CHAPTER 16

Again, I do NOT skate, this is just what I see in my mind! I'm not sure if it's humanly possible, but… let's pretend shall we? After all, Sue Thomas and Jack Hudson are an amazing couple! (I HOPE you check out this song on YouTube or CD… "I Want A Cowboy" (dance mix) by Reba McEntire… awesomely fun song!

Sue and Jack sat waiting their turn, waiting to see what they would have to do to beat the duo of double Randy's. Sue knew their competion had done a great job in their first performance, and hoped it was their best. She was gambling on the fact that they had gone all out their first time out, trying to scare her and Jack. Sue glanced over at Jack, he looked nervous. She put her hand in his, breaking his silent stare. He smiled at her, squeezing her hand.

"Don't be nervous. You were awesome that first time out." Sue reassured.

"It's not that. They were better." Jack said with a bit of reality in his voice.

"True. Their routine was more difficult than ours was… that time out. Ours is three or four times more complicated this time." Sue said.

"What if theirs is too?" He asked.

"It's not. I think Randy did his best right at the beginning trying to scare us. We can beat them." She said, full of confidence.

"What if they didn't? What if they have some huge surprise?" Jack said, half joking with her.

"Then we'll see it first, and we can adjust our routine accordingly. Remember, they go first this time around. If they come up with something huge, you can do some sort of flip or something." She said with a giggle and a raised eyebrow, smiling at him.

"Does anything bother you?" He asked.

"Not today." She answered and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. He turned at the last second and caught her lips. She smiled as they parted, but gave him a warning look.

"Come on… Randy Squared is up next." Jack said as they walked to rink side.

"Please put your hands together for the second round of the competition, starting out with Randy Squared!" The announcer said. The crowd cheered.

Randy and Randi started their routine strong, skating together perfectly. Randi skated fast from one end of the ice, and jumped, doing a double spin, landing and right into another double spin. Jack looked worried. Randy was held to only camels and one spin at center ice. It was clear, his main job was to make Randi look good, and support her in the fact that it was a couple's competition. Their routine ended and the crowd applauded loudly. Sue smiled. Jack looked in her direction with question written on his face.

"Good routine… ours is a lot better." She said confidently.

Their score they received to start off the second round was 8.4.

Two other couples took their turn. Both received good scores, the first got an 8.4, the other an 8.6. They were excited. Sue looked at the first two couples and noticed, they were happy they'd gotten good scores, and they were helping children. She nudged Jack, leaning her head in their direction.

"That, right there, is what it's all about." Sue said as they noticed one of the couples holding onto a child who was giving them hugs and kisses, and wearing a T-shirt that said simply, "I beat it!" He had obviously recently finished his treatments because he wore a cap to hide his missing hair. His smile was huge, his excitement genuine. His gratitude for fundraising events like this one was evident. Tears filled Sue's eyes as the gravity of what they're doing hit her. "This isn't about beating Randy Squared… it's about him." She said as she allowed a tear to roll down her cheek. Jack softly wiped it from her face smiling at her ability to feel so deeply.

Another couple took their turn, they did well too. Their score was an 8.3. It was finally time to show off what they'd been practicing weeks for.

"Now, our final couple of the evening… Sue Thomas and Jack Hudson!" The announcer said.

Sue and Jack skated to their places on ice. Bobby and Myles popped onto the ice in their assigned spots as well. Jack had his hat pulled down covering his face, holding a rolled up cattle rope thrown over his shoulder. He wore Wrangler jeans and a denim shirt covered in sequins to make him sparkle as he skated across the ice. He skated ¾ of the way up ice, near the far corners, right between Myles and Bobby. Myles was dressed in a nice suit, looking dapper with a scarf flowing from his shoulders. Bobby looked hot wearing a black tux complete with bow tie and cummerbund. His smile and dimples shown for all to see. Both men stood casually leaning against the side boards waiting for their cue. Sue stood alone in center ice. She wore the same leotard as before, still looking gorgeous.

At the very first down beat of the music, Sue was full of energy and excitement, and it showed in her moves. She skated counter clockwise, clapping with the music, heading toward the far corner. As she is skating with speed, she does three split jumps, one after another. At the symbols she does a triple toe loop, landing perfectly in the other corner. She flips her head forward, crossing her arms out stretched in front of her, snapping her head back. She heads toward center ice, doing another jump, skating backwards in a figure eight toward upper center ice. She spins in place, stopping with sexy attitude, dancing, shaking her shoulders in Bobby's direction. She skates up to him and sprays 'snow' on him. Just as Reba begins to sing again, Sue is checking him out. She flirts with him, running her hand along the lapel of his jacket, hand through his hair, placing the back of her hand down his face still dancing and swaying to the music. At the line "He would sweep me off my feet" Sue begins to skate slowly backwards away from him. At "No he didn't do it for me" she skates away from him, shaking her finger at him, blowing him a kiss and waving bye. Bobby smiles at being blown off by Sue. She skates right up to Myles- turning on a dime. She looks over Myles, unimpressed. At "Ray ban, fake tan" She waves her hand over Myles as if she's showing him off the ice, then at "Never mind" She flips her hand at him to dismiss him with attitude. She turns right toward Jack. She again claps with the music, skating to him, circling him. She takes his hat and heads toward the far corner. He tosses the rope toward Bobby right away. Jack sets chase. He catches her, they skate together, his hand on her hip and in her hand. He picks her up by the waist, she does a split mid air, spinning around. He lets her down slowly, holding one hand and spinning her like a ballerina. Sue tosses the hat to the side.

They skate together to center ice, both going into a double camel. He pulls her close, spinning her around, out then in again. She spins around as Jack stands to the side. They pull back together, holding onto one another, skate backwards in a swirl. He picks her up, facing him. She performs a cartwheel like move, her hands on his shoulders, he pulls her onto his chest, they stare a sultry look while he skates around holding her. He takes her hands and she slides between his legs- he skates over and past her, one leg into a tight spin. She skates up to him, they skate together with Jack behind Sue. He picks her up and throws her, she does a triple spin, then backwards into a double axels. They skate together, spinning in and out as they dance. He spins her around, picks her up again, throwing her toward center ice. She spins mid air, lands, spinning out with her leg out stretched on the ice. Jack comes up behind her wrapping his arm around her waist, holding her hand. He throws her out, she and he spin separately next to each other. Jack takes her hand and spins her around in a dance move to the music, almost "salsa esk ". He switches hands as she switches the direction of her spin. On the final symbols, he pulls her tight in his arms. Sue rests her head sideways on his chest.

The crowd roars, jumping to their feet cheering louder than they had all night. Both Sue and Jack's chests are heaving from the intense workout they'd just gone through. They finally break apart and Sue lunges into his arms with excitement. He hugs her tight, spinning her around. Both are excited the routine went as well as it did. They skate to the waiting area for their scores.

"We did it!" Jack exclaims. "Oh my gosh, that was awesome!" He took Sue's hand in his as they got off the ice. They sat and sipped some water waiting for the judges to decide.

"You did such a great job!" Sue exclaimed.

"I am not the one they're cheering for my love… that's all for you!" Jack said as he kissed her on the cheek.

The announcer's voice came over the loud speaker once more. "The score for our final couple is…" His voice drifted. There was complete silence inside the building.

"9.7!" He shouted. "Our winner tonight is the team from the FBI, Sue Thomas and Jack Hudson!" The arena went nuts with hoots and cheers coming from all parts. Sue and Jack hugged at the announcement of their success. They headed out to center ice to take a bow. As they skated back off the ice, the other teams congratulated them with handshakes and hugs. Randi made her way to them, to share their excitement with them.

"You guys were awesome! You deserved to win this. Congrats!" She said, hugging Sue and Jack. She walked away from the couple. Randy just gave a smug, disgusted look at them and walked away angry.

The rest of the bullpen team nearly jumped the winners giving handshakes, hugs and pats on the back. Lucy was last to hug Sue. She signed to her how happy she was they'd won, but more how she was in awe of her talent. A voice came from behind Lucy that caught everyone's attention.

"But, see, she's always been that talented." Carla Thomas said. Sue was shocked to see her mom standing there. She hugged her tight.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" Sue asked.

"I called the other day to talk to you, but Lucy said you were at Jack's practicing for a charity skating event. You know I never missed one of your competitions." She said smiling.

"Thanks Mom." Sue said. "I'm glad I didn't know you were here though… I think I would have been too nervous." She admitted.

"You were incredible darling." Carla said, giving her another hug.

The top three couples were brought out onto the ice once again for trophies and prizes. Sue and Jack were given their trophies and each a $100 gift card for a local restaurant. Randy squared came in second and each received a $50 gift card for a local restaurant and trophies. The third place went to the couple whose young child had fought cancer. They received a $25 gas card and trophy. The Mom and Dad gave their young son the trophy. The crowd began to disperse and Sue caught up with parents of the young boy.

"Thank you for bringing your son tonight. I think it's good to see what the money we raised tonight can accomplish." Sue said, nodding toward the boy. "Look at that smile. That's what this was all about tonight." She said.

"Thank you. You guys were incredible." The mom gushed.

"Thank you." Sue signed.

"What's that?" The mom asked as she imitated Sue's gesture.

"It's the sign for 'thank you'. " She explained. The mother looked curiously at her. "It's how I communicate. I'm deaf." Sue explained. The mother's eyes grew wide with disbelief.

"How… how did you hear the music?" She asked astonished.

"I felt it. They put the speakers face down on the ice for me, and turned up the bass so I could feel it in my feet. I also memorized the song. That helps." Sue said.

"Wow… I'm impressed." She commented.

"I'm the one who's impressed." Sue said. The mom looked at her curiously. "You have dealt with his fight, and still have a smile on your face."

"He's going to be OK. I thanked God, then asked Him how I could repay His wondrous gift… The thought to pay it forward came to mind. That is why I do things like this…" She explained.

She smiled, and handed the family her gift card. "Take this. Your family deserves a night out to celebrate." Sue said. The mom took the card, and signed "thank you" to her.

"What about you? Don't you want to go out with your family?" She asked.

"Oh, I am." Sue said. "He's paying!" She said with a laugh. Sue and the Mom hugged one last time and they parted ways. Jack just smiled at her.

"I'm paying, huh?" He asked.

"Yup." She said smugly as they walked back stage to change.