They watched the rest of the soap opera in silence, Sue growing more tired with each commercial break. Just before three, Levi came over and nudged a nearly asleep Sue. She sat up, startled.
"What is it, boy?" Levi ran off and returned with his leash. "Oh, you need to go out."
"You stay here and rest," Jack said, standing. "I'll take him."
Sue signed "thank you" and he signed "you're welcome" in return and headed outside with the dog.
They walked to the park and Jack let Levi off his leash for a while so he could have a good run. They played fetch for a while until Levi tuckered out and collapsed, panting heavily.
"You'll sleep well tonight, won't you, Levi?" Jack said, smiling and rubbing the dog's belly. Just when Jack thought Levi had fallen asleep, he suddenly jumped to his feet and took off running. "Levi!" Jack yelled and began running after him.
Levi hadn't gone far and it didn't take long for Jack to realize why the dog had been so excited. Coming up the walk way were David and Nikita. Levi and Nikita had greeted each other and were happily playing by the time Jack caught up.
"Hello, David," Jack said, offering his hand, which David shook.
"Good to see you, Jack," David said, looking around a bit puzzled.
Jack spoke before David could pose the question. "She's not here. I'm on Levi duty. Sue's got a really bad cold, so I've put her on bed rest. She's back at her apartment watching really awful soap operas. Although she very well may be asleep by now."
David smiled. "I take it she'll recover?"
"Definitely."
"Good to hear." David paused for a minute and the silence grew uncomfortable as each man tried to assess the other's role in Sue's life. They watched the dogs play until finally David spoke again. "She's doing well? Other than the cold, I mean?"
"Yes, she is. She's been such an asset to us at work lately, but then she always is. She's been working hard, but fortunately things have slowed down enough so she can get her rest." More silence. "So, how's your business?"
"Oh, it's going great. I have a lot of new customers thanks to the connections Sue got me last fall. It's really taking off."
"Bet you're happy about that." Jack was wondering if David felt this conversation was going as terribly as he thought it was.
"Yeah, it keeps me busy. Keeps Nikita well stocked with her favorite treats." Both men sized up each other again, neither knowing what to say. They went back to watching the dogs play.
"Did Sue say anything to you about us? About what happened?"
Jack was surprised at David's question and tried to figure out where he was heading with it. "She gave me a quick synopsis. Said you both got busy, that the interest wasn't there anymore."
David smiled sadly. "Well, it wasn't there on her part, really. Not that I'm blaming her. You can't control who you have feelings for." David looked Jack in the eyes. "I'm really happy for the two of you, and I truly mean that. I had always suspected that… Well, once I saw you together, the way you looked at each other. I guess in a way I always knew Sue and I wouldn't last. And after that one assignment… She never gave me details, obviously. I just knew she was away somewhere. After she got back from that things were different." He paused. "Well…" he cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. "You're lucky to have her Jack. And from what I can tell, she's lucky to have you, too. I can see that you take care of her, and as much as she would never admit it, she needs that."
Jack stood there, stunned for a moment, his mind slowly processing what David had just told him. "David, nothing happened, I mean…"
"Jack, stop. I know that neither you nor Sue would ever do anything like that. And you don't owe me any explanations, either. Just tell Sue… Tell her that I hope she feels better soon."
"I will." Jack clipped the leash back on Levi's collar. "David… I don't know if it makes any difference, but she really does care about you."
"I know. But she loves you." Jack's mind reeled. Could it be true? "Come on, Nikita," David called. The dog took to his heel as they left.
Jack crouched down next to Levi and petted him. "What do you think? Do you think he was right?" Levi responded by giving him a sloppy kiss on the face. Jack wiped his face on his sleeve. "Thanks, Levi. I already knew that you loved me." He stood and they walked back to Sue's apartment, Jack's mind replaying the entire conversation in his head, trying to make sense of it all.
He released Levi from the leash as he opened the door and warned him to not bother Sue in case she was sleeping. Levi obediently went over to his water dish, had a drink, and then plopped down on the kitchen floor. Jack went into the living room where fairly cheesy special effects showed a building burning on what he assumed was another soap. His gaze traveled from the television to the couch, where Sue lay sleeping peacefully. He sat down on a chair and just watched her sleep for a moment, replaying in his mind memories of the last two years:
The first time he saw her radiant smile. Their first Christmas when, unknowingly, they got each other the same gift. Seeing her worried face when he woke up after his heart attack. Protecting her as the sniper shot at him. Pretending to be her husband. Pretending not to see the hurt in her eyes when he told her he was seeing Ally. Dancing with her at the Children's Auction. Feeling like his heart would break every time he saw her with David. Comforting her when Levi ran away. Watching awful soap operas with her as she looked so pathetic from her cold.
He may not know for sure if Sue was in love with him, but he knew with absolute certainty that he was in love with her.
Jack sighed and then stood and walked to the couch where Sue lay so peacefully. He gently lifted her up, being careful not to wake her, and carried her into the bedroom where he laid her on her bed. Covering her with a blanket he noticed she was smiling in her sleep and he wondered what she was dreaming. He softly brushed his hand across her cheek, feeling the need to connect with her, and smiling himself, left her to her dreams.
She had dreamt that they had been dancing… He held her close, so close… The music was playing, they were swaying, lost in each other, lost in the beat of their hearts. And somehow, even though she couldn't hear the music, Sue knew the words:
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all
And then Jack had pulled back and locked onto her eyes and Sue felt as if he could see straight into her soul. He tipped his head slightly and closed the space between them, their lips meeting at last.
Sue woke up, surprised to find herself in her bed. Jack must have brought here in here. Suddenly, she was swept with the memory of what she had been dreaming, and for a moment was unsure as to what was reality and what was not. She sat upright, rubbing her face and breathing out slowly, amazed that she remembered her dream in such vivid detail. She could still smell the roses, still feel Jack's arms around her, warm and comforting, still feel the vibrations of the music in the floor beneath her. She stared straight in front of her, caught a glimpse of her tousled hair and was instantly brought back to reality.
She got out of bed and walked to the mirror, grimacing. Her hair was a mess. She combed it the best she could, recalling the jokes she and Jack had shared about bed head while they were living together. It was strange for her to think about that time, to acknowledge the feelings she had felt for him. Feelings she had imagined were temporary and fleeting. Feelings she had almost managed to forget. Almost. Her dream had proved to Sue's mind what her heart had been telling her all along.
She had liked being married to Jack, in the surreal way that they had been. She was comfortable around him, had enjoyed the mundane tasks of shopping and cooking, had enjoyed his company. She loved Lucy and loved living with her, but someday Sue really wanted to settle down, to have the house and a couple of kids that Jack also wanted. But she had been with David, and Jack had been with Ally, and the Bureau had policies on these things.
Now, however, she was no longer with David, Jack wasn't with Ally, he was here in her apartment and Sue was dreaming about him kissing her and wishing in a private corner deep down that he would do so for real. Sue resumed combing her hair, having stopped half-tangle as her thoughts strayed. She finished quickly and realized that the funny sensation she was now feeling was hunger. For the first time all day she wanted food.
Sue left the bedroom and looked around for Jack. His back was to her and she watched him with interest. She could see that his arms and hands were moving, she thought he looked like he was signing something, but since he wasn't facing her she couldn't tell what. She wondered what he was up to.
"Jack?" she asked, causing Jack to jump slightly and turn around in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
He smiled. "That's okay. I didn't realize you were awake. Did you have a nice nap?"
"Yes, I am feeling much better. And I'm actually hungry."
"I had a feeling you would be," Jack said as he walked into the kitchen. "I made you soup." He pointed to a pot simmering on the stove.
Sue raised an eyebrow. "You cooked?"
"I think I'm offended!"
"I'm just surprised that you know how to make," Sue peered into the pot, "what looks like homemade soup."
"Okay, well, I may not have made it myself, but I did heat it up just for you."
Sue laughed and signed "thank you." "Really, it was very thoughtful of you to bring this. Who made it?"
"My mom left some with me when she came to visit a couple of weeks ago. She said it would keep me warm during the winter weather. Although it was probably about 50 outside when I took Levi for his walk."
"Did you two have fun?"
Sue observed a strange expression flitter across Jack's face, but she couldn't interpret it.
"Yeah, we did." Jack got out two bowls and filled them as Sue sat at the table, Jack joining her a few moments later. Sue immediately dug in.
"This is really good. Pass on my compliments to your mother."
"I will." Jack ate a few spoonfuls then looked at Sue.
"What is it?"
"I, uh, Levi and I ran into David and Nikita in the park."
Sue's eyes widened in surprise and she swallowed slowly as she formulated a response. "How is he?" She tried to sound as neutral as possible.
"Good. He asked about you and when I told him you were sick he asked me to tell you he hopes you feel better soon."
Sue nodded. "How's Nikita?"
"She looked fine. I think Levi was happy to see her."
"I think Levi's been missing her company." Jack studied Sue as she spoke, trying to determine if that was Sue's veiled attempt at saying she missed David's company. Her expression looked completely neutral, leaving him frustrated.
"Do you miss him?" he blurted out, not thinking about how his question could be interpreted.
Jack had never given much thought as to how expressive people's faces were before he met Sue. Now, knowing how much she relied on it, he had become much more observant. He watched Sue look surprised at first, then puzzled, and finally thoughtful before she answered.
"Yeah, I guess a little. We were good friends and I miss that friendship sometimes. I miss the company. But I don't sit here night after night wishing we were still together. I've never regretted our breaking up, actually." Jack looked so relieved Sue had to fight not to smile.
"What were you doing earlier?" she asked, purposely changing the subject.
"When?"
"Right after I woke up. You were over by the window."
Jack blushed. "Oh, that."
"It looked like you were signing."
Jack focused intently on his soup. He had been signing, but he didn't want Sue to know that. Some time between when he said goodbye to David in the park and reached Sue's door, Jack had realized that tomorrow was Valentine's Day and he had been formulating a surprise for Sue, a way to tell her, to show her, how he felt.
"Will you let me off the hook if I tell you it's a surprise and you'll find out about it tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" Sue asked, wondering what was going on Saturday. Having not been at work, she hadn't been looking at a calendar, and with her cold making her head fuzzy, she was surprised she remembered what day of the week it was.
Jack smiled, pleased she hadn't made the connection. "You'll just have to wait to find out."