As always, I own nothing.
'Thoughts' – sign – "dialogue"
"Sue, what's the matter? Oh, right, how can she hear me? Why do I keep forgetting this simple thing! Stupid Hudson, you're surely an idiot! Okay, now I should stop talking to myself just because she can't hear me ranting over and over... "
'I should be able to keep it together, I can't go on losing it every chance she is upset or emotional about something. I really should try to focus on something else that her emotions, I don't understand what gets into me whenever she is like that, I sort of feel useless, helpless, and distracted, while when I'm in any kind of trouble she is always there for me, ready to say the right thing, with the right way to calm and comfort me, sometimes just with her smile... I really need to pay attention on what is going on outside, I'm driving, for goodness' sake, but she, and only she, can throw me off-balance like that, only being silent. When has ever been heard of a man being this freaked out from silence? I seem to have lost the ability to understand myself lately; well, luckily today we are not working, I can just relax and enjoy something I am able to do, not even needing this much effort, I know how to ice skate, so this shouldn't be so hard. But how is Sue taking all this? I have to know... sign, Hudson, sign, you went to ASL classes for so long for a purpose, just try to make the most of it now.'
So Jack moved his right hand in front of Sue, immediately gaining her attention.
"Sorry, Jack, I was kind of distracted, did you need something?"
"Me wonder, how you? Okay you?"
"Yeah, I just feel a little overwhelmed with this surprise, but I like it, I think I just need some time to process the whole thing, but I'm going to try to enjoy it as much as possible. Well, with the team here with me, I feel more confident; I think I can actually have a great time. Am I making sense? I have no idea of how I'm sounding, of course, but I think I am rambling, am I?"
Jack started to shake his head to say no, while smiling.
"Me know, surprise confusing but good"
"I agree, I think it will be good. Well, I think I will also find it very soon, seems we're here."
Jack hurried closing his car door to move toward Sue's side to help her out, then Levi. She smiled her thanks, quickly thinking about all the times Jack rapidly moved to prevent her action, chivalrously offering Levi's leash. Her smile widened showing her appreciation of that simple gesture. Jack felt more than rewarded for his effort when he saw Sue's bright eyes shining again with no clouds of sadness or concern misting over them.
They all gathered in the parking waiting for D to call on them. Now that Sue knew more about the day, she could easily see that everyone, well, almost, had a sort of bag for a change of clothes. She was almost sure that Myles could not be comfortable ice skating in his elegant and formal suit, even though she had seen him follow a runaway at a quite impressive speed many times. Bobby was clad in light blue jeans, necked t-shirt and a sweater, so he could reasonably wear that outfit for the upcoming activity as well, while Tara, also dressed in a more casual look than her usual, had to discard at least her jacket. Lucy definitely needed to change, since she was wearing a skirt short enough to show her long legs off, but undoubtedly inapt for skating purposes, not protecting against the coldness nor the hardness of the ice rink.
Sue thought about assessing her next team-mate in sight, Jack, but was not sure her train of thought would safely keep on professional rails, so she looked around to locate her parents.
They were coming toward her with smiles, her mother tightly clutching her purse, as if afraid of losing something precious. Carla had got the Tom Wesley guy number from D to ask him about putting loudspeakers face down on the ice to help Sue feel the vibrations and keep up to the music.
Her plan had required so many little details to catch up with her memory of that moment captured in that special snapshot that she had gladly added a few more to make another step toward perfection.
While Sue got lost in her thoughts D called out to make the others move and reach him inside the building. There they found a well-built man next to D. Gans started making introductions with Myles, Bobby, Tara, when the guy, focusing on Jack for a while, pointed his finger toward Agent Hudson.
"I can't believe it, aren't you dazzling Hudson! You look good, man, indeed good, and surrounded with beautiful girls as always. Well, now I can have my payback if you didn't keep skating all along, did you?"
"Tom Wesley, is that you? Surely it's good to see you again, too, and about skating we'll see."
"I have to warn you that your smile won't help in this bind, you'll have to literally face the music, and please, do it with your smile for your friends', especially these gorgeous girlfriends' sake, only being ready to cover for when you lose, 'cause you're gonna lose, I just hope you won't be a sore loser, alright mate?"
"I actually remember someone always boasting about his ability on ice skates, but quite often landing on his behind, so you should be quite knowledgeable about being sore one way or another, right?"
The team was quiet during this friendly animated exchange, Tom stressing his compliment to the girls staring intently at them, Jack reacting assuming a typical possessive and protective male attitude, both making the girls smile.
"You keep talking, but you know that often actions speak louder than words, don't they?"
D had to introduce Lucy and Sue yet, but Lucy extended her hand swiftly.
"I am Lucy, Tom, and you are absolutely right, you just don't know how much yet."
With that said Lucy nudged Sue with her free hand, hinting that was a good enough opening to bring up the little matter of her deafness making a joke out of it, sparing the man a possible embarrassment.
"Especially when those words fall on deaf ears, in my case literally. I'm Sue and I'm deaf, so please, if you need to talk to me, watch me so I can read your lips."
Extending her hand Sue was surprised when Tom turned it facing down, bowing to place a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. When he lifted his head, still bowed, he was showing a brilliant smile that made Sue answer in kind.
Jack was watching the scene with his lips pressed in a tight line, his hands fisting at his sides. When he realized what he was doing he tried to relax, but Bobby was already slapping a hand on his shoulder.
'Busted! Why do I find this simple gesture so disturbing is beyond my comprehension, but does he really have to do it?'