Chapter 28
The siren echoed in the street and Megan reached out to turn it off. James grabbed the radio. "Washington 52. In the scene."
"52, do you require assistance?"
James surveyed the scene around. "It doesn't look like that at the moment."
Megan shook her head and opened the ambulance door, watching when Jack Hudson approached her. "We have a dead body and Myles took a bad swing in his eye."
Megan and James left the ambulance and headed towards the surveillance van, Myles was sitting inside, his hand covering his eye as he moaned. "I don't need a hospital."
Megan pried his hand gently from the eye and nodded her head. "I think you do, Myles." James helped him up and led him to the ambulance. Megan looked at Jack with question. "Bobby?"
There was a grim expression on his face. "He's alright. He left before you got here." Megan was about to ask more when he shook his head and turned around, hearing someone calling his name. "Excuse me." He walked towards the small house and Megan frowned as she watched him walking away. A look towards Tara's direction didn't help as the blond agent was busy with her equipment. She bit her lips, something strange was going on.
Megan was surprised to see his keys at the door when she walked inside. She raised her eyebrows, searching for him in the kitchen before removing her coat and heading towards the bedroom. She had grown to think of his apartment as home, barely sleeping in her own apartment anymore. When she wasn't spending the night with him, she was working.
She was reluctant at first, remembering previous mistakes, but his logic was clear and his idea was good. Since she still had to pay the rent for the next few months, she kept the apartment and he arranged for a nice room for her, placing a bed and a closet in his spare room, allowing her to paint the walls. It was just in case, he told her, that she will need the space from him.
She didn't spend one night in that room, preferring to stay with him any time.
She stopped at the entrance to the bedroom, taking in the pile of dark uniforms that was on the floor and the sight of him on the bed, his arm covering his eyes. If he heard her coming in, he didn't show any sign of it and she took a step backwards, heading towards the shower.
The room was humid and she could still smell his soap. She smiled, closing her eyes as the scent engulfed her, remembering his touch. She couldn't believe it's been over two months since she first met him in the ambulance station. Megan grinned at the memory of Valentine and how she was most unprepared for the romantic night he planed, his room…their room once again filled with candles. It was one of the most romantic days she had and he made her promise not to tell a soul in fear that his reputation will go down the drain. Of course, she told Sue and Sue told Lucy and the jokes ended up being on Jack and Myles who obviously had less ideas for the romantic day.
Finishing her shower, she put some sweats and walked towards the bedroom. His eyes were open and she smiled at him. "Hey, I didn't expect to see you home." The smile faltered at his sober expression. "Bobby?"
"I'm fine Megan." He said, his voice harsh and distant, staring at a point on the wall in front of him.
She raised an eyebrow, trying to stifle the initial angry response that was about to surface. Instead, she took a breath. "I'm grabbing something to eat, you want some?"
"No, thank you." He said shortly, still not looking at her.
She made a sandwich, her appetite slowly disappearing as she noticed two empty bottles of beer. She wondered if someone was with Bobby and they had a drink together, but who drank alcohol so early in the day? She tossed the bottles to the trash can. Bobby didn't drink them, for as long as she knew him he only had one drink, never more. The only exception was when they ordered a bottle of wine. She wondered what was wrong and suddenly had the urge to call Jack and ask him about the raid that happened earlier. What was Bobby doing at home so early?
She walked towards the bedroom again and he turned to face her when he heard her approaching. She sat on the bed, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He flinched and she backed away from him, wrapping her arms around herself. He stared at her, knowing his reaction hurt her but finding no words of comfort he could give her.
She had to swallow hard before talking. "Did you drink that beer?"
He arched an eyebrow. "What if I did?"
"Nothing, I just wondered." She said softly and then gazed at him. "If you want to talk…"
"I don't want to talk about it!" He said sharply, feeling overwhelmed with sudden anger. He watched quietly when she rose from the bed and headed down the hallway, closing the door that led to the spare room. Bobby lowered his head to his hands, not sure he could handle a fight with her among everything else that happened. He tried to rest and forget about it, but nothing helped. He rose from the bed and reached for his jeans, dressing and walking towards the spare room. He hesitated at the door, having trouble to find the right words.
Megan leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. She had to pull away, couldn't look at him in her state of mind. She was confused, something happened but he wouldn't tell her and she had to back away from him. She looked at the quiet room, smiling at the pale blue walls. She didn't remember who commented on the color to be prefect for a nursery. That comment brought out a hysterical laugh from the both of them and they never mentioned it again. Was it a fantasy? That the room could ever be a nursery? That they will have a nursery? She knew that this relationship will be hard, they had a rough start, they both had to adjust themselves, she knew he was inside her heart and was there to stay. But he never pushed her away like that. She was the only one who…
A sudden realization sunk inside her heart. She pushed him away more than once and yet he always seemed to be at her side. She had to find the courage to do the same. She won't give up on something good just because things might be a little rough. Her head held high, she opened the door, surprised to see him standing there.
He swallowed and reached for her hand, dropping it when she didn't move. "I…I wondered if you'll go somewhere with me."
"Where?"
"A place…I want you to see. Around seven o'clock?"
"Will you wake me up at six and a half?" She asked, meeting his gaze with her own.
He smiled a little. "I will." He followed her to the bedroom and closed the door after seeing that she was under the covers. The temptation to hold her was almost too much but he recognized the space she needed and appreciated the fact that despite everything he said she still didn't use the spare room. Sighing to himself, he went to the living room, wondering how he could possibly make time move faster.
Bobby couldn't remember a meeting that seemed so short. He wondered if it was because he was afraid of looking in her eyes at the end of it. They arrived early and sat down on the stairs that led to the entrance. He couldn't look in her eyes as he told her about the consequences of the raid that happened that morning.
They raided a house in the suburbs, expecting to find a drug dealer. They found the drugs along with an illegitimate gambling business, fully equipped. Bobby was momentarily distracted and Myles paid the price as one of the men in the room attacked him. It was the sudden understanding in Myles' eyes that frightened him and he left the scene, quite sure that his career was over and that his friends will turn against him.
He didn't feel the urge to gamble, he didn't feel the familiar itching feeling in his hands, but he got distracted and someone could have died because of it. When he returned home he was so upset he simply didn't notice drinking two bottles of beer. He never did that, always remembering that one addiction can change shape and turn into another. When the realization sunk in he simply went to bed, hoping that sleep will come and put him out of his misery.
And then Megan came and he knew that he had to tell her, tell her before she'll find out from someone else. Maybe he'll manage to keep her by his side. Losing her as well…he couldn't even think about it without feeling his heart clenching. When the 'GA' meeting was over he sighed and rose slowly from his seat. He wasn't sure he was ready to face her yet.
He found her in the exact location where he left her, sitting on the fourth step, holding a cup of hot chocolate in her hand and handing him another. He lowered his tall frame to sit beside her and took the hot cup from her hands, smelling the sweet scent of the chocolate. "How was the meeting?" She asked quietly and he nodded his head.
"The same as always." He replied, wondering if they could somehow return to themselves. Was she angry at him for not telling her sooner? He told her that he didn't gamble for nine straight years before his tumble the previous year, did it bring her any comfort?
"We should get back." She said and he nodded his head, following her outside. He froze when they reached his car, becoming fully alert at the sight of his team mates waiting for him. He looked at Megan but she shook her head. "Don't look at me; I have no idea what they are doing here."
Myles suggested dinner in a small café and they all nodded their heads, practically dragging Megan and Bobby with them. The small gathering did help to relieve some of Bobby's tension. Jack assured him that his job was intact and he spent long moments with Myles, Tara, D. and Lucy and talked to them, trying to explain. They all seemed to accept the problem and they all offered their support, it relieved him to see true friends in his colleagues.
When they were finally alone Megan was the one who made the first step, reaching out for his hand. He grasped her smaller hand in his, taking a shaky breath as relief flooded through him. They walked quietly towards his car and he stopped to envelope her in his arms before opening the door for her.
As they drove she spoke finally. "You know, someone told me that leaning on someone else didn't mean weakness."
He smiled a little. "I was always good in giving advices. I was never good in following them."
"It doesn't bother me, Bobby, the fact that you have a gambling problem. But it did scare me to see you like that."
He nodded his head. "I'm sorry. I know I was wrong pushing you away like that."
She smiled. "Yeah, well, I pushed you away too."
"I thought we've passed this stage a while ago."
"We did." She paused for a moment. "I'm glad you told me yourself. I'm glad I didn't hear it from Jack or Sue."
He hesitated before answering. "You know what? I'm glad I told you too."
They went to sleep early, hesitantly reaching for each other under the covers, both unsure at themselves as they allowed touch to compensate for the lost words. Their lovemaking was different, slower and softer as if they only just saw each other clearly. Bobby watched quietly as she dozed into sleep, her warm body snuggled close to his. He reached a hand to caress her hair and smiled at the sense of serenity that washed over him. He was tired but so very much relieved. Closing his eyes, he fell into slumber.
"Do you think they'll be alright?" Sue spoke softly and watched when Jack pursed his lips and then sighed.
"I hope so." He said. "We know him for a long time. He's my best friend. I know he's happy with her, I'm just not sure she could handle it after all her history with men."
"Bobby is a good man." She sighed and he pulled her closer as they climbed the stairs to her apartment.
"Is Lucy home?" He asked and she responded with a mischievous smile. He laughed. "What? It was an innocent question."
"Was it, agent Hudson?" She laughed, remembering all the times when the mere presence of Lucy in the apartment caused them to behave. However, in the last few weeks even that didn't help as they both found creative ways to lose themselves in one another. "Lucy went over to Peter's for a quiet night of movies and popcorn."
"Does this mean we have the house to ourselves?" He asked, effectively distracting her from the simple task of opening the door, kissing her earlobe while his hands roamed the sides of her body. She stomped her foot, a soft sigh escaping her lips as Jack slowly moved her hair from her neck and started nibbling slowly, his warm breath creating a shiver all over her body. She tried to form a coherent sentence, turning to face him, his arms still embracing her.
"If you keep it up, Jack, I won't be able to open the door and we will stay outside." She teased and laughed as he made a show of pouting before he released her and physically turned her around so that she could open the door.
Her hands were still unstable, but she managed to open the door, giggling as he stayed close to her while she stepped inside. She paused at the entrance, curious when she saw the soft light that came from the living room. Her nose picked up a sweet vanilla scent and she turned to face him, question in her eyes. He smiled. "Go ahead."
Sue's breathe caught in her throat at the sight of the living room. The room was filled with candles and there was a large bouquet of flowers on the table. She turned to face him, a smile illuminating her features. He shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, I knew Lucy won't be home and she was kind enough to help me with it."
"What's the occasion?" She asked, finding it difficult to breath.
Jack just smiled, helping her to remove her coat and removing his own before reaching out for her hand. "There is no special occasion. I just wanted to do something special." He motioned towards the sofa and sat down beside her. "We didn't have much time for ourselves lately and I missed you." He pulled her to him and she smiled, melting into his embrace. He was right, they had a few rough cases in the past few weeks and they didn't have much time together. They few evenings they did spend together were nothing less than amazing, Sue felt her cheeks grow hot and buried her head deeper in Jack's chest, inhaling his scent.
Jack closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of holding her peacefully. The last few weeks were hectic and today's fiasco was the worst. He enjoyed his rare moments of contentment with her, he wanted to make them last forever. He kissed her hair, remembering all the nights he had to leave her and walk away. She had decided to wait and he respected her decision, despite the way his body objected. He respected her above all and he imagined a time where he will not hide the full extent of his desire for her.
She snuggled closer to him and he smiled; a new idea surfacing. He looked towards his coat; he carried the small box in the pocket for two weeks now, he just couldn't find the right time, couldn't find the right words. What were the right words for such an offer? He never thought he was that good with words, he declared his love for her in a hospital room…but it didn't seem to bother her very much…
"Jack?" She looked at him, a smile on her face. "Are you alright? You seemed upset for a moment."
He shook his head, finding that he needed to clear his throat before he could speak. "I'm alright." He said his voice thick to his own ears. Suddenly, he knew this was the moment, this was his chance and the words failed him once more as he struggled to speak, shaking his head and raising his hand, signing.
Sue watched with awe as he signed, his signing fast and fluent. He signed every word and it seemed like he practiced a lot recently. She shook her head, realizing she hasn't picked up a word of what he was saying and signed him to repeat it. He looked at her incredulously and smiled, signing faster. She felt her eyes widening. He told her he loved her, he told her he wanted to spend every waking moment with her and that he wanted to sleep with her in his arms. She blinked at the last sign and raised her eyes in question. He repeated the gesture and she blinked again, her heartbeat racing as her mind seemed to process things very slowly. She watched when he sighed and then spoke. "I signed it wrong." He whispered. "Sue…"
"Yes." She whispered and he raised his eyebrow, trying to form some kind of a sentence at the sight of her glowing face.
"Yes?" He asked finally and she nodded her head.
"I'll marry you." She was crying and he gathered her in his arms, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding. She leaned against him for a few moments and then raised her head, smiling through her tears. "You signed. I never saw you sign so fast."
"I practiced in front of the mirror." He chuckled, moving to caress her hair, aching to feel her against him. Her eyes clouded and she licked her lips, sighing when he pulled her closer, moulding their bodies together as he kissed her. He traced her lips with his tongue, slowly nibbling on every lip before deepening the kiss. She responded ardently and he sighed, his entire body responding to the kiss. His hands trailing beneath her sweater, he sighed at the contact, tracing the line beneath her bra. She arched against him and he moaned, smiling when he realized her hands were creating trails of fire up and down his chest.
His shirt was gone and he wasted no time in removing hers before pulling her flush against him, the contact shocking them. He breathed her scent, readjusting their bodies so that she was straddling him. He smiled at her flushed face and bright eyes and kissed her lips gently, his hands exploring the hot skin he uncovered. Her bra was almost his undoing and he traced the dark strap with his finger, tempted to lower it from her shoulder.
Sue sighed softly, his touch evoking so many feelings inside. He was watching her, his eyes dark. She focused her attention on his chest, tracing lines with her fingers, smiling when he shuddered and his hands started wandering again, threading closer and closer to the places she wanted him to touch. Jack watched her, his hand moving to caress her breast, her breathe caught in her throat as her eyes opened wide, not really seeing him as he caressed. He smiled and pulled her to him, his heart beating hard in his chest. She opened smoldering eyes and looked at him. "Jack, I want to…" He held a hand to her lips.
"I promised you that we will wait and I intend to keep my promises." He said softly, she stared at him for a moment before nodding her head. "Do you mind if we'll make it a very short engagement?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively and she giggled.
"I don't mind at all." She leaned to kiss him and his eyes widened.
"Wait, I have a ring for you." His words were swallowed in her kiss and she pulled away after a while, leaving them both breathless.
"Did you say something?"
"Later." He mumbled, pulling her for another kiss.
To Camelia - I know that the case is over, but I do have some loose ends to close with my characters which I think are important...And also, a dose of well deserved romance after all this drama. Only two more after this one...Bell.
