Chapter 20: Where Now?
When Sue entered Jack's room, she notice that he looked calmer and more contented than he had when she'd left from visiting him the last time. In fact, when she had left, she noticed that he had looked rather irritated. She realized what had probably happened, but decided that she would hold off on saying anything until later.
"Hi." He said, raising a hand in greeting.
"Hi." She said back. "How are you?"
"A lot better." Jack answered. "The doctor says I should be able to go home soon."
"That's good." Sue said. There was an awkward pause before Jack spoke again.
"Sue." he said, taking her hand. "Why didn't you do something about it?"
"About what?" Sue asked.
"The doctor." Jack answered. "The way that he treated you." Sue looked down at her lap, not sure how he'd respond to her reason. Jack reached up, gently taking her chin in his hand and turning her face towards him. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Jack asked.
"I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Sue said.
"Why?" Jack asked.
"Because I didn't want you getting upset so soon after you woke up." Sue answered.
"But…" Jack started, but Sue cut him off.
"There are many people in the world who think people like me are dumb and so they will talk to us like we're dumb." Sue said.
"But you're not…" Jack started, but Sue interrupted him again.
"Jack, just because you know I'm not dumb doesn't mean that someone meeting me for the first time won't think I'm dumb. Its how some people are. You can't yell at all of them." Sue told him.
"How did you know?" Jack asked guiltily.
"I saw the doctor downstairs. He was very nice and courteous, but rather jumpy." Sue told him. Jack looked away, blushing slightly. "Jack, why do you feel you have to protect me so much?" Sue asked.
"Because…" Jack said, taking a deep breath, looking her straight in the eyes, and continuing before he could lose his nerve. "Because I love you." Sue looked surprised for a moment, and then she smiled, her eyes shining joyfully.
"I love you too." She admitted. Jack sat up and ran a hand lightly over her hair and down her back. She shivered slightly at his touch.
"With my lady's permission." He said, rather like an English gentleman. She smiled and nodded. He gently pulled her forward and kissed her. She melted into it, a warm flood of emotion flowing through her. Here was a man who admittedly loved her and one she loved in return. There was only one thing she had to know. She gently pulled away.
"Do you ever wish that I could hear?" She asked.
"There was one time I thought about it." Jack admitted, "But then I realized that you couldn't be you without that part of you. You're unique and that's a part of it. You're a beautiful, smart, and understanding lady who happens to be deaf, and that I wouldn't change for the world."
Suddenly something dawned on Sue. "What about the no dating within a unit rule?" She asked.
"Well, it says that agents aren't allowed to date within a unit." Jack said slyly. "Technically you're not an agent. Those little technicalities can get you places."
"As I've said before," Sue told him, "you are a sly and devious man, but right now I don't mind one bit."
FIN
I didn't mean to make people almost cry. I'm sorry.
Luthien Oronar: Don't worry. I'm not going to do that again.
i love jack: I will keep writing, but this is the end of this story.
And thank you to everyone who reviewed. I was thinking of listing all of your names here, but I realized that if you really wanted to know who all I'm thanking, you could check the review page. lol Thanks a whole bunch though.