Everyone was at the Sloan's beach house. They'd been there all night, going over and rechecking everything they could think of. Levi had slipped outside through the French patio doors and was lying on the patio. Steve nearly tripped over him in the dim dawn morning light. "Whoops. Sorry, fellow." He apologized. Levi just glanced up at the tall detective out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't move. Steve frowned in sympathy and walked inside. "That poor dog eaten anything?" He asked curiously. "He's laying around out there like a wilting rose. This whole thing must be eating him up pretty bad."

"No, he hasn't eaten a thing." Mark shook his head sympathetically.

"He wouldn't even touch any of the Krispy Kreme you brought in!" Jessie added. Steve sighed and shook his head.

"I've never seen a sadder looking animal." He remarked.

"You know? Dogs are extremely devoted, a lot of times more than half the humans on the planet." Amanda stated.

"That's right." Bobby added. "If the little mate turns down a doughnut, you know he's really low."

"Just like the Think Tank case." Tara said, hanging her head.

"Think Tank case?" Amanda inquired.

"Seven economists were murdered, and in the middle of the investigation Sue was accidentally abducted by our prime suspect, Dan Malone." Jack explained.

"What do you mean by accidental abduction?" Steve asked. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Malone was heading for cover," Bobby continued, "because the killer was shooting at him and us, only at the time we didn't know. Malone didn't even know Sue was in his car when he took off. He actually thought the FBI had killed his coworkers!"

"You're not serious." Mark said.

"Levi was miserable." Tara shook her head. "I'd never seen him so down in the mouth before."

Jack was pretty quiet. He remembered that time so well and could completely sympathize with his four-legged buddy. Granted, Malone didn't hurt Sue, but the worry and anxiety Jack had felt not knowing where she was, if she was hurt or even alive, and not knowing how to find her had been torture. And now, he was having to go through it all over again, except this time it was totally worse! Sue was hurt, and frighteningly vulnerable at the hands of this ruthless killer they were after. And Lucy, Sue's best friend in the world, had to be at his mercy too, and Jack was also worried about her.

Steve reached into the doughnut box for a cream-filled round when he stared at it in confusion and aggravation. He picked up a half-circle cake donut. "Jessie," Steve rolled his eyes. "Would you mind not leaving half-eaten donuts in the box?"

Jessie gaped at him. "I'm not!" He protested. "And personally, I don't approve of negligent hygiene like that. Spreads germs, you know."

Steve squinted skeptically at his friend. "All right," he announced, "who keeps leaving half eaten donuts back in the box?!" His eyes fell right on Mark who glanced at him innocently.

"That isn't half eaten." Bobby casually spoke up. "I ate the other half which makes that half completely eaten. Your half isn't eaten at all, making it wholly uneaten." Steve just stared blankly in utter confusion at the Aussie. "It's not a trick problem, mate. You do the math." Then he went back to his paperwork. Steve shook his head and walked into the kitchen for more coffee.

"You know, leaving partially eaten food around like that can become hazardous to public health." Mark glanced at Bobby.

"Seems someone tried to tell him that before." Tara said.

"Oh, if you think that's anything, you should see his desk back at the bureau." Myles teased.

"Steve, any word yet on those red fibers?" Jack asked with a sigh.

"Nope." Steve shook his head as he sipped his coffee. "But they should be calling any minute."

Tara stared intently at her computer...and in that one moment, her eyes widened and she gasped. She just froze, her face full of horror. Everyone stared in alarm at her. "Hey," Steve placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Tara, are you all right?" Mark asked, touching her shoulder. She just stared in shock.

"Tara, what's wrong?" Bobby asked, coming to her side, Amanda behind him. Tara quickly shook her head. A gasp escaped from her voice and she bit her lip.

"What's the matter?!" Myles asked.

"Tara?" Dimitrius added.

"What is it?" Jack asked quietly but adamantly.

"Look," Tara squeaked, pointing a shaky finger at her screen. Everyone's eyes fell on it. They all gasped in horror. It was a photo of a young, battered woman laying sprawled out on the floor of a dwelling. She was absolutely dead to the world. Her face was marred terribly. Lying next to her was a fake black rose and a little note. It was Sue! The heading read in big bold letters:

"Are you sorry yet?"

"NNOOOO!" Bobby bellowed in rage, quickly rising to his feet.

"Oh my..." Jessie gulped.

"They didn't!" Steve growled.

"Ooohh," Amanda raised her hand to her mouth.

"I don't believe this!" Myles shook his head in utter disbelief.

"It can't be!" D clenched his teeth. Steve turned around and lividly pounded his fists on the desk. Tara was grabbing her face as tears poured out. Mark stared endlessly in shock at the picture, then his eyes fell on Jack.

Jack was...was frozen in time. He just stood there, motionless and heartbreak etched in every inch of his face. The weight of the world was pressing heavily on his whole body right now. He couldn't move. His worst nightmare had come to pass! He didn't even notice the other people around him! Their voices sounded far away. All he saw was Sue's face, but not as he had seen it every day. She was lying on a hospital bed, hooked with an IV and to a heart monitor. She was unconscious, her head wrapped with a bandage, her face marred. She didn't even know that Jack was standing at her side, warmly and tenderly gripping her delicate hand. I never, ever told her...Jack's own voice pounded inside his head. And now he'd never get to!

Bobby also gazed at his best friend, and though he was filled with unbelievable rage, his face slightly softened at the sight of how broken Jack looked. It actually shook Bobby down to his bones. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen in Jack. Sure, he'd seen fear, anger, worry, and defeat on Jack's face before, but this...this was different and Bobby couldn't find the right term to describe what he saw just now. Though he was standing on his own two feet, Jack was absolutely...shattered. Bobby really wished that his friend would voice out his hate about the fiend who had committed this atrocious crime, but he didn't. Jack just stood there, staring blankly down at the floor with a sad look on his face. Bobby narrowly set his jaw and came beside his friend. He touched his shoulder. "Jack?" He prodded. Jack didn't respond. "Jack?" This time, Jack raised his head and gazed straight ahead. He was in a daze and staring at the wall, but he seemed to be looking past it to a faraway place.

Mark stared at him, feeling horrible for the grieving young man. He glanced slowly at Tara who was sitting beside him on the couch, her face buried in her palm and weeping softly. Amanda was leaning down close from the sofa arm next to her, and had wrapped her arm around the heartbroken FBI agent. Mark stood up and walked over to Jack, and cautiously touched his arm.

"We're gonna find the maggot that did this, Jack!" Bobby snarled. "That's a promise!"

"We'll make sure he gets exactly what's coming to him." Myles huffed.

"We'll find him." Dimitrius added angrily with determination. Jack was numb, and didn't respond to any of it, except one thing. A low whimper was heard at the patio doors, and the whole group all followed its source, including Jack. Levi was standing there with his head low and eyes that signified his heartache. His tail almost reached the floor. He looked so indescribably wretched. Levi whined. He could tell by the vehement voices that his friends were incredibly unhappy.

"Aaaww, Levi," Jessie sighed empathetically. The broken Golden trudged ever so slowly over to Jack and lay down with his head on Jack's boot.

At this point, Jack finally showed some emotion, much to everyone's relief. His face grimaced, and he knelt down to take Levi's head in his hands. He rubbed the canine's noggin, then stood back up. "I'm going outside." He whispered and walked out the patio doors. Levi was at his heels. Steve's eyes followed him closely.


The whole beach house was eerily silent. It was as if a heavy, dark cloud had not only settled over it, but also slinked its way inside. Tara was sitting doubled over on the sitting room sofa, with her head in her hands while Amanda sat next to her. Nobody knew at all what to say or do, until Mark told Steve to call the station and inform them on what had happened. Jessie endlessly, quietly paced around; Myles leaned against the brick fireplace with his arms crossed, his anger and sadness wretchedly evident; Dimitrius was in the kitchen, leaning forward with his palms on the counter; Mark and Steve both stood in their foyer, not sure what to say or do. Ordinarily, Steve would take charge and be calling everyone to action, but...but somehow this time he didn't have the heart or willpower to do so. These FBI agents, the best he'd ever known and worked with, whom he'd come to feel as true friends, were more than just very effected by this tragedy, they were truly heartbroken! They were more than just good buddies and partners, they were like one unique family, all tied together through decency and true respect for one another. Steve and Mark both felt deep admiration for them, and wished they could do something to comfort their new friends. Sue had been more than just killed in the line of duty, she'd been brutally murdered, and the two Sloan men wouldn't rest until they helped these guys find and take down that filthy scum White and see that he paid for what he did, and rescue Lucy!

Bobby's eyes never left Jack out the window, closely watching his best friend in deep hurt. Bobby loved Sue like a sister, as he did Lucy, and...and Tara-though she was more to him than like a sister-, and Jack was his bosom pal, whom he'd do anything for. He'd watched Jack fall for Sue at first sight; Bobby had personally been intrigued by Sue's warm and funny personality, not to mention her lovable chum, Levi; Jack had been Bobby's good friend ever since they'd joined the FBI together; Jack had seen him through thick and thin, and had even risked his own neck and a few times his job to keep Bobby out of trouble! He'd enjoyed watching Sue and Jack interact with one another, pretending it was casual partnership when everyone saw that it was mutual romantic interest. Bobby had teased them over it, as had everyone else; he'd pushed them into it at times; he'd seen the frantic worry and concern Jack wore every time Sue had been in danger on the job; he'd been on the receiving end of Sue's sadness and or ticked off determination when Jack had gotten in trouble, or was making a very risky decision; Bobby loved Jack and Sue as his best friends, and how many times he'd wished they'd confess their love to each other!


Jack was standing against the deck railing, his arms crossed over his chest. He gazed endlessly at the ocean, letting the breeze blow through his hair. Levi was laying again on his feet. Mark came out and rubbed Jack's shoulder. "I'm really sorry, son." He said softly. "Truly sorry." Jack opened his mouth and just sighed, then gave the good doctor the subtlest of nods.

Steve was standing in the doorway, watching the whole thing. He'd been disappointed when he'd found out that Jack had his eyes on Sue, but after seeing the verbal language between them, there was no doubt in Steve's mind that Jack and Sue truly loved each other. His heart ached for the guy standing on his patio, this tragedy eating away at his insides. Jack dejectedly walked down the patio steps down on the sand and slowly made his way to the water. Levi sadly followed.

Steve couldn't just stand by and watch Jack waste away when he had an urgent job to accomplish, and Lucy still needed to be rescued! As Mark brushed by him, Steve sighed then slowly approached the FBI agent. He stood beside him on the beach and also gazed out at the sea. "How long did you work with her?" Steve asked slowly. He wasn't sure if this was the right time or even his place to try to get Jack to talk, but it was all he could think of.

"Almost 4 years." Jack answered quietly. Steve faced him.

"How did you two meet?"

Jack gulped and bit his lip."She...she just out of the blue, walked into my office one day by accident." He said sadly. "She was...looking for personnel and hadn't realized that she'd stumbled into the agent's bullpen. She was upset about being treated as second rate and was demanding a change in jobs. When she realized her mistake, she was very embarrassed and left." At this point, Jack gulped hard, his face full of distress and pain. He'd remember those moments forever, and now he felt a heavy, sharp pain in his heart. It was acute and hurt like fire and he had to grunt to keep from breaking down completely. As hard as he tried, he couldn't keep back the tears that streamed down his handsome face. He rubbed his temples with his fingers. Steve had been closely watching him and came nearer.

"Let's sit down." He said, and gently pulled Jack with him. "Come on." The two men both sat down unhappily on a patch of grass near the house, elbows on knees. Steve fiddled around with his fingers while Jack clenched his fists together on his knees and with his chin resting on his hands. Levi sadly stuck his head between the two of them, and rested it on Jack's calf. Steve sighed and reached out his hand to stroke the poor beast. The three of them sat in silence without bothering to check the time.

"Almost two years ago, I almost lost my dad." Steve finally spoke up. "It was the worst experience I'd ever had!" He wailed, staring in defeat off into the distance.

"Was...was it a heart attack?" Jack probed, glancing at him.

"I wish it had been, then I would've known what to do!" Steve growled with resentment.

"Sorry...I'm not following." Jack said. Steve's face first turned into a scowl, then it melted into pain. He bit his lip.

"I went down in an unexpected shootout." He explained. "I was trying to free a woman from a nut in a ski mask. My dad was broken up about it and confronted the guy who'd gunned me down when he found out who it was, then the guy was murdered. And my dad was blamed for it!" Jack could almost taste the venom in Steve's voice through his teeth. "I had no blasted clue about anything! I couldn't even help him! And he needed me."

"I'm sure he knew that you would've helped him if you could." Jack remarked.

"It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been in the hospital!" Steve fumed, remembering all too well that horrible experience. "By the time I came back from the dead, they'd sentenced him to Death Row! It took us four months to figure out who really did it and why, and all that time my dad was going through a personal Holocaust that he never should've been bombarded with!" Steve sighed heavily and Levi placed his head in the detective's lap, with his paw. Steve stared at him and rubbed him between the ears. Jack cringed and closed his eyes.

"Considering how different your jobs are," Jack tried to speak, "you two seem to work great together. And...you have a great relationship."

"Thanks." Steve said in a softer tone. "I think that's more to Dad's credit than mine. He's always been my best friend. I...I don't know what I'd do without him." He felt an all too familiar twinge of regret and pain inside when he thought of how close he'd come to knowing the reality of that statement.

Jack became rigid again. What Steve had just said about his dad Jack had felt himself about someone: ever since…ever since...that day...that day that Sue had been transferred from fingerprinting to his task force, and in her excitement she'd unexpectedly jumped on him and gave him a happy hug. From that moment, his life was never the same and he knew he'd never find another girl like her! And now? Now, he'd...he'd have to live without her! At that thought, Jack winced and buried his hands in his hands. Levi stuck his head under his arms and moaned with him. Steve was so unsure of what to do. He felt sick inside at his new friend's deep pain, and wished there was something he could do to stop it.

Steve gulped and rose to his feet, hesitantly rubbed Jack's shoulder, then trudged up the path to the house, leaving the broken man alone to grieve freely. As Steve reached the deck, mark was there waiting for him. Mark stared at him dismally and Steve shook his head, signifying that Jack wasn't doing well. Mark nodded and patted his son's back as the detective walked back inside. Jessie slowly approached him as he shut the door.

"Look, uh, Steve..." Jessie whispered. "I know everyone feels bad, but…we still need to find her. And Lucy."

"I know, Jess." Steve nodded. "But I don't want to push them just yet."

"He's right." Myles mumbled. "We need to find Lucy too, before..." he hung his head. "Before it's too late."

"When we catch up to this piranha I'll wring his neck!" Bobby spouted vehemently. "I'm gonna kill him!"

"Leave some for me, okay?" Steve looked at him, half-jokingly, but he truly meant it. He was furious too and couldn't wait to take a piece out of the weasel who'd done this heinous crime.

"He ought to be flogged." Myles snarled in disgust. Dimitrius and Jessie silently simmered their complete agreement.


"We almost lost her last year." Tara explained unhappily, a little later when she'd slightly calmed herself.

"You did?" Amanda asked.

"How?" Jessie added.

"A serial killer." Bobby answered dryly, his face a mixture of sadness and bitterness. "The press was harassing one of the victims' fathers, and Sue stepped in to defend the poor bloke. The loud-mouthed yobbo broadcasted that Sue personally said she'd capture the killer. So, our Simon Says friend accepted the challenge."

"We thought we had him." Dimitrius explained. "Sue and Lucy were having trouble with their plumbing, and the real Simon disguised himself for the occasion, and he almost strangled Sue to death after everyone left." Mark, Steve, Amanda, and Jessie all gaped.

"How did..." Mark asked.

"Miraculously, Jack left his phone at their apartment, and he came in just as she was being attacked." Tara said as small tears welled in her eyes.

I was wondering how a sheltered girl like her knew so much about serial killers, Steve thought glumly. "I'll, uh...I'm gonna call the station again to see if they have any new developments."


"Uh, Doc? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Bobby asked quietly.

"Sure." Mark agreed. They both walked out into the foyer.

"Doc Sloan?" Bobby mumbled.

"Yes, Bobby?" Mark asked solemnly.

"I..." Bobby hung his head. "I'm afraid I owe you an apology."

"What?" Mark sputtered. "Whatever for? I don't understand."

"Look, you've all been so helpful to us, and..." Bobby it his lip. "And speaking for myself, I'm sorry to confess that I was beginning to trust in your knowledge alone, instead of trusting God to guide us. Hey, you're brilliant, Doctor Sloan! Don't get me wrong about that. But, you're as much a human being as I am, and...well, it's because you're so brilliant that I started relying on you to have all the answers, after all the good, accurate ones you did come up with."

Mark gazed thoughtfully at him. "We all have a tendency to do that sometimes if we're not careful." He sighed. "I'm sorry to say that I've done it more times than I'd like to count. The Lord is always faithful to humble me, but often I've had to learn it in a way I'd prefer not to." Bobby grinned sadly.

"I was holding you up on a pedestal that no living person could measure up to. I'm sorry." Bobby said.

"It's all right, Bobby." Mark smiled and touched his shoulder. "It's okay, son."

"Thanks. I think I'd better go check on Jack." Bobby stated.

"Okay."

Bobby walked outside and found Jack standing close to the water again. He glanced at Bobby as he approached. Bobby put his arm around his friend's shoulder and they both stood there together with Levi at their heels. Neither of them said anything.


Please, don't quit reading! You've got to find out what happens. You'll miss on it if you don't finish reading the story!