Summary – An alternate ending to season 2's "The Kiss." What if Jack had gotten Sue's attention instead of walking away?

Author's note – I don't know American Sign Language (ASL). For the times when characters sign in this story, I've put that dialog in ALL CAPS.

Disclaimer – I don't own these characters. Just imagining that things had gone in a slightly different direction from the show.

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Chapter 3

Jack knocked on Bobby's door.

"It's open," Bobby called out.

Jack let himself in. "I haven't seen this place in a while. It's like you've been avoiding me."

Bobby shrugged. "You seemed busy lately. Oh, Tara called, said a pipe burst at her place and she needs to wait for the plumber, so she probably won't make it."

"Too bad."

"Yeah." Just then, the door knocked. "Would you get that?" Bobby requested.

"Sure." Jack went to the door and opened it. "Hi. Come in."

Sue entered with Levi. "Hi."

"Where's Lucy?"

"She got a call on the way over here. A file's missing on the Bernardo case. Said she'd go take care of it and then join us."

Jack helped Sue off with her coat. "Can I get you anything?"

"A soda would be good."

Jack nodded and headed for the kitchen, well familiar with Bobby's apartment.

Bobby was just hanging up the phone. "That was Myles. Says his car won't start, he's still waiting for the auto club to give him a jump."

Jack gave Bobby an incredulous look. "What is this, Friday the thirteenth or something? Lucy had to go into the office to find a file, so she'll be late, too."

Bobby looked thoughtful. "Well, things come in threes, right? Maybe that'll be the end of it. Unless D gets lost going to his kid's soccer game, but I guess we won't know about that."

Jack chuckled, found a soda for Sue and a beer for himself, and went back into the living room to watch the game.

He found Sue on the end seat of the sofa, a position she often took up so Levi could lay out on the floor beside the couch. Jack took the middle cushion next to her.

About five minutes after kickoff Bobby's phone rang. "Yeah." He listened to the caller, then looked at his watch. "Yeah. I can be there in about twenty minutes." He ended the call and looked at his guests. "Sorry about this, guys. Got a snitch who needs to see me straight away." Bobby stood up and went to grab his coat. "Guess you'll be on your own for a while. Save some of the guacamole for me, won't you?" He winked and went out the door.

And with that, Jack and Sue were left alone.

They looked in disbelief at the front door, then each other.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Sue.

Jack's mind had also put two-and-two together. "If you're thinking that we've been set-up, purposely left alone, then yes," he replied, slightly in awe that their friends would do this for them.

"They know," Sue said quietly.

"They know," he confirmed, equally quiet, though the volume of his voice didn't matter to her.

"What are we going to do?" she asked worriedly.

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On how much time they've decided to give us. If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say we have until halftime."

"Oh." Startled at what Jack seemed to be implying, Sue grew nervous and squirmed on her seat. "I meant about them knowing."

"I think they've proven that they can keep a secret, don't you? I mean if you can't trust the FBI…"

Jack took Sue's hand in his and leaned in closer.

Sue looked at their clasped hands, feeling uneasy. "Jack…"

He could tell she was nervous about them suddenly being alone like this, about how far Jack wanted to go now that the opportunity had finally presented itself. "Hey…" Jack reached up with his free hand, placing it under his chin, to raise her gaze. "Sue, I'm sorry, I was joking about how much time we had. All I want is to kiss you right now. Nothing more. We'll go as slow as you want."

Reassured, Sue nodded. "Okay."

Jack leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. It was like his whole body came alive in that moment. It was as good as the kiss in the law firm – better even, because this time part of his mind wasn't waiting for the anticipated interruption. This time he was entirely focused on Sue, and he knew she was entirely focused on him. This time, it was real.

Reluctantly he came up for air, keeping his promise.

Her eyes remained closed, perhaps unsure if he was done or not. Jack waited for her to open them before speaking. "That was really nice."

"Yes. It was." Sue paused. "Almost as good as Levi."

At hearing Sue use his name, Levi raised his head.

If it had been anyone other than Sue comparing him to a dog Jack would have been insulted. Instead, he knew it was her standard deflecting, her go-to when things got too personal. And this kiss - this real kiss - was as personal as it got. So it was easy for Jack to play along. "That's a little unfair, don't you think? He's had a lot more practice kissing you than I have."

Sue smiled. "Then I guess we should take advantage of this opportunity to give you a chance to improve."

Did she just say what he thought she said? She wanted to make out? "Chance to improve... you're sure?" He couldn't afford any misunderstandings with her. Sue meant too much to him.

"I'm sure. Besides," she indicated the television, "if the team doesn't make the playoffs, then we might not get many more chances like this."

"Not until basketball season, anyway," Jack agreed before leaning in and kissing her again.

This time they kissed for several minutes, ignoring the game.

Eventually they stopped. Jack again waited for her to open her eyes. "How's that? Any better?"

"It's getting there," she teased.

"Well, you know, I'll keep at it until I get it right."

"I know."

They kissed again, but Jack kept it brief, deciding it was better to end this before he was tempted to get carried away, or in case he was wrong about how much time they had to themselves. So, he broke off early and put his arm around her to cuddle Sue next to him, entwining their fingers, and they resumed watching the game, playfully kissing and nuzzling each other during commercials.

As they sat together, Jack thought how right it felt, being with Sue like this. He could picture them in their own home, watching tv, kissing on occasion, not worrying about who knew or who saw, because that would be their life together. He'd already had a small sample of life with Sue when they went undercover as a married couple. Make that a very small sample, as it had only lasted a few days and they hadn't shared a bed. Even so, the arrangement had been a tantalizing glimpse of what might be. They'd seen what the other looked like first thing in the morning. They'd gone grocery shopping together. They'd even gotten on each other's nerves slightly, trying to come up with their cover story.

He wouldn't mind having that life with her permanently. He'd always wanted a wife and kids, the type of life that Dimitrius had with his wife Donna. And he didn't feel about any other woman the way he felt about Sue. She was bright, funny, independent - sometimes stubbornly so - and beautiful inside and out. They had similar Midwestern upbringings, a belief that the way through life was via faith and hard work.

She was the one. He was sure of it. And he so desperately wished that he wouldn't screw it up.

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As Jack had surmised, their friends didn't come to the apartment until halftime. It was a natural break in the game, and a natural end for their time alone as everyone knew that's when Sue needed to take Levi out to do his doggy business. When the others did start showing up at Bobby's, no one said a word about Jack and Sue, but kept all comments about the game.

After returning to the apartment with Levi, Sue had gone to use the bathroom and came out to find Lucy in the hallway waiting for her.

"Sorry I'm so late," Lucy said, playing innocent. "Did I miss much?"

IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH TO FIND THAT FILE Sue signed, teasing.

Lucy signed back. IT FELL ON THE FLOOR. ENDED UP UNDER BOBBY'S DESK. NO ONE THOUGHT TO LOOK THERE.

Sue looked appreciatively at her friend. THANK YOU. ALL OF YOU.

YOU CAN THANK ME LATER BY TELLING ME WHAT I MISSED.

I CAN TELL YOU NOW. THERE WAS A FUMBLE AND A FIELD GOAL.

Lucy raised her eyebrow. DO YOU MEAN IN THE GAME OR ON THE COUCH?

Sue just smiled and went back into the living room.

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Later, when the game was over and the others had all left, Jack cornered Bobby.

"So, that little stunt you all pulled today? Thanks," said Jack.

"No worries, mate. That's what friends are for, right?"

"What gave it away?"

Bobby shrugged. "Call it a mixture of brilliant deductive reasoning and a woman's intuition."

"Lucy."

Bobby smiled an acknowledgement. "But don't you worry, Jack. You've done a good job covering your tracks. No one besides the members of 'Operation Couch Potato' is the wiser. "

"Couch Potato?" Jack made a face.

"Myles' idea. Said we needed something that was the complete opposite of romance, in case anyone overheard despite our best efforts to keep it under wraps. Sometimes he pulls his weight, that one."

Jack chuckled, both at Bobby's joke and a little bit in relief that their co-workers and closest friends were now unofficially in-the-know. He had never kept a secret like this from his best friend before and was glad to have that burden off his shoulders. Unfortunately, because everything had to be kept quiet, this brief conversation would be the most they could ever talk about it, but simply knowing that their friends supported them meant a lot.

"So, um... will this Operation be deployed again?" asked Jack.

Bobby noted the hopefulness in his friend's voice. He made a sound of tsk-tsk. "You'll get no secrets out of me, Sparky. Mum's the word. I know nothing, I see nothing..."

"All right, I get it," Jack said. Bobby's over-the-top response meant the answer was yes. Jack grabbed his jacket. "Bye, Crash."

"See ya, Sparky."

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AUTHOR'S NOTE – So, what happens now? One hint - it's not a specific case, since this AU storyline of Jack and Sue dating takes place during the events of season 3 (famous actor shadows the team, Sue's friend in an abusive marriage, Jonathan with amnesia, etc.). You'll see what I mean in Chapter 4…