Title: The Youngest Braddock
Summary: Sam's world comes to light for Team One when his little sister comes to Headquarters, begging for help.
Some Notes: So, I was going through my google docs and found a story I wrote in late 2009, about Sam and the Flashpoint family. I read the forty-two chapters and kinda fell back in love with my story idea. I am now slowly rewriting this story I have had since the year 2009. Some other notes, this story will be based in season two. Natalie will not be in this story, I did not show she existed when I first wrote this story. I have changed a couple of things since I first wrote this story, including adding the fact that Sam saw his younger sister killed in front of him.
I hope you enjoy this story!
- The Youngest Braddock -
Bruised fingers run across the screen of the iPhone she picked pocketed from someone at the store. The sky was dark now, the sunset a few hours ago. She was in the kitchen of the house that was her prison cell. She makes herself small, sitting down against the cool wall.
She calls a phone number, "Hello..." A voice picks up on the first ring. She's surprised the voice sounds so cheering at four in the morning.
"Patch." A small sob comes to her lips, she quickly put her hand to her mouth.
"Braddock." The voice on the other line says softly, not wanting to speak too loud.
"I need help."
- Youngest Braddock -
"What's got you all hot and bothered?" Ed Lane greeted the younger man, Sam Braddock. He was not surprised that the younger man was here before the rest of the team, he usually was. Ed always thought it was the soldier in him.
The team rookie doesn't say anything. Letting his hand hit against the punching bag over and over again. He was angry, frustrated and this was a safe way of getting his feelings out without expressing them out loud. This is the way he expressed them growing up in the Braddock household.
"Sam," Ed repeats for the second time. "Sam! Stop hitting the bag!"Sam quickly stopped, facing his team leader. The only real reason he stopped is because he heard the worry laced in the older man's voice. Sam could see Ed cursing in his head. "Your hands. If you are going to hit the bag as hard as you are. You need gloves on."
"Yes, sir."
Ed cursed himself in his head. He hated that sometimes Sam restored back to his soldier days. "Something on your mind?"
"No." He growls, the man looks down to his hands. He gave a small frown, seeing his knuckles turning a shade of red. He didn't even feel the pain that was slowly coming across his hands until Ed pointed it out. "It's not work-related." Both men don't move, Ed makes a gesture with his hands for the man standing in front of him to go on. They both knew that Ed was not about to let this go. "I am just worried about my sister, sir."
"Understandable." Ed keeps the surprise inside. He thinks softly that this is the first time that the rookie confessed something willingly. "Family can do that to people. What is causing you to worry about you?"
"I'd rather not go more into it, sir."
"Understandable, Braddock." Ed would leave it alone for now. But he would be keeping an eye out for the young man. "Go get your hands cleaned up, and grab some gloves before you take your frustrations out again on the bag," Ed tells him. Sam nods, a silent thank you for not pushing him before heading back to the locker room.
- The Youngest Braddock -
The blond-haired, blue-eyed 22-year-old woman loved life. At least, she did love life. Before this, before she became a human punching bag. She slowly slipped out of the bed, looking at the man next to her, sighing in relief that he didn't wake up.
She slipped into the first pair of jeans and hoodie that she could find. She carefully moved downstairs. Slipping on her jacket and tennis before calling the number she called two days ago. "Almost there…" The voice answers. She hangs up the phone, slipping the phone into her jacket pocket.
She bites down on her lip, trying not to let the tears come. She was saying good-bye to her life, all her things. She turns back around, connecting her hand with the doorknob and opening it. She quickly moved to the car waiting in the street. "Drive." She begs the man.
- The Youngest Braddock -
"Are you sure you want to be dropped off here?" The driver asks pulling up to SRU Headquarters building.
"Yes. Thank you." She pretended not to feel the dizziness that suddenly hit her. She waits for the driver to take off, before closing her eyes. She slowly breathes in, the breathes out. She had to get herself together before heading into the building.
The sun wasn't up yet, few cars in the parking lot. Maybe she came too early. Maybe he wasn't here. Maybe the man who lays his hands on her was right, her older brother wouldn't care. 'Maybe he's right. Maybe Sam will hate me. He doesn't love me…' She brings her hand to her face, letting out a groan in pain. 'Maybe I do deserve this.'
She hears a car door slam behind her and she jumps. A curse word comes to lips, holding her hand to her chest.
"Ma'am?" A voice brought her out of the darkness and back into the real world. Kevin Wordsworth took in the woman before him, he saw the bruises of different colours all over her skin and the way she held her hand against her chest. Something was wrong, he knew the signs, and he knew that person before him was in trouble. He was in his car for more than ten minutes, watching the woman. "Can I help you? I'm Kevin Wordsworth. I work for the SRU. If you are in trouble, I can help you." He repeated himself, but he could tell the woman was trying to get her thoughts together.
She nods slowly, taking a step back from the man who was standing a little too close to her. "I..I'm looking for... He...he can help me. Sam...Sammy Braddock." She sounded out of it, she was out of it. She can't believe she was out of the prison she called home. All she could hope for now is that someone would protect her.
"Okay. He should be here. He's always one of the first people here. Do you want to follow me? I can bring you to him…" Wordy's words come out of his mouth slowly. He knew that it must have taken a lot of bravery to get herself here and asking for help and he didn't want her to leave alone when he went to grab the rookie of the team.
She nods, "I'm sorry. If I'm.."
Wordy gives her a soft smile, one that he saves for his daughters. "You don't have to apologize...I am happy to help." She doesn't say anything, following him into the building. "Winnie." Wordy calls the officer at the desk. "Is Sam around?"
"Ed just sent him to the locker room." The woman called back.
"He's going to be so mad…" The young woman whispered to herself.
"He won't be. I don't know how two know each other but I think Sam would like to help you. He doesn't seem like the type of person that is going to be angry." Wordy tells the woman as they walk towards the locker room. He figured the woman had to know Sam, but calling him Sammy. He opened the locker door after taking a quick glance at the woman. He should have asked her name. "Braddock! Come out here. You have a visitor."
The rookie comes out of the locker room quickly, stopping just at fast. "Emmy!" He yells her nickname, making the woman flinch. He takes her in, just as she breaks out into a sob. "Oh, Emmy." Sam takes a step forward, wrapping his arms around the younger woman. "Wordy. Where did you find her?" He whispers, looking to the older officer.
"Outside. She just asked for you. She said she needed help, she was speaking in broken sentences." Wordy quickly explains. "She is holding her hand to her chest. She's hurt."
Sam sighs, holding her a little tighter. He didn't know what happened, but he knew it was something big, something bad. "Emmy. You're safe. You're safe." He whispers promises into her hair as she sobs into his chest.