Damn writers block!

Rage. Anger. Fury. Outrage. Pure hatred.

There wasn't just a single word that could explain what Ed Lane was feeling. It was like a volcano of anger just waiting to explode.

The least he wanted was an explanation, some reason as to why Sam would do such a thing.

They never admitted it, they knew they would get their ass' kicked if they did but Team One were all protective of Jules and she would always be looked at as their little sister. Each and every member of the team would go above and beyond the call to defend her.

Ed tried to keep calm, hold his composure as he made his way towards the locker room.

When a team mate is hurt or in danger there is almost an unwritten rule that you as a friend, as a colleague and most of all, as a family member, must help them.

He made his way in to the locker room where Team One were slumped on the benches enjoying every moment they had to relax.

All Ed wanted to do was walk in there, break his neck, hopefully watch him die slowly and then go home. Well, it went that simple in his fantasy but he thought about it and decided to be smart.

"Hey Sam, can I ask you a question?" Ed stood in front of Team One. The question was clearly directed at Sam but as curiosity got the better of all of them, they each turned their head to Ed and Sam.

"What's up?" Sam asked.

"Are you cold?" The question sounded dumb but Ed knew exactly where he was going with this.

"Excuse me?" Sam too found the question dumb, where was he going with this?

"It's extremely warm in here. Even without doing a full day in the gym I think most people were already practically sweating when they walked in the door" Ed continued. He didn't sound angry, he just sounded like a man on a mission.

Sam looked towards Spike, Lou and Wordy in confusion before realising that they had no idea what Ed was going on about either.

"I suppose" He stood up to face his locker and pretended to be doing something inside the locker.

"So why is Jules the only person inside this entire building wearing a jacket?"

He knows. How could he know? Greg wouldn't tell him. Dr Luria wouldn't tell him. Would Jules?

Sam pursed his lips and looked Ed in the eyes.

The three men sitting down looked back between Sam and Ed as if this was a tennis match.

"You must've hit her pretty hard if she's already covering up the bruises with jackets"

Sam turned to face his locker. There was that feeling again, secretly it had never left him but now more than ever he couldn't look at Ed. That feeling of overwhelming guilt and anger swept over his body.

Spike, Wordy and Lou were now transfixed on Sam. If Ed was wrong Sam would've said something by now, stood up for himself. But he was quiet, dead silent in fact. It was the calling card of a guilty man.

"You sick bastard" Ed stepped forward as the other three men stood up too. Sam slowly turned around and held his hands out to stop them all.

"Please, I can explain" Truth be told, he could. But Ed didn't want to hear it.

Before anybody could stop him, Ed had punched Sam to the ground. The punch felt so good for Ed, it was like a sweet release that he couldn't get enough of.

Sam on the other hand couldn't say the same. He was punched right in the eye, and if the bruise wasn't already there it soon would be. He was knocked to the ground and slightly dizzy.

"Please...Ed stop" He almost begged. He needed to explain himself.

Ed walked over to him teasingly.

"Did Jules beg for you to stop? Huh?" He walked over and proceeded to kick Sam in the stomach.

The other three men seemed to just stand there. It was as if they were in shock. Part of them wanted Ed to stop, Sam was still their team mate. But the other, more dominant half, wanted him to keep going. Sam deserved it.

"HEY!" Greg shouted as he ran over to Ed and Sam. He dragged Ed of him as he still tried to kick him in the face.

The other three felt that this was probably a good time to snap out of the trances and hold onto Ed.

"What the hell was that about?!" Greg stood in the middle of the two but looked at Ed. He knew he was the ring leader of this. This was something that happened in high school not in the locker room between two respected police officers.

"I heard what you said. He bashed Jules to a pulp and your supporting him!?"

Greg turned to look at Sam who was slowly lifting himself off the ground.

"Go get yourself cleaned up Sam"

Sam nodded at Greg before leaving the room keeping his eyes fixed on Ed's the entire time.

"He deserved that and a whole lot more!" Ed yelled at Greg. Something he hadn't had to do in a long time.

"That was the dumbest thing you've ever done. You eavesdrop on part of a conversation and then act on the tiny little snippet you have heard? You're the team leader, I should expect this from your son not from you!"

Ed was still confused. The whole situation seemed pretty simple to him. Sam bashed Jules, Greg found out and Ed bashed Sam. In all honesty he didn't see the problem. Why was Greg protecting him?

"Ok, Mr wise guy. What am I missing? What could possible make Sam bashing Jules ok?"

"Well the fact that he has no memory of it might help. He was asleep Ed, he woke up to find himself on top of his girlfriend scared and screaming. Don't you think that's enough punishment for him?"

Ed couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"He was asleep? That was his excuse?"

"God what is wrong with you? You've had it out for him since day one and I've had enough of it!"

Greg looked over to Wordy, Spike and Lou who seemed to be in the same place they had been the entire time. It didn't take long for them to get the idea, they weren't wanted in this room.

After they left Greg sat down and wiped his face with his palms.

"It's called a night terror Ed. It happens to people who have suffered traumatic events. And frankly for someone who has already been through some serious shit, this is just torture for him"

Ed had calmed down from his anger rush and slid his back down the locker across from Greg.

"He loves her Ed, more than anybody or anything in the world. I know you love her like a little sister but you've gotta let the two sort things out on their own"

Ed nodded. "I know, I know it's just..."

He scratched the back of his head and continued "I don't like seeing her hurt"

"Me neither Ed, me neither. But she's a strong woman"

They each let out a little laugh. Obviously because that was an understatement. She had a mental break down in front of her entire Team yet here she was, picking up the pieces and trying to put them back into place. She was one of the best snipers in the SRU and Ed wasn't afraid to admit that.

"So?" Ed hesitantly asked.

"So...Team four just arrived and Team seven should be here any minute. I'm sure we can all pack up early and head home"

"That's the best news I've heard all day"

******

Sam walked out of the locker room and without thinking headed straight into Jules' locker room. Nobody used it any more and frankly he just wanted to get away from it all.

He splashed the cold water on his face and looked at the bruises around his eye and on his stomach. This wasn't as bad as what he had done to Jules and he couldn't help but feel that he deserved every punch Ed gave him.

He lifted the shirt off and bent over the sink.

This dream...this night terror could destroy everything he had every worked for. His relationship with Jules could go out the window, his career down the drain. He had to make this right.

He looked up in the mirror and as he had expected would happen, Jules was now standing directly behind him, her eyes fixed on the bruises.

"Why...Who?" She couldn't get out a full sentence.

He placed a kiss on her forehead before wrapping his arms tightly around her and placing his head on hers.

"Ed found out about last night"

No more needed to be said. She knew what Ed was capable and was actually able to smile at the fact that he had kept her boyfriend alive.

"At least it was his fist and not his gun" The two laughed. How she could possibly find a joke in this situation was incredible.

******

As Sam made his way home, Jules knew exactly where she wanted to go.

She walked up to the front door and knocked softly.

"Hey Sophie, is Ed home?"

"Sure Jules, he's just out the back on the hammock"

Jules walked outside to see Ed all on his lonesome swinging in his hammock with his eyes closed. She crept up quietly towards him before he opened his eyes.

"Stealth approaches won't work on me Miss Callaghan"

She let out a small giggle before sitting on the edge of the hammock.

He shook his smile of his face and bowed his head down.

"Why didn't you come to me first Eddie? You know I would've told you the truth."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just you know I'm always gonna be protective of you"

"I know"

They paused for a moment, admiring the dark sky that was forming above them.

Each processing what could be said to break the silence.

"Although..." Jules started

"I'm glad to see you can fight without a gun"

He finally broke his silence and let out a small laugh.

"Oh shoosh you!"

"Ed?"

"Yeah?"

"We cool?" She needed Ed. She needed to be able to trust him and to know that he trusted her.

"Yeah...we are" He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into a polite hug to let her know that everything was ok because for the first time in over a month, everything was ok.

********

That night, Jules laid on the couch with Sam, cuddled up softly to his chest.

She thought about where she had been a month ago, the shooting, the alcohol, the little girl, the cocaine, the N/A meeting, the breakdown, rehab, the night terror. She found herself wondering if she had changed just one tiny thing would her life be better. She looked around the room and back up to her boyfriend. No. Things were just fine the way they were. Sure, things were not perfect and it was going to take time to fully get her life back but for now things were normal and that's all she ever wanted.

Looks like i'm gonna have to end it there folks. I'll try and get an epilogue up tomorrow though : )