"You're awake," she smiled.

Jack cleared his throat. "I am," he said and then, almost reluctantly, stood up straight again, putting a little distance between them. "You should have woken me, I'm sorry for being so rude and falling asleep like that."

"You looked like you needed it," Sue said, slowly unfolding herself from the armchair and getting up.

"I must've had too many beers with Bobby…" Jack said

"That's OK. I was wondering whether I should call Ally or your parents, they must be wondering where you are, but I didn't want to snoop on your phone..."

"They knew I was going out, they're fine."

Sue nodded. "Still want that coffee?" she asked.

"It's 2 am, I'd better get going and let you get into bed instead of sleeping in the armchair."

Sue grinned, "I was comfortable enough."

Jack looked at her tenderly. "True, you didn't look too uncomfortable. I've seen you sleep in less comfortable chairs at the FBI."

Sue smiled and held his look for a few beats. They had shared looks like that often enough and they always seemed to take his breath away. His heart even swelled in tentative hope until she then cleared her throat and said, "It really is late, I'm sure Ally is wondering where you're at…"

"I'm sure she's not wondering anything," Jack sighed, feeling deflated at the mention of Ally. "I think she must be in New York by now."

Sue's forehead crinkled in confusion, "New York?"

"Yes, New York. When I left home earlier this evening she said she was flying back on a late flight."

"You two had an argument? You didn't give her an incentive to stay?"

Jack was a little taken aback at that question. "No," he said, "She was never going to stay…"

"But maybe if you had said something…"

"What would I say?"

"That you'd miss her before it was too late?"

Jack flinched at that, remembering back to two weeks ago when he had been very late in telling Sue that he was going to miss her and didn't want her to leave. She had decided to stay, of course, but she had already decided that before his late confession.

"I wouldn't miss her…" he grumbled.

"Are you sure? You two seem lovely together."

"What? Are you now also trying to pair me off with Ally?" he asked, starting to get annoyed.

"Would that be a bad thing?" she asked in return.

"Ally and I are history, I already told you that!"

"It doesn't mean you couldn't have a future together."

Now Jack was really starting to get riled up. He stepped closer to Sue and angrily raised his voice, saying, "You're starting to sound just like my mother!"

Sue seemed unfazed. "She looks like a wise enough woman."

"So, you would happily see me in a relationship with Ally, would you?"

"Sure… if that made you happy!" Sue said, her voice now also rising. Levi felt the agitation and gave one bark. Sue touched his head to silence him. "It's OK, Levi," she said.

"Well, I can take care of my own love life, I don't need my mother or you meddling!" Jack exclaimed.

"If you could take care of that, you wouldn't have Ally fleeing the scene when you two are so obviously meant to be together!"

"I am not in love with Ally!" Jack stated, his voice rising further, "And I haven't been in a long time! She and I are really not meant to be together!"

Sue seemed a little taken aback at that. "But… this evening… she was…"

"She only came because my mother invited her, I'd barely talked to her in two years!"

"Oh, but she seemed so… familiar with you!" Sue exclaimed

Just then he heard a door open and he looked around to see a sleepy Lucy emerge.

"Everything alright?" Lucy asked, holding a baseball bat. "I heard raised voices and Levi…"

Sue had caught on to Lucy's presence as well and calmed her.

"Yes, everything's fine. Luce. Jack woke up and we were just arguing. I'm sorry we woke you!"

"Arguing at two in the morning?" Lucy said with a huge sigh. "It had better be worth it."

"So far not really," Jack muttered.

Lucy gave him a strange look and then, glancing from one to the other, she grinned. She put the bat down and said and signed at the same time, "You two had better kiss and make up before you wake up the neighborhood."

Jack's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He would love nothing better than kissing Sue but that was never going to happen, especially not considering the words that now came out of Sue's mouth.

"There will never be any kissing between Jack and me, Lucy, you know that…"

"Actually, I hope you're wrong there, Sue…" Lucy grinned.

Jack remained silent and didn't dare throw a look in Sue's direction to gauge her reaction. Sue seemed uncharacteristically quiet as well, not giving one of her usual comebacks.

"Good night you two," Lucy then grinned and went back into her room.

Feeling deflated, Jack slowly turned to face Sue again and saw that she was already studying him.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have butted into your relationship with Ally," she then softly said.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," Jack said softly in return, attempting a little smile. He then added, "It's sweet of you to want me to be happy, but Ally really isn't the one for me, never really was and certainly never will be. You just need to accept my word on that, Sue."

Sue smiled back. "Alright, if you say so. Like you say, I just want you to be happy…"

"So much so that you are willing to match me up with anyone?"

"Ally isn't exactly anyone. You two were close once."

"Yes, we were… a long time ago, in the past… we have developed in different directions and I don't want to go back."

"OK," Sue said.

"OK," Jack replied and again they seemed to hold each other's eyes longer than strictly necessary. This time Jack was the one to clear his throat before he spoke again.

"Even though you and I didn't kiss, I guess we did make up," he grinned.

"It was a silly argument, really…" Sue smiled.

They walked to Sue's door together and turned to face each other again for their goodbyes.

"I do wonder why we would even argue about my love life, though," Jack said.

"Friends do that, don't they? Wondering if their friends are taking all the chances at happiness that they can?"

"Friends, eh?"

"Isn't that what we are?"

"Yes. Yes we are." Jack paused for a few moments before he added, "I'm glad you decided to stay, Sue."

She smiled, "Me too."

At that moment he wanted to kiss her and not in a just friends kind of way. It was getting more and more difficult to rein in his feelings but he also knew he couldn't spook Sue, he didn't want to risk losing her. So, it took all of his effort to lean in and just give her that gentle kiss on the cheek without moving on to her lips like he actually wanted to do.

He leaned back again, smiled at her and started reaching for his coat.

"Jack," he heard Sue say softly, touching his arm so that he'd look back at her.

He sighed and faced her again.

"Earlier you said you wanted to tell me something. What was it?" she asked.

Ah, Sue, ever the investigator!

He smiled, "It's not important, Sue."

"But earlier you said it was an emergency…"

"Well, I have my answer now."

Sue looked puzzled. "How?" she asked. "You slept and then we argued about Ally."

Jack couldn't help himself, he had to touch her frowning brow, hoping to smooth the lines that had appeared there. "Stop looking so worried, Sue. A little nap can bring a lot of clarity."

When she still looked sceptical, he tried a reassuring smile, "That worry I had, I am dealing with it, it shall pass and I don't need to burden you with it."

He then gave one gentle stroke along her cheek and signed "Goodnight".

Without awaiting any further reaction he was out the door. His heart was thumping all the way home. He had come so close to admitting his feelings and ruining everything between them.