Author's Notes: I had really hoped to update this sooner with the break but this was the earliest I could do it. I'm going to try to update either this or one of the others at least once more before Spring Break ends. Here's crossing fingers that it happens. I hope you enjoy this chapter. There is one scene in this chapter that is a strong T but I don't think it pushes the rating too much and I felt it was necessary to the story. I hope it doesn't offend.
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 14
For several minutes there was complete silence in the hospital room. Jules just stared at Sam, torn somewhere between disbelief and utter misery. She'd taken Spike's behavior and especially his last outburst that had penetrated even her sleep-filled brain as proof that he'd been the one to witness the horror she'd experienced. As much as she hated that one of her best friends ever had been privy to that pain, she'd felt a little relief that it hadn't been Sam. Now according to what Sam had told her, that relief was unfounded.
Sam watched as what little color Jules had in her cheeks seem to drain completely away. Her eyes were wide and unblinking with a distinct deer caught in the headlight quality. He'd thought his admission that he'd been the one on the snake cam instead of Spike would have made her feel better, but now he wasn't so sure. He continued to hold her even though she now felt stiff in his arms. If she pulled away, he'd release her immediately, but he didn't want to unless he had to. He didn't want her to think his feelings had changed because of what he'd seen.
When the silence threatened to become overwhelming, Sam licked his bottom lip nervously. "Jules?"
The one word seemed to snap her back to the moment. "You were on the snake cam?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah, Ed and I found where you and the guard were hurt and followed the blood trail to the laundry door. I think Ed knew I really needed to have eyes in, not just from a professional standpoint but to just reassure myself personally that you were okay. I can't tell you how hard it was not to rush in there when I saw what he was trying to do…"
Jules brought her hand up to his mouth, silencing him. "I don't want to talk about what you saw. I know we'll have to eventually but not now. I just can't… I mean, I didn't…" She closed her eyes and breathed in through her nose trying to regain her composure. Then she opened them again, the questions thick in her eyes. "Spike didn't…?"
Sam shook his head. "No, the only other person who did anything with the snake cam was Adam from Team Four once we were ready to get the inmates to move outside. I can't say for sure what Spike might have heard while he was in the command center we set up but I know he didn't see anything." Then, in case she needed the reassurance, he added, "And I didn't say anything."
She tried to remember what had happened while the phone line had been open, but that involved thinking about everything she didn't want to think about. She shifted slightly on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position. Her chest felt tight but she knew it had nothing to do with any injury.
It didn't make sense. Spike was acting unSpikelike but it wasn't because he'd borne witness to her worst moment. Sam was being incredibly Samlike despite everything he'd seen. It was almost too much for her battered mind to take. Thoughts and emotions were whirling through her, threatening to overwhelm her. She stared up at the ceiling trying to get both under control but she wasn't having much success. She blamed the sedation and for a moment wished she'd insisted that she could handle having the shrapnel removed without it. Could that pain have been any worse than not feeling able to control her reactions now?
"Jules?"
She blinked a couple of times and then looked back at him. His blue eyes, full of love and concern, found hers. Ordinarily, she could get lost in those eyes, finding solace and safety there. At that moment, instead, she felt like she was drowning in them. It was too much. "Sam, do you think you could get me some more ice water?"
Sam nodded, but it was a reluctant one. "Yeah, if that's what you want."
Immediately, he wished he could call the words back. His disappointment rang in his ears and the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel bad. He would do anything for her, and if she wanted or needed ice water, then he'd damn well willingly go to the Artic to get her the ice if she wanted him to. He just hated that he'd have to leave her side to do so. He eased off the bed and reached for the cup. Jules reached out to take his hand, preventing him from moving far.
"Don't be mad." The plea in her voice cut into his heart deeply.
Sam sighed and set the cup back down. He turned back to her and leaned down so that his head was close to hers. He brushed a quick kiss to her forehead. "I'm not mad; I couldn't be mad at you. I just don't want you upset with me either."
"I'm not." Her words were reassuring but there was something flat in her tone that didn't quite match what she was saying. She sighed. "It's not like I want you to leave. I don't. I want you here. Maybe, as hard as it is for me to admit, I even need you here. I just also need a few minutes to myself so I can think. Okay?"
Sam nodded. There was a part of him that worried, probably irrationally, that if he walked out that door, he'd lose her forever. Whether the worry was justified or not, he'd give her the time. How could he not after he'd sworn to her that he'd give her whatever she needed? It wasn't like she was asking for much, just a few minutes alone to wrap her head around the fact that Sam had been the one to witness what had happened. He'd go down to the nurses' station and get a cup of ice and water and linger for a few minutes, but he couldn't go without offering her more reassurances. He lovingly cupped the side of her face with his hand.
"I love you. I know it surprised you to find out I was on the camera and not Spike. I know you've got to process that but remember this as you do. You might have just found that out, but I've known what happened all along. We don't have to talk about it until you are ready but answer me this: have I treated you any differently because of what I know?"
Jules shook her head slowly. Sam leaned down and kissed her lips softly. He softly caressed her bottom lip with his tongue and she willingly parted her lips to allow him entrance. He sensuously swept the inside of her mouth before pulling back. Then he rested his head on her forehead. "And I'm not going to start now that you know that I know."
Without giving her a chance to say anything in reply, Sam picked up the cup once again and left the hospital room. Jules watched as the door closed behind him and immediately wanted to call him back in. What the hell was she doing? Why was she pushing him away when all he'd done from the moment he'd arrived at the hospital was be there for her and support her however she needed. He hadn't hesitated or pulled back when she'd needed him to hold or kiss her. There had been nothing in anything he'd done to indicate that he'd been too freaked out or disturbed by what he'd seen. He hadn't pressured her to open up since she wouldn't really be telling him anything he hadn't already known. She couldn't fault him for anything.
Him knowing shouldn't have bothered her. While she wasn't ready tonight to discuss what had happened and how it had made her feel, she would have told Sam everything soon enough anyway. She wouldn't have kept it a secret from him no matter how tempted she was to keep it all to herself. If anything, knowing it was Sam instead of Spike should have made her feel better, but she had to be honest to herself in admitting that it didn't. As much as she cared what her teammates thought of her, she cared the most about Sam's opinion.
He'd seen what happened. He'd watched as Snake had put his vile hands on her and had touched and kissed her in ways only Sam should have access to. There was no way to downplay or sugarcoat the experience in the telling. No way to hide how helpless or humiliated she'd felt. He already knew. Sure, he hadn't treated her differently in the hospital but what about when they went home? When he started to undress her, would he look at the bruises she knew Snake's slobbering suckling on her lower neck had caused and not think about how they were caused? Would he be able to touch or caress her breasts without worrying he was bringing back bad memories?
As she lay there on the hospital bed staring up at the ceiling, she had to admit what was really bothering her the most. She wasn't as worried about how Sam would react to what he'd seen but her own reactions to knowing he'd witnessed it. Could she look at Sam and accept his love and affection without constantly being reminded that he'd seen her worst moment?
Feeling ashamed at her thoughts, Jules threw back the blanket. She'd get up and go find Sam. She loved him and he loved her and nothing, not even what Snake had tried, would change that. It was only as she tried to swing her legs over the side and stand that she remembered her injured leg wasn't going to cooperate because of the numbing block the doctor had used during the procedure. The feeling was starting to return but she was sure her leg wasn't quite strong enough yet to support her weight.
With a slight growl of frustration, she settled the blanket back over her legs and folded her arms over her chest. She glanced at the nurse call button on the side of the bed. She knew she could press the button and ask whomever answered the call to send Sam back. She hated using the call button though. It was just one more thing to make her feel helpless and she was damn sick of feeling that way.
Almost as if she'd actually made the call, there was a slight knock on the door and Sam stuck his head in. "Hey, I got you some more ice water and I ran into Sophie while I was out there. You okay with a quick visit?"
She nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed and more than a little ashamed that he'd felt like he had to ask. "Yeah, both of you can come in."
Sam held the door open and let Ed's wife enter first. Sophie was carrying a bag which Jules presumed probably held the shrimp risotto Ed had promised. Her stomach growled appreciatively, and Jules realized it had been way too long since breakfast with only a few spoonfuls of soup in between. Sophie set her parcel on the rolling food tray and stepped closer to the bed.
"How are you feeling? Ed said you got a little banged up during a call, but I think he kind of under described the situation."
Jules shrugged slightly. "Mostly looks worse than it is. It's sweet of you to stop by; I know you have a catering deal tonight."
"Nonsense. I'm glad I could. I guess hospital food isn't really as bad as everyone makes it out to be, but it's not as good as home cooked. And I certainly didn't want Sam to have to leave to pick up something."
Sam offered Sophie the chair he'd been sitting in earlier before he took a spot leaning against the wall. Inwardly he questioned- not for the first time - why hospitals seemed to almost discourage visitors by the lack of good seating in the rooms. Sophie took the seat after insisting she couldn't stay long because she had to get to her catering event. She regarded Jules carefully.
"Do you need anything? I asked Eddie, and he told me that Sam had brought you a change of clothes. I'm sure if Sam's anything like my husband though, he can mean well but not think of some of the little things a woman needs."
Jules sneaked a look over to where Sam was standing. She remembered him giving a bag to Sarge to hold on to when they took her to surgery. Of course, Sam would think about her needs even after going through an SIU investigation. She flashed him a soft smile and hoped he could read an apology in the gesture. "I'm sure I'm good. It's not like I'm going to be here long. I should go home tomorrow, right Sam?"
He nodded. "That's what the ER doctor said. And unless something major changes between now and then, I'll help you fight them if they try to keep you longer."
Sophie hid a smile. She hadn't spent as much time around Sam and Jules since their relationship had become both public and sanctioned by the department, but it was clear how much the blond man loved the dark haired woman lying in the hospital bed. Actually, it had been clear to her even before then, so it was heartening for her that they'd been given the chance. "Okay, but if you discover you need something don't hesitate to call me. I can always make another stop in here before I head home tonight."
"Thanks, Sophie." Jules murmured. Her stomach growled appreciatively again. She flushed in embarrassment, sure the sound was probably heard all over the hospital. At the very least, both Sophie and Sam had heard it. Sophie's smile widened.
"Go ahead and eat. I've got to go finish getting things set up for my clients. I mean it though, call me or Eddie if either of you need anything."
Sam promised and walked her to the door. Then he pulled the food tray over Jules's bed so she'd be able to reach it. Not only had Sophie put in two food containers of the shrimp risotto, she'd also included two cans of soda. Instead of taking a seat once more in the chair Sophie had vacated, Sam sat on the side of the bed on the other side of the tray.
He expected, given the insistent rumbling of Jules's stomach, that she would waste no time tearing into the meal Sophie had brought them. Instead, she allowed her fork to lazily stir its way into the food without taking a bite. He set his own fork down and reached beneath the tray to place his hand on her knee, making sure it was on her uninjured leg. When Jules didn't even look at him, he slowly ran his hand up and down her leg lightly until she finally looked up.
"You want to talk about what's eating you so you'll be able to eat this delicious dinner?" Sam kept his tone light, wanting to make things better for her not worse.
Jules sighed heavily and looked at him. "I'm sorry."
"For what? For Sophie not thinking I'm capable of making sure to bring you what you need? No apology necessary. The truth is, if you hadn't had your work bag packed already in your locker, I probably would forget something you find incredibly necessary that I'd never think of."
"You know what I mean." Jules argued as she finally took a bite of the risotto. The first taste was followed by a second one. She still wasn't diving into the meal the way he had expected her to, but at least she was eating.
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I know what you mean. You are apologizing for earlier. Sorry, Jules, but no apology is needed there either. You didn't do anything wrong."
Jules lowered her fork back to the container. "I kicked you out of here when you've done nothing but be there for me."
Sam took a long swallow from his soda can and then returned it to the tray. He shook his head. "Not that I don't think you are capable of doing all kinds of kicking, that's not what I think you did. You asked for a little time alone; that's not something you should have to apologize for."
He didn't see any reason to mention the fears and doubts that her request had caused him; the last thing he wanted to do was make her feel worse than she obviously already felt. His hand traveled back to her knee and gave it a slight squeeze. "Look, I know we probably have a lot to talk about, but not while we eat and maybe not even tonight at all. Don't spoil your dinner worrying about things."
A hint of a smile flitted across her face as she stabbed a shrimp resting on top of the risotto. "You know that's easier said than done."
Sam matched her smile with a boyish grin of his own. "Yeah, well, I'd be happy to eat your dinner as well as mine, if that's what you want."
For a moment, nothing mattered except the moment and the moment was almost perfect. Jules raised an eyebrow and pointed her now empty fork at him threateningly. "Watch it. I may not be up to doing much kicking tonight but you come near my plate and you'll regret it."
Now Sam actually laughed out loud. "Duly noted."
With the ice sufficiently broken for the time being, the two were able to enjoy their meal. Nothing more was said of anything that had transpired during the day. They couldn't quite forget that they were eating in a hospital with Jules pretty much immobile due to her leg wound, but they didn't dwell on it.
The nurse came in while they were eating to check on Jules. The injured officer looked momentarily guilty to be caught eating outside food but the nurse just laughed it off, saying she only wished what she'd brought for dinner looked anywhere near as good. Sam on the other hand didn't seem the least bit sorry to be caught sitting on the bed with Jules and didn't offer to move.
The nurse checked Jules's bandage again. There were a few dots of red but nothing serious enough to require the dressing to be changed. She also did a few checks to see if the local the doctor had used was starting to wear off. She pressed down on the top of Jules's wounded thigh causing Jules to hiss in pain. Immediately the nurse removed her hand. "Sorry, not part of the job I like. The feeling is definitely coming back but considering that brought out a hiss instead of an outright cry of pain, I don't think the block has completely worn off. So no trying to get out of bed on your own. Do you need anything for pain?"
Not if you keep your freakin' hand off my leg, Jules thought but didn't voice out loud. She wasn't completely pain free and she was sure that wasn't going to change anytime soon. In fact if anything the pain would probably worsen. She wouldn't delude herself into thinking otherwise. She also knew she probably wouldn't be able to completely avoid taking something for pain, but she wanted to put it off as long as possible. Her head was finally starting to feel clear of the sedative she'd been given earlier and she wasn't in a hurry to muddle it up again. "I'm good for now. Thanks."
The nurse nodded but didn't look convinced. "Okay, but if you change your mind, let me know."
Sam waited until they were alone again before asking, "You sure the pain's manageable?"
She nodded as she took another bite of her risotto. "I'm sure. I won't lie, I'm sore all over and I feel like I've been dragged through the obstacle course rather than running it. I can handle it though. I promise if the pain gets bad I'll agree to take something. I won't try to be a tough guy."
"I don't know anyone tougher." Sam assured her. He eyed the risotto still in her container and then his own empty plate. "You going to finish that?"
"Yes!" She insisted as she took another bite. "And don't bother flashing me those pitiful blue puppy dog eyes. It's not my fault you wolfed yours down so quickly."
"Just one shrimp?" Sam pleaded. "You've barely touched them."
"You know the shrimp is my favorite, and that I save most of them for last." Jules reminded him, looking more relaxed than he'd seen her since they'd left the house that morning. That was his intent though rather than to get any of her food.
"Okay, if you want me to just waste away…" Sam tried to sound pitiful, but there was a slight twinkle in his eye that gave way to the fact that he wasn't serious.
Jules rolled her eyes. "Please, like I'm gonna buy that one. Give it up, Braddock, I'm not sharing and there's nothing you can do to change my mind. Get over it."
Sam loved a good challenge just as much as Jules did. He knew Jules knew that as well and saw her comment as a dare for him to try. It was a familiar game for them that usually resulted in one or the other of them going to extremes to get what he or she wanted. If she wanted to play the game, he'd show her how well he could play it. He slipped his hand beneath the blanket and skimmed his fingers up her bare leg. The smile on his face was both innocent and teasing. "Nothing?"
Jules knew exactly what he was doing. Her eyes never left his. For a moment nothing and nobody existed besides the two of them. His fingers on her bare skin sent a tingle up her spine and made her breath catch in her throat. Her one word answer came out a little breathy. "Nothing."
His fingers started walking a trail up the inside of her thigh. Jules shifted slightly, increasing the space between her legs ever so slightly. Sam's grin widened devilishly. "Are you sure?"
As he watched, Jules's gaze became unfocused and she dropped her fork into her dish. His fingers traveled closer to her panties and her breathing quickened. Though he'd only planned to just tease a little, he suddenly found his thumb just scraping against the material. Jules gave a slight whimper.
"I expected more from you. I never figured you would put your own wants and needs above what Jules needs. I figured if any of us could see past that 'I'm invincible, nothing bothers me' façade Jules has patented, it would be you. But no, you bust up in here without any regard to what she went through. You make me sick. I'm sorry I ever called you a friend." Spike's words from earlier flooded his memory.
Instantly Sam moved his hand as if it'd been burned. Jules's eyes flew open. She glanced around as if expecting to see someone had come in but they were still alone. She frowned. "Sam?"
Sam didn't hear her; he was too lost in his own thoughts. What was he thinking? Inwardly he started beating himself up. She was lying in a hospital bed, injured and traumatized by what had happened at the prison and here he was acting like nothing happened. Was that what had Spike so upset? Was he guilty of everything Spike had accused him of?
"Sam?" This time her tone was sharper than before and it broke through his thoughts.
He looked at her seeing the question and the hurt in her eyes. He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry."
Just as he'd questioned her apology earlier, she now questioned his. "For what? For giving up when I was just about ready to let you have everything on my plate?"
He shook his head. "No, I …. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have …. I mean, it's too…" He trailed off not sure if anything he had to say would make things better or worse. He left his spot on the bed and went to stare out the window. He shoved his hands into his pockets.
He could see Jules's reflection in the glass. She'd once more folded her arms across her chest. She was staring at his back, looking both confused and miserable. Her expression only added to Sam's guilt. She shook her head. "Sam, what's wrong? You're acting like you've done something horrible?"
Then she frowned. "Oh, I get it. That didn't take long."
She twisted on the bed so that she was mostly lying on her side facing away from him. Sam rested his head on the cool glass. "What didn't take long?"
"For you to break your promise."
Her words cut him to the quick. His hand balled up into a fist in his pocket but he resisted the urge to punch something. He'd never felt more conflicted. Was he damned if he did and damned if he didn't? He didn't know but the one thing he was sure of was that he couldn't stand the hurt he seemed to be causing Jules now.
He crossed back over to the bed and pushed the food tray out of the way. He was pretty sure neither of them was interested in eating anything more, at least not until they worked things out. Then he sat back down on the bed facing her. He reached out and caressed her cheek. "Jules, I didn't break my promise."
She jutted her chin out defiantly. "Really? Felt like it to me. You said you wouldn't treat me differently and then the first chance you get you do just that."
Sam sighed. "Jules, what I was doing wasn't right. It's the wrong place and the wrong time for me to start something like that."
Jules frown, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "It didn't seem wrong to me. Did you hear me complain or ask you to stop?"
Sam sighed. "No."
"Then why did you?"
Honesty was the only direction Sam could go in. "Because all of a sudden I could hear Spike accusing me of not putting your needs above my own wants. It made me question what I was doing and realize I wasn't being fair to you."
"So rejecting me was being fair? Gee thanks."
"Damn it, Jules, I wasn't rejecting you. I could never… I love you. Maybe I handled things wrong. I never should have started something I knew couldn't lead to anything. That's what I meant about not being fair. Like I said, it was the wrong place and the wrong time for what I was doing."
"Would it have been the wrong place and wrong time if what had happened today hadn't happened? Would you have stopped then?"
"Yes, it would have still been the wrong place and the wrong time. Anyone could have walked in. But this isn't the place for that and you know that. Normally you would have been the first to tell me to behave. So why didn't you?"
Jules once more twisted on the bed turning away from Sam. This time as she moved, she inadvertently put more pressure on both her injured leg and her ribs. She couldn't bite back the groan. Sam sighed and scuffed his foot against the floor, feeling even more guilty. "Sweetheart, don't turn away. I didn't want to hurt you; I still don't."
Jules didn't turn back to face him. She sniffled slightly. "I didn't stop you because I needed you to touch me. I'm not naïve, Sam. I know no matter how much you want to believe that nothing has changed, it has. Your kisses and your touch me make me feel for the moment like everything really is okay. I needed that." She paused in her tirade for a moment and then let out her breath in an exasperated huff. "Stop looking at me like what I just admitted is something you should be worried about or feel guilty about."
Sam ran his fingers down her upturned arm. He suppressed a grin. "Your back is to me; how do you know how I'm looking at you?"
She started to turn back around and this time Sam had suppress the instinct to help her so that she didn't cause herself more pain. Once she was once more settled, she looked up at him, her lower lip poked out in a pout. "Because I know you. You can't help but worry. I bet all day since the moment I radioed in about the suspicious package, your worry meter has been in overdrive."
Sam grinned in spite of himself. She sounded more like her normal self with the accusation. He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her temple. "You're wrong." Before she could protest, he silenced her with another kiss, this one on the lips. "My worry meter kicks into overdrive the moment we go on shift and doesn't go back to normal until we're at home. Sorry, I can't help it. But yeah, I'd be lying if I said it didn't get a major workout today. While we didn't know what was happening, it was more like in super hyper drive. I get it, Jules, okay? I know you as well as you know me. You need to feel like you are in control again; you need to feel like everything is normal. I wish I could do that for you, maybe that's what I've been trying to do since I got to the hospital. I recognized that you were being a little freer with your kisses than you normally are in public. I knew there had to be a reason for it."
He eased down on the bed a little more so that he could wrap his arms around her and pull her close. She cuddled into his embrace, enjoying the feeling of being held by him. Sam rubbed her arms but was careful not to let his hands stray too far. He continued. "Jules, the truth is maybe I was a little more responsive to your kisses and maybe I went a little further earlier than I should have because I was trying to prove to you that I wouldn't treat you any differently. But in doing so I did just that. Normally there's nothing I love more than to touch you in all your intimate places. I love that I know where and how to touch you so that you fall apart in my arms. I love that you know how to do the same to me. But, and it's a big one, we both know that normally I would have never done anything like that someplace public like here. The only explanation I have as to why I did it tonight is because I needed you to feel normal as much as you needed to feel that way. I'm sorry. That's what wasn't fair to you. I'm sorry I didn't think before I started. I'm more sorry that I hurt you worse by stopping."
"So once we're home…" Jules began, looking up at him with a slight blush to her cheeks.
"I'll be more than happy to make you fall apart over and over again. As many times as you want or need. I promise."
The next few minutes were spent in silence as they were content to just lay there in each other's arms. Then Jules sighed heavily. Sam glanced down at her, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Damn Spike. Why'd he have to intervene?" She sounded so grumpy that Sam couldn't help but be amused.
"Sweetheart, is it really so hard to wait until tomorrow?"
"No," she admitted slowly. "But because of him, not only did you stop those wonderful touches but he also pretty much ruined the rest of my dinner. I bet it's all cold now and I'm still hungry."
Sam was glad it was a problem that he could help her with. "I bet I could take it down and get your nurse to reheat it in the microwave. I'm sure she wouldn't want her patient passing out from hunger or anything like that."
Jules brightened. "You don't mind?"
Sam shook his head. "I'll be happy to do it. It'll give me a chance to sneak a bite or two."
Immediately she glared at him and Sam suspected she would have hit him with the pillow if her position had left her move that quickly. "Don't even think about it, Samuel Braddock. I know exactly how many shrimp I had left and how much risotto. If there's so much as a bite missing I'll make you regret it."
Sam kissed her again. "Duly noted. I promise, heating no eating." Once again he slipped off the bed and stood. As he turned to retrieve the container from the food tray, Jules reached out and grabbed his hand. Sam stopped and looked back at her. "What is it?"
"Will you leave me your phone? There's a call I want to make."
Sam removed his phone from its holster and handed it to her. He didn't ask who she wanted to call; he didn't need to know and she'd tell him if she wanted to. He gave her another kiss and then left the room with the remaining risotto.
Jules waited until the door closed completely. She knew she needed to make this call but she wasn't sure she could do it. She took a deep breath. Before punching in the familiar number, she put in the code that would block the number from showing up on the Caller ID. She was pretty sure Spike wouldn't answer if he saw Sam's name on the screen. It rang three times before Spike picked up.
"Spike Scarlatti, get your ass back to the hospital pronto."
For a moment there was silence. Jules wondered if he'd hung up on her but then he finally answered. "Jules, I can't. Not tonight. I've already had Sarge, Ed, and Raf on my case for the last couple of hours. I can't handle Sam as well."
"Sam's not the one you have to worry about. You're going to explain yourself to me. You've got half an hour to get here or I swear to you I'll check myself out and come to you. You thought you had the others on your case earlier, imagine how much worse they'll be if I have to do that."
"Do we really have to do this tonight?" Spike didn't sound as irritated as he had earlier but Jules couldn't help but wonder if it was because he didn't want to take his feelings out on her. "I'll tell you what I told the others. I don't want to talk about it."
Normally, Jules would have back down and respected her friend's wishes. But the day had been so far from normal, and her sympathy no longer existed. "Well, that makes two of us. But you know what, tough. Maybe we don't want to talk about it, but that's what we need to do. Half hour, Spike. Be here."