awww don' t worry levi. you'll be with sue soon.
UPDATE SOON.
Full Version: It's a Wonderful Life - learningtosign
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2006 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2006 Christmas and Winter Challenge
Great post, Cath!
Look forward to more!
Tracy
Look forward to more!
Tracy
I never thought it would be Levi, but this is really hard to read having Levi go through all of this 
I'm sad already, Cath!! Poor Levi, having to watch Sue bond with Scamp!! At least he does have the comfort in knowing that the love he and Sue have is not apparent between Sue and Scamp!!!
Joy
Joy
Great start! I love Levi stories!
Jill
Jill
How sad...poor Levi.
This is great Cath!
Please post more soon!
BLT
This is great Cath!
Please post more soon!
BLT
coolness....i would have never thought to go this direction...keep it up!
Aww poor Levi .
Great post
Great post
poor levi...
Levi needs a bone ... a big bone
Oh poor levi he does need some lovingand a nice big jucie bone but more soon please
Lin
You may need tissues for this chapter, please remember this is what life would have been like without LeviChapter 5
‘Can we go and see the pen?’ Levi asked, desperate to see how Sue and Scamp were fitting in with the team.
‘Later…….. we have to go somewhere else first……’
Clarence took him to a small graveyard in Wisconsin.
‘Why are we here? This isn’t the pen, this isn’t the team……..’
‘Levi……… there is no pen, there is no team….. read the inscription.
Levi turned to the headstone in front of him and read aloud, the words sticking in his throat.
‘Jackson Samuel Hudson, beloved son of Sam and Lydia Hudson, brother to James and Sarah, devoted FBI Agent, died heroically in the defence of his Country. At peace in the presence of his Lord and Saviour’
He turned to Clarence, ‘Jack’s dead?’
Clarence nodded, ‘Sue was recruited to the unit, but that first take down……… when you saved her life and Jacks’? You remember?’
Levi nodded, he had taken a bullet for the team and had the scar to prove it.
‘Things were different, Jack was shot, then they aimed at Sue……. But Scamp didn’t have the same protective instinct that you had…… instead of pushing her out of the way he barked at the shooter….. Sue went down and as Jack tried to get to her they shot him……. Instead of tending to his own wounds as the team took them down he fought to keep Sue alive. As he saved her life he slowly bled to death…….. Jack died at the scene…….’
Levi felt the tears trickling down his face as he imagined how sad the team would be without Jack.
‘But Sue and Scamp are with the team?’ he asked.
Clarence shook his head, ‘in the chaos which followed Scamp ran away…… the dog warden picked him up a few days later and he was rehomed……’
‘Sue didn’t want him back?’ Levi couldn’t imagine Sue not taking him back.
‘No……. she was in hospital for a long time recovering from her injuries and receiving therapy……… it was decided that he would be better off being rehomed………..’
‘So, was she able to attend Jacks’ funeral?’
Clarence shook his head, ‘she blamed herself for his death, the team blamed her for interfering……… it was only because of Jacks’ persistence that she stayed with your team…….. so she stayed away and wept alone in her room instead……the funeral service in his home church was packed and it was standing room only at the Thanksgiving service here in DC…… he was a popular guy…….. well respected as a man and as an Agent.. she has visited his grave regularly but no-one knows……. She leaves flowers each Christmas and birthday……. And every night she cries because she caused his death…….’
‘So the team had her expelled from the unit?’
Clarence nodded, ‘although she was planning on leaving anyway……. Myles had been particularly nasty to her after Jack died and none of them wanted to be reminded of that night…………..’
‘Can I see her?’ Levi asked, his heart breaking at the thought of the FBI without Special Agent Jack Hudson.
Oh how sad poor levi and jack nooo sue must be deverstatedmore soon please pretty please
Lin
What did you do, Cath! You killed Jack! Our Jack! 
You did a good job at it, though. It's exactly how I imagined it. Jack dies trying to save Sue's life... A true hero! 
I can't believe the team expelled Sue from the unit! Well, I can believe it but it's just so unfair! And sad!
I know this is a "what if" story and I know very well that in reality (fanfiction reality) everyone in the team is safe and sound and probably very happy... but I'm sad.
I also know that you can't fix this anytime soon but, please, keep posting.
Ornella
Why did you kill Jack?? 
OMG, Poor Levi, and Sue... I feel so bad......
I have a lot so far today, why are people doing this to me? I am not a natural crier.
a lot so far today, why are people doing this to me? I am not a natural crier.
Wow! Great story!
poor Levi. Things are so different without him. I can't imagine the hurt Sue must be feeling after the death of Jack. It's interesting to read these stories where someone looks back on what might have been if they hadn't been there. It's amazing how much can change
poor Levi. Things are so different without him. I can't imagine the hurt Sue must be feeling after the death of Jack. It's interesting to read these stories where someone looks back on what might have been if they hadn't been there. It's amazing how much can change
You managed very well to imagine that scene without Levi in it and make it flow right into the episode!! Very sad though!! I can see that, without Jack, no one was going to stand up for Sue!!!
We're going to see Sue now?? I have to go get some more tissues!!!
Joy
We're going to see Sue now?? I have to go get some more tissues!!!
Joy
okee why is everybody killing jack on this challenge...are you all trying to get a woman to freak out.
QUOTE(suesfan @ Nov 21 2006, 11:50 AM) 
You managed very well to imagine that scene without Levi in it and make it flow right into the episode!! Very sad though!! I can see that, without Jack, no one was going to stand up for Sue!!!
We're going to see Sue now?? I have to go get some more tissues!!!
Joy
What she said! Have I mentioned I HATE character deaths? I know Jack's not REALLY dead and this is just what it would be like if Levi hadn't been there, but there's a reason I don't read character deaths!!!!!
Wonderful writing, though!
Tracy
That was so sad and heartbreaking.
Can we see what happened to Sue, LTS?
Can we see what happened to Sue, LTS?
This is so heartwrenching I feel sorry for Levi having to watch it, and Sue for what she's going through.
I feel sorry for Levi having to watch it, and Sue for what she's going through.
No!
Em
Em
I don't think I can stand to see what has happened to Sue. Poor Jack. It just goes to show how one life can effect so many.Kim
oh... poor levi!
tissue warningChapter 6
Clarence took him back to the bureau, to fingerprinting.
Levi watched as Sue kept her head down, oblivious to the other workers and carried out her work in a robot-like state.
‘She’s back in finger printing?’
‘Yeah, no other team would have her work with them so she came back here, her hopes and dreams were cruelly dashed that night……….but she’s leaving in the New Year……… she’s given it almost five years and nothing has changed……. Very few people talk to her, the bureau still blames her, some people would like to get rid of her but she’s good at her job…… but now she’s had enough and is moving back to Ohio, back to her parents who will say ‘I told you so….’ her last act in DC will be to spend a few moments in the Memorial Room, staring at the photo of the man whose death she caused, or so she believes……….’
‘But what happened to Lucy? They …… we ……shared an apartment……’
‘They never moved in together, what began as a tentative friendship quickly ended, Lucy couldn’t stand to be with her……..Sues’ only friend in DC was Charlie…… and a few people she met at Deaf Club…….. she couldn’t talk about her job because it reminded her of Jack……. look at her closely Levi and tell me what you see…..’
Levi peered at Sue but it wasn’t Sue as he knew her, instead he noticed her gaunt figure and tired, thin face, her soulless eyes and her sad demeanour.
‘The forgiveness she always gave those who hurt her……. she has been unable to forgive herself for what happened……. Her guilt was so huge she has been unable to set foot inside a church since, even at Christmas or Easter…..’
Levi swallowed hard, unable to imagine Sue as anything other than the warm, vibrant and caring woman he had known for almost 5 years.
‘I don’t see her hearing ear dog……..’
‘She never had another………. the experience with Scamp left her with so little confidence in her abilities that she declined the offer of another dog……..but……’
‘But?’ Levi questioned.
‘Sorry, the Creator says it’s a story for another day…….would you like to see the pen?’
Levi nodded enthusiastically: it would be good to see some familiar faces.
You warned me I would be crying a lot...you were right Cath.
Thanks for the warning....... I feel so bad for Levi and Sue.
I agree with Levi, let's go to the pen..... some familiar faces will help...
I agree with Levi, let's go to the pen..... some familiar faces will help...
Poor Sue to hold all that unecessary guilt for 5 years .
Great post though
Great post though
Another great story Cath, what a great idea, through the eyes of Levi.
Soph
Soph
thank you for the warning cath AH poor sue and levithats heartbreaking more soon please
Lin
I need some more tissues...
QUOTE(Bobby/TaraFAN @ Nov 22 2006, 11:03 PM)
Thanks for the warning....... I feel so bad for Levi and Sue.
I agree with Levi, let's go to the pen..... some familiar faces will help...
to the first part. I don't agree with the second one, though. The pen won't be as we know it, without Jack ans Sue. Probably Bobby and Myles will be at each other throats, Lucy will be unhappy because she can't forgive Myles and Bobby... My main fear is his problem with gambling... Jack helped him the second time in the show, but in this (sad!) alternative reality Jack died before that case...
Cath, I'm really worried... I think I'll need more chocolate...
Ornella
This is so sad.......
Great job at writing Levi's perspective...everything flows so naturally.
Can't wait for more!
BLT
Great job at writing Levi's perspective...everything flows so naturally.
Can't wait for more!
BLT
This is too sad! Wonderfully written though!
I should buy stock in tissues...
Tracy
Poor Sue. Poor Levi. Cath, your story continues to reveal just how many lives one life can touch and how much poorer the world would be if that one life had never ocurred.Kim
That is so sad. Poor Levi! Great job with "if Levi were never born". I wasn't sure where you would be going with it and was really impressed. 
poor sue....this is all so sad
tissue warning, fuzzies will come soonChapter 7
Passing the Memorial Room Levi glanced in and saw Jack’s photo on the wall. It was a stiff, formal photo which didn’t reflect the warm, caring man he knew and loved.
As they stood by what Levi thought of as Sues’ desk he looked around, breathing a sigh of relief as he recognised Lucy, distraught as he realised he knew no-one else in the room.
‘Wh…….where is everyone Clarence? Where is the team?’ he barked.
‘There is no team Levi……’ Clarence explained gently, ‘after the memorial service they all tried to work together, to stay together but they couldn’t stand to see his empty desk……. Jack had been the glue that held them together, he took each of their own particular idiosyncrasies and worked with them to hold them together, to gel them as a team….you remember when he had his heart attack, how hard it was for all of you to concentrate on the work….?’
Levi nodded, remembering staring at the desk before he put his paws on it and softly whimpered.
‘When he died it was a thousand times worse, they tried to stick it out in his memory but it wasn’t long before the cracks appeared and soon turned in to enormous ravines….. the team worked with you and Sue in it because you were there with Jack……. you and Sue helped to change each member of that team and made it the best team in the bureau…….’
‘Sue might have done but I had nothing to do with it’ Levi replied sadly.
‘That’s not true…….. remember when Myles had his panic attack? You were as much a part of his healing as Sue or the psychiatrist……. How many times have members of the team taken you for a walk and talked to you, knowing you won’t judge them, how many of them cried in to your fur when they couldn’t talk or cry with a person? How many times have you sat and comforted Jack when he’s been terrified of losing Sue? You are as much a part of that team as Sue……. Don’t sell yourself short…….’ Clarence scratched him behind the ears as he spoke and Levi thought back to the many times Jack did exactly the same thing.
‘Remember when you went missing, Levi?’
Levi nodded sadly, it had been the worst few days of his life.
‘All the team were out looking for you, not because Jack asked them to but because they wanted to, because they each owed you something, because they loved you……. even Myles……….they wouldn’t have thrown that little party for you if they weren’t happy to see you……. and there was an added bonus…… while you were high on your medication, you gave the whole bureau a laugh and gently pricked at Myles’ inflated ego….. remember?’
Levi hung his head in shame as he remembered cocking his leg on Myles the day he was due to attend the White House.
‘Remember the teasing before that?’
Levi nodded again, much of that time was a blur but he could remember bits, although he would be more than happy to forget the wet pants episode.
Clarence grinned as he continued, ‘none of the teasing deflated his ego as much as you did and it was what Myles needed at that time……. he was as keen to find you as anyone else……..’
‘So, where is everyone?’ he asked, almost afraid of the answer.
‘D left the bureau……. He and Donna moved to the bureau in New York…… he took a Supervisors’ post but it wasn’t what he really enjoyed, too much paperwork, too many long, boring meetings and not enough action……. When he left he took a job as a security guard but he hates it……. He and Donna lost a baby but their marriage is under strain……. They missed out on the love and support you and Sue offered at that time in DC, remember?’
Levi nodded, remembered the sadness even if he didn’t understand exactly what had happened, remembered sitting with D some days as the man ruffled his ears and wept inside.
‘Bobby rejoined the bomb squad, he’s happy there but still single. His life is full of regrets, he regrets not pushing Jack to have Sue sent back to fingerprinting…….. thinks if he had pushed it Jack would still be alive…… he doesn’t realise that by that time Jack was committed to a course of action which involved Sue as an active member of the unit and nothing other than Stan Eldridge removing her would have changed his mind…… he has another problem which so far he has managed to keep hidden from everyone…’
‘He’s gambling again?’ Levi’s heart sank as Clarence nodded.
‘When Jack died Bobby picked up his old habit…….. to escape the pain of losing the man who was closer than a brother…. It’s out of control, he’s in danger of losing his apartment and is working two jobs to try and stay afloat…..’
Levi felt the tears pricking his eyes once more, he liked Bobby, loved his weird sense of humour and the way he was always ready to throw his bunny for him. He didn’t love him like he loved Jack but where Jack was sometimes a little tense and uptight, Bobby was always ready for a laugh and to tease.
That's worst than I thought! No team?! 
I feel so sad and depressed!
This part reminded me of another of your wonderful stories, "Heard you calling in the night", where Sue chooses the photo of their fake wedding for the Memorial Room, instead of a formal and stiff one. Sue's choice in that story touched me, the choice in this story makes me feel more depressed.
Great job!
Post more soon.
Ornella
I feel so sad and depressed!
QUOTE
Passing the Memorial Room Levi glanced in and saw Jack’s photo on the wall. It was a stiff, formal photo which didn’t reflect the warm, caring man he knew and loved.
This part reminded me of another of your wonderful stories, "Heard you calling in the night", where Sue chooses the photo of their fake wedding for the Memorial Room, instead of a formal and stiff one. Sue's choice in that story touched me, the choice in this story makes me feel more depressed.
Great job!
Post more soon.
Ornella
So sad and depressing ... it shows that Levi is also a memeber of the team.
QUOTE(afanfromSicily @ Nov 23 2006, 07:28 PM)
That's worst than I thought! No team?!
I feel so sad and depressed!
Post more soon.
Ornella
You are right, and I was wrong when I said it would be nice to see the team; There is no team...
QUOTE(learningtosign @ Nov 23 2006, 06:15 PM)
tissue warning, fuzzies will come soon‘Sue might have done but I had nothing to do with it’ Levi replied sadly.
‘That’s not true…….. remember when Myles had his panic attack? You were as much a part of his healing as Sue or the psychiatrist……. How many times have members of the team taken you for a walk and talked to you, knowing you won’t judge them, how many of them cried in to your fur when they couldn’t talk or cry with a person? How many times have you sat and comforted Jack when he’s been terrified of losing Sue? You are as much a part of that team as Sue……. Don’t sell yourself short…….’ Clarence scratched him behind the ears as he spoke and Levi thought back to the many times Jack did exactly the same thing.
The whole post was touching, Cath. But this part got me. How many times have we all whispered our deepest hurts, hopes, and dreams to our animal best friends, knowing that they will never judge. Theirs is an unconditional love that offers a comforting paw when our tears fall.Lovely, Cath.
Kim
And you expect me to go to sleep now? I always knew life would be bleak without Levi -- I just didn't know how much!kav
oh so sad and the worse is NO jack andNO team this is really
cath but more soonplease
Lin
A sad and emotional post. What happened to Tara, Myles and how is Lucy coping? 
So sad! Wonderful writing though.
Looking forward to the fuzzies that you say are coming soon.
Tracy
further warning
Chapter 8
‘Myles?’ Levi was almost afraid to ask about the man who had so often tried to have Sue and him removed from the team.
‘Myles moved down to white collar crime…….. he works in a cubicle and hates his job……… he’s married, to Laura….. they have two children but while he is content he knows there is something missing from his life…… he didn’t marry his soul mate…….’
Levi screwed up his face as he thought hard, he was sure he didn’t remember anyone called Laura.
‘Remember the day you and Sue were in the cafeteria with Jack?’
Levi nodded, ‘they talked for a while then Jack asked her to read someones’ lips……… she read Myles’ conversation with a woman,….. he was lying to Lucy…… Sue told her….’
Clarence nodded, ‘she read his lips with Scamp, told Lucy……. but without you and Sue in the team Lucy never came to a point of forgiveness…… the woman he was talking to was Laura but Myles realised too late that it wasn’t Laura he wanted. Lucy was his soul mate but he let her slip away because without you and Sue there he never reached the point of admitting he was wrong and seeking to put things right with her…….’
‘Lucy?’ Levi hoped and prayed that she had found happiness and joy in her life but doubted after Clarences’ comment that it had happened, his heart was beginning to break with sadness.
‘Lucy was so devastated by his duplicity that she decided men weren’t to be trusted, she’d given Myles her heart and he’d broken it in to a thousand tiny pieces……… you and Sue weren’t there to help her put it back together……. she hasn’t dated since…. she can’t risk being hurt again….’
Clarence read the sadness in Levis’ eyes and felt some of the sadness that God felt when His people were hurt.
‘Please tell me that Tara is happy, that at least one of them came out of this with something good…….’ Levi was almost begging now, unsure if he wanted to continue this journey.
‘I wish I could buddy……… but angels aren’t allowed to lie….. Tara hooked up with one of her blind dates out of a need to fill the gap n her life which Jack left……. they weren’t dating but he had been a good friend, almost like a brother and she missed him badly……. she married soon after but he was an alcoholic…… she is now a single parent…three children under the age of 5…... he drove while inebriated and wrapped his car around a tree…….. he died at the scene….’
‘Can I go home?’ Levi asked, almost pleading to be home with the people he loved.
‘You can but if I don’t show you the past and present I can’t give you a glimpse of the future which you helped to shape……… and the future will put all this in to context……… but it’s your decision….’
warningChapter 8
‘Myles?’ Levi was almost afraid to ask about the man who had so often tried to have Sue and him removed from the team.
‘Myles moved down to white collar crime…….. he works in a cubicle and hates his job……… he’s married, to Laura….. they have two children but while he is content he knows there is something missing from his life…… he didn’t marry his soul mate…….’
Levi screwed up his face as he thought hard, he was sure he didn’t remember anyone called Laura.
‘Remember the day you and Sue were in the cafeteria with Jack?’
Levi nodded, ‘they talked for a while then Jack asked her to read someones’ lips……… she read Myles’ conversation with a woman,….. he was lying to Lucy…… Sue told her….’
Clarence nodded, ‘she read his lips with Scamp, told Lucy……. but without you and Sue in the team Lucy never came to a point of forgiveness…… the woman he was talking to was Laura but Myles realised too late that it wasn’t Laura he wanted. Lucy was his soul mate but he let her slip away because without you and Sue there he never reached the point of admitting he was wrong and seeking to put things right with her…….’
‘Lucy?’ Levi hoped and prayed that she had found happiness and joy in her life but doubted after Clarences’ comment that it had happened, his heart was beginning to break with sadness.
‘Lucy was so devastated by his duplicity that she decided men weren’t to be trusted, she’d given Myles her heart and he’d broken it in to a thousand tiny pieces……… you and Sue weren’t there to help her put it back together……. she hasn’t dated since…. she can’t risk being hurt again….’
Clarence read the sadness in Levis’ eyes and felt some of the sadness that God felt when His people were hurt.
‘Please tell me that Tara is happy, that at least one of them came out of this with something good…….’ Levi was almost begging now, unsure if he wanted to continue this journey.
‘I wish I could buddy……… but angels aren’t allowed to lie….. Tara hooked up with one of her blind dates out of a need to fill the gap n her life which Jack left……. they weren’t dating but he had been a good friend, almost like a brother and she missed him badly……. she married soon after but he was an alcoholic…… she is now a single parent…three children under the age of 5…... he drove while inebriated and wrapped his car around a tree…….. he died at the scene….’
‘Can I go home?’ Levi asked, almost pleading to be home with the people he loved.
‘You can but if I don’t show you the past and present I can’t give you a glimpse of the future which you helped to shape……… and the future will put all this in to context……… but it’s your decision….’
Wow, everybody life really does suck without the wonder dog....
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