CHAPTER 11
Jules woke up feeling refreshed and excited. Today would be her last day waking up at the eating disorder clinic. Today would be the day of a new life for her and she was looking forward to having an incredible relationship with Sam as she felt at ease and more comfortable in her own skin for the first time in her life. She was starting to see having imperfections the key to growing and becoming a better person. It was if she had finally faced the demons which she had held onto for so long, especially the demon which made her feel that it was her job to please everyone. Her only reservation now, was facing the team, and not having something such as an eating disorder and being known as cutter affect her career. She was once again ready to begin making a difference in other people's lives. At least I'm going to strive too.
She had packed the night before, even reminding herself to remember to bring the plant Sam gave her the day before as she headed to check herself out and do one last group therapy session to say good bye to everyone. At first she did not think it was possible, but she had developed a lot of close friends during her month stay at the clinic.
As much as she dreaded group therapy and even the private therapy sessions, she had also grown accustomed to them. Jules had learned to have a better appreciation for it, and it gave her some comfort knowing there were people who understood and could relate to her struggles with food and coping with her feelings, even when the circumstances that brought all of them together varied.
"Okay Jules are we ready?" she asked herself once again staring at her reflection. She then took a deep breath and headed down the halls of the clinic, but was then taken back as she heard a familiar voice coming from the restricted area of the clinic.
"Just shut up and don't move!" A female voice desperately screamed. "The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven"
Jules then heard two shots fired as a swarm of nurses, hospital orderlies and people she assumed were patience came rushing towards her running for cover. "Run!" "Run" she could hear the people mutter as they passed her.
Her instinct and training naturally kicked in as she headed towards the room where the shots were fired. As she passed the nurses station, she noticed a cell phone left on the counter. Jules grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Sam's cell phone number as she slowly proceeded to enter one of the rooms which she recognized as being set up similar to where her group therapy sessions were held. I guess other than being more locked up; they still made you talk on this side of the hospital.
Slowly approaching the room, Jules' surveys the area and motions additional people she sees cowering under the desk and small spaces of the hospital to exit for safety. Not having anytime to determine if Sam had picked up her call, she placed the cell phone in her coat pocket to free her hands as she recognized Penny Westler as the subject pointing a gun to her head.
"Stay away from me" she continued to say as she realized a couple of hospital orderlies slowly trying to approach her and disarm her.
Jules motions the hospital workers to back down as she identifies herself as an SRU officer.
"Penny. Do you remember me? My name is Jules and I'm the police officer who helped you go home to your parents. Remember Penny?" Jules calmly mentioned.
"Penny please. Please put the gun down. Let's talk about this" she continued to say attempting to calm Penny down.
As Jules distracts Penny one of the male orderly decides to jump her in a heroic effort to disarm her. They struggle as they fight to take possession of the fire arm. In the struggle multiple rounds are fired towards an innocent bystander. In reaction Jules rushes and throws herself over the young girl as they hit the floor to dodge the incoming bullets. As she does so, the cell phone in her pocket is damaged and her call to Sam gets disconnected.
Some how in the struggle Penny manages to over power the hospital orderly and reclaim possession of the firearm although the middle aged man was twice her size.
"Sit down!" Penny screamed in tears, and then proceeded to push the young man away from her. She then pointed the gun at her temple.
Regaining her composure, Jules again tries use her negotiating skills to engage another coversation with Penny.
"Penny….you don't want to this." Jules sternly remarked. "Penny, look at me. Please Penny."
"Why are you here?" Penny semi glanced walking further away from her as she continued to point the gun at herself.
"I needed help, just like you Penny" Jules calmly answered in hopes of bringing Penny's state in SRU terms from Red to yellow.
"You told me it would be prettier in this great big world. Prettier than the one in my room" she said back to Jules teary eyed. "But it's not."
Penny then begins reciting another verse she had memorized from a book she had been transcribing during her 8 year captivity with Gerald..
"Me miserable! Which way shall I fly? Infinite wrath and infinite despair? Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell."
Stunned Jules sighs and takes a breath. She assumed the verse is another verse Penny learned from the book Paradise Lost they had found Penny with when her and the team rescued her.
She then proceeds to slowly walk closer to Penny.
"I'm really sorry things have been tough for you Penny" Jules continued to say. "I'm here to help you Penny but I can't do that if you don't tell me what's wrong."
"How could you not know what's wrong?" Penny answered.
"Don't Move!" she yells as she saw another hospital orderly trying to make a heroic move to take her down.
"I'm a freak. How can I still love Gerald after everything he has done to me?" she yelled out to Jules.
"My parents, they sent me here. I've been locked up for eight years, and here I am being locked up again." She said as she broke down in tears.
Connect, protect, and respect. Jules quietly reminded herself.
Within minutes, she realizes a familiar figure standing next to her.
"Ready to do this again." Sam winked at her, relieved to see that she was okay.
"Here." He said to her, as he gestured for her to put the earwig on as he continued to aim his gun directly for Penny.
"Welcome back. Is it already time for a Jules Day?" Ed smirked as he approached Jules from the left to provide additional cover.
"Jules, can you hear me" Greg commented.
"Copy Boss" she replied. "You're not coming in?"
"No Jules. I want you to continue to negotiations." Greg sighed "But, I'm going to be right here Jules, as your second" He said through his headset.
"You did it before, you can do it again and I'm right here if you need me." He reassured her.
"Lou, what's the parents' ETA?" Greg asked. "We need to know what has been going on the last couple of weeks since she's been home?"
"A Constable just picked them up, they should be here in 5" Lou responded.
Within a few minutes Lou and Greg looked at each other as the sound of multiple shots being fired were heard.
"Officer down! Officer Down" Sam yelled out. "We need paramedics in here."
TBC
SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING. AND SORRY FOR THE CLIFF HANGER AND FOR THIS CHAPTER DRAGGING. WILL GET TO THE POINT NEXT CHAPTER AND WRAP THIS STORY UP.
PLEASE REVIEW, EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS CHAPTER....BECAUSE I DON'T.
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY VERY FIRST FANFIC.
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