AN: I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter finished and to you. It's been in the works since I posted the last one but between a move and a stubborn muse it's taken longer to finish than I had wanted. Thankfully missblueeyes63 sent me a note of encouragement today that apparently kicked the muse in high gear. She has also been gracious enough to allow me to bounce ideas off of her today. Thank you so much for you help with this chapter!

As always, thank you all for your favorites, follows, and reviews. It keeps me writing!

Two goons stepped forward and released Ed from the shackles. He fell to the ground with a thud as he hit the hard, concrete floor. The goons dragged him back to where he had originally been shackled and threw him against the wall. Ed couldn't help the groan that escaped.

Once his hands were once again in shackles the two goons turned back to their boss.

"Now, to give you a little taste of what your Team Leader just went through." Mark said to Sam before nodding to his three comrades before turning and walking out of the room. As he heard the sounds of fists connecting with flesh he smiled and thought, Phase One: Complete.

Chapter 4 - Brothers

Sam gasped in pain as the three goons finally stepped away from him. He was beating himself up. He should have known that Mark's goal wasn't really to torture his Team, but to torture him by hurting them. His screams during Ed's torture had been exactly what Mark had been looking for. He played right into his hands. That is why he held in any and all sounds of pain as dummies one, two, and three used him as a human punching bag.

Sam was pretty sure he had some spectacularly bruised ribs, if they weren't cracked. Not to mention he'd be sporting some amazing bruises thanks to the beating. He closed his eyes as he heard the three men leave the room and slam the door behind them. He allowed his body to sag against the cold stone wall behind him for a long moment as he focused inward. He worked for several long minutes to breathe through the pain. Sam used his sniper breathing to bring his body back under his control.

After several long minutes Sam slowly opened his eyes and pulled himself to more of a standing position to alleviate the strain that had been put on his arms.

"...Sam! Come on Sam, answer me!" Greg called yet again trying to get Sam's attention.

Sam slowly took in the room around him and heard Sarge talking to him.

"I'm fine boss." Sam commented as he met Greg's eyes. "Just a little sore, nothing I haven't been through before."

"You had us really worried for a minute there Sam." Greg said softly. He had been genuinely worried for his rookie.

Sam almost laughed at that statement. If the looks on some of Team One's faces showed anything it was that they were pissed at him.

"How are you Ed?" Sam asked, concerned.

"Me? You finally want to know how I'mfeeling?" Ed asked, his voice rising with his eyebrows. "Since when do you care about your Team? You clearly didn't when you were in Afghanistan. So tell me, oh great 'elite special ops counter-terrorist soldier'...why do you suddenly give a flying rats ass about someone other than yourself?"

"Ed..." Wordy didn't know where this sudden hostility from his friend came from but he was clearly hitting Sam below the belt so to speak.

"What Wordy?" Ed asked as he whipped his head towards his friend. He regretted the action as the room swam for a moment. "It's Braddock's damn fault that they beat me with that bat. If he had been more careful, had actually looked through his scope instead of just firing at anything and everything that moved, then we wouldn't be here!"

"Ed's right!" Jules piped up from across the room. "This is Sam's fault. Ed has a right to be pissed at him. Ed took a beating just so someone could get back at Sam."

"Guys!" Greg yelled, trying to get the attention of his Team before they said more hurtful things that they couldn't take back. "This is not getting us anywhere."

Sam sighed softly as he simply looked at the floor. Ed was right to be angry. If it wasn't for him Ed would be home with his wife and son right now. Not dealing with the aftermath of a beating.

"Ed, where did this hostility come from? You were just telling Sam that you were okay, that you could take it." Wordy said softly. He had seen the emotions crossing the Rookie's face before Sam looked away. Ed's words had hit hard and deep.

Ed just glared at Wordy for a long minute. Who wouldn't be pissed at Braddock? It really was Sam's fault that they were here, not his, or Wordy's, or Jules', or any of the rest of Team One. Everything bad that had happened today had been Sam's fault!

Why was he mad again instead of trying to brush it off with Sam like he had a few minutes ago?

The answer was easy. He hadn't wanted Mark to get what he wanted, which was his cries of pain. Ed knew that, so he did everything he could to downplay the pain. It hadn't worked as much as he had wanted, but that didn't matter now. He was hurting. He was angry that he wasn't home with Sophie and Clark.

He was pissed at Braddock and nothing would change how much he hated the other man at the moment!

Greg and Wordy just stared at Ed dumbfounded. They didn't know what had gotten into the man. Ed usually took on new members of Team One and mentored them, worked with them, taught them how the SRU worked and helped them improve. But with Sam it was like it was the complete opposite. From day one Ed hadn't liked the man.

Then today, or was it yesterday now, of all days Ed and Sam had been at such odds. It hadn't helped that a young man had died during their call. It didn't matter that the kid was shot before the team ever stacked up on the door. All that mattered to Ed was that Sam disobeyed an order.

Greg sighed as he wondered if his team was ever going to get the chance to make things right with Sam.

Sam closed his eyes as he tuned out everything that was going on around him. He knew it was his fault. He knew that he had killed his best friend by blowing a hole in his chest from two kilometers away. He had carried that overwhelming guilt since he had found Matt lying there in his own blood with a gaping hole through his body. Now he felt guilt for being the reason that his team was here being tortured with him.

As Sam replayed everything that had happened from the moment he talked to Ed after the hot call yesterday he searched for anything he could do to free his team. In his current situation though there was nothing that he could do. Without something to pick the locks on the shackles there was no way they would get out.

After several long minutes Sam decided to take the only course of action that he could at the moment. Mark wanted nothing more than to get a reaction out of him. Mark had succeeded when torturing Ed. Sam would not do so again!

He vowed to himself to appear to be completely unaffected by whatever Mark did next. Sam hated what the team would think of him for what would seem like complete lack of care for what would most assuredly happen to them. But he couldn't let Mark win. Sam just hoped that Mark would take out his anger on him, not the team.

Sam was surprised as the shower head above him suddenly came on and cold water rained down on him. The shower head was on a pipe that brought it out from the wall more so than usual and pointed back towards him. Thus the water was hitting him squarely in the face if he didn't turn his head just right.

His mind searched for the different tortures that the water could be used for, but at the moment Sam was drawing a bit of a blank. He knew water was used in waterboarding, dunkings, and such. But he couldn't figure out why Mark would simply shower him with water.

Wordy looked up at the sound of a shower coming on and noticed that water was now hitting Sam where he hung shackled to the wall. He knew that the next torture had just begun and he hoped that Sam would be able to withstand it.

"Sam, how are you holing up?" Greg asked as he looked to his rookie. He was surprised to see the water raining down on Sam.

"Fine Sarge." Sam answered simply

"What's the water for?" Greg wondered out loud.

He didn't have to wonder for long, the door opened just two minutes after the water turned on.

"Are you enjoying your shower Braddock?" Mark asked as he walked through the door.

Sam didn't even bother to look up at Mark. If he did he knew that the water would hit him directly in the face and he didn't want to do that. He wanted to avoid swallowing any, or any getting in his lungs, for as long as possible.

"I know you're all probably wondering why Braddock is enjoying a nice cold shower." Mark stated as he slowly circled the room. "Well, it's simple. I am just not going to explain it to you." He laughed as he stopped in front of Lou and Spike.

The shower above Sam stopped when Mark stopped circling. Sam shook the water off his face and looked up just in time to see one of Mark's minions step up with a Taser in hand. He cringed. So that's what the water is for he thought sadly to himself.

Sam knew that Mark was simply searching for another reaction from him so he schooled his features in order to appear unconcerned. Inside he was preparing to watch another of his team endure pain due to his actions.

"You know, I always thought that Sam and Matt were best friends. But, over the last several months I've began to wonder. I mean, how can your best friend be responsible for your death? Your pain?" Mark looked from Sam, to Lou, to Spike. "It's not every day you find a team member that is closer to you than a brother, now is it Constable Scarlatti?"

"Especially when your own family thinks that your profession is a waste of your time and skills. Your own father, after all, thinks that you are wasting away your abilities on the police force is he not? But, you've found family in the SRU, Constable Young for example. You two have become best friends, as thick as thieves. You spend most of your time off hanging out together, you are partners on the job more times than not, you know the deepest darkest secrets of each other. Still you are friends. In fact, you consider yourselves brothers do you not?" Mark paused, allowing the words to sink in. He was curious to see how Sam would react to the obvious threat to both Spike and Lou.

Sam refused to even look Mark's direction. Sam knew that doing so would alert the man to the fact that he wanted nothing more than to stop what was happening. Instead he kept his eyes averted, not missing the pure rage in Ed's face as he did so.

He had thought that Ed might be coming around and cut him a break during the beatings. Sam had been sadly wrong though when afterwards Ed laid into him for everything that had gone wrong lately. He didn't know what it would take for the team to accept him for who he was, with his flaws and all. Sam had hoped it would happen soon butnow he was sure Ed would never accept him. There was just too much anger from Ed and it was only going to get worse when Sam did what he had to do and act like he didn't care for Lou and Spike.

"Young and Scarlatti. You are both the tech and explosives experts on the team are you not?" Mark stepped back as his two accomplices stepped forward, both holding Tasers. "You work together, spend time off together, are brothers in everything but blood. I wonder if your bond will remain at the end of the day. It is time you get a feel for what it's like when someone close to you, a teammate, betrays you."

Mark nodded to his men and each man shot Spike and Lou with their Tasers. As the electricity traveled down the wires and into the leads that had attached to the men both Lou and Spike cried out in surprise and pain.

"All that is needed to stop this pain is for Braddock to admit that he never really cared for my brother Matt. To admit that he wanted Matt to die and therefore did what he does best, blew him to pieces with a .50 cal. If Braddock will admit that he was never a brother to Matt then this pain will end." Mark stated.

Mark hoped with all his being that this would last a bit longer. He wanted to inflict as much pain as possible on Sam. Sam deserved all this pain and more for killing his brother Matt. Looking towards the wall where Braddock was shackled he hoped he would see the reaction he was hoping for, desperation to free his teammates from the pain.

Sam used all his willpower to keep his gaze on a spot on the wall opposite where Spike and Lou were currently being tortured. He refused to give Mark what he wanted…again. Sam hoped that if he didn't give Mark the reaction he was looking for then he would turn his anger on him instead of the team. This was his goal. Sam knew he could handle the pain, but he wasn't sure how long the rest of his team would survive it.

Ed seethed as his gaze travelled between Mark, Spike, Lou, and Sam. Mark was clearly set out to torture his men by electric shock with the Tasers. Spike and Lou had only been shocked once so far but he could see the fingers on the triggers, ready to send another shock through the wires.

When Ed looked at Sam his anger boiled even more. Yeah, he had appeared to have it all together and be on Sam's side during his beating. But that was only because Ed believed that Mark wanted to see him get angry with Sam. Ed was not about to give Mark the satisfaction of seeing him angry at Sam. It had little to do with Sam but more to do with Ed maintaining as much control of this situation as he could. Which was extremely minute. But Ed was thankful he was able to keep it in check until Mark had left the room.

Now though, now he was beyond pissed and it was taking everything he had to contain his anger at Sam while Mark was in the room.. Sam clearly didn't care for his team. In fact, he was completely ignoring Mark, Spike, Lou, and the other two guys.

Sam's so called friends, teammates, were in pain and Sam wasn't even sparing them a glance. When I get my hands on you Braddock you're a dead man. Ed thought in anger. You don't just disregard your team like that.

Mark motioned for his men to shock to two officers again. The brunette was talking to him, trying to get him to stop, but he was ignoring her. He would have his way, his fun, with her later. For now though he was focused on the other two.

After the second shock Mark ignored the sounds of pain from the two officers before him and looked to Braddock. Sam still had a bored look on his face. Was my intel wrong? Does he really not care for his team the same way they do not seem to care for him?

Mark decided to tell him men to administer one more shock to the officers. If he didn't get a reaction out of Braddock then he would move on with his plans.

Sam inwardly cringed as he heard the cries of pain from Spike and Lou. He knew what it felt like to have the fire of electricity coursing through your veins. They all did. They had to experience a shot from a Taser during training for the Police Force. His Special Forces SERE training also included training for withstanding electrical torture. Being electrocuted hurt like hell. But Sam wished he was the one being shocked and Spike and Lou were not being subjected to it because of something that he had done.

He also hated that he had to be so cold towards his team right now. Sam wanted nothing more than to break free of these chains and get the whole team out before more pain was inflicted. Sadly though there just wasn't a chance. Sam had run through every option and there was just no way to get out right now. He had to wait it out to see if a way out presented itself.

Mark felt like there was a volcano inside that was just waiting to blow. He had shocked the two officers multiple times and Braddock hadn't even blinked their direction even once. Fine, if that's how he wants to play it then we'll do it his way. Mark thought as he turned his attention to Braddock. He signaled his third comrade and the water turned on once again.

Sam was surprised when the water above him came on once again. He hadn't been expecting it, but he didn't allow his shock to show. He simply lazily moved his gaze to meet Mark's as he turned his head to keep the water from hitting him in the face.

"Betrayal by a teammate, by a brother, is the worst kind of betrayal that one can suffer." Mark said as he slowly made his way to Braddock. "I can only imagine how Scarlatti and Young feel right know knowing that you, as their teammate, could have stopped it. But instead they were hurt more because you wouldn't do what was necessary. It's your fault that they were hurt."

Spike looked up to where Sam hung and shot him a glare. He and Lou were gasping for breath after being shocked with the Taser. The pain that was still coursing through his body after the electric shock was almost as bad as being shot. Spike couldn't believe that Sam would allow them to be tortured like this. Sam had at least tried to get the guys to stop beating up Ed. Why hadn't he done the same for them? They were part of his team after all!

"If only you had done as you were told and admitted your failure as a friend and brother to Matt. But no, you apparently don't even care about your team because you didn't even look at them. Not that it matters now. They have been shocked, and now it's your turn." Mark signaled again and the water stopped.

Sam's eyes never left Mark's. He knew what Mark was trying to do, make him feel guilty for the pain inflicted on Spike and Lou. It was working too. Sam felt horrible over the fact that he had to totally ignore what was going on with his teammates. However, he refused to let Mark know he was winning. He had to keep his focus on seeming to be uncaring about what happened to the rest of the team and finding a way out.

"Constable Braddock, or should I call you former Master Corporal Braddock. Do you know why people use water during electric torture?" Mark asked with a smirk on his face.

Sam knew the answer, he knew it intimately, but he would never give Mark the satisfaction of knowing that. Mark wouldn't have access to his service record either. Only the General or someone of higher rank had access to it it was so classified. Sam simply met Mark's gaze while keeping his face impassive and uncaring.

"Let me tell you. Water is used to reduce the electrical resistance of the skin and to increase the effect of the electric shocks." Mark smiled as he tented his hands and placed his chin on his fingertips. "I am sure you are aware of how, how shall I say it, uncomfortable your teammates are after being shocked with the Taser. Imagine just how much more pain will be felt since you've been thoroughly doused in water. Oh wait, you won't have to imagine it. You'll get to live it."

Mark stepped back and his two accomplices stepped forward. Instead of using Tasers this time they would use cattle prods that had been modified to cause maximum pain to his prisoner, but yet not be powerful enough to kill him. Mark still had more fun planned for Braddock after all.

Sam saw the cattle prods coming towards him and he knew he didn't have much time. He took a moment to try and relax knowing that his muscles were about to get quite a workout. Sam determined not to make a sound. Crying out in pain would only allow Mark to win this round and he didn't want that to happen.

"It's time to set your veins on fire." Mark stated just before his men touched the cattle prods to Sam's skin.

All of Team One watched as the cattle prods made contact with Sam's body. Sam entire body went extremely rigid as it arched out from the wall. They all knew that Sam had to be in an extreme amount of pain and were surprised that he made no sounds whatsoever.

Sam gasped for air as the first of what was sure to be several electric shocks to his body ended. He had clamped down as hard as he could to keep from making any sound. He felt as though his body was on fire. His blood felt like white hot lava coursing through him. Sadly he knew that the feeling was only going to get more intense as the torture went on.

Time lost all meaning for Sam as the torture continued. He wouldn't be able to tell how many times he had been shocked nor the duration of each shock. All he knew was that the pain was in every nerve of his being, and was never ending.

Sam didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to hold on, how much more he could stand without finally letting out the cries that had been threatening to escape at each touch of the cattle prods. He could taste the blood in his mouth from where he had bitten his cheek and tongue in an effort to remain silent. As the electricity coursed through him yet again he lost his battle to be silent and stoic as a blood curdling scream wrenched from him as the men kept the cattle prods in contact with his skin for what seemed like an eternity.

The pain was too much. Sam's body finally went limp as the darkness consumed him. As he dropped into the blackness he hoped never to return. He deserved this death. He just hoped that his death would allow his team to be freed.

Sam's head dropped to his chest and blood trickled from his mouth as he fell into unconsciousness.

AN: Please don't kill me... LOL. However, you are more than welcome to leave me a review :D