Trials and Tribulations
Summary: Sequel to More Than Just Friends. Sam, Spike and Jules all need to heal from wounds both physical and emotional received at the hands of Vlad, Dupont and Logan. How do they cope and make it back to Team One? What comes of the assault charge on Sam? Does Sam testify at Dupont's trial, if so what are the ramifications? How do caring family and friends help out?
Sam is charged with assault of Dupont and has to deal with the repercussions. He has deal with Dupont's Trial. Will he need to testify against Dupont? Can he? He struggles with being dependent on others to get around. He feels guilt for not being able to be there to protect Jules. Nightmares are back.
Jules is knocked for a loop by the attack. She suffers from nightmares and loses her confidence. She has to deal with her brothers wanting back into her life and opening old wounds. She feels guilt for not being there to protect Sam from Dupont.
Spike continues to have nightmares. But now they not only are about Sam dying but Jules being attacked. He feels intense guilt because he did not fully set up the alarm system for Jules. He is having trouble with his shooting arm and wonders if he can make it back to the team.
The three of them work to support one another through their trials and tribulations with the additional support of extended family and friends.
Setting: Sequel to More Than Just Friends, picks up where it left off. This story will be Sam, Jules and Spike centric with story lines for all of them. Away from Greg and Ed there will be opportunity for some JAM without letting the secret out. There will be less Greg, Ed, and Wordy but they won't be missing completely. It will include OCs in supporting roles not the major focus.
A/N: Special thank you to venetiaj and VictoriaAnnxx. You gals are absolutely awesome. Your continued reviews and many PMs really help me craft the stories. Thanks for being so engaged in the stories, great sounding boards, offering me ideas and being just plain fabulous.
Also thanks to all my readers that provide me input. It encourages me to keep writing. I love reading the reviews and PMs. I won't lie Reviews do make my day. I appreciate it when you take a moment of your time to drop me one telling me you enjoyed it. Totally love it when you tell me a particular part that moved you too.
I do not own Flashpoint or any of the characters from that series. I do own my original characters (OC).
Sanctuary
General Braddock's Home – General's Study
General Braddock sat wearily but tensely in his leather chair at his desk in his study. He had gotten everyone situated or at least delegated that to capable hands. He needed a moment alone in his sanctuary to get his bearings. Everything had gone to hell in a hand basket today.
Taking a long drink of now cold coffee he was amazed at just how stupid some people were. Not just stupid but opportunistic and sleazy. He had been floored to hear that Dupont had lawyered up so quickly.
Apparently some ambulance chasing bottom feeder lawyer had been in the Physical Therapy department meeting with a client when the commotion began. He immediately assumed Dupont was the victim. Little did that scumbag know but his client was more of a scumbag and he would rue the day he took Dupont on as a client.
That scumbag lawyer set in motion things that had hurt Samuel. Braddock leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Ah Christ, that shit for brains Captain Brunello of the Metro PD and his damned worry about perception rather than fact. He had jumped the gun and arrested Samuel based solely on the accusations of that idiot lawyer.
His order to cuff Samuel had such destructive effects on Samuel. It also hurt two of Samuel's best friends. The looks on Heather's and Jim's faces when he arrived at the recovery room with Dr. Mallard had been very upsetting. He vowed that when he was finished ripping Captain Brunello a new one Brunello would wish he had never listened to the crap spewed by that lawyer and ordered Samuel cuffed.
He mentally made a list of all he needed to do. First thing, call Yvonne and fess up to what he had been up to the past few days and how he had failed Samuel yet again. He needed to arrange for her to return from London. God he hoped she was back to one hundred percent. He needed her. She would know exactly what was needed for Samuel, Spike and Jules.
His mind wandered to Jules. He was glad Heather was able to come. Jules would need a woman around after what happened to her. Hopefully Yvonne would be here before Heather had to leave. Yvonne would know how to comfort her. And boy did she need it. Jules had been so very jumpy. On the flight here he had seen creases of worry in Parker's face.
The General knew they all treated each other as family but he could see Jules meant more to Parker. She was much more to him than an officer under his command or good friend. The fatherly protectiveness towards her was different than the brotherly affection the other guys showed. He had taken Parker aside and assured him Jules would be well looked after here.
Greg had told him he appreciated the offer to bring Jules here to recuperate too. Parker felt that returning to her home so soon after the attack would be difficult for Jules. Especially given the completely rattled state she was in. Christ she had panicked and grabbed a nurse, a clear indicator she was not okay. Luckily the nurse was only concerned for Jules well-being and asked that they all just ignore the incident. She told them all it was her fault for not announcing herself to Jules and she should have known better.
Second order of business was to contact the family and apprise them of the situation. He was not naïve. There was a shit storm of media coming their way. Someone was bound to leak Samuel's name. When that happened people would start digging into why Samuel attacked Dupont. It would all come out, every last sordid detail. It was time to circle the Braddock clan wagons.
Third order of business was to contact the family lawyer. He could see the writing on the wall now. The media had already tried and convicted the 'officer' who that attacked the 'poor head of security'. God he hated the media almost more than that bottom-feeding, scum sucking, sleazy lawyer and Captain Brunello.
William decided he could no longer put off the call to Yvonne. He pulled out his phone and called her.
General Braddock's Home – Jules's Room
Greg, Ed and Heather sat with Jules. Heather checked her vitals and then turned to Greg "Everything looks good. She should be waking shortly. The doctor the General arranged will be up once he finishes with Sam." She adjusted the covers and the pillow under her casted arm.
Ed sat in a chair that had been brought in from the dining room watching Heather and Jules. He was lost in thoughts of all that had occurred today. How the hell did the day go so wrong? It had started out so good. Well not so good but at least Sam was laughing with his dad. They had no clue just how much crap was going to hit the fan.
He looked at Jules and voiced his thoughts "We shouldn't have left you alone." Guilt was raging through him. If Logan was not already dead he would have killed him. How dare he attack Jules? Then a small smile tugged at the edge of one corner of Ed's mouth. Logan paid the ultimate price for messing with Jules. He was proud of how well she fought the bastard.
However, that did not assuage the guilt he felt for not being there when she needed them. He looked up at Heather who was now sitting close to the bed. He was glad she was there. He was sure Jules could use a woman to talk to when she woke up. No way in hell she would want to talk to any of the guys about what happened to her.
Greg heard Ed's soft spoken words and completely agreed. Looking at Jules in the double bed Greg thought Jules looked so small and vulnerable. His heart was twisted in knots. Until now he had stayed professional making sure everything was handled. Now he was letting himself feel and it hurt. The daughter of his heart had nearly been raped and murdered by a deranged man.
Thank goodness Connor had been there. That thought stirred up the guilt he felt for not being there. Logically he knew there was nothing he could have done. If it had not happened today it would have happened another day because Logan had fixated on Jules.
He shook his head at the thought of how odd it was that Team One was directly involved in two cases being investigated by Connor. As much as he liked Connor and appreciated what he had done for Jules today he hoped never to see the man again. Not because he didn't like him, just because his family seemed to be targets of cases he worked. Well at least the last two anyways.
Greg saw Jules beginning to stir. He moved forward and sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand. "Jules. Jules can you open your eyes?"
Jules felt the soft bed and pillows. Her head was pounding. She heard Greg's voice. She slowly opened her eyes. She blinked several times but still saw two Sarge's. Then the nausea hit full force.
Heather registered the look on Jules face and immediately turned her to the side. She held the kidney shaped plastic emesis basin under her chin. When Jules was done she gently wiped her face.
Greg held a glass of water "Jules take a small sip."
Jules allowed Greg to tip a small amount of water into her mouth and she swished and spit. She laid back on the pillows and moaned softly. She felt like she had to be sick again but it hurt her head too much so she tried to breathe through the feeling and quell the sensation. After a few breathes it quieted down.
She attempted to open her eyes again. She looked around her somewhat disoriented at the double visage of everything around her "Where?"
"You are at General Braddock's home in Ottawa. Do you remember us telling you we were coming here?" Greg asked.
Jules blinked several times and the doubles were beginning to merge into one. She saw she was in a room decorated in soft sage green and cream. It was soothing to the eyes. Collecting her thoughts the events of earlier today started to emerge. She began to feel both wariness and worry.
The attack left her feeling scared, vulnerable and jumpy. Her eyes automatically flicked around the room looking for danger. She finally saw both Ed and Heather were in the room too along with the Boss. Then she recalled what Greg had told her about Sam and why they were leaving.
"Sam. Is Sam okay?" Jules asked looking at Greg concern plastered on her face.
Greg patted her hand and said "He's in good hands. Jim, Spike and Wordy are with him. Also a doctor the General arranged. Sam will be okay." Giving her hand a slight squeeze he asked "How are you feeling?"
Jules's sad eyes looked at Greg's fatherly concerned eyes and honestly answered "I'm fine."
Ah crap both Ed and Greg thought. Greg gathered Jules into a hug and she let loose on tears again.
General Braddock's Home – Sam's Room
Spike sat in a large comfortable chair sipping a ginger ale. The guys had said he was too wired to have any caffeine and refused to let him have any coffee. They were right and if they asked him how he was doing he would have to answer 'fine'. He was glad they didn't ask.
As he sat there he was lost in thought totally ignoring Jim and the doctor as they were speaking. His mind was on what happened at the hospital. After hearing what happened to Sam he had completely freaked out.
Ed and Wordy had to pull him back from yelling at the officer that was playing the video game. He had backed the officer into a corner and ripped the phone from his hand. He had thrown it with such force the damned thing shattered into hundreds of pieces. Spike could not recall exactly what he had said to the man. He really didn't care. The thoughtlessness of those officers was beyond pale.
Glancing over at Sam his heart wrenched. He recalled too easily the night in the hospital several years ago when Sam had panicked thinking he was back in that terrorist's hell hole. From Heather's description this had been much worse. Sam had struggled so fiercely he had dislocated his shoulder trying to get out of the restraints. Thank god Heather was there and sedated him quickly.
Spike thought that both Sam and Jules needed caring people around them right now. What happened to both was horrible. He couldn't get the conjured images out of his head. Thank god Heather and Jim were able to come with them to the General's home. They were prefect for the job.
Heather had hesitated at first when General Braddock asked her to come. She wanted to but she had to take care of their kids. Ed saw her hesitation and had called Sophie. Heather had been relieved when Sophie offered to take care of their kids until they returned.
Still staring at Sam Spike thought he looked peaceful right now. But how would Sam react when he woke up here? Would he still think he was being tortured?
Christ he hoped not. That would be too much to bear. Spike glanced at Jim when he heard a sharp tone but didn't register what was said when the thought of beauty entered his head. Crap he did not have beauty. After the Langley Towers call he had transferred beauty to a newer device but Sam had not needed it since. He had stopped carrying beauty. It was in his drawer in the tech lab.
Spike was wondering if he should call Holleran and ask him to overnight it here when he started becoming more aware of what was going on in the room. He heard and registered the doctor's arrogant words. Spike turned his head and frowned at the doctor.
Wordy was pacing in the room. He was half listening to Jim as he tried to get the doctor to understand Sam's unique needs to control pain and how to handle him. The doctor was argumentative and Jim was clearly becoming agitated at the doctor's refusal to listen to him. When the doctor condescendingly said "You are just a medic. I have more education than you do. I will prescribe the right course of treatment and medications." Wordy could no longer take it.
He stopped pacing and scowled at the doctor. He barked "Shut up and listen to Jim. I don't give a rats-ass how much education you think you have. Jim has had Sam's back for years and knows more than you can imagine on what is best for him. If you know what's good for you, you will follow what he tells you. Otherwise you will have one pissed off General, five pissed off SRU officers and one very pissed off mother if you don't. Don't even get me started on how many pissed of JTF2 soldiers you will have on your ass. I don't think you could survive that."
The doctor stared at him dumbfound for a moment but then his defenses kicked in. Haughtily he retorted "I'm more qualified than a mere paramedic. I went to the most prestigious medical school. In my training that is the wrong approach and definitely the wrong type of pain meds. It is not standard protocol it is …"
Wordy took three strides and was in the doctor's face fists clenched at his side fighting the urge to lash out physically. "Sam has too much shit to deal with right now. The last thing he needs is an incompetent, egotistical, horse's ass for a doctor. GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!"