Friends and Lovers
Chapter 9
Disclaimers: What can I say? They're not mine.
Author's Note: The reviews are being enjoyed ever so much by my beta and me. Thanks to all for the encouragement!
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Jack's car
Jack glanced at his quiet passenger. She had been silent for most of the ride back to the office but it hadn't been an uncomfortable silence. He knew she was exhausted but her mind seemed to be in overdrive. Her emotions flickered across her expressive face and he guessed she was reliving the events of this tumultuous day. Surprise, happiness, worry, fear…and more—they were all there. Another glance revealed an illuminating smile that radiated happiness. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret that it probably wasn't for him.
He'd blown it. Big time.
He mentally kicked himself. He was an idiot to assume Sue would be waiting patiently for him to declare he was ready to make a commitment—however long that took. But who could have predicated an accidental kiss would change everything? He paused in his recriminations—how could one kiss change Sue's feelings? The more he thought about it, the more he realized it wasn't possible, not with Sue. Those feelings for Bobby had to already exist. Then that would make the accidental kiss not an accident at all, but…fate?
His eyes widened at the thought. He was floored at the direction his thoughts were taking. And it must have reflected in his face. He could hear the concern in Sue's voice as she asked, "Jack...Jack? Are you okay?"
"Just thinking," he answered.
"Jack, I was going..." she began.
He shook his head to stop her. "You don't have to explain anything. I had a nice long talk with D on the way to the hospital," he said with a rueful look on his face. "He told me what happened today when I was in that meeting with Randy."
She looked apologetically at him. "Levi sneezed."
"So I heard. He's got great timing," Jack half-heartedly joked. He pulled into his parking space in the Agency's garage and turned off the engine. Turning to face her, he looked at her with regret with in his eyes. "Look, Bobby's a great guy...the best. I just thought that maybe one day...one day we might...the two of us," his voice trailed off, husky with emotion thinking of lost opportunities. Reflecting on the past, he suddenly realized every time Sue opened herself to getting closer to him, he'd put up a roadblock. Maybe fate had been telling him something, too.
"I care about you, Jack. I care about you a lot and at one time I would have been happy if that happened," she responded honestly. "But after today...I think...I think this is the way it was meant to be. In fact, I'm certain." Her eyes reflected the terror that gripped her those long minutes Bobby was in the burning building. "I almost lost Bobby today," she whispered. "He's...I can't..." Her eyes appealed for Jack to understand how much Bobby meant to her.
Jack was stunned at the depth of Sue's feelings for Bobby. He had no idea she felt that way about him. He thought back to that first day of introductions. Bobby had been blatantly checking Sue out. He certainly hadn't been hiding his attraction to her. But then, somewhere along the way, Bobby's attitude towards her changed. Jack knew they'd grown close over the years, he just never suspected how close. And judging from the impact the kiss made, neither did they. D described the kiss as explosive. He thought back to this morning—was it only this morning? No wonder he felt something was different when he walked into the bullpen!
He shook himself out of his reverie when he realized that Sue was still looking at him in concern. "Still friends?"
Sue responded with a smile. "You bet."
Jack jokingly added, "Even though I've been about as blind and dense as they come?"
Sue grinned mischievously, "Hey, you're a man, aren't you? What's new?" Her laughter was contagious.
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Hospital room
"Sue! Lucy!" smiled Bobby joyously. "I hope you've come to rescue me from this terrible place!'
"Why? What's so terrible?" asked Lucy. "Nice bed, clean sheets, and you've got room service—your meals brought to you on a tray. What's not to like?" she teased.
He gave her an exasperated look. "For starters, this bed is too short for me. I didn't get to choose my menu and people keep coming in to take my temperature...take my blood pressure...even take my blood! How's a body to rest in a place like this?" he complained.
Lucy gave Sue a look of understanding.
"What?" said Bobby suspiciously his eyes darting between the two women.
"I thought Sue was exaggerating when she said you made a terrible patient," answered Lucy. "Suck it up, Bobby. It's only for one night."
He looked at her darkly. "And I thought you were my friend."
"Oh, she is," assured Sue entering the conversation. She placed a little bag on his dinner tray. "Lucy insisted we pick this up for you on our way here. She said it would take away the taste of the hospital food."
Bobby looked at them skeptically as he reached for the package and peered in cautiously. He looked up with pleasure. "It's my favorite--double chocolate cinnamon bundt cake! Thanks, Luce. I take it back, you really are a good friend!"
Lucy laughed. "I just came by to see how you are and to drop off Sue. She's insisting you need to be watched so you don't terrorize the nurses on duty. After all, agents come here all the time to be treated. We don't want you single-handedly giving the Bureau a bad name."
"I'm fine," insisted Bobby. He reached for Sue's hand. "And now I'm better," he said as he smiled at Sue.
Lucy glanced at the pair, still finding it hard to believe the totally unexpected results of her mistletoe plan. But if the result was such happiness, then she was thankful her plan misfired.
"I'd love to stay and chat but I'm supposed to be meeting Sandy from Personnel for a movie."
Bobby looked puzzled. "Sandy? I thought she was going with Guy from Accounting."
Lucy shook her head. "They just broke up so a bunch of us are taking her to a movie to cheer her up." She thought about it for a second, "Or at least I hope she picks a movie that cheers her up. She's the one that likes to go to those tear-jerkers." She reminded Sue, "I'll be by about seven to pick you up tomorrow. If you can't stand this man's whining, call me. Bye." She stopped at the door and turned around. "You know, Sue's not the only one that's glad you're okay," she remarked looking at Bobby.
He returned her look, appreciative of her concern. "Thanks, Luce."
"Everyone is glad you're going to be fine," reported Sue when the door closed. "D said you are to stay home tomorrow unless something cataclysmic occurs, at which point you are to report for work. Other than that, stay home," she repeated.
"And you?" he asked hopefully. "Did Lucy say something about you staying here to watch me?"
Sue nodded. "I'm going to make sure you do what the nurses tell you to do. And no back talk!" She held up an admonishing finger.
He grabbed her hand. "No back talk—got it. However, I think we should make good use of our time before we're interrupted," he suggested.
"And what do you have in mind?"
"This," he said softly as he pulled her closer.
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"Not exactly the dinner date I imagined for tonight," Bobby remarked wryly, gesturing at his surroundings.
"I'm just grateful we have a chance to be together," commented Sue as she sat on his bed. "For a few minutes there, I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again," she scolded him gently.
Instantly, his face softened in apology. "I'm sorry I worried you," he said contritely, as he took her hand in his. "But when that drongo went in, I couldn't just stand there."
"I know." Her eyes communicated her understanding but they also pleaded with him to be more careful.
Their silent conversation was interrupted by a cheerful, "Hi!" from Tara, followed by Stanley.
Sue noticed Bobby's eyes looking behind her so she turned around. "Tara! Stanley!" she smiled getting up from the bed. She tried to slip her hand from Bobby's but he only tightened his grip as he looked at her and shook his head. Her face flushed a faint pink at the warmth in his eyes.
Tara eyed the byplay with interest. From what little Myles and D shared, the intensity of the afternoon's experience escalated Bobby and Sue's budding romance into a full fledged love story. Lucy was right—their little plan made a good thing happen.
"You're looking good for a man who came out of a burning building," she commented.
"Not one of my brighter moments, so I've been told," he said glancing at Sue in chagrin. She could only look at him in exasperation.
"Well, we're just glad you came through it all right," Tara responded. "You had us scared for a moment there."
"I've been told that, too," he said contritely as his grip on Sue's hand tightened inconspicuously.
"How long do you have to be here?" asked Stanley.
"Just overnight for observations," Bobby answered. "I can't wait to get out of here."
"Yeah," commiserated Stanley. "Don't you just hate hospitals? I don't know why people think of hospitals as such restful places. Just when you drift off to sleep, somebody comes in taking a temperature or blood pressure or something."
"Exactly," agreed Bobby pointing his finger in emphasis. "I said I was feeling fine, but they refused to let me go. So I'm stuck here for the night."
Suddenly, he was struck with a fit of coughing. Sue rubbed his back in alarm as she bent over him. When the spasm passed, he laid tiredly back on his pillow as she poured a glass of water for him. Gratefully, he slowly sipped the water.
"And that is why you're here overnight for observation," emphasized Sue.
"All right," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe it was a good idea."
"Well, it's been a long day and we just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing," said Tara. "We'll let you rest." As she adjusted her purse on her shoulder, she remarked, "I heard D told you to take the day off so I'll see you in a couple of days."
"I'll probably drop by tomorrow just to see if there's anything urgent," Bobby casually responded.
"You're sup..." began Sue and stopped. She frowned at him.
Tara glanced at Stanley and subtly jerked her head in the direction of the door. "We'll leave you two alone. I'll see you when I see you. Bye." She waved her fingertips, pulling Stanley behind her.
"Bye," said Stanley right behind. "Take care."
Bobby eyed Sue as the couple left. "Something on your mind?" he remarked nonchalantly.
"You heard what the doctor said," reminded Sue. "He recommended a day or two of rest."
"I will," he promised, "after I make sure there's nothing urgent on my desk. The doctor also said I could go to work tomorrow if I felt better."
Her eyes narrowed. "But I don't think that's what he meant for you to do."
"But that's what he said," persisted Bobby.
She stared at him for a long moment thinking how to persuade the stubborn agent to stay home.
"Are we having an argument?" asked Bobby suddenly brightening.
"And that makes you happy?" she said in confusion.
"Well," he began as he gathered Sue's hands in his, "I personally believe when you have a disagreement, the people involved should resolve their differences before the day is over."
Sue's irritation melted away once she understood where Bobby's thoughts were leading him. "And how do they do that?"
One hand slipped behind her neck. "I believe in our case it would involve a lot of kissing—like this," he said huskily pulling her close.
"This doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't be going in to work tomorrow," she whispered when he released her.
His eyes twinkled as he tried to frown. "I must not be doing this correctly if you're still arguing with me. Care to try it again?"
She laughed softly. "Well, you know what they say." At Bobby's questioning look, she continued as she leaned in, "Practice makes perfect."
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