A/N – Firstly, I would like to thank all of my devoted readers and those of you who reviewed. I appreciate everything you have to say and I am beyond thrilled at the response I've received. This story is for all of you who make writing worthwhile. Thank you. (By the way, we still have awhile to go, so hold onto your seats ladies and gentlemen. As well, to keep you all enthralled, I'm considering a sequel...hehehe!)

Chapter 13:

Jack walked back into the bullpen, feeling a small weight lifted off his shoulders. Suddenly, his priorities started to seem a bit straighter, and the fact that he knew D was talking to Bobby and Tara in private at the moment about trying to figure out what was wrong with Sue made him feel better.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride?" Myles asked Sue. She gave him a small smile and shook her head.

"Honestly, I'm fine. I have some errands to run on the way home anyways. I don't want to pull you from your important work anyways. We need to catch this guy. I'll work more from home later." Myles just nodded, but watched her skeptically from his desk.

"What's going on?" Jack asked, looking between the two of them. Sue looked hesitant, but knew she would have to explain.

"I'm still feeling a little tired, so I'm just going to head home and work from there." Jack was shocked that she had taken that initiative. He had been expecting to need to drag her away from her desk that evening.

"You need anyone to stay with you?" She shook her head no, and didn't say anything more as she grabbed her coat and purse. Sue felt bad ignoring him.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She said, using the phrase they would say often to each other. He nodded, as she turned and left. As every day passed she felt more and more awful. Not just for what had happened, but also for how she was treating Jack. He deserved better and she knew it. She hopped into her car, before speeding off in the opposite direction of her apartment.

-----

"Where's Sue?" Bobby asked, re-entering the bullpen, Tara and D right behind.

"She went home." Myles said, as everyone looked at Jack surprised. "It was her idea."

"Well Myles, I was going to ask to talk to you in my office, but I guess that's not necessary now. We are going to start investigating what happened to Sue. The serial case will be our primary, but any spare moments, see what you can find out. Jack's informed me that it's become more serious." Myles looked at him, as he nodded dejectedly.

"What's going on?"

"Sue is absolutely refusing to talk about what happened the last few days and now she's pretending like it never happened. It was obviously something big and traumatic to make her leave suddenly without telling anyone. At first, we decided to let her come to us, but we're worried how this could end up." Dimitrius explained. "We're going to see what we can find, see how we can help her."

"Is she staying on the case?" Myles asked. Jack nodded.

"D thinks it's best. She's become obsessed with catching this guy. Maybe it's because she's channeling everything into work instead of talking about it." Jack suggested.

"Well let's see what we can dig up. Keep everyone posted, but make sure Sue doesn't find out. At least not now." Dimitrius said, as everyone returned to their desks, working either on the serial case, or seeing what they could dig up on whatever was haunting Sue.

-----

"Thanks for meeting me Howie." Sue said, as she sat down on the park bench.

"No problem. Like I said, I'll do anything for the bureau, you know that." She nodded.

"I know Howie. But this needs to stay between us. Promise?"

"I absolutely swear on my mothers grave that I would not tell a soul. I owe you everything – you have my word." He answered. Sue knew that because of their relationship, he would keep that promise.

"I need you to find whatever you can about the guy who killed those families. Any information you get, I need. Also, if you can, see if you can get any street information about any killings in West Virginia in the last few weeks."

"West Virginia?" Sue nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks Howie." He hurried off as Sue was left sitting in the dark on the cold park bench. She jumped as she felt someone touch her shoulder.

-----

"I got a hold of the phone number of a relative of young Jaden Colson, who died 13 years ago and whose fingerprints have mysteriously appeared at both our crime scenes. His aunt is going to be coming in tomorrow so we can talk to her." Bobby announced.

"Good Job Bobby." Dimitrius said, before turning towards Tara who was trying to get their attention.

"I have some information too. I called the airport to find out where Sue went. Like Myles previously told us, there was no record of Sue flying anywhere that day. I looked at the names, to see if any seemed like a fake name she would use, but it got me thinking. It would be almost impossible for Sue to use a fake name. We all know her; she doesn't have fake ID's nor do I think she would ever do that."

"Then where did she go, and how?" Jack asked.

"I don't know yet, but I'm wondering. Sue knew when she left suddenly that we would look for her. It said so in the note she left for Jack at the apartment. We work for the FBI; we have ways of getting the information we need. What if she went by bus, or some other way, and when she came back, went to the airport to throw us off, so we wouldn't figure out where she was. I'm trying to get the bus information as we speak." Dimitrius patted her on the shoulder

"Keep trying Tara. Any more information let us know."

"As soon as I know, you'll know. If Sue's here, I'll email it. Just make sure she's not behind you…" Jack sat back at his desk, wondering what Sue was doing; if she was at home sleeping, or if she was sitting up agonizing about thoughts he couldn't even understand.

-----

Hours past and Jack was about ready to go home. He knew that until they found their killer, there would be no early nights, but he was relatively fortunately to be leaving by 7pm. Contemplating stopping by at Sue's on the way home, he ran into an unexpected visitor in the hallway, as he made his way to the parking garage.

"Troy?" He signed. "What are you doing here?" The deaf man looked around to make sure no one was looking, as he signed back.

"I need to talk to you. It's important." Jack nodded and directed him towards the boardroom.