Disclaimers: The characters from Sue Thomas F.B. Eye are the property of Pax and Pebblehut. Lyrics are from Celine Dion's A New Day Has Come album
Chapter 1: Taken
So suddenly so strange Wednesday
Life wakes you
up
Things change
I've done my best
I've served my call
I
thought I had it all
Outside, the sun was shining, and people were hustling and bustling on what was a crisp spring morning in Washington, D.C. Jack sighed as he turned from the window and sat back down at his desk. The mood in the bullpen was decidedly less sunny. Looking over at her desk, Jack pictured her sitting there, working on her computer or writing a report.
Sometimes she would look over at him and catch him watching her. She would give him a smile that was almost shy and go back to whatever it was she was doing. That was one of the things he loved about her. She was tough as nails, but she still had a vulnerable side, and she wasn't afraid to let him see it.
He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. "Sorry, mate. I didn't mean to startle you. Any news?" Bobby looked at him with anguish in his eyes. The same anguish Jack knew was mirrored in his own eyes.
"No. There's still been no sign of her," Jack replied. "It's been more than 24 hours now---I can't give up but..." his voice trailed off, and he swallowed.
He couldn't say it out loud. Couldn't acknowledge the fact that they may never see their friend and colleague again.
"No one is giving up, Jack. We're going to find her." Bobby's voice was firm and Jack knew that his friend meant what he said. They all felt so helpless even though they had all the manpower they could want out looking for her.
Supporting each other and thinking positive was all that was going to get them through this and Jack knew that's exactly what she'd want them to do. Unfortunately all he could think about were the things he'd left unsaid. He'd always believed he'd find that perfect moment to tell her how he felt and now he was faced with the possibility that he might never get the chance. The last thing he'd wanted to do was mess things up between them and he'd thought he had all the time in the world to get it right.
"Why don't you go home and get some rest, we'll call you if there's any news," Bobby suggested.
"No. I can't sleep. I need to work," Jack insisted firmly.
"Jack, when we find her she's going to need you and you're not going to be any good to her if you've had no sleep."
Jack managed a small smile at his friend and nodded. "You know, that's exactly the kind of thing she'd say to me if she were here."
"She's a smart lady." Bobby grinned at him and gave him a friendly pat on the back. "Go home Jack."
"I'm gone." Jack grabbed his coat and left the bullpen, noting the subdued mood. A few people nodded at him sympathetically. It made him want to scream. Suddenly he couldn't wait to get out of there, to get away from it all. Maybe outside these walls it wouldn't hurt so much.
An hour later, after a shower and a bite to eat he felt a bit more human. He had been avoiding sleep, but his body begged for it, and he had to give in eventually. He just knew that she'd be in his dreams as she always was and when he woke up he'd have to remember all over again that she was gone. Part of his exhausted brain thought that maybe when he woke up it would all have been a bad dream. The events that had unfolded on Tuesday nothing but a nightmare worth forgetting...
Tuesday afternoon
"I've got to hand it to you, Thomas, your interrogation skills are becoming formidable."
"What can I say, I've got a way with people," Sue replied, looking somewhat surprised as she looked at the person who'd given her the compliment.
"Then again, you have learned from the best," Myles continued with a smirk. Sue shook her head and looked at Jack, who gave her a wink.
"Thanks, Myles. But Sue doesn't need any help from me, she manages just fine on her own." Sue grinned at him and then looked at Myles, anticipating his response.
"That she does. There weren't exactly any answers forthcoming when you were the one leading the interrogation," Myles said to him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are some drug lords who must be brought to justice."
"Go get-em Myles," Jack called after him. Sue looked at Jack with raised eyebrows as they continued down the hallway slowly, Myles' tall form disappearing from view.
"Myles does have a point. You didn't really get anywhere with the guy," she pointed out.
"I know, I know," Jack replied with a grin. "I've got to admit, you're definitely good at getting information out of some of these guys. Remember when I asked you to handle Howie, how you wanted some 'words of wisdom'?" Sue nodded, smiling at the memory.
"Then you instinctively knew how to handle him; you certainly didn't need any advice from me," Jack said, returning her smile with admiration in his brown eyes.
"Speaking of Howie, I forgot to tell you I got kind of a strange phone call from him this morning. All he said was that we should meet at our usual place and that he's got some news that could break a case wide open for us," Sue told him.
"Did he say which case?" Jack asked curiously.
"No. He was very...vague. He wants to meet this afternoon at three-o'clock. He wouldn't tell me anything else over the phone..." Sue shrugged her shoulders.
"That's odd. The fact that he wasn't specific with you doesn't really sit well with me. Maybe I should go with you," he suggested.
"Okay." Sue nodded. "If you want to. I'm sure Howie won't mind if you're there."
"I think it'll be good to see him, it's been awhile," Jack said, and Sue looked at him in surprise.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"I'm just surprised you want to see Howie; I always thought he kind of got on your nerves," Sue replied.
"I've got to admit, Howie kind of grew on me--he's a good guy. He just...has a lot to say."
"That's an understatement. He means well though; he's got a kind heart," Sue insisted.
"I think if anyone can find the good in a person it's you, Sue. That's one of the things I love about you..." Jack stopped, realizing what he'd just said and smiled sheepishly.
Thank you, Sue signed with a smile, taking the compliment in stride, though Jack could tell she was blushing a little. "I think I'm a pretty good judge of people, too, though I don't let my guard down with many. You're an exception Jack. I feel like I could tell you almost anything."
"Almost anything?" Jack asked her with raised eyebrows. Sue nodded at him, giving him a smile that was almost shy.
Jack felt like he could tell Sue almost anything too. What he couldn't tell her was that she was on his mind almost constantly; from the moment he woke up until he went to bed at night. He knew that if he told her, that it would change their relationship forever. Now just wasn't the right time. Their conversation ended as they reached the bullpen. Jack glanced at his watch. "It's two-o'clock now, so we should probably leave in about half an hour if we want to get there in time. That okay with you?"
Perfect, she signed back.
Jack circled the car around the block twice looking for a parking spot near Christie's Café, but they were having no luck. Sue looked at her watch. "It's almost three-o'clock; we're going to be late," she said with a frown. "Why don't you drop Levi and I out front and then go park the car. I'll get us a table and be there in time to meet Howie." Jack looked at her doubtfully. "I'll be fine," Sue insisted, grinning at him.
"Okay." Jack nodded. He pulled into the loading zone in front of the restaurant, and Sue got out of the car, opening the back door. Levi jumped out with his tail wagging. "I'll see you in a few minutes," Sue said, smiling at him.
"Hopefully I won't be long," he told her.
"Okay. And Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for coming with me." She smiled at him in a way that caused his stomach to do flip-flops.
"My pleasure. I'll see you soon." Sue nodded and closed the door. Jack pulled back into traffic and glanced back at her in his rearview mirror. She was putting the leash on Levi as he turned the corner, and then they disappeared from his sight.
Jack felt strange suddenly, as he realized that leaving her at the restaurant by herself defeated the whole purpose of going with her in the first place. He chided himself silently for being so paranoid as he found a parking spot and maneuvered the car into it. After all, Sue had met informants on her own before.
Five minutes later he was at the entrance to the café, scanning the room for Sue and Levi. He felt his body go cold as he realized they weren't there. He swallowed, telling himself to stay calm.
"Can I help you Sir?" The hostess, whose name badge read 'Vicki', approached Jack. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm not sure...I'm looking for my friend. I just dropped her off a few minutes ago and now I don't see her."
"Well, what does she look like?" Vicki asked patiently.
"Umm...well, she's very pretty, with blonde hair past her shoulders...she had a golden retriever with her--they'd be kind of hard to miss." Jack tried to smile, but he had a sick feeling in his stomach that something had gone horribly wrong.
Vicki smiled gently at him. "Well, we don't allow dogs in here, sir, that's probably why you don't see them."
"You would have let her bring her dog in here. She's deaf, and he's her hearing dog," Jack explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry...do you want to wait here in case she shows up?"
Jack looked at his watch and saw it was ten after three. There was no sign of Howie either, and that was unusual. Howie was always early. "No thanks," Jack told her, taking out his badge. "I work for the FBI. I can't give you any specifics, but if you see anything out of the ordinary going on here please call me," Jack said, handing her his card.
Vicki's eyes widened as she listened to Jack. "Of course. I'll help any way I can. I hope you find her."
"So do I." Jack hurried out of Christie's and grabbed his cell, calling Garrett. He explained the situation as he walked back to his car, thinking that maybe for some reason Sue had decided not to go into the restaurant and was looking for him instead. Maybe he was overreacting, and she and Levi would be there at the car waiting for him.
His heart leapt as he spotted Levi's golden mane on the sidewalk nearby. Seconds later his hopes were dashed as he saw Levi's leash dragging on the ground, his owner nowhere to be found. "Oh, my God."
"Jack, what is it?" his boss asked him. "What's going on?"
"Levi!"
Levi looked up and ran over to him with a yelp. The big dog jumped up and began pawing Jack's legs, whining and barking.
Garret's loud voice was sounding in Jack's ear but he couldn't hear the words. All he knew right now was that Sue was missing, and he felt like his world was crashing down around him.
Six hours later, there had been no progress made in the search for Sue. Jack couldn't fathom how not one witness had come forward. How could a woman be abducted in broad daylight in the middle of a busy sidewalk?
Whoever had taken her must have really had it planned out, otherwise Jack didn't see how she could have been taken without causing a commotion. If Levi had known Sue was in danger he would have barked and tried to defend her, yet no one, not even the workers or patrons in Christie's, remembered hearing or seeing anything.
Walking into the bullpen he saw Lucy at her desk, her eyes red from crying. Levi was there beside her, looking as depressed as Jack felt. "Luce, how are you holding up?" Jack asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Not so good. I just got off the phone with David, I've been trying to reach him for hours to let him know what's going on, and he finally got my messages. He's beside himself." Lucy grabbed a tissue and blew her nose before she continued. "The worst was having to tell her parents. Her mother lost it on the phone, and when her dad came on I had to beg them to stay home." Jack closed his eyes, knowing the agony her parents must have been going through, not knowing where she was. "Jack, how could this have happened?" Lucy's voice broke into a sob, and Jack knelt down, giving her a hug. She cried on his shoulder for a moment before she pulled back, looking at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Jack's own eyes were nearly overflowing with tears, and he almost lost control seeing Lucy's sadness. The question he kept asking himself was, Jack, how could you have let this happen? "We're gonna find her, Luce. We have to." Jack's voice exuded a confidence that betrayed how he felt on the inside.
"Jack's right. Sue's strong, and she's going to hang in there until we can track her down." Myles came up behind Lucy with takeout in his hands. "I picked up some sandwiches since I'm sure no one has taken the time to eat." Tara, D and Bobby all looked up from the computer they were huddled around and came to grab a sandwich. As the group ate in silence Jack couldn't help but think of how dark and cold it was outside right now. Wherever Sue was, Jack prayed that she wasn't frightened or in any pain. Whoever had abducted her must have some kind of agenda... but what could it be? Jack felt so helpless, and more than that he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt. He should have been with her. If he had, none of this would have happened.
Lucy put down her sandwich and sat back in her chair, wiping at her tears with a tissue. "Lucy, you've got to eat," Tara told her gently. "You've only had one bite."
"I can't. I think I'm going to be sick." Lucy put her head in her hands, and Levi whined, laying his head in her lap, looking positively mournful. Lucy leaned down and gave him a hug. "I miss her too, Levi. I miss her too."
"If only Levi could talk," Jack said. "What would you tell us, buddy?" Levi looked up as Jack said his name and let out a whine.
"Let's face it, we don't have much to go on when our only witness walks on four legs," Myles said glumly.
"Look guys, there are going to be agents working around the clock to find her. And we will find her," Dimitrius said firmly. "Right now I think we all need to go home, and try to get some sleep."
Jack shook his head. "As long as Sue's out there, I'm going to work. There's got to be some clue that we're missing, something that will lead us to her. I'm not going to stop until I find it." No one bothered to argue with Jack, the determination in his eyes was clear.
"I'm with Jack," Lucy said, and Tara nodded. "I need to feel like I'm helping somehow, and I can't do that if I'm at home tossing and turning."
"I care about her too, but I don't think we'll do this investigation any good if we pass out from exhaustion," D insisted.
"It's okay D, go home to Donna and the kids. None of us are going to fault you for wanting to be with your family, especially right now," Bobby told him. "If Darcy weren't out of town working on a story, I'd be with her. But she's not here, and the last thing I want to do is sit at home alone."
"I can't go home either. I can't stand the thought of being in our apartment right now, when Sue is God knows where." Lucy's voice choked up with her last words, and she suddenly bolted from her desk, heading for the door.
