Wicked! I'm off to read ickleails story that you mentioned. I'm not that up to date so thanks for the explanation! Sorry that i posted when you posted! More please! Your story is addictive, as soon as you give us some, we want more! Am I speaking for just me? From Jenny

That was great, Cath. Someone guessed earlier that it was Levi's POV, and it looks like they are right.

to Ivory. Great job learningtosign! From Jenny

It is Levi!! But, best of all, it IS Jack and Sue!!!

Clever way to get us there, Cath!!!

Joy

It was Jack and Sue

I'm certainly glad I got to this one late. LOVED the point of view - very creative!

Yay! Yipee! Wahoo! It's Jack and Sue!

I knew I could trust you Cath. Really, truly I did!

Very clever! Great job! Thank you!

Tracy

Yay! It's Jack and Sue! I was wondering there for a minute Whew! There's a load off my back!

Yeah totally! Can't wait for more!

thought you might all be happy, maybe my next challenge will be s/m or s/b or sue/randy, mmmmm that has all sorts of possibilities.

Chapter 4

How did they get together?

That was down to yours truly………….I’m not called ‘Levi the Wonder Dog’ for nothing you know

The following are Levi’s perceptions of conversations between Jack and Sue or those times they talked to him or other conversations heard.

I don’t think Sue had realised how lonely we’d be in New York… we spent most of our working day shut away in a small office where she would read, collate and sign endless piles of paperwork.

We rarely saw anyone else during the day, unless it was for mind numbing meetings, and those we did see made little effort to communicate with her.

The apartment the FBI rented for her was a hole to be honest………. Sue tried to brighten it up but it was never going to be as nice as the one we had in DC.

We both missed the team………. I even missed Myles even though he was never very forthcoming with the treats.

I especially missed Jack and the long walks we went on when he was with us………. The little treats he’d sneak me when he thought Sue wasn’t watching……… I missed the dinners and takeouts we shared but most of all I missed the man and I knew Sue missed him badly too.

Not that she told anyone, not even Luce……….. she’d made her decision and she was determined to stick it out however tough it was.

Sue kept in touch with everyone, mainly through email and always remained upbeat about the job, told them she was happy, made excuses why they couldn’t visit………..

It reminded me a lot of when she first moved to DC but then she soon had Jack and the team as friends.

In New York she had no-one. If she’d been honest they would have come up to se her………… especially Jack who was missing her like crazy, or so he told her later when he finally came to visit over Easter.

He kept quiet about how sad he felt because he thought she was having a great life without him.

Sue had left in the November and although she made new friends through Deaf Club and church it wasn’t the same as working with friends.

She travelled around the world…….. we spent Christmas in Sydney, Australia…….. nice and hot, a barbecue on the beach for Christmas dinner.

But each time she worked at home for a few days after to write up reports……. This gave her time to recover from the flying and the pain in her ears……… that was fine when we were flying home to New York but not an option when we flew to a new country………. She just struggled on and kept quiet.

Whenever she heard from Jack it always sounded as though he was getting on great which made it much harder to tell him how sad she was……….. he’d moved on in his life and she needed to do the same.

She didn’t realise until he visited that he was far from alright and she only found out the full facts after she moved back to DC.

It appeared he had done an incredible job of hiding his feelings and pretending he was Ok at work……… he turned up on time, worked all the cases…….. smiled and joked but when he got home each night he fell apart.

Even throwing a meal in the microwave was too much effort, he ate at lunchtime with the others but at home he couldn’t be bothered……… food reminded him of the meals with Sue and how much he missed her.

He went to the gym and worked so hard so often to try and blot out the pain that the owner refused to let him go again so he began to use the bureau gym at least twice each day, arriving early in the morning then showering and changing for work then repeating the process in the evening.

At weekends he spent most of his time there, or lying on the couch watching games or channel hopping, anything to take away the emptiness he was feeling, only taking off Sunday morning when he went to church and went through the motions, unable to remember what songs had been sung or the topic of the sermon 2 minutes after he walked out.

If he didn’t go to the gym he ran for miles pounding the lonely roads of DC.

Bobby and Tara were dating as were Luce and Myles and although they tried hard not to flaunt it at work they found it hard to see their friend so low.

Jack pretended he was Ok and the guys would meet up once a week to play pool or darts but he was always ‘busy’ that night or he’d go to the gym and lose track of time.

Aww that is so sad so what finally happened to change all that?

at least from the outset we know what the happy ending is... I hope!

kav

This is a doggone good story, Cath. Well, someone had to say it at some point.

Well, I take it our couple is Jack and Sue !!!

The flashback... why are they so stubborn???? They simple couldn't admit they are lonely and unhappy ????

I can't wait for your next post from the past...


Restie

Sue/Randy? You're hilarious, Cath! Sounds like "Mission Impossible" for Randy! Oops, perhaps I shouldn't have said that -- might give you some ideas!


You're funny too, Ivory!


Great chapter. So sad though. But it only confirms what I already knew! They can't live without each other, at least not happily!

Tracy

oh, Cath, I loved the point of view, calling Sue his best friend warmed my heart but now reading about Jack lonliness is breaking it...it's a good thing we know things would work out!

Yeah, don't let anyone give you any non-fuzzie ideas. We love this one! Great post! From Jenny

ok, well i have an idea for you got mail but maybe i could post sue & randy in mission impossible instead, especially as my muse is going a little awol on this one. i have an ending but the middle has disappeared into the ether

Chapter 5

At the beginning of March Luce told Sue that D had been promoted to Supervisor at last.

One of his first tasks was to call Jack into his office early one morning and tell him to take some leave.

‘You haven’t had any time off this year……… you have 3 weeks and you are going to see Sue in New York…….. you are going to tell her how you feel and see if there is any chance of getting together………… tell her that her job is still open and as Supervisor I am more than happy for you to date and work together………..’ D was firm, allowing Jack little room to manoeuvre.

‘D……… I can’t go see her…….. she’s having a great time……… I can’t ask her to choose between me and the job………I couldn’t then and I can’t now…….’

‘How do you know she’s having a great time, Jack…………?’ D allowed his sentence to hang in the air.

‘She tells us……………’ Jack mumbled, looking at the floor.

‘And what do you tell her in your emails………? That you’re doing OK……… moving on…….. or do you tell the truth………. ? That you’re a mess……….. you’ve done a great job of hiding the truth from all of us…………it was Donna who realised……… she saw you one weekend, said you’d lost weight and looked awful……and I have to agree with her….. I guess we didn’t notice because we see you every day………… I don’t expect Sue is being any more honest than you……….. you’re both pretending because you don’t want to spoil the others happiness………… get up there and talk to her…………. and don’t come back until this is resolved…………………’

‘What if she’s away…………….?’

‘She isn’t……… I asked William……she has time off over Easter……. Just go…………. Tell her what you should have told her years ago and certainly before she left DC……………….’

D was going to get him to New York if he had to shove Jack on the plane himself.

Jack nodded and headed home to pack, deciding he would drive up and surprise her……… he hoped it would be a pleasant surprise but he had a feeling it would be her worst nightmare.

NO WAY! She'll be sooo happy to see you!

Jack, how could you be her "worst nightmare" ???? The man is insane, don't you think, girls?!?!?!

I can't wait for more, Cath!!!!


Restie

Yes -- he's headed in the right direction!

kav

Good for Donna for speaking up. It's even better that D followed through and talked with Jack.

I think you should go with You've Got Mail! Much better title...


That sounds familiar...I know that all too well...

Don't you just love D and Donna?

I'm really enjoying this story! Thanks for posting!

Poor Jack - he tries so hard to be honorable and puts himself through it!! I'm so glad D has told him that he has to go to New York and see Sue!!! Thank you, Donna, for noticing what everyone else missed!!!

Worst nightmare?? I don't think so - more like a dream come true!!!

Joy

It is true that people close to you don't often see a change that can be subtle and thankfully Donna who doesn't see him that often realised what a mess he truly was.

Good work D, someone had to point out to Jack what was happening, good job they have someone outside the group who notices these things.

Great story Cath, keep going I'm sure your muse will return.

Soph

Aww poor Jack, I hope the visit goes well Great Story !

Chapter 6

Arriving at Sue’s apartment that evening after he had booked a hotel room and unpacked, Jack knocked tentatively on the door, hearing not only Sue’s voice but a man’s.

About to turn away he heard the door open and saw Sue kissing the man lightly on the cheek.

‘Jack…………….? What are you doing here…………?’ she murmured.

‘I’ll see you soon Mark………..’ she kissed the man again on the cheek as he returned the gesture, before walking away.

‘I had some time off, wanted to come see you……… I’m sorry ………I didn’t realise…………..’ Jack mumbled, trying to fend me off, i was so excited to see him i almost wagged my tail off, as I woofed in delight

‘Come on in………. coffee……….? Didn’t realise what Jack……….?’ Sue had a feeling she knew what Jack was thinking………. It wouldn’t hurt to make him a little jealous.

‘I…… errrrr……. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone,’ he mumbled looking down at the floor, as Sue made coffee.

‘Jack……….. I still can’t read the top of your head.’

Yup, he was thinking what she thought he was thinking, she could tell by the way he was sitting; his body language hadn’t changed much over the last few months.

‘I said I didn’t realise you were seeing anyone………. I should have rung first……. Sorry ………. I’ll go…………….’

She could see the pain in his eyes and regretted teasing him, he looked tired and drawn, obviously his emails were as wildly inaccurate as hers had been.

‘Jack sit down……….. Mark is my brother………… my oldest brother, he was in New York on business……… he’s flying back to Detroit later today…………..’ she finished making the coffee and placed a mug in front of him as he signed ‘thanks’.

‘I’m sorry I had no idea…………………..’ Jack muttered, feeling more than a little foolish.

‘You said that the first day we met, remember………. In the cafeteria…….. I told you I was deaf…………….’

Jack nodded, he often wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t recruited Sue……… they would have been free to date ……… but would he have asked her out even then?

‘Why did you come up Jack………..?’ her question hung heavily in the air.

‘As I said I had time off……… thought I’d come see you……………’

He couldn’t face telling her that D had told him to come…….. that he had given Jack the push to do what he’d been wanting to do for the last few months.

‘You just thought you’d come up……….. after all these months?’

If she was honest she wanted to run into his arms and tell him she loved him, tell him how low she was feeling but something held her back………..

‘Yeah……………’ he couldn’t say anything else which would be coherent, just looking at her had reduced him to an emotional wreck.

Driving up he’d planned what he wanted to say, how he was going to say it, how she would respond……….. and now he was back to being the bumbling idiot he’d been since she walked into his life.

‘What do you want Jack?’ her sharp tone dragged Jack quickly back to reality.

‘Huh?’

‘I said what do you want……….? I’m going out soon………. You can’t just turn up and expect me to be here doing nothing………… it doesn’t work like that………. Not now’.

I looked at her astonished, ‘going out? First I’d heard about it………. We hadn’t been ‘out’ for months, other than church and Deaf Club and neither of those was on today.

Wearily Jack stood, ‘I’ll leave………. Sorry to have bothered you………….’

If I had a fist I would have banged my head with it……….. both unhappy they were still dancing around each other.

Then I devised a cunning plan which I quickly put into action…………………

What is Levi's cunning plan?

Go, Levi, GOOOOOOOO !!!! You're the only one who has common sense!!!!

I really can't wait


Restie

Can't wait to see Levi's plan!

If anybody can get these two together, it will be Levi!!! Go, Levi!!!

Joy

Levi the wonderdog strikes again

GO LEVI!!! If Lucy were ever to take the matchmaking into a professional business then she should make Levi her partner in getting people together! Loved levi's POV! Keep up the good work! From Jenny

Oh Levi, go on and tell us the story.....

Have just caught up great story

Am loving Levi's POV

Can't wait for more

Yeah, Levi, let's have it!
What's the plan...and can we all be in on it?

Hope you like it

Chapter 7

Before Jack could rise to his feet I ran to the door, lay down and began to snarl at them defying them to leave the apartment.

‘Hey buddy, it’s Ok …….. it’s me……………’ Jack tried to reassure me before turning to Sue.

‘You been teaching him more tricks?’ he asked as I continued to bark and snarl at the pair of them determined that they would not pass until they had talked to each other at the very least. Some making out would be better but I could live with talking.

‘No………… Levi, what’s up buddy…………?’ Sue approached gently, holding out her hand to pat my head……….. I sure hoped they were hot on not beating me after this was over…………….

I snarled at her then barked furiously.

‘How about we sit down for a while, see if he settles then I can leave later’ Jack suggested.

Sue shrugged her shoulders and headed for the kitchen to make more coffee as Jack pulled out a treat and tried to give it to me.

You have no idea how hard it was to refuse that treat, I’d been longing for one from Jack for so long……… instead I barked at him and ignored the treat which he left on the floor.

After a painful silence Jack asked quietly, ‘so……… how’s it going?’

Sue shrugged and repeated her earlier question as I watched closely for any sudden movement towards the door.

‘You………… I want you, Sue……… as my friend, my wife, my lover, the mother of my children……………. ‘Jack responded quietly.

My tail wagged a little, maybe this was going to work………….

‘You leave me to come to New York and then tell me all that, now…………? I don’t believe this…………..’ she snapped at him.

Perhaps not…………

Sue jumped out of her seat and began to head for the door as I stood and snarled at her.

‘Sue………. I think Levi wants us to stay here, to talk……….. please come and sit down…….. I want you to see what I’m trying to tell you………. What I should have said before you left.’

Jack turned his eyes on her and thankfully she melted, I was hoping we wouldn’t need to test the theory of whether my bark was worse than my bite.

‘OK, I’m listening…….. well you know what I mean……………’

‘Sue………. I want to tell you how sorry I am…………. Sorry that I didn’t tell you how I felt before you left………. That last night in the pen, I wanted to take you out for dinner, tell you……tell you I loved you….. I’d left it so late and you seemed so excited about the job………. and……. I ……… I couldn’t tell you and ask you to choose between me and a great career……….. not when I hadn’t said anything for so long…………. I wanted you to be happy and I thought you would be ……………….. I’ve been lying since you left…….. I’m not Ok……….. life without you sucks……….. and I need to tell you the truth. I love you Sue and I have done for a very long time……… I’ve made a lot of mistakes with you and the first was letting you walk away from me at Bobby’s party………. I should have chased after you………… I’ve wasted so many opportunities to tell you I loved you and I’m sorry for that ………… I want to put things right with you, now…………’

Woohoo my tail was definitely wagging hard now, ‘way to go Jack’ I thought, shame it took him so long but at least he’d done it now.

I waited patiently for her reply and wasn’t disappointed.

‘You love me…………….?’ it sounded as though she was about to burst into tears as she saw Jack nod silently.

‘Life without you sucks too Jack……….. I’ve been lying too, but I thought you were happy………………., dating, getting on with your life……….. I pretended I was Ok……that I was having a great time, enjoying the job……. I’ve spent so many lonely evenings and weekends on my own with just Levi for company….. if you’d told me how you felt there would have been no decision to make……….. I would have stayed in DC, asked to transfer to another team……………I love you too Jack……’

By now Sue had tears streaming down her face and Jack moved to sit beside her, taking her in his arms and holding her tightly as she cried, releasing some of her sadness, soaking his t-shirt as she did so. Not that he seemed to mind at all.

I ate my treat, pleased with my efforts.

I was even happier when I next looked up to see some ‘making out’ going on and I figured it was safe to move from my post at the door.

Levi, you deserves the prize or the train full of treats!!!! Thank you, boy.... we're happy now only thanks to you!!!!!

Very touching post, Cath!!!!


Restie

Way to go Levi!!!!!

Definitely! Great chapter! Thanks Cath! Thanks Levi!

I'd say that Levi deserves a glorious romp in the park, donuts, dog bones, squirrels to chase, a new bunny and ... well, you get the idea.

Levi you're a star!

All of the above and more!!!

I just love it when Levi takes control!!!

Joy

Am loving the take charge Levi

Can't wait for more

Sorry I haven't posted comments recently, have been deprived of computer time for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!!!!!! Really good cath, please post more soon! From Jenny

Levi you made them talk well done

Oh Levi, what a smart little dog you are! We're so proud of you!

Chapter 8

An hour later I needed to go out so I ambled over to them and out my paw on Sue’s leg……… at least I think it was Sue’s since they were lying on the couch together, a tangle of arms and legs, with a good deal of mumbling and groaning coming from them. Still I guessed they had 4 years to make up for………. But I still needed to go………. Badly.

Jack finally took the hint and reluctantly stood up, ‘guess Levi needs to go………. Can I come with you…………? I’ve missed walking the wonder dog with you……….. then we could go get some dinner………………’

In just a few short hours it was like being home again……….. we went for a very long walk punctuated by them stopping for lots of kisses while I chased squirrels, out for dinner and Jack slipped me a few treats…………. The only difference was the very long goodnight kiss they shared before Jack reluctantly headed back to his hotel.

He was back early the next morning in time for breakfast and we spent the next four days together since Sue and I had time off over Easter.

We went to church together, for dinner, long walks, sight seeing, even managed a game…and Jack actually managed to get himself out of bed very early Easter Sunday for a dawn service to mark the resurrection, don’t think he’s ever been up that early and I don’t think he’ll ever be up that early again…….well until they have a baby anyway……….

Jack was determined to make up for lost time and woo her, show her he meant business.

There was a good deal of making out during those few days……….. at first when they were moaning I thought they were playing and tried to join in……… I soon got the hint though and curled up on my bed.

Jack confessed to her that D had told him to visit……….. to his surprise she looked heavenwards and said a silent ‘thanks’ and told him, between her tears, how lonely she’d felt, the meals that lasted 3 or 4 days because she could only pick at them, her appetite long gone………….. the endless evenings she’d gone running just to fill her time or stayed at the bureau gym so she didn’t have to go home to an empty apartment, how many times she’d cried into my fur and started to pick the phone up to call him but stopped herself, thinking he was happy without her………

By the time she’d finished they were both crying.

Sue had to go to London for a few days so Jack came with us and we did the whole touristy bit…….. well, not the whole bit because there is too much to see in just a few days but we took in a few sights and stayed a couple of days longer.

Jack proposed to her in London, over a picnic in a park

When he bought the engagement ring he bought her a beautiful blue topaz bracelet and a blue topaz and diamond eternity ring, both of which she is wearing today.

At some point he told her about the job; ‘D says you can come back ………… if you want to……….. he’s happy for us to work together and date……………….’

A month later we moved down to DC……….. since Luce had a new roommate we moved into Jacks’ spare room which made it easier to talk wedding plans and look at house details, although most things were sorted out by then.

Before the move we took a couple of weekends to visit their parents, neither family were surprised at the announcement, knowing the depth of feeling their offspring had for each other. The only surprise was how quickly it was happening and how firm they were about what they wanted, Sue was refusing to wear any of the dresses her mom suggested which was good because most of them left her looking like an overdressed meringue.

Within a few days of moving, Sue and I were back at work and the team had a double celebration, Sue and I were back and she and Jack were engaged. I’d always known that once he got his act together it wouldn’t be long before they married.

Those who didn’t know them well assumed they were having to get married, those who knew them well knew they would never ‘have’ to marry.

And so, here we are early June and Sue is walking up the aisle.

They forgave me for snarling at them and Jack reckoned I should be his best man since it was me that kept them in long enough to talk.

He also reckoned my speech would be short and sweet…………….. Bobby is there beside us as my right hand man (or should that be right pawed man?), holding the rings and watching Tara walk up the aisle.

Anyway he’s doing the speech later but Jack has threatened to substitute him if he goes on too long or gets embarrassing………………

That was a beautiful post, LTS. And it's such a delight to know that Jack and Sue are finally together!

More on the wedding?