can work and have incredible careers and raise their children also. I just never really thought I would do that. My six weeks of maternity leave I loved being home. I loved taking care of you and the baby and everything else. It just felt right to me. Jack, I’m not leaving you. I’m leaving a job. I can still read tapes I just don’t want to roll out of bed early, drag my child off to spend the day with someone else and pretend to like it,” Sue explained further.

Jack looked at her “I guess I will just miss you. You always say how much I support you but it goes both ways. I know you might disagree with me but I also know you will be diplomatic about it. I have gotten used to having someone on my side,” he said.

“But Jack, you have still Bobby and Myles,” Sue offered.

“It isn’t the same,” Jack countered “There is no one I want watching my back more than Bobby. I know exactly what he is going to do and vice versa in the field. In the office, it is another story. And Myles, well he has changed but still I’m never quite sure when the real Myles will surface again.”

Sue took his hand and said gently “Jack, it isn’t just Myles that changed. We all changed. We grew up and sometimes that means moving on. It’s okay. You will find new people who can do the jobs just as good if not better. We are all replaceable at work. It is at home where we are unique.”

“I’ll still miss you,” Jack said simply.

“I know and for that I will always be glad,” she added with a kiss.

Sue sighed and looked up just in time to see Joshua dump the bucket of water over on the floor. He looked at her with his father’s eyes and said “Oops. Love you Mommy”

Sue grinned and signed “I love you” just as the dog jumped into the middle of the puddle.

~ ~ ~

Hang it on a shelf…

Jack arrived home later that evening with a dozen roses. The florist said something about “Oh you forgot” to which Jack replied “I was sick!”

His wife smiled and said “I knew you wouldn’t forget.”

“I was sick,” Jack said again. “They were all out of red and pink so I brought yellow.”

“I like yellow the best anyway,” Sue assured him.

Joshua appeared at this point. “Daddy, uppy pease,” came the tired request.

Jack picked him up and said “Hey buddy I thought you were feeling better?” Jack looked quizzically at Sue.

“No nap today,” Sue explained.

“No nap, why not?” Jack asked his little boy.

“I miss you, Daddy,” Josh told him as he laid his head on Jack’s shoulder. Jack just closed his eyes and sighed. Sue came over and hugged both them.

Then looking at Jack, she said “It’s okay. All little children miss their parents. Don’t worry.” Jack smiled weakly, put Josh down so he could hang up his coat, kissed his wife, then reached down and tossed his little boy in the air as he went to change his clothes.

Once in the bedroom, Jack pulled a small sack out of his briefcase for Joshua. Joshua ran out to the kitchen to show Sue. Jack quickly stuck something under Sue’s pillow before Joshua could run back. Two year olds were not known for their abilities to keep secrets Jack had discovered.

Sue looked at him very surprised when he came back out to the kitchen. Jack picked the baby up out of her bouncy seat then said “What?”

“How did you find that CD?” Sue asked. “My parents had the album and my brothers listened to it growing up then my mom bought me the piano music.”

“I know I saw it when we were there for Christmas. I put our tech friend on the case to track it down. Tara found it easily and ordered it for me. I put it in my desk when Myles brought it in and forgot. Then I heard you singing to the baby yesterday and it reminded me that I had this for you,” he explained. Joshua was dancing around the kitchen at this point saying “play music, play music.” Jack took the CD and put it in the player. Sue smiled and signed “thank you”.

“I bought one for your parents too,” Jack told her, “don’t know how much longer that turntable will last.” Sue laughed at this.

Later when Sue went to bed this is what she found – pictures from a Valentine’s Party long ago, the words to a song, some words from her husband and a charm that looked like ruby red shoes. The man always has a plan, even if it doesn’t always happen exactly as planned, Sue thought.

~ ~ ~

Sue always treasured the words to songs that Jack gave her. She had asked him once when they had first started dating about some song that was playing on the radio. He had printed the words for her a couple days later then found the sheet music too. That had begun a tradition of sorts. Whenever Jack found a song that he thought she might like he printed the words and sometimes found the sheet music too. She kept them all in a notebook entitled Jack’s Big Book of Music on a shelf by the piano. Sometimes she played the music and sometimes she just read the words either way it was something that they shared that few other couples did. Jack related it to her by explaining how some guy somewhere was always burning a mix of songs for a girlfriend. He didn’t have to burn songs he just found lyrics. Why is it that the most innocent and inexpensive things make the best memories and biggest impacts in our lives? She thought as she settled down to read the latest entry in Jack’s Big Book of Music before cuddling up with him to sleep.

~ ~ ~

Tuesday went from bad to worse. The previous week Jason had a run-in with Howie. Howie had called Sue to complain and she had promptly called Jack. Jason denied it all and Bobby had nothing to add to the story. Jason told Jack “So find him and prove that I actually did hurt him or better yet ask Bobby. He is just a snitch and not one that seems to provide us with any information. I tested him and he gave me totally inaccurate information. Howie sure seems friendly with your wife though, talks about her like he still sees her.”

Jack was quickly losing his temper here and reminded Jason that it was not his business to test anyone. Nor was Howie one of his contacts. Howie dealt with Jack, maybe Bobby and occasionally Myles. Jason just blew this off telling Jack that an FBI snitch should give information to whoever demands it. When Jack asked Bobby what happened Bobby hedged around the subject siding more with Jason than Howie but doing so in a way that left Jack even more confused.

~ ~ ~

So Tuesday morning started with Bobby asking Jack if he had seen Howie. Jack response was “No, I couldn’t find him last week. Then I was sick and haven’t tried since.”

Bobby replied “Well maybe that is just as well he did always bug us anyway.” Jack was about to question Bobby further when another disturbance broke out.

“Hey the last donut is mine,” Jason yelled at Riley. “You’re the new guy, bottom of the barrel you get nothing.”

“I think we’re old enough to share the donuts,” Myles stated. “My two-year old has better negotiating skills than you.”

“Fine,” Jason told Riley “I’ll arm wrestle you for it.” Jack made to stop this before it got any further.

“That is totally inappropriate,” Jack tried to reason with Jason in a hushed tone. “You can’t do that.”

“Watch me!” Jason told him loudly.

“Don’t worry I’ll take that challenge any day,” Riley shot back giving Jack a dark look.

“Let it go, Mate,” Bobby told Jack. Jack just looked at Bobby not believing what he was hearing. Myles looked at Jack then and shrugging slightly headed back to his desk.

Bobby set up the challenge and as soon as he released the two hands Riley had Jason’s arm pinned.

“You cheat!” Jason said “Best two out of three.”

Riley just picked up the donut and said “I don’t think so.”

At that point Jack’s phone rang. “Hudson” he answered.

“Jack, it’s me,” Sue’s voice came over the phone.

“Is everything okay? Are the kids okay?” Jack was suddenly worried.

“Yes, it’s fine but I am chatting with Howie online right now and I thought you might want to know. I know you have been looking for him.” Sue explained.

“What?” Jack nearly shouted. “He is not to contact you. I will slap a restraining order on him so fast it will make his head spin.”

“Jack calm down. First of all, you won’t because you don’t know where he is and second he contacted me because he’s scared,” Sue told him. “Can you set it up to find him? I’m afraid if I ask him he will stop chatting.”

“I think so, hang on minute.” Jack quickly explained the situation to the room then looked at Riley and said “Okay wonder boy now’s your chance to show us what you’re made of.”

Riley immediately went into action. “What web page? What kind of chat? Is she in a specific room or instant messaging?” His questions came fast and furious. Jack relayed it all back to Sue. Riley finally found Howie at the library across town.

“We’ll never be able to get there before he leaves,” Myles said. Jack told Sue to keep him talking then had Myles call DCPD to get Howie picked up. Riley sent a photo over for good measure. As soon as DCPD picked up Howie Jack ended the call with Sue.

“Tell him I’m sorry,” Sue told Jack “I was only trying to help him.” Jack thought those won’t be the first words out of my mouth. He knew better than to tell his wife that though. She hadn’t brought this on afterall. She had just got caught up in the middle-again.

~ ~ ~

When Howie arrived he was flustered and angry. Talking about police brutality, wanting to know how a guy could get dragged out of a public library for just chatting innocently on the internet.

When Jack heard this he lost the shred of patience that was left. “Talking innocently on the internet to my wife. You don’t talk to my wife on the internet or through any other means. She is completely off limits to you. I will slap a restraining order on you so fast you won’t know what hit you if you ever have any type of conversation with her again. Do you understand me?”

Myles stepped forward at this point and said “Maybe we should continue this conversation in the conference room. We did actually have a reason for bringing him in-let’s not loose sight of that.”

Jack took a deep breath, grabbed Howie by the elbow and all but dragged him to the conference room.

After Myles shut the door Howie announced “I’m done working for you. First that guy then Sue turns me in and now you Jack. I’m done. I don’t need this abuse anymore.”

Jack looked Howie in the eye for the first time that day and saw a man who was frightened yet trying to show bravado. A man with a fading black eye. A man who would probably walk on fire to save Sue.

“Howie,” Jack began “you knew Sue would call me. You wouldn’t have contacted her if you didn’t want to be found. What’s going on?”

“Bobby’s partner is a little bit rough,” Howie started.

“Is that where the black eye came from?” Myles asked.

“Yeah, last week I’m minding my own business doing business and he busts in during a sale, which by the way was going to be a great sale. I got some really good stuff…” Howie began explaining.

“Howie!” Jack exclaimed.

“Right, well he wants some kind of information and instead of waiting patiently, tosses my clients aside and starts in with the questions,” Howie recounted the story for Jack and Myles. “Next thing I know I’m up against the wall being threatened like some common criminal and when I can’t give him the information he punches me. I tried to explain to him that I wasn’t his snitch and I didn’t have a clue as to what he was asking.”

“Well, the fact that you were talking at all would explain the reason he punched you,” Myles said dryly.

Jack shot him a warning glance then said “What about Bobby? Didn’t he try to stop him?”

“Bobby wasn’t with him. I might have been more inclined to talk but after what his name tossed my customers I wasn’t feeling so generous,” Howie explained.

“Bobby said he was with Jason,” Myles mused.

“Well I never saw him,” Howie insisted.

“Okay Howie so what do we need to do to make this right?” Jack wanted to know.

“First off don’t threaten me with restraining orders,” Howie began.

“My family is totally off limits to you and you know it. If you can’t play by those rules then we don’t play,” Jack remained calm but was firm in his resolve.

“I know,” Howie responded “but it was the only way. I was afraid to come here and run into Jason or whoever he is.”

“Okay so you deal with me or Myles from now on,” Jack concluded.

“That works for me, but what do I do if he comes looking for me? I mean my life’s work is to be out on the street how else do I collect information for you?” Howie wanted to know.

“I’ll take care of that situation,” Jack reassured him “hang out with Otis for awhile. He’s big enough to scare anyone.”

“Trust me Howie once people get to know you they run scared so don’t worry too much,” Myles added. Howie just shook his head and got up to leave. Jack walked him out.

~ ~ ~

Good Riddance

When Jack came back to the conference room, he pursed his lips and looked at Myles.

“Well it would seem our favorite koala boy is not telling us the whole truth. What’s that about?” Myles asked.

Jack said “I don’t know but I do intend to find out right now. Want to stick around for the fireworks?”

“Somehow I think whether I leave or stay I will regret either decision so I might as well stay,” Myles stated.

Jack opened the door and yelled “Bobby, now!”

Bobby ambled in a few minutes later. “What has your drawers all in a knot, mate?” he asked of Jack.

“The fact that you lied to me for one,” Jack began. “Howie said you were no where to be seen during the whole fiasco last week, yet you told me it really wasn’t a big deal. How would you know that if you didn’t actually see it?”

“You would believe Howie over me. A snitch over a team mate?” Bobby was amazed by Jack’s statement.

“Bobby I have known you too long to let you lie to me and get away with it. You weren’t there and I want to know why,” Jack said pointedly.

“I had something to attend to and I didn’t actually know that was what Jason was going to do,” Bobby explained.

“So rather than just tell me you went along with the story?” it was Jack’s turn to be amazed. “What was so important?” Suddenly a thought struck Jack and he leaned back in his chair. “Bobby please tell me this isn’t what I think it is?”

Bobby looked at Myles then back at Jack. “I really don’t want to have this discussion now,” he said flatly.

“Myles you’re out of here,” Jack told him.

“Oh no, I have put up with too much over the past few months of people not pulling there weight and I am not leaving now,” Myles didn’t move but instead shot Bobby a glance.

Jack told Bobby “He has a point. We have all been in this together for too many years through too many other crises.”

Bobby began “It isn’t really what you think. Jason kept bugging me to go to the horse races with him. I blew him off for awhile because I could always find something else to do but then we were out one night and the bar had video poker. He couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to play. I finally got fed up and just left. Somewhere in his own mind he put all the information together and figured it out. He was really nice about it at first. Acted understanding apologized for tempting me but after awhile it was like he wanted me to give in. He talked about gambling all the time. Last week I just needed a break from him so I went to grab a hotdog. Next thing I know everything blows up and Jason threatens me with ‘if you tell anyone what I did, I will tell them all about your little secret’.”

“Bobby I know that secret. Did you think I would give it away now?” Jack wanted to know.

“No but I didn’t need anyone else to know it. I don’t need pity but I do need my job,” Bobby shot back.

~ ~ ~

Jack took a deep breath and said “Bobby this has been going on since way before last week. You leave early, you come in late, and now you don’t tell us when something major is happening?”

“Because my ‘major’ is nothing like your ‘major’,” Bobby looked at the confused faces and went on “your lives are full of major turning points-marriage, babies, families and I just didn’t have anything to add that I felt would ever be that important.”

“Bobby, I’m sorry that you feel that way. I guess I didn’t realize that we weren’t including you. That was never mine or Tara’s intention,” Myles apologized.

“But you insisted on keeping Josh the day the baby was born and we couldn’t have been happier about that. You’re always welcome at our house. I thought you knew that,” Jack reminded him.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with being welcome. It has to do with being in the same place,” Bobby tried to explain.

“I wasn’t aware that you wanted to be in the same place,” Jack said “when Darcy left you told me it was for the better you weren’t ready to be tied down.”

“When Darcy left I thought I wasn’t but then she was gone and I realized how much I really missed her,” Bobby admitted.

“Then do something about it,” Myles told him “you know where she is go get her. She would have stayed if you would have asked.”

“It isn’t that easy,” Bobby said. “It’s been a long time.”

“We obviously are not going to solve this issue right now,” Jack tried to re-direct the conversation “but I am going to solve the other one.”

Bobby stated “You trusted me with the responsibility of training Jason and it pretty much looks like I’ve failed. Why did you wait this long?”

“Because I didn’t want you to think that you hadn’t done a good job training him. You did but you can’t train instinct and despite your best efforts to get him to tone down the criticism he didn’t. I felt things were fragile enough and I didn’t want to make the situation worse. Obviously I was wrong and that means that I failed also,” Jack admitted. “So I think it is high time to fix it,” he finished as he stood to return to the bullpen.

~ ~ ~

Loud voices greeted them as they walked back into the bullpen. Jason was giving Riley advice on how to do his job and Riley wasn’t taking it well.

“I can’t believe you won’t listen to me,” Jason started “I’m an agent and you are just an analyst. Have you even been trained? Did you have to lie on your resume to get this job? How did you pass any of the tests?” Jason taunted.

Jack walked into the bullpen looked at Jason and said “Sit down and get to work. You will not be disrespectful to anyone who works in this office.”

“I can handle myself,” Riley protested. “Don’t do me any favors,” he told Jack.

Jason said “Too bad your wife doesn’t work here anymore. She was the only one who actually did respect you. I have always wondered how she got the job in the first place!”

Before Jack could answer D.’s voice rang out “Jack my office now! The rest of you work. I expect all the paperwork on your desks to be done for my review before you leave tonight!”

Jack stormed into D.’s office, slammed the door and started pacing.

D. asked “Jack, I have had many complaints against Jason but none from you. What is going on?”

Jack sighed stopped pacing and explained “He used to give Sue a really hard time. She would never let me do anything because she didn’t want any special privileges. After she left I thought he would just give it up. He hasn’t and it is making me second guess everything.”

D. responded “Since when do you second guess anything? And why didn’t you make me aware of this?”

Sliding into a chair, Jack continued “I didn’t want you to think I was requesting any special privileges. We had pushed matters far enough so I let it go because I knew I could trust Bobby and Myles. Now I am not so sure about Bobby.”

D. was angry “Did you not think you could trust me?”

~ ~ ~

Jack backpedaled “No, I know I can trust you. I just wanted to handle it. I figured you had enough going on. You are always in here with the door closed so I was trying not to add anymore stress to your life.”

Suddenly D. stopped and smiled “You think I am in here stressed out so I close the door? Do not disturb?”

“Well,” Jack stammered “that is the general idea. We kind of decided when you allowed us to break all the rules that we would do our best to not add more stress to your brand new job.” D. burst into laughter now.

“What’s so funny?” Jack demanded.

“I come in here and shut the door because I am usually laughing so hard at all your antics. The newlywed game, Myles, Tara and the car radio, who burnt dinner last night. New babies, tired agents who are trying to figure out the parenting job, someone throwing up usually in the vicinity of Bobby. I would call Donna daily just to tell her. She was so jealous that I could experience it all first hand. We would laugh and then remember how we used to be and laugh more.”

Jack was not laughing “Well I glad we could provide you with some comic relief” he said as he stood to leave.

“Sit back down.” D. ordered. Jack just looked at him. “Seriously, let’s sort this Jason thing out,” D. said. Jack sat and waited. D. looked at him “I’m waiting for your ideas.”

“I want him out,” Jack said quietly.

“Okay consider it done.” D. acknowledged. “Next time don’t wait so long. He has been here just over two years.”

“I know,” Jack said “It just seems that every time we get someone trained they leave for one reason or another and that makes me feel like I have failed. I didn’t want to get the reputation that we are hard to work with.”

D. said “But we are because that’s what it takes to be the best. Anything else? What about Bobby?”

Jack said “I will keep you posted on that. Now that I know what’s going on with him I feel better about the situation. But who is that woman that following him around?”

~ ~ ~

When Jack walked through the door Tuesday evening Sue couldn’t decide what had transpired. She knew he was upset about Howie contacting her but she also knew that it was Howie’s way of wanting to be found. She looked at Jack cautiously. Josh greeted him with his usual exuberance. Jack hung up his coat then looked at Sue and said “What?”

“I don’t know what to expect,” Sue told him. “I know you were angry earlier but it isn’t like I went to find him by myself or with the kids,” she hurried on.

Jack held up his hands. “You did the right thing. I’m glad you called me. I’m sorry if you thought I was angry at you. I wasn’t. I just get a little protective when it is my family,” he admitted and with that he wrapped his arms around her.

“Howie would never hurt us,” Sue said.

“Howie is a snitch not a social contact,” Jack pointed out then looking at Sue’s face he realized how tense he was and forced himself to relax.

“I know. I just don’t want him near my family. Jack said once again. Then leaned down and kissed his wife. “You are the most important things in the world to me and I would do anything to protect you.”

She smiled and ran her hand along his cheek enjoying the moment soon broken by Joshua clamoring to be picked up.

After dinner Sue asked Jack about Bobby. “Is everything going to be alright between you two?” She wanted to know.

Jack explained what had transpired today finishing with “I think so. He isn’t gambling so that’s good. I think he is just regretting letting Darcy leave without so much as a backwards glance.”

“Does he want her back?” Sue asked.

“I’m not sure if he wants her or if he just wants someone,” Jack stated. Sue sighed and just looked at him.

“What about that young woman that he brought here Friday?” She suggested.

Jack just laughed. “The shadow? I will tell you that story when I have it figured out myself. Now however I think I will bathe our child who seems to enjoy wearing rather than eating his spaghetti.”

Sue signed “thank you” as Jack tried to pick up Joshua without having to wear the spaghetti as well.

~ ~ ~

Good Riddance (The Time of Your Life)

Wednesday morning when Jack came in there was an empty desk. He smiled and thought things are looking up. D. walked in looked at Jack then smiled back.

Jack said “Well, now what are we going to do?”

Bobby and Myles showed up then and looked at D. also.

Riley came in next and said “You didn’t get rid of him on my account did you?”

Jack laughed “No we liked it when you whipped him at arm wrestling. Seriously though, we hope you know that his opinion was strictly that-his. It certainly doesn’t represent any of our feelings.”

Riley said “Thank you. I can take care of myself though.” Jack frowned at that comment but before he could speak D. asked “So do either of your lovely wives need jobs?” Jack and Myles just laughed at that.

Jack said “My lovely wife would tell you she already has a job and it leaves her precious little time for anything else.”

Myles added “And mine would now say ‘you can’t afford me anymore’ as she has been doing some consulting which pays well and she can work in her pajamas.”

“Okay,” D. said “time for Plan B”.

Bobby chimed in with “Hope it is better than Plan A.”

D. just grinned and said “Be here at 10:00am to find out.”

D. left at 9:45am amidst the calls of “Hey what about Plan B?” He waved them off. Bobby, Jack, Myles and Riley just sat at their desks and looked at each other. Pretty soon they went back to paperwork. D. returned around 10:00am with a surprise.

~ ~ ~

Jack jumped up and said accusingly “You left…”

Bobby continued “never planning to return”

Myles said “I believe the term was ‘Good Riddance’”

“Sometimes your life gets in the way of your best laid plans,” was the flip response offered back.

The guys all looked confused until D. said “I give you Special Agent Lucy Dotson, Plan B.” A cheer was heard all around. Then in walked the shadow who said “Wow I usually have to do something to be greeted by cheers.” Lucy looked at Jack and said “Who’s that?”

Jack just grinned and shook his head “Does my wife know you’re here?”

Bobby was still stunned “You moved away to Atlanta or someplace”

Myles moved to hug Lucy then said “Tara will be so glad to see you!”

Lucy looked at D. then one by one answered the questions; to Jack she said “No, she doesn’t.”

To Bobby she said “Maybe I moved back.”

Lastly to Myles she said “I will be glad to see her also. But she added “Are you glad to see me?”

Jack just nodded “More than you will ever know.”

~ ~ ~

The rest of the morning was spent catching up. Lucy had gone to work in the Atlanta office when she was done at Quantico. She said “I worked out of the Atlanta office but really missed DC. My supervisor knows D. so she let him know I was looking for a transfer and the rest is history.”

Riley was introduced. He was finding out that there was some definite history amongst these new teammates. It fascinated him yet scared him all at the same time.

Looking around the room, trying not to glance in Riley’s direction Jack said “Let’s just have lunch delivered today, it will just be easier that way.” Everyone else agreed, Riley with a half-hearted “Okay whatever.”

Over lunch they were all discussing there various postings within the bureau. Riley had been on the West Coast for the first years of his FBI career. He had trained in the San Francisco office then been transferred to Los Angeles. The team wanted to know what brought him back.

“Family mostly. All my family is here on the East Coast and after awhile I just wanted to be closer. My sister and her husband lost a baby a few years ago and I couldn’t make it back to be with them. That started some thinking in my head and I finally up and did something about it,” he explained.

“Will you miss the West Coast?” Lucy wanted to know.

“I will miss the attitude and the weather,” Riley told them.

“What kind of attitude?” Myles asked.

“DC winters aren’t that bad-be glad you don’t live in Wisconsin,” Jack added.

“The attitude that I could do what ever I put my mind to. People in San Francisco especially are very accepting. They don’t jump to your aid over everything. They help if you ask but mostly I was allowed to fight my own battles,” Riley explained shooting a glance at Jack.

Jack met the eyes of Myles and Bobby. It was tense for a moment then Riley went on. “As for the weather I don’t really mind winter it is just exceptionally easy to get frostbite when you already don’t have any feeling in your toes,” Riley told them. “You were supposed to laugh at that,” he added.

The team smiled then Bobby never one to beat around the bush asked “So how does someone like yourself find your way into the FBI?”

“It’s a non-discriminatory world. I have great computer skills. I can shoot a gun with amazing accuracy not that the bureau will let me carrying one. I just can’t do the running!” Riley said. “I have been in a wheelchair since I was 19.” He paused “Do you want the whole story now?” The rest of the team nodded. “It happened my sophomore year in college. The car I was riding in got broadsided. I was hurt the worst so to speak but my friend who was driving suffered the most. He ran a stop sign and well this was the result,” Riley said indicating the wheelchair. “I did a year at a rehabilitation hospital then went home. Somewhere along the line I came to the conclusion that I could go on and live the life I wanted or I could sit home and pout about it. My parents were supportive although hesitant so I went back to college, lived in the dorms, and earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics then a master’s degree in computer technology. I can drive. I swim a mile every day and I have full use of my arms.”

At that point Bobby looked at Lucy and said “Don’t ever arm wrestle him for the last donut-you will lose!” Lucy grinned at that as did Riley.

“So why the FBI?” Jack wanted to know.

“Because everyone said it couldn’t be done. I never thought I would be an agent but I knew I could be an analyst with my technology and statistical background,” Riley stated simply.

“Well you proved that in record time yesterday. My wife was very impressed when I told her,” Myles told him.

“So both of your wives used to work here? And you too?” Riley looked at Jack and Myles then Lucy.

“Yes to all of the above,” Lucy answered. “Sue and I were roommates before she decided to actually marry Jack.”

“Hey I only had to ask once!” Jack protested. Lucy raised her eyebrows “okay twice,” Jack admitted.

“No, I think there was a third time when you finally gave her a ring,” Lucy laughed.

“Or was it the bathrobe?” Bobby kidded.

Riley said “This sounds like quite a story.”

Jack denied “It isn’t really.” He continued with “Okay Luce, are you staying with us? You at least need to come to my house for dinner. I will call Sue and tell her I am bringing home the new recruit.”

Myles said “Tara will never let me hear the end of this. We will come too.”

“Not until after dinner. Sue will never buy it if I say the new recruit and everyone else,” Jack said shaking his head.

“All right we’ll be there at 7:00pm then we will probably leave at 8:00pm so as to be home in time for bed,” Myles mused. Lucy just looked from Jack to Myles and thought about how much they had changed. She also thought about the questions Tara and Sue would ask and she was pretty sure she would not get off this easy with them.

~ ~ ~

Lunch broke up and as everyone headed back to work Jack hovered over Riley offering to throw away his trash. Lucy had some paperwork to deal with in Human Resources so she told Jack she would be back later. After things were cleaned up, Jack called Sue to tell her he was bringing home a guest for dinner. She was less than thrilled but he managed to finagle it without giving anything away.

As Jack was sweet talking his wife, Riley said to Bobby and Myles “If he is always this overly protective I’m not sure this will work out.”

Bobby thought for a minute then explained “That is the highest compliment you will ever receive from Jack Hudson. You might not think so now but you’ll change your mind eventually.”

Myles quickly added “We have stayed as a team for so long because we truly believe we are a team. Here and at home. Don’t jump to conclusions about Jack. He will test your knowledge and skills to the limit and force you to grow even if you don’t want too. If you thought yesterday was tough then you haven’t seen anything yet. Jack doesn’t sit back and doesn’t let anyone else either so if you aren’t up for the challenge you better let him know now. He just doesn’t take well to people like Jason who are disrespectful and judgmental. You will understand why sooner or later.”

“I have never backed away from a challenge,” Riley shot back.

“Good,” Bobby told Riley clapping him on the shoulder “then you will fit in just fine.”

~ ~ ~

Lucy had made arrangements to drop her car off with Charlie so Jack followed her there and then she rode home with him.

“Are you sure this was such a good idea?” Lucy questioned Jack.

“Sure why not?” he wanted to know.

“Because I left not in the best frame of mind and I haven’t written, called, e-mailed or anything for almost two years,” Lucy reminded him.

“Sue isn’t one to hold a grudge. She’ll be happy to see you-surprised but happy,” Jack responded. He thought to himself I am sure I’ll be feeling the wrath later but the alternative would have been worse.

As soon as Jack opened the door Joshua came running over with the dog close on his heels. When the dog saw Jack and Lucy she started barking and ran down the hall to find Sue.

“She still barks,” Lucy observed, “you think she would have figured that out.”

Jack just smiled and admitted “We decided to find it charming once we figured she wasn’t going to change.”

“Daddy, uppy,” Joshua said bouncing around. Lucy took one look at him and felt the tears start to come. She swallowed hard as Jack picked Joshua up and introduced them.

“I haven’t seen you for so long. I knew you when you were a baby,” she said reaching over to touch his curly hair.

“No baby,” Joshua told her “I big now!”

“Yes, you sure are,” Lucy said with a smile.

“Where’s mommy?” Jack wanted to know.

“Bedroom,” Joshua told him just as Sue came down the hall carrying the baby. She stopped dead in her tracks and said “Lucy…” her eyes wide.

“Surprise!” Lucy signed smiling hopefully.

With that Sue smiled and went to hug her friend. Then she looked at Jack “You said new recruit,” she reminded him.

He repeated Dimitrius’ words from earlier “I give you the newest member of our team-Special Agent Lucy Dotson.”

Sue smiled bigger, handed Jack the baby and said “We have some catching up to do.”

Lucy looked at the baby and said “I’ll say!”

~ ~ ~

They talked non-stop throughout dinner about what Lucy had done and where she had been. She told them about her adventures in Atlanta, a brief trip to the Middle East and updated them on her family. Sue started to clear the table when Lucy excused herself to the restroom.

Jack got up to help Sue then grabbed her hand and turned her to face him.

“Are you mad at me?” he wanted to know.

“No,” Sue shook her head, “surprised but not mad. I just don’t understand why you couldn’t tell me.”

“Because you would have fretted about it all day long, called Tara who would have come bursting into the office and I just didn’t want to deal with that,” he tried to explain.

“I would not have fretted,” Sue started. Jack held up his hand to stop her.

“You are fretting now,” he pointed out, “I know your feelings were hurt by the whole thing. I just thought you needed some time to talk to Lucy without the world watching. I didn’t know this was D.’s plan until 10:00am this morning. If I would’ve known sooner I would have told you.”

“I just feel so…” Sue was at a loss.

Jack smiled and said “I know but I also know that the two of you were great friends and still should be.” Then he kissed her forehead as Lucy walked back in. Lucy smiled and thought about how much she had missed them and how much she had just plain missed.

Joshua broke the silence with “Zert Mommy?”

“What?” Sue signed.

“Dessert,” Jack signed back. Sue laughed and brought the cake to the table. About that time the doorbell rang and the dog went crazy pawing Sue and barking. Sue looked at her said “Murphy!” and she gave one last bark then stopped.

~ ~ ~

When Jack opened the door he discovered Tara. “Where’s the rest of the entourage?” he wanted to know looking past her.

“At home enjoying some quality father-daughter time as both father and daughter are exceptionally cranky this evening,” Tara declared. Jack laughed when Tara continued, “Let me in. I want to see Lucy!”

“Who’s cranky?” he asked. Tara just rolled her eyes and pushed past him. Lucy squealed and got up to hug Tara. After the embrace Tara sat down to have some dessert and Joshua asked “Betsy too?”

“Sorry sweetie she stayed home with Daddy tonight. No nap makes for a cranky girl which makes for a very early bedtime,” Tara explained.

Joshua just frowned as Sue looked at him and said “There seems to be a lot of that no napping bug going around!”

Jack looked at Josh and said “This is our cue to leave. We don’t want to hang around for the girl talk-trust me on this.” Joshua giggled as Jack picked him up and threw him over his shoulder heading for a bath.

Tara picked up the baby as Lucy caught her up on her life so far while Sue cleared the dishes away. Then they all went and sat in the living room. Tara looked at the baby then at Sue and asked “Is she feeling better?”

“Yes, I think so, we go back to the doctor Friday, so I will know for sure then,” Sue answered. Lucy wanted to know what had been wrong so Sue filled her in on everyone’s illnesses finishing with “Both Jack and Josh seem to be better too.”

Eventually Joshua came out to kiss everyone good night. Lucy laughed and said “Well he definitely has the Hudson charm.”

Sue responded with “Most days anyway.”

Tara stayed until around 10:00pm then headed for home after Lucy promised to call her tomorrow. “I am anxious to see Bethany. I bet she has changed,” Lucy told her. Tara just smiled and left it at that.

~ ~ ~

After Tara left Lucy looked at Sue and said “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. I was just at such a crossroads in my life. I needed a change. I just felt like I didn’t belong here anymore. Everyone had moved on but me. Then that fiasco with Dave didn’t help matters at all.”

“Lucy no one judged you about that. He was dishonest with you. It wasn’t like you intentionally went after a married man,” Sue reminded her.

“I know I was just so embarrassed. I just couldn’t bear the thought that everyone knew. Then to find out that it was Jack that discovered it in the first place. It brought back all those memories of Myles and I just felt suffocated,” Lucy went on.

“I was really angry at Jack when he told me. I knew he didn’t like him and I didn’t either but I knew he wouldn’t lie,” Sue admitted.

Lucy looked down before speaking again. When she did look Sue in the eye she knew that this was not going to be easy. “I think I knew on some level that something didn’t add up. I just so wanted what everyone else had that I was willing to let my heart override my instincts,” Lucy said.

She continued “When you told me I felt betrayed. I know that you had my best interests at heart but I couldn’t keep it in perspective. I took out my feelings of betrayal on you when I should have taken them out on Dave.”

“Then you quit to stay home and somehow I just let it be one more thing to stand in my way. When I left, I told Human Resources not to give my forwarding address to anyone. I missed you all so much but it took working in Atlanta and hearing things through the grapevine to get up enough courage to ask to come back,” Lucy stated.

“I didn’t know how much D. knew but I just decided I had to have faith that you wouldn’t have said anything so I asked for a transfer,” Lucy smiled then added “you should have seen the looks on people’s faces when I told them I was going to DC to be a part of Jack Hudson’s team. They thought I was nuts. People kept saying ‘Do you know how much turnover that team has had in the last two year?’ ‘He eats nice people like you for lunch’ someone told me. I finally had to confess that I had worked for him before and I enjoyed the challenge. In fact I realized the only good thing that came from leaving besides becoming an agent was how much I enjoyed working for Jack because he always pushed me. So I explained to my co-workers while Jack is demanding he is also married to one of my best friends…I hope.” she finished.

Sue looked at her, smiled back and said “I hope so too.” Then she added, “You and Bobby seem to be living in the same spot these days. He has been struggling with where he is in his life compared to where Jack and Myles are and regretting lots of things.”

“Don’t go there,” Lucy cautioned. “Bobby Manning and I will never be an item.”

Sue just laughed “I don’t match make, that is your specialty and that isn’t what I meant anyway.”

Lucy said “Oh, good. I guess our lives are all full of turning points sometimes we just turn the wrong way. Hopefully we figure it out eventually and turn again.” Sue smiled at that. Then Lucy added “Tell me about Tara, she seems to be holding something back. Is it because of me?”

“No, I don’t think so but lots has happened,” Sue said. With a look at the sleeping baby Lucy nodded her agreement. Sue then told Lucy Tara’s tale.

~ ~ ~

Tara had gotten pregnant and miscarried on two different occasions. The emotional as well as the physical toll was deemed too much by her doctor. After the last miscarriage the doctor had advised them to take some permanent action so a pregnancy would not happen again. The second miscarriage happened about a week after Sue discovered she was pregnant the second time. Jack was a little more discreet this time around. He knew that Sue needed to tell Tara first. He did not envy her but knew that if anyone could find the right words it would be Sue. This pregnancy was nothing like the first for Sue. She could not figure out how she could gain any weight because nothing stayed in her system that long. One morning at the park, Tara figured it out.

Sue apologized “I was going to tell you today. I just did not know how. I was worried I would upset you.”

Tara then reminded her friend “Every baby is a gift from God. I can think of no one more deserving than you to receive this gift.” They both cried a little at this point, tears of joy mixed with some of sadness.

At the hospital the evening after the baby was born, Sue sat in her bed and wondered if Tara would come. Well she knew Tara would come because that is what friend’s do but she wondered if things would be strained. Last time Tara was here in this hospital things had not been nearly as joyful.

Sue saw light and looked up as the door to her room opened. In walked Tara with a dozen pink roses.

Tara said “I had a baby girl a couple of years ago and my best friend brought me a dozen pink roses. Thought I would return the favor...”

Sue smiled and said “Oh Tara they’re beautiful!”

Tara then put them down and came to hug her friend. “Can I hold her?” she asked.

“Yes, I have been waiting for you. You will be the first person other than Jack, me or Joshua to hold her.”

“I consider myself honored” Tara replied. “What is her name?” Tara continued.

“Paige Katherine” Sue went on to explain “Paige for my grandmother, Katherine for Jack’s mom”

“It is beautiful,” Tara concluded.

“So...” Sue began “Are we okay?”

Tara said “Yes, I guess I needed some space off and on. I was little jealous at times. In fact, the day you threw up at the park I was kind of glad. Sorry.” Tara offered a small smile.

Tara looked around the room. Coming back to meet Sue’s eyes Tara told her, “I never thought I would want something so bad that I can’t have.”

“Tara there are many ways to have a baby,” Sue began again.

“Not for me and Myles,” Tara said abruptly trying to blink back tears.

“Tara have you even talked to him about this?” Sue questioned.

“No, you know how his family is about bloodline,” Tara explained.

“But that isn’t fair to Myles” Sue protested. “You can’t make that judgment about him without at least giving him a chance,” Sue continued.

Tara smiled briefly “I guess it is just easier than hearing him say no”.

“But what about hearing him say yes? Tara you have to talk to him about this. Please!” Sue said.

“I’ll think about it,” was Tara’s response.

~ ~ ~

Of good health…

Sue sighed “We haven’t talked about it since,” she told Lucy.

Lucy noticed the sadness in Sue’s eyes and asked, “Has anyone mentioned this to Myles?”

“It’s not our place to do so,” Sue reminded her gently.

“I was the first person to hold Joshua other than you and Jack,” Lucy remembered. “I had to race Bobby to the hospital the next morning.”

Sue smiled remembering how excited everyone had been. Jack had called everyone about 11:00pm to tell them it was a boy and Bobby wanted to come up right then and there. Jack told him he was nuts and not to because they were all exhausted so Bobby had waited until the next morning. He had stopped to buy donuts thus causing him to arrive just a few minutes after Lucy. He had waited not so patiently for his turn causing Sue to laugh loudly. This brought the nurse who had told them all to quiet down.

“I like the baby’s name,” Lucy said.

“I wanted Katherine as her first name originally,” Sue admitted. “Then Jack informed me that the name Kate Hudson was already taken.”

Lucy laughed then said to Sue “So how have you been?” Sue looked at floor then picked some invisible lint off the couch before shrugging and saying “Fine.”

“I didn’t live with you all those years to not know a lie when I see one-spill,” Lucy demanded.

Sue smiled “I have been doing better. I was kind of depressed after the baby was born. Jack was swamped at work and I was feeling overwhelmed by all of it. His parents came to help us and that made things better,” she explained.

Lucy asked skeptically “Better for who?”

“Oh no Lucy it wasn’t like that. I was really glad they came. It took some pressure off Jack and me. Joshua had lots of attention and I don’t think I did anything for ten days-no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning. In fact his mom filled my freezer with food so after they left all I did was thaw things out and warm them up. Then we went to my parents for Christmas…,” she stopped when Lucy broke in.

“And how was that?” Lucy was almost afraid to ask.

“Actually it was good too. My mom just wanted to spoil the kids. She thinks they’re perfect, so that is good. She also thinks Jack is perfect so that isn’t so good but still we had a very nice time.” Sue concluded, “I worry about their hearing and my mom just reminds me that if anyone can do it – Jack and I can. She has been really different since Joshua was born. She just listens and encourages then tells me she loves me. It was kind of scaring me for awhile but I think she just appreciates things more these days.”

“When we came back my house was totally clean. The neighbors who took care of the dog cleaned the house, did all the laundry, made sure we had the staples like coffee and milk and left us food to make it though that first day home. I felt guilty about all the attention especially since I wasn’t being very grateful. On top of all of those things work has been miserable for Jack that past three months but I think things are looking up now,” Sue told her with a hopeful smile.

“Did you talk to anyone about this?” Lucy was concerned.

“I talked to Jack, to Tara, to the pediatrician and to my doctor. My doctor was concerned although said it was normal. The pediatrician’s office called at least once a week to check on me, Jack’s mom e-mailed me, Donna would call too, neighbors and church friends would stop by and Tara hung in there with me despite how hard I knew it was for her,” Sue said.

“I never felt like doing anything desperate like some women do, I just think I was scared to be happy. I was scared when I was pregnant the second time that things wouldn’t go smoothly. I told Jack I felt like we were tempting fate and then when everything was fine, it was like I just kept waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop,” she continued.

“What did Jack say about that?” Lucy was curious to see Jack’s insights.

Sue smiled softly as she pushed a piece of hair off her face “He reminded me that I didn’t believe in fate-that I believed in God, that I could only control so much and the rest I just had to have faith that God would take care of it. It made me count my blessings and gave me courage to face each day. Eventually days fell into a routine and within that I found my comfort zone. Once I found that I realized what Jack was up against at work and that helped me to help him. It’s hard sometimes you know because there is voice inside that demands ‘what about me!’ and many on the outside that demand same! I don’t think we have it all figured out but I think we have managed to find the path at least,” she finished. Looking at the clock and the sleeping baby in her arms Sue suddenly realized how late it was.

“I better go to bed,” she said “Josh will be up by 7:00am.”

“So he doesn’t take after his father in that aspect?” Lucy wanted to know.

“Well Josh may get up early but don’t talk to him for at least an hour,” Sue laughed. “Jack’s mom said he was the same way. All those years of early morning hockey practice were fine as long as no one spoke to him. Come to think of it he’s still the same way.”

“I have missed so much,” Lucy sighed then signed “good night.”

Sue went over to her desk and pulled out a small package of letters then handing them to Lucy she said “Maybe this will help you feel more caught up. Good night.” Then she added “Oh and Lucy I’m really glad you’re back.”

~ ~ ~

Jack became aware that Sue came to bed but didn’t actually wake up. He just knew that he rolled over, wrapped his arms around her and slept well until morning. When his alarm went off at 6:00am he thought about skipping the gym so he could lay there with his wife until he figured out he was alone. He jumped up not remembering hearing the baby cry, grabbed a sweatshirt and went to find Sue.

He found her sitting on the couch with the dog. She looked up as he came into the living room and gave him half a smile. He looked at her confused then signed “Where’s the baby?”

“Still sleeping, I hope,” came Sue’s startled reply. “Is she not in her bed?”

“I didn’t look. I just figured if you were up it must be because of her,” he told her heading back down the hall to double check. Paige was sound asleep in her crib. Jack realized he had been holding his breath and let it out. He went back to Sue.

“She’s sleeping,” he told her as he settled next to her on the couch. “Why aren’t you?” he wanted to know.

“Too much to think about, I guess,” she began then stopped.

“So?” Jack prompted her.

“I really wanted to be angry with Lucy. I wanted to tell her she couldn’t be my best friend because where was she when Tara and I needed her? But I couldn’t because she was where she was supposed to be. Having a life of her own,” Sue told him.
Jack just nodded then waited. He had expected this and now it was his turn to just listen.

“She didn’t even know we had another baby, Jack. I really missed her. I never looked for her though and I know I could have found her. Tara too but we never talked about it. Lucy wondered why Tara was so hesitant last night. She thought Tara was mad at her. Tara isn’t mad at her anymore than I am. I know that without even asking Tara. Tara is just wondering about having to relive the past two years of her life. To tell her story and hope she doesn’t get any pity. So you know what? I told it for her!” Sue exclaimed.

Jack smiled and signed “Quiet”. Sue looked at him sheepishly. Then she asked “Do you think it will ever be the same? Will we ever be the type of friends we were before?”

Jack thought for a moment then said “No it won’t ever be the same because you’re all different people now. You won’t have the same type of friendship because you don’t have the same life,” tears started to fill Sue’s eyes before he could finish “maybe it will be better because you all missed each other. Maybe now it will be a friendship borne out of something other than work-like you and Tara. You might not see each other as much but when you do maybe the time spent will be more valuable.” Sue was crying now.

“Okay maybe you shouldn’t ask me these hard questions at 6:15am in the morning,” he told her. That made her smile some so he wrapped his arms around her then said “Maybe you should get some sleep.”

“Are you going to the gym?” Sue asked.

“Probably too late for that now,” he replied. “Should I just stay here and enjoy a quiet moment with you?” he asked as he played with her hair. Sue nodded then laid her head on his chest and he felt her relax.

~ ~ ~

With Sue snuggled up in his arms Jack thought about all the intricacies of marriage. Marriage was the art of compromise. Marriage to Sue had made him realize just how much he enjoyed comprising. There was intimacy like he had never imagined. It was more than love and way beyond the physical. Sometimes it was a conversation, sometimes it was a glance across a room, sometimes it was knowing the exact buttons to push and pushing them at the exact times. Intimacy didn’t come in a pretty package in fact some of his fondest memories included a crying baby and lots of laundry. It was enjoying the best because you had survived the worst.

He had tried to explain how he felt to Sue one day after she had told him once she was worried she would disappoint him in the bedroom part of their marriage. “I think you can have sex with anyone but what I have with you goes way beyond that. It is more than love it is just intimacy. I can think of no other word for it.” After he said it out loud the whole thing scared him more than he cared to admit. But the statement that made him want to step back made Sue more confident and secure in their relationship. It made him realize that staying in love was harder than being in love. Sharing those feelings really put your spirit on the line, but that was the joy of intimacy-when one of you wanted to step away the other held on and soon it all came full circle again. It was so much more than he had ever thought. It was being there to pick up the pieces of the broken heart so you could enjoy the laughter that would come eventually.

Jack knew that Sue had struggled the past few months and just in case he hadn’t realized it his mom had made a point to ask him about her. He knew his mom worried not only about him but also about Sue. She had told Jack once that she could not imagine anyone better suited for him than Sue and he darn well better take good care of her. Since his mom wasn’t one to meddle this had surprised him but made him happy none the less. Sue had been so worried about his parents accepting her and when they did with open arms she had been a little shocked.

Jack had been so relieved when he called his parents after Paige was born and they agreed to come. His mom had been only too happy to spend time with her grandchildren and baby Sue also. Jack had tried to keep the work mess from Sue but she knew him to well. After last week he had truly considered quitting. He had even written his letter of resignation but now was happy it hadn’t come to that.

~ ~ ~

Jack realized that Sue had fallen asleep so he gently laid her down then covered her with a blanket. He started the coffee then headed for the shower. Once done there he got dressed and was ready to leave. As he walked out of the bedroom he heard Joshua’s voice then Sue’s.

“Daddy,” Josh clapped his hands. “Watch ‘toons-dooby doo?”

“Sorry,” Jack explained, “Daddy has to go to work today.” Joshua frowned but his face lit up when Jack said “How about some breakfast though?”

“Pancakes,” Joshua stated.

“Cheerios,” his father shot back. Josh made a thoughtful face then acquiesced. “Kay.”

Sue watched them smiling. “Do you want something?” Jack asked her.

“Not right now. I will eat when I am done with the baby,” Sue told him.

After the cereal was eaten, Jack said “Tell Lucy not to rush in today-technically she doesn’t start until Monday” then he kissed the top of Josh’s head “I love you,” he said then kissed the baby “I love you,” he said again then kissed his wife and signed “I love you.” Then he was out the door for work.

~ ~ ~

Lucy woke up about 9:30am to the chattering of Joshua and the barking of the dog. She heard Sue at that point “Quiet, Lucy is sleeping.” For some reason this made Josh laugh louder and that made the dog bark again. Grinning she got out of bed and headed upstairs.

“Oh Luce, I’m so sorry. We are so noisy and just not used to having guests,” Sue apologized.

Lucy laughed and said “Well it is 9:30am I think it is high time I got out of bed.”

“Coffee?” Sue asked.

“Love some,” Lucy replied as Joshua raced past. “What are you doing?” Lucy wanted to know.

“Chasing,” Joshua told her as he ran by again.

Sue just shook her head “Don’t ask for more explanation than that. He doesn’t have one.” Lucy watched as Joshua ran down the hall then back to the living room, each time he passed the desk the cat jumped out to grab at his feet thus making Joshua giggle and the dog bark.

The two women chatted over coffee for a while, Sue relaying Jack’s message then Lucy headed off to the shower. Tara called about then to ask if Sue and Lucy wanted to come to lunch.

“I’m sure Lucy does but I think the kids and I better not. I want to make sure they are well before we see Bethany,” Sue offered her excuse.

Tara didn’t buy it. “Sue, Bethany is exposed to much more at the grocery store. I’m sure your kids are fine.”

“I’m just not comfortable with it yet,” Sue told her. Tara wasn’t sure if Sue meant the children being well or Lucy but she decided not to press the issue.

“I have to take Lucy to get her car after while so she will probably come over after that. I’ll have her call you,” Sue said.

“Okay, but if you change your mind come anyway,” Tara concluded then changed the subject. “Are we still having our party on Sunday?” she wanted to know.

“As long as the doctor gives the kids a clean bill of health,” was Sue’s response.

“We can celebrate Lucy’s return this year,” Tara said “and the new tech guy too.”

“Yes, Jack said they had a new technology analyst,” Sue remembered.

“He sounds really good too,” Tara had just a hint of longing in her voice and was glad Sue couldn’t hear it.

“Do you feel left out?” Sue asked.

Tara laughed can’t hear it but can always sense it, she thought. “Maybe a little,” was Tara’s honest response “How about you?”

“Yes I think so. Sometimes I miss the excitement, the long hours and even the really bad takeout,” Sue admitted.

“Maybe Sunday we should just leave the children at your house and go somewhere and have our own pity party!” Tara suggested.

“Doesn’t really sound like such a bad idea to me,” Sue responded. They both laughed at that.

“I have to go find Joshua. I’ll tell Lucy to call you,” Sue said.

“Sounds great-bye,” Tara told her.

“Bye Tara, thanks,” Sue left it at that as she hung up.

~ ~ ~

Thanks, Tara thought, no thank you, Sue, for having the grace to handle this situation. If Myles had brought Lucy home unexpectedly I would have had some choice words for both of them. Jack is braver than I thought, her thoughts continued. I certainly wanted to go the minute Myles’ told me but I am glad I calmed down some first. Tara smiled when she thought about last night and Myles. He had been adamant about her not going until 7:00pm. She couldn’t believe he had not called her to tell her.

“Sue is my best friend,” she had told him. “I can’t believe you are letting her face this alone.”

“It is not the firing squad and Jack will be there. This is Lucy, they were roommates, best friends why all the over reaction?” Myles had wanted to know. Tara could only shake her head as she thought because your best friend doesn’t move away without leaving a forwarding address then just show up on your doorstep almost 2 years later for dinner. She knew Myles wouldn’t understand that though so she just kept it to herself. By the time she had arrived home she was much calmer. Myles was waiting up for her, wanting to hear about the evening as well.

He really is a good man, thought Tara. Who would have ever thought that Myles Leland the III could be reduced to mush by a two year old? All Bethany had to do was say “Daddy, pease” and Myles gave in. It was a struggle not to spoil her after everything they had been through the first few months of her life. Tara still could not believe that Myles had been the one to suggest that her parents move closer. Her dad was in his last year of military service when Bethany was born. Myles was the one that suggested they retire to the East Coast to be close to Tara and Bethany. He wanted someone near by who could help out and he wanted Bethany to know her family. Myles told Tara’s parents “My parents aren’t exactly the grandparent type and it is very important to me that Bethany has all the loving moments that I didn’t have while growing up. Tara is your only child so please come live close to us. She needs you and so do I.” That was pretty much all it took for her mom to start house hunting. They lived about an hour away close enough to visit for a day but not so close that they were all tripping over each other.

“Mommy, I talk,” Bethany tried to take the phone from Tara’s hand.

“Oh sorry no one is there-all gone,” Tara said hanging up the phone and turning her hands palms up.

“Rats!” Bethany stated. Tara laughed at her daughter’s newest phrase.

~ ~ ~

And good time…

Sue dropped Lucy off to get her car. When Joshua figured out where they were going he kept telling Lucy “Charlie, cars, Troy-me like!” As they pulled into to Charlie’s shop Josh squealed then said “Out, out, out”. Sue had turned around long enough to figure out what he wanted and said “No we have to stay in the car. Charlie will come say hi-wait.” Sure enough a few minutes later Charlie came over with a small bag of M&M’s for Josh. “Out,” Joshua demanded again.

“No not today,” Sue told him.

“It’s all right with me if you want to come in for awhile,” Charlie offered. “I always enjoy your company.”

Sue smiled and said “I know. I’m just really tired and need to get home before I fall asleep. We’ll come by next week.”

“Yes and plan on leaving your van,” Charlie told her “time for an oil change.” Troy joined them at that point, signing excitedly to Joshua then hugging Lucy.

“Troy only works for me one day a week now. He has quite the photography and art business going on these days,” Charlie explained to Lucy.

Lucy signed “wow, congratulations” to Troy. Sue then told Lucy “I’ll see you later. Have a good afternoon.” She waved at Troy and Charlie then headed for home.

~ ~ ~

Lucy came into the office around 2:00pm and Myles said “Were you always this late to work in Atlanta? No wonder they didn’t mind when you left.”

Lucy looked at him and said “I don’t even have to be here until Monday so actually I am really early for once.”

Myles chuckled and said “Did you have a good lunch with my wife?”

“I did. Bethany is beautiful,” she told him. “Your sister must feel honored by the middle name.”

“Actually it is Tara’s middle name too,” Myles corrected her.

“All the better,” Lucy agreed.

“Did Sue go too?” Jack got up from his desk and walked over to where the pair were talking.

“No she said she was worried about the kids giving Bethany their germs so she didn’t come,” Lucy told him.

Myles eyed Jack who just said “hhmm” thoughtfully.

D. walked through the room, waved then said “Lucy, Human Resources needs you for moment.” He then continued to his office.

~ ~ ~

After she left Myles looked at Jack and said “I’m not buying that and I would bet money that Tara didn’t either. What’s going on?”

Jack just shrugged and said “I don’t really think anything other than Sue’s really tired. She didn’t sleep much last night. We talked some this morning and I think she’s okay with it all. Things just don’t change overnight.”

“You know, Lucy could always stay with us. We have a guest room also,” Myles offered.

“I think that would make it worse right now. But if things change I’ll let you know,” Jack told him.

Lucy came back a few minutes later and said to Jack “Will you let me watch your kids tonight so you and Sue can go out for dinner?”

Jack didn’t answer right away. So Bobby’s shadow said “That would do a lot to make up for the fact that you forgot Valentine’s Day.”

“You forgot Valentine’s Day?” Lucy queried.

“No,” Jack said patiently, “I was sick.”

“Oh, Sue did say something about that,” Lucy admitted. “I did see the roses but they were yellow…”

“Sue likes yellow the best,” Jack said defensively.

“It’s a miracle you have survived without my help for this long,” Lucy joked.

With that Jack went to his desk, picked up a picture of the kids, pointed at it and said “I obviously have figured something out.”

Bobby added “And because of that we don’t let him go home for lunch anymore…” Jack looked at him, surprise all over his face.

Myles chuckled and said “We can do math you know.” Jack pursed his lips and began straightening the papers on his desk.

Lucy had the courtesy to blush at this point then said “Okay back to the babysitting. I would really like to do that for you. Sue needs a dinner out.”

“I think I know fairly well what my wife needs…” Jack began only to be cut off by Lucy.

“I only meant because she worked hard yesterday to make a really nice dinner for me then I kept her up until 1:00am chatting. I know she was up early this morning and I don’t want to be any trouble,” Lucy tried to explain.

Before Jack could say anything else Bobby spoke up.

“That sounds like a great idea. I’ll pick up a pizza and come over too. Call Sue and tell her,” he commanded Jack.

“I’ll call her,” Lucy said.

“No,” Jack said “she’ll turn you down. Let me do it.”

“Why would she turn me down?” Lucy wanted to know.

“She just will,” Jack said with a shrug. He was still straightening papers and refused to meet Lucy’s eyes.

Bobby looked at Lucy and said “Let Jack do it. He’s right about this.”

Lucy rolled her eyes and wandered back to her desk as Jack picked up his phone to call Sue.

~ ~ ~

Jack hung up just as D. walked into the room, waved then said “I have some more paperwork that needs to be reviewed-have at it.” He then dropped the stack of files on Bobby’s desk. Lucy looked at him, grinning.

“What?” D. said.

“You still wave when you walk into the room,” she commented.

“I noticed that too,” Riley said “some kind of code that I am unfamiliar with?”

Everyone laughed then D. said “Well old habits die hard. Jack, I need you in my office.” As D. walked out the room, Jack looked at his team with a smirk and said “Better get started on those files. I would help but the boss needs me.” He quickly left then before anything could be thrown.

In D.’s office Jack sat down and said “What’s up?”

D. told him “Lucy is now permanently assigned to your team, although she doesn’t officially start until Monday.”

Jack was curious “How did you manage to have her here the day after you got rid of Jason?”

“Well, I had the okay for a temporary agent since we have been so backlogged. I knew Lucy wanted to transfer so would come even temporarily, and she was a perfect fit. She knows what we do and how we do it. So I offered it to her, she jumped at and the timing just happened to work out. I figured by the time her temporary tour was over here we would be done with Jason. Lucy wasn’t real thrilled with him before so I was counting on him making some wayward comment to her. Then she would let him have it. Turns out I didn’t even have to wait that long,” D. finished the story.

Jack grinned, “Man those would have been some fireworks though-almost sad we missed that!”

D. grinned back “Yeah, I just didn’t want to take the chance. Anyway she can now find a permanent place to live and we will hopefully not be looking for any replacements any time soon.”

Jack agreed “That will be a relief. How come you didn’t tell me about Riley until
Monday?”

“The opportunity arose. I met with him and knew he would fit so I grabbed it. Are you okay with that?” D. wanted to know.

“Yes, I think he will fit well too. I was a little worried about stakeouts but after reading his dossier I think he will handle it well. Seems to like a challenge,” Jack stated.

“So are we still having the annual party Sunday?” D. asked.

“Sue is taking the kids to the doctor tomorrow and as long as they’re healthy we’re on,” Jack responded. “I think they’re fine though,” he added as an afterthought.

“Great, go back to work now,” D. smiled and dismissed him.

“I will and D.?” Jack said. D. looked up questioningly “Thanks,” Jack finished.

~ ~ ~

When Jack came to his desk Lucy wanted to know what Sue said.

“Oh she said no, so be there by 6:00pm,” Jack told her.

“What?” Lucy asked confused.

“She said no but she will go,” Jack told her confidently. Then he picked up a file from the stack that had made it to his desk and started to work.

“Oh and Lucy, as much as I would like a built in babysitter you need to find your own place to live, since you are now a permanent member of this team,” Jack stated matter-of-factly and went to work.

Lucy just stared at him then said “I am out of here then. I have people to see, places to go and I will be at your house by 5:30pm!”

She grabbed her things and rushed from the Bullpen as Myles was walking back in.

“Arrive late, leave early, how did she manage those hours?” he asked Jack.

“Never fear, Myles, for Monday she is all ours and we will put her to work, never to see the light of day again” Jack said with just a hint of evil in his voice.

“I heard that,” Lucy shouted as she got on the elevator. The Bullpen roared with laughter once more before settling down to work.

~ ~ ~

When Jack arrived home that evening Lucy was all ready there playing with Joshua and Paige while Sue took a shower.

“See,” Jack told her “I told you she would go.”

“She’s still denying,” Lucy disagreed.

Jack shrugged “That will change shortly-watch and learn.” Jack picked up Joshua and gave him a kiss before going to change his clothes. He came back a few minutes later and took Paige from Lucy then answered door. Bobby arrived pizza in hand and caused a few moments of sheer chaos. Between Joshua running around and yelling “Bobby, Bobby” at the top of his lungs and the dog barking and trying to find Sue, Jack decided he was going out with or without his lovely wife. Sue appeared, pointed at the dog so she would quit, then looked at Joshua and he stopped in mid-yell.

“How did you do that?” Bobby wanted to know.

Sue just sighed and said “Some things are better left a mystery.”

Jack said “Right, let’s go.”

“I don’t know,” Sue hedged. With that Jack went to the closet found their coats, handed Sue hers and said “I’m going out to dinner. Are you coming?” She looked at him then proceeded to give Bobby and Lucy ten full minutes of instructions.

“How long are you going to be gone?” Bobby asked. “I think we can figure it out.”

Lucy said “Good-bye. Don’t call us we will call you if we need you.” Jack and Sue left only to have Jack come back a few minutes later. He tossed Bobby the keys to the van and said “In case you have to go anywhere, don’t ask, it’s making my wife feel better.” Then he left again. Once settled in the car Jack turned to Sue and asked “Any preference?”

She said “Anywhere that doesn’t have a play land or a drive thru.”

Jack grinned and said “Well that narrows it down.”

~ ~ ~

The restaurant Jack chose was fairly crowded for a Thursday but they didn’t have to wait long. Jack didn’t care at all as he was grateful for an entire meal in which he did not have to share his wife. After they had ordered Sue asked “Did you ever go to camp when you were a kid?”

“Yeah a couple times, why?” Jack wanted to know.

“Do you remember the ‘johnny jump-up’ the person at your table who had to refill the bowls or fetch things?” Sue continued. Jack smiled and nodded. He had a feeling he knew where this was going.

“I feel like the permanent ‘johnny jump-up’ these days,” Sue said. Then she smiled ruefully and signed “sorry”. Jack took her hand, kissed it then said “Don’t be, you’re entitled to feel that way on occasion.”

“So you want to hear the rest?” she asked.

“There’s more?” he raised his eyebrows at her while rubbing his thumb along her hand.

“Tara and I are planning our own party for Sunday. We’re just going to feel sorry for ourselves since we aren’t part of anything anymore,” Sue looked at him then looked down. He kissed her hand again and held it against his cheek. When she looked up at him he started talking.

“Have I told you lately how much I rely on you? How much I love that you make us a family? How much I depend on you to keep me grounded?” Jack asked her. With that her eyes filled with tears. He leaned across the table to wipe them away then added “How much I love you?” They were interrupted at that point by their server bringing them dinner.

Sue looked at Jack and signed “thank you”. He kissed her hand one more time before she said “I am starving, you have to let go of my hand so I can eat. Hot food is a novelty these days.” He grinned at her and purposely held her hand a little tighter before letting it go.

Even in a crowded, busy, brightly lit restaurant, with people coming and going, talking and laughing, Jack still makes me feel like I am the only person in the world, Sue thought.

~ ~ ~

After they were finished Jack asked if she wanted dessert. “No Lucy bought two kinds of ice cream so I’ll wait until we get home. But can we run to the store? I need diapers, laundry soap and a few other things before tomorrow.”

“Sure-do you want me to call home?” he asked.

“Yes, I have to go to the restroom do you mind?” He shook his head, paid the bill and pulled out his phone. “Meet you by the entrance” he signed.

“Okay” she signed back.

When Jack finished up his call to Bobby he saw Riley across the restaurant. Riley nodded in acknowledgement so Jack went over to say hello.

“These are my parents,” Riley introduced the people he was dining with. “This is my team leader, Jack Hudson.” Hand shakes were given all around as Jack greeted them.

“So you got her to change her mind I see,” Riley observed.

“Didn’t take much,” Jack admitted. They chatted for a few more minutes before Jack saw Sue and excused himself. “I see my wife so I need to go catch her. It was nice to meet both of you. We’re really looking forward to having Riley on our team,” Jack told them before departing.

Sue was looking thru the door to see if he was outside at this point so he hurried across the restaurant and leaned around her to open the door. She startled then said “There you are. I couldn’t find you.”

“I was talking to our new tech guy and his parents-sorry,” he apologized. “Ready?” he asked.

“Is everything okay at home?” she questioned.

“Only one crying is Bobby,” he quipped as he took her hand and they walked to the car.

~ ~ ~

After a quick stop at the store they headed for home. Joshua was almost asleep on the couch next to Bobby. Lucy was rocking the baby.

“I know it is past Josh’s bedtime but he didn’t want to go to sleep without saying goodnight to Jack,” Lucy apologized.

“That’s normal,” Sue responded “don’t worry about it.” Jack picked him up held him out to Sue so she could kiss him then took him to bed.

“Has the baby been fussy?” Sue asked.

“Not until she heard your voice,” Lucy said “she knows you’re here and that means its snack time.”

“There’s more truth to that than you know,” Sue said as she took Paige from Lucy and settled down on the couch to feed her. Bobby got up to take the dishes and such to the kitchen. Jack was already there scooping ice cream.

“Hungry?” Bobby teased.

“No but Sue was looking forward to ice cream before dinner was even over so I thought I would take her some,” Jack responded. Bobby just nodded. Then said good night to everyone and headed out.

“Thank you Bobby, I really appreciate it,” Sue told him.

“Pleasure was all mine,” Bobby grinned and left. When Sue was done feeding the baby she looked at Lucy apologetically. “I’m so tired. I would stay up and chat but I just need to go to sleep,” Sue explained.

“I think that is a wise choice for both of us we stayed up way too late last night-goodnight,” Lucy agreed.

“Good night,” Sue signed.

~ ~ ~

Tattoos…

Lucy left fairly early the next morning to go apartment hunting. She told Sue she would catch up with her later. Sue agreed as she was off to take the kids in for the RSV re-check. Jack had left at 6:00am to go to the gym.

After they doctor visit Sue decided to head down to the Bullpen. Tara said she was going to have lunch with Myles and had left an open invitation. When Sue arrived with the kids and dog, Jack jumped up worried.

“How was the doctor’s appointment?” he wanted to know.

“Everyone is fine. The baby’s eardrum is still red but he said that was normal and as long as she wasn’t fussy not to worry about it,” Sue told him.

At that point Tara walked in with Bethany and Lucy. Josh squealed and yelled “Betsy”. He raced over to hug his friend who squealed back. This caused the dog to bark and run in circles. Riley looked at them and said “Do you bring your dog with you everywhere?” The question hung unanswered as everyone watched Josh and Bethany’s antics.

“They are so cute!” Lucy could not believe how funny they were. Jack smiled at Lucy’s comment as he watched the toddlers hug each other. Bethany Anne Leland might have her father’s blond hair and piercing blue eyes but other than that she was Tara through and through. She was still smaller than Joshua but that was about the only lingering effect of her early arrival into life. Bethany’s personality already reminded Jack of Tara and when Tara would mention something about how busy Bethany was he could only laugh. Tara would then follow that up with some comment about how easygoing Josh was; he would let Bethany decide what they should play only squabbling once in awhile over actual objects. When Paige was born Tara had taken one look at Jack and said “Your days are so numbered. Bethany’s going to teach her all the little girl tricks. You will soon have your own ‘take the world by storm’ daughter.” Myles had added later “Much like my ‘take the world by storm’ wife as well as your own!” Jack was more than a little worried about this but tried to keep it in check for now.

“Well, give them a little time,” Tara promised Lucy.

~ ~ ~

Myles then introduced Tara to Riley and they promptly talked technology for a few minutes. Riley then said to Sue “It is nice to meet you. I saw you last night but didn’t get introduced.” When Sue didn’t respond he went back to his work more than a little upset by the rebuke. At that point though Josh tugged on her shirt and pointed to Riley. Sue turned and said “I’m sorry were you talking to me?”

He frowned looked at his desk and said “Nevermind.” Jack realizing his error at this point said quickly “Riley this is my wife Sue. She is deaf but can read your lips if you look at her when you speak.”

Riley shot Jack a look then said “Minor detail.”

Jack said “I forget that people don’t know. Take it as a compliment, you fit in so well that I don’t think of you as new.”

Sue, catching most of the conversation, quickly tried to overcome the tension. “It’s really nice to meet you. Jack mentioned that you were at the restaurant last night but we don’t spend much time alone so when we do we aren’t always willing to share each other,” she tried to explain as she linked her arm through Jack’s then added “you’re coming to the party Sunday aren’t you?”

Jack cringed and said “I hadn’t really asked anyone because I didn’t know for sure that we were having it.”

“Well, the kids are better so the party is on,” Sue proclaimed. “This year we can call it a welcome party.”

“What has it been in the past?” Riley asked.

“Two years ago we had a party because I quit my job to stay home and Bethany was finally able to go out in public,” Sue explained. “Last year…” she looked at Tara “what did we do last year?”

“I was thinking about that and I don’t know. Maybe we just celebrated Valentine’s Day late,” Tara thought out loud.

“No,” Bobby said “that was just what you thought. In truth it was for the hockey game.”

“Who played?” Riley asked

“Does it matter?” Jack asked back.

“Anyway,” Sue said “will you come?”

“Can I get into your house?” Riley wanted to know.

“Why couldn’t you…” Sue’s voice trailed off as Riley came from behind the desk in his wheelchair. She looked at Jack.

“I’m practicing not labeling people,” he told them hopefully.

“Minor detail,” Riley shot back.

“We can figure out something,” Sue said looking at Jack. Somehow he knew that this was his cue to figure out something.

“Sure, shouldn’t be a problem,” he assured them as Bobby looked at him from across the room with a “how are we going to do that” expression on his face.

~ ~ ~

At that point D. walked in, waved then started to speak “Just the woman I wanted to see,” he said to Sue. She grinned.

“What?” he demanded.

“You still wave when you walk into a room,” Sue observed.

D. sighed “It’s my quirk, okay.”

Riley looked at Sue and said “Now I get it. You used to work here so people would wave before speaking to get your attention. I broke your code,” he told the others. Sue smiled as Bobby added “Occasionally we would throw things but Jack made us stop.”

D. held up his hand “Seriously I need a tape read can you do it?”

“Right now?” Sue asked.

“Well the sooner the better,” D. told her.

“I only have about 15 minutes before the baby is going to want to eat, plus Joshua won’t last much longer either,” Sue explained.

“Well we can set you up in the conference room, you can feed the baby and read the tape,” D. suggested.

“It’s just really hard to transcribe with my hands full,” Sue said apologetically.

“Well, I can transcribe for you,” Lucy offered.

“And we can take Joshua to get some lunch,” Jack offered. “We were all getting ready to head out.”

Riley suddenly shifted and looked a little uncomfortable. Tara spoke up quickly “I can run it, do the enhancing as needed for you also. Then Riley can go to lunch too,”

“Well I don’t mind missing lunch…” he began.

Tara cut him off “If you don’t mind me using your equipment, Sue will feel more comfortable.”

“No I don’t mind that at all,” Riley told her “I think I would feel more comfortable I just feel like we shouldn’t take advantage of you.”

At that point Bethany and Joshua sprinted past the dog at their heels, yelling loudly “Please do,” she said. Riley laughed and agreed.

~ ~ ~

Tara and Riley set everything up in the Bullpen rather than a conference room while Jack and Myles gathered their respective children. “Do you want some lunch?” Jack asked.

Sue just looked at him “You have to ask?”

He laughed “Anything in particular?”

“Nope,” Sue answered.

While Tara and Riley were setting up the equipment he asked “Why did Sue bring the dog?”

Tara laughed “You are out of the loop. Murphy is her hearing dog although when the kids start playing the dog conveniently forgets she has a job.”

“Well I am glad she didn’t read my lips when I mentioned it the first time,” Riley said.

“Sue wouldn’t mind. She would have just laughed and explained,” Tara assured him.

“I know but I’m familiar with service dogs so I should’ve figured it out when Jack explained that she was deaf,” Riley stated, somewhat worried about the impression he was making.

~ ~ ~

Tara, Sue and Lucy had finished by the time the rest of the team came back from lunch.

“Anything interesting?” D. wanted to know.

“Yes, I think so but since I don’t know exactly what you are looking for it was hard to be sure,” Sue told him. “There are a couple segments that Tara has cued up because I wasn’t sure what I was seeing, so I needed some input.”

Jack came to take Paige from Sue as Tara played the video.

“I can’t tell for sure if he is saying his name or greeting this person by that name,” Sue said. “The picture is fuzzy and Tara couldn’t enhance it anymore.”

Riley said “I can, wait just a minute.” He fiddled with some things then the picture came in better. Sue asked him to show it again. She said “There stop! That is the missing piece.” Sue then picked up the tablet Lucy had been writing on and added some notes. Handing it to D. she said “I think it will make sense to you now but if it doesn’t let me know and we can go over it again.”

Tara said to Riley “Okay buddy you and me later. I need to know how that was done.”

“No problem,” Riley told her.

D. looked at the six pages Lucy had written and said “Definitely a good start.”

Sue grinned then told him “You’ll get my bill but now where is our lunch?”

“We figured you should just go out to eat because it was going to be slightly cold and soggy by the time we made it back here,” Myles started to explain.

Tara looked at him “You forgot didn’t you?”

“It was kind of crazy, you know, with the kids…” Jack’s voice trailed off as Sue just gave him a look of disbelief.

“Well,” Myles told Tara “I did remember that your mom was coming this afternoon and I bet she would watch Joshua also and you can all go to lunch together.”

“I don’t know if my body can stand two hot meals two days in a row,” Sue said.

“It can and it will-good thinking hubby!” Tara said as she squeezed Myles’ arm. He smiled at her knowing that while Tara was placated now he wasn’t hearing the last of this by a long shot.

~ ~ ~

“Mommy, look ‘toos,” Joshua showed Sue his surprise from lunch.

“What?” Sue asked looking at Jack.

“Tattoos,” Bobby answered. “I recall you girls knowing something about tattoos. Josh I bet your mom would love to have another one of those!” Bobby teased. “And Bethany I just really want to be a fly on the wall when you come home from college and show your daddy your tattoo.”

“Okay,” Bethany said sweetly.

“I don’t think so,” Myles responded.

“Rats!” Bethany looked at Bobby and grinned mischievously.

“Somehow you don’t seem like the tattoo type,” Riley said to Sue. Sue blushed and looked at Jack. He was trying very hard not to burst into laughter.

“I’m the tattoo type,” said Bobby’s shadow who had been quiet up to this point. “Want to see it?”

“No!” Jack said a little too forcefully. “I don’t think the office is really a good place for that.”

“Whatever,” she said. Then mouthed “later” to Riley and Bobby.

Sue was watching Jack throughout the entire exchange and thinking about all that had happened. It took all the willpower she could muster to not walk across the room, wrap her arms around him and remind him of what had transpired.

“Okay so why don’t I take Josh to my house and meet you two well three, sorry Miss Paige, for lunch,” Tara said.

“Are you sure?” Sue asked.

“Of course, my mom won’t mind at all, besides we have a party to plan,” Tara reminded her.

“That’s right. There must be some shopping that needs to be done,” Lucy agreed.

“Yeah what kind of food are we having?” Bobby wanted to know.

“I wasn’t thinking groceries I was thinking shoes. You can’t go to a party in old shoes,” Lucy told him.

“Some things never change,” Myles concurred. Jack just looked at the three women and laughed, hoping that their friendship was one of those things.

“Bring whatever you always bring,” Sue said. “That’s how we do it.”

Riley waved, then asked “What if we have never been?”

“Good point,” Sue said. “Well Bobby always brings the token bachelor dish of chips so don’t bring that. It doesn’t matter we aren’t exactly picky.”

“I can actually cook so I won’t bring chips,” Riley told her.

“A man of many talents,” Tara said, “I can’t actually cook or at least not very well so I am always in charge of paper products.” Myles cleared his throat.

“Myles can cook though, so maybe you two can compare recipes,” Tara continued as she blew Myles a kiss and headed to the elevator with Joshua and Bethany in tow.

Sue waved bye then looked at the dog.

“Yes,” Jack signed “she can stay here. I’ll bring her home later.”

Sue signed “thank you” then blew him a kiss as well. The dog promptly ran over to Jack’s desk and laid down, her tail thumping happily.

~ ~ ~

As soon as the women were gone Riley looked at Jack and said “That was amazing! But how come you didn’t tell me she was deaf?”

Jack started to speak only to be cut off by Riley continuing “And how come you didn’t tell her I was in a wheelchair?”

Jack answered “Sue taught me to see people’s abilities before anything else. I’m impressed by your abilities and lately when I have gone home work has been the last thing on my mind to talk about. As for why I didn’t tell you about Sue, I do forget that people within the Bureau don’t know not to mention that she is so good at reading lips that it usually doesn’t matter.”

“That is one impressive skill,” Riley agreed.

Jack grinned as Bobby said “Kind of makes you glad she’s on our side doesn’t it? Good thing we convinced her to marry Jack for real.”

Riley looked confused so Bobby explained “They pretended to be married once for an undercover. Best assignment Jack’s ever had and while it took some doing we did manage to get them married for real finally.” Bobby grinned at his friend.

“Anything for the cause as long as she continues to use her powers for good and not for evil,” Jack quipped.

“Did she teach you to sign also?” Riley was curious.

“I picked up bits and pieces when Sue started working here. When our relationship progressed beyond work I took classes. I looked at it as the opportunity expand my horizons and then to raise bilingual, multi-cultural children. We sign at home more than we speak or at least we used too. It is hard to sign when you are holding a child,” Jack explained.

“Most of us learned some,” Myles continued “although I am by far the least competent. Tara however has become very fluent and Lucy is too, at least she was before she left.”

“The rest of us, know some signs and how to fingerspell but we are no where near the level we really should be,” Bobby admitted. “It’s easy to not sign since Sue has such skill with lip reading and speaking.”

Jack just nodded his agreement at that then he started passing out paperwork to be finished.

~ ~ ~

Lunch with Tara and Lucy was never dull and Sue discovered that time had not changed that fact. They reminisced about tattoos, cases, and mutual friends. The topic turned to books soon as Lucy wanted to know if either had any reading suggestions these days.

Sue just looked at her and said “I think they last book I read that didn’t rhyme was Where the Wild Things Are and I’m pretty sure you’re looking for something a little more in depth.”

Tara offered “Well, there is Bobby’s favorite Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

“Yes,” Sue agreed “but perhaps you would like poetry of sorts Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You? is Jack’s favorite lately. I have finally been able to get him to appreciate poetry. He has even memorized this one both spoken and signed.”

Lucy just looked at the two of them and shook her head. “You two need some serious shopping. Let’s go,” she said.

~ ~ ~

The afternoon passed quickly. The baby had been very content in her snugli so when she started becoming restless Sue knew it was time to go. She left Lucy and Tara at the shoe store and went to pick up Joshua. Fortunately he was exhausted so the battle to leave was short lived. He fell asleep during the ride and Sue managed to get him in his bed without waking him. She then sat down to feed a very starving baby and thought some more about tattoos.

Two weeks before Jack and Sue’s wedding the stress level was extremely high and being felt all around. Tara and Lucy decided to whisk Sue away for a girls’ weekend at a spa. They knew she needed to relax and did they need a more legitimate excuse for a spa trip than that? The weekend went well although Sue was still really worried about things. It took Tara and Lucy most of the weekend to figure out what was wrong and when they did she still didn’t want talk about it.

They arrived home fairly late Sunday night so they didn’t see any of their co-workers until the next morning. Jack arrived with Levi before anyone else showed up. He made the coffee and sat down to wait. Sue had called to let him know she was home but hadn’t shared much so he was anxious to see her. She came in about ten minutes later smiled and signed “good morning” then went to her desk. Jack got up, poured her some coffee and approached her desk arriving there the same time Bobby and Myles burst in. He handed her the cup then leaned against her desk, crossed his arms and looked at her. She smiled then signed “I love you.” He signed it back and smiled as well.

“So,” Bobby began “how was the big spa weekend? Anything exciting happen?”

Jack had returned to his desk and was taking a drink of his own coffee as Sue matter-of-factly stated “We got tattoos.” Jack promptly choked and spit his coffee all over the floor.

He was still trying to catch his breath to ask more when Bobby said “Come again?”

“You heard me,” Sue replied heading to the bathroom to get some paper towels for Jack.

At that point Tara and Lucy came in with donuts. They looked at the mess on the floor then at Jack. Tara asked “What happened?”

“I think we should be asking you that very question,” Bobby told her.

“You two are not allowed to play with my future wife anymore,” Jack told them. They looked at him quizzically. “You’re a bad influence on her,” he said.

“If you are talking about the tattoo thing whose idea do you think it was in the first place?” Tara questioned him. Jack was again taking a sip of coffee but managed to spit it back in the cup this time.

“At least we talked her out of getting her hair cut,” Lucy said. Sue came back in the bullpen at that point and handed Jack the paper towels.

Even Myles was curious now “Where exactly is this tattoo?” He asked Tara. She just smiled and raised her eyebrows.

“You know,” Bobby started “the bureau has rule that all identifying marks must be on file in case we have to identify a body. You might as well show us rather than some strangers down in HR.”

“I don’t think that includes me. I’m the rotor remember,” Lucy said.

“I’m not showing you my tattoo,” Tara told Bobby.

“You don’t really have one,” Jack guessed. “You are just wanted to see our reaction.”

“And by looking at the mess, I would have to guess it was a good one,” Lucy surmised.

“We did too do it,” Sue told him.

“Fine prove it,” Bobby challenged.

~ ~ ~

Tara looked from Sue to Lucy then took off her shoe so all could see the dolphin tattoo just above the arch on her foot.

Myles came to look closer “Can I touch it?” he wanted to know.

“No, it hurts,” Tara told him quickly stuffing her foot back into her shoe.

“Okay, one down two to go. Who’s next?” Bobby waited patiently.

Lucy took off her jacket to show a small rose on the back of her shoulder. Bobby came to look closer and she quickly put her jacket back on giving him the evil eye.

Bobby then looked to Jack whose face was suddenly very worried. Deciding Jack wasn’t going to ask Bobby took it upon himself.

“And the lovely future Mrs. Hudson would you care to share yours?” he teased.

Sue looked Bobby straight in the eye and very defiantly said “Not with you!” Jack decided to play along at that point and said “So how about with me?” raising his eyebrows and smiling.

“Maybe on our wedding night I will show you!” She told him sassily. Jack literally took a step backwards not knowing how to respond to that. Fortunately at that point D. walked in, waved and asked what was going on.

Bobby began “The girls got tattoos…”

“More information than I wanted to know,” D. said stopping the whole thing right there.

~ ~ ~

Jack watched Sue all day and couldn’t figure out what was going on. It was one thing to joke about getting a tattoo but somehow he had a feeling that this had taken on an entirely different meaning. She was gone with Myles during lunch so he waited until the Bullpen was empty at the end of the day to talk to her again.

“Want to get some dinner?” he offered as he leaned against her desk.

Sue looked up at him then signed “okay”.

“Do you want to go home first or just go from here?” he asked.

“I would like to go home and change. It’s hot outside,” was her answer.

“All right I’m going to go change also then I’ll be by,” Jack said.

“Okay,” she signed.

When Jack arrived at Sue and Lucy’s apartment Sue was still acting skittish and jumpy. Lucy was out with her grandmother, so Jack summoned the courage to ask about her tattoo. She offered very little information and so he called her bluff.

“You aren’t exactly the tattoo type. I didn’t get a close look at Tara’s or Lucy’s but I’m guessing they’re fake. So yours, if you have one, must be as well,” he challenged.

“How do you know what type I am? Everyone thinks that I’m just this sweet, innocent thing that would never do anything that wasn’t proper,” Sue exclaimed.

Now Jack was really confused. “I guess I just don’t see you explaining that to your mother,” he admitted.

“What makes you think it is somewhere that my mom will see it?” she challenged back. “I told you that you would see it on our wedding night so where do you think it is?”

Jack thought for a minute then took her hand and led her to the couch. He sat her down next to him and thought for a little while longer before looking at her.

“Somehow I think this has gone beyond tattoos. I don’t think that is really the subject here. I think the tattoo scenario is just an outlet so to speak,” he started. When Sue didn’t say anything he went on.

“This conversation has been in the back of my mind for months now and I’m sorry we didn’t have it sooner,” Jack took her hand in his.

Sue pulled her hand away “I don’t know what you mean,” she told him.

~ ~ ~

Jack smiled gently and took her hand back “Yes, I think you do. I think you are worried about our wedding night,” he offered. Sue tried to move away but he wouldn’t let her. “You don’t have to be worried. It will be okay. I promise. We will just take it slow and enjoy it. It will be really special,” Jack touched her cheek as he spoke.

“You act like I have never done this before,” Sue countered. “Maybe I have, maybe you aren’t the first, what do you think about that?” Jack caught himself before he could be baited into an argument.

“It doesn’t matter to me if I’m the first because I will be the last and from now on the only,” he said blushing slightly. Sue promptly then burst into tears. I can’t win, thought Jack. “That was supposed to make you feel better,” he told her.

“I know” she signed, “it does.”

“Okay,” he signed back. Sue went to get a tissue and when she came back Jack said “We should talk about this.”

“I know I just don’t know what to say. It is driving me crazy-maybe we should just do it and get it over with,” she said frustrated at her inability to verbalize her questions.

“Do it and get it over with?” Jack exclaimed. “Not exactly the kind of attitude to have. You make it sound like something horrible.”

That made her laugh “I didn’t mean it like that. I just feel like there is so much pressure and it is taking over my thoughts. What if you’re disappointed?” she wanted to know.

Now it was his turn to laugh “You know nothing about pressure. I won’t be disappointed. Do you know how long I have waited for this? All of this? You’re letting one aspect take over when you should be concentrating on the fun. We’re getting married and I can’t tell you enough times how happy that makes me.”

Sue laid her head on his shoulder and said “Only two more weeks.” He kissed the top of her head then moved so she could see him.

“Maybe we should talk about birth control though,” he suggested.

~ ~ ~

“Oh I already have that covered,” Sue told him. Well this woman is certainly full of surprises today, he thought glad to not be drinking coffee or anything else at this point.

“Well would you care to share your thoughts on that subject?” he asked.

“I took care of it a while ago actually,” she began. Seeing the confusion on Jack’s face she quickly went on “Stakeouts don’t always allow for restroom breaks and surprises aren’t really good in this line of work so I started taking the pill not too long after I came to work here and then I found an even easier solution…”her voice trailed off.

“And that would be?” Jack prompted.

She moved away from him a little then showed him a patch on her hip. He was truly lost now.

“Birth control in a patch,” she said as if it were obvious.

“Does it work?” he wanted to know.

“Guess we’ll find out,” she sassed back. With that he pushed her back on the couch pillows and kissed her. When he came up for air he said “Now can I see the tattoo?” She raised her eyebrows, looked him up and down then said “Hmmm”. He kissed her again this time starting with her collarbone then her neck and working his way up to her lips. When he nibbled on her ear finally she gave in “Okay but you need to stop that!”

“So much for get it over with,” Jack teased. Sue scooted to the edge of the couch then pulled on the waist of the other side of her shorts. Just below her panty line he saw two gold rings entwined with both of their names. He started to touch it but she jumped up. He jumped up as well and grabbed for her, turning her to face him he said “It’s fake.”

“How can you tell?” she pouted.

“Because if it was real and I did this,” he pushed his thumb on the spot “you would be saying ‘ouch, don’t that hurts’.”

“How would you know? It’s not like you have a tattoo,” she said.

“How do you know?” he wanted to know.

“Well I did walk in on you when you were showering one day,” she told him.

“On purpose,” he finished.

“It was not on purpose,” she protested. He just grinned and kissed her again.

“It’s fake,” he said.

“Okay but don’t tell anyone. It was my idea and I did want to see everyone’s reaction but then Lucy and Tara were really having a good time with it too,” she pleaded.

“Your secret is safe with me,” he promised. “But you weren’t really going to get your haircut were you?”

~ ~ ~

Lucy’s arrival rousted Sue from her trip down memory lane.

“What are you thinking about?” Lucy questioned.

“Tattoos,” Sue admitted.

“Ah,” Lucy said with a grin. She never had been able to get the whole story out of Sue as to what had transpired during the conversation that evening with Jack. Jack had played along for a couple days even though Lucy knew Sue had come clean to him. Always the gentleman he would not spill any details to any of their co-workers either, even though Bobby teased and begged relentlessly especially upon their return from the honeymoon. Bobby still teased Sue about it, like today but now did it just because he liked to see Sue blush. The conversation never made Jack uncomfortable anymore smug yes but definitely not uncomfortable. These trips down memory lane are pretty fun Lucy thought. Yet another reason she was glad to back-to have people that you shared such memories with was truly a gift.

“When did you get your haircut?” Lucy asked.

“Just after the Paige was born, while Jack’s parents were here,” Sue answered.

“What did Jack say?” Lucy wanted to know.

“Well, it took him a couple days to notice also because he was working so much. One night he came home really late, climbed into bed, ran his fingers through my hair then jumped up and turned on the light. He asked when I had gotten my haircut. When I told him two days ago he quickly reassured me that he liked it,” Sue smiled and shrugged.

“I noticed right way,” Lucy explained “it just didn’t seem like the first thing I should say when I hadn’t seen you for two years.”

“I like it too,” Lucy continued “but it isn’t that different really just shorter-shoulder length. But the man is trained in surveillance for heaven’s sake.”

“Pretty much my thoughts too,” Sue laughed.

~ ~ ~

D. was leaving work later that day when he noticed Jack still sitting at his desk.

He waved then looked at his hand and shook his head. “It’s quitting time,” he informed Jack.

Jack looked up and nodded “I know I just wanted to finish one last thing so I wouldn’t have to worry about it this weekend.” D. watched Jack thoughtfully as he finished up what he was writing and started to put things away.

Jack looked from the pile on his desk to D. then asked “How did you find balance all those years when your kids were little?”

D. sighed and sat down. This was not exactly going to be a short conversation, he figured. He took a deep breath then began, “I’m not sure Donna would tell you that I ever found a balance-at least not for very long. It was a constant battle, for awhile it seemed that I was destined to miss every important milestone in my children’s life. I guess we just learn to make time for what is important to us. My job is important because it provides us with a living and it is a job I enjoy. I offered to quit at one point but Donna said that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted us to find a harmony, to work some, to play some and to love our children everyday. Sounds simple but it isn’t.”

Jack just looked at him waiting for more.

“I know probably not quite what you wanted to hear. But I think that whatever career you have things pull you away from your family and you either let them and fail or balance them and succeed. The one thing that Sue has going for her that Donna didn’t is the fact that she has worked here. Sue understands the hours, the dangers and the other aspects. She might not like them but she does understand them. I look back now and for the most part I wouldn’t change my life.”

“So does it get any easier?” Jack wanted to know.

“I don’t know about getting easier I guess it just gets different. Sometimes I wish for the years when a bandage and a kiss would fix everything because the broken heart issue is much more difficult to fix than a skinned knee,” he smiled, “but it is nice to see all our work come to fruition too.”

Jack looked at his desk then looked back at D. “Sometimes I can’t remember how I did this job without a family to go home to and sometimes this job scares me even more now that I have a family to go home to,” Jack admitted.

“Having a family has made you even better at this job. It keeps you grounded and gives you something to go home too,” D. reminded him.

“I wrote my letter of resignation last week,” he admitted.

“So is this actually a going away party for you?” D. wanted to know.

“No, I changed my mind. It has just been a really long couple of months and I was struggling to find balance and so was Sue,” Jack explained. “I changed my mind this week after we got rid of Jason and recruited two new very promising people.”

“Good,” D. stated then added “next time you feel that way, and there will be one, tell me about it sooner. I don’t want to lose you as a co-worker or a friend. We have way too much history for that.”

“Deal,” Jack agreed.

“Come on as your boss I am ordering you to go home,” D. commanded. Jack grinned grabbed his coat and followed D. to the elevator with the dog close on his heels.

~ ~ ~

Later that night when they were getting ready for bed Jack looked at Sue mischievously and signed “Shower?” They hadn’t had this discussion in quite awhile and Jack decided it was high time to have it again. It always ended the same way.

She laughed and said “I know where this is going and it was not on purpose. You left the door open.”

“I lived by myself why would I close the door?” he wanted to know.

“I told you I was coming over…” she began.

“You said ‘later’,” he inserted “And it was maybe ten minutes after I had hung up the phone. Besides if I had shut the door you wouldn’t have known where I was-it’s not like you would have heard the shower running,” Jack pointed out. She watched his face as he remembered what had happened that day so long ago.

Sue had let herself into Jack’s apartment and when Jack hadn’t greeted her at the door she did a little exploring. She walked down the hall and into the bathroom only to see him standing in the shower. This had surprised her and she had let out a little scream. That had surprised him and he had pulled back the curtain and jumped out of the shower.

“You scared me,” he said relieved to discover it was her. When she didn’t answer he waved and got her attention.

“Want to join me?” he had asked with a grin.

“No!” she had exclaimed. His face kind of fell and then biting her lip she had said “Well, yes but no.”

Jack had laughed at how flustered she was then climbed back in the shower and said “C’mon” with a wave of his hand. Levi who had been watching the exchange took this as an invitation and jumped in the shower too.

Sue had promptly burst into laughter and said “I’ll leave you two alone,” then retreated to the other room.

Sue could tell he was laughing. She hadn’t seen him laugh like that in a long time. He said “What?”

“What if I Lucy had been with me?” Sue asked the same question every time this topic came up.

“She would have just been jealous that it wasn’t her marrying me,” Jack grinned and ducked as a pillow flew his way.

~ ~ ~

Of memories…

Paige woke up about 6:00am Saturday morning-starving as usual. Sue climbed out of bed quickly when the dog nudged her. After Paige was fed, Sue got dressed then bundled up the baby as well so they could take the dog for a walk. Sue put Paige in the snugli then zipped one of Jack’s coats around both of them. Paige’s pink hat complete with Winnie-the-Pooh ears was the only part of her to be seen-sticking out of the top of the coat.

When Sue came home Lucy was up drinking coffee and searching the apartment advertisements. Jack and Josh were watching cartoons in the bedroom rather Josh was watching and Jack was trying to sleep.

“I was wondering where you were,” Lucy stated.

“This is our routine-feed the baby, bundle her up and walk the dog,” Sue answered happily.

“You’re in a good mood this morning,” Lucy noticed.

“Paige slept really well last night and that means I slept really well also,” Sue responded.

“I was getting worried because you have been so tired and hungry,” Lucy began.

“Why would that worry you?” Sue asked.

“Well the last time I remember you being this tired and hungry you were…”Lucy looked at Sue.

“I was what?” Sue wanted to know.

“Pregnant,” Lucy said finally.

Jack walked into the kitchen still half asleep and said “What? Who’s pregnant?”

Sue smiled “No one.”

“Then why did Lucy say…” Jack started.

“Because I am tired and hungry,” Sue tried to explain.

Jack looked at Lucy “Of course we’re tired and hungry we have a two year old and an infant. We rarely sit down and eat an entire meal and we try to live on pieces of sleep.”

Lucy said “Who filled you with crabby juice this morning?”

Jack just frowned and shook his head while he poured some coffee then headed back to watch cartoons with Joshua.

Lucy said “Oops” worriedly.

Sue just brushed it off “He will be fine in another 20 minutes or so. This is our Saturday morning routine. Josh wakes up early, climbs into bed with Jack, bounces around until Jack gets up and gets coffee. Then Josh settles down and they watch Scooby-doo together for about 20 more minutes. After that everyone is fine.”

“I made the coffee at least,” Lucy offered.

“Yes and that gets you valuable points,” Sue agreed.

~ ~ ~

Later that morning Lucy left to go search for an apartment, Paige went down for her morning nap and Sue went to take a shower. She was surprised when Jack burst through the door a few minutes after she had turned off the shower.

“What?” she demanded shivering as the cooler air seeped in. Jack just grinned turned her around, ran his hand over her hip then spun her back to face him.

“Just checking for tattoos,” he grinned and raised his eyebrows, “showers provide the best opportunities for that!”

Sue shook her head at him. “I still can’t believe you waited until two weeks before our wedding to have that discussion,” she told him.

“Well it wasn’t exactly on the groom’s to do list,” he reminded her.

“There was a groom’s to do list?” She shot back.
Jack just laughed then said “Yes and the number one thing was avoid the bride for the two weeks prior to the wedding as she will be really stressed out.” Sue looked at him confused so he continued “Well don’t you know the best form of stress relief?”

A look of surprise crossed Sue’s face as he again ran his hands over her hips and up her back. Suddenly she felt him sigh then he signed “Joshua’s calling me.”

As he left Sue called after him “Probably a good thing because if you keep acting like this we will end up pregnant again!” He turned and looked at his beautiful wife, who was now wrapped in a towel, a smile playing on his face and love shining in his eyes then winked and went to find out what his little boy wanted.

~ ~ ~

The rest of the day was spent preparing for the party. Lucy returned around lunch time as Jack was making sandwiches. Sue looked at Joshua and asked “Do you want a sandwich?

“Yes,” Joshua exclaimed “toast with peanut butter and jelly.”

“Why toast?” Jack wanted to know.

Sue just shrugged then answered “Because that’s how he eats it?”

“Mmmm,” said Lucy “it makes the peanut butter all soft that way.” She smiled at Josh then tickled his chin. He laughed.

After lunch Sue began the task of cleaning up the house.

Jack just groaned when she asked him to vacuum then pointed out “You aren’t suppose to clean too much Bobby is going to spill something anyway and if he doesn’t Josh or Bethany will.” The look on his wife’s face told him she wasn’t buying it so he went to find the vacuum cleaner anyway.

~ ~ ~

Sunday morning Sue and Lucy went to church while Jack made pancakes with the children.

“Does Jack go to church with you?” Lucy asked on the way home from the service.

“Most of the time, although between Paige and work he has really been enjoying his Sunday mornings with the kids,” Sue explained.

“Does that bother you?” Lucy questioned.

“Not as much as I thought it would. He encourages me to go and be involved. The children and I went lots on Wednesday evenings the last few months, since Jack has been working so much. I think he struggles with the example he is setting but I also know that some days he just wants to stay home and not share the children with anyone including me. I find that to be very important and somehow comforting too,” Sue told her.

By Sunday afternoon Josh was so excited that he wouldn’t lay down for a nap.
Jack tried lying down with him but after a few minutes Joshua came wandering out of the bedroom. Sue looked at him in surprise and asked “Where’s Daddy?”

“Seeping,” Joshua told her. Sue just rolled her eyes and went in Josh’s room to get Jack up. She shook his shoulder only to have him grab her by the wrist and flip her onto the twin bed.

“We could just hide out here and let everyone else deal with our children,” he suggested wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck.

“Get up you have to figure out how to help Riley into the house,” she commanded.

Jack groaned and said “What happened to Sunday being a day of rest?” At that moment Joshua hurled himself onto Jack and started bouncing.

Sue said “I think that was before we had a two year old.” Jack began tickling both of them at that point. Screams of laughter ensued causing the dog to come running then start barking. This brought Lucy as well who took one look in the bedroom, shook her head and walked away. This only made Jack work harder to tickle everyone. Sue finally got away and was walking out of the bedroom when Lucy met her in the hall with a crying baby. “I think you scared her,” Lucy told Sue.

“Nah, she just doesn’t like to be left out,” Sue said taking the baby from Lucy. Once in her mother’s arms Paige calmed down. Sue smiled and said “See!”

~ ~ ~

A few minutes before 3:00pm Jack saw Myles and Tara pull into the driveway. They didn’t get out right away though. Bobby showed up next. When he came inside Jack asked what Myles and Tara were doing.

“Just talking, Bethany is asleep so they were just giving her a few more minutes,” Bobby explained.

“Bethany is sleeping,” Jack pointed out to Joshua.

“Betsy, Betsy, here?” Josh began running back and forth to the door at that point. “Out,” he told Jack, “see Betsy.”

“No she’ll come in soon,” Jack said.

“Out!” Joshua demanded.

“No, she’s asleep. You have to wait,” Jack tried to explain.

“Why did you tell him she was here?” Sue asked.
“I didn’t Bobby did,” Jack was quick to place the blame.

“Hey how was I suppose to know he was listening?” Bobby defended himself.

“He’s always listening,” Sue told him.

At that point the doorbell rang and everyone else arrived at once. Bobby looked at Jack and said “So what is your plan concerning Riley?”

Jack pursed his lips and said “I was kind of hoping you had one.”

“Not my house or my wife,” Bobby pointed out. “Besides you always plan everything.”

“Sunday-my day off,” Jack frowned then shrugged, “don’t tell Sue.”

Bobby laughed at that.

~ ~ ~

Riley arrived and looked at them. “Well…” he began. Neither Bobby or Jack had anything to offer.

“Do you have a basement door?” Riley asked.

Jack nodded but said “There are still stairs.”

“How many?” Riley continued.

“Seven or eight,” Jack told him.

“I hate this but it is the only way, I guess. Can you carry me down those?” he asked Bobby.

“Yes, but I can carry you down these,” Bobby said pointing at the inside stairs.

“Too public, let’s use the basement stairs Bobby can carry me and Jack can bring the chair. The wheelchair is actually really light,” he explained.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Jack wanted to know.

“Nothing, just stating a fact,” Riley told him.

“Oh, I’ll go unlock the door and meet you back there,” Jack planned.

Once the deed was done and Riley was inside he thanked both Bobby and Jack.

“We should’ve had a better plan. Next time we will. I would imagine that this made things kind of uncomfortable for you,” Jack was apologetic.
Riley grinned then said “Well I guess we’ll all have to get used to it. It definitely beats sitting at home. However, I left my food in the car so now one of you has to go get it and someone will have to wait on me,” he explained.

“I’m thinking that would be a plus,” Bobby said thoughtfully.

“It gets old, but on occasion it is a great way to meet women,” Riley explained.

“Well I’ll gladly give up my shadow for your service today,” Bobby told him.

“Gee, thanks, I think,” came Riley’s sarcastic reply.

~ ~ ~

Josh and Bethany came tumbling down the stairs at that point. Sue and Tara followed them a few minutes later with some snacks to set out.

“About time,” Jack teased. Sue just looked at him. Tara had cornered her and Lucy in the kitchen to tell them tonight she was going to talk to Myles about adoption. Sue and Lucy were very excited and had needed a few minutes to calm down. Lucy came down to see what anyone wanted to drink. The shadow came down also followed by D. and Donna. D. introduced Donna, then Jack turned on the hockey game and everyone settled in to chat and watch.

“So how does dating then marrying someone you work with work?” Riley inquired.

“Well,” Bobby began “I am not much of an expert on the subject but I’m pretty sure it works best if you actually tell you co-workers.”

“What?” Riley asked.

“We didn’t tell anyone at first…” both Jack and Myles began then looking at each other stopped.

“Myles wasn’t really my type,” Jack continued on laughing.

“You know the best thing about it was that we all knew we just didn’t know that everyone else knew,” Donna tried to explain.

“How did you know?” Sue wondered.

“Because one day when the team met up at our house to play football or something you and Jack were standing on the far side of our car,” Donna started. Jack cringed and blushed because he knew what was coming and had never explained it to Sue.

“Tanya and David were fighting the way siblings do. Tanya was complaining ‘he hit me first’ and as I walked around to put something into the car I said over my shoulder ‘Keep your hands to yourself!’ Jack must have thought I meant him and I have never in my life seen anyone move so fast,” Donna continued.

By now the group was laughing and Jack’s face was crimson. Sue looked at him and raised her eyebrows. He just shrugged then signed “later”.

“I had to explain to him later that I didn’t mean him,” she finished.

~ ~ ~

Everyone was still laughing when the shadow piped up. “Okay, I want to know something.” They all looked at her and waited. “You all talk about people throwing up around Bobby and I want to know what that is all about,” she continued.

Riley just shook his head and looked at her “You know you get to go back to your own world next week. I have to work with these people and I’m not so sure I want to hear.”

“Don’t you want some insight on your new teammates?” she asked innocently. Riley just rolled his eyes.

Sue and Tara both started laughing so Bobby told the story.

“One day Sue and I were working on some case, don’t even remember which one now, just that it involved a dumpster. We, of course, had to search the dumpster so DCPD opened it up and the smell was overwhelming. Sue promptly turned green and just as I was about to ask if she was going to be all right she threw up on my shoes. It definitely was not very ladylike and to top it off I had worn brand new pants with cuffs!” he over emphasized the last sentence.

Bobby continued “Now Sue was not known to do this type of thing so it did cause me some concern. Jack showed up a few minutes later and found the whole situation to be hysterically funny. The complete lack of concern for both of us should have been written up somewhere in his personnel file. When he finally stopped laughing all he could say was ‘she threw up on your shoes-I love my wife!’”

Jack blushed and laughed at the memory of it all then said “It is still one of my all time favorite moments of our work lives together.” Bobby shot him a scathing glance. “They weren’t my shoes!” Jack chuckled.

“Were you pregnant?” Riley wanted to know.

“I was but I didn’t know it at the time. In fact I didn’t figure that out for a couple more weeks and what is so funny is that I never threw up again while pregnant with Joshua. I can still remember that smell though and how strong it was for me,” Sue explained.

“Okay that is one. Are there more?” the shadow asked.

~ ~ ~

“A few months later when both Sue and Tara were pregnant…” Bobby began again.

“At the same time, right? I’m trying to get the timeline down,” Riley cut in. “How was that?”

“Quit interrupting and I will tell you,” Bobby started again. “Anyway Tara was sick the entire time…”

“No, I was not,” it was Tara’s turn to interrupt “just the first few months.”

“I’m telling the story, sheila, be quiet,” Bobby reprimanded her. “One morning I came into work my usual dapper and jovial self. Tara asked me to read something she was working on so I came to lean over her shoulder as I always did. She turned around to look at me and suddenly got this peculiar look on her face then she starts to turn green but before I can use my cat like reflexes to spring away she throws up on my shoes. I, of course, happened to be wearing the same cuffed pants that Sue threw up on before. In fact it was the first time I had worn them since that incident,” Bobby shot a look at both Tara and Sue who were rolling with laughter at this point.

“So was it the pants?” the shadow wanted to know.

“No, it was the aftershave,” Tara told her.

“That was perfectly good aftershave. It was expensive,” Bobby said adamantly.

“Maybe you should have read the fine print-caution may cause women to lose control-doesn’t necessarily mean in a good way,” Myles pointed out.

“I can still smell that. Are you wearing it now?” Tara asked.

“No, I don’t waste my good aftershave on the likes of this group anymore,” Bobby said.

“Okay so that is two is there another?” the shadow wanted to know.

“Well, for the first couple of months every time I picked up Josh he spit up on me. In fact the first time I held him at the hospital he spit up on my shoes and in the cuffs of my pants,” Bobby sighed.

“I think he spit up on Bobby before he ever spit up on me,” Jack laughed some more. Bobby just glared at him.

“I could tell your story,” Bobby suggested.

Jack pursed his lips and told him “Maybe we won’t talk about the things we did when we were young and foolish.”

“Oh, come on, this sounds really good,” the shadow pleaded. Bobby threw Jack a knowing glance and then said “Nah, I think some memories are better left unearthed.” Jack signed “thank you” and Bobby grinned back.

“What about the new baby?” Riley asked.

Sue said thoughtfully, “I did throw up lots with that pregnancy. Fortunately I wasn’t working but unfortunately it happened one Saturday when Bobby was over.” She paused “Missed the pants this time though but did get the shoes-sandals even! But the baby has been very well behaved.”

This started Lucy laughing and Bobby just shook his head and looked at the floor.
“Oh, spill Lucy-this is going to be good,” Tara was giddy at that thought.
“Thursday when we watched the kids so you could go out Bobby was bouncing the baby around. Josh warned him ‘no bounce’ and like clockwork the baby spit up on his shoes,” Lucy giggled. “Fortunately he wasn’t wearing pants with cuffs,” she finished.

“Well after Jack,” Bobby paused as the shadow leaned forward in anticipation, “dumped an entire strawberry milkshake on them I finally had to get rid of them,” Bobby admitted glumly. This made everyone including the children laugh even more.

~ ~ ~

And dead skin on trial…

“So Lucy what did you miss the most about DC?” Riley wanted to know. This brought groans from all the other male members in the room.

“Shopping?” Myles guessed.

“Nah,” Bobby shook his head “spa trips.”

“Every time the three girls would go to the spa, work was disrupted for an entire day as Myles, Jack and Bobby all tried to catch them lying about something so they can figure out what went on,” D. told Riley.

“You would think that all that law school would have paid off but we obviously know why they aren’t trial lawyers,” Tara said cheekily.

“I seem to remember getting the necessary information,” Jack pointed out.

“Yes, but that was one on one, not trial by jury,” Lucy shot back.

“You know all’s fair in love and…” Jack began.

“Well they do have spas in Atlanta,” Lucy interrupted “and I did visit a few of them but it wasn’t quite the same.”

“It wasn’t the spa trips so much as the company that I missed,” she continued with a look around the room.

“Maybe getting rid of some dead skin would help my clothes fit better because there is never a lack of food at our parties,” Donna agreed.

“How many layers can they take off? Does it remove birth marks or other imperfections?” Bobby wanted to know.

“So Riley tell us what brought you to the East Coast?” Sue cut in. She had decided that dead skin was certainly going to lead back to tattoos and that was not a public debate by any means. Since Riley is new he’s probably too polite to call my bluff, her thoughts continued.

“Nice redirect, counselor,” D. said smiling.

~ ~ ~

For what it’s worth…

A little while later Sue took the baby upstairs to feed her. She was quickly followed by the rest of the women. “Will it disturb her if we talk while she is eating?” Donna wanted to know.

“No as long as I keep her face covered she’s okay,” Sue explained. Donna wanted to know what Lucy had been up too so Lucy told her. Then Lucy asked about the kids and Donna filled them all in on the latest goings-on at the Gans household. They laughed about teenagers and remembered back to some things they had all done to make their own parents crazy.

“It is good to have you back Lucy,” Donna told her “Dimitrius was really happy when it all worked out.”

“Thank you,” Lucy replied sincerely. She knew Donna would only have mentioned it if D. had said it so she was exceptionally grateful.

Donna asked Sue and Tara if they were still glad to be at home full time.

“Most days,” Sue said honestly.

“We were planning a little pity party earlier this week but then D. needed help so we felt valuable again,” Tara laughed.

“It’s hard and valuable work to stay home and raise children,” Donna reminded her.

“I know but once in awhile I do miss wearing nice clothes and having adult conversation,” Sue admitted.

“Don’t you get bored staying home all day?” the shadow wanted to know.

“I should have time to be bored,” Tara laughed.

“Well you still work as a consultant so I would imagine that you stay very busy, but not to have a job at all,” the shadow continued.

Tara looked at Sue but before she could say anything Donna said “Raising children is a job, and a very hard one at that. It’s hard to stay home with your children at any age but especially when they’re little. It is easy to become isolated. If you have had a career to suddenly stay home is very different. It doesn’t matter if that was how you planned it or just how it happened. Society tends to identify you by your work and if your family is your job it is hard to not get lost in their identities. You have to make an extra effort to find something that is yours because you can’t live your family 24/7,” Donna tried to explain.

“That is true and it is very hard when your kids are little. I have many opportunities that I could take advantage of but I don’t because it gets overwhelming. I go to a Bible study one morning a week because the church offers childcare during that time. I could immerse myself in the deaf community I am always getting asked to do something but I pick carefully. I choose things that include the children. It is about finding balance. I am trying to be better at that,” Sue said.

“It takes a while,” Donna promised.

“What was your favorite stage of your children’s life Donna?” Tara asked.

Donna smiled then replied simply “Whatever stage we happened to be in when I actually took the time to think about it.” That made all of them smile.

~ ~ ~

Tara cocked her head and listened. “What?” Sue asked.

“Skirmish,” Tara told her.

“Major or minor?” Sue wanted to know.

“Well it probably would have been minor but now I hear Daddy’s trying to apply reason so major,” Tara said.

Sue sighed, looked at Tara and they both got up. Donna laughed and said “Good now I get to hold the baby!” Sue handed Paige over and headed downstairs. Near as she could figure out Josh and Bethany were fighting over a teddy bear. She read “see it!” and “No Betsy mine!” along with both Jack and Myles trying to reason the children into sharing. One look at Tara told Sue she was thinking the same thing then Tara signed “Run” and Sue burst into laughter. This caught everyone’s attention.

Jack looked at her and said “I don’t see what is so funny! Why don’t you fix the problem?”

Sue looked at Joshua and said “If you aren’t going to share the bear go put it away.” He crossed his arms and frowned.

Then Tara reminded Bethany gently “You know that is Josh’s special bear and if it is on his bed you are suppose to leave it there.”

“What is so special about it that he can’t share?” Jack wanted to know.

“And it was down here to begin with!” Myles pointed out.

“Your mom gave it to him and the rule is if you don’t want to share it you can’t play with it when you have guests. I don’t know why he doesn’t want to share it other than he’s two,” Sue said.

“And Bethany likes to torture Josh with this particular toy probably because she knows he doesn’t like to share it so he doesn’t get it out-she does,” Tara finished up.

“I would hardly consider that torture,” Myles defended his daughter. Tara just rolled her eyes.

“Is this what every play date is like?” Jack questioned.

“No unless they actually come to blows we usually don’t interfere and we never try to reason. Distraction is a much better method,” Sue said.

“Kind of like when we all worked together before?” Lucy asked.

“Exactly as long as you guys didn’t come to blows we didn’t interfere and we definitely never tried to reason with you,” Tara said.

“Most days we still don’t, however the distracting does work well” Sue added with a smile. “I’m going to go upstairs and bring the rest of the food down now.”

Joshua said “I help!”

Bethany chimed in with “Me too!” The bear was then forgotten in the rush for food. Bobby got up and followed Sue as well.

“Apparently distraction works for Bobby as well,” Myles pointed out slyly to Jack.

“He isn’t even married, yet they managed to train him too,” Jack just shook his head in amazement.

~ ~ ~

It was worth all the while…

Sue and Lucy brought down the rest of the food with some help from Bobby.

“I had this plugged in upstairs so it is hot, but I don’t think it will reach any of the outlets down here,” Sue told Riley motioning to his crock pot.

“It should be fine,” Riley told her.

“What did you make?” Jack wanted to know.

“I made spinach dip,” the shadow piped up.

“Spinach dip,” Bobby said skeptically, “seems awfully healthy for a party,”

“The kind in a bread bowl?” Lucy asked. The shadow nodded her head yes. “I love that!” Lucy continued.

“I made chili cheese dip,” Riley said.

“Now that is way more my style,” Bobby said rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“You don’t know what you’re missing then,” Lucy told him as she spooned some spinach dip onto her plate.

“Donna made that shrimp, cheese dish thing,” D. added as well.

“I did what?” Donna asked coming down the stairs with Paige.

“You made shrimp cheesecake?” the shadow asked with a dubious look on her face.

“No, it is shrimp with melted cheese and salsa, served with tortilla chips,” Donna explained patiently shooting her husband a look.

“Oh that sounds much better,” the shadow said relieved.

Myles cleared his throat “I made a hot artichoke parmesan spread to go with homemade toast points.”

“Over achiever,” Bobby noted.

“What did you make?” Riley continued on to Jack.

“Hockey pucks,” came Jack’s flip response.

“Okay what did you make that we want to eat?” Riley tried again.

“Hockey pucks,” Jack said seriously. Then he grinned and explained “Two round butter crackers with peanut butter spread between them dipped in chocolate-hockey pucks.”

“An original recipe?” Riley inquired.

“Nah learned it from my mom. She used to make them for games,” Jack admitted.

“Ockey!” shouted Joshua then he made the sign for “chocolate”.

Jack laughed “Yes chocolate and hockey two of your favorite things.”

“He signs too?” the shadow was amazed.

“Of course,” Jack said “I think chocolate was the first sign he learned.”

“Me some too,” Bethany requested.

“You eat first,” was her mother’s response as she handed Bethany a plate with some cut up vegetables as well as other snacks.

Bethany looked at Josh and said “Rats!” This made Joshua laugh.

Sue watched them then said “I love it when they laugh.”

“How can you tell?” Riley’s question was very polite yet a little hesitant.

Sue shrugged “Body language, of course. When little children and babies laugh they use their whole bodies. I have been told if the sound could be bottled and sold we would all be out of jobs as worldwide peace would ensue. It is so much more than the sound though. Sometimes Joshua laughs so hard he falls down and that is music to my eyes.”

Riley said “Thank you for sharing that. Can you show me the sign for thank you?” Sue did and then Riley signed it back to her.

~ ~ ~

It’s something unpredictable…

Murphy had come to sit right next to Riley’s chair as soon as the food was brought out. Riley had rolled forward slightly and onto her tail not noticing she was there. The dog yelped, causing Josh and Bethany to jump up and hit Bobby’s hand as he went to pick up his glass. The cat then came out of nowhere and shot across the room causing soda pop to fly everywhere along with chips and dip. The dog promptly recovered and ran over to eat the food. Sue went to grab a towel when she came back Jack smiled and signed “Told you so!” She just shook her head at him.

Riley apologized “I am so sorry I didn’t know she was sitting there.”

“Don’t worry, she figures since you are new you won’t know the rules and you will feed her,” Sue replied. “Or if all else fails she can stage a distraction and steal someone’s food.” Then looking at the dog she continued with “He isn’t going to feed you either so back off.” The dog promptly went and laid down by Riley’s chair again.

“Well I obviously didn’t hurt her too much,” Riley laughed as he leaned down to scratch her ears.

“Having a dog does cut down on the amount of vacuuming that needs to be done,” Jack told them. “We hardly ever have to wash Josh’s chair either, she takes care of that too.”

“Well it cuts down on the vacuuming of food,” Sue reminded him “now if she would stop shedding…” The group just laughed at this statement.

~ ~ ~

But in the end is right…

The party broke up shortly after that. Jack and Bobby helped Riley back out to his car. Sue told him she would clean up his crockpot and send it to work with Jack the following day. Riley smiled and thanked for that and her hospitality. Driving home Myles words from the other day came back to him you will understand sooner or later. After watching Jack with his family today Riley did understand the protective streak. He smiled then and thought about just how blessed he was and how much he was going to like this new team.

D. and Donna had left at the same time as Riley to catch up with the kids for a few minutes before Monday morning arrived. D. reflected upon leaving that this was his team and whether they worked in the office or at home they were all still part of the team. As he walked to the car with Donna he smiled and said “I can’t help but think we have played an important role in their lives as well as in the lives of our own children.”

Donna agreed “I think we have set a good example through our marriage.”

Bobby took his leave as well after giving Sue a hug and signing thank you. He realized how close he had come to throwing this all away when he needed it the most. Jealousy usually wasn’t his style and he was thankful that both Jack and Sue had seen through the façade and kept him in check. He knew he needed to do something about Darcy. See her even if just for closure but he didn’t know exactly how to go about it yet.

The shadow left as well saying thanks. Well, she thought so much for making a resounding impression. Jack Hudson still doesn’t know my name and how can he ever invite me to be a part of this team without that piece of information. Bobby had been very approachable answering all her questions then throwing some back her way and once they had gotten rid of that moron Jason the whole experience had improved so much more. I really wanted to kick him in the shins, she thought. But now she only had a few more days then back to her unit. It was disappointing but not really surprising. You just didn’t arrive and join the bureau’s elite surveillance team. Even if you do have skills to offer, that they need, she thought glumly.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me her name?” Sue asked Jack.

“Because,” he responded with a sheepish grin, “I don’t know it. She just appeared one day when I was really busy, D. had given the okay, so I left it at that. Now it is too late to ask and besides she goes back to her own unit next week.” Sue laughed and kissed his cheek.

Tara and Myles helped drag everything back upstairs then offered to stay and help wash up.

“Don’t be silly,” Sue said “it won’t take long. I know you need to be getting home.” Tara gave Sue a look of thanks while Jack gave her one of confusion.

“Besides,” Lucy offered before Jack could protest, “I can help too.” With promises to play this week, the Lelands headed out the door. Joshua yelled “Betsy!” When she looked over her daddy’s shoulder Josh made the sign for then yelled “I love you.”

Bethany giggled and said “Rats!” Then made the same sign back.

~ ~ ~

I hope you had the time of your life…

Lucy started washing the dishes upstairs while Sue and Jack set about cleaning the basement. The baby was sleeping in her bouncy seat and Josh was lying on the couch. Jack had turned the radio on earlier. Suddenly he looked at Sue and signed “Dance?”

She asked “Are they playing our song?” Jack nodded.

“Which one?” she wanted to know.

“The one from the Valentine party, that I just gave you the words too,” he said sweeping her into his arms. And they danced.

“I like this one but I really like the other one about the time of your life. I have watched you sing words,” she told him when he stopped. Jack walked over, switched on the CD player and found the song. And they danced some more. When the song was over he used the remote to stop the CD but continued to dance with his wife.

Lucy had come downstairs as the first song was ending, in time to hear Sue’s request. She watched quietly for a moment not wanting to intrude. This song is true I have always had the time of my life with this group, it took me saying good riddance to realize it though, her thoughts continued, how lucky to be welcomed back with open arms. I watched them fall in love and now I am so glad to be back and see them be in love. When Jack turned the music off Lucy quickly headed upstairs before they could see her.

What was that line in the song from the CD he had just bought for Joshua, the songs that Sue could sing and play, Jack thought then looking into Sue’s eyes he remembered because it was truly their theme “The story of I love you it has no end…”

END

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