Jack...Jack...Jack...Jack...it isn't your family you should be telling your true feelings to...

Now your busted, you better make the most of it....

Lynn

“When did you tell them we were together?” she hissed.

Guilt spread across his face like he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He backed away slowly from the angry woman. Raised palms were his only defense.

“I—uh, I didn’t mean—I’m sorry,” he couldn’t fully stifle his rising laughter. She’s so cute when she’s steamed.

His amusement only fueled the fire in her bosom. She managed another painful pinch on his side. His cry of pain was quickly silenced with an angry, dangerous “Shut…up.” Each consonant was spit out in rage.

As if on cue, a peal of thunder and a flash of lightning highlighted the intensity of her rage. Her cocked eyebrow dared him to make one move.

“You lied, Jack. And by including me in it, you made me a liar, too.”

“But—”

“Shut…up.”

“When were you planning on telling me we were dating? Huh?” She closed in on him, like a lioness on her prey.

“I was going to—”

“Shut…up.”

He fought the smile that would most certainly earn him another pinch.

“What if they had asked more about us, Jack? What would have done, then?

“Sue, please…” When she didn’t shoot him down, he carefully continued. “I didn’t exactly tell her we were dating. I sort of… let her believe that we were.”

“So you lied.”

“I prefer misled.”

“Exactly what I would expect from a lawyer.” She threw her hands up exasperation. “These are really nice people, Jack, and when they found out we lied to them—”

“You’re not going to tell them, are you?”

“What choice do I have?”

“You can’t tell them,” he pleaded.

He knew it was going to take some doing to persuade Sue to keep this quiet. Her determined spirit was one of the things he loved the most about her, but when it manifested itself as stubbornness, that was different story.

He had to use his secret weapon. Nothing but his puppy dog face had the slightest chance of working.

“Don’t do that,” was her immediate response. “Jack, that’s hardly fair……stop it, Jack……Oh, alright! I’ll do it.”

Jack grinned like a Cheshire cat, gripped her arms and aimed a firm kiss for her cheek, but landed haphazardly on the corner of her mouth. “Thank you so much, Sue. I owe you.”

She smiled. He’d already paid in full.

Everytime Sue said shut up to Jack I could see him trying not to laugh. It is sooooo not like Sue to say that, you know she is really steamed.

Geee, and then Jack turned her into a puddle of mush. Can't imagine how he could manage that. He even snuck a kiss in there

So is Jack ever going to tell Sue how he feels or will he be in your next pot pie

LOVED THAT!!

This is a hoot! Can't wait to read more!!!

Well that's ONE way to find out you have a gorgeous boyfriend!!! Sue....make him pay for his deceptions in the most delicious way possible! I'll let you decide what that is!

Great story!

“Shut…up.”


Busted!

Too bad the boy's aim wasn't a bit farther off... a REAL kiss could have had her agreeing to an elopement!!

Tina

Oh, that was priceless, from the hiss to the first shut up and thunderclap to the almost a kiss! I don't know how Jack could keep from laughing. And I bet Sue is going to make him pay for that puppy dog look!

Just think of the possibilities of where she can take this...why she could just let loose her feelings under the guise of pretending and blow his mind...oh, please tell us that's what she's going to do!

Lynn

That was funny!!

Tere

I've gotta admit that this made my day.

Now, here's hoping that Sue takes much needed revenge! She can play along and I'm sure she could torture Jack with every little feminine wile that she has!

:evil laugh:

C'mon Paula, he can't get off that easily!

I'm sure with some practice, he could easily improve his aim

There's a very easily way to make sure he doesn't make liars of both of them

Paula, your post is incredible!! I love Sue "steamed" and I can see the smoke rising to the ceiling!! And, so in character for Jack to laugh, which of course makes her more angry!!!

Sue, I don't think you should decide that he's paid in full!! I think his aim could be much better and he could tell you how he really feels!! Then all this "pretending" would not be needed!! I too think you should throw yourself into the part of "girlfriend"!! Too funny!!!

Joy

Oh, that was so good and just what I needed to brighten my 'flu-filled' day...can't wait to read more.

- RSL

it so funny sue should punish some at the
table and she should find out what elsa he lied about make him squim alittle for including her it

Oh! Sue was soooooo steamed...that was so funny!!!
But Jack's secret weapon...must admit that would be the first to melt!
Great post!!
Josy

That was so funny! Sue's going to have take puppy dog eye resistance training if she wants to spend the rest of her life with Jack...and we all know she wants to!!!!

kav

I've been so swamped the past few days, I've havent been able to post here. Work and school have been unnecessarily brutal as far as workload goes, I just realized the post I was going to put was absolutely awful, and on top of that I had a family emergency yesterday and couldnt even find time to get on the board. Things are slowing down now, thankfully, so I'll have a post up either late tomorrow or early Tuesday. Thanks for all the replies, you've really helped me out!

Paula

Don't worry, we'll all still be waiting here with bated breath for your return...hope everything works out okay with your 'family emergency'.

- RSL

Busy lives do tend to wreck havoc in our fanficland, don't they? Luckily we're a patient lot!

kav

COMPLETELY understand... COMPLETELY.

Take care of family and we'll all amuse ourselves in the meantime.

Tina

Patiently waiting We'll be here!

I hope all is going better for you. Take a deep breath.

Usually....

But, yeah... take whatever time you may need... We're not going anywhere!

See?

I totally understand, Paula, and will patiently wait for you to catch up to your life!

Lynn

Don't worry!! take your time!!



Tere

Life does have a knack for getting in the way of our fun here, doesn't it?? Don't worry, Paula, we are a loyal bunch and will just wait patiently for you right here!!!

Joy

I'm baaaack! You wouldnt believe how busy I've been. I've been out of town visiting my cousin who was in a pretty bad car accident, so I didnt really have time to do much of anything at all. He's doing alright now--the injuries weren't too severe, thankfully--so I can get back to regular posting.
I've tried so hard to fix this post, but it just wouldn't come out the way I want ... Kinda reminds me of my hair in the morning.



The rest of the night turned out to be magnificent. Dinner had been delicious, the company delightful. Even as the evening died down to a close, laughter still echoed throughout Jack’s living room.

Despite the fun she’d had assembling an arsenal of embarrassing stories from Jack’s childhood, and the lifelong friendships she’d begun, the best part, as far as Sue was concerned, was cuddling with Jack on his couch after dinner. Conversation continued, but both Jack and Sue’s collective interest swung between Sean’s story and the 'cozy' pose they’d found themselves in.

It had been only a few days before when she could hardly breathe when Jack’s knee brushed her leg, and now she found her head resting against his shoulder, her shoulder wrapped by his arms, and most importantly, her lungs still functioning.

The sweet taste of this forbidden love brought a bolder, more impulsive part of Sue to the surface. Physical contact with Jack became as breathing—vitally necessary and done without hesitation.

The feel of his fingers tickling the back of her neck during dinner invited her hand to wander under the table until it rested on his lower thigh. She caressed it slowly, firmly with her thumb, and bit her lip in expectation of his reaction. Jack, surprised, simply smiled at her, laying a small kiss to her temple before returning to his plate.

Jack could scarcely overcome the desire to answer in kind, so when the conversation migrated to his living room, he seized opportunity. His closeness was a bit more intimate than the easy environment called for, but his yearning vehemently commanded it.

You’ll never get a chance like this again, Jack. Just hold on to this moment, before it’s gone. Jack found the courage to yawn dramatically, stretching his arm around her shoulders. She glanced at him with a tinge of disbelief. He only winked.

He thinks this is a joke, the pessimist in her prompted. She felt her heart sink to her belly. He was only teasing her, which made her heart ache like she didn’t know possible. How was it that one man’s actions could so easily determine her emotions?

How is it that she can do this to me? Jack asked himself. Sue Thomas was the only woman in the world who could make him forget to breathe, whose smile filled his most secret dreams, whose touch…

He held back a deep groan. Even the thought of her delicate caress excited every nerve in his body, making him feel so much more than alive. Jack wanted nothing more than to stay on that couch with her for the rest of his life.

Sue glanced at the clock on Jack’s end table. 12:45. “I better get going,” she said suddenly. “Before I get the third degree from Lucy again,” She removed herself from Jack’s embrace and suddenly felt cold as her fantasy faded into reality.

“Again?” he asked out of curiosity.

Her eyes widened as her mind traveled back to the ‘thing’ theory. “Nothing,” she said hastily.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to give you a ride, honey?” The words rolled off his tongue somewhat awkwardly.

“I’ll be fine,” she said with an amused smirk.

“It’s raining pretty hard out there,” Sean began as he peered out the window, “Are you sure it’s safe to drive?”

Sue nodded. “I don’t live very far from here,” she said as she slid on her jacket.

“Well, it was nice meeting you,” Julia said warmly. Sean agreed as best he could while swallowing a mouthful of coffee.

Sue wished them farewell and turned to open the front door. “Wait, Sue, don’t go yet,” Jack called, even though she couldn’t see him. He ambled toward her, making short work of spinning her around and sliding his hands across her waist toward her back. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and leaned in for a less-than-chaste kiss.

Sue didn’t have time to be surprised. Before she knew it, her hands moved involuntarily up his arms and rested at the nape of his neck. She sought hungrily for more of him as the rest of the world melted away. There was a certain safety in his arms, but Sue couldn’t deny that she felt she was in danger of losing a part of herself in his kiss.

“Ahem,” was Julia’s quite loud response. Relief enveloped her overexcited nerves when they pulled away.

Jack looked back, not a bit embarrassed, while Sue ducked her face from view. His rapid heartbeat betrayed his smug appearance. “I should go now,” she mumbled to his chest.

The affianced couple waved their goodbyes as Sue fought desire and removed herself from Jack’s embrace. She left reluctantly, closed the door slowly just in time to see him coolly mouth ‘Thanks’ and wink again.

She half ran to her car just to escape the feelings she couldn’t quench. Everything was so right, yet so wrong.

Glad that you're back, hope your cousin gets well soon

Not Sue it's not wrong!!

Tere

Oh that was so good...yet so bad (in that neither of them realize that they both want what's happening to be true...please, Chickenpotpie help them see it! )

- RSL

Aw, crap!

Why do I not like the feeling that I'm getting that there's going to be some sort of backpeddaling in the works? Sue's just had the most wonderful night of her life in Jack's arms and it was basically all pretend and still so real at the same time!

ACK!



I'm okay....

It always gets me that with these two it has never really been pretend, except they haven't managed to realize that yet!!!

Glad your cousin is on the mend, Paula!!

Joy

Who would have ever thought that heartmelting Hudson wink could cause such heartbreak.

Poor Sue, experiencing her dream come true, a passionate kiss topping it off, but mixed in with winks that she misunderstood.

This is awesome. Sad, but I'm trusting in a fuzzy resolution.

That part almost made me cry - coupled with this part -


When WILL these two trust their instincts and get it together? Hmmmm? I know, I know . . . if it was that easy, the story would be really short, wouldn't it - like three paragraphs! Jack and Sue meet - Jack and Sue fall in love- Jack and Sue admit their love and fall into one another's arms. Oh well . . .

This is a great story. I love it when there is plotting of the fuzzy kind, and I put this story in that category!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

No Sue, there's no wrong here... only right! You know Jack... would he give you that smile when you put your hand on his thigh lasie;woeuslkdaaieooowoils? Ooops, sorry, my mind wandered at the mention of Jack's thighkdlaifwioklajvoasd. Darn... anyway, would he smile at you like that when you put your hand... there... when the other two people in the room couldn't even see it? That wasn't for "show" and if you stopped and gave it careful consideration (like I have... I've been carefully considering his reaction to your hand on his thighlkasduw;etnsioew... rats... for some time now) and I'm telling you, it's the real deal!

Tina

I'm with Regina....that was fuzzilicious and then sad when it ended. Why must we go thru all this fuzzy blindness? Because if we didn't there wouldn't be any story. And just think, this way we get treated to so many fuzzy moments...that string out for days and weeks on end....instead of just one time. Well, I'm trying to talk myself into that exclamation!

Oh, and Tina...I think you need to get your keyboard fixed....I couldn't read that word you were trying repeatedly to type. Or was that some alien invading your brain and sending signals to the keyboard, like the musical notes in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind...b/c they couldn't identify the thoughts going thru your mind? That's what the letters reminded me of when I was attempting to read them!

I'm loving this story Paula.
And I'll keep your cousin in my prayers that he continues to recover.

Lynn

My cousin should be out of the hospital soon, thankfully. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers!



A tearful Sue blew her nose loudly into the tissue Lucy offered. “I just don’t know what to do, Lucy. I don’t know what he wants from me.” She sniffled. “I don’t know what I want from him.”

Lucy simply let her friend collapse on her lap, knowing that the comfort would be welcome. Their discussion had gone well into the night, from when Sue entered their apartment somberly and broke into nearly violent sobs upon seeing Lucy’s expectant face.

Now, the first baby glows of daylight were gracing the horizon but Lucy felt anything but fatigue. Pity? Possibly. Fury? Definitely. How could Jack have so recklessly toyed with Sue’s emotions?

Sue felt so foolish. She’d been basking in the warmth of Jack’s affection until a full onslaught of emotions ambushed her already weak heart.

Lucy was right. They had a ‘thing’ and that realization made her urgently want more than that. Jack’s kiss was addictive, his wink her undoing. It was that same wink that so confused her. Did his behavior reveal his heart, or was he simply playing the part?

“I can’t go to work today. I can’t face him.” Sue honked again into another tissue.

“Susan Marie Thomas, don’t you dare stay home.” Lucy’s voice rose in volume and intensity. She was surprised at how effortlessly it transformed into that of her mother’s.

Sue’s tired face twisted to bafflement as Lucy got up quickly, an action causing Sue to fall just as quickly against the couch cushion.

“Come on, we don’t have any time to lose.”

“Luce, it’s 5:00.”

“Exactly. Just enough time to get ready.” She grunted as she pulled Sue up from the couch. “You can’t tell Jack how you feel looking like this. You have to knock his socks off, get his attention.”

“I’m not in a really sock-knocking mood right now.”

“Come on, Sue, it’ll be fun. And even if Jack doesn’t notice—which I highly doubt will happen—you’ll feel a lot better than you look right now.”

When Sue didn’t follow her, Lucy added, “And by the way, I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”

WE all know what was happening, because we can somehow see inside the minds of both Jack AND Sue, but poor Lucy! I can imagine how I would feel, only hearing Sue's side of it! Poor Sue - if she only knew what was going on in Jack's head . . . could we tell her?

I'm enjoying your story tremendously! Can't wait to see how it goes when they get to the office!

And that's what makes me love Lucy!

I'm sure she'll get Sue all dolled up and looking stunning to knock Jack's socks completely off until they fly to the moon!

Go Lucy!!!

Tere

Great idea Lucy. Come on Sue, go knock Jack's socks off.

At the very least, let him suffer the desire of wanting you until he can't stop from opening his mouth and confessing it to you

Been there, felt that. But amuse Lucy, OK Sue? Jack won't know what hit him. (Which by the way, may be my 2x4 if he doesn't react the way we all want him to.)

Great job Paula!! And I'm so glad your cousin is doing well enough to leave the hospital soon. I know they're necessary, but hospitals are depressing.

Tina

I love Jack dearly, he's adorable, and sexy, and handsome, and...........but the man just does not have any communication skills, at least when it comes to Sue!!!

Sue, I say knock his socks off, and if that doesn't work, I hear Tina has a 2 x 4 that should work perfectly!!!

Joy

Just too funny!!!

C'mon girl...you can do it!!
Jack...I really like you...really but sometimes.... You really drives me nuts
Josy

Tara had been the first to arrive on the scene. She entered the bullpen juggling open binders full of wrinkled papers and a laptop case in dire need of repair under her right arm, a laptop under her left, and a mug with coffee sloshing perilously around its brim in her hand.

She stopped mid-stride as she took notice of Jack, all the way across the bullpen, tenderly stroking a framed photograph in his hand. From her vantage point, Tara could see it was the picture made for his and Sue’s undercover marriage.

Feelings of excited triumph were hardly suppressed.

Myles came in behind her, grumbling about the inconvenience of broken elevators before he was silenced by an elated Tara.

“Sh! Look.” He craned his neck to see what the petite agent saw, and when he did, his eyes widened in disbelief.

“Did he really keep that picture all this time?” he whispered.

“I think a better question is,” Bobby muttered quietly from behind as he arrived, “does anyone have a camera? I think our Sue needs to see this.”

“You’re right,” Tara exclaimed, “That would prove our ‘thing’ theory.”

“What?” was the reply of both Myles and Bobby.

“I’ll explain later.”

“What’s going on here?” D asked just loudly enough to warrant a piercing ‘Sh!’ from surrounding agents.

“Take a look at Sparky.”

D chuckled. “I don’t think he has any idea we’re here.”

“What are you guys talking about?”

Heads turned toward the blonde analyst who had just entered. Her innocent expression clashed immediately with her sultry attire. The silky baby blue blouse that clung to her curves, the high-waist pencil skirt that hugged the contours of her body like a second skin, and the bare expanse of more of her legs than any man had ever seen were more than enough to make every sighted man in the room take notice.

“Nothing,” beamed Tara, “nothing at all.”

Lucy watched with pride as Jack slowly sat up, eyes following Sue like metal a magnet as she sashayed (the way Lucy taught her) toward her desk and sat down. She crossed her legs and smoothed out the fabric of her skirt with such naïveté of her power that only made her all the more alluring.

She was largely unaware of the errant thoughts that traversed the mind of the man seated across from her until she took note of the hungry look on his face. Sue couldn’t help the unique self-confidence that rushed throughout her. Jack noticed her. She hoped this new feeling wouldn’t manifest itself in the smile she gave him. She wanted it to be soft yet incredibly aware of the effect she had on him. She wanted to him to writhe in his seat.

An e-mail from an unrecognized address announced itself, stealing her attention.

Sue, It’s Julia. Jack gave me your email address last night, I hope you don’t mind. I realized last night that I completely forgot to ask you what entrée you wanted at our wedding reception. I asked Jack about this a few weeks ago and again on the invitations, but I guess he never got around to asking you…

You have no idea, Sue thought. She stole an irritated glance at Jack whose eyes kept wandering around her figure, meeting everything but her eyes. She smugly returned to the email.

…so I am. It’s funny that he forgot, though. Usually, mention of you and/or food has Jack all ears.

Will it be chicken or steak?

Julia

Sue replied Julia’s message, and with a few extra minutes to spare, she decided to write Jack an email as well.

Jack,

I don’t think you realize what happened last night.

She sighed. How can I put this?

You took advantage of my generosity and confused me in the process. Either you’re an incredible actor or you have serious confession to make concerning our relationship, and if you do, I think I deserve to know about it.

But in all fairness, I haven’t been completely upfront with you about my intentions, either. I didn’t pretend to be your girlfriend because I felt bad for you, I did it because

She paused. Why did she play along? What made her abandon her sense of right and wrong for him? He offered basically nothing in return, but hurt and uncertainty. Why did she help him?

... because I think I love you.

The truth was all she could surmise. She sighed heavily as she signed out of her email account and told her computer and herself that she didn’t care if this message would be permanently erased. He didn’t need to read something that personal, anyway.

Aw, MAN, Sue! Go back to "Deleted messages" or hit "undo" or SOMETHING, and then press SEND . . . !

OK, I got that out of my system . . . now I can't wait to see what's going on inside Jack's head and what he's going to do about the way Sue looks this morning!!

Arrrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!

Jack seemed to be reacting just fine but now Sue's going to go wishy-washy on us!

Arrrrrrggggghhhh!!!

I can't go hitting SUE with a 2x4!

Tina

Maybe the email sent itself!! You know how computers can be sometimes!! Yeah, I like that idea - it sent itself!!!

Joy

I just finished to read another story, that was so... in a day that was so... and Sue did...did.. that!!

Could Tara work her magic with computers?? or something? please

Tere

Pop those eyes back in your head Jack and do more than

Tell her how you feel Mr.

Catching up on 2 posts, Paula. Glad you cousin is improving.

P6-84 - I simply love Lucy and her determination. She obviously has a plan and I can't wait to read how it will knock Jack's socks off!

P7-94 - Well, you must be knocking his socks off if all he can do is oogle you Sue. I loved the email from Julia, but I just have one important question, Paula..... What did Sue pick to eat, steak or chicken? That's important to me!!!!

Now, I'm an Outlook wizard and, while it is true, that question is asked when exiting if you want to empty your deleted folders, Sue didn't really delete the email, which means it was in her Drafts folder and someone, anyone, can come along when Sue is away from her desk and....well, you see where I'm going with this?

So, I'm going to be positive here...that email is still there, just waiting for someone like, Lucy? to open it up and send it on to Jack in Sue's absence? Well, one can always dream....I have to do something to get the picture of Tina's burning vehicle out of my mind so I can sleep tonight!

Lynn