Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye Fan Fiction: "Ships At Sea" - Part 1

"Ships at Sea" is published in four parts:
Part 1 - You are here.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4 (conclusion)

*** What was I thinking? Musings on my foray into fan fiction. Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye was created by Dave Alan Johnson and Gary R. Johnson. ***

"Ships at Sea," by B.A. Rogers

SCENE 1 - Outside, on the sidewalk along Jack's normal jogging route

It's morning. Sue is walking with Levi and watching for Jack along his normal jogging route. She does see one jogger. She smiles hopefully, but it turns out not to be Jack.

Sue: (kneeling down to talk to Levi) Well, he has been very busy since he got back. I guess we'll have to get coffee by ourselves for now.

Sue stands up and sees Jack jogging very slowly toward her. When Jack sees her, he grimaces a little and stops. He walks slowly toward her. She walks up to him.

Sue: Hi.

Jack: Hi.

Sue: I was hoping to see you this morning. If that's okay . . .

Jack nods.

Sue: You know, it's been a long time since you bought me a cup of coffee on the way to work.

Jack: (laughs)

Sue: Actually, I thought I could buy you a cup of coffee this morning.

Jack: You did?

Sue: Yes. If you want to. It's been so busy, it's just to say welcome back.

Jack: That'd be great.

Jack turns to move and he feels a sharp pain in his thigh, which he tries to hide.

Sue: (slightly concerned) Are you okay?

Jack: Yeah. I think I just . . . got out of the jogging habit while I was gone.

Sue: Oh. Well. Do you still drink coffee?

Jack: Yes, I do -- (pain hits Jack again as he tries to take a step). Hey, you know what, I just remembered I need to --- (motions back toward his apartment) --- So, I'm going to have to take a rain check on coffee this morning, but . . .

Sue: Okay.

Jack: So, you can go on and I'll just head back -- (again motioning toward his apartment).

Sue: Are you sure?

Jack: Yeah, it's fine. (motioning to Sue to go on) I'm just going to stop here a minute and take a breather.

Sue: (nods)

Jack: I'll see you at the office.

Sue: Okay.

Sue and Levi turn and walk away from Jack. Jack moves a little and grimaces. He shakes his head.

THEME SONG [click here] and OPENING CREDITS

SCENE 2. In the bullpen

Jack, Myles, Bobby, Sue and Lucy are present. Tara walks in with a big white box that says "Bennett's Bakery" on it.

Tara: (getting everyone's attention) In honor of Jack's first day back, which, admittedly, was not today ---

Bobby: Yes, how long has it been? Was that yesterday, or a few days ago, a few weeks ago ---

Jack: But who's counting?

Tara: Since we hadn't yet officially marked Jack's return . . . I present to you (opening box) . . . doughnuts.

(general approval, all start to help themselves)

Myles: Tara.

Tara: Yes, Myles.

Myles: You said you were going to bake your sour cream pound cake for this particular celebration.

Tara: I did say that.

Myles: You know how much I love your sour cream pound cake.

Tara: (nods, thinking) The thing is, I ended up having to help break up an international terrorist ring that night, instead. So, again, (to all) I present you . . . doughnuts.

Myles takes a doughnut and begins to eat it.

Myles: Well, I can't argue with that. And, I admit, Tara. Between pound cake and pounding the pavement, I'd much rather have you . . . on the terrorist beat.

Tara: Thank you, Myles.

Myles: I'm just glad that you're on our side.

Bobby: Hear, hear!

(general laughter )

Lucy: Speaking of baking, guess what happened to Sue this weekend?

Jack: What happened to Sue this weekend?

Lucy: We went to the pumpkin festival in Haymarket, Virginia. WMAL was there ---

Myles: --- broadcasting the corncob toss competition ---

Lucy: And they were giving out door prizes and Sue won first prize.

Jack: Congratulations.

Sue: It was two tickets to a taping of a Leon Franzetti special, here in D.C.

Tara: Leon Franzetti, the celebrity chef?

Lucy: No, Leon Franzetti, the celebrity pastry chef. Talk about baking!

Bobby: Sue, I'm jealous. (to Jack) I tell you what, Jack. Why don't you and I trade our tickets to the Nats-Pirates game for Sue's tickets to the cooking thing?

Lucy: Baking, not cooking. He's a pastry chef.

Jack: (to Bobby) Nats-Pirates?

Bobby: At least it's baseball.

Jack: I can't believe you still have tickets for that.

Bobby: One with your name on it, mate.

Dimitrius walks in with a case file in his hand.

Dimitrius: Unfortunately, it's not the Pittsburgh Pirates we've got to worry about. It's the other pirates, the ones that just scored off the coast of ---

Jack: (his thoughts suddenly elsewhere) --- Somalia.

The room is suddenly much more somber. Jack's tone of voice strikes all of them as somewhat intense and they are puzzled by it.

Continue reading at Part 2 . . .