Sue looked up sighing from the romantic novel she was reading. Valentine’s Day is here again, the celebration of love, and I still haven’t found the man of my dreams… Or rather, I’ve found him, but he doesn’t consider me more than a simple friend. If only I was like the heroine of the book, to whom the knight of her dreams arrives, takes her into his arms, tells her how much he loves her, and kisses her… She turned to her side sighing. She imagined herself and Jack, as the man suddenly appears, tells her he is in love with her, takes her into his embrace and kisses her passionately… She didn’t realize that in the meantime her best friend came into her room and now is watching her smiling.

- Are you daydreaming of Jack again? – asked Lucy grinning.
- No, I just… - started Sue reddened, although she knew exactly that her friend is perfectly aware of the situation.
- Then you are reading a romantic novel only by chance, right? – smiled her flatmate, and Sue knew she cannot get rid of this conversation until she gives a detailed account of everything.
- Well, Valentine’s Day is here soon, and again, there isn’t anyone with whom I could celebrate it… so at least a romantic novel eases the situation somewhat – replied the woman sadly.

- If you opened your eyes and paid attention to what is happening around you, you would surely think differently… - shook Lucy her head. – Why is it that everyone sees what is between you, only the two of you don’t? – she sighed.
- I don’t know what you are talking about… - looked Sue down at her book embarrassed.
- Sue… - touched Lucy her friend’s hand – remember when we agreed on always being honest to each other? – she reminded her. – And promises are made to be kept…

- But there is really not much to talk about – sighed Sue. – He is surely not interested in me; anyway, he can get any woman, thus it’s impossible he would want me.
- So you are indeed in love with him… - grinned Lucy. – I knew it, I knew it from the very first moment you two are in love with each other – she said excitedly.

- Luce, don’t make up things! – the woman objected, but knew she is late with this for long; her best friend knows exactly how she is feeling.
- Sue, if you knew how much in love Jack is with you, you would be surprised yourself as well… - her flatmate shook her head. – Why is it that even strangers know immediately what you feel for one another, as soon as they see you beside each other, but you aren’t willing to realize the sparkles between you even after three years? - she mused.

- Maybe because you got involved in matchmaking so much that you want to get together couples who you think were made for each other, and thus you are searching for attraction where there isn’t any? – her friend suggested.
- Sue, you are impossible – sighed Lucy, laying on the bed beside her friend. But I’m never wrong about couples belonging together; I always feel who are the ones who truly love each other. And if you two are not willing to admit how crazy you are for each other, I have to do something about that myself. I believe it’s time to get to the next phase in the „Let’s bring Jack and Sue together” operation… And by the time Valentine’s Day arrives, you’ll be a couple… I’ll personally take care of that – she smiled, thinking of how the plan would be carried out.

I'm happy to see you are joining the Valentine's Day Challenge, Averil!! Can't wait to see where you take us!!!

Joy

Oh, another Valentine story and what a romantic start. Can't wait to see what Lucy has up her sleeve!

Lynn

Great start! Can't wait the next!

How romantic

Cute start. And if Lucy takes action, anything can happen. Hope we can read the next part soon.

Looks to be a good start for a romantic story! Especially if Lucy has her say!
kav

looks like lucy is planing to do some match making. i can't wait to see/read what happens. I'm sure jack feels that same way about sue. maybe bobby will help with lucy's plan.

Hi there!!

Interesting beginning of your story, I can't wait for Lucy's plan!!



Tere

Jack left for his usual running in the park. It was unusually cold on this day, but the man didn’t feel anything from this… his thoughts were filled by a single person. The woman whom he loved with all his heart, and at whom he had been continually gazing for three years in vain. Valentine’s Day is here again soon, and I can’t celebrate it with the woman I love this time either… I have to spend this day alone again. Although I want nothing more than to be with her, take her into my arms, feel her kisses… He touched his lips and smiled when remembering their kiss from a year before in the office of Callahan and Merced. Although I kissed her in order not to be caught, that kiss was real for me… and I would give anything to feel the kisses of my love day by day for the rest of my life. And he came to a new determination. I have to tell her I love her, and she is the woman in whose arms I want to fall asleep every evening, and wake up beside her… Yes, I will do just that. So far I’ve always backed off whenever I felt the need to tell my feelings to her, but I can’t wait any longer… she has to know she is the woman with whom I want to spend the rest of my life. He continued running relieved, as he had brought perhaps the most important decision of his life so far. He knew this would change his life forever… that having Sue’s love, he will be the happiest man on the entire earth. He was impatiently waiting for the moment when he can see the woman of his dreams again, imagining as he confesses his love to her… and hoped the woman would return his feelings too.

Just do it Jack! you will never regret if you do it!!

Bravo Averil!

Tere

Well, Lucy with a plan and a determined Jack, I think we're on our way to a declaration of love!

Lynn

Go Jack!

We're all behind you, Jack!! We know you can do it!!!

Joy

Good decision Jack -- you're on your way to losing your turtle shell once and for all!

kav

Turtles are so cute...one of my friends has one. But you're right, Jack should be brave and tell his feelings. So... Go Jack!!

Great jobs!

Go Jack!

Oh, Jack. I hope Jack will really have the courage to admit his feelings, and his thoughts can come true.

Go Jack! And you've gotta love it when Lucy decides to take things in hand. Methinks this Valentine's Day is going to be different for Sue than previous years!

Is Jack going to have the guts to go through with admitting his feelings this time? I certainly hope he is able to make this a memorable V-day for Sue.

yep i hope he can do that to oreo.

Oh, I hope so too...

I loved Lucy's determination in the first post!

YOu know, if Jack doesn't get moving, some fanfic hands are going to just reach right in there and give him a good shaking!!!

Jill

Fresh from running, Jack headed to work with new determination. He waited impatiently for the moment when he can see his love again… the woman because of whom it was worth waking up and going to work for three years. He can secretly watch her from behind his computer again, as if he was busy with work, admiring her beauty over and over again… and felt he would be the happiest man on earth if the woman loved him back.

Sue was walking towards the bullpen daydreaming, with the man of her dreams in her thoughts again. Three years ago she stormed into the office angrily, demanding a transfer… and this had changed her whole life. She found the job she really wanted and met the love of her life… she felt that if the man returned her feelings, she couldn’t be happier.

Absorbed in their thoughts, they didn’t notice the approaching of the other one, thus they suddenly realized they had bumped against each other. They both looked up instinctively, immersed in the gaze of their love… the outer world had completely ceased to exist for them.

- I’m sorry… I wasn’t looking… - Jack found his voice at last.
- I’m really sorry, I should have been watching where I’m walking – apologized Sue, not being able to tear her gaze away from the man’s beautiful eyes.
- Then maybe… we should go in… - said Jack, letting the woman go, but from the sudden movement, they bumped into each other again.

- I’m so sorry, I’m really clumsy – said the woman.
- No, I was the one who didn’t pay attention – Jack interrupted her, absorbed in the gaze of his love.
They didn’t realize that in the meantime, their teammates also came out on the corridor and now they were watching them smiling.

- What was all this? – grinned Lucy, as all of them entered the bullpen.
- What? We just met at the entrance… - Sue reddened.
- I saw just that – her friend smiled knowingly.

- It would be better if we stopped chatting and rather dealt with work; criminals won’t come in to the FBI on their own – said Jack.
- I knew it, I’ve always known it – grinned Lucy. – She charmed you so much that now you are embarrassed and try to change the topic – she looked at the man, and the others nodded in agreement.
- Lucy is right, Sparky – said Bobby. – It’s so obvious what you feel for each other… it’s a miracle we haven’t got an electric shock yet from all the sparkles between the two of you.

- You are impossible – sighed Jack. – What about escaping from here at noon and having lunch together? – he looked at Sue, whose heart started beating faster when seeing the invitation.
- I would be glad to – she replied at last, thinking of how she would resist these several hours until she can be alone with the man of her dreams again.

The team gave each other a „we’ve told you” – look, but the two people in love didn’t perceive anything from this… They got absorbed in paperwork smiling, frequently glancing at each other, already counting the minutes when they can be by themselves.

This post was so funny, they bumped each other, priceless

So...lunch the two of them, maybe Jack can make his move there



Tere

Delightful. I got a nice warm fuzzy just from the way they were looking at each other!

Lynn

They're so cute!! I can't wait for lunch either!!!

Joy

Don't you just love those kind of crashes!

Jill

They are very cute as they behave in each other's company. Hope something happens between them soon. Don't make us wait for too long with the continuation.

Oh, I do... here's hoping for more!

Me too!

- Can we go? – stepped Jack at Sue’s desk a few hours later, and the woman stood up smiling to go and have lunch with her love. The couple headed towards the entrance, and Lucy looked at them smiling; perhaps now they get closer to each other.

Getting to the restaurant, the man politely pulled the chair out for Sue, then sat down opposite her.
- This day is beautiful – the woman interrupted silence at last, in her thoughts returning to the events of the morning.
- Indeed, compared to winter we really have a beautiful day – agreed Jack, recalling again the moment when due to them bumping into each other, he could feel his love in his arms for a short time.

- Hopefully it won’t get bad until Valentine’s Day… although it seems I’ll spend this day at home with Lucy again, so it’s all the same – said Sue, not being able to hide her sadness over her having to spend the day of love without the man of her dreams.

- I won’t be doing anything special either – said Jack. – I believe I’ll watch hockey and wait for this day to be over as well.
- Then it seems neither of us is looking forward an eventful day – stated Sue, finding it hard to believe that a man so much popular among women as Jack is spending this day without a girlfriend.

- Indeed – said the man, wishing he could spend Valentine’s Day with his love. – But anything can happen until then – he smiled, and Sue’s heart started beating faster when seeing the statement; she wished nothing more than spending the celebration of love with the man of her dreams.

- Perhaps… we should go back… it’s late, and we still have a lot to do today – the woman said at last, trying to hide her embarrassment.
- I believe you are right – agreed the man. – But we can repeat this lunch later… or we could have dinner together… - he suggested, surprised at his own boldness.

- Yes, that would be great – smiled Sue, while they both stood up, and the man politely let her walk before him. Maybe on this Valentine’s Day everything will change – he smiled, while they left the restaurant to get back to the bullpen.

Jack, don't look now, but you just let another opportunity get away from you!!!

Joy

So...no move at lunch time JAAAACKKKK!!!!

Perhaps at dinner, please

Tere

*sigh* Jack, what are we going to do with you??

They are really cute. „Anything can happen…” Jack is right. And I hope we can read the continuation soon. Right?

Jack! Someone needs to shake you!

I volunteer!!!!

kav

Oh, me too!

The awkwardness and longing in this scene was great... I could see it playing out in my mind's eye.

Seems turtle jack is picking up speed!

Jill

The rest of the day went by uneventfully; everyone hid behind the piles of files, so that they could finish paperwork and go home as soon as possible. Although Jack and Sue had never been too enthusiastic about studying files and writing reports, now they still threw themselves happily into the papers… this provided a great occasion to secretly glance at one another. They thought the team got absorbed in the files so deeply that they could watch their love for long seconds without being noticed; but when their gazes met, they tore it away immediately.

Lucy watched the couple in love smiling. They think no one sees them, when it is so obvious how much they love each other… But it really looks like they won’t suffer from this „I love him/her, but what if he/she doesn’t” state for long – she gave them another look, then turned her attention back to work.

- I believe this is enough for today – said Jack in a few hours. – As I see, we’re almost finished, and we can do the rest tomorrow, so I think the best would be if we all go home and have a rest – he suggested.

The team put down the files with a relieved sigh, happy from the thought that they can finish the boring paperwork for today.
- I have to visit my grandmother first, can you go home alone? – looked Lucy at her best friend, hoping Sue’s knight in love will rush to the woman’s help; and stated happily that she didn’t have to be disappointed this time either.

- I’ll be happy to take you home – offered Jack immediately, and Sue was happy to agree.
- Then see you at home – she said goodbye to her friend, then headed home with the love of her life.
- I told you they just need a little encouragement – smiled Lucy at the team, after her friends left the bullpen; her teammates nodded in agreement, stretching their hands towards their coats, so that they could go home as well.

Jack and Sue were walking silently beside each other; after getting to the woman’s apartment, they decided to walk a little before separating for this day. Now they were walking on the streets covered with snow absorbed in their thoughts, immersed in the feeling that they can be beside their love.

- The whole area is so beautiful – Sue finally broke the silence.
- Yes, it is – the man agreed, adding for himself that any place is beautiful for him if he can be there with the beloved woman.
- But I would love to be at the seaside now – smiled Sue, wishing if only she could be in the sea with the man of her dreams.

- I believe I can understand that – laughed Jack, instinctively drawing closer to the woman. – Maybe we can spend the winter at the seaside soon – he smiled at his love.
- Maybe – mused Sue, not realizing that in the meantime she got dangerously close to the man. Their hands brushed against each other, and they both trembled at the touch.

In that moment, Jack came to a decision. This is the perfect occasion… maybe there won’t be a more perfect moment than this. How much I have dreamt of this moment… And now I must do it – he decided. But what if she rejects me? – a voice in his head objected immediately. Then at least I’ll know how she is looking at our relationship – another inner voice stopped the first one. She’ll break my heart with this, but I have to know… I can’t live in uncertainty any more – he took a deep breath, then with a timid, but still determined move he took hold of the woman’s hand, and didn’t let it go.

Sue was surprised by the act of the man, but didn’t object; she held the man’s hand happily, and the people walking by thought that they have been a couple deeply in love for years. They walked back to the apartment of the girls, wishing the evening would never end.

- Well… we are here… - said Sue, when they stopped in front of the building.
- Yes… we’ve arrived – replied Jack, not wanting to separate from her love.
- I think I should go up… Lucy can arrive home any minute… - said the woman, but she would have liked nothing more than if the man could also stay with her.
- Indeed… it wouldn’t be good if she found us here… we know what she is like, she would immediately start making up things… - agreed Jack, still holding the hands of his love.

- Then… see you tomorrow – said Sue.
- Yes, tomorrow… I can’t wait – replied the man instinctively. – I mean… We’ll meet tomorrow – he quickly corrected himself, hoping he didn’t embarrass the woman. – Shall we have dinner together? – he asked.
- I would be glad about that – smiled Sue. – Good night – she said, trying to separate from the man and head towards the entrance.

- Good night – replied Jack, still not tearing his gaze away from the woman. – Sweet dreams – he smiled at her, pressing a light kiss on her forehead.
- Yes… now this is for sure – replied Sue, immediately blushing at her statement. – I mean… sweet dreams to you too – she added quickly, then trying to hide her embarrassment, she headed towards her apartment.

Good night, my love – whispered the man, feeling the day isn’t far when they won’t have to say goodbye to each other again… when they can fall asleep in each other’s embrace every evening and can wake up to the kisses of their love. Soon… - he smiled, looking at Sue, then he headed home as well, so that like always for three years, he could fall asleep with the beloved woman in his thoughts.

Jackson Samuel Hudson!! you're such a turtle!!

Good Averil!

Looking forward for the next!

Tere

One baby turtle step at a time...but at least it's in the right direction!

Jill

I could just see him, walking away from the apartment with that look on his face...
You created such a vivid picture for me in this post - thank you!



I have some ideas...

*eclipsse tries to get her unruly mind to behave*

A baby turtle step forward is still in the right direction! Love that description, Jill!!

I'm going to have to echo Tina....ACK! ACK! ACK! ACK! JACK!

Enough turtleness! Didn't Sue wiggle her fingers in yours...wasn't that enough to propel you forward? And then a kiss on the forehead?

Lynn

Lucy is doing it well. The relationship of our lovebirds is forming. They are so cute.
Don't make us wait for the continuation for long.