Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed. I always wait with bated breath after I post a new chapter to see what people think. I eagerly read and appreciate each and every review that I get. To quote a line in one of Toby Keith's songs, "the fits going to hit the shan" in this chapter, or at least it'll start. Hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: The show Flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and its respective networks. I am making no money off this story and it is for entertainment purposes only. However, this particular story is my creation and should not be used without my express written permission.

Growing Up Too Fast

Chapter 10

"Jules? Come on, Sweetheart. I hate to wake you up but we're going to be late if we don't get moving soon." Sam had put this off for as long as he possibly could. He'd turned off the alarm twenty minutes earlier, just seconds before it's blaring claxon could shatter the quiet of the early morning. His rationale had been that he could slip out of bed and get his shower while Jules enjoyed a little more sleep. But he hadn't been able to pull himself away from her and had instead continued to lie there staring at her. She looked so peaceful lying in his arms, more relaxed and rested than he'd seen her look since her father had shown up at the barn to tell her about Dawson's impending release.

The night hadn't been completely without its moments. He'd lost count of the number of times he'd jolted awake to feel her body stiffen and soft moans of fear and pain emit from her tightly clenched jaw. Each time, he'd pulled her protectively closer, almost wrapping his body completely around hers and whispering soft reassurances in her ear. It seemed to do the trick each time; after about ten minutes her body would once more relax and her breathing would even out again without her either waking up or screaming out in fear.

It hadn't been much of a restful night for him but it didn't matter. A night of wasted sleep was a small price to pay to ensure that Jules finally got the rest that she needed. In fact, he hated waking her up now; would have been content to leave her sleeping in bed and making a call to Sarge putting in for a day off for her. But he knew that would meet with questions from their boss that he was pretty sure Jules didn't want asked and with resistance and ire from Jules herself.

Jules burrowed deeper into Sam's arms and mumbled sleepily, "Not time yet. Alarm hasn't gone off."

Sam grinned. "Sorry Babe, I turned if off earlier. Wanted to let you sleep a little longer."

Jules bolted up and peered over his shoulder at the clock on the nightstand. She swore softly. "Sam, we're going to be late. We both have to get showers and get dressed. We won't have time to stop and get coffee and…"

Sam pulled her back down and kissed her into silence. At first she stayed stiff but then relaxed in his arms. After a couple of minutes, he pulled back. "How do you feel?"

She opened her mouth to give her standard "okay" but then stopped. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I slept all night long didn't I? I know I had some dreams but I didn't wake up."

She looked so amazed and relieved that Sam kissed her again. "I promised you I wouldn't let you fall."

Her eyes were a little watery but from happy tears. For twenty years she'd dreaded and feared the nightmares that plagued her dreams at certain times of the year - her mother's birthday, the anniversary of her mother's death, the night after the arrival of a letter she would destroy rather than open - to the point she wouldn't even try to sleep so they couldn't hurt her. Yet, without asking her to divulge the worst that her dreams had to offer, Sam had kept her grounded and protected. She'd known she loved him for awhile now but until this moment she hadn't realized just how much she needed him. Needed him without it making her feel weak and incapable. It was a feeling she didn't want to end. "I love you."

Showers were forgotten. Who would know or complain if they didn't take one that morning? After all, the night before Sam had run a hot bath and filled it with the lavender bubble bath Jules kept stashed under a cabinet for special indulgences. They soaked in the tub until the bubbles all dissipated and the water had grown cold. Sam had hoped the scent of the lavender would help relax Jules enough to fall asleep. It had worked its magic the night before and could now serve to buy them just a little more time this morning to, if not fully express their love to one another, at least allow them to satisfy a little of the desire they felt toward each other.

Their displays of affection didn't go beyond kisses but their expressions of love were deep and sensual and full of promises that would have to keep until later when they were both off work. Finally, Sam pulled back, breathing hard. "Sweetheart, if we don't stop now, there's no way we're going to make it to work anywhere near anything but way late.

Jules nodded, her lips kiss-swollen and her cheeks rosy. Sam started to slide out of the bed but Jules reached out and snagged his arm, forcing him to look back at her. "Sam…" The thanks she wants to give him dies on her lips. Admitting weakness was almost impossible for her; accepting help for those perceived weaknesses even more so.

Sam watched her for a moment and then as if sensing what was going on in her head nodded his understanding of her unspoken gratitude. He knew her well enough to know the inner struggle she was battling. He didn't need her to say the words to know what was in her heart.

They dressed quickly and rushed down the stairs; the hope was that they'd at least be able to run through the drive-thru at Timmy's on the way to work without being late. At the base of the stairs, Jules paused as she saw the blinking light of the answering machine. "Sam? How could we have 38 messages on the machine? I never heard the phone ring."

Sam frowned. He hadn't mentioned the prank calls to her the night before. During supper, he'd answered two more just to be hung up on. While getting her bath ready there had been three more. So, while she was in the bathroom undressing for her soaking lavender bubble bath, he'd turned off the ringer on the upstairs phone and alerted dispatch to call his cell phone in case of a call out. Before he could answer her question, she hit the play button. It only took her listening to four hang-ups before she reached for the phone to check the Caller ID.

"It's all the same blocked number." She paled as she replaced the receiver. She looked back at Sam. "You don't think it could be…"

He wrapped his arms around her. "Probably not. You're the one who's been saying he'd be crazy to contact you and risk his probation. It's probably some kid that got this number by accident and decided to see how aggravating he could be. But if it'll make you feel better, I can get Spike to do his computer magic on the phone company and see if he can trace the calls to the actual number."

Jules shook her head. She didn't doubt that Spike could probably get the information in no time at all but he'd want to know exactly why they wanted it. That would mean telling him what was going on and she didn't want anyone else on the team to know about the situation. "Nah, like you said it's probably nothing. Besides, how could Johnny have gotten my number in the first place? It's unlisted. If we ignore it, whoever's doing it will get bored and move on. Come on, we'd better get to work."

- FP -

For the first time in a really long time, Michaelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti was really enjoying his life. His father's illness and subsequent death had been hard and occasionally he still had his moments of almost overwhelming sadness. His mother returning to Italy had also been a hard loss to take but as much as he missed her, it felt good to finally be the adult and take care of his own needs. It wasn't who was missing from his life that had him smiling a lot more lately but by who was there.

"It's no good." Spike whispered in the blonde's ear as he slipped up behind her in the small bathroom. Even though his reflection had been visible in the mirror for the last five minutes, she'd been too caught up in her morning rituals of fixing her hair and make-up to notice him. He planted a quick kiss at the nape of her neck before finishing his statement, "You can't top perfection."

Natalie Braddock smiled as she turned into his embrace and kissed him softly. "You're sweet; bias and blind but sweet. This is an important interview for me. I want this job more than I've wanted anything in a long time… except you."

He smiled broadly. "Good save. Nat, they'd have to be stupid not to hire you. You look perfect and you would be perfect for this job. If they don't agree, have them call me and I'll tell them that myself."

He'd thought his relationship with the sister of his co-worker had been a thing of the past. He valued his friendship and working relationship with Sam too much to risk it by dating his friend's little sister. Though breaking off the relationship hadn't been what either of them had wanted, they had both agreed it was better to keep the peace and end things as friends than to risk everything turning ugly later. He probably wouldn't have given a relationship with the beautiful blonde another thought had Sam not asked him to have a drink with him about a month after Jules had been injured in the anthrax lab.

Sam played with his drink, unsure of how to begin the conversation. Finally he downed his beer in one long swallow and set the glass down. He turned to his co-worker. "My sister has always had lousy taste in guys. Sometimes I think she goes out of her way to pick guys that are the complete opposite of both the General and me. They never end well."

Spike had been on the verge of reassuring his friend once again that things were over between him and Natalie. He would even apologize again for keeping it all a secret; even though it seemed a little ridiculous considering Sam had been involved with his own secret relationship with Jules at the exact time. Before he could say anything though, Sam continued. "Nat's always picked the worst losers to date and then she finally chooses a guy who would treat her right. Chooses the kind of guy I would approve of, and I blow things for her. I was a complete jackass. I had no right to interfere with the two of you dating."

Spike took his own long swallow of his beer, unable to believe what he was hearing. "What are you saying, Sam?"

"I'm saying after everything I went through to be able to be with Jules, I'd be a world class jerk to stand in the way of anyone's happiness. I can't say it doesn't weird me out to think of my best friend dating my little sister. I certainly don't want to hear any locker room talk about how your dating life is going but I don't want to be the reason neither of you is happy right now. My sister likes you and I think you like her as well. I know you wouldn't intentionally do anything to hurt her. If you two want to make a second chance of dating, I won't stand in your way."

It had meant a lot to Spike to know that Sam thought so highly of him. He hadn't acted on Sam's suggested at first, wanting to take the time to make sure it was what was best for both him and Natalie. He'd run into her at a club about two weeks later; she'd hooked up with another of what Sam would have called a loser who was giving her a rough time. He'd stepped in and they'd been a couple ever since.

Now, most nights he spent with her in the apartment Sam had all but vacated once his relationship with Jules have been allowed to be public. In deference to his friend's feelings, he didn't make his relationship locker room talk material but kissing and telling - when it was a really special relationship - wasn't his style anyway. In return, they were all glad that Sam was the same way about his relationship with Jules. They all considered her to be their own little sister and they didn't want to hear about any bedroom activities that she might be involved in.

Satisfied that she looked okay, Natalie allowed Spike to lead her out of the bathroom. They had a quick breakfast and left the apartment. She drove, dropping him off at work with a kiss and a promise to call him later and let him know how the interview went. Spike watched her until her car was completely out of sight before turning and entering the building.

He took the stairs, walking up the flights with ease. He realized he wasn't alone on the stairs; someone, a custodian from the uniform he was wearing, was about a flight and a half ahead of him. He was a little surprised, not many people outside the team chose the stairs in lieu of the elevator and especially not the custodial staff who were usually loaded down with their cleaning cart and other supplies that made stairs awkward. What further surprised him as he closed the gap was that the custodian was bypassing the other floors and heading toward the floor that was reserved for SRU. Only two custodians were cleared to work that floor and this guy wasn't either of them.

Spike waited until the other man's hand was on the door that would open into the barn. "Hey buddy, wait up."

He put on the extra speed and caught up with the man. He carefully noted the man's dark hair and the badge on his uniform. Both the uniform and the badge appeared to be brand new. The name on the badge read Johnny Dawson. Spike frowned. "Where are you going?"

The custodian smiled, and Spike got the feeling the man was used to getting what he wanted with that smile. "Hi, I'm Johnny and today's my first day. I was told to report to Henri when I arrived today but I can't seem to find him. Figured this was the last place to check."

Henri Blatston had been the head custodian in the building for as long as Spike could remember. The slightly overweight, balding man who had to be approaching eighty was a favorite of everyone in the building; he was quiet and did his job thoroughly and with pride but always seemed to have a kind word or a piece of friendly, sage advice for anyone who needed it. Henri was one of the only two custodians that had the clearance to work on the SRU floor. Spike frowned. "Yeah, he usually starts his day up here but you can't go in. New or not, I'm sure they told you this floor was off limits to anyone without clearance."

Johnny hung his head sheepishly. "Yeah, they told me that in my interview. But I didn't think it would hurt if I just went in to find Henri. I don't want to be considered late on my first day and if I don't find him soon I will be. I'm sure you can appreciate wanting to look good on your first day."

Spike shrugged. "Still can't let you cross that threshold. Protocol. Tell you what I'll do. I'll find Henri and let him know you are looking for him. You head back downstairs and wait for him in the custodial locker room. I'll send him down there to find you."

Johnny brightened again. "I appreciate that. Like I said, don't want to make a bad impression on my first day." He glanced at Spike's nameplate. "Scarlatti, that's Italian right?"

"Something like that." Spike responded. He nodded down the stairs. "You'd better head down. I'll send Henri to find you."

"Thanks again, Constable Scarlatti." He took three steps down the stairs before pausing and turning to look back at Spike. "Hey, you're one of those SRU guys aren't you? The ones that do all that cool sniper work and hostage negotiations? You must be pretty badass to be able to do that job."

Spike shrugged. "It's a great job but it's not all fun and games. Look, let me give you some advice. Stay away from this floor if you know what's good for you." His eyes were dark but then lightened a little. "We take clearance pretty seriously here. You get caught being someplace you aren't supposed to be; you'll lose your job before you can learn to like it here."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Spike waited until the new custodian was completely out of sight before entering the barn. He went straight to where Winnie was already sitting at her place at dispatch. She smiled at him in greeting. "Morning, Spike. You are unusually early this morning. Everything okay?"

Spike blushed. He wasn't by any means habitually late to work but he was usually skirting in at the last possible second. "Can't a guy run early once in his life without it being a big deal? Have you seen Henri this morning?"

"I think he's finishing up in the gym."

Thanking her, Spike continued down the hall to the gym. Sure enough the head custodian was just putting his mop back in the bucket after cleaning the gym floor. The older man smiled at Spike.

"Michaelangelo, good to see you. I'd give the floor a few minutes to dry before going in. I'd hate to see you slip and fall."

"Henri, you got a new custodian starting today?" Spike leaned against the wall. The older man nodded.

"Dawson I believe. He was just hired yesterday. I'm glad to have him. We've been short a man for three weeks now."

"I just caught him trying to enter this floor. He said he was looking for you. I sent him back down to the locker room with a reminder he's not supposed to be up here."

The older man shook his head. "They are supposed to tell the new hires in the interview about where they are cleared to go but some of these guys can get a little gung ho. I'll make sure he doesn't do it again. You have my word." He started to push his bucket toward the elevator but stopped when his eye caught something on his cart. He picked up a medium sized bulging tan envelope and turned back to Spike. "I almost forgot. I found this on the floor in the girl's locker room when I was cleaning up. I was going to leave it at the desk but I'll give it to you instead."

Spike took the envelope, surprised by its lack of weight despite the bulky nature. It was sealed and had two words scrawled on the front. Julianna Callaghan. He nodded. "I'll give it to her when she gets in."

He stood there long after Henri had pushed his equipment into the elevator and the door had closed behind him. He couldn't help but wonder about the envelope and how it came to be in the locker room. It hadn't been delivered by mail; there was no address or postage mark. He didn't recognize the handwriting and didn't know anyone who would actually call Jules by her given name.

"What's that, Spike?" The computer expert jumped at Sarge's sudden appearance at his side. He'd been so caught up in his own thoughts that he hadn't heard Greg approach.

Spike shrugged. "Something of Jules's. Must have fallen out of her locker when she left yesterday. Henri found it on the floor. Hey Sarge, I don't want to bust someone's chops on their first day but I think we need to watch the new custodian. He was trying to access the barn this morning. Said he was looking for Henri to report in and its probably nothing but better safe than sorry, right?"

Greg nodded. "Yeah, we go through this about every five hires Custodial makes. Did you get his name? I'll make sure the brass enforces the issues."

"Dawson. Johnny Dawson."

Greg frowned but tried not to appear overly concerned. "I'll make that call now. How about you give me that package and I'll make sure Jules gets it when she gets here."

Spike shrugged and handed it over. Raf was just coming down the hall and Spike followed him into the locker room, curious how the newest member of the team's blind date had gone the night before. Greg frowned at the envelope in his hands, a bad feeling coming over him. He turned back toward the dispatch desk.

"Winnie, get Myers from Custodial on the phone. I don't want his secretary or any of his subordinates. I want to speak to Myers directly. Patch him through to the briefing room when you get him."

"Copy that. Anything else?" Winnie was already dialing the number.

Greg nodded. "As soon as Jules gets here, I need to see her."

- FP -

In danger of being late, Jules let Sam out at the door before driving around to the parking lot. After finding her usual spot and pocketing the keys to the jeep, Jules jogged toward the building. She was surprised to see Sam waiting for her by the stairwell. She frowned. "I thought you were going to go on up so both of us wouldn't be late."

He shrugged. "We got a couple of minutes. So we're not Jules punctual today. I don't think Sarge is going to say anything."

Jules punctual was what he called her steadfast believe that you weren't on time unless you were at least ten minutes early. She was about to punch his arm good-naturedly when a sudden chill ran down her spine. She couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. She twisted and looked around the lobby of the building. Aside from a custodian with his back to her mopping the floor, there was no one around. Still, her body shuddered at the uncomfortable feeling the experience left her with. She decided it must be a hold over reaction to finding all the hand up calls on the answering machine earlier.

Sam held the door open, knowing they both liked the exercise the stairs provided over the elevator and knowing that it would be quicker than waiting for the slow moving elevator. He touched her arm, worried by the sudden change in her body language. "You okay?"

She forced a smile. "Yeah, sure. Let's get upstairs before Sarge sends out a search party. Race ya." Without waiting for his response, she took off up the stairs at a dead run. Sam shook his head and followed her. She loved competing against him because she never had to wonder after a victory if he let her win. He was just as competitive as she was and would never throw even a good natured challenge just to make her feel good.

They reached the door at a dead tie; neither really even breathing hard from the exertion. Sam paused with his hand on the door. He leaned down and kissed her. It had started to be his habit before they started a shift. One last kiss away from cameras and prying eyes before he had to leave his personal relationships at the door. He opened the door. "Let's go keep the peace."

Winnie greeted them almost immediately. "Morning. Jules, Sarge wants to see you. He's in the briefing room."

The couple exchanged a look of worry. Jules shrugged. "He's probably just doing that overprotective papa bear check that everything's okay. Go on and catch up with the guys in the locker room. I'll see you in a few."

Sam nodded reluctantly and watched as she slowly made her way to the large room. The garage style door did not come down behind her and he took that as a good sign. He made his way to the locker room.

For her part, Jules felt like her legs were encased with cement. Lately meetings with Greg hadn't been the most pleasant experiences no matter how easy he'd tried to make them. He was just hanging up the phone when she came in and he didn't look happy. He nodded toward the chair. She shakily pulled the seat out and sat down.

"Something wrong, Sarge?"

He sighed. "I don't know yet." He nodded toward the envelope in front of him. "Henri found that on the floor of your locker room this morning. Could it have fallen out when you left yesterday?"

She looked at the envelope and immediately recognized the scrawl. Her heart rate quickened. "Never saw it before."

He pushed it toward her. "Open it."

She didn't want to open it at all let alone in front of Sarge. Who knew what Johnny had put inside. "It's probably nothing. Besides, it's almost briefing time. I'll do it later."

"Open it, Jules." This time his tone brooked no argument.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Jules sulkily reached for the offensive package and slit the seal. She glanced in the envelope first, not sure she'd hide its contents if they were too revealing. She paled and dumped out the single piece of paper folded beneath the lone object. It was an innocent stuffed animal but she recognized the message immediately. It was a plush gray kitten; not a one hundred percent match to Boxer but close enough to not be a coincidence. She unfolded the piece of paper.

I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you. Please forgive me.

"Dawson?" Greg quietly probed.

She nodded. She wanted to sling the toy across the room, wanted to get it completely out of her sight and mind. As innocent as it appeared, and she was glad it was so innocuous looking, she knew Johnny had meant to awaken every ounce of pain she'd felt at seeing Boxer's dead body on her pillow that morning. "How did it get in the locker room? It didn't come through the mail. It had to be placed there."

Greg wanted to wrap his arms around the young woman in a comforting hug. He could tell how upset she was but how tightly she was trying to keep those emotions from being seen. He kept his seat, trying to preserve her sense of control in the matter. "The halfway house he was assigned to, Kennington House, has a job placement program for their residents. Companies that agree to offer positions to help released inmates in their return to society. Metro Police is one of their participants. I found out this morning that Johnny took a position with our custodial staff yesterday."

"Awesome." Jules drawled out in the tone that said that it was anything but. Now she understood the feeling she'd had in the lobby. The custodian she'd seen the back of must have been Johnny. Her stomach turned. "Still, only Henri and Betty have access to our floor."

Greg nodded. "I know but Spike already caught him trying to enter the barn this morning." Seeing her look of panic he waved his hand. "Don't worry. He didn't know Johnny's history with you. He just saw someone without clearance trying to gain access and put a stop to it. He reported it to me more as a mere formality. That might not have been Dawson's first try. I put in a call to Myers in Custodial care but there's nothing he's willing to do. He said that he'd put a report in Dawson's file about not following clearance protocol but that unless your uncle does something that warrants termination, he's not willing to fire him. I'm going to try to go over Myer's head."

Jules felt cold in the otherwise warm room. "So far all we have on him is an apology attempt. They won't fire him for that. Now that I know he's working in the building, I'll watch out for him. He wouldn't try anything with a building full of cops."

"Jules, you shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable here. I don't like this." Greg admitted softly. The young woman shrugged.

"I don't either but I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he's getting to me. I can take care of myself and I know you and Sam will have my back."

"And the rest of the team will as well." He was sure she was about to protest once again that she didn't want anyone to know about what happened. "I'll tell them in the briefing that someone you helped put away has been released and is now working in the building. I want every eye possible keeping tabs on him. If he so much as rides this elevator to this floor, I want to know about it and I WILL have his job. This is nonnegotiable, Jules."

An alarm buzzed and Winnie's voice came over the intercom. "Team One, Hot Call. We have a report of a man threatening his business partner with a gun." She gave the address as the team sprang into action. Thoughts of Johnny working in the building would have to wait until later.

- FP -

Sam was lying on the roof of the building across the street from the office where James Reynolds was currently holding Max Ledbetter at gunpoint. He was Sierra One and he had the solution if it were needed. Greg was handling the negotiations which weren't going well. All they had learned so far was that Reynolds was upset about something that had supposedly happened a few weeks ago but so far neither man wanted to talk about what that was.

"Sarge, Reynolds's daughter just arrived on scene. She's upset and claiming this is all her fault." Jules's voice filled his ear through the comlink.

"Copy that. Talk to her; see if you can find out what precipitated all this." Greg's reply was quiet so as not to alarm the gun man.

Sam was sure she could. Jules had a way of connecting to teenage girls that Sam had never seen before. She truly seemed to understand their angst; maybe because she'd once been a teenager herself. He returned his full concentration to his sniper position, hoping it wouldn't be necessary to pull the trigger.

At the street level entrance, Jules led the distraught teenager into the command truck. Spike barely glanced at her as he continued his work at the computer. The girl looked at Spike nervously. "Does he have to be here?"

Jules smiled reassuringly. "Yeah, he does. He's just going to sit there and do what he has to do and he's not even going to pay us any attention. What's your name?"

"Lara." The teenager plucked at an imaginary piece of lint on her jeans and looked at the door as if she wanted to bolt. "Please don't hurt my dad."

Jules reached over and gave the younger girl's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We're doing everything we can to make sure everyone comes out of this safely. It would help if we knew why your dad is so upset."

The teenager locked eyes with Jules and the SRU officer could see the pain in the younger girl's eyes. Her stomach turned as she recognized that look of pain from the number of times she'd seen in it in her own eyes reflected back at her in the mirror. A single tear ran down the girl's cheek and her lower lip quivered. "I never should have told him. I should have known he'd go ballistic. It's all my fault."

"Lara; listen to me." Jules made sure that while her tone was firm, it was non threatening. "What's happening in that office right now is not your fault. If your dad made a choice to react this way to something you told him then that was his decision and not yours. I doubt he'd want you blaming yourself. Anything you could tell us will help up do everything possible to make sure nobody gets hurt today."

Lara took a deep shaky breath. "Two weeks ago I was home alone while Mom and Dad went out to celebrate their anniversary. Twenty five years. Anyway, Max came by the house. He said he had some important papers for Dad to sign and wanted to wait for him to get home. I didn't think much about it; he was forever bringing things for Dad to sign. While he was waiting he suddenly started telling me how beautiful I was. It made me uncomfortable but I didn't think much of it. Then he tried to kiss me and started trying to put his hand under my shirt."

Again Jules felt her stomach doing somersaults and she wished that anyone else was doing this interview right then. But the she chided herself inwardly. The girl was upset and needed a friendly, female ear to talk to. She had to be that person. "Then what happened?"

Lara wiped away the tears that ran down her cheek. "I told him that what he was doing was wrong. I told him to leave. He apologized and said he must have misread my signals. He cautioned me not to tell my parents what happened because my parents would get the wrong idea. That they would think I was coming on to him. I wasn't going to say anything. I thought maybe I had said or done something that gave him the wrong idea. But still every time Dad mentioned Max I would get upset. Last night Max came for supper and I tried to act like nothing happened. I got so sick to my stomach after he left that Mom and Dad insisted that I tell them what was upsetting me. I don't think I've ever seen Dad so upset."

Jules left her seat and retrieved a small bottle of water from the cooler they kept stock for long call outs. She handed it to the teenager as she reported back her discoveries. "Guys, Reynolds is in full Papa bear mode protecting his cub. Ledbetter attempted to molest Reynolds's daughter."

"Copy that."

From his perch on the roof, Sam swore inwardly. He, along with everyone else, had heard the full conversation via Jules's comlink. What made some men think they had a right to take advantage of young girls and then manipulate them into not telling anyone? Personally, he wanted to let Reynolds take the shot; it's what he'd want to do if he ever had a daughter and someone tried to hurt her. Hell, he'd want to do the same thing if someone pulled that crap with either Natalie or Jules. Of course, Jules would be just as capable of putting a bullet into any asshole who pressed an unwanted advantage on her.

"I was so stupid for telling Dad. I know how he is. I should have known he'd react violently. If I'd been stronger…" Lara's voice was almost hysterical as it filled his ears almost in stereo as it was picked up by both Jules's and Spike's comlinks.

"Don't." Jules interrupted her. "Don't for a minute think you were stupid or weak. Lara, you didn't let him hurt you. Do you know how much strength it takes to prevent a bad situation from getting infinitely worse? I don't have to tell you what he might have done to you if you hadn't made him leave. As for telling your parents, that took more strength than keeping it inside. You didn't fall for his manipulation. No matter what happens in that office today, you didn't do anything wrong. You did everything right. You were so much stronger than most girls in your situation would be."

Sure, she didn't do anything wrong, Sam silently agreed with Jules. But she would be the one to have to live with the consequences. If, God forbid, someone else hurt her, would she have the guts to admit to it after witnessing her father's reaction today? And how long would it take her to trust another guy to shower attention on her without doubting his motives or being reminded about what Ledbetter had done to her? How long would Ledbetter's actions haunt her dreams or affect her reactions to future boyfriends?

"Situation contained. Sierra One stand down."

Sam lowered his weapon, glad that he hadn't been needed. He was sure that both Reynolds and Ledbetter would be taken into custody but he imagined the courts would go easy on the father in light of the situation. At least he hoped so for Lara's sake.

"Lara, don't regret telling what happened to you." Jules was apparently still trying to reassure the distraught teen. "This isn't something you have to keep secret. You can get help and you don't have to live with this pain for the rest of your life. As bad as things seem now, you will recover from this."

There was such an air of authority in Jules's voice. It almost seemed to Sam that she was talking from personal experience. If he didn't know better…

He paused halfway down the stairs from the building he'd been perched on. Did he know better? He'd always wondered why Jules was so insistent about certain actions in the bedroom. Was there a reason why she wouldn't let him kiss her breasts or touch her in intimate places? He was a cop trained to recognize the signs but could he have been so close to Jules that he hadn't wanted to see them in her? He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall for a moment as the sheer enormity of his thoughts hit him. Jules had been so empathic with the teenage boy at the school the day the teacher's bullet had struck her bullet proof vest and again today with Lara. It wasn't because she'd been trained to do so but because she'd lived it first hand.

Her reactions this last week suddenly made sense to him. He'd wondered slightly at her reactions to Dawson being released from prison. She hadn't been angry that the man who had killed her mother was being released but her reactions had been much more drastic, almost frightened. Had Jules's mother been killed because she'd walked in and caught her brother in the act of hurting Jules? He could just imagine what that guilt and pain could do to a distraught teenager.

He ran the rest of the way out of the building and practically threw his gun at Raf asking him to store it in the truck for him. He saw Jules standing in the lobby of the building where Lara was now in the embrace of a tall slender woman that he assumed was the girl's mother. He turned off his mike as he plowed into the building and pulled Jules to the side. He reached down and turned her mike off.

"Be honest with me Jules. Your uncle wasn't just intent on killing you and your mother that night was he?" His tone was quiet but full of anger he was trying to repress against anyone who would dare hurt the woman he loved.

"Sam." Her tone was low and held more than a hint for him to back off. But he was too upset to leave the matter alone.

"It all makes sense to me now. The certain ways you don't like to be touched. The reason why your job was more important than our relationship. The fears you've been trying to hide since your uncle was released. I understand it all now. You never told anyone what he did to you, did you? Never told anyone that the sonofabitch raped you."

"Damn you to hell, Sam." Her face was pale and she pushed past him just as he realized that he'd heard her response and every word he'd said reverberating in his ear as they were being said. He turned as she stormed from the building and saw the entire team standing there in a semi-circle, similar looks of horror filling their faces.