NOTE: Last chapter! Sunday (or when someone guesses something right) will be a new story! The next one is my favorite so far. How about you? Which do you like best?
Once everything had settled down with the case, the tension in the bullpen between Jack and Sue continued throughout the day. The only time no one noticed was when one of them was not in the room.
Finally, it was getting near dinnertime, so Sue decided to leave. Jack decided to follow suit a bit later. Paperwork was definitely not his favorite thing, and he wasn't looking forward to giving it to Randy's replacement tomorrow morning.
Just as Jack was putting on his leather jacket, Bobby came up to him.
"What's going on with you two, mate?"
"With who?" he asked, pretending like he didn't know what he was talking about.
"Sue. Who else?"
"Oh, nothing."
Bobby just stared. "C'mon, I know you better than that. I saw you two today. The only time she wasn't ignoring you was while we were discussing the outcome of Patent, and when she introduced Amanda."
Jack smiled. "You wanna see? I'll show you, and explain on the way." They both started walking out the door. Jack then asked, "Hey, you like a Slappy's salad?"
Bobby looked at him with disgust. "You ordered a salad at Slappy's?"
Jack shook his head, laughing. "No, it's part of the long story."
"What does a Slappy's salad have to do with anything? That's just gross."
?-?
When Sue came home that evening, Carla was in the kitchen, cooking. When her daughter came in viewing range, she said, "Hey! You came in so quietly last night, and left so early this morning, is everything OK?"
Sue nodded while taking out dishes and silverware for them both. "Yeah, I just was tired, and had a busy day today."
Carla nodded, not completely believing her daughter.
"So, how was work today?" Carla asked once they both sat down and were eating.
"Good. We found the person responsible."
"Oh! And you arrested him, I assume?"
Sue nodded. "It's such a heartbreaking story."
"Really? Are you allowed to say why?"
Sue nodded and the went and told her the events of the day.
?-?
When Jack came in the next day, the toxicology report was waiting for him in his inbox. There was proof that he was high on that night, and that was something that they could bring to the court during his hearing next month. He was glad for that, but now he had to do something he wasn't looking forward to. File his report. He double checked that it was organized properly before getting up and walking to Randy's old office.
Before knocking he took a deep breath. Finally, he knocked. Immediately, he heard her say "Come in," so he did.
"Thank you, Mr. Hudson." She said, without looking up from the paperwork she was scrutinizing.
Jack opened his mouth to say something, but he quickly closed it, and turned to walk out of the office.
"Mr. Hudson?" Jack wheeled around. He saw a slight smile on her lips, but it quickly vanished. "Can you tell me, is Mr. Leland free?"
"Uh, he's at his desk."
"No, I mean free, as in romantically."
All Jack could do was stare. Romantically? He didn't know anyone who would want to date Myles. He knew he dated a bit, but usually no one from the office. "Uh, you'd have to ask him."
"Thank you, you are free to go." She replied curtly, then looked back down.
Once outside, he said to himself, "That was weird."
?-?
Thankfully, because of the closure of the case, no one had very much to do. They enjoyed this free time to catch up with everyone.
"So, what's going on with Patient?" Sue asked D.
"We will bring up the toxicology report, and hopefully his time will get cut by a bit. There's nothing else we can do. It was a pretty simple case. No one helped him, so there's really nothing else."
Sue nodded, glad that the case was over. She wished she could help him in some way, but this was God's plan, no matter how horrible the outcome was. She was so thankful Brooke was safe and unharmed that night.
Just then, Brooke Fraser came into the bullpen. Everyone looked at her, shocked that she was standing in their bullpen. "I just wanted to say thank you for your help. I don't know what I would've done without you all." She then walked up to Myles. "I was told that you had a lot to do with this."
Myles bowed and kissed her hand. "My pleasure, ma'am."
Brooke smiled, then said, "I also hear that you came to the restaurant that night specifically because of me. I know you never got to hear me, so I want to invite you all and your families to the Hillsong concert tonight. I have 20 front-row tickets for you." She then grabbed the tickets out of her purse and handed them to Myles. "Is there any specific song you would like me to play?"
Myles looked up in thought. "Ice On Her Lashes is such a powerful song."
Brooke nodded her head. "That it is. I will see you all later." She then looked around, and walked out of the bullpen. Everyone stood there in shock.
"I guess we are going to a concert tonight." D replied.
Just as everyone went to their own seats, Peter came in and walked towards Sue, smiling. When Sue looked up, he said, "Your request was approved. Amy will intern with you starting next week."
Sue squealed, then jumped up to hug him. He was startled by this.
"Thank you!" she finally said, thrilled.
?-? Listen to: Ice On Her Lashes by Brooke Fraser when she starts playing.
A few hours later, Myles, Jack, Sue, Carla, D, Donna, Tara, Bobby, and Sarah were trying to find their seats.
"Man, when she said front-row, she meant front-row!" Bobby exclaimed, surprised at how close they actually were.
"Hey, it's nice." Tara said, settling down in one of the chairs. She hadn't been to a concert in a while, so it was fun to go to one with all her friends.
Sue and Carla went to go sit on the closest seat to the speakers, so that Sue could at least feel the music. Jack came by them. "Do you mind if I sit by you guys?"
"Sure!" Carla replied for them both. Sue smiled in response.
"I want to sit next to Sarah, so why don't you sit next to Sue?" Of course, Carla had her way, and that is the way they sat. They smiled at each other, almost forgetting about the conversation they had the other day. Maybe not forgetting it completely, but moving on. Letting things fall in place where they may. They couldn't say like that forever.
Soon enough the concert started. The band started with an opening song, and Sue swayed with the beat she felt. Jack looked at her and smiled at how she made the most of something that she could never hear.
Once the opening song was done, Brooke came up and said, "I want to thank the Washington D.C. FBI team, because without their help, I wouldn't be here tonight. This next song is for Myles on that team." She then smiled at him as the song started playing.
Jack again looked at Sue. She was watching Brooke, reading what she said. He got her attention. "This is nice." He said at a normal voice, knowing that she could still read him, though he couldn't hear anything she said. She nodded in response.
"MAYBE WE DO THIS AGAIN SOON." She signed back.
Jack nodded, looking back at Brooke, who was still singing. He would like that. He would love to do anything with Sue, if she would just give him a chance. Maybe she was. Either way, he was going to take it, no matter the consequences.
"Are we OK?" he finally asked after a few seconds of thinking.
"ALWAYS." She replied smiling.
Jack nodded, unconsciously looking at the concert. She was right. Sure, they had some arguments and awkward moments, but they always came out OK. And that was how it was going to stay, no matter what. Jack smiled as the concert continued.
2 hours later as the concert was wrapping up and Hillsong was playing the last song, Jack got Sue's attention again. He signed "ILY." Just as the lights turned off. Even through the colored lights he could see her look down and blush before it turned black.
After a few seconds of blackness, the bright while lights turned on. Sue looked at Jack and quickly signed "ILY." Back. They both smiled at each other. Jack knew he would take it slow to not spook her, like she did the other day. But here in this moment, nothing could take this moment away. He burned it in his mind to remember forever. Never would he forget her smile.
THE END
