Acknowledgment: 'The Way You Look Tonight' written by Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern
A/N: Only a few more chapters to go now. Thank you as always for continuing to read and review.
o-xxx-o
Jack sat at the makeshift bar nursing his second beer of the evening while Bobby, D and Myles stood either side of him, each with their own drinks.
"You look like you're settled in for the night." Bobby commented.
"I am."
"Remember, you're supposed to circulate, make new friends. Dance with your opposite numbers." D reminded them.
"Speaking of that, the bonding thing is going very well, don't you think?" Myles observed sarcastically as he surveyed the room, noting the even divide which created an imaginary barrier between the two government factions.
"The guy who thought this one up must be a complete Galah." The Aussie snorted.
"That would be Special-Agent-in-Charge Galah to you."
"Whatever. I wonder what's keeping the girls."
"They did say they had something special planned. Nonetheless, I wish they'd hurry up, otherwise we're going to have to hold Jack here up for the official photograph." Myles replied.
"You know, someone's going to have to make the first foray into enemy territory," D persisted hopefully.
"Feel free, mate." Bobby tried to encourage him with a sweep of his hand.
"I was hoping that one of you three eligible bachelors would volunteer."
"Sorry, I'm not that desperate." The Bostonian commented dryly.
"Aw come on Harvard, a few more of these..." he lifted his beer bottle to his lips, "...and they'll all look like Nicole Kidman or Charlize Theron."
"Or Halle Berry..." D added.
"I don't think there's enough alcohol in the city for that." A series of whoops and whistles cut him off and he looked over to the door. "I do believe that the Unit's very own Charlie's Angels have arrived." He announced, his eyebrows almost disappearing into his hairline.
"Holy smoke!" Without taking his eyes off the new arrivals, Bobby reached over and grabbed his friend's shoulder. "This should brighten up your night Sparky."
Somehow Jack doubted that, the evening had all but hit rock bottom when he'd spotted a certain D.E.A Agent and his sidekick lurking by the entrance when he came in. Turning his glass round and round in his fingers he tried to get a grip. He was an F.B.I Agent. He could handle anything that was thrown at him as long as she wasn't wearing... He swivelled round slowly on his stool, barely able to smother the groan that welled up in him. ...red... Why did it have to be red? All of their more intimate moments had happened when she was wearing that colour. The night they'd danced when she won him at the auction... The evening he'd kissed her at Callahan and Merced...
The three women stood somewhat nervously in the centre of the room, Tara on one side wearing a tight-fitting, blue, silky dress. Lucy on the other wearing something similar that was all white satin and sparkles but Jack couldn't see past Sue... Her shimmering, deep red dress held up by the thinnest of spaghetti straps. The neckline plunging but not overtly sexy, more of a promise as it hugged her figure so perfectly that he could almost forgive the fact that her hair was piled on top of her head, although it looked as though the slightest hint of a breeze would have it tumbling down around her shoulders. Their eyes met and held steady until two unrelated hands waved in front of his face, startling him and making him jump backwards, almost spilling his drink.
"You need to breathe Sparky. That's the way mate... in and out, in and out... You got it."
Between the two of them they managed to haul him to his feet but before they could take a step, three D.E.A men swooped in on their quarry, among them Scott Mundeen. Jack's hands balled into fists when Scott made a beeline for Sue, his arm slipping familiarly around her waist as he greeted her with a light kiss on the cheek and the three women were whisked away before their very eyes.
Bobby shrugged. "Come on Harvard let's see what the D.E.A have to offer."
"If you say so but I think we'll be disappointed, who could follow that? Are you coming Jack?"
"Later." When they'd gone he called the bartender over. "Scotch rocks and make it a double. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night."
o-xxx-o
Two of his three colleagues returned about an hour-and-a-half later, D having made his escape and bolted for home. Jack was still sitting in the same place having managed to ward off any advancing females with the thunderous look on his face alone. Every so often he'd stolen a glance in Sue's direction but she'd been at Scott's side ever since she'd arrived and, annoyingly, seemed to be enjoying it; laughing and giggling at the antics of the D.E.A crew. And he'd be prepared to swear under oath that the jerk hadn't taken his hands off her all night, fuelling his jealousy – yes, he'd admitted he was jealous again – to the point where he thought he might implode.
"You really were serious about sitting here all night, weren't you Sparks?" Bobby asked slapping him on the back.
"Personally, I believe it's time he did his part towards diplomatic relations."
"True, true... Come to think of it there's a D.E.A sheila who's been trying to catch his eye all evening."
"You mean the one with the big... eyes and the tattoo?" Myles queried.
"That'd be her." He took the drinks that Myles had just ordered and leaned into his unhappy friend conspiratorially. "Or, you could take our Sue for a spin around the floor. I don't think she's danced all night." They walked off to rejoin their group.
Tearing himself away from the study of the bottom of his glass, Jack looked in the direction he'd last seen her and immediately felt a pang of guilt. She was sitting alone at the table and watching wistfully as her companions moved across the floor. Realising that by protecting himself he was being unintentionally cruel he finished his drink, sighed resignedly and swung around to face her knowing that she would instinctively sense that he was watching. She had an uncanny knack for that, even when he was trying to be discreet. Sure enough, after a few minutes, her eyes met his.
Jack smiled softly and made the sign for 'dance' and she responded with a 'yes', her face lighting up and causing his stomach to do flik-flaks. Congratulating himself on still being able to walk in a relatively straight line, he crossed the room to join her, taking her hand and leading her into an empty space.
His sole intention had been to get through the dance without embarrassing himself but when he took her in his arms and his hand made contact with the cool, bare skin of her back all rational thought fled, his body shivering in reaction to their closeness. The song began and he recognised it instantly, the irony prompting a rueful smile.
Someday, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight
Their eyes met and, afraid he was betraying too much of what he was feeling, he eased her closer lifting her right hand and resting it with his on his chest; his cheek against hers.
Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight
With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fear apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
It touches my foolish heart
Somehow the words seemed to encompass everything he loved about her and he closed his eyes, his hand sliding down to the small of her back as he pulled her even tighter against him. He knew she could feel his body reacting to her but at that moment he couldn't seem to care. He was far too caught up in the moment, not even attempting to stifle the moan that escaped when he felt her hand slide up his back, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, her thumb absently caressing the skin above his collar. This was his perfect moment, one he'd only dared dream about, and absolutely nothing was going to spoil it.
Lovely, never ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
The song ended and the murmur of voices and movement around them had him reluctantly letting her go. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again almost immediately when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Turning almost angrily, he found himself eye-to-eye with Scott Mundeen.
"Hey Hudson, this is supposed to be F.B.I/D.E.A not F.B.I/F.B.I. No monopolising the most beautiful woman here." As he talked he'd managed to position himself so that he was between them, leaving Jack on the outside. "Why didn't you tell me you danced?"
"You didn't ask."
"My bad" He made the sign for 'sorry'. "I'm asking now." Slipping his arm around her waist he led her away leaving Jack alone in the middle of the floor.
Looking around he noticed one of the female D.E.A Agents heading his way and quickly spun on his heel, returning to the bar and ordering another drink which he tossed down in one before making his way to the exit, unaware that Sue had excused herself from her dance partner and was sitting down at the table watching him intently. Another few minutes passed and then Lucy came over to join her.
"That was quite some dance you had with Jack."
Sue didn't reply just sat there in a stupor so her friend continued on. "Until Scott spoiled it that is."
"I thought you wanted me to give Scott another chance?"
"I do, I mean I did but Jack, wow."
"Lucy, you're reading too much into it as usual. We..." She stopped when she felt her blackberry vibrate in her purse.
"What?"
"Phone..." She explained taking it out and reading the message.
~ Meet me outside. Important. J ~
"I have to answer this."
"That's okay, go ahead."
"I think I'll take it outside. Better signal." Sue fibbed hoping the rotor wouldn't pick up on it.
"Want me to go with you?"
"No, that's okay and besides, I think you have company." She smiled as the guy Lucy had been dancing with earlier approached their table.
"You're sure?"
"Yes... go."
Sue waited until her friend was safely occupied and then picked up her purse and walked out into the car park, shivering slightly in the cool night air. She looked around but couldn't see him anywhere. "Jack..?" She jumped when he appeared at her side from out of nowhere. "Is something wrong?"
Without a word, he took hold of her hand and led her around the side of the building until they reached a wooded area where she stopped and pulled him back. "It's too dark in there. I won't be able to see your lips properly."
"You don't need to see them." He moved forward again tugging her with him and easing her back until she rested against one of the tree trunks, effectively trapping her there with his body.
"Jack..." Her protest was silenced when his mouth covered hers in a long passionate kiss.
He'd meant to leave it there but he'd never seen her look so beautiful. The moon had escaped from behind a cloud and was highlighting her hair. Her eyes were closed, mouth slightly open, her breathing ragged and he moved in again, this time more gently until he felt her respond. He ran his tongue along the line of her lips and then slipped it inside when they parted, searching until it found its mate and began a dance of its own; his hands caressing the bare skin of her back and then sliding upwards. He groaned into her mouth when he felt her pull him closer, his lips straying down her neck to her shoulder and then he suddenly jumped away. The sound of voices and car doors slamming shocking him back to reality and with one last tender kiss he walked away into the night.
Sue remained where she was; her eyes still closed as she took slow deep breaths in an effort to calm the hammering of her heart and unconsciously licking her lips where he'd just kissed her. He kissed her... Jack kissed her... Something she'd wanted for so long but never expected to happen. Her blackberry vibrated again and she quickly pulled it out, thankful that no one witnessed her disappointment when she realised it was only Lucy.
"Where are you? Is everything alright?"
"Sorry Luce, I'm fine. It took longer than I thought. I'm on my way back now."
As soon as she was inside she made her way along the corridor to the Ladies Restroom and splashed her face with the cool water, not even remotely surprised when Lucy came in behind her.
"You scared me."
"I'm sorry. Like I said, it took longer than I thought."
"Are you okay? You look very flushed."
"I'm fine. It's just the change in temperature. Shall we go back?"
"Sure, why not?" Lucy gave her a strange look.
"What?"
"Call me crazy but wasn't your hair up when you went outside?"
Sue quickly checked herself in the mirror. "Oh! I er... I must have lost the clip in the car park."
"Want me to help you look for it?"
"No, that's okay." She pulled out a comb from her purse and quickly tidied it. "Let's go."
The rotor was almost certain that she wasn't getting the whole story but since she knew for a fact that Scott hadn't left the dance floor all the time Sue was outside, she shrugged it off and followed her out of the door.
When they got back the party was just breaking up and the rest of the Team walked across to meet them. "Where's Jack?" Lucy asked curiously.
"Gone"
"Is he okay?"
"Who knows?" Bobby shrugged. "He muttered something about needing a shower and then left. I swear that bang on the head has addled his brain."
Sue blushed but remained silent.
"Still, on the plus side." Myles smirked. "Our secret weapon has wreaked havoc in the enemy camp."
Lucy and Sue exchanged confused looks and Bobby grinned.
"Let's just say the D.E.A team will be nursing a few unexpected injuries when we meet on the playing field." The tall blonde Agent continued.
"Bobby, you didn't start another fight?"
"How many times do I have to tell you? I didn't start the last one..."
"Then, what secret weapon..?" Sue asked even more confused.
"Tippy-toes Tara, of course... How many feet did you manage to step on tonight?" He chuckled, earning himself an elbow in the ribs. "Hey careful darlin', I'm on your side remember."
o-xxx-o