Friends and Lovers

Chapter 16

Disclaimers: yup, the same—always the same.

A/N: Sorry about the erratic postings but real life is pushing its way into this realm. Again, thanks to everyone who's reading this fic and especially those who post. Do you know how exciting it is to get feedback? Special note of thanks to pryrmtn who has taken the time to review each chapter.

A side note to Colby: the entire story is written but you just have to be patient for postings. The other chapters have not passed the scrutiny of one very demanding beta. She's the one responsible for making sure every ST character sound like they should. Let's hear it for betas everywhere! (Wild cheering ensues).

----------

Bullpen

Perched on her desk, Sue and Bobby were drinking coffee when Myles came striding in with Tara in his wake.

"Assertive women in business is a good thing," declared Myles, "but that Marlene Blake goes way over the line!"

"What did he say?" asked Sue. Myles had gone flying by her to his desk. Bobby was about to repeat it when Tara overheard her question and interjected.

"Do the words 'man-eating shark' mean anything to you?" she asked. "I'm sure if that woman was an insect she'd be the queen that devours its mate after mating!" she shuddered at the imagery.

Sue and Bobby exchanged glances.

Myles turned towards them as he flung his coat over his chair. "It was a good thing Tara was there to deflect that woman's attention away from me." He took a few steps to stand in front of Bobby. "I'm surprised she didn't hit on..." At the look on Bobby's face, he stopped. "She did, didn't she?"

Bobby pretended ignorance. "Did what?"

Myles' eyes narrowed. "Hit on you." Bobby just looked at him. Myles' eyes slid to Sue. "Did Sue save you from that man-eating woman?"

Sue answered. "He didn't need any saving. He handled the situation very well." The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "Not that I blame her for her good taste but he made it very clear he wasn't interested." As she took a sip, she peeked over the rim of her coffee cup at a grinning Bobby.

"Well, Myles," began Tara, "if you hadn't been trying to be so charming maybe she would've backed off, too."

"Trying to be charming?" protested Myles. "I am charming. How was I supposed to know Marlene Blake took that to mean I was interested in her?"

Tara threw an exasperated look at him. "Anyway, we were able to get the information we wanted. She may not be someone I want to know personally, but Marlene Blake is very efficient in her business life. She's been having the files converted to disks and it just so happens, the files for the past five years have been done." Tara held up a stack of disks. "These are the records for Dr. Rickard. I need to make copies so I can return the originals. Me—not Myles."

Myles gave her a grateful look.

"Great!" said D overhearing the ending of the conversation. "Make those copies, hand out those disks and let's see if we can find some kind of pattern in his billing." He looked at Myles. "If and when we do find a pattern—and when you've recovered from your ordeal—do you think you could contact Jan Watson for a meeting with us? Technically, if her unit is investigating the doctor for fraud, this might be information they'll need."

Myles perked up. He liked the petite brunette. Attractive and smart, she had the same dry humor that he did. "Sure. In fact we have a lunch date for tomorrow." Walking to his desk, Myles brightened visibly with the thought of seeing Jan again as he added, "Maybe we'll have something to share by then."

"Why didn't you say anything when you came back from that meeting with the fraud unit?" asked Lucy as the females of the unit surrounded Bobby.

"What was there to tell?" he shrugged. "We went there, talked to her, came back. Myles seemed interested and so did she but this is the first I've heard of a lunch date."

"You really need to open your eyes more, Bobby," commented Lucy as the group dispersed to begin the tedious work of sifting through records.

Bobby turned to Sue. She looked at him questioningly. "I only have eyes for you, darlin'," he said as he stood up.

"I think I can live with that," she grinned.

----------

The next couple of hours were long and tedious going over each patient's records. When Jack returned from his meeting across town, he joined in the search, too.

Bobby stood up to stretch his lanky frame. Sitting hunched over a computer was not his favorite way to past the time. He glanced over at Sue staring intently at her screen.

"What's up?" he asked when he got her attention.

"Look," she said pointing to her screen.

"Sarah Morgan," he read as he leaned over her shoulder. "So what about her?"

"I have a list of about ten people who've had multiple surgeries," Sue explained. "I started to do a preliminary check and she's the second person who seems to have a background similar to Jason Mitchell—alone, no family to speak of." She glanced at him to see if he was following her line of thought.

Bobby responded slowly, keeping his growing excitement in check, "So you're thinking that maybe the doctor did multiple surgeries only on patients that had no one to look out for them?"

"Yes. Just think about it," she began, "most people just accept what the doctor says, If he says you need surgery, you have surgery done. If you're not sure, you talk it over with your family. But for people like Jason Mitchell and Sarah Morgan, maybe there was no one to discuss what the doctor wanted to do."

Their exchange caught the rest of the team's attention. "Maybe that's our connection," commented Jack thoughtfully.

D announced briskly, "Okay people, you know what you have to do. Let's track down the evidence and see where it leads us." He smiled at Sue. "Good work, Sue."

Sue nodded with a slight smile, rubbing her temple gently.

"Tired?" asked Bobby in concern.

"A little," she grimaced slightly, "Looking at a computer screen for hours is a little tiring on my eyes."

"You need a break," he said. He nodded his head in the direction of the door. "Let's get some air."

They gazed at each other for a moment before Sue smiled. "Good idea. I think Levi needs a break, too."

As they grabbed their coats, Bobby announced to "Getting some air. Be back in a bit."

----------

"Feeling better?" asked Bobby after walking a while in companionable silence.

"Much," admitted Sue. "I needed a break from staring at the computer. I don't know how Tara does it."

"Well, she doesn't have to focus continuously on people's lips to find out what they're saying throughout the day," he pointed out.

She looked up at him.

"What?"

"I didn't think you'd noticed something like that."

He looked surprised. "Why not? I am one of the FBI's finest," he grinned. "No, seriously, I've noticed that sometimes at the end of a long day, if there's been a lot of dialogue to follow or if you've been watching surveillance tapes, you get a little tired."

She smiled. "You've been watching me closer than I thought."

He laughed. He threw an arm around her and gave her an exuberant hug. "And I'm going to be watching you even closer from now on," he promised.

----------

Bobby and Sue returned from their short break with a sparkle in their eyes and renewed energy for the tedious research still to be done. Tara and Lucy smiled, pleased their original faux pas turned out so well. They weren't the only ones watching the happy couple surreptitiously, but Jack's thoughts were tinged with a trace of envy of what might have been. With an audible sigh, he focused his attention back to his computer screen.

For the rest of the afternoon the team searched through the records and came up with a list of a hundred names that had multiple surgeries done. D pulled everyone off checking the disks except Sue and Bobby, to begin the background checks on the patients.

Finally, around six thirty, D announced, "Enough. Everybody go home," he looked around the bullpen. "It doesn't make sense for us to lose our eyesight over this. This will still be here tomorrow." Sighs of relief were heard.

Slipping on his jacket, Bobby walked over to Sue's desk and announced his presence with a knock. "Dinner?"

Sue glanced around, "Lucy, want to come along?"

Bobby chimed in. 'Sure, Luce, come with us. It's on me."

Lucy shook her head. "As tempting as that sounds, no, thanks. I'm going straight home, soak in the tub and forget everything. When I close my eyes, all I see are numbers," she declared with a shudder. "Would you like me to take Levi home?"

"Thanks. I think he'd like that," Sue answered.

She knelt down, scratching him under his neck. "Go home with Lucy, boy. Be good." She stood up. "I'll be home in time to take him for his last walk."

"Don't worry about it," said Lucy. "I've got it covered."

----------

"Thank you for dinner," said Sue as they strolled down the sidewalk hand-in-hand after their meal.

"If I remember correctly, there was a dinner owing two days ago but an enforced overnight stay at the hospital got in the way," he reminded her. "I'm just fulfilling my promise."

A shadow crossed her face when she remembered the reason why he'd been in the hospital. "How's your hand?"

"Much better," he said holding out his left hand. A small bandage covered the burn. "Another few days and it'll be as good as new."

They continued their walk in comfortable silence. Bobby glanced at his companion and noticed a smile of quiet pleasure.

"A nickel for your thoughts," Bobby prompted. "They must be pleasant ones for you to smile like that."

Her eyes flitted up to meet his. "So much has happened in the past three days—some good and some not so good."

"True," he agreed. It had been a tumultuous few days.

"But one thing is very clear in my mind."

Bobby's footsteps halted, waiting for her next words. "Yes?" he asked.

"I will forever be grateful to Levi and a Christmas tradition," she said solemnly as her eyes twinkled. "Oh, and a pair of Machiavellian friends."

"And that reason would be?" he asked as he stepped closer.

"You."

He smiled as he gathered her in his arms for a thoroughly satisfying kiss.

----------

"Mmmm," murmured Sue as Bobby kissed her goodnight…again. He was leaning in to kiss her yet again when the door opened abruptly.

"Oh! I'm sorry," said a chagrined Lucy. "Don't mind me. I'm just going to take Levi for his walk." She looked at them apologetically. "Sorry."

Bobby just grinned in response while Sue bit her lip looking slightly embarrassed and very happy at the same time.

Bobby extended his hand. "Here, I'll take Levi for his walk." He looked at Sue. "Come with?"

She nodded, glad of an excuse to prolong their evening. Tucking her arm into his, the trio went down the hall.

---------

Half an hour later they returned.

Bobby declared reluctantly, "I guess I really do have to leave this time." He kissed Sue one more time, "See you tomorrow." Sue waited until he was out of sight before she went in and closed the door.

"I guess I don't have to ask you if you had a good time," Lucy smilingly teased her.

Sue laughed, "No, you don't, but we did."

She took off her coat and settled on the sofa with Levi's head on her lap. "I didn't think it was possible to be so happy, Lucy."

Lucy looked at her roommate with affection. "I'm glad for you. Bobby is a pretty special guy."

"Yes, he is," she agreed. "I don't know why I didn't realize it before."

Lucy looked a little guilty. "I guess that could partly be my fault. If I hadn't kept insisting Jack was perfect for you… My only excuse is that I really did think the two of you would be great together." She looked at Sue apologetically. "I'm sorry. "

"It's not your fault, Lucy," Sue admonished her gently. "I chose to believe that there could be something more between Jack and I. But feelings have a way of changing, and thank goodness mine did. I think the timing for Bobby and me wasn't right…until now," she grinned happily. "And you know what they say, timing is everything."

"I hope Bobby realizes what a special person you are," Lucy stated affectionately.

Sue's dimple flashed. "I think he's pretty special too."

----------