A Perfect Beginning

By Victorian Cowgirl

Part 2 – Football & A Picnic

It was ten o'clock in the dot when a very nervous Jack knocked on Sue's door. He didn't know why he was so nervous. It was just a football game and a picnic. The team had often gotten together after work or on Saturdays to do things. But this wasn't the team, it was just him and Sue.

When she opened the door, he couldn't help but admire how good she looked in blue jeans and a peach-colored blouse. She always looked pretty in her business clothes, but there was just something about her casual attire that he found inviting.

"Hi Jack, come on in. I just need to grab my jacket and we can go." As she went to her bedroom, she thought to herself "Man, he looks good in jeans." True he was handsome in anything he wore, but the way he looked in jeans and a polo shirt made her heart race a little.

"We'll see you later Lucy. I don't know what time we'll be back." Sue replied as she came back into the living room.

"Have fun you guys. Levi and I are going to just hang around the house and do some cleaning."

Jack looked surprised. It was very seldom that Sue went anywhere without Levi. "Sue, are you sure you don't want to bring Levi?"

Sue smiled at his obvious concern. "As long as I'm with you I'll be fine Jack. You can be my ears today. I did just fine last night when we were out walking. Besides, it isn't very often that Levi gets a day off and I think he deserves it."

"Whatever you feel you can handle Sue, is fine with me." Jack said. "We'd better get going, see you later Lucy." They waved to their friend as they headed out the door.

When they arrived at the stadium, Sue began to get a little nervous. There were a lot of people and without Levi she felt vulnerable.

Jack, noticing her distress, took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You'll be fine. I'm right here with you."

"Thank you, Jack." She couldn't express how much having him there meant to her. Without Levi, he was her lifeline. It was at times like these that she realized how much she depended on others. That was why she had Levi, so she could be fairly independent.

As the game progressed Sue was able to follow the action on the field quite well. The only real problem she had was when the referees were making calls. She wasn't familiar with the hand signals they used. At these times Jack would turn and face Sue so she could read his lips while he explained the call. After Jack explained a particular call, she was able to understand when the same call was made later on.

Sue noticed that Jack really got into the game and would occasionally jump to his feet and cheer when a good play was made or yell at the referees when they made a bad call. It reminded her of the time that the team had attended an NBA basketball game. Sue liked seeing this side of Jack. Sometimes things were so business-like between them and this gave her a chance to see his laid-back side. By the time the game was over, Sue was on her feet cheering and yelling as much as Jack was.

"This was so great, Jack. I never knew watching guys run each other over was so much fun."

"I'm glad you had fun. You were really getting into the action. I've never seen anyone get so rowdy at a football game and look beautiful doing it."

Jack had turned his head slightly away from Sue as he was speaking so she didn't quite catch the last part of his sentence. She thought she caught the word beautiful but wasn't sure. "What did you say Jack? I missed that last part. It looked like you said something about beautiful and rowdy?"

Jack blushed slightly but had a twinkle in his eye. "I said, I've never seen anyone get so rowdy and look beautiful at the same time."

It was Sue's turn to blush. She signed "Thank you," because she wasn't sure she could speak. As Jack led the way out of the stadium, she didn't say anything else. She didn't know how to respond.

As they drove to a nearby park, Jack noticed that Sue was awfully quiet. He hoped he hadn't crossed a line when he called her beautiful. He really liked her and wanted to be closer but didn't want to do anything to scare her away.

When they arrived at the park Jack helped Sue out of the car then took the blanket and picnic basket out of the trunk. While he was spreading the blanket on the grass, Sue wandered over to the little pond. She needed a few minutes to get her emotions under control. It was just a simple compliment. David had said she was beautiful, but it didn't have the same effect as when Jack said it. Maybe Jack was giving her another little hint that he really did like her as more than a friend. As she dwelled on that thought a warmth started to fill her.

Sue hadn't noticed Jack beside her until he put his hand on her arm. She turned toward him so she could see his face. "Sue, did I say something wrong? If I was out of line, I apologize."

"Jack, you don't need to apologize. I sincerely thank you for the compliment. I was just surprised by it." Sue thought quickly about what to say to cut the tension that was between them. A soft smile came to her lips as she said, "I don't often get compliments like that from handsome FBI Agents at a football game."

Jack let out a little sigh of relief. "Well, I'll just have to compliment you more often, so you are used to it." He took her hand and led her to the blanket. "Come on, our picnic is ready."

As they ate, they just talked. Jack told her about his first years at the bureau and how he had met Bobby. She talked about her family and how it was for her growing up deaf. As the afternoon wore on Jack and Sue talked about many different things. They both felt comfortable and relaxed with one another.

"This has been a great day. The food was wonderful, Jack. Did you prepare it yourself?" Sue asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Actually, I did." He replied, a little flustered.

Sue noticed his slight change in his face. "I'm sorry Jack. I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't cook. I just don't know very many men who like that sort of thing."

He laughed. "It's alright. I really do enjoy cooking, I just don't do it very often. It's not as much fun when I'm cooking just for me."

"Well, you can cook for me anytime. The food really was delicious."

"I'll have to do that." Jack got to his feet and offered Sue his hand. "Come on, let's put this stuff in the car and go for a walk. There's a path that crosses the pond and goes around the park."

As they started along the path, Jack took Sue's hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. She smiled and gave his hand a slight squeeze. The sun was just starting to set as they came to a footbridge that crossed over the pond. Sue let go of Jack's hand and leaned over the side of the bridge to look into the pond. The colors of the sunset reflected off the water and onto her face.

Jack was leaning against the opposite side of the bridge and was amazed at how the lights of the setting sun played across Sue's face. She looked so beautiful. He just stood there watching her. In that moment he knew he loved her. How could he have known that the woman he recruited to work with his team was the one person that would come to mean the world to him? She was his best friend.

Sue could feel Jack watching her and she slowly turned to meet his gaze. In his eyes she saw something that made a little tingle go up her back. As she kept his gaze, a thought came to her mind, "I love him." It was as simple as that. He listened to her, comforted her and he even took the time to learn sign language. He had become her best friend.

Without a conscious thought Jack took a step forward, took Sue's hand and pulled her slowly toward him. Ever so gently he touched his lips to hers for a moment. He pulled back to gage her reaction and saw the love he felt reflected in her eyes. Jack leaned toward Sue again. This time he encircled his arms around her waist.

As Jack leaned toward her again, Sue placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in. As their lips met, Jack's arms tightened around her and Sue's arms went around his neck. Sue felt like she was floating. Never had she felt ready to burst into a million pieces and so calm at the same time.

Jack had wondered what it would be like to kiss Sue, but nothing in his imagination could compare with what he was feeling. He felt excited, happy, relaxed and like he was in a whole other world. As they broke apart, their eyes met and they both smiled.

"Wow!" Sue exclaimed. She couldn't think of anything else to say.

Jack smiled and ran his hand down Sue's cheek. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time."

Jack took Sue's hand and led her to a nearby park bench. For a few minutes they just sat looking at each other in comfortable silence.

After a few minutes Jack said, "You're sure quiet. Are you okay with this Sue, with everything that's happening? I don't want to rush you into anything. I…"

Sue placed her fingers over his lips to stop him. "Jack, I'm very okay with everything. I'm just trying to take it all in. When you said that you had been wanting to kiss me for a long time, I was glad. I have been wanting you to kiss me for just as long."

Jack laced his fingers with hers, brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "You are an amazing woman Sue Thomas. From the first day I met you I knew that you were special."

"You are very special too, Jack. You believed in me and my abilities. You didn't treat me any different because I was deaf. You see me as me and not as someone with a handicap."

"Sue, when I look at you, I see a brave and beautiful woman who has become very dear to me. When I'm with you everything is just right."

"That's exactly how I feel when I'm with you." Sue replied.

They spent the rest of the evening walking through the park and talking. When they arrived back at Sue's apartment, Jack walked her into the lobby of the building.

"I'll say goodnight here Sue. I'm sure Lucy is waiting up for you." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "Can I cook dinner for you tomorrow night?"

"I would love that. What time should I come?"

"Oh, you don't have to drive. How about I pick you and Levi up at seven?"

"Are you sure you want Levi to come? He's kind of the jealous type." She smiled.

"Well I don't know if I want any competition." Jack laughed, "But really, I want you to feel comfortable and I know you were a little lost without him today."

"You are so sweet. I'll bring him along. Besides, he has to get used to you being around more often."

Jack just smiled and pulled Sue into a hug. As he pulled away, he ran his hand across her cheek. "I'll see you around seven tomorrow then. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Jack, see you tomorrow."