Here's another entry in the Challenge from me. The idea for this came to me when I started trying to work on my Mission Impossible story (sequel to My Best Friend's Wedding). Since I couldn't seem to get it out of my head, I realized I was going to have start writing it down, if I was ever going to concentrate and make any progress on the Mission Impossible story. This story involves a case, which I've never attempted before in either of my two previously written stories, so hopefully it works out! I want to say a big thank you to Cath (learningtosign) for beta'ing this for me!

I hope y'all enjoy!

Thanks for reading,
Tracy

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Ransom


Chapter 1:

"Team, we have a new case!" announced D, as he entered the bullpen.

"What is it this time?" Jack asked D.

"A kidnapping...being held for ransom!" D responded.

"A tragedy, for family and friends, no doubt..." Myles said in his droll manner "but why is this considered a case for the FBI at this point?" he asked.

"Because, it's one of our own that's been kidnapped!" D exclaimed somberly.

Looks of terror on their faces, each individual team member scanned the room, seeking out each of their team members and friends. Looks of relief replaced those of terror, as they all realized that each and every one of them were present and accounted for -- D, Jack, Bobby, Myles, Lucy, Tara, Sue, and even Levi!

"But everyone is here, D!" exclaimed Sue, confused.

"When I said one of our own, I meant he's an FBI employee, not a member of our unit." said D.

"Who is it?" they all asked, in unison.

glad to see you posting it, don't forget mission impossible tho will you?

cath

How wonderful that you're writing another story, Tracy!

Ummm ... tell me it's not Randy ...

YAY, another Tracy story!!!!!!!!!! This looks very interesting!! I'm in!! *big smile*

Jenny

Intriguing start...

Nice start Tracy. Whoa, yhm, you think it's Randy? That would be strange...I mean who would want to kidnap him and think they could get ransom off of him?!

Whoa! I just had that exact same thought. Scary! But honestly, like what JF said, who would want Randy anyway?? Those kidnappers can have someone so much better. If I were one of the kidnappers, I'll cut Randy loose the first day, who can possibly tolerate his kind of attitude??

Thanks for the comments y'all! Here's a little more... "
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Chapter 2:

D's mouth started to curl into a grin, which he promptly tried to hide, but it didn't escape Sue, who, with shock, asked "D, what could possibly be funny about the kidnapping of an FBI employee?"

"I'm sorry! It's not funny!" D responded. "It's just the person who was kidnapped was..."

"Was who?" they all asked in unison again, a little irritated.

Oh Please....it's Randy Pitts isn't it. I can just imagine the teams reaction.

Tracy, if you don't tell us soon, I'm going to have to resort to not posting!!! Would bribes of chocolate help???

Jenny

Randy? Arlene? Myrtle's skirtle?

Arlene!!! What's a skirtle???? Tracy, please get backk here and post!!!!

Jenny

I think you mean Myrtle's girdle...from episode Greed.
I think it's Randy!

My first thought was Randy ... but Arlene would be pretty fun too!!!

Sorry, I would, if I could, but I can't...
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Chapter 3:

"It's...Randy!" D blurted out.

"Excuse me, did I read that right?" asked Sue, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Did you say Randy? As in, Pitts?"

"As in, Vice President of Management Services, Randy Pitts?" Bobby asked, a dimpled grin on his face.

"As in, pain-in-the-posterior Randy?" Myles added.

"Yep, one in the same!" answered D.

"When did it happen?" asked Lucy, somewhat shamefully amused at the thought of Randy being kidnapped. There were times, when dealing with Randy, that she had truly regretted that the FBI didn't issue guns to their rotors. But, she quickly surmised, it was better that they didn't -- oh, the trouble she could get herself into if they did! Especially when it came to Randy, or Myles, for that matter... and then there was that one time, with Milton.

"Just this morning...half an hour to an hour ago." D answered.

"Wow, that's quick response!" Myles commented.

"Yeah, well, he is a federal employee." D reasoned.

"How much ransom is the kidnapper asking for?" asked Jack, who had a slight grin on his face.

"The kidnappers, there are two of them, according to initial reports from witnesses, are asking for one million dollars!" answered D.

The whole team, including Sue, couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Surely you're kidding?!" Myles declared.

"Nope!" D responded.

"Do they have any idea how disliked, and believe me when I say that's putting it mildly, Randy is in the Bureau?" Lucy asked.

"My guess would be no..." D surmised.

"Who in their right mind would kidnap Randy and why?" Tara asked.

"I'm not all together sure that they are in their right minds. He was kidnapped from a coffee shop nearby, Caribou Coffee, 601 13th Street. Information we have so far indicates it was two young men. Witnesses are being detained by authorities at the coffee shop for questioning. We need someone to go down there and question them now." D said.

"Sue and I will go!" Jack said, taking the lead, as he started readying himself to leave. "Anything to get to spend some alone time with Sue..." he thought to himself, with a smile. It had been just three months since Sue had changed her mind about going to New York, much to the whole team's, but most especially Jack's, relief. Yet, he still hadn't declared his true feelings for her. "Too risky.. he had reasoned, "especially given the no inter-unit dating rule." There was even more flirting going on then before, from both parties, and he was growing even more convinced that Sue felt the same for him as he did for her, but was scared to admit it, as well.

"Before Hudson and Thomas leave, I just have to ask do we really actually have to rescue Randy?" Myles asked, eliciting looks of shock from the other team members.

"WHAT?" Myles said with raised eyebrow and an indignant tone. "Come on! Don't tell me that each and every one of you didn't think exactly the same thing, if only for a fleeting moment, even you, I suspect, Thomas! We all know what a pain in the posterior he can be..."

"That may very well be, Myles! But we're talking about a man's life here! If we don't find him in time, he could actually die! As much as we all dislike Randy, I don't think any of us actually want him dead... not even you, I suspect, Myles! Besides, it is our JOB!" Sue said.

"Oh, all right!" Myles conceded, rolling his eyes.

Sue clipped Levi's leash to his collar and reached for her coat, as Jack reached for his. Jack and Sue then left the bullpen to go question their witnesses.

That was really funny Tracy!!!! i'm glad Jack wants to spend more time with Sue, but maybe he should tell her???? $1,000,000!!!!!!!! The only way I can tie that to Randy is the cost of all the paper he uses!!!

Great post!!

Jenny

There are times when it does not pay to be right.

I know! In return for Randy's rescue, he has to amend the no-dating rule. Yep! That sounds about right. How 'bout it, Tracy?

I can't wait to see where you're going with this!

I am deeply sorry for misunderstanding with Myrtle's girdle.

Like Jack once said: We have to protect them, although we don't always agree with them. (something like that)

Yeah, ditto!!!!! I think it's a fair deal!! What about you Tracy???

Jenny

yhm - Great idea! They'll rescue him upon one condition: he rectify the no-dating rule!

I can't believe you had someone - two someones actually - kidnap Randy, Tracy! That is just too funny! Are they like escapees from a mental instituion or something?

Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but as Vice-President of Office Management, does Randy actually have the authority to do that?!

Great story, Tracy, getting Randy kidnapped! Now if y'all will excuse me, I need to laugh my butt off now.

maybe they could pay the kidnappers to keep him.....or maybe once the kidnappers spend anytime with Randy then they would turn themselves in only on the agreement that they are kept far away from Randy...

Poor kidnappers- i feel sorry for them...

Probably not ... but a girl can dream

Thanks for the comments y'all! They made me laugh! I have to agree with MelissaT, I don't think Randy has the authority to amend the no-dating rule...sorry!

yhm (and MelissaT), I just have to ask, what made you guess it was Randy with the first post?

Here's the next chapter...I hope y'all enjoy!

Thanks for reading,
Tracy

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Chapter 4:

Jack and Sue arrived at the coffee shop to question witnesses to the kidnapping.

"Do you want some coffee?" Jack said as he signed. Only what he signed was definitely NOT "Do you want some coffee?". It was what Randy had mistakenly signed to Hannah when Sue and Jack were on their "double-date" with them, a while back.

Sue's eyes widened and she became a vivid shade of pink. Clearing her throat, she said "Ummm, Jack, ummm, you signed that wrong!"

Jack pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows, as he stared intently at Sue. "Did I, did I really?" Jack asked, flirtatiously.

Sue was puzzled because she knew he had signed it correctly numerous times before, and he had been amused by Randy's mistake months before. She had started to try and show him the correct signs, as she read him saying "Did I, did I really?". It was at this point, she realized that he knew exactly what he had signed and had signed it "incorrectly" on purpose, which made her even more flustered.

"By the way Thomas, have I ever told you how cute you look when you get all flustered?"

Sue's eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips as she made it clear to Jack she was annoyed.

"So, are you going to answer my question?" Jack asked with a wide grin.

"If the question is...do I want coffee, then the answer is yes. Thank you!" Sue responded.

Jack ordered two cups of coffee. After paying for them, he returned, handing Sue hers and saying "One cup of coffee, just the way you like it!"

"Thank you!" she said and signed.

After taking a sip of his coffee, Jack stared at Sue intently, once again, and asked "So, are you going to answer my other question?", moving his eyebrows up and down repeatedly.

"Hmmm? What? Huh? What do you mean your other question?" Sue asked, trying to pretend she had no idea what he meant.

"You know what I mean, Thomas!" Jack said gazing intently at Sue.

Believing that Jack was asking basically just to fluster her even more, she decided to give as good as she got and boldly exclaimed "MAYBE!"

Now, it was Jack's turn to be flustered! His eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly turned red as he began to stutter "Wh-wh-wh-wha-what?"

"You heard me right!" Sue said, then paused briefly, reveling in his reaction. "So, who did you have in mind?" she asked with a grin on her face.

"What?" Jack asked, confused.

"You asked if I wanted to make out! Who did you have in mind for me to make out with?" Sue asked playfully. "D's out of the question, OF COURSE, because he's married! If it's Myles, the answer is NO WAY! If it's Bobby, maybe..." she said with a mock dreamy look on her face.

Now, it was Jack's turn to act annoyed. "Very funny, Thomas!"

"I kinda thought so!" Sue said with a giggle. "By the way, you look awfully cute when you're flustered too!" This caused Jack to briefly look towards the ground in embarrassment. "Oh, so you can dish it out, but you can't take it, huh, Hudson?" Walking past Jack, Sue lightly stroked his arm with her finger to recapture his attention, winked, and said "We have work to do, Hudson! Come on..."

Jack wondered if Sue had any idea what kind of effect she had on him. He wasn't quite sure how much longer he could keep his true feelings for her hidden, if, in fact, he really was keeping them hidden! He also wasn't quite sure that he wanted to keep them hidden any longer, even if it meant transferring to another unit, or possibly losing his job altogether. Some days, like today, he really was tempted to just throw the stinking rule book out the window, boldly declare his undying love for Sue, and kiss her passionately. But then reality sunk in...

Go Sue.... flustered Jack is cute..

You said it was one of them but not from the unit. S didn't seem particularly worried so it couldn't be an agent close to them ... so that left Randy or the blue flamer (forgot his name ...)

Darn. The rule can't be amended? Oh, well, perhaps with the way things are going, those two can amend them all on their own after all. Nice, Tracy, very, very, nice.

I didn't say that the rule couldn't be amended. I only said that I didn't think that Randy had the authority to amend it! Of course, I didn't say that the rule could be amended either... "

Thanks for the comments! They are greatly appreciated!

He might not have the authority but perhaps the deal could be that he has to work to make those that do have the authority change the rule!

I see this as a very real possibility...

Wow, I love a flirtatious Jack and a flirtatious Sue!


Well I'm going to consider it progress that Jack has admitted to himself that he loves Sue. Considering how slow these two move I think that's a step forward!

Reality sure can bite sometimes huh? But who says you can't change reality Jack?!

JF's right, you can change reality!

tracy, I'm not sure about this bit....



Me thinks you had better get back here and post soon!!

Jenny

You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, so listen my advice and break them, Jack!

That is a very cool saying LeviCool, where do you find all these things???

Tracy, please post soon!

Jenny

Thank y'all so much for all the comments! They are VERY entertaining! JF, you are correct, reality sure can bite sometimes! Here's the next chapter. I hope y'all enjoy.

Thanks,
Tracy
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Chapter 5:

Jack and Sue spent about an hour questioning the witnesses authorities had detained at the coffee shop. They had all observed basically the same thing, some with more detailed information than others. Luckily, there was no conflicting information from the witnesses.

The kidnappers were two college students, each in their early twenties, brothers, most were pretty sure. They were semi-regulars at the coffee shop.

Randy, a recent regular at the coffee shop, had been bragging for the last couple of days about how he was a VERY important employee of the FBI. "The FBI couldn't function properly without me! Why, if anything ever happened to me, I'm sure they'd give their right arm to rescue me!" Randy had boasted, in his annoyingly nasal voice, just yesterday, witnesses recalled.

Some of the witnesses, who frequented the establishment daily, remembered noticing the brothers in the coffee shop at the time of Randy's boasting. One witness observed curiously that the two brothers had become wide-eyed and gave each other knowing glances after Randy's comments.

Then, this morning the two young men entered the coffee shop shortly after Randy. They approached the table he sat at, each one sitting on either side of him. After some relatively hushed arguing, which no one had managed to pick up the specifics of, they all three rose from the table. Randy, many observed, looked both annoyed and frightened. The three exited the coffee shop, the oldest brother holding what some had guessed to be a gun, hidden in his jacket pocket, to Randy's back.

After obtaining all the pertinent information they needed from each witness, Jack and Sue headed back to the Hoover building to share their findings with the rest of the team.

I can jut picture Randy doing that. Me thinks he'll be a lot more careful about what he says in public in future. When he gets out of this, I think he's going to be boasting about how he 'single handedly took down armed and dangerous kidnappers'!!! This is so funny Tracy, I love how you write Randy!! He is going to owe the team BIG time!!!!

Jenny

You were almost right, Randy. They'd save you any time, because they are human. But giving their right arms... I do not think so.

No body parts at all. I'm not even sure about a finger nail. Definitely maybe in Myles' case!!!

Sorry, that was me trying to make a joke!

PLease post soon Tracy!

jenny

Well, well. Randy has been kidnapped and his safety depends on the team. This has a lot of possibilities.

The team will get Randy out, as they would any other kidnapped individual ... I just don't see them doing it without something at Randy's expense.

I'd really like to see Myles and Bobby (heck, all of them) making deals with Randy to ensure their eternal piece of mind and good cheer. Just a thought ...

Randy is soo gonna owe them. I think they'll all cash in favours.
Like him doing their paperwork, getting their coffee etc. This is going to be so funny!! Can't wait for mroe Tracy!!!

Jenny

Thanks again for the replies y'all! They are greatly appreciated! Here's the next chapter. I hope y'all enjoy!

Tracy
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Chapter 6:

Upon returning to the bullpen, Lucy asked Sue "So any new developments?"

Looking over at Jack, who smiled and winked at her, Sue flustered and then said in a slightly giddy tone "Yes, I think so! At least, I hope so!".

Sue said a silent prayer to God that her suspicions about Jack possibly FINALLY revealing his true feelings to her would soon turn out to be well-founded. Looking back at Lucy, who had a confused look upon her face, Sue started to blush and said, "Oh, you meant any new developments in the kidnapping case, of course! Sorry!"

The light dawned on Lucy as to what Sue had initially been talking about, and a huge, sly smile enveloped her face. She looked over at Tara, who had managed to catch the whole exchange as well, including the smile and wink Jack gave Sue, and they exchanged a knowing look, each thinking "Maybe these two crazy kids WILL actually FINALLY wise-up and admit to each other what we've ALL known for years...that they are madly, deeply in love with one another!"

Jack and Sue updated the rest of the team on their findings from their interviews, and the rest of the team updated them on their findings, in turn. Myles and Bobby had talked to the family of the kidnappers, garnering additional information about them, while Tara was working on tracking down the phone call they had received earlier from the kidnappers demanding ransom and setting their "drop-off" point for the exchange.

After they were done discussing their findings, it was lunch time. Wanting to spend more alone time with Sue, Jack approached her desk and asked "Would you like to join me for lunch, Miss Thomas?"

"Sure!" responded Sue. "Hey, Luce, Tara, you want to join Jack and me for lunch?". Jack thought to himself "If I had wanted them to join us for lunch, Sue, I would have asked them. Please say no, please say no..."

"Umm, no, Sue, thanks for asking, but we have other plans!" Lucy and Tara answered.

Jack sent up a silent prayer of thanks "Thank you, God, thank you!"

"Myles, Bobby, D, you want to join Jack and me for lunch?" Sue asked.

"Urrgghh!" Jack thought to himself. "Please say no, please say no..." he repeated silently once again. "Hey, it had worked one time, why not try again?"

Jack had also rolled his eyes at Sue's question to the guys, which did not go unnoticed by Lucy and Tara, who both tried to stifle their laughter at his obvious distress. Sue's kind and courtesy behavior, two of the MANY things Jack loved about her, were starting to irritate him at this very moment.

"That sounds great..." Bobby started to say, as he, Myles, and D, caught the "death stares" from Lucy and Tara, letting them know they had better decline the offer from Sue and allow Jack and Sue some alone time together. "But, unfortunately, I have other plans. Sorry!" Bobby continued.

"Yeah, me too!" both Myles and D chimed in, obediently.

"Maybe next time?" Sue asked hopefully.

"Yeah, maybe!" the guys said in unison.

As Jack and Sue headed out of the bullpen, Jack looked heavenward and mouthed "Thank you!", which Sue caught, and, as a result, looked at him in confusion.

"What?" Jack asked, sensing Sue's intense scrutiny, as they were in the elevator.

"Is there some reason you didn't want the rest of the team to join us for lunch?" she asked.

"Why do you ask?" he countered.

"Oh, no reason, just a feeling I had..." she said.

"She knows me so well..." Jack thought to himself.

As the elevator reached their desired floor, they headed towards Jack's car to drive to lunch. Jack couldn't help but wonder if there was some particular reason that she DID want the team to join them for lunch. "Why wouldn't she want to be alone with me?" he thought to himself with concern.

I knew Randy had to be bragging...I could just hear his voice droning on and on...it isn't pleasant. But I'm kind of feeling sorry for him just the same because nobody seems to really care.

kav

I don't think you have any reasons for concern, Jack. Probably she doesn't trust herself to behave when you two will be alone. "

Naturally Randy and his annoying nasally voice finally got him into some big trouble. I wonder what is up with those guys who kidnapped him?

Ah, Jack, she's just being skittish. Keep to your plan. She wants to be with you as much as you want to be with her.

I agree with you, JF. If I were a kidnapper, I would kidnap much less annoying person.

Hmmm, Barbara how long do you think the brothers can hold out before they start begging the Feds to come get Randy from them?!

Tracy, this is a really great story!! Randy kidnapped for a ransom!! The kidnapper didn't know that most of the FBI would have paid them to take him away, not paid them to bring him back!!!

Jack's cute with his flirtatious behavior - and Sue's not doing half bad either!!!

Can't wait for more!!!

Joy

Thanks for all the great comments y'all!
Kav, when you say that nobody seems to really care, do you mean the characters or the readers of my story?

Tracy
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Chapter 7:

At lunch, Jack and Sue had talked animatedly for a while, but when their food arrived, they had temporarily drifted into a comfortable silence as they ate. After they both had finished eating, they took part in a bit of small talk, before things grew silent once again.

Sue was staring at Jack, thinking to herself "Look at him! He's gorgeous, an absolute hunk! He could have any woman in the world he wants, why would he want ME? Maybe I've just been fooling myself thinking he feels the same for me as I do for him! But Lucy said she's sure that he's in love with me too, so, maybe he is...maybe I'm not fooling myself! I'm so confused!!!" Sue had to admit to herself that regardless of whether he thought of her as more than a co-worker and friend, she was enjoying the flirting, which had increased, in frequency and intensity, since she decided not to take the job in New York. She had never had a man flirt with her the way Jack does; it made her feel...sexy, even if she really wasn't! No man had ever made her feel sexy before Jack! And, she had come to realize, it had emboldened her to flirt with him, in turn, something she had never really done much with any other man.

As she was coming out of her Jack-induced daze, she noticed Jack's furrowed brow and suddenly dejected look.

"Is something bothering you, Jack?" Sue asked with concern.

"Actually, yes, something is..." responded Jack.

"Something about the case?" asked Sue.

"No..." he answered.

"Then what's it about?" she asked.

"About you..." he answered.

Propping her elbows up on the table and leaning her chin upon her clasped hands, she waited to listen intently, batting her eyelashes ever so slightly, as she said "Oh really, what about me?".

"It's just something you said earlier..." he started "I was wondering if you really meant it?"

"What was that?" she asked.

"Well, I was just wondering, ummm, errr," he began stammering, obviously somewhat flustered by his own question "did you really mean it when you said you might want to make out with Bobby?" he finished, as his face turned red.

"Why? Does that bother you?" asked Sue, hoping he would say yes, and for the right reasons.

"Yes! Umm, I mean no! Umm, I mean I don't know!" he stammered again. "Well, WOULD you?"

"Well, he IS awfully attractive and that smile, coupled with those dimples, oh my goodness!!!" she said, as Jack shifted in his seat, obviously uncomfortable with where this conversation was headed. "And I've been told that his accent is to die for!!!" she continued. "But, of course, that's totally lost on me!" she said with a wink and a giggle.

"So, you're saying you WOULD?" Jack asked incredulously.

"No, I didn't say that, Hudson!" Sue said a little annoyed that he was putting words into her mouth.

"So, you're saying you WOULDN'T?" his voice filled with hope.

Sighing deeply, she finally confessed "The truth is NO, I wouldn't, because he's too much like a brother to me!".

"Oh, good!" Jack said with relief. "And what about me?" Jack asked, hopeful.

"You..., NO..., of course NOT..." she said adamantly, Jack's heart quickly sinking, "you're absolutely nothing like a brother to me!" she finished with a wink, causing Jack's heart to recover.

Quickly looking at her watch, Sue declared "Looks like we should be getting back to work, Hudson!"

"Umm, mind continuing this conversation at dinner? My place? Seven o'clock?" Jack asked.

"Okay! But I didn't realize we had anything to continue." she said.

"Oh, you'd be surprised..." Jack said with a wink and a smile, causing Sue to fluster.

Yum!

And not working very hard to locate Randy, are they?