Chapter 37:

Lucy was thrilled to be back in DC, especially after the incredibly long bus ride from Arizona. She decided to take a cab first, wondering if Sue was still at home. She noticed that no one was home, as she walked through the apartment, seeing a few of Jack's things around the apartment, making her smile. She hoped that Jack having stayed at the apartment with Sue might have opened both their eyes to the connection between them.

As Lucy went back into the living room, she noticed a few photo albums out that she knew had been put away. Flipping threw them, she realized they were Sue's family pictures from a few years ago. After putting them back again, she noticed a message on the machine and played it. It was Sue's mom,

Hello Sue. It's your mother. I wanted to make sure you are doing alright. Mike said he had called you and I wanted to tell you that I am fine and you don't need to worry yourself about me. I heard the news about the case, and I hope you stayed off it. Thank your friends from all of us for putting that horrible man away. Call me sometime, and let me know how you're doing. I love you.

Lucy was confused, because the message implied that more had happened than just Sue's trip to the hospital. Lucy grabbed her things and headed out the door to the bullpen, anxious to figure out what was going on.

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Sue listened half-heartedly as the media liaison talked about the case, and how Jaden Colson, aka Ben French had admitted to the 37 murders, and has accepted life in prison without the possibility of parole. Jack was upfront next to Myles and was barely listening as well. His eyes were locked on Sue, who was a bit off to the side behind a whole bunch of news reporters. He could tell she wasn't really listening, and he was trying to think of what he could do to help make things easier for her, to help her heal faster. Jack missed her, and as much as he understood the turmoil she was going through, he wished he could see her smile again, the one that lit up her eyes and melted his heart.

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Just as the press conference was ending, the man standing beside her tapped her on her shoulder, Sue immediately recognized him.

"Sue Thomas?" He said, shaking her hand. She gave him a small smile back.

"Hello Agent MacDougall. How are you?"

"Grateful that this case is over. I bet your family is relieved as well, after the loss of your brother and his family. Again, I am sorry for your loss." Sue thanked him. The agent looked at her carefully. "I hope you weren't working this case?"

"My team was, but I pulled myself off." He looked at her for a few moments, when suddenly a man on the other side of her tapped her on the shoulder, looking keenly at her name tag.

"Miss. Thomas?" Sue nodded, wondering if she knew him, but couldn't recollect anything. He continued in a loud, "My name is Kyle Baker. I work for the Times West Virginian. You were related to one of the victims? As an FBI agent, with your team working the case, I would love to get your perspective." Sue looked around panicked, as more people turned around to look at her.

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The conference had ended and Jack was glad. He saw Sue turn to a man beside her and start talking. With every intention to go see how she was, Jack hurried off the podium in her direction, but turned around quickly when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Lucy?" He said surprised. "What are you doing here?" The rest of the team had noticed her as well, and started to make their way over, greeting her. Once they had settled, she explained,

"I had to come – too many weird things were happening. I heard about the bombing, then Sue collapsing. I needed to come home. I was at the apartment Jack and there was a weird message on our answering machine from Sue's mom. What's going on?" Everyone stared at him, knowing that he was the only person Sue had confided in, although all of them had different expectations of the true severity of the situation.

"I think Sue needs to tell you." He said quietly, looking over to where she was, when suddenly a whole bunch of people started to crowd around her, her face looking panicked. He started to go over there, as he heard the questions directed to her,

"Miss Thomas – is it true that you worked on your own brother's murder case?"

"Miss Thomas – How did it feel catching the man who had murdered your brother and his family?" Jack noticed that Sue looked like she was about to cry, the flashing lights in her eyes of pictures, the lips everywhere demanding questions she either couldn't catch or couldn't fathom responding. She caught Jack's eyes, her look begging him for help, but as much as Jack tried, he couldn't get through the crowd of people.

Jack suddenly felt a rough hand on his shoulder. It was Myles.

"What are they saying Jack? Sue's brother was one of the victims?" The whole team was looking at him.

"What's going on mate?" Bobby asked. Jack turned back around, but couldn't see Sue. His heart sunk. Jack turned around quickly to offer an explanation.

"Sue wanted to tell you herself. She didn't want you all pulled off the case because she knew you would be able to catch him. We'll explain more later, but right now, we need to find her." The whole team was still looking at Jack in partial shock at the news, but quickly hurried off in different directions to help find their friend.

Jack hurried to where she had been standing before; when he ran into the man he had seen her talking with before.

"Excuse me? Do you know where Sue Thomas went? It's an emergency." The man pulled Jack aside, so none of the lingering ears of the press could hear.

"I'm Agent MacDougall from the West Virginia office. I helped work the Thomas case, and know Sue. I got her out of here as soon as I could – she's in the boardroom down the hall. Just go a different way or these parasites will follow you."

"Thanks," Jack said, as he hurried down a different route, anxious to make sure she was okay.