Love these near misses and I can just feel Jack's frustration. But alas, his turtle genes were certainly in place, even back then, weren't they? And Bobby's waltzing into the bullpen line? Hilarious.

kav

I just love this, Blueangel!! Talk about two strangers passing in the night, so to speak!!!

Joy

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby . . . that's the thing about "chance encounters." You just NEVER KNOW . . .

Only one more post to go... or maybe two. But I'm hoping to post the last part in one shot. It looks like I might hit the deadline. Oh well, hope you enjoy the snippet.
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Jack stood in front of the refrigerator door staring at his options for dinner. He held the cordless house phone up to his ear. His eyes darted between the frozen chicken option and beef option as he listened to his mother on the other end.

He pulled the frozen chicken entrée box out of the freezer as he said, “Mom, you talked to Bobby?”

“Yes, I talked to Bobby and by your reactions I’m guessing what he said is true… So this girl and her dog, what is she like?” he heard his mom ask, in a cheerful tone.

“I’m dating Rhoda.” Jack said as he tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder to free is his hands. .

“Yes, I know you’re dating Rhonda. Nothing wrong with dating but you’re not going to marry her.” His mother paused for a moment before asking, “Are you thinking about marrying her? You know if you are, I’m happy for you. But I need to meet the girl sometime.”

He sighed. “Mom, don’t worry, I’m not thinking about marrying her.”

He heard his mother let out a light sigh. “Good… I mean you still have sometime. And since you’re not marrying Rhonda tell me about the girl and her dog.”

“You’re making her sound like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. And there is nothing much to tell. I’ve seen her maybe a total of three times today. One of them, might not have even been her,” he said in an annoyed tone.

“Then how did you and Rhonda started dating? It can’t be that different. You just go up to the person and start talking. Besides if you don’t talk to her how do you know she’s the one? Maybe she’s in the same category as Rhonda,” his mother said.

“What category is Rhonda in?” he asked as he pulled the plastic tray out from the box.

“The one that’s ‘good for dating but not for marrying’.” His mother answered in a slight smug tone. “And if you don’t talk to her, she’ll be in the ‘one that got away category and we don’t want that.”

“Where do you get all these idea?” His toss the box into the trash can. “Well whichever category she is in I’ll find out. If I do I’m not telling you.”

“Jackson Samuel Hudson! I swear I’m going to turn too old and gray to see my grandchildren, so you better find out if that girl with the dog is just what you’re looking for.” He sighed at her comment.

“Mom you have two grandchildren already. I’m sure me not having any, any time soon isn’t going to hurt.” He said, as he poked some holes with a metal fork into the lid before sticking the tray in the microwave. “I’ve go to know mom. I’ll talk to you soon and don’t talk to Bobby.. Not until I talk him.” He smiled at her last comment and then hung up the phone.

I really like Jack's mom.

Karen

I love Jacks Mum she's terrific
Lin

lol jack's mom nagging him about the girl with the dog and wanting grand kids from him.

update soon please!

Me too.

Lindsy

Oh, definitely, me THREE . . .

Regina

Jack dear, listen to your mom. She's got that category thing down quite well.

Anne

I was never totally convinced that Rhonda fit the "good for dating" portion of that either!! Definitely not marrying!! I'm glad to know Jack never went there!!!

BTW, Jack, the blonde woman with the dog is "The One"!! Definitely good for marrying!!!

Joy

Here is the 2nd to last post for this story! This will be the last flashback scene.
ENJOY!

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Jack sat at his desk with two weeks with of paperwork in front of him. He had cast aside the paperwork due to moving into a new bullpen but now that they are settled he no longer has an excuse.

He sat tapping his pen against the forms. He looked up at Bobby who stood hovering over him. “What do you want?”

“Nothing much, the team and I are just about to go out to our favorite diner. You want to come? You’ve been staring at the papers for the last hour and only gotten through one report,” Bobby said.

“I’m good. I’ll grab something downstairs later,” Jack replied.

“OK, suite yourself.” Bobby then lean forward and whisper, “Are you hoping you’ll bump into the girl and her dog?” Bobby chucked slightly as he stood up straight and then walked away before Jack had a chance to think of a rebuttal.

Jack watched as his team chatted among themselves. He then cleared his thoughts and adjusted himself in his chair. He ran a hand through his hair as he adjusted his grip on his pen. Then stared down at his work, which had not change since ten seconds ago.

He was about half way done when he heard someone walk in. He was going to ignore the person but, when he heard her speak he looked up. Standing in front of him was the blonde hair girl and her dog. Her eyes narrowed as her brow furrowed together. He saw her mouth move but wasn’t too sure what she was saying. It took him a few minutes before he thought of something to say.

He put a small smile on his lip and said, “Hi, I’m Jack Hudson.”

Aw. Gotta a stunned bumbling Jack.

Karen

At last Jacks meet the girl of his dreams even if he is in a tiswas over it cant wait to find out more
Lin

Le sigh...

Befuddled Jack.... So adorable.

Lindsy

they finally meet.
can't wait for what happens next!

Ok everyone here is the last part. Hope you like it.
We're back in the present!
Enjoy!
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“I’m sure you know what happened after that…. I knew from the moment I saw you in the park with Levi that you were the girl. You are the person I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with.” Jack said facing Sue on his living room couch.

“So what you’re trying to say is that you’re the guy I’m meant to be with?” Sue said with uncertainly.

Jack noticed her bewilder look and quickly said, “I’m not saying you have to believe what I’m saying. I’m just saying I knew you’re the one for me. It’s ok if you don’t feel the same way as I do…”

A small smiled appeared on her lips as she gave a slight giggled and said, “Jack … It’s ok, I understand what you’re trying to say. So was that story what you wanted to tell me tonight?”

He shook his head. “No, I was hoping to take it to me grave. If anyone ask me when the first time I met you I would say during lunch at work. But I have a feel Bobby will find a way to use it at against me”

“Oh I was sure you were going to say you picked me up at a bar,” she said in a teasing tone. She then said in a serious tone. “So what did you want to tell me tonight that you wouldn't let me walk away? I know what I saw….”Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head.

Jack took that moment to reach from a slider from one of the drawers of the wooden coffee table, a foot away from the couch. He placed the box into his lap and then lifted her head up so she could read what he was about to say.

He took a deep breath before he spoke. “Sue, I know you’re great at your job. I love your lip reading abilities but you got the wrong idea. Yes, that was Rhonda you saw and yes, we did hug but that was because I was telling her things were not going to work out between me and her. She had called me, two weeks ago, wanting to start over but I told her that I didn’t think that was going to work and she thought if I saw her in person and heard what she had to say I would change me my mind but, I had not.”

“She wanted to start over with you?” He nodded his head.

“That’s what you saw… Rhonda and I hugged because she told me that if I still thought things were not going to work out she was going to take the job offer in Texas.” He took another deep breath. “I know I should have said something earlier. Maybe even that day I first saw you in the park but then we started working together and I didn’t want to lose that. So I waited and when I almost lost you to that job offering in New York, I knew I couldn’t let you go again. So I planed the last six months to lead up to this moment.”

He reached for the box in his lap and removed the lid. He then pulled out a charm bracelet. He took it into between his fingers and said, “I had the charms made for each significant moment we had together. I know this might sound corny and because of our job we never know what might happen but I wanted to ask you.” He took another deep breath. “Will you be by girlfriend? Officially, which means no more no non-dates, no more chance encounters. Just you and me no more pretend.”

“Jack… I don’t know what to say….” Her voice trailed off once again as her gaze shifted from him to the bracelet.

When she finally looked up at him again he said, “Say yes.”

A small smile appeared on her lips as she said, “Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”

He clasped the bracelet onto her wrist. He watched as she stared at the charms dangling from it. He then reached for her hands and held them tightly into his grasp. He then leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips when she looked up at him.

She removed her hands from his and lace her fingers around his neck. As she rest her arms on his shoulder she said, “Since we’re officially a couple, I’ll let you know.. I actually saw you that day in the park. You’re kinda heard to miss.”

“What did you think of me?” He asked with a cheeky grin.

She sat there pretending to think and said then, “I also knew that moment you were the one. I just didn’t want to be first one to say it.” He was about to respond when she said, “Too much talk.. Just kiss me.”

He saw the twinkle in her eyes and smiled. He leaned forwards pulled her towards him into a passionate kiss. When they finally parted for air she said, “Too bad that wasn’t our first kiss cause if it was I would have difficulty fallen for you.” She noticed him roll his eyes slightly and then pulled him towards her again for another kiss knowing that there were many more to come.






Category enter:
Impressive Drama
word count:
5,144

What a great summation of the situation between Jack and Sue. 'Too much talk. Just kiss me.' How many times did we all cry that line out?

Nice backstory to their first meeting Blueangel. So many great lines woven throughout.

Karen

That was fantastic just loved it so glad they are together after all that time just loved it from start to finish
Lin

I'm with Karen, and I also randomly shouted out, "Quit looking at each other and KISS already!!"

Great story, Blueangel!!

Lovely story!
And funny too!! I love the las paragraph

Tere

great story Blueangel!!!
loved the ending!

For me, it was: "Shut up and kiss her already!" And then I was sad because it didn't work.

Jack and Sue belong together and you showed that so well in this story Blueangel.

Loved it from beginning to end!

Lindsy

Blueangel, I love the charm bracelet idea!! What a thoughtful gift!!!

Of course Sue was going to say yes!! I think it's cute that she noticed Jack in the park too and had decided he was "The One"!!!

Wonderful story - you built the tension of the story perfectly - we couldn't wait to see what was around the next corner!!!

Thanks for sharing!!!

Joy

Thankyou Blueangel. That was a very entertaining look back on how it could have been. Lot's of fun and kept me guessing all the way through. Yes Jack...less talk and more kissing
Anne

aww sweet.
loved that line basically saying shut up and kiss me.
aww he gave her a bracelett