8
Mistaken Identity
Rating: K
Disclaimer: STFBEye characters not mine. Borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Valentine's Day takes an unexpected twist. A sequel to "Troy Story Take Two"
Author's Note: We're back! This is a relatively short story with a handful of chapters. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
"Dinner at Antonio's?" commented Jack as he poured a cup of coffee. "He must've made reservations weeks ago. Donald Trump would have a hard time getting a reservation for tonight."
"Yeah, he did," replied a pleased Tara. "Stanley said he wanted to go somewhere special for Valentine's Day."
"I'd say Antonio's qualifies as special," Myles remarked. "It also requires a hefty bank account to pay for the meal. I'd say he really likes you," he added in a silky tone.
"What are you wearing?" asked an interested Lucy, sipping her coffee.
"I sense girl-talk coming," commented Bobby as he walked to his desk with his cup of coffee.
"And what's wrong with that?" Lucy fired back.
"He means it's not for him," placated Jack. "What do you expect from a man who wears the kind of ties he wears?"
Bobby looked down with a frown. It was his bean tie—one of his favorites. "What's wrong with my tie?"
"Not much," declared Myles. "if you're blind. You would think after years of being in the company of a sartorially splendid person such as myself you would've acquired some vestige of fashion sense but it appears such a trait cannot be absorbed simply through osmosis," he nodded in mock sadness.
Lucy stared at Myles in exasperation. "Did anybody understand a word of what he just said?"
Jack put up both hands. "Don't look at me."
"Sometimes, I'm not sure if Myles is even speaking English!" remarked D.
Myles was about to respond when he was interrupted with the arrival of a delivery person with a bouquet of long stemmed creamy pink roses.
Attention immediately shifted to Tara.
"Stanley?" asked Lucy.
"I have no idea," replied a surprised Tara.
"Is there a…" the guy peered at the envelope in the bouquet, "an S. Thomas here?" he asked tentatively as he looked around the bullpen.
This time, all eyes focused on Sue as Bobby frowned imperceptibly.
Industriously working on a report, Sue had been oblivious to the conversation by the coffee station. However, with the appearance of the delivery person, she could feel the attention on her and glanced up. Her eyes darted from face to face, "What? Did I miss something?"
"Is there an S. Thomas here?" repeated the delivery person.
"What…?"
The delivery person took a few steps forward and thrust the roses in front of her obscuring her vision of the team.
"S. Thomas?"
"Yes?"
A look of relief crossed his face. "Good! I gotta talk to Rachel about her handwriting. I could barely read it." He beamed at her. "Someone must like you a lot because these long stem beauties cost a bundle," he shared conversationally. " Happy Valentine's Day." He smiled as he left.
"Who are they from?" Lucy asked eagerly as she and Tara approached her desk.
Mystified, Sue could only shake her head.
"Who would send you a small fortune in flowers?" asked Tara.
Unconsciously, Sue's eyes immediately flew to Bobby but he shook his head slightly in denial.
Bobby? She's looking at Bobby? D thought to himself.
A surprised Jack followed her gaze. She's looking at Bobby?
She's looking at Bobby, thought Myles smugly.
"Read the card," urged Lucy.
Sue thrust the flowers into Tara's hands while she read the card.
"Sweetheart,
Saying it with flowers and more tonight.
Happy Valentine's Day!"
"There's no name?" asked Lucy.
Sue turned the card over. "Nothing."
"A secret admirer? You've got a secret admirer!" declared Tara excitedly. "That's so romantic!"
"Depends on who's doing the sending," commented Myles. "There are some people I'm sure you wouldn't want sending you symbols of their affection."
"Here, here," agreed Lucy. "Once I got a box of candy that I thought was from this cute guy I had a crush on."
"And it wasn't?" asked an interested Tara.
She shook her head. "It was his friend—this total geek."
"Who probably is quite successful now," Myles remarked as he sat at his desk.
Lucy thought for a moment. "You know what? You're right. I should've gone out with him instead of his friend."
Tara smiled. "Where do you want these?" she asked extending the vase.
Sue cleared a space on her desk. "Here, where I can admire them and wonder who they're from."
Bobby's frown had not disappeared as he continued to stare at the roses. Who sent Sue those roses?
"Crash, you imitating a statue?" remarked Jack as he watched his friend closely. Bobby hadn't moved since the roses arrived.
Startled out of his thoughts, Bobby's mind jerked back to the present. "Just thinking." He sat down but not before he glanced at Sue. She was staring at the flowers with a perplexed expression. It dawned on him that she truly didn't know who sent the flowers. Who was her secret admirer? He didn't like it…he didn't like it at all, he thought darkly.
Myles discreetly glanced at his teammate. Sue's glance at Bobby when the flowers arrived just confirmed his suspicions. He didn't know why no one else suspected what he now knew for a fact. It must be because of his superior skills in observation, Myles thought with satisfaction as he opened the folder on his desk.
D tapped a pencil on his desk as he peered over a folder at Sue. Sue and Bobby? he thought. Were they involved? As their supervisor, this could present a problem.
So romantic, sighed Tara, a secret admirer. But she had Stanley and he was romantic in his own way. He'd made reservations ages ago at Antonio's to surprise her and then they were going dancing. He told her he wasn't very good at it, but she wanted to and that was good enough for him—he'd try it. You had to love a guy like that, she thought with a smile. Now, what was she supposed to be looking at on this screen?
I wonder who sent Sue those roses, thought Lucy. Maybe I need to do some investigating of my own. Oh, I have to remember to pick up those shoes for tonight. Tyler said it was a surprise but to dress up. Those shoes would be perfect. I wonder where he's taking me? Oh, phone.
Sue stared perplexed at the beautiful bouquet on her desk. Who would send her such an expensive arrangement? Sighing, she opened the top folder. That manpower report was already a day late. She had to get it done or Randy would be on one of his little tirades.
Eventually, the bullpen settled down into its usual rhythm as the excitement of the morning disappeared. Every so often, Bobby would glance at Sue and then the bouquet, and each time, there would be a frown on his face. Who sent those flowers?
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The phone rang.
"FBI," answered Lucy. "Lucy Dotson speaking. How may I help you?"
"Lucy, this is Sharon Thronas in white collar."
Lucy frowned as she tried to place the face. Oh yeah, the brunette in White Collar. "Hi, Sharon! What can I do for you?"
"Did someone receive a bouquet of roses this morning?"
A sinking feeling appeared in Lucy's stomach. "Yeah, Sue did."
"Sue Thomas?"
"Yeah."
"That explains it then. Apparently, my husband sent flowers to me this morning but I didn't get them. I called the florist and they insisted the roses were delivered. To make a long story short, they were delivered to Sue. Tell Sue I'm really sorry."
"I'll let her know. I'll bring them up. You're a lucky woman, Sharon."
"I know. My husband's a sweetie. Thanks, Lucy."
Lucy slowly hung up the phone and walked over to Sue.
She glanced up curiously, "What's up Luce?"
"The mystery of the secret admirer is solved," Lucy announced.
"Who is it?"
Lucy looked apologetic. "It was a mistake. The flowers were supposed to have been delivered to Sharon Thronas in white collar."
Sue plucked the card from the holder and peered at the writing. "The writing is pretty bad. I can see how the delivery guy got confused." She replaced the card. "Well, it was nice while it lasted. I'll take these to her."
"I can do it for you," offered Lucy. "I told her I'd bring them up."
"I'll do it," said Bobby as he approached Sue's desk. "I have to go upstairs anyway." His expression was much more cheerful than it had been all morning.
Sue's eyes gleamed in amusement. She knew he hadn't liked the idea of a secret admirer and his relief was evident. "Sure?"
"Positive," he grinned.
She picked up the vase and handed it to him.
"Um, perhaps you should come along and express your envy to Sharon," suggested Bobby waggling his eyebrows and a wink.
"Um, maybe I should." She looked at her dog. "C'mon, Levi. You could use the exercise."
"Sharon's husband sure knows how to celebrate Valentines' Day," commented Sue as they headed towards the door. "The delivery guy said these flowers cost a small fortune."
"Oh, didn't you know?" Bobby brought up as they crossed the doorway. "Her husband is a computer geek. He…"
Tara sat back, disappointed. "No secret admirer?"
"No secret admirer," said Lucy ruefully. "Just a case of mistaken identity."
"Whoever wrote the card needs a lesson in handwriting," D stated.
"One may not be enough," commented Myles dryly.
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After many apologies and appropriate expressions of envy, Bobby and Sue headed back towards their office when Bobby abruptly stopped. He looked up and down the hallway.
Sue mimicked his actions then asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Satisfied the coast was clear, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the stairwell. He leaned over the railing to check below and then above.
"Bobby?"
Further words were impossible when his lips closed on hers.
"Bobby!" she exclaimed breathlessly when he finally pulled away.
"That was totally unprofessional of me and I apologize, but I couldn't help myself," he explained. "The opportunity presented itself and I took it."
"Is that your FBI training?" she said with a teasing light in her eyes.
He nodded, "Of course. Not to mention it's Valentine's Day and I'm with the woman I love."
Startled, dark green eyes opened wide. "What did you just say?" asked a surprised Sue.
Bobby grimaced. "I love you," he said. "I meant to whisper those words in a more romantic setting than a stairwell," he continued disgusted with himself.
Her heart fluttered at his words. He loves me, she thought happily.
"Bobby, I…" another kiss stopped her words once more.
"I know," he said gently. "We need to talk. Tonight after dinner?"
She nodded. That manpower report was about to be completed in record time.
"Then I think we should get back to the office before anyone wonders what's taking us so long," suggested Bobby.
"Well, they won't have to wonder if you don't wipe that lipstick off your mouth," teased Sue.
Immediately, Bobby raised a hand to his lips and rubbed. "Better?"
"Wait." She swiped a tiny spot on his bottom lip. "Okay."
As they head down the two flights of stairs, Bobby reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. He looked at Sue and smiled. Squeezing his hand, she smiled back. It felt right.
"I bet Sharon was happy to get her flowers," Lucy stated when Bobby and Sue walked through the door.
"She was," replied Bobby. "She also apologized profusely for the mistake although it wasn't her fault."
"All's well that ends well," quoted Tara.
Jack looked at his friend. "You're looking better," he commented to Bobby.
"Think I needed the change of scenery, mate," replied Bobby cheerfully. "You know how much I love paperwork."
Myles groaned. "Don't we all," he commiserated. Another part of his mind noted the sparkle in Sue's expression. Bobby's not the only one that enjoyed the change of scenery, he thought.
D banged the phone down. "Sorry folks, but if you've got plans for Valentine's Day, you may have to change them," he declared.
Bobby waved to get Sue's attention and pointed to D.
"Possible gunshots fired at the downtown Post Office. Metro PD is asking for help as a precautionary measure," he announced. "Let's go, people."
"Lucy," called out Tara as she shrugged on her jacket, "could you call Stanley and give him a heads up? Just in case."
"Sure. I'll take care of it."
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