Piecing It All Together:
Chapter 1: A/N: Ok, I don't know if you guys are going to like this a whole lot. I'm not sure if I'll keep it posted/posting. I've written up to chapter 5 but this whole story can only happen if this one terribly tragic thing happens so I don't know. Feedback is appreciated. I got this story idea one night while I was sleeping and I realized that we don't know too much about Sam's past, childhood, or his parents. Personally, I'm not too fond of the General and this becomes quite apparent throughout this probably long novel so I call it. So, let me know if you think I should keep posting on this story or just keep it down. I really hate what I'm about to do, but it's sort of necessary in order to form the story. I'm sorry Sam! I really do love you and please don't take it personally. Alright, here it is.
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"Hello? Sargent Gregory Parker? This is General Braddock. I'm calling about an officer of yours. Yes, Samuel Braddock. No, his flight will not be arriving late. My son is dead."
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(Flashpoint transition)
• 3 days earlier
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It is the first Friday in November and Team One has the whole weekend and all day Monday, off duty. Most of the members are going to visit family or stay home with their spouses or girlfriends. However, Sam has business to attend to though. No matter how much he wants to enjoy a relaxing three day weekend with Jules, the General ordered him to come to the base for meetings during all three days. If this was anyone else on the face of the earth Sam would've said, "Yeah, not doing it." But orders are orders; especially if they are from your father who happens to be the General of the Canadian Army.
The General and Sam have not gotten along well since Sam was nine years old and his younger sister, Sara, was killed by a drunk driver while he was with her. The General has always told Sam that it is still his fault that she died. As Sam ponders the next three worst days of his life in the men's locker room of the SRU headquarters, he mindlessly changes out of his uniform, dresses into civilian clothes, and packs his duffle bag with everything he needs from his locker for his "trip." When he finishes, he steps out of the room and waits by Jules' dressing room door. As she comes out to meet him in the hall with her bags she smiles warmly.
"Hey, Sam, what exactly are you doing this weekend?" Jules asks her fiancé. He mentioned a few days earlier that he had something to do this weekend, but Jules wanted to know details.
"Oh, the General wants to talk to me about 'business.' Yay." When a worried expression crosses his fiancé's face he says, "Don't worry babe, I'm sure I'll be home before shift starts on Tuesday."
When she shoots a skeptical look at him, he quickly answers. "Hey! Don't give me that look. I think I can handle the General." He says wrapping his arms around her, gently kissing her cheek.
"Braddock!" A harsh voice interrupts their affection in the hallway of the SRU headquarters.
"Give me a break, Ed. I won't see her until Tuesday when we start shift." Sam responds smiling as he turns around to face his team leader, gathering Jules close to him.
"I hear ya buddy, but can you do... that, somewhere private?" Ed laughs and motions to the couple.
Sam just laughs and kisses Jules some more.
Ed throws his hands into the air. "Oh, what the heck! Be safe Samo. Watch the traffic, ok?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Sam says waving Ed off.
Ed just smiles and with a shake of his head, leaves the Barn.
"Where are you going to be staying?" Jules asks being wrapped even tighter in Sam's strong arms.
"I'll be in Ottawa. Base meetings, blah, blah, blah. Become the next general Sam. Quit your job Sam. Spend a few more years putting holes in people's head then you can make people wish they had a hole in their head!" Sam laughs mocking the General.
"Seriously?" Jules asks in disbelief enjoying Sam's nuzzling way too much.
"Yep, that's what I'm going to be hearing for the next three days. Don't worry; I'll try to sneak home every night to sing you a lullaby." He says laughing although deep down he wishes he could.
"Oh, please. A call, text, and Skype chat will do." She says laughing while she grabs her duffel bag from the floor as they begin to leave. Sam pops his head into the briefing room to say a quick good bye to his Sargent.
"See you Tuesday, Boss. I might be a little late depending on which flight the General put me on, but either he or I will call you if I'm going to be late."
"Ok, thanks Sam. Stay safe flying ok? With the General too." Greg says giving him a knowing look. He knows that the father and son do not get along at all, so things could go south very quickly.
"Yeah, I'll try." He says attempting to read his Sargent's expression.
'How much does he know about the General and me?' Sam wonders. He shrugs it off knowing that no one knows as much as they should.
"Ok, see you Tuesday, Sam. You too Jules. Hey, are you going to go see your family?" Greg asks.
"No, I'm going to be here, at home, wishing my Sammy was home." She says and his arm immediately wraps around her waist again.
Greg laughs, "Ok. You guys should get going; I'll see you both on Tuesday."
"Yes sir." Sam answers. "C'mon Jules." he says grabbing her bag as well as his own. "Tuesday Boss."
"Yep, Tuesday." Greg says and nods them both off.
With both bags in tow, Sam does not have a hand to hold Jules' outstretched one. He looks at her quizzically then tries to find a way where he can hold both bags and Jules' hand.
She laughs as she can see his thoughts written clearly on his face. "It's ok. We're already at the Jeep."
Jules unlocks her Jeep as Sam places both bags in the back. When he climbs in the passenger side of the vehicle she engages the engine. She pulls out of the parking lot and into the busy street. This is the first time they have had off at twelve in the afternoon and not midnight or something. The drive to her house takes longer than usual due to lunch hour traffic. She really does not want Sam to spend this rare opportunity off in meetings with his father who hates him. But she guesses that Sam is right. Orders are orders. She finally pulls into the driveway and cuts the engine. Sam leaps out, grabs the bags, and walks up the path into the cozy little house he helped remodel. Jules declares that she is going to make a snack for them.
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Sam's POV:
I walk up the stairs, three at a time like I normally do and head into our bedroom. I had already laid out my small suitcase and had started packing last night, but when you get home at three in the morning after killing a young mother and father, you don't really feel like packing. All I wanted to do was sleep. Not that I slept much between throwing up and passing out in the bathroom while my fiancé is franticly rushing around me thinking that I've died or something. She had aroused me from unconsciousness and had started to walk/carry me back to our bed when I passed out again. When Jules couldn't wake me but was satisfied with my vitals, she just left me to "sleep" on the cold tile floor for the next three hours before shift started.
A sigh escapes my lips as I remember last night's call. 'No, I can't think about that now.' I tell myself and focus on the task ahead of me.
I'm only going to be gone for three days so I basically need three of everything. Three sets of shirts and pants, three pajamas, three underwear, three pairs of socks and two pairs of shoes. Once I find and pack all of my clothes, I gather my bathroom items. I sit down on our bed when I finish. I wonder how I'm going to handle the General. No one knows about my past or what he's capable of except for Mom and Natalie; and no one's been able to help for years. At least I'll be in a meeting with other men so he can't do anything to me in front of them. Jules' voice drifts up the stairs and yanks me out of my head.
"Sam, come down for a minute. I have something for you!"
"Ok, I'll be right there babe." I call back.
'Wonder what it could be?' I think. As I walk down the steps I suddenly freeze when I see what Jules is holding.
"Are-are those my dog tags?" I ask never wanting to see those two dreadful pieces of metal again.
"No, don't be silly. I had a tag made for you that has both of our names on it." She says smiling.
"Oh, thank you Jules. It's beautiful." I say sincerely.
I hold the metal tag in my palm and feel the letters of both of our engraved names. I flip it over and see something even more beautiful. An engraved portrait of my Jules is right on the back.
"Thank you sweetie. Thank you so much." I say fighting tears.
I quickly gather her up in my arms wishing I could hug her forever. I love how she melts in my arms and how her smile never disappears.
"C'mon, let's eat then I can drive you to the airport. Ok? Sam? Is something wrong? If you don't like it I can take it back." She asks placing a worried hand on my arm.
"No, I love it. I'm just thinking about those awful meetings I've got to sit through." I say smiling. I'm thinking about something a whole lot worse than that but I don't let Jules know. She doesn't need to be worried about me.
"Are you sure?" She asks.
"Absolutely. I love you with all of my heart. I will never stop loving you, not even for a second. No matter where I am." I say reassuring her.
"I love you too Sam." She says back, smiling. I follow her into the kitchen and sir down. "Let's eat." She says placing one of her delicious smoothies in front of me with a gorgeous bowl of fresh fruit following it.
"Wow! Thanks! This is delicious!" I say when I've tasted everything.
We eat, snuggle, and admire the engagement ring I bought for her a few weeks ago until three o'clock rolls around and I need to leave so I can catch my 3:45 flight to Ottawa. I grab my suitcase, double check that I have everything I need, and then we start to drive to the airport. I don't want Jules to know that my stomach is in nervous, tense knots. She doesn't know much about my past and I don't really want to tell her now; at least not for a little while. The General is intimidating, but I've grown up with him so it's not that bad. It's just some of the things he does scares me. It's like he lost his heart years ago when we all lost my sister. If someone dies he always finds a way to blame it on the dead guy. It's just sick. He rushes commands and ends up losing a lot of soldiers because of it. Jules can tell I'm a little jumpy. She keeps on glancing over at me until we are finally standing inside of the terminal.
I place my bag on the tile floor, give her a hug, a long kiss, and whisper "I will love you no matter what." in her ear.
She returns the words to me. I turn and start to walk through the tunnel that leads into my father's private jet but I turn around to face her again. Tears are dripping down her face and I resist the urge to run back to her. I hold up our dog tags and kiss them. She laughs and smiles then waves good bye to me.
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A/N: Ok, yes, Sam and Jules are officially engaged. It's not Godly nor moral to live together if you're just dating so I try to avoid that. Thanks for reading and please review. I'm still indecisive if I'm going to keep posting these chapters. It's really tragic, but think of it as a murder mystery. I really couldn't find another way to craftily uncover Sam's past. I mean, it's not like he would just tell you one day. He's not that kind of guy. And, yeah, anyway. Let me know, and I'll see what I can do. If you're wondering, no, I really don't like killing Sam and I hate myself for doing it, but the whole story is formed from that.