AN: I am going to try to finish this fic by December 10th as I'll have family in town, and be out of town, for the rest of the year. Will this keep the veggie launchers at bay?

I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 25 – Gut Feeling

SRU HQ – Toronto

Jules drew in a deep breath as she walked in the front door of the Barn. With coffee tray in hand, she headed straight to the dispatcher desk. She and Winnie had stopped at Timmies on the way in to get coffee and Timbits for everyone.

She knew they would wonder why she was there, especially without Sadie. Her answer was simple though, she couldn't take sitting at home and doing nothing any longer. Jules needed to know where the investigation was if they had found any more clues as to where Sam had been taken. Knowing he was in the hands of terrorists was painful for her, especially after the last time he was a prisoner of war.

"Jules, I didn't expect to see you here today." Kira smiled from her place at the dispatch desk.

"I couldn't stay home any longer." Jules set down the tray of coffee she was carrying and handed one to Kira.

"Thank you. How is Sadie doing?"

"She's handling it well considering. She keeps asking me if her daddy and Uncle Ed are okay, if and when they will be home. She had a nightmare last night too. But she's doing remarkably well considering what she went through." Jules took a drink of her piping hot coffee. "It helps having Suzie around. They are really close and Sadie trusts her. Sadie also knows that Sam's unit will do everything that they can to bring him home. She keeps telling me that Uncle Matt better hurry up and bring daddy home."

Kira, Winnie, and Jules chuckled at that.

"Winnie, it's good to see you around here again." Kira greeted her fellow dispatcher that was actually a Special Forces soldier.

"Good to be back." Winnie grinned as she drank her hot chocolate. "You holding down the fort?"

"Trying to. Team One isn't making it easy." Winnie gestured to where Team One was spread out around the conference room table.

"Have they left at all?" Jules asked, worry lacing her words.

"No. They've taken shifts sleeping, but they haven't left. I think they figured something out several hours ago though. They all sounded pretty upset about something."

"Thanks, Kira."

Jules and Winnie turned towards the briefing room and Jules could see the exhausted determination on their faces. "You guys should go home."

All eyes shot up to the doorway at the sound of Jule's voice.

"Why? We haven't figured out who took Sam and Ed yet." Spike looked totally surprised that she would even suggest such a thing.

Jules noted that Spike said they hadn't found who took Sam and Ed, not where they were taken. The look in the Boss' eye told her that they had news.

"Winnie, can you give us a moment? We need to speak with Jules privately." Greg asked as he rounded the table.

"Sure thing, Boss." Winnie put the coffee tray on the table. "I need to check in with the General anyway."

Once Winnie left the room Greg pressed the button that sealed the room. "We need to talk."

Jules' worry spiked as Greg led her to a chair and indicated that she should sit. "Are they alive?"

"Yes!" Greg quickly answered as he took a seat in front of her. "I just got off the phone with General Braddock. He said that they were on their way back to base now and would be looked over by medical. Once cleared to travel they will be on a plane and headed home."

Jules leaned forward, put her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands, and sobbed. Sam was safe. He would be on his way home soon. The relief that she felt at that news was overwhelming and all the stress of the past few days finally released.

Greg gently rubbed Jules' back as she cried. He knew that their rookie had been through a lot the last several days. She deserved to have a good cry.

Several minutes later Jules drew in a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and sat up. Her eyes searching out Greg's she had to ask. "Why didn't he call me directly?"

"I spoke with him a couple of hours ago. At that time I informed him that I would prefer to pass on any news to you and Sophie personally. We both agreed it would be better as I could ensure someone could be with both of you no matter the news." Greg smiled softly. He hoped she understood his reasoning.

"Sophie… have you told her?" Jules knew the other woman would be frantic with worry.

"She left just before you got here. She's headed home to prepare for Ed's return. Her mother is with her and Clark."

"Good, I'm glad she's not alone." Jules drew in another deep breath before taking a long drink of her coffee.

"So, will he call when they're airborne?"

"Yes. He said it would take them about thirty minutes to get back to base from when he spoke with them. After that, it just depends on medical. They're probably already on base and being checked out by the doctors there."

"Then I only have about nineteen hours left before I can see Sam again," Jules whispered. "In the meantime, how can I help?"

"Jules, we need to tell you something and you're not going to like it."

"Why are you using your negotiator voice with me?" Jules' brows furrowed as she looked to Greg's eyes.

"We know who the mole is."

"Who?" Jules wanted to rise from her chair and punch whomever it was in the nuts but Rollie's hand on her shoulder kept her in place.

"There's no easy way to tell you this…"

Greg was interrupted by a knock at the door. He paused as Wordy answered it to find Winnie. She explained that General Braddock had asked her to take care of a few things and to leave Jules with Team One. She would return as soon as possible.

Jules' mind whirled as Wordy answered the door. Who is it? Is it one of the General's staff? Please, dear God, don't tell me it's Matt. Surely not Suzie?

Once the door was securely closed once again Greg drew in a deep breath and prepared for an explosive reaction from Jules.

"It's Pops."

"WHAT?!"

Even Rollie's strong grip couldn't keep her in her chair.

"Jules, Lieutenant Harrison has several deposits to an offshore bank account in the amounts of millions. Spike was able to get a partial trace on the money so far and it's linked to terrorists. We still don't know where it originated from but he's confident that with the right time and tools he can find out."

Jules only half heard what Greg was telling her. "Pops is the mole? Why would he do that? He's been Sam's CO since the day he joined Special Forces. They're brothers. Been through so much together." Jules gaze turned to Greg. "Why would he do that?!"

"We don't know yet Jules. We're looking into it. We are hoping that General Braddock can get some answers when the Unit returns to base with Sam and Ed."

"He knows?"

"I told him when I last spoke to him."

"I need some air." Jules spun on her heels, opened the conference room door, and stalked off.

"Wordy, Rollie, go with her. She can't be alone until this whole mess is cleared up."

"Copy." Both officers followed Jules first to the gun cage, then the long distance range.

As Jules sighted her first target she imagined that it was Pops' head she was aiming at. Sending the first round down range, anger boiled within her.

Wordy and Rollie kept watch for the next two hours as Jules blew away target after target. They could understand her rage. It would be the same as if someone from Team One sold out Jules and Sadie. Both were curious what Jules would do if she ever got to confront Pops about it.

That would be a sight that they would pay to see.

Military Aircraft

"How are you feeling, Son?" General Nathan Braddock asked as he settled into the chair next to his son.

The rest of the men were still sleeping in the hammocks. Sam, however, had woken due to aching muscles and decided to walk around a bit to try and ease the discomfort.

"I've been better, and worse. At least I'm going back home to my girls." Sam answered honestly as he gazed at his father.

"They're safe, son. You don't have to worry about them."

"I always worry about them, Dad."

Nathan nodded his head in agreement. "Just as I always worry about you when you're in the field."

Sam's eyes met Nathan's and understanding flowed between them. Each knew what it was like to have a child in danger. Although, Nathan had a better grasp on that feeling as Sam had been in immediate danger more often than Sadie.

"It was Pops," Sam said in barely a whisper, his gaze moving to the floor of the aircraft.

"I know." Nathan drew in a deep breath as his gaze moved to the flag-draped casket in the back of the plane. "It seems as though Constable Scarlatti found the transactions moving money into an offshore account."

"He said he did it for his mom. That she's really sick, has a huge stack of medical bills she can't afford, she lost her house."

"Why does it sound like you don't believe him?" Nathan tilted his head to the side and shifted his gaze to Sam.

Sam turned his head and locked eyes with his father, his general. "My gut. If he could betray me like he did, then what's to say he didn't lie about this too. I want to believe that what he said was true…"

"But the more you think about it the more it just doesn't sit right with you?"

"Exactly. Can you have Spike look into it for me? If his mother really is as ill as he said then we need to get her some help. If he lied to me again…"

"I'll find out." Nathan reached for his satellite phone and prepared to dial.

"Dad."

"Yes, son?"

"Tell him to keep it within Team One. Don't share this with anyone, not even Suzie or Camden."

"Your gut again?"

"I just want to be careful."

Nathan nodded in understanding before rising and moving to the back of the plane to make his call. His son was an exceptional soldier. If Sam's gut said something wasn't right then the chances were he was right. I just hope it's not too late.

"Would you like a sandwich, sir?" Corporal Moon held out one of the many sandwiches the dining facility had packed for them.

"Just call me either Sergeant or Braddock. No sir business." Sam smiled as he took the offered food.

"Yes, sir…er…Sergeant."

"Have a seat, Corporal." Sam gestured to the empty seat next to him.

"Thank you." Moon sat and tucked into his sandwich.

"So, what got you a seat on our flight?" Sam asked after several minutes of enjoying his sandwich.

"You mean because you big, bad, Special Forces don't usually travel with us measly soldiers?" Moon asked with a smirk.

Sam chuckled. He would never admit it, but yeah. That was exactly what he was thinking. "I was more wondering what got you a ride home."

"Training," Moon answered between bites. "My CO agreed to send me for specialty training."

Moon went back to his sandwich hoping Braddock wouldn't dig. He wasn't ready for the sergeant to know why he was going back, or what the training was for.

Sam had a feeling that he wasn't being told the whole story but he figured his father wouldn't have allowed the corporal on the flight without good reason.

"Thank you for the sandwich, it hit the spot." Sam thanked the young man before standing and heading back towards his hammock. There were still a few hours of the flight left. He could get some more shut-eye before they landed.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Matt asked from his hammock as Sam approached.

"Sore, but that'll wear off," Sam answered honestly.

"Need anything?"

"A good bed and my wife's magic hands." Sam sighed as he lay back down, wishing he could get a massage from Jules for his aching muscles.

"Hey now…don't get me thinking about things like that right now! We're still hours away from home and there is no telling when I'll have time for my wife's magic hands." Matt groaned as his mind automatically went to his beautiful wife Suzie.

"Wife, how do you like the sound of that?" Sam turned his head in order to see his best friend.

"I love it." Matt rose up onto one elbow. "Why didn't you tell me marriage was so amazing?"

"You never asked," Sam said deadly serious but soon his straight face burst into a huge grin. "Actually, I did tell you. You just never believed me."

"True."

"So, when are you going to have a little Matt running around?"

"Dude! We just got married!" Matt's eyes went wide.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well…" Matt couldn't stop the slight blush that crept up.

"No way…already?" Sam sat up a bit.

"We don't know for sure, but we suspect," Matt answered honestly. "She was going to go to the doctor when we got back, but you know. Things happened. I don't know if she's gone yet or not."

"Man, I hope she is. That would be awesome! Sadie would have someone to play with." Sam couldn't contain his excitement at the thought.

"Not for a couple years, but yeah. How cool would that be?"

"I guess it's a good thing we'll be home soon. Then you can find out for sure." Sam settled back down and closed his eyes.

"So, when are you and Jules going to have another?" Matt half asked, half teased. "I mean you guys go at it like rabbits."

"Not your place, Taylor. Not your place." Sam said in mock seriousness.

"Yeah, I know. But someone had to say it." Matt chuckled before rising in search of a beverage. He'd leave his friend alone, for now at least.

As Sam drifted off to sleep his thoughts went to his wife. Her beauty, her love for him, her skill in his bed. Another baby with Jules? Yeah, I could go for that. Sam had wonderful dreams of his gorgeous wife as he slept the rest of the flight.

AN: Well, do you like it?