Every Dark Cloud

A/N: It took a long time in the making—like ninety million drafts (a slight exaggeration but it seemed like it!). Thank you to everyone who read this. Only one more chapter to go and we're done. Comments are always appreciated.

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Chapter 9

"Sure you won't come home?" Lucy inquired as she gathered her things. "I could stay and you could sleep in your bed for a change. I know Levi would be one happy puppy if you came home."

"I appreciate the offer," Sue replied as she scratched his favorite spot, "but I want to be here when Bobby wakes up. Thanks anyway."

Lucy's gaze flitted from her roommate to the still form on the bed. In the past two days it had become apparent that Sue's feelings for Bobby had morphed into something more than friendship. Exactly how much more she didn't know but she hoped Bobby reciprocated those feelings and would act upon them. He would be a fool if he didn't but you could never tell with guys.

"He'll wake up soon. I just know it."

"I hope so."

"I know he will," she said decisively. Lucy held out her hand for Levi's leash. "Sure now?"

"Positive."

"Then we'll see you tomorrow. Make sure you get some sleep."

"I will. And Lucy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks…for everything."

"Hey, that's what friends are for."

With a tug at the leash, Lucy and Levi were gone.

Sighing, Sue swiveled back to resume her post beside Bobby's bed. When was he going to wake up? she worried. A tiny niggling doubt reappeared every time she was alone. Forty-eight hours had passed since the Aussie agent had been admitted to the hospital. Forty-eight hours of people coming and going. Forty-eight hours of watching and waiting and hoping. What if…what if…No! she couldn't…no, wouldn't think like that. This was a test of her faith, she decided.

"I'm not going to give up and neither are you," Sue whispered resolutely. "You're going to wake up and when you're better, we'll finish that discussion we started at the cabin." She paused as she thought about the events of the past few days. "It isn't, you know, not for me and I think, not for you."

Propinquity couldn't make your heart flutter with a look, she had decided, nor would it make your skin tingle with a touch. And surely it wouldn't form that lump in her throat at the thought of a future without Bobby. No, she thought determinedly. There would be a future…one with Bobby.

A future with Bobby, she marveled at the idea. Funny how a person's perspective could change so drastically from one heartbeat to the next, she smiled. All it had taken was one…

Startled, she stared at the hand in hers. What had just happened? Did she imagine…

There! There it was again…weak but a definite squeeze! Dark green eyes flew up to see a hint of blue-grey peeping through fluttering lashes.

"Bobby?" She moved closer one hand reaching to caress his face. "Can you hear me? I'm here."

Eyes she thought she might never see again opened.

"Hey, sleepyhead," she uttered through the tears that suddenly appeared. "It's about time you woke up."

His lips moved.

The movement was so subtle she couldn't read his lips but then she didn't need to. She knew what he was thinking…she had always known from the day they met.

"I'll be here as long as you want me."

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"And that's that," declared Jack as he hit the print button. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair as he waited.

"Next time, let's not volunteer to help out with the paperwork," Myles groused glancing at the clock. It was nine-thirty. "I had no idea these reports for Randy took so much time to do. It's a wonder Thomas has time to do anything else."

"You're not kidding," Jack responded as he collected the pages from the printer. "I thought the high-ups issued a memo saying this would be the year to streamline the process and eliminate unnecessary paperwork." He tapped the sheets carefully to align them precisely.

"This is the government," Myles snorted. "Have they ever done either?"

"You've got a point there," agreed Jack wryly as he neatly clipped the report and inserted into a folder. "Done."

"Good. We can turn this in to the little tyrant tomorrow and let him know where he can put this report."

"On his desk?"

"Oh, I was thinking more in line with a part of the anatomy that one of the celestial bodies may not be quite so illuminated."

"I've never heard it quite described like that before." Jack's attempt at a reproving glare failed miserably since his thoughts paralleled Myles' one exactly. "Must be that Harvard education."

Myles smirked. "Feel like grabbing a bite to eat?" he asked reaching for his overcoat.

"I was planning on stopping by the hospital," Jack shared shrugging on his jacket.

"I went by this afternoon."

"And?"

"No change."

Jack sighed deeply. "I'm beginning to strongly dislike those words."

"You're not the only one."

"Well, let's…." Jack felt the vibration of his cell and looked at the ID.

"What?"

"It's Sue," he replied tersely flipping open the phone. "Yeah?"

"He's awake! Bobby's awake!"

"He's awake?" he repeated in disbelief.

"Who?" demanded Myles. "Who's awake? Bobby?"

Jack held up his hand.

"Bobby's awake?" he echoed.

"Yes!"

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A/N: Just the epilogue to go. Hopefully, it'll be posted much sooner than this one.