A/N: This chapter references, very briefly, the events of 'No Promise', but is not centered around it like previous chapters were. That episode was really very Spike-centered, and there wasn't a whole lot I felt I could do with it in terms of Jules' story other than have the events be there in the background. Please enjoy!

Ed knew something was up the moment he saw her leaning against her Jeep in the parking lot when he pulled up just before six in the morning. It had been more than a week since the shooting at the restaurant and he knew there was only so much vacation time that she'd be allowed to take, so it wasn't the fact that she was there that bothered him. There was something about the look on her face as she stared up at headquarters, though, that sent red flags up in his mind the minute he saw her.

"You're here awfully early," he observed, walking up beside her and leaning against the Jeep in a position that mimicked hers.

Jules jumped slightly at the unexpected sound, relaxing when she realized it was Ed. "I suppose I am," she agreed, glancing down at her watch. "I guess I couldn't sleep."

"How's Steve doing?"

"Great. He's doing great," Jules said, nervously adjusting the folder she was clutching in her hands. "They're talking about releasing him in the next few days."

"I'm sure he's looking forward to getting home."

"Well, uh, he's not exactly going home when he gets out," Jules said. "His place is a fourth floor walk-up, not exactly what the doctor might recommend for healing a five inch surgical incision in the abdomen."

"I suppose not," Ed agreed. "So where's he going?"

"He's, uh, he'll be moving in with me for a few weeks," Jules admitted. "Just temporarily, of course. Until he gets back on his feet."

"That's very generous of you."

Jules shrugged. "I couldn't very well risk him ripping his stitches out every time he needs groceries," she said. "I'm going to need him healed and healthy soon enough. After all, he is the father of my baby."

Ed looked over at her in surprise. "I take it that means you made your decision?"

Jules nodded and handed him the folder. "I'm meeting with Sarge before shift to get his signature on those."

Ed sighed as he looked down at the paperwork in his hands. "You're having the baby?"

Jules nodded. "I'm having the baby," she repeated, sounding almost as if she still didn't quite comprehend the situation. "I don't know if I'm cut out to be a mother, Ed, but I do know that Steve will be a great father. So at least maybe one of us won't screw up the kid."

"Don't sell yourself short, Jules," Ed said. "You're going to be a great mother. I wish it didn't mean that we had to lose you, but…"

"Hey, don't think you're getting rid of me that easily, Ed Lane," Jules cautioned. "I don't like that I have to leave Team One, and I sure as hell don't like that I'm going to have to start from square one when I'm ready to come back, but I don't care if I have to take on the entire Metro PD, you mark my words, I will be an SRU officer again."

"This is a joke, right?"

Greg Parker set the stack of forms down on the table in the briefing room and stared at the woman sitting across from him. She'd been off work for nearly a week, so when he saw her walk into headquarters that morning, he'd assumed she was there to return to work a day early. He prided himself on his ability to read his team, but in this case, he felt completely blindsided by her real reason for needing to see him.

"Do I look like I find this funny?" Jules asked. "Trust me, I'd rather not be doing this, Boss, but I don't have a choice in the matter."

"Jules, a request for a transfer is a serious thing," Greg said. "You can't just undo this at the drop of a hat. You worked so hard to get back onto the team after you got shot, and now you're just going to walk away?"

Jules sighed, knowing he hadn't seen more than Departmental Transfer Request heading before reacting. "I don't want to do this, Sarge, but I have to," she said. "Top of page two, second question."

Greg frowned and picked up the page. "Reason for request," he read aloud, his frown deepening as he saw the reason she had checked. "Medical? Jules, are you sick?"

Jules shook her head. "Not sick. Pregnant."

"Pregnant? Now you're really joking, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't joke about something like this, Boss."

"And you want to transfer out of the SRU because you're worried about its effect on the baby?"

Jules sighed. It seemed she was the only one in SRU who'd ever bothered reading the department's policies on pregnant employees. "Sarge, department policy says I can work all the way up to the end of my pregnancy, but I can't be in the field after my first trimester. The SRU doesn't have any non-field positions, and I'm already thirteen weeks, so I'm pretty much out of time here."

Greg nodded. "I suppose that makes sense," he conceded reluctantly. "Although I hate to lose you, Jules. No temporary replacement is quite going to be quite up to your level."

"Boss, that isn't a temporary transfer request," Jules said. "Temporary transfers are only good for up to six months."

"So?"

Jules rolled her eyes. "So a pregnancy lasts nine months, Boss. Six months from now is right about when I'll be giving birth. It's going to be at least another three months, maybe closer to four or five, after that before I'm physically capable of passing my qualification checks for the SRU again. The department won't put you in the position of having a temporary team member for a full year."

"Jules, if I have to make a permanent hire, I can't guarantee you a spot on Team One when you come back. I can't even guarantee if or when there'll be a spot on any SRU team," Greg said. "Ever since they cut our teams down from seven to six, getting into the SRU has been tougher than ever. We've got people who've been on the qualified waiting list for well over a year and most of them will probably never see the inside of this building. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I don't like it, but I don't have much choice in the matter, Sarge. You know that I worked my ass off to get, and to keep, this job. It's been my life for the past five years, and I've loved every minute of it. Do I think that it's fair that I should have to choose between keeping my spot in the SRU and having a child? No, of course it's not fair. But I get the logic behind it, I do. And after the baby's born, I have every intention of working harder than I've ever worked to make sure that I come back to the SRU, wherever and whenever there's an open position. I don't care how long it takes or how hard it is, I will be an SRU team member again."

"I have no doubt of that," Greg assured her. "I just want to be certain you're aware of the consequences if I put this request through."

"Unless you have an alternative, the way I read the rules is that my choice is the SRU or this baby," Jules said. "For the time being, until I get the chance to fight my way back here, I pick the baby."

Greg nodded. "Alright, well, I'll make a few calls this afternoon and see where I can find an opening for you to transfer."

Jules smiled as she stood up and accepted the hug that Greg offered. "Just so you know," she whispered in his ear as she put her arms around him. "If you stick me in some God damn paper-pushing hell hole like Financial Crimes, I will hunt you down and kick your ass, pregnant or not."

Twelve hours later, Jules found herself hovering hesitantly at the back of the mens' locker room, watching as her teammates each made their way one by one past Spike to offer their own version of condolences. She'd been cleaning out her locker when she walked past the dispatch station and heard the hot call come in to Winnie. It had broken her heart to stand there helplessly as her team fought, ultimately in vain, to track down and save Oliver MacCoy. Losing a fellow officer was never easy, but she'd heard enough on her end of the call to know that Sergeant MacCoy had been far more than just a training officer to Spike.

As she walked across the room toward Spike, she could feel Sam's eyes on her from the door, but she forced herself to ignore his stare. She'd called him at least half a dozen times since the night he'd walked out of the hospital, but he hadn't picked up or returned any of her calls. One full week and she hadn't heard a word from him. Even now, she didn't know if he was watching her because he was concerned or because he was surprised to see her. She didn't even know if Greg had told the team she was leaving yet.

"Thought you were off today," Spike commented as she approached him.

"You know me, I can't stay away from you, Scarlatti," she teased gently, not surprised when he didn't respond in kind like he normally would. "I had some paperwork to take care of, needed Sarge's signature on a few things."

Spike nodded silently.

"You know I'm here if you need anything, right?" Jules asked, placing her hand on his forearm.

"Yeah, I know," Spike said. "I just…I think I need some time alone right now, Jules."

"Of course," Jules agreed. "But even if I'm not around…don't forget you can always call me, no matter where I am. Okay?"

Spike nodded. "What do you mean, even if you're not around?"

Jules sighed. Obviously, the news of her transfer hadn't yet been made public knowledge. "I'm leaving the SRU, Spike," she admitted. "I don't know where I'm going yet, but Sarge is going to find me an opening somewhere."

Spike frowned. "You're leaving us? Why would you want to do that?"

"I don't want to, but I have to. I'm pregnant, Spike." Jules almost laughed at the shocked look on his face. "Don't worry, Scarlatti, it's not yours."

"Yeah, I, uh…wow," Spike muttered. "A baby?"

"So they tell me," Jules agreed. "I'll have to requalify after the baby's born, so for now, it's a transfer to a less directly-in-the-field role for me."

"We'll miss you," Spike said.

"I'll miss you too, Spike," she said. "But you know you're not getting rid of me that easily, Scarlatti. I'll still be around."

"I'll hold you to that."

Jules smiled sadly as she rose onto her toes and wrapped her arms around him. "I expect you to do that," she said, kissing his cheek before dropping back onto her heels. "Remember, any time, I'm just a phone call away."