Chapter 1

She couldn’t wait to share her news. The temptation to step on the gas pedal so that she might reach her destination sooner was a strong one, but she resisted it. A traffic ticket would slow her down more than anything else could, and though she doubted it was possible, she didn’t want anything to put a damper on her mood. Besides, she was already late, and she knew that her friends would still be there waiting for her, even if she was the last to arrive.

Smiling as she thought about the event that had taken place before she’d left to spend an all-girls weekend with her two best friends, she wondered how they’d react when she told them…would they be surprised, or had they seen the signs before she’d been able to recognize them herself?

These women had been there for her in times that weren’t so happy; now that her dreams were coming true one by one, she was fairly bursting at the seams to share her good news with them. Glancing quickly at her directions, her smile widened as she realized her destination was right around the next corner.

Pulling up at the hotel Allie stepped out of her car, her heart pounding with excitement as she figured the ring on her left hand.

‘Hey girl……..’ her closest friend, Molly pulled her in for a hug as they kissed the air.

Allie then greeted her other three friends, the people who had been with her throughout school and college. Although they had long ago left college and moved to different states they kept in touch regularly by phone, email or face to face.

Each year they met as a group, usually over Christmas and Easter and the 4th of July weekend when they all returned home to visit family.

This weekend was special, she’d rung each of them asking if they could meet as she had something wonderful to tell them.

Despite their efforts to find out she had remained tight-lipped for two weeks but tonight she would tell them.

‘I’m getting married……… in two months……… Jack proposed and I said yes……’

‘Jack Hudson?’ Theresa asked, turning a little green with envy, like most of their class she had fancied Jack something rotten, had made more than one play for his affections but been rebuffed by the young man who only had eyes for Alison Brown.

‘Yeah, Jack Hudson’ Allie nodded happily, ‘we met up a couple of months back, picked up where we left off and the rest is history…..’

‘Wow, I thought he was a confirmed bachelor’ Louise chuckled.

‘He was……….. but not any more’ Allie smiled.

‘So, you moving to DC?’ Louise asked.

Allie shook her head, ‘he’s giving up the bureau, moving to New York to work in a law firm……’

‘Really?’ Clare asked, ‘I thought he was committed to the FBI, that was why he studied law so he could join the bureau……..’

Allie nodded smugly, ‘it was but he won’t be, he’ll move to New York……’

‘You haven’t talked about it?’ Louise asked as their friends gasped in disbelief.

‘Kind of, he wants to stay in DC, have me work as an advertising exec down there but he’ll move………’

Allie fingered the ring again, blissfully oblivious to the looks of disgust from her friends.

Oh my goodness, Cath! Your first story is hardly cold and you've started a second! And Jack proposed to Allie? And she thinks she can get him to move to NY? Oh, this is a marriage doomed to failure from the start, if the marriage even occurs. I think Allie is looking at Jack thru

So many questions. What time period is this? Where is Sue? Me thinks you are going to toy with all of us out here with a multitude of angst! [Frwdgranny rubs her hands together in glee and whispers 'bring it on' as she hits the send button!!!!!! ]

Lynn

Please tell me this is before Sue has come on the scene! I think you should have titled this Recipe for Disaster, cath.

I'm gonna have to read this one with my

kav

Cath hun its got to be A very bad dream jack with allie
is not A dream but A NIGHTMARE or is she setting him up please
cath pretty please not the dreaded A one please more soon please dont
leave us tell us its all in her head and jacks really married to sue

Lin

What a tumultuous state of affairs. Allie appears to be as self-centered as always. Even her friends appear to be disgusted with her attitude. Whatever is Jack thinking?

Cath, you said you were going to do this!! I thought you were kidding!!!

Well, at least I see a lot of problems here if Allie really thinks Jack is going to give up the F.B.I.!!!

I'm here for the whole story, Cath!! Bring it on!!!

Joy

Me too! I'm as curious as everyone else in wondering how Sue fits into this picutre. Is she on the scene yet or is she about to make her grand entrance?

Ok, I'm hooked. Can't wait to see where this goes!

Allie

Em

Intriguing start

yay! another one of your stories.
Wait... jack and aliie? oh no!
Could sue be working in new york? if yes i'm sure their paths will cross.

This is definitely a nightmare...right?! I am going to wake up tomorrow and Allie will not be with Jack! CATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jack is engaged to Allie......NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Ok Cath, I'm going to try and stay calm for a nit...till there is more to read...and then I will know if I need to take you to a doctor or not. *goes away muttering about Allie and Jack being a married couple while shaking her head*

Chapter 2

Flashback

Jack sat in his apartment feeling unbelievably lonely and sad, Sue had gone out for the evening with David who had just completed a job for the city and was now watching his business expand thanks to Congressman Minton.

Bobby and Tara were dating, Lucy was dating Kevin Duffman and Myles had hooked up again with Nora Allbright.

He’d watched and listened as Sue talked excitedly about her renewed relationship with David and he realised that he had blown any chance he might have of dating her. For too long he’d been crippled by fear and doubt and he could do nothing to put it right.

Checking his emails he read one from Allie telling him she was visiting DC at the weekend and inviting him to meet up if he had no other plans.

Pressing the send button Jack confirmed he was free that weekend and suggesting she use his guest room.

Flicking through the TV channels he found a soccer game and half-heartedly watched it while sipping a can of beer.

Jack you cant be serious getting back with the evil witch NOOOOOOOOO
rethink if you speak to sue maybe just maybe david could fancy the A whos name cant be said jack jack please wake up from this nightmare but im trusting the author of this
to make it right but I cant wait for more cath
Lin

Poor Jack...so he was feeling kind of desperate, huh?

Just because he screwed up his chances again doesnt mean he has to jump into Allie's arms!

Cath, I think I see where this is going and I'm loving it!

I think it will be quite a ride and if all your posts are that short, I hope you post twice or three times a day!

Lynn

Jack and Allie Sue and David - Ach y fi (yuck in Welsh)

come to your senses ppl

I'm going to trust you to fix this, Cath! But until then I am staying

Em

yuck is right....how could Jack get back together with Allie...when his soul mate is standing right in front of him Sue and David..well that's just wrong all together

More soon please Cath! I love this story!

Oh poor jack is that why he rekindled his relationship with Allie?

Are you having fun riling people up, Cath?
Just finished reading your other story and decided to come over here and see what kind of havoc you were wreaking with your Jack/Allie story!
Looking forward to seeing where you go with this!
Certainly an intriguing start!
Lucy and Kevin Duffman, huh? Interesting...

Tracy

oh may, sue and david. jack and allie?
Update soon.

Chapter 3

Leaving early on Friday afternoon Jack went home to prepare the apartment, making a stop at the stores on the way to purchase food which Allie particularly enjoyed as well as essential items such as milk and bread.

Knowing it was going to be late when she arrived he’d agreed to pick her up at the airport and take her out for dinner.

‘Jack, how lovely to see you’ Allie hugged him tightly, kissing him softly on each cheek as she inhaled his cologne.

‘Allie, you look good’ he mumbled.

‘You too Jack, how’s your heart? No problems?’

Jack shook his head, regrets flashing through his head, he’d wasted another God-given opportunity to talk to Sue that fateful night when Violet kicked her out and Allie had taken over the following day taking time off work to look after him.

Now he wondered if it was for the best, if he and Sue had only ever been a fanciful dream while he and Allie were destined to be together.

‘No, no problems, it’s good to see you again……….’

‘Yeah, I thought you were gonna call me when you had your gall bladder taken out’ she grinned, running her hand over his cheek.

‘You hungry?’ he asked quietly, remembering how many times he’d asked Sue the same question in word and sign before taking her and Levi out to dinner.

‘I could eat’ she nodded, taking his hand as Jack picked up her bags and headed for his car.

The evening had passed quickly as they caught up with the events in their lives, family and old friends. Soon it was time to leave the restaurant and head home.

Driving past Sue’s he reflected on the dinners they had shared before they’d walked Levi and he’d taken them home. He sighed as he considered again all the missed opportunities to ask her out.

‘You Ok Jack?’ his thoughts were interrupted by Allie’s soft, silky voice and he coughed slightly, anxious to drag his attention back to the woman who could be his destiny.

‘Yeah, I’m good, just thinking about a case’ he murmured.

‘You have the weekend off hun, forget work……. if it affects you this badly maybe you should give up the bureau and settle to being a lawyer…….’

Jack shook his head, ‘I couldn’t do it, the paperwork would drive me nuts, as would the same old same old every day. I like what I do, it’s never boring and I never know what the day will bring……..’

‘Yeah, you never know if it will be your last day on earth either’ Allie choked, taking his hand off the wheel and caressing it gently.

‘There is that’ Jack agreed amiably, running his thumb over the knuckles of her hand as he half concentrated on the drive home.

Pulling up he opened her door before lifting her bags out of the car. Unaware of what he was doing he began to open the rear door to release Levi, blushing and joking to cover his confusion.

‘You’ve been working too hard hun’ she chuckled, taking his hand after he’d locked the car.

Dumping her bags in the guest room Allie looked around the apartment while Jack made coffee. There were more photos than she’d seen the last time she stayed, most were of the team but a few were of Jack with Sue and Levi.

‘Sue still on your team?’ Allie asked, trying to appear interested.

Jack nodded as he placed the mug of coffee on the table and took the seat opposite her. ‘She and Levi are very much a part of the team……. she was offered a promotion recently……..’ he explained about the job opportunity and her decision to turn it down, as Allie tried to appear interested.

‘So, what else is happening with the team?’ she asked quietly.

Her heart leapt as Jack updated her on who was dating who and she realised he was currently available.

Yawning noisily Allie checked her watch and sighed, ‘I’m gonna head to bed Jack, it’s been a long day………’

‘Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow, I thought we could catch a game in the afternoon’ he murmured.

‘Sounds good, night Jack’ she kissed him softly on both cheeks as he stood to bid her goodnight.

Watching her disappear from view he ran his fingers over the skin where her lips had touched him all too briefly, the ache of loneliness beginning to dissipate.

Im presuming thats a fash back ... Im confused though why Jack why Sue kind Caring talented beautiful Allie ok pretty but nasty and wants you to change

Cath

It is apparent that Jack is extremely vulnerable at the moment and Allie is going in for the kill!. Are we going to be privy to Sue's thoughts during this flashback? That would make the angst you are creating so much more....angsty!

Lynn

Just because he is lonely is no reason to jump into a relationship with Allie! Grrrrrr

Poor Jack!

<-- cool smilie!

Looking forward to reading more! (And finding out what you're actually up to here....)

Tracy

Poor Jack is right!

poor jack is right he really must be desperate if hes getting involved with her
sue please go see the love of your life and tell him, or is this just her dream that jack would marry the A woman more soon please cath
lin

Ok - now I can't decide if I'm going to be or

Em

Neither can I...Jack you drongo!

Things are becomming clearer now

Ugh! That man! Instead, he could go to Sue and tell her how he feels--who really cares about David when Jack and Sue are meant to be together--but no! Allie deides she wants to show up at a time when he is feeling lower than low, so he feels even worse and decides to just give up on his destiny! SUE! Sue is his destiny!

Where is my 2x4?

Chapter 4

Waking far earlier than was sensible for a weekend Jack slipped on a t-shirt and running pants before heading out for a long run during which he tried to clear his head.

For the first time in years his dreams had not been filled with images of Sue bur instead had been of Allie, memories of the good times they had shared mixed with images of a wedding and marriage. For most of his adult life his mom had encouraged him to consider Allie as a suitable wife, he’d fought against it because he had enjoyed being single, had no wish to settle down with a wife and children. For the last four years however he had been willing to embrace that lifestyle, but with Sue. Now he was facing the cold hard facts, marriage to Sue was never going to happen, she and David were obviously very happy together given the way she talked excitedly about him with her friends and all he could do was to smile in the right places and look happy for her.

Jogging around the streets of DC he made a vow to himself and the two women in his life, he would let Sue go, allow her to be happy with David and he would explore the possibility of dating Allie and consider whether marriage to her was the right thing.

Returning to the apartment he was assailed by the aroma of bacon, eggs and fresh coffee.

He leant against the doorframe as he watched Allie move effortlessly around his small kitchen, humming to herself as she had done so often before. He smiled softly as he remembered the two weeks she had stayed with him after his heart attack, tending to his every need and effectively chaining him to the couch as he recovered.

‘Hi hun…….’ Allie greeted him warmly as she turned to see him, hot and sweaty from the run.

‘Hi……. I’ll go grab a shower, then I thought we could see the sights before the game……. do you want to eat out tonight or get something in?’

‘I thought I could cook for you, I don’t expect you’ve had a home cooked meal for a while…….’

Jack shook his head, ‘that would be good, Sue cooked me a few and Mom’s been down three or four times, cooked for me and put meals in the freezer’ he chuckled.

‘Ok, well I can’t promise to be as good as your mom but I’d like to cook for you……’ Allie turned her attention back to the stove as Jack headed for the shower.
Her mom had always told her that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach and it didn’t look like Jack was any different.

‘That was wonderful’ Jack grinned, as he cleared the plates from the table and loaded the dishwasher.

‘Glad you liked it, it was nice to cook for you again’ she answered slowly, wrapping her arms around his waist as he straightened from the dishwasher.

‘Yeah, I’m glad you came down, it’s been too long…..’

‘Maybe next weekend you could come up to the Big Apple………’

Jack nodded, half wanting to escape from her embrace yet wanting too to take her and kiss her as he had when they were younger. Through all their on-off relationship they still returned to each other, still found a deep and abiding friendship.

Lost in his thoughts he was stunned to feel Allie’s lips on his as she ran her tongue over them seeking access to his mouth.

Whether through love, loneliness or the need to feel human contact Jack responded eagerly, his lips parting as his tongue found hers and they danced a familiar tango of love and desire.

His heart slammed against his ribs as she aroused in him feelings and desires he had all but forgotten.

Parting for air he grinned as he realised his hands had migrated upwards to muss up her auburn hair, her lipstick was smudged sexily and her eyes shone with love and passion.

Aware of where his thoughts were taking him he turned his attention to the kitchen before suggesting they head out soon.

He heard Allie sigh in frustration as she ambled towards the bathroom and he smoothed his hair and t-shirt as best as he could. Somehow the t-shirt had been pulled from his pants and her hands had left scorch marks over his skin.

Recovering his composure he switched on the dishwasher and waited for Allie to finish in the bathroom so he could prepare himself for the day ahead.

Two hours later she appeared in the lounge, fresh from the shower and made up to perfection.

‘You always take this long in the bathroom?’ he joked.

‘A girl has to look good for her man’ Allie whispered.

‘Yeah’ he whispered ‘and you do look good……..’

‘You ready?’ Allie asked picking up her purse.

‘5 minutes’ he promised, disappearing in to the bathroom, gagging a little on the perfume and other flowery aromas which filled the small room.

Taking her hand they exited the apartment and headed in to the centre of DC.

Having lived in DC for more than 10 years he was ashamed to admit that he’d never seen the sights other than occasional visits for a case and as he held Allie’s hand while they ambled around an art gallery and museum he felt more like a tourist than a citizen.

Sitting at the deli Jack was a little surprised at how right it felt to be doing so with Allie instead of Sue.

The afternoon passed cuddled together at a baseball game as they relived memories of school and college fixtures.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ he asked as he drove home from the store.

Allie shrugged a little, ‘I was thinking how quickly we picked up where we left off, not that we kissed or anything last time I was down but we haven’t seen each other for three years and yet we’ve picked up right where we left off……..’

‘Yeah, mom was right we always were good together……. remember when…….?’

Arriving at the apartment they were both still chuckling over memories from school and college and he realised that the aching loneliness he’d felt for so long was now a distant memory.

Bidding Allie a sad farewell at the airport Jack promise to fly up and visit the following weekend if no cases came up requiring his attention, ‘I can’t promise to be there but if I can’t make it I’ll let you know’ he explained.

‘Sure’ Allie shrugged, ‘maybe if you can’t come up. I’ll come down…….’

‘Yeah, that’d be good’ he agreed before kissing her goodbye.

Now Cath, that was awfully hard to stomach, especially this early in the morning. (I couldn't sleep and decided to get up and read for awhile.) Reading those intimate scenes and finding Jack enjoying them so much....almost made me gag!

I know you are only giving us some background here for Allie's announcement to her friends; but, this is only going to lead to lots of angst I'm afraid.

And, it really isn't fair to Allie, either; because, it sheds a whole different light on her and her expectations. With Jack acting like that, who can blame her for thinking she is going to marry Jack, convince him to move to NY and practice law; i.e., you making me sympathize with Allie!

i.e. I fear she is not the brazen, out to get Jack at all costs, person we all thought at first, therefore, she will need our sympathy when Jack lets her down!

Lynn

jack you must have had a bang to you head mate but im trusting
that all will work out fine maybe sue and jack could be sent away undercover
as husband and wife but theres a loop hole and they are married for real more soon please Cath
Lin

you right it well but theres nothing to it when it comes to Allie and Jack its icky

I'd say that Lynn has a point that the way Jack is relating here to Allie does make me have some sympathy for her.

Well this is not healthy...she is a quick fix, I just know it!

Ewww!

Em

I don't like Jack and Allie together either, but I have to say I understand where Jack is coming from!! He thinks Sue is happy and moving on with David, therefore out of his reach forever!! He doesn't want to be alone and he knows and has a friendship with Allie!!!

Having said that, we need to now let Sue know that he's dating Allie, so she can tell David goodbye!!!

Joy

I have to admit....Jack is really putting himself in a hard place with Allie,by allowing himself to rebound with her.

But still Jack and Allie kissing YUCKY!!!!!!

I guess their relationship is one with deep foundations to their childhood, whther he truly wants to be with her we will have to wait and see

cath, are you sure Jack and Allie are ingredients in a recipe for happiness! Because personally, I find them a recipe for indigestion!

kav

I've got a question... Did Sue actually state that she and David were back into the dating thing? I mean, they could just be friends hanging out. Yes, she might talk about him a lot, but that doesn't mean there's a real relationship going on.

I'm just trying to find some reason behind the madness... it's not working.

Jack, Jack, Jack....you're not thinking straight!

Chapter 5

Jack almost bounced in to work the following morning, his good mood and chirpy smile noticed immediately by his friends.

‘Good weekend Sparky?’

‘Yeah, Allie came down…….. if nothing comes up I’ll be visiting her in New York next weekend.

‘So you and Allie are back together then?’ Bobby asked as he sat on the corner of Jack’s desk.

He nodded slowly, ’yeah, we’re giving it another go…….. it feels good so far but it’s early days, let’s see how things go huh?’

Raising his eyes heavenwards Bobby nodded before ambling over to the coffee machine.

‘How’s she taking it?’ he nodded in Sue’s direction as Tara joined him.

‘Seems ok, but she had pretty well given up on him which is why she’s dating David again……and they seem very happy this time around.’

‘You think Jack and Allie are a match made in heaven?’ he asked softly.

‘I don’t know, I always thought Sue and Jack were meant to be together but since neither of them appeared to be interested in making the first move I guess I was wrong and they both look pretty happy with life right now…….’

Bobby glanced over at their friends who were now both concentrating on their work, the sly glances across the pen a thing of the past.

I'm really not reading what I think I'm reading, am I? Because Allie and Jack is just so...so... I'm trying to be brave, cath but I think I'll have to read the rest of this with my
kav