Chapter 8

Jack and Sue looked around their temporary home as the sun came up over the mountains. After getting back to the office, Garrett had told them their safe house would be a cabin located in the West Virginia Mountains that belonged to a friend of his. After Bobby driving for almost two hours, they'd finally arrived at the northern West Virginia town of Berkeley Springs.

Sue had fallen asleep in the passenger seat about half way through the trip, so Jack tried to help Bobby with the directions to the cabin outside of town. Fortunately for the directionally challenged duo, Sue stirred in her seat just as they made their third wrong turn.

"What's up, guys?" she asked, stretching as she noticed Bobby turning the car around and heading back in the direction they came. She could tell from Bobby's expression even in the dark car he was embarrassed. "Did Garrett give you bad directions?" she joked, figuring they probably needed help or they'd never find the cabin.

A hand came over the seat from the back with a paper and a flashlight. Sue smiled to herself as she looked at the directions she'd been given and the map. Looking at the street signs as they passed, she quickly located where they were and got them back on track. However, she was as shocked as Jack and Bobby when they found out where their destination was.

Located at the end of a practically deserted dirt lane, the cabin was isolated, with thick woods on three sides and a flowing stream on the other. Relatively small, the cabin was new and well stocked.

Standing in the living room after Bobby had returned to the office for the briefing of the new team, Jack looked at the tired woman next to him. He noticed that ever since Bobby left, she was looking everywhere but at him. Despite her nap in the car, he knew that all the events from the last few days had to be getting to her.

"Why don't we get some sleep?" he suggested once he got her attention. "The cabin has a good security system and it's not like anyone would find us up here anyway," he joked, instantly regretting it when a blush rose on her cheeks.

They'd never been like this before, alone with nothing to do. Jack was disappointed to be off the case, but he found he really didn't mind as much as he thought he would, considering who he'd be able to spend his time with. Giving her a small smile, he took her hand in his.

"Everything is going to be okay?" Jack told her. "Things will seem better once we've gotten some sleep." He hoped his reassuring words would comfort her in some way, because he hated to see her worried.

She nodded, not trusting her voice to reply. Sue was worried about the person who'd left the pictures at the park, but she was more nervous about being alone with Jack. It's not like she hadn't 'played house' with him before. However, that was for a case and she didn't have the luxury of the case occupying their time now.

Sue anxiously nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched Jack pick up their luggage and call to Levi. She followed him down the short hallway to the bedrooms. Jack dropped his suitcase just inside the door to the one room, before taking hers into the matching bedroom across the hall.

"I'll let you have the bathroom first," Jack told her after setting down her luggage. Unlike the last time, this cabin only had one bathroom that the two of them would have to share. Jack wanted to do everything he could to make it as easy for Sue as possible while they were stuck here together.

"Thank you," Sue replied shyly as he walked passed her out the door. Moving to her suitcase she began unpacking. That's just Jack, she admonished herself, why are you acting like he's some stranger you've been put here with?

She continued trying to get over her nervousness as she grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom. Passing by Jack's bedroom, she placed her hand softly against the door before turning and hurrying into the bathroom.

Chapter 9

Jack awoke later that morning to the smell of coffee wafting through the house. Opening his eyes, he looked at the bedside clock and noticed it was almost lunchtime. Dropping his head back on his pillow, he closed his eyes remembering how hard it was to get the few hours sleep he got despite being so tired.

While unpacking his suitcase, he heard the water start, his blood running hot as he unconsciously thought of her under the shower. Remembering the last time they shared a house and standing outside the bathroom door trying to get her attention, he slammed the dresser drawer in frustration, trying to get the images out of his mind.

Come on, Hudson, Jack admonished himself, you're not some sex craved teenager. She's a co-worker and friend, nothing more, he thought, not even remotely believing himself.

Stripping off his shirt, Jack made himself do sit-ups on the floor, hoping the forced exercise would get his mind of the woman in the next room. Quickly working up a sweat, he found out that even this overexertion wasn't preventing him from daydreaming.

Sitting on the floor trying to gain some control over his thoughts, he heard the bathroom door open and his eyes immediately went to his closed door. As if he could see her through the wood, Jack sat his gaze transfixed on the door until he heard her door shut behind her.

Taking a deep breath, he headed for the bathroom, promising himself a cold shower. Unfortunately, the shower did nothing to curb his thoughts, or the heat rising within in him and he spent several hours tossing and turning before finally drifting off to a fitful sleep.

Well, Sue must be up already, Jack thought with a smirk, throwing back the covers and climbing out of bed. He knew she had to be the one to start the coffee and found himself looking forward to seeing her. Quickly dressing, he headed down the hallway into the living room, trying to put a bright smile on his face despite the lack of sleep.

Jack stopped short when he saw her curled up on the sofa. Swallowing hard, he drank in the sight of her blonde hair piled loosely on top of her head. She wore a soft blue sweater. Her jean clad legs pulled under her as she wrote on a notepad in her lap, occasionally tapping the pen against her chin while she thought.

I can get used to waking up to that, Jack thought with a smile. Not wanting to startle her, he motioned to Levi, "Levi, get Sue."

"What is it, boy?" Sue asked when Levi jumped up beside her. Seeing the direction he was looking, she turned around and smiled at Jack over her shoulder. "Oh, good morning, Jack," she said sweetly, not realizing the effect her smile was having on the man.

"Uh, good morning," he said, moving around to stand in front of her. "Did you sleep well?" Jack asked, instantly regretting it when his previous thoughts came flooding back.

"Yes, thank you," Sue admitted, lowering her eyes back to the paper in front of her. "I got thinking about the case and decided to write down what I could remember about my conversations with Dunne." She looked up at Jack with a hopeful grin. "Maybe we can come up with who is after us, or at least who is stealing the information."

"I think that is a great idea," Jack smiled, sitting down beside her. "Just because we're off the case, doesn't mean we can help." Their eyes met, and the room seemed to melt around them. His dark eyes almost hypnotic, Sue found herself being drawn to him and they leaned closer. Jack's eyes dropped to her mouth as her lips parted.

Suddenly, Levi jumped on the sofa between them, breaking the magical hold between them. Blinking to clear his thoughts, with a slight tinge on his cheeks Jack realized the phone was ringing. Signing PHONE, he reluctantly pushed himself off the sofa and went to answer the phone.

Sue watched him leave, her heart pounding in her chest. Nibbling on her lower lip, she lowered her head to the notepad in front of her. Not seeing the words on the paper in front of her, she wondered why she was so disappointed that the phone interrupted them. Don't make a fool of yourself, she reprimanded herself, Keep it professional.

Chapter 10

The tension in the cabin was thick as the telephone rang. Before picking it up, Jack looked back over his shoulder at Sue, disappointed that she could so easily return to the work in front of her. He thought she would have been just as affected by their closeness as he was, but she had already returned to her notebook. Taking a ragged breath he grabbed up the phone.

"Yeah?" he barked into the receiver.

"Hello to you too, Sparky," Bobby's voice laughed over the line. "I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" he asked suggestively.

"What do you want, Bobby?" Jack snapped, running an unsteady hand through his hair.

"Just wanted to check to see how you and the shelia were doing out in your mountain oasis," Bobby asked, mirth still in his voice.

"We're fine," Jack retorted, growing impatient. "How was the briefing this morning? Any more on the case?" he tried to get his friend to change the subject, uncomfortable with the direction his thoughts were taking at Bobby's comments.

"Nothing really new. Garrett reassigned Carrie Peters' team. You remember her from the Montega case?" Bobby paused, waiting for Jack's affirmation.

"Yeah. She's a strong agent and her team is first-rate," Jack agreed, turning his back, unable to concentrate on the conversation. Looking at the blonde on the sofa was causing his mind to stray. Rubbing the back of his neck wearily, he questioned Bobby further regarding the activities at the bullpen.

Over on the other side of the room, Sue peeked at the man on the phone, keeping her head down. Try as she might to focus on the paper in front of her, her eyes continued to seek out the object of her thoughts.

Her breath quickened and a soft blush rose on her cheeks as she thought about what almost happened, just a few minutes ago. Lost in his dark eyes, Sue thought he was about to kiss her when he suddenly pulled away.

How desperate can you be, she told herself. He's only kissed you once, and that was for a case. But Sue had such a hard time getting that kiss out of her mind constantly dreaming about Jack, and not just at night, hoping she'd have the opportunity to kiss him again. There was just a spark she felt with him that she didn't feel with David when they were dating.

When she looked up again, Jack was getting off the phone. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Sue plastered a smile on her face, trying to hide her inner turmoil.

"That was Bobby," Jack explained as he approached the sofa. "The briefing went well this morning, but he won't be able to make it back until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Sue asked, looking up at him as he stood before her. She couldn't fail to notice how he looked at her, but his eyes didn't quite meet hers. Sadly, she thought it was because he was embarrassed over what almost happened earlier, and she vowed to keep her feelings hidden deeper while she was here.

"It's supposed to snow this weekend, and Garrett wants him to get us a car so we are not completely stranded, in case there is an emergency," Jack continued, his hands in his pockets. "D or Myles will come up with him."

"How's Lucy holding up?" Sue questioned, after acknowledging his statement. "I meant to call her."

"Oh, Sue, I'm sorry," Jack apologized. "I totally forgot about setting up the TTY when we got here," he said, rushing over to the bags by the door and grabbing her TTY out.

"That's okay, Jack," Sue called, watching him. "We were tired. I could have set it up earlier if I wanted to use it," she said honestly.

"I know," Jack admitted. "What lights do you want the signalers hooked into?" he asked, waiting for her to point them out before going about setting them up. After plugging in the TTY and setting it by the phone, he came back to the sofa and sat beside her.

"Now where were we?" he asked, looking at her paper.

"Um, I think I was about to fix lunch," Sue said, quickly jumping up from the sofa. "Here you can look at what I've got and see what you think," she threw him the notepad before hurrying into the kitchen, anxious to get away from him even if for just a moment.

Clutching the notepad in his hand, Jack watched her retreating figure, worried that he'd done something to alarm her. Jack, take it easy, he thought, you're going to be up here a while don't want to scare her off.

Chapter 11

Jack watched her as they sat down to eat the lunch she made. While she smiled at him, Sue's eyes didn't meet his as she just picked at her food, pushing it around on the plate. While all he really wanted to do was take her in his arms, he knew he had to do something to make the time here with him easier on her.

In the couple of years Jack had known Sue, he became to realize life wasn't naturally easy for her. She had to struggle with a lot of the things he took for granted. While he'd come to appreciate their differences, he understood that he could never fully comprehend the challenges she had to face everyday.

As he sat across from her, Jack thought about what she must be going through now, having someone stalking her. Sue hadn't talked about the pictures taken of her at the park with Levi, with Jack, while she was working. He wondered if she had processed everything.

Reaching out, he touched her hand on the table. When Sue jumped pulling her hand back, Jack did his best to hide his hurt and worry.

O-K-YOU?, he signed, his jaws clinched with concern over her expression.

"Talk to me," Jack pleaded when she just nodded. Surprised by the depth of emotion in his dark eyes, Sue lowered her eyes back to her plate. Reaching out, he cupped her chin in his hand, causing her to look up.

"Please," he begged. "I can't know how to help if you don't tell me."

Help? Sue looked at him confused. What is he talking about?

"I've been through a lot in my years as an agent," Jack took her hand in his, refusing to let it go. "The sniper case wasn't the first time I had someone threaten me." He saw Sue's sharp intake of breath as she obviously remembered the danger he'd put himself in during that case. "But none of them knew where I lived or followed me around like this…this monster," he continued, his anger at the situation evident.

"I'm okay, Jack," Sue insisted, placing her other hand over theirs on the table. "It does bother me that this person knew everything that I did…for weeks, if the pictures are proof. They followed me and got into my personal life," she admitted, looking at the hands as they laid intertwined on the table. "I don't like running and hiding, but I understand why, and if I have to, it might as well be you that I get to stuck with," she smiled up at him teasingly.

"Thanks, I think," Jack grinned wryly back, happy that she was at least smiling again. Sue was the first to break their eye contact, but continued to smile as she thought pensively.

"Seriously, Jack, I know I've had my share of, er, problems shall we say," she mused, thinking of the times Jack had managed to bail her out of the trouble she found herself in. "I know we'll, or at least the team will, find out who is doing this and everything will be fine." She looked up at him, fiery determination in her eyes when she said, "But I don't plan on just sitting here idle while someone else handles this."

"That's why you were working on the notes from your conversations with Dunne," Jack acknowledged, nodding his head. Sue smiled, knowing that he realized why she needed to do what she was doing. "I looked at your list while you were fixing lunch, and I don't know, but we might be able to come up with something that can help."

"Great," Sue exclaimed, her smiling brightening.

"But first we need to eat," Jack told her. Seeing Levi by the door, he mentioned, "And I think Levi needs a walk."

"Oh," Sue said, looking over her shoulder at her dog that was waiting patiently. "I better hurry. He hasn't been out since Bobby took him before he left early this morning."

"Hey," Jack grabbed her hands, preventing her from pulling them away so she would look at him, "I'll go with you…on one condition," he grinned.

"And what is that?" she asked eying him suspiciously.

"After having a meal like this fixed for me, you've got to let me clean up," he smiled.

Rolling her eyes, Sue smiled, "I think I can live with that."

Jack released her hands, letting her get back to her lunch. As he continued to eat, he watched her covertly, happy they'd seem to come to a truce over whatever was going on before. Digging into his delicious meal, he was looking forward to what the afternoon had in store.