15

Friends and Lovers

Chapter 3

Disclaimers: Same, same, same—STFBEye characters are not mine.

A/N: xxxxx indicates change of scene and time, xx indicates change of scene, concurrent time

xxxxx

Buying a cup of coffee, Bobby slowly sipped it to see if it would help clear his mind. What happened back at the bullpen had rocked him from the top of his six foot three frame down to his size fourteen shoes. A quick peck on the lips between friends to fulfill a holiday tradition turned out to be several seconds of a mind-numbing, spine-tingling kiss. It was a good thing breathing was an involuntary action.

But what did it mean? Yeah, he liked Sue, had from the first time Jack brought her into the office. He liked everything about her—her looks, her spunk, her determination to help people, her compassion. The more he got to know her, the more there was to like. She always kept him on his toes. Myles hadn't been the only victim of one of her practical jokes. He'd been caught a couple of times, too.

He liked being with her. Just thinking about her made him smile—he could feel himself smiling now. She made him happy. He never got tired of looking at her. He often found himself just staring at her for no reason at all. And it was funny how they always seemed to be on the same wavelength. He'd never experienced that kind of rapport with a woman before. It was like she...like he...like... Abruptly, he stopped walking as an epiphany hit him. Maybe...maybe that kiss that tingled his toes...could it be...was it possible? His eyes opened wide at the thought.

xx

Sue did her utmost to concentrate on reporting the information she was able to garner from the security camera's tapes to another team unit. To her surprise and immense relief, she was able to answer all questions in a coherent and satisfactory manner. In twenty minutes, she was thanked for a job well done and excused. Not ready to face her own team, she decided to grab a cup of coffee in the cafeteria while she thought about what happened back in the bullpen.

She suspected it must have been Lucy and probably Tara that put the mistletoe up early this morning. It hadn't been there yesterday. She didn't know for sure why they did it, but it probably had something to do with Jack. She shook her head ruefully. No matter how much she tried to discourage Lucy, she still insisted they belonged together.

Jack. She liked Jack—a lot—and she knew he liked her, too. She cherished the close friendship they had. But a romantic relationship? Maybe at one time—but not now. As time passed, she realized a future with Jack was not what she wanted or needed. Maybe after today Lucy would finally realize that.

Kissing Bobby...she could feel herself blushing...that kiss stunned her. Just thinking about it made her a little weak in the knees. She'd never been kissed like that before. Her mind was whirling with thoughts of Bobby.

Cute, adorable Bobby with that dazzling dimpled smile. He made her laugh with his mischievous sense of humor. And when he said something particularly outrageous, he always had that special little wink for her to let her in on the joke, too.

Working with him for the past three years, she discovered under the charming exterior was a man who cared deeply about his friends and family and wasn't afraid to show his emotions. He brought the same passion to his job and took great pride in being a good agent.

She knew he found her attractive from day one—no woman could mistake the look he gave her that day. But he never made her feel that was the only reason he liked her. He listened to her, he supported her, he made her feel cherished, and he made her feel...he made her feel... Abruptly, Sue gasped, covering her mouth with one hand while the other slammed her coffee cup on the table, accidentally spilling its contents. Nervously looking around to see if anyone heard her, she quickly wiped up the few drops on the table and tossed the cup and napkin in the trash. Maybe that's why her feelings for Jack changed. Maybe her heart knew better than her mind.

Getting up, she started walking but she had no idea where she was going. The thought that popped into her mind in the cafeteria made everything just a little out of focus for her. Without realizing it, her footsteps lead her to the doors of the agency and she stepped out only to be stopped by the cold. She forgot she didn't have her coat on. As she stood there rubbing her arms and deciding what to do, a tall figure appeared in front of her.

"What are you doing out here without a coat?" scolded Bobby. "Are you trying to catch pneumonia?" Without waiting for a response, he took a hold of her arm and led her back inside the building. Scanning the area for a more private corner, he spotted a waiting room that was sometimes used for visitors. It was empty. He closed the door.

He turned back to Sue with the patient Levi at her side.

"What were you thinking going outside without a coat?" he demanded as he took off his gloves and stuffed them in his pocket. "It's thirty degrees out there!" He looked at Levi as he briskly rubbed Sue's arms, "Couldn't you have talked some sense into her?"

Bobby's irritation instantly changed to concern when he noticed she hadn't said a word to him since he ushered her back into the building. He grabbed her arms and looked into her stunned face.

"Sue? Are you all right? Are you sick? Did something happen? Say something—say anything!" he asked rapidly firing one question after another.

Her brain finally working, she replied spiritedly, "I would if you'd give me a chance to talk!"

Sheepishly, he released her arms. "Sorry but when I saw you outside without a coat on and then when you wouldn't say anything, I thought something was wrong," he apologized.

She grimaced. "I think something is wrong with me," she admitted.

Immediately, the concern was back in his face as well as his hands on her arms. "What is it?" he asked as he peered worriedly in her face.

"I...I feel funny," she said with a lopsided smile.

"Funny?" he echoed, confused.

Her face scrunched up as she bit the tip of her finger, not sure if she should share her revelation with him, but not wanting to hide it either.

"What, Sue? You know you can tell me anything." He said anxiously. "What is it?"

"That kiss." Her hands fluttered in a helpless gesture. "It was...I felt...I'm...," She wasn't sure how to explain her newfound feelings to him.

"What?" he asked still confused

She took a deep breath. "I think I need you to kiss me again," her expression was an interesting mixture of surprise, hope and reluctance.

His jaw dropped in surprise. "What?"

"I'm supposed to be the deaf one here," she reminded him with a little levity. "I said could you kiss me again?"

It was Bobby's turn to be speechless.

"Are you all right?" she asked in concern. "Bobby? Bobby? Can you hear me?"

Still in shock, he asked her, "You want me to kiss you again?"

She nodded, her eyes reflecting her anxiety.

"Are you sure?" A glimmer of hope flared in Bobby's eyes.

She nodded again.

"All right," he whispered as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless.

"Did that help?" he asked softly, pulling away so she could read his lips.

She nodded. "I think...I think it did," she sighed as she laid her head on his chest. A sweet smile of relief appeared on his face as the message of her words and actions became clear. "But I think I need to be sure."

He pulled away from her and gently tilted her face to his. "How can I help?"

For an answer, she stared at him for a moment before pulling his head down to kiss him. "That helped," she said when they finally broke apart. "And I'm sure."

A dazzling smile appeared on his face.

"I take it you like the idea?" she remarked as she felt a matching one appear on hers.

"Like the idea?" he grinned. "I love it!" He wrapped his long fingers around both her hands. "I couldn't concentrate after that kiss under the mistletoe so I went for a walk," he said earnestly. "And using this finely tuned FBI trained mind," he grinned, "I came to the conclusion why I was so bowled over by that pathetic attempt at a kiss upstairs—I care about you, Sue, I care about you a lot and I've done so ever since that day we met. I don't know where this is going to take us but I'd like to find out together."

Her eyes glowed with happiness and relief as she laughingly protested. "I thought it was a pretty good first kiss." She looked at him with a smirk. "Or are you trying to tell me you kiss everyone you find under the mistletoe like that?"

Bobby grinned. "Only very special people—and you, Sue Thomas, are a very special person." He gathered her close to him. "Our first kiss. Thank God for Christmas traditions and Levi," he said seriously.

Sue smiled. "I can honestly say," she said grinning impishly at him, "I'll always remember our first kiss. It started with a sneeze and led us right here."

He laughed. He couldn't help it—her sense of humor was one of the traits he loved about her. He had to kiss her again. After another spine-tingling kiss, Sue pulled slightly away and asked soberly, "So what now? What about the no dating policy?"

"D said keep it out of the office," Bobby said repeating D's advice. "As long as we're working, we maintain our professional demeanors, Agent Thomas. What happens outside of the workplace is no one's business except ours."

"Well, then, I guess we better get back to work," said Sue. "Our coffee break was unusually long today. Maybe I'll skip lunch to make up for it."

"Dinner?" he suggested.

"Okay," she smiled.

They headed back to the office. Anyone listening to their conversation would think it a very ordinary one of two people discussing food. Anyone looking at them, walked away with a smile. They radiated happiness.

Pouring cups of coffee, Myles and Lucy spotted Bobby and Sue walking in. "I think they've resolved the situation," said Myles observing the couple as Sue sat at her desk and Bobby lingered there for a moment.

Lucy and Tara shared a look. "Wow!" remarked Lucy. "We could warm this room with the heat they're generating."

"That's a double wow from me!" commented Tara under her breath almost gasping at the chemistry between the pair.

"Well," said Myles, "I guess your plan did work—just not for Jack."

"Well, Sue's been trying to tell me they're just friends but I didn't believe her," admitted Lucy.

"She looks pretty happy with Bobby," pointed out Tara.

As Bobby dropped onto his chair to really do some work, he gazed at Sue for a final wink and a smile before turning to the paperwork on his desk. Sue returned his smile as she drew the next file towards her thinking Levi deserved a special treat for dinner tonight.

xxxxx