Thank you. I am trying to update once / twice a week but since I am still fixing the text, it takes some time.

March 3rd

11:26 AM

There was a quiet determination in the way he took a last look at the pictures, his intense gaze cold and cynical as his lips curled in a humorless smile. The night didn't seem to ease their frustrations and Hadar racked her mind, trying to find a solution, so far without success. As the hours went by it seemed like their only choice was to kill and take the fall together while protecting the people they cared about.

The Mossad would take the hit with her, although they would deny any involvement with her actions, the Federal Bureau would probably do the same. She wondered if Myles would visit her after learning about her work. Her mind raised a vision of him demanding that she be executed by electric chair right before presenting her to his new fiancé. She shook her head, a smile rising on her features despite the circumstances. She hoped he would simply forget about her and move on, what had their captor said? She should never have 'tainted' his blood.

"Are you okay?" Jack sat beside her and she nodded her head, closing her eyes, trying to remember better times.

Jack sighed softly, flexing his fingers as he stared into space. For the moment, it appeared like they had no other choice but doing everything they were ordered to do, it was simple, really. They had to kill and then wait for the police to arrive, hoping that no one killed them before. He could share the information with his team, trusting them all with his life but he needed to wait for the right time, hoping that there would be a right time. Besides, he reminded himself, it was not only Sue's life on the line.

He smiled as he remembered a late night in her apartment not so long ago. Lucy was at her grandmother's and they shared a bowl of ice cream under a heavy blanket. They found themselves stripping each other under the blanket, exploring and knowing each other better, careful to keep their undergarments in place. The desire and longing was there but they both agreed they were not ready yet for more and he found himself enjoying getting to know every inch of her skin, memorizing the places she was ticklish and the places that made her whisper his name.

He thought it was a beautiful night and he enjoyed spending it in her arms despite the cold shower he had to take before heading to her bed. He was content to know that she enjoyed herself as well, her eager responses fueling his burning desire for her. Hadar squeezed his hand and he turned to face her.

"Does she know that you love her?" She asked, repeating the question he asked her not so long ago.

"I always thought there would be tomorrow and I almost lost her several times. Maybe this is fate's way of teaching me a lesson." He replied softly. "If we ever get out of this mess I will tell her. I won't hesitate to give her a ring at the same time."

The door opened and Hadar removed her hand from his, watching carefully as their captors approached them, four men, two of them carrying small cloths and ropes. She closed her eyes when one of them grabbed her arm painfully pressing the cold material to her nose; she inhaled the sweet fumes, welcoming the darkness as it swirled around her.

13:14 PM

Leland Residence

The house was quiet after Myles' abrupt departure from the kitchen. It was Lucy who rose from her seat and headed towards his study, knowing from past experience that this was his sanctuary. Sue watched quietly as Tara left the room and Bobby slowly followed. She turned to face Levi, stroking his fur before rising from her seat. "I suppose it's just you and me now, buddy." She said, smiling when the golden followed her to the living room and sat beside her. She stroked his head, closing her eyes for a moment and trying to focus on something stable. It seemed like everything was slowly falling apart or maybe the pieces of the puzzle were finally making sense, she wasn't sure about it, all she knew was that she wanted him to be by her side, she wanted him to share his point of view on the case, wanted him to be safe beside her not alone somewhere where she couldn't know if he was alright.

Levi rested his head against her knee and she smiled sadly, wondering if he missed Jack the way she missed him, wondering how two days without him could seem so long. It seemed like forever since the last time they saw each other, touched each other. She missed him, plain and simple and she wondered if he missed her too. Sighing loudly, she rose from her seat, pausing at the kitchen, suddenly not so hungry anymore.

February 10th

Hudson Apartment

20:13 PM

You're early. Jack signed, welcoming her with a kiss. Lovely. He pointed at her dress and she twirled around, loving the way his eyes darkened. "Did you bring desert?" He asked and she handed him the large bowl she held in her hands.

"Did you make dinner?" Sue teased, watching him faking hurt before attacking her with his best puppy dog eyes look. She giggled and he laughed.

"Of course I made dinner." He pouted, stealing another kiss as he strode towards the stove. "You have such little faith in me."

"We'll taste it and then decide." She said, smiling as he moved closer to wrap her in his arms.

"You look gorgeous." He said, his face inches away from hers, his fingers trailing the soft fabric of her dark dress. "If I knew this was a formal dressing night…"

"I just wanted to wear something different than the jeans that I usually wear when we have a night in and I thought since we're having a nice dinner…"

His lips were warm and gentle as he stopped her from talking any further, showing her without words that he adored her in everything she wore, even a potato sack. She sighed into his lips and he deepened the kiss, his hands moving to her hair, pulling away pins and untangling it, enjoying the soft texture. Her hands trailed everywhere, moving from his chest to anchor herself to his neck as the kiss grew slower and more passionate.

The sudden ringing disturbed his tender explorations and Jack slowly eased away from her and stroked her cheek with his thumb, grinning when she opened passion filled eyes to look at him, her lips red and swollen. Hungry? He signed, moving to turn off the timer. "Food is ready." He paused when she still looked a little confused. "Unless…you're hungry for something else?"

She swatted his arm. "Jack!"

He chuckled, leading her to the table and formally seating her on the chair, handing her a napkin. "Dinner is served." He grinned, presenting her with a delicious smelling pasta dish and a plate of garlic bread. She smiled at him, admitting that the smell was heavenly and then picking up her plate so that he could serve her.

The pasta was indeed as delicious as it smelled and Sue complemented the chef, placing a kiss on his cheek. "It was really good, Jack."

"The truth?" He asked and her face fell.

"You ordered it from Antonio's." She said, feeling disappointed that she didn't see through his scheme.

No! He spoke and signed at the same time, smiling incredulously at her. "Sue, I would never have fooled you like that, although the kiss you gave me is well worth any kind of deceiving." She rolled her eyes. "But I did practice, I asked Tara to come over. She's a really good cook, did you know? Anyway, she showed me some tricks and volunteered to be my test dummy last night."

Sue nodded. "Now I know why she didn't want to catch that new movie."

"Well, to tell you the truth last night was much less impressive then tonight." Jack grinned sheepishly. "I burnt the sauce and I put way too much garlic on the bread. Tara said it was okay but she kept on drinking water so…" He shrugged, flushing a little when Sue burst into giggles.

"You're a very lucky man, Jack Hudson, spending two nights in a row with two different women…"

"Well, as much as I like Tara, I prefer your companionship." Jack grinned when she blushed. "I told her I wanted to make dinner for my parents when they come over."

"Did she buy it?"

"Yep, told me that was the reason she learnt how to cook, so that her mother would stop bringing food every time she came for a visit."

Sue laughed and Jack sent her to the living room, saying that his mother did teach him how to wash the dishes and that he would join her shortly. She was standing by the window when he returned and he moved to envelope her in his arms, inhaling the soft scent of her hair. "Can you stay?" He asked, moving to nibble on her earlobe.

"Not for long." Her voice was hoarse. "Lucy went out on a date and I don't believe she will be that long." She chuckled when his lips moved lower, tickling her and making her breathless. "Maybe we should move over for desert." She offered, grinning when his eyes darkened.

"I believe, sweetheart that we're already there." His voice was hoarse and he tilted her chin so that she faced him, his finger trailing across her lips before he replaced it with his mouth, gently exploring. She responded hungrily, her mouth an open invitation for him to explore, their tongues dancing slowly. Sue moved her hands to his hair, burying them in the softness while he held her even closer, his hand trailing lines of fire on her back.

Reluctantly, he eased away from her, his desire reflecting from the fire in his eyes. "Before you go there is one thing I wanted to do for a long time now."

Sue nodded her head, following him to the stereo system and watching quietly when he turned it on. "Is it our song?" She asked and he smiled and shook his head.

"No, but I think you'll like it…" He enveloped her in his arms, singing softly, her head resting on his shoulder as she closed her eyes and allowed him to guide her, feeling safe in his arms.