Hello! I had this brilliant idea, and I wanted to share it with you all. I don't know if you've seen A Dog's Purpose or read the book, but it's so good. Bailey is adorable. This is a crossover, but I find they don't get attention there, so I'm leaving it as a regular story in the Sue Thomas fandom. I hope you like it!

Sue was beginning to feel annoyed as she packed her car. Her mother kept asking her things she had already taken care of or known about. Her father stood to the side, staying out of it. Eventually, Sue had had enough.

"Mom, I have been out of the house without you before," she said.

"Yes, but you've never lived anywhere without me before," her mother answered.

"You don't think I can do anything on my own," Sue said, frustrated. She pushed past her mother, continuing to load the car.

"That is not true," her father said, giving her a look.

"I have to go," Sue said with a hint of a smile. "I still have to pick up Levi."

"You know, it would be nice to meet him someday," her mother said, stepping closer to her.

"When we've settled, you can come for a visit," Sue promised. Her father moved in to hug her tightly.

"I'll miss you," he said.

"You too," she replied. She stood staring at her mother until she finally stepped forward to hug her. It was brief.

"I'll call when I get there," Sue said, pulling back. She started the car and started driving away.

"You've done all you can," her father said to her mother. "She's as ready as she's ever gonna be."

...

Sue drove to where she was getting her dog, Levi. When she arrived, she felt nervous and excited. She'd never had a hearing dog before. This was going to be different. Once she introduced herself, the lady started talking.

"Miss Thomas, this is a very difficult program," she started. "Very few candidates make it through."

"If Levi didn't make it on the Dean's list, that's okay," Sue said, smiling. "Neither did I."

"What I'm saying is we have major concerns that Levi has the necessary capabilities."

"They used to say the same about me," Sue chuckled. "Still do." She shrugged, making a comical face.

"Because of the abuse he suffered, he's a bit schizophrenic. He's undisciplined, and he has the tendency to run away."

"I've known since I first saw him. I want Levi," Sue said firmly. The woman raised her brow but picked up the phone to make a call.

"Bring in Levi, please," the woman said into the phone. Sue smiled at her again, trying to reassure the woman that everything was going to be okay.

Bailey Now Levi

I was restless. It had been so long ago that the woman had come to see me. I so badly wanted her to take me home with her. She had a kind face and a gentle demeanor. I was not wanting to be left here alone where they were most likely going to put me down. My past was horrible in this dog's life. The people who bought me treated me horribly and left me isolated most of the time. I only ever wanted to play, but when I tried, I was smacked for it. I won't get into the other stuff. Eventually, I was saved and brought here. That's where I met her. Sue. I had had three wonderful lives up until now, the first being with Ethan as Bailey. He was my boy. I loved Ethan. I had grown old and died while he was away at school, and I missed him terribly. My next life was as a search and rescue dog for Carlos with the police. My name had been Ellie. I had been shot on a mission to save a girl's life, which I had successfully done by the way. Carlos had been in danger by the kidnapper, and so I had intervened and gotten shot in the process. Then, I was a small dog named Tino. I lived with a woman in college who was afraid of social interaction, but in the end, she had gotten married and had three kids. That was a good life. Now, I was determined to be reunited with this girl. She seemed different. Shy. Wounded. Like I was.

"Come on, boy," the man with the leash said. He tugged, and I obeyed. I was a golden retriever in this life. I didn't mind the name Levi. It reminded me of Ethan's worn out jeans. We walked down the hallway, and then, there she was! Oh! I was so overjoyed! I jumped onto her back, making her cry out and start laughing. She turned and hugged me like a human, saying my name and petting me joyfully. Oh she was so lovely. I knew I was going to have a good home with her.

"It's so good to see you again too," Sue went on, still ravishing me with her hands.

"Among his other deficiencies," the Dragon lady at the counter said. I didn't like her. She smelled annoying. "You should be aware that he has a problem with loud noises. He tends to shut down." Darn right I shut down. Loud noises were associated with pain. I knew this girl wasn't going to do that, so I didn't think we were going to have a problem.

"We've got a bit of a drive ahead of us," Sue said, still petting me. "How is he in the car?"

"All the dogs are trained not to react in the car," Dragon lady went on. "The last thing you want when a car horn honks is a 60 pound retriever in your lap. With him, who knows. Don't honk, and don't drive in traffic. Good luck." The lady handed my new owner some stuff, and then we were on our way. Ohhh I loved the car. It was such freedom. She let me sit in the front seat too. Eventually we got to a part on the road where she stopped and turned at me.

"Any ideas, Levi?" she asked. I looked around us. There was the road in front of us, a road to our right, and a road to our left.

"I forgot my map," she said sheepishly. Me being a canine with a sense of direction, of course she'd ask my opinion, not that I could answer her.

"One bark for left, two for right," she said. I had no idea, so I did nothing.

"Mom always said if in doubt, keep on going. God will let you know if you're on the right track," Sue said. She drove straight. Then in a few seconds, she looked in her rearview mirror and laughed at herself.

"That was prompt," she said. I really loved this girl. We were gonna be just fine. We turned around, and she started talking again.

Sue

She could tell Levi was listening to every word she was saying. It was very comforting. She decided to talk about her mom, since her mom was currently on her mind.

"You haven't met my Mom. I may as well start from the beginning," she said, driving onward. "Let's just say that from an early age I knew things weren't going to be easy." She thought back to 1977.

Flashback

She was being pulled around in a wagon by her one brother. Her other two brothers playing in the yard. Without warning, a bird had pooped on her head.

"Look!" John cried. "A bird dumped on Sue's head!"

"Ewww," Charlie said. "Sue has doodoo on her head." He was wearing sunglasses and a self constructed helmet that looked as though it was imitating Darth Vador's.

"How did that bird do that?" Billy asked. He was also dressed in Jedi getup. The three of them were laughing at her, so she ran inside, crying. Her mother cleaned her hair for her instantly.

"It's not nice of them to laugh," she said as she brushed Sue's hair. "But it is kind of funny." Sue made a disgruntled noise in return. "There, all better now," her mother smiled, kissing her forehead. Sue went into the living room as her mother warned her brothers to stop teasing her. They were watching television. Sue watched from behind the couch, but then suddenly, her hearing was gone. Puzzled, she went to the TV and turned up the volume very loud. She could see her brother's shouting at her, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Her mother came into the room, bending down in front of her, asking her what she was doing. Sue still couldn't hear anything.

Present

"That's how I went deaf," Sue explained to Levi. "The truth is, I don't really remember being able to hear." She didn't notice the police car until she had passed it. It turned on the siren and followed her.

"Great day, isn't it?" Sue asked Levi, who was looking in the side mirror at the cop car following them. "The wonderful beginning of a great friendship I think."

Levi

Ahhh! Stop talking and see the cop car! I wanted to shout. It was setting me on edge. I realized this girl couldn't hear anything, but couldn't she see it looming behind us? I looked purposely at the rearview mirror hoping she'd catch on. She didn't.

"One minute I could hear, the next I couldn't," she went on. I turned around and looked out the back window, hoping it would get her attention. I was getting desperate. She was going to get in trouble!

"My folks took me to so many doctors I could have staffed my own hospital. They all came to the same enlightened conclusion: 'No idea. Never seen anything like it.'"

Pay attention! I wanted physically turn her head. She kept talking.

"My brother's had a solution. They said it was the bird pooping on my head that did it. My parents took it really hard. My mom became a woman obsessed. She had one objective: that I was going to lead a normal life. My mom left me in Miss Casey's hands. I called her the Iron Witch. That woman was born without a heart, or so I thought at the time. I went to see her every day for four years. My mom was almost as bad as her. She never missed a chance to make me practice. Then it came time for me to go to an actual school, and my mom insisted I went to a 'normal' classroom. I was laughed at in kindergarten. They thought I was a retard. My mom told me that I was gonna work twice as hard and show them wrong."

I resorted to pawing at her arm since nothing else was working.

"What is it, Levi? What's got your attention back there?"

Finally! Results! Her mouth gaped open in shock.

"How long has he been there?!" she gasped. We finally pulled over, and I feared the worst for her.

"Step out of the car please," the cop was saying. I was very worried now. She couldn't hear him! The cop said it again.

"What's he doing back there?" Sue asked. I looked back too. The man was now getting out of his car with his weapon drawn. This wasn't good!

"Step out of the car, and put both hands on the vehicle," he instructed. She must have seen this in her mirror, cos she did as he said. I watched as he frisked her and then asked her why she didn't stop. What an idiot. Did all people just assume everyone could hear? Then Sue started telling him that she was deaf and wouldn't hear him if he was talking to her and that her I.D. in her purse would prove that. He leaned in to get it and saw me, so I whined. He pulled out immediately.

"What is the matter with your dog?" he asked. When she didn't answer, he tapped her arm, making her jump. He repeated his question.

"Oh, he's been abused," she answered.

"You beat your dog?" he asked her.

"No, no, not by me. I just got him," she explained. He reached back in to get her I.D., giving me an odd look. I kept staring at him with what I hoped to be a sweet expression. He looked at her I.D. and then apologized.

"I'm sorry. I had no way of knowing," he said. "So how do you know what I'm saying?" He was curious now, I could tell by his tone.

"I read lips," she answered. "I can't communicate with you if I can't see you. This is the first time anyone's pulled a gun on me because of it." The officer looked sheepish.

"It's not the first time it's caused me a problem," she added.

"Well I can certainly sympathize," the officer said. "I had a cousin who lost an eye. Never could see anything out of that left side. Ended up getting hit by a bus." I saw her looking at him with the expression of, "Why are you telling me this." I wanted to laugh.

"Anyway, this is just a warning ticket," the officer went on, handing it to her. "I want you to slow down in the future."

"I will," she promised. He smiled.

"Have a good day," he said. She got back into the car with me. I was whining in fear, thinking the worst was yet to come, that this was too easy. She reached over and touched my head.

"It's okay, Levi. Nobody is going to hurt you," she promised. "I know it's hard, but you can't ever let them see that you're scared. They'll think you don't belong." I calmed immediately. I knew she was referring to herself, but that was okay. As long as the danger was over, I was going to be all right.

Sue

They arrived in D.C., and Sue couldn't help but stare around in awe. It made her want to sing the national anthem. She said so to Levi, who was looking around with his tongue lolling out. Then her car felt off and started slowing down, and once it stopped, she had to be towed to a garage. The mechanic was telling her she needed a new fuel pump, not that she heard him say it the first two times. Levi pawed at her and then started barking at the man.

"Easy, boy, easy," the man said, holding up his hands.

"Come here, Levi," she said, pulling him back.

"He's a little high strung," the mechanic said.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. "Were you trying to get my attention?"

"Yea."

"He was just letting me know. He's a hearing ear dog, like a seeing eye dog only for Deaf people."

"You're deaf?" he asked. "You don't hear anything?" Sue shook her head. He peered at her. "Are you reading my lips?"

"With you it's a little tough because of your mustache," she said, smiling and gesturing. "But yea."

"Well I be darned," he said. "And the dog is trained to help?"

"He lets me know when there is a phone ringing or a doorbell or if someone is trying to get my attention. Stuff like that."

"Wow," the mechanic said, awed. "What will they think of next? I'm Charlie Adams." He raised his voice. "I own this place." They shook hands.

"Sue Thomas," she said. "This is Levi. And it doesn't do any good to yell." Charlie looked at her strangely. "I could tell you were talking louder by how your face changed."

"You don't say?" he asked, smiling. "As I was telling your dog earlier, you need a new fuel pump. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get one until tomorrow." She felt concerned then.

"I start a new job tomorrow morning with the FBI," she explained.

"Well I figured you were either new in town or ransacking the neighborhood," Charlie joked.

"My apartment is only a few blocks from here," she told him.

"You can use my truck if you'd like to move your stuff. And if you don't come back, I get to keep your car and come ahead," he laughed. Sue really liked this man. He helped her load her things into his truck, and she was off again. She got everything inside before returning the truck and walking back to the apartment. Levi walked with her. She smiled to herself. This was a new adventure, and she couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Levi

I liked this apartment! It was cozy. It was above a bowling alley, but that didn't bother her of course. I watched as she set down a photo of two girls in skates. She looked at me.

"There, now it's officially our home," she said. I whined. She rubbed my face again. "We're gonna make it as long as we stick together." She moved her hands while she spoke, so I assumed this must be another way of talking for her. I hoped to learn it. The night was peaceful, and then suddenly it was early, and there was a beeping going off. I jumped up from the couch. My time to shine! I raced to her bedroom and leaped onto the bed, making her jolt awake. I shoved my head into her lap.

"Oh! Okay, Levi, I'm up," she said. She looked very disgruntled. "You're technique needs work." She got up and tossed the blanket on top of my head, which I proceeded to roll around with. Oh I was so happy! Another day! A day where I was with her and not in a cage! It was brilliant. After a whirlwind of activity, we were on the street and walking to her new job. She stood in front of the building, talking about how she never dreamed in a million years that she'd be working for the FBI. I wanted to tell her I had worked for law enforcement myself with Carlos, but being a dog, that wasn't going to happen. Then we went inside, and she got our pictures taken and our prints put into the system. I wondered if mine were still there from when I was Ellie. Of course, it was a different town, but I feel like all law enforcement agencies would have access to different towns' records. After all that was done, we were put in a room with a guy who started talking about identifying fingerprints. God, he was boring. I gave a whine to show my displeasure, and I saw her stifle a yawn herself. I could tell she was disappointed at where they stuck her. I wished I could make it better.

Sue

Sue went to the garage to get her car. Charlie asked how her first day was, and so she explained where the FBI had put her. She was really disappointed. Charlie joked that if she learned how to fix engines, he'd hire her on the spot. It made her smile. Charlie seemed really nice. He offered her dinner, and she refused, seeing that it wasn't really appetizing. He told her that the gas in her car was basically Hamburger Helper and went on to say that the station she'd got it from polluted the gas. Charlie explained her car wouldn't be ready for another day. She asked about his eating since it consisted of a twinkie and other unhealthy things. He said he ate that way for two years, four months, and twenty one days, ever since his wife died. Sue felt badly then. She thought maybe in the future she'd make him a nice homemade meal.

...

Back at the apartment, her mother phoned. Sue answered and was assaulted with questions and orders on how to be assertive and make sure everyone knew she was just as good as they were. When asked if she made any friends, Sue lied and said yes. Anything to make her mother stop.

"Don't look at me like that," she said to Levi, who was giving her a mournful look. "What was I supposed to say? That I'm in special projects? I don't think so. She wouldn't settle for that, and neither will I."

Levi

We were back at the boring building. I didn't think I could take another day of listening to that man droning on again. This time, though, Sue seemed determined about something. I merely followed along. We walked into this office where she marched right up the guy sitting at the desk. I had to admit, she was almost fearless.

"I'm Sue Thomas. You're new special project," she said. Her tone was sarcastic.

"Um, I'm Jack Hudson," the guy answered. He looked bewildered.

"I didn't work hard all my life to be put into some token position. I want a transfer, and I don't want to be patronized." She stood with her arms crossed. I hid my head behind her leg. I tried not to be worried for her. The Jack fellow put down his pen.

"Good speech," he said. "Bit on the defensive side but luckily you'll get a chance to rework it before you get to use it again," he said, standing up. Sue looked confused. I was confused. Wasn't this the right guy to complain to? I looked up at her. She was staring at him.

"You're looking for personnel." he said. "They just moved to the fifth floor. We moved here from the sixth." I could tell Sue was embarrassed. I was for her too.

"You're an agent," she said, wincing.

"Yea," he answered, nodding.

"Sorry to have bothered you," Sue said, backing away. I looked back at Jack, smelling a familiar sweaty smell that I used to get from Ethan whenever he was around Hannah. I followed her out, listening to her ask me why I didn't stop her cos now she looked like an idiot. I had no time to warn her of the impending collision. Sue crashed into an African American woman, who spilled her paperwork everywhere upon impact. Then they banged heads while going to pick it up. I liked the other woman. She seemed bubbly. Her name was Lucy. They were chatting until suddenly she spotted me.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"Levi," Sue answered. Lucy bent down to my level.

"Hi, Levi!" she cried, shaking my paw. I definitely liked her. A lot. She offered to walk us to personnel, but I could sense Sue was giving up on her argument. Lucy wanted to walk with us back to fingerprinting anyway. I could tell a friendship might be starting here. I hoped so. She needed more than just canine friendship. I wondered what else was going to happen today.

...

We were at lunch when sweaty man Jack showed up. He was curious, I could tell.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked, looking at me as I watched him.

"No, it's not," Sue answered. He sat across from her. I watched as she didn't know what to do or say, so she stuck food into her mouth. She smelled a little sweaty too.

"My curiosity is getting the better of me," Jack was saying. "We don't get many dogs up here." He looked down at me. I winked back. He gave me a confused look in return.

"He's a hearing dog," Sue said. "I'm deaf." I watched as Jack stared at her, not having heard properly.

"You're what?" he asked. Boy, he looked stupid. They looked at one another as it dawned on him what she had said. "How do you know...?" he started.

"I read lips," she finished.

"I had no idea," he said.

"Many people don't," she offered. He nodded his head while looking back from her to me. If I could have kicked him, I would have. He looked foolish.

"That's very interesting," he said. Oh, man, I thought. Now you really look stupid.

"I'm glad you think so," Sue smiled. Jack waited a beat before continuing.

"So you mean you can just look around and see what people are saying?" he asked. Oh no. He was asking for a test. What was wrong with this guy? He smelled nervous now. So did Sue.

"Yes, I can."

"Can you tell me what that guy outside is saying?" he asked her. I could tell he knew the unsuspecting victim. Sue looked at the man and turned back to Jack.

"No, I can't. It's an invasion of privacy," she said.

"Oh, I'm not gonna tell anybody," Jack said. "This is the FBI." Oohh he was charming. I saw the look he was giving her, and I saw that she was falling for it. Sweaty and nervous. Definitely like Ethan and Hannah. She looked at the other guy for a moment.

"Oh, I can't repeat that," she said, blushing.

"What?" Jack asked. "What's he saying?"

"They have something planned for this weekend," Sue answered. "That I don't think I should know about."

"Those two have something planned this weekend?" he asked, barely containing his smirk.

"I may not get out much, but I know an indecent proposal when I see one," she said, smiling. She caught the man staring back at her, so she looked away. Then Jack waved to him. I knew he was busted.

"Friend of yours?" she asked, visibly upset.

"Coworker," Jack answered. "Who I happen to know is happily involved."

"Yea I guess so," Sue said. "He's taking her to Miami."

"Only that's not who he's involved with," Jack finished. I perked my ears, interested. This was getting more and more complex! I hope it wasn't with that nice lady, Lucy, from earlier.

"You're good," Jack said. "He just asked for Friday off. Said he was going out of town."

"Hmm," Sue said, sipping her drink. I looked back and forth between them. I knew they couldn't see it, but I could. Those two had sparks flying. It was just a matter of time.