Although I fully embrace the "snapshot into the characters lives" concept of Flashpoint, I can't help but think about what we didn't see. This episode in particular always pulled at me because of the tense scene when Lew and Spike were "down range." I guess I needed the debrief as well. The conversation between Sam and Wordy got a bit heated and I wanted to hear them work it out. I hope it was something like this.

Wordy—Chapter 2

Wordy watched as Ed drove down the road until the tail lights were in the distance. He turned slowly and headed out to the deck for a quick clean-up. He would be lying if he said he was at peace with the direction his life was taking, but he also knew that he would get to that place. Ed would bust on him if he heard his thoughts about his "feelings" and that brought a quick grin to Wordy's face. However, getting their friendship back on track was a huge step in the right direction. He thought back over their conversations this evening and had to shake his head. Team One trained in both tactics and profiling. Each team member had their strengths and weaknesses. However, they'd all had plenty of training in each area. Talking down a subject even at a threat level red was, for the most part, easier than talking out issues between themselves. If he had to use psychology to come up with a reason, he'd have to admit it was hard being so vulnerable with people who seemed more like superheroes than humans—even when you loved them like family.

The tall man with kind eyes grabbed another glass of lemonade and a sweatshirt then headed back out to the deck. His thoughts wondered back to other conversations he remembered over the years. He couldn't help but go back to the terrible day Lou had been taken from them. He hated when people said "when we lost Lou." They didn't lose Lou. Rafer Wilcox took Lou's life. Took it without regard to what a good man or dedicated cop Lewis was. Wordy grew angry just thinking about the incident. He remember standing with his team mates and the emotion running so high as they all came to the conclusion that nothing could be done to save Lewis Young. It wasn't a pretty sight with each of them snapping and sniping at each other. As close as they were, each member of Team One dealt with issues in their own way. Wordy remembered hoping against hope that Spike had something up his sleeve to pull out a hail Mary save. They all knew how devastated Spike would be if he couldn't come up with an answer. If he allowed his mind to go to that dark place, Wordy could still hear the sound of the blast and Spike anguished cries in the aftermath. For a long time, it was difficult to get that scene out of his mind and thinking about it now didn't make it any less painful. He remember feeling stunned and Jules' small body shaking with sobs as she turned into him for comfort. Sam strode off looking like he was going to blow at any second. Sarge gathered himself the quickest and moved to Spike's side in seconds. Wordy remembered Ed's stone face and shattered eyes staring at the place Lewis had stood moments before. Then, as the team leader was prone to do, he scrubbed his hands across his face, nodded stoically and turned to Wordy. He recalled that time with such clarity. Their eyes met and Ed strode toward them. "Wordy, get Jules to the truck. I'm going to get call for Team Three to handle the scene. I'll try to help the boss get Spike to the truck and then check on…..check on….. things. Can you see if you can round up Sam? I want to get us out of here as fast as possible."

It was a very surreal time and even now it was hard to believe that it all happened. They moved toward the truck and Jules stepped in quickly. She was already starting to gather herself because, well, she was Jules. Wordy walked quickly in the direction he'd seen Sam going. He could still see the "unies" working on crowd control and Inspector Stainton on the radio. It took a few moments to find Sam pacing furiously on the other side of the science center. His fists were clenched and his face was shuttered. Wordy reached for the younger man's shoulder and Sam whirled around with his fist raised. "Whoa, Sam. It's me. It's Wordy!" Sam dropped his arm, but didn't unclench his fists. He just stared into his team mate's face. "Landmines in Toronto, Wordy! Landmines. What the…? What kind of sick…..?"

Kevin Wordsworth took stock of team's newest member and saw that he was just on the edge of control. He ventured slowly with a soft, calm tone, "I know, Sam, I hear ya. Can we go back to the truck now? Eddie wants us to clear the scene as quickly as possible. Team Three is coming to take over." Sam stared into the distance for a long minute and Wordy was afraid he would just storm off again. Then Sam's shoulders sagged and he dropped to a sitting position against the side of the building. "Wordy, I can't go back there and face the others now. I just can't. Go, go without me." His team mate took a breath and sat beside the anguished man. "Sam, it's going to be okay. We have to stay together. Do some debrief. See what….."

Sam interrupted in a broken voice, "Wordy, don't you get it? I sentenced Lou. Every time something was suggested I shot it down. Maybe Lou heard me on the radio and that's why he stepped off. He thought he had to save Spike. I should have kept my big mouth closed."

Wordy knew it was time for a big dose of reality before Sam continue to beat himself up. "Sam, Sam, are you listening to yourself? You didn't sentence Lou to anything. That sick SOB, Rafer Wilcox, did. Lewis Young was a good man and an even better cop. He didn't need you to tell him the situation was dire. He knew it when he heard the click. He knew we knew it and he damn well knew Spike knew there wasn't a happy ending to be had today. Why do you think he sent Spike off to contain the first bomb? Why do think Spike followed Lou's instructions?" The tall constable looked expectantly at his friend. Sam fired back, "That's not what you were saying ten minutes ago, Wordy. You were saying to give Spike a chance and that if anyone could save him Spike could. You had confidence in him. I gave up." The other cop shook his head slowly, "Sam, you know, we all deal differently. Yeah, I wanted the fairy tale ending, but deep down I knew it wasn't coming. It's how we talk things out. You're more pragmatic like Eddie. Doesn't mean you thought any less of Lou or Spike. And it doesn't mean that you wouldn't be celebrating if that pinhole wasn't filled with glue or the mine was a dud. Don't do this to yourself or to us, okay?" Sam just looked at the ground in front of him. Wordy continued, "Come on, the team needs to be together. Spike's going to need a lot of support. We all need support. It's part of the job and we'll get through it together."

Wordy stood up to his full height and reached a hand down to Sam. For a moment, the younger man just looked at the hand offered in friendship then he grasped it and stood to face his team mate. Their eyes met and they each gave a quiet nod worthy of their team leader. Then they turned and headed back to the trucks and their team.