Author's Notes: Thanks again for all the reviews. I actually have a much longer version of this chapter but took it out and ended this chapter where it ends because I wasn't sure the version I wrote is really the path I want to go. Hope you all enjoy although I'm not too particularly fond of this one…
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 4
It seemed like a long few seconds before Sam knew Jules was ok when she risked everything to catch a young girl who slipped off a ledge after climbing the roof of a high rise mall and contemplated suicide. Then there was another time when it seemed like a long few minutes when she laid there as blood oozed out of her while a sniper seeking revenge for his father's death sprayed them with bullets, each one slamming into the shield he held to protect them waiting for the rest of Team One to help get them out.
As Sam Braddock continued to single handedly redial his wife Jules cellphone number after her frantic call dropped, both the two historical moments where he thought he lost her forever didn't even compare to the terror and feeling of helplessness flowing through his veins as he heard a faint ringing of her cellphone fading in and out due to limited cell coverage in the area, causing more frustration for him and the rest of Team One.
Determined as ever, he continued to single handedly redial Jules number while the other held the trucks steering wheel with a death grip as the emotional roller coaster he was on flowed through the very core of his being, as he purposely avoided at all cost allowing his mind to entertain the thought that losing the two most precious things in his life was even an option.
"Guys, both signals dropped right by Dundas and Bay Streets" Spike reported, with a tone that gave the aura he was also painstakingly focused on the map on his computer screen wanting desperately to bring his friend and teammate back home safely.
"There is a small stretch of tunnel; they had to have gone through there. Both GPS and cell phone coverage should come up….." He continued to say but paused as two red dots started to blink and move again on this screen "NOW! Cell and GPS signal is back up"
"Copy that Spike!" Ed Lane answered gritting his teeth, a habit he developed over the years anytime he was more concerned about a hot call than normal.
"That heads towards the college district, and straight to the Humber River Valley. That's has to be it." He continued to say as he glanced at Sam driving feeling pretty confident about his hypothesis but none the less wanting affirmation although he knew it would be painful for the young Constable being tormented over the situation more than any of them could even imagine
Sam gave Ed a mortified look knowing the river valley area would be the most logical place on the map a subject with intent to harm would choose. The area was secluded, and made for an ideal dumping ground to commit any heinous crime and could easily hide a body…the body of his wife and possibly his child a thought which sickened him.
He had seen so much death in his life time, more than anyone should have to see. But nothing prepared him for the possibility of losing what mattered most to him to such violence. No, not today….not ever, not going there. Sam silently told himself, as he fought the voices in his head until he was able to force them to pass.
"Jules!" Sam Braddock cried in desperation and in relief hearing her voice answer his desperate calls.
"Sorry….I thinks we went under an overpass" Jules responded sounding breathless and still in pain but in more control.
"She has me in the back of the rental car…I'm trying to conserve air. I'm not going to lose our baby…..I'm not." Jules softly cried out in her anguish at the thought of losing her unborn child she already loved more than anything.
Before Sam or anyone else on the team listening in could respond, Jules Callaghan Braddock's sprung into SRU officer mode, as she drew from it to help keep her mental focus, giving details to her husband and team about her current predicament as if it was just another routine hot call. She needed to feel she was in control and the situation was another day on the job, although it took all of her to hold the fear and agony she felt inside. Somehow Team One understood, especially Sam as they listened intently to the information being passed.
It did not surprise them; Jules validated Greg Parker's original profile of the subject and understood the precariousness of her situation. Shannon Miller, whose true identity was still unknown to them, would try to kill her and rip the precious life growing inside her.
"You're not going to lose our baby Jules. I'm not losing either one of you" Sam interrupted Jules rant, seeing through her false pretenses. She was trying to be strong for him, but what she really needed was him to protect her. Too protect both of them.
"Sweetheart…I was wrong" Sam decided to tell her. "I was wrong in promising you are baby would always have one parent no matter what. Our baby will always have both us. Do you hear me sweetheart?"
His words hit Jules and the rest of Team One straight to the heart. For a few seconds the team took time to let Sam's words to Jules sink in, as they knew it was also his plea to God to bring his family back safely more than anything.
In the command truck which trailed closely behind the 3 other SRU trucks, Sergeant Greg Parker and Constable Spike Scarlatti stared at each other in the Command truck all at a loss for words like the rest of the team as they listened in on Sam and Jules conversation through their ear wigs.
"You hang on Jules, you hang on!" Sergeant Greg Parker not being able to hold it in anymore. "We are right here with you Jules right here with you….Uncle Eddie, Uncle Spike we go that kids back and will always have your back. You keep that with you, you hang on."
Sam briefly shut his eyes and exhaled as he continued to speed through the street racing to catch up to the vehicle that held Jules while also doing what seemed like an impossible job of being his wife's husband and teammate all at the same time.
"AAAAHHHHH" Jules cried, making Sam's heart race even faster with every painful grunt she made.
"Ok…ok. Jules count your breath out, sniper breathing", He tried to say calmly although he was panicked knowing all the distress was not good for Jules or the baby. "There just pre-labor pains like before…..our little prince or princess is just worried about mommy…that's all. Slow breaths."
"I love you Sam" Jules whispered through the phone after a few audible deep breaths as she tried to bear through the pain.
Jules trapped in the small trunk of her rental car continued with her breathing which became a mix of sniper breathing from all her years as a police officer and new breathing techniques she was learning in Lamaze classes.
As painful as it was she listened to the comfort of Sam's voice and decided she should make herself useful in the trunk no matter how difficult it was for her to reposition her body into more of a defensive stance.
"What's going on Jules?" Sam asked concerned with hearing only silence and her grunting to the pain.
"I was able to kick out one of the taillights from the inside to get some more oxygen in here." She struggled to say but felt relieved feeling a little more air come in through what felt like her coffin.
"Ok that's good sweetheart", Sam encouraged her, the news giving him some much needed relief.
"I also have the trunk cable in my hand." Jules said with even more determination than ever as she knew time was running out before the subject would engage her. "But even if I pull it out, it's too dangerous for the baby for me to jump out..."
"NO! You stay put Jules okay baby? Stay put" Sam yelled not meaning too as he glanced over Ed with the same look of concern.
"Winnie talk to me" Ed ordered more than asked.
"I have all unis following and have instructed them SRU only, do not engage subject" Winnie replied from SRU Headquarters.
"There is no record of a Shannon Miller pulling up Boss" Winnie reported to Team One "But I got a hold of Wordy's wife, Shelley and got the address Jules gave her to send Shannon's baby shower invitiation too."
"Almost there Boss" Leah Kerns reported "I'll go get a read on the house."
"Copy that Leah" Greg Parker somberly responded hoping Leah would get more answers, as he simultaneously listened to Spike giving Sam and Ed and the two team 3 officers backing them up directions to head off the Jules rental car.
"There! There" Ed Lane shouted as he gained a visual on the car holding Jules hostage in the back of the trunk.
"We're right here Jules…..right here. Hang on Jules Hang on sweetheart" Sam cried out in a whisper to Jules through his cell phone.
*******FLASHPOINT FLASHPOINT FLASPOINT***********************************************
Across town, Constable Leah Kerns expeditiously pulls her black SUV up to the curve along with two additional uniformed officers to assist her to the last known address for Shannon Miller.
"This lady has a lot of balls" Leah whispered through her com as she carefully approaches the side of the house attempting to get a visual inside the home through one of the windows.
"She manipulates her way to getting Jules to invite her to her own baby shower." She continued to say.
"That's usually what they do" Sergeant Greg Parker answered as he sat with Spike in the command truck also moving along in pursuit of Jules rental car.
Leah and the two uniform officers seeing the house was empty make their way inside. She glances through each section of the immaculate house looking for clues that will tell her more about Shannon Miller.
As Leah enters what seemed to be a room being used as a small study she notices a photo being used as the background on the computers home screen and makes a startling discovery, causing her to race out of the house to her SUV to warn the rest of her team.
TBC