The Nomination:

This was, I believe, the first vignette posted on our site, and in my mind continues to be one of the best. In "Thirty Seconds to Tell Her", Surveillant took us into the minds (and hearts) of Jack and Sue when they were about to be caught in Dragon Lady's office in the episode "The Kiss". It was the first time I had seen someone add the emotional depth, in writing, that is often missing when we watch a scene on our TV screen. And now, having read it, there is just that much more to enjoy when seeing the episode again (and again).

Thirty Seconds to Tell Her
a vignette

"We need to make it look like we're in here for a reason."

Those had been his only words, somehow still confident despite the imminent threat of discovery. But as his eyes paused for a moment to search her face, he became strangely vulnerable.

Everything was happening so quickly that Sue felt like her mind was lagging ten seconds behind, trying to process what they would do once Janice caught them. It wasn't until Jack stepped closer to her, his left hand leaving her arm where he had been guiding her only seconds before, that she began to wonder. Is he going to—

Cautiously, he brought both his hands to rest softly at her waist and Sue's mind caught up to the present, now fully understanding what he intended. The office was dark, but she caught a brief glimpse of something unreadable in his eyes. A long-hidden longing? No. A cautious, friendly concern. She was sure.

Sue had no time for a verbal response. She didn't have a better plan. But somewhere, deep inside, she was glad. There was no time to speak her consent. Instead, she simply allowed him to pull her closer, closer than she had ever been to him. Seconds seemed like minutes, his actions a surreal mixture of haste and hesitation.

Jack lowered his head and slowly caught her lips in his own. He's kissing me. Sue shivered involuntarily, a soft tremor rippling through her. Jack felt her tremble beneath him and his heart froze, fearing he had been too bold and that she would never forgive him. Tentatively, gently, his mouth caressed hers, fearful of saying too much.

Sue's pulse raced. She knew this after-hours tryst they had suddenly created needed to seem believable, so she fought back the shyness she felt at kissing him and stretched her hands upward toward his neck. She hoped Jack couldn't tell how tumultuous she was feeling.

Her hands about his neck provided encouragement. Hoping, wistfully interpreting, that she was playing along for more than professional expediency, Jack risked deepening his kiss. It was amazing that his mind could distance itself—a million thoughts and memories of other times together, times when he had wanted to take her in his arms, flooded his mind in what was only an instant.

Caught up in the moment and, for just a few precious seconds, forgetful of everything else, Jack found himself struggling to control the feelings that had been growing within him for over a year. He nudged gently against her lips, tryng to tell her more; and Sue's head moved back slightly to compensate. He immediately checked himself, but her response surprised him. Jack felt her fingers run softly over his temple. There seemed to be a subtle change now that she had overcome the initial shock of the situation.

She pulled back slightly but approached him again, willingly. Could it be that, now that the moment had come, she was as eager to kiss him as he had been to kiss her? He stilled briefly, waiting for her full response. Jack felt his own heart thumping furiously and wondered if it were possible for a kiss, a simple and common form of intimacy, to induce a heart attack. If so, he would soon be the first to know.

Sue slid her hand down from his neck to rest high on his chest, tilting her head up towards him and relaxing completely in his arms, content to surrender the lead to him. It felt strangely right to be there.

Jack no longer worried about his choice to kiss her. There would be time later for damage control if he felt a need to smooth things over. Instead, caution was replaced by urgency, a secret urgency to communicate to her in only seconds all that he held in his heart.

Jack found it powerfully ironic that his work, the very thing that constantly prevented him from expressing his true feelings for her, had suddenly provided him with the opportunity to do what he had wanted to do for so long. Maybe! Maybe in just the few fleeting seconds before they were discovered he could make her understand. He loved her. Loved her fiercely—more than David possibly could. Did she realize?

Sue had ceased thinking. The overwhelming sense of his nearness had pushed out all awareness of their larger circumstance. She was aware only of Jack's hand, rising slowly, following the contours of her side and arm, hovering softly, almost fearfully, over her shoulder. Sue felt the warmth of his fingers as they brushed reverently across the side of her neck and rose to caress her face. His hand. That strong, familiar hand, previously only friendly, but now different: soothing, warm, tender . . .

Sue couldn't hear the incredulous voice that intruded abruptly into the silence of the hallowed office, but she was vaguely aware of the lights coming on, sensing the sudden brightness through closed lids. Jack's lips, however, lingered on hers for a split second more before he pulled away and turned toward Janice in pretend surprise. Years of training allowed his mind to refocus on the crisis at hand; but his heart wondered desperately if its message had been communicated. That wonderful, sweet, forbidden kiss had ended so quickly! Had she understood?

~ Finis

You can find this story, and all of Surveillant's other stories here in her archive page. Comments are always welcome!