A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! You guys are so amazing. I had a smile from ear to ear while reading them :). Here is chapter 2, enjoy!
Sam woke up early in the morning. His whole body ached and he felt like he had a fever. He was still sitting in the same corner of the bathroom. He was sticky from the now dried sweat and shivering because he was freezing. He quickly stepped into the bathtub and turned on the shower. While sitting down, he let the warm water flow over his body. Slowly he was gaining control over his body and mind. His head was pounding and it was difficult to remember clearly what had happened to him after he woke up. He had woken up because of a nightmare and slight trembling, but soon it had turned a lot worse. He didn't want to think about the reason what could have caused this. He didn't want to think about going to work and face his colleagues. He closed his eyes and forced himself not to think about it.
Jules woke from her alarm. With the many nights without Sam next to her, she noticed she was clearly not sleeping so well without him. So now he was sleeping at her place again she had immediately fallen into a deep sleep. To only notice that the man she loved so much was not lying next to her. "Sam" she called out as she got up. She heard the shower running and stepped into the bathroom. "Sam, you okay" she asked him. She took her clothes off and stepped under the shower with him. She noticed straight away that something was wrong. Sam wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.
"Morning beautiful" he said, "Did you sleep well? I hope I didn't wake you up"
"No you didn't, slept like a baby. What's wrong Sam, couldn't you sleep?"
"No, woke up with a massive headache. I hope I didn't caught something" He replied.
"Are you up for work? The boss would understand if you took a sick day, you never take one" Jules looked concerned at him.
"Yeah, I think I'm good. If not I can always leave after work out." Sam gave her a long kiss before he stepped out to dry himself off.
"Do you want me to make breakfast" he asked "Or will we take some on our way to work?".
"I don't think I have much left, we better by some breakfast on our way in, might as well bring everyone coffee. I think it's our turn anyway" Jules replied while she turned off the shower.
Ed arrived early at the Barn, he had woken up early because of a screaming one year old. He loved being a parent and having a son and a daughter really makes his family complete. But at the same time he feels a bit to old to be a father. With Clark it was so much easier. Plus Izzy knew her father was to soft on her. So small as her fingers are, she knows how to wrap her daddy around her. Ed could only hope that his team would not find out his weak spot.
Off course Greg was already in. Ed had never managed to beat him. Even now Greg had a son and a woman to be with, he was always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
"Morning Greg" Ed walked into the briefing room and sat down next to his friend.
"Morning Eddie, what brought you in so early" the sergeant replied.
"Well you know, can't be to long without your company" Ed smirked.
"So Izzy woke you up" Greg laughed.
Ed laughed to, "To obvious, he. Actually it is good that I'm early today" Ed continued. "I don't know if you kept a close eye on Sam lately, but something is wrong".
"Yeah, I noticed. Did you talk to him?" Greg's face was turned to worry.
"No, not yet. I will have to though. I honestly don't know if he will be able to do his job properly".
"I hear you Eddy, I will see if Jules knows what's going on. Maybe some time of will do him good. Talk to him, but keep it light. As I said before, he is like you. He will say he's fine" Greg looked at his team leader with a soft smile.
"I will" said Ed. "But please don't let me be the one to tell him to take some time off. And in the mean time I think truck duty will be a good idea".
"Okay, when we have a call I will let him second me. Jules can be Sierra. He can use some more practise in that field anyway. Never been his strongest side" Greg finished.
Ed walked to the locker room. Glad to have spoken to his friend. It was always a difficult situation when one of the team members was going through a difficult time. But it was their job to look after each other, which made them special. So even though he wasn't looking forward to it, he knew he would speak to Sam about what was going on with him. Not only to help his teammate and to help his team function better, but also to help his friend.
Sam had no idea how he did it, but not only had he managed to get dressed and ready for work but also convinced Jules that besides a headache and maybe a cold, he was fine. He was almost starting to believe it himself. It might even be true what he told Jules. Maybe he was coming up with a cold or had a virus going trough his body. He just had to be patient and get enough fluids and he would be fine. Jules already made him drink a large glass of orange juice. On their way to the Barn they picked up some breakfast and coffee. He was not hungry though, he just drank his double double to stay awake.
In the locker room everybody was in a good mood. After a quiet day they regained some energy and were ready for a new, hopefully quiet day. If it remained quiet Ed even promised to have an extra outdoor training day planned for the next day. But for today just to show the public they were still there to keep an eye out they were going to patrol again after briefing.
Sam managed to get himself through work out without getting any trembles or team members noticing anything, although he felt his team leaders gaze on him more than ones. The coffee had done him really well and even though he didn't feel like working out he managed to have an upbeat conversation with Spike and teasing him over his relationship troubles with babycake. Always a safe conversation, plus he pretended the conversation kept him from focussing on a serious workout. Off course he wasn't able to fool everyone. When they started to go on patrol just as the day before it was Ed again whom he was signed up with. Not that he normally minded. But Sam had a feeling his TL wanted to observe him closely.
"How are you Sam", Ed asked after an hour or two.
"I'm fine" Sam answered him a bit to quickly.
"I knew I should have phrased that question differently" Ed half murmured.
"Ed" Sam looked at Ed not sure what he meant.
"Greg ones told me after I gave him another I'm fine: You may want to do the math one day on all the I'm fines." Ed said softly. Hopefully encouraging the younger man to open up.
"And?" Was all Sam said.
"And maybe you should too" Ed retorted, not sure to laugh or to be irritated. Sam was good in avoiding these questions, really good.
"Yeah, maybe I should" obviously done with the subject Sam stared out of the window.
Ed decided to leave it for now, knowing he wouldn't get any answers from the man at this moment.
Jules noticed Greg looking at her and she turned her head to meet his gaze.
"What's on your mind Sarge" Jules askes in a way only she could.
"What's going on with Sam" Greg's question didn't surprise her. Sam looked awful and she knew the others had noticed. She hoped Sam was right about coming down with a cold but instinctively she new there was more to it.
"I don't know. Last week he started to sleep at his own apartment again, saying he wasn't getting much sleep at my place". Jules paused for a moment, her cheeks flushing red as she realised how that must have sounded. If Greg had noticed he didn't show.
"But everyday he looked worse. He stayed over last night and I don't think he slept much again. He told me this morning he had a headache and thought he might caught something, maybe a cold" Jules finished. She saw Greg processing this information. She wanted to here what he was thinking of it, but there was no time. Through the comms she heard the voice of Winnie. "Team one, Hot Call."
Ed listened to the information Winnie was feeding them. There wasn't much Intel to go on. Apparently a lady made a 911 call from out a liquor store in North York saying that two armed men came in. Before the 911 operator was able to get more information, the line went dead. Winnie checked the number and the call was made by 29 year old Laura Butler. The team raced to the location and while Ed, Same, Spike and Leah were close by, it would take Greg and Jules at least 25 minutes to get there with the current traffic. That meant that Ed needed Sam out in the field. He looked over at his teammate and to his relieve Sam was focussing on the information.
"Guys, try to get some more Intel from the officers at the scene. I don't like it if you're going in blind" Greg's voice came through their comms.
Ed and Sam jumped out of their vehicle and saw Spike and Leah arriving behind them.
"Spike, get me blue prints of the building. And just to be sure check if there are camera's inside. Leah, talk to witnesses, see if someone knows how many people are inside and if they know the subjects. We need to know if these men are professionals or if it's personal. Sam, have officers positioned at every exit point of the building. I will talk to the officers on scene" Ed ordered his team. He looked a Sam who gave him a nod, as if to say that he was fine. Ed walked over to the first responder. He didn't have much more information. Nothing had happened since he arrived. No one went in and no one came out.
"Ed, there is one exit at the back of the building. I have officers securing it right now, but no way to tell if they have already left through this door. There are no windows at the back or at the side of the building" Sam informed.
"Oke Sam, come back here. Spike anything?" Ed asked.
"I'm sending the blueprints to your PDA's right now, no camera's inside and the liquor store is not in vision of the CCTV camera. I'm trying other angles to look for suspicious vehicles and or persons" Spike replied immediately.
"He Ed" Leah's voice came through. "I have multiple witnesses saying they heard 2 gunshots fire. No one noticed the men going inside the store however they are positive that the men haven't left the store via the front" Leah finished.
"Okay, thanks Leah. Keep questioning the witnesses though. I want to know who we are dealing with. Greg status?" he didn't liked it to be separated on a case like these. He wanted Greg to handle the negotiation.
"10 minutes Ed. I don't like this situation. Start negotiation by calling the store." Greg replied.
But before Ed could say anything or do anything gunshots were heard from within the building.
Sam just arrived at Ed's side when the gunshots were heard. He had looked at the blueprints and they were simple. One main area between the front door and the backdoor, and one smaller room, possibly the office of the store with a staircase going upstairs. He informed Ed about this, who hadn't had a look at the blueprints yet.
"Okay we are going in know" Ed yelled. "Spike, Leah, take the backdoor. Sam you're with me. We go in simultaneous".
Sam felt the adrenaline going through his body and he took a few deep breaths to keep his heartbeat low. He knew that Ed wasn't sure about his condition, otherwise he would have send Sam to take Leah or Spike in via the backdoor. He just had to focus on the job. With some luck it would be over within minutes. He took his position behind Ed and they waited for Spike and Leah to get into position. Sam kept his focus on his breathing and whished he just had stayed in bed as Jules had suggested. The thought of bringing hostages in danger because his head was not in the game was already worse enough, but his team safety was also in the line. Spike and Leah confirmed their status and Sam took another deep breath and they went in.
"SRU, TO THE GROUND KNOW! TO THE GROUND!" All four shouted while flashbangs were thrown inside. Sam noticed four people inside. A woman and an older man were sitting in the left corner of the shop, most likely the hostages, and two men in black and balaclavas over their heads were standing in the middle of the store. One man dropped his gun and went down to the ground immediately while his partner ran further in the store to hide behind some shelves. Leah who was closest to the hostages led them to the door were police officers took over. Spike was cuffing the first subject. Sam saw it all happening. He heard the yelling. But it was something else that caught his attention. Something he saw not far behind Spike. Something that couldn't be there. And while he was staring at it, he didn't notice that he dropped his arms, no longer holding his MP5 in position. Not hearing his team leader scream at him. To shocked to even realise that he hit the ground.
N/A: Okay I know, Another cliffhanger. But don't worry, I'm already working on chapter 3. Hopefully I will post it tomorrow. In the mean time you can all make me smile by posting reviews. It will make my work day a lot better!
