Disclaimer: I, in no way, own any of the characters that are affiliated with Flashpoint. If I did, we would have had an extraordinary JAM marriage proposal…
It wasn't easy. But then again, not many aspects of being an SRU officer are what you would consider easy. But this, this certain thing had really gotten to one member of Team One in particular. It wasn't something that every member would feel; this would only impact one SRU officer and at the time, boy could Julianna Callaghan feel its effects.
Leah kerns. Ex-fire fighter turned cop. Beautiful. Tall. Slim. Woman. Threatening. Everything that the elite sniper and negotiator, Jules Callaghan, feared. Leah came in replacement of a beloved team member- Constable Lewis Young, who gave his life protecting the public, saving a friend. Constable Lewis Young died a hero.
Down a man, trials began. Hundreds of enthusiastic, young men and women looking, fighting for a position on the most superior and respected Team in Ontario. Five hundred became two hundred, two hundred slowly became eighty, eighty became twenty and finally, twenty became four. Four applicants from five hundred and Leah Kerns was still there, still fighting.
Julianna Callaghan was pissed.
It wasn't that Jules wanted all the attention of the men of the SRU, honestly, she didn't want any of that, she was there to do her job, protecting the public. Jules loved her job, waking up every day and being surrounded by the men who had become her family. No drama, no bullshit. She loved it.
Having another female on the Team worried Jules that that would all change, it made her mad that she had to worry about potential drama and bullshit. She was worried about how Leah would perceive her, would she think that Jules was merely on the team as filler, as a backup if needed. Jules worried that Leah would try to be superior to her. But what bothered Jules the most was that she knew deep down, her own fears were irrational. She knew that her fears were wrong and not what she really felt. Jules knew where her real fear was rooted.
Jules missed Lew. Like crazy.
She couldn't stand the thought of someone taking his seat in the briefing room, the thought of racing someone else down the side of the SRU Headquarters. It all killed her and she was terrified. Not that she'd ever admit it.
But life moved on, as it always does. Leah's first day arrived quickly, briefing came even more quick. The members of Team One sat around the table, Leah filling Lew's old spot. That first briefing, not one Jules was ever proud of. Jules snapped at Leah, immediately shutting down Leah's offer of being there if anyone ever needed to talk. Feeling embarrassed, ashamed of her behavior as soon as her harsh words came out of her mouth. Jules was taken aback by her own words; surely she didn't mean to be so rude to their brand new teammate who must be nervous.
But just like life, the day moved on and once more the Team found themselves sitting around the briefing room table, tired and upset, thinking about the day's hotcall in which Jules had successfully carried out the negotiation. It was then that Leah entered the room with something that Jules and the rest of the team would keep forever. Wrist bands with Lewis's name and his badge number on them. They were beautiful.
Immediately Jules felt like a heel for the way she'd treated Leah earlier. She had not acted as a real teammate, but someone who was emotionally upset. So as briefing ended and everyone headed for their perspective locker rooms, Jules made a point to follow Leah quickly before she had the chance to get out of the building.
"Hey Leah?" Jules called out quietly.
Leah looked up from her near bare locker and smiled lightly, urging Jules to continue.
"I just wanted to say thank you for the bands, they are amazing."
Leah's smile widened. "It was no problem, like I said earlier; I know firsthand how hard it can be losing a teammate."
Jules bit her bottom lip and nodded. "It kind of sucks a big one." She whispered, not sarcastically, but with raw emotion.
"You've got that right, it's not fair. Losing someone when all they're trying to do is make a difference in this big, stupid world that we live in." It was obvious that the woman was flashing back to a difficult time in her life.
Jules simply nodded, not trusting herself to speak any more on the subject without completely breaking down, she'd save that for when she was home alone tonight. "Um, I also wanted to say sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." Jules hung her head, once more ashamed by her lack of self control.
Surprisingly Leah chuckled at her statement. "Seriously Jules, don't even worry about it. I've said my fair share of things that I'm not particularly proud of too."
Jules smiled at her. "Thanks and um, does your offer still stand?"
Leah looked at her new teammate. "Of talking if you need it, you mean?"
"Yeah."
"Of course."
"Okay, maybe someday I'll take you up on that."
A/N- Okay, there you have it, the first installment in the Adventures of Callaghan and Kerns. I promise, the next one is going to be a lot more cheerful and happy! Drop me a review!