That was just delightful. I love how Jack's no longer trying to hide the fact that he loves Sue from Lucy anymore.
Lindsy
Full Version: Dog Day Afternoon - Ginasue
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2008 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Dog Daze of Summer Challenge 2008
That was perfect!!!
Regina, I loved every word of that!! Unfortunately, now all I want is my own Jack cooking roast beef for me!!!
Joy
Joy
Ah . . . Chocolate pie . . . just the color of Jack's eyes . . . 
Thanks for all the comments!
Regina
Chapter 7
Once Jack retrieved Levi from the animal hospital, it didn’t take long for him, Lucy, Sue, and Levi to slip into a routine. Jack joked about his little “family of four,” and was diligent to take Levi out whenever necessary, glad that a dog in a cast was more mobile than a human in a cast. At least they have three other legs on which to balance, unlike poor Sue.
Levi was recovering nicely, although he still had a few weeks of a cast to deal with. Watching him hobble around the apartment, and even able to go up and down stairs, made Sue wince every time just thinking about it.
For Sue’s part, she was continually in awe of the way Jack seemed to be a natural at care-giving. She could hardly move without his showing up at her side, but alternately, he encouraged her to do as much for herself as possible . . . under supervision and his watchful eye.
About a week into Sue’s forced confinement, Jack noticed she was getting a little stir-crazy just looking at the walls of the apartment. Here it was, the middle of summer, and she was stuck inside. Jack was starting to pick up on her restlessness, and she was even beginning to get a little snappish, which was totally unlike her.
“I have an idea,” Jack said, about 10am on Monday morning when he came and sat next to her after he had helped her get to the couch, only to hear her sigh several times and start rolling through the channels on the television.
“I’m open to anything, Jack,” Sue said, looking at him hopefully when he squeezed her shoulder and smiled at her affectionately.
“How about we go for a drive in the country. I think Levi’s ready for a change of scenery, too. I know a place where we could have a picnic and get some fresh air. What do you think?” he asked. He was getting a little house-burned himself.
“I don’t care where it is, don’t care how long it takes to get there . . . I’m ready to get out of here,” Sue said, her laugh a little strained, the color coming and going in her face in reaction to his nearness.
Sue was getting stir-crazy, but more likely she was getting Jack-crazy. She had never seen him so patient and caring as he had been over the course of the past week. She was beginning to realize just how used to having him around she was becoming. It scared her, and saddened her just a little, to think about the day coming when Jack would go back home. Living without him seemed impossible.
“I think I know just the place,” he said. “The day you got hurt, and they couldn’t find me, I had driven over to Arlington to question a witness, and saw the signs to the Potomac Overlook Regional Park, and that’s where I was when they couldn’t get me on my cell,” he said, smiling at her with a shrug. “I was checking it out, thinking it would be a nice place for us to go sometime.”
Sue looked at him closely, a slight frown on her face as she thought of what he was saying. Before she could say anything, she felt Jack jerk, and then pull his cell phone out of his pocket.
“This is Jack,” he said, then signing to her that he was talking to D. “Hey, D, what’s going on?”
“Jack, we’re kind of into something that we need your help on, and we need Sue’s help,” D began. “Any chance of you both looking at a surveillance tape and having Sue transcribe it for us if Lucy brings it home tonight?
Jack paused as he listened, a frown appearing between his brows as he glanced over at Sue. “I don’t know, D. Sue’s still got some sick time coming, you know. I was about to get her and Levi out of the house for the first time, today.”
Sue poked him, saying, “What is it?” after seeing her name on his lips.
“Just a minute, D, and I’ll ask her,” Jack said into the phone, and then covering the mouthpiece. Turning to her, he said, “D’s got a tape he needs to be transcribed. Do you think you’d feel like doing it tonight, if Lucy brought it home? You don’t have to, you know. If you don’t feel up to it, just say the word,” he said, looking closely at her, seeing the wheels turn in her head.
“It would give me something to do,” she said, hopefully.
“I can think of better ways to kill time than that,” Jack whispered, quirking an eyebrow up at her suggestively.
“Jack!” she said, blushing vividly, elbowing him in the ribs as he laughed at her.
“OK, OK! I’ll tell him, and then we’ll get out of here before they come up with something else for us to do,” he sighed, conceding defeat.
“D? Yeah, she’ll do it,” Jack said, rolling his eyes at Sue.
“Good. I think this may be something you can both sink your teeth in, Jack. And Levi, too,” D said cryptically.
“Levi?” Jack asked. Now his curiosity was engaged.
“Yeah!” D chuckled into the phone. “I’ll send the tape by Lucy so you can get started on it tomorrow. It’s pretty long, so Sue’ll probably need a couple of days to work on it.”
“Curioser and curiouser,” Jack said. “Are we looking for anything in particular?”
“Lucy’ll fill you in. I’d rather not tell you what we’re looking for, so we can see if you notice anything . . . odd,” D said.
“Odd? Hmmm . . . OK, D, we’ll get on it first thing tomorrow,” Jack confirmed. “Right now, I’m taking Sue and Levi out, and we may be out of cell range, so if you need anything, leave me a voice mail and I’ll call you back later.”
“Take good care of your little family, Jack,” D said, slyly, a low chuckle coming from him, and the sound of laughter from the rest of the team coming through into Jack’s ear.
“Don’t worry, D. I will,” Jack said, to the surprise of everyone listening in on the conversation. Everyone was privy to it except for the one person to whom it probably mattered the most – Sue. “Talk to you later, and tell the peanut gallery that SUE misses them.”
“What was that all about?” Sue asked. She didn’t really wonder until she read his lips and saw the words “peanut gallery.” Not a phrase she often saw on Jack’s lips.
“Just giving the team a hard time for once. They seem to like to give ME a hard time, after all,” he said.
“About what?” she pressed, seeing the discomfort on his face.
“Oh . . . nothing really,” he said, and then pulled his arm away from her and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “How’s about we get ready for that outing,” he blustered, trying to pull her away from the subject.
“I’m more than ready,” Sue said. “Are you sure it won’t be too hard on you taking both of us out like this?” She didn’t want to be a burden, and she knew that there was no way she was going to get down those stairs without a lot of help from Jack.
“Sue, don’t worry about me. I signed on for this, remember? Part of our deal?” he said, smiling at her as he sat on the coffee table in front of her, his face closer to hers than usual.
Her breathing was a little on the shallow side as she felt his nearness. When he took both her hands in his, she thought she might just forget to breathe.
“Hey, you OK?” he asked, a look of concern crossing his face as he felt her hands go clammy all at once.
“Uh . . . yeah, I’m fine. Um . . . yeah,” she stammered.
“I figure it’s all the more important we get out while we can, now, since it seems that D has found something for us to do for the next couple of days,” he said, still watching her closely. “You sure you’re OK? We can wait ‘til after lunch if you’d rather, and then just go for a drive?”
“No, I think getting outside would be a good idea. The weather’s supposed to be good today . . . low humidity, sunshine . . . later on it might not be so good. I just hate to think about you having to practically carry me down the steps,” she said, blushing at the very idea.
Jack tilted his head toward her, quirking an eyebrow at her and smiling at her with a bit of a smirk. “I can think of worse ways to spend a few minutes,” he said, leaning closer to her. “Don’t tell Levi, but carrying you is much more fun than carrying him, and you can take that any way you want to.” And with that, Jack kissed her nose quickly and got up to start gathering things together for their outing, leaving a slightly dazed Sue sitting on the couch, wondering where the real Jack had gone and who was this fun-loving stranger that seemed to have appeared in his place.
Thanks for all the comments!Regina
Chapter 7
Once Jack retrieved Levi from the animal hospital, it didn’t take long for him, Lucy, Sue, and Levi to slip into a routine. Jack joked about his little “family of four,” and was diligent to take Levi out whenever necessary, glad that a dog in a cast was more mobile than a human in a cast. At least they have three other legs on which to balance, unlike poor Sue.
Levi was recovering nicely, although he still had a few weeks of a cast to deal with. Watching him hobble around the apartment, and even able to go up and down stairs, made Sue wince every time just thinking about it.
For Sue’s part, she was continually in awe of the way Jack seemed to be a natural at care-giving. She could hardly move without his showing up at her side, but alternately, he encouraged her to do as much for herself as possible . . . under supervision and his watchful eye.
About a week into Sue’s forced confinement, Jack noticed she was getting a little stir-crazy just looking at the walls of the apartment. Here it was, the middle of summer, and she was stuck inside. Jack was starting to pick up on her restlessness, and she was even beginning to get a little snappish, which was totally unlike her.
“I have an idea,” Jack said, about 10am on Monday morning when he came and sat next to her after he had helped her get to the couch, only to hear her sigh several times and start rolling through the channels on the television.
“I’m open to anything, Jack,” Sue said, looking at him hopefully when he squeezed her shoulder and smiled at her affectionately.
“How about we go for a drive in the country. I think Levi’s ready for a change of scenery, too. I know a place where we could have a picnic and get some fresh air. What do you think?” he asked. He was getting a little house-burned himself.
“I don’t care where it is, don’t care how long it takes to get there . . . I’m ready to get out of here,” Sue said, her laugh a little strained, the color coming and going in her face in reaction to his nearness.
Sue was getting stir-crazy, but more likely she was getting Jack-crazy. She had never seen him so patient and caring as he had been over the course of the past week. She was beginning to realize just how used to having him around she was becoming. It scared her, and saddened her just a little, to think about the day coming when Jack would go back home. Living without him seemed impossible.
“I think I know just the place,” he said. “The day you got hurt, and they couldn’t find me, I had driven over to Arlington to question a witness, and saw the signs to the Potomac Overlook Regional Park, and that’s where I was when they couldn’t get me on my cell,” he said, smiling at her with a shrug. “I was checking it out, thinking it would be a nice place for us to go sometime.”
Sue looked at him closely, a slight frown on her face as she thought of what he was saying. Before she could say anything, she felt Jack jerk, and then pull his cell phone out of his pocket.
“This is Jack,” he said, then signing to her that he was talking to D. “Hey, D, what’s going on?”
“Jack, we’re kind of into something that we need your help on, and we need Sue’s help,” D began. “Any chance of you both looking at a surveillance tape and having Sue transcribe it for us if Lucy brings it home tonight?
Jack paused as he listened, a frown appearing between his brows as he glanced over at Sue. “I don’t know, D. Sue’s still got some sick time coming, you know. I was about to get her and Levi out of the house for the first time, today.”
Sue poked him, saying, “What is it?” after seeing her name on his lips.
“Just a minute, D, and I’ll ask her,” Jack said into the phone, and then covering the mouthpiece. Turning to her, he said, “D’s got a tape he needs to be transcribed. Do you think you’d feel like doing it tonight, if Lucy brought it home? You don’t have to, you know. If you don’t feel up to it, just say the word,” he said, looking closely at her, seeing the wheels turn in her head.
“It would give me something to do,” she said, hopefully.
“I can think of better ways to kill time than that,” Jack whispered, quirking an eyebrow up at her suggestively.
“Jack!” she said, blushing vividly, elbowing him in the ribs as he laughed at her.
“OK, OK! I’ll tell him, and then we’ll get out of here before they come up with something else for us to do,” he sighed, conceding defeat.
“D? Yeah, she’ll do it,” Jack said, rolling his eyes at Sue.
“Good. I think this may be something you can both sink your teeth in, Jack. And Levi, too,” D said cryptically.
“Levi?” Jack asked. Now his curiosity was engaged.
“Yeah!” D chuckled into the phone. “I’ll send the tape by Lucy so you can get started on it tomorrow. It’s pretty long, so Sue’ll probably need a couple of days to work on it.”
“Curioser and curiouser,” Jack said. “Are we looking for anything in particular?”
“Lucy’ll fill you in. I’d rather not tell you what we’re looking for, so we can see if you notice anything . . . odd,” D said.
“Odd? Hmmm . . . OK, D, we’ll get on it first thing tomorrow,” Jack confirmed. “Right now, I’m taking Sue and Levi out, and we may be out of cell range, so if you need anything, leave me a voice mail and I’ll call you back later.”
“Take good care of your little family, Jack,” D said, slyly, a low chuckle coming from him, and the sound of laughter from the rest of the team coming through into Jack’s ear.
“Don’t worry, D. I will,” Jack said, to the surprise of everyone listening in on the conversation. Everyone was privy to it except for the one person to whom it probably mattered the most – Sue. “Talk to you later, and tell the peanut gallery that SUE misses them.”
“What was that all about?” Sue asked. She didn’t really wonder until she read his lips and saw the words “peanut gallery.” Not a phrase she often saw on Jack’s lips.
“Just giving the team a hard time for once. They seem to like to give ME a hard time, after all,” he said.
“About what?” she pressed, seeing the discomfort on his face.
“Oh . . . nothing really,” he said, and then pulled his arm away from her and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “How’s about we get ready for that outing,” he blustered, trying to pull her away from the subject.
“I’m more than ready,” Sue said. “Are you sure it won’t be too hard on you taking both of us out like this?” She didn’t want to be a burden, and she knew that there was no way she was going to get down those stairs without a lot of help from Jack.
“Sue, don’t worry about me. I signed on for this, remember? Part of our deal?” he said, smiling at her as he sat on the coffee table in front of her, his face closer to hers than usual.
Her breathing was a little on the shallow side as she felt his nearness. When he took both her hands in his, she thought she might just forget to breathe.
“Hey, you OK?” he asked, a look of concern crossing his face as he felt her hands go clammy all at once.
“Uh . . . yeah, I’m fine. Um . . . yeah,” she stammered.
“I figure it’s all the more important we get out while we can, now, since it seems that D has found something for us to do for the next couple of days,” he said, still watching her closely. “You sure you’re OK? We can wait ‘til after lunch if you’d rather, and then just go for a drive?”
“No, I think getting outside would be a good idea. The weather’s supposed to be good today . . . low humidity, sunshine . . . later on it might not be so good. I just hate to think about you having to practically carry me down the steps,” she said, blushing at the very idea.
Jack tilted his head toward her, quirking an eyebrow at her and smiling at her with a bit of a smirk. “I can think of worse ways to spend a few minutes,” he said, leaning closer to her. “Don’t tell Levi, but carrying you is much more fun than carrying him, and you can take that any way you want to.” And with that, Jack kissed her nose quickly and got up to start gathering things together for their outing, leaving a slightly dazed Sue sitting on the couch, wondering where the real Jack had gone and who was this fun-loving stranger that seemed to have appeared in his place.
A picnic... a man... a woman... a dog...
What a good way to spend some time...
I'm sure it don't bother Jack a second to have to take care of her that way!
As for the tape Sue need to transcript, I have an idea though I'll wait PATIENTLY to see if I'm right... (I decided to try it for a change, is that a good idea Regina?! )
What a good way to spend some time...
I'm sure it don't bother Jack a second to have to take care of her that way!
As for the tape Sue need to transcript, I have an idea though I'll wait PATIENTLY to see if I'm right... (I decided to try it for a change, is that a good idea Regina?!
)
I'm really interested about this tape D is sending home by Lucy!!!
That's the way, Jack, get Sue dazed, then kiss her senseless!!!
Joy
That's the way, Jack, get Sue dazed, then kiss her senseless!!!
Joy
Can't wait for the picnic 
, I think it will be fun 
I'm curious about that tape...
...well, I suppose that I can wait, can't I? 
Tere
, I think it will be fun I'm curious about that tape...
...well, I suppose that I can wait, can't I? Tere
QUOTE(suesfan @ Jul 22 2008, 03:13 PM) 
I'm really interested about this tape D is sending home by Lucy!!!
That's the way, Jack, get Sue dazed, then kiss her senseless!!!
Joy
Same here.
I want to go on a picnic... with Jack 
Em
Em
Oh boy! A picnic
Kim
Kim
A picnic sounds like fun especially when it's out of cell rang and there would be no distractions for Jack and Sue.
And as for this tape... I have some sort of strange idea of what it could be about, but I think I'll zip my lips for nos, cause like I said, it was strange.
Lindsy
And as for this tape... I have some sort of strange idea of what it could be about, but I think I'll zip my lips for nos, cause like I said, it was strange.
Lindsy
A picnic . . . with Jack . . . sounds lovely, doesn't it? Just so you know, they won't EVEN get as far as LUNCH in this post . . . 'nuff said?
Thanks for reading!!
Regina
Chapter 8
They had taken Sue’s convertible so that when they got to the park, Jack could put the top down so that they could enjoy the summer breeze. “I figure since you can’t exactly hike, you can at least enjoy feeling the wind in your hair while I drive you around,” Jack said, smiling over at an incredibly relaxed Sue as she leaned back in the seat looking at him. Levi was enjoying the breeze from his blanket on the back seat of the car, and was currently lying, asleep, almost on his back in relaxation.
“Thank you, Jack. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to get out of the house,” she said, smiling at him, and then looking out at the lovely scene spread before her. Looking behind her, she giggled. “I think Levi’s enjoying it, too.”
Jack had pulled into a “scenic overlook” area, which looked out at the Potomac and the lighthouse for which the park was famous. Reaching over to take her hand in his, he smiled when he felt her fingers curl between his. Sue might be watching the scenery, but Jack was taking this opportunity to enjoy an entirely different view.
Pulling her hand to his lips and kissing it, he finally had her full attention when she turned and smiled at him. “Sue, could we talk?”
Seeing the look of trepidation in his eyes, Sue felt a little jolt run through her. “What is it, Jack? Is something wrong?”
“No . . . I don’t think so . . . I just . . .” Jack tore his eyes away from her and looked out at the scenery for a minute to gather his thoughts.
“Jack?” she said, starting to get a little worried.
Looking back at her, he smiled a little grimly at her as he turned sideways to face her and leaned his head back on the headrest. With his left hand he reached over to touch her cheek in the close confines of the Mustang. “I never told you why they couldn’t get in touch with me the other day, did I? I mean, I told you I came here, but I didn’t tell you why.”
“No . . . no, you didn’t. Why did you come out here that day, Jack? I mean . . . you don’t HAVE to tell me. I respect your privacy, but if you WANT to tell me, I will be glad to listen,” Sue said quietly, still puzzled at the change in Jack’s demeanor today. He’d been oh, so patient with her and Levi, stuck with them for a week now, and they had gradually come to a comfort level with one another in the same apartment that they hadn’t realized before. But today . . . today it was as though he had been biding his time. He had come to a decision, and he was waiting for something. Something that only she could give him. That’s all she could figure. His touch was different. It was not the touch of a caregiver, though he gave the utmost care . . . it was the touch of someone wanting more . . .
“Sue . . . when I came out here last week, I was almost at the end of my rope,” he began, talking quickly, lest he backtracked once again and didn’t get the words out that he needed to say.
“Jack . . .” she whispered, staring at the same expression that she had seen the day he thought was her last day in Washington . . . but wasn’t. When he had approached her in the hallway, prepared to bare his soul . . . but didn’t.
Jack looked down at her hand in his, shaking his head and smiling a bit. “Sue, I don’t know how much longer I can take it, loving you, and not being able to take care of you the way I want to, afraid that you’ll leave and I would have never told you. I came out here to do some thinking. I thought about all that we’ve been through, all that we’ve talked about, all that I’ve dreamed about, and I know I’m not the kind of man you deserve . . .”
“Jack! Slow down and look at me . . . did you just say you loved me?” Sue asked, pulling his chin up with her hand, her face glowing with hope, her voice shaking.
When he lifted his head, she saw suspicious moisture in his eyes as he took the hand that had touched his chin, and said, “Yes, Sue, I love you. I know you deserve more than me, but I can’t help it. I love you.”
Seeing the look in her eyes, and the tears coursing down her smiling face, hope began to spring into his eyes as she said, “I love you, too, Jack. That’s why I didn’t go to New York. I couldn’t. Not without knowing how you felt.”
The hope in Jack’s eyes brought them to life as he smiled at the weeping woman who had somehow made her way into his heart, and into his arms. Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, he looked deeply into them, shaking his head as he thought of all the ways he had planned to tell her he loved her, but didn’t, and of all the times he had almost taken her in his arms and kissed her . . . but didn’t. This was not going to be one of those times.
Bending toward her, carefully drawing her close without tugging on her injured knee, he began his slow assault by dipping in to sample her bottom lip – the one that she constantly worried when concentrating. When he felt her body begin to melt into his and her hands slowly trail up his chest and around his neck, he wrapped his hands around her ribcage, stroking and kneading the soft, firm flesh on her back as he deepened his kiss, finding no objection, but instead further invitation.
Jack smiled into her kiss as he pulled away, wanting just to look at her for a few minutes, knowing that she loved him, and that she was his.
Thanks for reading!!
Regina
Chapter 8
They had taken Sue’s convertible so that when they got to the park, Jack could put the top down so that they could enjoy the summer breeze. “I figure since you can’t exactly hike, you can at least enjoy feeling the wind in your hair while I drive you around,” Jack said, smiling over at an incredibly relaxed Sue as she leaned back in the seat looking at him. Levi was enjoying the breeze from his blanket on the back seat of the car, and was currently lying, asleep, almost on his back in relaxation.
“Thank you, Jack. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to get out of the house,” she said, smiling at him, and then looking out at the lovely scene spread before her. Looking behind her, she giggled. “I think Levi’s enjoying it, too.”
Jack had pulled into a “scenic overlook” area, which looked out at the Potomac and the lighthouse for which the park was famous. Reaching over to take her hand in his, he smiled when he felt her fingers curl between his. Sue might be watching the scenery, but Jack was taking this opportunity to enjoy an entirely different view.
Pulling her hand to his lips and kissing it, he finally had her full attention when she turned and smiled at him. “Sue, could we talk?”
Seeing the look of trepidation in his eyes, Sue felt a little jolt run through her. “What is it, Jack? Is something wrong?”
“No . . . I don’t think so . . . I just . . .” Jack tore his eyes away from her and looked out at the scenery for a minute to gather his thoughts.
“Jack?” she said, starting to get a little worried.
Looking back at her, he smiled a little grimly at her as he turned sideways to face her and leaned his head back on the headrest. With his left hand he reached over to touch her cheek in the close confines of the Mustang. “I never told you why they couldn’t get in touch with me the other day, did I? I mean, I told you I came here, but I didn’t tell you why.”
“No . . . no, you didn’t. Why did you come out here that day, Jack? I mean . . . you don’t HAVE to tell me. I respect your privacy, but if you WANT to tell me, I will be glad to listen,” Sue said quietly, still puzzled at the change in Jack’s demeanor today. He’d been oh, so patient with her and Levi, stuck with them for a week now, and they had gradually come to a comfort level with one another in the same apartment that they hadn’t realized before. But today . . . today it was as though he had been biding his time. He had come to a decision, and he was waiting for something. Something that only she could give him. That’s all she could figure. His touch was different. It was not the touch of a caregiver, though he gave the utmost care . . . it was the touch of someone wanting more . . .
“Sue . . . when I came out here last week, I was almost at the end of my rope,” he began, talking quickly, lest he backtracked once again and didn’t get the words out that he needed to say.
“Jack . . .” she whispered, staring at the same expression that she had seen the day he thought was her last day in Washington . . . but wasn’t. When he had approached her in the hallway, prepared to bare his soul . . . but didn’t.
Jack looked down at her hand in his, shaking his head and smiling a bit. “Sue, I don’t know how much longer I can take it, loving you, and not being able to take care of you the way I want to, afraid that you’ll leave and I would have never told you. I came out here to do some thinking. I thought about all that we’ve been through, all that we’ve talked about, all that I’ve dreamed about, and I know I’m not the kind of man you deserve . . .”
“Jack! Slow down and look at me . . . did you just say you loved me?” Sue asked, pulling his chin up with her hand, her face glowing with hope, her voice shaking.
When he lifted his head, she saw suspicious moisture in his eyes as he took the hand that had touched his chin, and said, “Yes, Sue, I love you. I know you deserve more than me, but I can’t help it. I love you.”
Seeing the look in her eyes, and the tears coursing down her smiling face, hope began to spring into his eyes as she said, “I love you, too, Jack. That’s why I didn’t go to New York. I couldn’t. Not without knowing how you felt.”
The hope in Jack’s eyes brought them to life as he smiled at the weeping woman who had somehow made her way into his heart, and into his arms. Brushing her bangs out of her eyes, he looked deeply into them, shaking his head as he thought of all the ways he had planned to tell her he loved her, but didn’t, and of all the times he had almost taken her in his arms and kissed her . . . but didn’t. This was not going to be one of those times.
Bending toward her, carefully drawing her close without tugging on her injured knee, he began his slow assault by dipping in to sample her bottom lip – the one that she constantly worried when concentrating. When he felt her body begin to melt into his and her hands slowly trail up his chest and around his neck, he wrapped his hands around her ribcage, stroking and kneading the soft, firm flesh on her back as he deepened his kiss, finding no objection, but instead further invitation.
Jack smiled into her kiss as he pulled away, wanting just to look at her for a few minutes, knowing that she loved him, and that she was his.
No words can describe my feelings right now...but a puddle of mush.
A big thankyou Regina. ...Wow!
A big thankyou Regina. ...Wow!
W O O H O O ! ! ! Some of the confessions more romantic that I've ever read!
WONDERFUL!! 
Tere
Well now... I was going to apologize for somehow missing yesterday's post - still not sure how I did that - but seeing as how I just got to read through both it and today's, and really enjoyed not having to 'wait for the date' ('cause it IS, you know), I can't in all good conscience say that I'm sorry!
Jack in caring, playful, flirting mode is just sooooooooooo good, I don't really have an adequate word for it! Sleep on Levi, your humans are a bit busy, and I hope they stay busy!!
Tina
Jack in caring, playful, flirting mode is just sooooooooooo good, I don't really have an adequate word for it! Sleep on Levi, your humans are a bit busy, and I hope they stay busy!! Tina
Great job, Gina. That was so realistic that I had to check to be sure I wasn't actually in that car when Jack told her how he felt. I think one thing I noticed in this reveal was the nice touch of humility in Jack as told her, and not at all like some self-absorbed guy conveying, "Here I am, baby, and aren't you lucky." I am not sure if that made a lot of sense.
Ivory, you made perfect sense. My thought is that any man, faced with the true love of his life, will be humbled, somehow! Thanks!
Words cannot possibly explain how I feel right now, so I think I'll just let this little guy show you!
Lindsy
Is it me or is it getting hot around here???
What a beautiful confession!!!
Now girl,
What a beautiful confession!!!
Now girl,
That was marvelous!
Kim
Kim
QUOTE
Sue was getting stir-crazy, but more likely she was getting Jack-crazy.
I can totally understand how that can happen to a girl! Somehow I missed yesterday's post too and voila I got to read two and here is Jack not being turtlish at all!!!!! 
QUOTE
Jack smiled into her kiss as he pulled away, wanting just to look at her for a few minutes, knowing that she loved him, and that she was his
Not only does she get to be kissed by Jack after a declaration of love but she gets to endure his look of adoration. be still my heart!!!kav
I guess Jack really was at the end of his rope!! That caused him to make the most heart-felt, romantic, perfect declaration to Sue that he could possibly make!!! I love every word he uttered (you write, Regina)!!!
Joy
Joy
Oh! Jack and Sue were going on a picnic, weren't they? Sorry . . . they got a little distracted . . .
Thanks again for reading, and for your wonderful comments. My cushion is dwindling (I'll only be ahead by 6 posts after this!
), and my wonderful cast of characters seem to be taking their time telling me what they want to do next . . . Hope you enjoy the rest of their DATE!!
Regina
Chapter 9
Lunch eaten and the remains put away, Jack spread out a blanket and leaned on the tree, a sleepy, contented Sue leaning upon him for support, her back against his solid chest. Levi hobbled around a little, finding out pretty quickly that chasing squirrels was not going to be in the plan for today. After a few attempts, Levi settled himself on the blanket next to Jack and Sue. Somehow, things had changed for his humans, and he was interested in the new games they seemed to be playing. He would be glad when his leg didn’t have that stiff thing on it anymore and he could play with them. It was just too much trouble, now.
Jack’s arms had automatically wrapped themselves around her, and what little conversation they had, they signed, Jack using Sue’s body for reference. From time to time he would take his finger and bring her face around so that he could kiss her lips, and from time to time she would lean back, twine her arms around his neck and shift, as best she could with a cast, to lie in his arms, looking up at him. This was the way she wanted to stay forever.
“What are you thinking about?” Sue asked him, when he had been quiet too long.
Lying on his back, looking up at the branches of the tree with one arm crooked behind his head acting as a pillow, he said, shrugging a little, “About you, and how I almost didn’t say anything, again, today.” He looked down at the woman who, somehow in the course of the afternoon had worked her way down, along with him, and had shifted herself to where she was on her stomach, injured leg resting on his, her arms folded on his chest, her chin resting on her hands as she looked at him through her bangs.
“I’m glad you did,” she said softly, “because I don’t know if I would have ever gotten up enough nerve to tell you how I felt, OR to leave you. We might have lived in limbo the rest of our lives.” At the very thought of living the way they had for the last four years, she felt tears begin to spring to her eyes until she smiled, remembering that she didn’t have to think about that anymore. It was time to move forward.
“I could lie here and look at you forever, did you know that?” He loved to see contentment and happiness seep into her expressions. She normally wore a calm, serene expression, but he had known her long enough . . . loved her long enough . . . to pick out little clues that indicated stress, discontentment, and sadness. Today he saw none of those negatives.
“I think that might be arranged,” she said softly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “But come wintertime, this blanket under this tree might not be so comfy.” A slight sigh escaped her lips. “Lucy’ll be home soon. I wonder if anybody’s been trying to call us,” she said, the real world beginning to invade their paradise, if only in their minds.
“I told D I was taking you and Levi out, so they shouldn’t be worried about us. I’ll check in when we get closer to DC and a signal. You OK?” he asked, worried that the outing might have been too much for her injured body.
“Right now, from my perch here on cloud 9, I’m doing great. Ask me again in the morning when the soreness sets in,” she laughed as they struggled to get up from their makeshift lounge.
Picking her up in his arms easily, he reached in and kissed her tenderly, loving the feel of her in his arms. “I love you, Sue Thomas, and I don’t want to ever forget this day,” he said, his eyes burning into hers.
“I love you, too, Jack,” she said, touching his face, not able to satisfy the need to be in contact with him, to touch him, to kiss him. When he put her down and helped her into the passenger seat of the car, she felt suddenly lonely as he went back to retrieve Levi and the blankets.
Jack rushed back to gather up their things, having put Levi in the backseat. When he got back in the car, and reached in to start the car, he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest at the look Sue was giving him. “Sue?” he asked, wondering what she was thinking.
“Jack . . . I’m scared . . . and ecstatic . . . at the same time. I don’t know how to describe how I feel right now, but I’m . . . shaking,” she said, holding up her trembling hand, reaction setting in as she thought back over the afternoon, and how differently they were returning to DC from when they left.
Jack smiled at her, taking the trembling hand and kissing her palm, causing her to shake even more, and all over. “I know, Sue. I feel the same way. I guess it could be almost described as ‘delicious,’ couldn’t it?” he laughed. “Hate to burst your bubble, but I think part of it may be that you’re just plain tired, too, you know. You haven’t been out of the house in over a week.”
She took a deep breath, her confidence growing with each touch from him, and she began to relax. She sighed happily as she smiled back at him, realizing that he was right – the combination of her overwhelmed feelings and her injuries probably were taking their toll on her – But what a way to go.
“Levi seems to be adjusting pretty well,” Jack said, trying to bring them back to reality for the drive home.
“Yeah, except for when he wanted to chase that squirrel back there. I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him,” Sue said, looking back at Levi lolling in the back seat, tail wagging happily at the contentment on his Sue’s face.
Somehow, Levi got the idea that Sue wasn’t just his anymore. Now he had to share her. Since the accident, Jack had been around a whole lot more, and, well, he acted different. Maybe it’s because he’s not been wearing a tie? He’s been cooking, too . . . which is totally not like him . . . but Levi wasn’t going to argue. He got a lot more tidbits of food from Jack than he ever did from Sue or Lucy. Knowing he was being discussed, Levi zoned back into the conversation between his two favorite humans.
“Did you see him when he started dreaming that he was running? I had to shift you over to keep you from getting whacked with his cast!” Jack said, turning a little red as he thought of the position they were in when that happened.
Sue was blushing, too. So much for returning to normalcy, she thought, with a giggle. “I guess I missed that completely,” she said, chancing a glance his way, loving the way his smile lit up his whole being, even looking frontward as he drove. She couldn’t resist. She had to put her fingers in his hair. When she did, she saw, rather than heard, him groan.
Reaching up to take her hand, he pulled it to his lips, and then held it, fast, on his thigh. “That’s probably not a good idea, either,” he said, and put their linked hands on the console, out of temptation’s way.
“How long ‘til we get home?” Sue asked, a little breathlessly.
“Not long,” he said. She couldn’t hear the strangled quality in his voice, but she could see the desire in his eyes when he glanced at her. “And Lucy will probably be there when we get there.”
“Oh,” Sue said, her face falling just a bit. “What are we going to tell her?” They kept aiming to get around to this discussion, but never did.
Jack the organizer had already been thinking about this. “The way I see it, we have a couple of options,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her slightly, causing her to grin. “One, we make out on the couch and let her figure it out herself, or, Two, we just tell her.”
“Well . . . number one certainly has its advantages,” she said, giggling as she saw him laugh out loud and pull her hand back to his lips for a quick kiss, “but number two is probably a better idea, don’t you think?”
“Probably – A little anti-climactic, but effective. Lucy already has an idea how I feel about you, so it shouldn’t be too hard, should it? She kinda cornered me in the kitchen that first night while you were asleep. I mean . . . she’s the one that’s wanted this to happen for what? Nearly four years now?” Jack said, glancing at her to gauge her reaction to his admission to telling Lucy before telling her.
“Sounds like a plan to me. I say we just tell her,” Sue said, nodding decisively, and then turned to give Jack a radiant smile. “You’ve been planning this that long . . . Oh, Jack . . . I can’t wait . . .”
“Me neither,” Jack said, smiling back at her, and squeezing her hand as they began to see city traffic, knowing that their idyllic time together in the country had come to a close. Now they had to face living in the real world, with real people, real cases, and real criminals that had to be caught. Not exactly a walk in the park . . . but they were facing it together, finally.
Sorry . . . they got a little distracted . . . Thanks again for reading, and for your wonderful comments. My cushion is dwindling (I'll only be ahead by 6 posts after this!
), and my wonderful cast of characters seem to be taking their time telling me what they want to do next . . . Hope you enjoy the rest of their DATE!! Regina
Chapter 9
Lunch eaten and the remains put away, Jack spread out a blanket and leaned on the tree, a sleepy, contented Sue leaning upon him for support, her back against his solid chest. Levi hobbled around a little, finding out pretty quickly that chasing squirrels was not going to be in the plan for today. After a few attempts, Levi settled himself on the blanket next to Jack and Sue. Somehow, things had changed for his humans, and he was interested in the new games they seemed to be playing. He would be glad when his leg didn’t have that stiff thing on it anymore and he could play with them. It was just too much trouble, now.
Jack’s arms had automatically wrapped themselves around her, and what little conversation they had, they signed, Jack using Sue’s body for reference. From time to time he would take his finger and bring her face around so that he could kiss her lips, and from time to time she would lean back, twine her arms around his neck and shift, as best she could with a cast, to lie in his arms, looking up at him. This was the way she wanted to stay forever.
“What are you thinking about?” Sue asked him, when he had been quiet too long.
Lying on his back, looking up at the branches of the tree with one arm crooked behind his head acting as a pillow, he said, shrugging a little, “About you, and how I almost didn’t say anything, again, today.” He looked down at the woman who, somehow in the course of the afternoon had worked her way down, along with him, and had shifted herself to where she was on her stomach, injured leg resting on his, her arms folded on his chest, her chin resting on her hands as she looked at him through her bangs.
“I’m glad you did,” she said softly, “because I don’t know if I would have ever gotten up enough nerve to tell you how I felt, OR to leave you. We might have lived in limbo the rest of our lives.” At the very thought of living the way they had for the last four years, she felt tears begin to spring to her eyes until she smiled, remembering that she didn’t have to think about that anymore. It was time to move forward.
“I could lie here and look at you forever, did you know that?” He loved to see contentment and happiness seep into her expressions. She normally wore a calm, serene expression, but he had known her long enough . . . loved her long enough . . . to pick out little clues that indicated stress, discontentment, and sadness. Today he saw none of those negatives.
“I think that might be arranged,” she said softly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “But come wintertime, this blanket under this tree might not be so comfy.” A slight sigh escaped her lips. “Lucy’ll be home soon. I wonder if anybody’s been trying to call us,” she said, the real world beginning to invade their paradise, if only in their minds.
“I told D I was taking you and Levi out, so they shouldn’t be worried about us. I’ll check in when we get closer to DC and a signal. You OK?” he asked, worried that the outing might have been too much for her injured body.
“Right now, from my perch here on cloud 9, I’m doing great. Ask me again in the morning when the soreness sets in,” she laughed as they struggled to get up from their makeshift lounge.
Picking her up in his arms easily, he reached in and kissed her tenderly, loving the feel of her in his arms. “I love you, Sue Thomas, and I don’t want to ever forget this day,” he said, his eyes burning into hers.
“I love you, too, Jack,” she said, touching his face, not able to satisfy the need to be in contact with him, to touch him, to kiss him. When he put her down and helped her into the passenger seat of the car, she felt suddenly lonely as he went back to retrieve Levi and the blankets.
Jack rushed back to gather up their things, having put Levi in the backseat. When he got back in the car, and reached in to start the car, he felt like his heart was going to burst out of his chest at the look Sue was giving him. “Sue?” he asked, wondering what she was thinking.
“Jack . . . I’m scared . . . and ecstatic . . . at the same time. I don’t know how to describe how I feel right now, but I’m . . . shaking,” she said, holding up her trembling hand, reaction setting in as she thought back over the afternoon, and how differently they were returning to DC from when they left.
Jack smiled at her, taking the trembling hand and kissing her palm, causing her to shake even more, and all over. “I know, Sue. I feel the same way. I guess it could be almost described as ‘delicious,’ couldn’t it?” he laughed. “Hate to burst your bubble, but I think part of it may be that you’re just plain tired, too, you know. You haven’t been out of the house in over a week.”
She took a deep breath, her confidence growing with each touch from him, and she began to relax. She sighed happily as she smiled back at him, realizing that he was right – the combination of her overwhelmed feelings and her injuries probably were taking their toll on her – But what a way to go.
“Levi seems to be adjusting pretty well,” Jack said, trying to bring them back to reality for the drive home.
“Yeah, except for when he wanted to chase that squirrel back there. I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him,” Sue said, looking back at Levi lolling in the back seat, tail wagging happily at the contentment on his Sue’s face.
Somehow, Levi got the idea that Sue wasn’t just his anymore. Now he had to share her. Since the accident, Jack had been around a whole lot more, and, well, he acted different. Maybe it’s because he’s not been wearing a tie? He’s been cooking, too . . . which is totally not like him . . . but Levi wasn’t going to argue. He got a lot more tidbits of food from Jack than he ever did from Sue or Lucy. Knowing he was being discussed, Levi zoned back into the conversation between his two favorite humans.
“Did you see him when he started dreaming that he was running? I had to shift you over to keep you from getting whacked with his cast!” Jack said, turning a little red as he thought of the position they were in when that happened.
Sue was blushing, too. So much for returning to normalcy, she thought, with a giggle. “I guess I missed that completely,” she said, chancing a glance his way, loving the way his smile lit up his whole being, even looking frontward as he drove. She couldn’t resist. She had to put her fingers in his hair. When she did, she saw, rather than heard, him groan.
Reaching up to take her hand, he pulled it to his lips, and then held it, fast, on his thigh. “That’s probably not a good idea, either,” he said, and put their linked hands on the console, out of temptation’s way.
“How long ‘til we get home?” Sue asked, a little breathlessly.
“Not long,” he said. She couldn’t hear the strangled quality in his voice, but she could see the desire in his eyes when he glanced at her. “And Lucy will probably be there when we get there.”
“Oh,” Sue said, her face falling just a bit. “What are we going to tell her?” They kept aiming to get around to this discussion, but never did.
Jack the organizer had already been thinking about this. “The way I see it, we have a couple of options,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her slightly, causing her to grin. “One, we make out on the couch and let her figure it out herself, or, Two, we just tell her.”
“Well . . . number one certainly has its advantages,” she said, giggling as she saw him laugh out loud and pull her hand back to his lips for a quick kiss, “but number two is probably a better idea, don’t you think?”
“Probably – A little anti-climactic, but effective. Lucy already has an idea how I feel about you, so it shouldn’t be too hard, should it? She kinda cornered me in the kitchen that first night while you were asleep. I mean . . . she’s the one that’s wanted this to happen for what? Nearly four years now?” Jack said, glancing at her to gauge her reaction to his admission to telling Lucy before telling her.
“Sounds like a plan to me. I say we just tell her,” Sue said, nodding decisively, and then turned to give Jack a radiant smile. “You’ve been planning this that long . . . Oh, Jack . . . I can’t wait . . .”
“Me neither,” Jack said, smiling back at her, and squeezing her hand as they began to see city traffic, knowing that their idyllic time together in the country had come to a close. Now they had to face living in the real world, with real people, real cases, and real criminals that had to be caught. Not exactly a walk in the park . . . but they were facing it together, finally.
Together...what a perfect way to face the world!
Kim
Kim
I'd say more but that pretty much sums it up.
Lindsy
I'm kind of glad they didn't choose option number 2. Well think about it... Lucy catching them making out on the couch...! It would have been fun for us to read, but... poor Lucy... she could have had a heart attact with the shock!!!
Really well written, Regina!
It would have been fun for us to read, but... poor Lucy... she could have had a heart attact with the shock!!! Really well written, Regina!
I like the last line!
Tere ---->
Tere ---->
Well, that was a splendid afternoon by all accounts. That sounded so like Jack to have their options all organized in his mind. That last line was a winner.
Personally, I vote they just stay on the blanket until winter hits. Lucy would have figured it out by then! And just what position were they in when Levi was dreaming???? Hmmmm???? Tina
QUOTE(kmt123 @ Jul 24 2008, 07:35 PM)
And just what position were they in when Levi was dreaming???? Hmmmm???? Tina
Wouldn't YOU like to know . . .
I guess you'll just have to use your VIVID imagination!Thanks for reading!!
Regina
Chapter 10
“Hey, peg-leg!” Lucy said, laughing as Levi hobbled in the door of the apartment.
Looking at the open door, she looked at the dog and asked curiously, “Where’s the boss,” as she walked over to either close the door or help them in with their picnic stuff, finding, instead of an overburdened Jack trying to carry everything at once, a very happy Jack having carried Sue up the stairs in his arms. He had paused at the door to give Sue one last, heart pounding kiss before putting her down, not thinking that Lucy would be curious about the door and Levi coming in on his own.
“Well, well, well . . .” Lucy began, and it was for all the world the same feeling of shock as when they got caught kissing at Callaghan and Merced, only this time they didn’t step apart . . . because Jack was still holding her the way he had carried her up the stairs.
Sue and Jack just looked at one another, blushed, and began laughing. “Hi Luce,” they both said, in tandem, causing them to laugh again.
“OK, guys, whatever you had for lunch, I want some of that, too,” she said, seeing Sue’s vivid blush spread to her roots at the memory of said “lunch.”
“Sorry, Luce, can’t share some things,” Sue said, looking at Jack, wanting so badly to become lost again in his eyes and in his arms.
Jack sighed and kissed her nose, and took her to the couch, where he sat down with Sue in his lap.
“You could have just sat me down, Jack,” Sue said, practically.
“That’s no fun,” Jack said, impishly and smiled. “I still say we go with option number one.”
Sue rolled her eyes at him, flouncing a little, and said, “Jack, behave.”
“That’s no fun, either, but I’ll try,” he said, shifting her off his lap and standing up so that he could bring the rest of the stuff up from the car. “YOU OK?” he signed.
“Yeah,” she said, reaching her hand up to squeeze his. “Go ahead. Lucy and I have something to talk about.”
As Jack left, Lucy turned to Sue, a luminous smile on her face, and said, “He told you, didn’t he?”
Levi lay back and observed as Sue tried to look serious, but her smile began spilling over with glee as she nodded. Soon both girls were squealing, and Levi was barking. He could never understand what it was about humans going all kissy-face that made people squeal. All squealing was good for was to hurt his ears.
“Oh Lucy . . . I don’t know how I’ve survived until now. Does that make sense? It’s as if once he’s kissed me, there’s no going back. I honestly think I would wither away and die if I were to lose him, now,” Sue said, tears threatening to spill over.
“Girl, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Is it OK if I say “I told you so,” now?” Lucy asked, her grin so big it almost looked as if it could split her face.
“Lucy, you can say that to me and Jack any time you want,” Sue said, looking over Lucy’s shoulder at Jack entering with all their picnic fare. “Isn’t that right, Jack?” she asked him.
“What? I don’t make agreements until I’ve read the fine print. Lawyer, you know,” he grinned, with a wink, setting down the basket and laying the blanket on top of it before joining Sue in the living room.
“Lucy wants permission to say “I told you so” now. Is that OK with you?” Sue teased, enjoying the feeling of his hand on her waist as he sat, crowded with her on one end of the sofa.
Rolling his eyes and sighing exaggeratedly, he said, “I guess so,” and then smiled at them both. “But you’re the only one with permission,” he said, pointing his finger at her as she laughed.
“Gotcha. Wow. I have an idea. Why don’t I go do this . . . thing . . . at Grandma’s tonight, so you two can have some time alone?” Lucy said, smiling wickedly.
“Lucy, I appreciate it . . . I’m sure we both do . . . but . . .” Jack looked at Sue’s blushing face and smiled, the desire in her eyes had him both wanting to get her alone, and wanting to protect her from himself. Now wasn’t the time to explore any more deeply than they already had, today. It was enough that they knew. They knew they loved one another, and they knew that there was a future ahead for them.
“What Jack’s trying to say is that we’ve been alone all day, we’ll be alone all day tomorrow,” she said, looking pointedly at Jack, whose eyebrows shot up as he smiled in almost giddy realization, “and tonight, we probably need a chaperone.”
“Enough information. I won’t be able to work tomorrow wondering what’s going on here with you two,” Lucy said, waving her hands in front of her face.
“Um, Lucy, did D send that tape? I have a feeling we may need an, um, distraction tomorrow,” Jack said, massaging Sue’s shoulders and neck as he felt her start to lean back into him again.
"Together" - I just love that word!!!
Lucy took the news well, I would say, as we knew she would!! I love the scene where she and Sue are both squealing!!!
How cute is it that Jack wants to protect Sue from himself, admitting that they need a chaperone AND a distraction!!!
Joy
Lucy took the news well, I would say, as we knew she would!! I love the scene where she and Sue are both squealing!!!
How cute is it that Jack wants to protect Sue from himself, admitting that they need a chaperone AND a distraction!!!
Joy
Tere
I hope they're not going to regret the whole chaperone thing, cause if they even consider trying to get rid of Lucy now... I'll crack up laughing! 
Lindsy
Lindsy
They need a chaperone AND a distraction?
You know, without the chaperone, they would have plenty of distractions
You know, without the chaperone, they would have plenty of distractions
Seing the way Jack's massaging her shoulder right now, I think I understand why they want a chaperon!
Never before he would have dare touch her that way in front of someone and now... Lucy's with them... look at them... and he goes on!!!
Never before he would have dare touch her that way in front of someone and now... Lucy's with them... look at them... and he goes on!!!
Oh, Regina I just discovered this story and read everything you have posted so far and all I can say is:
I LOVE IT!
I LOVE IT!
I LOVE IT!
As much as I've enjoyed all of your other stories, I have to say that this one is my favorite thus far!!!!
Can't wait to read more!!!!
- RSL
I LOVE IT!
I LOVE IT!
I LOVE IT!
As much as I've enjoyed all of your other stories, I have to say that this one is my favorite thus far!!!!
Can't wait to read more!!!!
- RSL
Hey, I'm reading to find out what's in YOUR imagination girlfriend! QUOTE
“Jack, behave.”
PFFFFFFFFFTTT!!!
I agree, where's the fun in that??
You know, one of the sexiest things about that post was Jack rubbing her shoulders... I sooooooooo want a Masseur!!
Tina
Hee, hee. That was a fun post. Loved the chaperone thing.
Excitement in my little corner of the world today! Hubby was offered a new job - at 10:10 last night - the one he REALLY wanted! Just had to share, and thanks to you who were praying with me about it! 
Thanks for reading, and for commenting! Finally . . . we have some case to think about!
Regina
Chapter 11
Rather than burden Lucy with all the information, D called an impromptu meeting at Sue’s apartment for 9am the following morning. “Bobby’s bringing the donuts, and Tara’s bringing the coffee, so you just sit back, relax, and we’ll fill you in,” D said, hoping that this wouldn’t be a big inconvenience for them.
Sue was excited. She was ready to see her friends, and ready to see how she, herself, and Jack would react to one another around them. Lucy had been sworn to secrecy, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be Lucy to give them away, but herself and Jack. They had so seamlessly adjusted to little things, like a quick kiss before leaving a room, or when Jack brings her a glass of water, a tender caress each time they were near one another, and the occasional passionate embrace when they sat together for many minutes at a time. What would happen when they had to stand next to one another, or sit next to one another in a meeting in the bullpen? “Should be interesting,” Sue said to herself, trying to look at this analytically, instead of emotionally.
“What should?” Jack asked, bringing her a glass of orange juice for her to take her medication.
“Jack . . .” Sue began, and then stopped as she turned her head, looking around for Lucy.
“In the shower,” he said, sensing what she was thinking.
“OK, good. Jack, have you thought about how things will be at work . . . now?” Sue asked, a little embarrassed that she had to bring it up.
“Yep. I have. I guess it wouldn’t be very professional for me to dip you down and kiss you passionately every time I pass your desk, would it,” he asked, his tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he quirked an eyebrow at her.
“FUNNY YOU,” Sue signed, giving him her best “grow up” look. “I’m serious. What if we . . . forget?”
“Sue. Think about it. Do you honestly think, at our age, that we’ll behave like a couple of hormonal teenagers when we’re working? We haven’t yet, and I’ve been in love with you for over three years,” he said.
“Seriously? Three years? My, my Jack. You ARE quite the turtle, aren’t you?” Sue said, laughing. “I guess I’ve had it bad that long, too, so we should be OK. I guess what scares me is that it just seems like now that I’ve had a taste of your kisses, I just, somehow, don’t want to go back to not having them anytime I want them,” she said, flirting with him outrageously, loving the look of pleasure on his face.
“Darling, you can have them any time you want. We may just have to find a good place with a locking door when we need to do some extra . . . research,” he said, laughing, as he dipped in to take her lips in a searing kiss . . . a kiss that ended all too quickly. “Doorbell,” he said, pulling away from her with a groan.
“I guess now’s our chance to test our theory,” she said, straightening her hair and top as she waited in the living room for the arrival of their team, and their best friends.
*
They were all assembled in the living room of Sue and Lucy’s apartment, donuts and coffee consumed, friendly catching-up finished. The meeting had begun with Sue, her leg in the cast, in the center of the couch with her leg propped up on the coffee table, Jack to one side of her with his arm resting across the back of the couch and Tara on the other holding the DVD remote. Myles sat in the arm chair, Bobby in a straight chair turned backwards, Lucy leaning on the back of the couch, and D standing at a makeshift whiteboard – a large pad of conference-room paper on an easel.
“I had planned to just let you look at the surveillance tapes and see if you noticed anything, but we got some additional information yesterday that added a new complexion to the case. The case involves information brokering at pretty high levels, on Capitol Hill – in the Raeburn Building – one of two buildings housing the legislative offices. You all know that there are a few employees in that building that use helping dogs. Yeah, Levi, dogs in your line of work. There have been some mysterious leaks of information in that building, and we’ve started narrowing it down to the offices where those dogs are present,” D said.
“Couldn’t that be a coincidence?” Jack asked. “I mean, there might be some other common denominators, as well as the helping dogs.”
“That’s what we thought, until we started trying to find some, and there weren’t any,” Myles said, looking at Levi with what looked like renewed respect. “We think someone is planting bugs or recording devices on these dogs, somehow, and then retrieving them before we can catch them.”
“Where do the surveillance tapes come in?” Sue asked, intrigued at this turn of events.
“Fortunately, for us, the Raeburn Building has a state-of-the-art surveillance system, put in place by none other than us, the FBI,” Tara said, proudly. “The footage is digital, which means that it won’t be grainy, and it overwrites cleanly. There is also a system in place whereby they replace the DVDs that it records on every two weeks, ensuring good quality footage.”
“Very impressive of us, if I do say so myself,” Bobby said, as usual, impressed by Tara’s expertise in all things electronic. Sending a smile and a wink her way brought on that lovely blush that he was so fond of seeing on her face these days.
“Tara, show us a little of the tape we received on Friday last week,” D instructed.
She hit the “play” button and they all watched as the DVD began to reveal its secrets. “This starts at 7:30am on July 1, 2008,” she said. The first part was an employee entrance on the side of the Raeburn Building. The employees came through a metal detector each day, as was the case for both employees and visitors in every government building. As they watched, they saw many employees take off shoes and belts, empty pockets, put purses and bags through x-ray machines. One employee, finally, came in with a dog. “Watch, everybody, because this is where it gets interesting,” Tara said.
The employee with the dog went through the usual security checks, the dog sitting patiently waiting as the gentleman went through his paces. When they proclaimed the human ready to pass through, they brought the dog around to him on the other side of the checkpoint. The canine did not go through the security check.
“You’re right, Tara. That IS interesting,” Jack said, leaning forward as he watched closely. “Is this procedure common throughout the federal building security systems?”
“No,” D said, looking pointedly at Jack. “Our building has always put everybody, including our furry friends, through the same system. Raeburn used to. I’d like to know why they stopped, upon whose authority, and I’d like to know if any of those helping dogs have been compromised in any way. Sue, normally, I would put you in undercover as an aide, with Levi as your partner, and Jack there for backup, but that’s not going to happen this time,” he said, shrugging his shoulders at the loss of manpower.
“Then what do you need from us?” Sue asked.
“I need you and Jack to comb through this footage and see if you can identify anybody you know, that you might have a contact with in some way that you think we might be able to trust to do some observations for us. I also want you to see if you notice anything suspicious going on with the guards, with the owners, or with the dogs,” D said. He looked at each of them seriously. “I don’t have to tell you how important this is. We’ve got Congressmen and Senators up there that are on key committees, and making decisions that affect national security. Also, if this can happen in the Raeburn Building, it could happen anywhere, including the White House or the Hoover Building. Any questions?”
“I have one,” Myles said coolly.
“OK, Myles, what is it?” D asked.
“What kind of coffee IS this? It’s got a hint of Hazelnut, but it’s very subtle . . .” He said, dodging as sofa pillows came toward him and Levi barked. Even Levi knew better than to play with the sofa pillows . . .
Just had to share, and thanks to you who were praying with me about it! Thanks for reading, and for commenting! Finally . . . we have some case to think about!
Regina
Chapter 11
Rather than burden Lucy with all the information, D called an impromptu meeting at Sue’s apartment for 9am the following morning. “Bobby’s bringing the donuts, and Tara’s bringing the coffee, so you just sit back, relax, and we’ll fill you in,” D said, hoping that this wouldn’t be a big inconvenience for them.
Sue was excited. She was ready to see her friends, and ready to see how she, herself, and Jack would react to one another around them. Lucy had been sworn to secrecy, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t be Lucy to give them away, but herself and Jack. They had so seamlessly adjusted to little things, like a quick kiss before leaving a room, or when Jack brings her a glass of water, a tender caress each time they were near one another, and the occasional passionate embrace when they sat together for many minutes at a time. What would happen when they had to stand next to one another, or sit next to one another in a meeting in the bullpen? “Should be interesting,” Sue said to herself, trying to look at this analytically, instead of emotionally.
“What should?” Jack asked, bringing her a glass of orange juice for her to take her medication.
“Jack . . .” Sue began, and then stopped as she turned her head, looking around for Lucy.
“In the shower,” he said, sensing what she was thinking.
“OK, good. Jack, have you thought about how things will be at work . . . now?” Sue asked, a little embarrassed that she had to bring it up.
“Yep. I have. I guess it wouldn’t be very professional for me to dip you down and kiss you passionately every time I pass your desk, would it,” he asked, his tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he quirked an eyebrow at her.
“FUNNY YOU,” Sue signed, giving him her best “grow up” look. “I’m serious. What if we . . . forget?”
“Sue. Think about it. Do you honestly think, at our age, that we’ll behave like a couple of hormonal teenagers when we’re working? We haven’t yet, and I’ve been in love with you for over three years,” he said.
“Seriously? Three years? My, my Jack. You ARE quite the turtle, aren’t you?” Sue said, laughing. “I guess I’ve had it bad that long, too, so we should be OK. I guess what scares me is that it just seems like now that I’ve had a taste of your kisses, I just, somehow, don’t want to go back to not having them anytime I want them,” she said, flirting with him outrageously, loving the look of pleasure on his face.
“Darling, you can have them any time you want. We may just have to find a good place with a locking door when we need to do some extra . . . research,” he said, laughing, as he dipped in to take her lips in a searing kiss . . . a kiss that ended all too quickly. “Doorbell,” he said, pulling away from her with a groan.
“I guess now’s our chance to test our theory,” she said, straightening her hair and top as she waited in the living room for the arrival of their team, and their best friends.
*
They were all assembled in the living room of Sue and Lucy’s apartment, donuts and coffee consumed, friendly catching-up finished. The meeting had begun with Sue, her leg in the cast, in the center of the couch with her leg propped up on the coffee table, Jack to one side of her with his arm resting across the back of the couch and Tara on the other holding the DVD remote. Myles sat in the arm chair, Bobby in a straight chair turned backwards, Lucy leaning on the back of the couch, and D standing at a makeshift whiteboard – a large pad of conference-room paper on an easel.
“I had planned to just let you look at the surveillance tapes and see if you noticed anything, but we got some additional information yesterday that added a new complexion to the case. The case involves information brokering at pretty high levels, on Capitol Hill – in the Raeburn Building – one of two buildings housing the legislative offices. You all know that there are a few employees in that building that use helping dogs. Yeah, Levi, dogs in your line of work. There have been some mysterious leaks of information in that building, and we’ve started narrowing it down to the offices where those dogs are present,” D said.
“Couldn’t that be a coincidence?” Jack asked. “I mean, there might be some other common denominators, as well as the helping dogs.”
“That’s what we thought, until we started trying to find some, and there weren’t any,” Myles said, looking at Levi with what looked like renewed respect. “We think someone is planting bugs or recording devices on these dogs, somehow, and then retrieving them before we can catch them.”
“Where do the surveillance tapes come in?” Sue asked, intrigued at this turn of events.
“Fortunately, for us, the Raeburn Building has a state-of-the-art surveillance system, put in place by none other than us, the FBI,” Tara said, proudly. “The footage is digital, which means that it won’t be grainy, and it overwrites cleanly. There is also a system in place whereby they replace the DVDs that it records on every two weeks, ensuring good quality footage.”
“Very impressive of us, if I do say so myself,” Bobby said, as usual, impressed by Tara’s expertise in all things electronic. Sending a smile and a wink her way brought on that lovely blush that he was so fond of seeing on her face these days.
“Tara, show us a little of the tape we received on Friday last week,” D instructed.
She hit the “play” button and they all watched as the DVD began to reveal its secrets. “This starts at 7:30am on July 1, 2008,” she said. The first part was an employee entrance on the side of the Raeburn Building. The employees came through a metal detector each day, as was the case for both employees and visitors in every government building. As they watched, they saw many employees take off shoes and belts, empty pockets, put purses and bags through x-ray machines. One employee, finally, came in with a dog. “Watch, everybody, because this is where it gets interesting,” Tara said.
The employee with the dog went through the usual security checks, the dog sitting patiently waiting as the gentleman went through his paces. When they proclaimed the human ready to pass through, they brought the dog around to him on the other side of the checkpoint. The canine did not go through the security check.
“You’re right, Tara. That IS interesting,” Jack said, leaning forward as he watched closely. “Is this procedure common throughout the federal building security systems?”
“No,” D said, looking pointedly at Jack. “Our building has always put everybody, including our furry friends, through the same system. Raeburn used to. I’d like to know why they stopped, upon whose authority, and I’d like to know if any of those helping dogs have been compromised in any way. Sue, normally, I would put you in undercover as an aide, with Levi as your partner, and Jack there for backup, but that’s not going to happen this time,” he said, shrugging his shoulders at the loss of manpower.
“Then what do you need from us?” Sue asked.
“I need you and Jack to comb through this footage and see if you can identify anybody you know, that you might have a contact with in some way that you think we might be able to trust to do some observations for us. I also want you to see if you notice anything suspicious going on with the guards, with the owners, or with the dogs,” D said. He looked at each of them seriously. “I don’t have to tell you how important this is. We’ve got Congressmen and Senators up there that are on key committees, and making decisions that affect national security. Also, if this can happen in the Raeburn Building, it could happen anywhere, including the White House or the Hoover Building. Any questions?”
“I have one,” Myles said coolly.
“OK, Myles, what is it?” D asked.
“What kind of coffee IS this? It’s got a hint of Hazelnut, but it’s very subtle . . .” He said, dodging as sofa pillows came toward him and Levi barked. Even Levi knew better than to play with the sofa pillows . . .
This is fantastic!
Kim
Kim
QUOTE(GinaSue @ Jul 26 2008, 07:54 AM)
Any questions?”
“I have one,” Myles said coolly.
“OK, Myles, what is it?” D asked.
“What kind of coffee IS this? It’s got a hint of Hazelnut, but it’s very subtle . . .” He said, dodging as sofa pillows came toward him and Levi barked. Even Levi knew better than to play with the sofa pillows . . .
As soon as I read that I burst out laughing. Fortunately nobody else was home to hear me! That was so Myles!
Excellent Regina! Loved it. Can't wait to see the teams reaction to finding out that Jack and Sue are now an item.
Very well done.
- RSL
This is a very interesting case, Regina!! I would never have thought about using helping dogs to sneak information out of government offices!! Very clever!! Of course, whoever is doing this hadn't counted on having to deal with the team, as well as Sue's expertise!!!
I think Jack and Sue can stay professional in the work environment!! I don't think anyone other than the team will notice; but, I do believe it's going to be very quickly that they figure out something is going on!!!
Myles - did you ever get the name of that coffee?? It sounds delicious!!! LOL
Joy
I think Jack and Sue can stay professional in the work environment!! I don't think anyone other than the team will notice; but, I do believe it's going to be very quickly that they figure out something is going on!!!
Myles - did you ever get the name of that coffee?? It sounds delicious!!! LOL
Joy
Oh...Myles... !
Interesting... let see what happens!
HURRAY!! for your hubby's new job!!!!
Tere
!Interesting...
let see what happens!HURRAY!! for your hubby's new job!!!!
Tere
I'm with Suefan. Nobody will notice, except the team 
Myles, this is so you!!!
Myles, this is so you!!!
I am thoroughly enjoying this.
That was fantastic news about your husband's new job.
That was fantastic news about your husband's new job.
Man o man have you been posting fast and furious and I thought I was caught up everywhere!!!! QUOTE
Jack had been around a whole lot more, and, well, he acted different. Maybe it’s because he’s not been wearing a tie? He’s been cooking, too . . . which is totally not like him . . . but Levi wasn’t going to argue. He got a lot more tidbits of food from Jack than he ever did from Sue or Lucy
I love these little insights into Levi's steel-trap mind. And his thoughts about pillow throwing at the end of this last post! He could teach his humans something about manners, couldn't he.And the idea of service dogs serving more than their masters...very interesting, plus I like the fact that there seem to be a number of them and that everyone takes them in stride (so much so that they don't frisk the dogs!)
Oh -- and Jack and Sue in the park and in the car and on the couch
kav
Here's to hubby's new job! May it be all he wished for!
Service Dogs? Is nothing sacred? What's next, tucking secrets into babies diapers ('cause ain't nobody goin' there if they don't have to...)??
Tina
Sundays are pretty busy around here, so I thought I'd go ahead and post tonight - just in case! Maybe it'll force me to get busier writing and get my cushion built back up! Glad you liked the last post with the team. This one is pure Jack and Sue . . .
Thanks for the good wishes, and for reading!!
Regina
Chapter 12
“I thought they’d never leave,” Jack said, coming back into the living room after showing the team out. “I think they’d camp out here the rest of the week if we’d let them.”
“Jack Hudson, you’re acting like . . . well . . .” she began, her eyes bulging and her hand quickly coming up to cover her mouth as her face turned beet red, her eyes shifting away from him as he came toward her.
“Like what?” he asked, settling in next to her on the couch, pulling her to himself as if he’d been waiting to do that all morning – which he had.
“Never mind,” she said, still avoiding his gaze.
“No way, now,” he said, laughing at her obvious embarrassment. “What were you about to say?
“OK, you’re already laughing at me, so I may as well get this over with and say it. I was going to say that you’re acting like . . . like a married person,” she said whispering the last two words as she brought her eyes up to meet his.
Jack simply sat there and smiled at her. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t tease. He just smiled at her and gathered her close to him in a hug that spoke of love, of tenderness, of a future. When he pulled back, he made sure he was where she could read him. “Sue . . . there is nothing I’d like more than to act like a married person,” he said seriously. “One of these days I’m going to ask you to marry me. Not today. It’ll be when you least expect it. Just get used to the idea, OK? I love you, you know, and that’s not going away.”
“I love you, too, Jack. I’m not going anywhere, either,” Sue said, reaching in to kiss him tenderly on the lips, and then smiled mischievously. “For one thing, you’d have to carry me.” She ran her fingers through his thick dark hair and just sat there looking at him. “Although . . . right now, I think you could carry me anywhere in the world and I wouldn’t say a word.”
At that Jack carefully pulled her legs across his, mindful of her injury, and laid her back on the pillows, following her down to lie by her side. “Right now, I don’t care where we are, as long as we’re together,” he told her as he began his kiss on her neck, making his way to the hollow of her throat, feeling her reaction to his lips on her sensitive skin.
“Jack!” Sue said with a slight gasp, bringing his eyes to hers immediately. He looked deeply into her wide eyes, smiling at her as his lips came down on hers.
“Somehow I don’t think this is what D had in mind when he told me to help you. What do you think?” Jack asked, after several minutes, looking at a flushed, starry-eyed Sue.
“I guess we could say that this was part of my physical therapy,” she said, a sassy tone in her voice that had to come naturally, since she couldn’t hear what it sounded like.
Jack laughed and hugged her tightly before pulling her back upright. “It’s plenty physical, but I don’t know that it’s helping your knee as much as it’s helping my need for you,” he said, looking more serious. “Do you think it would be so bad to be a married person?”
“Depends on who the other half of the couple is,” she said, an eyebrow quirked up as she looked at him. “I mean, if the other half was YOU, it might not be too bad, but we’ve only had a week of enforced togetherness. You might get tired of me after a while, you know,” she said, a wistful look coming into her eyes as she looked down.
“Never,” he said, picking her chin up with his finger. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Sue. I’ll never tire of you. I just want you to know that.”
*
“Wait a minute, Sue . . . run it back just a bit . . . there . . . did you see that?” Jack said, looking closely at the footage.
They had given up on using the regular TV, deciding that the laptop not only made it clearer, but also easier to move forward and back, and easier for Sue to get close to the screen.
“It looks like that guard is putting something on the dog’s harness,” she said, still looking closely at the screen, and then at Jack in surprise. “That’s two, counting the one we saw this morning. We have to see if there’s a pattern. How many days of footage do we have?” Sue asked, already tiring of staring at a screen. “We’ve only been at this for a couple of hours, and I’m about to scream.” Rubbing her eyes, she stretched her shoulders and neck, trying to work out a kink that she started feeling after about the first hour of concentration.
“Let’s take a break. It’s almost lunchtime, and you’re still in recovery mode, you know. How ‘bout a neck rub?” he said, putting his hand up on the back of her neck, underneath her ponytail, and squeezing. Her tank top straps left enough room for him to get to the areas that were hurting without embarrassing her by delving underneath her clothing.
“Oh, Jack . . . that feels good . . . down a little . . . yeah, there . . . and to the left . . . shoulder blade . . .” Sue said, closing her eyes and sighing with pleasure. Jack was digging in, finding all the tense spots in her neck, back, and shoulders, delighting not only in being able to touch her, but in the sighs of delight that she was emitting. After a little while, when she felt something different on her neck, her eyes flew open. She realized at that moment that Jack’s strong hands had been replaced, in part, by tender lips, and that the firm massage had been replaced by wandering hands testing the areas around her tank top boundaries, causing Sue to smile and lean into them. “That feels good, too, Jack,” she said drowsily, turning, as best she could, so that she could see him, and so that her lips could get in on the action.
“It does, does it? I think you feel good, too,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her as he tugged her closer to him, setting the laptop off the couch and on to the coffee table, out of harm’s way.
“Don’t you think we should probably eat lunch?” Sue asked, seeing the unmistakable gleam of desire in his eyes.
“How about we go straight for dessert?” he asked, grinning at her wickedly.
“Jack . . . we really need to have SOMETHING for D by the end of the day, don’t you think?” she said, her desires warring with the work ethic to which she was unconsciously bound to listen.
Jack snorted. “Yeah, well, I’m going to talk to D about taking this day OFF your list of sick days, if you’re going to put in a full day. The doctor said NOTHING for three weeks, remember?” he said, staring at a spot on her shoulder that fascinated him for some reason.
“You take good care of me, Jack,” Sue whispered, tears glinting in her eyes.
Sue was so independent, most of the time, resenting when people tried to make things easier for her. She was finding, through this experience and her limited mobility, that it felt good to have him here, pledging to take care of her, to protect her even from people who loved her. This had nothing to do with her deafness. This accident could have just as easily happened to any one of the team, but it happened to her, and it happened for a reason. She knew that all things happen according to God’s plan and purpose. Maybe that reason was for Jack to come to the realization that life was too short to wait any longer to tell her his feelings. Maybe it was to show her that it was OK to depend on people who love her. Maybe it was to make her slow down long enough to learn what was important in life. Right now the most important thing in her life was her newly found freedom to love Jack Hudson. And she did so love Jack Hudson.
“I love you, Sue Thomas,” he said, enjoying watching her face as he knew different thoughts and feelings were being reflected there. Reaching up to touch her face in a caress, he smiled gently as she looked at him, the tears not quite falling, but not quite gone, either.
“I love you, Jack Hudson. Do you think things happen for a reason?” she asked, curious to know his take on the spiritual aspects of life in general.
“Yes,” he said confidently, and then looked at her closely. “Are you thinking of anything in particular?”
She hesitated. They’d talked about the basics of both their beliefs in God, but this was a little deeper than they had ever talked about. “This accident . . . the fact that they couldn’t find you when it happened . . . Mom being tied up with my brother’s family just now . . . Do you think all these things are part of God’s plan?”
“I definitely think it’s more than happy coincidence . . . not that you tearing the ligaments in your knee is a good thing, but you know what I mean,” he clarified with a smirk when she started giggling. “Being here, with you, free to love you, able to help you, is a good thing, though, don’t you think?” he asked reaching over and kissing her nose.
“A very good thing,” she said, tears all gone, her relaxed smile returning. “Now . . . somebody said something about lunch . . . do you think he’s trying to starve us, Levi?” she said, disentangling herself from his arms as he moved to get up.
“I can take a hint. Levi, we had a deal, remember? Puppy dog eyes only when we want things OTHER than food!” he laughed.
“So THAT’S the deal you two got up against me! You know, you two just might cancel each other out, if you’re not careful,” Sue said, teasing Jack with a tickle in the ribs. “But I might be convinced, later on, to consent to a little ‘dessert,’ if you’re very, very nice to me . . . and maybe give me another backrub? I’d be glad to return the favor one of these days,” she said, the glint back in her eyes that told him she hadn’t forgotten where they were before this conversation got started . . . and that she wanted to continue it.
Thanks for the good wishes, and for reading!!
Regina
Chapter 12
“I thought they’d never leave,” Jack said, coming back into the living room after showing the team out. “I think they’d camp out here the rest of the week if we’d let them.”
“Jack Hudson, you’re acting like . . . well . . .” she began, her eyes bulging and her hand quickly coming up to cover her mouth as her face turned beet red, her eyes shifting away from him as he came toward her.
“Like what?” he asked, settling in next to her on the couch, pulling her to himself as if he’d been waiting to do that all morning – which he had.
“Never mind,” she said, still avoiding his gaze.
“No way, now,” he said, laughing at her obvious embarrassment. “What were you about to say?
“OK, you’re already laughing at me, so I may as well get this over with and say it. I was going to say that you’re acting like . . . like a married person,” she said whispering the last two words as she brought her eyes up to meet his.
Jack simply sat there and smiled at her. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t tease. He just smiled at her and gathered her close to him in a hug that spoke of love, of tenderness, of a future. When he pulled back, he made sure he was where she could read him. “Sue . . . there is nothing I’d like more than to act like a married person,” he said seriously. “One of these days I’m going to ask you to marry me. Not today. It’ll be when you least expect it. Just get used to the idea, OK? I love you, you know, and that’s not going away.”
“I love you, too, Jack. I’m not going anywhere, either,” Sue said, reaching in to kiss him tenderly on the lips, and then smiled mischievously. “For one thing, you’d have to carry me.” She ran her fingers through his thick dark hair and just sat there looking at him. “Although . . . right now, I think you could carry me anywhere in the world and I wouldn’t say a word.”
At that Jack carefully pulled her legs across his, mindful of her injury, and laid her back on the pillows, following her down to lie by her side. “Right now, I don’t care where we are, as long as we’re together,” he told her as he began his kiss on her neck, making his way to the hollow of her throat, feeling her reaction to his lips on her sensitive skin.
“Jack!” Sue said with a slight gasp, bringing his eyes to hers immediately. He looked deeply into her wide eyes, smiling at her as his lips came down on hers.
“Somehow I don’t think this is what D had in mind when he told me to help you. What do you think?” Jack asked, after several minutes, looking at a flushed, starry-eyed Sue.
“I guess we could say that this was part of my physical therapy,” she said, a sassy tone in her voice that had to come naturally, since she couldn’t hear what it sounded like.
Jack laughed and hugged her tightly before pulling her back upright. “It’s plenty physical, but I don’t know that it’s helping your knee as much as it’s helping my need for you,” he said, looking more serious. “Do you think it would be so bad to be a married person?”
“Depends on who the other half of the couple is,” she said, an eyebrow quirked up as she looked at him. “I mean, if the other half was YOU, it might not be too bad, but we’ve only had a week of enforced togetherness. You might get tired of me after a while, you know,” she said, a wistful look coming into her eyes as she looked down.
“Never,” he said, picking her chin up with his finger. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Sue. I’ll never tire of you. I just want you to know that.”
*
“Wait a minute, Sue . . . run it back just a bit . . . there . . . did you see that?” Jack said, looking closely at the footage.
They had given up on using the regular TV, deciding that the laptop not only made it clearer, but also easier to move forward and back, and easier for Sue to get close to the screen.
“It looks like that guard is putting something on the dog’s harness,” she said, still looking closely at the screen, and then at Jack in surprise. “That’s two, counting the one we saw this morning. We have to see if there’s a pattern. How many days of footage do we have?” Sue asked, already tiring of staring at a screen. “We’ve only been at this for a couple of hours, and I’m about to scream.” Rubbing her eyes, she stretched her shoulders and neck, trying to work out a kink that she started feeling after about the first hour of concentration.
“Let’s take a break. It’s almost lunchtime, and you’re still in recovery mode, you know. How ‘bout a neck rub?” he said, putting his hand up on the back of her neck, underneath her ponytail, and squeezing. Her tank top straps left enough room for him to get to the areas that were hurting without embarrassing her by delving underneath her clothing.
“Oh, Jack . . . that feels good . . . down a little . . . yeah, there . . . and to the left . . . shoulder blade . . .” Sue said, closing her eyes and sighing with pleasure. Jack was digging in, finding all the tense spots in her neck, back, and shoulders, delighting not only in being able to touch her, but in the sighs of delight that she was emitting. After a little while, when she felt something different on her neck, her eyes flew open. She realized at that moment that Jack’s strong hands had been replaced, in part, by tender lips, and that the firm massage had been replaced by wandering hands testing the areas around her tank top boundaries, causing Sue to smile and lean into them. “That feels good, too, Jack,” she said drowsily, turning, as best she could, so that she could see him, and so that her lips could get in on the action.
“It does, does it? I think you feel good, too,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at her as he tugged her closer to him, setting the laptop off the couch and on to the coffee table, out of harm’s way.
“Don’t you think we should probably eat lunch?” Sue asked, seeing the unmistakable gleam of desire in his eyes.
“How about we go straight for dessert?” he asked, grinning at her wickedly.
“Jack . . . we really need to have SOMETHING for D by the end of the day, don’t you think?” she said, her desires warring with the work ethic to which she was unconsciously bound to listen.
Jack snorted. “Yeah, well, I’m going to talk to D about taking this day OFF your list of sick days, if you’re going to put in a full day. The doctor said NOTHING for three weeks, remember?” he said, staring at a spot on her shoulder that fascinated him for some reason.
“You take good care of me, Jack,” Sue whispered, tears glinting in her eyes.
Sue was so independent, most of the time, resenting when people tried to make things easier for her. She was finding, through this experience and her limited mobility, that it felt good to have him here, pledging to take care of her, to protect her even from people who loved her. This had nothing to do with her deafness. This accident could have just as easily happened to any one of the team, but it happened to her, and it happened for a reason. She knew that all things happen according to God’s plan and purpose. Maybe that reason was for Jack to come to the realization that life was too short to wait any longer to tell her his feelings. Maybe it was to show her that it was OK to depend on people who love her. Maybe it was to make her slow down long enough to learn what was important in life. Right now the most important thing in her life was her newly found freedom to love Jack Hudson. And she did so love Jack Hudson.
“I love you, Sue Thomas,” he said, enjoying watching her face as he knew different thoughts and feelings were being reflected there. Reaching up to touch her face in a caress, he smiled gently as she looked at him, the tears not quite falling, but not quite gone, either.
“I love you, Jack Hudson. Do you think things happen for a reason?” she asked, curious to know his take on the spiritual aspects of life in general.
“Yes,” he said confidently, and then looked at her closely. “Are you thinking of anything in particular?”
She hesitated. They’d talked about the basics of both their beliefs in God, but this was a little deeper than they had ever talked about. “This accident . . . the fact that they couldn’t find you when it happened . . . Mom being tied up with my brother’s family just now . . . Do you think all these things are part of God’s plan?”
“I definitely think it’s more than happy coincidence . . . not that you tearing the ligaments in your knee is a good thing, but you know what I mean,” he clarified with a smirk when she started giggling. “Being here, with you, free to love you, able to help you, is a good thing, though, don’t you think?” he asked reaching over and kissing her nose.
“A very good thing,” she said, tears all gone, her relaxed smile returning. “Now . . . somebody said something about lunch . . . do you think he’s trying to starve us, Levi?” she said, disentangling herself from his arms as he moved to get up.
“I can take a hint. Levi, we had a deal, remember? Puppy dog eyes only when we want things OTHER than food!” he laughed.
“So THAT’S the deal you two got up against me! You know, you two just might cancel each other out, if you’re not careful,” Sue said, teasing Jack with a tickle in the ribs. “But I might be convinced, later on, to consent to a little ‘dessert,’ if you’re very, very nice to me . . . and maybe give me another backrub? I’d be glad to return the favor one of these days,” she said, the glint back in her eyes that told him she hadn’t forgotten where they were before this conversation got started . . . and that she wanted to continue it.
Ah, fuzziness! I just love it!
Kim
Kim
Sweet and so very Jack and Sue. Ah, love.
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