Author's Note: Winnie became a CSI, for back stories, please read 'the Long Shadow of Michael...' and 'Full Metal Jacket.'
Spike's bet that Jam was having a baby boy could be found in the story, 'The Love Offensive' and in the longer re-worked version, 'The Love Offensive: A Pleasant Surprise.'
Happy Valentines Day, everyone!
Quickening
(Keeled over for Heart Beats)
Her pregnancy entered the 18th week. She noticed a slight bump on her belly, making her look a little bloated; she turned sideways to see the image of her profile better in the mirror. Yes, there's a bump now, she smiled, Mona Lisa-like.
It's casual day at work being Friday. She dressed in her usual spring fashion, the multi-coloured layers making her look and feel younger. A long-sleeved light blue T-shirt, overlaid with a short-sleeved pink V-necked shirt; denim jeans, loafers and soft scarf looped neatly around her neck. She gathered her hair in a pony tail.
She looked around the room as if she misplaced something, then smiled again to no one in particular. Padding out of the bedroom, she called out his name, "Spike."
She heard a distinct sound coming from the kitchen, there he was hunched over the dining table reading a book, eating a bagel smeared with cottage cream, with a frothy cappuchino by his side. He got up, scooped her up in his arms and said into her mouth as he kissed her, "Good morning sunshine."
"Come, sit. What would you like?"
"What you're having," she said.
"I'll make one for you... coming right up." He put his bagel down to make one for her, she took it off his plate and ate it. He looked at her with furrowed brows, she said, "I told you I want what you're having." He laughed, his face softening.
She was mid-swallow when she suddenly gasped a little. "Oh," she said surprised. He paused, buttering hand suspended above the bagel, "What's wrong, bella?"
She swallowed, took a sip of his decaffeinated coffee and said, "I felt a quickening."
His eyes widened. He dropped everything and came around where she was seated and knelt in front of her. He placed his hands on her belly and willed the little baby to move. The baby moved again, he felt the tiny kicked on his sensitive hands. "Oh God," he said.
They gazed at each other speechless. She framed his face in her hands, leaned down to kiss him. Tears were streaming down their faces now. He pressed his face on her belly, wetting her shirts. It was a moment to remember, a moment to savour.
But the magical moment was interrupted by a trilling sound coming from Winnie's phone. She took it out of her pocket to see who's calling, LAB, it said in capital letters. Since leaving the SRU Despatch Unit, she joined the RCMP Crime Lab as a Firearms and Toolmark Examinations Specialist after a six-month study grant at Quantico, Virginia with the FBI.
"Work," she said. He let her take the call but continued to lean on her belly. Hoping to hear the baby's heart beat. Winnie didn't say much. Just several 'U hums' and finally, "Ok," before hanging up the phone.
"Well, we both have to go to work today," she said sounding slightly disappointed that they have to part ways. He looked at her, feeling what she was feeling. After feeling that kick, how as he going to let her go. It made him wished, selfishly, that Winnie still worked at the Strategic Response Unit.
She held his hands which were resting on her knees, "Let's enjoy breakfast."
He got up, unsteady on his feet, his knees felt like jelly. He buttered the bagel with cottage cheese, "Have some more, for the baby." He got up and poured her a glass of juice from the fridge, grabbed a piece of apple from the island bench on the way back. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," he said. He slipped the fruit in her shoulder bag.
"What was that about?" he asked.
She replied, "They found a discarded weapon in the sewer, they think it might be connected to this high profile gangland killing. They need me to test fire the gun and do a test." She did the quote, unquote symbol with her fingers and said, "ASAP." Spike fell silent.
"What's up?" she said.
He smiled tightly, not certain how to broach the subject without Winnie thinking he's getting in the way of her profession, but it needed to be said, "I was just thinking, this business of test firing guns... cordite, lead, all those chemicals that emit from ammos; and the recoil... they're not healthy for you and the baby."
She leaned her head back, "I was wondering when this subject might come up..." She finished her bagel, drank her juice before she answered. "You know very well it's not like procedural crime shows right. I'm required to wear facial helmet, goggles, protective clothes and gloves, and I make sure that I do."
"Still... they're such tiny particles," he said. She knew she couldn't argue the merits and demerits of chemical composition and compound with her husband, a walking encyclopedia in chemistry. So she simply said, "It's ok, an intern was assigned to me. He can test fire and I can supervise and analyse."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Cross my heart."
"You on early shift today?"
"Yeah, I should be going in half an hour," he said.
"That makes two of us."
They ate in silence, then cleared up the table, left the dishes on the sink. "Let's go," then he turned to her, "Why don't I drive you to work? It's close, there's no need to go separately."
"What if they require you to go over time?"
He thought about it and said begrudgingly, "You're right." They headed to their respective cars, he opened the car door for her, waited for her to be buckled in before kissing her through the window, "Drive carefully."
"You, too."
His chest felt as if it was going to burst, he had to tell someone. Share the news with someone before he keel over and die on the footpath. He fired up his phone and called the closest person he has to a father, his former Boss Greg Parker.
"Spike," he answered, "To what do I owe this honour?"
"Boss," he said in a state of uncontrolled joy, "I felt the baby kicked today." Greg could mentally picture Spike delirious with happiness. "That's great. Glad to see you're still with us and hasn't gone to spasm, died and gone to heaven."
"Close, it was close, Boss." He heard Greg laugh. They nattered on about work and other things when he realised where he needed to be. "Boss, I've gotta go. If I'm late for work I'd be sin binned." His old sargent chuckled again and told him to stay safe.
He drove in morning gridlock traffic which he hated. Peak hour has been starting earlier, getting longer and ending later. He exhaled deeply. His phone jangled inside his trousers' pocket, he fished it out, Sgt Ed Lane's happy face showed up on the screen, he answered it quickly, "I'm sure I'm not late for work."
Ed Lane laughed out loud, "Would that be the only reason I'd call you? Stop by a bakery on the way, Jules and Sadie are visiting. You know she likes cakes and stuff." Spike smiled, "Sure."
He arrived at HQ with muffins, chocolate cakes, donuts, eclairs, cookies and a chocolate shake for Jules. He was certain she wasn't taking any caffeine yet, breastfeeding and all. Sadie would be eight months old by his calculation.
There was pandemonium when mother and daughter arrived. Goodies were laid on the table in the staff room, where a black board was firmly displayed. On it were the odds for the sex of Spike and Winnie's baby. Twenty believed them to be having a boy; fifteen has their money on a girl; and a cheeky five said the baby would be either striped or spotted.
Jules smiled at the board. SRU had one similar when she was carrying Sadie. She giggled as she remembered how many threatened to maul Spike to bits when he told everyone he was certain the baby was a boy. By some stroke of luck, both Ed Lane and Greg Parker won the bet or Spike wouldn't still be standing in their midst right now. In the end though, both men shared their winnings at The Goose, their favourite watering hole.
The friendly gathering was not interrupted by a 'hot call'. The bright, pleasant, spring day definitely brought out the best in people. The occasion was graced by Team Three who came in early to drill in the exercise yard, "What?" said Spike, "That's like six hours before your shift?"
Toby, who was the bomb tech for Team Three replied, "Someone forgot to tell our TL he's no longer with Special Forces."
"I heard that," said Sam Braddock.
Ed Lane mockingly scoffed, "He wants to prove something. That Team Three is better than Team One, wait till Jules Callaghan-Braddock rejoins us, they'd be picking themselves off the ground after they've eaten dirt." Sam filled his gob with donuts, with his mouth full he mumbled something incomprehensible.
Lane put a hand on his ear and said, "What did you say?"
Team Three, to a man replied, "Facta non verba!" Canada's Joint Task Force (JTF) Special Forces motto, Latin for 'Deeds, not words'."
Spike said, "That's not even original."
Team One's rookies, Aiza Yamamoto, Frank Knight and Jean Martin quietly observed the happy banter between team mates and friends. In the back of their minds, they were wondering who would get shunted sideways when the mother of one, sniper and negotiator returns. They were confidently sure that their future at SRU was secure, provided they continue to prove themselves. But they were also confident that the veteran officer would re-qualify for selection without a problem.
"When are you re-qualifying?" asked Spike.
Jules grinned, "In two months, that's just the right time. By the time I come back from maternity leave Sadie would be a year old."
Spike turned to Ed Lane, "Can I get a year maternity leave, too?" Everyone laughed except Ed.
There's something in Spike's eyes that told him the first time Dad may actually be considering it – for real. Deep down, he wished he had the same opportunity, back in his day when his new born Clark came into the world, men didn't have the chance to stay home to be with their wee one. How can I deny Spike that chance? He didn't answer, he just nodded, and said, "Talk to me closer to the day."
When the little impromptu party ended, Sam caught up with Spike, "What's with that?"
"With what?"
"That business of taking a year off work."
Spike locked eyes with Sam Braddock, "Today, for the first time, I felt my baby kicked. I want that for as long as possible. To see him or her come to life, and to see him or her do a first. First step, first word, first tooth. I want that." He choked back the tears.
Sam nodded, grabbed his friend to give him a tight hug. "If that's what you want, you gotta do it."
"Thanks, bro," he said.
When his shift ended, he drove home in deep meditation, tuning out the traffic and rejoicing inwardly for the joy he has found.
Throughout the day, Winnie has been feeling a quickening in her belly. She thought of Spike and how much more beautiful their lives could be together. They have been through a lot, in all that, all she could wish for was for their hearts to beat together. She placed a protective hand on her belly, she closed her eyes and felt the baby softly kick again, just a tickle.