Author's note: A new post, a bit short this time. But I'll be really busy at least the next two weeks, exams to pass :-( I'll try to post whenever I can (whenever I've written things compelling enough to share with you guys!), keep sending in your reviews you really make my day with that! For those of you who've already written: Dankjewel! (thank you in Dutch). There's a nice cliffhanger to keep you in suspense, enjoy!

oOo

Back at the table he sat down, took a sip of wine and smiled to the expecting looks on his team-mates' faces. 'They'll be here any minute, and by the look of it, it's going to be awesome.' Bobby grinned, and sat more upright. 'In that case, bring on the tucker then!'

Then Lucy, Sue, Scott and DiDonna approached with the first course, which made everyone applaud, even other guests in the room joined in. Scott leaned over to Jack, who looked up.

'I think they've done a great job, but it's much more fun to have them around when you're enjoying it. So my suggestion is, let's leave it up to us from here.'

Jack nodded and smiled to Sue and Lucy. 'They got the point, to continue will spoil the momentum.'

Sue wanted to take her original place at the table, but somehow Jack and the others had rearranged their positions. He stood up and offered her the seat next to him.

She was glad she could sit next to him, that's what she wanted the most right now.

As he sat down he casually let his fingers slide over her hair, shoulder and upper-arm, making sure it felt deliberate to her. His touch send shivers down her spine, and she let out a trembling sigh My god, you're driving me wild with this...

He looked at her and smiled, she managed to smile back. Under the table her hand sought his and when she found him she caressed it with hers. Her warm hand tenderly holding his, rubbing it ever so gently. He slowly blinked his eyes under her touch, it was enough to give him butterflies in his stomach.

oOo

Finally he waved for everyone's attention. They all looked at him, and he cleared his throat.

'I'm glad we're all here together tonight, it's good to spend time like this together, I wish we could do it more often, but in our line of work it's not always that easy.'

'As youall know, tonight is Halloween, the feast of the old Celts in which they warded off evil spirits on All Hallows Eve, when in their calendar the new year began. This has gradually transformed into Halloween as we now know it. It's the time for pranks, jokes and with this in mind I planned tonight's little revenge on you, Lucy and Sue.'

Jack smiled at them and continued, 'Time after time I was, not always that subtle, reminded of some unfortunate events during our undercover as Mr. and Mrs. Hudson. It was only fair I returned it tonight.'

'The way both you, Lucy and you, Sue took it, was something I will cherish tonight, the effort you put into something you were basically pushed into doing... I found it marvelous.'

'True friendship can be weighed on occasions like this, something both of you demonstrated tonight.'

He raised his glass. 'To Lucy and Sue, to friendship and more.'

'Hear, Hear', Bobby cheered, and the rest joined him.

Jack looked at the woman next to him, glowing with happiness, joy and pride. He smiled warmly at Sue"THANK YOU", he signed.

'Come on Hudson, just a speech isn't enough, this calls for something more', Miles remarked gesturing towards both women.

'Sparky! Sparky!', they began to chant, embarrassing Jack somewhat.

But he got up and kissed Lucy twice on her cheeks, who was smiling broadly, and he hugged her. When he did she whispered in his ear,

'Go on Hudson, kiss her, let it show, what are you afraid of. She longs for you...' He smiled at her, then he looked at Sue, who stood up too, expectantly, her eyes soft yet with a twinkle of joy. He took hold of her hands and pulled her slowly towards him.

oOo

Suddenly he was determined and he leaned over to her and his lips found hers, he closed his eyes. Tenderly he kissed her, her sweet taste filling his mind, his heart racing. His soul blended with hers in this single kiss.

She closed her eyes too when he kissed her, and lost her mind. She wanted to feel his desire for her, and she tasted it, she longed for it and when she found him again, she was lost.

Neither of them was aware that at the moment they closed their eyes, both swept away by their feelings and desires, the lights went out.

By some bizarre act of coincidence one of the fuses in the main fuse-box blew, surrounding everyone in darkness, the only light came from the few candles burning.

It left everyone momentarily flustered, and no one noticed Jack and Sue being wrapped up in a breathtaking kiss.

When Jack heard the noise of people wondering what happened he briefly opened his eyes, saw total darkness and decided not to break up their kiss, yet. He knew that total darkness deprived Sue of all her ways of communication, something he imagined, that had to be a terrifying experience.

Sue was unaware of it, lost in their kiss. When the lights kicked in again they were still lost in their own world. Jack's hands were supporting her back, Sue's hands had taken hold of the front of his shirt as if she had pulled him even closer.

Then they broke the enthrallment, when they parted again. Somewhat flushed at their own boldness they turned to face the others.

oOo

The rest of the team, and also some other guests, were staring at them, eyebrows lifted, except for Lucy who knew all along.

'Call me crazy, if you like, but that looked like making out', Bobby was the first to say something.

Jack managed to smile, and exchanged a quick look with Sue, who bit her lip, somewhat flushed.

'Yeah, what happened to the neat two on the cheek, you put Lucy off with?', Miles added.

Jack was the first to regain his composure. 'The lights went out, I had to find a way to comfort her when it did, you know with the darkness, no communication...'

'And therefore you decided to have the Full Monty, then?', Bobby remarked.

'I, eh...well...it was the first thing that popped into my mind.'

'Not exactly the first thing that would pop up in mine, but... not bad, Sparky, not bad at all', Miles said and he began to smile.

'Of course, now I come to think of it... the most easy and comfortable way of relaxing someone is a kiss. Brilliant! Depending of course on subject and momentum, there are known to have been rather awkward results in the past in occasions like this, with serious ramifications I should add. But it seems to have been the right decision this time.'

The others were laughing now and even Jack and Sue were at least smiling.

oOo

Fortunately for them it seemed the rest decided to give them the benefit of the doubt for they changed the subject back to the dinner they were about to enjoy.

Jack and Sue sat down and he looked at her, she read a hint of regret in his eyes but she patted his thigh softly.

"You did good, we will tell themlater, but not yet", she signed to him.

"YOU AGREE, is that what you want?", he replied.

Sue nodded, and gently squeezed his hand in a way to comfort him and letting him now this was what she really wanted, at least now. He respected it, deciding it was probably for the better.

Lucy bit her lip, a little frustrated, they had cold feet, again. Again they backed off at the last moment, and they were so close tonight. So close.

But she realized what it would imply if they did, the strain it would give in relation to their work. It could have serious consequences.

Besides, it was their choice not to bring it out, what gave her the right to be frustrated?

She shrugged it off and waved for Sue's attention. She squeezed her thumb and index-finger almost together "YOU THIS CLOSE".

Sue nodded and smiled, "I KNOW, but we decided we will wait before announcing it to everyone. Please respect that, it's difficult for us too."

Lucy smiled and she signed "I AGREE."

oOo

The night was perfect, the mood joyful, while they brought up memories of things that had been, and expressed expectations for the things to come.

At the end, when all had left, Lucy decided to use Miles' offer to bring her home, only Sue and Jack remained. Most of the other guests had left too, tables were cleaned, they decided to leave.

They said good-bye to Scott and DiDonna and left.

Near her car she took her keys out of her purse, stopped suddenly and turned around.

Jack was caught somewhat off guard and nearly ran into her.

'Whoops, I almost flattened you', he rubbed his fist in a circle against his chest. 'I'm sorry.'

She just looked at him. He scowled."YOU OKAY?", he signed looking worried.

She bit her lip as if she was regretting something and started to fumble with his jacket near his chest. She didn't look him in the eyes, but stared at her hands playing with the revers.

'Jack... should we've said something?', she asked it cautiously. 'Aren't we just running away for it? You know...'

She looked up at him. He stroked his hand through her hair and let out his breath, he began to shake his head.

'No...I don't think we run away for it.' He looked her in the eyes. 'We're pushing it forward to a more suitable moment. Besides...', he began to smile, 'I backed off there, remember?'

"Maybe it's coward, maybe I got scared, I don't know", he signed. "Can you forgive me, Sue, I didn't told them thetruth yet? I don't want you think I don't want to tell, I do, more than you know..."

She silenced him by taking hold of both his hands, then she pointed to the necklace with their wedding-rings he gave her.

"PROMISE YOU, ME NOT FORGET. I have your necklace, I remember thecommitment you made. I won't forget you love me. I love you too, always."

"I want a future with you together, if we tell them now or later is not important. I know where we stand." She leaned in and kissed him tenderly.

Then she opened her car and they both got in.

'We will tell them, don't worry', she said when they were seated.

'I don't know what will happen but things will never be same again', Jack replied and he gave her a comforting pat on her arm.

'We can do this, Sue.'

oOo

Little did they know, that just one block away the man resided they were looking for, the man who would be responsible for more changes then they would've bargained for. Jack had no idea of how true his words were going to be.