Chapter 46

After Myles and D left, Bobby watched Sue play nervously with her hands in her lap, purposely avoiding his eyes by looking everywhere but at him. He'd never seen her like this before, and he was anxious to find out what caused her to be suddenly so uneasy around him. However, he knew from experience, forcing her to talk too soon would just push her away, so he waited.

Finally, Sue glanced in his direction, hoping he was asleep. Instead, she found him gazing back at her with a lazy, lopsided grin on his face.

Before she could look away again, Bobby reached out his hand towards her, his eyes pleading. He let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding when she slowly lifted her hand, placing it in his.

"Are you okay?" Bobby asked, squeezing her hand gently.

Taking a shaky breath, Sue slowly nodded. Looking at him, and then all the machines he was attached to, Bobby could see that she wanted to say something, but was struggling to find the words.

"Hey," Bobby motioned with their clasped hands to let her know he was talking. "I'm fine," he insisted. "It takes more than a little explosion to take out Bobby Manning," he joked, relieved when he saw her smile slightly.

"I'm sorry, Bobby," she sighed as tears threatened.

"For what?" he questioned confused, gripping her hand tighter, afraid she was going to pull away.

He waited, watching various emotions flash across her face as she fought for control. His thumb caressed the back of her hand, hoping to provide some comfort.

"It's…It's my fault you were hurt," Sue finally stammered, her voice heavy with regret.

What! Bobby wondered. He wanted to question her, but knew it was hard enough on her just getting it out.

He realized it would be easier for her if she could sign to him. Sadly, he accepted the fact that she was making allowances for him, and ultimately making it harder on herself.

She really is amazing! Bobby thought to himself. After everything she's been through lately, she's still looking out for others.

"The explosion was my fault," Sue finally continued. "The…stalker…or whatever you want to call him tried to kill me with that bomb, and you got caught in the crossfire," she sighed as tears formed again in her sad eyes.

"NO!" Bobby cried, squeezing her hand tightly. "The bomb wasn't your fault," he persisted quietly. "That drongo is responsible for me being here."

"But he's after me," Sue maintained sadly. She tried to jerk her hand from his grip, but he held on tightly.

"Okay, so he's after you." Bobby decided to try a different approach. "However," he stated firmly, "if he wouldn't have came after you with the bomb, he would have come after you some time, and he wouldn't have cared who was in the way."

Sue stared at him wanting to argue, but not coming up with the right words. Bobby could tell she was expecting him to be angry or upset with her, but he refused to blame her for something that obviously wasn't under her control.

"We're both here because we were doing our jobs," Bobby declared sincerely. "No matter what, shelia, you are not to blame for any of this. We're going to find the yobo that caused this and make him pay," he smiled. "I'll even tell Jack you get to play bad cop when it comes to interrogating him." With a distinctively laugh, he added, "I'd pay to see that!"

Bobby's nervousness began to ease some when he saw her smile slightly. He knew she was still struggling against the guilt she felt, but at least she was starting to listen.

Unfortunately, before he could say anything more, D and Myles rushed in the door with Troy. Noticing the looks on the men's faces, Bobby barely registered that Dale and Tom had followed them into the room.

"We have a problem," D announced to Bobby circling around Sue to kneel in front of her. Waiting for her to sign HELLO to Troy, D took her hands between his to get her attention. His face solemn, he didn't know quite what to say.

"Sue, we have a problem," he repeated, glancing up at Myles quickly before he continued. "Jack has disappeared."

Chapter 47

With a blank face, Sue sat in Bobby's room interpreting for Troy as he shared the information he knew about Jack's disappearance. Concentrating on his signs so she could repeat them to the others, she refused to let herself think of what Jack might be going through, that Jack might already be dead.

"Are you okay?" D asked her as they finished, noticing her vacant stare. His protectiveness overwhelmed him as he watched her sitting so very still as she relayed information back and forth from them to Troy.

"If you're finished, I'd really like to go back to my room," Sue told him softly.

"Sure, Tom should be back in a minute," D assured, her glancing at Bobby and Myles. They'd never heard her voice so empty of emotion before, and it worried them. "Let me get a wheelchair and I'll take you back," he offered, turning towards the door.

"No, you're busy. Troy can take me," she said, looking at Troy signing, ROOM ME YOU GO NOW PLEASE. Troy immediately nodded, eager to help his friend in any way that he could.

D couldn't shake his anxiety over how Sue was taking the information as he shared another look with Myles and Bobby. Holding one finger up to Troy in an effort to signal him to wait, D hurried to retrieve a wheelchair from the nurses' station.

Returning, he and Troy helped Sue from the chair. Before Troy could push her out of the room, Bobby motioned for D to get Troy's attention.

STAY HER, YOU-UNDERSTAND, Bobby signed nervously as he wasn't sure he did it right.

Troy looked down at Sue, and then back at Bobby. With a quick nod of his head, he signed, UNDERSTAND, before pushing her out the door Myles held open for them.

All was quiet as Troy and Sue returned to her room. Troy knew that she was sad about Jack disappearing and wasn't going to leave her side until he was found. She'd done so much for him – getting him off the streets, helping him find a job and go back to school, and reuniting him with his brother and family. Troy had to be there for her, no matter what happened.

Stopping her wheelchair at the bed, Troy set the wheel brakes and moved around to Sue's side to help her into bed. However, before he could take her arm, Sue stood up on her own.

Troy stood in shock as she stumbled towards the closet. When he saw her pull her clothes out and move in the direction of the bathroom, he was propelled forward.

DO YOU WHAT? Troy grabbed her arm and signed. BED NOW, he insisted.

NO, Sue jerked her arm from his grip. FIND J-A-C-K NOW NEEDS-ME HE, she signed urgently.

Troy stepped back, stunned at the fire in her eyes. She was so changed from how she was just moments before in the other room. He almost could have believed she was a different woman.

FRIENDS FIND REST YOU, he tried to convince her, knowing she didn't need to go out on her own while she was still weak.

GO-ME NOW, Sue persisted, spinning away to enter the bathroom.

While Troy paced the floor waiting for her to come back out, he considered going to get her friends. However, afraid that she might sneak out while he was gone, Troy waited, trying to think of some way to get her to remain in the hospital.

The motion of the bathroom door opening caught his attention. Looking at her determined face, he realized it would be useless to try to argue with her.

FIND J-A-C-K NOW ME-HELP-YOU, Troy felt if he was with her, he could at least help her instead of her going alone. Bobby did tell me to stay with her, he thought with a resigned shrug.

Sue nodded simply. Letting him take her arm, she led him out of the room with an unwavering resolve. She would find Jack or die trying.