Author's Note: Phew, here we go. Another not very long chapter but at least it's something...right? Yeah...thanks again to every single one of you that's been reading and reviewing. I love the feedback so keep it coming!
Chapter 7 – What Was Always There
Jack exited the court chambers after delivering his testimony to the USDA. Sue and Bobby waited for him outside and when he approached Sue smiled brightly at him.
"I just have to show up to give the grand jury testimony now."
Sue smiled and pulled him into another hug, which Jack returned. "I just still can't believe you're here. I mean I'm happy but—"
"I know." Jack whispered.
Bobby smiled at the duo. "Listen, I have to head back. See you guys later." He said and bolted off to give the couple a bit of privacy.
Jack and Sue exited the building. "So uhm…are you hungry?"
"Starving." Sue nodded.
Jack offered his arm and Sue slipped his arm through it and the two headed into the car the F.B.I. supplied. The bureau had ordered a detail on Jack while he was in D.C. during the course of the trial just for security measures. The two pulled up outside of their usual restaurant and sat down at a table by themselves while their security detail sat close by.
"So, how have you been?" Jack asked as they dug into their food.
"It's been weird. We've all missed you a lot these past few years." Sue answered.
Jack nodded. "I've missed you guys too. I see Eric Sugden's joined the team."
"Yes…he's a very good agent. A smarter, more handsome you." Sue teased.
Jack laughed. "Well it's nice to see you still have your sense of humour."
"Yes…but it did take awhile for me to find it again. After what happened."
"I'm sorry…if I caused you any pain…any…agony. I didn't want to lie to you, I really didn't. But…it was for the best." Jack tried to rationalize.
"We were scared…we weren't sure if we were able to carry on," Sue confessed. "I was destroyed by it. I didn't know if I could find the strength to move on with my life. Just knowing you were ripped away from me."
"But I'm not. I'm here now. We have a second chance." Jack said with hope.
Sue smiled and Jack continued. "We had all that time before and we wasted it. It really puts things into perspective." He reached out and took Sue's hand into his. "I just hope I don't squander this opportunity either."
"Patsy's disappeared," Eric explained. "And since the Fisherman is facing multiple life sentences anyways, we're pretty much running out of chances to pin any of this on Sam."
"Boon must have done something in order to get himself killed." Bobby said.
Eric, Bobby, Tara, Myles and D were gathered in the hotel room they rented to keep Sylvia in while she was in D.C. and sat around her discussing the case. They looked to Sylvia expectantly.
"I haven't spoken to him in years," Sylvia confessed. "His work was dangerous, anybody could have done this."
"But only so many people could have had access to your necklace." Myles countered.
"When I left…" Sylvia started, "I asked Boon to come with me. But he said he needed more time. He might have been collecting evidence trying to bring Sam down."
"And Sam found out and ordered his death." D concluded.
"Why does he want me dead though?" Sylvia asked.
The team looked at one another and Tara sighed. "Sylvia, do you know who your father was?"
Sylvia shook her head. "A business man of some sort, that's what I was told."
Tara took in a deep breath. "Look this isn't going to be easy. But he was a politician who ordered Sam to prison in Hong Kong. Your family moved here out of security but then Sam ended up fleeing the country. He ended up killing your whole entire family and in order to protect you, your father gave you away to the orphanage to be raised."
Sylvia's eyes widened in surprise and she swallowed a gulp. "Then why did Sam keep me so close to him for so long?"
"Maybe it was just so he could have a better chance to bring you down," Myles said. "Boon was hired to track you down and befriend you but it looks like you became too important to him. His demise probably started when you left and he let you."
Tears welt up in Sylvia's eyes and she buried her face into her hands. Tara patted Sylvia's back gently. "Can you tell us anything that might help us track down Patsy or Sam?"
Sylvia wiped her eyes and took in a deep breath before facing them. "He had this place…where he kept important things that belonged to him. His closet at his apartment…it has a false back I think."
Sue and Jack walked hand in hand with Levi in tow back to the hotel, their detail following them closely. For that moment they didn't really have a care in the world, they were even able to ignore the fact that they were being monitored from under a microscope. It didn't matter to them though, they had too much time they had to make up for.
"I've missed this." Sue said.
Jack nodded. "You have no idea."
"So…do you think after this is all over with we'd be able to do this more often?" Sue asked hopefully.
Jack chuckled. "I hope so," Jack took in a deep breath. "It's almost scary…having to think about what's going to happen after."
"I don't think we're supposed to know what happens after," Sue explained. "That's all up to God. The best we can do is live in the now."
"The now…it's pretty scary. I don't know what's going to happen with the trial or what's going to happen afterwards. I mean…will I get to move back here?"
Sue's face lit up at the thought. "I don't see why not. I mean there's no more danger for you so why couldn't you come back?"
Jack smiled at the thought. "It'd be nice. But I wouldn't know what I would end up doing. Working for the bureau again?"
"Wouldn't you want to have your old job back though?"
Jack placed his hands on Sue's shoulders and looked at her intently. "Would that really be what you want?"
Sue looked thoughtful for a moment and realized that if Jack were to come back and resume his old job then there would be no chance for them. This opportunity was staring at them in the face and it was something that they've wanted for years but could never have. Now, under extraordinary circumstances they could have it but essentially, nothing in their lives would be the same.
Sue forced a smile on her face. "We don't have to think about it right now. Let's just try to live in the present. And talk about what you're thinking of doing now."
Jack smirked. "What I'm thinking about doing now…that is an interesting question. You honestly want to know?" Sue nodded albeit a little confused. Jack took in a deep breath and smiled, and leaned forward. Their lips met and for that one moment all of that time they wasted in the years trying to push back their feelings for one another seemed so insignificant and petty. But something didn't feel right. When they parted they stared at one another expectantly. Sue smiled brightly and Jack thought to himself how much he missed that smile. But something still wasn't right and the uncertainty of their future together frightened him more than anything.
"Good night, Jack." Sue smiled.
"Good night." He replied and watched her walk off before walking into the hotel.
Bobby, Myles and Eric walked into the dingy building that Dylan Boon used to live in, following the landlord to his former apartment which they were relieved still hadn't be rented out yet. They entered the small apartment and could still see the markings where his furniture used to be. Most of the things in his room were taken by the agency in hopes they would turn up some evidence. Bobby made his way to his closet and tapped in various places on the back. He hit one spot that sounded hollow and called Myles and Eric over.
"Well? What do you think?" He asked, tapping it again.
Eric lifted up the sledgehammer into position. "Do you we should have told the landlord about this before?" He asked.
"You mean you didn't?" Bobby asked.
"Of course he did." Myles corrected and Eric began to strike down the wall, which crumbled without any trouble. The three of them waved around the dust and debris that was created only to be created by an empty space before another wall.
Myles felt around the wall and observed. "It looks like this addition was fairly new actually."
Bobby felt around the inside of the wall and saw something yellow sticking out from the air-vent on the other wall. He released the air-vent and pulled out a manila envelope. He opened it and took out the contents. They were photographs. He looked through them and showed them to Myles.
"Looks like Patsy's been keeping herself busy." Bobby explained. They were pictures of Patsy and Sam together.
Eric took the photos from Bobby and leafed through them. "Well…it looks like Patsy wasn't that heartbroken about Boon's affairs after all."
Sue walked back into the apartment she shared with Lucy with Levi happily in tow. As soon as she entered the apartment Lucy bounded into the hallway and greeted her with a smile.
"You look like the cat who got the cream," Sue remarked. Levi barked along happily and Sue shot him a look. "It's just a figure of speech, Levi."
"I was about to say the same to you," Lucy countered. "So? Details, please!"
Sue smiled mischievously. "Details about what?"
"Oh come on, don't play that game with me, I know you were with Jack!" Lucy said, pushing her friend playfully.
Sue took in a breath and they walked into the living room, sitting on the couch next to one another. "We went out to eat…and then he…kissed me."
Lucy gasped and smiled brightly. "I knew it! So was it everything you expected it to be?"
Sue sucked on her cheek for a moment. "You know, it's funny. I pictured that moment so many times in my head and it was nothing like what actually happened."
Lucy looked concerned. "You were disappointed? Are you sorry it happened?"
Sue shook her head. "Of course not! I mean…the thing is I was never sure about my feelings for him in the first place. When I thought he died, that's when I was definitely sure I was in love with him," Sue sighed. "But…he's different now. These past three years have really changed him."
"Well, of course they're bound to have changed him. These were three really hard years on all of us." Lucy rationalized.
"I know. But it just seems a little unfair of me. He talked about his life in Hartbridge and he was so fond of it…it just seems a little unfair to make him choose."
"He wouldn't have come back and agreed to see all of us if he didn't want to."
"He came back because he had to…" Sue replied.
Lucy shook her head. "No, Sue. Just because he has a new life elsewhere doesn't mean he missed you any less. Your relationship is being redefined…it's scary but at the same time it can also be really great."
Sue smiled lightly. "Thanks, Luce. I don't think if I've ever been as scared in my life."
