Isn't Once Enough?, The Jury & Shared Secrets

Hotel – Team One Strategy Room

Greg, Ed, Spike and Wordy took in the scene in front of them. It was clear something had happened.

Wordy looked at the dinner plates on the table and noticed none of the dinners were finished. Something had clearly interrupted dinner. Instead of asking about that Wordy asked "Sam you want me to order you a pizza?"

Sam was about to say no but his stomach spoke for him. Wordy laughed and said "I take that as a yes." He went to the little desk that held the delivery menus and made the call.

Greg noticed Jules's eyes were red rimmed and Sam held her close. Greg wasn't sure whether it was to do with the rape or with her father but he was glad Sam was there for her.

He also noticed that Sam looked completely spent. Today was very rough on him physically and emotionally. Sam was pale and Greg saw the tiredness in Sam's eyes. Sam clearly needed some rest. Greg was not sure they should tell him tonight.

But they had discussed it on the way to the hotel and agreed to tell him tonight. It would give Sam more time to process it all. A night to sleep on it and a full day to come to terms with it all.

Sam would have that time because all competition events scheduled for tomorrow had been suspended or canceled entirely. It was necessary in order to ensure the safety of the civilians and competitors given the current environment. Those in charge of the competition would use tomorrow to implement the new security measures.

There was lots of discussion but in the end it was agreed to cut out some of the competition events. Spike wasn't happy but he understood the reasoning to cut out the bomb defusing competitions. There was just too much risk that a real bomb could be supplanted for a fake one. Especially, since they had no clue if anyone beyond Nealy was involved.

The sniper competition had been cut too. It was in part in deference to Sam. But all the snipers had chimed in and insisted it be one of the events cut after the incident. None of them felt good about doing a sniper competition after something like that. It hit too close to home to all their worst fears to feel comfortable competing like that right now.

Basically, they were left with the non-live fire competitions. Apollo had suggested a few of the live fire competitions that could be reconfigured using the MILES gear. Commander Maddox had been happy to hear that. Constable Luca Thomson, the TL from Winnipeg suggested a two on two shoot house competition with MILES gear that was accepted as a replacement event.

Spike walked over to Sam and Jules and crouched down. He looked at Sam assessing him critically. Spike said "You look like crap Sam."

Sam raised a brow "Gee thanks Spike for that warm and fuzzy."

Spike grinned "You're welcome. Competition has been canceled for tomorrow while they implement some security measures and reconfigure the event schedule. You can sleep in buddy. You look like you could use it."

Sam nodded his head "Sounds good. You can tell me all about the changes tomorrow." He was exhausted and his mind was in no shape to comprehend such details.

Spike nodded "Will do." Spike stood and headed for the table to sit in one of the chairs. As much as Sam needed to know what they found out, Spike worried that Sam looked like he was not up to hearing the news tonight. But Spike would leave it to Ed and Greg to decide if they would wait based on how Sam looked right now.

Ed pulled a chair over near the couch and straddled it backwards. He looked at both Sam and Jules. They certainly looked worse for wear. He wasn't so sure it was a good idea but if it was him he would want to know. He knew Sam would want to know too.

Clearing his throat Ed said "Samo, Jules we need to talk. There are some things you two need to know. Jules are you comfortable talking about what happened with Nealy in front of your brothers?"

Jules nodded "Yeah they know what happened. But I don't understand what there is to talk about."

Ed looked to Greg. They decided Greg would tell Jules and he would tell Sam what they learned.

Aidan got up from where he was in front of Jules and pulled over a chair for himself and Greg.

Greg said "Thanks." Then he sat down and began "When Ed, Captain Black and Koala went to talk to Old Nick about what happened they learned something else. It will be up to you how we proceed. We did not share this information at the security meeting. It was not relevant."

Jules worried her bottom lip and pressed into Sam a little more. Sam's arm tightened ever so slightly around Jules letting her know he was there for her no matter what it was.

Greg said "Apparently Old Nick overheard Bruce bragging to his friends about what he had done. Nick had no idea who the girl was though. He said he wished he had reported it anyways. But it turns out Nick was playing with a new tape recorder and actually recorded the conversation."

Jules hand went to her mouth as a small gasp escaped. Greg waited letting Jules digest that bit of information.

Her head dropped and her eyes moved back and forth as she bit her bottom lip and thoughts raced through her head. It landed on one and she looked directly at Greg "Is it admissible in court?"

Greg nodded "Yes because Old Nick was in the same room and they were aware he was there. As you know there is no statute of limitations on rape. Captain Black sent an officer to retrieve the tape."

Spike interjected "Jules the only thing you need to keep in mind though is that tapes degrade over time. I hope it is still in decent shape."

Jules nodded "So if it is still okay, then it is like a taped confession. It wouldn't be a he said, she said issue."

"That's right" Wordy said as he walked closer. "Bruce could be held accountable for what he did to you."

Greg said softly "But only if you want to press charges. It is a personal decision. One you need to wait to make until you hear the rest of what we have found out."

There was a knock at the door. Wordy went to answer and smiled. He read the name tag as he pulled out his wallet "That was fast Andrew."

Andrew, the pizza delivery guy said "We aim to please."

Spike and Ed came to the door and grabbed the pizzas and sodas while Wordy paid. Jules started to get up and Spike said "Stay I'll bring you both a slice. Everyone else have at it."

Jules said "Bring Sam two or three please. And no more details until Sam finishes."

The next few minutes were spent with everyone thanking Wordy, getting pizza and sodas and finding a place to sit. Jules slid off Sam's lap and sat next to him so they both could eat.

Spike brought Sam five slices and a soda. Sam chuckled as he took a big bite. God he was starving again. The team was looking out for him. It felt good after today. Sometimes a little mother henning wasn't bad.

Jules's request for no more detail was classic. She knew when he was stressed he did not eat. And right now he had a feeling whatever they needed to tell them next would stress him out. Sam wolfed down four slices of pizza and was working on his fifth when Jules finished her first.

Sam finished and closed his eyes to relax as the others finished their pizza. He counted his heart beats again; still much higher than normal. Sam needed sleep so he needed to get this over with quickly. He opened his eyes and looked to Ed who had finished his pizza and was sipping a soda.

"What else do you need to tell us?" Sam asked.

Ed set down his soda "Spike did some research on Nealy. Found out he has a military background."

Sam said "Yeah we knew that. So?"

Ed elaborated "Spike found a sealed file from Special Forces testing. He asked Apollo what kind of reason would there be for a sealed file. He gave a few reasons but then Apollo said a guy by the name of Mutt went through recruit testing at the same time you did. Mutt didn't make it that time. But Mutt recounted an incident at occurred that could be responsible for the sealed file. Then when Old Nick related what happened Koala pieced together something."

Sam's mind whirled "Christ it's the same guy! The name was familiar but Jesus Christ. They are the same guy, that is what you are saying aren't you?"

Ed nodded.

Jules asked "Sam same as who? You are not making sense."

Sam looked at Jules who had shifted to the couch next to him "Bruce Nealy. Your Bruce and my Bruce are the same damned guy."

"Sam. Your Bruce? What the hell are you talking about?" Jules demanded.

Sam explained "In recruit testing. Corporal Bruce Nealy hit me with a tree branch during a hand to hand combat drill. We were doing King of the Hill. Bruce was my first opponent. They kept adding more men as I fended them off and stayed atop the hill. It got to four men. Koala, Keller and Smith worked together but Nealy was a wildcard. He was ineffective so I basically ignored him in favor of dealing with the other three."

"Koala got ahold of my arm. As I twisted to get away from Koala, Nealy attacked from behind with a tree branch. We were not supposed to use any weapons. The branch punctured my back near the kidney. It almost ended my testing. Nealy was kicked out of testing for failing to follow instructions and using a weapon."

Sam looked at Ed "The guy was a pain in my ass the entire time I was at Petawawa. He screwed up my payroll too. I cannot believe that they are the same person. Well actually I can but what are the odds?"

Jules asked "How did Koala make this connection? I mean it is odd."

Ed pinched the bridge of his nose. He explained how Koala had bumped into an officer and thought he looked familiar. Then he looked at both Sam and Jules "Nealy deliberately sent Old Nick behind the line of fire. We are pretty sure he was trying to kill Old Nick."

Jules jaw dropped "It was no accident?"

Ed shook his head "It was confirmed by both Old Nick and a little girl that saw Nealy move the barricade and sent Nick back there. Nealy told Old Nick it was a shortcut for those with VIP passes. Nealy was in charge of security he knew we were firing."

"There is an APB and arrest warrant out for Nealy. We don't know if he is responsible for other actions like the cut rope and jammed guns. But yeah it was no accident. Nealy deliberately sent Old Nick back there when Sam was getting ready to fire."

Sam stared at Ed and his jaw clenched. His heart raced. Deliberate. Nealy sent an innocent man into his line of fire deliberately. Nealy wanted him to kill an innocent man.

His breathing became irregular and Sam started to hyperventilate. He was getting lightheaded but he pushed up from the couch. He didn't know where he was going but his chaotic mind whirled and he just couldn't sit there. The thought that Nealy deliberately sent an innocent old man into his line of fire so he would kill him increased his heart rate again. The room was beginning to spin.

Ed stood and gripped Sam's arm. Sam was pale and wavering where he stood. God he shouldn't have told him tonight. Sam was not recovered enough from earlier to handle it. Ed said urgently "Samo. Sam sit down. Slow your breathing."

Sam turned his head and looked at Ed his eyes wild and chaotic "Deliberate … Deliberate." His eyes rapidly blinked.

Wordy was up and next to Sam holding his other arm the instant Sam began to sway. Sam looked confused and he was hyperventilating. Christ this was not good. Wordy knew they should have held off telling him. But then again it would be a shock no matter when they told him.

Jules was off the couch and around in front of Sam in a flash "Sam. Sam, look at me. Look at me."

Sam's eyes found Jules "Why?"

Crumbling to his knees Sam's voice was desolate "Why Jules? Why? Isn't once enough? I have to live with killing one innocent man. I have to live with killing Matt. Why? Why me?"

Ed and Wordy were holding Sam up as Jules went to her knees. She pulled Sam's head to her chest and held him tight and Sam did not resist. She could not answer why.

The Callaghan brothers looked on as Spike and Greg went to Sam too. They saw the team surround Sam and each laid a hand on Sam's shoulders, back or arms. They watched as their sister comforted the man.

Brayden felt like an outsider. He watched as Jules comforted Sam like Sam had comforted her not that long ago. My god, it was like one soul in two bodies. He turned away and walked to the window to give them some privacy.

His brothers followed suit. The four of them stood there staring out the window. Brayden was sure they had similar thoughts; they wished they had done more way back when. Nealy was a piece of garbage and needed to be stopped.

After a bit Greg tapped Jules on the shoulder and said "We should get Sam to your room. He needs to rest."

Jules nodded and said "Sam we are going to go to our room. I'm gonna be right with you but Ed and Wordy are gonna make sure you get there. Okay?"

Sam's heart was racing and he could not calm it even though he was trying. He nodded against Jules's chest. He let Ed and Wordy lift him. Each put one of his arms over their shoulders and held all his weight. His legs did not want to work even though he tried. Jules whispered to him as Ed and Wordy began to move him towards the door.

The room was spinning and spinning and Sam finally had to close his eyes to ward off the desire to hurl. If only he could slow his breathing and heart rate down. He vaguely heard Ed starting to count out sniper breathing for him.

Sam tried to follow Ed. He really tried but he was having difficulty focusing on Ed's words as one shot replayed over and over in his head always ending with a huge pool of blood and an angry shout of "You bastard you killed Matt."

Jules glanced at her brothers standing at the window. She caught Brayden's eyes in the reflection and said quickly "I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow."

Brayden only nodded.

Greg opened the door and whispered to Jules "Take care of him Jules."

Jules gave Greg a sad smile and said "Always."

Greg nodded once and added "I'll check on you in the morning. Call if you need anything. I mean anything."

Jules nodded and followed Ed, Sam and Wordy out the door.

Reuben's Apartment Above the Jagged Glass Bar

Reuben came back into his apartment. He had left Bruce with a bottle of scotch several hours ago. He had made the contacts and obtained the items Bruce wanted.

Bruce was sprawled out on his couch and passed out and the empty scotch bottle was on the floor near the couch. Bruce was a drunk. Reuben wondered how the hell he lasted in the Army so long without being found out.

Well he did tend to hold his alcohol better than most but he was still a drunk. Reuben hoped that getting Bruce what he asked for would not come back to bite him in the ass. He ran his brothel, drugs and guns under the table for so many years. But it was a way to finally be free of Bruce. Bruce agreed this was the last thing he would ever have to do for him.

Reuben placed the non-descript backpack on the table and grabbed himself a beer. He learned long ago to stay away from the hard stuff and drugs. Running a bar gave him a good view of what imbibing in the hard liquor could do to a person. Watching Xander convulse and die in front of him showed him what drugs could do too. So he stayed away from both personally but had no qualms about selling them to those that wanted them.

It was a good thing that anyone that had seen Bruce in the bar earlier was gone when the cops came looking for him. Lola and he simply lied and said they had not seen Officer Nealy in the bar and assured the cops they would call if he did show up. Lying came easy for Reuben anyways.

Reuben grabbed a glass of water then walked to Bruce and poured it slowly in his face. It was time to wake his drunken ass up.

Bruce sputtered as water splashed in his face. He was wiping furiously at it as he sat up. "God dammed Reuben. Why the hell did you do that?"

Laughing Reuben said "Cause I wanted too. Time to wake up. I got what you asked for."

Using the pillow on the couch to dry his face Bruce said "Everything?"

Pointing to the backpack Reuben said "It's all in there. The weapon is untraceable. Was a little hard to find exactly what you wanted but I did."

Bruce staggered to the table and opened the backpack. He pulled out the black pants, black long sleeved shirt, gloves and full face mask. He then pulled out a nasty looking twelve inch blade with serrations at the tip.

He turned to Reuben "Nice."

Reuben shrugged "Don't know what you want with a blade and a gun but I really don't want to know details either. A couple of cops were by earlier asking if you had been in. Lied and told them no."

Bruce nodded as he slid the knife in the sheath "Thanks. After I take care of something I'll be out of your hair. This won't come back to you."

Reuben eyed Bruce and stated "Better not. We agreed this was the last thing. And you do know if you renege you will pay for it. I've got connections everywhere."

"It won't. My plans will be air tight. I just need to lie low here a few days while I make my plans" Bruce said as he pulled out the Jury and the box of ammo. He said "Glad you found it. It's perfect."

"Never heard of a Jury before today. Why that gun" Reuben asked.

Bruce grinned "The Jury is small but powerful. It takes five rounds, shotgun and single bore. It will blow a huge hole in my target. He'll bleed out and die painfully. It's about time he faces the Jury and was held accountable for fucking with my life."

"Say no more. I really don't want details" Rueben said as he headed out the door. He stopped and said "After this we are done Bruce. I give you three days then you are out of here. I don't need the kind of trouble I'm thinking you are headed into."

Bruce sat at the table "Three days and I'm gone. You'll never see me again."

Reuben closed the door and headed back to the bar. His debt to Bruce was paid after this. Bruce held Xander's death over his head for so many years.

Sure he was the one that got the drugs but he did not make Xander OD. But Bruce had evidence that showed he had bought the drugs and held that over his head. Some days Reuben wished he had never met Bruce in high school. But after this Reuben would be free and clear of the drunken ass Bruce.

Hotel – Team One Strategy Room

The door closed behind Jules, Ed, Wordy and Sam. Greg whipped off his hat and said forcefully "Son of a bitch!"

Spike sat heavily on a chair and his knee started to bounce feverishly. Spike said to no one "He had to know. He had too. But God dammit! I want to know why too. Why does this shit always happen to Sam?"

Greg turned to Spike "No answers. There are no answers to that question Spike."

Looking up at Greg Spike responded "I know but dammit. Sam doesn't deserve it. Sara, Matt, the god damned torture, Plouffe, Merrill, the dirty cops, Vlad, Dupont, the red headed bitch, and the list goes on. And now Nealy, again apparently! I mean when does it end? When?"

Sitting down Greg shook his head slowly "I don't know. I just don't. All we can do is be here for him."

Spike growled out "I should have hacked that sealed file. Then we would have known before."

Compassionately Greg said "Knowing what was in that file would not have changed today. We had no idea that Nealy was capable of doing what he did. So Spike none of this is your fault. Hacking the file would have made no difference."

"I need to do something" Spike growled.

Nodding Greg said "I understand Spike but tonight you just need to rest too. We all do. Sam and Jules will both need us to be strong."

The Callaghan brothers stood listening. They had all registered the list Spike had rambled off of things Sam did not deserve. But only Brayden cringed when he heard 'the god dammed torture'.

What he saw, all the scars on Sam's chest made sense. The man had been tortured at some point in his life. Concern for Jules edged up. It sounded like Sam had a lot of bad thing happen to him. Was Sam stable? Could he hurt Jules?

Brayden turned and asked quietly and without malice or accusation "Does Sam suffer PTSD from being tortured?"

Spike's eyes whipped to Brayden just realizing Jules's brothers were in the room and said emphatically "NO!"

Keagan looked at his brother "Why did you ask that?"

"I saw his scars. They are …" Brayden struggled for a descriptor and finally said "They are shocking."

Greg nodded understanding what the driver of the question was. He answered "Yes they are. I still remember the first time I saw them. But you have no cause to be concerned. Sam is stable but he has had to endure many hardships. He has very good coping mechanisms. Jules is safe with him."

Aidan sat down next to Spike and asked "You named off quite a few things. We know about Matt. But who are the others?"

Spike shook his head "Not my place to tell you. I forgot you were in the room. What I can tell you is that I trust my life to Sam. He is one of the most honorable men I know. Sam would die before he ever allowed Jules to be harmed."

Aidan nodded. From what he saw earlier, when Sam squared off with Keagan, Spike's statement rang true to him.

Finley commented "We saw that news conference from a while ago; the one where they listed all Sam's medals and awards. Christ that was a lot of awards."

Spike smiled "And those were only the few that could be recognized publically. The list of concealed ones is twice as long."

Oh crap he didn't really say that out loud did he? Spike looked to the Boss. He was looking at him oddly. Yep. He had said it out loud. What should he say for damage control?

Greg gave Spike a soft smile "I always kinda wondered about that; Special Forces and all. Lots of secret missions I'm sure. Not something they could publically acknowledge."

Scratching his head and trying to look away but then looking directly at Greg, Spike replied "Let's just pretend I didn't say anything. I kinda snooped in Sam's room when I stayed at the General's home. Sam doesn't know I know. But I know and that is all I'm saying."

"Your secret is safe with me Spike" Greg said. The Greg turned to Jules's brothers and said "With all of us."

The brothers nodded.

Then Greg said to Jules's brothers "Thank you for being here for them today."

Aidan said "Anything for Rogue and Quill."

Greg looked at Aidan "That's the second time I've heard those names."

Finley grinned "We've got a bit of a secret ourselves."

Brayden shot Finley as look "We decided as a group not to say anything yet to Jules and Sam."

Aidan said "Oh come on Bray. Spike let his secret slip. I'm dying to tell them. Let me tell Spike and Greg at least. Then they will know they can trust us."

Keagan and Finley only shrugged and looked to Brayden. Brayden said "Alright but Greg, Spike you have to promise not to tell Jules or Sam yet. We want to see their faces when they find out."

Greg's eye gleamed with knowledge and said "I trust you. But tell Spike, he could use a good laugh."

The brothers stared at Greg.

"Your father told me when we had coffee this afternoon" Greg explained with a smile. This story could help distract Spike from the events of today and recenter him. Spike needed a laugh.

Intrigued Spike said "Find out what?"

Aidan's face became animated as he said "Jules and Sam didn't meet for the first time like you told us."

"No?" Spike asked becoming more interested.

"Nope. They were actually nine and six. We were camping and they met and squared off on a log bridge. Each telling the other to back up so they could cross. Jules's hair was cut really short. Sam thought she was a boy. But when he found out she was a girl he started to back up to let her pass first."

Spike quipped "Ever the gentleman."

Aidan nodded and continued "Jules didn't see him backing up and got mad because he called her a boy. She pushed Sam off the log. He landed in quicksand. Brayden held onto him so he didn't sink further while the others ran for help. Sam's Uncle and our Dad got Sam out. Sam's cousins were so angry the adults thought we might get into it so they came up with a shooting contest to settle us all down."

Spike asked "So Rogue and Quill?"

Keagan answered "Code names. Sam and his cousin were all calling each other by code names. Sam's was Quill. Not quite sure why. Aidan was into X-men and gave us all code names. He named Jules Rogue. We never knew their real names. We only saw them that one afternoon and evening."

Brayden said "That is until we saw the photo of Sam and Jules when Sam was teaching Jules how to use a scope. Our Mom must have learned Sam's real name when she tended him after he was out of the quicksand. She wrote it on the back of the picture."

"When I met Sam in Police Park when I spoke with Jules I thought his eyes seemed familiar. They are still so expressive. When I held onto him in that quicksand he was so afraid but he hid it well except for in his eyes. I never forgot those eyes."

Spike chuckled with a huge smile and rubbed his hands together "Oh boy. I can't wait to see their faces when they find out. You gotta promise to tell them when we are there."

Aidan nodded and grinned happily "It should be priceless to see don't ya think?"

Spike nodded and then an old memory popped in and he said "Wait! I know about that trip it was in Réserve Faunique Ashuapmushuan. Scott told me about it. Sam was hallucinating due to a very high fever and he was upset he had messed up the camping trip for his cousin Jeff. "

Turning to Greg he said "Remember our ski trip when Sam's leg got so infected?"

Greg nodded. Yeah he remembered that. Another hardship Sam had to endure. Damned near lost both Spike and Sam that trip.

Spike turned back to Aidan and said "Scott, that's Sam's twin cousin, said that when Sam was six he got very sick on a camping trip with his Uncle Mark and cousins Adam, Jeff and Scott. It was Sam's first camping trip and he was just learning how to do things. Fell out of a tree, tipped a canoe over, kept getting the fly-line caught in the trees."

Aidan interrupted "Twin cousin?"

Spike laughed "They look very much alike. Should have seen how Jules reacted to Scott in the ICU waiting room after Sam was shot in the chest."

"Shot in the chest?" Finley asked.

Spike began explaining his multiple memories. He told all about the ski trip, the gang war and how Sam was the target of Plouffe and how they met Sam's family and Jules's reaction to Scott. Then he asked Aidan to tell him more about the camping trip and the shooting competition.

When the subject changed to the camping trip and Aidan and Spike yammered together Keagan turned to Greg and asked "You said they have an APB out on Nealy. Do you think he will try anything against Jules?"

Greg sighed and replied "Possibly but more likely he is trying to skip town. The fact he disappeared after sending Nick behind the live fire means he probably realizes that he would be found out."

Finley was paying attention to Keagan's and Greg's conversation and ground out "Brayden you should have let me finish him off back then."

Keagan stated "No brother. You are not a killer. You would not have been able to live with yourself."

Brayden clapped Finley's back "Keagan's right. As much as this situation sucks I would never have allowed you to do something like that. I love you too much to allow you to do something like that."

Keagan asked "What can we do to help? My gut says that Bruce is capable of doing anything. Bruce is one depraved son of a bitch. He might even blame Sam or Jules because Old Nick is still alive. One or both of them could be a target if he does."

Spike and Aidan had stopped to listen and Spike interjected "That is why we had to tell Sam tonight. As tough as it was to tell him it was deliberate Sam needed to know. He needed to know so he could protect himself and Jules."

Aidan said "We will do anything you need us to do. We just got Jules back into our lives. I for one am not ready to lose her to that damned Nealy."

Greg stood and said "Go home. Get some rest. Join us here about one tomorrow. We will discuss how you can help then."

The brothers all stood and nodded. They shook both Greg's and Spike's hands and said goodnight and that they would all be here tomorrow.

When they were gone Spike looked at Greg and chuckled "So Rogue and Quill?"

Greg grinned "You know I think we should let them tell Sam and Jules about that tomorrow. Everyone could use a laugh."

Spike grinned as he nodded in agreement and the two headed out to their rooms.