He could no longer stand it. He approached her and touched her arm.
"Sue, you are not well." She stared at him for a moment before finally registering his words. "What is wrong?"
"You mean I have not been pulling my weight around here," she replied flatly. "I know."
"That is not what I meant," Jack began, speaking slowly so that she would understand him. "You went through a terrible injury, and need time to recover. We all understand that."
"No." Her determination came through even as she rubbed her head. "I am not getting better, Jack. It is time for me to face it. My doctor has not the slightest clue of what is wrong with me; then again, I cannot explain my symptoms very well. I only stayed so long today in order to tell you that I've made a decision. As my training agent, I thought you had a right to know." She pulled out a piece of paper. "Here is my resignation. Fill this position with someone who can actually be of use to the team."
Jack stared at the official piece of paper. This was a turn of events he had never seen coming. He would quit his job too, if he could no longer see her in the bullpen each day. It also frightened him beyond words; he knew how much Sue loved her job. She had to be seriously ill to give it up so freely.
"Sue, I don't think that this is necessary."
"It is…I simply cannot function. You can see that."
"There has to be a way to help you!" Jack exploded. "I will not settle for anything less! If your doctor is incompetent, then I will help you switch doctors. I am not going to let you give up what you worked so hard for because of one medical professional's cluelessness!"
"I did not even get all the words of your speech," Sue smiled sadly. "But I gather that it was a protest. Jack, do not feel beholden to me. I work for….I mean I used to work for…the F.B. I. Things happen in the field. People get hurt. People die. Think of the good of the country, and replace and forget me."
"Forget you! Can you possibly ask anything harder?" Jack cried out. "Sue," he dropped his voice to a gentle tone, "Now, I am not speaking as your training agent. I made a promise, when you were unconscious, that if you ever awoke I would tell you what I should have told you a long time ago. I…I love you. Those days that I thought I might lose you were the most miserable of my life. I want to marry you…and I want you to be contented, and happy. Watching you like this is tearing me apart. I want to help you. I cannot stand by and be so helpless. Do you understand me now?"
Sue stared at him.
"I must be worse than I thought," she murmured. "I thought that you said that you loved me."
"I do," Jack whispered. When she turned away, he paled. "Is that idea so unpleasant to you?"
Slowly, Sue's eyes turned back towards him.
"There was a time, when I would have thrown my arms around your neck and laughed for joy to see you say those words," she confessed. "But that was another person, another life. I am far too changed now."
"You no longer care for me?" Jack whispered, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.
"I mean that I can scarcely live with myself of late. I am good for nothing, least of all for marriage."
"Don't say that!" Jack cried out, grasping her hand. "You are a beautiful person, both inside and out. I love you, no matter how quiet you are or how many times I have to repeat my statements. I love you. Don't you understand?"
"I wish I could say yes, but Jack, it has to be a no. You will regret this moment forever otherwise."
"If you want to be rid of me," Jack brought his face within a foot of hers. "Then look me straight in the eye and declare that you are not in love with me. Do that, and you will be rid of 2me. Anything else, I consider us engaged, as we should have been long ago.
Sue valiantly tried to voice the words. But she could not. Her face crumpled, and she allowed her face to fall upon Jack's shoulder.
"You hardly know what you are getting yourself into," she murmured.
Agent Hudson clasped her shaking, sobbing form to himself. They stayed that way for a long while, and when they drew back he took one look into her eyes, and then pressed his lips to hers. To his great delight, he found that she returned the caress with equal fervor. After another embrace, he looked at her anew and said,
"Now that we have settled that I have gotten myself into it, as you say," he smiled, "explain to me what you mean. What has been troubling you?"