AN: I am SO SORRY this chapter is so long in coming! For some reason, my muse refused to inspire me for more of this fic until this evening. This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, but hey...at least it's an update :) Hopefully, there will be more to come soon. Until then, I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)
Chapter 12 – Pompous Ass
Greg could still feel the daggers that Ed was shooting at Inspector Stanton as they exited the hospital room. He was none too pleased with the man but he knew that the sooner they got the interviews out of the way the sooner the team could be together and process what had transpired over the last two days.
"Inspector, how long will this take?" Greg asked as they headed towards the elevators.
"As long as it takes. The interviews are scheduled to start at nine tomorrow morning." Inspector Stanton stated as he pushed the button to call the elevator.
Greg froze mid step. "Tomorrow morning? You mean to tell me that I can't even update my team on Sam's injuries until the interviews are over, and you can't even be bothered to schedule them immediately? Sam is family, my team deserves to hear how he's doing."
"It is not your place to tell me how to do my job, Sergeant. I am the inspector! I and I alone choose when the interviews will be conducted. Am I understood?"
"Actually, you're wrong."
Greg and Stanton both turned their gaze to the new voice. Before them stood General Braddock, wearing a look that could kill, and an Army Colonel.
"And who might you be?" Stanton asked as he tilted his chin up to display his authority.
"This is…" Jason started to explain but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
The colonel gave a slight shake of his head before turning back to the officers. "Colonel Andrew Campbell, JAG. I am assuming control of this investigation."
"You have no authority. This is a police matter." Stanton scoffed.
"Actually this is a matter of national security." Campbell took a half step forward, invading Inspector Stanton's personal space. "The subject was an active duty Army Training Officer. He was granted Top Secret clearance in order to perform his duties. He abducted a former Special Forces Soldier with a security clearance above his. The subject then tortured the former soldier in front of civilians. As both men, abductor, and abductee held such high clearance, and the reason for the abduction and subsequent torture, I have been ordered to conduct this investigation."
"By whose authority?" Stanton's brows furrowed as he unconsciously took a half step back.
Campbell moved forward another step, coming nose to nose with the arrogant inspector. "The authority of the Chief of Defense Staff, Sir."
Jason barely contained the smirk that came forth at the look on Stanton's face. No one messed with the Chief's authority.
"Very well. I expect to be kept appraised of the investigation."
"No." With that Campbell stepped around Stanton and took three steps towards Ed's room before turning back. "General, Sergeant, if you would come with me. Inspector, your services are no longer needed here."
Greg bit his lip to hide his amusement as he turned to go back to his team. General Jason Braddock fell into step beside him. They approached Ed's room just as Spike and Lou were being wheeled out.
"Officers, you are dismissed. Please return Constables Scarlatti and Young to Constable Lane's room and take your leave." Campbell spoke with a tone of authority.
"I'm sorry, we don't take our orders from the Army." One of the officers stated with a smirk.
"This is no longer a Police investigation, it's an Army JAG investigation. If you don't want to be charged in a military court with obstructing a military investigation, and end up in Club Ed, then I suggest you return those men immediately and be on your way."
Spike's brows shot upwards as his and Lou's chairs were immediately returned to Ed's room to the shock of the rest of the team inside. All had heard the officers being dismissed. As the uniforms quickly made themselves scares they were joined in Ed's room by Greg, the general, and an Army colonel.
"Hello constables, my name is Colonel Andrew Campbell, but my friends call me Drew. I have officially taken over the investigation into the circumstances of the last two days. I will be conducting your debrief." Campbell softened his tone as he took in the weary officers gathered in the room. He could see their concern clear as day in their eyes. "I will be debriefing each of you individually. However, I will not keep you from your team, or from speaking to one another. I only ask that you refrain from discussing the details of the last two days until your interview has been conducted. Those interviews will begin momentarily. Before we begin though, are there any questions?"
"Sir, can those officers really be tried in a military court and sent to Club Ed?" Spike asked, curiosity and amusement battling for prominence on his face.
"No. But they don't need to know that." Campbell did allow himself to smile then.
"Why is the Army taking over the investigation?" Ed asked as he shifted in his hospital bed.
"Eddie, both Sam and Simmons were Army. National Security." Greg gently explained.
"Oh…" Jules whispered as her eyes went wide. She had never even considered that aspect of things.
"I want you all to know that I do have Constable Braddock's best interest in mind, and that is to keep him from reliving this experience as much as possible. If I can I would like to obtain all the details from you. Then I will only need him to fill in the blanks."
"Why are you so interested in Sam's well-being?" Wordy queried. Not that he was opposed to the idea, but he saw the concern the colonel had for Sam. That wasn't something a normal lawyer developed for their client before even meeting them.
"I have a vested interest in Sam," Campbell stated simply, not sure if he should explain or not.
"Drew is the JAG that investigated Matt's death." Jason expounded on the explanation.
"Wait, is that even allowed?" Lou wondered as he gripped the handles of his wheelchair.
"Yes. Actually, it is preferred. I already know the circumstances around Simmon's death. It would be quite a challenge to bring another JAG officer, with the required clearance, up to speed in the short amount of time we had."
"He'll take good care of you all. Are there any more questions?" Jason asked, he was itching to get back to Sam but had wanted to ensure Team One was introduced to Campbell, and that there wouldn't be any issues with the Army taking over the investigation.
"Just one." Greg turned to Campbell.
"Sergeant?" Campbell was curious as to what other questions this team could come up with.
"When do we start the interviews?"
"Just as soon as you brief your team on Constable Braddock's condition." Campbell smiled seeing the look of relief on everyone's faces. "I'll just wait outside. I would like to start my interview with you Sergeant Parker. Then I will speak with Constable Wordsworth, Constable Scarlatti, Constable Young, Constable Callaghan, and then finally Constable Lane. In that order."
"Why that specific order?" Spike wanted to get his interview over with sooner rather than later.
"Because Wordsworth and Parker have no injuries requiring a hospital stay. I want to interview in that order to allow those with the more severe injuries to be able to rest before being put through their interview. Your health is just as important as this investigation. I will not put you all at risk just to get your statements."
"Thank you, Sir." Greg was genuinely happy the man thought the way he did. The interviews would be grueling. His team could use the rest to gain their strength before being put through the stress of debriefing.
"I'll be waiting outside, Sergeant Parker. Once you are done briefing your team we will conduct our interview. I have secured a conference room here at the hospital so you won't have to go far." Campbell walked out behind General Braddock, but paused at the door and turned back to the team. "Take your time, Sergeant Parker. I can wait."
With that, the colonel left and quietly closed the door behind him. Team One stared at the closed door, speechless, for a long moment.
"I think that went well. Don't you, Drew?" Jason chuckled as he slipped his hands into his pockets and drew in a deep breath.
"I will forever cherish the look of astonishment on Inspector Stanton's face when I told him I would not be keeping him updated on the investigation." Drew laughed along with his long-time friend.
"You did say you were going to be keeping Commander Holleran in the loop though, right?"
"Oh yes, he was not a pompous ass to me. Him I don't mind keeping informed."
"I think I saw a coffee machine down the hall. What do you say we grab a cup while we wait? They could be a while."
"Coffee sounds splendid."
The two friends meandered down the hall and spoke softly as they caught up on life. Jason was relieved that Drew had been the one to pull this case. Not that he hadn't pleaded and begged for all he was worth. But he wouldn't admit that to anyone, not even his wife.
Drew breathed in the calming scent of freshly brewed coffee. He was thrilled he had been available to take Sam's case. Memoires of the broken, young soldier sitting across the table from him haunted him to this day. When Sam killed Matt a piece of Sam died that day too. As Drew sipped his coffee he hoped that he would be able to make this as painless as possible, for everyone involved.
No soldier deserved to be put through what young Sam Braddock had endured in his life.
"Whoa." Spike breathed as he smiled hugely and his eyes remained wide.
"You can say that again." Lou agreed as he slowly shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs that had surely invaded.
"Team, we need to focus. These interviews need to be honest, and as detailed as possible. Don't leave anything out." Greg rubbed a hand across his head as he drew in a calming breath. "It's not going to be easy for any of us, but we still have a job to do here."
"Copy." All responded from their places around the room.
"So, how is Sam?" Ed finally broke the silence that had descended in the room.
"Oh, so now you suddenly care?" Lou turned an icy gaze to his Team Leader.
"Whoa, Lou, where did all this hostility come from?" Spike asked as he placed a hand on Lou's arm.
Lou shook Spike's hand off and glared at him too. "You're no better. You, both of you, were such mean bastards to Sam the whole time we were there. You blamed him for something that wasn't his fault. He protected you! And still, you treated him like he was the subject!"
"Lou…"
"No, Boss. They were in the wrong, Jules too." Lou's gaze turned on Jules then. "Why couldn't you all just support him? Why did you have to hurt him like that?"
"Stop!" Greg ordered.
The room became quiet once more as icy stares were thrown across the room.
"We were told not to discuss what happened over the last two days until after our interviews are over. Now, I expect you all to follow those orders!" Greg pinned each team member with a glare until he received a nod of agreement from each of them. "Good, now that that's been said… Sam's not doing so well."
"He's alive right?" Wordy's brows furrowed in concern.
"Yes, he's alive. But barely." Greg lowered himself to the only empty seat in the room and dropped his head into his hands. He sat like that for a long minute as he processed things and decided on the best way to share the news with the team. "He's suffered quite a lot of injuries."
"We know, Greg. We were there." Ed kept his gaze fixated on his boss, his friend.
"Yeah, we were, weren't we?" Looking up Greg met Ed's gaze. "Abrasions from the restraints, his right wrist is sprained, extensive bruising, lacerations and a stab wound, burns, his ribs are bruised, cracked, and one broken, there is fluid in his lungs, and the bullet to his left shoulder damaged the bone."
"No." Jules breathed as a hand flew to her mouth.
"Is he… are they ... what do … Greg?" Ed stumbled over his words. That list of injuries, they could be career ending. Ed thought as he saw the concern, fear, and guilt in Greg's eyes.
"They are hopeful that he will make a full recovery. But it's not going to be easy. His injuries are pretty severe. There is no telling if or when he will make it back to the SRU. To Team One." Greg sighed as he lowered his head and closed his eyes. A single tear escaped as he wondered if Sam would ever join them on Team One again. Is Sam's career as an officer officially over?
AN: As always, reviews are welcome and very much appreciated!