Good Enough?, Mile High, Anxious Brothers & Old Friends


Night Before Leaving for Medicine Hat – Jules's and Sam's Home

Jules finished packing her suitcase and sat on the bed. She spun the engagement ring around on her finger. This past week had been a whirlwind that left little time to think. Whenever they were not on a hot call Ed had them drilling and practicing for the SWAT competition.

It was nice to have Wordy join them on several days for training. Commander Holleran had spoken with his G&G Sergeant and arranged for Wordy to not only give the seminar but to sub for Raf in the competition.

As expected Raf had been disappointed but wished the team well and said it would be like old home week for them. Ed had wanted him to come and observe even though he could not participate. Raf had given one of his slow smiles and told them he decided he was going to take the time to head to the beaches with his girlfriend. He had said "SWAT competitions are nice and all but spending time relaxing in the sun next to a stunning woman was better."

They had all laughed and everyone except maybe Ed agreed.

Jules looked up when Sam asked "Are the plans set for meeting your brothers?"

"Yes. I sent them the texts this morning" Jules answered.

Sitting down next to Jules Sam took her hand in his "How'd they respond?"

Leaning over and putting her head on his shoulder Jules replied "Shocked but excited. They agreed not to tell father I'm coming. After I meet with each of them I'll decide if I'm ready to approach him."

Sam kissed the top of her head and squeezed her hand "I'll be there for you all the way sweetheart. You will not have to do this alone."

Tipping her head up she kissed his cheek "Sam Braddock do you know how much I love you?"

Seeing his possible chance Sam asked with a wink of his eye "Enough to let me have the aisle seat instead of the middle seat on the plane tomorrow?"

Jules chuckled and teased "Well maybe not quite that much."

Within seconds Sam was on top of her tickling her mercilessly as she laughed and begged him to stop. Their roughhousing turned to foreplay. Tickles gave way to caresses and laughter became passionate sounds of pleasure. Sam and Jules spent the next hours showing each other just how much they loved one another.

As they lay in each other's arms in the wee hours of the morning Sam softly asked "Do you think they will think I'm good enough for you?"

Jules heard Sam's soft question. They had spent time talking about her brothers. She had shared how much she had looked for their approval when she was younger. How they never thought any of the boys she dated were ever good enough for her and they did their best to scare them off.

Quietly but with firm conviction that could not be missed in her voice "They would be fools not to. If they are fools so be it. In this matter, only you and I count. We belong together. We are two halves of a whole. Without you in my life Sam my life is not worth living. So please put those thoughts out of that handsome head of yours."

Sam pulled her closer in form of an answer reveling in just the warmth of her body next to his. He hoped her brothers approved of him because it would make Jules happy. For himself he could care less if they approved of him because he was never letting Jules go again for any reason.


Plane En Route to Medicine Hat

Sam sat in the middle seat opening the small package of pretzels. Jules had offered him the aisle seat but he declined. He had made it into a joke but his real reason was that the jerk in the window seat had leered at Jules and tried to paw at her when they got onto the plane. He wanted distance between her and the jerk.

The little package was giving him trouble. When it finally ripped open with the force he applied the pretzels went flying. Jules laughed as she plucked a pretzel from his hair and then from his lap and then hers. She popped one in her mouth "Smooth Braddock" she teased.

The guy next to them glared at Sam as a pretzel splashed into his Bloody Mary drink and said "Look what you did idiot. You owe me a new one."

Sam could not suppress the chuckle as he said "Sorry" and wiped up the mess with his own little napkin. He figured after three already the man did not need anymore and although a pretzel landed in the drink very little had splashed out. He tried to calm the man using humor "Sorry about the little spill. At least you got a pretzel dipped in Bloody Mary. Bet it would taste good."

The next thing Sam knew he was drenched in Bloody Mary as it dripped from his hair down his face. It soaked his shirt and his lap.

The man slurred loudly "Bet it tastes good that way too."

Jules shouted "What the hell did you do that for?"

Sam put one calming hand on Jules as his other hand wiped the dripping mess out of his face "Jules. Let it go. Come with me to the lavatory to help me clean up?"

Seething and glaring at the drunk idiot Jules got out of her seat. The flight attendant came rushing down the aisle having heard the commotion. "What is going on here?"

"Just a bit of an accident" Sam said sliding out to the aisle. Sam pulled out his wallet and a few dollars handing them to the attendant he said "Can you please provide this gentleman with a replacement drink? It's on me."

The attendant looked at the man wearing Bloody Mary then to the angry woman then to the drunkard at the window. God she hated that they served alcohol on flights. Drunken fools caused so much trouble.

Then she got the double meaning of the calm man's words and smiled. She said pleasantly "Come with me. I have some towels to help you clean up." Turning to the drunk at the window she said "I'll be back with your drink in a few minutes Sir."

Sam and Jules followed the attendant to the back of the plane. She got out the towels and handed them over to him then said "I'm sorry about that. The replacement drink will be very much watered down. We also have two open seats in first class if you two would care to move forward after you finish cleaning up."

Jules answered for them "Thank you. Yes we will take you up on that offer. That is very nice." She then opened the lavatory door and gently pushed Sam towards the door.

The attendant went forward again to get the man's drink. She was happy that a fight had not broken out as it would have most assuredly happened if the blonde man was not so calm and took it in stride.

Standing outside the little bathroom Jules watched as Sam tried rinsing his hair in the little sink. It wasn't working very well. The flow of water and him trying to cup a small amount in his hand just did not work.

Jules had an idea "Hey Sam, let me get a few water bottles so I can pour them over your hair and get that mess out." She went forward to get several from the attendant.

When she returned he was unbuttoning his shirt to remove it and turned to her "Pop in here and help me please."

"Sam there isn't room for two of us" Jules answered but she saw a look on his face as he halted unbuttoning.

Looking at her allowing her to read his eyes Sam stated "Maybe you can stand on the commode."

She got it. He did not want to remove his shirt with the door open. He was still very self-conscious about his scars. Jules said "Okay, step out and let me get up there."

They shifted around and Jules crouched on the closed commode after putting down the water bottles. Sam squeezed in and shut the door. Jules helped him off with his shirt. Then they set about washing the tomato juice out of his hair. Once they finished with his hair Jules rinsed his shirt the best she could and wrung it out. Sam concentrated on wiping off his pants.

"Sorry you're gonna be wearing a wet shirt for a few hours" Jules said.

Sam set the towel on the sink and said "Wet pants too. Good thing none of your brothers are meeting us at the airport. Stinking of alcohol would not be the best first impression."

Jules said "I still can't believe he did that over one little pretzel in his drink."

Sam chuckled lightly "Not something I expected. That's for sure." Then a mischievous twinkle lit his eyes as he said "Hey Jules."

Jules looked at him and knew his mind was conjuring something up. After so many years of pranks by Spike and Sam she just wasn't sure what. She cautiously answered "What?"

"Wanna join the mile high club?" Sam said leaning in, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her to his bare chest as his lips claimed hers.

Never in her wildest dreams had she expected that. She allowed Sam to kiss her deeply and passionately but was pulling back as he became more heated and lost in their kissing. She found that Sam was insistent in his kissing. Soon she was lost too.

It was by far the quietest coupling they had ever had. Normally they were both quite vocal. Pulling on her panties again Jules was glad she had worn a dress today. Watching Sam zip his jeans she wondered if she could ever get him in a kilt.

Jules looked at her flushed face in the mirror "Sam I can't believe we did that?"

Sam brushed her hair back and kissed the nape of her neck "I can. You drive me to do crazy things. Ever since that first glimpse of you I lost my heart and rational thought when it comes to you. I mean you'd have to be crazy to put your hand in a pocket and tell a sniper chick you have a gun right after a call."

Slowly shaking her head Jules smiled "My cocky soldier. I hope you never change. I love you just the way you are. Even if it makes me do things I'd never even considered doing ever."

She kissed Sam hard at first then gentled and then finally pulled back. Jules brushed through his damp hair "Let's get your shirt on and go see what first class looks like."

They finished dressing and adjusting things. Sam folded up the towels. Jules gathered up the empty water bottles. Sam opened the door and peeked out. No one appeared to be waiting or looking. He stepped out then Jules followed. They headed forward to the attendant.

The attendant looked up and couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips. Those two made a stunning couple. Normally she would have interrupted and stopped what she assumed occurred in the lavatory. Not that she had any proof they joined the mile high club; if they did they were very discrete.

But after that drunkard had dumped his Bloody Mary on the blonde man and he responded so calmly not escalating the situation she didn't have the heart to stop them. Especially since he would be sitting in wet clothes for the remainder of the flight.

"Right this way" she called out to them as she ushered them into the first class section.

As they settled into the comfy seats Sam leaned in close "So some day we have to take a train."

Jules looked at Sam wondering about his left field statement "Why?"

Sam tilted his head cockily and gave her a lopsided grin "Well we've done it in the great outdoors, in a trawler, while on duty and now on a plane. Thought a train might be interesting with the rocking motion."

Jules giggled and swatted at his arm "Sam you're incorrigible."

Sam winked and gave her a WOW smile "You know you love it."

Jules thought, he was right she did. They could be in the deepest, darkest, swamp facing a pack of marauders and she would love being with him.

Sam lifted the divider between their plush seats and Jules leaned into him laying her ear against his heart. As Sam's arm wrapped around her she thought there is no place I would rather be.


Medicine Hat – Aidan's Home

The brothers had congregated at Aidan's home. They were all jumbled with mixed emotions. Jules was coming home. She finally was willing to meet with them. But she was calling the shots.

Keagan paced the room "So where did she want to meet with you Aidan?"

Aidan smiled "The ice cream shop. What about you?"

Keagan said "The bleachers at the high school."

Finley said "Jules wants to meet at that old tree. The one we both fell out of when she was ten."

Brayden was sitting forward with his elbows on his knees and his fingers steepled. He was listening to the others for the most part but was somewhat lost in his own thoughts. He answered when his brothers asked him for the third time where he was meeting Jules. He sat back and said "Police Park where we used to go on Sunday picnics."

He then asked "You sure none of you have said anything to father?"

All shook their head vehemently no. Keagan was quick to add "Are you crazy. I want to reconcile. Jules was very specific that we say nothing to him that she was coming until after we all meet with her. Said she would cancel on us if we did. I for one will not chance that."

"Same here big brother" Aidan said. Then he added "Are you planning to go watch that SWAT competition?"

Finley laughed "Wouldn't miss it for the world. Can't wait to see Jules in action."

Keagan joined in "Yeah it will be nice to see what she does. Did she give any of you a hint as to what her news might be?"

Again all shook their heads.

Brayden spoke into the silence that descended as they all contemplated what the news might be "Maybe she is quitting."

Aidan snorted "Not likely. More likely she got promoted."

Finley said "Maybe she's getting married."

Keagan was the one to snort this time "That hell cat finding a man that could handle her. Not likely. She is devoted to working." Under his breath he said "Besides no one will ever be good enough for our Jules."

Finley asked "What was that mumbling Keagan?"

Keagan looked at his brothers and said clearly "I said no one will ever be good enough for our Jules."

"He's right you know. If she is getting serious about some guy you know we will need to check him out" Brayden stated.

Aidan looked at his brothers warily "Guys don't be going and jumping to any conclusion. Jules is a big girl now and if that is the case we need to stay out of it. We caused her enough grief when she was little."

Keagan flared "I say we didn't do enough. If we had there was no way she would have ever gone out with Bruce. I won't let another guy ever hurt her again. Never like that again."

The thought of Bruce sent icy tendrils down Aidan's back "How do you suppose Jules would react if she ever runs across him again?"

Brayden stood and paced "I'm so glad he has never moved back here. After our beating I doubt he will ever have the balls to come back here. Ever. It's not likely she ever will see that bastard again but now I wonder too how she would react if she did see him. Especially after she was attacked by that Logan guy."

Finley chuckled "Jules might just take him out. She certainly would take him down a peg or two if he ever learns she is on the elite SRU Team One."

Trying to move away from talking about that low-down bastard who got away with raping his sister, Aidan smiled "I've heard the guys at work. They are starting a pool for which team will win the competition. Team One is at the top of all their picks. Should've seen their faces when I told them Jules was on Team One. Jaws were being picked up off the floor for hours. Only Jules's old girlfriends Hanna and Lottie didn't seem speechless. They said if anyone could be on Team One it would be Jules."

The guys spent the next few hours talking about getting to watch their sister in action. Even if it was just a competition. They were all excited but mostly they did that to help Aidan.

The poor man needed to relax. Aidan was both excited and anxious at being the first one of the brothers to meet with Jules later today. In some ways Brayden, Keagan and Finley were all a little jealous that he got to go first. But then again they thought they might be able to get insights from Aidan to help them with their meeting with Jules.


Medicine Hat – Adela's Coffee Shop

Steve was taking a relaxing break at Adela's coffee shop. Adela still had the best chocolate silk pie he had ever tasted. He was finishing his pie when the little bell jingled on the door. He looked up and thought well I'll be damned. Steve hadn't seen him since high school. They had been good friends as kids, growing up next door to each other before they started going separate ways in high school.

He smiled and called out "Hey Bruce."

Bruce looked at the man calling his name. He was familiar. It clicked. As he strode forward he said "Hey Steve. Steve Morgan. Whoa. What brings you back here? I thought you had plans to blow this town?"

Steve motioned for Bruce to sit "I could say the same for you. On duty?"

Sliding into the booth Bruce said "Yeah but on lunch break. So you back? I thought you were a paramedic in some big city."

"Only back for a short visit. My mother hurt her hip and needs some care. Sister had to travel for business so I offered to come for a few weeks" Steve said and then waited as Adela came over and took Bruce's order. He then said "Still a paramedic. I'm in Toronto. What about you?"

Pouring four sugars into his coffee Bruce said "Came back a few months ago. Finally left the Army. Was an MP so decided to come back home and join the police force."

Steve nodded "Thought you were in Special Forces?"

Bruce barely hid the glare. He tamped down the anger that never went away. It stewed and festered for years now. He did a good job of keeping his voice light as he said "Nah, got into the MPs. Liked that a lot and just choose to stay."

Steve checked his watch. Darn he had been gone too long now but Adela's pie had called too him. He slid out of the booth and stood up "Sorry to be leaving so quickly but I need to get back to mom."

Bruce shook the proffered hand and said "No problem Morgan. Nice to see ya. Been a long, long time."

Steve nodded then he started to head out. Stopping Steve turned back to the table and said "Perhaps we can get together sometime in the next week and catch up?"

Bruce nodded "Sure. I'll be around. Just call the station and they can locate me."

Steve grinned and waved as he opened the door and the bell jingled "Will do. Catch ya later Nealy."