12

It Had to be You

Disclaimers: I forgot to include these in Chapter 1. The ST characters aren't mine but all the others are.

----------

Chapter 2

"Ginny's coffee kept you up last night?" asked Don Webber as he noticed Bobby covering a yawn. "You look a little tired."

"Not the coffee," replied Bobby, "a damsel in distress."

An eyebrow rose. "A damsel in distress?" echoed an interested Webber. "On the way to your hotel?"

"In a manner of speaking."

Webber looked puzzled. "In a manner of speaking? What the hell does that mean?" As he stared at Bobby, an idea formed in his mind. "Are you pulling my leg?" he demanded suspiciously.

"Would I do that to you?" said Bobby in feigned innocence.

"You often did," was the wry reply as Webber recalled Bobby's penchant for pranks.

"This is not a joke," promised Bobby.

"So what happened?"

"I was on my way to the car when I met a woman."

"On the way to the car?" Webber said in astonishment. "You met her in the building? The parking area?"

"The elevator to be precise."

"Someone was attacked in the elevator?" asked the aghast man thinking the worst. "In my building?"

"Nothing like that," Bobby responded attempting to calm his appalled friend. "I got in the elevator and a woman was in there crying. She didn't look in any condition to drive so I took her home. End of story."

"Let me get this straight," said Webber. "This woman got into a car with a perfect stranger?" he questioned in disbelief.

"Being an excellent judge of character, she could see my honesty and the desire to help on my face," responded Bobby. "Plus perhaps the fact that I showed her my FBI ID may have convinced her I wasn't a serial killer."

"She must be a trusting soul because even FBI agents have been known to do bad things."

Bobby shrugged.

At that moment, the meeting facilitator entered and plopped his briefcase on the table next to the lectern. People started to trickle to their seats.

"I'm getting the details after this meeting," Webber alerted him.

----------

"You look tired," commented Terry when he came to check on Sue's progress. "Coming down with that bug that's going around?"

"I'm fine," she assured him.

"Sure you are," he said wryly noting the shadows under her eyes and her pale face. "Is that why you look as though you didn't sleep a wink last night?"

There was no response.

"Go home early."

"It's Saturday. I can't. We're short-staffed, remember?" she said in surprise. There were several functions to prep for including a large dinner that night. People were scurrying about frantically trying to get everything together.

"Better than having you fall asleep in the crème brulee," he pointed out dryly.

She looked affectionately at her boss. Despite his gruff exterior and reputation as a tough taskmaster, in the three years she worked at the hotel she knew he was both those things plus a thoughtful and considerate boss who looked after his workers.

Jesse came up and waved to get her attention.

"Yes?"

"Jeff's here," he announced. "He wants to see you."

"I'm busy," she said flatly. She walked away and resumed her preparations.

Both Jesse and Terry looked at her in surprise. This was not her usual reaction when her fiancée came by.

"Tell the man she's busy," instructed Terry guessing something was up. "She'll call later." He walked over to his pastry chef and tapped her on the shoulder.

When she looked at him, she could see the concern in his face.

"Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Well, you know where to find me if you want to," he said. He never pushed his employees to confide in him. "Hey!" he shouted when he spotted something he didn't like. "Not like that!" He hurried away to rectify the situation.

Sue silently worked on the tarts in front of her. When she'd reached home last night, she'd sat up for a long time debating what to do. There'd been three messages on her home phone and two more on her Blackberry. She had refused to answer any of them.

After sleeping for a couple of hours, she'd decided to return his ring and call off the wedding. The signs had been here all along but she'd refused to see them. She wanted a husband that she could trust…someone who had eyes only for her.

She felt her Blackberry vibrate. It was probably Jeff. She continued with her prepping.

----------

"Didn't I tell you to go home?" demanded Terry. Already late, he'd sent some of the staff home.

"I didn't hear you."

He snorted. "Don't try to pull that one on me just because you're deaf," he admonished her. "I was facing you…you were looking at me. No excuses."

"I'll leave after I check how the banquet's going," she promised. "Everything's set for the Sunday brunch buffet. Jesse and Maia will be here."

"Good," he said. He put a hand on your arm. "You wanna talk now? I have a few minutes."

She grimaced. "Not yet."

"You know where to find me. See you Tuesday."

She was tired. She'd just take a quick peek upstairs then head home. The elevator doors opened. Sue stepped out and quickly walked towards the ballroom.

"Hi, John. How's everything?" she asked the banquet manager standing by the buffet tables.

"Going well," he replied with a smile. "We'll be closing the line in a few minutes. These FBI people are very good eaters."

She laughed. "That's good! No comment on the quality of the food?"

"Oh, excellent as always," he assured her.

"Terry will be pleased to hear that. Well, I'm going to check the dessert table then head home."

"The boss man letting you run away early?"

"He insisted."

"You deserve it. Have a good evening, Sue."

"Thanks, I will."

Nodding to the servers, she made her way to the dessert table. Smiling in satisfaction she turned to leave and bumped into someone behind her.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she apologized staring at a dark blue tie with yellow ducks. She looked up. "You have…Bobby!"

"I saw you across the way and wanted to see how you are," he explained. "You work here?" He noted the chef's coat she was wearing.

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

"You did the desserts?"

She nodded.

"I ate a tart."

"Did you like it?" It was her specialty.

"Delicious…but I was looking for the chocolate chip cookies," he said his eyes twinkling.

"Not on the menu for tonight."

"Maybe you should consider it."

"I'll make a suggestion to the head chef."

"You do that."

As Sue started to leave, he placed a hand on her arm.

"Are you almost done?" he asked.

"As a matter of fact, my boss said to go home."

"How 'bout we get a drink somewhere?" he suggested. "We could sit and talk. I'd really like to know how you're doing."

"No thanks." She didn't want to talk about Jeff.

"Cup of coffee?" he said instantly.

"No thank you."

"Hot chocolate?"

"No."

"Hot milk?"

She stared at him, her lips twitching. "You are persistent, aren't you?"

"You have to be when you work for the FBI. How 'bout it?"

She was about to refuse when she felt her lips form the word, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay." She looked around at the people mingling. "Don't you have to stay?"

He dismissed her concern. "Nope. I'm off the clock. I'm a free man."

She thought for a moment. "Give me ten minutes to change. I'll meet you outside the delivery entrance of the restaurant."

"Ten minutes," he beamed pleased she had agreed.

He watched as she disappeared out the ballroom doors. If he was lucky, he'd be able to make it through the room without saying good-bye to everyone he knew. But first, he'd better say his farewells to Don and Ginny or he'd never hear the end of it.

"I'm leaving," he told his friends when he'd located them. "Lovely seeing you, Ginny," he said as he kissed her on the cheek. "Be good to her," he said to Webber.

"Going already?" Ginny asked in surprise. "It's still early."

"Still got some packing to do," Bobby fibbed.

"I thought you said your flight was in the afternoon," Webber stated.

"It is."

"Then you've got plenty of time to pack. Something's up," he said suspiciously.

"I don't know what you mean," Bobby replied innocently.

"Oh, leave him alone, Don," scolded Ginny. "What he does is his own business."

"Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do," joked Webber.

"Now that makes me nervous," declared Ginny. "Have a good time, Bobby."

Bobby made his way through the crowd conscious of the time ticking by. He wasn't sure if Sue would wait for him. It had taken him a while to persuade her to meet him. He claimed his coat and headed for the kitchen entrance. As he reached the door, it opened.

"Perfect timing," he declared.

"Are you sure you want to go out with me?" she asked. "I'm not very good company."

"I'm not asking you to entertain me," Bobby stated. "I just want to find out how you're doing. I've been thinking about you all day."

She could see the genuine concern in his eyes. After last night, she did owe him something. "All right. Where would you like to go?"

"How 'bout a walk? I've been sitting all day."

"A walk would be fine."

The pair walked in companionable silence for a while.

"So you work at the restaurant," Bobby began conversationally after he caught her eye.

She nodded.

"How long?"

"About three years."

"Do you like it?"

"I do. I like the people I work with and it's never dull. How 'bout you? Do you like working for the FBI?"

"I do. I, too, like the people I work with for the most part and unlike you, we like it when it's dull."

She looked at him quizzically. "You do?"

"That means all's well in the nation."

"I can see why dull would be a good thing for you."

"A very good thing."

They walked a few more steps when it was Sue's turn to break the silence.

"Thank you again for last night. It was very kind of you."

"Think nothing of it," he said lightly. "It was my good deed for the day."

"I thought you said you were with the FBI, not the Boy Scouts."

"We have similar sterling qualities."

"I do recall the words honest and trustworthy being said last night."

"And we're always prepared," he reminded her.

"Your handkerchief did come in handy," she admitted. "I'll get that back to you as soon as I can."

"Don't bother." He stopped in front of a coffee shop. "How 'bout that cup of coffee? Or would you prefer hot chocolate?" he gestured towards the shop entrance.

"Hot chocolate. Maybe it'll help me sleep tonight."

While Bobby waited for their order, Sue found a table for them. In a minute, he joined her.

"One hot chocolate," he stated as he placed the steaming cup in front of her. He slid into his seat.

"Thank you."

As she waited for her drink to cool, she stared thoughtfully into the cup. It was the first opportunity she had today to think about what happened last night. As she did, the misery she felt came flooding back.

Bobby gazed at his companion's face then dropped to her hands wrapped around her cup. The diamond ring was gone.

"Did you give the ring back?" he asked.

When she didn't respond, he mentally kicked himself—he'd forgotten that she was needed to see his lips. He placed a hand on hers. At the inquiring look in her eyes, he repeated his question.

"Ring?"

"I noticed you had an engagement ring on last night," he shared. "You don't have one on now. Did you give it back?"

"Not yet."

"Any chance it was a misunderstanding?"

The image of Jeff and the unknown woman flashed through her mind. It was very clear what had happened. She shook her head decidedly. "No."

"No second chances?"

"No third or fourth ones either. I may be deaf but I'm not blind." She took a sip of her chocolate.

"So in this case love isn't blind."

"Not any more."

"Good. The bloke doesn't deserve you."

"You don't even know me," she pointed out.

"I'm a trained FBI agent. We form impressions of people based on our keen powers of observation and years of experience," Bobby said solemnly.

"And what's your impression of me?" she asked curiously.

"You're a nice person and a special one at that."

Sue colored slightly at the compliment. "Are FBI agents also trained in flattery?"

"In your case it's the truth," he said sincerely.

He was being so nice he deserved to hear the truth, decided Sue.

"I found clothing on the floor of his apartment," she said abruptly.

Bobby waited.

"Then they came out of the bedroom."

"They?"

"Jeff and a woman."

"Jeff the guy who gave you the ring?"

She nodded.

"He had on a towel…she had on a robe."

"Pretty incriminating."

"That's what I thought."

"What did you do?"

"I left." She contemplated for a few seconds. "What would you have done if you were in my position?"

"The same thing."

"Somehow…that doesn't make me feel any better," she said wryly.

"Not today…not tomorrow but someday," he told her sympathetically.

She gazed meditatively at this man. She might never see him again but she would always remember his kindness. Somehow, in less than twenty-four hours, they'd managed to form a bond strong enough that she would always consider him a friend.

"Nickel for your thoughts."

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"For the hot chocolate?"

"Among other things."

He looked at her thoughtfully Their initial meeting may not have occurred under the most auspicious circumstances but there was something about her…something between them…he could feel it. What was it?

"Like I said last night, if you ever want to talk, you have my number."

She stood up. "It's getting late."

"You car's still in the shop?"

"It'll be ready tomorrow."

"Then I'll take you home. I know the way," he grinned.

----------