A/N: Second chapter of the day as promised. :-) I should warn you that it contains some flashback steaminess and not just because part of it is set in the shower. ;-D

o-xxx-o

After tossing and turning for almost an hour unable to shake off the last vestiges of his dream, Jack surrendered to the inevitable, slipping on his robe and walking into the living room. Standing by the Christmas tree, he looked out onto the street below, the fresh covering of snow reflecting orange in the artificial light. His heart rate had returned to normal but he knew he'd still have to rule himself out of the raid they had planned for that morning and settle for handling the surveillance side. He sighed resignedly wondering how he'd reached such a low point after months of unprecedented happiness...

It had all started with a quick trip to liaise with the team in the New York Field Office. His business concluded, he'd walked out into the main reception area and straight into her, literally. He'd put out a hand to stop them both from tumbling to the ground without realising who it was he'd almost flattened, their eyes had met, she'd given him a surprised but happy smile and he was lost. She'd asked how long he was there for and he'd told her just for the rest of that day and the weekend. They'd had dinner together that evening and chatted as friends and not just colleagues. From that day on his life had become a series of firsts...

The first time they'd had lunch; the first time she'd cooked dinner for him... He didn't count the time they'd spent undercover...

The first time he'd flown to New York just to see her and she'd come back to D.C. for him. The first time they'd kissed and he'd realised the Callahan and Merced encounter really had been just to get them out of an awkward situation...

The first time he'd told her that he loved her and been stunned when she'd told him she felt the same way. The day he'd got down on one knee and proposed, scared to death she'd say 'no' and almost passing out when he heard 'yes'. The first time they'd made love...

The recollection caused a pleasurable shiver down his spine. He could remember each moment, each touch in vivid detail.

A university friend and his fiancée were visiting Washington and Sue had flown in especially to meet them. She'd looked absolutely stunning in a figure-hugging, sparkly black evening dress; her hair piled on top of her head. Not something he usually appreciated but on this particular evening it seemed to accentuate the line of her neck and bare shoulders. Another shiver coursed through him as he thought about the fun they'd had, the laughter they'd shared and holding her tightly against him as they'd danced in the confined space of the restaurant.

She'd snuggled into him in the back of the cab as they returned to his apartment and he'd barely managed to hold on until they were inside before he'd kissed her, leaning her back against the front door and holding her close as his lips found hers again and again.

Tearing himself away he'd reached up and removed the clip from her hair, groaning as it tumbled down and tangling his fingers in it as he pulled her mouth back to his, kissing her passionately, their tongues engaging in a dance of their own; his lips straying down her neck and shoulder, across her collarbone and up the other side. His hand had slid down her back and lower, pressing her body hard against his own, his mind barely registering her startled cry.

The voice inside his head had gotten louder and louder until it was screaming at him to stop and he'd torn himself away, breathing heavily and forcing himself to step back. Nervously, he'd looked into her eyes and mumbled an apology, his face colouring with embarrassment.

Her cheeks were flushed, her stunned and somewhat fearful expression making him feel guilty and a little ashamed. "I'm so sorry, I..." Not able to finish the sentence he'd walked away to give himself some space, all the time wondering how he was going to put things right but he couldn't even begin to think straight at that moment, he'd still wanted her so badly. Stripping off he'd slipped into the shower and set it on cold but after a minute or two, tempered it with a little warm.

He'd had no idea that she'd followed him until he'd turned to allow the water to cascade over his head and down his back. "Sue..?"

She'd stood and regarded him nervously, nibbling on her bottom lip as though she was wrestling with a problem and then her eyes had raked his body from head to toe and back again. "If you warm that up a little more, I might be persuaded to join you."

"You're sure?"

She'd nodded, her decision finally made. "I'm sure."

He'd done as he was asked and watched as she kicked off her shoes and almost shimmied out of her dress leaving it in a heap on the tiled floor, an action which had succeeded in reversing the effects of the cold water on his body. He'd been mesmerised as she'd walked towards him and stepped under the spray still in her underwear which clung like a second skin as it soaked up the water.

Still uncertain, he'd reached up and tenderly stroked the side of her face. "You're really sure? I don't want you to do this just because of what happened in there. I'm truly sorry about that by the way."

"Don't be... And yes, I'm sure."

His lips had found hers again but the kiss had been far more tender and loving. His self-control had been pushed to the limit that night but it had been worth it. They'd washed and dried each other, exploring with gentle fingers and lips and then he'd spent almost half-an-hour blow-drying and brushing her hair. His fingers itched as he remembered its soft silkiness.

Leading her into the bedroom, he'd paused again to give her the opportunity to back out but her next request had completely stolen his breath away.

"Do something for me?"

"...Anything." He'd rested his hand against her cheek, caressing the soft skin with his thumb before planting soft kisses on her forehead, eyes and finally, her lips.

"I need you to be my Training Agent again."

"I don't understand."

She'd placed her cool fingers against his lips. "Show me how to love you the way you need to be loved."

He could feel the tears pricking his eyes just as they had back then and he quickly shook himself out of the trance he was in. While he'd been lost in thought the dawn had broken, painting the sky in hues of pink and yellow and with a pensive sigh he returned to the bedroom. Three-and-a-half more days... All he had to do was hold on for three-and-a-half more days and she'd be back in DC and safe in his arms.

o-xxx-o