As you can see when you start reading, I gloss over most of the episodes, from my end of "One Wrong Move" (2.10) to "Behind the Blue Line" (2.18.) Issuing a spoiler warning for that block of episodes, just in case.
I know chapter 8 was really depressing, and I'm sorry if I made you cry. Bear with me, my lovelies. Here is chapter 9. I'm dedicating it to AuntMingy, mostly because I feel bad for making her cry in chapter 8, lol. Also, thanks to my lovely beta reader, CytheraofNaxen, for her help!
Chapter 9
It had been one week since Lou's tragic death. Spike was the furthest distance possible from his usual self. He hadn't cracked a joke in ages. He no longer tuned up his beloved robot, Babycakes, or used her to play pranks or entertain the team. The man who was constantly happy and optimistic, who was always willing to help others, and whom was deeply touched by his job had taken a drastic downturn. He had fallen quieter and quieter by the day. He stared numbly into space, his fingers drumming a constant meaningless beat against the briefing room table. When they got hot calls, he retreated into auto-pilot mode, if only to protect himself from an emotional breakdown, until the day was over and he could go home and be alone.
Even at home, Spike was not doing well. He barely ate, his sleep was disrupted by constant nightmares, and he was shutting everyone out, especially Adele. Spike felt like he was a bystander in his own life, seeing the world pass by from an objective point of view, rather than having to bear the painful subjective.
Spike had never been one to discriminate against team members based on gender. Jules was like his little sister, a small but no-nonsense, tough-as-nails, independent woman who had worked her ass off to get to the top within a team of all men, and continue working hard to stay there. She was very protective of her job. And Spike had, after all, taken to Donna Sabine faster than most of the team, all of whom, himself included, were convinced that Jules would not be absent long from the team, after being shot. His closest connection with Donna so far was their humorous trade-off of him "wanting to hear her undercover skank voice someday."
Spike ignored Leah Kerns as much as he could. He had acknowledged her unwelcome presence in the room with a stiff nod of his head, nothing more.
If he ignored her, it was almost like Lou wasn't dead. Spike felt like he had been robbed of his twin brother. Every time the memory crossed his mind, his heart clenched in pain and he found it hard to breathe. It was so unfair, that they had to pretend like it hadn't happened, and just go on.
And what was a former firefighter doing joining the SRU, anyway?
Leah assured them that, if they wanted to talk to her, they could.
No one missed the tears sparkling in Jules' eyes when she responded simply, poignantly, "We're good."
Later, on the hot call, when Leah called the sergeant "Greg," Spike couldn't help himself; he snapped at her that they called him "Boss." Everyone was annoyed that she tried to suggest to Ed what she could do, rather than what he had commanded; you didn't argue with the Team Leader.
Spike was further annoyed when he had no choice but to sit in the truck with a dim witness, punching buttons as she continued to fail to identify the color and make of the missing vehicle in question. Time was short and so was his temper.
He pretended it was nothing unusual when Greg patted him encouragingly on the back.
Spike's expression was unreadable, as he listened over the headset to Jules talking to disillusioned Dale Murray, trying to convince him into letting Zoe Granger go. Through her passionate, personal words, Spike could hear the tears she was fighting to hold back.
At the end of that day, in the briefing room, Leah produced a black box.
"It's not much, but it helps," said Leah, as she set it on the table. Inside it were bracelets, with "In Memory of L. Young, 1902", engraved on them.
As much as they tried to, the team couldn't hate her for this kind gesture, not even Spike. So it was a good sign when he was the first to grab a bracelet and put it on.
For four weeks running now, Spike had shut himself off from the world. While she knew he was grieving and suffering and this was his way of dealing with it, she wouldn't take his completely shutting her out lying down. She'd stopped by the Scarlatti residence, but Mrs. Scarlatti had told her every time, as kindly as she could, that he wasn't ready to see her. Outwardly, she was furious, because she knew she hadn't done anything wrong and that his current behavior wasn't her fault. But inwardly, she was at a loss as to what to do.
On Saturday, November 14, Adele called Spike and left him what was probably her fourth message that last week. As she expected, it went straight to voicemail.
"Hey, you've reached me. Leave a message."
Adele paused for a long moment. She didn't really know what more to say to him, since leaving voicemails clearly wasn't working.
"Babe, it's me... I can't help you if you won't let me in. Please don't keep shutting me out like this. Call me... I love you."
Adele hung up and proceeded to call Jules.
"Hey Jules, is there any chance you could come over for a while?" she asked. "I need some company and some advice."
A short while later, Jules arrived, with a few movies, various caffeinated drinks, and a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream for each of them, for some girl talk.
"One chocolate chip cookie dough pint and a Mountain Dew for Miss Adele Black," said Jules, handing the ice cream and a 24-ounce bottle of Mountain to Adele, "and a strawberry cheesecake for me." She smiled.
"Thanks, Jules," Adele said, smiling halfheartedly and opening the pint.
Jules looked at her and took her first bite of ice cream. "Alright," she said, in a "go ahead" tone of voice.
"He's shut me out, Jules," Adele said, in between bites of cookie dough ice cream, as "Transporter 2" played on the TV in the background, serving mostly as white noise. "He won't talk to me. He won't see me right now. He's hurting so bad right now. He's depressed, he's angry. He just lost his best friend and who knows who he's gonna lose next. What do I do?"
"All you can do is keep trying," said Jules. "He knows it's not you he's mad at. You haven't done anything wrong. You didn't cause Lou's death. We're all taking it really hard and having to deal with it in different ways. He, in particular, is talking with our SRU psychiatrist, Dr. Luria. She came on specifically to help us, especially him, deal with this; she's not even attached to our team anymore. It will just take time. He'll come around. He knows you're here. Some things, you just have to be ready to talk about. He'll come back when he's ready."
Adele nodded, although she still felt troubled, as she took another bite of cookie dough.
The following Friday, November 20, the team found themselves at a hockey rink, negotiating with a former soldier who was trying to prevent the rink from demolition, as it held many emotional memories for him and many others. Darren Kovacs was suffering from survivors' guilt, after his three friends had been killed in Afghanistan. Sam, a former soldier himself, tried to talk Darren down when Darren took Spike hostage. But Ed had ended up taking the Sierra shot and Darren was dead. Sam had taken Darren's death hard; he felt betrayed by his team for shooting Darren, when he had been so convinced he could talk Darren down, soldier to soldier, and end the conflict peacefully, with them all going home safe.
The moment Adele had seen the report of the hostage incident on the five o'clock news, she pulled on a jacket and shoes, grabbed her car keys, and raced to SRU Headquarters.
The team was just leaving the building when she arrived. She parked her car, got out, and ran over to them.
"Spike!"
Hearing Adele's voice, Spike looked up and his eyebrows rose with surprise when he saw her running toward him. In the next few seconds, he had dropped his bag and his car keys, and she had run into his arms and crashed her lips against his.
"Are you OK?" she asked, tears running down her face as she gently framed his face with her hands. "I saw what happened on the news."
Spike nodded, his eyes weary and exhausted, his energy and adrenaline from the day's work spent.
"I'm OK," he said. "Adele, we... we need to talk."
Adele took his hand and Spike took off his earpiece, then they walked out of earshot of the team.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I need to tell you something. I don't know how to say this, but... Anyone who gets close to me... my dad, Lou... they either get hurt, physically or emotionally, or killed. I don't want that for you," he said, looking straight at her.
Adele shook her head in disbelief. "Spike..." she said. "Are you saying you don't want us to be together anymore?"
Spike looked away from her. "I don't know."
"Spike," said Adele, tears brimming in her eyes, "when lives are taken, we mourn and we miss them. But we need to remember those we love without forgetting those that are still with us." She gently took his face in her hands. "I love you, Spike, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you go that easily."
Spike nodded, listening.
"Do you really think I'd still be here if that's what I was afraid of?" Adele asked him seriously.
Spike shook his head and gently wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. Adele leaned up and kissed him again.
Their faces touching, their eyes closed, Spike said, "I love you, too, Adele. I-I'm so sorry..."
"Shh, I know," said Adele. "You were grieving. You needed space. I understand. But I need you to come back to me now."
"Promise me you won't let me be such an idiot ever again?" Spike asked her.
Adele smiled and hugged him. "Copy that," she said, holding him close, as they went back over to join the team.
Winter dawned bright, clear, crisp and cold on Toronto. It rained through November and December. On a rare day when it snowed, Spike convinced Adele and the team to go outside and have a snowball fight, including Clark, Allie, Lilly, and Claire Wordsworth in the battle.
Meanwhile, Adele had cleaned out a drawer for Spike at her apartment, so he could stay over more often. They had also decided to fly down to New York City for the weekend. Their flight left on the morning of the 23rd and returned to Toronto late in the evening on January first.
On Wednesday, December 23rd, Spike and Adele woke up early to catch their flight out of Toronto. They arrived to the airport by 7am, checked their luggage and carry-on bags, and landed at LaGuardia Airport at 8:40am. To avoid taking a taxi and racking up expensive taxi fares, they took a shuttle bus from the airport to their hotel, which was right in the center of Times Square.
"Well, babe," Spike said, flopping down onto their queen bed with Adele and kissing her, "we have the whole day to ourselves, what do you want to do?"
"Well, we're right in Times Square," Adele suggested, flopping down next to him, lying on his chest and kissing him, "so why don't we just have a little breakfast, then look around and see what we see?"
"Copy that," Spike agreed, smiling.
They walked from their hotel to Fifth Avenue. Adele shopped a little at SAKS, Macy's, and Bloomingdales. Once she was done shopping, they walked down to Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
"It's so beautiful," Adele said, looking around at the vaulting curved ceilings.
"Yeah, it is," Spike agreed, looking down at her. "Wouldn't you like to get married here?"
"Spike, I'm not Catholic," Adele told him, confused.
"So?"
"Even if I was Catholic, it'd be so— wait a minute, what?" Adele asked, turning sharply to face him. "What are you talking about?"
"Hypothetically," Spike added, a little too quickly.
"Oh," Adele said, sounding unconvinced, "uh huh... Hypothetically, I'd love to, if I was Catholic."
Spike nodded and they didn't pursue the matter any further.
That night, as they walked back to their hotel, Adele said, "Hey, tomorrow's Christmas... our first Christmas together."
Spike smiled and leaned down and kissed her.
"It will be a Christmas you will never forget," he assured her.
Adele smiled as she kissed him again. "I can't wait."
The following afternoon, Christmas Eve, as it was starting to get dark, Spike and Adele took a long horse-drawn carriage tour around Central Park. The ride lasted about an hour and Adele was pleased when the driver allowed her to pet the draft horse afterward.
He wrapped his arms around her, looked into her eyes, and asked, "Well, babe, are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" Adele asked.
"You'll see. Come on."
Spike took Adele's hand and led her over to underneath a cherry blossom tree. Adele narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him.
"Spike, what—" she began, but she didn't get a chance to finish her sentence.
Spike had produced a small box from his pocket and gotten down on one knee, on the snowy ground.
Adele's hands flew to her mouth in shock. Then he said the four magic words.
"Adele Karis Black, I want to tell you how much I love you. And I want to make it permanent. Will you marry me?"
Adele was floored. "Are you sure? Are—are you really sure? I mean, it's only been six months and we don't have a house yet and..." she stammered, rambling.
"Well, you know I don't ask a question I don't already know the answer to," Spike said, looking up at her. "So... at the risk of being rejected twice, I'm going to ask again. Adele Karis Black, will you marry me?"
"Um, OK," Adele said nervously.
"Yeah?" Spike asked, grinning.
Adele grinned. "Yes," she said, laughing happily, "yes!"
Spike was beaming as he stood up, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her tenderly.
Their faces touching, eyes closed, Spike murmured, "I'm sorry to be a killjoy, but I don't have a ring right now. I was hoping, you know, to go ring shopping with the guys. And I didn't want them to know about the engagement before you did. I hope that's acceptable."
"Of course it is," Adele said quietly, kissing him gently.
"I promise, with their help, you will have the best ring ever," Spike said.
Adele smiled. "I don't doubt that, Spike," she said, tears of happiness streaming down her pretty face.
Spike gently wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb, then traced his thumb down to her chin, before tilting her face up and meeting her lips in another kiss and wrapping his arms around her in a loving hug.
On Christmas Morning, Spike and Adele woke up in each other's arms. This morning felt extra-special. Not only was it their first Christmas together, but they were preparing to spend the rest of their lives together.
"Spike, I want to ask you something," said Adele, as they lay in bed together.
"What, babe?" Spike asked.
"Our first day here," Adele said, looking at him curiously, "when you made that remark about 'hypothetically' getting married at Saint Patrick's Cathedral... You've had last night planned out this whole time, haven't you?"
Spike grinned. "Sort of," he said. "I hadn't planned on it going so perfectly, but it did."
"Yes, it did," Adele agreed. "We really should call our folks, but I do not want to move."
"Mm, copy that," Spike murmured, kissing her neck. "I could stay here forever."
"Me too, Spike," Adele said, snuggling closer to his warm frame. "Adele Karis Scarlatti. It has a really nice ring to it."
"That is does, babe."
Eventually, they called their families to wish them Merry Christmas and tell them the exciting news. Michelina and Stella, of course, were thrilled beyond words. Everyone else was happy for the new couple, too. Adele particularly enjoyed Kate's thrilled reaction to hearing her sister was getting married and going to have a wedding.
Once the calling around was finished and they had had a good breakfast, Spike and Adele spent the special day playing in the city, doing various Christmas things, particularly ice-skating and gazing at the enormous Christmas tree at the Rockfeller Center. They ended the beautiful day by seeing the laser light show production in Central Park, right under the cherry blossom tree where they had got engaged.
December 30 was personally Spike's favorite day, as in addition to seeing the Statue of Liberty via the Circle Line Harbour Cruise and watching a documentary narrated by Robert Redford at the Hayden Planetarium, they also looked around the New York City Police Museum.
Adele fully enjoyed this as well, because in addition to teaching them about history, they got to try a simulation of a firefight. Adele also got to look at a gun used by Al Capone's gang in 1928 and the first machine gun used in a gangland killing in New York.
New Year's Eve Day was spent shopping for an evening gown for Adele and a tuxedo for Spike, because they purchased tickets to attend the New Year's Eve Gala with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. The gala went from 8pm to 10pm. Adele wore a beautiful dark grey Taffeta evening gown with soft lace cap sleeves. Fireworks at Central Park followed, from 10pm until 11pm.
Then it was time to head back to Times Square, to await the infamous ball drop.
Spike felt a surge of excitement run through him, as the clock ticked down to thirty minutes left until 2010 arrived. The energy in Times Square was contagious. The noise of the chattering crowd, combined with the amazing acts, was enough to make anyone jittery.
At the same time, however, Spike was perfectly content to be where he was. His eyes closed and he let out a happy sigh, as he rested his chin gently on the top of Adele's head, holding her close in front of him.
Spike was brought out of his reverie as a sudden commotion flared up in the huge gathering of people, as the final minute closed in on them. Adele turned around and looked up at Spike, then laid her head on his chest as they watched the clock on the LED screen tick down.
The crowd counted down. 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...
Spike pulled Adele close to him and kissed her, as the screen shone 2010! All around them, oblivious to them, the crowd cheered and clapped, happily ringing in the New Year. As they looked into each other's eyes, they were the only two people on Earth.
On New Year's Day, Spike and Adele slept in late, until about 11am. Their flight was not due to leave until 4:30pm and they didn't have to check out of the hotel until 3pm. They had had a great time and were anxious to get home and start planning their new life together, as soon-to-be husband and wife.
You might find this amusing: chapter 10 is only outlined, but chapter 11, for the most part, is finished, haha. I do, anyway...
Please review! Thanks. Goodnight, all!
