A/N: Just a reminder: Italic lines in between double QM's are signed. I owe Ducky, my mentor on the ASL parts and Deaf Culture, for her guidance and insight. She helped me along with writing these parts. Thanks!

oOo

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel

1150, 22nd street NW, Washington DC, 10 AM

Aalbers was in good spirit. Last night Vitesse beat A.S. Roma with 2-0, they were now almost sure of another round of Champions League matches. He had managed to find the Dutch 2nd Public Network through satellite which aired the live-game.

He was humming a song while he prepared to leave for a game of golf. He always played a tour when he was in the US. A knock on the door, and Borat stepped in the room. He was casually dressed. Aalbers had put on a light colored pair of slacks, a blue, sleeveless Spencer and a white polo-shirt. 'You ready Mr. Aalbers?', Borat asked.

'Yes, is the car ready, I hate waiting', he walked towards the door. Borat opened it for him.

'Micha is waiting for us downstairs.'

Aalbers walked to the elevator and pressed the button. 'Are you packed?'

'Eh...you mean if I carry anything?'

'Yes, stupid, you understand English don't you? Of course that's what I mean', he replied irritated. The elevator-doors slid open and they stepped in, Borat first checking for safety.

'Yes', he finally said. 'That's not going to be a problem?'

'No, the club's members only, they don't check their clients. But it's good you have one around, never trust your opponent, especially when it's a Mulatto from New Orleans.'

oOo

The waiting Mercedes S-class sedan drove off the minute Aalbers got in. Micha turned left at 22nd and Massachusetts Ave. He continued his way down Massachusetts Ave over Sheridan Circus heading northwest towards Bethesda, at Massachusetts and Wisconsin Ave he turned right, went left at Brandywine Street and immediately turned right at River Road.

Kenwood Golf & Country Club

5601 River Road, Bethesda MD, 10.30 AM

The weather was good, the was sun shining, warming up the greens and thrusting temperature to around eighteen degrees Celsius (64o F).

Prince Obanyon and his accomplices were actually not very bad at playing golf, Aalbers noticed. Not as good as he was, of course, but not bad either.

He swung his club and swept the ball away. He stared it down, it bounced a couple of times on the green. He looked pleased, maybe he could make a Birdie. Obanyon looked plain-faced, not showing any emotion. Smoking a fat Cuban, with a white cap on, wearing spotless white slacks, a light-pink polo, sunglasses and a fat golden necklace, he looked a little out of place in the more up-society, high-brow Country Club. He couldn't care less, to him this trip was purely business, and if it called for messing around with irons, so be it.

'So, how's business?', Aalbers asked as they walked to the put.

'A little low now, it may pick up during the holiday season', Obanyon said. He stepped into the bunker where he, due to an unfortunate swing, had placed his ball. He checked the distance between him and the put, took a long haul of his Cuban cigar, puffed out a cloud of smoke and took his shot, it overshot it's goal by a mere ten feet.

'Alas', Aalbers said.

'Goddamn, that's a crap shot, man.' He handed his club to his helper. 'What about you?', he asked Aalbers, who was carefully waging the opportunities for his next shot.

'Oh, I'm not complaining. Business as usual, you know.'

'Yeah, right. Business as usual with you means stacking huge amounts of fat dough.'

'The luxury of trading up-market appliances', Aalbers responded and he putted his ball.

'I'm a little curious though', he continued. 'Normally I would have had a call from Cor Hout by now, he should be in the vicinity.' He narrowed his eyes a little and faced Obanyon. 'You wouldn't happen to know where he or Nico might be, would you?'

Obanyon stared back at him. 'No.'

'No call, no note?'

'Nothing. He had some things to do up north. Something about a job somewhere in the New York area, but that was two weeks ago. Ever since: zip.'

'Hm, I don't like it.'

'I'll give him a call, or Nico', Obanyon offered.

oOo

The two men walked down the green to the next hole, followed by their bodyguards in golf-carts. Other players who saw the group approaching quickly made their way. They knew trouble when it came down their way.

Obanyon opened a bottle of 1993 Krug Vintage champagne. He poured two glasses. He handed one to Aalbers. 'To suckers, and to those who rule over them.'

'To business', Aalbers replied and took a sip.

'You still have this place down in Southeast and Waterfront?'

'Amongst others.'

'Good, I have a shipment coming in on Monday in Baltimore. Details will come later.'

'Big?'

'No, twenty units. But I want you to be ready to handle 'em. Then you call Nico to arrange transport for next shipments.'

'When do I call him?'

'I don't care, but Monday morning would be a bit late, see?'

'Right. Anything else?'

'Only use the encrypted cell phones. Just in case someone has tuned in.' He finished his glass of champagne. 'Let's play ball again.'

The Bullpen, J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building

935 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, 01.10 PM

Sue sat at her desk, looking through the trail Tara had worked out on the computer, showing where Nico had been over the last weeks. Absently she touched the necklace Jack gave her last night. She let it slip through her fingers, caressing it. She smiled, remembering the emotional high it brought with it, the promise it held.

She suddenly felt at ease with her environment, she and Jack had reached solid ground with their relationship.

A tap on her shoulder made her look up. Tara and Lucy where standing at her desk.

'What about lunch?', Tara asked.

'What about it?', Sue replied.

'You're coming with us, girl', Lucy said almost pulling Sue out of her chair.

'Okay, okay...I'm coming, no need to kidnap me', she said laughing, signing 'KIDNAP'. Tara watched her doing it.

'Did you know I started to take up ASL-lessons?', she said when they were walking to the elevator. Sue looked surprised and pleased. 'You did?'

'Yeah, I see you, Lucy and Jack signing to each other every day. It tickled my curiosity.'

'That's great! I'd be happy to learn you more.' She waved for Tara's attention.

"TEACH WHAT?", she signed. Tara nodded to indicate she understood what Sue 'said'.

"NAME ME T-A-R-A", she spelled it very slow, trying her best to squeeze out every last drop of ASL she knew. "I work with the FBI , I like my work it's good." She furrowed her eyebrows. "How are you?"

"FINE", Sue responded, signing slow so Tara could understand more easily. "I work with the FBI too, which City do you live?' Tara looked puzzled. 'I haven't seen that sign yet.'

Sue rubbed her fist over her chest. 'I'm sorry, I meant in which city do you live?'

'Oh, Washington DC of course', she said. "YOU SIGN HOW?"

Sue showed it to her. Her thumb on her bend pinkie, other three fingers in a 'W' shape, her hand near her right shoulder, palm facing down. Than she brought her hand straight forward, fingers now pointing away. Then she added the 'D' and 'C' handshape.
Tara mimicked her, getting it right the second time. Her face lit up. 'That's fun!', she said.

"THANK YOU", Sue signed back, smiling broadly. 'It seems everybody wants to learn ASL these days. We're definitely becoming popular.'

oOo

The three women had lunch in Café Atlantico on 8th street between D and E. They had climbed the stairs to the 3rd level sitting on the balcony overseeing the central staircase. There they had a little more privacy than sitting near the bar.

'So what's the catch', Sue said when they were enjoying the Latin-American influenced food, drinking a rather superb 2002 Hungarian Tokaj white wine.

'What?', Lucy replied looking innocent.

Sue rolled her eyes. 'There's bound to be a catch, the two of you showing up at my desk, practically removing me of the premises by force to 'have lunch'.' She showed two quotation-marks when she said the last words.

'Right', Lucy admitted. 'I should have known better, with you being always so quick to see through things. The truth is, Tara was very curious about the necklace you've been fiddling around with for practically the whole day.'

Tara nodded, she had just taken a bite of her Feijao Tropeiro, grilled chicked-breast with black beans and pork and, amongst others, white rice and oranges.

So instead she signed,"Iwant to know".

Sue just smiled. Oh what the heck, let the whole world know it.

Then Lucy's phone rang, she picked it up. 'It's Miles, we have to get back', she said when she finished the call.

'Okay', Sue said, finishing her lunch. Tara too munched away the last few bites. 'You tell me later right? I just love that necklace.' Sue nodded, pressing her lips lightly. Maybe it's for the better, I'll tell everybody when time's right, and I can cough up the courage. No need to rush things, I like the pace in which it is developing now.

oOo

Back in the Bullpen the atmosphere seemed livelier than usual. Leaving the three women wondering why, until Demitrius filled them in on the latest developments.

'Good you're back. It seems lightning does strike twice.'

'What?', both Sue and Tara said puzzled.

'Our Dutch friend. Nico, his cell phone was still on our desk, almost empty because it was still on standby. And in a mood of providence, Bobby decided to juice it up, just in case.'

'So?'

'Whoah there, no need to go sky-high with excitement', D. laughed. Sue and Tara began to laugh too. 'Someone called, about half an hour ago.'

'That's why it's a phone', Sue smirked.

'Smart, Miss Thomas. But then we are not discussing a normal cell phone. This one is encrypted.' Sue frowned slightly, 'you said encrypted?', she verified.

'Yep, the same as our Government issued ones. Unless you have another one of the same type it's impossible to crack. His phone is SCIP, whilst most of our phones still use STU-III technology', he paused because both Lucy and Sue looked lost.

'And in plain English?'

'SCIP', Tara spelled it out, 'stands for Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol and was developed by the NSA and the Defense Department. It has replaced the STU-III phones we're still using. Your phone on you desk, and your Blackberry, they're both STU-III. You can make 'normal' calls, but when someone wants a secure call you hit the button. Then you'll have to wait for about fifteen seconds.'

'Oh right, now I'm somewhat beginning to understand', Lucy said.

'Good', Tara said, 'you still with us Sue?'

'Yeah, although science wasn't my forte', she said.

'I won't bother you with the technological details, although they're very interesting', Tara's science and technology pre-occupied mind seemed to wander off a little, for she paused.

'You were saying...', Lucy helped her along again.

'What? Oh right, sorry. I couldn't help thinking about all this interesting stuff.' She shook off her daydream and focused on her team-members once again.

'Anyway, as D. pointed out, Nico has a SCIP phone, they were launched in 2004, and the NSA and NATO uses them. They're the ultimate gadgets. Impossible to crack or to eavesdrop on. Digital encrypting, every time a new unique code, multiple channels to transmit data and voice. 64 bit cipher block's, with 42 bit counter for the codes, with other bits for transmitting ID...', she saw the bewildered looks from the others.

'Right, I obviously fail to share my enthusiasm with you guys.'

'Not only the guys', Sue added. 'I couldn't understand one word.'

Jack squeezed her shoulder lightly. 'That's okay, neither could we.'

'I haven't mentioned that it takes three-thousand years for the same encryption is used again for a call.' She raised her eyebrows, then shook her head, hurt by the lack of compassion with her team-members.

'Ergo, impossible to crack unless you have one of the same', D. compromised.

'If only security agencies and the US Military and NATO uses these phones, how in the world did a two-bit crook like Nico get one of those top-notch phones?', Miles asked to no-one in particular. D. shrugged his shoulders.

'He did, that's what's important.'

Bobby, who remained silent during Tara's elaborate technological explanation, raised his hand. 'One question, to bring back the subject to more normal standards, did anyone by any chance answer this call?'

'No', Jack said and he rose to his feet. 'That's why we're going to confront Nico. He knows who made the call. Maybe he wants to share the information with us. Cut a deal, who knows.'

Maryland State Penitentiary

East Madison Street, Baltimore, 03.15 PM

Sue, Jack and Bobby sat in the Visitors' department when Nico was brought in by one of the guards. With handcuffs still on, clad in an orange prison overall, he sat down on the chair on the other side of the two inch thick glass. He just stared at them. Jack pressed the intercom button. 'We need to talk.'

Reluctantly Nico switched on his intercom. 'About what, I ain't tellin' shit.'

Jack just smiled. 'Still the tough guy.'

Nico showed him the finger, 'Fuck you.'

'No thanks.'

'Someone called you on your phone', Sue jumped in. 'We want to know who it was.'

Nico began to laugh, shaking his head. He looked towards the ceiling. 'Sweet dreams, honey.'

'What?', Sue said puzzled because she couldn't see his lips.

'You heard me, the intercom's still open', Nico replied irritated.

'That's no good, mate. She's deaf, so she has to see your lips to understand what you say. So I strongly suggest you to do so', Bobby said angrily.

'The girl's deaf? Whahaha, so much for the Nation's faith in the FBI...'

Jack exploded, he jumped to his feet, hitting his fist against the glass. 'You son-of-a-bitch, I make sure you will repent this!'

'Yeah? Well, make me', he made an inviting gesture.

'Oh no, not like that. We'll throw whatever we can find at you, no matter how minute. If only one bullet from your smuggling merchandise has killed someone, we charge you with first degree.'

'And believe me we will find one.' Jack spat out the words, furious with rage, and to Sue he looked more menacing than she had ever seen anyone before.

Bobby leaned forward to the glass. 'And in Maryland that means Death Row.'

Nico suddenly looked less blatant then before.

'Not the tough guy anymore, hey?', Jack said.

The Dutchman rubbed his hands over his chin. Shrugged his shoulders and leaned forward.

'I didn't know the girl's special to you, I'm sorry.' He might be a felon, but he was also a good judge of character, and Jack's outburst was genuine, he had insulted the woman, something he would undoubtedly pay for heavily if he wouldn't decide to cooperate.

Being a former Paratrooper he recognized the hard military style and look of Jack instantly. He had met his match, someone equally dangerous with the privileges of wearing a FBI badge.

'That's none of your goddamn business', Jack replied still trembling with fury.

'It's okay, Jack', Sue said, tapping his hand lightly.

'No it's not, this scumbag is going to pay.' Sue looked at him, the normal kind eyes, who could glow warmly with compassion and love, were now intense cold, hard, with no expression of mercy, no hint of the warm-hearted person he could be. What Sue saw was the military look, the battle-hardened former Marine.

Sue was hurt by Nico's very rude remark, but as most Deaf she had been insulted way too often before. Like most others she had learned the hard way and tried to shield off things like this, to put up an emotional wall.

That didn't mean it left her untouched, far from it. His words cut through her already scarred soul. The total lack of understanding, the mocking of her abilities, being portrayed as inapt just because she was different.

It were things like this that made her feel down, wanting to retreat. As a child it would have affected her self esteem, made her uncertain of herself.

Now, as a woman, she sometimes decided to let it go, just because she couldn't always bring up the spirit anymore.

But Jack, the man who cared for her and for who she cared, wouldn't let it stand. If it were up to him, Nico was going to be sorry he was ever born. Bobby too couldn't wait to lay his hands on the felon. Inwardly she felt herself glow, people actually stood up for her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in years.

I won't let them get to me, not this time. I know what I'm capable of. I'm strong...

She took a deep breath.

Sue looked at Nico again. 'We were talking about the phone call. We want you to identify who made the call, and call him back.'

Nico shifted in his seat. 'So, you want to cut a deal or something?'

'The deal of your life, mate', Bobby responded.

The felon nodded slightly.

Sue held the phone against the glass, showing the row of numbers on the screen.

'That's Obanyon', Nico said finally.

'Call him back', Jack ordered. 'Find out what he wants, set up a deal.'

'Don't worry, I will.'

'Oh, I'm not worried, but you should. Deliver Obanyon to us and I might let you off the hook', Jack admonished him. 'But if anything goes out of the pear-shape, you'll blame your mother for putting you on this world. You read me?'

'Like a book.'

'Good, now we all know where we stand', he summoned the guards to escort Nico to another meeting-room. 'Now you're going to make that call, and no tricks or funny moves.'

Obanyon's House

Bennington Lane, Silver Springs MD 03.37 PM

After finishing his golf-meeting with Aalbers, Obanyon returned to his luxurious house. There he had tried to contact Cor and Nico but neither of them answered. That annoyed him, and made him slightly suspicious. He just wanted to dig into a plate of Chicken Gumbo that Marquita, the housekeeper, had made, when his phone rang.

He picked up the phone and stared at the number: Nico. He answered it.

'Switch over to safe', he said and pressed the button.

There was an almost undetectable click in the line and then he continued.

'What took you so long?'

'I forgot to pack my phone with me, stupid I know', Nico answered.

'Yeah right, you've been bitchin' around with some ass, probably.'

'No comment. So what do you want?'

'Me? Nothing, but your great Dutch magician is around and is expecting stuff on Monday.'

'What's that got to do with me?'

'He wants you to take care of transport.'

On the other end of the line Nico sighed, making Obanyon frown.

'Shit, man, you caught me at the wrong time there. Monday's out for me. I got some business up North.'

Obanyon rolled his eyes, annoyed. He picked up a Hushpuppy from the plate and chewed on it. 'Are you gonna tell the boss, or am I going to do it? This stuff gotta be moved, man!'

'No sweat, I'll take care of some wheels, but I'm laying low myself.'

'How many times do I have to tell you: stop that niggatalk, man! You no brother.'

'Fuck you, I can say what I want, whether you black boys like it or not', Nico replied.

Obanyon let out a hissing sound. He sometimes wanted to kill this guy, because he always aggravated the hell out of him when talking like that.

'Same place as usual, then', Nico finally said.

'Yeah, 1.30 AM. And don't fuck this up.'

'I'll leave that up to you.'

The Bullpen J. Edgar Hoover FBI building

935 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, 05.00 PM

'We got 'm', Jack said enthusiastically when they entered the office again.

'Who did you get?', Tara asked.

'Obanyon. He was the one made the phone call earlier. With a little persuasion Nico decided to help us.

'Persuasion, is that what you call it, Sparky?', Bobby said grinning. 'I was more thinking of blackmail, threatening with grievous bodily harm...'

Jack smiled a little. 'It did work.'

His eyes wandered off to Sue, who sat down at her desk. When Nico scolded her so severely, Jack was perhaps even more hurt than Sue. He saw the pain reflected in her eyes, how she shied her eyes away, and his heart broke. He had lost his temper when hearing the woman he loved being insulted. Hell, I went out of my headpan, if it wasn't for the glass in between...

Bobby looked both at Jack and Sue, he knew enough. He too was enraged when Nico sat there laughing, bawling out at her. He walked over to Jack and gave him a gentle squeeze in his shoulder. Jack gave him a small push back.

'Good one, mate. The bastard was taken aback by it.'

Jack smiled and gestured for more confidentiality, so Bobby leaned in closer to his friend.

'I lost it there Bobby. I'm sorry...'

'No worries, if you hadn't, I would've', Bobby nodded.

'I know, but just seeing his blatant face behind the glass insulting Sue. Something snapped inside me. I actually could have killed him. I was that upset and mad.'

'Something Nico did pick up quite rapid.'

Jack grinned. 'Yeah, he did cave in after that, especially with your last remark.'

Bobby laughed. 'The look on his face, priceless!'

oOo

Miles cleared his throat in such a demanding manner everybody looked at him. Tara waved for Sue's attention. She too looked up and Tara pointed at Miles.

'I don't want to be the one who breaks up this tète á tète. But did our culprit perhaps reveal the whereabouts of Obanyon?', he asked. One eyebrow lifted, arms wrapped in front of his chest, he tapped with his extended index-finger against his lips, while he leaned back in his chair. 'Well?'

'If I didn't know you better, I'd say you're questioning our capabilities', Jack said.

'Maybe I am, but that's irrelevant now. Are we going to pick him up?'

'No. But we're in for some action Monday night. So hold your horses.'

'What about Monday night', Demitrius asked, 'come one Hudson don't keep all the fun stuff to yourself.'

Jack chuckled. 'What Nico told us is that Monday a shipment is coming in, he thinks it might be diamonds, but he wasn't sure. It's in Baltimore, in de docks near Point Breeze and Lazarette Point. It seems it's standard procedure that only a few hours before zero hour the exact docking point is revealed.'

'So how do we know what to look out for?', Miles asked.

'Well, we're talking Baltimore and docks here, so I think a ship would be appropriate, don't you think?', Jack said grinning. The others smiled too.

'Oh, very witty, Hudson', Miles chimed. 'Brain-bashing.' But he was smiling too.

'So get things organized for a good old-fashioned stakeout. Tara, you take care of all surveillance equipment you need. D. get us some backup', Jack continued and sat down at his desk. 'Miles, find out who runs the show down there.'

Bobby frowned, 'Hey, Hudson, do I get a fun job too?'

'Oh, right, Crash. Let me think', Jack acted like he was thinking hard. His face lit up. 'Show up in time, without running into something.' Sue and Lucy couldn't help but laugh at Bobby's insulted look. 'Oh cheer up, mate. We're going to visit Beautiful Baltimore', Jack laughed.

Bobby looked at Sue. 'Go ahead and mock me Miss Thomas, repent later. Both you and Mr. Hudson the Almighty over there. I'll have my laugh later.' And he grinned mischievously to them. Sue exchanged a look with Jack: 'what is he up to?', his slightly worried look answered her unspoken question: 'something bad'.

Lucy and Sue's apartment

670 G Street NE, 06.48 PM

Lucy was already home when Sue came in. She hung up her coat and scarf, and walked into the living-room. Lucy came round the corner of the kitchen, wearing an apron.

"You're right on time", she signed.

"For what?", she responded.

Lucy gestured back to the kitchen: 'Dinner. We're going out tonight.'

"WHERE...", Sue began but then she remembered. 'Oh my god, I completely forgot! The pre-Halloween party on Gallaudet. Amanda called me last week', she said.

'That's right', Lucy said. She squeezed her eyes, tilting her head and leaning forward somewhat"You forgot?"

"No, no, I thought it was tomorrow! How could I forget." She looked around frantically. Lucy watched her amused. Then laughing she signed: "What are you doing?", emphasizing on"what" and "do", with her eyebrows lifted.

Sue smiled back, realizing how chaotic she must appear. "CLOTHES, none of tem are good. What should I weartonight?" Lucy shrugged. "You mean what costume? Don't worry, party's just plain clothes. Amanda told me yesterday." Sue looked relieved, and checked the time on her watch.

RELAX, we have time, we're due to be there at eight-thirty, and it's not that far."

Gallaudet University, Model Secondary School for the Deaf
800 Florida Ave NE, 08.45 PM

Somebody had spend a small fortune on pumpkins, because they were all over the Aula, carved out Jack o' Lantern's or other happy looking semi-scary figures. Lucy couldn't help but smile at this exposition.

She tapped Sue on her shoulder. She looked at her. "Look", she spoke and signed "they have and then taking her hands, she framed each side of her face, dawning a evil grin she swung her head from side to side hanging in the sky. Watch out, if they come down, you get hurt", and she pointed up.

Sue looked up and began to laugh too. "An abundance of wasted fruit, Miles would say if he were here", she responded.

They were met by Amanda who was obviously in very good spirit.

"HI L-U-C-Y! YOU HOW", she signed.

"FINE", Lucy answered. "You're not wearing a costume, tonight?"

Amanda expressed horror, and looked round, "ME LOOK STUPID." She gestured to the other people. "They're not wearing funny things either."

Lucy pointed at Sue. "She almost forgot and thought the party was tomorrow." Sue rolled her eyes and held up her hands in self-defense.

"Come on, drinks are over there, let's meet friends", Amanda signed, almost dragging them across the Aula.

There they took something to drink and mingled with the crowd.

oOo

Sue felt at home, not because she knew a lot of people, she only recognized a handful, but because here she was part of something very familiar, something good.

She was home.

Sue enjoyed having very vivid discussions with other people, enjoying good food and a friendly environment, where everybody understood each other.

Every now and then Lucy dropped by, sharing a joke or wanting her to meet someone she just talked to.

Lucy was enjoying the party too, to her surprise there was even music, something she had to share with Sue.

She pointed to the back of the Aula where some chairs were put down. "Dad's over there, flirting with that woman, probably", she signed rolling her eyes when she caught glimpse of him.

He saw them too, and both he and the woman he was talking to looked at them. He waved and then they continued their conversation.

"She looks nice," Lucy signed to her, teasing, "Maybe your dad will marry her." Both Lucy and Sue laughed at her shocked expression.

oOo

After a while when Sue and Lucy were talking to some of Amanda's teachers and some other people, Amanda joined them and waved for Sue's attention.

"Come on Sue, someone you must meet." She winked to Lucy who grinned knowingly. Sue hesitated, she enjoyed this conversation.

"COME-ON", Amanda signed impatiently, so Sue excused herself and followed her through the crowd. Then she saw a very familiar figure with his back turned to her, who was just pouring himself a drink.

Her heart skipped a few beats, and he turned around.

"HI," signed Jack.

A rush of excitement flowed through her; he was the last person she had expected to show up. Somewhat speechless, perhaps even a bit perplexed she signed to him.

"What... how..."

Jack began to laugh. "You even fluster ASL. Funny."

Amanda began to laugh too, watching their conversation with amusement.

"HI J-C-K," signed Amanda.

"Hi Amanda, still on the look out for gangsters during school?" he signed teasingly.

"No only after school. I'll leave you alone, join us later Okay?"

Amanda left them to join Lucy and the others again.

Sue could have never have guessed something as ordinary as Jack attending a party would mean this much to her. Jack looked around and smiled, poured a drink and handed it to her.

"Nice party, I never would have guessed that Deaf parties had music and could be this loud," he continued signing to Sue.

"Well why not? We can feel the vibration of music. When it's played loud enough some can hear the music," Sue grinned, "Though it's doubtful anyone could make out what is being sung."

"Okay, that's why it's so loud. I like it, the music's not bad, as well as the company," he stroked his hand through her hair.

Sue closed her eyes briefly relinquishing the feeling and smiled.

"YOU HERE WHY?" signed Sue.

"L-C-Y AND A-M-A-N-D-A INVITE ME," he answered in sign.

"Invited you when?" Sue frowned, for she couldn't recall Lucy mentioning inviting Jack.

"Yesterday, I was out and Lucy called me."

"They're matchmaking again, they never stop," she rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink.

Jack shrugged his shoulders in an I-can't-help-it-either kind of way. "Nice try, I think, but unnecessary. Any good party I'll be there, free drinks, food, what more do you want?"

Sue chuckled and then said, "That's one way to look at it."

He gestured to the others 'JOIN THEM YOU WANT?' Sue nodded. Jack was about to move when she touched his arm.

'You don't have to sign if you don't want to, or when you don't know the signs. I will understand...' she said but he interrupted her.

"NO ME SIGN. ME LEARN. TIME WORK YOU SPEAK ALL. HERE YOU SIGN. SIGN PLEASE, ME WANT. HEARING WORLD LIVE TOGETHER. DEAF WORLD ME WANT TOGETHER ALSO."

She took his arm and pulled him close and kissed him on his cheek. 'Thank you,' she softly said, 'that means a lot to me.'

He held her in his arms, one eyebrow raised, looking amused, and a twinkle in his eyes that said he was up to something.

"One more little kiss?" When her face lit up with her radiant smile he leaned in and kissed her.

Although their kiss wasn't very long it was one filled with love, compassion and gratefulness.

When they finally walked over to the others they held hands.

oOo

"Finally you're here, I almost thought you were lost", Lucy teased them when they joined the others.

Sue introduced Jack to the others, who greeted him cheerfully.

"NAME ME J-A-C-K H-U-D-S-O-N", he replied when Sarah, one of Sue's friends and Amanda's teacher at Gallaudet asked him.

"YOU DEAF?", she looked at him with interest.

"NO, HEARING I", Jack signed

"Hearing?", her eyes expressed amazement. "Where did you two meet then?"

"F-B-I", he said and smiled.

"Okay...how come you know Sign Language?"

Jack pointed at Sue. "Because of her. She teaches me, and I also have lessons in ASL."

"NOT BAD, who's your teacher?"

"W-I-L-L-I-A-M P-A-R-K-E-R, maybe you know him?"

Sarah shook her head slowly, while thinking. "TEACHER GOOD?"

"I think so, I do seem to get my message across."

They laughed

oOo

Sue waved for attention. Jack looked at her.

"It might seem as an inquiry of your activities, FBI-style, but this is how we want to find out more about you. Why you're here, why you're learning ASL. It's very normal in the Deaf Community."

Jack smiled. "I KNOW, Amanda and Lucy already mentioned it before."

After their first encounter, Jack was introduced to several other Deaf. All of them were greatly interested in him, and Jack found himself feeling accepted.

Sarah had a lively argument with Sue. They signed rapidly and Jack had trouble trying to follow along.

Sue noticed it, 'We said that...' she began to speak but Jack shook his head.

"I said you should sign, so you should sign", he signed looking semi-admonishing, and winked to the others.

"Maybe I don't know everything, but sometimes it's for the better. You..." he paused not knowing the sign for gossip, so instead he spelled it, "...about me, I don't want to know", he grinned.

"SIGN G-O-S-S-I-P HOW?" he asked.

Sarah smiled at him and showed him the sign for gossip.

She took her thumb and index-finger of both hands, closing and opening facing each other while both hands moved in a horizontal circle in front of the chest.

Jack mimicked her getting it right the first time. "WOW, YOU LEARN FAST," she signed.

He excused himself to get another drink together with Amanda, who was very fond of Jack, a feeling he shared, he liked the smart, cheeky kid too.

oOo

"HIM CUTE", Sarah signed when he walked away. She stared at him when he was over at the table with the drinks.

"Good pick, good looking, smart, sexy, nice arse too," she continued.

Sue almost flushed and gave her a nudge on her arm. "S-R-H STOP! MAYBE HE SEE," she reddened a little, much to the amusement of the others.

Sarah shrugged her shoulders. 'So what? He's in our world now, with our rules, he'll understand. Better learn the hard way."

Sue looked round and saw Jack already approaching.

"I miss something?" he asked casually seeing Sue lightly colored cheeks.

She shook her head. "Only something I will not repeat..." and she shot Sarah a look.

"I think I know why", he winked to Sue and his eyes read that he understood what Sarah just signed.

"I told you, I practice often, reading books, taking lessons." He laid his arm around Sue's waist,

"And this beautiful woman helps me learn ASL also."

Sarah looked slightly embarrassed, but smiled. "I'd better be careful in the future, from now on." And she winked at him.

"He's good, sometimes I forget too", Amanda added trying to comfort her teacher.

oOo

Sue felt exhilarated, being close to the man she loved and to be able to actually show everybody they were in love. It felt so good to break the code of silence they still had to maintain at work.

The reactions of her friends with Jack were something she cherished; they liked him and saw what he meant to her and, equally important, what she meant to him.

Besides, watching them tease each other, cracking jokes about their habits and personal 'ticks' was just great fun.

Sarah mustered Jack again and, because the overall atmosphere was quite joyful, she decided to give it another go, making sure Jack could read what they said.

"HUSBAND WHAT KIND HIM?" she asked Sue, knowing they had been undercover like that.

"NOT BAD BUT HE LOUSY COOK," Sue responded, grinning, and they quickly glanced his way.

"Hey!" Jack waved from across the room, "No gossip!"

Sue just winked. And turned her attention back to Sarah.

"HIM CUTE."

"How about putting on a new record. You're repeating yourself", Sue chuckled.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I KNOW, but it's the truth."

They looked at him again, sitting at the other side of the room, with Lucy.

Sarah, pursed her lips. "How come you're not dating one of us?"

"Why not?", Sue replied.

"Well, for a start: he's hearing."

"So is Lucy. And she's part of us, Jack can be part of us too, he's eager to learn from us. And the bottom line is: I love him."

"Point taken, but you know others may get down on you because he's hearing? Some can get pretty difficult when it comes to that."

"I know, but I've been facing difficulties since I was a kid. I can handle some more."

Sarah nodded and then raised her finger. "That still leaves one thing unanswered for."

"What thing?"

"He's your boss."

Sue shook her head in disbelief, giving Sarah a nudge, while she began to smile. "He's not my boss, we're coworkers, that's something different."

"Right," Sarah signed puzzled, "You mean, it is o.k. then?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then it's not o.k.?"

Sue bit her lip, trying to come up with a good answer. "Let's just say there are some stupid rules about it at work."

oOo

Jack rose to his feet to see what they were discussing, but Lucy, who was sitting at the same table, summoned him to sit back down.

'Down Hudson!'

'I have to stop them, who knows what they're discussing...'

'You probably don't want to know.'

'Well, you got me wrong there, I do want to know.'

'Trust me, you don't. Besides it is considered rude to eavesdrop on their conversation. You wouldn't make out much they're saying anyway.'

'Oh gee, thanks for the confidence in my signing skills. I needed that', he smirked.

Lucy smiled and signed, "WELCOME."

She raised her Tequila Moonrise. 'Here's to ignorance.'

'And to oblivion', he added, still sulking.

Jack's apartment

1351 Corcoran Street NW, Saturday 10.15 AM

Not being an early riser in the weekend, Jack didn't get out of his bed until 9.30. And although he was already awake for some time, just lazing about in bed, remote control at hand was very comfortable. It reminded him of his childhood, when his mother sometimes lost it with his idleness. 'You're either born lethargic, or something in this room works somnolent', she sometimes sighed when she found her son still dozing well after noon.

Jack smiled to himself. Being a bachelor wasn't that bad, it had it benefits. Mucking about without actually doing something useful was one them. He made himself breakfast and thought of the night before. He had to smile again, thinking of Sue and Sarah annoying him with their secret chatting and Lucy's unholy glee wasn't helping to ease it down. She certainly knows how to tickle me, I wonder how, who would've...

'Lucy', he said, 'Of course, those two together...' It was time for some little revenge. Tonight was Halloween, time for pranks and other merry stuff. In his head a plan grew.

'You have had your fun Miss Thomas and Miss Dotson but now it's my turn', he said to himself. And he smiled.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. 'Hey Scott, it's me Hudson, listen I need a favor...'

Sue had answered the call when it came in, she was pleased it was Jack, she was even more pleased when he invited them both over for dinner, he had invited the rest of the gang too.

He had tables reserved at Galileo's on 21st street NW, a most renowned Italian restaurant, and they were expected around eight PM.