Author's Notes: I'm having a little block with both Past is Present and Re-Education but I promise I will get back to them as soon as I can. However, in the meantime, this idea came to me one night while I was asleep and has been rumbling around in my mind for several days. Not sure how long it will be but I hope you enjoy it. This story takes place between Slow Burn and Broken Peace. That's starting to be one of my favorite time frames because we know Jules and Sam have been given the green light to date and it's fun to explore what might have happened between Season 4 and Season 5.

Disclaimer: The show Flashpoint and its characters were created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern and belong to them and the networks who air the episodes. Since the show has ended, our only way of getting new Flashpoint is through fan fiction. This story is my attempt to help fill the void, and the only profit I make is the warm fuzzy feeling reviews give me. Anything that does not come directly from the show is my own creation and should not be used without my permission.

Break Out

Chapter 1

A young man no more than twenty-two wearing a suicide bomb around his waist with the trigger clasped firmly in his hand was threatening a crowd in a mall. He was sweating profusely and his hand was shaking uncontrollably. At any moment he could depress the button and blow himself and the food court of the mall to smithereens.

Team One was determined not to let that happen. Sam Braddock and Ed Lane were both in position on the second floor of the mall on opposite sides, their Remy's trained on the would be bomber in case their intervention was needed to prevent a senseless tragedy. Sgt. Greg Parker was handling negotiations with Raf and Spike covering him. Spike, for his part, was also studying the bomb as closely as he could looking for any weakness in the design that would bring this to a successful closure. The sixth and final member of the team, Jules Callaghan, was trying to gather as much information as she could find on the subject so she could feed the information to Greg. So far, the subject himself was not giving them anything to work with.

So far, all they knew was what they could see before them. The subject hadn't shared any information, not about who he was ultimately targeting, why he was wearing a bomb, or even who he was. Currently Jules was running his image through all available databases. Finally, her efforts were rewarded.

"Sarge, got a name. Our subject is Gary Browning. No priors and no history of mental issues. Broadening my search now to see if I can find any relatives." Jules supplied through her head set.

Quietly Greg acknowledged the information. It was hard to negotiate with someone who refused to talk but he knew he had to try. He never wanted to call Scorpio unless there was really no other option but at the same time he couldn't allow this man to detonate the bomb. He glanced at his demolitions expert. "Spike, are we sure the bomb is real?"

Spike nodded. He wasn't close enough to the subject or the bomb to do much good but he could confirm what his eyes could tell him. "Yeah, Boss, it's the real deal, looks pretty crude and homemade but it'll do the damage as well as a professionally made setup. That detonator is real as well. I can't tell if there's a dead man's switch though."

The possibility of such a switch was one of the things, along with the desire not to take a man's life if it wasn't necessary, that kept Greg from wanting to call Scorpio until there was no other option. If the device did have a dead man's switch, then the bomb would automatically detonate if they shot the subject. Greg sighed, it would be nice to know whether they were dealing with a dead man's switch but he couldn't blame Spike for not being able to tell. "Copy that, Spike."

Then he raised his voice so that the subject could hear him. "Sir, I'd really like to talk to you about what's going on here today. I'd like for us to work things out so we can all go home safely. Can we make that happen?"

"Go away. I don't want to talk to you. You don't care. You're just worried about all these other people. You don't care what happens to me. No one does."

"That's not true. I want to protect you as well. If you detonate that bomb, you'll be killed. I don't want that. No one on my team wants that. So let's make sure no one- yourself included- gets hurt today. Let's talk about what you want."

Browning shook his head. "You can't give me what I want. No one can. So just shut up and leave me alone."

"Boss, the only living relative Browning has is a brother, Barrett Browning."

Greg resisted the natural urge to nod. Jules couldn't see the gesture in the truck and he didn't want Gary to think he was agreeing to what he wanted. "That's good Jules, get a uni dispatched to bring him here. We may can use him as a TPI. At the very least he might can give us some insight as to why Gary is doing this."

"No can do." Jules supplied almost immediately. "Barrett is currently remanded at The East awaiting trial for armed robbery and attempted murder."

Greg took a calming breath. "Let me guess, the robbery occurred at this mall?"

"Got it in one. That's why we call you Boss. Says here a security guard was shot during the robbery in the food court when he confronted Browning during the robbery. Police arrested Barrett on the scene kneeling over the guard."

Greg looked over at Gary Browning. The subject hadn't moved from his spot but it was clear that he was becoming more agitated by the minute. "Okay, you know how I don't like coincidences. I'm thinking there might be a connection. Jules, get over there and talk to Barrett; see what he has to say."

"Copy that, Boss. Winnie, put in a call to the warden and let him know I'm on my way."

"Gary? That's your name, right? Gary Browning? You say I can't give you what you want. That must mean there is something you do want. How about let's talk about that? I can't make promises but you don't know what I can or can't do until you try me."

"You can't. No one can. You can't undo what's been done. You can't change the past."

Now Greg did nod. "You're talking about the robbery that happened here? The one your brother is on trial for?"

The hand holding the detonator began shaking even more. Tears joined the sweat on the man's face. "Yeah. The one he's on trial for."

- FP - FP - FP -

It only took Jules about ten minutes to reach Toronto East Detention Centre, commonly referred to as The East. Not bad timing giving the distance and the traffic, but each minute seemed more like an hour. The rest of her team was facing down a man with a bomb strapped to him and a detonator in his hand. Every minute was critical during a call and they didn't have time to waste.

She parked in a space right in front of the detention block that housed Barrett. Normally vehicles weren't allowed this far in, but given the nature of her job, she'd secured special permission. Before going into the building, she went to the back of the SUV and removed her Glock from its holster. She secured the handgun in the lockbox they kept in the back of the vehicle. Even as a officer, she wouldn't be allowed to carry her gun into the building, and she'd rather have it locked securely in the SUV than held in a lock box inside. After locking the SUV, she ran up the stairs to the building.

She was greeted inside by the warden. He shook her hand as they exchanged names. He led her down the hall without preamble, knowing time was of the essences. "Winnie Camden explained the situation your team is facing. I've had Barrett Browning brought to one of the private visitation rooms we reserve for meetings between prisoners and their lawyers. We haven't told him what was going on."

Jules nodded. "What can you tell me about Barrett?"

"Not much to tell. He's been here six months awaiting his trial. He hasn't caused any trouble but he's been involved in several skirmishes."

Jules frowned. "Skirmishes?"

The warden nodded. "It's never easy for new inmates; we do everything we can to protect them but we can't be everywhere. Because he's so quiet and tries to keep to himself, the other inmates have made him a easy target. He's been admitted to our infirmary several times after being beaten."

"Has his brother been to visit him? Does Gary know he's been hurt?" Knowing that his brother had been injure during his incarceration could be incentive to do something desperate.

The warden shook his head. "He's had no visitors in the time he's been here, so I know his brother hasn't seen his injuries. There have been several phone calls both in and out to his brother but I don't know if he told his brother what happened. If I had to guess, I would say he hasn't said anything. From the talks I've had with Barrett, I get the feeling he tries to protect his younger brother as much as possible."

Jules thought about her own older brothers and the things they had done or kept from her over the years trying to protect her. She knew Sam tried to do the same with Natalie as much as the free-spirited younger woman would allow. She wondered if older brothers were born with that protective instinct or if it was instilled in them somehow at the birth of a younger sibling.

The warden opened the door to the consultation room. Glancing inside, Jules could see Barrett was already sitting in the room. Before she could enter, the warden touched her arm. "I know you are trained to handle yourself and I don't anticipate him giving you any trouble, but there will be at least one guard outside the door at all times. If you need anything, just let him know. When you are finished, he'll direct you out."

Jules nodded. "Thanks for you help."

As he moved away, Jules stepped into the room. Barrett, who wasn't but a couple of years older than his brother, looked surprised to see her. He stood as she came closer. Jules wondered at the gentleman-like gesture that seemed out of place in a prison. She studied him carefully as she sat down, noting he didn't retake his seat until she was sitting. Bruises of various degrees of healing covered his face and his left wrist was in a lightweight brace, not surprising considering what she'd been told he'd been through during his stay.

"Mr. Browning, I'm Jules Callaghan with the Metro Police Strategic Response Unit. I need to ask you a few questions about your brother."

The inmate's eyes narrowed and he suddenly looked more dangerous than he had just a moment earlier. Jules wasn't afraid however. Even if he did attack, she was sure she could subdue him without getting hurt. He leaned forward, his fingers gripping the edge of the table in front of him. "Leave my brother the hell alone."

Jules didn't look intimidated in the slightest. "I wish I could. However, he's currently at the same mall you're accused of robbing with a bomb strapped to his body. He's threatening to kill himself and everyone around him."

Barrett slumped back in his seat and covered his face in his hands. The tell-tale silver bracelet around his right wrist with a chain hanging from it told Jules that he was shackled to his spot. Then he looked at her. "You can't let him do that. You've got to save him."

Jules nodded. "We're trying but he's not talking to us. I was hoping you could possibly help us help him. Do you have any idea why he might be doing this?"

"The guard that was shot during the robbery died last week. It's one of the reasons why I haven't gone to trial yet. The DA was waiting to see if the guard would recover. Since he didn't, the charges against me will be upgraded from attempted murder to murder. Means instead of five to ten years I could face twenty-five to life. Gary didn't take the news well. I told him not to worry about it; it's just years. It's not like I'll be facing a death penalty or anything like that. But Gary just couldn't see it that way."

Jules watched him carefully. There was something about his story that wasn't adding up to her but she couldn't quite figure it out. She thought about his words. the guard that was shot not the guard I shot. Was he trying to distance himself from his actions or was there more to it? "What would Gary hope to accomplish today? Does he think he can get you free?"

"He can't fix this. He knows that. I don't know what he's thinking. He's just going to make things worse."

"How? How will he make things worse?" Obviously threatening to blow himself and others up wasn't a bright idea but she got the feeling Barrett meant more to his statement.

"I know I can't leave here; I wouldn't want Gary to see me anyway." Barrett blurted out, as if he hadn't heard her question. "If he sees these bruises, it'll just make things worse. But is there any way I can talk to him? I know I can convince him not to hurt anybody. Please." There was something about the earnestness in his face that reminded Jules of her own brothers.

She indicated the headset she was wearing. "Anything you said to me my boss - the man trying to talk to your brother- can hear. He can relay what you say to your brother."

- FP -

Sarge looked over at the young man who was threatening everyone. "Gary, one of my teammates is with your brother right now."

Gary's hand lowered just slightly but not enough for the threat to be over. He looked around expectantly. "Barrett? He's here? He's not in jail?"

Greg shook his head. "No, Gary; he's not here. My teammate went to The East to see him. Barrett is pretty concerned about you. He doesn't want anything to happen to you."

"They're charging him with murder. I can't let that happen. He's all I have left; he's protected me for so long and I've got to do everything I can to help him in return."

Greg could hear Jules relaying what Gary said to Barrett. "Is that what you are doing today? You think by coming in and threatening these people you can get the authorities to let Barrett go?"

"Don't you see, I have to do something to help him. He doesn't deserve jail."

Greg heard Barrett's next statement in his ear. He wasn't sure it was what Gary wanted to hear but it might be what he needed to hear. "Your brother says he doesn't want you to do this. Says he can handle being in jail as long as he knows you are living a productive life. Now the way I see it, you haven't hurt anyone yet. That's a good thing, that means things will go a lot easier on you if you give up now. You haven't made any choices you can't walk away from."

"You would think that, wouldn't you? If I give up now, my brother's going to go to jail for maybe the rest of his life. I'd rather die right now than to live the rest of my life knowing he's suffering in jail. It's not fair."

"Why is it not fair, Gary?"

- FP -

"Your brother says he'd rather die than live knowing you are suffering." Jules repeated to Barrett. "He says it isn't fair. Why isn't it fair, Barrett?" She could tell through the headset that Gary wasn't answering Sarge on the question so she hoped to get more out of the man sitting opposite her.

Barrett covered his face with his hands. Then he looked at Jules, his eyes blazing. "Tell him he promised. He promised not to throw his life away. He can't go back on that promise now. I'm his big brother and he has to do what I say. Tell him that."

The door opened behind Jules and the guard stuck his head in, alerted by the sudden shout. "Everything okay in here?"

Jules nodded. "Everything's fine. No problems."

She wasn't sure if he totally believed her or not but the guard closed the door. She looked at Barrett. "You didn't rob the mall did you? Or shoot the guard?"

There was a hint of something in his eyes that confirmed her theory but then he composed himself. "I'm in jail aren't I? Why would I be here if I weren't guilty?"

"Protecting your brother. See, I have four older brothers. There were times growing up they blamed me for things they did knowing that as the baby and the only girl in the family, I wouldn't get into trouble like they would. But there were plenty of times I was the guilty party. Plenty of times that I deserved every bit of punishment that I would receive if not more. But when my fat was really in the fire, when the trouble I was going to be in was great, my brothers would take the heat for me. I never asked them to; they'd just do it because they couldn't stand to see me in any real trouble. When I would protest and try to come forward and admit my part, they wouldn't let me. Said it was their duty as my brothers. Is that what you are doing now? Protecting Gary?"

Barrett laughed but it was humorless. "What do you take me for? A fool? You're a cop and I haven't been tried yet. Let's say your wild assumption is true; if I confess to you that I didn't do anything, you would be duty bound to testify to that at my trial. That would put my brother- if your assumption is true- at risk. Why would I do that?"

"Careful Jules." Sarge's voice was in her ear, unheard by Barrett. "If you are right, he's in full protective mode. He's gone through a lot to protect his brother; he's not going to go back on that easily."

"Copy that." Jules breathed out and then regarded Barrett carefully. "You want to protect your brother, right? You don't want anything to happen to him. I get that. But I also get what your brother is probably feeling right now. Guilt. Every time my brothers took the blame for me, the guilt I felt that they got into trouble in my place was overwhelming. To the point that I always confessed just to absolve myself of the feeling. No punishment that might have awaited me for confessing was greater than that guilt that they had suffered in my place. I'm betting that promise you wanted to remind him of was one to keep his mouth shut and not tell what really happened the night of the robbery. Now that promise is eating him alive. He can't tell the truth, but he can't watch you spend the rest of your life in jail. Right now he's thinking he'd rather die than do either. Is that what you want?"

Barrett shook his head. "Do you think your brothers would want that of you?"

"Then help us out. Give us what we need to make sure your brother walks out of that mall alive. If I'm right and he's the one responsible for the crime you are in jail for, why not let him take responsibility? Wouldn't jail be better than death? You said it yourself; it's just years."

Barrett glared at her. "Look at my face. I've only been here six months and look what the animals in here have done to me. I can handle it but Gary can't. I've always been tougher than him. I don't think he'd survive in here. It doesn't matter what I think though because he's not going to spend any time in jail. I'm admitting nothing. I was responsible for what happened in that mall, not Gary."

Jules could tell she was starting to reach him even if his words didn't agree. She could hear on the earpiece that Greg was starting to make leeway with Gary as well but by playing on the promise Barrett had mentioned. She took a deep breath. "He won't survive if he detonates that bomb. No matter how good my teammates are, they won't be able to do anything to save him if he decides to do that. It hasn't gone to trial yet; there's no way to know what kind of sentence he would get or where he would serve that sentence. Even if he did go to jail, at least there he would have a chance. If that bomb goes off, he has no chance at all. Which would you rather?"

"Jules, subject is in custody; bomb defused."

Jules didn't acknowledge Sarge's voice in her ear. She was glad that Gary was safe but she was pretty sure she knew what had really happened and wanted to push Barrett toward the truth. If she told Barrett his brother was safe, he would never admit what really happened during the robbery. The truth that both brothers needed out in the open. "Please, Barrett, what really happened that night? I know you love your brother; I can tell he means the world to you. Help him find peace."

For a moment he just stared at her and she could see the war going inside him. She didn't push him any further, wanting him to make the decision himself. Finally he sighed.

"I was always the troublemaker. From the time I was fourteen, I was in and out of juvie. Gary was the good son. Then my parents were killed in a car accident when I was twenty and Gary was eighteen. I decided then that I had to clean up my act for him. He needed me and I was determined to be there for him. My best wasn't good enough though. He got involved with a bad crowd; started listening to them more than he listened to me. He'd always had trouble making friends and suddenly he had all these guys acting like he was their best friend. I tried to warn him that they were using him but he wouldn't listen."

Jules nodded. "Let me guess; his new friends decided to do some after hours shopping at the mall that night?"

Barrett nodded. "Yeah, I was home when Gary called me. I'd never heard him sound that scared. He'd gone out with his friends thinking they were just going to hang out. Gary said he didn't know what they had planned until it was too late. When the alarm went off and the guard started chasing them, his so-called friends put the gun in his hands and ran. When he called he was hiding but he knew it was only a matter of time before the guard caught up with him. I told him I was coming for him and told him to try to get outside near the food court. I'd pick him up there and we'd figure out what to do. When the guard confronted Gary in the food court, Gary panicked. He'd never held a gun before and it went off accidentally. When I got there, the guard was already on the ground. I took the gun from Gary and told him to hightail it out of there and to never say a word to anyone. I thought I was helping him. Please don't let him die."

Jules took a steadying breath. "Barrett, Gary is safe. They talked him down and removed the threat of the bomb. He's okay."

Barrett nodded but didn't look as relieved as Jules would have thought that he would. He looked across the table at her; his eyes red with unshed tears. "Before or after I spilled my guts about what really happened?"

There was an edge to his voice that sounded dangerous. Jules didn't flinch however. "Does it matter? Your brother is going to be okay."

Barrett rubbed his face with his shackled hands. "He's okay for now but how long will he stay that way now that I've told the truth? I should have kept my mouth shut. Now you and your teammates are going to rat him out and they'll try to charge him instead of me. Are you happy? Is that what you wanted? Do you know what they'll do to him in here? They'll kill him and it'll be all my fault."

Jules felt bad for the young man who had only been trying to help his brother. "Barrett…"

Barrett stood abruptly, knocking over his chair in the process. He couldn't go anywhere because of the shackles. "No, it'll be your fault. If anything happens to my brother, it'll be your fault because you wouldn't leave things the hell alone. Guard, get in here. I'm through and want to go back to my cell."

"Barrett…" Jules started but the accused man shook his head, pointing at her.

"Don't. Don't say anything else. You've done enough. I guess I should thank your team for saving my brother's life. I only hope he lives long enough to appreciate it." Then he raised his voice again. "Guard."

The door opened again and once more the guard stuck his head in. He looked past Jules to Barrett who was still standing, looking agitated and ready to fight the world. "Easy Browning. You don't want to start messing around with an SRU constable. Don't let her size or gender fool you; only the best and toughest make it to Strategic Response. She can hand your ass back to you wrapped up in pretty paper and never break a sweat. She can make those bruises the other inmates gave you look like love taps."

Jules appreciated the fact that the guard hadn't come in like he had to save the day. Barrett set the chair back up and sat down again. He took several deep breaths as he tried to calm himself. "I'm not going to do anything stupid." He glared at Jules once again. "I don't do anything without thinking about the consequences. When I do act, it's because it's what's best for me and my brother."

Jules looked back at the guard. The nameplate on his chest listed his name as Parker Douglas. She couldn't help but smile at the fact that he and Sarge shared a common name. "Officer Douglas, we're through here. If you want to escort Mr. Browning back to his cell, I can find my own way out."

"I'm sure you can, Constable Callaghan, but procedure says I have to accompany you. Browning, Curtis will take you back. He just went to the head but he'll be back in a moment. Just sit tight until he gets here." Which was hilarious considering the inmate was shackled in place.

Jules followed the guard out of the room and down the hall. As soon as they were out of earshot of the room, Douglas shook his head. "I've been on this job for almost thirty years. Working in a maximum security prison, it's easy to get cynical. Easy to think you're minding monsters instead of human beings who made a bad choice somewhere down the road. I could have retired about five years ago, probably should have. Guys like Barrett Browning there are the reason I'm still here."

Jules regarded him carefully. "Why's that?"

"He's still human. He might have made mistakes but he's not going to let this place change him. He came in human and he'll leave out human as well." He stopped walking, his hands on his hips. "What the hell?"

The last question seemed so separate from the rest of what he was saying. Jules followed his gaze and saw the garbage bag sitting on the floor next to one wall. Alarm bells started going off in her head. "Sarge, we've got a suspicious package here."

"Suspicious package as in my kind of suspicious?" Spike answered instead.

"Maybe. I'm going to check it out." Jules advised. While she'd been talking into her headset, the guard had been moving toward the bag. He was almost on it. She frowned. "Officer Douglas, Parker, don't touch anything."

"No, it's okay. One of the monsters probably thought he'd get out of taking out the trash. I know how these guys are; they've got nothing better to do with their time but will still do anything to get out of work. I'll carry it out with us and then check to see who was on schedule for trash detail today."

Jules was about to remind him that he might know the inmates, but she knew suspicious packages. Before she could stop him, the guard had reached the bag and picked it up. For a moment, nothing happened and she let out a sigh of relief that she'd been wrong. She was even going to make a joke that his job might make him cynical but hers made her paranoid.

She didn't get a chance to say anything as there was a sudden blast that came straight from the bag in Douglas's hand. The concussive force flung her backward against the wall. She slumped down too dazed to be aware of the fire alarms going off or the concerned voices screaming her name in her ear. Then darkness closed over her completely.

- FP -

Author's Notes: So this is going to be a Jules whump kind of story which of course means there'll eventually be Sam comfort to follow. Sort of shakes of Just a Man coming in but still different. Right now I'm leaving the rating at a T but depending on how future chapters go, I might raise the rating to M.