I do not own Sue Thomas or its characters in any way. I have created the characters John, Billy, Charlie, Gloria, Tessa, Jane, and Maddy so far. I've loved this show since day one. I found the story I started writing ten years ago, and I've modified it a little. I hope you like it.
"SUE!" he called after. "SUE! STOP!" He ran harder and faster. The brush kept slapping his face and legs. He heard them behind him. He knew they would find all of them. You can't hide on an island. From the beginning he knew this was all a bad idea. He had lost the others. He just knew that he had to get to her before they did. He didn't care if they heard him.
"SUE!" he shouted again. Then he remembered, she can't hear him.
How did he get here? How did this all come to be that he, Jack Hudson, was chasing a deaf colleague through the bush on an island in the dark with people trying to kill him? He heard a shot, felt the wind off the bullet fly by him. He ducked and kept running. Then he tripped. As he fell, he thought about how suddenly life can end-just like that.
Four Days Earlier
"I have never seen a football game go so wrong," Bobby was huffing. "Myles, what the hell happened out there?"
"Me?!" Myles asked incredulously. "I didn't do anything wrong! It was Jack! He was not focused at all!" Jack ignored this comment. He was focusing hard on the paper in front of him instead.
"Oh, sure. Blame Sparky. I'd say you mucked it up showing off for that hot blonde again," Bobby snickered. Myles' face went rather red. Did they all know?
"Yes," Bobby answered him without hearing the question. "We all know about her."
"Well...well...just...I have nothing to say," Myles replied, crossing his arms and glowering at Bobby.
"Finally," Lucy said, sighing in relief. "I never thought I'd see the day where you ran out of things to say..."
"Oh, shut it," Myles growled. He bent over his laptop, turning away from everyone. Tara, Sue, and Lucy all shared smiles. They knew Myles had his heart set on Gloria, the woman who watched their football games every week. Sue slid a sideways glance towards Jack, who pretended he hadn't been looking at her. This was the usual game they played every day. Sue looked back to Lucy, who shook her head, understanding.
"Okay people," Dimitrius said, coming in rubbing his hand together. "We've got a new lead on our human traffickers." Jack sat up boltright. He'd been working months on this case. He wanted these people gone, dead even, but put away for life would be just as satisfactory. He figured jail was worse than death in some cases.
"Whaddya got?" he asked.
"They have taken refuge on some island at a cottage. We're thinking they're prowling the place for young women going to the lake on vacation."
"How do we get 'em?" Bobby asked, getting a sense a field trip was about to be proposed.
"I'm glad you asked," D grinned. "I was lucky enough to pull some strings with Homeland Security and rent a place for us to stay and work while we monitor their movements and crack down on them."
"Hold on," Jack interrupted. "You mean, we're gonna be right there next to them? Isn't that a bit...risky?"
"They wouldn't expect it," D answered.
"He's right," Myles threw in, half listening. He was still thinking about Gloria.
"I guess...it just seems...I don't know," Jack hesitated.
"It'll be all right, mate," Bobby reassured him. "We've got plenty of firepower." He winked. Jack shook his head at him, smiling. Always thinking about the guns that one.
"And we've got agents from Homeland Security there with us," D added. "We're also on the mainland."
"It'll be fun!" Lucy encouraged Jack. She was thinking of how the lake might loosen him up a little, especially around Sue. "D, I think we can all say we're in." Nods went all around. Jack's was last. He had a bad feeling about the whole thing. He just wanted to go in and take them out. He wasn't all for this spying operation.
"Everyone go get ready," D instructed. "We'll meet back here and work our way there. It's not too far."
"We've got some shopping to do!" Lucy clapped her hands excitedly. Levi hid under Sue's desk. He recognized the "s" word.
"Come on, Levi," Sue said to him. "It'll be less painful if we just do what she says." He looked up at her mournfully. Tara and Lucy were already heading out.
"I'll catch up," Sue said. Lucy noticed Jack was hovering behind as well, so she just smiled and left without a word.
"You seem upset," Sue said to him. He looked up at her from his phone.
"I'm apprehensive," he admitted. "But if it gets these guys off the streets, then we have to do it don't we?"
"Maybe I'll even show you how to fish," Sue teased. He raised his brows at her.
"Oh?" he asked. "What makes you think I don't know how to fish?" She just shrugged and grinned, leaving him standing there shaking his head at her receding back. He still had a sinking feeling. He shook his head. It was going to be fine.
Evening
They all gathered as planned. Sue was looking around anxiously.
"What's wrong?" Tara asked her.
"They should be here," Sue was muttering, not seeing Tara speak. Tara looked to Lucy, who made the "I don't know" face.
"Sissy!" a man's voice called out, his hands moving simultaneously.
"John!" Sue called back, rushing to hug him. "Billy! Charlie!" She called over John's shoulder. They piled into a group hug.
"It's been too long," Billy signed to her. Sue agreed. Her three brothers and her all together again.
"Mom and Dad said we have to look after you," John teased her. "Just like old times, right?"
"More like the other way around," Sue scoffed. Charlie laughed out loud. The three brothers were very tight. They did everything together, and that included being in Homeland Security together.
"Good to finally meet you," Jack said, stretching his hand out to John. They had spoken frequently on the phone. He was just as surprised as everyone else that these three men were Sue's brothers. She hadn't said anything. He looked at her questioningly.
"You didn't ask," she said, eyes twinkling. She had been saving the surprise. Handshakes and greetings went around. Sue noticed that Tara's hand lingered on Billy's a little longer than everyone else. Bobby noticed too.
"Is Jane coming too?" Sue asked John.
"Naw. The missus is staying home with Maddy," John replied. "My wife and daughter," he clarified for everyone as they were staring.
"Do you have a wife and daughter?" Tara dared to ask Billy, who shook his head.
"I don't have much time for that," he answered.
"They are a lot of work sometimes," Charlie chimed in. Sue swatted him. She loved his wife, Tessa. She knew he was only teasing.
"Okay, I think it's time to hit the road," D said after the chattering died down. Everyone piled into different cars. Lucy made sure Jack was in with Sue. She wasn't quick enough to get Tara in with Bobby. Lucy took it upon herself to help these two out with their secret romances, although she didn't think they were very secret. She didn't know how to feel about this Billy taking Tara's attention. Sue was chatting away with Charlie. Lucy had a very good feeling about this trip. It wasn't going to be long, but she was going to do her best with what she had.
Late
"You call a four hour car ride a short trip?" Bobby asked Dimitrius, climbing out of the car and hobbling around on his numb leg.
"It depends how you look at it," D said. "And how much you like car rides."
"I hate them," Bobby clarified.
"I thought we were having fun," Myles said, getting out behind him.
"No. Your idea of fun was not fun," Bobby disagreed. He never wanted to play the License Plate Game ever again.
"Sorry for trying," Myles huffed.
"Relax, Myles," Jack said, patting his shoulder. "He's just sore that he didn't get the front seat."
"I clearly said 'shotgun' and you know it," Bobby glowered at him. He didn't appreciate having Myles fall asleep on his shoulder either. Jack laughed and went to scout out their home for the next few days with Sue and John. Bobby glanced over and saw Tara with Billy, laughing about something. He pretended he didn't care. Everyone else was going inside to unpack.
"Come on, mate," Bobby said to Myles. "I call top bunk."
My first ST fanfic. I have to say I'm nervous writing it as I've had this idea for a long time, and seeing it written down is making it real. I'm trying to do some research as I go along to make it seem realistic. I appreciate any thoughts or input. Just don't be too hard on me!