I accidently posted Chapter 8 twice, so this is the real Chapter 9. Enjoy! :)
Jules had been awake for about half an hour when Sam arrived. She was feeling much better than before. When she had first woken, one of the nurses had bustled over to check on her, and she had been moved from the ICU. There weren't any complications, so she was expected to be discharged in about a week, though she wouldn't be able to work for another month after that.
Pulling up a chair on her left, Sam plunked himself down beside Jules. "I talked to Leah this morning," he grinned.
Jules stared, nonplussed. "Good for you," she said, having no idea how this was important.
"It was very... insightful," he said, his eyes trying to tell her something.
"Was it now?"
Sam rolled his eyes in exasperation. "So you broke up with Ryan after your first date?"
She blushed furiously, finally realizing what he was getting at. She glared at him, daring him to continue. He did.
"She also said you only dated him to make me jealous," he said, unable to keep the gloating note out of his voice.
"She didn't say that," stated Jules. She knew Leah well enough to know that she would have only revealed what was absolutely necessary.
"Well, not exactly," admitted Sam. "But I put two and two together. I can add, you know."
"Could've fooled me," Jules smirked, trying to hide her mounting embarrassment. "So?"
"So, is it true?" Sam asked, his voice annoyingly superior.
"You'll never know," replied Jules loftily. "Is that the only reason you came by? To gloat?"
Sam widened his eyes, indignant. "Of course not!" he exclaimed.
He leaned over and pulled her face close to his, kissing her lips oh so softly. She shut her eyes, savouring every moment. Sam pulled away gently, running a thumb over her cheek gently as he did.
"We have to talk about this," he whispered in her ear.
Jules looked away, her eyes troubled. "I know. What happens when I can work again?"
Leah suggested we talk to the Boss. She said he wants to keep us together if he can. Are you up for it?"
She smiled uneasily, the uncertainty still clear in her eyes. "Whenever you are."
Sam sank back down into his chair, lost in thought. He was still like this a few minutes later when Ed and Wordy entered together, clutching a huge gift basket, several enormous foil balloons filled with helium, and a large stuffed bear, all of which they deposited on the bedside table, a pleased expression on each of their faces.
Sam's jaw dropped. Jules, however, took one look at the assortment, looked back at the new arrivals, and collapsed into hysterics. "I expected something like this from Spike, not you guys!" she giggled.
"Why not?" demanded Wordy proudly. "We have a side that's obsessed with shiny things that float, too."
Sam was eyeing the two men apprehensively, a mixture of shock and fright written on his face. His face combined with Ed and Wordy's satisfied expressions made Jules laugh even harder. She was still laughing when Greg, Leah, and Spike came in.
"Hi guys," Jules greeted them, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Something funny?" asked Greg.
"Hey, I was going to buy those!" Spike exclaimed indignantly, pointing a finger at the assortment of gifts, crestfallen.
"That's what," grinned Jules, looking Greg in the eyes. "They're from Ed and Wordy."
Greg nodded in understanding. "How're you feeling?" he asked, raising his voice to be heard over the mounting noise from Wordy and Spike's argument.
"A lot better, thanks," she smiled happily.
"So, do you like it?" Ed asked eagerly, sounding more like a twelve-year-old girl than a trained sniper.
"I love it," she said seriously while the rest of the team cracked up behind him.
They spent the better part of the morning with Jules, talking about just about everything. Team One told Jules how the call had ended, and Jules in turn told them that she would be back at work in about a month. They went on to discuss Wordy's problems with his girls, they wanted to watch Twilight, but he and Shelley were firmly set against it. Spike mentioned a possible new date, which immediately caught everyone's attention.
It was approaching lunch time, and the team was about to head down to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat. The team was preparing to head down when Jules spoke up.
Swallowing uneasily, she addressed Greg. "Um, Boss? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Leah smiled at her encouragingly before leaving the room. Ed, Spike, and Wordy followed soon after, thinking nothing of Jules' request. Moments later, Greg and Sam were the only two left at her bedside.
"Sam? Can you give us a minute?" Greg asked.
"Actually, Boss, he needs to be here too," Jules bit her lip uneasily. Even with Leah's reassurances, it was going to be tough to break the news to the Sarge.
Greg sank down into a chair on her right. Smiling kindly, he asked, "Alright, what's going on?"
Sam and Jules exchanged uncomfortable glances, each one trying to get the other to start the inevitable.
"Don't make me guess," Greg pushed them gently. "I can guarantee you don't want to hear them."
"Alright –" began Sam.
"I've got it, Sam," interrupted Jules. "Sarge, you know how Sam and I were dating not too long ago?"
He nodded in affirmation. He hoped they were going to say what he thought they would. Things just weren't the same when they were fighting their feelings for each other.
"Well, we're seeing each other again." Sam blurted out.
The two constables watched their Sargeant, waiting impatiently for his response.
"You want to see if there's any way that you guys can stay together and still be a part of the team, am I right?" he finally said, his face revealing nothing.
"Well, yeah," Jules mumbled sheepishly.
Sam watched his Sargeant hopefully. If all else failed, he would be willing to transfer teams, but he was hoping he wouldn't have to.
"I don't have a problem with it," Greg said after a pause. "Neither does the rest of the team, as long as you keep it professional and your work isn't affected. I'll have to talk to the Commander, though. I'm hoping he'll allow it, there have been a few exceptions to that rule in the past."
Sam and Jules' relief was etched clearly on their faces. Glancing at Sam, Jules asked, "Should we be there for that?"
Greg smiled at his constables, much like a father did when he was proud of his children.
"No. I'll ask him about not getting you a replacement, too Jules. We can handle a month with 6."
"Thanks Boss," Sam said, speaking for both of them. Jules seemed to be having a hard time finding her voice.
"No problem. Just out of curiosity, how long had this been going on?" he asked, pointing between them with raised eyebrows.
"Almost... 13 hours," Jules laughed, finally finding her voice.
"Thanks for letting me know right away," Greg smiled. "I'll talk to the Commander first thing tomorrow morning, and I'll let you know. I'm going to go grab a bite now, coming Sam?"
"Sure," answered the constable in question nonchalantly. "See you later Jules!"
"Bye guys," she replied, shutting her eyes to get more rest.
TBC
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