A/N: Sorry that it's been a while! I wasn't exactly sure how to work this chapter, so let me know what you think.
Sam silently led Jules down the stairs to the medics. She hadn't said a word. The team hadn't said a word. A storm cloud of silence hung over them, no one seeming to know how to speak again.
Even though she was uninjured, the paramedics still looked Jules over and gave her a clean bill of health. The team was returning to their trucks as Sarge approached Jules.
"We're going to need to talk about this, Jules," Sarge said quietly, caring concern in his voice. Jules only nodded in response and climbed into the passenger side, Sam already loaded in the driver's seat.
As they drove, Sam continually looked over at Jules, checking her status. Her face was shadowed with exhaustion. He didn't know what emotions to expect from her, so he monitored her closely. He only knew that she clearly did not want to talk.
They arrived at headquarters and Jules immediately headed for the locker room. Sam followed her to the door.
"Do you want me to stay?" He asked gently.
"No," Jules replied faintly, "I just want to be alone, take a shower."
"Okay," He agreed with a weak smile. She pushed through the door. Sam stood outside for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He then turned and walked away as the rest of the team was entering the lobby.
"Where is she?" Ed inquired.
"In the locker room. Showering," Sam replied.
"Are you sure she wants to be alone right now?" Greg asked.
Sam gave a somber nod.
"You knew," Ed said critically, stepping forward.
Sam responded with another nod.
"And you didn't say anything?" Ed said, escalating.
"Ed, I-" Sam started, but was cut off.
"What, you didn't think it was important information for us to know?!" Ed yelled, losing his cool, "You kept us out when what she needed was support."
"What was I supposed to do?!" Sam countered, "Tell all of you, without her consent?! Do something without her consent?! Do you think that was what she needed?!"
"Secrets make teams fall apart, Sam. You put her at risk, the team at risk…" Ed trailed off, enraged.
"I wouldn't have let her come back to work if I thought she couldn't handle it! What happened today, there was no way to see that coming," Sam stated definitely.
Ed sucked in a breath, looking like he was about to get in Sam's face. Greg placed a hand on Ed's shoulder.
"Eddy," He said quietly, "He was respecting what Jules wanted."
Ed took a moment to calm himself down and steadied his voice.
"Did you report it?" He asked in a low tone.
Sam held his eye contact and exhaled, not really wanting to answer. He gave in, and shook his head in response. Ed's anger began to resurface.
"This guy is still out there?" Wordy asked disbelievingly.
Spike had an empty expression as a realization passed through his mind.
"Chris," Spike said simply and quietly. The team acknowledged his statement silently, now feeling disgust at the mere sound of the name.
"How could you not do something?!" Ed questioned Sam.
"You think I didn't look for him?" Sam scoffed. He couldn't believe that Ed was accusing him of being apathetic—as if Jules didn't mean the world to him.
Ed lost it.
"He's probably on the streets hurting other women," Ed shouted. If Jules wanted to let him walk, fine. But what he does," he stepped forward and growled, pushing a pointed finger into Sam's chest, "is on you."
"Jules," Greg said quietly, interrupting.
The team looked up and Sam spun around. Jules was standing in the doorway silently in plain clothing, bag in hand. Ed's posture immediately softened. All eyes were on her.
"I—I decided not to, to shower," she stammered.
"Jules," Ed started.
"He is," Jules interrupted. She continued, completely numb and cold, "He's probably going to hurt other people. It's my fault."
Her face was void of emotion, but the empty raw tone in her voice said it all. Greg tried to jump in.
"No, Jules, that's not true," Greg reassured, "It's not your—"
"I'm leaving," Jules replied blank and bluntly as she headed for the door.
Sam started to move towards her.
"Jules—" Sam called after. The team shifted in her direction and Jules sensed their movement.
"DON'T," she shouted back, throwing her had firmly into the air to stop their motion, "Don't. Don't follow me."
Jules exited and left them in silence.
Sam was about to yell at Ed for being so insensitive, but his anger faded when he saw the sadness etched in Ed's face. Ed knew that he had really screwed up. He shouldn't have implied that Jules was at fault. That's practically rule number one: it's never the survivor's fault.
"Do you think I didn't stay awake all night?" Sam asked Ed softly, "She would never tell me anything about him—his last name, what he looked like, how she knew him—nothing. I couldn't force her to report it. I drove around this entire city looking for a man I didn't know. I thought, maybe, if I saw him, I would just know somehow. I had to try. Because doing nothing was worse."
Sam was on the verge of tears.
"Sam, you did what was right for Jules," Greg stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You took good care of her."
-Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint—Flashpoint-Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint
The next day, the boys were working out quietly, just the occasional sound of clanking weights breaking the silence. Sam dropped down off the pull up bar, wiping some sweat from his forehead. Greg approached him.
"Hey Sam," He said softly with a small smile, "How are you doing?"
"Okay," Sam nodded.
"Have you heard from Jules at all?" Greg inquired.
The team listened in.
"No, not after yesterday," Sam shook his head solemnly, "But I can try her."
"That'd be great," Greg agreed.
Sam went to the locker room to grab his phone. He sent off a few texts, wondering if she was awake.
Hey Jules.
Do you think you're up for coming to work today?
Even if it's just to talk?
He returned to the gym and set the treadmill to a slow jog, placing his cell down on the dashboard. He couldn't help but stare at the phone as he ran, hoping for a response.
Two minutes later, the screen lit up and he stopped the treadmill as he picked up the phone. He read the text as he allowed himself to slide off the end of the track. His stomach sank.
No, it's too frosty out. Maybe tomorrow."Greg," Sam called with uncharacteristic panic in his voice.
This caught the entire team's attention. Something was terribly wrong.
"Sam," Greg responded with concern and question as he jogged over to him. The rest of the team followed suit. Sam simply handed Greg the phone and he read it quickly, the team looking over his shoulder.
"Winnie, hot call," Greg yelled over.
The team jumped into action running to get ready faster than they ever had.
-Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint—Flashpoint-Flashpoint- Flashpoint- Flashpoint
Jules disregarded her morning alarm and opted for an extra hour of sleep. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go to work, but she finally got out of bed and looked into the mirror mounted on the wall. Her puffy eyes were proof of the exhaustion she was feeling. She wasn't looking forward to facing everyone. But maybe it would help to talk about it, she thought to herself.
Her train of thought was immediately broken when a glimpse of movement appeared behind her in the mirror.
She spun around and looked down the hallway to see her front door still bolted shut. She was briefly reassured before her stomach sank—a breeze touched her skin. Her bathroom window was wide open. She knew she was not alone.
She glanced back at her bed to the night table, verifying her phone was still there. She began to make a move back towards it, but a voice caught her midstep.
"Julia."
She almost threw up on the spot, just the sound of his voice was too much. She willed herself to look at him. He stood in the bedroom doorway, relaxed.
"Chris," Jules said dryly, trying to think of what she should say to him.
"It's been a while," He said with a fake familiarity.
Jules stood motionlessly as her stomach tossed.
"Didn't know you were an cop," Chris said.
"You need to leave," Jules said steadily, "You need to leave right now."
"Well, see the thing is, I heard you told your cop buddies about us," Chris replied, "And that just wasn't a good idea."
Chris moved his hand and revealed the gun in his pocket.
Just then, Jules' phone began to go off. Chris ignored it and Jules stayed put, glancing over to see that it was Sam messaging her. It continued to buzz and ring.
"That's my teammate texting me," Jules explained slowly, "He's not going to stop until I reply."
Chris stared at her and sighed. He got his gun and pointed it at Jules and then the phone. Jules raised her hands.
"Go," he signaled with a nod of a head. "I want to see what you type though."
Jules slowly walked over to the night table and picked up the phone. She saw the texts from Sam.
Hey Jules.
Do you think you're up for coming to work today?
Even if it's just to talk?"Let me see," Chris commanded.
Jules moved closer to him, extending the phone out so he could read it.
"Tell him you're not coming in," Chris directed.
Jules typed her reply.
"I want to see it," Chris said aggressively.
Jules again held out the phone and he read the response.
No, it's too frosty out. Maybe tomorrow."Send it," Chris ordered.
Jules sent the message and felt a small sense of relief. Hopefully help would be on its way soon. For the time being though, she was on her own, fighting against her fear just to function.
A/N: Hopefully you remember that the team's safe word is "frosty" which they use in the episode where Greg is held hostage by an ex-recruit. Please let me know what you think the fate of Jules and Chris will be! What is team one's plan?