Who am I?
Chapter 8
The next morning, At 8am, Spike called Melanie and told her that he had found Jamie. She was estatic and said that she would be there within 24 hours to get him. Spike managed to hold her off a little and explained that Jamie wanted to stay with him for a few days. She was hesitant at first, But after speaking to Jamie on the phone, she consented. Spike had told her that Jamie had dislocated his shoulder, but not about the sexual assault.
Spike figured that it was up to Jamie whether or not to tell his mother that he was assaulted the night before. Jamie had seemed to connect with Sam on a level that Spike didn't seem to understand. Not that he was upset with this development. Not by any means. The doctor had wanted to keep Jamie overnight and tried to contact the police. After he had woken up, Jamie had put on the clean clothes and walked out of the hospital.
Melanie said that Jamie could stay up there with Spike for 2 weeks and then she would come up to see him. She was ok with it after speaking to them both. She had offered to send Spike some money for taking care of Jamie, but Spike shot that down fast. She and Jamie had been around only each other for a long time, so maybe all he needed was a break and some male attention. She had her interests and her job, and Jamie was entitled to the same. She knew that he wasn't completely happy with having to leave Spike.
That in mind, and at peace knowing that Jamie was safe and being looked after, she hung up with them and started to clean the kitchen after letting Emily and her husband know that Jamie was in Canada with Spike and safe. While she cleaned, she said a small, simple prayer that they wouldn't cross paths with Jamie's father. As far as she knew, he still thought that they were backpacking somewhere in Europe. She could have contacted someone in the company but thought better of it.
After Spike hung up the phone, He turned to Jamie, who was sitting at his parents table trying to make a dent in the pancakes that his mother kept heaping on his plate. It made him smile at the honest attempt he was making. When she gave him some peanut butter toast, he backed away quickly. At her confused look, he stated that he was extremely allergic to Peanuts. Understanding dawned and she fixed him 2 peices of Jelly toast. Spike ate the peanut butter toast instead.
Spike wasn't too sure what to do with Jamie for 2 weeks. He wanted him to stay with him for the time but at the same time, He didn't want his mother to think that she was going to be stuck with him for the whole time. He picked up his phone on a sudden hit of inspiration and called Greg and explained his dilemma. After a few minutes of talking, He had permission to bring Jamie along if he wanted to come and something for him to do.
"Well Jamie. I have to work today, and I asked Greg if you could come along for the day. What do you say to that?" Jamie nodded enthusiastically. He really wanted to see what Spike did all day. He put his dishes in the sink and excused himself to get dressed. Spike yelled after him to be sure to pack a change of clothes and a set of workout clothes. Jamie waved over his shoulder to show that he'd heard Spike and then shut his door.
After a few minutes, Jamie leaned his head out the door and motioned to Spike. Spike had a good idea of what he wanted and walked down the hall. Jamie had that whipped puppy expression on his face again. Spike felt the faint scent of urine in the air and motioned into the room. After closing the door, Jamie sank against the door and hugged his knees to his chest. Spike squatted near him but not touching him. He learned quickly that Jamie didn't want touched.
"Why can't I stop pissing my pants Spike? It's embarressing." Spike didn't anything at first. He knew Jamie needed him there, not necessarily saying anything. Jamie sniffled and stood up with Spike's help. He turned his finger around silently telling Spike to turn around so he could get his pants off. Spike turned and plugged his ears comically, drawing a laugh from Jamie. After a couple minutes, Spike felt rather than heard the thump. He turned.
Jamie had been trying to hurry with taking his pants off and change, and had fallen on his butt. His pants were twisted around his ankles and he was trying to kick them off and at the same time preserve his modesty. It was actually funny, but Spike didn't laugh. He picked up the blanket from the floor and dropped it in Jamies lap and gave him a moment to cover up, before removing the soiled clothes quickly and setting them aside.
He put a pair of boxers and a clean pair of jeans on Jamie and left him to finish getting dressed. He ran the clothes to the laundry room and threw them in immediately and let his mother know that they were in there washing and why he couldn't wait for extra clothes. His mother was very sympathetic to Jamie's situation and said she would finish them up and have them for him when they returned later. She would also put a fresh set of sheets on the bed and a spare set for him should he need them.
When he came back, Jamie had somehow pulled his clothes up and was trying to button the jeans. Spike buttoned them for him and picked up the bag with a couple extra set of pants and underwear and put them in his truck. Jamie got in and busied himself with putting his seatbelt on. He had his arm in a sling to give it time to heal, so some things were difficult. The weather had warmed up and Jamie had put a hoodie on instead of his coat.
It was more comfortable then his coat. And he detested wearing his coat at times. He prefered to have some kind of room to move around in. He was also trying to spread his wings so to speak and wanted to try the grunge look. While they drove, Spike answered a few questions for Jamie. Like what the mornings were like. Was there anything he hated about the job? What did he like the most, Would he get to see Babycakes today? When could they go get him some more clean clothes?
Spike promised him that they would go the next day as he worked the nightshift. He had the daytime off and was going to go to the store anyway. He told Jamie to make a list up of what he needed and he would try to get everything he needed. That kept Jamie quiet for just a few minutes, before he had more questions for Spike. This time about bombs and how to diffuse them. Which was one of Spike's favorite topics, and dicussions about bomb making filled the time until Spike pulled into the station.
When they got to the station, Spike sent Jamie to sit with Winnie while he got dressed quickly. By the time that he came back to the desk, Winnie had Jamie working to sort some papers, and printing some things off. She winked at Spike, and he smiled, satisfied that Jamie was taken care of for a short while, and he left to find Greg to ask a few questions. He found Greg in the weight room working out alone. Spike needed concrete answers, and knew that Greg would give them.
"Boss? Hey Boss! Jamie is working at the front desk with Winnie. Can he come on patrol with us? I will be responsible for him. He really wants to see what we do on a daily basis. I have him for 2 weeks. I thought I could also show him a little bit of the bomb stuff I work with." Greg stopped for a moment to think. It wasn't often that they had guests in the barn. Or out in the field with them. It would take some getting used to. But on the other hand, it would be good public relations. He smiled.
"Sure thing. Make sure he knows what he is allowed and what he is not allowed to do, If we get a call, he has to stay in the truck. That is non negotiable. You know that. But, yeah, if he wants to tag along he can, call and get the necessary clearances for him. He can even sit in on the briefing." Spike was out the door before Greg even finished speaking. He smiled and thought to himself that Spike would make a wonderful father someday.
After the briefing, Jamie was excited to learn that he was allowed to go out patrolling with Spike. Greg paired everyone up for patrol. He paired Jules with Spike and Jamie. He asked if he could spend a little time with everyone instead of staying with Just Spike. Jamie was kind of leery of Jules at first but quickly warmed up to her. She was a very nice girl and willingly answered all of his questions. After a little patroling, They stopped off for Chinese food at Jamie's request.
The rest of the team stopped at different locations to eat, agreeing to come back to the barn in an hour and a half barring any hot calls for some hand to hand combat and skills training. They tried to do that at least every other day, if not every day. Greg promised Jamie that they would teach him a little. Not much because of his shoulder, but some to use to get by and defend himself. Jamie was thrilled. He'd always excelled at sports and that was one area his father definitely indulged him.
"Spike? How long do you reckon I'd have to be a cop before I could join SRU? Can I just request SRU straight out of the academy?" Spike smiled at Jules who smirked back. They both knew how hard it was to join SRU. How competitve and cut throat the process was. Jules especially had to jump through some pretty serious, tough hoops being one of the first female officers to join SRU. She closed her eyes as some of those memories came up.
Spike patted her shoulder in sympathy and she nodded and smiled in thanks to him. Jamie was staring out the window quietly, having expended his questions for the time being. This gave Spike a moment to reflect on the things that had happened. He felt fortunate that Jamie and Melanie were there for him when he'd had amnesia. He still wanted to help them, and that reminded him that he needed to talk to Jamie about his father.
"So Jamie, Do you think a little later, we could talk a little bit about your dad? We actually need a little bit of information. I was thinking we could discuss it over pancakes after work. I know Ed and Greg noth wanted to talk to you about it. How's that sound to you? Jamie? Yoo Hoo. Jamie?"He turned in his seat to find Jamie fast asleep in the seat, his injured shoulder, tucked gently to his chest. He smiled at the picture and just drove back to the Barn.
When they got there, Jamie was still sleeping, so Spike left him in the truck and they went to get ready for some drills. After a few minutes, Jamie wandered in with his phone glued to his ear. He looked at Spike and rolled his eyes. Spike laughed and turned back to Ed, his sparring partner. Jamie sat down against the wall and listened to the person on the other end ramble on. He opened his bag and managed to shake out his pencils and a sketchbook.
Peices of Jamies conversation caught Spike's attention."Yes. I know 3 appointments. Out of town suddenly. No. Don't know. Why? That's actually none of your business. Whatever. Seriously? Oppositional Defiance Disorder? You make me sound nuts. I'm not. Fine." Jamie hung up and dropped his phone into his bag and ignored it when it rang. Spike looked over briefly, concerned but Greg waved him off. He would see if Jamie would speak to him.
"Hey Jamie. What do you think of this so far? Still think you want to be a police officer and try to keep the peace?" Jamie nodded warily, a little unsure of Greg's motive as he squatted next to him. He sat a little straighter. Greg slouched so Jamie relaxed. Greg glanced at the sketchbook that was laying open. He gestured to it, silently asking if he could pick it up. Jamie shook his hand and clutched it to his chest. Greg nodded and looked across the room where Eddie had Spike in a loose chokehold.
"I like being able to come here and see what you guys, and lady, do. I have seen alot of the awesome, yet none of the lows. I doubt I will though. I kinda want to see how you handle calls, but yet I don't know if that's a good for my age." Greg nodded. The others had come around and sat silently, listening in. Spike didn't want Jamie to experience that stuff. It was hard for him to take at times, and he was a vet on the force. He was pulled from his musings when Greg started speaking.
"It's hard alot of the time. Especially when you have a subject that is bent on either dying or killing someone else. It's never easy for the one who has to take the shot. I think that this has to be one of the most draining jobs I can think of at the moment. Well draining in unique ways to each of us. The no lives lost calls are the better ones. Sometimes we are one call for HOURS. It seems like mere minutes but it actually was hours. I'm not sure if you would be able to handle the hard calls."
Jamie sat there thinking. He felt he was old enough to experience things. He was tired of people telling him he was still young. He felt older than most of the people in the room at the moment. He felt he'd had to grow up too quickly, to protect himself from his father and protect his mom from him as well. He wanted to return to childhood sometimes because he still missed things that he never got to do. He was pulled from his thoughts by the Siren ripping through the building.
"TEAM ONE HOT CALL! HOT CALL! BOMB THREAT AT BRIDGESTONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. EMS IS STANDING BY. POLICE HAVE STARTED EVACUATION. Reports of several children trapped. More information on the fly. Everyone stood up as one like a well oiled machine. Spike grabbed the manual that he'd been leafing through earlier in the day. Jamie picked up his bag and scrambled into the seat beside Sam.