A/N – Hi everyone, sorry for the very very long pause, but my life got exceptionally busy all of a sudden. But here I am back for the second episode I promised you all. You don't really need to read "Team building on ice" before, but it could be useful because there will be some little references to that previous episode. I just hope the wait will be worth. Enjoy!
As always, I own nothing except my thankfulness to the kind people who reward me with their precious reviews.
'Thoughts' – sign – "dialogue"
At 6:30 AM D made the whole team cell phones buzz. Few words were used.
"Hi everyone, meet you at 7:30 at our Slappy's with swimming equipment. Do not have a huge breakfast. D"
Most of the team were waken up with that annoying sound and grumbling they scanned the message quite quickly: Lucy got immediately up trying to decide with swimming suit choose for the occasion, Tara turned over and tried to catch a few more minutes of sleep, Myles started to wonder whether the following day would present them any possible activity with water in gas form, since after solid and liquid that was the last to try. Bobby smirked, entertaining the thought of an early Slappy's breakfast, but discarded quickly the idea knowing the possible cashes with aquatic activities.
Jack stopped in his track to read D's message, being on his way to the park where Sue used to bring Levi for his morning walk. Jack was again trying to use his casual encounter technique to cross Sue's way, or at least to catch a glimpse of her figure. He was still pretty shocked about all the feelings and the thoughts madly running about his head; he felt no longer the perfectly calm guy, always in check, always totally aware of the world, both outside and inside. He felt no more the capable and focused sniper, able to wait for hours on end, able to blank out every other thought in order to concentrate on his aim.
'I just need to run a little bit to clear my mind. But why am I going there? I know there's a fat chance I'll meet her and then? What am I doing? Well, I know I'm not saying a single word about what I was thinking yesterday on the ice, that's for sure. I'd love for her to say something, but I do know her, she's so private and shy about these things, she could even feel embarrassed about my behavior. I am well aware I was not my usual self and I suspect all the other took notice of that small detail, too. What if she did, too? And what if she didn't? how am I supposed to behave? My reputation did me a lot of good now! I just feel so clueless about the next step, I don't even know whether I want to move forward and take a chance or step backward and keep our precious friendship on a safe level. What wouldn't I give to be able to look inside her mind for a fleeting moment! It would make things so much easier for me, and for her, too. I'd know what she wants me to do, what she feels comfortable with, what she wants me to be for her, a partner on the job, a friend, a very good friend, a special one, or something more. And I'd also like to know what she thinks about Bobby and his words and all of those weird acts, it was like he was wooing her.'
While his mind was running free, also his feet had reached quite the speed, so no longer after turning his thoughts toward Bobby he caught a movement at the end of the lawn.
Sue was throwing a stick to Levi when she felt her Blackberry vibrate and pulled it out to read the short text.
Her movement caused Jack's mind to focus on the message she was obviously reading and stop short in his tracks.
'Swimming equipment. Swimming equipment. What? Swimming equipment? As in Swimming suits? Am I going to see Sue in a swimming suit? Wasn't enough of a torture yesterday? Demetrius, man, you sure know how to drive me to my wits' end. How am I supposed to survive this day down? They all know, they all will see, will she see it too? I cannot let it happen, I cannot make her uncomfortable around me, what if she considers me just a friend? We are close, I'd say, but maybe it's just the way she is, she is friendly even with Myles! Oh God, how can I know? I just can't stand Lucy's inquisition, what if paired with Bobby's curiosity? And what if he starts ogling her? Let's hope the water will be cold enough to cool my head off.'
Not far away similar thoughts were running wild inside Sue's mind.
'Swimming equipment? Wasn't enough that they all saw me in my ice skating dress yesterday? I'm not really a big fan of showing off. Maybe Lucy will be happy about it and her presence paired with her wit will be enough to shed the attention from me. And, I really wonder, what could be doing today? Will it be another team building activity? I know that yesterday passes as something like that, since most of the team did not know how to ice skate so it could be used for bonding, but what about swimming? I am pretty sure we all know how to swim, of course we do, don't we? Myles has a family house somewhere near the water, I don't remember if it's a lake or the ocean, Bobby can, Jack surely has to know, just like Lucy; I'm not sure about Tara and Demetrius, but I find hard to believe that he would want to start learning such a thing today. So? Well, time is fleeting, I got to move, otherwise I'll be late and I'm sure Lucy will want to inspect my choice of clothes, or better the lack of them. At least I have a really small selection to choose my outfit from.'
"Levi, boy, come on, we gotta go, I think you'll keep company to Charlie today, alright with you? I'm sure he will let you have some treats and maybe you can wrung Troy to hand you something too. Now, let's go!"