A couple of small mistakes lead to a big disaster and as a result one long difficult change becomes almost infinite, when one of them wounded. Each member of the group blames himself for what happened. Whether they will pass this crisis, maintain friendship, self-confidence, faith in each other and love? Can they keep Team One as it was before?
Genre: Friendship, Hurt / Comfort, drama, angst.
Beta: Charli911, thank you so much for you help, I really don't know what to do without you!
Season: about a 5 th
Warning: English is not my native language! Writing stories is my original way to improve my English... I apologize for my grammatical errors. I try very hard to write correctly!
I know how hard it is to read stories written by non-native writer. So I am immensely grateful to you all for reading and reviews.
Disclaimer: I own neither Flashpoint, not the characters involved. I make no money from this works, they are for entertainment only.
Choices Made.
1.
Ed Lane stopped the black SUV in front of the HQ SRU, switched off the engine and wearily leaned back in the driver's seat. Frowning, he gazed through the windshield as the wipers kept a steady rhythm, the rain falling in a constant shower.
Outside, a new dawn was barely visible through the fast-moving low dark clouds.
Sullenly, he watched as Sam and Jules came out of the other SUV and wearily headed towards the building, bending under the windflaw. Hell, his team needs a rest he thought grimly, sighing. As well as he does.
Ed lowered his aching head on the headrest and closed his eyes, allowing himself a few minutes of stillness, perhaps for the first time tonight.
The hot call received at the beginning of the shift made all team members work at the limit of their physical and psychological endurance. Well, not that it was something unusual. But today, the storm that covered Toronto, complicated the situation considerably and the last few hours for all of them have become a living hell.
Four armed robbers raided one of the small shops selling weapons on the outskirts, took one store employee hostage and tried to escape by car, which was waiting for them. A vehicular pursuit followed, and it rapidly moved beyond the city limits. Police block the roads in the area, and at one point it seemed that the chase was close to a successful conclusion. But, realizing that the way to escape was blocked, they left their truck, fortunately with a live hostage in it and tried to escape through the forest.
They almost made it - the night and terrible weather were on their side. As a result, the pursuit lasted several long hours and required the use of a variety of additional forces. The Team Two was called to support, police assigned more people and dog-handlers - and finally the criminals were detected and localized. A long and difficult negotiations followed, attempting to resolve the situation peacefully. Unsuccessfully. Those guys were not going to give up. The result - a quick intense battle in which all subjects were "neutralized".
Now, the adrenaline that had kept them in action during the night was gone.
Many hours of a night chase through the woods, in the pouring freezing rain, foundering up to their knees in clingy mud , trudging through wet bush, complicated negotiations and the battle - that took from them their all. All team-members were bone-tired, soaked through and filthy.
But it was too early to rest, their shift is not over yet.
...
Ed Lane sat in the SUV, trying to get his exhausted body to move. He felt like he hadn't slept in several days.
"Eddie?" A quiet voice of his commander and friend, Greg Parker came to him with the passenger seat.
"Hmmm?" Ed did not move.
"Sorry to disappoint you, buddy, but you can't sleep in here," Greg's huge yawn finished the sentence.
"Why not? because it's you going to sleep here?" Ed did not open his eyes but slightly raised one eyebrow, not having enough energy to do anything more.
"You'll get kink in your neck," Greg muttered, "And we still have three hours left in our shift," he added with a sigh.
"Well," Ed huffed tiredly, "Thanks for reminding me."
"So... Get out of the car, "Greg's voice getting quiet, as if he really was falling asleep.
"That an order, Boss?" Ed reluctantly opened his eyes. He looked to the right and a smile tugged at his lips. In the neighboring seat in a similar position, with his head tilted back and eyes closed was sitting Greg. Traces of the night's chase could be seen on his face. A long scratch, from a random branch, ran across his forehead, smeared mud dried on his cheek, and a yellow oak leaf was peeping from under the collar of his uniform. Deep shadows of fatigue lay under his eyes. "Greg?"
"I'm awake. And yes, that's an order," Greg responded sluggishly, still without moving or opening his eyes. He had neither the strength nor the desire to participate in the exchange of jokes with his team leader now. He just needed to find the strength to get out of the car and finish this damn shift.
"Well, and who will order to you to get out of the car, Boss?" Ed looked at his tired friend, smiling.
"Нhммм...Holleran?" Greg idly speculated, knowing that Ed is not going to leave him alone.
"Should I call him?" Ed asked with a sly grin.
Greg appeared to think it over, "Only if he will carry me upstairs. I'm not sure I want to go up all these stairs…" he stifled another yawn.
"No way. He will not. You're heavy!" Ed responded strongly, still smiling.
Greg snorted. "You are evil. I've told you, I'm big boned! and you -" he involuntarily drawn into the conversation.
"And you need to patch the wound on your forehead. This is a deep and dirty," Ed interrupted him.
"Later on, Eddie. First of all I just want to take off these wet uniform..." Greg sighed and fell silent again.
Ed grinned. "And? Are you waiting for the order? Should I call someone?" he paused for a moment and then drawled snidely, "Holleran?"
"God, Ed!" Greg's eyes fluttered open and he groaned. "You ...! Get out of the car!" Greg shook his head, smiling involuntarily. He unbuckled the belt and went out to the cutting wind. "This lousy night turns into a hideous day," he cursed as the chilly rain gust into his face. Greg sighed. He really did not like the vague sense of unease in his soul. What is this, the disappointment of his own failure during this night or sinister forebodings? "Stop, Greg, it's okay, no forebodings, you're just too damn tired ..." mentally he tried to persuade himself and quickly headed into the building.
...
The HQ was a buzzing hive of activity.
Team Three, which worked a simultaneous shift had also recently arrived from their call. And Team Two, who had responded the call for back-up, had not yet left the building.
Everywhere was crowded - in the corridors, in the locker room, in the shower.
Deciding that they can wait 10 minutes for the crowd in the men's locker room to decrease slightly, Ed and Greg entered the semi-dark briefing room and wearily sat down in the desk-chair.
Through the open door they could hear the sounds of the morning routine of the active SRU HQ and they were grateful to be here now in this dark room, getting a little repose.
The two men sat in contemplative silence for several minutes.
Finally, Greg let out a small sigh and said quietly, gazing thoughtfully at the large window briefing-room on low gray clouds.
"You know, Ed... That's off the record but... After such a shift I'm starting to think I'm getting too old for field work. Perhaps it is time to make way to young, step aside," he gently touched a scratch on his forehead and fell silent again
"Are you kidding? And give up all this?" Ed raised his eyebrows in surprise and stared at his colleague. "What could be better than chasing heavily armed bad guys, in the rain, in the night woods, being up to the ears in mud? Paperwork? Ha! You wouldn't last a week. You'd go crazy with boredom, I guarantee it!" He was smiling, but his eyes intently studied Greg.
The sergeant grinned humorlessly. "Actually at the moment the word "paperwork" sounds good. Warm, clean, dry," he thoughtfully brushed the dirt from the wet sleeve of his uniform.
Ed leaned back in his chair, regarding his friend and frowning slightly. Greg wasn't exactly the sharing type, like Ed. Giving such a confession, even alone with his close friend, was not typical for him.
Ed could only hope that this reaction was the result of a heavy night and fatigue, but nothing more. What's behind this was not serious contemplation and real doubt. As it was when Dr. Toth made Greg to doubt himself and in his ability to command the Team One. Ed was not going to let that happen again. No way.
"Look, it's not our first hard shift, huh?" Ed watched as the other man slowly nodded his head in silent agreement.
"I'm afraid that is not the last," still frowning said Greg.
Ed categorically didn't like Greg's emotional state. Greg was right – this shift is not over yet, and it was his job as a team leader to make sure that the emotional problems of any of the members of the group will not affect the performance of the whole team. It was his duty as a team leader and as a friend to get Greg out of his dark mood.
He grinned Greg.
"Boss. Come on. Look on the bright side - in less than 3 hours , our shift is over! Hardly anything like this hot call can happen in that time," he shrugged.
"I hope so, Eddie," the sergeant said, distantly, looking at his watch. "Damn, why is time passing so slowly now?"
"And even if it happens. I know you, Greg. You would be the first to jump out of this room and insist that the call is sent to the Team One. And why?" Ed looked expectantly at Greg.
"Because we are the best, Eddie... I remember," Greg huffed wearily. "You know, I really appreciate your confidence in us all. And in me," he paused for a moment, shaking his head and then continued, "But now I really do not want any new hot calls. Suspect that the rest of the team will support me in this, Ed, " Greg touched his forehead, gently checking a fresh scratch.
"Greg, stop!" Ed drove up in the roller-chair closer to other man and grabbed him by the hand, forbidding touching the wound. He suspected about the possible cause of the gloomy mood of his friend, except the obvious physical fatigue. The negotiations, which Greg led for several hours in the wood ended unsuccessfully. And although this time the fatal shots were not made by their team, all of them had a sense of failure after all.
As every fatal shot that Ed made left a scar in his own soul, as every such case of unsuccessful negotiations gave Greg his own pain. Ed understood and shared what is going on in the soul of his friend as no one else. Yet their job was about saving lives, not taking them.
Ed knew Greg was a professional and was able to handle his own emotions and feelings. They have long been accustomed to this side of their work, and usually successfully coped with this burden alone.
But now, seeing the grim face of his friend and after this unexpected recognition, Ed was not going to allow Greg to deal with this alone.
"Listen. We are all tired. There is a proposal. Shift is over, first go home and rest. And in the evening come to my house? Sophie and Izzy went to relatives for two days. Only men, right? Clark would be happy to see you. Order pizza, watch hockey together. And ... let's talk about all of what you yourself want to say."
Greg looked at his friend, surprising. "What do I hear? Ed Lane, Mr." do not try to open my shell!" wants to talk?" he smiled.
"Hey!" Ed exclaimed and threw up his hands in warning, "I'm planning on it you're the one who is going to talk! Look, if you do not want to come to us, then I'll come to you? So what? Your place or mine?" he looked at Greg, waiting for an answer, ignoring the obvious third option, Greg spending the evening at home, alone with his couch.
Greg thought a couple of seconds , weighing his options. Still, he knew his friend too well to hope that he drops his plan. So, he decided not to waste his remaining strength on useless resistance and accepted the inevitable. He had no plans tonight. Indeed, why should he have to stay home all alone?
"It's all right, Eddie. Your place, pizza and hockey sounds great. But first we have to get through the end of this shift," Greg again involuntarily glanced at his watch and grimaced. The clock seemed frozen. He immediately caught the corner of his eye a worried look that Ed threw in his direction. "Stop looking at me like that, Eddie. I'm fine, " he chuckled slightly.
"Hey, that's my line!" Ed portrayed resentment on his face and slightly kicked Greg in the leg, receiving the loud indignant "ouch!" in return.
Then, he grew serious, "So. If you're okay, then I do not want to hear any more about the "make way to young, step aside," and other nonsense, okay?"
They looked into each other's eyes, there was no share of humor there.
Greg nodded. "Okay, Eddie. Deal. Look, I'm really OK. It's just… " He paused and rubbed his eyes, "Never mind," he waved his hand.
Ed watched Greg hunched over the desk, gloomily gazing out at nothing. His concern for his friend did not disappear.
"Is this because of Dean? because of his departure?" he suggested. He knew from Greg that Dean was going to leave in two weeks to visit his mother. Dean loved her and missed still and often visited her. Ed knew how much Greg hated these visits. He understood it, didn't tried to stop it, even approved of it, but ... hated it. As he once told Ed, every time when Dean drove away from him, he's got an irrational fear that he will not return - so many years of life without his son, banned from seeing him made Greg afraid he would leave and never return.
"He's leaving this morning. I plan to get home in time to say goodbye. It's all right, Eddie, it's only two weeks," he smiled and sighed.
Lane continued to gaze at him. "There's something else?" he asked alertly, "Greg?"
"Nothing," Greg replied evenly.
"Yes. Something is."
"Nothing I can't handle, Ed," Greg let out an exasperated sigh
"Boss?" Ed looked at him questioningly giving him the best don't-lie-to-me look.
Greg pulled a face. Sometimes, Ed resembled a bulldog, stubbornly clinging to a stick and not unclenching their jaws as long as he does not gets what he wants.
"Ed, tell me honestly. Don't you ever feel yourself old?" Finally he asked quietly.
Ed's eyebrows raced up his forehead in surprise. "Is that what's eating you?" he smiled softly. "My answer is no, Greg. I don't feel old and I plan to continue not to feel so for another 20 years."
Greg snorted.
"Hey, do not forget that we are the same age as well?" Ed said indignantly and suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Boss ... You and Marina. Are you all right?"
Greg nodded, deep in his thought, "Everything's fine, Eddie."
"Just, you know… If you ..." He stammered a bit, choosing his words, "Old age has nothing to do with it. It's all a stress, a fatigue. This can happen to anyone," he moved closer and gently placed his hand on the shoulder of his friend in order to get the attention of Greg who is still looking thoughtfully into the space in front of him.
"What?" Greg suddenly come out from his thoughts. ""What are you talking about?" he looked at Ed blankly.
"I asked how long you have a problem ... uh ... you know what I mean!" Ed repeated softly, almost in a whisper.
Greg looked at him dumbfounded, his mouth open in amazement "W... What? Are you crazy?" he jumped up to his feet.
Ed immediately drove off in a chair at a safe distance from the indignant man, throwing his arms protectively in front of him, starting to giggle, "Sorry, sorry, Greg! Just calm down, buddy!"
"How could you even think such a thing!" Greg shouted angrily in strangled whisper and stare at Ed.
"Greg, you're gloomy, you're somber, talking about old age! you willingly agreed to spend the evening with me and pizza, but not with Marina!" Ed said, still laughing "What's else was I supposed to think?"
"What to think? Anything but not this! not this!" Greg hissed and accusingly pointed at Ed, "You shall pay for this! Damn! Marina is visiting her sister!" he sat down again.
"Okay!" Ed pulled back on his chair closer to Greg. "I'm glad that you're ok," he looked at him, "So... Means no more reason to be in a bad mood? Frankly and honestly, Boss. "
Greg nodded, "It seems that, but... I don't know. Just something is bothering me, Eddie. You know, maybe gut feeling ... all that stuff," he admitted somewhat reluctantly.
Ed raised an eyebrow at him, "That's all? Are you sure this is your gut feeling, isn't just ... oh, I don't know ... a stomach flu, perhaps?" He took the occasion to change the subject and divert Greg from his dark thoughts and was relieved to finally see a smile on the face of his friend.
"So. What's your gut trying to tell you?" He looked curiously at the sergeant.
"Just because I have not eaten since last night," Greg tried to laugh it off, not wanting to vocalize their irrational fears.
"Boss, come on. It's not about that, you know," Ed did not retreat.
"I know it's not about that. But I have no idea. I just really want this shift to be over with no new hot call, okay?" He looked at Ed and waved when he saw a skeptical expression on his face "Okay, skip it. The gut may be wrong."
"My gut is never wrong!" Ed replied proudly, with a hint of fun flickering in his eyes.
"Oh, of course! Yours guts! Because you're never wrong, Eddie, right?" Greg snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Exactly! And that is why I am your ..." Ed looked at Greg expectantly , allowing him to finish the sentence.
"My number one, I remember Eddie," Greg laughed, looking at his satisfied friend.
That little anxiety in his soul left. Almost left.