A/N: This is my first story in English, so no pressure, right? ;-)

For Lynzee005... You are a wonderful friend and a teacher. Thank you for your help and support. You are my personal hero!

Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me, they belong to PAX.

-xxx-

"SIMPLE QUESTION"

Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control.

I don't know who said those words. Honestly. But I do know, that it is true…

When you stormed into my office, I simply knew that you're not an ordinary girl. Your soft voice, your beautiful face, long, golden hair… Everything in you was perfect. And those eyes, so shining, like stars above Wisconsin. I fell in love in these eyes, you know?

Silly, I know. I never believed in love at first sight, but you walked in, you spoke to me and… I was yours forever.

- I' m Sue Thomas your new special project…- you said and it was a beginning, for both of us.

Anyway… I told you, that you picked wrong office, that personnel moved on the fifth floor, and you blushed. You were so sweet embarrassed, so beautiful, that my heart jumped in my chest like never before. I was captivated, flabbergasted and totally amazed by you, and I still am.

Next thing I remember, is when you said you were sorry and escaped before I had a chance to know you better.

- Go after her!- said a little voice in my head, but I couldn't. I still had these damn reports to write, specially those for Randy- The King of bureaucracy. So I stayed, but I couldn't stop thinking about you, I couldn't concentrate. I knew I must find you, talk to you again, see those hazel eyes and find out who is your shaggy golden friend. Yeah… A dog in Hoover Building is very unusual sight and I must confess that it helped me a lot when I was looking for you.

Our lunch was incredible, specially that moment when you told me about your deafness. I was shocked but at the same time I was impressed by your strength, sense of humor and that unique talent, that God gave you.

- I read lips…

These three words changed everything, changed my life forever and yours too.

Fate? Definitely!

One conversation with Eldridge, one simple test and you've become a part of my team, my trainee and soon, my partner. In the meantime we've shared a lot of secrets, dreams, laugh and tears and a lot of pizza of course!

We've become friends, real friends, friends for better and worse, friends for life.

Sure. I had few friends before. I had Shep, Wes, our team. Bobby was my best friend but you... You were, you are something more, much more... In you, I have found my soul mate, someone who really understand me, someone who understand my fears, my dreams, my faith and my work. Each day I thank God, that I have found you, because you are an answer to my prayers.

When did I fall in love with you? Immediately, I think, but it took me two years before I knew for sure (two years and a Dessa's case exactly). When we pretended a married couple, I knew that I want it for real with you, only with you, but I was scared. I thought that if I told you how I felt, I would lose our friendship, I would lose you.

But I'm not scared anymore. I know that you're the one for me. You're my faith, my hope, my love. You're my strength, my inspiration, my reason to live. You are my present and my future and I'll prove it to you, if you'll let me.

So... Susan Marie Thomas... Will you go out with me?

- Yes.

The End