A/N: Wow, I have to say I haven't expected such a response to this story! I thank you very much everyone for all your reviews and encouraging words. In case someone is wondering, my essay is going slowly but forward (and that's most important). Today I took a short break and thought I'd give you a small, a little belated present from Santa (as in Poland Santa visits the children on the 6th of December). It's a little shorter than the previous two, but I hope you're going to enjoy it anyway! :)


CHAPTER 3

Just like he thought, everything indicated that it was going to be a very long night. Despite the fact that he was tired, the sleep just didn't want to come and, as it usually was in such a situation, his mind immediately drifted off to the person, who he wished he could be with right now. He kept wondering what would happen if Amelia didn't call in that particular moment. He would have kissed Sue, there could be absolutely no doubts about that, but what would her reaction be like? Would she have welcomed it, maybe even reciprocated the gesture, or would she have pushed him away and ordered him to leave?

The more he thought about it, the more he started to doubt the possibility of the latter. She couldn't have been oblivious to his intentions, and she really didn't look like someone, who would have been offended by them. Quite the contrary, she seemed rather inviting, if he could call it so, and it filled his heart with hope that when he would manage to make it clear how important she was to him, she wasn't going to push him away. The only problem was, that every time he gathered enough courage to do that, somebody decided to come or call, just like his sister did just a couple of hours earlier. Was he ever going to get a chance to change their relationship into something more than friendship?

It was around two in the morning, when he jumped on the bed, startled by the sound of his ringing cell phone. He glanced at the clock, thinking that the last time he looked at it, he read the time incorrectly but he didn't. Who could be crazy enough to be calling him in the middle of the night? He quickly realised that there was one person, currently staying in a small town on the other side of the world, where it was already an early evening, and who wouldn't take the time difference into consideration if he really wanted to share something with him. It couldn't be him, though; it wasn't the right ringtone and this realisation also ruled out his family members, what made his mind at ease when it came to the possibility of something happening to them. He still reached to the side of the bed as quickly as possible, recognising the tune as the one, he set specially for her, so he would know that it wasn't anyone else but her calling.

"Sue? Is everything okay?" he immediately asked, answering the phone, the panic rising inside him.

He was by now worried sick, knowing that something must have happened for her to make the call. There was no other reason why she would be awake at such an hour, and he could feel his stomach twist at the thought that something was wrong. He quickly got out of the bed and started to get dressed, ready to go to her and even her next words weren't able to prevent him from doing so.

"I'm fine, it's just… I had this nightmare again…" she spoke, her voice shaking a little.

He sighed with relief, as he now knew that it wasn't anything dangerous, but it didn't stop him from grabbing his keys, as well as the small bag, which he packed after returning home on the previous day and going out of the apartment. Everything was clear now, and he should have probably thought about it before he panicked, but it's been a while since the last time she called him because of this dream and he hoped that after such a long time, it wasn't going to return. He was obviously wrong and even though he was aware that just talking to her was all she needed to feel better, it wasn't enough for him. He wanted to hold her in his arms, make her feel safe and leave her no doubts, that he was there for her and wasn't going to let anyone hurt her.

It was shortly after her decision to stay, that she was kidnapped on her way back home after taking Levi for a walk. It was probably one of the most difficult cases he worked on during his whole career in the FBI, and whenever he thought about his own behaviour during that period, he wondered how it was possible that Dimitrius didn't take him off the case. Not only was he worried sick about her, but he also felt terribly guilty as it turned out that she was taken because of him. Luckily, everything turned out quite well and even though physically, she was perfectly fine, it was understandable that psychically, she was affected quite strongly. Everyone would after spending three long days locked in a completely dark basement, being on some lunatic's mercy, so it wasn't surprising that she kept having nightmares afterwards.

They weren't the only result of this experience, though. She has never really felt fully comfortable being on her own when it was dark, but it got much worse then. He still remembered Lucy's terrified voice, when the woman begged him to come as quickly as it was possible, because the power was out and Sue had a panic attack, and she couldn't calm her down. Lucy had no doubts that he would be able to do that; he seemed to be the only person, who could make Sue feel better recently. For a long time, she was also terrified of going to the park on her own, and it was then, that he started to spend almost every evening with her. At first he simply accompanied her during her walks with Levi, but then he also began to take her out to dinner, to a match, to the cinema and wherever else they felt like going to. Ironically, he hated this man because of the reason, which brought them so close.

It didn't take him long to get to her place, as there wasn't a lot of cars on the roads now; he was on the phone with her during his whole drive there, and she was obviously surprised, when he told her to let him in. The expression on her face, when she opened the door left no doubts that she didn't expect to see him, but she definitely didn't mind his presence. She was actually quite grateful that he came. She couldn't deny that while she made the call, she wished she could simply hide her face in his chest, feel him wrap his arms around her and make her feel completely safe again. She wouldn't ask him to come, though, but she was really happy now, that he was here.

The moment she locked the door and turned to him, he pulled her close. She sighed, closing her eyes and hiding her face in the crook of his neck, while he lifted her from the ground and, after a short moment of hesitation, carried her to her bedroom. He carefully placed her on the bed and smiled lightly at her, when she reached out her arms, reluctant to let him go. Taking off his coat, which he was still wearing, he threw it on a chair and joined her on the bed. She immediately moved close to him, hiding her face in his chest, while he wrapped his arms tightly around her and held her close. She snuggled as close to him as it was only possible, and enjoyed his presence and closeness. His embrace was always able to make her feel safe and loved, and it wasn't any different this time; as long as he was there, she knew that nothing was going to happen to her.

They were just lying there in silence, and there was no need for words to be spoken. Sue had absolutely no doubts that Jack's presence beside her was exactly what she needed, there was nowhere else she wanted to be than his arms. She could feel his hand gently caressing her back in a reassuring gesture, his lips pressing gentle kisses on top of her head and it wasn't long before she relaxed enough to fall asleep. Noticing that, and feeling the fatigue slowly winning over him as well, he carefully rolled them, so that he was lying on his back. Sue didn't even stir; she just snuggled to his side, placing one of her arms across his chest and made herself comfortable.

"You'll always be safe with me, Sweetheart…" he whispered, placing a longer kiss on the top of her head before closing his eyes as well.

It was difficult to believe that just some time earlier he was lying in his own bed and wishing he could hold her in his arms. It wasn't exactly what he had in mind then, but it felt good to be here for her, when she needed him. It was enough that she was there, in his arms, where she belonged; there was nothing more he needed. There was a gentle smile on his face, when he dozed off, undoubtedly caused by four simple words, which she whispered in her sleep.

"I love you, Jack…"