Episode tag to 2.4 "Cold Case," in which we see the fulfillment of the date with Jack that Lucy and Tara bought for Sue.

AN: Just a reminder that these are each stand-alone stories, so this is not directly linked to either of the previous two "Cold Case" tags. Each of the three has Jack and Sue going toward the same relationship (like pretty much all of these stories) but in different progressions.

~0~

"So," Jack said, "what time should I pick you up Sunday?"

"For what?" Sue asked, confused.

"For the football game, remember? Our Bachelor Auction date?"

"Oh," she said, coloring slightly. "Since I wasn't even the one who really bought the date, I didn't think you'd actually want to take me. Wouldn't you rather go with one of your guy friends?"

Jack looked crestfallen. Thankfully, Tara and Lucy stepped in before Sue could ruin her own Sunday and Jack's at the same time by thinking she was doing the right thing. "Uh, no, you have to go," Lucy said. "We pooled our money to rescue Jack from Eleanor. Now, what do you think would happen if she heard that someone else went to that game with Jack?"

"Or," Tara added, "what would happen if someone discovered the purchased date didn't end up happening? Would the charity not get the money bid on that date?" She shrugged.

"I don't think that would happen," Sue said.

"But why risk it?" Lucy argued.

"Anyway," Tara added, "what else would you be doing? Lucy and I were going to help my sister out at my nephew's birthday party. You'd just be sitting home . . . alone."

"Well, if she doesn't want to go to the football game—" Jack started to say, but Sue interrupted, possibly partly inspired by the Go-With-Him-Or-I'll-Never-Forgive-You look that Lucy was giving her.

"No, no, I do like football, and if you really are okay with taking me, I think it'll be fun! Um, what time does the game start?"

"It's a late game, it starts at 4, so you'll have time for church first. Would, um–" He hesitated. "If you want, I could take you to lunch first, and then we can go over for the tailgating until the game starts?"

"Oh, you don't have to do—" Sue started, but a sudden thud cut her off. "Uh, that would be great, thanks," she said, surreptitiously rubbing her ankle and glaring up at Lucy who was smiling as innocently as she could.

"Okay, great. We'll do a casual lunch so that you can just go home and change from church so we won't have to worry about changing after lunch."

"Sounds good! Wait, so what time?"

"Uh, why don't you call me when you leave church and I'll meet you at your apartment after that?"

"Okay, sounds great."

As soon as he'd walked away, Sue spun toward Lucy. "Why did you do that?!"

"Girl, we spent a lot of money to get that date for you! You two moon over each other constantly, you might as well actually enjoy the one date that is FBI-sanctioned!"

"I don't want to enjoy it! If I enjoy it, it will be that much harder to not be able to have another one!"

Lucy and Tara glanced at one another, clearly not having considered that part of things. "Well," Lucy finally said, "if you two are meant to be, isn't that more important? I mean, I love our team, but there are other teams you or Jack could work with and still be super effective and also be together. Maybe this will be a chance to find out."

She and Tara walked away without letting Sue say anything else, leaving Sue to nurse her fresh bruise and fret over the coming weekend for the rest of her Friday.

~0~

When Sue called Jack to let him know she was walking home from church that Sunday morning, she had expected him to get to her apartment around ten to twenty minutes after she got home. For one thing, he lived further from her apartment than her church was. For another, she had only just let him know she was heading home, he would probably have to get ready and stuff. And for a third, he would probably want to wait to arrive until she was already changed and ready herself.

So imagine her surprise when she arrived at her apartment to find him waiting by the door. "Jack! What are you doing here?"

"Meeting you, of course," he said.

"I know," she said, turning to unlock the door. "I mean . . . how did you get here so fast?"

He took a deep breath as he followed her inside, waiting until she turned back to him to see his answer. "Can I confess something?"

She nodded, worried. "I was waiting at that café down the street for you to call my cell. I'm . . . a bit excited and might have been a bit useless nervously pacing my apartment."

She swallowed. "You are?"

It was his turn to nod. "I . . . to be perfectly honest, when we first met, I was torn between wanting to have you on my team and wanting to ask you out. I chose to act for the good of the team, and every day ever since I've been glad of it from a professional standpoint and kicking myself for it on a personal level. This may be our only FBI-sanctioned date and I intend to enjoy every second of it. Honestly, I should have gone to church with you just so we could have the whole day together."

She stared in amazement, but apparently a little too long because after a few moments he winced a little and asked, "Is that . . . too much?"

Quickly, she shook her head. "No, it—I'm glad. I just . . . didn't know for sure if, um . . . if you felt that way too."

He smiled, relieved. "Well, um . . . is there anything I can help with? I mean, not—not changing, of course! But, um, do you need me to feed Levi or anything?"

"Oh, that would be great."

He headed to do that while she headed to her bedroom to change. By the time she came out, Levi was nearly done eating, and Jack was sitting on the couch nervously bouncing his leg and fiddling with his hand. As soon as she exited her bedroom, though, he was on his feet, and staring in awe. After a moment he said, "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" she asked, confused.

"Manage to look just as good in a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, as in your Sunday best, or a gala gown?"

She blushed. "I think you're exaggerating slightly," she said, trying to brush off the compliment. He stepped to her, taking her hands in his and waiting until she properly held his gaze.

"No exaggeration," he said softly. "No matter what you wear, you make my heart skip a beat every time I see you, and if this is the only day I can, I intend to both show and tell you how much you mean to me all day long."

She took a deep breath, nodded, then went to check on Levi, and check in with Lucy to make sure she was all set for watching Levi for the afternoon, and that Tara's sister really didn't mind a dog coming to the birthday party too. He would have been fine at the restaurant, but at a football game he would be trying to let her know any time anybody cheered.

As soon as Sue and Jack were on the other side of the door from Lucy, Sue turned to Jack and said, "For the record, Mr. Hudson: you're welcome to show and tell all you want today, but know that that will go both ways–handsome." She winked and then sauntered down the hall. He gaped for just a moment, then caught up with her and caught her hand in his.

~0~

Although a casual lunch, it was a particularly enjoyable one, spent at a panini place they both liked. They held hands through most of the meal, Jack rubbing his thumb absently across the back of Sue's hand. Their conversation was as easy as always as they talked, laughed, and joked their way through the meal.

Jack hadn't been kidding when he'd said that he would both show and tell Sue how much she meant to him. He praised her beauty, her wit, her charm, her intellect, even her grace as she ate her sandwich.

"Jack, please," she said, "I'm going to get a big head at this rate!"

"I doubt that's even possible," he responded. "For someone as amazing as you, I'm not sure I've known anyone with so much humility either." She playfully whacked his hand in reply.

Sue could give as good as she got, though. She could when it came to teasing, and she could when it came to praising. She told Jack how handsome he was, how mesmerizing his eyes were, how kissable his lips looked—"Maybe I can give you a demonstration later," he responded with a wink—how much she admired how well he led teams but listened to others as well without ever trying to be a dictator. She praised his humor and she thanked him for being so great about her teasing barbs.

All in all, the meal went much faster than they'd anticipated, and they headed off to the game.

The tailgaters were outside having fun and Jack and Sue wandered around for a while before heading for their seats, getting themselves seated a full hour before kickoff time. "Want me to get us something to eat?" Jack asked.

"Food would be good, but I'll come too, I don't want to be alone. Without Levi, you're my ears today."

He was still holding her hand—they'd only released them when absolutely necessary since the moment they left her apartment—so he rose, helping her to her feet at the same time, and they headed off to concessions.

As they were walking Sue realized she had another need. "Um, before we get concessions," she said, "I think I'm going to need the restroom."

He pointed. "There's one right next to the line there. Why don't you run in and I'll wait in line? I'm sure I'll still be waiting when you get back out."

She nodded, then squeezed his hand and said, "I know this is totally inappropriate but—I wish you could come with me. I really hate busy places without Levi."

He gave her a quick hug, and kissed the side of her head on an impulse. "You'll be okay, and I'll be right out here."

When she came back out, he was only a little further up in line, and she looked shaken. He was immediately concerned. "Sue, what happened?"

She shook her head. "It was nothing."

He took her hands and felt her trembling. "It wasn't nothing, what happened."

She shrugged. "I don't know. Some . . . some lady yelled at me that I was rude for . . . I don't know what. I never found out. It's fine, I'm used to it, I just hate when people get in my face like that. And I really hope I didn't accidentally cut in front of her in line or something." With a faltering smile, attempting to brush it off with humor, she added, "Lines in ladies' bathrooms can get intense."

He hugged her tight, wishing he could shield her from all such things. Over her shoulder, he saw an angry-looking woman exit the bathroom, look around, and then come storming over to them. "And another thing," she was shouting. He stiffened, then pulled back just enough to sign to Sue, Angry woman coming. I'll take care of it.

He really hadn't been paying any attention to what the woman was shouting, but as she got up to them he heard, "—and the simplest act of kindness could go a long way!"

"Excuse me," he said calmly, "please tell me why you are screaming at my girlfriend?"

The woman snorted. "Your girlfriend here didn't even care when I was in the stall next to her and asking her for toilet paper! And my stall was on the end, there wasn't even someone on the other side I could ask! I finally had to use the tiniest little scraps that were left on that roll and waddle out until I could find some somewhere else!"

Sue's eyes were filling with tears. "I'm sorry, I didn't—"

Jack put a hand on her arm and shook his head slightly. He'd told her he would take care of it, and he would. "Well, ma'am, he said, letting his anger start to show through now that he had been able to give Sue peace of mind about what the situation had actually been—and that there literally was nothing she could have done differently. "There are three things you seem entirely unaware of."

"Oh really?" she sneered. "And I suppose you'll enlighten me?"

"You bet. First, believe it or not, nobody owes you a response. Is it polite? Yes. Is it required? No. Second, you were requesting toilet paper of a deaf woman. She reads lips, but as good as she is at it, she can't read them through solid walls. And third, she and I are both federal agents. You'd better be very glad that your terrible attitude today isn't actually against any laws because you have no idea the lengths to which I would go to protect her."

The woman had gaped indignantly at the first statement. She had looked disbelieving and then chagrined throughout the second. At the third, she had turned white.

"I—but I had no way—"

"I suggest you leave now," Jack said, turning his attention back to the line, which had still barely moved, and throwing his arm around Sue's shoulders.

Sue, who was beaming up at Jack, smiled beatifically at the woman and, speaking and signing, said, "Enjoy the game!"

As the woman took the wisest course and departed, several people in the line in front of and behind them applauded. Jack gave a small, somewhat embarrassed smile of acknowledgement before returning his attention to Sue, but Sue, who had been beaming up at Jack and thus couldn't see the applause happening, was unaware of it entirely.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She was smirking at him. "You called me your girlfriend."

"Well, if I have any say over it, if we can manage it with HR, and if you agree, I fully intend to turn that into a true statement. If not, though, then at least for today I consider you my girlfriend."

"Well, boyfriend," she said pointedly, her eyes lighting up at the opportunity to call him that, "thanks to you I think I'm just fine." After a moment, as they inched forward in line again, she snorted and said, "Imagine getting that worked up over toilet paper!"

"I know!"

~0~

By the time they had finally made it through concessions and back to their seats it was only ten minutes to kickoff, and the stadium had filled up considerably.

"I always forget how loud these things get!" Jack observed.

Sue laughed. "Jack, I can see that you're shouting, but it won't do me any good, I can't hear you either way!"

"No, it does me good!" he responded quickly. "I don't know what I'm saying otherwise!"

They sat to wait for the kickoff, munching on their food and teasing each other, until the game started, and then they were both cheering on the local team.

Their hands were occupied balancing their food until their nachos and chili were gone, and Jack's beer—just one, he'd assured her, so he could still drive them home after—and Sue's soda both had a significant dent in them as well. Once they were able to tuck the trash under their seats and just have their drinks to deal with (which could go in the cup holders anyway), Jack threw his arm around Sue, who leaned into him without hesitation. Though they both were quite into the game, cheering, booing, leaping up with the rest of the crowd either in joy or in outrage, they stayed either leaning together or holding hands the whole time.

Shortly before halftime—that is, there was 3 minutes left on the clock in that quarter, so probably at least 20 minutes until halftime—Sue signed to Jack that she had to use the bathroom again.

"Okay, let's go," he said.

"No, Jack, you stay and watch the game, I don't want to make you miss stuff."

"Sweetheart, you didn't want to be alone and I'm not going to leave you alone. Besides, I could use the bathroom myself."

They headed off, tossing their empty containers in the trash on the way. They each used the bathroom, and when Sue came out Jack was waiting for her with two more sodas in hand.

"How'd you do that so fast?" she asked, taking the cup he held out toward her.

He shrugged. "No lines, peeing is faster for guys, no line at concessions either . . . ."

She giggled. "You must be a superhero."

"That too."

As they headed back up, non-soda-carrying hands clasped together, she pulled him to a stop before they got to where she figured it would be too loud and said, "I liked what you called me, by the way."

He tilted his head, trying to remember. "What did I call you?"

"When you said you weren't going to leave me alone. You called me sweetheart."

"I did?"

She bit her lip. "You did. I . . . did you not want to?"

"Oh, no, I just, I've thought it so many times, I didn't realize I'd actually said it out loud!"

She smiled at that. "Know what I've called you in my thoughts?"

He smiled in response, not sure whether to anticipate a joke or a sweet nickname but happy to hear either from her. "What?"

She bit her lip again. "Babe."

He grinned. "I never would've expected that of you, but I like it. Well, let's go, sweetheart."

"You got it—babe." She winked, and they continued up the stairs and back to their seats.

~0~

The game ended with the Giants winning, 21-19. Jack didn't even seem disappointed. When Sue commented on that, he said, "It's a day with you. It's hard to be mad about anything."

She felt like she hadn't stopped smiling the whole day, with all the sweet things he'd been telling her. She was almost disappointed to arrive home. She was about to turn the overhead light on and ask him if he wanted to do something else before officially calling the day to a close, but before she could he had already climbed out and was coming around to her side to open the door. She was a little disappointed, but as he held her hand to help her out, and then asked, "Shall I walk you up?" she couldn't be terribly upset.

Instead, she walked hand-in-hand with him back up to the apartment. Well, she thought, why should they have to go anywhere else to extend their time together? Even if Lucy was hanging out with them, they could still have more time together here at her apartment. Turning to him, she asked, "Would you like to come in?"

He took a deep breath. "Do you think that's a good idea?"

"I think I don't want today to end. And it's only 9:00."

He smiled. "I don't know how to say no to you."

"Ooh, that could come in handy," she teased. She unlocked the door and led him inside, expecting to be met with a furry projectile crashing into her. Instead, all seemed quiet. No Levi, no Lucy. Maybe she had him out on a walk.

She closed the door and led Jack by the hand over to the couch, sitting down and snuggling as close as she could while still being able to read his lips. "I really had a great time today, Babe."

"Me too, Sweetheart" he responded, brushing his fingers across her cheek. "And . . ." He hesitated. "I really did mean what I said. Unless you don't want me to, I absolutely intend to talk to both Garrett and HR tomorrow, and whomever else I have to, to get permission for us to be together. If they won't let us be on the same team, I'll ask for a transfer, or if absolutely necessary I'll quit."

"Jack," she said in a somewhat exasperated voice, "you cannot quit, you're too important there!"

"You're more important to me," he replied, staring into her eyes with an intensity she wasn't sure she'd ever seen from anyone.

She felt like her heart stuttered for a moment, then she bit her lip shyly and said, "You know . . . I believe it's common practice for a date that went particularly well . . . to end with a goodnight kiss."

He didn't have to be asked twice.

~0~

Lucy and Levi had both heard Sue come home but she kept them both sequestered away, hoping maybe Sue brought Jack home with her. A few moments later, the voices coming from the other room confirmed this. Levi was whining to leave Lucy's room, but she refused to open the door for him. "Not yet, big guy," she said. "Let's let them have a bit more time to themselves."

She returned to reading her book, and got rather into it, until several minutes later she realized that there were no more voices out there. She hadn't heard the door again, but then, she'd been really into her book. Just in case, though, she opened her door cautiously, and held Levi's collar as she crept out to peek into the living room.

Jack definitely had not left. Instead, he and Sue were making out on the couch! "Yessssss!" Lucy whispered.

Sue, of course, had no notion Lucy was there. The only clue that Jack had heard her was when he lifted a hand and motioned for Lucy to go away, which she quickly and happily obeyed. It was about time!