A/N – Well, this story is definitely getting a good head start. I'm finding I'm writing a lot longer chapters with this story than the last, which is good. I've got lots of ideas coming! My goal is to post at least 2 more chapters today after this one, so keep your fingers crossed.

Chapter 3:

Work was slow, though the team at the bullpen were grateful. After having 3 successive, the quiet was refreshing. It was a well-deserved break. Bobby was fiddling around at his desk, Tara playing solitaire. Every once in awhile they would glance at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Sue thought it was very cute. She turned to Lucy, to see her watching the couple too. She signed to her,

"Aren't they so cute?" Sue signed back,

"Yeah – it's about time. You're a great matchmaker." Lucy just smiled. Jack was out talking with the assistant DA. Sue was waiting for him anxiously to return. Ted had given them the afternoon off, so that Jack could go with Sue to her appointment. Since no one was doing anything anyways, Ted was more than complacent with letting the two of them skip. Sue knew that Jack had talked to Ted before she had returned to work, but what she didn't know was all the details of what they had discussed.

---

"Jack, come on in." Ted said in his booming voice. "How's Miss. Thomas doing?"

"She's doing better. She came home from the hospital last night. She's started to see a therapist and apparently, she thinks that Sue is doing great with dealing with what happened." Ted nodded.

"I'm glad to hear. You said you needed to talk to me about a few things concerning Sue?" Jack didn't know where to start. There were so many things he wanted to say.

"Well, first of all she's anxious to get back to work, but I'm worried she's going to take on too much, pretend like nothing happened and want to jump right in. I don't think that's a good idea. Especially now." Ted looked at him with curiosity.

"You mean because of the trauma she experienced when she was kidnapped?"

"That and more. There's something I haven't told you yet about her condition. She is healing great, and the therapist thinks she will heal mentally completely in time." He hesitated. "Sue's pregnant. She was raped. We don't know who did it, because Sue doesn't remember. The doctor gave me the decision whether to keep the baby or not, because at the time Sue was unconscious and it would have been too late to give her the morning after pill once she woke up. He also didn't think it would be good for her to terminate the pregnancy. Not that Sue ever would have. She knows, and she's happy I made that decision, but that also affects her job now. I don't think it's a good idea putting her and the baby at risk." Ted nodded in agreement.

"How is she handling finding out she's pregnant, especially with one of those men's baby?"

"Surprisingly well actually. I thought she would be a lot angrier, maybe even at the baby but she seems to be okay with it and actually excited she's going to be a mom." Ted smiled. Jack continued on, while he still had the courage. "Actually sir, that brings me to something else. Sue and I, well, we want to start seeing each other. To be honest, I've loved her for a long time but hid behind the no dating rule here. I want to help her raise the baby. So, I understand that there is policy with dating within units, and I know how important Sue is to the team so I can move if need be." Jack finally concluded. Ted just smiled; he had expected this conversation for a few years now.

"Jack – Sue's not an agent. I'll see what I can do. Since Sue is expecting, she won't be here full time for long anyways. Just don't give me a reason to need to split your team up and you should be fine. I'll need to talk to some people to bend the rules, so maybe don't tell Sue yet. But I'm sure we can work something out." Jack just smiled.

"I really appreciate it."

"What about you Jack?"

"What do you mean?" Jack asked his supervisor

"How are you doing? You were tired enough after the Pearson attack, then with what happened with Sue and now finding out she's pregnant with another man's baby – a man who attacked and raped her, I'm sure you're not completely better either." Jack had been putting a strong front on for Sue's sake, and Bobby was always there to talk too, but lately he had been busy too, putting on a strong front for Tara and taking care of her. Jack decided just to spill everything to Ted.

"It's been hard. My job has always been everything to me. Once Sue joined the team and I got to know her better, I realized how much I liked her. But my job always came first; I was never willing to put a relationship with her above work. I guess I just wasn't ready. Then all of this happened with Greg and James, and it made me realize what life would be like without her. Especially now with the baby, she needs me. I know the babies not mine, but blood only goes so far – it's about relationships. It's a bit to swallow, knowing that this baby's father really is a criminal but I'm going to do everything to make sure he or she has a great life." Ted nodded and smiled.

"I have a lot of respect for you Jack. Most guys would turn and run the other way. If you need any time off, to go to appointment or just spend with Sue – talk to me and we'll try to arrange it. As for Sue, I'm taking her off the field. I'll tell her all this when she comes in on her first day back. Hopefully she won't mind, I know how stubborn she can be." Jack gave a quick laugh. It was great to have such an understanding and approachable boss.

"Thanks for coming to see me Jack. Again, let me know if there's anything I can do to help make this transition easier for the both of you. Tell Sue to pop in my office when she returns to work on Wednesday."

"I will. Thanks again Ted." Jack said, as he left the office.

---

Jack returned to the bullpen from Marty's office. He couldn't help but feel slightly excited. Thing's were really happening. It all felt a little surreal. Him and Sue were definitely on a good track. He wanted to marry her, but he wasn't sure how she would react if he asked her. He wanted this baby to be born into a family. His baby. He knew that Sue was a little scared of his commitment to the baby, but he couldn't blame her. He knew she was worried that he would regret his choice to take this baby as his own. She had nothing to worry about because as every day passed he found himself more in love with Sue and the baby they were going to raise.

Sue had asked him to accompany her to the first doctor's appointment at his house one evening as they were curled up on the couch. He was slightly shocked at first but absolutely thrilled.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to," she said hesitantly.

"Of course I do! It'll be the first time we see our baby Sue. We'll go to work in the morning and I'll ask Ted for the afternoon off. Nothing's happening anyways." Sue nodded happily and gave Jack a quick kiss on the lips. She felt better knowing he would be there. She had never gone through anything like this before.

"Thanks Jack. I'm glad you'll be there."

"Nervous?"

"A little. This is all really new to me." Jack nodded.

"Me too." She laughed, which made Jack's heart melt. He leaned over and kissed her lips again. This time the kiss was deeper and more passionate full of the promises that he intended to keep. When it finally ended, Jack saw the tears streaming down Sue's face.

"What's wrong honey?"

"Nothing – I'm really happy. I don't even know why I'm crying." Jack had heard about the emotions of pregnant women going into overdrive. He just snuggled her closer.

---

Jack entered the bullpen and went straight to Sue's desk.

"Ready to go?" he asked. She smiled up at him, grabbing her purse.

"You bet." She answered. He grabbed her coat and helped her into it.

"Where are you going? Why do you guys get to leave and not me?" Myles complained.

"Sorry Jack. Myles wants to go to the OB/GYN with me. You'll have to stay." Myles looked up in shock and everyone laughed. "Jack's taking me to my first appointment."

"Make sure you get lot's of copies of the ultrasound. We all want one." D asked. Sue nodded happily.

"And while you're at it, remember if it's a boy – his name is Bobby after his favorite uncle." Bobby said with a smile.

"There is no way I'm naming my kid after you crash." Jack said, with a huge smile on his face. Tara, Lucy and Sue had all noticed what Jack had said, and the two women smiled knowingly at Sue. Jack took Sue's hand, they said their goodbyes and headed out the door to the doctors office.