Chapter 20:
Deciding to give Sue and her brother some privacy, Jack made an excuse to go out and pick up some things. He figured, while he was at it, he would stop by the bullpen and see what was going on. Everyone greeted him enthusiastically.
"What's going on with the case?" He asked, casually leaning against his desk.
"We looked at the list Mrs. Sweeney gave us. We've tracked down some of the people – friends of the family, babysitters, coworkers. So far no one that jumps out at us as a serial killer." Myles informed him.
"Any luck with tracking down Ben French?"
"Not yet," Bobby explained to his best friend, "but we've got Howie on the streets now. He's casually asking around to see if anyone knows where he might be. Word has it, he's in town. Since Howie knows that he's got this meth operation going, he's trying to get the word out that he has an interested buyer, meaning us." Dimitrius spoke up,
"How's Sue?"
"Actually – a lot better. She's turning back into her old self, slowly. Something's still bothering her, but I know it won't be long before she says something. At least I'm hoping. Have we had any luck finding out anything yet?" Tara shook her head.
"We've been so busy on this case." Jack nodded in understanding.
"Well, Sue's brother just showed up in town; Sue's with him now. I'm guessing her mom sent him along to make sure she's okay, after her episode at the hospital. He seems like a nice guy, I'm going to see if maybe he has any clue of what's going on with her. Maybe he can help."
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"How have you been feeling?" Michael asked his little sister, after gratefully accepting the cup of coffee she made for him.
"Much better. Mom and Dad really didn't need to send you. I'm doing fine now." Michael rolled his eyes.
"Come on, you know Mom. I honestly didn't mind. I've wanted to see your place and meet your friends for a while now. Anyways, I still have time off since…" he trailed off as Sue looked away. He reached for her hand. "How have you been doing…with everything?" Sue shrugged.
"It's been hard," was all she said, in a quiet, muffled voice.
"It seems like you have some great friends looking out for you. Jack seems very nice." Sue nodded, but looked away.
"Mike, I, umm…I actually haven't told any of them." Once her eyes met his again, he continued,
"What do you mean? You've been just pretending like everything's okay? Sue – no wonder you got sick." He said, concern glistening from his eyes.
"I was going too. But Lucy's away for 3 weeks, which is why Jack is here. I was going to tell Jack, but then I found out… that my team is working the family serial killer case. I couldn't…" Michael interrupted.
"Sue! You can't work that case. You have to understand that."
"I know, I know. I thought I could at first. Then all of this happened. I told Jack that I was going to pull myself off. I'm not going back to work for another week or so anyways, and I just can't handle it. But he promised me when he catches him, he'll let me watch the interrogation. I need that much." Sue explained.
"Are you sure they will catch him?" Mike said hesitantly. Sue's eyes were fierce when she responded,
"I know my friends. They won't let me down." Michael just nodded and squeezed her hand.
"You should still tell your friends. You need people to support you. Everyone back home is worried about you."
"If I tell Jack now, he's going to shelter me until this guy is caught. I don't want that. As soon as we get him, I'll explain. But for now, I've just got to move on from it. Promise me you won't tell him." Michael hesitated.
"As long as you promise that as soon as you guys catch him, or if things get any worse, you'll talk to someone. And you have to promise to call someone back home at least every second day to let us know you're alright." She nodded.
"I promise."
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Jack unlocked the apartment door, with what was now his key. Michael quickly greeted him, and helped grab the grocery bags from Jack's arms.
"Where's Sue?" Jack asked, after noticing her absence.
"She just left to go take Levi for a walk. I thought it would be a good idea so we could talk privately." Jack nodded, and sat down at the table with Michael.
"I understand from my sister that the two of you are really close friends." Jack nodded earnestly, and Michael just raised his eyebrows.
"Well, I undoubtedly believe that, but you would have to be stupid not to realize you guys both think of each other as more than friends." Jack could feel his cheeks get hot, but didn't deny anything.
"I care a lot for Sue. I have for a long time, and recently, after everything that's happened, I've realized how much she's meant to me." Michael just watched him.
"I'm guessing that as an FBI agent, you've picked up that even before this whole, hypoglycemia thing, Sue was a bit…off?" Jack looked at Sue's brother curiously and spilled everything, praying that he had finally found someone who could give him some clarity,
"Do you know what happened? We've all been worried. She disappeared for two days over a week ago. Didn't tell anyone where she went. She came back, trying to pretend like nothing was wrong, and everything has been a roller coaster ride since."
"I know what happened, but you should know, I promised Sue that I wouldn't say anything." Jack sighed, frustrated. Michael continued, "At least for now. But she did promise me back that once certain things happened, she would open up. Now I'm not happy with this arrangement either, but I respect and trust my sister."
"We just want to help." Jack said, desperately.
"I know. Keep an eye on her and don't let her get involved in this case your working on. You need to assure me that." Jack stared at the man, confused. Did he mean that somehow Sue was personally involved in this case?
"I promise – I haven't wanted her working on it since she came back, but actually she seems to finally understand that. Although, you should know, I told her that she could watch the interrogation when we catch him, but I will be there with her." Mike nodded.
"She told me. Just take good care of her; she doesn't deserve what she's been going through. I really should get going back to my hotel. I'm going to stop by and see Sue tomorrow before I head back to Ohio in the evening. She said she would take me around to your office, so I'm sure I'll see you then." Jack shook the man's hand.
"It's been great meeting you." Michael smiled.
"You too Jack." Jack got up, and showed him to the door. Before he left, he turned around and said, "By the way, if you break her heart – I'll break your legs. As her big brother, I am obligated to say that. And I mean it." Jack smiled and responded,
"I wouldn't dream of it."