A/N: I don't own any of the characters from Sue Thomas F. . This story was written for fun and because I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to Jack and Sue. Please take this for what it is - fiction. And please know that I write the situations to fit my story - so things may be stretched...:)
~ No Kau a Kau ~
(For Eternity)
Jack took her arm, halting her progress into the apartment. "Lucy's crying," he explained when Sue turned inquisitive eyes his way.
Sue's expression clouded as she nodded her comprehension. Hurrying into the apartment, she found her roommate on the couch, clutching a pillow, tears streaming down her face. "Lucy? Are you okay? Did something happen?"
"Everything is ruined," she cried dramatically. "My beautiful dream wedding is turning into a nightmare. I'm afraid to answer the phone because it might be more bad news. I've been trying to rearrange things," she continued between sniffles, "but everything is pretty much set and since we're to leave in two days' time, I don't know what to do."
Sue squinted, trying desperately to keep up with Lucy's rush of words, only catching one here and there. Shaking her head, she turned to Jack, hoping he could fill her in.
He shrugged then brought his hands together before letting them go and shaking them nervously. "Wedding jitters," he explained. "Something has happened but I'm not quite sure what," he admitted, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
Sue's lips formed a perfect o before turning back to the distressed woman on the couch. "Lucy, I'll be happy to help all I can, but you are going to have to calm down so I can understand what you are saying. What's wrong?"
"Lee..vv...iii can't go," she hiccupped, trying to settle down.
"Of course he can go," Sue assured her. "I've got his ticket, remember?"
Lucy shook her head frantically and took a few breaths, her lips trembling at the news she had to break to her best friend. "The Centers for Infectious Diseases has just shut down any travel for animals overseas. And I know Hawaii isn't considered 'overseas' but the islands do have an above average number of Asian visitors."
Sue looked at Jack once again but could see that he was as clueless as she. "What does the number of Asian tourists have to do with Levi not getting to go to Hawaii?"
A solitary tear made its way down Lucy's cheek before she continued. "Something about not letting live animals in or out and the spreading of bird flu. If Levi were to go, he couldn't come back."
Sue sat back. "Oh, well, is that all?" she asked, searching for the calmness she knew Lucy needed.
"Is that all?" Lucy was incredulous. "That's huge! I know you need Levi there with you. You'll be in a new environment and you were going to have your own room because I know how you are. You don't want to be a bother to anyone, even though you aren't a bother, you're a dream roommate and I'm going to miss you something terri..."
"Lucy!" Sue said forcefully, "You've taken off again and I can't keep up."
"SORRY," she signed, taking a couple of calming breaths.
"I'm sure the hotel can make accommodations for me," Sue began encouragingly as Lucy began to shake her head, "Or not."
The tears threatened again. "The hotel is coming out of extensive renovations and while the rooms are to die for, some of the amenities aren't up to par yet. They have expectations of having everything in line by the end of June, about a week after my wedding."
Sue squared her shoulders. "Lucy, I'll be fine. I've gotten by before without Levi, I can do it again. It's not like I'm completely reliant on him or anyone," she reminded her defiantly.
"I know," Lucy assured her. "It's just that I wanted this time to be special for everyone, you too. We're going to be doing a lot of activities and I don't want you spending the whole time being uncomfortable. I want this trip to have memories for everyone, not just for Daryl and me."
"I'm sure it will. I've never been to, much less been involved with, a destination wedding before. Nothing could keep me away," she promised. "And who knows, maybe the groomsman you've paired me with will turn out to be a patient man and easily trainable," Sue mentioned with false bravery, missing Jack's dark look. "Don't worry about me, Lucy. I'll be fine."
Lucy was about to start in again when Levi nudged Sue's leg, looking toward the door. Sue turned back to see Lucy rising from the couch. "That's probably Daryl. I'll get it," she finished as she hurried to the door.
Sue turned to Jack, misinterpreting the frown on his face. Leveling him a look meant to intimidate, she warned, "I'll be fine Jack. This isn't a case, it's a wedding."
He held up his hands. "I didn't say a word."
"You didn't have to. The frown you are wearing speaks volumes."
He started to reply, but heard Lucy and Daryl so he instead pointed Sue's attention their way. Standing to greet the newcomer, Jack shook his hand warmly, before returning his focus to Sue. "I need to go, but let me do some checking. Maybe I can use my FBI connections and get Levi on that flight after all."
"If you do," Sue reminded him, "Make sure he can come back. I'd hate to have to relocate to paradise," she winked playfully. "And don't worry too much about it, Jack. I can make it just fine without Levi."
"I know you can," he readily agreed. "I just want to make things easier, especially since the rest of us won't be there until the day before the wedding. We don't all get to go play for days on end," he embellished with a tweak to her nose. "If I can't do something on this end, I'll see what I can have done on the Hawaiian end. So don't worry," he said, turning to include Lucy, "I'll take care of this situation."
"There is no situation," Sue tried to emphasize, finding herself ignored by both her friends.
"Thank you, Jack," Lucy said, breathing easier. "I guess I'm a little more keyed up than I thought I was. I just want everything to be perfect for everybody," she explained, leaning into her fiancée.
Daryl looked blankly around the small circle, obviously confused.
"I'll explain on my way out," Jack volunteered, sensing it was time to leave the women alone. With a wave to Lucy and a wink at Sue's aggravated countenance, he began filling his new friend in on the latest happenings.
Turning to Sue, Lucy's smile grew. "Okay, what was that all about?"
"What was what all about?" Sue queried, having lost Lucy's train of thought.
"Why was Jack walking you to the door? Did you two have something planned and I got in the way?" she gasped, her hand covering her mouth in dismay.
Sue rolled her eyes and plopped on the couch. "I've about had it with you two, you with your constant, misplaced matchmaking and Jack with his overbearing big brother role. He knows you've been busily moving some stuff and aren't here much so he has decided he needs to walk me upstairs and check out the apartment before he can, in good conscience, leave me for the night. I don't think he realizes yet that the nights we don't work late together I come home alone," she said with a humorless laugh.
"I think he's being chivalrous and you should let him enjoy it. Besides," she added quickly before Sue could make a comment, "I was watching him and he doesn't look at you like a big brother would."
Ignoring the bait that Lucy dangled in front of her, she feigned a yawn, and rose declaring herself sleepy. "I'm heading to bed. You and Daryl enjoy your time together and I'll see you in the morning. And Luce, please don't worry anymore about me. You've got better things to do with your time."
Lucy nodded and signed "O-K," adding when she turned around and Sue couldn't see her, "I've got no more reason to worry if Jack Hudson is on the case."