Two years of waiting, knowing he was the one, and now, standing in the middle of an airport, Sue was on cloud nine. Never had three words meant more to her. Yet, looking in his eyes, she saw a storm brewing. It was as if he were struggling with something he was not sharing with her. There was no doubt that when those eyes looked at her, love flowed from them, but it was contrasted by a deep sadness.
Putting her hand on his arm, she noticed him wince. Looking down, she saw the reason for his reaction. "Jack, your wrist looks awful. You need to get that checked out."
"I was thinking that too. I told them it was fine when I got off, but since then it seems to be getting worse." Looking at his arm now, it was already black and blue and rather swollen.
"Let's get you to the hospital and get it checked out." Jack nearly laughed at the motherly tone Sue's voice now held. "Do they have a place for you to stay tonight? How long has it been since you've eaten? Will you be going home after tonight or will you be back out on assignment?" She peppered him with questions as they walked towards the cab that had been called for them, barely giving him a chance to answer one before asking another.
Finally, Jack put his good hand in her own, and squeezed. "I'm ok Sue. I am here, and I am ok." Sue blushed, but smiled up at him.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to talk so much. I guess I sounded like Tara just then."
"Actually, a lot like my mom." A teasing glint in his eyes kept her from being offended.
"Well, Sparky, someone has to look out for you."
"I am sure Mom would approve. She likes my women to be as overprotective as she is." Even as he said that, he wished he could take it back. He wanted her to be "his woman" but she couldn't be. In his heart, it seemed he was leading her on, and yet, he didn't have the heart to tell her that it couldn't work.
Smiling at him, she spoke before thinking, "Your women? You have a lot of them?" She watched as his expression changed somewhat, and she wondered if she had hurt his feelings.
Before she had time to amend her statement he spoke. "I promise you this one thing Sue. No matter what happens tomorrow, or next week--no matter what I say or do--you are the only woman in my life. That will never change"
The cab stopped at the hospital and the conversation was put on hold for the time being. It took several hours to get Jack x-rayed and a cast put on. The doctors found that he had broken his wrist, and two fingers. Seeing as how he had been in an airplane crash, he felt fortunate with just a few minor broken bones.
Heading to the hotel, they decided to order some room service when they arrived rather than try to find a place that might still be open. The airport had offered accommodations for those who needed it, but Jack had decided to go back to the hotel he had stayed in the night before. It was further from the airport, and he felt like the news media would be less apt to be hanging around.
After checking in, Sue went to her room long enough to freshen up slightly. They had been given adjoining rooms, so when she was done she knocked lightly on the door that connected the two. Jack opened the door almost immediately, welcoming her to his 'humble abode'.
She had only been in for a few minutes when the food came, and they both quickly realized how hungry they were. Little was said until all the food on both plates was devoured. Jack smiled up from his empty plate. "Guess I was hungry!"
"Me too." Smiling she glanced at her plate, surprised she had eaten the whole entrée.
Together they cleaned up, and then Jack put the cart in the hallway. As he stepped back in, Sue glanced around the room, and suddenly felt nervous. Looking up, she found his eyes on her. Something in those brown depths caused her heart to tremble.
Moving towards her, he knew he had to tell her that they could never be. But first, he needed to show her that no matter what, he loved her. Taking her hand, he led her to the bed. He sat across from her on a chair, and looked into her eyes.
"I want you to know that I am glad my plane went down today. If it hadn't, I would not have told you that I love you. I also need you to know that I didn't tell you that only because I thought I was dying. I mean, that is what caused me to say it, but I have wanted to tell you for some time."
Sue could see the somber expression, and the cloud of something she could not identify in his eyes. That look frightened her. "Jack, you nearly made my heart stop when you called, but I love you, and seeing those words is the best gift anyone has ever given me."
Looking on this beautiful woman sitting in front of him, Jack knew he needed to say more, but before he moved on, he allowed himself to yield to temptation once more. Taking a chance, he moved to sit beside her on the bed. Allowing himself to be entranced by her eyes, he moved closer to her, cupping her face with his hand. Moving slowly, he watched her as his face inched closer to hers, taking in every detail, knowing this would probably be the last kiss they ever shared. He forced himself to keep his eyes opened, even as he saw hers slip shut. When his lips finally touched hers, he allowed himself the sheer bliss of kissing her like he had dreamt of for years.
Sue had never been kissed like this before. The passion that sparked to life was something that she had never felt before. Her arms moved around his neck, and she allowed her hands to play in his hair. The feel of his good hand encircling her waist, pulling her closer to him, made her feel like she was in heaven.
Her reaction to him was almost more than he could stand. There was no other woman in his life--ever--that had been so right. Sitting here, with their arms wrapped around each other, kissing each other like there was no tomorrow, he knew letting her go, though he had to do it, would leave him empty. His arms would ache to hold her again. His lips would crave her touch. But never again could he allow himself this pleasure. Pulling himself away, he steeled himself for what he had to do.
"Jack, please tell me what is wrong." The voice was still hoarse from passion, but he could hear the desperation it held.
"Sue, there are things about me that I have not ever told anyone. Things I am ashamed of. Secrets that I am afraid to let even you know." His eyes filled with tears, but he went on. "If you knew me, you would not love me, Sue."
"I do know you, Jack. I know the man that you are. I know the passion with which you live your life. I know what you care about. You are a man of integrity."
"No. I am not. The things I have done--"
Wishing she could get into his head, she instead tried to talk to his heart. "This is what I know you have done. You took a girl, who fit into no ones world, and you made a world for her. Often, I am not accepted by hearing people because I am deaf. Sometimes, I am not accepted into the Deaf world because they think I am trying to be hearing. The only world I have ever felt comfortable in is your world. Have you noticed how we both move from voice to sign and back without hesitation. You have made me laugh, saved my life, supported me when I was hurting." Pausing slightly, she wiped the tears from Jack's face. "That is just what you have done for me. I could bring a hundred people in here that would have a list of things you have done for them. Even today, you preferred others lives over your own. You stayed on that plane, making sure that everyone else was safe. That is the man I love. The man I know. That is you, Jack."
"But you don't know what I did."
"I don't have to. I know you. We have all made mistakes. I will listen if you need to tell me, but it won't change how I feel about you. It won't change what I know about you."
"I can't tell you yet. I need time."
"I'm not going anywhere. There is no one else for me Hudson, so you're just going to have to get used to it." A smile played on her lips, and she was grateful to see a small smile from him.
"I can't do this--" He moved his hand between the two of them, letting her know that he was speaking of the kisses they had shared. "I mean, I want to, but I can't. Not until I can tell you the truth. I don't know when that will be. You shouldn't wait for me."
Sue laughed nearly out loud, and the look on Jack's face was of surprise, but not of humor. "I'm sorry, Jack. It is just that I have been waiting for you for two years. Since I decided not to go to New York, I have not had one date, because I was waiting for you. I would wait for the rest of my life, if that is what it took."
"I don't understand you sometimes, Sue Thomas. But I do love you."
"You need to get some sleep. I better get back to my room."
"Yeah, I am a little tired." He smiled at her, and wondered if she really could love him unconditionally/
"Goodnight, Jack. I love you." She reached up and put a kiss on his cheek, then disappeared into the other room.
Before settling down for the night, Sue switched on the TV. News of the plane wreck was being broadcast on every major channel, and she stopped on the first she came to. Suddenly her mouth dropped open as she watched a couple reuniting with a passionate kiss. She silently prayed that no one she knew had seen this footage, even as she knew that they probably had.