Ed, Lew and Spike returned to Greg, Sam and Jules after making their calls. Wordy joined them after his trek into the house and he made sure the women in his life were headed away from the danger.
"So what's the plan?" Spike asked. He knew the current situation would keep them from asking about earlier.
"First we need to get back to the barn and change." Greg said and started walking back to the SUVs, the team following. "Best if we stay together until we figure this out. So go home, get what you need-"
"Go careful." Ed cut in, meeting eyes with each of them. If something happened to any of them it would be truly devastating. For a second he considered telling them to stay together and make stops at people's houses, but he reigned in his fierce protectiveness. He knew they could handle themselves.
"And meet at my house." Jules finished. "My offer still stands. It'll be the most comfortable."
"You sure Jules?" Greg questioned.
"Absolutely." Jules smiled. Where else would they go, she thought.
"I'll get supper, pizza good with everyone?" Sam offered as they climbed in the SUVs. He was approved by six copy that's.
The fire department and gas company pulled away at the same time as the team. The PD was still doing their investigation so they stayed on scene. Wordy had locked the house and gave the officers a key in case they needed to go inside.
Each team member had been very careful when they went into their residences. Guns were drawn and every inch was secured. They met up at Jules' house about 40 minutes later.
"Hey." Ed nodded to Jules when she opened the door. He walked in, turned left into the family room where the others were eating pizza and having an intense discussion. Ed threw a pencil sized camera on the coffee table causing the others to stop talking and look at him. "Found that on the roof of my house pointed into my family room." He pointed angrily. He was more than angry, he was pissed off.
Sam sat on the couch with Lew and Wordy. All three looked over their shoulders when Ed came in. Once Ed had come to stand at the side of the couch next to Wordy, Sam said, "mine was pointed at my living room." He opened his hand to reveal the exact same device.
"Kitchen window." Lew said. "It's the only one someone could use since my apartment is on the third floor. All the other windows are small, not much of a view."
"I found two. One at pointed at the living room and the other at my bedroom." Spike threw them angrily on the coffee table next to the others.
"One at mine too." Greg ran his hand over his head and nodded to the table at his.
"One more here. Pointed at that window and I would assume one at Wordy's." Jules pointed to the window to her right, the one facing the street and then raised her chin at Wordy.
"So, any ideas?" Greg asked. The team certainly had a laundry list of enemies from their calls over the past year together. Lots of bad people behind bars, some that didn't get that far and the family of the few they'd lost. First the jumper, then the gas main at Wordy's and now cameras at each team member's house. What the hell?
"Oh plenty." Wordy answered pounding his fist into his open palm. Just let me get my hands on them for a few minutes. I'll make them sorry they ever even looked at my family.
"I know we're all angry," Greg started, looking into their eyes. "But we need to stay focused. This is what she wants. We go off half-cocked, make a mistake, and she takes advantage." He received six copy that's in answer.
"Eddie?"
"I'm sure she's pissed we found her cameras." Ed half smiled at the thought that they botched at least that much of the subject's plan. "So she knows we're onto her. Possible she'll back off." He hoped.
"I don't know." Sam shook his head. "It doesn't feel over to me. She's just getting warmed up. Why else would she be keeping track of us?"
"Should we take a few days off and do some background work?" Spike asked. "I can try to trace these cameras." He picked one up examining it closer. Should be fairly easy to break these open, he thought.
"May be what she wants." Sam shrugged, putting his hands up, palms up.
"We can't know what she's thinking until we know who she is." Ed argued.
"Ok." Greg nodded. They were on day three (Wednesday) of their four day rotation. Team Two was on their four day after them. "I'll call Halloren and see if we can switch tomorrow for Monday with Team Two so we can try to figure this out." He had confidence it wouldn't take long for them to figure it out. The events of the day had definitely motivated the team to find this person, and fast. He pulled out his phone and stepped away to make the call. Before he did he turned to them and said, "Tonight we relax."
The six team members looked at each other and exchanged looks of 'yeah right.'
"I have a workout room in the basement." Jules offered. Six nods (the Commander hadn't picked up yet so Greg added his nod to the others. 20 minutes for everyone to change and they were gathered in the mirrored workout room.
"Wow." Sam had been the first to reach a point in the stairs to look at the finished basement and the large open area Jules had set up as her workout room. It was all open except for a door on the far right side that led to the laundry/boiler room. He reached the bottom, walked forward and looked around at the various machines and free weights. A TV was mounted to the wall in front of the treadmill and elliptical directly in front of him. To his right were two weight racks with Dumbbells from 15 to 50 pounds on them and three kettlebells weighing 30, 45 and 60 pounds respectively.
"Nice!" Spike reached the bottom and headed for the free weights followed by Wordy and Lew.
"Elliptical for me." Greg headed to the machine next to the free weights.
"Bowflex." Ed pointed to the machine to the left of the treadmills. It was actually out more toward the middle of the room because there was a sauna in the left corner.
"Treadmill is mine." Jules eyed it with determination. Time to work off some anger. She thought as she stretched. She wanted to run until her legs fell off.
Sam nodded seeing the look in her eye. He put an ear bud in and climbed on the treadmill next to her. He started out at a slow jog to warm up.
Usually Jules only wore one earbud like the others so she could hear the conversations, but this time she wanted to drown in the music. She started out at a moderate pace to warm up. It didn't take long before she was pounding along at a fast clip, the fast beats helping her to keep pace. Her thoughts drifted to the jumper call. 'Ok. I've stopped. I won't come any closer if you don't want me to.' She had tipped her head forward trying to catch the woman's eye. 'We just want to make sure you're ok and you don't look like you're ok.' The woman scoffed.'No. This will make it all go away.' Then not long after she had said: 'Look at that sunset' Jules reached out again 'There are many more for you to see.' The answer, 'Goodbye.' She felt the same stab to her heart when the women stepped over the edge into oblivion. Her eyes started to tear as she pushed her legs as fast as they would go.
Sam heard Jules' breathing and pace quicken. It was faster than she usually went. He looked over and saw the tears forming, her eyes filling. He pulled the emergency stop on his treadmill, stepped off and stood beside her. "Jules." She couldn't hear him.
She reached up and wiped her eyes. Her feet started to get away from her until her treadmill suddenly stopped. She bent over, chest heaving. "Damn her." She fought to keep the tears at bay.
"Jules!" Sam was even more insistent, the emergency stop in his hand. He'd said her name four times.
She pulled her earbuds out and stayed bent over. Sam's voice had finally reached her.
The others had stopped what they were doing and were standing on all sides of her.
"Jules." Greg bent down so he could see her face.
"Good Boss." Jules stood and walked from the room not looking at any of them.
"Sam." Greg looked at him. Without saying a word, Sam knew what the boss wanted. Go make sure she's ok. Sam nodded and went upstairs, while the others returned to their workouts. All of them went hard, working off their own anger and frustration. Wordy sweated especially hard, trying not to think what he would've done if he lost any of his girls, his world.
When Jules opened the door to her room on the third floor 20 minutes later, her hair still wet from her shower, Sam was leaning against the wall next to the door. "Hey." She half-smiled.
"Hey. Can I come in?" He stopped her before she stepped out of the room and pointed to the interior. His blue eyes were filled with concern.
She hesitated for a beat. Sam in my room. That's not a good idea. He just wants to talk. Don't be silly. She took a breath and stepped aside.
Sam crossed the room to the chair at her mirrored desk and sat down. He purposely avoided the bed in the middle of the room, where she sat. "Feel better after your shower?"
Again she paused. "Yeah." She shrugged. She was glad he'd come to check on her.
"She duped you. I get your anger." He looked her in the eye.
"It's not just that." Her voice waivered again. How to explain? She looked at the carpet, afraid he would agree she'd screwed up. "When she went over the edge-" she stopped, and snuck a look at him.
He said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
Jules took a deep breath. "I thought she was gone. I failed and she jumped. I failed, Sam." She looked back down, unable to keep looking in those intense eyes. She was afraid he would agree. If the woman hadn't had a parachute, she would've died and Jules couldn't stop her. Nothing she had said would've stopped her.
"No way. You didn't fail Jules." He shook his head. "She jumped because that was part of her plan. Engage the SRU and make us look like idiots. She was jumping no matter what you said." He could see she was still avoiding eye contact, guilt. He went to her and kneeled in front of her so she had to look him in the eye. "No matter what."
She wanted to believe him. It made sense. It was part of the subject's plan. Part of whatever sick game she was playing. She held his gaze for a moment. She blew out a breath and nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
"Of course I am." He smiled.
She laughed. "Don't let it go to your head." Oh lord, she thought. He'll never get his head out the door if it swelled any more. They already called him Samtastic. She stood and he followed. "Thanks."
"Anytime." He smiled. Ok, so do I hug her? Instead he turned and walked out of the room. "You better figure out the sleeping arrangements. I think they said they were going to arm wrestle for the beds." He tossed over his shoulder.
"Men." She laughed and shook her head. She walked the short space from her door to the stairs in a few steps. The room to her right was going to be the master since it also connected to her large bathroom, but she liked this one. The one to her left was good sized too, but no bathroom.
When they walked down the stairs, they heard the guys cheering and grunting. They walked into the living room to find Ed and Wordy on opposites sides of the coffee table hands clasped, arms locked, biceps bulging. Both of their faces showed the immense strain.
"I've got winner." Sam announced.
Spike and Lew nodded. They were on the couch on either side of Wordy. Greg also nodded. He was sitting in the arm chair between Lew and Ed. Jules sat in the lazy boy on the other side of Ed while Sam stood next to her and Spike.
It took several minutes before Wordy was finally able to get Ed's hand down to the table. There were loud hoots, shouts of surprise and cheering. No one had been able to beat Ed. Ever. Wordy smiled at Ed and shrugged while Lew and Spike patted his back. They did this for several more rounds, but no one was able to beat Wordy tonight.
Wordy looked at Jules and motioned to the table. She smiled at him but shook her head. "Yeah I'm good. We'll just say you're undefeated."
"For tonight." Ed gave him a pointed look which made Wordy smile even broader. I'm not living this one down, thought Ed.
Jules finally said good night around 10 and the others soon followed. Unfortunately Jules didn't have beds in both of her spare rooms. Luckily she had an air mattress and Sam had brought his three he used for camping. Ed and Greg had taken the room with the twin bed and twin air mattress that shared her bathroom. Spike and Lew took the "storage room" as Jules had called it when she embarrassingly went in and moved stuff around so they could fit two air mattresses in it. Spike and Lew had laughed and told her it was ok, it's not often she has six men come take over her house. Or was it? She had given them a quelling look and left the room. Spike laughed at that, was that a yes?
Wordy took the last air mattress and put it in the living room while Sam took the couch.