Author's Notes: I have to thank Sewtunes for a suggestion about a way to help Jules's dry mouth. I used it here with her permission, and I think Sam and Jules enjoyed it as well. Thanks! I hope you enjoy the chapter. It's a shorter chapter than most but after this Sam and Jules should be able to concentrate more on the mental recovery and not just the physical.

In a review, a guest reviewer asked about my icon. Since I can't respond via PM, I'll answer here. My icon was a gift from a friend who has amazing skills.

Disclaimer: The show Flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and the networks who air the episodes. Since the show has ended, our only way of getting new Flashpoint is through fan fiction. This story is my attempt to help fill the void, and the only profit I make is the warm fuzzy feeling reviews give me. Anything that does not come directly from the show is my own creation and should not be used without my permission.

Break Out

Chapter 12

"Jules Callaghan?"

Sam turned slightly at the sound of the unfamiliar voice and gave the female in a white doctor's coat a hard look. As he'd held Jules in his arms, he'd felt her slow surrender into sleep. He'd continued to hold her knowing that sleep right then was probably her only defense against the pain no one seemed in a hurry to do anything about. He wasn't about to let anyone wake her up unless it was absolutely necessary.

The woman smiled apologetically and stepped closer into the cubicle. She lowered her voice considerably when she spoke next. "I'm Dr. Liz Flowers; Dr. Johnson asked me to consult on Ms. Callaghan's case. I've looked at her x-rays; she took quite a bit of shrapnel in her upper thigh. That's not a very common injury; can you tell me what happened?"

It was on the tip of Sam's tongue to ask if it really mattered but then he refrained. Sure, he was frustrated at the lack of attention he felt Jules was getting but he couldn't hold it against the surgeon who at least appeared interested in helping. "She was pretty close to a small homemade bomb that exploded. It would have been worse but her protective gear caught most of it."

The doctor nodded. "If you ask me, it looks bad enough as it is. Pretty painful as well. Although nice to know that Kevlar really does work; my husband is a police officer so it's nice to have the confirmation." She stepped closer to the bed and lifted the blanket enough that she could look at the injury. Jules didn't stir causing Sam to look down at her in concern. Usually she was such a light sleeper. The surgeon caught his worried expression. "The body has wonderful coping mechanisms. Sleep is one of them. It's the best way to deal with the pain it can't handle. I'm going to have to wake her up though. I need to ask her a few questions to determine the best course of treatment."

Sam kissed Jules's forehead tenderly. "Sweetheart?"

Jules stretched slightly and then groaned. She blinked several times, and Sam could tell she was trying to process where she was and what was happening. He didn't say anything, knowing she did that anytime she woke up somewhere other than her own bed. He waited until her eyes focused and she tried to lean back against the bed before completely releasing her. She gave a shaky smile. "Sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's okay. You know I never mind holding you while you sleep. The surgeon is here."

Jules glanced over to the doctor standing next to the bed. A yawn pre-empted anything she was initially going to say. That was followed by another groan as the movement jarred the injuries at her jaw. "Please tell me you're going to take care of the arsenal in my leg."

"Absolutely. I would have let you sleep but I need to ask you a few questions. We've got several options we can go with for pain management but I want to go with the best one for you. Can I presume your leg is the worst of your pain?"

Nod and shrug. It could be a toss-up but was probably mostly an accurate assessment. The doctor gave a knowing smile. She figured it must be a cop thing to not want to admit to being in pain. Her husband was the same way. The doctor continued. "I definitely want to do a local as far as pain management in removing the shards but I also recommend going with a bit of sedation as well. I don't think general anesthesia is necessary but probably more of a twilight like you might get for dental procedures. It'll make you a little drowsy but you will still be able to respond to commands. The best part about it is that you probably won't remember anything about the procedure when I'm done. Does that sound okay to you?"

Jules nodded. At that moment she probably wouldn't have protested against anything the doctor recommended. "Sounds good."

Sam frowned. "What I don't understand is why it's taken so long to get something done. Why couldn't the ER doc do all this?"

"The kind of sedation I'm talking about can't be ordered by just any doctor. I know it's frustrating feeling like nothing is being done, but I can assure you none of us want to see any patient suffer needlessly. Had Dr. Johnson ordered anything for pain before consulting me, we could have been delayed in doing anything now. So, I'm going to go put in the order for the sedation and the local so it's ready when we are. In a few minutes, a couple of orderlies will be in to move you upstairs so we can remove the shards."

"Can I go with her?" Sam asked. With everything that had happened, he wasn't quite ready to let her out of his sight even though he knew she was perfectly safe. He'd told Jill Hastings earlier that Jules was not someone who was helpless or in need of protection, but somehow, seeing her hurting and vulnerable had brought out his need to watch over her and defend her if necessary.

Dr. Flowers looked dubious. "Are you sure you want to? She's not going to remember anything about the experience but I can't give you the same type of drugs."

Sam bristled. It was on the tip of his tongue to argue that he wasn't squeamish about such things and had probably seen much worse during his tours overseas. He stopped just short of protesting; Jules had worried earlier that he might think she was weak agreeing to take something for the pain during the removal of the metal shards. He didn't want to add to her feeling that way. Besides, the doctor probably had a point. Rip his own fingernails out one by one and then soak his hands into salt water, fine. Ask him to watch someone he loves suffer the way Jules had and was continuing to suffer and he wasn't sure he could handle it. Still, easy or not, he wanted and needed to be there for her. "I'm sure."

Jules frowned. "Sam, you don't have to. I've been told before that I make a horrible patient especially when under the influence of stronger drugs. I'd hate to freak you out."

Sam brushed his fingers lightly against her cheek. "I can handle it. You couldn't freak me out no matter how horrible a patient you are. I want to be there for you, but only if it's what you want or need. If you'd rather I wait in a waiting room until Dr. Flowers is through, then that's fine as well."

"I want you there." Jules told him without hesitation. Sam sensed there was more on her mind though.

"But?"

Once again, she started to catch her lower lip between her teeth but then thought better of it. "I feel a little bad about the rest of the team just sitting out there wondering what's going on. Don't I owe them a little something better?"

Sam knew the team was worried. He'd have known it even if he hadn't seen it in the eyes of each of his teammates. They were more than just a team; they were family and family worried when a member was hurt. However, his concern at the moment had to be more for Jules than for the others. "Don't worry about them; they're fine. Once Dr. Flowers works her magic, there will be plenty of time for them to fuss over you."

Immediately he knew it was the wrong thing to say. Jules's nose wrinkled up and the corners of her mouth turned down. "They shouldn't have to fuss over me. If I thought it would do any good, I'd tell you to join them, let them know I really was okay, and convince them to go home and do whatever it is they would normally do. I know though they aren't going to be satisfied until they see me for themselves."

Dr. Flowers regarded them both. "It's going to be probably about five to ten minutes before the orderlies come to move you. I could have a nurse let your friends know they could come back for a moment or two before that happens if you'd like. That way you could fill them in on what's going on without having to leave the room. Once the orderlies come to take you up, they can move up to the waiting room on the 7th floor until the procedure is over and we move you to a regular room."

Everything in her told Jules to say no. She didn't want to hurt her friends by keeping them out when she knew they were worried about her and had been worried since the moment they'd realized she was in danger. However, she was worried that letting them come back to see her would just worry them more. She'd seen the looks Ed, Spike, and Raf had given her when they'd been in the cubicle with her earlier. She'd felt almost suffocated by their concern and presence but the question in their eyes was what bothered her the most. She knew, even if they didn't want to ask it out loud, the question that was on each of their minds. A question she wasn't sure she'd be ready to field even if she was heavily drugged. Her answer to the doctor's offer sounded foreign even to her own ears. "Sure, that would be great."

Dr. Flowers nodded and left the cubicle. Sam was watching her carefully but his gaze felt comforting and caressing rather than piercing. She reached up, trapping his hand between her own and her cheek. His thumb traced circles on her cheek. He sighed. "I wish I could do something to make you more comfortable."

Jules smiled softly, the expression not quite reaching her eyes. "I can think of a way you can help make me more comfortable."

Sam's features softened. "What is it? You know I'd do anything for you."

Jules wrinkled her nose slightly, wishing this could be just any evening they spent together instead of the circumstances they'd found themselves in. "I bet you wouldn't give me a stick of gum to chew on. I know you always keep a pack on you."

Sam chuckled softly. "Okay, so let me rephrase; you know I'd do anything for you that I could without causing worse trouble. I know you wouldn't want Dr. Flowers to decide she can't give you the sedation because you'd been chewing on a piece of gum."

"No, I wouldn't." Jules admitted. "That's why I'm not asking for gum. Kiss me."

Sam hesitated. "You sure? That lip of yours looks even more swollen because of those earlier kisses."

Jules nodded. "I'm sure. Besides the fact that your kisses make me feel better as a whole, kissing actually helps moisten my mouth some."

Now his chuckle was more an actual laugh. "So you are using me for my saliva, is that what you are telling me? I should be insulted."

"Get over it." Jules warned, her tone lighter than it'd been since he'd arrived. "Just shut up and kiss me."

"Yes, Ma'am." Sam lowered his head to once more capture her lips. Any reservations he had about kissing her were dwarfed by his own very real need to hold her and kiss her. After everything he'd seen, after all the worry he'd felt, there was nothing more reassuring than the feel of her lips on his, and her body almost melting against him. Knowing it was helping Jules as well just made it even better.

For a moment, nothing mattered or even existed but the two of them. Then the curtain scrapped against the rod as it was opened and the other four members of the team stepped into the cubicle. Almost reluctantly, Sam released Jules and turned to greet their friends. Greg, Ed, and Raf all approached the bed but Spike stayed back, barely stepping inside.

Greg put his hand on Jules's shoulder; he'd barely gotten a chance to even see her after Sam had taken the shot and she and Dogland had both gone down into a heap. The relief he felt at seeing her now was mixed with the pain he felt at seeing her look so battered. He forced a smile. "Thanks to you, Team One has a pretty unbeatable response time to a hot call. That being said, I could probably go the rest of my life happily without having a repeat of today."

"Me too." Jules agreed softly. She took Sam's hand in her own and gave it a slight squeeze. Sam noticed a slight tremor in her grasp but chalked it up to the pain she was feeling. "Sorry I scared you all."

Ed, at the foot of her bed, squeezed her foot. It was on her uninjured leg but Jules inhaled sharply anyway and her grasp tightened on Sam's hand. Sam was the only one to notice both reactions but he didn't say anything. With everything that had happened, who could blame Jules for being apprehensive about any movement that might cause more pain. Ed, unaware of Jules's reactions, shook his head. "I was starting to think maybe I was going to have to send in an Alpha team to find out what was happening to you in here."

Raf leaned in closer to the bed as if to whisper conspiratorially. "You should have heard some of the tac plans he was putting together. I think if they hadn't let Sam back here when he arrived, Ed would have started carrying them out." Then he straightened up. How are you doing, Jules? What's the doctor said?"

Trying to save Jules's voice from any further strain, Sam filled them in on Jules's injuries. When he finished, Jules added. "I know you need to get my statement…"

Greg held his hand up stopping her. "Don't worry about your statement. There's no hurry for that. There'll be plenty of time for that once you've had a chance to recover. That's all that's important right now: you getting better."

"Absolutely." Ed agreed. "Although, I bet you'll be up, running around, giving the doctor and Sam seven kinds of hell when they try to get you to take it easy in no time."

"No doubt in my mind either." Raf agreed. "Now if it was me, I'd play it up as much as I could. I'm telling you, Jules; I'm sure ole Sam here would jump through hoops to cater to your every whim if you'd let him."

The look Sam gave Jules was pure love. "I'd do that even if she wasn't injured." Then he glanced over at Spike, who hadn't come any closer into the room. "Everything okay, Spike?"

The bomb tech nodded but his expression was anything but fine. Sam was about to question him further but just then a couple of orderlies arrived to move Jules upstairs. Even though Sam wondered at Spike's aloof behavior, he didn't want to make Jules wait even a second longer to get treatment. He looked Sarge with a raised eyebrow and a slight turn of his head in Spike's direction. He hoped the older man would read his unspoken question and find out what was bothering Spike.

Greg gave no indication as to whether he picked up on Sam's subtle hint. Instead he leaned down and brushed a light kiss to Jules's forehead. "We'll see you once you're in a regular room."

Jules frowned. "You guys don't have to wait. I'm sure you have better things to do than sit around a waiting room all day."

"And if it was one of us lying in that bed where would you be?"

Jules didn't answer because they both knew the answer. Sam eased off the bed to allow the orderlies to do their job. He picked up Jules's bag, which he'd pretty much dropped and forgotten about as soon as he'd seen her, and held it out to Spike. "You mind holding on to this until Jules gets in a room? I doubt they'd want us taking a bunch of stuff in to the procedure room.

Spike nodded but still didn't say anything. Sam was pretty sure he knew his friend well enough to recognize when Spike was upset but he couldn't figure out about what. Again, he wished he had time to question him but there was none to spare. As it was, there was barely a chance to say anything more as the orderlies started to wheel the stretcher from the cubicle.

It was a short elevator ride up to the seventh floor and then down a long corridor to the room Dr. Flowers had arranged. When the orderlies moved Jules from her stretcher over to the exam table waiting there, a sharp shout of pain ripped from Jules's throat before she could control her reactions. Sam stiffened; it took everything in him not to do some shouting of his own. He knew the orderlies had tried to be as gentle as possible and it hadn't been their fault that any movement whatsoever hurt. Still, it wasn't easy watching Jules suffer and not be able to do anything to help.

Once she was lying on the flat table, Sam positioned himself near her head. He reached over and thumbed away some of the tears. Tears that seemed to be falling much more now than they had earlier. It broke his heart. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart; the doctor will be in here in just a few minutes and she's going to give you something for the pain. I promise."

His tone suggested that there would be hell to pay if she didn't. Jules nodded. "I know. It's okay; the pain's not that bad. I can handle it."

"Then why the tears?" Sam asked gently.

Jules sniffled. "I really don't want to talk about it right now. Okay?"

"Okay." Sam agreed. He was pretty sure he knew anyway. She'd picked up on Spike's behavior and was upset by it. But if she didn't want to discuss it, then he wouldn't force it. That wouldn't stop him from having a long conversation with Spike later though.

Dr. Flowers came in. She held a syringe so Jules could see it. "I call this my 'do whatever the hell you want to do to me 'cause I ain't gonna care about anything in about thirty seconds' miracle shot. I'm going to inject it into your IV and once it takes affect, I'll start to numb your leg. I'll start with a low dose of the sedation but I'll up it if need be. You'll probably feel a little drowsy and it's okay to sleep. Don't worry, I won't let anything you might say or do while under the effects of the drug be used against you. Sound good?"

Jules nodded. Sam pulled a stool up close to the table as the doctor injected the contents of the syringe into a port on the IV. Sam started to take Jules's other hand in his but stopped, unsure if he should. Dr. Flowers noticed.

"Go ahead, you can hold her hand, talk to her. Whatever. I won't let anything you say or do be held against you either. I'm going to set up a drape at her waist so you won't see too much of what I'm doing. Even if you can handle it, there's no reason why you should have to."

After she set up the cloth barrier, she removed the blanket covering Jules's wounded leg. Sam could tell the drug was taking affect because he'd watched as her eyes sort of glazed over. The doctor looked up toward Jules's head. "How are you feeling there?"

"Why am I floatin'?" Even her words sounded slurred. The doctor smiled.

"Just enjoy the ride." Then Dr. Flowers looked at Sam. "I think we're about ready to begin. I'll get her leg numbed and then we'll take care of this spike problem."

Sam knew she was referring to the metal shards and not their friend. He still wasn't sure what was bothering Spike but he had a feeling no little miracle shot was going to fix it.