Chapter 6
They looked at each other, tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
"You wanted to talk?" he said abruptly.
Through her hurt, she could see he was uncomfortable. It hurt even more to realize she was the one making him uncomfortable.
She drew in a deep breath. "About yesterday…did you mean it, Bobby? Did you" she asked quietly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he responded determined to be as obtuse as possible. He knew once he admitted his feelings for her, everything would be different.
"Stop it, Bobby!" she demanded. "You know what I'm talking about! It's as much on your mind as it's on mine. Otherwise you wouldn't be acting like this."
Silence was his response.
She could see he wasn't going to make it easy for her. She took a deep breath. "Yesterday, you kissed me." Her mouth twisted in a funny smile. "And I kissed you."
"I told you it was a mistake!" he responded his voice strained.
"A mistake?" she said in disbelief.
"Yes, a mistake!" he insisted. "I should never have let it happened," he said tensely. "I lost control."
"If you lost control, so did I," she pointed out. "I didn't stop you, Bobby. Did you think about that?" She closed the gap between them. "How long, Bobby? How long have you felt this way?" she asked softly placing her hand on his arm. "Why didn't you tell me?"
With her touch, the tight rein he had on his emotions snapped.
"How could I tell you anything when my best friend has given every indication he's fallen for you?" he blurted. "What kind of man makes love to his best friend's girl?" he said disgusted with himself.
He looked at Sue squarely in the eye. "I thought I could pretend that kiss never happened but I can't. I'm not that much of a man. I'm asking for a transfer." Without giving Sue a chance to respond, he stormed out of the room nearly knocking over his team members in his haste to reach the elevator.
Lucy and Tara stared at each in dismay. "What happened?" asked Tara.
At that moment, an obviously upset Sue hastily left the conference room heading towards the bullpen. Again, the two women stared at each, then quickened their pace. Something was definitely up.
By the time they got to the office, Sue was seated at her desk, pretending to be deep in her work. Myles, Jack and D were staring at her.
Jack's attention shifted to the women. "What happened?" he signed.
"No clue," Lucy signed. "I'll find out."
Lucy approached her friend and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Sue?" she asked in concern.
Reluctantly Sue looked up. The strain of her conversation with Bobby was clearly evident on her face.
"Is everything all right?" asked Lucy.
"Everything's fine," Sue replied plastering a fake smile on. "Just a headache."
She looked up at Jack's presence next to her desk. "It seems to be my week to tell people where to go," he smiled. "If you're not feeling well, go home, Sue. There's nothing here that won't be here tomorrow." He looked at her in concern. "Go."
She stared at him and reluctantly nodded her head. "Thanks."
As she gathered her things, Lucy asked, "Will you be okay by yourself?"
She nodded, "I'll be fine. I think I just need to get some sleep." She gave a half-hearted flick of her hand and left.
It was very quiet in the bullpen.
"Will somebody tell me what the heck's going on here?" demanded D as soon as he knew Sue wasn't coming back. "I've never seen Sue so upset."
The two women shook their heads.
"Haven't a clue," Lucy claimed. "Tara and I were getting out of the elevator when Bobby came storming out of the conference room. A minute later we spotted Sue coming out of the same room looking upset so we followed her in here."
"There is definite discord within our previously harmonious group," commented Myles.
Lucy rolled her eyes. "You think?" she asked sarcastically.
"And I think whatever it is began yesterday if not earlier."
"You think?" This time Lucy's tone was curious. What had she missed?
"Yesterday Bobby went home not feeling well. Bobby never sick." Myles began ticking off his observations. "He didn't want to go on that interview with Sue this morning which is very strange because normally he would jump at the chance. They come back and they're not talking to one another. Tara and Lucy spot Bobby coming out of the conference room. It appears he is very upset. A moment later Thomas comes out from the same room also upset and when she comes in here, she pretends everything is fine while looking positively abysmal. You don't need to be a rocket scientist to put the facts together," he said a trifle pompously.
A dismayed silence followed Myles' summary.
"Yeah," Tara slowly agreed. "Bobby has been acting a little strange since yesterday." She glanced at Lucy. "But what's the problem?"
Lucy denied any knowledge. "I have no idea. How about you, Jack?"
Throughout the whole exchange, Jack had been silent absorbing the series of events leading to Sue's early departure from work as presented by Myles. Bobby had been more pre-occupied of late. And yesterday…yesterday, he was totally out of it. Jack thought maybe something reminded Bobby about Darcy and he became depressed about the break up. But thinking back, it seemed to coincide with Sue's announcement that she'd been asked to apply for that position in New York. Oh, Bobby put on a good front, but he could sense his best friend was unhappy. But what did it have to do with Sue?
"Huh...what?" asked Jack his stream of thought interrupted by Lucy.
"Bobby," reminded Lucy. "Has he said anything about Sue?"
Jack shook his head. "Not a word."
Lucy sighed. "Well? What now?"
"Well somebody better find out what happened and fix it and fix it soon. Otherwise it'll be extremely uncomfortable in this office until Bobby and Sue settle their differences," remarked Myles.
It was one of the few times, when the team unanimously agreed with Myles.
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