Hi Guys because you have all been so kind with you reviews I decided to do another chapter today - and its a longer one that the previous - its brings us back to the present time.
Sue and Megan spent the afternoon together, while Jack and Kiki spoke more about her medical treatment and contacting Myles on her progress and condition. Sue and Megan learnt more about each and their lives. Sue had discovered that Megan loved Fairies and Dragons as much as she did, and as a gift Sue gave Megan a small miniature fairy that she had always kept in her bag. Megan placed it on the table at the side of before proceeding to hug Sue in thanks. Sue had taught Megan a few basic words in sign language including giving her, her own sign name Megan was proudly repeating them as Jack walked back into the room. Even though Sue didn't hear him walk back in she instantly felt his presence in the room, she could smell the faint scent of his aftershave, turning round she saw him leaning on the door frame just watching the two of them
"Everything OK, Jack"
"Hum, yes everything is fine. So what have you too been up to while I was away?"
"Sue has been teaching me signs and has given me a sign name. See watch now Jack" To which Megan proceeded to show him the signs for 'hello', 'goodbye', 'dog', 'sit' and 'friends'
"Wow" Jack Said "you're much better than me at those"
"Ain't that a fact" Sue added with a hint of sarcasm causing all three to burst out laughing.
"So my two special ladies what are we going to do now?"
"Can we play 'Happy Families Game' please Uncle Jack, but NO CHEATING"
Jack put his hands up in protest "I don't cheat, I just change the game so I can win"
"That's cheating silly" Megan laughed
With that Jack joined Sue and Megan on the bed and for the next two hours they played 'Happy Families Game' both girls insuring that there was no way Jack would win a single game, which they managed to achieve with much success and laughing from them and serious pouting from Jack.
Once the two hours were up Jack glanced at his watch it was 4:30 in the afternoon, he and Sue had been in the centre for four hours. He tapped Sue's shoulder and said
"Sue its 4:30, Lucy and Tara will be thinking I've kidnapped you, we'd better get going for dinner" before turning to Megan and saying "Well Miss Princess Megan, Sue and I have to go home, but Mammy is still here, so is Grace and I have a funny feeling that Stephanie is coming in to see you soon" then he leant over and gave Megan a huge cuddle and another sloppy kiss before blowing a raspberry on the side of her cheek making her laugh out loud for a few minutes. Sue also said her goodbyes, with Megan reaching out to her for a cuddle and a kiss of her own, before making Sue promise that she would come back again tomorrow with Jack and every other time he visited which she agreed to.
Jack and Sue made their way back to the main room saying goodbye to the other children and giving each one their own cuddle, finally heading back to Kiki's office to say goodbye.
"You call me if anything happens Ok, I mean it, don't worry about Myles I can call him for you OK" Jack said
"I will, thanks Jack" Kiki replied while leaning in to give her brother a huge bear hug and a kiss on the cheek, she did the same with Sue and assured her that she was welcomed back anytime she wanted with or without Jack. After goodbyes were said to Grace, Jack and Sue walked back to his car and began the drive back to her apartment.
She glanced over at Jack who was concentrating on the road in front of him, but she knew she had to assure him that he was not in this alone "Jack stop the car a second I want to tell you something" he pulled over into a small car park and turned off the engine
"What's wrong? Everything Ok" he asked concerned
She nodded and began
"Everything is fine. I just wanted to thank you for bringing me to the centre today; I had one of my most treasured Christmas Days. I loved meeting Megan, Kiki, Grace and all the other children, just remember that if you ever need anyone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on or just company for the car journey all you have to do is ask and I will be there every time, no matter what. I was amazed by the courage that every one of those children have, courage that I am sure you have a part in, I could see the love that they all have for you in their eyes and that is what was giving them the strength to fight, especially Megan. All they needed was for someone to care for them and be on their side for once, You, Grace, Kiki, Dr Mack and the rest of the team do that, you all give them something to fight for and I for one am very proud and honoured to know all of you" On finishing she leant over a kissed Jack on the cheek "Especially you." and proceed to wipe away the tear that had fallen from his eyes
With an, emotional voice he replied "Thank you Sue, I know that your strength will also have given the children something to live for. I saw nothing but love from you in there today, you helped me and Kiki gain the strength that we are going to need in the next few days, months, weeks however long it is, a strength that you always bring out in me and everyone else around you and I will definitely be taking you up on that offer in the near future and you now that the same goes for you if you find yourself getting upset, angry, wanting to visit anything you call me and I'll come running anytime you know that right?" with that he leaned in and gave her his own kiss and like she had not moments before wiped away her tears
"I do"
They drove for a while in silence before Jack tapped her arm
"Sue can I ask you something"
"Anything"
"Can we not tell the girls where we have been they would only fuss around both me and Myles when they find out about Megan and even though we are both putting on a strong united front neither one of us could handle their pity at the moment, that's why I wanted you to come, I needed someone strong and there is no-one I know stronger than you"
"No problem" she said signing for emphasis "So where are we going to tell them we've been for the last four and a half hours, because you know they are both going to want details when we get back"
"Um I hadn't thought about that! How about we went back to my apartment to exchange gifts, walked Levi, and then went skating" He asked
"That sounds like a plan, but also went for hot chocolate on the way back"
"Deal" he said signing for emphasis
After a few more minutes Jack and Sue were outside her apartment building, Jack got out and opened the door for both his passengers. As they were about to enter he grabbed her arm and pulled her into a huge bear hug, kissed her cheek and finally leaning back to say thank you again
"I told you Jack it's not a problem, now come on I'm starving. I want my dinner" she replied
With that they walked back into the building and entered the apartment, took off their coats, scarves and gloves before making their way to the kitchen where Tara and Lucy were adding the final touches to their dinner.
"Well! Look who finally decided to grace us with their presence the second dinner is ready" Tara said as Jack and Sue entered the kitchen
"And where or should I say what have you two been doing for the last four and a half hours or do we not want to know" Lucy said with a mock smile and a cheeky glint in her eyes hoping that the two of them had been repeating the incident in the Callahan & Merced office.
"Luce don't panic we went to Jack's apartment to exchange gifts, then took Levi for a walk" Sue interrupted with a sharp look in her direction
"And that took over four hours! Must have been some walk! Where did you walk to Florida?" Tara added
"No" Jack added "I also took Sue to the Ice-rink, that open near the edge of the city, I promised I would take her a few weeks ago but with trying to find the mother of the abandoned baby we have both been far too busy." He looked at Sue who was trying her hardest not to cry as she remembered the poor baby Holly lying in the crib at the centre.
"Finally we went for a hot chocolate and simply lost track of time catching up on all the missed gossip" He finished
Tara and Lucy looked satisfied at this explanation but both Jack and Sue knew neither one of them were convinced of the answer. All four of them made their way to the table and enjoyed their dinner, pulling crackers and laughing at the lame jokes inside. Once they had finished they all settled on the sofas to watch Tara's DVD, eat a slice of Christmas cake with hot custard, a catch up of the latest building gossip and a couple of bottles of wine. After the movie had finished Jack got up to leave but not before Lucy insisted taking a photo convincing them both that they needed a reminder of their first official Christmas together. The photo captured the day perfectly Jack had his arm around Sue waist, she was leaning on his shoulder, he was looking down at her slightly realising that when she said she would be there for him no matter what he knew she meant it.
Sue sighed as she stared at that photo pleased that Lucy had insisted they took it.
She let the tears slowly fall as she remembered, the next few days following Christmas, going back to the centre to see the children, running out of the bullpen behind Myles and Jack when they had gotten the phone call telling them that Megan had passed away early New Years Eve morning, attending her funeral, watching Myles, Kiki and Jack talking at her funeral the pain evident in their eyes. Sue had even insisted that the small fairy she had given Megan was buried with her explaining that it would protect her where ever she was. Then attending the funeral of baby Holly a few days later, followed by the double funeral of the twin girls Alexia and Sophie in early April and Cameron at the end of April a few days after Easter and finally Little Vicky just a few weeks ago. There was also good news in that Suzie the little deaf girl had undergone a successful kidney transplant and was now living with her new adoptive parents just outside the city. Sue let the tears flow freely as she realised that what Jack had said to her about most of the children in the home would be angels by this Christmas had come true.
"It's just not fair; there are all these criminals and terrorists walking around living yet six little children were taking to heaven." She sighed to Levi while wiping away the tears.
She got up off the sofa to put the photo back in it spot, on noticing the time was nine thirty she called Levi for their walk, returning half an hour later, she made her traditional hot chocolate, grabbed her hockey jersey out of the dryer, changed, got into bed, set her alarm, kissed the picture of Jack and Megan hidden in her drawer and drifted off to sleep dreaming of the day when Jack would be with her forever and she would not have to spend another Christmas like this one away from the man she loved.
What she didn't know was that dream would be coming true a lot sooner than she thought.
In another part of the city a dark haired agent was sat on his bed looking at a picture, of his true love feeling rather pleased with himself
Want to know what the lovely Mr Hudson has in store for our favourite analyst then press the review button - the next chapter is going to be all Jack it will his thoughts explaining his part in Sue being alone for Christmas - I may split it into two parts I haven't decided yet - the final chapter will be the surprise for Sue and I promise you a happy ending :-) maybe
