Chapter 12

3 months later

Jack narrowed his eyes, raising an eyebrow when Bobby missed his shot again and then turned towards him, smiling a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Crash, is there something you want to tell me?"

"My, my…Spark, being with Sue certainly taught you how not to be subtle." Bobby drawled slowly. "I'm alright…just thinking."

"About?" His friend prompted gently.

"It's not that I'm not happy for you two, please don't get me wrong. I'm just a little jealous." Bobby trailed off. "I went to Darcy's wedding last month."

Jack's face showed his surprise. "Is that why you were so upset lately?"

He shrugged his shoulder. "I guess."

"There is someone out there for you, you know." Jack tried to comfort, relieved when Bobby chuckled.

"That sentence is lame…the thing is, Jack, that I think I already found her, but the timing was off…for both of us."

"And now? Is the timing still bad?"

A small smile appeared on Bobby's face. He remembered the first e-mail he sent her, a month after she left. It was a short one, telling her that Darcy had invited him to her wedding and telling her about the teasing he received from Russell and his friends at the pool when he got there one afternoon to swim, she replied two days afterwards. She told him about her temporary job in New York and that she needed to decide between moving to Maryland or to return home. He, of course, chose Maryland, detailing the benefits of living around the nation's capital. At the end of the e-mail, he wrote down his phone number, hoping that she will use it.

"Crash?"

"Well, I'm meeting her for dinner tomorrow." He couldn't stop his grin. "We'll see what happens."

"After the wedding?" Jack raised his eyebrows.

"What? It's not like you'll need me to hold your hand on your honeymoon." He joked, pulling his cell phone from his pocket. "Hello?"

"Hey Bobby? Are you in the middle of something?"

Bobby smiled, recognizing her voice immediately. "Not at all, hold on." He turned to Jack. "Spark, I'm going outside for a few minutes." Jack nodded his head, toasting his beer in the air. "How's my favorite girl?" He teased, heading outside the bar and leaning against a nearby wall.

"A little sick, actually." She answered, her voice raspy.

"You're not coming." He knew he couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice.

"I'm coming, I have this…thing at noon and I can't miss it."

"A thing?" He couldn't help asking, shaking his head when she didn't elaborate.

"You won't tell me what you planned and I thought I could persuade you to make it as low key as possible, I don't want to be sick in an expensive restaurant."

"I work for the government, remember?" He joked. "I can't afford any expensive restaurants."

"Actually, you never told me about your work." She sounded amused. "How come we never talked about your job?"

"Because it's not that important, I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. What time should I pick you up?"

"That's why I called…"

"And here I was thinking that you just wanted to hear my voice…"

"Bobby…" She chuckled. "I need your home address, is it okay if I'll get there in the afternoon?"

"Not a problem." He gave her the address. "Just give me a ring before."

"Okay, I'll better get some sleep."

"Jay…I can't wait to see you." He felt a little silly, but he said it anyway, because it was the truth.

He heard the smile in her voice. "I can't wait either…"

"Night."

"Goodnight, Bobby."

He hung up the phone, returning to finish their game of pool before heading towards Myles' place where the guys all gathered for the bachelor's party.

What was it about this tradition that the groom couldn't see his wife before the wedding, where did that even come from? He needed to see Sue; he had to because a part of him still thought it was all a dream. He felt someone nudging his ribs and looked up to see his grinning best friend.

"Nervous, Sparky?" The tall Aussie teased, grinning when Jack rolled his eyes.

"It's seems unreal…"

"What? That the lovely Sheila agreed to marry you? Very unreal…"

"Glad that you find it amusing." Jack muttered, smiling when Bobby patted his shoulder.

"You'll do fine, Jack, I'm very happy for you two."

Jack smiled at him, averting his gaze when the music started and Sue appeared. He focused his eyes on hers, grinning and quietly reminding himself to breathe, waiting to hold her in his arms.

She missed the ceremony in church, her bad luck with airlines not improving at all. They didn't lose her luggage this time but a malfunction in the cargo door caused a two-hour delay, that combining with the traffic from the airport caused her to be late. She chose to drive straight to the reception, surprisingly not getting lost on the way. She left her bags in the trunk and gave herself a last look in the rear-view mirror. Her blue dress was new and she liked the elegant way it flowed around her hips, even better, she was sure Bobby will like it as well.

Grinning to herself, she headed outside, entering the semi greenhouse that held the reception. Tables with food and drinks stood dispersed all around the hall, chairs and sofas were scattered among the plants, some isolate behind large bushes. Jay smiled to herself, heading towards the hot drinks, looking for something to sooth her aching throat. People were slowly arriving and she was just about to take a seat on one of the sofas when she saw him.

Her heart beat furiously in her chest before it slowly calmed down, she hid herself behind a large tree and peered towards him. She took in the way their hands were intertwined, fingers laced together. She watched when his eyes seemed to shine as he looked at her, showing adoration and love and underling passion. She didn't even know the woman, but she could see the answer in her eyes, a love without conditions, a matching, flaming desire.

Jay placed her hand on her heart, as if the movement could ease the pain, take the longing away. Not for him…she already realized that Jack Hudson belonged to someone else, but she couldn't help the feeling of jealousy…they were so happy; she could see the light in their eyes. She closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if she could imagine a future with Bobby and then shaking her head, refusing to dream. Whatever happens with Bobby, she will deal with it in time, right now, she needed to say hello and finally meet her best friend's wife.

Taking a deep breath and somehow finding a great dose of courage, she hurried forward, the air rushing from her lungs when she ran into someone, a glass of wine crashing to the floor, half of its content finding the front of her dress. Jay closed her eyes with embarrassment, praying that it was white wine but recognizing the fact that she didn't have that much luck. A warm hand touched her forearm and she opened her eyes with confusion, recognizing the touch. She was surprised to see equally confused green eyes, staring right at her.

"Jay?"

"Bobby?"

A/N - following this story conclusion, I will add a 3 chapters short story that continues with the story of Jay / Bobby. It will be more action / drama packed, but will conclude the story. Enjoy!