The SRU was packed with people - every team who wasn't already out on a call had been called in. Sam and Jules exchanged 'oh shit' glances and knew their awkward conversation was going to have to wait. Sergeant Parker waved them both over. "Suit up guys - we're briefing on the fly today." That was all he needed to say and they were off to their locker rooms to get dressed, and less than 5 minutes later their trucks were pulling out of HQ.

"Alright Team One here's what we've got," Winnie's voice echoed over their radios. "Anonymous caller reporting 6 bombs in high traffic areas around the city. Mostly tourist attractions but also city hall. That's where you guys are going."

Something sunk in Jules' stomach. Last time they had a call at City Hall she… well, it wasn't a stellar day to say the least. She glanced at Ed, who gave her a knowing look before Winnie continued on.

"Building security has reported 3 suspicious packages on the main level."

The Boss took over now. "Alright so priorities - Spike, I want you on those packages - we need to know what, if anything we're dealing with."

Raf looked confused, "If anything?"

"We haven't been able to confirm anything yet. This could still be a false alarm."

Ed took over. "We also need to clear the building of any other potential bombs. Raf and Sam you're Bravo - take the west side of the building, Jules you're with me, we'll take east."

"I'll run intel from the ground, mobile command centre is already on it's way," Sarge added in.

Jules rushed into the command truck to join Sarge and Spike, Ed following close behind her. She was trying to remember how things had gotten to this point. She knew she and Ed found nothing on their sweep, and that Sam and Raf had reported the same and said they were on their way out. Then everything got all turned around and there was a thud on the speaker in her ear and they had lost contact with Raf and Sam.

"What the hell just happened?" Ed demanded.

"Not a clue. Comms are still active, but no one has been responding," Spike reported, without taking his eyes off the monitors he was busy scanning for some indication of what was going on. "I'm going to get into the building's security system - cameras don't record sound but I'm told theres also an intercom system that looks fairly easy to tap into." He knew no one cared, all they wanted was to know what to do next. "Audio is up, give me another 30 seconds and I'll have visual for you too."

The four stood in silence as they tried to determine what was going on from the sound coming out of the speakers. "Pacing," Jules said, almost for her own benefit. In her experience pacing wasn't an overly good sign. It meant someone was stuck; hesitant; frustrated that things hadn't gone their way. Then they heard a familiar voice:

"Look, I'm not sure what's going on here but I'm sure we can find a way…"

"SILENCE!" a man's voice demanded and the pacing stopped.

"Thats Sam," Ed pointed out, blatantly stating the obvious.

"Video is up," Spike announced, directing his teammates' attention to the monitors in front of him. The could see Sam, disarmed and cornered, staring down the business end of a handgun, held by a man not much older than himself. Then there was Raf, unconscious just feet away from Sam. He looked like he had taken a decent blow to the head, but they couldn't be sure. "That's not good."

Turning their attention one at a time to the man holding the gun they realized they may have bigger problems - he was sitting on a bomb, the detonator in his quivering hand.

Jules turned to Parker, looking for direction. "Boss? What's the plan here?"

He took a deep breath. "We let Sam try to talk him down, though that may be a challenge considering we can't get any intel to him." He pointed at the ear piece dangling from Sam's vest.

Spike nodded, "That would explain the lack of response. He can't exactly pop it back on with a gun pointed at him."

Parker continued. "Ok so we give Sam a chance but if he doesn't get some kind of response soon…Spike that phone on the wall there - "

"Yeah no problem I can dial you in."

"Ok I'll dial in if need be, Spike get a picture of this guy to Winnie so she can work on an ID, then I want you assessing that bomb in whatever way you can from here. Ed, Sierra One, Jules…Sierra two. Its a corner office, looks to have windows on two sides, each take one."

Ed and Jules nodded and exited the truck to retrieve their gear from the SUVs. Ed hesitated, having realized some time ago that Sam and Jules were back together. "Jules, you good?"

"I'm fine Ed, I can do my job."

That was all he needed, and they exchanged notes on which buildings they were planning on entering to set up their shot.

Negotiation continued inside.

"Can you tell me why we're here?"

"What?"

"Well most people don't just put together a bomb and walk into city hall with it. Something must have happened, but what?"

"Thats none of your concern!"

"OK, Do you mind if I just check on my friend here?"

Spike and Parker watched as Sam attempted to lean down to see if Raf was alright, but the subject was less than accommodating.

"He's fine! …For now."

"Are you waiting for something before you press that button? You've been checking the clock, are we waiting for a specific time?"

"Shut it!"

This negotiation was going nowhere, and they all knew it. Sam figured his team was listening by then so he decided it might be time to push more for information than resolution. At the very least he might be able to let Spike know that what he was looking at was a large yet basic bomb, likely made in this guy's mom's basement. "So what, you found a diagram in a grade nine science textbook of a basic circuit and decided to alter it slightly to make a bomb? That's not very original…"

"And?"

"I'm just saying, this clearly isn't a showcasing of your bomb making skills, so it must be more about the location, or the date." Or about a million other things, Sam thought to himself.

Spike turned to his boss, "What's he doing? Is he trying to piss this guy off?"

Parker took a moment before answering, looking perplexed, then calm came over his face. "He's feeding us information. Check out the ID badge on the subject's belt. What's it for?"

Spike zoomed, enhanced. "High school about a block from here," then, before anyone could prod him to look for more he added, "Our guy matches a personnel record, night janitor, Bill Gray."

"Winnie get me what you can on this guy. Spike what's your read on the bomb?"

The subject had resumed pacing, making it easier for Spike to catch glimpses revealing more and more of the construction of the bomb. "Its fat and dumb. There's only room for one trigger, the remote detonator he has in his hand, assuming thats taken care of it should be relatively simple to disarm."

"If detonated?"

"Stands to run through most of that floor, mostly superficial damage to the building, couldn't take out an major structural elements. People on that floor though…"

"Sierra one, status?"

Ed shook his head a little. "I've got the solution provided our friend here doesn't decide he needs to pace too close to the east window - blinds are in my way then."

"Sierra two?"

Jules peered through the scope. "I've got the solution."

Parker paused, worried he might be running into some rough ground. Sam was the hostage, Jules a sierra shot. The potential here… "ok…Jules you sit tight. Should he move out of Ed's range you'll take over as Sierra one. Ed, hold for my scorpio, I'm dialling in."