Friends and Lovers

Chapter 15

Disclaimers: The usual—STFBEye characters belong to somebody else. Everyone else is mine.

A/N: Thanks to the faithful and the new. Your feedback keeps us going. The support is much appreciated.

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"How was Bobby?" Lucy asked as Sue settled into the passenger seat after settling Levi in the back.

"He was pretty tired," Sue replied. "It didn't take much convincing to get him into bed." Her eyes widened in confusion as she realized the dual meaning of her own words. "I mean…I mean...you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do," smiled Lucy. She glanced at Sue. "Can I say I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said you and Jack were just friends?" she apologized. She continued hesitantly, "You do know that I'm the one responsible for that mistletoe, right?"

Sue smiled. "Uh-huh. No one else would've thought of it. Well, maybe thought of it but not do anything about it."

"And you know that it was to get you and Jack under that mistletoe?"

She nodded her head. "I do, Luce." Her dimple flashed. "But I think Someone had other ideas."

Since this was the first opportunity they had to actually talk about the incident, Lucy asked with a grin, "So tell me, how did it feel kissing Bobby?"

Sue gave her a look. "Do I really need to tell you?"

Reflecting on the events of the past forty-eight hours, Lucy realized how irrelevant her question was. "I guess not. But I wanted to know if you were as floored as he was."

"He was?" Sue inquired with a shy smile.

Lucy chuckled. "I don't think he knew up from down after that kiss—brief as it was. Myles had to explain to Bobby what happened. It was funny and kind of sweet." She looked seriously at Sue. "I've known Bobby a long time and I've never seen him act like that—never," she emphasized.

"Really?" remarked Sue in pleased delight.

"Yeah, really," she emphasized. She glanced at Sue. "When the two of you are together, it's like that theme song of the old Mary Tyler Moore show."

Sue looked at her quizzically. "Sorry, I didn't catch the lyrics," she said lightly.

Lucy tossed her an apologetic look. "Sorry, I forgot. Anyway," she plugged on, "it's about how she turns on the world with a smile. That's you and Bobby. When you're together, you just...just glow!"

"I do?" Sue asked, pleased and slightly embarrassed her feelings for Bobby were so apparent.

"And you're not the only one! Bobby's a pretty happy camper himself."

She pulled into her parking space, turned off the engine and looked at Sue. "Even though Operation Mistletoe didn't work out exactly the way I planned, it did bring the two of you together...with a little help from Levi," she added glancing at the dog sitting patiently in the back. "I'm glad about that."

"Me, too, Luce…me, too," agreed Sue with a dimpled smile.

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Bullpen

Bobby strode into the bullpen bright and early the next morning, automatically checking for Sue. To his obvious disappointment, only Myles was in.

"You're here early, Myles," commented Bobby as he took off his coat.

"Couldn't sleep." He looked at Bobby carefully as Bobby joined him at the coffee station. "I know this is going to sound strange coming from me, but may I say you're positively beaming?"

"A good night's sleep will do that for you. You should try it sometime."

Myles opened his mouth to ask the question that popped into his mind, but snapped it shut immediately. He would mind his own business.

"Anything new turn up on that doctor after I left?" Bobby asked conversationally as he stirred in his sugar.

"Lucy found out he out sources his medical billings."

"Out sources?" Bobby inquired curiously as he leaned against the coffee table.

"He uses another company to process the insurance forms and track the billings. So if we want to get a look at Jason Mitchell's information, we have to go there," clarified Myles. "We have an appointment set for 9:30 this morning. However, I have a meeting for another case at 9:00." He added casually, "Why don't you take Sue?"

Bobby smiled at the suggestion. "Good idea, Myles." Taking a sip, he asked, "How's the friend, Danny, doing?"

Myles shrugged. "Still waiting for Jason. The social worker has tried talking to him but there's only so much his mind can handle. He's trying to see if Danny has any family."

Bobby shook his head in sympathy. "Hope he finds someone. Danny could use a break." He straightened as people started to trickle into work, "Looks like another day's starting."

"Good morning," greeted Sue as she entered the room. Her eyes sparkled when she saw Bobby.

Like a magnet, he was immediately drawn to her side. "Good morning," he responded with a dazzling smile. "You're looking beautiful this morning, as usual."

With a smile, Sue signed her thanks. She added, "And you're looking much better today." Bobby moved to help her as she took off her coat. "Thanks. Had a good night's sleep?"

"Not as memorable as the previous night," he grinned, referring to his hospital stay, "but I did wake up feeling quite chipper this morning."

"Good," she replied as they stood there smiling at each other, oblivious to the people walking around them.

Lucy struggled to contain her own smile watching the pair.

"We should bottle that," Tara said as she joined Lucy. "We could make a fortune."

"We didn't think so at the time but we did a good thing, Tara," commented Lucy.

"Yeah, I guess we did," she agreed.

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"Um..." began Bobby trying to focus on work, "it seems Myles and I have an appointment at 9:30 to interview the people who do the medical billing for Dr. Rickard. However, Myles can't come so I wondered...would you? Like to come with, that is. If you're not busy."

She thought a moment before replying, "It just so happens I'm free this morning. Sure, I'll come." She added thoughtfully, "We haven't been on a case together in a while."

"I know," he agreed. "Let's get an early start then," he said picking up his coffee cup. "How about leaving around 8:45?"

"I'll be ready," Sue acknowledged.

Resisting a totally inappropriate urge to kiss her, he smiled and walked to his desk. Before turning to deal with the waiting paperwork, he glanced at Sue only to see her watching him. He couldn't stop his megawatt smile as he turned back to his work.

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Billings Plus Office

Entering the billing office, Bobby and Sue approached the counter. Four desks with neatly stacked trays of papers were behind the counter. The walls were lined with file cabinets. They stood there for a couple of seconds until one of the workers noticed them.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"FBI," stated Bobby holding his badge up for her inspection. "We have an appointment with Marlene Blake."

"Mrs. Blake is expecting you. I'll let her know you're here." She walked rapidly to a door in the back of the office. Knocking, she disappeared for a moment only to return with a tall attractive blonde behind her.

"FBI?" asked the blonde, fixing her gaze on Bobby as she extended her hand. "I'm Marlene Blake. How can I help you?" She looked at him with blatant interest, holding his hand a fraction of a second longer than necessary. Bobby firmly took his hand back, completely ignoring the signals the woman was sending.

"Bobby Manning," he countered politely. "And this is Sue Thomas and Levi. We're here to ask you some questions."

The woman gave Sue a glance and immediately dismissed her. She focused her attention back on Bobby. "Come into my office."

She gestured to the chairs in front of her desk. "Make yourself comfortable." As she walked around them, her hand rested on Bobby's shoulder. Sue's eyes widened slightly at the physical contact. Somehow, the woman made the simple motion almost a caress.

"Can I get you anything, Mr. Manning?" the blonde asked. "Coffee? Tea?"

Bobby hid his discomfort as his mind filled in the words, 'Or me?' Out loud, he answered briskly, "No, thanks."

"You, Miss Thomas? Would you like anything?" Marlene Blake asked.

"No, thank you," she answered politely as Marlene Blake finally removed her hand and resumed her seat behind her desk.

"Mrs. Blake," began Bobby.

"Please, call me Marlene," she suggested. "I'm divorced."

Sue warily watched this familiar scenario. It was amazing how frequently women flirted with Jack while they were on the job. While he hadn't done anything to encourage them, Jack had rarely done anything to discourage them either. It never bothered her before, but she had to admit she was curious to see how Bobby was going to handle the attention.

"Mrs. Blake," Bobby said determinedly, "we're interested in the insurance claims filed by Dr. Daniel Rickard's office."

"What would you like to know?"

"Have you found anything out of the ordinary about them?" asked Sue.

Her eyes flitted to Sue then came back to rest on Bobby. "Our job is to process the insurance forms and bill the patients for the rest. That's all."

"What about things like payment?"

"An accounting firm does that."

"Could we see your records?"

"I can't let you see them without a warrant," she replied promptly. "The forms contain confidential personal information." She smiled suggestively at Bobby. "I'd be more than happy to help you when you come back with that warrant."

Bobby got the message Marlene Blake was sending loud and clear. He wasn't interested. "We appreciate your commitment to the patient privacy law," he answered with a slight emphasis on the word 'we'." He looked at Sue and they rose to leave. "Someone from our office will be back with the warrant you requested."

"Not you?" she said with obvious disappointment.

"I think not," he answered. "Thanks for your time."

Outside, Sue looked up at Bobby. "I think she liked you," she remarked conversationally.

"But I'm not interested in her," he said decisively. "There is only one woman I'm interested in and if we were somewhere private, I would show her just how interested I am." Bobby looked at Sue seriously.

Sue's dimple flashed as she replied, "I think she would be very happy if you showed her how interested you are."

He grinned. "I could make that a reality tonight. Interested?"

Sue winked as she smiled, then turned to walk to the car. A beat later, a grinning Bobby followed.