Author's Notes: Wow, I really appreciate the reviews for chapter 1. Hope it continues with this chapter. Let me know what you think. Everyone seems to be curious about Anna. Explanations will come. If you need visuals for the costumes, got the Party City website. With the exception of Spike's, that's where I got the idea for each of the others.

Disclaimer: The show Flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and its respective networks. I am making no money off this story and it is for entertainment purposes only. However, this particular story is my creation and should not be used without my express written permission.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Sam Braddock looked in the mirror and put on the black frame wide lens glasses with the telltale red and yellow S logo on the sides. They weren't exactly the frames he would choose for himself if he had to wear glasses but guessed they didn't look too bad on him. That along with the white button down shirt, black dress pants, and the blue gray sports coat, he had his "costume" for tonight's party completed. He was sure Spike was going to give him hell for it but that was okay too.

There was a light triple rap on the door followed by what sounded like a slap at the door. He grinned and shook his head. Only one person knocked like that. He left the bathroom and went to let his guest in. The woman standing on the other side of the door fit every possible definition of beautiful that anyone could possibly have for classifying beauty. She was tall - only maybe a couple of inches shorter than he was but her heels made up the difference there, slender without looking anorexic, and curvaceous. Her long blonde hair was down and almost flowing. She had a confidence about her that suggested she was aware of her own beauty without being vain or over assured of it. But he knew her beauty went beyond just looks and confidence. Her witty, infectious, no-nonsense personality and cunning brain rounded out the full package. Currently she was looking at him with one eyebrow raised and a look of disbelief on her perfectly made-up face.

"If you think you are getting away with that costume, you've obviously forgotten who you are going with." She indicated a bag she was holding. "I've got your costume right here."

She stepped into the apartment and pushed the bag into his arms before closing the door behind her. Sam stood there as she slipped her long coat off to hang on the stand next to the door. Now it was his eyebrow that raised as he took in her costume. It was a typical Supergirl costume, complete with the form fitting blue long-sleeve top with the trademark logo on the front, with a neckline that accentuated her full breasts in a way that should be criminal. The red satiny skirt barely covered her ass and left her long legs bare until they disappeared just below the knee into the red and gold boot toppers. The red cape attached to the dress was flirty without being cumbersome. Sam decided she'd make a good super hero if for no other reason that the bad guys would stop to stare at her, so distracted by her beauty that she'd be able to capture them without having to exert much effort. Sam gulped and leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"You look…I mean…seriously Anna, wow."

She laughed and shook her head. "Way to use your words there, Hot Shot. Now, quit wasting time and get changed. Honestly people always complain that it's the girl who makes couples run late but I swear they never met you."

He indicated the bag. "If what's in this bag is anything close to what you are wearing, then no thank you. You know I don't do the whole costume thing."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you there, but you don't quite have the legs to carry off the short skirt. And don't even get me started on the whole I-don't-do-costumes bit. One word: getoverit. Water under the bridge, my friend, and high time you got over it. Paulie did, and he had way more reason to be embarrassed than you did."

There was a slight hitch in her voice when she said the name and Sam tossed the bag she'd shoved at him onto the kitchen island and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her forehead. Then he looked at her. "I hate to tell you, Anna, but Paul never really got over it any more than I did. He just gave in because it was easier than fighting you over it year after year."

"Yeah, well Paulie was always the smarter one of the two of you. So, learn from him. It's better to give in to me than fight me. Go get into that costume before you turn me into a crying mess. I swear to you, Hot Shot; you make me mess up my mascara and we're going to fight. And if that happens, you know I'll win."

There was just enough of a quiver in her voice to Sam relent. He had serious misgivings about what costume might be in that bag, but the time it would take to argue with her about it wouldn't be worth it. She was stubborn; one of the things he'd always loved about her while at the same time being frustrated. So much like Ju…, no, he wasn't going there tonight. Tonight was going to be fun for the both of them. Even if it killed him. "Fine, I'll take a look at it."

She brightened and pulled out of his embrace. She stabbed a finger into his chest. "Oh, you'll do more than just look at it, Hot Shot. Trust me. Bedroom, costume, now. Don't make me use my superpowers on you."

Sam chuckled and picked up the costume. As he headed back to the bedroom, he stopped and glanced back at her and her costume. He shook his head. "I did tell you that the party is going to be in an old barn, didn't I? I doubt there's going to be much heat."

Anna shrugged. "I was a cheerleader, remember? If I can survive those brutally cold games in that skimpy outfit, I can handle this October chill. Quit stalling, Sam. You got anything to drink in that fridge that hasn't gone past its prime?"

Sam considered the question. He hadn't been to the store in a week or so. "There's probably a beer or two. Other than that, water doesn't go bad does it?"

Anna shook her head. "You so need a wife, Sam."

Sam laughed as he entered the bedroom. He closed the door and opened the bag Anna had brought him. It was, as he'd suspected, a superman costume. He was pretty sure he'd once had a pair of pajamas as a little boy made similarly to the outfit he was currently holding minus the attached cape. He glanced back at the door. She was out of her freaking mind if she thought he was going to parade around all night wearing this. But this was Anna, and she'd eventually get what she wanted so he tossed the costume onto the bed and started to undress.

Paul Cochrane had been his roommate in college. They had been the best of friends and Paul's girlfriend Anna had rounded out their Musketeer trio. Sam had never been happier to be best man at a wedding as he had been a year after college when Paul and Anna had gotten married. Even a battle with a cancer hadn't shaken their love. Anna and Paul had had the kind of relationship that Sam hoped to one day find. A relationship that he thought he'd found with Jules. But now both he and Anna were alone in the world.

Anna had lost Paul when his cancer had returned with a vengeance and refused to go back in remission just after Sam had returned from his tour in Afghanistan. Now, Sam had lost Jules because her fear of losing her place on the team had outweighed her supposed love for him. Sometimes it seemed to Sam that Anna was handling her loss better than he ever would.

Anna had moved to Toronto around the same time as his break-up with Jules. The move had been a mutual blessing. She was trying to escape her well-meaning friends and family who were insistent that it was time she moved on with her life without Paul. Sam was trying to escape the sting of a painful break-up, one in which he still had to not only see the woman who broke his heart, but work alongside her as if nothing had happened.

So while nothing romantic or sexual could ever exist between them, Sam and Anna had turned to each other upon her arrival in town. They allowed people to believe they were a couple because it served both their purposes. It gave the outward appearance that they had moved on with their lives while privately they could still cling to their lost loves.

He stared at himself in the mirror as he tugged uncomfortably at the costume. There was no way in hell he was going to be seen wearing the outfit she'd picked out. He didn't care what Anna said. He reached once more for his pants. Five minutes later, he emerged from his bedroom, Anna looked at him from her seat at the island. "You are kidding me, right?"

Sam shook his head, putting his Clark Kent glasses back on. "You said I had to wear the damn thing. I am. You never said I couldn't wear something over it. Call me Clark Kent mid change to Superman; I don't care. I'll leave off the sports jacket and the shirt unbuttoned with the cape hanging out, but the pants cover the tights. Don't bother arguing, because they aren't coming off."

"You are incorrigible, Hot Shot, but fine. We'll play it your way. That look is actually kind of sexy on you, especially the glasses. You're rocking that four-eyed look in a major way. So what do I need to know before we get there? Spike's going to be there, right?"

Sam nodded. Spike was the only teammate she'd actually met, and she seemed to get along great with the affable guy. Sam filled her in on the other male members of the teams and their respective partners. He was putting off mentioning Jules, and Anna called him on it.

"What about Jules? She going to be there?"

Sam leaned on the counter beside her. "Yeah, I'm sure she will be."

Anna fixed her gaze on him. "Does she know about me?"

Sam's blue eyes were devoid of emotion as he shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't said anything. It's not like I'm obligated to clear things with her. But if I had to guess, I'd say she's probably heard by now. Spike knew and Jules was helping him decorate today. I'm sure he's probably said something."

Anna nodded. His tone sounded like he didn't care but she knew better. In the years since they'd met, she'd come to know him pretty well. Sam Braddock didn't give his heart easily, but once he did, he didn't hold anything back. "And does she have a date tonight?"

Sam shrugged, trying not to show how bothered he was about the idea. "Don't know. Don't care. She's free to date same as me."

Anna hopped off the stool, the heels of her boots clicking against the linoleum floor as she stood. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and then whispered in his ear. "Sorry, Hot Shot, I gotta play the 'liar liar pants on fire' card here. You're scared shitless that she's going to show up in some sexy little number with a hot guy on her arm. You're worried you are going to have to watch some other guy holding her the way you want to hold her. You don't have to admit it out loud. Just don't lie to yourself about it, either."

Sam shrugged once again, inwardly hating that she knew him so well. Though Jules hadn't talked about seeing anyone, he couldn't be sure if she was going to have a date with her for the party. He wasn't sure he could handle it if she did. He'd tried to pump Spike for information without being obvious but the computer expert hadn't really known any facts. He pulled Anna to him in a friendly embrace. "Yeah, well if she does, she's going to have to watch me with a beautiful date in a sexy little number. Balances out in the end."

Anna reached out and tweaked his nose. "I hope it does, Sam. I really hope it does."

- FP - FP - FP -

Jules parked her jeep next to Ed's car. For just a moment, she continued to sit behind the wheel, working up the courage to go inside. It was wrong that she felt so nervous about joining the party. These were her friends and her co-workers. And the man you love with his new girlfriend, the little voice in her head added.

"Shut up." She muttered to the voice. She was the one who had broken up with Sam. He was free to go on with his life, free to date anyone he wanted to. She'd given up the right to be jealous when she had chosen the job over him. He was the rookie; he could have agreed to change teams so the two of you could stay together.

But she was the one who had pushed the issue, Jules reminded herself. Sam had avoided or changed the subject every time she'd broached it. But as the time got closer for her to re-qualify for her spot and face the music about their secret relationship, the more she'd panicked. If it came down to a choice, she was the one fighting for her spot, not Sam. After all she'd done to make the team the first time, the idea of having it in jeopardy had scared her. And in her fear she'd pushed him away in order to hold on to the life she loved. Even as she was breaking up with him, she'd felt like a bitch while at the same time hoping he'd figure out a way to convince her they could figure out a way to make it work.

For weeks after that fateful night in the coffee shop, she'd seen his face every time she closed her eyes. He'd seemed so upset and broken-hearted and it only added to her guilt. But then it seemed like he forgot all about her. He'd obviously moved on and here she was still stuck with feelings for Sam that didn't seem like they would ever go away. It was her own fault but knowing that didn't make the pain any less; if anything, it made it worse.

Time to go in and face the music, she decided. Especially since Wordy's minivan was pulling in beside her. It would be hard to explain why she was hiding in her car. Shelley smiled as they got out of their cars at the same time. From the hat on Shelley's head and the glimpse Jules got of Wordy in the driver's side, it was clear the couple had dressed as matching pirates. Shelley smiled at her.

"Hey, glad to see we aren't running that far behind. We had to make sure the girls understood the candy limit tonight."

Wordy joined them on the other side of the van. "Translation, we had to make my parents understood the rule. I swear growing up they never let me have more than five pieces of Halloween candy a day until it was all gone. But they would let their granddaughters eat the whole bag in one sitting given the opportunity."

Jules grinned. "That's because they get to send them home at the end of the evening when they are either bouncing off the walls from the sugar high or moaning from the tummy aches."

Wordy peered around her. "You did make the cake, didn't you?"

Shelley punched his arm. "That's probably why your parents limited your candy intake. You don't know how to stop. You already raided Allie's bag before we left and now you're hunting for cake. Does he eat like that at work?"

Jules thought about the trips to Timmys they were all guilty of making but Wordy was shaking his head behind Shelley, pleading with her not to rat him out. "No more than the rest of us. Don't worry, Wordy; it's in the car."

Wordy offered to carry it in. He'd already dropped off several cases of beer earlier to go in the coolers to be iced down before the party for his and Shelley's contribution to the refreshments. The three started toward the door and Shelley looked at Jules, whose costume was mostly hidden under her coat, except for a teal head piece around the ponytail gathered at the top of her head. A lighter green scarf framed her face. "You don't seem to be wearing your usual costume this year."

Jules blushed and hoped it didn't show in the dark. She'd agonized over her decision for the better part of an hour standing in the costume store. Considering it was Halloween day, the stock had been pretty well picked over and her options were limited. She considered herself a realist when it came to her self image, neither vain nor overly critical. But there was no way she could deny that her lack of height and small bust size didn't lend itself well to some of the more overtly sexy costumes that were left. She hadn't wanted to go cute given what Spike had said about Sam's new girlfriend but she also didn't want to pick out something that would be woefully lacking on her. She'd been about to give up in frustration when she found this costume. She'd tried it on and fell in love with the way it fit her. Still, she was sure there were going to be comments made once she removed her coat. "Yeah, I decided to try something new."

Even before reaching the barn door, they could hear the sounds effects that Spike had rigged. Tortured screams followed by maniacal laughter mixed with cat screeches and slamming doors. Shelly pushed open the door and its creaking was much louder and more sinister sounding that Jules had remembered from earlier. This was obviously part of the electronic "mysteries" Spike had worked on after she had left earlier.

"WHO DARES TO ENTER THE MONSTER'S LAIR?"

It was Spike's voice but distorted to sound creepy and pure evil. Shelley jumped at the sound, having not expected to be greeted in such a way. Balancing Jules's cake with one hand, Wordy gave Shelley's arm a reassuring squeeze with the other.

"Hey, the Wordsworths have finally arrived." Spike, dressed in a very authentic and expensive looking gray Batman costume complete with the cowl, called out from where he was standing at the sound system talking to Winnie and her date. Ironically, the female dispatcher was dressed as Catwoman and her date was the Joker. Spike excused himself and came over to greet them. "Bout time you showed up. And look, they found Jules as well. Awesome! Wordy, you can put the cake on the table and I'll take the ladies' jackets."

It was clear from the exuberance in his voice that he'd already had a few drinks. He helped Jules out of her coat first and let out a low whistle when he saw her costume. The sea foam green pants were loose and flow-y around her legs with teal panties attached at the very top of the pants decorated with a gold jeweled belt. What really seemed out of the ordinary for her was that her stomach was completely bare except for three small scarves that hung from the halter top with the golden straps that held it in place. The genie outfit was further completed by the green scarf sleevelets around her mid-arms.

"Wow, Jules. I'd make a joke about getting some wishes granted but I have a feeling if I did, you probably would lay me flat - without the need for magic. So, I'll refrain and just say that you look gorgeous."

"Smart choice." Jules muttered. Goose bumps stood out on her mostly bare arms and she didn't think it was from the chilly October night. Spike had set up several chimeneas all around the barn which had kept the space from getting too cold. No, the goose bumps had more to do with the fact that she could feel eyes almost boring into her. She scanned the room and momentarily locked eyes with a certain pair of baby blues that seemed determined to haunt her dreams.

"Okay, so Sophie has more food set out than we'll ever be able to eat so help yourselves. Beers and wine coolers are in the ice chests at the end of the table. There's also punch…"

"Drunk Punch?" Jules licked her lips. Lew's famous Drunk Punch had always been a team favorite. It started off as a regular type punch of ginger ale and white grape juice but it got the first part of its name from the hefty amount of Bacardi Rum that was added to it. She had a feeling she'd drink her fair share of it tonight.

Spike nodded, "Is there any other? Come on, I'll introduce you to Doug and Anna. I think you've met Sylvia, right?"

The last thing Jules wanted to do was meet Anna. She could see the beautiful blonde standing next to Sam. Jules had looked at the very same Supergirl costume earlier in the day and now she was glad she'd passed on it. There was no way she would have filled out the costume the same way Sam's date did. She was everything Jules was not. Tall, leggy, voluptuous, blonde. She was drop dead gorgeous and Jules felt like a kid playing dress up compared to her. No wonder Sam had been able to get over her so quickly. She couldn't hold a candle to the woman standing next to Sam. As Spike led her over to the other couples, Jules saw the woman lean over and whisper something in Sam's ear. The tips of Sam's ears turned pink the way they would do when he was embarrassed about something. Jules frowned. Not even with heels would she be able to whisper in Sam's ear without standing on her tiptoes to reach him.

Before they could reach the refreshment table she was intercepted by Sam and his date. She stopped while Spike, Wordy, and Shelley continued on to the food table. Sam gave her a long look. "No scarecrow this year, I see."

Jules looked at him, trying not to notice how good he could make even those ridiculous fake glasses look; trying not to think about whether or not the Superman outfit that was peeking out from his unbuttoned shirt extended further south; and definitely trying not to look at the knock-out standing intimately close to him. "Glad to see you stepped up your act from coming as yourself."

Sam shrugged. "Anna insisted. I can't seem to say no to her. You haven't met her yet, have you? Anna Cochrane, Jules Callaghan."

Anna extended a slender hand in greeting. "Nice to meet you. Sam's told me a lot about you." Though her tone and words were both friendly, Jules thought she heard just a hint of warning that said Anna knew all about the break-up as well. The blonde continued, "And don't let Hot Shot here fool you. If I had had my way, he'd be in full Superman attire. He's playing Chicken Little and covering up the best part of the costume."

It took every ounce of willpower Jules possessed to prevent her eyes from traveling to the part of his body that Anna seemed to be referring to. Even so, Sam shifted uncomfortably. "Resort to name calling all you want; I will never be seen in public with my underwear on the outside of my pants."

"I seem to remember a few times in college where you thought differently. I've seen them outside your pants, on your head…"

"So you two met in college?" Jules asked, trying to sound polite and casual. The last thing she needed tonight was to think about Sam and his underwear, regardless of where he was or wasn't wearing it. It also hurt to hear some other female talk about Sam's underwear in front of her.

Anna nodded. "Yeah, I probably spent more nights in Sam's apartment off campus than I did my own dorm. I love your costume, by the way. That color is perfect on you. I've always wanted to dress up like a genie but the costumes I found always have a lot of pink, not my best look."

"What she's not saying is there's no way she could go around all night saying 'your wish is my command.'" Sam argued and laughed as he took an elbow to the ribs. "Ouch, that hurt. There will be payback later."

"I'm going to get some punch." Jules mumbled as she started toward the bowl. She wondered if Spike had put the whole bottle of Bacardi in the punch or if it was lying around somewhere. She had a feeling she was only going to get through the night with a lot of liquid courage.

It would be better, she thought, if Anna had seemed like a trashy bimbo that would be easy to hate or make fun of. But instead, she seemed quite nice; someone who could and obviously was making Sam happy. That was what she wanted, right? So why did she feel so miserable?

Sam waited until Jules was out of earshot before turning to Anna, his expression bemused. "You spent more nights at my apartment?"

Anna shrugged. "I did. I spent them in Paulie's bed and not yours but no reason to share every detail. You weren't much better with the 'can't say no' comments. Come on Sam, it's obvious the girl is still as crazy about you as you are her. Her beautiful, sexy little genie costume isn't the only thing green about her. And you? Your chin's probably going to bruise where it hit the ground the moment you saw her."

Sam shook his head. "You don't know what you're talking about. I was just surprised to see her dressed that way. It's a hell of a lot different from the SRU uniform."

"The other men on your team didn't seem quite as gobsmacked as you did. I didn't see any of their eyes popping out of their heads like yours were. I also didn't see any of their wives or dates having to remind them to breathe. But fine, I'll drop it for now. Take me to meet Al Capone's wife; her refreshments look heavenly."

Her description of Ed's costume was spot on and made Sam chuckle. "Go on over. I'm going to grab a beer from the ice chest. You want one or would you rather have a wine cooler?"

Anna grinned. "I'm tempted to say punch just so you have to talk to her again." At Sam's frown, she raised her hand in surrender. "Fine, this is me dropping it. Wine cooler would be great."

Spike was also digging a beer out of the cooler when Sam approached. He looked up and shook his head. "Sam, you apparently haven't watched as much Superman as I have. Clark Kent never attracted the ladies like his counterpart did."

Sam knew Jules was still at the punch bowl and could hear their conversation. He nodded his head in Anna's direction. "Seriously, Spike, you think with a hot, sexy Supergirl at my side, I want to parade around in tights with my underwear leaving nothing to the imagination?"

Spike considered the slightly darker part of his own costume that closely resembled a Speedo. "Yeah, well, maybe that's WHY the superhero gets all the girls. Have you considered that?"

"And maybe that's why so many superheroes wear masks so people don't recognize them."

"Ouch. I think it's time I cranked up some music." Spike started whistling the theme to the Adam's Family as he walked off.

Satisfied he'd ended the torture about his costume at least from Spike, Sam pulled a beer and a wine cooler from the chest and returned to Anna. Sophie, dressed as a gangster's moll as a companion to Ed's 1920's gangster look, was getting acquainted with Anna. "What is it you do when you aren't saving the world in a single bound?"

"I'm a network troubleshooter for several of the local hospitals." Anna answered and then sampled one of Sophie's peanut butter eyeballs. "Oh, Sophie, these are unbelievable. If I could cook like this, I'd never stay as small as you."

"She's being modest." Sam interjected as he handed Anna her drink. He knew she'd taken the first computer related job she could get when she moved. It proved to him just how desperate she'd been to get away from her friends and family set on fixing her up on blind dates she just didn't want to go on. "She can do things with a computer that would make Spike scratch his head in confusion."

"I, for one, would like to see that." Sarge, dressed as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, admitted. "Because he does that to me almost on a daily basis. I guess you could say I'm not that computer savvy."

"No shit, Sherlock." Ed deadpanned perfectly.

Greg waggled his finger at the Tac Leader as the others laughed. "Funny guy; Sophie, you married a real comedian."

Monster Mash began playing through the sound system. Anna set her drink down on the table and took Sam's hand. "Come on, Hot Shot; let's get something started."

She led him onto the center of the room and began dancing. Her years as a cheerleader had given her the skills and the confidence to make it look effortless. Winnie and her date quickly joined them, followed by Wordy and Shelly. While it might not be a typical dance song, it was obvious all three couples were having fun with it. Jules stood to one side watching how perfect Sam and Anna seemed to move together.

Why had she pushed him away? The relationship with him had been the best she could ever hope for. Yes, her job was important as well, and she couldn't imagine doing anything else or working with anyone else. But the job couldn't keep her warm at night, nor could the job look at her with dazzling blue eyes that made her insides puddle.

It wasn't like she hadn't figured that out already. Her thoughts tonight weren't really a revelation to her. But seeing him with Anna just drove home the loss all the more. She almost wished they had decided to forego the party this year. She felt bad thinking that because she knew how important it was to Spike, knew that he had feared that if they have given up the party this year, they wouldn't pick it back up the next year. She just wished it didn't hurt so much seeing Sam so happy.

Something landed on her shoulder and she glanced down to see a spider. She squealed and brushed it off. Armed suspects she could face down all day long but eight legged arachnids scared the bejeebers out of her. Everyone turned to look at her and Sam left Anna on the makeshift dance floor to check on her. He picked up the offending creature and held it out for her to see that it was only a plastic decoration. Jules flushed red and looked back to where Spike was standing just behind her, looking completely innocent and guilty at the same time even through the cowl. She glared at him as her breathing returned to normal.

Sam touched her arm. "You okay?"

She nodded and took the fake spider from him. "Yeah, I'm fine. We might be short a demolitions expert when I'm through with him though."

Sam returned to Anna and the couples started dancing again. Jules approached Spike and threw the decoration at him. "Seriously?"

Spike laughed. "Badass Jules Callaghan isn't scared of an itty bitty spider, is she? Maybe you'll think twice about pulling some lame joke making me think you fell off a ladder. Payback's a bitch."

Jules shook her head. "I can show you a bitch, Scarlatti."

"You going to fold your arms and blink at me?" Spike joked, making a dig at her costume. He reached out his hand and tugged her into a friendly hug. "Sorry, Jules. I forgot how squeamish you were about spiders. How about we show them how it's really done out there?"

Jules looked back out at the makeshift dance floor. She hated feeling so inferior to Anna. She was normally a much more confident person. But that confidence had seemed to fly out the window the moment Spike had mentioned the woman's name earlier. She knew she had to get a grip. Sam owed her nothing and she had no right to feel bad that Sam had moved on. Why should he mope around pining after her? Why was she? She should get out there on that dance floor with Spike and have just as good a time as Sam and Anna - as well as everyone else- was having. But she couldn't just shake her feelings off so easily.

"Maybe in a bit. I think I'm going to step out and get a little air." Jules answered. Maybe a blast of chilled air against her bare arms would snap her out of her funk.

Spike kept hold of her arm as she started to pull away. She looked back at him. With his other hand he reached up and pushed the cowl up. "Hey, I didn't scare you that badly did I? I meant it as a joke. That's all. Didn't mean to embarrass you or anything like that. I figured you'd realize it was a joke right off. I'm sorry if I went too far."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You didn't. I think I drank my punch a little too quickly. I forget how the rum goes to my head. I'm just going to clear my head a little and then you and I can rock it out."

Spike nodded and returned the cowl back into place. "I'll be here. Same bat time, same bat channel."

Jules didn't even bother to grab her coat as she stepped out. She'd probably freeze given the mostly sleeveless nature of her outfit but she needed the bracing stinging of the October night to slap her out of her melancholy. As she stepped outside and walked away from the noise, it struck her all of a sudden that if Lew were still alive; if he had been there, he wouldn't have let her leave by herself. It wasn't that he didn't think she could take care of herself but that he would have picked up on her mood and wanted to make sure she was okay. He wouldn't have made her talk about what was bothering her or even made a big show of cheering her up, but he would have been there so she wouldn't have to feel alone. Right then she missed him more than she had since his death.

A twig snapped behind her and she frowned. "Damn it, Spike; enough with the pranks okay? I swear you are a bigger kid than any kid I know. You do realize it's possible to have fun on Halloween without all the stupid pranks, right?"

Strong arms grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her side. Then there was a tell-tale sound of a gun cocking and a muzzle pressed against her temple. A low, menacing voice filled her ear. "Scream and I'll blow your head off."