A/N: I can't believe I actually wrote this chapter, and I'm really publishing it today, when I'm barely conscious... Well, I don't have much to say... Just that I hope you're going to enjoy!
It wasn't a surprise for anyone that a huge group of people was going through what was left of the warehouse, searching for Jack and Steve first of all – alive. Myles and Tom, who were the only two remaining at the place from the task force, which was entering the building, were making sure that they didn't think about finding a body or remains. The rest has split. Dimitrius convinced Sue that staying there wasn't a good idea and she should focus her attention on her daughter instead, take her home when the girl would feel safe and make her feel that everything was fine. It took a moment, but the woman agreed, the point about her child definitely reaching her very well. Bobby left in the ambulance with Darcy just a short while after they got out, and as for now he didn't contact them but they didn't see a problem in it. It was probably the last thing on his mind. Tara accompanied Nancy; she was taken to the hospital as well so her leg could be taken care of, and then Tara was going to help her find a place to stay somewhere in DC for as long as it would be needed. Originally, it was supposed to be Tom on Tippy's place, but it seemed that Nancy wanted to have nothing to do with him, so in order not to make the redhead more upset, Tara agreed to replace him.
Myles sighed heavily, feeling like a horribly long time passed and they still haven't found anything. It definitely wasn't a good sign, but he was pushing away any thoughts that Jack might not be fine. He had to be alright, he wouldn't have done such a thing to Sue again. The thought of him being dead almost crushed her once, and this time it would definitely fully happen, and the man had to be aware of it. What was he thinking, giving Emily to him and running back into the building? If it wasn't for the child in his arms, who really needed to be carried out, he would have followed him. His friendship with Sue might have not started in the best of ways, but he was quite fond of her, as well as Jack and their child – not that he was going to admit it quite openly. He definitely didn't want to see her as devastated as she was earlier again. He was actually ready to push Hudson into the car and drive him straight to his wife the moment he would be found.
He never really voiced it, but he thought it very unfair that the two seemed unable to lead a truly happy life. At first there were those three years, during which they were so obviously in love that the whole building knew about that, but neither one of them seemed willing to take a risk. Whether it was because of the rules, which neither of them wanted to break, or for the fear that it might not work out and ruin their close friendship – something nobody would believe to be possible to happen – or perhaps yet another ridiculous reason, which he couldn't even invent, he had no idea. But he definitely did feel very pleasantly surprised, when he heard that after this whole affair with Sue's promotion, they took the needed step and broke those rules in order to be together. He had to admit, that they hid it very well; yes, there seemed to be glimpses that there might be something going on between them now that he thought of it, but as always he marked it as their usual balancing between friendship and love. He has never been able to find out who was the one to reveal their little secret, and maybe it was for the better – he wasn't sure he would be able to stop himself from hurting this person. But what he absolutely couldn't understand was why Jack agreed to go onto this stupid assignment. Was his career really so important to him, that he wasn't willing to give it up to be with Sue? He didn't really believe it and was convinced there just had to be more to this, but he just didn't have enough information. One thing was certain – it started a huge mess and it seemed to be far from being over.
It was late in the evening, there was still no information about Jack and she was feeling worse with every passing moment. The longer it was taking them to find anything, the lower was the chance that they were going to find him alive and the consciousness was making her sick. She couldn't lose him, not now that she finally got him back, got to see what their life was really meant to be and how wonderful it was. She was happy before, but only during this short period of time when she had what she always dreamed about, a husband and a child, as well as the addition of a nice career, she really felt that her life was complete. She could live without a career, but she definitely couldn't without her family and it just couldn't happen again.
She almost jumped when she felt tugging at the edge of her shirt and glanced down to look straight into her daughter's sad eyes. She sighed; she had some difficult time convincing Emily that it was time for bath and going to bed and wasn't that much surprised to see that she wasn't asleep yet.
"What's going on? You can't sleep?" she asked, lowering herself to the girl's height. Emily just nodded her head. "Bad dreams?" this time the child shook her head. "Something hurts?" another shake of head, and Sue sighed again. "Then what is it, Sweetie?"
"Where's Daddy? Emy didn't get a goodnight kiss..."
Sue swallowed the lump, which formed in her throat and blinked few times to prevent tears from filling her eyes. The whole time she was on the edge of crying, but kept repeating herself that she had to be strong, that she had to get a hold of herself for Emily's sake and now the girl was the reason why she almost lost it. What was she supposed to say to her, especially that there was absolutely nothing certain? She didn't want to lie to her child and the truth was that she had absolutely no idea how to answer this question.
"Look, Sweetie..." she couldn't hear herself, but was pretty sure that her voice was shaking. "He couldn't be here now... Why don't you go to bed, try to sleep and if he comes later, I'll tell him to go to you and give you this goodnight kiss, okay?" Emy didn't look convinced but nodded and Sue walked with her to her bedroom, tucking her back in.
"I love you, Mommy." she said and Sue gave her a teary smile. Her daughter has never really been one to say those words often, she was more showing it or just saying back and Sue had no doubts that this had to be caused by what happened to her.
"I love you too."
A while later she left the bedroom and went to her own, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her tears were now freely flowing down he cheeks, she just couldn't stop it any longer. Was it the way it was supposed to be for the rest of her life? She was always convinced that people were getting what they deserved, and was it really this for the two of them? Did her daughter really not deserve to grow up in a full, loving, happy family? Did she herself really deserve to live in so much pain, with the thought of how perfect everything could be if he was there with her? What was it she did, that God was punishing her this way?
She didn't know how much time passed, but she guessed quite a while. She gasped and jumped to her feet, when she suddenly felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. It was dark, she didn't lit up any light and her eyes weren't yet adjusted to the darkness but she could see a dark shape standing not far from her. She felt a twinge of panic, but at the same time, her mind was telling her that the touch seemed familiar. She couldn't be sure if it wasn't just playing tricks, if she didn't feel it this way just because she wanted it to be truth. She reached out to the side and lit up a small lamp, which was giving a very faint light but enough to confirm her thoughts.
"Jack!" she didn't waste a second to throw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him with as much strength as she had in herself.
He seemed to be taken a little by surprise, but then embraced her as well and held her, while she now sobbed into his shirt, relieved that he was fine. He felt her move gentle every now and then, just a gentle brush of her cheek against her or a slight squeeze of her hand; it seemed like she was checking if he was really there, if he was real. Just few minutes ago he was sitting at the edge of their daughter bed, with his heart breaking at the realisation that the girl seemed to be up waiting for him to come and now it dawned on him that she must have been thinking that he might never show up. He couldn't blame her, he probably would do the same, but it didn't make the thought any less painful.
"Thank God, you're alright... You are, right?" she asked, when she slightly withdrew but didn't break the physical contact with him. Her hands were now gently caressing his face, brushing through his hair and he nodded his head. The only reason why it took him so long to get there was that his friends insisted that he should go to the hospital first, but when they heard that he was generally fine, he immediately refused to stay the night under observation and Myles, who was accompanying him didn't say a word against it.
"I'm sorry." he signed a moment later and noticed a questioning look appear in her eyes. "I couldn't just leave... I heard Steve scream and had to check what happened... I wanted to get out, to run out and get to you and Emily but I couldn't... He saved my life once, he was a part of our team, I couldn't just leave like this knowing that something might have happened... I would have never forgiven myself..."
She sighed, but she couldn't feel angry at him. There were few new things to Jack Hudson, which had to develop during those three years when he was away, but this was actually a part of the man she fell in love with. The man, who wouldn't leave anyone behind even if it meant risking his own life, and the truth was that she knew that he would really never forgive himself if he just left the building like he mentioned. She knew him well enough to be aware, that he would reproach himself for the rest of his life, he would always keep on thinking 'what if he stayed', and even though she was torn, she couldn't be mad at him for this.
"You're here now with us, and it's all that matters." holding his face in her hands, she leaned in and kissed him.
They both placed a lot of emotions into this kiss, it was as if everything what happened during the past hours was present inside it and even more. The most important for her, however, was that he was there, with her and if it was up to her, there was no way she was going to let him go. No; unless it was something he didn't share with her, she was going to do absolutely anything to make sure that he was going to remain there, at her side, that they were going to be together and be happy, no matter what it was going to take. There were just two things she needed to live – or actually, people – and it was him and their daughter, the rest completely didn't matter.
"Promise me you will never leave..." she said, when the kiss came to an end and he nodded.
"I promise, Sue... I'm here and if you'll let me, I intend to be for the rest of my life..."
"I love you." she placed another small kiss on his lips, and then felt him kiss her forehead.
"I love you, too."
"Show me..."
His eyes widened a little, it was one of the last things he actually expected her to say. In his mind, it just seemed so unlike her, but he guessed he could be just being ridiculous and, definitely, over thinking. But they were just recently back together, and so what that they were married, so what that they had a daughter and no, it wouldn't be anything they haven't done before, but he still was a little afraid that they could be rushing things... But he could see in her eyes that she really meant it and after a moment just silenced his mind and allowed his heart to act, leaning down and capturing her lips in a kiss way more passionate than any of those they shared recently.