I'm feeling generous, and giving you two chapters in a day! Aren't I awesome? :D

Maybe it's a reward for being so wonderfully patient while I focused on exams and papers, and neglected my Flashpoint!

Reviews make my day, and earn you a virtual muffin!

And just so that CTV's lawyers don't get mad, and show up at my door with a lawsuit notice, I don't own Flashpoint. Wow, what a shocker, right?

Spike wasn't sure if he was going to thank or kill Sam when he saw him in an hour.

He certainly wasn't going to admit that he was borderline grateful that he'd been given an opportunity by his friend to get to know Cassidy Brooks better. That was a thought better kept to himself.

So here he was, at 25 after 6 on a Thursday morning, knocking on her door.

"Come on in!" He heard her call. "The door's unlocked!"

He stepped in and softly closed the door behind him. Immediately, he surveyed his surroundings. It was a small place, with dark flooring and light cream walls, enhanced by orangey décor. He liked it immediately. It wasn't showy, but it already felt like a home.

Then it caught his eye, on the wall next to a large bookshelf filled with classics.

A picture of Cassidy, a little bit younger, a little bit more innocent. Still the same big grey eyes and brown hair.

With a curly haired boy wrapping his arms around her neck, and a glowing smile to match. A smile that he had just learned to recognize. It was her smile.

A thousand and one thoughts blasted through his mind. She wasn't married, had never mentioned a kid. It could be a brother, couldn't it? That was it. It was probably her little brother.

But another picture, this one on the kitchen counter caught his eye. And this one left no doubt in his mind.

She was standing behind the boy as he sat on a swing, her hands wrapped around the chains. They looked at each other in absolute adoration that was undeniable.

This had to be her son.

Cassidy came running towards the entrance, still trying to ponytail her hair, and slid on the hardwood. "Hey, Spike. Thanks for picking me up! Do you want a muffin or anything?"

He tried to pull his gaze away, but the picture still drew him in. "Nah, I'm good."

She followed his line of vision, and immediately stiffened. He glanced over and smiled. "You didn't say you have a kid."

She shook her head, and Spike was certain now that she had paled. "I don't."

He looked at her in surprise. "He's not yours? I thought-"

She groaned, and leaned against the counter. "He is."

Spike waited for her to offer an explanation, some sort of reason into this conversation, but none came. She simply stared at the picture of the little boy with a deep sorrow. A sorrow that Spike had never seen so raw in her eyes, in the short time that he'd known her.

He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Cass. I didn't mean to say something stupid."

She shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

"Listen," he cleared his throat, and again wished he was as smooth with words as Sam or Lew were. "I don't know what your story is, Brooks, and I'm betting that I never will. But…if you ever need to talk about it, if there's every anything you want to talk about…I'm here. I'll listen. I'm not the greatest guy to have a conversation with, but I promise, I won't judge you."

She smiled at him sadly and nodded. Spike decided right there that she would never tell him the truth behind those pictures. And, for her sake, he dropped it.

The pair rode together in silence, not even bothering to make small talk. Spike stared at the road, trying not to make her uncomfortable and knowing that he was failing miserably.

They reached the SRU building and still sat in silence. Spike glanced over, and saw, to his surprise, that streams of liquid curved down her face.

"Cass?" He said tentatively. Again, he wished that Sam was there. He was so much better with women than Spike was.

"His name is Cole."

"What?" Spike wrinkled his brow.

She turned to him, and he found himself caught in her eyes. "The little boy in the picture. His name is Cole."

With that, she rubbed the sleeve of her sweatshirt over her face, and got out of his car. Spike watched her go, and for the first time in his life, he had absolutely no idea of what to do.

Short chapter, I know…But we're getting to finally see something of Cassidy. So is Spike right, is the little guy her son? Or is there another catch? I know the truth, and you will too when I update again! Hoping this story isn't turning into the Swiss Cheese Festival on me…~T.J. Elise