I hope this qualify for the challenge - dear Admins, if I have misunderstood and you feel like this doesn't belong in here, please feel free to move this topic.
It's short...Enjoy!
Bell
*******
His breathe coming out in short gasps, he took a long breath, attempting to remain as silent as possible, stalking the man in front of him as he moved in the shadows. He hissed as his prey stopped and looked around, as if he was sensing the heat of the gaze that was directed towards him. Hoping that his cover was still intact, the stalker averted his eyes and closed them, wishing that the prey wouldn’t change direction and walk directly into him.
A few tense seconds drew by and opened his eyes slightly, only to discover he was outsmarted again.
Holding back a silent curse, he pulled out his phone and hit speed dial.
“I lost him.” He shook his head at the collective sigh. “Am I on speaker?”
“Yes…” He heard the familiar drawl in Myles’ voice. “You’ve lost him…again…” Jack shook his head in the dark alley, wondering if his colleagues could sense his frustration. “I’m wondering if we should continue to give you the stakeout assignment, I’m not sure you can handle it.”
“Myles…” Sue’s voice, although calm, didn’t hide the smile she obviously had. Jack allowed himself a moment of imaging her face, shining bright with her smile. “But perhaps we should stop this game.”
“I’m sorry?” Jack spoke.
“Spacing out again?” Myles sighed. “This is happening quite a lot of times recently.”
“Guys, maybe we should wrap it for tonight.” Tara, the voice of reason spoke quietly. “Since, there is no more eye contact…”
“You mean that Jack has lost eye contact…”
“Yeah …” Jack sighed. “Fine, I’m on my way back.”
“We’ll be waiting, Jack.” Sue’s voice was the last thing he heard before the call was disconnected.
*******
Frustrated and more agitated with each passing moment, Jack finally entered the bullpen, finding it dimly lit at the late hour. Her words echoed in his mind and he felt slightly disappointed that she didn’t wait for him as she promised. Sighing, he hung his coat and headed for his desk, deciding to spend his evening in the dark, working on paper work.
He was so wrapped out in his thoughts that he failed to hear her approaching. “Jack?” The pen fell from his fingers.
“Sue?” He could only hope that he was hiding his pleasure at seeing her. Her smile was wide, almost teasing him as she raised her eyebrows at the paperwork he was handling. “I thought you left already.”
“Ah…” The twinkle in her eyes seems to confuse him. “So you thought you’d do some paper work?”
“Yes.” He motioned at the large pile at the corner of his desk.
“Sitting all alone in the dark?” She grinned and he shook his head, smiling.
“Well, I’ll admit I was a little disappointed to see that none of you stayed and waited for me.”
“None of you?” The eyebrows disappeared bellow her bangs and he chuckled.
“I obviously didn’t see you there…” He paused. “I’m glad you stayed.”
Sue leaned against his desk while he pushed the paperwork away from him. Their gazes locked and he thought he could guess her next question. “Do you think we’re doing the right thing?”
Jack opened and closed his mouth several times, this wasn’t the question he anticipated and he knew he didn’t have a right answer to reply. Closing his eyes, he searched for some kind of a coherent response, one that made more sense than the painful gut twist and fear that he felt.
“I fear for him.” It was the truth.
“Are you?” She doubted his sincerity and raised his eyebrow. “It looks like you don’t trust him anymore.”
“Sue…” Her name came out as a sigh. “I remember the way he slipped away last time. He’s not the same man.”
“Don’t you think he’s learned his lesson?” She asked.
“You seriously believe a former gambler won’t slip?” He challenged her faith in people and was surprised to see her smile.
“I wouldn’t place my trust in anyone, Jack.” She placed her hand on his forearm and he was slightly shocked by the electricity that charged between them. “But I know Bobby.” She paused for a moment. “I have something to show you.”
*******
Bobby waited at the usual spot, half hidden in the dark as he sat next to the small table, the two cups of coffee growing cold as he waited. Another glance on his watch only seemed to increase his agitation as worry slowly crawled around his heart. What if something happened?
Arms snaked around his neck and he startled. “Bobby Manning, a champion of evasive maneuvers.”
He chuckled, inhaling her scent. “At this rate, Luv, I should strike gold at the Olympics”
She sat in front of him and he held onto her hand as she wrapped the other one around her cup of coffee. The silence between them was tense and Bobby shook his head. “Tara…”
“You have to tell him.” She raised bright eyes to him.
Bobby sighed; still hurt by the events that occurred in the past few days. “It hurts to know that he has so little faith in me.”
“I know.” Tara spoke softly. “But you have to admit that from his point of view…”
“I can’t tell him.”
“You should see him when you’re not around, he worries for you and he spent so many hours in trying to figure it out.”
“He could have asked me.”
“Would you have told him?”
He wanted to hold her, but he couldn’t. They knew it would be difficult, but somehow neither of them guessed it would take so long. “I can’t. You and I, Tara, are important. I want to change this…dating law and if I have to sneak out to meetings during the day and resort to seeing you in all sorts of shady places…” Bobby shook his head. “I don’t want to lose you.”
She smiled at him and his eyes focused on her lips, aching to feel her soft touch. Memories swirled in his mind, reminding him stolen moments behind closed doors, dreaming of a time where their love could be expressed out in the open.
“Bobby…” He fingers teased his palm. “I can’t let you have me and lose your best friend at the same time.” She rose from her seat and he regretted the loss of touch, stunned to see Sue and Jack standing in the corner of the coffee shop.
The two women shared a look as the men stared at each other. Tara walked away from the table and join Sue in the corner. Jack shook his head and slowly approached his best friend. Motioning towards the now empty chair, he spoke. “May I?”
Bobby shrugged his shoulders. “I would have preferred my previous company but…” He trailed off.
“What is this all about, Bobby?” Jack sat down.
“It’s not gambling, Sparky.” The use of his nickname in such a harsh tone shook him.
“I am sorry.” He said. “I should have kept an open mind. I shouldn’t have assumed…”
“You shouldn’t have assumed…and you shouldn’t have followed me around day and night.” Bobby sighed. “I guess, Sue told you already.”
“You’re meeting the management about changing the dating rule.”
“Yes.”
“And in the nights you and Tara meet in all sorts of places.”
“We’re not allowed to be seen in public until after our hearing next month.”
Jack was curious. “How? When…”
Bobby smiled, and his eyes seemed to grow bright as he spoke. “It’s just…happened, Sparky…one day I woke up and knew that she is everything I wanted.” His gaze drifted to the women as they spoke quietly; halting at the warm smile he received. “I can trust you for keeping it quiet till next month.”
Jack nodded his head. “Of course.” He paused. “I am sorry, Crash; I promise have faith in you. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
Bobby nodded his head. “I suppose, I understand…although…” He bit his lip. “There is something you can do for me…as a compensation for your lack of faith.”
Jack nodded his head. “Anything.”
“You can make your move with your Sheila before our hearing…that way we’ll have each other’s support before the board.”
Jack smiled a little, shaking his head before glancing sideways to see her face. She laughed at something Tara said and his heart seemed to miss a beat as new options he only dreamt about seem to come alive in his mind.
Bobby grinned. “Are you considering it?”
“I’ve already decided.”
~Fin~
1418 words
Wonderful to see a story from you Bell. I was so excited when I logged on and found this gem. 
Love how the women took it upon themselves to set the record straight between Jack and Bobby. 
Fantastic Jack and Sue along with Bobby and Tara just loved it 
