Author's Notes: Thanks again for all the reviews. I actually wrote several versions of this chapter, and then settled on this one as being the one that depicts my perception most about Sam's character. Also, editing is always endless with me, so even on Chapter 1 and 2 I do go back and correct any spellings or grammar errors. I try to get them all during the initial editing…..but sometimes don't catch them all. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the last.
Disclaimer: The show flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and its respective networks. I am making no money of this story and it is for entertainment purposes only. However, this particular story is my creation and should not be used without my express written permission
Chapter 3
As Ed Lane and Sam Braddock rushed to Sam's house, Officers Michael (Spike) Scarlatti and Leah Kerns followed behind them in close pursuit in the second black SRU truck. Due to both Team One and Team Three being hit the heaviest during the Farber bombings three months ago, shifts were temporarily being integrated between the teams until injured members returned back to active duty, or once they were able to fill the open spots for teammates who would no longer be returning or in current transition.
Given the situation, Sam Braddock who would become the new Team Leader for Team 3 did not even notice when Ed Lane, the future Sergeant of Team One called in 2 additional members of Team 3, officers Derek Thompson and Troy Benson for additional back up in helping locate Jules.
During the ride to his house, Sam Braddock stared distantly out the window of the passenger side window with his thoughts recalling a memory of a discussion him and his wife Jules had one early Saturday morning weeks before.
"Good morning beautiful" Sam whispered with his morning voice as he smiled after rolling over on his side of the bed to give his very pregnant wife Jules a tender kiss on her forehead.
Jules gave a meek grin back to him, which was a clear sign something was troubling her.
"What's wrong?" he asked with a puzzled and concerned look.
She sighed with a look of uncertainty about voicing her troubles to him, not wanting to ruin his weekend after his week working particularly longer shifts than usual. But somehow she found her courage knowing just talking to him about it would settle her worries.
"I…." she paused for a few minutes looking into her husband's eyes already pondering and filled with anxiety over what she could possibly be troubled by.
"I don't want our baby to ever be without at least one of us" Jules finally voiced as she looked at her growing belly and placed both of her hands gently around it.
She didn't even have to expand on what she was trying to tell him, as the same thought had crossed his mind many times also, since they discovered she was pregnant. It had always worried him bringing a child into their world, a world where the criminal world tended to kaleidoscope with theirs and was part of the job they both loved.
An ache in his heart began as he struggled to search for words which would give them both solace. But the truth about their jobs and how they consistently put their life on line was something him and Jules promised a long time ago to never run away from, with that thought he kept his response simple.
"I promise" was the only thing he could come up with, as he said it to her with the deepest sincerity as a husband, as father, and as police officer.
"Now why don't I make the both of you some breakfast?" Sam smirked at Jules knowing by her demeanor instantly changing to a more relaxed one that his promise was enough.
Suddenly, the sound of the screeching tires from the truck swiftly approaching the new home him and Jules shared shortly after their wedding jolted him from his daydream, bringing him back to present day.
Samuel Braddock did not even give the SRU truck a complete chance to stop before he was already jumping out of the passenger side and running vastly towards the front door way only to be blocked and greeted by SIU investigators.
"Why don't you both get the HELL OUT OF MY WAY!" Sam screamed practically shoving both SIU Investigators out of the way.
"SAM! SAM!" team one team leader Ed Lane screamed from behind, and swiftly putting a gentle hand on Sam's shoulders in hopes of calming down the young sniper.
Sergeant Greg Parker coming from the homes shattered living room slowly approached behind the two SIU Investigators. "Guys" Greg somberly said patting one of the investigators to get everyone's attention, "Just give me a moment with my officer".
The two SIU Investigators began to walk away, knowing full well Greg Parker was not making a request but giving an order, although he had no authority over them.
Sam with Ed next to his side and Spike and Leah not too far behind gave his Sergeant a quick nod in thanks followed by a sudden look of concern over his wife and unborn child as he noticed from the corner of his eye the scattered remains of what use to be his living room.
"Boss, the formalities can wait, once we find Jules" Sam said sternly making sure the two SIU investigators lingering behind them eves dropping could hear him. He knew they needed to question him despite his status as an SRU officer because it was protocol for the police to question the husband first and rule him out as a suspect. Regardless of this knowledge, he didn't want unnecessary questioning to delay their search for Jules.
"Sam…. Buddy" Greg responded in a fatherly tone, shaking his head to communicate to the somewhat distraught SRU officer he understood where he was coming from.
"They just want to ask some questions" Ed Lane interjected "We all understand Sam, but all it can do is help find Jules."
"And we will find her Sam", Ed continued relieved as he recognized Sam's body language change to a more submissive stance signaling him he was getting through to his officer. Still hesitant, Sam began to walk away from them and towards the two SIU Inspectors waiting.
Once he saw Sam deeply engaged in conversation with the SIU Investigators, Ed Lane put his attention back to his soon to be retiring Sergeant, making sure to hand him an earwig and vest, while the rest of the team, Spike, Leah and the two other members of team three joined them.
"Thanks Eddie" Greg answered in direct response to his longtime friend and teammate remembering to bring him gear. Although they all knew he would be limited to profiling and possibly negotiating due to his permanent disabilities."
"For now, I'm going to keep Sam on line 2, and all communication moves to line 4." Greg addressed the team clearly looking for his guidance and anticipation of getting more details from him which would lead them to Jules.
Greg Parker then handed Leah Kerns a piece of evidence he had found in the house. It was a smaller pillow case stuffed with different size sponges with what seemed to be a belt attachment. He then instructed Leah to remove her gear and then bundle both ends of the pillow case into a small ball and belt it around her waist underneath her shirt.
Leah instantly along with their other team members did not like the sound of where Greg Parker was heading towards as they made the connection that Leah Kerns physical appearance seemed that to be of an expectant woman with the pillow case neatly strapped to her lower abdomen beneath her shirt.
"Boss…" Ed shaking his head making the first comment to break the silence between the team.
"I think this is a fetal abduction guys" Greg Parker finally letting out the nightmare conclusion he came too during his initial profile of the scene in the Braddock home.
"Then in that case the subject is a woman with possible accomplices" Leah added "These woman fantasize pregnancy so bad too they fake them. Befriend the pregnant victim…"
"Yes, but it goes beyond that guys" Greg added
"These woman…."Greg nodded in disapproval "They don't just want a child…they want to experience the labor, and the closes thing to that is killing the victim and cutting the fetus right out of them."
Another silence fell over the team once again, repulsed by the facts their Sergeant had just provided as to the potential fate of their abducted teammate.
"Spike get a trace on Jules phone now" Ed barked out as the adrenaline raced through his veins
"Already on it" Spike acknowledged.
"Partner with Spike" Leah offered "I'll start looking through Jules doctors' appointments and Mommy to be class schedules to see if there are any video cameras that are set up in the rooms"
"Copy that" Ed tried to say but suddenly interrupted by the sight of a screaming Sam having both hands around the collar of one of the SIU investigators causing both him and Greg to rush over to their extremely agitated and tormented officer.
Knowing his teammates well, Sam had already suspected they would move all chatter to line four so he couldn't hear any possibly disturbing details about his wife and unborn child and switched his com line earlier to line 4 as he listened to the questioning coming from "Dick and Harry", his mental nick name for the two SIU officers.
He was fighting the nausea he had already, now even more so over what he just heard Greg Parker describe as to why someone would want to kidnap his pregnant wife when the undenounced cocky and overly aggressive SIU Investigator, followed up his line of questioning with, "Are you sure you just didn't decide you weren't ready to be a father?"
He tried to let the question sink in, but Sam still did not understand where the line of questioning was headed until the SIU investigator followed up his last question with another, "Officer Callaghan got pregnant while you were dating right? It is understandable to suddenly be pressured into fatherhood and marriage."
"HER LAST NAME IS BRADDOCK JACK ASS!" Sam yelled lunging at the SIU investigator wrapping his hands around the jerk of an SIU Investigators collar, "And don't you ever refer to my wife and child as an entrapment….."
Sam nearly punched the living daylights out the SIU investigator during his fit of rage over the line of questioning, when Ed intersected and simultaneously gave the SIU Investigator an aggressive nudge, also giving the guys partner a dirty look as a subtle warning to the Investigators they needed to back off.
"This is an interview, not an Interrogation of my officer." Greg sternly uttered to both SIU investigators, "You're also now done with Constable Braddock, and to make it more clear, that wasn't a question."
"You have no autho…" The SIU officer tried to say to Greg grasping for air still from the near choke hold Sam gave him a few seconds earlier. Fortunately all Greg Parker had to do was give him another firm look to get both investigators to retreat.
They followed Sam as he headed outside of the house not being able to hold the nausea he felt after hearing his team confirm that Jules disappearance was looking more like an attempt at fetal abduction. Sensing his team leader and Sergeant directly behind him Sam took a deep breath in order to gather his thought.
"I heard it all Boss" Sam's voice wavering a little still distraught over the details. "you guys always hide on line 4"
"You caught us huh Sam" Greg tried to add more positively
"Can you do this Sam?" Ed asked "Jules needs you now buddy, they both need you"
"She's my wife Ed, I'm not standing down" Sam aired in with utter conviction for all his team to hear.
The conversation ending short as the entire team hears Spike announcing he picked up a location on Jules cellphone sending both Sam Braddock and Ed Lane in a frantic run towards the SRU truck parked in front of the Braddock home.
Within minutes of them heading towards the location Spike provided on Jules cellphone Sam's own cellphone began ringing signaling him he had an incoming call as a the new photo he recently took of a six month pregnant Jules flashed across the lcd screen of his smartphone.
"SAM!" Jules screamed in tears of fear and struggling a little from the pain she felt in her abdomen.
"JULES!" A frantic Sam Braddock yelled through the phone he held single handedly as he drove through the streets of Toronto with Ed in pursuit of the gps location coming from Jules cellphone.
"Aaaahhhh" Jules screamed again loudly
"Status Jules? Status?" Sam asked regretting it later, after he realized he sounded like her teammate more than her concerned husband, but made a mental note that once this was all over with he would explain his reasoning behind it later.
"I'm okay…cramps" Jules struggled to say almost sounding out of breath but not wanting to panic Sam any further regardless of her current predicament.
Sam was about to respond back to her when all of a sudden the line went dead.
"I'm not losing you Jules" Sam mumbled desperately hitting redial to get Jules back on the line
"Its ok guys, I also picked up the same signal from the micro gps tracker on Jules watch you gave her for Christmas. It's picking up the same signal as the gps on her cell phone." Spike announced, giving all the team members some relief they could still track Jules even if her cell phone was no longer an option.
"Come on Come on Come on" Sam grunted further listening to Jules cellphone ringing through his. "Pick up Jules pick up!"
"Jules!" Sam again yelled out.
TBC