FBI Safehouse,

Eastern Maryland, 12.15 AM

'Any news?' Sue asked as he stepped into the living room.

'Garrett called,' he said. 'We had a massacre in Baltimore.'

Sue frowned. 'A what?'

Jack pushed the thumb of his right G-hand, palm down, across the palm of his left open hand, palm facing right, with a deliberate movement. Then he moved both his curved 5-hands, palms down, from in front of each side of his chest forward simultaneously. "KILL AUDIENCE [massacre]"

She put a hand for her mouth, shocked. 'What happened?'

'Harbor Patrol found ten dead Africans in Baltimore,' Jack said. "fs. HATHAWAY ISLAND"

'Isn't that near where they shipped that container from?'

He nodded. 'A little more eastwards.' He sat down. 'We have been a few steps behind them throughout the case, with them leading. And I don't like it.'

Sue sat down opposite of him. 'Me neither, but sometimes things don't go the way we want them to go.'

He looked at her. 'True, depending on what things you're referring to.' She rolled her eyes. 'I was referring to the case, and you knew that already.' He smiled.

'So,' she said as she got up, 'what's the next thing we're going to do?'

He shrugged. 'I don't know, yet. Hell, I even don't know just where exactly we are. And my hunch is: our colleagues are not going to tell either.'

'Well, we're not going to be idle here, I found out, after you were gone, we do have a Captel™ and my Blackberry™, your cell works and I discovered we were equipped with a laptop.'

He narrowed his eyes, amused. 'You're not planning on having a day off, are you?'

"WORK FINISH, YOU ME PLAY" she said, and flashed him her trademark smile. He was near her in a second, his hands and fingers tickling her, while she shrieked trying to evade him. 'Jack! Stop it, we….' She couldn't continue as his hand tickled her side and she was unable to hold her laughter. She worked her way out his arms, gaining a few feet before he caught up with her again. His arms encircled her waist as he pulled her close, to continue his tease.

'Levi!' she screamed, 'help me!' It only led to the three of them tumbling over when the dog, overjoyed to take part in the game, leapt against Jack, causing him to lose balance with Sue still in his arms, and landing on the sofa.

Before she knew it, Jack was on her, and she was lying in very close contact with him, while the wet tongue of Levi was caressing her and Jack's cheeks. Jack wrinkled his nose as Levi devoted his attention to him. 'I don't mind you doing so, Levi,' he deadpanned, 'but I prefer your missus to do so.' And he winked at Sue.

His body against hers brought back the incredible intimate moments they had shared, the dazzling feelings and highs. Her cheeks were warming up a little with his remark, but she leaned into him and her lips brushed his. She felt how his lips tried to capture hers but she broke off, to tease, or retaliate. She felt how he probably moaned his disappointment.

It took all her willpower to let him go, but she knew if she didn't do it now, she probably would never do it in the time to come. He let her hand slip through his hand as she got up and he remained seated. Just before she would break contact he took hold of her hand for a second. She looked at him. 'You really are serious about working, aren't you?'

She nodded, while she ran a hand through her disheveled hair, smiling. 'If we don't, we would be after each other the whole day like love-crazed teenagers…'

'Nothing wrong with that,' he said. 'Because I certainly can't get enough of you, Miss Thomas.'

'You've showed me, believe me,' she answered, her eyes dark. God, you showed me…