Make sure to read sprogpaws' intro to the contest before reading this chapter.
Bobby, still grinning over Jack’s reaction to Sue looked at Lucy, winking.
“Spin the bottle has always been a favorite of mine… Truth or dare was a close second though.”
His sentence finished in a soft whoosh when Darcy elbowed him in the solar plexus.
“Hey, watch that elbow Miss Lane. You can’t go around trying to ruin the body”, he said flippantly, bringing his hands on his hips and puffing his chest out in a blatant display.
Darcy rolled her eyes at his childish behavior, secretly laughing inside though. One thing could be said for Bobby Manning: he knew how to be the life of the party.
Jack shot a look at Bobby’s costume, thinking to himself he wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing tights. There was such a thing as hiding too little!
“Darcy, don’t tell me you persuaded him to finally give up being Lois?” he said out loud, knowing there was no way Bobby would leave him and Sue alone tonight. Not if the look he’d given him as he walked in was any indication.
Everyone laughed, looking at Darcy’s costume and trying to imagine Bobby in it.
Lucy thought he would probably have done it if he could have found a costume big enough for him. That would have been his style.
“You’re just jealous Sparky because I have something to show.”
“Yeah well you should have remembered to keep some things hidden, Crash. Take my word for it”, Jack laughed.
Darcy looked at Bobby with hungry eyes.
“Well, I don’t know about that Jack. I’m enjoying the view just fine.”
Bobby wrapped his arm around Darcy’s shoulder.
“Isn’t she the most brilliant woman you’ve ever met? No offense ladies…” he added as an after-thought.
I have to work with them come Monday, so let’s be smooth here.
“None taken. We see where that’s coming from quite clearly in that get up”, said Lucy, picking up on the Bobby teasing once more now that Jack was here.
Bobby clutched his heart and stumbled.
“Lucy, I’m hurt. I may never recover now.”
Myles snickered.
“I had no idea you packed kryptonite in those insults of yours Lucy. Nice going!”
It was one of the first time Darcy had seen all of the guys together outside of the occasional beer drinking going on at the pool hall… and she felt just overwhelmed by all the good-natured bantering and ribbing. There was a reason why she had become a journalist: they mainly worked alone!
“Bobby, could you please get me a drink?” she asked of him.
“I’ll get it for you Darcy”, said Jack. “I have to get myself one anyways so it won’t be a problem.”
“Hey thanks, mate.” Bobby said. “So Luce, what’s the first game?”
Since he had turned his attention to Lucy, he missed the look Darcy gave him. But Sue caught sight of it.
I guess things are not going so great with those two…
“Well, we each write down 5 words on 5 different slips of papers. We then put all those in this hat here. The mistress of ceremony – that would be me – will then pick 1 slip randomly and read that word aloud. Then we have to come up with as many songs as we can think of that has that word in the title in under 2 minutes. When the 2 minutes is up, the last person who spoke with a title has to sing a bit of that song.”
Myles groaned.
“Forget the Addams Family, we should have come here as Sonny and Cher.” he muttered under his breath.
“Hey I think that’s gonna be fun”, said Bobby, coming to Lucy’s defense.
“Of course you’d think that, Elvis.”
Darcy looked from Myles to Bobby, incomprehension etched on her face.
“Elvis?”
“Oh you mean he never told you about the time he went undercover as an Elvis impersonator? That was so darling…” mocked Myles. “Then again, that costume is fast surpassing even ‘that’ get up,”
“Bicker, bicker….” chanted Bobby with a big grin on his face.
“There you go Darcy”, said Jack, handing her a glass and moving into the tight circle of friends filling the living room.
He noticed Levi with the glasses on top of his head. He nodded in his direction.
“What’s with Levi? Superman here poked him in the eye or something?”
Lucy started laughing hysterically, nearly upsetting her precarious balance and ending sprawled on the floor for her effort.
“That” Myles pointed to Levi “is cousin It. He’s very sensitive on the matter of his looks so we’d appreciate if you kept it on the lowdown.”
As if on cue, Levi barked once.
Everyone started laughing, even Sue who had gathered much of what was going on even without the added punch of Levi’s bark.
Lucy ambled to the table where she had stashed the slips of papers and pen, swearing under her breath at the tightness of the dress.”
“Need a hand Luce?” asked Bobby, walking to her side without waiting for an answer and taking the props from her.
It didn’t escape Darcy’s notice that while he had not rushed to fetch her a drink, he sure was at Lucy’s side pretty damn fast. Her mood took a nosedive. Things had not been the same between them since he’d admitted to his gambling problem. She no longer trusted him to be alone. Who knew what stupidity he could get into when left to his own devices?
Bobby went around the room, distributing pens and papers and kept Darcy last, leaning down to brush a quick kiss across her lips.
“Here’s for you, Miss Lane.”
Darcy mollified some towards him. Maybe she was just being too sensitive lately.
“So remember everyone. You have to write one word per slip of paper and then drop them in the hat on the table.”
Myles looked up as she settled down with her slips of paper and pen.
“How come you’re playing if you’re the master of ceremony?”
“Because I want to and it’s my party. Now stop whining and start writing, Gomes.”
Full Version: Halloween Challenge - Jacynthe
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2004 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Halloween Challenge and Stories - 2004
“Right, so we’ve got everyone’s papers, we’re ready to start this game.” said Lucy as she placed the last 5 slips in the hat.
“Not so fast, Cousin It has not handed his out yet”, said Myles, ever the smart-arse.
“You’re walking a very, very fine line here mister. I may decide to have you sing ALL the songs after all. Be careful who wields the power.” teased Lucy menacingly.
Knowing some of the words he had written down, Myles cast her a triumphant grin.
“So what happens if no one can find a song title with a certain word?”
Lucy squinted at him, wondering shy she hadn’t thought of that one. Tara on the other hand had seen it coming and she just laughed.
“Tell me you didn’t….”
“He could tell you that, but I don’t think I’d believe him…” laughed D from his spot on the couch where Donna and him were cuddled.
“I should have known this would happen… Okay, here’s the first word: tights. I believe that would be one of yours Myles?”
Myles’ snicker was answer enough.
“Ladder in my tights”, quipped Darcy.
Myles did a double-take. “What? That’s not a song!”
“Yes, by Amy Studt. Want me to sing it to you?”
Everyone laughed at Myles’ crest-fallen expression.
“And how about Cat Girl Tights by Cinerama?” added Sue.
“What amazes me, aside from those 2 knowing songs about tights, is to know people ‘wrote’ songs about tights”, pondered Jack.
“I say we toss that one out as practice and get a REAL word”, suggested Lucy… something pretty much everyone agreed with.
Lucy picked another slip and smiled.
“Oh, that oughta be good. The word is: Want.”
“I want it all by Queen”, said Bobby
“I want to hold your hand by the Beatles”, added Myles
“Everything you want by Vertical Horizon”, shot Darcy.
“You can’t always get what you want by the Stones”, said D and Donna as one, looking at each other and sharing a tender look that hinted at a story behind that song.
“Whatever you want by Christina Milian”, said Tara.
“All I really want to do by Bob Dylan”, quickly fired Bobby.
“Powerless (say what you want) by Nelly Furtado”, said Sue, knowing this was a song title if not knowing what the song sounded like.
“You’re the one that I want”, said Jack, thinking it fitting that he was dressed as Danny.
“And we have a winner said Lucy, eyes on her watch. Danny, if you could please sing your song.”
“Hey how fitting mate. I’m sure you timed it so it would work that way”, teased Bobby.
“Oh yeah, right. You know how well I sing.”
“A lot better than you gamble, mate.” laughed Bobby, knowing his remark would set Darcy off.
Ever since the Moreno case where he’d been faced with his 2-headed monster, he’d had to come to terms with his problem. This was obviously not something that would ever go away, and Darcy was in his life, so that meant she had a right to know.
Well, that knowing was killing them.
Either that or I will kill her soon myself if she doesn’t let up the investigative work every bloody time I walk in the door after having spent a night out without her by my side.
“We’re still waiting Casa Nova”, said Lucy, grinning like a fool. “Why don’t you sing it to Sue since she IS Sandy after all.”
Bobby smirked, knowing what Lucy was trying to do. Not likely someone doubted what she was doing when it was that obvious.
Jack shook his head, muttering.
“That’s so stupid…”
“Come on, give it up Sparky and start shaking that thing.”
Jack took a deep breath and started singing, albeit a fast-forward off-key version of the known ballad.
“I got chills, they’re multiplying and I’m losing control
Cause the vision you’re supplying, it’s electrifying…”
Darcy surprised everyone when she picked up the part Sandy sang in the movie.
“You better shape up, cause I need a man and my heart is set on you
You better shape you better understand to my heart I must be true
Nothing left, nothing left for me to do…”
Losing some of his inhibitions since he was no longer alone doing the singing, Jack started to get into it and sang with a little more heart, if not any more talent.
“You’re the one that I want, oo oo oo honey
The one that I want, oo oo oo honey
The one that I want oo oo oo
You’re what I need… oh yes indeed.”
Bobby’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Darcy.
What the heck does she think she’s doing?
He glanced at Sue and noticed her sad eyes. Surely Lucy had not thought about how isolating that game would be for Sue. She couldn’t hear, so she couldn’t know how those songs went. It was one thing to know the words, but how was she expected to know the beat and rhythm if it ever came her turn to sing?
Sensing eyes on her, Sue turned her head slightly and saw Bobby’s eyes fixated on her face. She smiled softly, hiding her sadness as best as she could.
This is a fun party. And it’s great Darcy and Jack get along so fine.
It made her jealous and uncomfortable as heck, but it was great… After all Bobby and Jack were best friends. Though judging by all she had seen so far this evening, Bobby and ‘Darcy’ were not such great friends anymore.
So what should I care if Jack and Darcy are singing together like 2 old friends? It’s not like I can sing. And anyways, I don’t own Jack. It was only a kiss…
The silence in the room grew thick as everyone stayed silent, their eyes glued on Jack and Darcy.
Jack looked around, wondering what was with everyone. His eyes finally fell on Sue and he caught a hint of unease and sadness in those baby blues.
What the heck is going on? Surely they don’t think I’m putting the moves on Bobby’s girl?
The thought had him swinging his head to look at his best friend who, sure enough was frowning. It relieved him somewhat to see his scowl was directed at Darcy though, not at him.
When did I step into the Twilight Zone?
“Not so fast, Cousin It has not handed his out yet”, said Myles, ever the smart-arse.
“You’re walking a very, very fine line here mister. I may decide to have you sing ALL the songs after all. Be careful who wields the power.” teased Lucy menacingly.
Knowing some of the words he had written down, Myles cast her a triumphant grin.
“So what happens if no one can find a song title with a certain word?”
Lucy squinted at him, wondering shy she hadn’t thought of that one. Tara on the other hand had seen it coming and she just laughed.
“Tell me you didn’t….”
“He could tell you that, but I don’t think I’d believe him…” laughed D from his spot on the couch where Donna and him were cuddled.
“I should have known this would happen… Okay, here’s the first word: tights. I believe that would be one of yours Myles?”
Myles’ snicker was answer enough.
“Ladder in my tights”, quipped Darcy.
Myles did a double-take. “What? That’s not a song!”
“Yes, by Amy Studt. Want me to sing it to you?”
Everyone laughed at Myles’ crest-fallen expression.
“And how about Cat Girl Tights by Cinerama?” added Sue.
“What amazes me, aside from those 2 knowing songs about tights, is to know people ‘wrote’ songs about tights”, pondered Jack.
“I say we toss that one out as practice and get a REAL word”, suggested Lucy… something pretty much everyone agreed with.
Lucy picked another slip and smiled.
“Oh, that oughta be good. The word is: Want.”
“I want it all by Queen”, said Bobby
“I want to hold your hand by the Beatles”, added Myles
“Everything you want by Vertical Horizon”, shot Darcy.
“You can’t always get what you want by the Stones”, said D and Donna as one, looking at each other and sharing a tender look that hinted at a story behind that song.
“Whatever you want by Christina Milian”, said Tara.
“All I really want to do by Bob Dylan”, quickly fired Bobby.
“Powerless (say what you want) by Nelly Furtado”, said Sue, knowing this was a song title if not knowing what the song sounded like.
“You’re the one that I want”, said Jack, thinking it fitting that he was dressed as Danny.
“And we have a winner said Lucy, eyes on her watch. Danny, if you could please sing your song.”
“Hey how fitting mate. I’m sure you timed it so it would work that way”, teased Bobby.
“Oh yeah, right. You know how well I sing.”
“A lot better than you gamble, mate.” laughed Bobby, knowing his remark would set Darcy off.
Ever since the Moreno case where he’d been faced with his 2-headed monster, he’d had to come to terms with his problem. This was obviously not something that would ever go away, and Darcy was in his life, so that meant she had a right to know.
Well, that knowing was killing them.
Either that or I will kill her soon myself if she doesn’t let up the investigative work every bloody time I walk in the door after having spent a night out without her by my side.
“We’re still waiting Casa Nova”, said Lucy, grinning like a fool. “Why don’t you sing it to Sue since she IS Sandy after all.”
Bobby smirked, knowing what Lucy was trying to do. Not likely someone doubted what she was doing when it was that obvious.
Jack shook his head, muttering.
“That’s so stupid…”
“Come on, give it up Sparky and start shaking that thing.”
Jack took a deep breath and started singing, albeit a fast-forward off-key version of the known ballad.
“I got chills, they’re multiplying and I’m losing control
Cause the vision you’re supplying, it’s electrifying…”
Darcy surprised everyone when she picked up the part Sandy sang in the movie.
“You better shape up, cause I need a man and my heart is set on you
You better shape you better understand to my heart I must be true
Nothing left, nothing left for me to do…”
Losing some of his inhibitions since he was no longer alone doing the singing, Jack started to get into it and sang with a little more heart, if not any more talent.
“You’re the one that I want, oo oo oo honey
The one that I want, oo oo oo honey
The one that I want oo oo oo
You’re what I need… oh yes indeed.”
Bobby’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Darcy.
What the heck does she think she’s doing?
He glanced at Sue and noticed her sad eyes. Surely Lucy had not thought about how isolating that game would be for Sue. She couldn’t hear, so she couldn’t know how those songs went. It was one thing to know the words, but how was she expected to know the beat and rhythm if it ever came her turn to sing?
Sensing eyes on her, Sue turned her head slightly and saw Bobby’s eyes fixated on her face. She smiled softly, hiding her sadness as best as she could.
This is a fun party. And it’s great Darcy and Jack get along so fine.
It made her jealous and uncomfortable as heck, but it was great… After all Bobby and Jack were best friends. Though judging by all she had seen so far this evening, Bobby and ‘Darcy’ were not such great friends anymore.
So what should I care if Jack and Darcy are singing together like 2 old friends? It’s not like I can sing. And anyways, I don’t own Jack. It was only a kiss…
The silence in the room grew thick as everyone stayed silent, their eyes glued on Jack and Darcy.
Jack looked around, wondering what was with everyone. His eyes finally fell on Sue and he caught a hint of unease and sadness in those baby blues.
What the heck is going on? Surely they don’t think I’m putting the moves on Bobby’s girl?
The thought had him swinging his head to look at his best friend who, sure enough was frowning. It relieved him somewhat to see his scowl was directed at Darcy though, not at him.
When did I step into the Twilight Zone?
“Darcy, could I have a word with you please?”
Bobby spoke in his usual tone, but his voice was laced with steel. Something fitting for a guy dressed as the man of steel himself.
Darcy leveled a look on him and seemed about to say something but obviously thought better. She nodded.
Smart girl! Don’t want me to lose my cool in front of all my friends.
Bobby looked at Lucy.
“Is there somewhere we can go and talk sheila?”
“Sure, use my room. Down the hall, last door on your right.”
You mean he didn’t already know? inanely thought Darcy.
“Thanks. If you’ll all excuse us.” said Bobby, grabbing a hold of Darcy’s arm and hauling her out.
The silence stretched after they disappeared, everyone wondering how this would end.
“Well, you girls sure throw interesting parties”, injected Myles, attracting a dark glare from Lucy.
“Should we go, Tara?” whispered Stanley, his first words in the entire evening. If he thought only Tara would hear him, he had failed to notice you could almost hear a pin drop in the heavy silence.
Tara turned to him, a gentle expression on her face.
“You can go if you want. I’ll get Myles to drop me at my place when I’m ready to go.”
“Wh – what? I don’t understand…” stammered Stanley, his eyes rounding in surprise.
You’re not the only one buddy! thought Lucy.
“I’m sorry Stan, but we’re simply not working out. I wanted to tell you after the party. I’m sorry. You’re a nice guy and all. It’s not you, it’s me.”
“Oh my God. The it’s not you, it’s me line. I thought only guys used that excuse”, snickered Myles.
Stanley flushed furiously, even his ears turning red with shame and unease.
“Someone hit Myles upside the head for me. It’s too much work walking in that blasted dress”, stated Lucy, her eyes throwing daggers at her ‘date’.
“What?” asked Myles innocently.
“I can’t believe you’re breaking up with me Tara. I thought we were fine together. I wanted to present you to my mom for Thanksgiving.”
“Well here’s something to be thankful for at least. She could have broken up with you in front of your mom… hey!”
Myles cried in outrage as D and Jack each took hold of one arm and pulled him out of the room, towards the kitchen.
Lucy looked at Sue, wondering when her party had turned so nightmarish. She signed to her ‘should we go in your room and leave them to their breakup’?
Sue nodded and Lucy walked to Donna, inviting her to join them in Sue’s bedroom.
Once the door was closed behind them, Lucy released a deep sigh, wondering what would be next.
Donna looked at Lucy and Sue and smiled.
“Let me reassure you, Dimitrius and me are not breaking up tonight.”
“Thank God for small favors.” said Lucy, dropping on Sue’s bed since there was no way to elegantly sit in that tight costume.
“What the **** did you think you were doing out there Darcy?”
Lucy winced at how thin the walls were if the clarity of Bobby’s words was any indication. Either that or he was enjoying a good shouting.
“What did it look like I was doing Bobby? I was singing and having a fine time.”
“Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you D’Angelo. I want to know what you thought you were doing going after Jack like that.”
Yeah, that’s a good question Bobby. I hope I can hear her answer to that myself.
“Oh that’s rich! You’re not mad I flirted with another man, you’re mad because it was Jack.”
“Ah! So you admit you were flirting then?”
“Arghhhhhhhhhh”
Lucy could hear the frustration in Darcy’s voice. She had never heard Bobby during an interrogation but the man was good!
“Is that your answer? I am not sure I quite got it.” came Bobby’s smart reply.
Donna smothered a chuckle.
“You’re one to talk Manning. Don’t you think I noticed you falling all over yourself to help Lucy?”
Huh? Run that by me again?
“Are you daft? Lucy’s… well she’s Lucy.”
And what is that supposed to mean?
“With such eloquence it’s a wonder you didn’t run for City Mayor long ago!”
Well, I wouldn’t have gone that far… But I’d like an answer on what I am if it’s not too much bother to anyone?
“Don’t try and change the subject; we were discussing you hitting on Sparky.”
“No, you were. I was discussing you hitting on our hostess with the tight dress.”
“That’s it, you’ve finally gone and lost your marbles. You didn’t think giving me the third degree after a night out was enough anymore so you decided to give me heck about Luce?”
“Well gee Bobby, can I help it if I wonder how long it will be before you gamble again and lose everything?”
Huh? Gambling? Bobby??? Nah!
“There we go. I was wondering how long it would take you to mention my gambling problem. Had I known then, I’d have kept my big mouth shut.”
Woah, so it’s true. Bobby’s got a gambling problem…
Donna and Lucy looked at one another, shocked and sad.
“We so did not hear that, okay?” whispered Lucy to Donna.
“Not a single word.” simply answered Donna and Lucy knew not even D would hear about that conversation.
“The great Bobby Manning keeping his mouth shut. That would be a first. Well, not really now that I think about it. You’re always full of hot air, but you never say anything that really matters.”
“Hey don’t pull your punches Darc, give it to me good.”
“You see? You always pull that kind of crap. You hide behind that attitude of yours. You never get close to me and I sure as heck never get close to you.”
“Wonder whose doing that is… Seeing how you took news of my gambling so good, it’s a wonder I didn’t foam at the mouth to tell you more about me.”
“You know what? You’re great to look at, you’re fun to party with… but you’re a not a nice person to BE with.”
“Then why don’t you do us both a favor and leave? But one last word of advice: stay away from Jack. You wouldn’t come close to filling Sue’s shoes.”
Lucy’s eyes rounded at the insult. This was the first time she ever heard Bobby Manning lose his cool and strike against a woman.
“Someday Bobby, you’ll meet someone who’ll teach you a lesson. I only regret I won’t be there to cheer her on. Knowing you has been an experience. You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t want to repeat it.”
Donna and Lucy heard a door slam and footsteps move away. They nearly jumped out of their skin when a fist landed in the wall, courtesy of Bobby.
Bobby spoke in his usual tone, but his voice was laced with steel. Something fitting for a guy dressed as the man of steel himself.
Darcy leveled a look on him and seemed about to say something but obviously thought better. She nodded.
Smart girl! Don’t want me to lose my cool in front of all my friends.
Bobby looked at Lucy.
“Is there somewhere we can go and talk sheila?”
“Sure, use my room. Down the hall, last door on your right.”
You mean he didn’t already know? inanely thought Darcy.
“Thanks. If you’ll all excuse us.” said Bobby, grabbing a hold of Darcy’s arm and hauling her out.
The silence stretched after they disappeared, everyone wondering how this would end.
“Well, you girls sure throw interesting parties”, injected Myles, attracting a dark glare from Lucy.
“Should we go, Tara?” whispered Stanley, his first words in the entire evening. If he thought only Tara would hear him, he had failed to notice you could almost hear a pin drop in the heavy silence.
Tara turned to him, a gentle expression on her face.
“You can go if you want. I’ll get Myles to drop me at my place when I’m ready to go.”
“Wh – what? I don’t understand…” stammered Stanley, his eyes rounding in surprise.
You’re not the only one buddy! thought Lucy.
“I’m sorry Stan, but we’re simply not working out. I wanted to tell you after the party. I’m sorry. You’re a nice guy and all. It’s not you, it’s me.”
“Oh my God. The it’s not you, it’s me line. I thought only guys used that excuse”, snickered Myles.
Stanley flushed furiously, even his ears turning red with shame and unease.
“Someone hit Myles upside the head for me. It’s too much work walking in that blasted dress”, stated Lucy, her eyes throwing daggers at her ‘date’.
“What?” asked Myles innocently.
“I can’t believe you’re breaking up with me Tara. I thought we were fine together. I wanted to present you to my mom for Thanksgiving.”
“Well here’s something to be thankful for at least. She could have broken up with you in front of your mom… hey!”
Myles cried in outrage as D and Jack each took hold of one arm and pulled him out of the room, towards the kitchen.
Lucy looked at Sue, wondering when her party had turned so nightmarish. She signed to her ‘should we go in your room and leave them to their breakup’?
Sue nodded and Lucy walked to Donna, inviting her to join them in Sue’s bedroom.
Once the door was closed behind them, Lucy released a deep sigh, wondering what would be next.
Donna looked at Lucy and Sue and smiled.
“Let me reassure you, Dimitrius and me are not breaking up tonight.”
“Thank God for small favors.” said Lucy, dropping on Sue’s bed since there was no way to elegantly sit in that tight costume.
“What the **** did you think you were doing out there Darcy?”
Lucy winced at how thin the walls were if the clarity of Bobby’s words was any indication. Either that or he was enjoying a good shouting.
“What did it look like I was doing Bobby? I was singing and having a fine time.”
“Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you D’Angelo. I want to know what you thought you were doing going after Jack like that.”
Yeah, that’s a good question Bobby. I hope I can hear her answer to that myself.
“Oh that’s rich! You’re not mad I flirted with another man, you’re mad because it was Jack.”
“Ah! So you admit you were flirting then?”
“Arghhhhhhhhhh”
Lucy could hear the frustration in Darcy’s voice. She had never heard Bobby during an interrogation but the man was good!
“Is that your answer? I am not sure I quite got it.” came Bobby’s smart reply.
Donna smothered a chuckle.
“You’re one to talk Manning. Don’t you think I noticed you falling all over yourself to help Lucy?”
Huh? Run that by me again?
“Are you daft? Lucy’s… well she’s Lucy.”
And what is that supposed to mean?
“With such eloquence it’s a wonder you didn’t run for City Mayor long ago!”
Well, I wouldn’t have gone that far… But I’d like an answer on what I am if it’s not too much bother to anyone?
“Don’t try and change the subject; we were discussing you hitting on Sparky.”
“No, you were. I was discussing you hitting on our hostess with the tight dress.”
“That’s it, you’ve finally gone and lost your marbles. You didn’t think giving me the third degree after a night out was enough anymore so you decided to give me heck about Luce?”
“Well gee Bobby, can I help it if I wonder how long it will be before you gamble again and lose everything?”
Huh? Gambling? Bobby??? Nah!
“There we go. I was wondering how long it would take you to mention my gambling problem. Had I known then, I’d have kept my big mouth shut.”
Woah, so it’s true. Bobby’s got a gambling problem…
Donna and Lucy looked at one another, shocked and sad.
“We so did not hear that, okay?” whispered Lucy to Donna.
“Not a single word.” simply answered Donna and Lucy knew not even D would hear about that conversation.
“The great Bobby Manning keeping his mouth shut. That would be a first. Well, not really now that I think about it. You’re always full of hot air, but you never say anything that really matters.”
“Hey don’t pull your punches Darc, give it to me good.”
“You see? You always pull that kind of crap. You hide behind that attitude of yours. You never get close to me and I sure as heck never get close to you.”
“Wonder whose doing that is… Seeing how you took news of my gambling so good, it’s a wonder I didn’t foam at the mouth to tell you more about me.”
“You know what? You’re great to look at, you’re fun to party with… but you’re a not a nice person to BE with.”
“Then why don’t you do us both a favor and leave? But one last word of advice: stay away from Jack. You wouldn’t come close to filling Sue’s shoes.”
Lucy’s eyes rounded at the insult. This was the first time she ever heard Bobby Manning lose his cool and strike against a woman.
“Someday Bobby, you’ll meet someone who’ll teach you a lesson. I only regret I won’t be there to cheer her on. Knowing you has been an experience. You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t want to repeat it.”
Donna and Lucy heard a door slam and footsteps move away. They nearly jumped out of their skin when a fist landed in the wall, courtesy of Bobby.
All three women tentatively left Sue’s room and made it to the living room, intending to slip out noiselessly if Tara was not done with Stanley. When they saw Tara sitting on the couch with Myles by her side, they moved more freely and joined them.
It wasn’t short after that Bobby, once more aloof, joined them. It took a very close observation to notice the red that rimmed his eyes…
Levi ambled towards Bobby, setting his front paws across his lap, as if in a show of support or encouragement, Bobby really couldn’t tell the difference.
Sue, who had noticed Levi’s behavior, walked towards Bobby as he started petting the dog. She stopped and sat besides Bobby, drawing his eyes to her.
“Are you okay?” she signed, making sure to ask the words out loud for him.
“Of course I am, sheila. You know me; I bounce back.”
“Well I am here if you need a friend, okay?”
“I know you are Sue. And I’m real sorry for Darcy’s behavior tonight. I’ve set her straight.”
“I have no rights on Jack. He’s a big boy and can do what he wants. I’m only sorry Darcy did it to you.”
“No big deal. Hey, by the way… sorry about that game. I’m surprised no one else noticed what a poor choice it was, how isolated that would make you.”
Sue who had been reading his lips noticed the strained tendons in his neck.
“Why are you shouting Bobby?”
She suddenly understood. He’d said he had been surprised no one noticed… so he’d made sure he brought it to all their attention. Sue turned her head and sure enough, there stood all her friends with a desolated look on their face.
Lucy looked at Sue with a shamed expression, signing.
“How insensitive of me. I can’t believe I thought this game was fun. You’re my absolute best friend and I isolated you from us with a stupid game!”
“It’s okay Lucy. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.” signed Sue back, as always trying to make everyone feel better about her disability.
“No it’s not okay”, said Jack, attempting to sign ‘not okay’ but getting all confused and giving it up. “Of all the insensitive things we could have done, this tops it off.”
“Well, Tara dumping Stan-boy in public is giving it a run for its money”, said Myles ironically. “Not your smoothest moment, Princess Leia.”
Tara blushed.
“I know. My mouth moved before my brain clicked in. I think all the spiders in the drinks must have made us go crazy or something.”
“A likely answer”, smoothly provided Myles, the expression on his face carefully blank… a first for him!
“I know it’s not an excuse. Heck, if it were, it wouldn’t be a particularly good one either”, added Tara.
Bobby looked at Tara and Myles, noticing Stanley was no longer around.
“Okay, what did I miss? I’m getting the clear clue that you gave Stan his walking papers, but I want to know how and why.”
“I have to admit it was a bit out of character for you, Tara”, chimed in Lucy. “What made you think to do it that way?
Tara looked at her friends, tucking her legs beside her on the couch, the soles of her feet brushing against the outside of Myles’ thighs.
“Well, things have been weird with Stanley lately, it’s like he’s this walking block of over sensitivity; yet he doesn’t get a clue when you hand him one. I’ve been trying to break up so often, but he always ignored it and passed it off as me having a bad day at work.”
Myles hands started rubbing Tara’s feet absent-mindedly.
“Well, the poor schmuck is obviously crazy in love with you.”
“So that means I have to spend the rest of my life stuck with him because he can’t let me go? That doesn’t make sense, Harvard.”
“No! I didn’t mean you should have stayed with him, just that he obviously cared so much he shut out things he didn’t want to hear.”
“Ah, okay. Anyways, I thought for sure the Mickey Mouse costume would drive him off the deep end and I’d be able to come alone tonight. No such luck. He thought it was adorable and made various comments that Mickey and Minnie did eventually get married and wondered what kind of names I thought they’d had picked for their kids!”
Everyone looked at her as if she were making that up on the spot… it sounded so unlike shy, reserved and sweet Stanley. Yet, Tara was not a liar so it had to have happened.
“Well, I’m glad to say then you might have ‘finally’ gotten the point across to him.” declared Myles, his hand still curled around her foot.
Lucy noticed the byplay at that moment and looked on pensively.
How come I missed that before?
“Well sheila, you don’t do things halfway either. Cheers.” said Bobby before draining his beer.
Lucy turned her attention on Jack then.
“Can you tell me what happened out there? Last time I looked, Sue was blonde and Darcy wasn’t. And I recall clearly saying ‘why don’t you sing the song to Sue’, not sing the song to Bobby’s woman.”
Jack looked ill at ease at being put on the spot like that. Yet he knew he deserved to be in that tight spot between the rock and the proverbial hard place.
“I know what it looked like, but it wasn’t like that. I swear Sue, it looked a lot worst than what it really was.” he said in a pleading tone as he turned to her.
Sue couldn’t very well hear the plea in his voice, but she could see it in his entire demeanor: the puppy dog eyes she was such a sucker for, the slumped shoulders, the downside cast of his mouth. It all screamed ‘Forgive me, please’.
“You don’t owe me an explanation Jack. You’re single and major. What you do in your own time is your own.”
What if I don’t want to be single anymore, huh? Then what?
The question was on the tip of his tongue and he burned to ask her. But he knew this was something he couldn’t start. If Ted’s line of questioning was anything to judge by, something big was going on in the department and the last thing he wanted was to put his team in the Bureau’s sight. And being in a relationship with Sue would definitely be a red flag in the face of an angry bull.
“I do owe you an explanation, Sue. I care about you and we were here as dates tonight. But I left you to your own devices all evening, first by showing up late – though it was not my fault Garrett chose that time to discuss the coming case, then again, when I got here, I was busy making fun of Crash there. And well last but not least, the game…”
Lucy winced visibly.
“I still can’t believe we didn’t think of that before starting off.”
“Don’t beat yourself up on that Luce. I’m okay, really.” once more said Sue.
“No, no, no. You are not letting me off the hook that easily Thomas. So don’t even think about going in that direction again.”
“If I were you, I’d listen to her sheila. She has this stubborn set to her jaw that says she means business”, teased Bobby.
Jack turned his eyes from Sue, sighing inwardly at having hurt her.
“Speaking of business, what happened with you and Darcy?”
Bobby shrugged carelessly, moving to get another beer from the fridge.
“We’re history, a fitting end for a journalist wouldn’t you say?”
The way he made light of the whole situation told Jack his friend was really hurting. Bobby had 2 modes. When he was hurt, he got angry and shouted at you; when he was ‘really’ hurt, he acted indifferently, as if nothing happened.
Well, guess what mode I’m looking at?
“I’m real sorry, Crash. I’m sure you guys can still work it out if you both leave yourselves enough time to chill.”
I really don’t think time will help anything… thought Lucy, having caught the entirety of the fight through the walls. The look Donna cast her way said someone else was sharing her opinion.
“Don’t sweat it. And no, this time we’re really over. It’s been a long time coming, Sparky. Don’t worry about it; you have nothing to do with this. It started right after the Moreno case.”
Just as Bobby knew he would, Jack caught the drift.
Yup, mate. My gambling issues.
“Well then she didn’t deserve you Bobby.”
“I hear you, mate.” Bobby said, raising his beer in a silent salute and taking a long healthy pull.
Lucy noticed how rapidly he was drinking, something he was entitled to after such a horrible breakup. But there was no way he could drive himself home tonight. There was no way SHE would let him drive.
“Bobby, why don’t you spend the night? You could take my room and I’d sleep on the couch.”
Bobby raised a quizzical brow at her, a cocky smile playing on his lips.
“Why Lucy, I didn’t know Superman had that kind of effect on you.”
“Don’t be silly, though there is much to be said for that costume… But you’ve been drinking a bit too much for driving. I’d be scared for all those clueless people who dared drive on the same road as you.”
“I’m fine Lucy. I’m not even feeling a buzz.”
Lucy was about to argue the point when Jack spoke up.
“I’ll drive him home Lucy. No need to relinquish your bed.”
“Ah come on Sparky. You know it takes more than that to get to me.”
“It’s that or you sleep here. Your pick.”
It wasn’t short after that Bobby, once more aloof, joined them. It took a very close observation to notice the red that rimmed his eyes…
Levi ambled towards Bobby, setting his front paws across his lap, as if in a show of support or encouragement, Bobby really couldn’t tell the difference.
Sue, who had noticed Levi’s behavior, walked towards Bobby as he started petting the dog. She stopped and sat besides Bobby, drawing his eyes to her.
“Are you okay?” she signed, making sure to ask the words out loud for him.
“Of course I am, sheila. You know me; I bounce back.”
“Well I am here if you need a friend, okay?”
“I know you are Sue. And I’m real sorry for Darcy’s behavior tonight. I’ve set her straight.”
“I have no rights on Jack. He’s a big boy and can do what he wants. I’m only sorry Darcy did it to you.”
“No big deal. Hey, by the way… sorry about that game. I’m surprised no one else noticed what a poor choice it was, how isolated that would make you.”
Sue who had been reading his lips noticed the strained tendons in his neck.
“Why are you shouting Bobby?”
She suddenly understood. He’d said he had been surprised no one noticed… so he’d made sure he brought it to all their attention. Sue turned her head and sure enough, there stood all her friends with a desolated look on their face.
Lucy looked at Sue with a shamed expression, signing.
“How insensitive of me. I can’t believe I thought this game was fun. You’re my absolute best friend and I isolated you from us with a stupid game!”
“It’s okay Lucy. I know you didn’t mean anything by it.” signed Sue back, as always trying to make everyone feel better about her disability.
“No it’s not okay”, said Jack, attempting to sign ‘not okay’ but getting all confused and giving it up. “Of all the insensitive things we could have done, this tops it off.”
“Well, Tara dumping Stan-boy in public is giving it a run for its money”, said Myles ironically. “Not your smoothest moment, Princess Leia.”
Tara blushed.
“I know. My mouth moved before my brain clicked in. I think all the spiders in the drinks must have made us go crazy or something.”
“A likely answer”, smoothly provided Myles, the expression on his face carefully blank… a first for him!
“I know it’s not an excuse. Heck, if it were, it wouldn’t be a particularly good one either”, added Tara.
Bobby looked at Tara and Myles, noticing Stanley was no longer around.
“Okay, what did I miss? I’m getting the clear clue that you gave Stan his walking papers, but I want to know how and why.”
“I have to admit it was a bit out of character for you, Tara”, chimed in Lucy. “What made you think to do it that way?
Tara looked at her friends, tucking her legs beside her on the couch, the soles of her feet brushing against the outside of Myles’ thighs.
“Well, things have been weird with Stanley lately, it’s like he’s this walking block of over sensitivity; yet he doesn’t get a clue when you hand him one. I’ve been trying to break up so often, but he always ignored it and passed it off as me having a bad day at work.”
Myles hands started rubbing Tara’s feet absent-mindedly.
“Well, the poor schmuck is obviously crazy in love with you.”
“So that means I have to spend the rest of my life stuck with him because he can’t let me go? That doesn’t make sense, Harvard.”
“No! I didn’t mean you should have stayed with him, just that he obviously cared so much he shut out things he didn’t want to hear.”
“Ah, okay. Anyways, I thought for sure the Mickey Mouse costume would drive him off the deep end and I’d be able to come alone tonight. No such luck. He thought it was adorable and made various comments that Mickey and Minnie did eventually get married and wondered what kind of names I thought they’d had picked for their kids!”
Everyone looked at her as if she were making that up on the spot… it sounded so unlike shy, reserved and sweet Stanley. Yet, Tara was not a liar so it had to have happened.
“Well, I’m glad to say then you might have ‘finally’ gotten the point across to him.” declared Myles, his hand still curled around her foot.
Lucy noticed the byplay at that moment and looked on pensively.
How come I missed that before?
“Well sheila, you don’t do things halfway either. Cheers.” said Bobby before draining his beer.
Lucy turned her attention on Jack then.
“Can you tell me what happened out there? Last time I looked, Sue was blonde and Darcy wasn’t. And I recall clearly saying ‘why don’t you sing the song to Sue’, not sing the song to Bobby’s woman.”
Jack looked ill at ease at being put on the spot like that. Yet he knew he deserved to be in that tight spot between the rock and the proverbial hard place.
“I know what it looked like, but it wasn’t like that. I swear Sue, it looked a lot worst than what it really was.” he said in a pleading tone as he turned to her.
Sue couldn’t very well hear the plea in his voice, but she could see it in his entire demeanor: the puppy dog eyes she was such a sucker for, the slumped shoulders, the downside cast of his mouth. It all screamed ‘Forgive me, please’.
“You don’t owe me an explanation Jack. You’re single and major. What you do in your own time is your own.”
What if I don’t want to be single anymore, huh? Then what?
The question was on the tip of his tongue and he burned to ask her. But he knew this was something he couldn’t start. If Ted’s line of questioning was anything to judge by, something big was going on in the department and the last thing he wanted was to put his team in the Bureau’s sight. And being in a relationship with Sue would definitely be a red flag in the face of an angry bull.
“I do owe you an explanation, Sue. I care about you and we were here as dates tonight. But I left you to your own devices all evening, first by showing up late – though it was not my fault Garrett chose that time to discuss the coming case, then again, when I got here, I was busy making fun of Crash there. And well last but not least, the game…”
Lucy winced visibly.
“I still can’t believe we didn’t think of that before starting off.”
“Don’t beat yourself up on that Luce. I’m okay, really.” once more said Sue.
“No, no, no. You are not letting me off the hook that easily Thomas. So don’t even think about going in that direction again.”
“If I were you, I’d listen to her sheila. She has this stubborn set to her jaw that says she means business”, teased Bobby.
Jack turned his eyes from Sue, sighing inwardly at having hurt her.
“Speaking of business, what happened with you and Darcy?”
Bobby shrugged carelessly, moving to get another beer from the fridge.
“We’re history, a fitting end for a journalist wouldn’t you say?”
The way he made light of the whole situation told Jack his friend was really hurting. Bobby had 2 modes. When he was hurt, he got angry and shouted at you; when he was ‘really’ hurt, he acted indifferently, as if nothing happened.
Well, guess what mode I’m looking at?
“I’m real sorry, Crash. I’m sure you guys can still work it out if you both leave yourselves enough time to chill.”
I really don’t think time will help anything… thought Lucy, having caught the entirety of the fight through the walls. The look Donna cast her way said someone else was sharing her opinion.
“Don’t sweat it. And no, this time we’re really over. It’s been a long time coming, Sparky. Don’t worry about it; you have nothing to do with this. It started right after the Moreno case.”
Just as Bobby knew he would, Jack caught the drift.
Yup, mate. My gambling issues.
“Well then she didn’t deserve you Bobby.”
“I hear you, mate.” Bobby said, raising his beer in a silent salute and taking a long healthy pull.
Lucy noticed how rapidly he was drinking, something he was entitled to after such a horrible breakup. But there was no way he could drive himself home tonight. There was no way SHE would let him drive.
“Bobby, why don’t you spend the night? You could take my room and I’d sleep on the couch.”
Bobby raised a quizzical brow at her, a cocky smile playing on his lips.
“Why Lucy, I didn’t know Superman had that kind of effect on you.”
“Don’t be silly, though there is much to be said for that costume… But you’ve been drinking a bit too much for driving. I’d be scared for all those clueless people who dared drive on the same road as you.”
“I’m fine Lucy. I’m not even feeling a buzz.”
Lucy was about to argue the point when Jack spoke up.
“I’ll drive him home Lucy. No need to relinquish your bed.”
“Ah come on Sparky. You know it takes more than that to get to me.”
“It’s that or you sleep here. Your pick.”
Bobby couldn’t decide if Jack was doing this to be a gentleman towards Lucy, to reassure both her and Sue, or because he needed to talk to him.
I suppose whichever way I look at it, I’m gonna end up letting him drive me home.
“Alright, you can be my chauffeur.” he said magnanimously. “You should have just come right out and told me you were dying to make a career change. I’d have helped you out Sparky, Potomac incident and all…”
Jack cast him a murderous look that had absolutely no effect on Bobby other than to make him grin even wider.
Donna looked at D and exchanged a private look with him. The heat coming from those two was reassuring. Obviously they had come a long way since the loss of the baby.
Lucy looked at them, wishing she could just find a love like that. Somehow, the though times would not seem so hard when you knew you could have good times to balance things out.
“I hate to be a spoilsport people but me and Jane have the night off from the kids so we’re going to enjoy the rest of the evening at home.” said Dimitrius, his hand resting on Donna’s hip.
“Way to go D-man!” exclaimed Bobby with a thumbs up gesture and a salacious wink.
Donna looked lovingly at her husband and leaned in to kiss his lips before turning to Bobby.
“Who said the plan wasn’t my idea to begin with?” she asked with a grin of her own.
Bobby hooted with laughter, thankful for the chance to put the earlier events of the evening out of his mind.
“Don’t encourage him, honey. He’s bad enough on his own.” said D in a long-suffering sigh.
Donna laughed as she made her way towards Lucy and Sue to bade them goodbye.
“Secret’s safe with me”, she whispered in Lucy’s ear as she hugged her. And louder for everyone to hear. “That was quite the party. I’ll maybe reconsider before accepting the invitation to the next though, or bring a camera. There is big bucks in your soirées.”
“Yeah, yeah… bite me” Lucy said in a laugh.
Donna hugged Sue, making small talk with her before moving on to hug the tall man beside her.
Bobby stood stiff as a rock when Donna’s arms hugged him, shocked at the unexpected contact. He unfroze long enough to hug her back awkwardly, looking to D for help.
Dimitrius just smirked and moved to Jack, Myles and Tara for his own goodbyes.
“Darcy was wrong, Bobby. You’re a good man, don’t let her fool you into thinking otherwise.”
“Ah…. Thanks Donna.”
Bobby released the breath he hadn’t been aware he held in when Donna moved on to join D with Jack, Myles and Tara.
“Don’t tell me the great Bobby Manning was scared of a little woman like Donna?” teased Lucy in an aside to him.
“I was more scared of what D might do, seeing as to how many couples broke up this evening… oww!” he winced and exclaimed when Lucy pinched him hard.
“What was that for sheila?” he demanded, rubbing the sore spot on his arm.
“If one more person mentions how this evening turned out I’m… I’m… Arghhhhhhh”
Bobby’s smile turned up brighter.
“I love it when you’re flustered, Luce.” he said, darting back with a laugh when she prepared to hit him.
D hollered from the door.
“Well we’re out of here. Try not to kill each other so we have a full staff on Monday.”
Bobby laughed while Lucy just glared at him.
“Lucy couldn’t kill me. She needs me.”
“I’ll show you how much I need you.” she muttered under her breath, giving him a dark look that was totally belied by the smile fighting its way to her lips.
Tara spoke up fro the couch.
“Well, I think I’ll call it a night too. Too much excitement is not good for me.”
She groaned when she stretched, only then noticing Myles hands on her feet.
So that’s why I wasn’t even cold!
“I’ll escort you home. It’s on my way anyways.” said Myles, getting up and offering her a hand.
“Since when is your apartment in the same direction as mine.” asked Tara, knowing they lived on opposite sides of town.
“Yeah Myles, since when do you live near Tara? I could have sworn I saw you not so long ago still living at that old place of yours all the way across town.” teased Bobby, enjoying the show.
Myles going after Tara? Who would have thought…
“I said it was on my way, I never said on my way to where”, smartly replied Myles.
Tara cocked her head, looking at Myles.
“That’s true. Well get your coat Harvard cause I’m not waiting for you. Lucy, Sue, it was a great evening. Allowed me – with any luck – to get rid of Sticky Stan, though I am sorry I picked that way to do it.”
“Don’t worry, Tara. I didn’t hear a thing”, said Sue matter-of-factly with a grin on her face.
Everyone laughed at her quip.
“There’s still hope for you yet, sheila.” Bobby told Sue. “We’ll turn you into a regular smart-aleck.”
“Don’t you dare change my Sue”, came Jack’s knee-jerk reaction “I love her just the way she is.”
Sue who had been tuned in to Bobby’s face missed the first part but turned to Jack in time to get the last part of his sentence. The shock that had appeared on Bobby’s face and had prompted her to turn spread through her.
He loves me the way I am? As in I love pizza or as in I LOVE her?
“As an after-though Myles, I think I can stay a bit longer”, said Tara, sitting back down on the couch. “That ought to be good.”
Jack blushed. An actual bright red flush crept all the way from his neck to the top of his head.
“Why Sparky, I believe red is not your color.” couldn’t resist adding Bobby, leaning against a side table.
“Come on guys, it’s not funny. I meant I like Sue the way she is.”
“Oh no, you didn’t or you’d have said it exactly that way”, jumped in Lucy, seeing triumph at hand.
“Lucy has a point, Jack” stepped in Myles, resuming his seat besides Tara.
Jack looked for help from Sue but she was just looking at him, with unanswered questions in her blue eyes.
Ah heck! How did I get myself into this mess?
Bobby took pity on his best friend, well kind of.
“Let me help you here, Sparky. Tell me if I am reading you right. You’re in love with the sheila but are hung up on the office politics… the teammates don’t date dinosaur rule. You would like nothing better than to sweep her off her feet and ride into the sunset with her, but your blasted responsible side just won’t let you do it… How am I doing so far?”
“Batting average is good,” Jack answered, looking at Sue all along.
He’s talking about baseball?!
Sue had been so busy looking at Jack she had totally missed Bobby’s explanation. Her brow furrowed at Jack’s words.
Understanding the situation, Jack sighed. There was no way out of it. He’d have to say the words himself.
Heck everyone already heard the situation from Bobby’s standpoint. The only one left ignoring it is my Fair Lady.
Taking a deep breath, Jack spoke directly to Sue.
“I love you Sue, but I can’t be with you. I wish I could say ‘to heck with office rules’ and be with you, but I’d be pushing aside a huge part of who I am. It’s been drilled into me to follow rules and regulations, that they were there for a reason.”
Jack saw understanding enter Sue’s expression. He pressed on.
“That kiss meant the world to me… but unless that politic about dating teammates gets taken off the regulation book, I don’t see how…”
Jack had been looking deep in Sue’s eyes and had missed the few steps her feet had taken to bring her close to him. He only realized she’d moved when her small hand pressed on his lips to halt his words.
“I know Jack. I wouldn’t change a thing because I love you just the way you are.”
“That’s it?” Lucy asked, disappointed.
“Come on, mate. That’s the chicken-**** approach. What happened to that Spark?”
“That’s just too sad for words. I can’t stay here and watch this anymore.” said Tara, getting up once again.
“Well, I’ll have to change that policy for you then, Jack.” uttered Myles, drawing a disbelieving look from those around him.
Sue looked at Lucy who signed what Myles had just said. She turned her attention to him and gave him a raised eyebrow.
“Myles, I think we need to talk”, stammered Tara, still not believing what she had just heard.
“Which is what we’ll do as soon as we reach your place. Come on, Leia… I haven’t got all night here.”
And he pushed her out the door, leaving the rest of the team gaping at their retreating backs.
“That was a twist I hadn’t seen coming…” mused Bobby.
“Trust me, you’re not the only one who had missed it.” said Lucy, not believing she could have overseen that juicy office scoop.
Jack turned to Sue, feeling a bit uneasy at having admitted his feelings to her, even more uneasy at not having enough courage to defy the rules and be with her.
“Don’t look so stricken Jack. That strict moral code of yours is one of the reasons that made me fall for you. I understand, and I’ll be here when the right time comes.”
Bobby shared a knowing look with Lucy and raised his forgotten beer in a salute to her.
“Well, it may have started off-kilter, but this was a GREAT party.”
******** The End **********
I suppose whichever way I look at it, I’m gonna end up letting him drive me home.
“Alright, you can be my chauffeur.” he said magnanimously. “You should have just come right out and told me you were dying to make a career change. I’d have helped you out Sparky, Potomac incident and all…”
Jack cast him a murderous look that had absolutely no effect on Bobby other than to make him grin even wider.
Donna looked at D and exchanged a private look with him. The heat coming from those two was reassuring. Obviously they had come a long way since the loss of the baby.
Lucy looked at them, wishing she could just find a love like that. Somehow, the though times would not seem so hard when you knew you could have good times to balance things out.
“I hate to be a spoilsport people but me and Jane have the night off from the kids so we’re going to enjoy the rest of the evening at home.” said Dimitrius, his hand resting on Donna’s hip.
“Way to go D-man!” exclaimed Bobby with a thumbs up gesture and a salacious wink.
Donna looked lovingly at her husband and leaned in to kiss his lips before turning to Bobby.
“Who said the plan wasn’t my idea to begin with?” she asked with a grin of her own.
Bobby hooted with laughter, thankful for the chance to put the earlier events of the evening out of his mind.
“Don’t encourage him, honey. He’s bad enough on his own.” said D in a long-suffering sigh.
Donna laughed as she made her way towards Lucy and Sue to bade them goodbye.
“Secret’s safe with me”, she whispered in Lucy’s ear as she hugged her. And louder for everyone to hear. “That was quite the party. I’ll maybe reconsider before accepting the invitation to the next though, or bring a camera. There is big bucks in your soirées.”
“Yeah, yeah… bite me” Lucy said in a laugh.
Donna hugged Sue, making small talk with her before moving on to hug the tall man beside her.
Bobby stood stiff as a rock when Donna’s arms hugged him, shocked at the unexpected contact. He unfroze long enough to hug her back awkwardly, looking to D for help.
Dimitrius just smirked and moved to Jack, Myles and Tara for his own goodbyes.
“Darcy was wrong, Bobby. You’re a good man, don’t let her fool you into thinking otherwise.”
“Ah…. Thanks Donna.”
Bobby released the breath he hadn’t been aware he held in when Donna moved on to join D with Jack, Myles and Tara.
“Don’t tell me the great Bobby Manning was scared of a little woman like Donna?” teased Lucy in an aside to him.
“I was more scared of what D might do, seeing as to how many couples broke up this evening… oww!” he winced and exclaimed when Lucy pinched him hard.
“What was that for sheila?” he demanded, rubbing the sore spot on his arm.
“If one more person mentions how this evening turned out I’m… I’m… Arghhhhhhh”
Bobby’s smile turned up brighter.
“I love it when you’re flustered, Luce.” he said, darting back with a laugh when she prepared to hit him.
D hollered from the door.
“Well we’re out of here. Try not to kill each other so we have a full staff on Monday.”
Bobby laughed while Lucy just glared at him.
“Lucy couldn’t kill me. She needs me.”
“I’ll show you how much I need you.” she muttered under her breath, giving him a dark look that was totally belied by the smile fighting its way to her lips.
Tara spoke up fro the couch.
“Well, I think I’ll call it a night too. Too much excitement is not good for me.”
She groaned when she stretched, only then noticing Myles hands on her feet.
So that’s why I wasn’t even cold!
“I’ll escort you home. It’s on my way anyways.” said Myles, getting up and offering her a hand.
“Since when is your apartment in the same direction as mine.” asked Tara, knowing they lived on opposite sides of town.
“Yeah Myles, since when do you live near Tara? I could have sworn I saw you not so long ago still living at that old place of yours all the way across town.” teased Bobby, enjoying the show.
Myles going after Tara? Who would have thought…
“I said it was on my way, I never said on my way to where”, smartly replied Myles.
Tara cocked her head, looking at Myles.
“That’s true. Well get your coat Harvard cause I’m not waiting for you. Lucy, Sue, it was a great evening. Allowed me – with any luck – to get rid of Sticky Stan, though I am sorry I picked that way to do it.”
“Don’t worry, Tara. I didn’t hear a thing”, said Sue matter-of-factly with a grin on her face.
Everyone laughed at her quip.
“There’s still hope for you yet, sheila.” Bobby told Sue. “We’ll turn you into a regular smart-aleck.”
“Don’t you dare change my Sue”, came Jack’s knee-jerk reaction “I love her just the way she is.”
Sue who had been tuned in to Bobby’s face missed the first part but turned to Jack in time to get the last part of his sentence. The shock that had appeared on Bobby’s face and had prompted her to turn spread through her.
He loves me the way I am? As in I love pizza or as in I LOVE her?
“As an after-though Myles, I think I can stay a bit longer”, said Tara, sitting back down on the couch. “That ought to be good.”
Jack blushed. An actual bright red flush crept all the way from his neck to the top of his head.
“Why Sparky, I believe red is not your color.” couldn’t resist adding Bobby, leaning against a side table.
“Come on guys, it’s not funny. I meant I like Sue the way she is.”
“Oh no, you didn’t or you’d have said it exactly that way”, jumped in Lucy, seeing triumph at hand.
“Lucy has a point, Jack” stepped in Myles, resuming his seat besides Tara.
Jack looked for help from Sue but she was just looking at him, with unanswered questions in her blue eyes.
Ah heck! How did I get myself into this mess?
Bobby took pity on his best friend, well kind of.
“Let me help you here, Sparky. Tell me if I am reading you right. You’re in love with the sheila but are hung up on the office politics… the teammates don’t date dinosaur rule. You would like nothing better than to sweep her off her feet and ride into the sunset with her, but your blasted responsible side just won’t let you do it… How am I doing so far?”
“Batting average is good,” Jack answered, looking at Sue all along.
He’s talking about baseball?!
Sue had been so busy looking at Jack she had totally missed Bobby’s explanation. Her brow furrowed at Jack’s words.
Understanding the situation, Jack sighed. There was no way out of it. He’d have to say the words himself.
Heck everyone already heard the situation from Bobby’s standpoint. The only one left ignoring it is my Fair Lady.
Taking a deep breath, Jack spoke directly to Sue.
“I love you Sue, but I can’t be with you. I wish I could say ‘to heck with office rules’ and be with you, but I’d be pushing aside a huge part of who I am. It’s been drilled into me to follow rules and regulations, that they were there for a reason.”
Jack saw understanding enter Sue’s expression. He pressed on.
“That kiss meant the world to me… but unless that politic about dating teammates gets taken off the regulation book, I don’t see how…”
Jack had been looking deep in Sue’s eyes and had missed the few steps her feet had taken to bring her close to him. He only realized she’d moved when her small hand pressed on his lips to halt his words.
“I know Jack. I wouldn’t change a thing because I love you just the way you are.”
“That’s it?” Lucy asked, disappointed.
“Come on, mate. That’s the chicken-**** approach. What happened to that Spark?”
“That’s just too sad for words. I can’t stay here and watch this anymore.” said Tara, getting up once again.
“Well, I’ll have to change that policy for you then, Jack.” uttered Myles, drawing a disbelieving look from those around him.
Sue looked at Lucy who signed what Myles had just said. She turned her attention to him and gave him a raised eyebrow.
“Myles, I think we need to talk”, stammered Tara, still not believing what she had just heard.
“Which is what we’ll do as soon as we reach your place. Come on, Leia… I haven’t got all night here.”
And he pushed her out the door, leaving the rest of the team gaping at their retreating backs.
“That was a twist I hadn’t seen coming…” mused Bobby.
“Trust me, you’re not the only one who had missed it.” said Lucy, not believing she could have overseen that juicy office scoop.
Jack turned to Sue, feeling a bit uneasy at having admitted his feelings to her, even more uneasy at not having enough courage to defy the rules and be with her.
“Don’t look so stricken Jack. That strict moral code of yours is one of the reasons that made me fall for you. I understand, and I’ll be here when the right time comes.”
Bobby shared a knowing look with Lucy and raised his forgotten beer in a salute to her.
“Well, it may have started off-kilter, but this was a GREAT party.”
******** The End **********
Wow...I felt for Jack, being put on the spot like that. Interesting turn of events with Myles and Tara! I think you did a great job, Jacynthe...and find it interesting that you're the only one so far whose story has actually taken place at the party that Pam started out with!
Way to go!!!!! What a fantastic ending to an, erm, interesting party!!!
Of course, you do realise you'll have to write the sequel now, don't you!!! You need to get us from here to Under Covers - and I can see it being a fuzz-fest filled journey! But as much as I'd like to be selfish, I'm not going to ask for it to be soon - just when you get a chance OK - because I'm loving all those threads you set up that are just begging to be explored!!
Can I just take this opportunity to thank you very, very much for entering the challenge. This is our first completed entry, and it's been a superb one from start to finish. Everyone, can I start off the celebrations with a huge big:
HIP HIP HOORAY FOR JACYNTHE!!!!!!!!
Of course, you do realise you'll have to write the sequel now, don't you!!! You need to get us from here to Under Covers - and I can see it being a fuzz-fest filled journey! But as much as I'd like to be selfish, I'm not going to ask for it to be soon - just when you get a chance OK - because I'm loving all those threads you set up that are just begging to be explored!!
Can I just take this opportunity to thank you very, very much for entering the challenge. This is our first completed entry, and it's been a superb one from start to finish. Everyone, can I start off the celebrations with a huge big:
HIP HIP HOORAY FOR JACYNTHE!!!!!!!!
It was my pleasure.
I have to thank YOU for setting up this interesting contest and providing awesome material to work with! I'll definitely write sequels after sequels after..... you get the drift. LOL
So now you already know that 'Going the Extra Myles' will be a Myles and Tara story and that 'D is for Destiny' will be a Dimitrius and Donna story.
See? I already have the titles picked out and I'm not even finished with Bobby's story!
I have to thank YOU for setting up this interesting contest and providing awesome material to work with! I'll definitely write sequels after sequels after..... you get the drift. LOL
So now you already know that 'Going the Extra Myles' will be a Myles and Tara story and that 'D is for Destiny' will be a Dimitrius and Donna story.
See? I already have the titles picked out and I'm not even finished with Bobby's story!
Wow, Jacynthe...that was SOME party!!! Way to go! 
Great ending Jacynthe, or could it be the beginning?
GREAT entry in the Halloween contest, Jacynthe! I can't wait to see where you go from here!
Loved it..'nuff said
JoM
JoM
Wow, just read the whole thing in its entirety...what a fabulous read...Great, great job...loved how you sent "the Darce" packing!!! Why does that not surprise me.
WONDERFUL!! loved it, absolutely loved it. i am really happy tht u have decided to write many a sequel and i look forward to reading them whenever you get them going. Also goin to keep a close eye on Under covers from now on! Well done!!
Well,
You go away for a couple of days and look at what happens!
Wonderful Job!
Cassie
You go away for a couple of days and look at what happens!
Wonderful Job!
Cassie
Jacynthe
great party, and if i was still married i would be saying remind me not to accept any invitations from you
but as i am not...wow can i come to all your parties!!!!
great party, and if i was still married i would be saying remind me not to accept any invitations from you
but as i am not...wow can i come to all your parties!!!!
Allison, you crack me up! Although...the thought of any of the guys from the team wearing tights dressed up as Superman would DEFINITELY get me to rsvp to any of your parties, Jacynthe! 
:whistle:
OH OH Jacynthe!
I thought of another "tights" song...
From the movie: Robin Hood: Men in Tights...
"We're men! We're Men in tight, tight, tights... we rob from the rich and give to the poor, thats RIGHT!"....
Lol..
Thought I'd mention..
Loved your story!
Cassie
I thought of another "tights" song...
From the movie: Robin Hood: Men in Tights...
"We're men! We're Men in tight, tight, tights... we rob from the rich and give to the poor, thats RIGHT!"....
Lol..
Thought I'd mention..
Loved your story!
Cassie
Wow...just read the whole thing. Let me see:
Bobby and Darcy broke up....check
Tara and Stanley broke up...check
Myles and Lucy never really together...check, and thank goodness!
D and Donna still together...again, thank goodness!
Jack and Sue waiting for the right moment...check
Myles and Tara...
Gosh, so much in a short story, but put together very well! And I'm sure this will come as a complete surprise to EVERYONE, but I'm looking forward to your "Going the Extra Myles" story...I just might like a good M/T plot every once in a while.
Bobby and Darcy broke up....check
Tara and Stanley broke up...check
Myles and Lucy never really together...check, and thank goodness!
D and Donna still together...again, thank goodness!
Jack and Sue waiting for the right moment...check
Myles and Tara...
Gosh, so much in a short story, but put together very well! And I'm sure this will come as a complete surprise to EVERYONE, but I'm looking forward to your "Going the Extra Myles" story...I just might like a good M/T plot every once in a while.
Allie and Ronna, I put you down on the list of people to send invitations to for my next parties.
Cassie, I can't believe I didn't think of that one! I'm pretty sure that's one Sue would have remembered seeing as she loves to watch movies and reads lips on them so she'd have gotten that one down pat! And I'm glad you liked the story. Hope this made a fine prequel to the rest of the series!
rerio, it's looking as if Going the Extra Myles is going to be my next fanfic so you won't have to wait TOO long.. only until I am done with Under Covers. I'm glad you enjoyed and am looking forward to reading your contest entry tonight when I get home. It was next on my list to read!
)
Cassie, I can't believe I didn't think of that one! I'm pretty sure that's one Sue would have remembered seeing as she loves to watch movies and reads lips on them so she'd have gotten that one down pat! And I'm glad you liked the story. Hope this made a fine prequel to the rest of the series!
rerio, it's looking as if Going the Extra Myles is going to be my next fanfic so you won't have to wait TOO long.. only until I am done with Under Covers. I'm glad you enjoyed and am looking forward to reading your contest entry tonight when I get home. It was next on my list to read!
)
Oh what fun this story was to read. I just love all the breaking ups and getting togethers. And while your story was full of fun and jokes, it also contained some wonderfully intimate moments between couples and friends. Very touching.
Great job!
Great job!
Atlast -- someone has sent Darcy packing. I think we need Bobby footloose and fancy free -- think of all the romantic possibilities on his horizon? I'm new here, and just beginning to get to know everyone -- I seem to remember that you "wanna be Bobby's girl" (know that song?) and I have started Under Covers -- got side tracked with all the Halloween stories though...anyway I really enjoy your writing style -- and the way you know the characters so well,...just not sure I'd take a date to one of your parties!!!! I enjoyed reading this -- and look forward to reading more of your work.
Kav
Kav
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