Author's note: Okay so for some reason I completely forgot that Greg retired after 5x13. Anyway, I want to keep him in here because I really like his relationship with Spike, as well as his compassion and kindness with the team. I think he'll be really supportive of Spike and Winnie's baby. So, yeah, Greg's staying on the team.

Thanks you all for your reviews-they've been lovely! I'm not sure how far this story's going to go, haven't planned that far ahead. We'll see where it goes, though! :)

Down own the characters. Hope you enjoy this chapter. It's just a bit of back story on Spike and Winnie's relationship. I really enjoyed writing it-next chapter will probably pick back up on the bomb threat, but not sure yet.

Someone want to let me know what AU stands for? I've been bumping around this site for a few months now, but I'm not really familiar with the lingo yet.

Chapter 2

Spike kept humming even after he muted his headset again. He took the time in the car to go over his skill sets, review his knowledge, pick his brain. Basically it all boiled down to avoid triggers, find the detonator, disarm the bomb.

Avoid IEDs.

Spike sighed as he thought again of Lew's death. He was reminded of that day every single time there was a bomb threat. Sometimes at night he'd have dreams of more team members dying—Boss, Ed, Sam. He couldn't wake up on his own from those, and Winnie would shake him gently and then let him hold her close as he described the nightmare.

He never let anyone except himself near the potential bombs these days.

What would Lew think about him and Winnie having a baby? Well, scratch that—what would Lew think about him and Winnie? He and Lew had discussed just about every woman in the precinct except Winnie in the time they'd been friends, except for this one night.

They'd gone out after work, hung out at the Goose for awhile before heading home. They'd both agreed to only have one beer so they were both alright to drive; Lew took the wheel this time.

Spike happened to see a woman with curly hair boarding a bus when they were driving past the station. "Hey, is that Winnie?"

Lew glanced over and nodded. "Yeah, she stays late sometimes to use the staff computers. She's taking a couple online classes, and she doesn't have a computer at home."

Spike grimaced. Winnie had been at her desk before he'd even arrived that morning at 5 AM. It was now about 9. She must have been exhausted, working for sixteen hours straight, and it was only the second day in their workweek. "What classes is she taking?"

"She's finishing up her master's. After two years her contract runs out, and she has a better chance of getting to stay on if she's got a good degree."

"How many classes is she taking? She works way more than a full workweek, just like us."

Lew shrugged as he turned down the road toward Spike's house. "She's taking three this semester." He chuckled and shook his head. "She is great at math, man. Like, really great—might even pass you up."

Spike laughed. "Not possible, bud."

After that he'd send her random texts with the hardest math problems he could think of. She always got them right. He used math as an excuse for their first date. They got dinner while he helped walk her through some homework she was having trouble with. Sure, the homework never got done, but that was the night he told Winnie how he felt about her. Best thing he'd ever done.

Greg couldn't help but grin to himself as Spike continued humming that tune. He'd been humming that nonstop ever since they'd found out Winnie was pregnant. He even sang it in Italian sometimes when he was running. It was no wonder his running time per mile was increasing; the song wasn't exactly invigorating.

Had it already been three years since Spike had brought him into the conference room to "talk"?

They'd just finished with their debriefing following a successful call, and Sam and Jules were at Winnie's desk telling her and Leah where they were planning on going to dinner. Greg smiled as he watched the four of them interact. Winnie hadn't always been so close to the team—for a long time she'd just kept to herself and her classes—but now she was really opening up and starting to form relationships with all of them.

"Boss!"

Greg glanced over to see Spike jogging out of the locker room towards him. "Hey, Spike, what is it?"

The younger man came to stand in front of him and seemed at a loss for words. Greg didn't press him.

Finally, "Can I talk to you…about something? Maybe in the debrief room?"

Greg raised his eyebrows. "Sure, bud, let's go."

Within minutes they were seated at the table. There was a long period of silence and Greg could see Spike was trying to find the words to say whatever it what that needed to be brought up.

"Well," Spike began at last, lifting his eyes hesitantly, "I wanted to let you know that I'm considering applying for a position in an SRU team in the next district over, and…I wanted to get your thoughts on that."

Greg did his best not to let the shock be revealed on his face. Spike was thinking of leaving? "Why don't you tell me what your reasons are, first of all."

If possible, Spike looked even more distressed. He swallowed spasmodically. "It—it's about Winnie, Boss." He glanced up and shrugged helplessly. "I have…developed feelings for her. And I have tried to keep those feelings professional and…discreet, but I can't seem to do it anymore. And I don't want her job to be at risk because of those feelings."

"Have you told her how you feel?"

Spike shook his head. "I haven't. I wanted to talk to you first, get some advice." He gave him a nervous smile. "I'm no good with these kinds of things, and with my dad gone…"

Greg nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I get it, Spike." He sighed and folded his hands together, trying to gather his thoughts. He purposefully ignored the other man's obviously anxious character, which would distract him even further.

"I don't see any reason why you would need to transfer away if you and Winnie began dating," Greg said at last. "As long as the two of you are able to behave professionally and there are no problems in communication—whether or not she feels the same way—then I think it's fine."

Spike just stared at him a moment before letting out a nervous breath. "Thanks, Boss. I was really hoping you'd say that."

Greg looked out through the glass doors to Winnie's desk, where she was just getting ready to leave. "Winnie's a really great girl, Spike." He glanced at the young man and grinned at his starry eyed expression as he watched Winnie. "Go for it."

He almost laughed as he saw Spike swallow and take a deep breath. He looked back at Greg. "You think?"

Greg nodded. "Don't think, just do."

And with that Spike was out of his chair and jogging towards her desk. "Winnie!"

"Hey, Spike, what's up?"

"Can I…can we talk?"

It hadn't taken long for the two of them to figure out where they were going in their relationship, and after ten months Spike had proposed. Now here they were, married, with a baby on the way.

Greg was distracted from his reverie as he realized Spike had stopped humming. He glanced over to see him looking very intently at his wedding ring, twisting and rubbing it. "You okay there, bud?" He turned down the street toward the Kennedy Building.

Spike nodded slowly before looking over at him. "You remember what I asked you a couple weeks ago?"

They'd just been chatting, talking about random things and hanging around in the corridor around Winnie's desk. She was sitting in her chair with a book that Spike's ma had sent them for the baby. She'd gotten a recordable book and had recorded herself reading a story in Italian. Winnie was dead set on their baby growing up with at least a working knowledge of the language, so she was holding the book up to her belly now while her mother-in-law "read" the book to the baby.

Greg had been smiling, watching the mother-to-be, when Spike's words brought a new solemnity to the moment.

"You'll take care of them, right? If—if anything happens to me…you'll make sure Winnie and the baby are okay?"

"Spike…"

"I gotta know, Boss. That's my family. I can't do this job unless I know they'll be alright if something happens."

At last Greg nodded. "Of course, Spike. You…you know I'd take care of them."

"Yeah, I remember."

Spike nodded and turned to look out the window, apparently having said all he needed to. "Good."