It was Monday morning when Jules walk in to the SRU. She tries her best to look fine and make sure her make up cover her dark eyes. She cried all day Sunday and when she woke up this morning her eyes were swollen. The guilty was killing her. She didn't mean to sleep with him especially knowing he had a girlfriend. She decides to move on and whatever happens, just take it as it comes. She went to her locker to change and after that she joined the team in front of Winnie desk.
"Good morning Jules." Greg said.
"Good morning boss." Jules said and notice that Sam was not there yet.
"Sam I'm glad you join us." Greg said and Jules tense at the hearing if his name. He was in back of her and she didn't even notice.
"Good morning." Sam said.
"Alright team one, briefing room, we have some things to talk about." Greg said and the team nod and follow. When they sat down Spike and Lou noticed that Jules and Sam sat down far from each other.
"What is going on boss?" Ed asked.
"So at the end of the month Dr. Toth is coming to evaluate us."
"What." They all said in unison.
"Look guys, there is no need to worried, we are going to practice and make sure that we stay the best. We have nothing to hide and as long as we keep doing the right thing, we will be alright."
"Yes sir."
"Alright let go work out. Today I have some special exercise that we need to cover." Greg said.
"Like what?" Wordy asked.
"We are going to work in teams, and we going to take turns until everyone are comfortable with one another." Ed said.
"But we are comfortable with each other." Spike said.
"Yes, but things happen outside this place that make us doubt ourselves or one another. And even if we come here and act all professional, sometimes our emotions blind us." Ed said and looks at everyone, making sure that everyone understood that he was not picking on them.
"Did anybody do anything, we don't know about?" Wordy asked.
"It not about that, trust me, not one person here done or is doing anything they not suppose too. We all have our moments, but things like that is what Dr. Toth is going to look for and we need you to work extra hard." Greg said.
"Oh ok, I was worried that we did something." Spike said and sighs.
"Spike you have anything to hide?" Ed asked.
"Of course Ed, I have a lot of things to hide." Spike said and everyone laugh.
"Ok guys; let team up and each day we change partner and every week we do it again until the end of the months. So everyone would have to pair off with one another." Greg said.
"This should be interesting." Jules mumbles.
"Yes, Jules. You have being quiet today?" Ed said
"Nothing, just have a head ache." Jules said and Lou and Spike look at Sam. His expression was blank and just look at Greg for instructions. Deep down everyone knew something was happening. Yes they were getting evaluated and that usually make the situation tense but Greg, Ed and Wordy knew that the rest of them were hiding something and Sam and Jules were too quiet, especially Jules.
"Ok, first pair are the regular, Wordy and Ed, Spike and Lou, and last Sam and Jules. Each pair has different assignment and if we take a call, you guys also stay in those pairs unless I need you." Greg said and handles everyone and envelop.
"And guys, you could regroup anywhere you guys want in the building, including the locker rooms." Greg said.
"Yes, Lou and I take the electronic room." Spike said.
"We take the gun range." Ed said and everyone stared at Sam and Jules. They didn't know what to say. So Jules blurt out the first thing the came to mind.
"We take the women locker room." Jules said and Sam eye widen.
"That good, like that nobody would intrude on your plans." Spike said.
"Boss any chance this is a competition against each other?" Wordy asked and everyone stop midway.
"Glad you asked. The best couple at the end of the month would have a month off no cleaning."
"Yes." Spike and Lou said and everyone laugh.
"Guys, you already know that Wordy and I would win and after us Sam and Jules, you guys are the last person to win this." Ed tease and Spike pouted.
"We would prove you wrong." Lou said.
"Guys you two play too much." Wordy said while getting up and everyone else follow to they destination. Greg stood in the briefing room, just watching them go.
***
Jules was mad at herself for suggesting the locker room. Why the hell she picks the looker room. She thought and continues walking. She was conscious of Sam following her. He hasn't told her anything and she didn't want to look him in the eyes, because she was afraid of what she might see.
"So, what is our assignment?" Jules asked once they were in the locker room.
"It said here, that we have a hostage situation. We need to come up with a plan to save the hostage and try not to go for the kill shot." Sam said and sat down in the bench.
"Alright, what is the situation?"
"Apparently the a victim dump her boyfriend, who is the one with the gun, and he want her to realize that she was wrong and that he love her and he would do anything for her." Sam said and Jules swallow the lump she had in her throat. She curses everyone that was making this situation worst. This sounded so much like them two, except for the psycho part.
"Alright we could work with that."
"You should know, you the expert." Sam said.
"Don't start, if we going to work together, we need to move on. Or you want to prove to everyone that we can't work together, because if you haven't notice, they suspecting something."
"I didn't tell anyone about Saturday night." Sam snaps.
"No, is not about that. It's about before, keeping our relationship a secret for months."
"You win, Jules, I would do my job. Don't have to worry about me."
"That the problem Sam, we going to be cold and distant and that what they looking for."
"Look Jules, I am going to do my job and I don't feel like being nice to you today. So if we fail at being all friendly, I personally don't care right now. So you have a choice, you could work with me like this or we tell the Boss that we can't work together. Then one of us would get transfer and we back to the beginning."
"What beginning?"
"Where everything started, would we leave the job for our feelings." Sam said and Jules regretted asking.
"Oh" She manages to say.
"So are we going to work together?"
"Yes" She said and sat next to him. They read the card again. And Jules took out her notebook and they started brainstorming. They continue like this for a few hours. Then it was lunch time and they went to the break room. The rest of the team wasn't there yet, and they didn't even bother to put a smile on they face. By the time team one came in Sam was on one side of the table texting and Jules was listening to her ipod. They sat down and started talking about who going to win and who is the best team while they ate.
***
Lou and Spike stop by Winnie desk after lunch to see how she was doing and give her the information.
"So how are they?" Winnie asked.
"I don't know how they working together. They can't even look or sit next to each other." Spike said.
"Something definitely happen Saturday night that made it worst." Lou said.
"I know guys; I could hear it in her voices when I call her on Sunday."
"Maybe is because she thinks that Natalie is Sam girlfriend." Spike said.
"That one reason, but is more than that. I don't think Sam would be the cruel. Plus Sam look hurt. He really looks upset at her." Winnie said.
"We need to find out what happened." Lou said.
"Don't worried guys, I got it." Winnie said.
"Alright Winnie we see you later, we need to kick Ed and Wordy **." Spike said and Winnie giggles.
***
Sam and Jules went back to the locker room, but not before grabbing some supplies they needed for they assignment. They also grab some snacks and make themselves comfortable on the floor. They try to work together the best they can. Sam was still upset and the situation at hand wasn't making any better. And Jules was regretting everything, starting with falling for Sam. She didn't know how to move from this. And now with the assignment she felt like she was reliving everything she went through when she broke up with him.
"Ok so we established a pattern and we came up with plans to take down the accuser. But how do we talk him down. What would talk him down?" Jules asked.
"Being honest with him."
"Ok, so what should we write?"
"I don't know."
"Alright let role play." Jules said and close her eyes of the pain that had cross Sam eyes. When she opened then again he had a blank expression.
"Sure, that should be fun." Sam said sarcastically.
"You the police in charge and you know that he would kill her, how would you talk him down."
"Why me, I am not the negotiator." Sam snaps. But before she could answer he said.
"Oh is because I being dump before, oh whoa, that low even for you." Sam snaps again.
"It is not because of that." Jules snaps too.
"Then why?"
"Because you a male, it would be easier for him to understand you than another woman." Jules said and took a deep breath.
"Ok." Sam said and didn't look at her.
"Ok" she said.
"I am sorry." He said because no matter what, he didn't want to talk to her like that.
"Forget about it. Let continue."
"I would say something like this. Listen I know it hurts and we might not understand why they doing it. But sometimes things change and as much as we love the person we need to let them go. We can't force them to love us or make them understand that we are the right person for them. We just have to hope that one day they would realize that we were the best thing that happen to them and come back to us. And if they come back to us then you make sure that this time you do everything you didn't do the first time. Tell them you love them and that you would give your life for them. And if they don't come back then we move on, because theirs is someone out there for everyone. And right now it might seem that the world is against you, but it actually pushing you to get up and find your happiness." Sam said and stared right into Jules eyes. Jules got up and stared at her self in the mirror, she was hurting and his words just stab her like a knife through her chest. After she calm down she went back to sit on the floor and they continue working. When they finish they gave they report to Greg and each went they separate way.
***
After Jules change and was heading for Winnie desk, she saw Sam leaving. She felt pained that he was so angry that is willing to leave and not wait for anybody. Or maybe he was going to see Natalie. She thought.
"Hi Winnie."
"Jules, how was your day, with Sam."
"It was hard at first but then we found a pace and things were a little better."
"And why you still look sad?"
"Not now, Winnie." Jules said and at the moment Natalie walk in.
"Hi, Winnie and Jules, how you girls being." Natalie said.
"Hi Nat, we are good and you." Winnie said.
"Hi Natalie." Jules said.
"I am fine just here to pick up…" Natalie started but Jules caught her off.
"Sam just left." Jules said to bitter than she would had like too. At the moment Spike and Lou walk out the locker room and joined the ladies.
"Natalie." Spike said and gave her a kiss to close to her mouth to be just friend and Natalie blush.
"Hi Spike and Lou." Natalie said while Jules stared at the scene in front of her.
"So where you want to go to eat?" Spike asked Natalie.
"Where ever you want."
"I am sorry, did I miss something?" Jules asked staring at the four of them.
"What do you mean?" Spike asked and everyone glared.
"I thought you were Sam girlfriend. Why are you going out with Spike?"
"Jules, he didn't tell you, I am not his girlfriend, I am his sister." Natalie said and Jules turn pale. She had to lean against the desk not to fall from all the blood that rushes to her head. She was mad, no she was furious. But not at Sam, but at herself because she never let him speak when he was trying to explain it to her.
"Jules are you alright?" Winnie asked.
"No I am not, I am so stupid, and how could I have done that." Jules said and she was almost on the verge of crying.
"It not your fault he should had told you." Natalie said.
"But that the problem, he try so many time and I told him I didn't want to hear him. What I had done, I had my second chance and I ruined it." Jules said and clean the tears that were coming down her eyes.
"Jules, what happen between you guys on Saturday night?" Winnie asked.
"It was the best night of my life and I ruined it because I thought Natalie was his girlfriend and I felt bad because we slept together behind her back. Oh I have to fix it; I have to go find him." Jules said and rush out the building, while four people just stared at her.
"Ok I know this is not the time and I feel bad, but I think someone lost some money here." Spike said and Lou and Natalie grin while Winnie glared at all three of them.
"Ok you guys win, but I hope that she gets to talk to him." Winnie said and they all went to the matter at hand.
"Me too, because she really love him and he love her." Lou said.
"Who love who?" Ed asked while walking toward the desk with Wordy and Greg behind.
"Nothing." Three people said.
"Nothing, right. You guys got something going on with the other two and we going to find out sooner or later." Ed said.
"Eddy, leave them alone." Greg said and smile at them.
"Hi I am Wordy and you are?" Wordy said to Natalie.
"I am Natalie Braddock." She said and shakes his hand.
"Sam sister." Spike said.
"We got that genius." Ed said and introduces himself and then Greg.
"Natalie, Sam left already." Wordy said.
"I know, I am here for Spike." Natalie said and Spike blush, while Winnie and Lou giggle.
"Spike" Ed said.
"Yes, um we are going out." Spike said nervous that all the attention was on him.
"Does Sam know that?" Greg asked, the last thing he needs is his teammate fighting over a girl.
"Yes he does." Natalie said.
"Alright guys, we leave you guys to your business, behave boys." Greg said and gave a look at Spike and Lou.
"Yes sir." They said in unison and Natalie and Winnie giggle.
"You too, girls." Ed said and then smile at them. Then all three of them left and Spike and Lou release a breath they didn't even know they were holding.
"You think they know about operation JAM?" Spike asked.
"I don't think so, but they are suspecting something." Winnie said.
"You right Winnie we need, to cool down for a little bit and then continue." Lou said.
"Anyway we need to see what happen with Sam and Jules today." Natalie said and they all nod. After that Spike and Natalie left and Lou waited for Winnie and they also went out to eat.