Spike was in the shower getting ready for work, Sydni had gone down to the nursery and gotten the baby from her bed. She changed her and carried her back to the bedroom, she fed her the bottle she had fixed and burped her. They were laying in bed playing together, Karina let out a giggle. Sydni blew on her belly again and she giggled again, kicking her feet and legs. The baby grabbed her mom's face slobbering on it. Spike stood in the bathroom door watching them play.
"How are the two most beautiful girls in the world this morning?" He leaned down and kissed Sydni on the lips, he then kissed the baby on the forehead.
"We're fine." He picked the baby up and snugged her in his arms, she open mouth slobbered on his cheek.
They went down stairs Spike put Karina in the swing. When he stood up Sydni took the opportunity to kiss her husband good morning. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a proper good morning kiss, he lifted her up, holding her against him.
"You keep kissing me like that, and I may never make it to work."
"Constable Scarlatti, you have to go keep the peace."
"I better leave before I'm late."
"Come back home to us!"
"Always." He kissed her one last time before heading out the door.
XXXX
Sydni had just gotten the baby down for a nap when her phone rang.
"Hello."
"Is this Dr. Sydni Lane-Scarlatti?" This is Lt. Holleran with SRU." For a brief second her heart stopped, her thoughts went to Spike.
"Yes, it is. What can I do for you Lieutenant?"
"I'm calling about your job application, I'd like to talk to you. Can you come into HQ later today?" She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let me arrange for a sitter. What time?"
"Will three work for you?"
"That should be fine, thank you."
She called her sister in law, to see if she could watch the baby. Getting that taken care of, she could go to her interview later in the afternoon.
XXXX
She dropped Karina off at Ed and Sophie's house and drove to HQ, she talked to Winnie while she waited for Lt. Holleran. Team One was out patrolling the streets that afternoon. Holleran was ready for her, she followed him back to his office and took a seat in one of the desk chairs.
"Dr. Scarlatti, I see you applied for the forensic psychologist. Why?"
"I still allows me to do what I love, help others, while balancing motherhood and being a wife."
"I will be honest, I think it would be a waste of your time and talents."
"Excuse me?"
"Looking at your resume, I think you would be better suited as a member of Team 2."
"I don't know what to say."
"You would be fast tracked in because of your experience."
She sat in shock, she knew what Spike would say, to buy some time she used him as her excuse. "I would have to discuss it with Spike."
"Of course. The other job is yours if you still want it, but I'm hoping you'll accept Team 2." She stood up and shook his hand and left his office.
She was thrilled with the offer, and would have accepted it right off the bat but she had a family to think about. She walked down the hall to the reception area.
XXX
"So, did you get the job?" Winnie asked.
She didn't hear her, she didn't hear Spike calling her name either until he grabbed her around the waist. Her instinct kicked in and she grabbed him by his arm and flipped him to the floor. The loud kaplop of him landing on his backside, and the rest of Team One laughing brought her out of her trance.
She stuck her hand out to help Spike up. "I'm sorry." She looked down at him. He jumped up and grabbed her shoulders looking into her eyes.
"Is everything okay? Is something wrong with Karina?"
"No. Nothing is wrong. I was in my own world."
"Clearly!" He laughed and brought her into is arms hugging he.
Ed walked up to them. "Syd, I'd hate to have to arrest you for assaulting an officer." He said laughing.
The rest of the team came up and started razzing him about Syd throwing him on the floor. She just laughed with them. Lt. Holleran came down the hall with a folder.
"I'm glad I caught you Dr. Scarlatti, here's the job info about the position for Team 2 and the one you applied for."
"Thank you, Sir." She took the information and looked over at Spike. He was starring at her, she couldn't tell if he was more angry or shocked.
XXX
She stopped and picked up the baby before heading home, it gave Spike a good ten minutes to get there and maybe cool off. She walked in the door and he was waiting in the living room for her, he wasn't happy.
"I thought you said it was for a Forensic Psychologist! You lied!" She calmly put the baby down for tummy time on the floor, she spun on him.
"I didn't lie! That's what I applied for!"
"Then why do you have information about Team 2?"
"Because Holleran offered it to me!"
"What did you tell him?"
"That we'd discuss it!"
"No!"
"No, what?"
"You aren't joining Team 2!"
"Why?"
"It's too dangerous! You have a baby to think about!"
"So do you!"
They stared at each other, both angry. "You call him tomorrow and decline the offer for Team 2!"
"Michelangelo Scarlatti, are you telling me or asking me?" She glared at him daring him to answer. Karina started to cry, picking up the tension between her parents. Sydni went over and picked her up, cooing and singing to her. She heard the door open and shut, she looked out the window and saw Spike leaving. Great she thought, he had tucked tail and ran.
She went to the kitchen and fixed a bottle for the baby, she sat in the chair and fed her. Trying not to be upset that Spike had left in a middle of a fight, she bathed the baby and put her to bed. She went down stairs and fixed herself something to eat, Spike still wasn't home. She got ready for bed, she climbed in and cried herself to sleep.
XXX
Spike's side of the bed hadn't been slept in that night, she touched his side of the bed. She got up and went into the baby's room, she was laying in her crib talking to the animals. She scooped her up in her arms and carried her to the changing table, she got her dressed. Carrying her down stairs, she fixed a bottle and fed it to her. She checked her phone, no missed calls or messages from Spike.
She was hurt and angry with him that morning. She got dressed and went to run a few errands, while she was out she got a phone call about the job at the hospital. She set up an interview later in the afternoon, Sophie said she would babysit again. She ran home and changed clothes, dropped off Karina and headed into St. Vincent's hospital.
XXX
Spike was in a foul mood and had been all day, his team had noticed and given him a wide berth. He hated that he and Sydni fought last night, he was more mad at himself for acting like an ass. He should have called her last night and told her he was crashing at his parents house last night because his dad needed him. Instead he let his anger get the better of him, and he ignored her.
They had some training in the morning, they were getting ready to go out on patrol that afternoon.
"Team One, Hot Call! St. Vincent's Hospital on Lock Down. Active Shooter."
The team loaded up and headed to the hospital, Spike would have to put his personal problems aside and call after the call was finished. They arrived at the hospital and started to get more information.
"A distraught mother two days postpartum entered the hospital, social services took her baby at delivery because of drug use. She's taken hostages in the social service department. Two workers are dead, and several are injured. They have the department on lock down."
"Spike let's get eyes and ears."
"Copy that boss."
XXXX
Sydni was being shown the Social Service department when the shooting started, she took cover behind a desk. The young women was distraught and shooting anything that moved. She was blaming them for losing custody of her child. Sydni's instincts kicked in.
She stood up and started inching towards the young women. "Hi, my name is Sydni. Can you tell me what's wrong?"
The women pointed the gun at Sydni and started to fire, she dove behind a desk. She felt a bullet hit her leg and thigh. Damn it! She was started sniper breathing to control the pain. The phone started ringing, Sydni knew who it would be.
She sat up and looked at her. "Please answer the phone. The person on the other end wants to help you."
XXX
Spike got control of the hospital's security feed to the truck, he locked into the Social Service department and focused in on the shooter. He saw a familiar figure walking towards the women then dive behind a desk. His heart stopped as he saw bullets his his wife.
"Oh my God! Sydni!"
"Where?" Ed's voice came over the radio.
"She's in the department, she's been hit."