Friends and Lovers

Chapter 18

Disclaimers: Still not mine! Darn!

A/N: I hope you've been enjoying journey as much as I have. Thanks for the feedback. All suggestions have been seriously considered for future storylines.

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Restaurant

With the confession of Alfred Lewis and subsequent arrests, the team decided to celebrate by going out to dinner. Myles invited Jan Watson along. They sat around discussing the various aspects of what turned out to be a bizarre case. What began as a simple bank robbery had escalated to include medical malpractice and fraud.

"What about Danny? Have we heard anything about him?" asked Sue.

Myles shook his head. He was keeping an unobtrusive eye on Danny's case to see if he could be of help. Danny had finally stopped asking for Jason but had become silent and tearful. "It's been really difficult. For starters, the social workers don't even know if Johnson is his real last name. And even if it is, Johnson is one of the most common surnames in the phone book. They've been questioning him to see if they can get more details but it's been an uphill battle."

Jan squeezed his hand and smiled. "At least he's got someone like you on his side."

Myles looked at the woman beside him and a delighted smile slowly appeared on his face. For once, he was speechless.

Speculative glances were exchanged around the table. Was this going to be a new and improved Myles Leland the third?

An inadvertent groan from Jack caught Lucy's attention. "How's your arm, Jack?"

He grimaced as he flexed it, "Sore. No hockey or basketball for a while. Which reminds me Luce, what do you think the chances are Randy will approve my request for a new jacket?"

She shrugged as she dryly intoned, "Your guess is as good as mine... probably better."

"You know, Randy could see that as merely a fashion statement on your part," commented Tara.

"Yeah," agreed D. "He'll probably deny it on the grounds that it's not a complete loss. Clothes with rips and tears are considered trendy nowadays. What's a bullet hole…or two."

The conversation moved on to horror stories about Randy, each person having at least one story to share about his particularities. Laughter was heard between the comments, "Remember the time…Yeah, so we submitted…And how about the…"

Sue noticed that Bobby was unusually quiet and not participating with his usual exuberance. She knew he had his own collection of Randy stories to tell. Leaning in, she bumped him gently to get his attention.

"Hmm?" he answered distractedly.

"Are you all right?" she asked with concern. "You're very quiet tonight."

"A little tired," he admitted. He covered her hand with his and squeezed it reassuringly. "It's been an extraordinary week," he smiled, looking into her eyes, "beginning and ending with you." He sighed, "I think it's all catching up to me now."

"Would you like to leave?" she asked softly. At his nod, she started to gather her things.

"Sorry to break up the party, but it's getting late and somebody still needs to get plenty of rest," apologized Sue.

D glanced at his watch, "I have to go, too. I told Donna I wouldn't be too late."

"You have a very understanding wife," remarked Jack, his gaze lingering on Bobby and Sue.

"I know," D smiled.

The bill was divvied up, good-byes were said, and in a few minutes, the party broke up each going in separate directions.

"See you at home," Lucy called out to Sue as she left them standing outside the restaurant.

"Could we walk a bit?" asked Bobby soberly.

"Sure," agreed Sue. "Levi could use the exercise."

Fingers entwined, the pair walked. Sue glanced at her companion. He was completely lost in thought.

With a gentle squeeze of her hand, Bobby finally broke the silence. "I've been thinking about Alfred Lewis."

"Yes?" prompted Sue.

"Until a few years ago, he was an upstanding member of society." Bobby paused to look at her. "And then he started gambling. Just a little at first, but he became hooked on the excitement, the thrill of winning. But then he started losing." He dropped his gaze to their joined hands before continuing with a self-deprecating grimace, "He kept telling himself he'd stop after the next bet. It didn't happen, and just like that—he lost everything."

He swallowed painfully. "Alfred Lewis' story could be my own, Sue. I walked in his shoes but luckily for me, I had a good friend that helped me get back on my feet—not once but twice. If it wasn't for Jack, I don't know what I would've done." He ran his hand through his hair nervously. "I could've done the same thing that bloke did."

"No, you wouldn't," Sue said confidently.

A smile briefly flitted across his face. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but how can you be so sure?"

"Because I know you," she said gently but firmly. "You would never have done what Alfred Lewis did because no matter how desperate you were, you would never deliberately endanger others." She smiled lovingly at him, "You care about people. You care what happens to them."

Her absolute faith in him warmed him to his core, but Bobby was perplexed at Sue's lack of surprise. She was not reacting the way he thought she would. "Are you listening to what I'm saying? I have a problem, Sue, a serious problem. I'm addicted to gambling, just like Alfred Lewis."

She looked at him calmly. "I know."

"You know?" he said in confusion. "How? Did Jack tell you?"

She looked surprised. "Do you think Jack would betray your confidence like that?"

Bobby slowly shook his head. "No, he wouldn't. But how did you know?"

"I saw you talking to Jack one day," she said with a touch of embarrassment.

"You eavesdropped?" he asked incredulously.

"It's not eavesdropping if you didn't have your hand over your mouth," she retorted, then added with a frown as she recalled the Moreno case. "I was worried about you. And Jack. Both of you were acting so...strangely­." Her dimple flashed as she glanced at him quickly as she amended, "Stranger than usual." She couldn't stop the grin at his frown of protest, "I'm trained to be observant and get answers you know."

He stared at her for a moment, then laughed as he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "You're learning." But he sobered immediately. "I'm a gambling addict, Sue. It's under control now but it'll always be a part of me. Can you live with that?"

She looked at him, her eyes large in their seriousness. "Can you live with my deafness? Will it be a problem for you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" he asked in bewilderment.

"It's a part of me, Bobby," she said gravely, "like your gambling addiction is a part of you. Does it affect how you feel about me?"

He looked at her in wonder at the depth of her acceptance. "No." His fingers tightened their grip on hers. Tenderly, he gazed at her. "Have I told you how lucky I am you came into my life?" he asked as he leaned in for a kiss. When they broke the kiss, they rested their foreheads against each other.

"Bobby," said Sue quietly, "I think it's time we go home." He froze at the implication of her words. Then he pulled back slowly, looking carefully at Sue.

"You want me to take you home to your apartment?" he asked tentatively, unsure if he misunderstood her.

"No," Sue replied with a shake of her head, "your apartment." She blushed a little at her boldness.

"Are you sure?" he asked seriously.

She nodded with a slight smile.

"You know, once we take this step we won't be able to go back to being just friends," he warned her.

"I want more than your friendship, Bobby," she said softly, "I want you."

For a long moment they stood there gazing into each other's eyes seeing the love and promise of commitment. "Then let's go home."

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