##### Mik's apartment, two weeks after second rescue #####
"Mik? You ok?" Jules asked. She saw Mik drift away, really only picking at her food. "Your lunch ok?"
"Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just not very hungry." Mik looked down at her half eaten chicken fingers and french fries. She picked up a chicken finger, dipped it in barbecue sauce and took a bite.
"You looked like you were a million miles away for a sec." Jules took a bite of her burger.
"Just thinking." Mik looked at Jules and smiled.
"Yeah. Lots to think about." Jules nodded.
"Mmm." Mik said around another bite of barbecue covered chicken goodness. Once she swallowed she said, "I'm really glad to be home though."
"I don't blame you there. Hospitals suck and you had a long stay. It's good to get back into your own environment, your own routine."
"Speaking from experience?" Mik raised a brow.
Jules tipped her head in agreement. "Unfortunately. I had just gotten back to the SRU when we met at the park. I was shot in the side and had to be in the hospital for just over a week. It sucked. Then my first call back with the team was in the same hospital."
"Wow." Mik said surprised. She didn't press for details. She knew Jules couldn't tell her. "I'll bet that brought back a few memories."
"Meh. It wasn't too bad." Jules shrugged.
"Ever the professional." Mik smiled. That was one of the things she liked about Jules, her ability to be so strong when she needed to be. "Oh, I talked to Camille earlier today. She said to say hi."
"How was she?" Jules smiled. She was glad she had introduced Camille and Mik. Mik was already talking about making plans to visit Camille and her family.
"Good. Her oldest, Michael broke his arm playing baseball. He'll be out the rest of the season."
"Aww. Poor kid." Jules munched on her fries.
"Yeah. He's really upset. Everything else is good. She wanted me to ask if you got the invite to their wedding vow renewal ceremony in August. " Mik arched an eyebrow. She saw hers on the kitchen counter with the rest of the mail.
"Oh. Yeah I did. I'll email her and let her know." Jules took out her phone and set a reminder. She saw a text from Sam, Mik settled in ok? She texted back, Yes. Eating lunch and hanging. She smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.
Mik felt a pang of jealousy. She saw Jules type something and wondered if she was texting Sam. Stop it, she told herself. You aren't together. After they talked in her room that day she didn't see or hear from him for several days. He called and checked on her a couple times, but otherwise they didn't communicate. She felt ok about it now.
That day she had cried for quite awhile. Cheryl had been reluctant to free one of her hands because she was so upset, but Mik had been a blubbering mess and had needed a hand free to blow her nose. Cheryl had finally released one of her hands but had stayed in the room for awhile until she had to leave for an emergency. She came back 20 minutes later, concerned, but Mik was fine. It hurt, but after a few days, and a few talks with Dr. L, she felt better.
The following week they had finally removed the restraints, under Dr. L's recommendation, and started her physical therapy. It was painful and really hard because she had so many injuries. Her pelvis was the most painful. She was glad for the pain meds they gave her. It made walking more manageable.
Mik blew out a breath when she shifted on the couch and felt a stab in her pelvis.
Jules watched Mik shift and blow out a breath in pain. When Mik looked at her she knew Mik needed the other pill. She stood and walked the few feet to the couch. "Are you done?" She put out a hand towards Mik's plate.
A wave of nausea passed over her, she handed Jules the plate and nodded. She waited until Jules came back and had Jules help her stand. She shuffled to the bedroom where Jules helped her settle into the bed and gave her the second pill and water. "Thanks." Mik sighed and took the pill. "You don't have to stay. I'm going to sleep for awhile. KK will be over tonight."
"Are you sure?" Jules looked at her critically.
"Yes. Thank you for everything. Tell the Sarge I said thanks for giving you the day off. Tell all of them hi for me."
"I will. Is there anything you need before I go?"
"No. Just lock the door on your way out." Mik said and laid her head on the pillows. Man she missed her own bed and pillows.
"Ok. Talk to you later?" Jules said over her shoulder as she started to leave. She saw Mik nod and close her eyes. She left the apartment and turned the key in the door and deadbolt. The SRU had replaced the door they had kicked in and the deadbolt. If Mik wanted more locks she'd have to get them herself. She knew Mik probably wouldn't need them any more though.
##### Mr. Chang's Chinese Restaurant, three weeks later #####
"Shhh!" KK said to the group gathered in the small party room of the restaurant. A waiter walked in a side door to the room and gave them a thumbs up. "She's coming!" She whispered excitedly.
"I've heard great things about this place." Jules said as she and Mik made their way to the side of the restaurant and the party room.
Mik was so glad she finally got the cast off of her leg. Physical therapy was still pretty painful, but she was moving better. She still moved too slow for her liking, but that was because of her pelvis. As she walked slowly towards the doors on the side of the room, she got a funny feeling. "Sorry, still a turtle these days." She said apologetically.
Jules looked at her incredulously. "You're fine. I'm in no hurry."
They finally made it to the doors of the room and Mik frowned at the group gathered in front of her. Everyone cheered and yelled "Happy Birthday!" She looked at Jules with surprise, her free hand over her heart, the other on the cane. "Oh my god!" She said getting misty eyed. They moved into the room and the group moved forward.
She hugged Spike, then Ed and Sophie. Wordy and Shelly were next, then Cheryl, Jules, KK and her husband.
Camille stepped forward and gave Mik a solid hug. "You look beautiful." She whispered. She pulled back and introduced Mik to her husband and children. They all were talking and laughing as they sat at the u-shaped table the restaurant set up. Mik sat at the top table with KK and her husband on one side and Sam and Jules on the other.
Sam gave Mik a hug before they sat down. "How are you feeling?" He asked. For him, the break had been what he needed to sort out his feelings for Mik and Jules. He had gone to Mik's apartment last week and talked to her about it.
It had been a month since he saw her in person and had been a little nervous. He had kept in contact with her, he couldn't just cut her off. He called or texted her a couple times a week. She took him up on his offer to be there for her only twice, both when she had woken with nightmares the week that they decided to take a break. After that he knew that she had relied mostly on KK and Camille, and Jules a few times. He knew because Jules came to work with dark circles under her eyes.
They had talked with ease this time, talking about things going on in their lives. He mostly talked about work and things that had happened with the new guy, Raf. She talked about physical therapy and finally admitted after a little teasing and prodding that she thought her physical therapist was cute. She did tell him that she wasn't jumping into another relationship just yet.
He understood. He wasn't either. That's what he wanted to talk to her about. He was nervous about it because he wasn't sure how she would react, but she was fine. Sam told her he wasn't seeing anyone either and that he wanted to stay that way. He didn't tell her, but he knew that Jules was his soulmate and come hell or high water they were going to be together. He also didn't tell her about their run in with Toth that had made them see their feelings weren't going to go away and they got back together.
She had been very understanding and told him it was better that they remain friends. There weren't any tears this time, all smiles. It'd been a good talk and they both felt better after.
"I'm doing well. My PT says only a couple more weeks." Mik smiled.
"That's too bad." Sam winked at her.
"Yeah. Maybe you'll have to have a little setback so you can keep seeing Todd." Jules laughed.
"You two are bad." Mik laughed back. "No I think I need some more time, just me. I still have a studio to get back to. I took on a partner," she looked at KK gratefully, "and she's been doing great with the classes."
"I'm so excited about my Yoga certification." KK said happily. "I still have some learning to do, but I have a couple beginner classes that start next week." She had been very happy to be able to give her notice last week at work.
"Wow good for you." Jules said impressed.
"KK has been learning it since before we met, it's crazy perfect timing." Mik said with pride.
"I've always wanted to teach yoga and now I can." KK smiled.
They talked about different things, everyone engaging in various conversations.
When Mik wasn't occupied, Sam looked at her with concern. "I heard about Xavier." He said quietly.
Mik nodded and looked at the table. "I can't say I'm sorry."
"I don't blame you." Sam said sincerely. "I can't say that either. You ok?"
"Um, well it was, difficult, you know?" Mik narrowed her eyes at him.
"I do." Sam raised his brows. "I can't imagine how it made you feel."
Mik blew out a breath, puffing her cheeks. "Relieved, sad, angry." She had gotten the call and had cried herself to sleep that night. She had woken up with nightmares, she called Camille and they talked all night. "How did you know?"
"A friend from my Army days is a correction officer at the prison. I asked him to keep an eye on Xavier for me. He called after it happened." Sam explained.
"You did?" Mik asked, surprised.
"Yes. If anything happened, I wanted a heads up." He looked at her poignantly.
Greg tapped Sam's shoulder. When Sam leaned to him he said, "you had him watched?"
"Just watched Boss. I trust Roger." Sam replied.
"Ok." Greg leaned back. He trusted Sam so if Sam trusted this guy Roger, he would trust them. He'd talk to Sam later about letting the investigators know about it. He didn't want Sam implicated in anything even though it was an unknown food allergy that killed the bastard.
"Thank you for that." Mik said to Sam when he looked back at her. "I hope that doesn't cause any problems." She glanced at Greg and back to Sam.
"No, it won't. Don't worry about it." Sam flashed his milliwatt smile at her.
Mik smiled back. It really had been a relief when she heard that Xavier had died in prison. His case was open and shut and had moved quickly to sentencing. He was given life for two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of kidnapping and unlawful restraint of a police officer.
At first she was relieved, but then she got angry when she thought that he had gotten off easy after all he did to her over the years. It had taken a few sessions with Dr. L for her to process her feelings.
Now, she felt like she was in a much better place. She still saw Dr. L, but it was only once a week now. She and Sam were both in a good place in their lives. She was pretty sure that Sam and Jules were back together. It wasn't anything obvious, just little things she saw in their eyes. That didn't bother her, she was happy for them. Her talk with Sam had gone well and they had laughed and talked for quite awhile.
She had KK, Camille and Jules for support besides Sam if she needed them. She also had Shelly. It had surprised Mik when Shelly had come to her hospital room a couple weeks ago. Shelly had shared her story about her abusive husband and they had formed a deep bond. She knew Shelly would be there for her if Mik needed her. It was amazing to her to think that she could count on every person in this room. Every person that had gathered to celebrate her birth. They were glad she was born and she was glad to have them.
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AN: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing this fanfic. I hope you enjoyed it. I know it was a little out of the cannon, but it was still fun to write. I know everyone loves JAM (including me!) so this wasn't exactly what you wanted, but it all worked out in the end! :)
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