Seeing is Believing – Chapter 4
By Victorian Cowgirl

Tara arrived at the office early and placed party invitations on everyone's desk. When Sue and Lucy arrived, Lucy did an excellent job of being surprised about the party. "This looks like fun Tara. I will definitely be there."

"You I can go together Lucy." Sue replied fingering her invitation. Even though she was talking to Lucy, Tara noticed that her eyes drifted over to Jack's desk. Jack was looking at his invitation and lifted his head in time to caught Sue's glance in his direction.

Lucy looked unsettled. She wasn't sure what to say. She needed some excuse, but what. Myles came to her rescue. "Actually Lucy, I was hoping you would go with me to the party?"

All talk in the bullpen ceased. Everyone was looking between Myles and Lucy with wide eyes. Lucy herself looked a little amazed. "Thank…thank you, Myles. I would love to go with you." Lucy responded. They had talked about this very thing last night after they left Tara's. They both needed to be there earlier in the day to take care of last minute details with the food and decorations anyway, but Lucy didn't know he would ask her in front of the entire bullpen.

Sue was not sure what was going on. Lucy and Myles? That was something she didn't expect. "Well, I guess I'll just go to the party alone." She thought, "Unless…" She let her eyes move once more to Jack who was leaning against his desk. She was caught off guard when he met her gaze and held it. He had a small smile on his lips.

"What?" She signed.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Jack signed in response, motioning toward the door with his head. Sue nodded and followed Jack out the door.

As soon as they were out the door, Lucy was at Tara's desk. "What's do you think? Is he going to ask her to be his date for the party?"

Tara shrugged. "I don't know, but if he is, our plan might be easier than we think."

Out in the hallway, Jack was facing Sue, suddenly unsure about what he was doing.

"Is something wrong, Jack? You look nervous."

"Nothing's wrong, I just…I…" Jack was sure he was looking like an idiot. "Sue, will you go to Tara's party with me?" The words rushed out of his mouth and he visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He'd done it.

Sue just looked at Jack. "Did you just ask me on a date?" She was positive she'd read his words wrong.

Jacked nodded, "I did just ask you out on a date. Will you?"

Sue smiled, "I would love to go with you Jack, very much."

Jack beamed and pulled her into a hug. It lasted about two seconds before he remembered they were standing in a hallway of the Hoover Building. He couldn't believe he'd finally asked the woman of his dreams out and she had said yes, and for a date on Valentine's Day no less.

Later in the day, Bobby approached Jack. "Hey Jack, do you wanna go play a couple of games of pool and grab some take out after work?"

"That sounds good to me." Jack said.

"Great." Bobby gave Tara a wink as he made his way back to his desk.

Bobby leaned over the pool table to line up his shot. "So mate, what were you and the lovely Miss Thomas discussing out in the hall earlier today?"

"We…um…I…" Jack looked decidedly nervous.

"Come on Jack, it's me." He took his shot and the ball sailed into the pocket. "Come on, did you finally break down and tell Sue that you love her?"

Jack straightened. "No, but I did ask her to be my date for Tara's party."

Bobby thrust his pool cue in the air. "Woo hoo! That's a step in the right direction. Good on ya, mate."

"Getting him to write Sue a love letter might not be so hard after all." Bobby thought. "Are you going to tell her you love her at the party?"

Jack was studying his next shot. "I don't know. You know I'm not very good with words. Every time I try to tell her, I can't get the words past my mouth. Then I end of saying something totally ridiculous and backing off again."

Bobby couldn't believe this, he was being handed the perfect opening for his part in Tara's plan. "Well, you could always write her a letter. You know write down everything you love about Sue, tell her what's in your heart that way and then give it to her. I know from personal experience that a love letter can sometimes say more than any spoken words."

Jack took his shot and missed. "You know Bobby, that's not a bad idea. You've received a love letter? From who, I know Darcy was a writer, but she didn't strike me as the overly romantic type."

"Nope, the letter wasn't from Darcy. I've come to realize that I loved Darcy, but she wasn't the one I was meant to be with."

Bobby had shared his feelings about Darcy leaving and the concert he went to with Tara. Jack, being so clueless in love himself, hadn't had any advice for his friend. But now, it seemed that Bobby had things well in hand. "You told me not long ago that the one you were meant to be with was… are you saying that Tara wrote you a love letter?"

Bobby was grinning like a love sick schoolboy. "She did. I told her how I felt last night and instead of telling me she loved me out loud, she gave me a letter that she had written." He slapped Jack on the back. "She loves me, Jack, Tara loves me."

"I'm happy for you Bobby. You two make a great couple."

"Thanks, mate. Now you just need to make a move and you'll be as happy as me."

"I hope so, Bobby. I'm just afraid Sue doesn't feel anything deeper than friendship or me."

"Jack, mate, everyone can see that you love her and that she loves you and why neither of you can see it is beyond me. Tell her how you feel, Jack. Do it in a love letter if that's what works best for you, but you need to tell her."

"You're right. Will you help me write it tonight? Maybe I will give it to Sue on Saturday."

"Of course I'll help ya mate." Bobby assured his friend. "And I will make sure Sue gets it on Saturday." Bobby smiled to himself as they left the pool hall.