The Apple Of My Eye
It had been two years since Sue had turned down the job in New York. In that time she and Jack had grown closer, but still not as close as either hoped. Jack was Jack, a tongue tied teenager when it came to matters of the heart, or to be more precise his heart and Sue’s. Sue just resigned herself to the fact that they were destined to remain friends for their lifetime on earth. Even the team, especially Lucy had given up any hope of their friendship blooming into romance. So as the days past by, they pottered along as things had always been, but with a quiet yearning for more.
Fall was in full swing with early signs that winter was fast approaching. The trees had shed their leaves and now, lawns, parks and woodlands all were covered with a rich golden carpet that only autumn had to offer. After completing a highly dangerous case involving a terrorist risk, the gang went to their respective homes one Friday night for a well earned rest.
Saturday morning came, and with it Sue found a message from Jack asking her to accompany him out for the day, for a ride and perhaps lunch. Ever hopeful Sue agreed and before Lucy was awake, she and Levi had set off for a day out with their favourite agent Jack. They sped though the country roads, leaves of all colours swirling as the wheels of the car churned them up to dance in the breeze.
Jack and Sue spent the time on the journey paying each other secretive glances, but due to the heavy week they experienced on the whole stayed quiet with only their own thoughts for company. When Levi began to get restless Jack turned off the road and they found themselves in a small town which was hosting an Apple Festival. They pulled up in the car lot, which happened to be a field for the purpose of the festival and went to join in with the throng.
It was a small town, with one main shopping street, lined with small boutiques and individual shops that would have been lost in the big sprawl of the city. Alongside the shops on the side walk were rows of vendors with stalls. Some selling organic wares, some with treats such us toffee-apples, dressed up in a wide selection of decoration, ranging from Halloween characters, to a bride and groom. Other stalls were filled with childish games to participate in, like apple bobbing.
Jack, Sue and Levi walked down the middle of the road, which had been closed for cars for the duration of the event; it was beginning to get busy with the full bustle of enthusiastic and eager children and mildly curious adults. Sue was able to take full advantage of the smells and sights that this occasion brought, while Jack focused on sounds that consumed him, children’s laughter, the chatter on people talking over each other, the crackle of paper, intermingled with the sweet aroma of apples and cinnamon.
In order that Sue did not crash headlong into a child that ran across their path Jack took her arm, the contact brought both of them to extreme awareness of the other. Instead of letting go he ran his hand down the inside of her arm and entwined his fingers with hers. Her heartbeat raced, at the unexpected but welcomed and desired contact. He grazed the pad of his thumb against her pulse point at her wrist and a million electric currents surged between like a lightening bolt. Sue glanced at him and he smiled. There was something magical about this place, something which she didn’t want to lose, so she found her fingers curled about his as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
Sue and Jack stopped for a game of apple bobbing and both missed the touch of hand in hand. Jack got extremely wet and Sue much to his chagrin found it extremely funny. Sue then took part in an apple peeling experiment, where after peeling an apple the peeler dropped the skin to see which letter it would form. The letter the peel took on signified that of the first letter of your true love’s name. When the apple peel fell it made the initial J, Sue blushed embarrassed, but Jack took this in his stride and offered her his hand. Together they walked on past the stall holders to an empty play park on the perimeter of the town. With Levi waiting patiently for them they sat side by side on swings and swung themselves gently to and fro.
Sue broke the companionable silence and said softly. “When I was a little girl I thought I nothing was out of my reach if I swung high enough.”
Jack looked at her and smiled. “Nothing is out of your reach; you can have everything and still deserve the stars.”
Sue blushed not for the first time that day. She brought the swing to a standstill and got off and wandered over to the railing where Levi sat. Sue hoisted one leg followed by the other over and knelt down to pet him. Jack was soon by her side, a cool breeze whipped up as if from nowhere and the sun was replaced by stormy grey skies. With a quick look in either direction Jack led Sue and Levi over to the only shelter available, the open sided bandstand. As the heavens opened and the rain fell in sheets they watched as people ran for cover, some back to their cars and others under a shop doorway or awning.
Sue shivered and found herself being pulled into Jack’s embrace. It felt good to be in the haven of his arms, it did not happen often but when he did hug her she always wished for more, but more never came. Today was different, something had changed within them. She felt every breath that he took; his breathing seemed to accelerate with each passing moment that they were in each others arms, with the unromantic smell of wet dog at their feet.
Jack didn’t really know what he was doing, except he could not stop holding her. The want, the need to kiss her had been building up like a silent volcano, ever since the day in Callaghan and Merced. Now it seemed all that existed was the two of them and Jack did not want the moment to end. He wanted it to be the beginning of forever.
Moving as if it a dream like stance he cupped her face within his cold hands, this did nothing to quell the fire burning up within her. On the contrary it kindled the flame. She took a hand and with her fingers gently traced the lines of his face. Sue felt his intake of breath as if it were her own, and looked deep into his chocolate brown eyes which were filled with desire, a reflection of her own.
His lips were hot when they brushed hers, unlike the wet shards of rain which caught them as it fell at an angle wetting their right sides. Sue let him lead and followed as a willing student, ready to not only receive but to give into the kiss as it took hold. Its fiery trail ran from her heart to the pit of her belly, here it settled and spilled its warmth radiating to her very soul.
Jack shook as he pulled away, his hand now buried into her silky hair, his breathing ragged and on the verge of being uncontainable.
“Sue,” he whispered his voice husky and shaken. “I am not good with words when it comes to my heart. But I just want you to know……… that you are the apple of my eye. Corny I know…. it was the best I could think of right at this moment. But ……. What I mean is…..What I want to say is….Sue, I…….”
“Shush!” she said, placing her index finger across his lips to silence his mutterings. “I know, I love you too.”
She felt him let out the breath that he had been holding and she moulded against him, they seem to fit perfectly, two halves of an apple joined to be one. His hands massaged her scalp with an expertise she decided he had been born with. Sue murmured his name as her eyes shut and his lips descended upon hers once more. Love; this is what she had been waiting, for. They didn’t need Lucy, Myles, Tara or D to match-make for them, it had been destined to happen in their own good time. Now it had everything would change, but for the better.
Levi whimpered and settled down to lie at their feet, Sue and Jack were so caught up in each other it would be some time before they even remembered he was there, and for once he didn’t care, it did not even matter as long as they were together he was the happiest dog in the world.
The end
Words: 1526
Rosa that was really wonderful 
and then the swings. I love swings. Thank God for rain, sweet rain causing you to run to a dry secluded place. 
Great way to stir up those hidden emotions to the point you can't help but to act on them. 
