Author's Notes: thanks for all the reviews! Drum roll please! Final chapter after this, but will probably due a sequel so I don't leave you all hanging. Good news the final chapter is pretty much JAM JAM JAM! Enjoy!

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 8

It never seized to amaze him how the room they used to isolate you in only amplified death. The room was lifeless, except for one window which brought a little bit of sun light in but was located too high for anyone to look out of, accompanied by a single table and four chairs Ed Lane observed.

"It's like they want you to question if it was right or wrong of you to do your job and make the hard choices of taking or not taking a life" Constable Ed Lane silently contemplated by himself as he waited for SIU to strip him of his SRU uniform for evidence. It was protocol to do so, but it was his least favorite part of the job. Being in there meant lives were lost and the last thing anyone wanted to do was try and relive the moment, or worse get you to question whether the choices you made in the moment where the right ones.

After a few minutes which seemed more like hours to him two officers finally joined him, one to hand him a plastic bag to put his uniform and gear in and another bag sent by SRU headquarters which contained clothes for him to change into. But as soon as that was over, it seemed like an additional thirty minutes had gone by before the lawyer who represented him and the two investigators from SIU who would interrogate him finally accompanied him to get things started.

"Let's just get this done" Ed snidely remarked after recognizing one of the SIU agents was the same agent who harassed Sam in his own home when they were still attempting to gather information on Jules kidnapping.

"That is what we are trying to do Constable" the SIU agent replied back in a condescending manner as he recalled Sam Braddock nearly strangling him earlier in the day during his interview when they were trying to rule him out as suspect in Jules disappearance.

"Just to make it clear this is my house" the SIU agent added hoping to provoke Ed Lane even further.

"Oh it's crystal clear" Ed Lane responded gritting his teeth. "So before you waste anymore of my time, why don't you just cut to the chase and let's get this started and finished".

"So how are Constable Braddock and Constable Callaghan-Braddock?" The SIU agent asked in a manner which embellished the fact he could care less about the answer, but more about getting Ed Lane more rattled.

"I wouldn't know, and that is what I would like to find out if you weren't in here wasting my time" Ed Lane counteracted while clenching his fist underneath the table knowing he wanted to actually punch the day lights out of the agent now more than Sam Braddock had wanted to earlier.

"Blake is this really necessary?" Ed Lanes lawyer who looked more like a used car sales man asked, also annoyed with the agent.

"Fine." SIU Agent Darren Blake retaliated. "Why don't you start at Sam Braddock's negotiations with the subject? Was that a wise choice using him as the lead negotiator when clearly there was a conflict of interest in the priority of life when his wife and unborn child are concerned?"

"Of course it was the right choice for him to be the lead negotiator. He knew the subject previously and had a better chance than all of us to make a connection with her." Ed Lane shot back at the question he was being asked, but in a more somber tone as he recalled the events which led him and the rest of Team One into making the decision to neutralize the subject.

"Just try to get her to yellow Sam" Greg asked attempting to guide Sam with the negotiation.

"Eddie, we need a solution" Greg also demanded of his sniper.

"Jules and the baby don't look like they have much time" He cried out tormented over the sight of the pregnant Jules clearly in distress and about to go into premature labor if someone doesn't get to her soon.

"Copy that boss" Ed softly muttered as he focused on his target "Sam, I have it but you need to distract her and get that weapon pointing elsewhere. Jules is in the line of fire."

Sam could see Ed Lane from the corner of his eyes enough where the two of them spoke a silent language coordinating their tactical maneuver on how they would approach Cindy and protect Jules at the same time.

Jules watched her team all around her and understood she needed to keep silent and avoid trying to communicate with Cindy any further as the idea was to get her focus away from her and distract her by allowing her to connect with Sam. Although she comprehended the tactic, it didn't mean she was in favor of putting her husband in the front lines of danger as she looked at Sam with loving eyes and understanding.

"I'm right here Cindy" Sam reiterated to a delusional Cindy still aiming her weapon at Jules. "I just want to talk, but can we at least let Jules go? Can you do that for me?"

"Be careful Sam, you don't want to provoke her by using yourself as a bargaining chip" Greg Parker commented as he tried to guide Sam in the negotiation with the subject.

"No! No! No!" a distraught Cindy screamed with the gun she held in both hands aiming at Jules beginning to waiver and shake from all the emotion she was feeling but unwilling to acknowledge. "No, No! No! You just want to trick me so you can be with her and take my baby!"

"Cindy, I don't want to trick you. But I do want to get my wife and unborn child out of harm's way if you let me. Please Cindy." Sam pleaded noticing a sudden shift in Cindy's body language meaning she might be more receptive to continuing their dialogue enough to get Jules to safety. "You know Cindy I also want to be able to apologize to you."

"Apologize for what?" Cindy asked with rage still infuriated by the sight of Jules being pregnant with Sam's child.

"I want to apologize for not trying hard enough to see how you were doing and to apologize more so we could have maintained a friendship after I cancelled our date" Sam swiftly added noticing Cindy was more agitated but also in an attempt to divert her attention enough to what he was saying so she wouldn't notice he had stepped close enough in arms reach of both her and Jules.

"I am so sorry" Sam told her with the utmost sincerity, while also noticing the look of shock on Jules face making him feel terrible he was causing her more unnecessary pain. But he would have to explain it to her once she and the baby were safe.

"NO! SHE HAS OUR BABY!" a deranged Cindy yelled taking aim this time at Jules.

And like dance moves they had practiced over and over again the reaction of the member of Team One all happened simultaneously. The instant Cindy's arm moved Sam knew Ed would fire but probably in not enough time for the bullet to hit her and prevent her from releasing the round. Sam knew this, and dove to protect the only thing that mattered in his life and shielded Jules from the round with his body.

"SAM!" Jules yelled along with the rest of Team One. It was the last thing she would ever remember as she saw Sam dive in to cover her, as she felt her head hit the end of the cars bumper knocking her unconscious.

"No Harm! No Harm!" Sam hollered to let everyone knew he was ok.

"It's in the vest in the vest" He repeated as he quickly looked down to see Jules unconscious. "We need EMS now, officer down officer down."

But as he frantically cared for Jules, it suddenly dawned on him no one had yet to communicate the subject was down, and as he realized this he hears another round being shot out of a remmy 700.

"Subject down" Ed Lane finally announced sighing in relief as he started to walk closer to Cindy Larson's body with Spike and Leah closing in, making sure the subject was clearly down.

As EMS carried Jules onto a stretcher Sam glanced at his team and mouthed a thank you.

"So are we done here?" Ed Lane asked putting his focus back to the SIU Agent after finishing is detailed summary of the events that led him to shooting Cindy Larson.

Ed Lane didn't even bother to allow the SIU agent to ask any further questions. But decided he also wanted the last word in.

"Everything we did was by the book" Ed further commented. "And if you want to question Parker's choice to let Sam Braddock negotiate then you go ahead and do that, and you do that while having to publicly announce a female officer was abducted for her unborn child".

"So you go ahead and do that if that is what you want" Ed Lane threatened.

"Because I'll be watching you trying to explain your order to keep this situation contained from them" He finished adding as he continued to eye the speechless SIU Agent as he proceeded to walk out of the interrogation room.

An hour later, Ed Lane joined the rest of his team in the waiting room of St Patrick's hospital as all of team one watched Sam Braddock hold Jules hand as she laid peacefully asleep in a hospital bed.

TBC