PART 2 OF 6 IN THE 'DREAMS' SERIES. Summary: A seemingly normal investigation turns into a case of stalking, leaving Sue and Jack fighting for their lives.
Disclaimer: The Characters of Sue Thomas, Jack Hudson, Bobby Manning, Dimitrius (D) Gans, Donna Gans, Tanya Gans, David (Davey) Gans, Myles Leland III, Tara Samuels, Lucy Dotson, Ted Garrett, Darcy D'Angelo, and Levi are the property of Pebblehut, Paxson Entertainment, Dave Alan Johnson, Gary R. Johnson, and their subsidiaries and related parties. Similarities of other characters to individuals real or imagined are purely coincidental.
Chapter 1
The late afternoon sun sank slowly behind the tall office buildings as people rushed home from work. A young mother pushed a stroller down the street, oblivious to the activity around her, while a group of teenagers raced by on their bicycles laughing and calling out to each other.
A couple huddled together under an abandoned store's awning, the man's arms wrapped possessively around the woman. She lifted her hands from his shoulders to affectionately adjust his collar.
To the casual onlooker, they appeared to be two lovers meeting for a brief afternoon rendezvous. However, the woman's attention wasn't directed at the man who held her in his arms.
"Dunne said we have to move the drop up to tonight," the blonde woman whispered, peering over his collar as she watched the conversation across the street. "The other man said something…I didn't get it," she said, her brow furrowing as she concentrated.
A well-trained FBI agent, the dark haired man wasn't used to being inactive during a surveillance operation, and he certainly didn't like having his back to the action. It bothered him not being able to see what was going on. He shifted to see if he could at least get a reflection in the store window.
"Jack, hold still," the woman admonished, as she moved him back to where he was. "I can't see," she explained.
Jack looked down at her, opening his mouth as if to argue. Seeing how close her face was to his, his breath caught in his chest before he could speak. Quickly turning away, he focused on the brick wall behind her, his hands unconsciously shifting on her back. For once, he was relieved to be wearing the thick bulletproof vest under his leather jacket, afraid she'd be able to feel his heart pounding through his shirt as he tried to keep his thoughts on the case at hand.
While not an agent, Jack knew the woman he held was invaluable to the team and could handle anything she came up against. Sue Thomas never let obstacles deter her from a goal she set for herself. Growing up deaf in a hearing world, she'd been shut out of many opportunities in her life, but she refused to let anything stop her from experiencing what she wanted. Some people would call her stubborn. Jack Hudson, her training agent and friend, considered her a woman who knew what she wanted, and wasn't afraid to take a few risks to get it.
Today was a perfect example. Sue had been providing running commentary from the safety of a surveillance van on the conversation their suspect, Dunne, was having with a mystery man. When the men turned down one of D.C.'s many one way streets and the van couldn't follow, Sue immediately jumped out intent on documenting their discussion. Jack, who was in the van with her, had no choice but to follow as she headed off by herself, watching the men from the opposite side of the street.
When the men abruptly stopped in the middle of the block, Sue had been the one to pull him into this embrace they shared. At first, Jack was a little confused by her actions until he realized she was using him as cover while she continued observing the exchange. Thanks to the radio Jack wore, Sue's comments were picked up by the surveillance van as they watched from a distance.
"Dunne is arguing with the other man," Sue stated, her voice a little tense as Jack could begin to hear their raised voices from across the street. "He doesn't want to wait… someone… something…," she shook her head. "He keeps turning away like he's waiting...or maybe watching for someone," Sue sighed, her frustration evident.
Suddenly, gunfire erupted on the street. Sue gasped as she watched Dunne jerk backwards as he was hit and fall the ground. Jack was so absorbed in listening to her that it took him a minute to react. Tightening his arms around her, he pulled Sue into the alley a few feet away. Pressing her against the wall, he used his body to shield her from the action on the street.
Chapter 2
"Sam three-six, shots fired!" Jack called over the radio while pulling out his gun. "Subject down." Keeping his left arm around Sue holding her close, he scanned the street, searching for the source of the gunfire. When a bullet ricocheted off the brick wall above their heads, he ducked, pulling Sue farther into the alleyway.
"Sam three-six, we're taking fire," Jack yelled into his mike. "I repeat…we are pinned down in a dead alley between Carbury and 5th." Several more shots rang out, with the bullets bouncing off the wall around them. Jack crouched low in the back corner holding Sue in front of him, hoping to shield her from the assault.
When the firing stopped, Jack pulled his head up looking over his shoulder, trying to judge if it was over. His gun up ready for action he felt Sue move against him.
STAY, he signed with the hand he'd wrapped around her, knowing she couldn't see his lips how he held her. She nodded, but remained tense in front of him, her hands gripping his arm, pulling it tight against her. He couldn't help but notice how well they fit together.
Despite the danger they were in, Jack's heart swelled with pride as he realized just how much she trusted him to keep her safe. He knew she must be scared not knowing what was going on, but she knelt here wanting for his direction. If only I could tell you how it really makes me feel, Jack thought, gazing longingly at the back of her blonde head.
A crackle on the sidewalk behind them pulled him out of his daydream. Keeping Sue shielded, Jack threw his arm back aiming his gun at the alley entrance.
Chapter 3
"Whoa, mate, I give up," Bobby joked, his hands up in mock surrender when he came around the corner, seeing jack with his gun drawn.
"You could have called an 'All Clear' over the radio, Crash," Jack snapped, lowering his gun in relief.
"I did," Bobby smirked, pointing to the earpiece dangling over Jack's collar that apparently had fallen out.
"Oh," Jack said, with an apologetic grin as he cradled his gun.
"I guess you had your hands kind of full, huh?" Bobby smiled, raising his eyebrows mockingly at the sight before him. He just laughed at Jack's glare, throwing his coat back to shove his hands in his pockets. "You both okay?" he asked seriously.
"Yeah, I think so," Jack replied, turning back to Sue who was still curled in a ball in front of him. Raising his hand, he gently pulled the curtain of hair back from her face causing her to look around.
O-K, he signed in front of her, feeling her relax. Standing up, Jack pulled her up beside him turning her to search her face.
O-K-YOU? Jack signed when she frowned at him.
"Yes, Jack, I'm fine," Sue insisted, dusting off her coat. "What about Dunne?" she asked when she saw Bobby standing behind Jack.
"Didn't make it," Bobby frowned, watching Sue's face fall in disappointment. "His cagey partner bolted like a rabbit when the firing started. We lost him."
"What about the person who did the shooting?" Jack asked hopeful, to which Bobby shook his head. "So we're back to square one," Jack sighed frustrated.
"And all we know is 'something' is going down," Bobby stated.
"Dunne wanted to make the drop tonight," Sue reminded them. "Just before the shooting started, the other man said something about delivering oxen parts or maybe oxstone parts?" she looked at the other two, wondering if they understood that, growing concerned when broad smiles spread across both men's faces. "What? What did I say?"
"You, my dear shelia, may have just saved the day," Bobby grinned, striding out of the alley, calling this new information over the radio. Sue looked at Jack in confusion.
He laughed and told her, "Come on, I'll explain on the way back to the office." As they left the alley, Jack walked beside her. subconsciously placing his hand at the small of her back.
