Sue spent the next 15 minutes explaining that she would no longer be an official part of their unit, and fielding questions. Jack was facing her, and she watched his face change from confusion to joy. Every time their eyes met, she had a hard time not forgetting what she was saying. She noticed Lucy and Tara's looks of triumph, and was sure that everyone noticed that her relationship with Jack had changed.
Garrett had followed the pair out of his office, and gathered everyone around Sue's desk. He had explained that Sue had an announcement, and then turned it over to her.
"Starting Monday, I will no longer be a part of this team," she began explaining. She saw the looks of disappointment on the faces around her and rushed to get finish her explanation. "I will however be in this office a good bit. Tara and I will be working together on a computer program." Looking toward Tara, she smiled at her friend. Tara had known only the part of Sue's plan which involved her personally. "We will be working on making a program that we can plug video feeds into, and it will read the lips of the speakers. Tara will do all the technical work, I will just be here to help her with lip shapes and such."
"Won't that put you out of work?" Bobby asked the obvious question.
"Well, it would be an added tool in the hands of you agents. Having a professional lip reader will still be preferable." Wanting to tell them the whole plan, she changed topics slightly, "I will not be doing that all the time however. The FBI has decided that I could be used by other agents, and so I will be working on other teams as needed. As I am an analyst rather than an agent, this will use my specific skills more thoroughly."
Garrett interrupted her, "We will still be able to use Sue in the field when need be, and our office will have a little more pull to get her here with us." He smiled to Jack, who still seemed to be taking it all in.
"I will have the ability to take assignments when and if I want, since I will be contracted by the Bureau. I will also be working directly with Gallaudet, and other deaf schools. Part of my job will be training and development of other lip readers. Also, I will be working directly with the FBI to make their training more conducive to those with special needs."
"Whatever will you do with your free time?" Tara quipped.
"Sparky may have some ideas. " Bobby's teasing caused everyone to smile.
Still being a little shy about her personal life, Sue tried to change the subject, "Um, I will still be available to this office, I will however no longer be an official part of your task force."
"Now let me get this straight, until Friday you are a part of our team still, is that correct?" Myles was looking smug.
"That's right." Sue was not sure where he was going with this question.
"So, if I am hearing you right, that kiss I saw this morning was still against regulation?" He smiled wryly, as the office erupted in whistles and cat calls.
"Would you look at that, old Sparky still has some spark!" Bobby dimple showed as he spoke.
Sue could barely keep up with all the mouths moving at the same time, so instead of trying she turned to Jack. Her face was ablaze from embarrassment, but it did not diminish the joy she felt. Jack raised his hand, "That's enough. You have all had your fun." From the look on his face he was feeling the same mix of embarrassment and joy.
"I think you are the one who has had your fun!" Myles seemed to be on a roll today.
Garrett stepped in to get everyone under control, and Sue fielded the questions that came up. Finally, everyone got back to work. Sue saw Jack talking to Garrett, but he was turned so she could not read his lips. He then turned toward her. "I am going to be out of the office for a while, but do you have plans tonight?"
"Yep, have a date." Her smile told him the truth.
Jack grinned, "You bet you do!" Then he turned and walked out, leaving her to wonder what he was scheming.