I still own nothing Flashpoint, but I do love the character quite a bit. The next chapter is already about done. I need to tune it up a bit, but will get it up today.

Chapter 7

Greg turned to the agitated officer, "Spike, buddy, you okay? No one's good with that plan. We're just going to take a moment and come at this a different way." The younger man turned and was visibly calmer. "I can't see exactly what's rigged there. There's no way to talk Jules through a diffusion like that especially when there's no imminent danger." The sergeant nodded and held up a hand. "I agree. Ed agrees. We're all on the same page here."

Spike nodded and returned to his seat. "Well, okay then. That's good."

Greg smiled at him, "It's been a long day. We're all worried about Wordy. And we all want a safe solution here. Perhaps it's time to get creative." His team leader spoke up, "Hmmm, what are you thinking, Boss?"

Team One's sergeant spoke to his team, "I think we could use a meeting of the minds here, but maybe it's time NOT to be so quiet next door. Perhaps, we need to create enough of a disturbance to get our friends to come and check it out. There's an alley across the street. We could move a truck there as a perch for Sierra. Put a team along that kitchen wall in the dining room."

"We're going to have to make it more interesting than their movie and beer." Ed responded thoughtfully. "What's more interesting then terrible horror flicks and beer?"

There was a concurrent response from Sam, Raf and Spike, "Women!" Jules groaned audibly. Greg and Ed both had to laugh. Greg then went on, "Okay, let's see if Team Three is still around the station. Maybe Donna would be willing to come lend a hand." Spike just had to chime in, "Tell her to bring her undercover skank voice! Please?"

Ed turned to the team in the house. "Raf, stay put and keep an eye on the subjects. Sam and Jules, let's head to the trucks to regroup."

Within the hour the team had assembled in the command truck. Donna and Jules were now in civvies. Their short skirts, low cut shirts and high heels were augmented by Donna's emergency make up kit. Donna's teammate, Tom, accompanied her on the OT mission. The extra man was welcomed by the team. It almost felt like a warrant call at this point. The team planned, offered alternatives, played devil's advocate for each other and then reviewed again and again. Raf remained in the empty apartment watching the subjects on the camera, but heard everything and offered his opinion frequently.

Tom felt a little like a rookie among this group. Team One was legendary and although he had subbed occasionally with them, seeing them work this case almost a shift and a half into their day gave him new respect for each team member and the group as a whole. Each member's opinion was listened to and respected. Even he felt comfortable offering a thought on the operation. His own team was great and a cohesive unit, but this was an entirely different ballgame. He liked these people individually and thought highly of them as colleagues. However, as an outsider looking in, they looked like fairly average members of the SRU—athletic, smart, empathetic, brave. Up close and under these circumstances, he could understand the "superhero" title that was associated with the SRU's Team One. They were truly "the best of the best." He gave his head a little shake. His thoughts felt too close to hero worship for his taste. Besides, it looked like Ed Lane was ready for a final wrap-up.

The team leader looked around the group, "Anybody have any questions? Concerns?" He waited a beat, "Raf, how about you, buddy? Anything new on your end?" The rookie team member answered in his smooth voice, "No, they've cracked another beer each and occasionally flip to wrestling, but neither of these two seem overly ambitious."

"Okay, then. I think it's time to put it in play. Sam, you have Sierra. Move the truck to the alley. Let me know when you're in position. Tom, go the driveway and join Raf inside. He'll lower the ropes already there. The two of you will be Bravo. Spike, the boss and I will be Alpha and will back up Jules and Donna." He looked at the two women, "You two good to go?" The two female officers looked at each other and said, "Let's do it!" Each officer double checked their weapons strapped to their thighs and hoped that the darkness would aid in hiding them under the ridiculously short skirts.

Sam left to find his perch in the alley. Tom headed toward Raf. Ed positioned a rope so that when the subjects came out to check on the women, he'd be ready to pull up into position. Spike and Greg crouched below the porch on either side of the steps leading toward the front door. Spike had a shield at the ready if needed. Ed quietly spoke into his headset, "Everyone ready?" He awaited the affirmative replies and then continued, "It's a go."

Jules and Donna teetered on their high heels and Jules picked up a good sized rock as they came up the walkway. They played their parts as a couple of drunken party girls flawlessly. Their loud voices argued about finding Rodney and his friend Shane. The high heels clattered on the wooden steps and front porch of their targets. Together they banged on the door of the empty apartment. Donna called in a loud voice with slurred speech, "Rodney, I know you're in there. Be a man and answer the door. You and Shane can't hide forever, you know." Jules joined her friend, "Shane, you stood us up and it's time to pay the price!" The two women yelled and cajoled for Rodney and Shane to come to the door. In the headsets, Raf gave a quiet play-by-play of their subject actions.

"They're hearing you. Looked at each other and shook their heads. Now they just keep looking toward the front door. It might take something a little more dramatic to get them out on the porch."

Jules took the rock and heaved it through the front window. The glass shattered into the living room of the empty apartment. She called loudly, "Listen here, Shane. You either come out and explain yourself or I'm going to start stripping for the whole neighborhood."

"That got their attention," Raf informed them. "Everyone be ready."

Donna began singing a song from the Headstones' Love and Fury album. Her off key, slurred version of A Long Way to Neverland brought soft chuckles from the team. The female officers and Ed could hear the sounds of the subjects' door being opened. Both women moved toward the far end of the porch.

One subject took a step out toward the porch. Ed whispered, "Hold." The two women turned to the subjects and Jules said drunkenly, "You're not Shane or Rodney. Whadya do with them?" The man took another step toward the officers. The team heard, "Go, go."

Ed used the rope to leap up along side of the subject. He held his gun up to the man's head, "Don't move, Don't even twitch." Jules pulled her gun and Donna turned the subject to check for weapons and handcuff the man. They moved him to the side of the porch. Greg and Spike came up the stairs with the shield. Alpha team turned their attention to the remaining subject. As they looked into the apartment, James Blazer sat on the couch with the handgun pointed to his head. The three SRU officers took up positions behind the shield. Greg initiated contacted.

"Mr. Blazer, my name is Sgt. Gregory Parker with the Strategic Response Team. Can I ask what you're thinking about right now?"

James Blazer stood with the gun still in place and moved back to the corner of the room. He swayed slightly, obviously intoxicated. "I'm not going to jail."

Greg held up his hands and told the man, "I'm going to holster my weapon so we can talk. These men aren't here to hurt you and won't move unless I tell them to. Can you tell me about your day?"

The drunken subject grew belligerent, "You know about my day or you wouldn't be here. That cop ruined my life. He turned my wife and kids against me and now I can't even see them. I can't even go near my own house. So, yeah, he got his! But I'm not going to jail for it."

Parker took a deep breath. "Look, I need you to put the gun down so we can talk about this. I met your wife and children today. It sounds like it's been a tough time in your house. Can you tell me about that?"

James' arm shook as he struggled to keep the gun up by his head and stay on his feet. His voice grew teary as he replied, "My wife doesn't love me. My daughter is afraid of me. They'll be glad that I'm gone."

"No, no that's not true, James. They just want you to get some help for the drinking and your temper. Once you do that there's always the chance to make things right with your family, James."

"How can I do that from jail? In case you forgot I killed a cop today!"

"No, James, the officer is in surgery. The doctors think he'll pull through."

"So I still shot him. I'll go to jail."

"I'm not going to lie to you, James. There will be consequences for your actions today, but at the end of the day, you'll still have the chance to be there for your kids. It's still life. Come on, James. Put the gun down."

For a long moment, the room grew silent. Greg wondered if he had made any strides in connecting with the subject. Then James lowered his arm to his side and dropped the weapon. Ed moved in to secure the man's hands behind his back. He walked him to the door and handed him off to the awaiting Raf and Tom.

Ed then turned to Spike, "Do your thing so we can get out of here."

The team's bomb expert quickly and competently secured the poorly assembled, yet volatile explosives on both the front and back doors. By that time, numerous patrol cars filled the street. Greg gave a complete report to the ranking officer on scene as the subjects were turned over to the "unis." The team made their way back down to the command post.

Greg thanked both Donna and Tom for their help in securing the subjects. The team ribbed Donna about her singing voice just enough so she knew she was loved. She asked them to pass on her good thoughts to the Wordsworths and said she'd visit Wordy as he recovered. Shortly, it was just the six members of Team One. Ed and Greg both looked around the group with pride.

Greg summed up what they were all thinking, "It was a hard day." Then he continued, "At no point would I risk any of you or the public, but I want to tell you that I will be happy to inform Wordy that Lillie's friend's father is in custody and will face justice for his actions today. Thanks to the professionalism and perseverance of all of you, he will still have life and the chance to make amends to his family."

Ed nodded and agreed, but added, "You were a big part of that, Greg. Good job, team. We'll meet at the hospital." As Greg and Ed headed toward their vehicle, the team leader had one last comment, "Of course, it helps when the subjects are too skunked to stand-let alone resist arrest." Greg answered with a small smile, "Copy that."

The team wearily headed for their trucks.