10

It Had to be You

A/N: K+--situation delicately implied

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Chapter 28

Despite the genial facade he'd continued while Janice bustled around to get some dinner for them, the image of the killer's hands around Sue's neck wouldn't leave his mind.

He'd failed her. He hadn't been able to protect her. The suspect had slipped through his fingers and reached Sue. It was only sheer luck that Jack and he had arrived in time to prevent the killer from adding Sue to his list of victims. Would she ever forgive him? He didn't know if he could forgive himself.

"You don't like my cooking?"

Janice's voice broke into his disturbing thoughts.

"Um…yea, I do," he fumbled. "The food's wonderful," he praised as he scooped a small portion onto his fork.

"Usually you have to taste the food to form that opinion."

"Well, I'm sure it would be," he said apologetically as he put his fork down. He gave up all pretenses at eating. "If I had an appetite."

"Wanna talk about it?"

He shook his head. "I'll be fine."

"The hell you will," she said bluntly. His expression gave away the dark thoughts plaguing of his mind.

He blinked at her frankness. "Janice, I appreciate what you're trying to do but…"

"No buts!" she said emphatically. "I could always tell when Harry was brooding and let me tell you, Bobby Manning, you're brooding." She looked contemplatively at him for a moment. "Listen...I know you don't want it but I'm going to give you some great unsolicited advice."

Head tilted, Bobby waited.

"Leave it alone."

"I don't understand."

"I'll bet anything that you're thinking about what might've happened if you didn't show up at Mark's office when you did," she hypothesized. Bobby had filled her in a few brief details. "Am I right?"

Reluctantly he nodded.

"Well, stop it! Sue's here…you're here and that creep's not. He's behind bars where he belongs."

"I know but…"

"No buts," she said firmly. "Whatever you're imagining didn't happen! You hear that? It didn't happen! "

"That's what I keep telling myself but it doesn't seem to be helping."

"Well, if I hadn't given you my quota of advice for the day, I'd suggest something that would probably take your mind off of what you're thinking about and more. For that matter, it'd probably help Sue, too."

"What…?"

She shook her head. "I'm not saying. However, being a smart guy, I think you'll figure it out sooner or later." She stared meaningfully at Bobby.

"I still don't know what…"

"Say," interrupted Janice ignoring his words. She glanced at her wristwatch, "Sue's been in that shower for a while. I think one of us should check on her to see if she's okay."

"I'll go," he offered rising from his seat. Immediately, he became flustered when he realized the possible scenario he could walk into. "That is…perhaps…"

"Fine," said Janice. "You do that. I'll just clean up a bit here. And Bobby?"

"Yea?"

"It's been a long day. I think I'm gonna turn in as soon as I'm done here."

Bobby looked at her speculatively. What was she trying to tell him?

"Go check on Sue," she said hoping he got the message.

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Out of pure habit, Bobby knocked on the bathroom door. "Sue?" he called out as he put his hand on the knob. The handle turned—the door was open. Pushing the door slowly, he stopped when he caught a glimpse of Sue standing in front of the mirror. She was clutching a towel around her still wet body staring at her reflection the bruises on her neck clearly visible.

Bobby came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "Sue?" he asked gently.

"I was…I was drying myself and I saw…I saw…these, " she explained haltingly as her fingers touched the marks on her throat. She turned to face him. "I thought I could pretend it didn't happen but when I saw…when I saw…"

The emotions of the past few days burst through the tenuous control she had and spilled into a torrent of tears.

Bobby hugged her fiercely whispering again and again, "I'm sorry…I'm sorry," as he rained kisses on her hair…on her face.

Through her tears and the warmth of his hands on her body, Sue realized what she wanted…what she needed. Her lips sought Bobby's and he hungrily returned her kisses. Her fingers began unbuttoning his shirt. This time he didn't stop her. It was what he needed, too.

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"I think I should pay Janice's water bill this month," Bobby reminded Sue with a smile as they lay in bed spooned together. "It was a very long shower."

"Mmm? You said something?" she sleepily murmured looking over her shoulder. Her eyes were half-closed.

He chuckled softly as he placed a kiss on her cheek. "Go to sleep."

As though she heard him, Sue snuggled in his embrace and closed her eyes. She was exhausted. In a matter of minutes, she was asleep.

Bobby gently stroked her arm. Those few minutes when he didn't know if they'd be in time were the longest of his life. With each passing minute, he could feel his desperation to reach her intensify. He wanted Sue…he needed her in his life to make it complete.

Janice was right—it was up to them to make new memories…better memories so the ugly ones would be chased away. And tonight was a start.

Lacing his fingers through hers, he closed his eyes lulled to sleep by the warmth of her body next to his. They would make plans tomorrow.

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He was running…running as hard as he could down the corridor of the shelter. It seemed to stretch for endless miles. He heard her screaming.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" he yelled trying to run faster. The killer turned as Bobby burst through the door grinning like The Joker as Sue's lifeless body dropped to the floor.

"No!' he shouted. "No!"

"Bobby! Bobby!" A voice penetrated the horror of his nightmare. "Wake up! Wake up!"

Heart pounding, he stared at Sue's concerned face hovering over his. As the seconds ticked by, he gradually became aware of his surroundings. He was in the O'Brien house…in Sue's bedroom. He sat up slowly.

"Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"Seven thirty."

"Seven thirty!" He noted she was already dressed. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you needed the rest. You haven't slept much the past couple of days," she pointed out.

"I take it you're not going in to work today?" he asked. His heartbeat had resumed its normal rate.

"Janice left a note to say to take it easy today."

"Nice boss."

"What about you?"

"I have to go in. However, I am not expected any time soon."

She could still see the horror of his nightmare in his eyes. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Bobby? Was it about yesterday?"

He didn't pretend to misunderstand her.

"I dreamed…I dreamed…you were…you were…" He couldn't bring himself to say the words. "I was too late."

"Oh, Bobby," she said as she gathered him in her arms. For once, she was comforting him. "It was all a bad dream," she said softly as she stroked his hair. "I'm here and I plan on being here for a long time." They sat there in silence until she felt his tension in his body ease.

"Did you say something?" she asked as she pulled away to see his lips. She smoothed away the persistent lock of hair that fell across his forehead.

"I said I want you with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I want you with me," he repeated. "Yesterday just brought home how much you mean to me."

"What are you saying?"

"I can't live without you. I won't live without you. Marry me."

Sue became very still as she contemplated his proposal. She loved him with her heart and soul but they'd only known each other for two handfuls of days. Much as it pained her, she had to say it. She took a deep breath.

"Bobby," she began, "my heart is telling me to say yes."

He noticed the hesitation in her manner. "However…"

"However, I said yes once and look how that turned out," she pointed out ruefully.

"I'm not Jeff."

"I'm not suggesting you are. It's just that my head is saying slow down."

"My head and heart are saying to never let you go."

"Oh, Bobby," she whispered her eyes moist with tears. "I don't want to you lose you but I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet. Do you understand?"

"I do." He gathered her hand in his. "As long as your final answer is a yes, then I can wait." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Since you've turned down my proposal of marriage …for now," he added before she could voice her remonstration, "what say you move in with me?"

"Move in with you?"

"I know my place is small but we could look for another apartment," he offered. "I've been wanting to find a larger place but there didn't seem to be a good enough reason to do so…until now."

"Would it hurt your ego if I said no to that, too?"

"Probably. However, I'll live. It's a good thing I know you love me…or so you say," he teased gently.

"I do…I really do but I'm not ready for that either."

He sighed. "So far I'm batting zero for two. Is there something I can suggest and you would say yes?"

"Well," she said as she lightly stroked his lips, "there is something you could suggest and I'm ninety-nine point nine per cent certain I'll say yes." Her finger trailed down his jaw to his chest. "That is…if you don't mind going in to the office a little later." She looked expectantly at him.

"I don't mind at all," he said as he pulled her on top of him.

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Mark Dancy stood to the side while a customer left the shop. The morning rush was over.

"Father Dancy!" greeted Howie with a wave and a smile. "Good to see you! To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"Good morning, Howie," Mark returned. "Is Sue here?"

"Janice gave her the day off. Seems she wasn't feeling too good last night so the boss told her to stay home."

It was apparent Janice hadn't shared the details of the previous night with him.

"I'm sorry to hear that. May I speak to Janice?"

"I'll see if she can spare a minute. She's in the back taking Sue's place." Howie disappeared into the back room and popped out almost immediately. "She said give her a chance to finish what she's doing and she'll be right with you."

"Thanks."

"Would you like a cup of coffee while you're waiting?" offered Howie.

"Sounds good."

"One cup of coffee coming right up." Howie poured a cup. "Here you go."

As Mark reached for his wallet, Howie held up his hand. "It's on the house, Father."

"Your boss won't like it."

"It was her idea," he smiled. "Now…if you want a pastry, that you have to pay for."

Mark chuckled. "A wise businesswoman."

"You talking about me?" asked Janice as she bustled out from the back. "I heard the word wise."

"Which so aptly describes you, Janice," agreed Howie. He stood there smiling at Mark and Janice.

"Howie?"

"Yes, Janice?"

"Don't you need to do something?"

"Why…no," he said shaking his head. "I'm…oh!" Suddenly it dawned on him that they wanted him to leave. "Oh, I get it. You want to talk to Janice in private. I gotcha. Never let it be said that Howie Fine didn't know how to take a hint. I think I'll go clean up in the back."

Janice turned to Mark with a rueful expression. "Sometimes I have to remind myself he means well."

"He certainly does,"

"So…you came to see Sue?

He looked worried. "I wanted to see how she was after last night. I left a message earlier but she hasn't returned my call so I thought I'd pop over here and see how she's doing."

"She's probably keeping herself busy to take her mind off of everything," Janice reasoned.

"Do you think she'd mind if I stopped by? To apologize?"

Janice was taken aback. "Apologize for what?"

"It was my stupidity that gave the killer the opportunity to silence her."

"Now who's being stupid?" retorted Janice. "You were needed and left Sue with an FBI agent on guard. How were you supposed to know your handyman was going to knock out the agent and try to kill Sue?"

"I still feel guilty."

"Contrary to what you may think, you don't know everything, Mark, not even in your line of business," she said dryly.

"So I've been told."

"Don't beat yourself up," she advised. "If it makes you feel better, go and see her. I'm sure Sue will tell you she doesn't blame you."

Mark pondered her suggestion and checked his watch. "Maybe I will. Thanks, Janice, for the coffee…and the advice."

"Any time."

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