A/N – Let me know if I should continue! It's going to start getting more exciting… Keep reading and reviewing!

Chapter 4:

"This is Sue." She answered her phone, watching the words scroll across her computer screen, bearing news that shocked her and made her stomach clench. She kept staring at the words, praying that they weren't true. She turned to see if anyone was watching. She wasn't sure if she could handle sharing the news yet, though she could feel the tears threatening to release. Thankfully, no one was watching her. She said quietly back into the microphone, "I'll be there as soon as I can."

She hung up, and closed the screen quickly before anyone else could read it. Sue sat in her chair in disbelief, absorbing what she had just been told, praying she could hold in her emotions until she was somewhere private. She needed to go though, and quickly. She grabbed her things as inconspicuously as she could. Unfortunately, Jack noticed.

"Where are you going?" He moved to stand up.

"Um…I…I just remembered something…" She tried to hold back the tears that she knew were about ready to surface. Jack looked at her meaningfully, noticing her unnaturally pale face. She tried to think up words, but couldn't. She signed, 'sorry', and walked out the door, hot tears streaming down her face as she headed quickly to Ted's office. Jack turned to Tara, who had been watching.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. She was fine a few minutes ago." Jack looked at the door she had just left through and went to follow her. He looked down both ends of the hall, heading in the direction of the parking garage.

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"Her car is still here." Jack said, upon arriving back at the bullpen, everyone awaiting news, hoping that everything was okay.

"I'll go check the woman's washrooms. Maybe she wasn't feeling well?" Tara suggested, heading out the door. Before she made her way out, Ted stepped in.

"I need to talk to you all." He said.

"Ted, we're actually looking for Sue. She walked out a few minutes ago…" Ted raised his hand to stop Bobby.

"I know – she came to see me. She's not feeling well and has asked for a few days off. Considering all the effort she put in for the last case, I was more than willing to give it to her. Since we don't have a case at the moment, we should do fine without her. You'll all be notified as soon as another case comes up." He turned around and walked back out.

"If she wasn't feeling well, why didn't she say so?" Bobby asked, as everyone stood around pondering Sue's odd behavior. It wasn't like her.

"Tara, try to reach her on her blackberry. Let me know if you get a hold of her." Jack said, hurrying to his desk to grab his coat.

"Where are you off to mate?" Bobby asked, although knowing already his answer.

"Sue's place. Something's wrong, and it's not the flu." He said, as he hurried out the door.

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Sue sat on the uncomfortable chair, waiting anxiously. She could barely sit still and didn't know what to think. She felt her blackberry buzz, and turned to look at it. It was from Tara, asking where she was and that they were worried about her. Jack was looking for her, and that she should call him. Sue looked at the message through tear filled eyes. She knew she should call him too, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

If he knew, he would come rushing to her side, and as much as she loved that about him, she needed to sort this out for herself first. She still didn't know how to process it herself yet. She ignored the page, and put her blackberry back in her purse. She saw the woman wave at her, and she nodded, grabbed her things and Levi's leash before walking away from her seat.

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Jack was glad that Lucy had given him that spare key. He had knocked on the door several times, but couldn't hear Levi barking. He crept in the apartment and looked around into each room, stopping at Sue's, whose door was closed. Not wanting to intrude in case she was in there, he knocked again. The light was off, and worried about her safety, Jack slowly opened the door, peering inside. Sue wasn't in there. He looked around, stopping as he noticed a picture of the two of them on her dresser. Unable to help himself, he opened the drawers, noticing most of her things were gone.

At the end of desperation, he walked back into the living room, his stomach filling with dread. Something wasn't right and he knew it. He called up Tara.

"Any reply yet?" He asked quickly.

"Nothing – I've paged and called a few times. No answer yet. Is she at her apartment?" Tara asked, sounding more and more worried.

"No – and some of her things are gone too. She must have taken off somewhere." Jack answered, dejectedly.

"Don't worry Jack, we'll find her." They both hung up, as Jack walked into the kitchen, noticing a note with Sue's handwriting on it. He picked it up and read it, noticing what looked like tear stains smudged on the paper:

Jack,

I knew after I walked out so quickly that eventually you would come looking for me, especially after I don't come into work for the next few days. I don't want you to worry. I'll be fine. There are some things I need to take care of, and I need to get away for a little bit. I shouldn't be gone too long, and it would be easier if you don't try to contact me for now. I'll call you as soon as I can. I'm sorry.

Love, Sue

Jack held the note in his hand. What had happened that had made her have to leave so quickly? He grabbed his things, the note in hand and headed out of her apartment, speeding back to the bullpen.