OK, I kept telling myself I wasn't going to enter this one, and then, wouldn't you know, I had an idea pop into my head for a story! This will be in the short story category, but I'm going to make it last at least thirteen posts!!

Thanks for reading!!

Regina



A Splash of Spring - GinaSue

Rain on the grass;
Rain on the tree;
Rain on the housetop,
But not on me!

A reluctant smile made its way to his lips as he listened to the childish chant, punctuated with shrill giggles and the occasional squeal when a cold raindrop managed to penetrate the big golf umbrella that dwarfed the tiny body happily splashing in the puddles.

“Come on Daddy! You won’t melt!” A small hand reached out from beneath the sheltering nylon and beckoned to him.

Such innocence! Her happiness was almost contagious. Almost, he thought grimly as he plastered a smile on his face and loped off the verandah, wincing as the cold rain pelted against his body. He was drenched in the seconds it took to cross the lawn but that didn’t stop his daughter from standing up on her tippytoes, trying to stretch as high as she could in an attempt to offer him shelter beneath the huge umbrella. Rivulets of water dripped down his face as he hunkered down beside her. She beamed up at him, his little ray of sunshine and he suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Jack had been jogging through this neighborhood off and on for months, just another route that he liked to take to relieve the boredom of seeing the same sights every day. He had taken shelter in a bus stop when the sudden downpour had left him drenched, and had given him front row seats to the little tableau playing out in front of him.

The little girl, so blonde her hair was almost white, had hazel eyes that looked adoringly up at her dad. “Someday . . .” Jack thought, with a ghost of a smile.

After a few minutes of play in the rain, what Jack saw next would have stopped him in his tracks if he weren’t already stationary. He saw the dad ask the little girl if she was hungry – not with words, but with sign. When Jack saw this, he felt the tears sting his eyelids. The first sign he ever learned, and the one that he had always used the most, was the one for “Hungry.”

He watched the little girl nod her head excitedly, smile, and grab her daddy’s hand as they went inside. The show was over, but Jack kept staring at that front door, unaware that tears were mingling in with the raindrops still on his face from being caught in the sudden shower.

I'm so excited you've entered the challenge, Regina. Great start. Now why is Jack so tearful?

Lynn

Oh, I like. Can't wait to read more!!

- RSL

Oh my god, i've got to know what happens now. please update soon. i can't tell of Jack was happy or sad.

Oh boy! Great start, GinaSue.

Kim

Great start and you left me very curious. Can't wait for more.

What an intruguing start. The fact that the man signed has me so curious.

Regina, I love this already!!!

Joy

Hopefully that little girl has given Jack an idea...like what's missing in his life!

kav

Woohoo!! Regina is in the challenge!!

What a beautiful vision for Jack

Tere

Thanks for the comments!! Hope you don't mind short posts this time - I'm trying a new method - torture the readers with short posts and make it last a little longer!!!

Thanks for reading, and now let's see what has Jack all upset - maybe . . .!

Regina



2

There were showers outside, and there seemed to be a black cloud hovering over the bullpen that morning – especially over the area of Jack’s desk . . . and Sue’s empty desk.

Jack sat back in his chair and stared in that direction for a few minutes, shook his head as if trying to bring himself back to the present, and jerked open his desk drawer. When he did, an object fell out of the drawer and onto the floor – a dog biscuit.

As he picked it up, he just held it in his hand and stared at it for a moment, got up from his desk, and strode out of the office in the direction of D’s office.

The collective breath that had been held since Jack entered the room this first day without Sue finally was released when Jack left.

“I knew it would be rough today, but I think Jack’s on the verge of exploding,” Tara said, tapping her most subdued fuzzy pen – a gray and purple one with Eeyore on it – appropriate for the day.

“Sue’s not much better. As much as I’m going to miss her, I was almost glad to get out of the apartment this morning,” Lucy said, shaking her head in frustration at her obstinate friends. “I could just throttle Jack.”

“Well, you can hardly blame her, can you? I mean, when she gave up the New York job six months ago, that would have been the prime opportunity for Jack to tell her how he felt, but no, he thought he had all the time in the world,” Myles said, touching his pencil to his face somewhat randomly as he pondered this latest development.

As Lucy was about to comment on Myles’ “non-quirk,” Jack strode back through the office, grabbed his coat, and walked toward the door.

“Where you off to, Sparky,” Bobby asked, his dimples deepening tentatively, wondering if Jack would bite his head off, or answer the question. He did neither.

“That’s on a need-to-know basis, and Crash, right now you don’t need to know,” Jack said as he left the room, face set. Bypassing the elevator, he ran down the stairs.

How did you manage to say so much but still leave so much unsaid!!!! Grrrrr.

kav

So Sue took the job in NY but quit after 6 months? And now she's back at Lucy's apt? This post is fraught with questions, Regina...

Why did she quit?
Was it just a temporary thing?
Does Lucy have another roommate?
Why didn't Jack profess his love as soon as she was gone so they could move on in their relationship, albeit a long distance one?
Why did Jack go see D?
Where is Jack going?

Oh, so many questions this mornng. Just so you know, I'm not particularly a patient person.

Lynn

I think Sue didn't take the job in New York. I think it's been six months since she turned it down and decided to stay in DC. I would say that she's probably gotten so sick of Jack not doing anything about their relationship that she's decided to move on with her life some place else. (That's just my take on it anyway... )

By the way, very good job Regina. I look forward to finding out more...like where Jack's heading off to.

- RSL

I agree with Kav - a fact-packed post leaving us hanging on a cliff!! Regina, I think your new method is working!!!

Now, where is Jack off to?? Is he going to make a move in Sue's direction?? Or, has he just decided it's very important to give Levi the dog biscuit that was in his desk??? LOL

Joy

Boy, do I have egg on my face!
You are so right RSL. I went back and reread the post and the line

literally jumped off the screen. I remember reading that line...how could I have forgotten it by the end of the post? ****Oh woe is me! Chalk it up to a Senior Moment and move on Lynn.****

Now, that obviously eliminates questions 3-4 but still leaves 1-2 and 5-6! Thanks RSL for pointing this out. Embarrassing to be caught in a goof like that, but I always own up when I'm wrong...at least when I realize I'm wrong...

and stand up to take my punishment! I greatly appreciate it when someone points it out!

Lynn

mmm...I think I'm little lost in the timeline but, well maybe I need to read and re-read the post nth times , perhaps I can forget the 'little' torture and believe that I'm reading a long post

Anyway, excellent Regina!
Tere

I didn't mean to embarrass you, Lynn. I've gotten plots mixed up before and had to reread them to get them straight in my head. I was only making my own observations.

-RSL

Whoops! I didn't say that correctly. I did not take it the way you imply RSL. I am much harder on myself than on others and so it is solely me that places the embarrassment on myself. I sometimes, no make that often times, get myself in hot water b/c of it and I think this is one of those times.

I also love to laugh at myself and the messes I seem to get myself in at times, as long as it is not at someone's expense. So, please don't feel bad about this. That will make me feel bad, etc. etc. etc. I'm so glad I have a sense of humor. Wouldn't life be so dreadful without it? And I would consider it an honor for you to laugh along with me!

Lynn

Jack is one hurting man. Maybe I will appreciate why he didn't make a move as this story progresses. Where is Jack off to now?

Are we on a 'need-to-know' basis, Regina? Because I reeeeaaaallllllllyyyyy think we need to know where he's off to.

Paula

OK, I guess you have a SLIGHT need to know - but not everything!!

See, the torture is working!! You're not used to such SMALL posts from me!! There's a teeny bit of information here, a tad bit there, and then by the end, it will all make sense! I'll try not to leave you teetering on the edge of a cliff TOO long . . .

Thanks for the great comments, and thanks for reading!!

Regina

(I love this little guy!!)

3

D walked into the bullpen, looking around carefully. “Is he gone yet?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Bobby answered, a trifle irritated at the brush-off he’d been given. “What lit his fuse, anyway? I mean, I expected us all to be a little down today, with it being Sue’s first day gone and all, but he’s acting like a crazy man!”

“Well, put yourself in his place, Bobby. He not only almost let Sue go once, to New York, but twice. A move to Los Angeles is not exactly a commuter flight away,” D answered, a knowing smile on his face, one eyebrow raised in an “I know something you don’t know” look.

“When does Sue leave, Lucy?” Myles asked. He knew they had given all the particulars of her moving out to California, but he made it a practice never to retain information that wasn’t going to be useful in the future. Truth was, he got tired of listening to what he considered ‘girl talk,’ and tended to tune it out whenever possible.

Lucy looked at him across the room, giving him that glare that she does so well, and sighed in exasperation. “She has today and tomorrow to pack up, then she flies out on Friday. She doesn’t start her new job until about ten days later. You know, Sue’s behavior has been just as erratic as Jack’s. I don’t know what set him off, but I’ll bet D does . . . don’t you?” Lucy asked, leaning her chin into her hand as she leaned on her desk and smiled her brilliant smile at their supervisor.

Demetrius Gans held up both hands to ward off the powerful smile that was Lucy’s. Bobby had once said that she was beautiful with that “evil genius look in her eye,” and he was right.

“I know nothing. Jack just swept into my office and said he was taking a personal day today and maybe tomorrow . . . and then asked if I knew when Sue was leaving town,” he said, smiling wickedly as he walked back to his office, enjoying having teased them all with this tidbit of information.

Congrats, RSL! You guessed correctly about Sue not taking the job in NYC!

Sigh, I knew it was too much to hope that Sue was just safely tucked away in another bullpen in the Hoover building and Jack could just go and her away. No...you have to put an entire country between them! I am pinning my hopes on the two days and your ability to give Jack a nudge in the right direction.

kav

Go Gina Go!!!

Sorry I wasn't on board for the start of this, but Im' here now and will definitely be back on an, ooooh, every ten minutes schedule!

Jack....... dear...... take your cute self over to that apartment and get down on your hands and knees and BEG the woman not to go!! Then........ make it impossible for her to say no by kissing her senseless!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!

What? I'm not allowed to make suggestions?

Tina

Okay, questions either answered or I can guess! I'm going to trust you Regina that you are going to fix this. And if Jack is persuasive, as I'm sure he will be, and convinces Sue to stick around, I'm going to be a little concerned for her job reputation.

Accepting jobs, and then quiting before even showing up for the first day,
is not going to look very good on her resume!

Lynn

California?? No, sorry, that's not acceptable - that's too far away!!!

There is a little hope!! Jack is taking a day or two off and hopefully is going to help her pack!! And, Lucy said that there are 10 days before Sue has to report to work?? Has Jack taken his vacation this year yet???

Joy

mmm...I'm very suspicious, Sue is still in town and Jack ask for a personal day??? interesting...

Although this torture, looking forward for the next

Tere

California? Three WHOLE thousand miles away?! Jack, you'd better be going after her and to prevent her from going anywhere, you'd better tie her to something with Levi's leash!

D knows something and he is enjoying teasing them and us. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if the team follows him right into his office.

OK, campers . . . let's see what's happening with Sue today! Hope everyone has recovered from that pesky lost hour last night . . . !!

Enjoy!

Regina




4

Sue was glad to have some time to herself today. “I should have just packed up and planned to start the new job this Friday,” she said to herself, irritated at having so much free time. She didn’t need to have to think about things. When she did that, she just ended up crying, throwing things, or yelling at whoever was nearby.

Four years in the same apartment meant that she had accumulated a lot of ‘stuff.’ She was going through things in the back of her closet, the bottom drawer of her dresser where she kept keepsakes, and with almost every item she pulled out, she felt tears come to her eyes.

There was the collar Levi had worn when she first moved to DC. “You’ve grown, buddy,” she said, putting the old collar around his neck and seeing that it would be way too small now. He was wearing that the night he had jumped into the bathtub with her – the night Jack had come by to bring the “test” tape for her to transcribe.

There was the program for the gala that she had attended with David. She had worn the full-length sequined gown that seemed to make everyone say “Wow!” when they saw her. The evening ended earlier than anticipated because of the sniper case – the case in which Jack had put himself in harm’s way to lull the criminal into making his final mistake of the case.

She remembered the look on his face when she arrived at the crime scene in her gown, straight from the gala. “You thought I wouldn’t find out?” she had said. “I hoped not,” he said, and shrugged – that silly, lopsided grin rushing through her as if he had taken her in his arms and kissed her.

Glancing over the remains of the drawer, she saw that it would only get worse from there. There were pictures taken at the bachelor auction, the stub from the gift certificate to the spa after the Dessa undercover case.

Wiping the tears from her face, she angrily delved into her closet. The bottom drawer would have to wait – too many memories there. Oh great. There was the hockey jersey – number 25. She pulled it out, held it to her face, and let the tears flow.

Levi was watching his mistress closely. He had noticed that she wasn’t her usual positive, perky self this morning. When he heard a sound at the door, he thought about going against his training and letting her sit there. After all, she was crying. He knew she was sad, but he didn’t know why. He knew his Jack hadn’t been around as much lately, but he didn’t know why. That made him sad, too. Jack was fun. He liked to run, wrestle with him, play catch, and he sneaked him donuts when Sue wasn’t watching.

His training caught up with him, forcing him to go and get Sue to let her know somebody was at the door.

“Levi, down,” she said, wiping her tears on the jersey as she tried to pull herself together. She saw then that he was actually trying to get her attention for a reason, and that he was barking and pulling the hood of her jacket to go toward the door.

“Oh great. Just what I need – somebody to see me like this,” she said, grabbing a Kleenex to blow her nose as she made her way down the hallway to the door. Looking through the peep-hole, she could see nothing but a figure standing there, dark head bowed, hands in his pockets. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on the door, forcing the tears to stay in. She knew he’d probably heard Levi bark, and heard them coming to the door, so there was no getting out of opening it now. She pressed her fingers to her eyes, hoping the coldness of her hands would bring her back to herself.

Bracing herself and plastering a cool smile on her face, she turned the locks and opened the door, Jack’s swirling brown eyes looking straight into hers as she opened the door.

REGINAAAA!!

Have you had to leave it there??

Tere

No Tere, she didn't HAVE to leave it there... but me thinks she's caught on to the fanfic tradition of "leave 'em wanting more" all too well. Much to well.

So, Jack going to notice the red rimmed eyes, right??? RIGHT???? And he's going to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, RIGHT???????????? (My ? key's protesting the overworking, help it out, will you??????????????????????????)

Tina

Okay Jack. You're there now. Sue's at the door. Now Do Something unturtle like and Kiss her Senseless already!

Kim

I'm crying right along with Sue, no downright bawling is more like it. Now surely Jack is going to notice she has been crying. Can't wait for the next post Regina...isn't it time for one? I want to find out what happened and what Jack is going to do to fix this!!!!!!!

Lynn

You are a sly and devious woman, Regina. How could you do that to us??? You had better make up for all of the emotional termoil that you're putting us through...I may toss and turn all night worrying about what going to happen next...


Have I sufficently guilt tripped you yet??? Maybe I'll have to try harder.

Great post, great story. Loving it!!

- RSL

AAarrrrghghghghghghghghg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't bear the thought of Sue leaving the team...leaving Dc...leaving Jack. It was bad enough the first time round but now...Aaaaarrrrrggghghghghghghggh!

kav ( who is going off to have nightmares)

Sue has just opened the door to Jack, and you leave it there? What is he going to do when he sees that she has been crying?

Between dredging up all those wonderful memories and then opening the door to Jack and his gorgeous eyes, I would have swooned right there!!!

Joy

Gina, you've become a master of torture! If I sit any farther on the edge of my seat, I think I just might fall off!

Wow! I had no idea that spinning this story out so SLOWLY could be so much fun! Here are a few comments that have never been linked to my name before - well, not very often, anyway . . .!

"master of torture"
"AAarrrrghghghghghghghghg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
" . . . a sly and devious woman" (my personal favorite)

Enjoy the post . . . and see you tomorrow!!!

Regina




5

What had brought him to her door? He knew that if he stayed at work, he would either blow up at someone or sit, staring at her desk, all day. This was ridiculous. He was a grown man, not some love-sick teenager.

So, if he was such a mature individual, why had he waited four years to tell this woman who was more to him than life itself that he loved her? Oh, she knew that she was special to him. She had to have noticed that he spent more time with her than anybody else. Yeah, well, so he’d never actually told her how he felt. She should just know by now.

His frustration almost made him walk away from the door. He had walked around the park in the rain for at least an hour before coming over here, trying to figure out what he was going to say once he got there. He still didn’t know.

His brain was awhirl. ‘Why is she leaving me? What is in Los Angeles that makes her think she wants to go there? Sure, they have good weather, so what? Spring in Washington DC was nothing to sneeze at. We might keep having these “last gasps” of winter, but in Los Angeles, they have nothing but summer – all year long. How boring is that, anyway?’

The frown on his face was growing more intense by the minute. The brows were furrowed, and there was a grimace on his mouth that bode ill for anyone that crossed his path. A startling realization was dawning on him, and he didn’t like where his thoughts were leading him. ‘. . . and furthermore, wasn’t that actor guy out there? The one that said he wanted to date Tara? Yeah, right. I saw the way he looked at Sue, too. Wait a minute . . . Tony isn’t out there, is he? OK, now I’m just getting madder.’

Standing at the door, he put a fist to the wall, not intending to actually knock, more of a release of frustration. Unfortunately for Jack’s state of mind, Levi didn’t know the difference in a knock and a bang, and as he was trained to do, went promptly to get Sue, hesitating a minute when he saw her crying into the hockey jersey that looked really familiar for some reason . . .



Tune in later to find out what happens when they're face-to-face!

Oh ReeeeeGGGGinaaaaaaa! I have another one for you!

Keeper of the Torture Chamber!

I'm on the rack....and you're turning that wheel that's pulling me apart!

Lynn

I know that I shouldn't say this, but I can't help it,
In your other life, you worked with the Spanish Inqusition?

Well enough of tease, It's good to know all the versions of the facts

Tere

Okay, Regina, not fair!! You only got us as far as letting us know Jack is now mad and is probably going to pick a fight with Sue, which isn't going to help the situation!! You have really gotten very good at this very fast!!!

Joy

It's been a full day hasn't it... shouldn't she have answered the door by now!!???!!??

My fingernails (or lack thereof) say YES!

And I do believe Jack's going to need first aid after punching that wall...


Tina

not funny....oh i'm jumping up and down i'm sooooo gonna hope that jack just storms in kisses her passionetly... and then they can talk

OK Regina, I'm tuning in later.

Now where's that face to face???

By the way, in case you didn't catch it, I'm loving this story in spite of your torturing us.

I feel quite complimented that you would all be so emotional about my not posting often.

Thanks for sticking with me. Finally, they are coming face to face, and this post is a TAD longer than the others - but don't get used to it!!

I'm posting tonight in case I don't get around to it tomorrow - now I'VE got car trouble and must get my vehicle twenty miles down the road, and after that I have a library program at my library to attend tomorrow night - it's a writing workshop. The topic is e-publishing!



Happy reading!!

Regina





6

“Hi Jack. What are you doing here?” Sue said, noting the ill-concealed temper that seemed to be flaring for whatever reason. Her goal was to remain as calm and impassive as possible.

“I . . . uh . . . I was in the neighborhood,” he said, more of a question than a statement. Standing there, looking at her, he felt all his anger start to melt away, and the hurt start to move forward.

He looked at her, noting the red-rimmed eyes, the Kleenex in her hand, and the tension around her mouth. Looking down the hallway, he saw her bedroom with the evidence of packing and sorting all over the room. He could see the hockey jersey on top of one of the piles. He looked back at her, trying to beg her with his eyes to tell him ‘why?’ His eyes had always worked before. It was as if she were purposely making him use other methods than the ‘tried and true’ that had always been successful for him in the past. She wanted words.

“Jack, you weren’t in the neighborhood, unless you were interrogating someone down here,” she said, with a tired sigh. “Come in. You’re soaked to the skin, and it’s cold out there. It is March, after all. Why didn’t you bring an umbrella?” She was walking ahead of him into the living room so he could stand in front of the fireplace. It was as if she didn’t want to look at his face, didn’t want to see what he was saying. Not that he was saying anything.

She had seen the change in his demeanor as he looked up at her in the doorway. She knew he was hurt that she was leaving. She was, too, but he didn’t seem to understand why.

Her world revolved around him, and that scared her to death.

She had seen so many women, especially women like her, drift into relationships that were serious on their part only to find out that their deafness was too much for a hearing man to handle on a daily basis. Jack had proven that her deafness didn’t wear on him. He had made so many allowances in his life for her, but he still couldn’t bring himself to tell her how he felt. Until he could do that, she would have to go away, lest she lose herself completely in this friendship that held promise to be so much more - promise, but not commitment.

She went into the kitchen and made some coffee. She knew he had to be chilled. No telling how long he’d been wandering around, trying to figure out what to say to her. She smiled a sad little smile thinking about his blundering about, and then sighed. She didn’t realize it, but her sigh reached Jack’s ears in the next room. That sound, quiet though it was, was like a siren in Jack’s ears. He couldn’t stand it any more.

When she returned to the living room, he decided to take the bull by he horns. “Why are you moving to Los Angeles?” he asked, his tone not reaching her, but the redness and look of anger on his face certainly not lost on her. “Is it because Tony is out there?”

She gave him a look that was totally confused, and angry at the same time. “Tony? Why would I care where Tony is? He’s a married man, you know. I don’t DATE married men, and I probably wouldn’t date him again if he WEREN’T,” she answered, her voice rising in anger to match his.

Jack had the grace to blush and look down at his feet. He asked her softly, the anger gone, but the hurt still there, “Then why are you going?”

Sue looked down, trying to gather her thoughts without giving it all away. “I need to do this. I probably should have gone to New York when I had the chance. I guess I’m just restless,” she said, shrugging. “Why do you care if I go?” she asked, hazarding a glance at Jack, who, unbeknownst to her, had started toward her while she was looking away. She was a bit startled to find that he was standing in front of her.

“I’m sorry, Sue. I know I’ve hurt you,” he said, reaching out for her hand, his mind in turmoil. How much should he say? Is it appropriate to just lay your feelings at someone’s feet? Wouldn’t that be moving a bit too quickly? As soon as that thought entered his head, it was like someone had slugged him in the gut – and he knew how that felt. ‘Four years, Hudson. Four years isn’t exactly moving too quickly,’ he thought.

Well, your progressing Jack.....but, if you back pedal....I'm gonna get that 2x4 out....something I've never threatened to do out here, Regina....look what you're making me do to my poor Jack!
Lynn

PS. AND NO INTERRUPTIONS EITHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And? ANd? AND?!

Kim

Jack! Out with it already. Tell her how you feel.