I don't know who to feel more sorry for, Sue because of all the embarrassment, or Jack because he's in the doghouse. The guard being shot is a twist I didn't expect. This case is indeeded getting more curious all the time.

Great job, Gina.

I was thinking "security cameras," but having SWAT show up--that's much better!

At least as an observer. But as a person who also takes great care to avoid embarrassment, I feel for Sue. Jack deserves to be in the doghouse for a little while! I have a feeling he'll be able to work his way out of it soon, though...

Annie

Jack, you've done it now (even though I feel sorry for Sue, I have to agree with Lucy - it is hiliarious)!! You are going to have to work like crazy to get yourself out of this one!! Well, buddy, you have all afternoon - get at it!!!

I'm thinking that the guard was killed because they have figured out they are being watched?? This isn't good, if that's true!! It's either that, or they didn't need him anymore, which means whatever they are putting into place is in place!! That's really scary!!!

Tina, I love your description of the RFF police cars!! How do you know what they look like?? Have you seen one lately???

Joy

OK, I can understand embarrassment, but how can she still be mad at him?!... It's not like she wasn't having a good time in there too. Plus, if it was me I'd be like "Jack Hudson was caught with someone in the elevator?? Oh yeah, that was me. ME!!!!" Live it up Sue!!!! And then find some way to get him back... Perhaps in a conference room

Em

Who? Me?

Thanks for all your comments! I just had to lighten things up a bit, and the only way I could think to do that in conjunction with someone being killed (because that's so NOT funny!) was to embarrass Sue and get Jack in deep trouble! But what a way to go, huh?

Tina, I think you can call off the RFF police . . . eventually . . . and if you want to come and stare at me, bring it on . . . I don't have a garage, by the way . . . but if I see any pink cars with pink lights on top, come on over - we'll make something chocolate . . .

Will Jack remain in the doghouse? Will Sue forgive him and consent to "use" the elevator in the Hoover Building again? Will we ever see the inside of a conference room for a "private conference?" Will they throw caution to the wind, and lose all sense of propriety in the bullpen? Will they? Will they? All will be revealed . . . before August 16 . . .

Thanks for reading!!

Regina



Chapter 24

After two days of giving Jack “the cold shoulder,” as was a popular phrase in Sue’s childhood home, she was growing as weary of teaching him a lesson as he was of learning it. She, too, had seen that woebegone look on his face, and had to school her features quickly in order to keep from laughing. She could imagine him as a six-year-old boy, caught doing something naughty, sitting in the corner time-out chair.

When he got off the phone, he raised a finger to her, telling her he’d be right back, and went straight to Lucy in the kitchen to tell her that D needed her this afternoon. Sue could tell that there had been developments in the case, and she knew that the time had come for her to get over her snit. Life was just too short . . .

“Sue . . .” Jack began.

“Jack . . .” Sue began, at the same time.

“Can I go first?” Jack asked, to which Sue shrugged and gestured for him to go ahead. Settling in beside her on the couch, he put his arm along the back, careful to avoid touching her until given permission. “Thanks. Sue . . . I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know about the five-minute thing on the elevator, and I hope you know that I would never, knowingly, put you in a situation like that. Can you forgive me? Life’s too short to spend like we have the last couple of days – and I don’t think I can stand another day of not touching you . . .”

Somehow in the course of the apology, Jack’s other hand had made its way to Sue’s lap, and when he wasn’t reprimanded, he took her hand in his. The pleading in his eyes, and his other hand holding hers tightly had not only chipped away at the ice, but had melted it completely. She knew she couldn’t hold out any longer. “Jack,” she began, “I was going to ask you to forgive ME for behaving like a spoiled brat. It’s not like you were in on it by yourself. I could have stopped you . . . but I didn’t want to,” she said, blushing to her roots as she thought about how dangerously fun it had been before those elevator doors opened. There they were, standing there in a passionate embrace, staring into the eyes of a SWAT team, guns drawn, and then lowered as the shout of “FBI – FREEZE” was followed quickly by uproarious laughter. “How about this . . . I’ll forgive you for embarrassing me, we’re more CAREFUL about where we decide to make out next time, and you forgive me for acting like a 12-year-old? Deal?”

“So we will be making out again?” he asked hopefully, needing clarification – and quickly – the puppy-dog eyes getting a nod and a laugh out of her. After all, what was the important thing, here – the worry of embarrassment over the story flying all over the Hoover Building, or the absolute horror at the thought of never being allowed to make out with Sue Thomas again? Tough call, Jack thought. “On one condition,” he said, moving a little closer to her.

“What’s that?” she said, her breath becoming shallow at his nearness . . . nearness that she hadn’t allowed in two whole days.

“That we practice on that bull-pen/conference-room fantasy until such time as we can try it out,” he said, putting his hands on her waist and drawing her closer and closer until she was sitting in his lap on the couch.

“I think I can go along with that,” she said, saved from any more agreements or any other conversation when Jack crushed her lips with his.

“Of course to really practice that particular fantasy, we’d need a desk or a table . . .” Jack said, looking around and smiling as Sue dissolved into laughter as she relaxed into his arms again.

When they came up for air some time later, Lucy had gone, leaving a note behind, telling them to enjoy the afternoon, and ended it with a “ha ha!” Looking deeply into Sue’s hazel eyes, Jack grinned at her and said, “I guess this was our first real fight as a couple. I really like the making-up part. Maybe we should do this more often.”

Sue rolled her eyes at him and said, “The fighting, or the making-up?” She asked pertly, then laughed at the dirty look he gave her. “Well, as I said during the Dessa case, it probably won’t be our last fight, so we may as well perfect the making-up part, too, don’t you think?”

“Sounds good to me,” he said, hugging her tightly, enjoying the sensation of her hands trapped on his chest, and his running up and down her back. “I love you, you know, even when you’re ignoring me,” he said with a little pout on his face.

“I love you, too, Jack. And I wasn’t ignoring you. I could never do that . . . I just had to come to terms with my own embarrassment and insecurity. You’re good for me, you know,” she said, tilting her head to gaze into his eyes as he moved in every few seconds to give her a light kiss on the cheek, on her nose, on her hair, wherever he could reach.

“How’s that? I figured you thought I had corrupted you,” he laughed, relieved at finally seeing her good-humored grin.

“Hmmm . . . maybe a little . . . but I must say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. You’ve brought me places I never knew existed,” she said, running her fingers through the hair at the back of his head, and around his ears.

“And I hope someday to bring you to even more places you never knew existed . . . like someday when you have a ring on that particular finger,” he said, kissing her empty ring finger.

“I’d like that, Jack,” she said softly, surrendering to him once again, forgetting all about the phone call with D, the anger she had felt earlier, and the reason for his being there to begin with. Right now, all they wanted was to be together, lost in time, lost in one another’s kisses. Right now, that was enough.

That was wonderful to read how they made up. The best part is that their relationship grew in the process, just as any relationship should.

I definately loved the made up part... How could anyone resist his dark pleading puppy eyes... I know I couldn't!!!
He got a way to help her forget everything, didn't he?

I'm sure that I've said this before, but at the risk of repeating myself...





- RSL

that conversation and the consequently making out---->

Tere

I like the idea of perfecting the making out part!!!

Joy

Yay!! There is still hope for that bullpen/conference room scene!!!!!

Em

Now that's the way to get out of the doghouse!

Kim

Something like b-b-b-brow....? NO! I WILL NOT SAY IT!! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!


Is it just plain sad that simply reading that can do strange things to your tummy?




Tina

My mind is stuck on the desk and the table…

Ear infections are not fun, but at least I know now that there's a reason I've been dizzy, and that I'm not JUST A DIZZY DAME! (no comments, please . . . )

I'm treading dangerously close to my cushion ending - note I did not say my STORY ending . . . sigh. Let's progress the case a bit now, shall we? Thanks for reading, and for your comments! Sorry . . . no thud warnings on this one . . .

Regina



Chapter 25

“So . . . the theory is that somehow, whoever is behind this found out that we’re on to them, and decided to eliminate a known contact?” Myles asked. He was dressed for a Sunday afternoon tennis match, pristine in tennis whites, as he sat at his desk in the bullpen. He was a stark contrast to Bobby, who had been called in from a pick-up basketball game at the YMCA, sweaty and rumpled in sloppy shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt.

“That’s about it,” D confirmed. He had finally called the team in, including Jack and Sue via phone and blackberry.

“What have the lab boys come up with on the vehicle?” Jack asked. He had finally thought to update Sue on the case, after a few hours of cuddling, canoodling and . . . practicing . . . on the couch. Sue’s knee in a brace was much more maneuverable than the cast had been. Unfortunately for Jack, the tiff they had experienced over the course of the last few days had put off his finding that out until that morning.

“They found some hair in the backseat that didn’t belong to the victim, or to anyone in his family according to very preliminary DNA testing. We’re waiting for further analysis,” D said, marveling at the speed in which they could get evidence identified, but wishing he could just snap his fingers and get the info that he needed to find whoever was doing this.

“Any word on the streets as far as names of agents that have been leaked?” Bobby asked, reminding them all that this went further than one man being killed, although that had to be prevented if at all possible. Unfortunately, this kind of leak could mean the deaths of people just like them.

“I wish I could say no . . . but I can’t,” D said with a sigh. “Since this came up, there have been a couple of agents to go missing. These were DEA agents working undercover in an arms for drugs deal. They had limited communication, so for a few days no one thought anything of it. After five days, when they didn’t make their third contact, their superiors let it be known, and we found out that these agents’ names had been discussed in a case that came up for review in the Senate Arms Intelligence Committee.”

“That’s one of the committees headed up by a Senator Blakemore, isn’t it?” Sue asked.

“Yes,” Tara confirmed. “And guess which building he’s in? And guess what other Senator is on that committee?”

“Let me guess . . . Raeburn Building, and Whitson?” Bobby asked.

Jack heard Tara make a “ding, ding, ding” sound as she shouted out, “And we have a winner.”

Sue was thoughtful for a minute. She was staring at the computer monitor, where she was reading the conversation as Jack listened. After a few seconds of watching her frown, Jack touched her arm and signed, “WHAT’S UP?”

“Jack . . . wasn’t Kristi Peters’ husband involved in an arms deal? What if he was using her to infiltrate that particular deal, and used the other bugs as a decoy?” Sue asked, puzzled at this turn of events.

“Possible,” Jack said with a nod. “It’s also possible that he had a contact within the system, other than Kristi. Maybe he was expanding his territory? Looking at Simpkins’ profile, he didn’t look to be the kind of guy who would do something like this unless he thought it was legit. What do you think, D?”

“You could be on to something. Luce, I still want an outline of Simpkins’ movements over the last two weeks. Get his work schedule, and see if you can round up surveillance tapes from other places to map out where he’s been and who he’s been in contact with. Sue, do you think you and your manservant can handle some more surveillance footage?” D asked.

Sue smiled and looked at Jack’s rolling eyes, dreading another day or so of watching a computer screen. “I think we can handle it, D. I may have to bribe him, but I think he’ll behave, won’t you, Jack?” Sue asked, walking her fingers up his chest and batting her eyes outrageously there in the privacy of her apartment.

Jack coughed suddenly. “Uh, yeah . . . bring it on, D,” he said.

In the background, over the speaker, he could hear Bobby’s voice saying, “clang, clang, clang, Sparky!”

“I’ll send the footage with Lucy tonight. Thanks, guys. I owe you,” D said with a relieved chuckle. He was glad that if he had to be short a couple of people, at least they were people that he felt like he could call on in a pinch. And this was a pinch. “Myles, you and Bobby request an interview with Peters first thing in the morning. He’s in federal lock-up, so it shouldn’t be a problem. See if you can make any connections with our case. After that, I want you to snoop around Whitson’s and Blakemore’s offices, see if you get any vibes there that might lead us to want to get a warrant or do a little more “official” questioning. I won’t lie to you – this may get tricky. We’re not just dealing with your run-of-the-mill terrorist here . . .”

“Ah, those were the days,” Myles said sarcastically.

“Yeah, well, here’s the deal. We may be dealing with an inside job – with the Department of Homeland Security itself. I don’t have to tell you how touchy it can get between agencies,” D said. Jack could hear his sigh of frustration and fatigue, and Sue could imagine it as she looked at Jack during the pause on her screen. He continued. “Tomorrow, I’m going to DHS to talk to the head of Federal Protective Services, to see how they’re set up. They’re going to have to submit to our investigating them, and I don’t see them taking this lying down.”

“Can you imagine how we would feel if they wanted to investigate US?” Tara asked, sympathizing with the many upstanding employees sworn to protect both the public and government employee sectors.

“Glad you feel that way, Tara, because I would like you to go with me,” D said, smiling as she gave him a grim smile that said ‘why did I open my big mouth.’

*
“So let me get this straight,” Bobby began, leaning over Randall Peters as he sat in the green-tiled interrogation room, Myles hovering in the background. “You used your own WIFE to get information about an arms deal?” After an hour of interrogation, Bobby was thoroughly sickened by this guy. He’d met Kristi Peters. What could she have EVER seen in him?

“I . . . want to see my lawyer,” Peters said, finally.

“Here’s the deal, Peters,” Myles said, moving in to sit in the chair across from the suspect, “the way I see it, you have two choices. One, we keep digging until we find out you’ve been involved with terrorist activity, convict you, lock you up and throw away the key for a very long time; or two, you tell us who you’ve been working for that’s interested in activities in federal buildings with federal employees – which, by the way, includes your wife – and we cut a semi-deal with you in which you still get locked up and the key thrown away for a very long time, but maybe with better accommodations. It’s up to you. The deal will be valid for, oh, what would you say, Bobby?”

“If it were up to me, I’d lock him up and throw away the key today, but I’d say that since we may just have some other people who would be more receptive to our deal, maybe, say, until 4 o’clock this afternoon?” Bobby said, keeping his eyes on Myles as he noted the nervous shuffle of Peters in his peripheral vision.

“You think 4? I was thinking more like noon,” Myles said, behaving as if he and Bobby were the only two people in the room. Peters was looking nervously from one to the other, as if they were crazy.

“Ya think? I don’t know . . .” Bobby said, looking down and shaking his head, a frown on his face.

“Two? I could go for two,” Myles said calmly, as if they were discussing what time they were going out for coffee.

“Hey, I was trying to keep an open mind, but if you say noon, then I can go along with that,” Bobby replied, shrugging his shoulders as if it were of no consequence to him.

“Excuse me . . . remember me? I’m the one that has to decide whether to even TAKE the deal,” Peters said nervously.

“Yeah . . . right . . . so, Peters, what do you say? Ready to play “Let’s Make a Deal?” Bobby asked, his lips twisted into a grim line belying the humor of the statement, as his eyebrow quirked up with intimidation.

“I’ll deal . . . I’ve got a kid, you know,” Peters said in defeat.

“Yes, we know. And my question would be, were you thinking of your daughter when you decided to put her mother in danger by having a bugging device planted on her service dog?” Myles asked harshly. “We know what kind of dad you’ve been . . . and it’s not pretty, I can tell you.”

When he heard that there had been a bug placed on Kristi’s service dog, his head shot up. “There was a bug planted on Lizzy? Wait a minute! I didn’t have anything to do with that! Kristi wasn’t supposed to be involved in this! When I gave them the idea of using service animals, I told them not to put one on Kristi’s dog. I just knew, from talking to her, that there were a few in the building,” Peters exclaimed, genuine surprise crossing his features as Myles and Bobby looked at one another in disbelief.

“Well, mate, looks like you forgot to make that clear to the one doing the bug-planting, or maybe somebody decided to over-ride your orders. Do you realize that because of this, one man is dead, and two more may be dead?” Bobby ground out as he watched the man slump further into his chair.

Myles stood up and prepared to leave the room. “Pretty tangled web you’ve woven, isn’t it, Peters? Just goes to show that once you start down a path of stealing and sharing intelligence dealing with national security, the fingers of deceit are far-reaching. You never know just which one is going to reach in and grab YOU,” Myles said, leaning close to Peters, disgust on his face and in his tone as he and Bobby left the room to let the man think about his confession, and about the potential consequences of his actions.

Interesting...

Em

If more people thought about "consequences", there would be way less trouble in this world.

Hope you feel better soon, Gina

I absolutely agree, on both counts.

Great case Regina - dizzy or not.

What an exemple for his daughter...!
It's too bad for him that this might be the thing she remember the most about her dad--he wasn't a good dad and played with the law. Poor kid...

Poor Regina! That was what was bothering you since a few days...
Hope you'll get better soon. In the meantime, I hope that Hubby takes good care of you...

I'm sorry to hear about the ear infections and dizziness. I hope you feel better fast.

That was a masterful depicton of our guys at their top form as they interrogated Peters.

Wise words Marlene!!



Tere

Less dizzy today, folks, and hoping to progress on this story!! Thanks for the get-well-wishes!! We've spent so much time with Jack and Sue, alone - which I know is a hardship . . . . . . . and now here's two posts in a row withOUT them! Well, practically.

Thanks for reading, and for commenting! I think I enjoy reading your comments as much as I do writing the story!

Regina


Chapter 26

“Well, that was special,” Tara muttered as they walked out into the summer sunshine after a grueling interview with two under-secretaries, a personnel director, and a division director at Homeland Security.

D chuckled as he agreed. “You got that right. They were about as receptive as I thought they would be,” he said. “Can’t blame them, really. They’re all sworn to uphold the law, and when one of their own goes bad, it looks bad for the rest of them, just like it does when one of ours goes bad.” D shook his head as he recalled the look of horror, and then the defensiveness on each face as they went down the line in the chain of command.

“I know. It just seems like if they were more cooperative we could get this done a lot faster,” Tara replied, a little disgruntled herself.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if “we could all just get along?” D asked, laughing. “I once had a relative whose favorite saying was “Why can’t everybody just be more like us?”

“Not a bad sentiment,” Tara agreed, realizing that it was a naïve outlook on life, but one she could buy into if it were reasonable. Unfortunately, she was sworn to uphold the law for not only the people like herself, but the people who didn’t agree with her, as well.

“Well, at least we got the attention of a few of them, and they’re going to do an internal investigation with our oversight,” D said.

“That’s the only way, isn’t it, D? I mean, it would be way too easy to sweep it under the rug, otherwise,” Tara agreed.

“Let’s get back to the bullpen and see what Lucy and the boys have come up with,” D said, as Tara nodded before getting into the car. “How about lunch before we go back?”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll call Lucy and see if she’s left the building. Maybe we can pick something up for her,” Tara offered.

“Good idea. She’s been stuck holding the fort a lot here lately, hasn’t she?” D asked.

“Yeah, but from what I hear, going home has QUITE the entertainment factor these days,” Tara said, a look of mischief on her face.

“I figured as much, after the elevator incident. Sounded like Sue finally forgave Jack when we talked on Sunday afternoon,” D said with a laugh.

“Apparently,” Tara laughed with him. Sobering for a moment, she looked over at D in the driver’s seat. “D . . . what’s going to happen to Jack and Sue?”

D was her supervisor, but he was still her friend and her mentor. He’d been her training agent, and the mature, level-headed father-figure that she had needed in her workplace in those early days. She felt safe with all the guys, but with D, it was different. She didn’t hesitate to ask him a question like this, where she probably would never have gotten up the nerve to ask a question like that of Eldridge or Garrett. It had been worrying her for days. Tara still felt a little sick when she thought about them being split up at work in order to be together in life. She felt a little sick at the thought of the same thing happening to her if anything – which it probably wouldn’t, but it never hurt to WONDER – should happen between herself and a certain tall agent with a killer dimple and an accent that threatened to melt her into a puddle every time.

D sat there a minute, watching the traffic signal for a green arrow, thinking about what he should and shouldn’t say about the issue. He knew there had been glances going across the way between Tara and Bobby for some time – ever since the Mojo Gogo concert. He didn’t know what had changed, but he did know that when Darcy left for LA and Bobby didn’t go with her, or follow her, he stopped hearing much about the lady reporter. Stanley Abbot hadn’t been in evidence since about that time, either. He’d taken a transfer . . . where did he go? Anyway, he hadn’t been around. Was Tara worried for Jack and Sue, or for herself?

“Why do you ask?” D inquired, hoping that with a few leading questions and honed interrogation techniques he could get to the bottom of it.

“I just hate to see our team broken up,” she said, blushing slightly as she kept her eyes facing the front of the vehicle. She’d been through Quantico interrogation tactical training, too.

He sighed and decided to shoot straight with her. He’d never been evasive with his trainee, and he didn’t want to be, now – especially if it has to do with her own happiness and future. “I hope it doesn’t come to that. I guess the question is this, what’s the most important thing to Jack and Sue? The relationship or the job? Right now, with them both on leave, they’re not living in the real world. It’ll be when they come back to regular, day-to-day operations, that all this could very well hit the fan,” D said, shrugging a little. He knew he hadn’t really answered her question, but it might give her something to mull over. “Maybe they’ve talked about it. I don’t know. They’ve been awfully open about the whole thing, haven’t they? Do you know how long it’s been going on?”

Tara laughed. “The actual admitting-they-have-feelings-for-each-other, or the being-in-love-with-one-another? They are two totally different things. The former? I think just since the accident. The latter? How long has Sue been with us?” At that, they both laughed.

D knew the answer to the main question. He knew that the relationship was the most important thing. Jack’s care of Sue the last few weeks was a strong indication of that. He’d had partners injured before and didn’t offer to move in and take care of them . . . but Sue was different. He had a feeling that Sue was going to be more than a partner for Jack on the job. He had a feeling that she was going to be a partner for life, if Jack Hudson had anything to do with it.

He just hoped that their little adventure in the elevator, that had grown by leaps and bounds as the story flew around the Hoover Building, didn’t hurt their chances of coming to an agreement with the top brass. He didn’t want to lose one of the best Agents he’d had the privilege to work with, and he also didn’t want to lose one of the best Analysts he’d been blessed to know. Sue was more than a lip-reader, and Jack was more than a special agent. They were part of the best team the FBI had to offer.

*

“Thanks, guys! This looks wonderful!” Lucy exclaimed as she opened up the box of Chinese food Tara and D had brought her. “I knew I’d never make it out of here, and I was NOT looking forward to making my way down to the cafeteria and eating a cardboard sandwich and baked tater tots,” she said disgustedly.

“I know. I couldn’t wish that on you. You know, Luce, I’ve ridden that same elevator down several times since Jack and Sue’s trip, and nothing like what happened to them has happened to me, yet,” Tara said innocently, but with a gleam in her eye.

“Me, neither,” Lucy said with a disappointed giggle. “And some of those SWAT guys are pretty cute!”

Bobby and Myles came in on the last of the conversation, only to hear the two females in their midst embroiled in a firm giggling session.

“What’s so funny? Myles, do I have something on my face?” Bobby asked with a smirk.

“Koala boy, believe it or not, all conversations do NOT revolve around you,” Myles said with a roll of his eyes. “I’m sure they were discussing my better attributes,” he joked.

“You wish,” Lucy said, shaking her head and smiling as she thought of how mad Sue was for a few days, and then how, miraculously, things seemed to smooth out. She sighed and put her chin in her hand at the very thought of such romantic things happening to her.

“Aw, Myles, now see what you’ve done. You’ve gone and pushed her into the land of daydreams. We may not get our rotor back for hours,” Bobby smiled.

“If the land of daydreams features elevators, it only takes five minutes before the alarm goes off and gets your attention . . . unless you’re Jack,” Myles said dryly, causing yet another round of laughs, this time all around.

“Sorry to interrupt this little “work” session, but I’d really like to know what you’ve all come up with this morning,” D said, knowing that things could escalate pretty quickly.

“Righto,” Bobby said, pointing at D as he flopped into his chair. “We found out that Peters, the stupid drongo, never intended his wife to be bugged, and was somehow surprised to find out that they had bypassed his orders to leave her alone and bugged her anyway. Imagine that?” he said, sarcastic disbelief written all over his face.

“What is it with criminals dealing with classified intelligence these days? They just have no integrity, do they?” D asked, smiling. “Did you get a deal?”

“Yes, we did. He’s a busy beaver, writing out his confession even as we speak,” Myles reported. “Should be interesting reading.”

“I hope so. Tara and I waded through Homeland Security bureaucracy all morning, and they’ve agreed to launch an internal investigation overseen by the FBI. I haven’t heard if we’ll be the investigating unit, but if not, we’ll be working alongside whoever it is,” D said.

“Why wouldn’t we be in line to finish what we’ve started?” Myles asked, reluctant to hand over the evidence they’d gathered to an entirely new team.

“We’re short-handed,” D said, shrugging his shoulders and twisting his mouth in a grimace.

“Hasn’t slowed us down too much,” Bobby said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I’d say we’re getting about as much work out of Sparky sitting at home snuggled on the couch with Sue as we’d get with him sitting at his desk with his chin in his hand looking across the room at her,” he teased.

“No fair, Bobby. They’re both on leave, and they’ve both been gracious enough to pull extra duty for us. I know . . . you’re just kidding,” D said, gesturing with his hand for Bobby to relax as he began to straighten up in protest. “Just wanted it on the record,” D said. “The AUSA just sees that we’re two people down.”

“And for the record, Lucy has hardly been out of the building except to go home since this case started,” Tara reminded them.

“Let’s not jump to conclusions about who will lead the investigation. We may still get picked,” D said. “Luce, what did you find out about Simpkins?”

“I was able to talk to his supervisor, and got his work schedule faxed over. I’ll start putting together a timeline this afternoon, and then I’ll start calling around to ask for any surveillance footage. Maybe by tomorrow, Tara and I can start putting this together and see if any interesting individuals come out of the woodwork,” Lucy said.

“Good job. Well, team, it looks like we’re just a teeny bit further that we were yesterday, but not as far as we’ll be, hopefully, this time tomorrow. You’ve all got your assignments, so get to work,” D said, making his way back to his office as he reached for his buzzing cell phone.

Regina, reading this post, I felt like I was watching it on television (wishing that the Jack/Sue moments were also in the real episode)!! You described the interrogation so realistically, and you have Bobby and Myles down to a T!!!

I hope you feel better soon!! Ear infections are no fun!!!

Joy

Regina, I got called away at work and didn't realize that you had posted again!!!

I'm glad they have Peters writing out his confession!! Fancy that, criminals being dishonest with other criminals!! What is the world coming to!!!

Enjoyed the conversation between D and Tara!! I can see why D wouldn't want to say much about Jack and Sue's relationship when he isn't sure how much he can help in keeping them together on the team!! And, I understand why Tara doesn't want to bring up her and Bobby, since nothing has really happened there yet!! It will be interesting to see how both of these situations pan out!!!

As always, the banter in the bullpen is loads of fun!!!

Joy

Love all the jokes about Jack and Sue and the elevator!

Em

So like Bobby, though I'm not sure how much Jack would appreciate the joke

Right there... I was 'right there' in the bullpen with them. Or at least curled up in front of the TV watching that whole scene/post! And to tell you the truth, there's lots of times when I sort of 'zone out' when Jack and Sue aren't featured prominently in a post, but I just could see all of this in my head so well that I forgot they weren't there! If that sounds like a backhanded compliment, I didn't mean it to be. Keeping my interest without Jack and Sue can be a daunting task and you pulled it off! And in doing so, you join the likes of all things sparkly and "food". Congratulations.

But... we're not going to make this anti-Jack&Sue posting thing a habit... are we?

With all the 'come and go' of the bullpen and the discussion going on, it is not easy to write, though Regina, you've picture it amazingly real!!! WOW!!!

I could feel the energy and the teasing right through my screen!!!

So now, lets see if they can gather more about the case...

Hope they could find a solution for Jack and Sue and also for Bobby and Tara

Tere

Bobby is the epitome of a best friend...ready to torture his friend mercilessly (even behind his back - though he wouldn't say anything behind Jack's back that he wouldn't say to his face too) but then when the chips are down he'd be the first one there to defend Jack...and he's relationship with Sue (even to the top brass I'm sure).

Great story, Regina. Loving it immensely!

- RSL

Regina...I finally made it!!!!
I caught up with your amazing and delicious story!
The only word that coming up in my head is....
Josy

I'm celebrating a complete cushion by posting again tonight!! Who said sick days can't be productive? Here's a short post I hope you will enjoy!

Regina


Chapter 27

Levi’s trip to the vet was a success. The x-rays showed that the break had healed, and that while the pins needed to stay in a few more weeks, the cast could come off if they kept him as quiet as possible.

Jack had talked Sue into staying home while he took Levi for his appointment. “No reason for you to wear yourself out getting in and out of the car in this heat,” he said. I know you’ll be OK here by yourself no longer than I’ll be gone, and when I get back, I may just have a surprise for you!”

That had gotten her thinking. She’d been lounging around all day, which means she had exceeded the doctor’s orders to rest it more than she walked on it. Taking a quick inventory in the kitchen, she found what she needed.

Having prepared a little something special for later, she decided that since she had lost the cast, she could handle a tub bath for a change. The idea of soaking in a bubble bath was so enticing that she decided to throw caution to the wind and enjoy a little “alone” time.

She pushed the door to, hesitating to lock it since she was there alone. If she had trouble, she didn’t want Jack or Lucy to have to break down a door! The hot bubble bath was just what she needed. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and she dozed a bit as she felt her knee, her back, and her shoulders begin to relax as she hadn’t since before the accident.

It was a wonderful dream. She was in the conference room looking over some files, with only a desk lamp for a light. In her dream, she saw Jack come up behind her, watching her for a minute before touching her arm to get her attention. His eyes were tender, the smile on his face the one that he reserved just for her. She saw his lips move, saying her name, and then saw him laugh as he realized that she couldn’t hear him. Then he moved closer, knelt next to her chair, and touched her arm, his face inches from hers when she turned toward the hand that lay on her arm.

Without saying a word, Jack leaned in to kiss her passionately, pulling her up from her chair and into his arms. She could feel his lips upon hers, feel his hands roaming over her body, and feel the top of the conference room table as the cold, polished surface touched her back . . .

*

“Levi, buddy, slow down,” Jack laughed as he carried the groceries up the stairs to the apartment.

He was going to cook Sue a good dinner tonight. One of the criteria, for Jack, of it being a good dinner, was that you put it in the oven or in a large pan and let it cook, and when you got it out, it was ready to eat. Who knew that you could get Italian food in a frozen form that would eventually resemble something from a restaurant? Making the lasagna had been fun, and a bit of a fluke, but mainly because Sue was with him every step of the way. Tonight he wanted to do this for her. He wanted it to be a special night.

Shifting the groceries to one arm, Jack fumbled with the door key and finally got it in the lock. “You beat me up here, Levi! I should have given you the key to unlock the door for me, shouldn’t I?” he laughed. He had run a few other errands, too, besides grocery-shopping. He’d told Sue he was going to have a surprise for her, and by George, he did.

Going into the apartment, it struck him that it was quiet . . . too quiet. Something was wrong. Taking the groceries into the kitchen, he noticed a few dishes in the sink that weren’t there earlier, and no Sue in the living room.

Frowning as he walked back through the apartment, he noticed the bathroom door opened just a crack. Opening it, he caught a glimpse of a sleeping Sue up to her neck in bubbles, her face turned away from him at the door. Backing out as quickly as possible, he said, “I can’t go in there . . . but I have to make sure she’s OK.” He flicked the light switch off and on . . . no response. “Levi, you’re going to have to take one for the team,” he said.

“Levi, get Sue.”

And he did.

Oh, did Levi get Sue the way he did the last time she had a bubble bath when Jack was around?

Kim

Oh boy...I can imagine!



Can't wait for the next!

Tere

Sue in a bubble bath with an injured knee and Levi entering the bathroom to get her attention for Jack. This could get very interesting. What is the surprise that Jack has?

AND

YOU

LEAVE

IT

THERE???

Have I done something to you that you want to see me keel over??

!OY!

Sue's dreaming about Jack in the bath and Levi's gonna try to get her!

I hope he's not going to do it the way I think he can do it... Or her dream take an interesting turn... and Jack's reaction to it can be too!

No, Tina, I don't want you to keel over! Here's the next part . . . maybe it will explain a few things!!

Thanks for the well-wishes . . . still a trifle dizzy-headed, but better! Thanks for reading, and for commenting!

Regina


Chapter 28

“Jack . . . stop apologizing. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s ever jumped into the tub with me,” she said, a rueful smile appearing on her face. “I’m OK, he’s OK, and he finally got that bath he’s needed since the accident!” Sue’s laughter pealed out as she reached out to pull Jack into her arms.

As much as he wanted to enjoy being in her arms, he just had to know something. “Sue, why is it you got mad at me about the elevator incident, but then I let Levi jump into your tub, and you’re just totally OK with it?” He put his hands on his hips and stared at her as she kept her hands clasped around his neck.

“Jack. Did you TELL Levi to jump in the tub with me?” she asked, her head tilted to one side as she looked earnestly into his face.

“Well no, of course not,” he said, looking off to the side, still a little huffed for some reason.

“Jack, honey, when we were caught in the elevator, a lot of other people saw us, it embarrassed me, and that’s why I got mad. This little incident with the tub is just a cute little private joke between me, you, and Levi,” she said, poking him in the chest, seeing him relax as he smiled down at her.

“Something to tell the grandkids, huh?” he said, quirking his eyebrow at her and noting the look of surprise on her face when he mentioned grandkids.

“I . . . guess so,” she said, looking closely at him through narrowed eyes. “Jack . . . sweetheart . . . do you know something I don’t know?”

Jack just pointed his finger at her face and laughed. “Ah, ah, ah! No spoiling surprises for you, young lady. You’re just going to have to be patient. Just know this . . . I love you. OK?”

“O . . K . . .,” she said, still looking at him strangely.

This evening was NOT going as planned – at least not according to Jack Hudson’s plan. His plan did NOT include mopping the bathroom floor. It did NOT include trying to help both Sue AND Levi out of the tub . . . although that part wasn’t so bad, come to think of it. Jack started smiling as he held Sue in his arms. He now had an image of areas of bare areas of skin on Sue that he’d never seen before . . . and probably wouldn’t again for some time . . . unless his plan started coming together.

“What time will Lucy get home?” Jack asked, wondering how much time they had, alone, and if he had enough food for three. The part of his plan that he hadn’t worked on was actually making sure they would be alone tonight.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you. Lucy’s going out with Tara tonight. I think they said something about going elevator-hopping,” Sue said, a wicked grin on her face as Jack rolled his eyes and smiled.

“Very funny,” he said, shaking his head.

“I thought so. She really IS going out with Tara. You know, Jack, before Levi landed in my tub, I realized that it was good for me to spend a little time alone. I haven’t been alone, really, since the accident,” she said, running her hands across his chest and shoulders, looking up at his face as he grinned with enjoyment.

“Made ya miss me, didn’t it?” he said, his chest puffing out just a little more.

“I did miss you, but it gave me a chance to think about you, to make you something special, and I was having a wonderful dream about you when I was so rudely interrupted,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

“Tell me about it?” he asked, dipping in to grab her lips in a quick kiss.

“Maybe later,” she said. “Let’s just say it took place in a conference room . . .”

“Sounds promising. Maybe you should show me sometime,” Jack said, his voice softening as he felt himself giving way to her nearness.

“You can count on that, Jack,” Sue said, pulling herself up with her arms around his neck, sliding along his body as he began kissing her with an abandon that was becoming increasingly more difficult to resist.

*

Talking over dinner, Jack filled Sue in on what he’d found out from D.

“So Kristi’s husband was in on the bugging. But who was he involved with? It doesn’t make much sense, does it?” Sue asked.

“Not really, but if it makes you feel better, Peters decided that turning informant was the only thing he could do when he found out that he may have put his wife and daughter in danger,” Jack pointed out. “At least in prison, maybe he’ll get the help he needs for his drug problem.”

“I hope so. Do you think there’s a chance for them, Jack?” Sue asked. She hated to think of a marriage dissolving, but she also knew that there had been so many hurtful things said and done.

“I don’t know. He’s going to be in prison for a long time, probably,” Jack said, shaking his head. “But enough shop talk. Did I hear correctly when you said you made something special? I hope it’s what I think it is!”

“You did, and it is, if you were hoping for ice cream dessert . . . and did I hear correctly, earlier, when you said I just might have a surprise, later?” Sue asked, smiling at him, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed at him across the table.

“You did . . . and it can wait – but I can’t wait for dessert. You know what happens when you make me wait,” he said, reaching over and taking her hand in his, kissing her palm and then smiling at her.

Sue sighed, “I guess we know who the mature one is in this relationship, don’t we, Levi?” Upon hearing the words “ice cream,” Levi had come to take his place beside Jack, the hopeful look in the dog’s eyes mirroring the look in Jack’s.

“Levi and I have always known you were the mature one, sweetheart,” he laughed, kissing her as he got up from the table to get the dessert, Levi trotting joyfully by his side, hoping for a drip, a dropped spoon . . . anything. He knew Jack wouldn’t let him down.

Levi is hoping, like us, that you'll throw him a bone.


Yes, well... it doesn't take much....


If it's what I'm thinking and hoping, the boy's gone daft! IT CAN WAIT?????? THAT'S the kind of talk that kept you on the sideline for THREE YEARS!!!

I knew Levi jumped into the tub!

Em

I knew too, Em!! But I didn't think about how hard it would be to get two semi-injured bodies out of the tub!! I'm sure Jack didn't mind at all!!!

Sneaky, Regina, the way you managed to get a conference room fantasy slipped in!! It was good too, except you stopped too soon!!!

Now, can I have some ice cream dessert too???

Joy

Levi and Jack have some common points, don't they? Starting by ice cream dessert!!!

I too wish that Jack's surprise is the one I think it is, but you had a way to take us some unexpected place so far... so I'll wait...

A totally awesome story! I can't wait for more.

See, I'm still stuck in the bathroom with Jack trying to help Sue out of the tub

Oh Regina...your first post was hilarious....Levi...boy...
And then, the second post was cute too ;0)
Really lovely story
Josy

Oh . . . there was a case to solve, wasn't there? Have a great Saturday, and thanks for reading!!

Regina


Chapter 29

“We have a timeline of the last two weeks of Simpkins’ life,” Tara said, everyone except Jack and Sue, who were on speaker, assembled in the bullpen the following morning. The team had been assigned to work alongside the Department of Homeland Security on the case, even with two out. When D explained how they were running the investigation, and after assuring the AUSA that they were running secure lines and nothing would be compromised, he agreed. “Jack and Sue, I’m streaming the video to Sue’s email account as we speak, so you can watch with us, and then have it to look at later.”

“Why haven’t we thought of this before?” Jack said, thinking of the trips back and forth with videotapes, DVDs, and other visual evidence that could have been treated this way.

“Because I just got the software installed that would let me digitize both VHS, mini-VHS, and DVD into one cohesive file,” Tara said, and was quiet.

“Oh . . .” Jack said, a little embarrassed. If he didn’t know better, he could almost imagine hearing crickets chirp in the background as his team let him wallow a few minutes in his lack of computer expertise.

Sue, sitting beside him on the couch, laughed out loud at the look of utter confusion on his face. “Don’t worry, Tara. I’ll explain, later, to the big strong special agent how you got the footage on one itty-bitty wave file!” She giggled again as Jack reached his hand behind her back and grabbed her by the ribs, tickling her until she had tears running down her eyes even as she had her hand clapped over her mouth to prevent her screaming with laughter over the conference-call connection. Levi looked up from his spot next to the couch to see what his humans were up to this time. Seeing the smiles on their faces, he simply whined softly and put his head back down, hoping to resume that wonderful dream he was having about a ball sailing through the air and himself leaping up to catch it . . .

“JUST YOU WAIT,” Jack signed, waggling his eyebrows at her when he stopped tickling, and hearing his own quick intake of breath when she reached over and grabbed his cheek, pulling it to her to kiss him soundly . . . but quietly . . . smiling into the kiss as she felt him deepen the kiss almost instantly.

“Uh . . . Sparky? You there, mate? Myles, do you hear that clanging sound again?” Bobby asked with a chuckle.

Jack could imagine the glint in Bobby’s eyes as he pulled away from Sue, arching an eyebrow at her. “OK, YOU WIN,” he signed, smiling at her as he maintained his hold on her even as they settled back into the meeting at hand.

“THAT’S ALL I WANTED TO SEE, SPARKY. I’M STILL WAITING FOR MY SURPRISE,” Sue signed back, waggling her own delicate brows at him, promising things for the future that he could only imagine right now . . . and that he’d better stop thinking about and get their heads back on track.

Twisting his lips and arching his brow in a speculative grin, Jack took his arm from around her, took her hand in his, and after kissing it, pulled her hand and held it on his thigh, motioning toward the computer monitor as he heard Tara begin to speak. Sue grinned back at him, squeezed his hand, and got ready to pay attention, albeit snuggled close to his side.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I bid you entrance into the world of Security Guard Simpkins,” Tara said as the footage began playing in front of them in the bullpen, and on the computer screen at Sue’s apartment. “Mr. Robert Simpkins was 51 years old, twenty years with the federal government in different capacities, usually security work, married for 26 years to the same woman, two children in college. He was commended for volunteer work at the Pentagon after 9-11, and has a security clearance equal to his supervisor, which I thought interesting. Upon further investigation, we found out that his supervisor has only been on the job for eight years, which explains that.”

“From what I’ve gathered, he was offered a promotion to supervisor a few years ago, but declined, saying he was too close to retirement to fool with the stress,” Lucy said, a little sadly. “We were able to piece together some of his to- and from-work errands, and of course he was on camera all day while on duty.”

Tara walked them through mundane ATM footage, gassing up his car and buying coffee at the local Quik-Mart, walking past the front of the Capitol building, and more. Nothing raised a red flag, until they got to a section during lunchtime, when apparently Simpkins met with a man close by one of the many hot dog stands along the Washington Mall.

Tara, having seen the footage as she put it together, sat quietly, eyebrow cocked, watching D as this part played out on the screen.

Walking toward the screen in the bullpen, D’s face expanded in a broad smile as he turned and his eyes met Tara’s. “That’s a development I wasn’t expecting,” he said, as Tara nodded in agreement.

*

Jack brought them both a cup of coffee as they settled in with the laptop to watch the footage again. They went right to the hotdog stand incident, zoomed in on the faces of the two men, and Sue started transcribing while Jack paused every few seconds so that she could get every word correct. They didn’t want this one to get away.

When they were finished, they went back over it, double- and triple-checked to make sure it was accurate, and then just sat there for a minute, looking at one another.

“How could this happen?” Sue asked angrily, tears poised on her lashes. “This man thought he was doing the right thing . . . thought he was doing this for the good of his country . . . and it was all a lie.”

“I know,” Jack said, his face set grimly.

Sue looked closely at Jack. She had seen this look on his face a few times. Once, when they arrested Jessica after finding out she had gone rogue, and once when he’d told Tony Campono that he thought he was dangerous, and he had put one of his team members in danger. It was a look that was reserved for those that he considered beneath contempt because they didn’t think the law pertained to them. Jessica would be in prison for a long time. He had been waiting for Tony to get caught doing something outside the law. He had thought all along that it wouldn’t be long.

“Jack . . .” Sue said, reaching over to touch his face as he stared at the computer, at the words she had typed that were so damning . . . and to one of their own . . . not that it was unexpected.

Turning toward her, she could see the frustration in his face as he turned in her hand and kissed her palm before drawing her to himself, drawing strength and comfort from her as he bent to kiss her, at first almost furiously, and then gently, tenderly, before pulling away. “I’d better call D,” he said hoarsely.

“Yeah . . .,” Sue said, her round, almost frightened eyes never leaving his, her hands unconsciously kneading his shoulder muscles that seemed to be bunched up in knots. “Jack?”

He looked at her, put his hands on either side of her face, and kissed her forehead as he sighed raggedly, trying to regain his composure before making the call. “It’ll be alright, Sue. It’s out of our hands . . . or at least it will be as soon as I hand this off to D. Go ahead and fix your attachment and email it to both him and Tara while I call, OK?”

Sue simply nodded, and turned to do as he said.

Jack got up. He felt the need to pace while he talked. “D? Jack. Sue’s sending the transcript to you, as we speak, and a copy to Tara. It’s not good . . .”

Could it be...? No... I'll not tell because my guts is reraly right in this strange little fanfic world.
And with you in command, Regina, I know we HAVE to expect lots of turns!!!
But I LOVE them all!!!
Now you got me to find out who the person is and I'll have to wait until TOMORROW ( ) to find out!!!

Uh-oh.

Kim