AN: Thank you so much for the many reviews! I love reading them and knowing that you are enjoying the fic! Keep em coming :)
Disclaimer: Flashpoints belongs not to me.
"Spread out. We find Oracle, today."
"Roger."
"Deadshot, anything from there?" Adams asked as he paused for a moment to catch his breath and take in his surroundings.
"Negative. No sign of the target." Sam answered as he scanned the area around the cabin. Just one more hostile, then he could go home.
"Maybe you should look closer Master Corporal Braddock."
Chapter 29 - Oracle
Rogue Park, Toronto
"Maybe you should look closer Master Corporal Braddock."
"Ed, black wall." Sam whispered. He had heard the voice behind them. It was faint, but he would recognize it anywhere.
"Oracle's behind them!" Jules gasped as her eyes met those of Spike. "Where is Sam positioned?"
Major Copeland pointed to the spot on the map that Sam had chosen for his sniper perch while he informed the Unit that Oracle had found Sam.
Jules ran for the truck that held her sniper rifle and quickly retrieved it from the back.
"Spike, help me onto the roof of the truck!" Jules called as she ran back towards the group gathered near the command truck. She knew the top of the truck was the only place she would be even remotely capable of seeing Sam's perch from. She hoped she'd get a solution from there.
Spike lowered himself to one knee by the truck as Jules came running towards him. He made a cradle out of his hands which she placed one foot into then he stood, lifting her to the roof of the truck. He then turned back to the monitors so he could see what was going on.
After Sam warned Ed about the subject that was behind them he put his hands on the ground beneath him and pushed himself up, holding back a groan as he did so. When he stood he turned to face his enemy, the man that had betrayed him multiple times.
"We meet again Master Corporal Braddock." Oracle sneered as he took a couple of steps closer to where his target stood.
"You know, you keep calling me that...apparently you never got up to date information." Sam smirked as he faced the man he had once trusted.
"Why would you say that?" Oracle asked as he pulled a long knife from it's sheath.
"Because... I'm not a Master Corporal anymore." Sam answered.
"You still wear the uniform of an Army soldier." Oracle commented.
"I do, but not as a corporal. I'm a Sergeant now." Sam told the man. "I got my promotion when I came back to hunt you and your father down."
Ed watched as the two men exchanged words. He knew Jules was trying to line up a shot, but he also knew that they were probably out of range where they were. Whatever was going to happen would be between the three of them unless the rest of the Unit arrived within moments. This standoff wouldn't last long.
As Jules adjusted her scope she focused intently on her sniper breathing. She was about to see Sam for the first time in months, and he was facing a terrorist. She had to remain calm and controlled or she wouldn't help, she'd be a hindrance. As she zeroed on in the location of the sniper perch her breath caught in her throat. He was there, standing and facing a terrorist who had what looked to be a long knife in his hand. Ed was just standing from his position.
"Tell your friend to stand and leave his weapon on the ground." Oracle instructed.
"And if I don't?" Sam asked curiously.
"Then I will end his life before I end yours." Oracle commented as he grabbed the blade of the knife, clearly intending to throw it if Ed didn't follow his orders.
"No need for that. He's not a threat to you." Sam commented as he looked to Ed and nodded. Sam knew that with just a flick of Oracle's wrist Ed would be dead. He couldn't risk it. His friend stood, leaving his weapon on the ground where he had just been.
"Kneel with your hands behind your head." Oracle instructed as he looked at Ed. The man quickly complied.
Ed knew that the best way out of this would be to do what he was told and follow Sam's lead. He knelt, lacing his fingers behind his head as he watched Oracle closely.
"You killed my father today. I will now kill you." Oracle said menacingly as he flipped the knife in his hands and pointed it at Sam.
"I was just following orders." Sam commented as he lowered into a crouch, ready for whatever Oracle did next. "You know, I always wondered if you two were related. I guess I have my answer now."
Jules watched as Oracle lunged at Sam. Sam grabbed the hand that the knife was in and the two men engaged in a heated fight. Ed tried to line up a shot with his sidearm but Sam and Oracle were too quick in their movements. Getting a clean shot would be next to impossible. There was going to be no way that she could get a Scorpio shot from here and guarantee she would hit her mark.
"Oracle and Sam are engaged in hand to hand combat." Jules commented, relaying what was going on to the rest of the people gathered nearby who in turn passed on the information to Williams and the Unit.
"Do you have a shot?" Sarge asked as he watched her closely.
"Negative."
"AAAHHH!" Sam cried as Oracle managed to stab his right side with his blade. They had managed to fight each other off so far, but Sam knew he would lose if he didn't do something, and soon.
Ed watched closely, upset at the fact that he was unable to get a clear shot to take out Oracle. He also listened to what was going on in the comms. The Unit was on their way but by time they got here this would be over. One of the two men would be dead. He had thought of trying to assist Sam with the fight but he knew that the chances of actually being of assistance were slim. He would probably put Sam in more danger if he moved in.
Sam managed to push Oracle off of him and away a couple of feet. The other man landed on the ground with a thud and Sam immediately looked to Ed who had his sidearm in his hand. Their eyes met as he called out to his friend.
"Ed!"
Ed immediately knew what Sam wanted and tossed his gun to him. Sam caught it, rose from his kneeling position on the ground, aimed, and fired. Oracle, who was standing suddenly fell to the ground. Sam walked up to him, gun still aimed at him.
Standing from his position Ed looked to where Oracle now lay on the ground. Somehow Sam had managed a perfect head shot in the split second he had had to aim and fire the weapon.
"It's over. You will torture me no more!" Sam whispered.
Jules' heart skipped a beat when Sam fired. It's over. It's finally over. She thought with a small smile. Below her she could hear the cheers of the officers gathered as the Unit suddenly appeared on the ridge and communicated that Oracle was down. Her eyes, however, never left Sam. As she watched he staggered back two steps and the gun slid from his hand to the ground. As Williams moved towards him Sam sank to his knees, his arms limp at his sides.
"Braddock!" Williams called as he rushed to his friends side. "Come on, stay with us." Williams lowered Braddock to the ground as Baird slid to a stop on his knees next to them.
"What happened?" Baird asked as he assessed Braddock.
"He was stabbed in the side." Ed answered simply. "Greg, get EMS in here. Sam's down."
"Copy. Winnie." Greg acknowledged Ed before calling for their dispatcher.
"Already on their way Sarge." Winnie answered. She had been listening closely and gave the order to EMS as soon as she heard the terrorist were taken care of.
"We'll bring him down. Have EMS ready to take him in once we get there." Baird commented as he cut open Braddock's shirt and pressed a bandage to the wound in his side.
"Sam!" Jules cried when she saw him going down. It was as if everything went into slow motion for her as she watched his Unit move to his side. She stared for several minutes until the sound of Spike's voice reached her.
"Jules! They're bringing him down. He's going to be okay." Spike was calling to his friend. He knew Jules had to be extremely worried for Sam, but he was alive, and he was home. That was the best news that they had had in several months. "Come on down Jules."
"Coming." Jules finally responded. She was still watching the ridge. Ed was gathering the weapons and following quickly behind the Unit who was bringing Sam down. She was minutes away from finally being able to really see him, touch him. As she jumped from the roof of the truck she noticed EMS arriving and she took a deep breath. She couldn't cry here, not in uniform. She had to keep her emotions in check.
"How's he doing?" Jackson asked as he followed behind Williams and Cole who were carrying Braddock down to the waiting paramedics.
"He'll make it. The stab wound could be worse. I think his body finally just gave out on him. He's been pushing himself too much the last twenty four hours and that fight didn't help. He just ran out of strength and adrenaline. He'll need some stitches and a lot of bed rest but I suspect he'll make a full recovery." Baird answered as he offered his friend a small smile.
"I hope so. He could really use a break right about now." Jackson said as he glanced at the SRU officer that was with them. He moved the couple of steps to his right so he could walk next to the man that seemed extremely worried about their sniper. "Thank you, for having his back up there."
Ed looked up as the man next to him spoke. "He's a good friend of mine. Just wish I could have done more." Ed answered softly.
"I know the feeling." Jackson looked back to Braddock. "I felt that way for five months." He said softly.
"You were with him?" Ed asked, noting the sadness in the soldier's voice and eyes.
"Every minute of it." Jackson whispered. "But what matters is that we're home now. His wife is here right?"
"Yeah, waiting by the trucks." Ed answered, a small smile playing across his lips and the happy reunion that would happen, despite Sam's injures.
"Good, he really needs to see her." Jackson adjusted the weapon slung across his back and walked in silence from then on.
"Where are they?" Jules asked for the hundredth time since she came down from the roof of the command truck. She had been pacing impatiently, constantly looking back to the screens to see if she could see anything new, and asking where the men were.
"They'll be here soon Jules." Leah told her, for the hundredth time. It was a good things Jules already had the baby, or they would all be extremely worried about her!
"I see them!" Spike called from where he was standing at the edge of the group of cars. He pointed to where he saw the first of the men emerging from the treeline.
Jules head shot around to where Spike was pointing. The moment she saw them her heart stopped beating and her breath caught in her throat. He was here, just a few steps away from her. It was all she could do to keep from running to him. She knew he needed medical attention badly, and her getting in the way wouldn't help. She would wait until they were closer. The five minutes it took seemed like forever.
Ed sped up and walked ahead of the group to where Jules was waiting. She was standing just this side of where the trucks were gathered around, clearly impatient. He went straight to her and pulled her into a hug.
"He's going to be okay Jules. His body just couldn't keep going once the adrenaline wore off." Ed pulled back and tilted Jules head to look at her. "He's going to be fine! Do you hear me?"
Jules simply nodded her head. She heard him. Now she just needed to see Sam. She looked past Ed and noticed that the group of soldiers were just steps away now. She broke free of Ed and went to Sam.
Williams watched as Braddock's wife walked away from officer Lane and towards them. He and Cole stopped for a moment. They were supporting Braddock on either side, holding him up with arms under his shoulders. The man was just starting to stir when his wife was within steps of them.
Sam couldn't contain the groan that escaped as he woke. He hurt, everywhere. There was a new pain in his side and it took a moment for him to remember that Oracle had stabbed him during their fight. He was now being held up by two of his friends who had just stopped walking. He carefully opened his eyes and saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Just steps in front of him stood his sexy sniper chick.
"Jules!" Sam sighed, a weight had finally been lifted off him and he could breath for the first time in almost a year.
"Sam!" Jules moved the last few steps and stood in front of Sam.
Jules gently took his face in her hands and brought her lips to meet his. The kiss was slow, gentle, sweet, and contained all the emotions that each had felt in the absence of the other over the last several months. She gently wrapped her hands around his neck, careful not to aggravate the wound in his side as she did so.
"I'm so glad you're home." Jules whispered in Sam's ear. "I love you Samuel Braddock."
"I love you Julianna Braddock." Sam responded as he leaned into her embrace. He was finally home!
"Come on, we need to get you to medical." Williams finally said. He wished he could allow the two all the time that they needed together right now, but Braddock was heavy. Not to mention that his friend needed medical attention. The two could spend all the time together that they wanted once they got him to the hospital.
"Of course!" Jules pulled away unwillingly. She just wanted to hold onto Sam for forever, but she knew he needed to get checked out at the hospital.
The group moved forward to the waiting EMS. The crowd of SRU officers waited nearby, not wanting to get in the way.
"Hey Sam."
"Steve?" Sam looked up at the medic that was waiting by the gurney.
"You ready to go get checked out?" Steve asked, a small smile on his face.
"I hate hospitals." Sam muttered as Cole and Williams sat him on the gurney.
Steve helped remove the rest of Sam's shirt so that he and his partner could easily access the wound in Sam's side. Both medics noticed the extensive scarring on Sam's body and Steve couldn't help but wonder what Sam had been through that gave him those scars.
Jules sucked in a shocked breath when she saw Sam's back. She knew he had probably been injured, but she wasn't expecting this. Spike stepped up to her and put an arm around her shoulders in silent support.
Steve helped Sam lay down on his side in order to avoid further aggravation of the injuries to his back. Once they got Sam settled they headed for the ambulance that was parked not far away.
As Sam was wheeled to the ambulance he saw his SRU family standing nearby. He reached out a hand and touched Steve's arm.
"Can I have a minute?" Sam asked.
Steve could clearly see the need in the soldiers eyes and agreed. Sam could have a couple of minutes to talk to his family.
Greg smiled as he stepped forward, the rest of Team One close on his heels.
"Welcome home Sam." Greg grasped his friends hand and squeezed. He didn't miss the myriad of scars on the man's body either and it saddened him to know that the young man had been through so much pain.
"Good to have you back Samtastic!" Spike grinned from ear to ear. It was the only way he could think of to hide his emotions at the sight of Sam in the condition that he was in.
"It's about time you came home soldier." Leah smiled as she too shook Sam's hand. "Glad you made it back in one piece."
"It's good to be home." Sam smiled as he grasped Jules' hand. "Thank you for your help today. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Anytime, anyplace. You call and we'll be there." Ed commented as he tilted his head to one side, a smirk on his face.
Sam simply nodded in acknowledgement.
"We're taking him to St. Simon's. We'll see you there?" Steve could see his patient was in pain and exhausted. They needed to get going.
"Of course." Greg smiled, there was no where else they would rather be.
Steve nodded before looking to his partner. They both worked to get Sam loaded and Steve gave Jules a hand up into the back. Ed closed the doors behind them and banged twice, letting the driver know that he could go.
As the ambulance pulled away with lights and sirens blaring all SRU officers and the JTF2 Unit watched. Their friend was finally home!
AN: Whew! That felt like it was a long time coming! I hope you enjoyed it :)
