14
Every Dark Cloud
Disclaimer: the usual
Genre: Drama
Rating: K
Summary: A routine interview turns treacherous for our favorite couple. It's me—you know who it is!
A/N: It's been a long time but I haven't given up on Bobby and Sue. I love them still. There aren't many chapters but each one is lengthy. I'm breaking my unwritten rule and posting a story that is not complete. Those darn last two chapters are giving me such a headache! If you have any suggestions, send them my way. Now, on with the show! Oh! One more thing—I won't post the next chapter until next week or so. Is that bad?
--
Chapter 1
"Hey! You still coughing?' asked a concerned Jack.
"It's nothing," Bobby replied as he opened his desk drawer. "Just a bit left from that cold."
"You've had that 'bit' for quite a while."
"It's the age thing," Tara lamented. "We're all not as young as we used to be."
"I think the cold germs are just stronger now than before," Lucy chipped in. "A cold just seems to last longer nowadays."
"He's probably infecting all of us with his germs as we speak," Myles commented acerbically without taking his eyes off the report in his hand.
"My Mum always said I should share," quipped Bobby as he rummaged through another drawer.
"What are you looking for?" Lucy asked.
"Something to eat…woke up late…no breakfast. I'm famished."
Sue looked at Lucy with question on her face. "Bobby…what's up?" she signed.
"Hungry…missed breakfast."
"Didn't your mother tell you breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Sue asked with a straight face.
"Yes," he said in exasperation as he straightened up, "but that doesn't solve my problem now."
"I have an emergency candy bar in my desk just for this occasion," Tara announced. "Want it?"
"Tara," said Bobby gratefully walking over to her desk, "you are a life saver."
"You do realize you're contributing to his poor dietary habits," smirked Myles.
"One candy bar does not constitute poor nutrition," Bobby declared as he peeled off the wrapper.
"Ah, but over time the consumption of food empty of nutritional value but filled with other undesirable ingredients that do contribute to such health conditions as high cholesterol does lead to an unhealthy diet!" said Myles triumphantly.
Bobby glared at his co-worker. "My cholesterol is perfectly fine!" He took another bite of the candy bar in defiance.
"Now…but you must admit…."
"I hate to interrupt this love fest," Lucy interrupted, "but Bobby, you have a phone call."
"Thanks, Lucy." He swallowed before picking up the phone. "Manning."
"It's been several months, Myles. Don't you get tired of reminding him of that cholesterol test result?" Lucy asked dryly.
"As a matter of fact…no," he said smugly. "It's called payback."
Lucy and Sue exchanged exasperated glances while Tara returned to the task at hand eyebrows raised. Myles' memory made him a good agent but also made him quite exasperating at times.
"We'll be there as soon as we can! Hang on…let me get a pencil so I can write this down."
Bobby's tone of suppressed excitement made everyone turn in his direction.
"Who's that?" Jack asked curiously.
Lucy shrugged. The caller did not identify himself.
"We're leaving immediately. Thanks!" Bobby beamed at the group when he hung up.
"What's up, Crash?"
"That was Martin Brennerman," he said meaningfully.
"You don't mean…" began an excited Jack.
Myles' feet hit the floor. "Martin Brennerman? Right hand man of Milt Pearson?"
"Yes! Pearson has finally agreed to meet with us!" Bobby said jubilantly.
"Great!" declared Jack reaching for his jacket. "C'mon, Sue, let's…"
"Hold on, mate! You can't go."
"What do you mean I can't go?" Jack frowned.
"You're due in court at 2:00 pm sharp, remember?"
"It's only…" he glanced at the clock, "10:52. Plenty of time to get Pearson's statement."
"That's the catch…he's at his mountain retreat as we speak," explained Bobby. "We have to meet him there."
"And how far is this mountain retreat?" asked D.
"A two hour drive from here. Perhaps longer with this rain."
"I guess that leaves me out then," said a disappointed Jack. He'd been looking forward to finally meeting the multi-millionaire.
"Then I guess that leaves you, Levi, and me," stated Sue looking at Bobby.
"Right," he replied as he reached for his jacket, "so if we want to get back before the sun goes down, we should leave sooner than later. Wasn't the forecast for heavier showers later today?"
"And tomorrow and the day after that," contributed Myles.
"If we're lucky," D added.
Lucy waved to get her attention. "Hey, Sue, you want to leave Levi with me? It's a long drive for you two let alone a dog. It's not like he has to go."
Sue considered her roommate's suggestion. Four hours in a car was a long time for Levi to be cooped up.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure I'm sure," Lucy declared. "Levi and I get along fine."
As if he understood the conversation, Levi sat on his haunches and put his paws up.
"Look…he knows what we're saying," commented D.
"Of course, he does," replied Tara. "He is a dog of uncommon intelligence."
"Thanks, Lucy." Looking down at the waiting canine, she instructed, "You stay with Lucy. I'll be back."
The team watched as he walked over to Lucy's desk and lay down.
"He listens better than my kids," D remarked.
"Send 'em to obedience school," cracked Myles.
Sue looked up at Bobby. "I'm ready."
"Good," he responded before coughing again.
"Lucky Sue," Myles commented sarcastically. "You get to spend four hours in an enclosed space with Typhoid Bobby here."
"I'm not sick!" glared Bobby.
"If I do catch a cold from you, you'll have to make me some chicken soup," Sue tossed back.
"Food! Let's grab some lunch on the way to Pearson's place," the team heard Bobby tell Sue as they left the bullpen.
"I guess the excitement of meeting with Pearson didn't make Bobby forget he's hungry," Myles commented.
"It's a two hour drive to and another two hours back," Jack said calmly. "They're entitled."
--
"I think that's it for now, Mr. Pearson," Bobby Manning stated as he flipped his notebook close.
"We appreciate you meeting with us," smiled Sue.
"Figured if it was important enough you were willing to drive here you must want the information pretty badly," the older man said matter-of-factly.
"We do," Bobby assured him tucking the notebook away. "If we have any more questions, we'll contact you."
"Fine…just leave a message with my office and I'll get back to you when I can," Pearson stated. "In fact, I think I hear my ride now." The sound of a helicopter could be heard.
Sue looked questioningly at Bobby.
"Helicopter," he mouthed.
Her mouth rounded in an "o". "I guess multi-millionaires travel differently from the masses," she whispered to Bobby. His eyebrows waggled in response.
His assistant popped in. "Stewart's here, Mr. Pearson. He wants to talk to you about the flight plan."
"Thanks, Martin. Finish packing these files, will you," he said gesturing to a pile. Nodding to the agents, he left.
"Can I get you anything else before we leave?" asked his assistant.
"No, we better be going ourselves. It's getting late." The drive had taken longer than usual due to a traffic accident.
As they stepped outside, the trio shivered. With the dark clouds and steady rain, the temperature had dropped since they'd first come forty-five minutes earlier.
Martin squinted at the ominous sky. "Looks like we're in for a bad one," he stated. "I hope we're in time to beat the brunt of the storm."
Bobby was worried. Could they make it down in time themselves?
Martin looked at the two FBI agents. "Be careful going down the mountain and watch out for mudslides. I don't think it's been raining hard enough yet but they've been known to washout the road on occasion."
"Thanks for the warning," said Bobby.
"Martin!" shouted Pearson.
"Coming!" He turned to the agents. "Drive safely."
"Have a safe trip," Sue said in appreciation. They waited until the helicopter left before dashing to the car.
"Must be nice to have enough money to live like this," remarked Bobby as he ran his hand through his hair to shake off the droplets.
"I can see how this kind of lifestyle could be attractive to some people," said Sue as she buckled her seat belt.
"But not you."
She shook her head. "I think I have a pretty good life already," she smiled appreciatively.
"Isn't there something you secretly want?"
"The only thing I want right now is to get down this mountain before the rain really comes down."
"Good idea."
"Not quite the same as Pearson's means of transportation but it'll get us back home," he remarked fastening his seatbelt. "Ready?"
"Any time you are."
Bobby had driven only a few minutes before there was a tremendous clap of thunder and a torrent of rain descended upon their car.
"Was that as loud as I think it was?"
Bobby looked startled. "You could hear that?"
"I felt it."
"You all right?"
"Are you?"
"I'm all right if you're all right."
He flashed her a brief smile. "Then we're all right."
--
Bobby was forced to drive at a snail's pace due to the heavy rain and his unfamiliarity with the road. Visibility was limited despite the windshield wipers swiping furiously back and forth.
"I don't know about you but I can barely see the road, Bobby," declared Sue as she strained her eyes to see.
He let go of the steering wheel for a moment to touch her arm. "Worried?"
"You said something?" she asked flicking on the overhead light. It had become too dark to see easily.
"I said…are you worried?" he repeated concentrating on the road ahead.
"No. I have the utmost confidence in your driving…Crash," she teased. At the mention of his nickname, she could see him smile in chagrin.
"Jack should never have told you that story," he declared.
"It's a good story," she assured him. "It made you less…intimidating," she invented.
He flashed her a curious look. "Intimidating? Me?"
"Sure. Here I was…the newest member of the team and you a seasoned agent. I'm sure he told me the story to let me know me I didn't have to be perfect right away," she said with a straight face.
"Hmph!" snorted Bobby. "I think someone is pulling my leg."
"What makes you say that?"
"You are making Jack out to be far more charitable than he deserves, Miss Thomas."
"Oh? You mean there was another reason he told that story?"
She noticed the abrupt change in his expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Look," he said nodding ahead.
Sue gasped when she saw a pile of mud creating a barrier across the two lanes. "Good thing you were driving so slowly."
Nodding, he assessed the situation. It looked like he might be able to drive through on the left side but he didn't know how wide the mudslide was. He hated the thought of getting stuck in it. It would be too easy to be swept over the mountainside if more mud poured down.
"Is there room to go around?" asked Sue.
"I'd rather not. We don't know how deep the mud is."
"We can't stay here, can we?"
He shook his head. If that much mud came down in the short time it'd been raining, there was a good chance more would be coming down as the rain continued.
"What shall we do?"
"Turn around and head back to Pearson's place."
"But…no one's there," she pointed out. "You can't break in!"
"I will if I have to," he said matter-of-factly. It would be safer than staying in the car. "My greatest concern is if Randy will accept glass replacement as a legitimate expense if I have to break a window to get in."
"If he doesn't, I'll reimburse you myself," Sue told him, "and visit you in jail when Pearson presses charges for breaking and entering."
"We'll be sharing a cell."
"We will?"
"You'll be an accessory," was the absent-minded response. As they'd bantered, Bobby had been thinking how to turn the car around without going over the embankment. It was a two-lane road with a drop down the mountain on the other side.
"Okay, here's the plan," he announced.
"We're going to turn around."
"Right."
She looked attentively. "Is there room to turn around?"
"That's the million dollar question."
"How are you going to do that in this rain?"
"Very carefully," he said with a smile.
At her look of exasperation, he elaborated.
"I'm getting out of the car to find out where the edge of the road is."
"Bobby…it's pouring!" she protested. "You'll get soaked!"
"I'd much rather get soaked than go over that cliff!"
"Good point," she conceded. "What do you want me to do?"
"Wait here until I find out how much room we have to maneuver."
"That's all?"
"No. I also want you to stay on your side when I open the door so you don't get wet," he ordered her.
"I won't melt."
"I'll need something to dry off after this," he joked. "Your coat will do."
"Microfiber…doesn't absorb well," she replied lightly fingering the lapel.
"There goes that idea. Stay right here until I come back."
"Be careful, Bobby."
"Aren't I always?" With a flash of a dimple, he was gone.
"One thousand one, one thousand two…" she counted as she waited for her partner's return. Time seemed to crawl by.
"One thousand fifty-two, one thousand fifty-three…" she muttered as she peered into the darkness. "What's taking so…"
The door was wrenched open. Bobby's head appeared.
"Nasty weather," he announced cheerfully as he slid into the driver's seat. "Not even fit for ducks." He swiped back his wet locks from his face.
"That's an understatement. Is there enough room?"
"We lucked out. This must be a turn around point. There's even a guardrail so that'll help. But we have to hurry—the mud's spreading."
"All right…so what do you want me to do?"
Quickly, Bobby outlined the plan. "All right?" he asked when he was done.
"Why don't you drive and I'll guide you?"
He shook his head. "I'm a bigger target in this rain. Easier to see."
"I wish you hadn't used that word. Now I'm going to worry I might hit you."
"Not going to happen. Just take your time and we'll be fine." He looked at her reassuringly. "When I give the signal, move forward very slowly," he emphasized. "I'll put my hand on the windshield for you to stop."
"Got it."
"Okay," he said hand on the handle. "I'll be right beside you," he repeated as he opened the door.
Stepping out, he could feel his foot sink. Looking down, he could literally see the mud piling up against his shoe. Alarmed, he looked up and could see the mud oozing down the hillside. No time to turn around!
He wrenched open the door and reached in to grab Sue's arm.
"Out!" he said grimly as he gripped her arm.
"Wha..!" she gasped in shock.
"Out!" he repeated dragging Sue with him.
Placing her trust in Bobby, Sue followed her footing made difficult by the thickening layer of mud on the road top. Putting two and two together, she increased her efforts to keep up with the longer stride of her companion.
Hand-in-hand the couple ran until Bobby could feel the smooth surface of the asphalt beneath his feet. Panting, he slowed his steps and stopped to turn in the direction they had come.
"Bo…Bo…by," gasped Sue. "Was it…?"
"Look," he said grimly pointing.
They watched as the mud poured down like molten lava pushing their car towards the road's edge. Sue's grip on Bobby's hand tightened. In a matter of minutes, their vehicle disappeared into the darkness.
"You all right?" he asked loudly peering at her face.
Her eyes wide in shock at their narrow escape, she could only nod.
"You sure?"
Speechless, she nodded again.
"Well, I guess we head back to Pearson's place," shouted Bobby so he could be heard over the noise. The strain on his throat set off a round of coughing.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine," he nodded. "Spoke a bit too loudly."
"You don't have to yell," Sue reminded him. "I still won't be able to hear you."
"I forgot," he admitted ruefully. He looked puzzled as a thought struck him. "How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"I was shouting."
She placed her hand on his neck.
"Brrr!" Her hand was cold. "C'mon," he said throwing an arm around her shoulders in a feeble attempt to provide more cover. "It's going to be a long walk in this rain."
Nodding, Sue was grateful for the physical contact. It kept her warm despite the cold. Together, they trudged back to the Pearson cabin.
--
Bullpen
"Wow!" exclaimed Lucy as she returned from walking Levi. "Not only is it raining cats and dogs but I think there's elephants and polar bears, too!" She looked down at her canine companion. "It's just a figure of speech, Levi."
"Interesting dichotomy of words," remarked Myles as he flipped through the filed in the filing cabinet. "Both animals from entirely different environments."
"Nonetheless, I get her drift," Tara supported her friend. "It is pouring out there. Are you wet? I have a towel in my locker."
"Thanks but we made a stop at the gym so I could dry Levi off."
"Good," stated Myles as he walked past. "Eau de wet canine is not my favorite scent."
"Levi doesn't smell!" Lucy protested in his defense. "Do you, boy?"
"That reminds me," interjected Jack, "Lucy, when are Bobby and Sue due back?"
"Enlighten me on how a comment about smell reminds you of our two teammates?" asked a puzzled Myles.
"I saw Levi who reminded me of Sue who reminded me of Bobby which reminded me of the interview they're on," pointed out Jack.
"Even I could see the connection," smirked Tara as she continued to look at her computer monitor. "You do know what they say."
"No, pray tell us what they say," Myles said sarcastically.
"Great minds think alike," Tara said smugly. Jack grinned at her.
Myles rolled his eyes and opened the folder in his hand.
"To answer your question, Jack, I'm not sure. They were supposed to have been back about 5:00 but they called in at 1:14 to say they were stuck in traffic and then again at 2:49 saying they were another hour away from Milton Pearson's mountain retreat," shared Lucy as she consulted her log, "which would put their arrival time there approximately 4:00 give or take a few minutes."
"This is Bobby driving," reminded D. "Would it really take him an hour?" Their fellow agent was known to push the edge of the speed limit on occasion.
"On an unfamiliar mountain road in the rain…yes," said Jack.
"Then we add another half an hour or so for the interview," Tara chipped in.
"Making their departure time about 4:30…5:00," D contributed.
"Which would've been their check in time," Lucy pointed out. "So why didn't they call?"
"They're probably in one of those pockets where you can't use your cell phones," Myles piped up still looking at his folder. "Contrary to popular belief, a cell phone does not work every where."
"Okay," Lucy reluctantly admitted, "but it's already 6:09. If it took them an hour to go up, shouldn't it have taken them an hour to come down?"
"Not if they got caught in this rain," pointed out Jack. "I'd say it would easily add another hour to their travel time."
"So you're saying they should be back here about 8:00?" Tara asked.
"Possibly," agreed D.
"Can you imagine being cooped up in a car for that long?" grimaced Tara. "Eeiuw!"
"I've driven with Bobby cross country and let me tell you, he is not the most scintillating companion on a road trip," Myles contributed.
"Not when you have Howie and Otis in the same car," smirked D. The returning Federal agents swore never to escort those two again anywhere.
"People," said Jack loudly, "we're missing the point here."
"What's the point?" asked Myles.
"Why didn't Bobby and Sue call in when they got down the mountain?"
--