Gee, I can't believe how much time has gone by since I posted anything useful here on FF net, besides the odd comment on other stories. If you're still following this story: thank you for your perseverance! If you're not following it; I got you into reading this now, didn't I? Anyway, long overdue: a new post. Thank you for reading, and you're welcomed to leave feedback, if only to bash me for not updating....

oOo

It had always been like this, the leading and leaded. Sometimes she was the first, sometimes the latter. But never left out. She had been captured by him quite shortly after she had joined the FBI about four years ago. A sensational feeling of finding someone who challenged you to bring out the best you got, where others never did and who took you for who you are. No strings attached, no judgements, but acceptance and understanding. His willingness to learn American Sign Language, the language of her heart and what she considered to be her 'native tongue' contributed to that.

That capture smouldered into more during the time they spent together on various cases, until she finally could no longer deny she was no longer 'captured', but head over heels in love with her mentor and training Agent. She loved him for who he was, for what he did for her, had done and would be doing.

The fact that Jack Hudson was quite a treat in the old looks department was a very nice bonus to that, she had to admit. But it would always be second best.

Months after she had very nearly moved away to New York and accept the job offer, thus effectively having everything she had grown to know and love in DC left behind –a sacrifice she found herself unable to make- it had seemed the momentum of 'coming closer', with Jack very nearly letting her know his feelings for her, had actually backfired. Instead of what she had hoped that would have happened, it seemed he had backed away from getting more personal. Backed away from her, except for work-related purposes.

Desperation almost set in as the casual, informal day-to-day routine returned into their relationship. The fire dying down, before it got the chance to flare up. Sue had realised that waiting for him to make the first move was not the desired way to achieve something her heart and mind longed for. She had sworn to take matters in her own hands.

Sue let her horse halt near a few recreational benches that were located just down a steep slope, at the shores of a small lake. She swung her leg over her horse's back and jumped from the saddle. She took the reins and tied them to a nearby tree. Jack did the same. She took off her helmet and gloves, and unclipped the girth to remove the saddle. She placed it on the ground, near her helmet. She sat down on the bench, and patted on the wood for him to join her. He sat down next to her. "PLACE HERE OFTEN YOU?"

"PLACE BEAUTIFUL, BECOME SETTLE (peaceful) ME THINK, (I find it beautiful and peaceful here)" she said.

He let his eyes wander over the Autumn-coloured trees, the still waters of the lake in front of him, the leafs of the birches, beeches and oaks colouring the water with a multiplicity of shades of red, orange and yellow. The hard-blue sky reflecting in the water, copying the view he had, only then reversed. He looked at Sue again.

Her eyes were soft, her gaze peaceful as she took in the scenery, revelling in the beauty of it, her mind a million miles away, a content smile dancing on her lips. She blinked slowly, and Jack found himself having his breath caught halfway by the beauty of her sitting there.

If it was something she had taught him, it was to be amazed by the wonders of the world, the beauty of things. And that appearances could indeed be deceptive when it came to judging people. Up until then, it had been too easy for him to dismiss those feelings, to look at the world but not noticing things right in front of him, taking them for granted. Work-focused, but in the process of failing to enjoy life as well. Until she had walked into his life and changed him for the better.

"Uhm, Jack, staring is still considered to be rude," she scolded.

"It is?" He feigned innocence.

Sue chuckled, "you were practically undressing me, mister." He arched his brows and a devious smile split his face from side to side. "Now there's a thought…" She swatted his upper arm. "Jack!"

"After all," he continued, "you said I would like the rest now we're here."

She took his hands in hers and pulled him to his feet as she got up too. "Come."

"Whereto?" Even though he was used to handle things, this time he didn't mind leaving control over to her. There had been a significant change in her demeanour lately. She seemed determined, and their 'dinner dates' had become much more than just having something to eat together. She made him stop once they were near the water. She looked straight into his eyes, something smouldering in the depths of hers. "I can't keep myself restrained anymore, Jack," she said. "I don't want to anymore either." She pulled him closer and tilted her head a little, her face inches from his until her lips captured his in an enthralling kiss. Her tongue was demandingly on his lips, he was a little surprised at the boldness of her move, but he enjoyed it nevertheless and he granted her access to roam where he had longed for, but never took the necessary steps to achieve. She explored his mouth, her tongue ravaging his, and the passion she shared through her kiss ravaged the rest of his body and soul. When they parted for air, breathing heavily, he noticed her usually shy looks had gone. She looked almost daring he thought, wanting me to react.

"That," he said, "was something I liked indeed." He smiled, narrowed his eyes a little as he mustered the blonde that had stolen his heart standing before him. "What did I do to deserve it?" Sue cast her eyes downward for just a fraction of a second.

"Going with me today, the times before and for a whole lot more," she answered. "But one of them is the fact I would have had to wait until the end of times for you to finally say what you had been meaning to say a little over a year ago."

"So what you're saying is I was a little slow on the uptake?" he said.

"Not the uptake of things, the aftermath…..you never finished what you started to say," Sue said, and even though she tried to suppress it he could hear the faintest of crack in her voice as she said it.

"I'm sorry," he began. But she pressed him against a nearby oak, he felt the ribs of the wood on his back as Sue laid her head on his chest and just held him close. He couldn't help but to press his nose in her hair and inhale her scent, his eyes closed, feeling her warm body completing and matching every curve in his body.

"Don't say sorry," she nearly whispered. "Just say the words that I need to hear from you." She looked back up again in his eyes, her gaze probing. Her fire burning within, her hopes and expectations smouldering in them.

The memories of that hapless attempt in the hallway came back to him, and he had to smile. What he couldn't express then, he could now. Of that he had become confident. Today had proved once again just how much things had changed between them. The loaded atmosphere of cautiously dancing around each other, not willing to go in first, the anxiety of being wrong; it had disappeared ever since she had become more confident and determined in their relationship.

He smiled at her. "I may not be dressed as the knight in white shining armour, but everything else the cliché says is true." He leaned over and his lips found her forehead where he pressed the most gentle of kisses on. Sue closed her eyes when he did, feeling the warmth radiating from that tiny spot throughout her body. It did the trick more than any stormy kiss would have done. "TIME FINISH TELL YOU ME WANT, (I wanted to tell you then)" he said. "fs. MYLES COME ME SCARED TINY FINISH (When Myles came in I got cold feet)." He let his hand trail down her cheek, down her neck. "FINISH TIME ALL TELL YOU ME WANT fs. ILY (All this time I had wanted to tell you that I love you)"

Sue pulled him close, her hands cupping his face as she took full advantage of the fact he wouldn't mind. As they parted again, she was smiling. "That wasn't that difficult was it?"

Jack threw back his head as he laughed. "SIGN, SAY SAME-SAME," he said. "It seems to be easier the second time round. In any language." She held his hand, content and confident in what they had was real. "You want to go back?" she asked after a while.

"I'm perfectly okay staying here, with you."

"I know, but we rented the horses for three hours, they still have to get us back."