AN: This chapter is dedicated to missblueeyes63 and Elise Deschat :) You know why...

Chapter 13 - Debrief

Ed's Hospital Room

The room descended into silence after Greg explained all of Sam's injuries. Each member of Team One knew Sam endured a lot, but to listen to the extent of his injuries was a whole different matter. As each was lost in their thoughts the door to the hospital room opening startled more than a couple of them. Three doctors, Harrison, Burkett, and Cooper entered carrying clipboards.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have the results of the blood tests back for you all," Dr. Burkett explained.

"Please, come in. I apologize, it's a little crowded in here." Greg stood and motioned for the doctors to join them.

"Thank you, Greg, but you can keep your seat." Dr. Cooper smile as he stood in the doorway. "We have the toxicology results back. Normally, we can only release results to their respective owners, but given to unusual circumstances, we are willing to release all results to this group if given consent. If any dissent, we will abide by the written policy, is that understood?"

The team nodded affirmative. Each member was given a form to release or withhold results, initial and give back to their respective doctor. When all the forms were back, both the doctors and team let out the breaths each seemed to be holding. The decision was unanimous, they would hear them as a group…more as a family. A familial unit by choice able to help those members requiring assistance.

"The toxicological results for Parker, Wordsworth, Young, Scarlatti, and Callaghan are negative. The sedative given has cleared your system and is no longer detectable. We do not expect you to experience any additional problems."

"That's great news. Thank you." Wordy sighed in relief. He had been afraid he'd have to be on the lookout for unwanted side effects.

All attention shifted to the Constable whose name was not called, his tone turned more serious. "As for you, Constable Lane..."

"Just Ed, please." Ed grew worried at the look which flashed across the doctor's face.

"Ed, unfortunately, the preliminary results came back positive and further testing was required." Dr. Burkett consulted his notes to ensure he gave the right information. "It seems in addition to the sedative, you received a drug which is known to affect thought processes and cause mood swings. This drug is largely untested, so we don't know how long it will remain in your system, or how long you will continue to experience pharmacological effects. We will monitor you closely and repeat testing in a couple of hours to see if it has cleared your system."

"He drugged me?" Ed's brows furrowed. As he thought back over their captivity, he realized he hadn't felt quite right, but attributed it to the sedative, but now he realized he had been manipulated. The thought angered him, and if he were being honest with himself, it scared him too.

"My suggestion now is you all get some rest. You've been through a lot, and your bodies need time to recover," Dr. Burkett said gently. "If there are no concerns at this time, please return to your rooms."

"Thank you, doctor. We all must debrief anyway so its best everyone rest until it's their turn," Greg agreed as he glanced pointedly at each member of his team. "Go rest. That's an order."

All three doctors left, and the team trickled out behind them. None too pleased about being sent back to their rooms, but also knowing they needed their rest. Debrief would not be easy, or pretty.

"Do you want me to stay, Ed?" Wordy asked as the room cleared.

"No."

"Are you sure? You can talk to me you know." Wordy was concerned for his friend. He perceived a myriad of emotions playing across Ed's face.

"I'm sure. I need to be alone to work through the last few days is all." Ed didn't try to hide his feelings from Wordy. He knew he needed to talk about things. He just didn't want to now.

"Ed?" Greg turned his concerned gaze to the other man at the tone of Ed's voice.

"Just go, Greg. You need to debrief. I need some space."

"Alright. If you need anything, anything at all, please speak up," Greg pleaded. He understood the internal war already being waged in Ed.

"I'll be around if you need me while Greg is busy," Wordy explained as he moved to the door with Greg.

Ed simply nodded, already lost in his thoughts.

Outside Ed's Hospital Room

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Wordy asked as both men gazed at Ed's closed door.

"I don't know, Wordy. The news shook him up. He's used to being in complete control, of the team, of himself. Mark took his control away, not just with the drug but with the chains too."

"Why do you think Mark did it?" Wordy wondered aloud.

"I can't speak for the man, and he can't speak for himself. But, if I were to make a guess I'd say it's because Ed is the Team Leader. Team One takes their cues from Ed and me. You compromise the thought process of one, the rest of the team is sure to follow," Greg speculated. However, he knew his mental abilities weren't at their best at the moment. He had been compromised in a way, just as the rest of them.

"I guess I've never thought about it that way. You're right though. We all rely on the both of you. When one of you is off your game, we all are off." Wordy drew in a deep breath. "I'm going to stay close in case Ed needs me. Let me know when you're done."

"Will do." Greg put a hand on Wordy's shoulder. "Hang in there. We'll all get through this."

"I know, Boss. I'm only worried about the toll this has taken on the team. Not just physically either."

"I understand what you mean." With that, Greg turned to meet Colonel Campbell.

Once in the lift, Greg went over what Wordy shared with him. He also worried about his team. They relied on him and Ed for leadership through the situation, and they both failed. Himself the most. Although, when he thought about it further, he realized they failed long before the abduction.

Ed and Greg let the team down when Sam first joined. None of them were pleased with how Sam landed on their team, and they allowed their feelings on the matter to show. The rest took their cue from them, and as a result, all treated Sam rather badly. His thoughts from their time with Mark resurfaced, Are we too late to change towards Sam? Will Sam recover from the physical and emotional wounds?

Those thoughts, however, would have to wait until a later time to be evaluated. Time to face the Colonel and General and a painful debrief.

Hospital Conference Room

"Sergeant Parker, have a seat." Colonel Campbell motioned to one of the chairs at the table.

Greg surveyed the room as he took his seat, relieved to see refreshments available. He hadn't had anything to eat in a while, and hospital food was not appetizing.

"Help yourself to whatever you would like." Jason Braddock gestured to the assortment of food and beverages.

"Thank you." Greg grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of water. It pained him knowing Sam's father would hear in detail everything his son suffered.

"Feel free to eat first. Then we can get started." Colonel Campbell smiled softly.

"How is your team, Sergeant?" Jason Braddock asked as he leaned back in his chair before taking a drink of water.

"They are doing well. Mostly minor injuries," Greg answered truthfully. "Ed's drug cocktail differed from ours. His was spiked with an additional drug which impaired him mentally, but the doctors are sure it will be out of his system soon."

"Impaired him? How?" Jason leaned forward and put his elbows on the table.

"He was given something which apparently causes mood swings and such. The doctors don't know much about it so will be keeping him under close observation." Greg noted Colonel Campbell making notes.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I do hope he recovers quickly."

"Thank you, General."

"Please, call me Jason."

"How is Sam doing?"

"Samuel is resting at the moment. They will be moving him to ICU shortly. His mother is with him." What Jason didn't say spoke volumes, if not for the call of duty, he would be with his son as well.

Noting Sergeant Parker was almost finished eating, Drew arranged his list of questions and his notepad to begin. He already noted the addition to Constable Lane's physical status, but now it was time to get down to business.

"So, where do we begin?" Greg asked after finishing off the last of his sandwich.

Turning on the recorder Drew asked his first question. "Let's start at the beginning. Do you remember anything about your abduction?"

Greg related the events in the sequence they occurred outside the Goose, clearly remembering where his thoughts had been. He had been so introspective he had barely been aware of the discussion between the members of his team. Hearing Sam's words to Ed that morning had thrown Greg for a loop.

"So when you woke up in the warehouse your entire team, minus Sam, was present. Correct?" Campbell clarified.

"Yes, sir. He was brought in shortly after the team gained consciousness."

"What happened next?"

"Mark brought in a picture."

"Is this the picture?" Campbell showed Greg a picture from the warehouse showing what the investigative team had found.

"Yes, that's the one."

"What happened after this photo was placed in the room?"

Greg went on to share the monologue from Mark, and the supplemental beating Sam received. He didn't miss the slight grimace on General Braddock's face when he related Mark hoped Sam would give up on life. He knew the revelation deeply hurt Sam's father.

What Greg didn't share was the fact that he, Ed, and Wordy had been present when the picture was taken. That wasn't something which was pertinent to the conversation, and Mark wouldn't have known anyway. However, that didn't stop Greg from beating himself up over not remembering he had met Sam and Matt before. When he thought of the night at the bar when they paid for Sam's and Matt's drinks, and then about how they mistreated Sam, Greg was surprised Sam hadn't left the team or filed a complaint with Commander Holleran. Team One had shown Sam two completely different sides. The most recent being nothing like the team Greg knew and loved. They had so much to make up for.

"While they beat Ed with the bat, did Mark try to extract any information from Sam?" Campbell hated having to ask this question. However, it was the whole reason he was here, to ensure no top secret information leaked.

"No. In fact, not once was Sam asked for information. Mark made it clear he simply wanted Sam to suffer before being killed."

"What was Sam's demeanor before and during Ed's beating?"

"He was ... determined. He shared with us that Mark was an instructor for Special Forces, that he taught the soldiers how to withstand torture. It was then I knew Mark would be relentless in his torture." Greg thought back to the change he perceived in Sam right before Ed's beating began. "It was evident Sam knew what Mark was capable of doing. It was as though he shifted into soldier mode so to speak.

When they finished beating Ed, Mark encouraged us to lay into Sam verbally. To accuse him of being the reason we were taken."

"Did you?"

"No. We knew that although Sam killed Mark's brother in a terrible accident, it wasn't Sam's fault we were there. Grief drove Mark. I firmly believe he would have taken and tortured Sam regardless of whether or not he was on Team One."

"Can you tell me what happened next?"

Greg went on to describe the electric torture Spike, Lou, and Sam endured. While sharing the facts of the torture, he couldn't help but remember his surprise at Sam's apparent disregard for Spike and Lou, as well as his complete silence during the electric shocks. Having experienced a Taser before Greg knew how painful it was for electricity to be coursing through a person's body. How he wanted to scream long and loud at the simple shock of the Taser. And yet, Sam remained silent for the duration of his torture via cattle prods. The only sound Sam emitted was towards the end. In the quiet moments, Greg could still hear Sam's blood-curdling scream.

"He let Constable Callaghan tend to everyone?" Campbell asked with brows furrowed.

"Yes. He stated that he didn't want anyone to die yet."

"But you think differently?"

"Yes and no. I do believe Mark intended to keep us alive longer to keep Sam emotionally off-centered. If any of the wounds were to become infected, sepsis could have been an issue. But, ultimately it would have become another part of Sam's emotional torture, the loss of another teammate. He wanted us to think there was a reprieve from the torture only to continue upon return."

"Did the torture continue?"

"Yes, after Jules was returned to her restraints the temperature in the room dropped. Shortly after explosions began to play over a loudspeaker."

"Do you have any indication of how long that lasted?"

"Eighteen hours." Greg closed his eyes a moment as he drew in a deep breath. That had been some of the longest hours ever. The story Sam shared with them after broke his heart.

"You seem certain of your answer."

"Sam shared with us afterward that it was a recording of a mission he had been on with Matt." Greg saw the concerned expression pass between the general and the colonel. "The recording only contained the sounds of gunfire and explosions. According to Sam the communications was scrubbed off. "

Jason Braddock visibly relaxed. Most of the missions Matt and Sam went on were top secret. If it was the mission he suspected, then there were no issues, but he had to ask to be sure.

"Did Samuel give any indication of which mission it was? Did he give any details?"

Turning to Sam's father Greg noted the concern in the other man's blue eyes. "He indicated it was a mission he went on after assisting with a US mission. He shared that they volunteered to help rescue a unit which had been cut off and surrounded by insurgents. They went in with a helicopter, helped extract to pilots, then went on foot to cover the unit until they could be rescued. Sam explained on that mission Matt nearly died."

Jason let out a slow breath. There was no breach. None of the information Sam shared was classified.

"Please continue, what happened next?"

Greg visibly cringed. He went on to share how Mark forced water down Sam's throat and how it ultimately caused Sam to vomit, and the subsequent knife torture. His heart raced, and anger boiled as he related how Mark had begun to assault Jules. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to squeeze the life out of Mark with his bare hands. Jules was like the daughter he never had and the fact Mark touched her made him beyond furious. He felt so useless and a failure.

"As he assaulted her, one of the other men approached him and shared with him that General Braddock was on the line." Greg took a long drink of his water.

"That gives us a time stamp there." Campbell checked his notes and stated the date and time of the call for the recording.

"What happened between the phone call and when SRU's Team Two arrived?"

He couldn't help but smile. Sam escaping the chains surprised all of them. Where Sam found the strength to climb the chains after all the torture and being stabbed Greg would never know. He was just thankful the rookie managed to free himself.

Colonel Campbell and General Braddock could hear the pride evident in Greg's voice as he related how Sam escaped, freed the team, and how they took out all of Mark's men.

"From that point, we have the transcript from Team Two's call which fills in the rest of the gaps. Do you have anything else you want to add?" Campbell lay his pencil down and offered a small smile to Parker. The sergeant did a fantastic job of relating the details.

"Just know during the entire time Sam was not asked one question. He drew upon his training to withstand the pain inflicted on him, not just physically but emotionally as well. Sam Braddock is a fine officer, a fine man. No one could have experienced what he did and remained as silent and determined as Sam."

The men sat in silence for a long moment. Greg attempted to lock away the emotions that retelling the events brought forth. He felt guilty for how they had mistreated Sam, angry at how Mark had treated his family, concern for his team. In his head he knew it wasn't his fault they were taken, it wasn't any of their faults, but knowing in his head and believing it in his heart were two completely different things. He had a lot of thinking to do to work through this experience.

Colonel Campbell knew Sam would not have shared any sensitive information. Despite what the young man endured Sam possessed a deep sense of duty to country. This investigation was only a formality. The abduction also solidified in his mind he made the right decision previously. Sam hadn't meant to kill his best friend any more than he offered up his team to be tortured. Sam Braddock is an honorable man, just like his father.

General Jason Braddock struggled with mixed emotions. Deeply saddened by what his son went through. No one deserved the treatment Sam received at the hands of Mark. Jason also worried about his son, wondering if Sam would make a full recovery. Not to mention the intense pride which stirred in his heart. He knew his son was skilled, but not the full extent apparently. The fact Sam barely made a sound while being brutally tortured ... not many would be able to do that.

"Well, I think this concludes the interview. If you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to give me a call." Colonel Campbell stood and handed Greg a business card.

"I will." Greg took the card and shook the man's hand.

"If you would let Constable Wordsworth know we will be ready for him in fifteen minutes we would appreciate it."

"Of course." Greg strode out slower than normal, drained, both physically and emotionally. However, his team needed him, so Greg took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and went to get Wordy.

AN: Thanks for coming back for more :) Do I need to hide from veggie launchers again? Let me know in a review how you liked this chapter :)