Every Dark Cloud

A/N: Last chapter—hooray! Short and sweet.

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Chapter 10

He didn't want this to end, he admitted to himself as he watched her arrange flowers in a vase. The past two weeks made it abundantly clear…he needed her. Needed the warmth, the laughter, the sense of belonging she brought into his life. Maybe…maybe it was time to have that talk.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" Sue commented in admiration giving the roses one last tweak.

"Not as beautiful as a certain someone I know."

A faint pink tinted her cheeks.

"I…um…it was…it was very sweet of Myles to bring them," she stammered, flustered by the unexpected compliment. "They're from his yard, you know."

"He's quite the gardener."

"Yes, yes, he is. In fact…"

"Sue?"

"Yes?"

He reached for her hand.

"I've been thinking."

"Thinking?"

"Yea, thinking."

"About…."

"About what's next."

"Next?" There was a look in his eyes that started her heart pounding. "You go home and rest."

"No, I…"

Abruptly, he stopped.

"Bobby?" Puzzled at the sudden break, Sue turned to follow his gaze. It was the nurse-on-duty clutching a thermometer in one hand and a file in the other.

"Hello, Mr. Manning, Miss Thomas," she announced cheerfully.

"Don't tell me!" groaned Bobby. What timing!

"Then I won't. Read my mind." She held up the thermometer.

"Couldn't you come back later?"

"Nope."

"But you were just here!"

"Two hours ago. Now open."

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll have a nice strong orderly or two come to help me take your temperature, Mr. Manning…one end or the other." There was a daunting gleam in her eyes. "What would you prefer?"

"I…uh…"

In went the probe.

"That's a good boy."

He glared while Sue tried vainly to hide a smile. Bobby had been so docile while he was really ill. Since he started feeling better, she had seen moments when his reputation as a terrible patient had been well-earned. In a few seconds, the thermometer beeped.

"There now. That wasn't so bad, was it? Now stick out your arm," she ordered. Efficiently she wrapped the blood pressure cuff around the extended limb.

"I'm fine," he stated hopefully, "I really am."

"That's good," she replied absent-mindedly as she listened. "Think you're ready to go home?"

"I'm ready! I'm ready!" he protested. "I've never felt better in my life!"

"We want to make sure you are better."

"I am," he assured her as he smiled at Sue.

Her keen eyes didn't miss the warm gaze he tossed to his blonde visitor nor the squeeze of his hand around hers. The blossoming romance had been a source of good-natured gossip among the nursing staff.

"I'll be sure to let Dr. Park know. Now," she asked as she put away the equipment, "is there anything I can get you before I leave?"

He shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Good. See you later." With a smile she was gone.

"I should be going, too," Sue declared when she glanced at her watch. "I'm supposed to be back at the office."

Unconsciously, his grip tightened. She's leaving, he thought in a panic. I have to talk to her…now!

"Sue?"

"Yes?"

"What I said before Paula interrupted us."

"Yes?"

"What's next?"

"You get better…you go home."

"No. I meant about…us." Hope and eagerness were clearly visible in his eyes.

"Is there an us?"

He squeezed the fingers in his grasp. "I'm hoping so."

"Are you sure?" she asked gravely one question still lingering in her mind.

"I know what you're thinking and it isn't," he answered just as seriously. "The circumstances just brought to the surface feelings I've had for you for a long time but didn't know I had…until two weeks ago."

The corner of her lips quirked upwards. He'd always been able to read her from the day they met.

Her question answered, she repeated, "Are you sure?"

"I'm willing to take a chance. How about you?"

Her eyes swept the face of the man who meant so much to her. There were pros and cons in having a relationship within the Agency but, if he was willing to take a chance how could she be less willing? Whatever the outcome, at this moment in time, she'd never been happier.

"If you're willing to take a chance then I'm willing to take a chance."

A dazzling smiled appeared at her response. He tugged her closer. "Then what say we take a chance?"

"Deal."

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Fini

A/N: I left that kiss at the end to your imagination. It just didn't seem necessary to write it in. Feedback would be most welcome!