Present Time
There's a puzzle piece she's missing.
Jules shakes that thought away and, along with Spike, steps into the briefing room, subsequently closing and locking the garage like door behind her.
Ed is pacing in the back, his phone pressed to his ear, an unpleasant look on his face. Wordy is beside him, a hand on his shoulder, saying something in a hushed tone. Greg is sitting at the foot of the table, his hands clasped before him, his head lying on them. Lew is also sitting at the table, his hands crossed across his chest, looking intently at the view the large window offers.
Jules stands at the head of the table while Spike leans against the wall behind them. She clears her throat and Greg, Wordy, and Lew look up at her.
Ed growls and slams his cell phone on the table. "I can't get a hold of David, Greg. I don't know who that kid thinks he is but -"
"Ed." The guys turn their attention away from Ed's outburst to Jules's firm statement. "He's not coming. Not for some time."
"What do you mean, Jules?" Greg presses gently.
She takes a deep breath and turns to Spike, who smiles and gives her an encouraging nod to go on, even if he himself has no idea what secret she's gonna reveal.
"David Hilton is actually Sam Braddock, my husband." She raises a hand to stop the questions she can see on the tips of their tongues. "Let me explain."
She continues in an even tone, as if reading a factual report and not sharing a secret she's been guarding for years. "My husband joined the army at 18 and has been in and out ever since. At one point, he was recruited by the government to carry out top secret missions. He would come home for a year or, if I was lucky, two at a time and then he had to go back." She takes a breath and clenches her small hands into fists. "About three days ago he came home and he told me he had an assignment here in Toronto and that part of his cover-up was joining Team One."
She runs a hand through her brown locks. "He didn't tell me for who, or why, or anything really because I trusted him - I always have." She shuts her eyes tightly and a tears makes a quick path down her cheek before her hand cuts it off. "Yesterday night I found out why." She can't keep the disbelief out of her voice as she turns to face Spike and speaks barely above a whisper. "His assignment was to kill you and take the stupid flash drive I asked you to put together."
Spike's eyes widen and flashes of that night, the gunshots, the metal pressing against his temple, the anger, the fear, resurface all at once. He clenches his jaw as a question is answered.
Why did the masked man protect her? Because he is Jules's husband.
Jules turns back to the men of Team One who are sitting, processing every word she said with shocked expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Ed suddenly stands and turns to a wall, driving his fist through it, breathing raggedly. He knew the kid was trouble from the beginning, he just didn't think it was this serious. This kid had deceived Team One and joined them in order to harm one of their own. The fact that he is Jules's husband and deceived her as well angered him more. He just wanted to wrap his hands around his throat and choke him to death - maybe kill him the way he planned to kill Spike.
Wordy sucks in a breath and blinks a couple times, wondering how they went from usual days of keeping threats at bay in the city to having a threat under their noses without them realizing it. His concern, however, is the young woman he considers something like a niece and wondering what else she isn't telling them. Because he can see there's more but he's not so sure he wants to know.
Lew is staring out the window, scenarios he doesn't want to live through assaulting his head. What if Spike had died last night? His best friend dead because a room full of Toronto's best couldn't sniff out the threat in the room. It's unfathomable but his mind can't stop playing out the different scenarios.
Greg is rubbing his bald head, trying to make sense of the situation and attempting to keep the questions at bay. How did this man even get into the team undetected? Wouldn't there have been a red flag on his name? Or his face been recognized by the cameras at HQ?
Greg's eyes widen at his realization. "The cameras." He gets up and walks over to Spike, shaking him out of his stupor. "Spike, check the cameras."
Spike blinks, dumbfounded at first. He then remembers the cameras at HQ have ingrained facial recognition and should red flag anyone guilty of any crime - or in this case they can red flag him.
Jules too blinks out of her thoughts and glares at the men. "Hey! He might've lied but he's no criminal! He had his reasons!"
Ed laughs sardonically. "Are you hearing yourself, Jules? The man deceived us all and you're still protecting him! Who knows how many people he's deceived and killed! He's a criminal!"
Before any of them can process what's happening, Jules pushes Ed against a wall roughly, punching him strongly and rapidly. Breaking out of his shock, Ed groans in pain and attempts to grab her hands to stop her from causing more harm.
Spike and Wordy immediately start to pull Jules off, but Ed just reaches out and stops them, crushing Jules to his chest as she starts shaking.
"I sent him away. I sent him on a suicide mission." Her words are muffled and broken as her walls crumble. "He was forced to kill by people who threatened me and my kids. Spike was almost killed because of me." She finally pulls away from Ed, searching his eyes as she whispers softly, the guilt eating her alive. "How do I live with that?"
Greg opens his mouth, hoping to soothe her, but Ed locks his eyes with him and shakes his head. Ed then leans his head down, so he's looking her in the eyes with his hands on her shoulders. "You can't live with it."
"Ed." Wordy cautions, opening his mouth to say more but Ed shoots him a glare.
Ed continues. "Jules, you can't live with it because it's not yours to live with. Trust me when I say I know what misplaced guilt feels like, hell I can say I'm an expert. But at the end of the day, either Greg or Wordy or Lew or Spike or you remind me that the guilt isn't mine. So here I am doing what you would do for me - telling you that it's not your fault."
Jules opens her mouth to protest but Wordy walks forward and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Eddie's right, Jules. You didn't send your husband on any mission - he did. He's a grown man and he makes his own decisions."
Greg speaks up. "Jules." He waits for her to turn, to pull away from Ed's embrace but allowing him and Wordy to keep their hands on her shoulders. Greg looks at her warmly, his eyes locking with her intently. "You are not at fault for the people he has killed. The men who ordered him are - those despicable bastards that used you and your precious children. You didn't give the order, they did."
At Greg's words, the rest of the men of Team One feel some of the anger for Sam Braddock wash away because they realize he was only trying to protect his family from a threat. But they still can't bring themselves to forgive him fully and they don't know if they ever will.
Spike smiles as he too steps forward. "And I'm still alive Jules. I'm not dead. Plus, I did the research for the flash drive because I wanted to help you. It's not your fault it was the reason he targeted me. You and I both didn't know."
There's a short silence as Lew wonders what to say - all the needed words have been spoken. So he doesn't offer verbal comfort, but physical comfort. He steps forward and fully wraps Jules in his arms as she fully processes the words her chosen family have spoken. She smiles and feels a tear slip from her eye in gratitude.
Jules finally pulls away from Lew's embrace and looks at every man in the room. "Thank you."
Ed sucks in a breath and states in a calmer voice than before. "Now why don't you tell us exactly what your husband did or does?"
Jules opens her mouth but realizes she doesn't know much other than the phrase basically a government issued assassin to describe him.
Spike glances her way and clears his throat. "Actually, I can answer that question."
The guys all look at him with varying degrees of confusion. Lew raises an eyebrow at his best friend. "How?"
Spike sighs. "Because when I was doing the research for Jules, I made a connection that led me to top secret information regarding an underground group of mercenaries at the hands of a handful of crooked military officials. There wasn't a job description or anything but there were sealed files of unsolved deaths around the globe of high profile terrorists, politicians, gang leaders, and criminals. I also found a list of 50 codes, which I'm guessing corresponded to the men under their fingers, with the files of targets under them. Basically, they recruit or exploit a small number of soldiers with very high skills to kill high profile targets they wouldn't be able to get away with killing legally."
"Do you have the codes?" Greg asks.
"No, couldn't download it without downloading a virus that would blow up my computer as well."
"Huh so a government issued assassin." Wordy muses aloud.
Jules can't help the small upturn of her lips. "That's exactly what I told him."
"So where is he now?" Lew wonders.
Jules looks away, staring out the window. "I told him to end it. He said the flash drive has the list of the crooked military officials Spike mentioned so I told him to go after them."
Spike is about to ask about the other masked man but Jules subtly shakes her head as if sensing his question. He decides to trust her and doesn't open his mouth, but instead adds the question to his ever growing list.
"Wait, so you managed to put together the list of the leaders?" Ed asks Spike.
"Yeah. I found a common factor among the men and filed them in the flash drive. I then conducted an individual research on each. It's not evidence that can pin them down though - just background information."
"So it might not be correct?" Jules eyes him.
Spike blows a breath out through his mouth. "No it might not. But I bet it's pretty damn close."
"Hope so." Jules mutters, hoping she didn't send her husband after innocent officers.
"Sgt. Parker? Please open this door."
All of Team One turns to the metal door at hearing Commander Holleran's loud voice. Greg complies and presses the button, waiting as the door slides open.
He steps forward. "Sorry, Commander. My team was just briefing."
Jules smiles in relief, thankful the Boss didn't tell him the real reason.
Holleran nods uncertainly. "I see. Now where is Ms. Camden?"
"She's in the break room. I'll go get her." Jules speaks up, excusing herself from the room.
"Everything okay Holleran?" Ed asks, wondering why the Commander is searching for Winnie in an agitated disposition.
Holleran sighs. "My computer won't start up and I've receive a couple calls from around the building relating that they're experiencing the same problem. Security in the server room just confirmed a virus was introduced into the system." He rubs his temples in frustration. "We're gonna have to restart the whole system and lose video feed and important information from the past week."
The Team lets that sink in, realizing it means their plan to flag Braddock would now be impossible. Then a thought climbs into their heads - did Braddock introduce the virus as a precaution?
Wordy voices the team's concern. "Do you know who did it?"
Holleran shakes his head. "No. We have narrowed it down to a time frame of 1 hour for when it was done so I have security questioning anyone that was near a computer during that time period." He sighs. "Including Winnie."
"Commander?" Winnie turns the hallway and comes to stand before Holleran. "I apologize, sir. I was in the break room."
Holleran nods tensely. "I'm going to need you to come with me. I'll explain everything on our way."
Winnie nods, shooting Team One a worried look, but Spike catches her eye and gives her an encouraging smile that assures her that it's going to be okay. She smiles back and turns to follow Holleran.
"I'm sure it was that Braddock man." Ed growls and turns to the remaining four men after Holleran and Winnie are out of ear shot. "Now what?"
"Obviously he's very skilled and has a lot of experience." Wordy begins.
"Meaning?" Ed presses.
Wordy sighs. "I'm not sure there's anything we can do to stop him, Ed. All we can do now is be there for Jules."
"I agree. Plus I don't want us to get involved like I did and get a target painted on our backs." Spike reasons.
"So we just let Jules fend for herself?" Lew asks incredulously. "I know she's fully capable of defending herself but she's not invincible."
Wordy sighs. "Didn't you just hear what I said, Lew? We take care of our own." Wordy shrugs. "Spike just meant that we don't keep digging. Instead we should find a way to get her out."
"And how the hell do we do that?" Lew asks in frustration.
The team finds themselves at a loss and turn to their leader. Greg sighs and runs a hand over his head. "Honestly I don't know - I doubt she would abandon her husband. So we just watch each others backs like we've always done."
The guys nod and decide to fully execute the third word of their motto - protect.
"Boss is right."
The team turns to find Jules standing at the doorway, her pretty face sad, carrying a sleeping Sadie while Jake plays in the gym. "I'm never abandoning my husband. And I'm the one with the target on her back. So I'm leaving."
Spike quickly rushes forward. "No. You're not."
Jules narrows her eyes. "Yes I am. It's my -" she takes a deep breath. "Trust me when I say it's best if I leave."
"What about your kids?" Wordy asks incredulously, grasping at straws so she won't leave.
She smiles sadly as she gazes at her baby girl. "I love them so much. They have gone through so much." She looks up and locks eyes with Wordy. "They love your girls and I called Shelly and she agreed to care for them. Can you keep them safe?"
Wordy shakes his head roughly. "No... No... No because you are going to keep them safe! We won't let you leave Jules."
Jules lets out a small agonized sob. "You don't understand! My husband is willing to kill for me so those men are using that against him. What if they come for me and my children to push him even more? I can't risk them!"
Greg moves forward and puts a hand on her shoulder, his voice fierce with conviction. "Jules, listen to me and listen good. We are here for you and we won't let anything happen to you or Sadie or Jake." He lowers his voice a fraction. "You're the daughter of my heart, you're important and cherished by every man in this room. Do you really think we will stand by as you sacrifice yourself?"
Jules allows herself to be pulled into Greg's fatherly embrace and feels some tears stream down her face. She feels at a loss for what to do, for how to protect her two angels. She wishes Sam was here, the love of her life could make her smile with one word and make her feel like the luckiest woman on earth with one kiss. He always had a way to make any horrible situation better and at this moment, Jules feels like he should be here. Sobs rack her body as she screams from the bottom of her heart - Sam where are you? I need you.
She finally calms, the walls firmly back in place, ready to defend herself against the next blow life will aim in her direction. She pulls away from Greg and wipes her eyes with her free hand, tightening her grip on Sadie. She clears her throat. "I'm sorry. And thank you for all your support." She sucks in a breath as her eyes meet five concerned gazes. She searches for Greg's. "Boss, I'm gonna be staying at HQ for some days. I already have some bags packed with all the necessities. Is that okay?"
Five men open their mouths to protest and to offer their homes when a commanding voice cuts them off from behind Jules.
"Nonsense."
They all turn with varying degrees of confusion etched on their faces to see a tall, broad-shouldered dark haired man standing before them in a crisp military uniform.
"And who are you?" Ed asks coldly, wary of any strangers.
The man's dark brown eyes gleam as his gaze lands on Jules, whom he directs his answer to.
"I'm your father."
A/N: So the much awaited team reaction hath been written! Was it worth my prolonged wait? Were their reactions good, on character? (Please people i wanna know what you think! :D)
Guess the Team doesn't like Sam much for what he's done. What did you think would happen? Is their anger misplaced? And remember what Sam did in Ch. 5? Yup that was the virus! And omg Jules's father is here!