Aut nunquam tentes, aut perfice

(Do not endeavour into something without completing it)

Ovidius, Ars amatoria (de arte amandi) Book I, 389 AD

III

There's a fine line between wisdom and insanity. And in reality, it's arguable whether there actually is a difference between both. To one something may seem a well weighed decision that to another defines anything but; in matters of heart and mind both sides can forcibly collide, but whose argument is best? There's no final answer because of one's inability to foresee the future of someone's decision that could provide the valid argument to end all discussion. Sue had given in to the arguments of her heart, but as she was about to enter the offices where she worked the internal discourse never faltered. Was she about to pursue a fata morgana, where she could reasonably expect things to go wrong, or was it the right thing to do that would lead to achieve something she strived and longed for all those years?

"Good morning," a set of well-known lips formed a message of welcome that immediately favoured the latter option as Jack looked up from his desktop and got up to welcome her back.

"Good morning," she answered and smiled. The small leap of her heart as she lay eyes on him that accompanied most, if not all, mornings confirmed that her quest was genuine.

"How was your holiday?" He sat down on the corner of his desk as he watched her put down her purse on her desk and drape her light-blue woollen cardigan over her chair; a feat he had missed seeing for those two weeks.

"Good," she answered. "I'm up to date with all the latest Thomas-gossip, we had fair weather all weeks long."

"High up in the 70's, I noticed."

"Oh?" she raised her brows a little, surprised he knew and feeling at the same time a slight jolt of joy. "You've been checking me out?"

He laughed, "I like to be informed about the well-being of important team members."

"All members are important…"

"True, but one is allowed to make differences."

"I see…" She stroked back a strand of her hair that fell over her cheek. "You haven't been tracking my cell phone either have you?" He threw his head back as he laughed, the light in his eyes shining bright with joy as he focused back on her. "No, that would be stalking, and I doubt whether I would get a court order as well."

"Probably not."

"No. So, while you were away did any news from here trickled upwards into the Buckeye State? Or have you blissfully forgotten us?"

I couldn't forget even if I wanted, especially not you. She smiled, "Lucy has kept me up to date, more or less."

"Right, good. Although I was looking forward to give you an update over lunch."

"You still can," she said and she shied her eyes away for just a fraction of a second. "About the Beckett case." She looked him in the eyes and saw the glimmer of amusement they displayed just a few seconds ago flicker and die out. "She already told you?"

Sue just nodded. "How much did she tell?"

"Interstate grand theft, arts and antiques. And the high brass opting for another stakeout as next-door neighbours in Kalorama."

"Did she tell you about…"

"The wedding-game?" Sue bit her lower lip and nodded. "Yes, she did."

"It wasn't my first idea, in fact, it wasn't my idea at all." He tried to smile a comforting I-can't-help-it-either smile. Surprisingly, she felt a pang of regret and hurt when he said that. She could live with him suggesting the idea, apparently, that would be a sign she had interpreted the signs of regret at their previous break-up right. His denial hurt, as if he truly did not felt something special the last time.

He could see something in her eyes he could only classify as hurt, which surprised him. "I mean, I didn't object either, you know…" He paused to gauge her reaction. "Not at all, in fact…" That brought back a glimmer of joy and inwardly he felt relief settling. "There's just one point about it."

"What?"

"They would like to see we start tonight." He held up his hands defensively. "I objected that it was on such short notice, especially for you, but they said we could manage."

"Tonight?"

"Yeah."

She ran a hand through her hair and blew a strand that fell over he lips away. "Well, seems my weeks spent in relaxation were not in vain, with hindsight." She smiled.

"I'm sorry we don't have more time to prepare."

"Why, we're used to adapt quickly, besides," she nudged him playfully, "we have experience on this matter don't we?" Her light-heartedness made him feel at ease immediately and he felt the same admiration for her he had felt the first time they met; her ability to make people comfortable and her kind nature never failed to get to him. This time was no exception as he silently revelled in her features and the way her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, each motion graceful. He had lost count of how many times he had been lost in the depths of her hazel eyes, nor did he try to.

When she walked into the office again this morning it felt as if everything was complete again, her absence working on his mood every time he saw her empty desk. Each and every time the chill around his heart palpable as if it was yesterday she had told him about that New York job offer and today had been the day that she had left definitely. It felt as if someone pressed an ice-pack against his chest, stalling his breath until he pulled himself together when he realised she was only away on holiday.

When the Beckett case came along their way and the assignment was being considered, he immediately jumped right on it, hoping his eagerness wasn't too suspicious, but the higher ups had been enthusiastic as well and he had brought Sue forward as their best option because of her unique abilities. They gave him their fiat right away and things were set in motion, he had only hoped he would have had more time to prepare her for it. And to be prepared to spend time close up with the woman that had captured his heart during their first undercover assignment. Time had run out on them before the smouldering attraction between them could have flared up into a full blown fire.

As Lucy's Jeep Cherokee drove off with Sue, he just stood there unable to move or do anything. She vanished from his life or so it felt anyway and an opportunity was lost. The heartache he felt that day closely resembled the heart-attack he had had in intensity. For days he had pondered over what she had wanted to say or do just before she left and he had sworn there had been regret in her eyes when they said goodbye. It would certainly have matched the part he felt. With this new assignment he had a new chance, a new excuse perhaps, to set things straight and find out if they were meant to be.

"Jack?" her voice broke through. He realised he must have been staring, lost in thoughts. "SORRY," he said, "DISTRACTED"

She smiled a full blossoming smile with his remark. "I could tell, I already began to doubt whether I was the one Deaf here when you didn't respond."

"What were you asking?"

"Before we go out tonight and pretend, I think we might as well match our stories and get the details straight. We don't want to be found out, now do we?"

If he was honest, he had to admit he hated to hear her use the word 'pretend' because he would love to see it differently, but apparently she saw it that way. "Yes," he said.

"Yes? You want to be found out?" Her voice was an amused smirk.

"What? No, no of course not. I meant No we don't want to," he hastily corrected himself, "found out that is." Idiot, she's back less than half an hour and you're already rambling incoherently.

"Good," she said. "We're on the same line." She smiled just before she turned round when Levi pawed when the other team members came in. "Hey guys…"

"If it isn't our Susan Thomas, marriage broker in disguise. Your holiday cover was perfect, sneaky coming back earlier and eloping with Jack," Bobby said as he grinned broadly. "Again, I must add. Miss Thomas, or should I say Mrs. Hudson has a habit of luring men into marriage before they even know what happened," Myles added just before he hugged her. "Holiday has done you well," he said, "or is it Sparky here to blame?"

"Alright, alright," she said, smiling with their banter even though parts of it stung. "I think I have to set things straight here."

"Just have that man of yours act straight, we'll manage," Bobby said. Sue rolled her eyes, knowing it wouldn't stop for a while and the more she fought it, the more they enjoyed the teasing so she opted for ignorance instead. Which wouldn't make any difference, she knew.

"I heard you already picked out a house?"

"In a most fashionable neighbourhood, no less," Myles said.

"Yeah, one we couldn't afford to live in with our income."

"Well, now they're married, they have a double income which would render it more easy."

"Oh, the conveniences of married life…"

"…plus the alimentation from her previous one…"

"Don't pay attention to them, they're just jealous," Dimitrius said, having followed the bantering after he came in. "Being bachelors, they just don't know what they miss." He hugged her as well, welcoming her back. "How was your holiday, I hope you had time to relax?"

"Plenty of time, and well needed," Sue said. "I had a great time, but it's good to be back as well. You never know what could change in the matter of two weeks."

"Your marital status, for one," Bobby quipped, as Myles couldn't retain his smile.

"You guys are hopeless…"

"That's why Garrett has given both of you the rest of the day off to prepare for the assignment, pack your belongings and do whatever newlyweds do on their first day in their new home," Dimitrius said, slipping in a quip of his own.

"NOW US GO WILL QQ" Jack said as she focused back on him, his eyes pleading knowing the teasing wouldn't stop until they were gone. And continue when they got back. She nodded, her right hand in a 'Y' tapping down twice bending from the wrist.

"You behave, okay? And don't forget we want old Sparky back the way he was," Bobby teased as they all said their goodbyes for now.

"Whereto?" she asked as they descended with the lift to the garage. "Your place," Jack said, "I had the time to pack my stuff earlier, that leaves only you to pack."

"I'm glad I didn't unpack all of my suitcases yet. I could take those as well."

"You never know what comes in handy," he said.