Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to Julie Spitzer.

The song "I'll be Watching You" was first featured in the story "Let Destiny Speak." Spike's friendship with Lewis Young was described in detail in the story "Remembrances of Lewis."

Tissue Alert! It's not really Flashpoint unless we cry a little at some point, isn't it? Please get a hanky ready.

Watching Over You

Spike was filled with apprehension. His discovery that Scott Packer has engaged a bomb maker's expertise bothered him dreadfully. The worry got his chest in a tight grip yet it's not a burden he could share with her; not without scaring her senseless.

He reverted back to old form, to the nasty habit of keeping things bottled up within himself; a bad habit his Boss has tried, over the years, to talk out of him; that was back in a big way. The darkness, the grimness, he bottled them up and tried to find a solution by his lonesome.

He laid prone on his bed, an arm over his forehead. What do I know of Colin Kelly Murphy? He was aware of the bomber's bad ass reputation. His exploits has grown in proportion to the number of bombings he was rumoured to have engineered and so far no arrest. A phantom? A myth? An urban legend? A code name?

Spike knew from whispers up and down the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) channel that Murphy could command his price. According to hearsay, his services didn't come cheap because, if the grapevine could be believed, he could guarantee a result. The first time he came across the name was when he consulted with CSIS over eco-terrorist bombings of multinational companies in Canada and overseas. Murphy has a deific status among lowlife, terrorist bombers across the globe.

Exhaustion overtook him. One minute he was staring at the ceiling wracking his brain for a solution; the next minute his brain has switched off completely.

He vividly saw Winnie exit the Court House, looking smart in a dark tailored suit. Reporters were gathered around her, she said a few words. He didn't know what it was she said, but whatever it was, they were lapping it up and she looked so happy. He saw his Dad next to her, hovering protectively. "Papa?" he whispered.

Dominic Scarlatti smiled at him. He mouthed, "Sono così orgoglioso di te, figlio." His chest swelled to the size of Canada. His Dad, he's proud of him.

Winnie spotted him standing next to one of the roman columns. She smiled, waved and rushed over to him. The next thing he saw was an orange blast, followed closely by an ear-splitting explosion. Then she disintegrated before his eyes, along with everyone around her. His heart palpitated, followed by a rapid fire 'boom, boom, boom, boom' in his eardrums. The rushed of blood to his brain caused him to trash about, he was screaming, "Winnie! No, no. Noooooooooo. God no!"

She heard the shrieks coming from Spike's bedroom, followed by uncontrolled gasping breathe. With strong athletic legs she hurdled over the back of the sofa bed and was by his side in an instant. "Spike, Spike. Wake up. Wake up." He was drenched in sweat, shaking like a leaf.

She shook his shoulders hard. "Spike, wake up. You're having a nightmare."

His eyelids literally flew open in fright, he bolted upright. "Winnie, thank God. Thank God." He grabbed her to him tightly, quite distressed. The side of her face pressed on his chest she could hear the loud, frantic beatings of his heart. She was amazed he didn't keel over with a massive heart attack. His hair was plastered on his head; swimming in perspiration.

She waited until his heart rate slowed before disengaging from his embrace, "Let me get you a glass of water."

When she returned from the kitchen, he was sitting on the bed, hunched over, his head between his hands. "Here," she said softly, worried she might startle him. His hand shook as he took the glass from her. He drank greedily, spilling some water down the side of his mouth. She sat next to him, "Would you like to talk about it?" she asked concerned. She wasn't surprised when he shook his head from side to side.

"I'll get a wash cloth," she said. She got up to walk away but he stopped her. She stood in front of him as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her belly. She stroked his head with one hand, and rubbed his back with the other. He was crying, she didn't know what triggered it but she intuited that it must have something to do with death; death of a loved one. Lou? Sgt McCoy? His Dad? It could be any number of people he failed to save.

When he was all cried out, he released his death grip on her. Wordlessly, he went to shower; she made coffee. It would be a long night – no, a long day. She looked at the wall clock; it was one in the morning.

He didn't look at her when he came out of the bathroom. When he came out of the bedroom he was dressed in white T-Shirt, overlaid by a checked blue and white polo shirt; denim pants and rubber shoes. He has his leather jacket draped on his arm. "I'm going out, I'll be back shortly."

"Spike, you're in no condition…" he ignored her. He closed the front door before she could finish her sentence. "…to drive."

There was nothing she could do but trust him to keep his head. She looked for Officer Teddy, and together they walked to his bedroom, laid on his bed and cuddled together. It comforted her to smell his scent. "Please come home," she whispered in tears.

Spike found himself in the Ontario Police Cemetery. He could find Lewis' resting place even in the inky darkness. The eerie silence never bothered him, this was the one place he often found solace, comfort and protection. He reached his best friend's tomb, touched the cold marble, "Hey, bro. How have you been? Sorry I've not come to see you for a while. Been busy keeping the peace you know." Tears came in torrent down his cheeks; like someone turned on the tap.

He sat next to Lou's tomb and rested his back against it. He draped his leather jacket on him. "Lou, buddy. Winnie's in trouble and I don't know what to do." He started off his monologue, between sob, he poured his heart out to a friend who in life always had his back.

"I really should stay away from people… everyone who gets close to me…"

"I can't do this anymore…" he sobbed. He rattled on with his monologue, until his body was exhausted but mind was afraid to rest in case the nightmare returns.

Winnie fell asleep briefly and woke up with a start. "Spike…"

She came out of the room, saw the time. He's been gone over an hour. She felt frantic. Where could he be at this time? She called his phone. The "Hot call" in her voice was coming from the bedroom, He didn't take his cell. She decided to call for help… she dialled Sgt Parker's number.

A very sleepy voice answered, "Hello, Sgt Parker… how can I help you?" In spite of her growing apprehension, a laugh escaped from her lips. Sgt Parker was always so in character, "Boss, it's Winnie…

He was immediately alert; sleep went out the window in a flash, "Winnie! Is everything ok?"

"No, it's not ok. Boss, it's Spike."

"What happened?"

"He drove off… he had a nightmare. He's been gone over an hour."

"Gone… over an hour." When it comes to Spike nothing was straight-forward. "Ok, I'm coming, see you in a few minutes."

"Boss, thanks. I'm so sorry to trouble you."

"Hey, don't apologise. I'd be more upset if you didn't call. See you soon."

Marina turned around sleepily; she overhead Greg's half of the conversation, "Who was it?"

Greg Parker rolled out of bed, dressed quickly and replied, "Spike, he had a nightmare and took off."

"Honey, save time and go to Lou first," she said. "Trust me, he's with him."

"How'd you know that?" he said with a half-smile.

"Where would he be at two in the morning that isn't shut or dangerous… besides, I've heard enough to know he and Lou were more than best friends; and it wouldn't be the first time you found him there."

"You're right… now go back to sleep, he said.

"You kidding right?" she smiled.

He was about to leave when she said, "You forgetting something?" He turned back and planted a kiss on her lips. Parker called Winnie to say he think he knows where Spike is.

In the early days after Lou passed he was often here, sitting with his back to the marble tomb sleeping. He's been crying for hours. He was spent. He drifted into a micro sleep… he was awoken by sound of footsteps. Voices. Two men. He made himself smaller. Two flashlights were scanning the surroundings. The guards were doing their round. As the men got closer, their voices became clearer in the stillness of the night.

Man 1: What would you do, man?

Man 2: Well, I reckon prevention is better than cure. Preemptive strike, man. I'll just have to make sure I'm ahead of the game.

Man 1: In that case, it's gonna be ok, bro.

It was as if Lou spoke directly to him. "Preemptive strike, man. That's what you need to do. Don't wait till you've gotta diffused a bomb. Just don't give him a chance to make one, it's gonna be ok."

"Thanks bro, thanks for having my back." Tears gushed out of him again, tears of gratefulness. He hugged his legs, allowing his jeans to absorb the salty tears. He heard footsteps behind him; he lifted his face, turned around to find the cherubic face of Sgt Parker. "What are you doing here?"

"Let's just say, I got a phone call."

"Winnie…"

"Yeah… so what did old Lou tell you?"

"He told me it's gonna be ok."

Sgt Parker smiled and put a protective arm around him. "Let's go, someone's waiting for you. And I don't want to see at work today. Not in this condition. Can you drive?

"Yeah" he said.

"Without falling asleep on the wheels and killing yourself in the process?"

"Yeah, trust me."

"Well, that's the problem isn't it?" Spike laughed. They walked down the path to the car park as a wise roosting saw-whet owl hooted.

Winnie spent much of the wait pacing the floor, alert to the soft click of the door. The second she heard it, she rushed to the door, and morals be damned! She would rape him if she has to but she didn't get the chance, Spike walked in with Sgt Parker not far behind.

It didn't take a genius to know that Winnie was anxious to have Spike return to her, Greg smiled and said, "Well, I'll let you two look after each other then." He closed the door behind him and thought, Good on ya, Spike.

She stood nailed to the floor, a second later she said, "What the hell," tossed Officer Teddy in the air, rushed over to Spike, stood on her tip toes and kissed him. His Italian blood sizzled….

It didn't take a genius…