Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye Fan Fiction: "Viper" - Part 1

Part 1 - You are here.

Part 2

Part 3 - 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. ***

Note to readers: Yes, you can definitely enjoy this story without having read previous episodes! Just to let you know, though, background info on these events in Jack's life is referenced in Episode 1, "Missed Connections," revealed in more detail in Episode 2, "Ships at Sea," and it influences Jack and Sue's outlook on a case in Episode 7, "Blarney."

"Viper," by B.A. Rogers

SCENE 1 - In the bullpen.

Dimitrius, Bobby, Jack, Myles, Sue, Tara and Lucy are present.

Dimitrius: So who is she, Myles?

Bobby: There's got to be some reason you've been busy the last three times we've invited you out.

Myles: I don't know what you're talking about.

Jack: And when you turned on your car yesterday, "Mustang Sally" was playing. . . . "Mustang Sally"? Great song, but . . .

Cut to the bullpen entrance.

A deliveryman knocks slightly on the wall. He has a box to deliver.

Deliveryman: (looking at his invoice) Myles Leland. . . . um . . . The Third?

The deliveryman looks around at everyone in the bullpen.

Deliveryman: Anyone want to claim that? ---I mean, (indicating the box) this.

Myles signs for the package and takes it over to his desk.

Cut to Myles at his desk.

Myles has opened the box and is taking out and examining a very expensive pair of cowboy boots.

Jack whistles at the sight of the boots.

Jack: Myles, those are some mighty expensive cowboy boots.

Dimitrius: Mighty expensive.

Bobby: Even I can see that.

Myles takes a deep breath.

Lucy: I have a feeling that those boots weren't made for walking.

Tara: Just a feeling.

Lucy: (smiling) What are you up to, Myles?

Myles puts the boots down on his desk and throws up his hands. He picks up a card that was inside the box, but forgets for a moment that it's in his hand.

[Julie Linden, an equestrian champion who lives in Virginia's "horse country," first appeared in Season 2.5, Episode 6, "Bank on It."]

Myles: Oh, alright. Julie Linden roped me into---

Lucy: Ha, ha . . . Julie Linden "roped me into" ---

Myles: The pun was unintentional.

Lucy: It always is.

Myles: Julie . . . persuaded me . . .

Myles suddenly remembers the card he's holding. He opens it.

Myles: (reading aloud from the card) Here we go. "Dear Myles---

Dimitrius: ---(aside) I thought Julie called him "Slim."

Myles: --- (reading aloud from the card) "I hope you don't think this is too forward of me. ---

Lucy: Julie? Forward?

Myles: (exasperated) Are the contents of this card a matter of interest to anyone in this room except me, or not?

Everyone gives Myles their undivided attention.

Myles: (resuming reading aloud from the card) "Dear Myles, I hope you don't think this is too forward of me. But I am so happy and grateful that you've agreed to---"

Myles hesitates.

Sue: Go on!

Myles: (resuming reading aloud from the card) "I am so happy and grateful that you've agreed to . . . be my partner in the Triple J Ranch line dancing competition---"

Lucy practically shrieks!

Jack, Bobby and Dimitrius look at each other, very startled.

Tara is bemused.

Myles: (composing himself, again reading aloud from the card) --- "I promise you, we'll have a great time and" ---

Lucy cracks up again.

Lucy: (laughing hard) Oh, Myles . . .

Myles: Julie does it every year. For her Kids Ride Horses foundation. And . . . Kingston. Anybody ever think about the Kingston case? Or am I the only one on this team that can handle more than one case at a time?

Bobby: Uh-oh. Next thing we know, Myles will be going undercover as Billy Ray Cyrus.

Dimitrius: (aside, to Bobby) At least it's not Elvis.

Jack: Yeah, what are the chances we'll be seeing a little "Achy-Breaky Heart" around here.

Lucy wiggles her hips a little, reminiscent of Cyrus' "Achy-Breaky Heart" video.

Tara: Is that sort of like the "Tush Push"?

All stop and look at Tara.

Lucy: The what?

Sue: Did she just say "tush push"?

Tara: Um . . .

Everyone looks at Tara expectantly.

Tara: Um . . . (standing up and walking to the center of the bullpen) . . . It's like (starting to do a dance step, then deciding against it) . . . No. That's okay. (to Myles) Julie will teach you everything you need to know.

Jack: No way, Tara.

Sue: You started something.

Bobby: Now you have to finish it.

Tara: Um . . . Okay . . . I'll just show you . . . one step.

Bobby: One step of the "Tush Push." Coming right up!

Tara nods.

Sue is still puzzled at the words "tush push."

Jack looks at Sue, mouths the words "tush push" as he pats the back of his hip. Sue's eyes open wide. Jack is embarrassed.

Tara begins to demonstrate the dance step.

Tara: It starts with the right foot. Heel, toe, heel, heel . . .

THEME SONG [click here] and OPENING CREDITS

SCENE 2 - At the office of a defense attorney.

Jack and Garrett are sitting at a table in a lawyer's office. Garrett has a file folder on the table in front of him. The lawyer is walking slowly back and forth in front of the table as he talks to Jack.

Defense Attorney: So, apparently, you're saying that you were there, but that you saw nothing.

Jack simply looks at the attorney and watches as he paces back and forth in front of the table.

Defense Attorney : How can you be so sure?

Jack: I didn't see anyone get killed.

Defense Attorney: Then maybe this will refresh your memory.

The Defense Attorney has two copies of a document in his hand. He puts one copy on the table, in front of Jack.

Defense Attorney: Your sworn statement. Taken the night of the incident.

Jack looks at the document closely, without picking it up. Then he looks back at the attorney.

Defense Attorney: Surely you remember something of the events now? Or at least you can agree that --- with everything else that happened that night --- you could have forgotten that you made this statement?

Jack takes a breath.

Defense Attorney: That is your signature. Isn't it?

Jack reviews the signature without picking the document up. He then moves the document aside, toward Garrett. Garrett picks the document up and studies it. Jack continues to look at the attorney as the attorney begins pacing in front of him again.

Defense Attorney: (angrily) Special Agent Hudson, my client is an innocent man. They are trying to take him down for the murder of two American soldiers in Afghanistan. And, whether you remember it or not, you told people what you saw. You have exculpatory testimony. Evidence that proves that my client murdered nobody.

Jack: (with strong emotion) If I had testimony to that effect, I would give it. And I can promise you this. I will tell the truth. The whole truth. Nothing but the truth, so help me God. This case. Every case.

SCENE 3 - In the cafeteria in the FBI Building.

Lucy is sitting at a table, eating a yogurt. She senses someone nearby. Lucy looks over one shoulder, then the other. When she resumes eating her yogurt and looks up, she is startled to find Myles standing in front of her.

Myles quickly sits down across from Lucy.

Myles: I need to ask you something.

Lucy: That's a relief.

Myles: It's about Tara. And her . . . (sort of makes a few gestures to indicate line dancing) . . . heel, toe, heel, toe expertise.

Lucy: Myles, after all the cracks you've made about "Twinkle-toes Tara," and about her "not only breaking her own ankle, but taking out two other ballerinas with one pirouette"---

Myles: That's just it, Lucy Dotson.

Lucy: Oh, I am in so much trouble! Please. Don't ground me.

Myles: How was I to know that Tara's dad came from a long line of Texans? No wonder she couldn't pirouette.

Lucy: You, of all people, should know better than to mess with Texas.

Myles: Lucy, I need your help. The FBI needs your help--

Lucy: ---You mean "silence."

Myles: ---Non-interference. Whatever. I need to ask Tara to help me with this . . . this line dancing thing . . . I need the extra instruction and practice! For Pete's sake, Lucy, it's for the mission. If I do this, I get an "in" with the Shenandoah ranching community. You know we'll need that in the Kingston case.

Lucy gives Myles a "I'm waiting for it" face.

Myles: So I need you to---

Lucy: (pretending to zip her mouth shut) Not bring up your "Twinkle-toes" transgressions?

Myles: At least not constantly. Now, I know that my commentary on Tara's legacy as a ballerina is . . . fact-based. Still, I recognize the irony of---

Lucy: Myles, you don't know how much I will enjoy seeing you doing the (raising her voice so other people in the cafeteria can hear) "Tush Push"---

Myles:Shhh!

Cut to a hallway in the FBI Building.

Jack and Garrett are walking down the hallway after returning from the defense attorney's office. Garrett has the folder he had at the Defense Attorney's office in his hand.

Garrett: (as they reach the entrance to the bullpen) You let that guy get to you.

Jack: I'm not happy about that.

Garrett opens the folder he had at the attorney's office and hands Jack the copy of the statement.

Garrett: Tara needs to chop this up into little Tara pieces. See what comes out.

SCENE 4 - At an outdoor coffee kiosk in a park-like area.

Jack is waiting to pay for coffee that he and Sue have gotten at an outdoor coffee kiosk. Lots of people are milling around and walking up and down the sidewalk. Sue is standing some steps away, out of the way of the kiosk line. Jack is impatient; he looks over at Sue and rolls his eyes about the slow service.

Steve Heller is walking down the sidewalk toward Jack and Sue.

Sue: (signing to Jack, with subtitles) Sorry they're slow. Thank you (indicating "for the coffee").

Jack: (signing to Sue, with subtitles) You're welcome.

Cut to the sidewalk near the coffee kiosk.

Sue is putting the lid on her cup as she and Jack turn to walk away from the kiosk. Heller is walking briskly towards them. He bumps into Sue, spilling a lot of her coffee onto the ground.

Heller: I am so sorry.

Sue: It's okay.

Sue hands Jack her coffee cup, then shakes a little coffee off her hand.

Jack: (to Sue) You didn't get burned, did you?

Sue: No. Just a little messy. Nothing serious.

Jack surveys Heller.

Heller: (to Sue) Again . . . I am really sorry.

Sue smiles and nods.

Jack looks steadily at Heller for a moment.

Jack: (to Sue) Let me get you another one . . .

Heller: No, I want to do that.

Jack: We're kind of in a hurry.

Heller: (after a moment) You know, you look familiar.

A flicker of concern goes over Jack's face.

Heller: You military?

Jack: No.

Heller: (shrugs) I'm in town trying to hook up with some of the guys from my old unit. Networking. Only way to find a job these days.

Jack nods.

Jack: Well. Need to get going.

Heller: (to Sue, offering his hand) My name is Steve Heller.

Sue: Sue Thomas.

Heller: I'd sure like to buy you another coffee. Considering . . .

Sue smiles, then looks at Jack.

Heller: (to Jack) If you have to get going, I understand, but . . . (to Sue) Don't leave me with this on my conscience.

Sue: (to Jack) It's okay. I'll walk back.

Jack feels a little pushed out. He is not happy with leaving Sue there.

Sue: (signing to Jack, with subtitles) (smiling) I'm a big girl.

Jack nods, then smiles at Sue and Heller a little, weakly.

SCENE 5 -In the bullpen.

Lucy and Myles are present.

Lucy: I see you succeeded in convincing Tara to help you . . . push your tush.

Myles: Lucy, on this one narrow endeavor, I could use your support ---however politic --- as opposed to your ridicule. Besides, line-dancing is an American art form, thank you, very much. And I, for one, respect Tara's talent.

Lucy: (smiling) Better late than never.

Myles: (seriously) Let me tell you something: Tara is really good at this.

Myles' phones rings.

Myles: (looking at the number) Julie.

Cut to the bullpen.

Lucy is sitting at her desk, watching Myles pace back and forth.

Myles: Now what?

Lucy: I didn't know Wintergreen still had snow this time of year.

Myles: A freak storm. So, of course, Julie, being Julie --- a woman used to jumping barrels on a flying horse --- has to hit the slopes, powder-turned-crud, slush, and all. And then she sprains her ankle on a mud mogul.

Lucy: Will you have to give the cowboy boots back?

Myles: (lost in thought) No. . . . Julie's practically in tears. . . .

Myles realizes Lucy was joking. He rolls his eyes at her.

SCENE 6 - At the federal prosecutor's office.

The federal prosecutor is sitting behind his desk. Jack and a doctor are sitting in front of the desk. The doctor has a file he refers to occasionally.

Prosecutor: (to Jack) We finally got your file in from the military hospital. I asked Doctor Norman to review it. Just to see what might be out there that the defense could use to try to get your statement---

Jack: --- the statement ---

Prosecutor: (nodding to the correction) --- the statement admitted into evidence, even if you testify that you know---

Jack: --- I do know.

Prosecutor: Jack.

Cut to Dr. Norman, referring to Jack's medical record, as the federal prosecutor and Jack listen.

Dr. Norman: There's no notation that you lost consciousness at any time. But . . . it can be difficult to notice if a person is blacking out here and there. Under all the circumstances.

Jack: Doctor Norman, I remember that night. In detail.

Dr. Norman: You did have significant blood loss. Sometimes that can affect memory.

Jack: I don't remember seeing two soldiers getting killed. I don't remember seeing two soldiers getting killed in self-defense. And I don't remember making, swearing to, or signing that document.

Prosecutor: (to Jack, gently) Jack. Not remembering . . . That doesn't prove that none of those things happened. . . . You know the rules. If we can't impeach the document, if the defense can lay the proper foundation, it's admitted. The statement will be admitted into evidence.

Jack looks steadily at the prosecutor for a moment.

Dr. Norman: (to the prosecutor, after glancing through Jack's file again) Perhaps a full physical and psychological exam would be helpful.

SCENE 7 - In the bullpen.

Myles, Bobby, Jack, Dimitrius, Sue, Lucy and Tara are present.

Sue: (to Myles) It's pretty clear. Tara is your best choice.

Jack: That's right. (to Tara) If you've managed to hitchkick and rock step with Myles this long, you can take it all the way to the competition.

Tara: Dancing, of any sort, it's not my thing.

Myles: You're very good at it! And you know I calibrate my praise.

Tara: Dancing? Not in public.

Dimitrius: It's a barn!

Tara: A . . . big barn.

Myles: Tara, I don't like this any better than you do. But, it's for . . . the mission . . .

SCENE 8 - At the federal prosecutor's office.

Jack and the prosecutor are walking down a hallway.

Prosecutor: We're talking two capital murders here. That happened half a world away, in a war zone. All the defense has to do is say that you ---

Jack: (a little impatient) What's your case? What do you have?

Prosecutor: It's strong. Unless what's in your statement is true.

Jack and the prosecutor stop walking; Jack turns to face him.

Jack: You know I don't want to see an innocent man convicted.

Prosecutor: Nor do I. But neither one of us wants to see a murderer go free, either.

SCENE 8 - On a sidewalk.

It's evening. Darcy is walking down the street. Bobby catches up to her. They continue to walk together as they talk.

Darcy: Agent Manning. I'm getting good at this.

Bobby: What?

Darcy: Walking along, thinking about you. Then you appear.

Bobby: Sounds like a lovely dream.

Darcy: Sometimes.

Bobby: What's this about working the night shift? Do you know something I don't about coming attractions in world events?

Darcy: Less exciting than that. I'm filling in on an assignment for one of our Lifestyle editors. This big, high-society shindig put on by the horse community in Virginia every year. It benefits lots of different charities, including the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Did I say it's big? As in, important to Washington's philanthropy set.

Bobby: I'm all for it. I have very fond memories of summertime concerts at Wolf Trap.

Bobby puts his arm around Darcy and squeezes her.

SCENE 9 - In the bullpen.

Jack, Dimitrius, Bobby and Myles are sitting around, talking.

Bobby: (laughing) (to Myles) Okay, maybe we should give him a nickname.

Myles: Such as "Spiller."

Bobby: The Coffee Spiller. Good one!

Dimitrius: Except it sounds like "killer."

Jack: (frustrated) Come on.

Myles: Now if only Spiller was suspected of something. Like a crime. (to Bobby) Don't we only give nicknames to suspects? Or at least someone involved in a case?

Bobby: You mean, a FBI case?

Jack rolls his eyes. Bobby and Myles are having a big time, a little bit at Jack's expense.

Jack: (a little irritated) It's true. Nothing happened. Miller --- "Spiller" to you --- bought Sue a cup of coffee. She walked back to the office. That's it.

Bobby: By herself?

Jack nods "yes."

Myles: Didn't pump her for information. Ask her any questions. Hasn't contacted her since.

Jack: No. As far as I know.

Bobby and Myles look at each other. Jack throws a pen down on his desk, walks around and sits down.

Bobby: (more seriously, noticing Jack's demeanor) Look, mate. It's me. I'm just not getting it. What's the problem? Your gut seems to be telling you there's more here than meets the eye. Why?

Jack shakes his head.

Myles: (seriously) Jack, we're open to the fact that there might be a problem, but I think what Bobby is saying is that we're not understanding why this . . . coffee incident . . . is bothering you.

Cut to Jack sitting at his desk, contemplating.

Except for Jack, the mood is one of having "moved on." Dimitrius is not present. Myles packs up some things and leaves. Bobby looks at Jack a moment, then stands up to go over and talk to him.

Jack looks steadily at Bobby as he approaches.

Bobby clears his throat and walks up close to Jack to speak to him privately.

Bobby: Um . . . It's just that . . .

Jack: Do you have something to say to me?

Bobby: Yes. Make sure it's not personal.

Continue reading at Part 2 . . .