June 2008
Jules stood in front of the mirror, rubbing her small four month old belly. She lifted her shirt and cocked her head. Would the graduation gown cover up the noticeable baby bump?
She sighed. She hoped it would. It was bad enough that she felt sore and tired all the time. Morning sickness had started a couple weeks ago and just wouldn't go away.
She must have been so lost in her thoughts because she didn't hear Sam come in, but felt when he wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands on her belly. His favorite spot nowadays.
"Hey, beautiful." Sam sighed contentedly. "You ready to finish high school?"
The girl squirmed in his arms, pulling away. "I guess."
Sam frowned. "Jules, what's wrong?"
She looked away, not daring to meet her husband's eyes. She doesn't think he'd understand. The words Mia said...
It happened a week ago during lunchtime at school.
She was already sitting at her table, waiting for Claire, eating a peanut-butter-chocolate-strawberry-jelly-sandwich with a bag of M&Ms and a banana on the side that Sam had prepared for her. For some reason, she was always craving chocolate.
"Jules?"
She looked up to see Mia, the replacement captain of the soccer team after she left, eyeing her curiously.
"Hey, Mia, what's up?"
Mia sighed and sat down beside her, helping herself to some M&Ms. "I just kinda need to ask you something. I, of course, don't believe it but some stupid people do."
"Believe what?" Jules asked, already having a feeling what this was about.
Mia chuckled incredulously. "Rumors say you're hooking up with the hot soldier that's helping Sgt. Williams. But I don't believe it cuz if you were, he'd be in jail right about now. And you're not shallow."
Jules shifted uncomfortably. After the wedding, they still maintained the relationship a secret because Sam didn't want Jules to be antagonized at school or for him to be accused of favoritism in class. Most importantly, they didn't want people to find out they had participated in sex before she was 18, or he'd be going to jail. So, until after graduation, the relationship would remain under tight wraps.
"Like you said. Rumors." Jules answered evenly.
Mia eyed her carefully with doubting eyes. "You know he's like five years older right? It's illegal. He could be a predator you know."
Jules bristled. "He's an honorable soldier. He and I are just friends. That's all."
Mia nodded uncertainly. "Look Jules, I just don't want you to get hurt. Men like that can be quite deceiving. If it's too good to be true, it probably is."
"Men like how?" Jules asked against her better judgement, munching on her banana.
"Good looking men. He comes out of nowhere, rich kid, general's son. Think about it. You probably aren't the only one."
Jules opened her mouth to defend Sam but was cut off by a familiar voice.
"Hey Jules, Mia." Claire's smile was bright but dimmed at the tension she felt. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I was just leaving." Mia got up and threw Jules one last glance. "Think about it."
Claire looked after her with a raised eyebrow. "Think about what?"
"Nothing." Jules shrugged, telling herself that this wouldn't affect her and that it really was nothing.
But it did affect her and it wasn't just nothing. During downtime in class, her mind wandered to that same conversation. The seed of doubt and uncertainty was planted.
And then during class transitions, she saw Sam talking to another girl, a beautiful girl who's tummy was perfectly flat.
Her doubts and insecurities were slowly growing and she felt like a little girl trying to play adult but realizing she'll never measure up.
"What's wrong, love?" Sam asked his young wife worriedly, coming to stand in front of her. He intertwined one of his hands with hers and lifted her chin with the other. "You can tell me anything."
Jules looked up at Sam, meeting his eyes, searching those blue orbs for the reassurance she needed. "Do you really love me? Or is it because of the baby?"
Sam's eyes widened in shock. Had he done anything that made her doubt his love for her? Or was it the hormones talking?
"Julianna Callaghan I love you with all my heart and being. Baby, you know that." He placed a hand on her baby bump. "And this baby is a product of that love."
Jules closed her eyes and muttered. "You sound like some kind of poet. Just too good to be true. "
Sam would have smirked if it weren't for the anguished look on her face.
He sighed and crushed her to his chest, kissing the top of her head. The insecurity he could hear in her voice broke his heart. "Jules, you know I love you and only you. Never doubt that."
The 18 year old hugged her husband tightly and muttered against his chest. "It's just, I saw you talking with that girl and then what Mia said...nevermind, I bet I sound like a teenager."
Sam chuckled, his minty breath fanning her face. "Baby, you are a teenager."
Jules fumed and blinked rapidly, abruptly pulling away.
Sam clenched his jaw. What the hell was he doing wrong? Lately Jules had pulled away from him and been in bad moods. She'd come home from school and sleep. She barely ate. She would refuse to leave the house.
Sam sighed. This morning he had gone talk to her doctor and relayed the information. The woman assured it was typical for a teenage pregnancy. The hormones would wreck havoc on her body and emotional state. It was normal, she said.
But it didn't mean it was easy. Seeing her like this made him feel helpless and it grated on his nerves. His minds sometimes visited that dark area that berated him for getting a 17 year old girl pregnant, making him feel like a monster.
"Jules, I talk to girls at school cuz I'm a teacher, and you know that I love you - teenager or not." Sam tried his best to remain calm.
Jules stared out the bedroom window. "I thought she approved Sam. I thought..." Jules sniffled. "Is this how's it's always going to be? They look at me like if I'm a stupid teenager that walked right into the predator's hands."
Sam sucked in a breath. Ouch. "You think I'm a predator now?" He growled slowly.
Jules bit the inside of her cheek. "I don't know." She felt tears sting at her eyes. She felt so tired.
Sam felt anger rising. The toll of the past days weighing him down. He clenched and unclenched his fists. "Jules I thought you didn't care what people thought. I thought you understood. Guess I was wrong."
"Guess you were. I hate you. You abandoned me."
Sam's eyes widened. The words coupled with the sleepy, far-away tone alerted him immediately that something was very wrong.
He ran to her just in time as Jules swayed and dropped in his arms, unconscious.
He lifted her bridal style and felt tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry Sweetheart. I didn't mean anything I said. I'm sorry."
He rushed out the door and placed her in the backseat.
On the way to the hospital he kept thinking one thing and one thing only.
Please be okay, I can't loose you.
FPFPFPFPFPFPFPFP
Present Time
The sliding glass doors glide open and Ed Lane enters. It's 5 in the morning, the sun is shining, sky is clear. It's gonna be a good day, he decides.
He looks to the dispatcher's desk, and, seeing it empty, doesn't give it much thought. He is usually the first one to come in everyday.
Although dispatcher rotation should be one dispatcher comes in and then the other leaves, he knows it's not a perfect world. Meaning, in theory, that Team One's floor should be empty.
Which is why the faint tap-tap footsteps alert his senses right away.
He reaches for the off-duty weapon he always carries and cautiously approaches the hallway the sounds are coming from. He's about to make the turn when...
"Boo!"
Ed takes a step back and quickly holsters his weapon, eyes wide. Giggling adorably in front of him is four year old Sadie Braddock in her PJ's, clutching a chocolate chip cookie in one hand. Definitely not what he was expecting.
"I scared you!"
Ed chuckles and ruffles her wavy brown locks. "Oh no, Sadie is a little cookie monster!"
She giggles and attempts to impersonate the cookie monster by munching on her cookie messily. "Grrrrrr!"
Ed laughs then frowns as to why a four year old is alone in SRU HQ. "Sade, where's mommy?"
Still munching on her cookie, she grabs his thumb and pulls him down the hallway towards the break room.
Looking through the small glass window on the door, Ed's frown deepens when he sees Spike asleep on one couch and Jake and Jules on the other. He looks down at Sadie.
"I'm guessing you're a sneaky little cookie monster too, huh?"
She nods enthusiastically. "I's not sleepy."
He hears footsteps and turns in time to see Greg walking down the hall, eyeing the little girl. "Eddie? What's Sadie doing here?"
Ed shrugs, motioning to the break room window. "Was gonna ask you the same thing. Do you have any idea what's going on?"
Greg takes a look through the window and his brow furrows. Just what in the world is going on, he thinks.
Greg bends down on one knee and smiles kindly at Sadie. "Sades, why aren't you, mommy, and Jakey at home?"
Sadie shrugs. "Daddy didn't come home yesteyday."
"Daddy?" Ed questions. Last he heard, Jules's husband was serving a tour in the military and wouldn't be due back for a year.
Sadie nods. "He reads me story every night. But not yesteyday."
Greg and Ed share a look. Something's definitely up.
Greg sucks in a breath and asks. "Sadie, who's daddy?"
"I'll tell you guys once the whole team is here."
Greg and Ed both turn to see who spoke, looking like kids caught stealing from the cookie jar. Jules is leaning against the doorway, arms crossed in front of her chest. They didn't even hear the door open.
Greg straightens and clears his throat. "Jules..."
"Not now, boss. I promise I'll explain everything later." She then turns to look at Sadie, raising an eyebrow. "Sadie, what did mommy say about not sneaking out?"
The little girl pouts. "I wanted cookie."
Jules gathers her little girl in her arms. "Okay let me get you some cookies." She then smiles gently at Greg and Ed. "You guys wanna do the honors of waking Spike?"
Both men nod and follow Jules into the break room. Ed walks over to Spike and gently shakes the other man's shoulder. "Spike, buddy, time to wake up."
Abruptly, Spike's eyes fly open and he looks around wildly, as if searching for something. Spotting Jules, he visibly relaxes. He stands and walks over to her, hugging her tight.
Jules wraps her own arms around him and whispers. "I'm okay, Spike."
"I thought..." He swallows the lump in his throat and suddenly realizes where he is. "What happened?"
She pulls away and looks him straight in the eyes. "A lot. I'll tell you everything later."
Ed and Greg look dumbfounded at the scene before them. Again, they think, what the hell is going on?
Spike just nods and rubs the back of his head, hoping to assuage the monstrous headache. The last thing he remembers is that scene he'll never be able to forget - Jules holding a gun to a brunette man who was also holding a gun to the young woman he considers a sister at heart. He remembers the shock at seeing the man pull the trigger on the gun aimed at him. He remembers the sensation of falling and feeling guilty for dying when Jules needed him most. Wait - he didn't die. But why? Not that's he's complaining.
He glances over at Jules, who is feeding Sadie chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk, probably so the little girl won't make a mess if she eats by herself.
He sighs. There is a puzzle pounding in his head, begging to be completed, and she seems to be the only one who has the missing pieces. He closes his eyes and rubs his temple at the onslaught of unanswered questions.
What happened? Why isn't there a bullet hole in my chest? Who was that man holding Jules at gun point and what did he want? Did she see what was in the flash drive? Does she know? Did she give it to the masked man? Why did the masked man protect her?
And what the hell is going on?
Ed and Greg shared worried glances. It's obvious something is bothering Spike by the expression on his face. Jules, too, seems to be trying too hard to look okay. But neither of them are.
Greg is about to ask once again what's going on when the words are spoken, but not by him.
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Wordy stands at the door, raising an eyebrow. He then pulls back and looks down the hallway. "Lew! Found them!"
The occupants of the room wait calmly as they hear light footsteps, then Lew's form appears beside Wordy.
"Guys, I thought we had workout today?" Lew asks.
"Hi Uncle Wordy and Uncle Lu!"
Both men blink at Sadie. What is Jules's four year old doing at HQ this early in the morning eating breakfast?
"Hey Sades." They both greet, recovering quickly.
Greg clears his throat. "Yeah, um, change of plans." He looks pointedly at Jules and Spike. "Briefing in ten. Jules, ask Winnie if she can look after the kids for awhile."
Jules nods and wipes Sadie's face. "Let me just wake up Jake."
Greg and Ed leave the room followed by a very confused Wordy and Lew.
Jules leans down and runs her hand through Jake's blond locks. "Jakey, wake up baby."
Sleepy blue eyes blink open and the six year old yawns, cuddling more against the couch and closing his eyes once again.
Jules chuckles. "Jake, you want cookies?"
Immediately, his eyes snap open, although his voice is still infused with sleep. "Morning mom."
Jules laughs. "That's what I thought. Go to the bathroom and wash your mouth, then you can have cookies."
He nods and gets up, running up to Spike when he sees him. "Mornin Uncle Spike!"
Spike smiles and ruffles his hair. "Morning Jakey."
The boy then leaves the room, going to the bathroom, finding it funny but cool that he's at SRU HQ.
"I'll go get Winnie, ask her to watch the kids." Spike offers, already heading for the door.
"Okay." Jules nods. After Spike leaves, she takes her little girl in her arms and hugs her tightly.
"Mommy, you k?" Sadie asks, sensing her mother's distress.
"Yeah, baby, I'm fine." The word slipped out on its own, and Jules didn't think of calling it back. Her innocent little baby doesn't know what it really means anyway.
"Mommy, where daddy?"
Jules closes her eyes. "He's coming home soon, baby. He has to get some bad guys first so you, me, and Jakey can be safe."
"Like super hero?"
Jules smiles sadly. "Yeah, like a superhero."
"Um, Jules?" Winnie knocks lightly on the door to get the younger woman's attention.
Jules looks up and smiles. "Hey Win, would you mind looking after Sades and Jake for awhile?"
She doesn't offer an explanation as to why the kids are here in the first place but Winnie doesn't need one. They're friends and that's what friends are for - no questions asked.
"Of course. Where's Jake?"
"Hi Auntie Winnie!"
Winnie turns around and smiles widely. "Oh there he is! What do you guys say we have some fun?"
Sadie and Jake both cheer. Jules smiles as she walks out, stopping to lock eyes with the other woman. "Thanks, Win."
"Anytime." Winnie answers honestly.
"You ready?" Spike straightens from where he was leaning against the wall when Jules steps into the hallway.
"I have no choice but to be." Jules answers honestly.
Spike wraps an arm around her shoulders in silent sign of support. "I'm here, Jules. You can lean on me."
She smiles. "Thanks."
They make their way to the briefing room, together, ready to face four very concerned men and hopefully explain what has been going on under their noses during the past three days.
Jules takes a deep breath and enters the room, a little unsettled by the sinking feeling at the pit of her stomach.
There's a puzzle piece she's missing.
A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long to put up but as you all know my biggest concern as a writer is quality! Plus I'm a perfectionist. Plus schools nd life got in the way. Anyway I hope this chapter is worth the wait.
part 1 is in the past - Jules is feeling the effects of a teenage pregnancy and they both are trying to deal with the consequences of having an illicit relationship!
part 2 is the present - in SRU HQ. Everyone's about to deal with the aftermath of what is going on with Jules, Spike and finally find out who Sam is.
Feelings and emotions are running high in this chapter, think you know why? :) I'd love to hear what you all think, what you suspect is happening, etc. Please drop me a review - makes me feel like you appreciate my efforts! Thank you:)